N-CSRS 1 d491214dncsrs.htm MFS SERIES TRUST I N-CSRS MFS SERIES TRUST I N-CSRS
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF

REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number 811-04777

MFS SERIES TRUST I

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

111 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02199

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Susan S. Newton

Massachusetts Financial Services Company

111 Huntington Avenue

Boston, Massachusetts 02199

(Name and address of agents for service)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (617) 954-5000

Date of fiscal year end: August 31

Date of reporting period: February 28, 2013


Table of Contents
ITEM 1. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS.


Table of Contents

SEMIANNUAL REPORT

February 28, 2013

 

LOGO

 

MFS® CASH RESERVE FUND

 

LOGO

 

LMM-SEM

 


Table of Contents

MFS® CASH RESERVE FUND

 

CONTENTS

 

Letter from the Chairman and CEO     1   
Portfolio composition     2   
Expense table     3   
Portfolio of investments     5   
Statement of assets and liabilities     8   
Statement of operations     9   
Statements of changes in net assets     10   
Financial highlights     11   
Notes to financial statements     21   
Board review of investment advisory agreement     29   
Proxy voting policies and information     29   
Quarterly portfolio disclosure     29   
Further information     29   
Provision of financial reports and summary prospectuses     29   
Contact information    back cover   

 

 

The report is prepared for the general information of shareholders.

It is authorized for distribution to prospective investors only when preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus.

 

NOT FDIC INSURED Ÿ MAY LOSE VALUE Ÿ NO BANK GUARANTEE


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND CEO

 

Dear Shareholders:

Global financial markets began 2013 with greater optimism. U.S. and Asian economic trends have turned more positive. Europe continues to struggle through its economic

slump. However, even there, sentiment has improved. The U.S. Congress averted its year-end fiscal cliff, but a degree of uncertainty remains regarding upcoming negotiations over spending cuts and the debt ceiling. The U.S. Federal Reserve Board is continuing its accommodative monetary easing, while the U.S. housing and job markets have made steady gains. Corporate profits have been resilient, and investors have demonstrated increased tolerance for risk.

Overseas, the eurozone remains in a broad contraction, with economic output receding in France as well as Italy and Spain.

However, large-scale early repayments of European Central Bank loans by banks and Germany’s strong rebound in manufacturing activity are encouraging signs. In Asia, both China and Japan appear to be in the early stages of a turnaround. China’s economic activity has picked up from last year’s relative slowdown, and Japan’s sharp devaluation of the yen, an important anti-deflationary measure, seems to be having its desired impact: Japanese stocks have soared, corporate profits are rising and confidence is returning among consumers, businesses and investors.

As always, managing risk in the face of uncertainty remains a top priority for investors. At MFS®, our uniquely collaborative investment process employs global research and active risk management. Our global team of investment professionals shares ideas and evaluates opportunities across continents, investment disciplines and asset classes — all with a goal of building better insights, and ultimately better results, for our clients.

We remain mindful of the many economic challenges investors face today, and believe it is more important than ever to maintain a long-term view and employ time-tested principles, such as asset allocation and diversification. We also remain confident that our unique approach can serve investors well as they work with their financial advisors to identify and pursue the most suitable opportunities.

Respectfully,

 

LOGO

Robert J. Manning

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

MFS Investment Management®

April 12, 2013

The opinions expressed in this letter are subject to change, may not be relied upon for investment advice, and no forecasts can be guaranteed.

 

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PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION

 

Portfolio structure (u)

 

LOGO

Composition including fixed income credit quality (a)(u)    
A-1+     24.4%   
A-1     73.4%   
A-2     2.9%   
Not Rated     0.0%   
Cash & Other     (0.7)%   
Maturity breakdown (u)  
0 - 7 days     32.1%   
8 - 29 days     3.7%   
30 - 59 days     31.7%   
60 - 89 days     13.4%   
90 - 365 days     19.8%   
Other Assets Less Liabilities     (0.7)%   
 

 

 

(a) Ratings are assigned to portfolio securities utilizing ratings from Moody’s, Fitch, and Standard & Poor’s rating agencies and applying the following hierarchy: If all three agencies provide a rating, the middle rating (after dropping the highest and lowest ratings) is assigned; if two of the three agencies rate a security, the lower of the two is assigned. Cash & Other portfolio assets that are not securities are not included in the categories mentioned above. Ratings are shown in the S&P scale. All ratings are subject to change. The fund is not rated by these agencies.
(u) For purposes of this presentation, accrued interest, where applicable, is included.

From time to time “Other Assets Less Liabilities” may be negative due to timing of cash receipts.

Percentages are based on net assets as of 2/28/13.

The portfolio is actively managed and current holdings may be different.

 

2


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EXPENSE TABLE

Fund expenses borne by the shareholders during the period,

September 1, 2012 through February 28, 2013

As a shareholder of the fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on certain purchase or redemption payments, and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period September 1, 2012 through February 28, 2013.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class in the following table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class in the following table provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads). Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

3


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Expense Table – continued

 

 

Share
Class
      

Annualized

Expense

Ratio

    Beginning
Account Value
9/01/12
   

Ending

Account Value
2/28/13

   

Expenses

Paid During
Period (p)

9/01/12-2/28/13

 
A   Actual     0.17%        $1,000.00        $1,000.00        $0.84   
  Hypothetical (h)     0.17%        $1,000.00        $1,023.95        $0.85   
B   Actual     0.17%        $1,000.00        $1,000.00        $0.84   
  Hypothetical (h)     0.17%        $1,000.00        $1,023.95        $0.85   
C   Actual     0.17%        $1,000.00        $1,000.00        $0.84   
  Hypothetical (h)     0.17%        $1,000.00        $1,023.95        $0.85   
R1   Actual     0.17%        $1,000.00        $1,000.00        $0.84   
  Hypothetical (h)     0.17%        $1,000.00        $1,023.95        $0.85   
R2   Actual     0.17%        $1,000.00        $1,000.00        $0.84   
  Hypothetical (h)     0.17%        $1,000.00        $1,023.95        $0.85   
R3   Actual     0.17%        $1,000.00        $1,000.00        $0.84   
  Hypothetical (h)     0.17%        $1,000.00        $1,023.95        $0.85   
R4   Actual     0.17%        $1,000.00        $1,000.00        $0.84   
  Hypothetical (h)     0.17%        $1,000.00        $1,023.95        $0.85   
529A   Actual     0.17%        $1,000.00        $1,000.00        $0.84   
  Hypothetical (h)     0.17%        $1,000.00        $1,023.95        $0.85   
529B   Actual     0.17%        $1,000.00        $1,000.00        $0.84   
  Hypothetical (h)     0.17%        $1,000.00        $1,023.95        $0.85   
529C   Actual     0.17%        $1,000.00        $1,000.00        $0.84   
  Hypothetical (h)     0.17%        $1,000.00        $1,023.95        $0.85   

 

(h) 5% class return per year before expenses.
(p) Expenses paid are equal to each class’s annualized expense ratio, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period, divided by the number of days in the year. Expenses paid do not include any applicable sales charges (loads). If these transaction costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.

Expense Changes Impacting the Table

As more fully disclosed in footnote 3 to the financial statements, the expense ratios reported above include additional expense reductions to avoid a negative yield.

 

4


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PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

2/28/13 (unaudited)

The Portfolio of Investments is a complete list of all securities owned by your fund. It is categorized by broad-based asset classes.

 

Certificates of Deposit - 16.3%                 
Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Major Banks - 8.1%                 
Bank of Montreal/Chicago Branch, 0.15%, due 3/07/13    $ 15,678,000      $ 15,678,000   
Toronto-Dominion Holdings (USA), Inc., 0.15%, due 5/06/13      15,985,000        15,985,000   
    

 

 

 
             $ 31,663,000   
Other Banks & Diversified Financials - 8.2%                 
Mizuho Corporate Bank (USA)/New York Branch, 0.13%, due 3/05/13    $ 8,452,000      $ 8,452,000   
Mizuho Corporate Bank (USA)/New York Branch, 0.15%, due 3/14/13      205,000        205,000   
Mizuho Corporate Bank (USA)/New York Branch, 0.31%, due 6/10/13      7,055,000        7,055,000   
National Bank of Canada/New York Branch, 0.18%, due 3/01/13      15,974,000        15,974,000   
    

 

 

 
      $ 31,686,000   
Total Certificates of Deposit, at Cost and Value      $ 63,349,000   
Commercial Paper (y) - 21.9%                 
Automotive - 4.0%                 
Toyota Motor Credit Corp., 0.09%, due 3/04/13    $ 11,273,000      $ 11,272,915   
Toyota Motor Credit Corp., 0.19%, due 4/30/13      4,443,000        4,441,593   
    

 

 

 
             $ 15,714,508   
Financial Institutions - 0.6%                 
General Electric Capital Corp., 0.23%, due 7/16/13    $ 2,343,000      $ 2,340,949   
Food & Beverages - 8.2%                 
Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc., 0.25%, due 4/23/13 (t)    $ 16,360,000      $ 16,353,979   
Coca-Cola Co., 0.1%, due 4/18/13 (t)      7,131,000        7,130,049   
Coca-Cola Co., 0.24%, due 3/08/13 (t)      8,289,000        8,288,613   
    

 

 

 
             $ 31,772,641   
Major Banks - 5.2%                 
ANZ National (International) Ltd., 0.2%, due 4/24/13 (t)    $ 1,480,000      $ 1,479,556   
JPMorgan Chase & Co., 0.18%, due 4/03/13      962,000        961,841   
JPMorgan Chase & Co., 0.25%, due 7/15/13      2,193,000        2,190,929   
National Australia Funding (Delaware), Inc., 0.18%, due 5/22/13 (t)      15,737,000        15,730,548   
    

 

 

 
             $ 20,362,874   
Retailers - 2.5%                 
Wal-Mart Stores Inc., 0.08%, due 3/07/13 (t)    $ 9,800,000      $ 9,799,869   

 

5


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Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Commercial Paper (y) - continued                 
Tobacco - 1.4%                 
Philip Morris International, Inc., 0.12%, due 4/16/13 (t)    $ 5,304,000      $ 5,303,187   
Total Commercial Paper, at Amortized Cost and Value      $ 85,294,028   
U.S. Government Agencies and Equivalents (y) - 55.5%           
Fannie Mae, 0.11%, due 5/15/13    $ 15,893,000      $ 15,889,358   
Fannie Mae, 0.125%, due 3/06/13      4,877,000        4,876,915   
Fannie Mae, 0.15%, due 3/13/13      2,956,000        2,955,852   
Federal Home Loan Bank, 0.085%, due 4/12/13      16,240,000        16,238,390   
Federal Home Loan Bank, 0.155%, due 4/12/13      7,000,000        6,998,734   
Federal Home Loan Bank, 0.11%, due 4/17/13      15,870,000        15,867,721   
Federal Home Loan Bank, 0.13%, due 4/24/13      15,775,000        15,771,924   
Federal Home Loan Bank, 0.12%, due 6/19/13      16,500,000        16,493,950   
Federal Home Loan Bank, 0.115%, due 3/01/13      16,150,000        16,150,000   
Federal Home Loan Bank, 0.075%, due 3/20/13      9,852,000        9,851,610   
Freddie Mac, 0.16%, due 3/05/13      150,000        149,997   
Freddie Mac, 0.15%, due 3/08/13      7,000,000        6,999,796   
Freddie Mac, 0.155%, due 4/08/13      5,410,000        5,409,115   
Freddie Mac, 0.085%, due 3/11/13      1,230,000        1,229,971   
Freddie Mac, 0.11%, due 3/11/13      150,000        149,995   
Freddie Mac, 0.109%, due 7/22/13      16,400,000        16,392,899   
U.S. Treasury Bill, 0.07%, due 4/25/13      16,400,000        16,398,247   
U.S. Treasury Bill, 0.128%, due 4/25/13      15,720,000        15,716,938   
U.S. Treasury Bill, 0.125%, due 5/30/13      10,000,000        9,996,875   
U.S. Treasury Bill, 0.105%, due 7/05/13      22,800,000        22,791,621   
Total U.S. Government Agencies and Equivalents, at Amortized Cost and Value            $ 216,329,908   
Floating Rate Demand Notes - 4.2%                 
East Baton Rouge, LA, Pollution Control Rev. (Exxon Mobil Corp.), 0.1%, due 3/01/13    $ 9,700,000      $ 9,700,000   
Lincoln County, WY, Pollution Control Rev. (Exxon Mobil Corp.), 0.1%, due 3/01/13      5,300,000        5,300,000   
Lincoln County, WY, Pollution Control Rev. (Exxon Mobil Corp.), “A”, 0.1%, due 3/01/13      1,300,000        1,300,000   
Total Floating Rate Demand Notes, at Cost and Value            $ 16,300,000   

 

6


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Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Repurchase Agreements - 2.8%                 
Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Goldman Sachs Repurchase Agreement, 0.18%, dated 2/28/13, due 3/01/13, total to be received $11,066,055 (secured by U.S. Treasury and Federal Agency obligations valued at $11,287,422 in a jointly traded account)    $ 11,066,000      $ 11,066,000   
Total Investments, at Amortized Cost and Value      $ 392,338,936   
Other Assets, Less Liabilities - (0.7)%        (2,640,156
Net Assets - 100.0%      $ 389,698,780   

 

(t) Security exempt from registration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933.
(y) The rate shown represents an annualized yield at time of purchase.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

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Financial Statements

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

At 2/28/13 (unaudited)

This statement represents your fund’s balance sheet, which details the assets and liabilities comprising the total value of the fund.

 

Assets         

Investments, at amortized cost and value

     $392,338,936   

Cash

     557   

Receivables for

  

Fund shares sold

     867,665   

Interest

     8,766   

Receivable from investment adviser and distributor

     90,761   

Other assets

     2,659   

Total assets

     $393,309,344   
Liabilities         

Payable for fund shares reacquired

     $3,363,434   

Payable to affiliates for shareholder servicing costs

     214,911   

Payable for independent Trustees’ compensation

     14,536   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     17,683   

Total liabilities

     $3,610,564   

Net assets

     $389,698,780   
Net assets consist of         

Paid-in capital

     $389,923,180   

Accumulated net realized gain (loss) on investments

     (207,708

Accumulated distributions in excess of net investment income

     (16,692

Net assets

     $389,698,780   

Shares of beneficial interest outstanding

     389,929,096   

 

     Net assets      Shares
outstanding
     Net asset value
per share
 
Class A      $122,757,952         122,829,233         $1.00   
Class B      32,647,941         32,695,043         1.00   
Class C      47,355,330         47,385,150         1.00   
Class R1      22,169,012         22,178,664         1.00   
Class R2      80,457,686         80,494,828         1.00   
Class R3      67,316,746         67,347,717         1.00   
Class R4      757,341         759,056         1.00   
Class 529A      10,589,009         10,590,578         1.00   
Class 529B      701,389         701,705         1.00   
Class 529C      4,946,374         4,947,122         1.00   

A contingent deferred sales charge may be imposed on redemptions of Class A, Class B, Class C, Class 529B, and Class 529C shares. Redemption price per share was equal to the net asset value per share for Classes R1, R2, R3, R4, and 529A.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

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Financial Statements

 

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

Six months ended 2/28/13 (unaudited)

This statement describes how much your fund earned in investment income and accrued in expenses. It also describes any gains and/or losses generated by fund operations.

 

Net investment income         

Interest income

     $347,402   

Expenses

  

Management fee

     $812,128   

Distribution and service fees

     1,028,148   

Program manager fees

     8,089   

Shareholder servicing costs

     420,353   

Administrative services fee

     31,940   

Independent Trustees’ compensation

     5,825   

Custodian fee

     19,543   

Shareholder communications

     15,072   

Audit and tax fees

     16,654   

Legal fees

     3,181   

Miscellaneous

     64,709   

Total expenses

     $2,425,642   

Fees paid indirectly

     (184

Reduction of expenses by investment adviser and distributor

     (2,078,056

Net expenses

     $347,402   

Net investment income

     $0   

Change in net assets from operations

     $0   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

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Financial Statements

 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

These statements describe the increases and/or decreases in net assets resulting from operations, any distributions, and any shareholder transactions.

 

Change in net assets    Six months ended
2/28/13
(unaudited)
    

Year ended
8/31/12

 
From operations                  

Net investment income

     $0         $0   

Change in net assets from operations

     $0         $0   

Change in net assets from fund share transactions

     $(25,471,749      $(91,272,886

Total change in net assets

     $(25,471,749      $(91,272,886
Net assets                  

At beginning of period

     415,170,529         506,443,415   

At end of period (including accumulated distributions in excess of net investment income of $16,692 and $16,692, respectively)

     $389,698,780         $415,170,529   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

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Financial Statements

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the fund’s financial performance for the semiannual period and the past 5 fiscal years (or life of a particular share class, if shorter). Certain information reflects financial results for a single fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate by which an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the fund share class (assuming reinvestment of all distributions) held for the entire period.

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class A     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00   
Income (loss) from investment operations   

Net investment income (d)

    $0.00        $0.00        $0.00 (w)      $0.00 (w)      $0.00 (w)      $0.03   

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments

                  (0.00 )(w)      0.00 (w)      (0.00 )(w)        

Total from investment operations

    $0.00        $0.00        $0.00 (w)      $0.00 (w)      $0.00 (w)      $0.03   
Less distributions declared to shareholders   

From net investment income

    $—        $—        $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.03

From tax return of capital

                  (0.00 )(w)      (0.00 )(w)               

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $—        $—        $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.03

Net asset value, end of period

    $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00   

Total return (%) (r)(t)

    0.00 (n)      0.00        0.00 (w)      0.00 (w)      0.31        3.43   
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                           

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    0.93 (a)      0.93        0.94        0.85        0.72        0.87   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    0.17 (a)      0.13        0.20        0.27        0.39        0.47   

Net investment income

    0.00 (a)      0.00        0.00 (w)      0.00 (w)      0.33        3.29   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $122,758        $126,283        $153,634        $141,832        $173,135        $189,684   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

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Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class B     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00   
Income (loss) from investment operations   

Net investment income (d)

    $0.00        $0.00        $0.00 (w)      $0.00 (w)      $0.00 (w)      $0.02   

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments

                  (0.00 )(w)      0.00 (w)      (0.00 )(w)        

Total from investment operations

    $0.00        $0.00        $(0.00 )(w)      $0.00 (w)      $0.00 (w)      $0.02   
Less distributions declared to shareholders                   

From net investment income

    $—        $—        $—        $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.02

From tax return of capital

                         (0.00 )(w)               

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $—        $—        $—        $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.02

Net asset value, end of period

    $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00   

Total return (%) (r)(t)

    0.00 (n)      0.00        0.00 (w)      0.00 (w)      0.10        2.40   
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                           

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.68 (a)      1.68        1.69        1.69        1.72        1.86   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    0.17 (a)      0.12        0.20        0.27        0.60        1.46   

Net investment income

    0.00 (a)      0.00        0.00 (w)      0.00 (w)      0.08        2.44   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $32,648        $35,098        $50,379        $66,601        $104,696        $112,707   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

12


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class C     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00   
Income (loss) from investment operations   

Net investment income (d)

    $0.00        $0.00        $0.00        $0.00 (w)      $0.00 (w)      $0.02   

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments

                  (0.00 )(w)      0.00 (w)      (0.00 )(w)        

Total from investment operations

    $0.00        $0.00        $(0.00 )(w)      $0.00 (w)      $0.00 (w)      $0.02   
Less distributions declared to shareholders   

From net investment income

    $—        $—        $—        $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.02

From tax return of capital

                         (0.00 )(w)               

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $—        $—        $—        $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.02

Net asset value, end of period

    $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00   

Total return (%) (r)(t)

    0.00 (n)      0.00        0.00 (w)      0.00 (w)      0.10        2.40   
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.68 (a)      1.68        1.69        1.69        1.72        1.87   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    0.17 (a)      0.13        0.20        0.27        0.60        1.47   

Net investment income

    0.00 (a)      0.00        0.00        0.00 (w)      0.08        2.18   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $47,355        $49,851        $61,943        $50,196        $70,005        $79,091   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

13


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class R1     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00   
Income (loss) from investment operations                                   

Net investment income (d)

    $0.00        $0.00        $0.00        $0.00( w)      $0.00 (w)      $0.02   

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments

                  (0.00 )(w)      0.00 (w)      (0.00 )(w)        

Total from investment operations

    $0.00        $0.00        $(0.00 )(w)      $0.00 (w)      $0.00 (w)      $0.02   
Less distributions declared to shareholders                                   

From net investment income

    $—        $—        $—        $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.02

From tax return of capital

                         (0.00 )(w)               

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $—        $—        $—        $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.02

Net asset value, end of period

    $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00   

Total return (%) (r)

    0.00 (n)      0.00        0.00 (w)      0.00 (w)      0.10        2.35   
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                                   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.68 (a)      1.68        1.69        1.69        1.72        1.91   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    0.17 (a)      0.13        0.20        0.27        0.58        1.51   

Net investment income

    0.00 (a)      0.00        0.00        0.00 (w)      0.09        2.10   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $22,169        $24,361        $28,705        $30,233        $29,457        $27,361   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

14


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class R2     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00   
Income (loss) from investment operations                                   

Net investment income (d)

    $0.00        $0.00        $0.00        $0.00 (w)      $0.00 (w)      $0.03   

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments

                  (0.00 )(w)      0.00 (w)      (0.00 )(w)        

Total from investment operations

    $0.00        $0.00        $(0.00 )(w)      $0.00 (w)      $(0.00 )(w)      $0.03   
Less distributions declared to shareholders                                   

From net investment income

    $—        $—        $—        $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.03

From tax return of capital

                         (0.00 )(w)               

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $—        $—        $—        $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.03

Net asset value, end of period

    $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00   

Total return (%) (r)

    0.00 (n)      0.00        0.00 (w)      0.00 (w)      0.17        2.86   
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                                   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.18 (a)      1.18        1.19        1.19        1.22        1.41   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    0.17 (a)      0.13        0.20        0.27        0.51        1.01   

Net investment income

    0.00 (a)      0.00        0.00        0.00 (w)      0.15        2.58   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $80,458        $83,723        $104,130        $109,362        $120,476        $98,825   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

15


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class R3     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00   
Income (loss) from investment operations                                   

Net investment income (d)

    $0.00        $0.00        $0.00        $0.00 (w)      $0.00 (w)      $0.03   

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments

                  (0.00 )(w)      0.00 (w)      (0.00 )(w)        

Total from investment operations

    $0.00        $0.00        $(0.00 )(w)      $0.00 (w)      $0.00 (w)      $0.03   
Less distributions declared to shareholders                                   

From net investment income

    $—        $—        $—        $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.03

From tax return of capital

                         (0.00 )(w)               

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $—        $—        $—        $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.03

Net asset value, end of period

    $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00   

Total return (%) (r)

    0.00 (n)      0.00        0.00 (w)      0.00 (w)      0.23        3.12   
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                                   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    0.93 (a)      0.93        0.94        0.94        0.97        1.15   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    0.17 (a)      0.13        0.20        0.27        0.45        0.75   

Net investment income

    0.00 (a)      0.00        0.00        0.00 (w)      0.20        2.82   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $67,317        $79,029        $85,602        $90,331        $104,062        $82,454   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

16


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class R4     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00   
Income (loss) from investment operations                                   

Net investment income (d)

    $0.00        $0.00        $0.00 (w)      $0.00 (w)      $0.00 (w)      $0.03   

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments

    0.00               (0.00 )(w)      0.00 (w)      (0.00 )(w)        

Total from investment operations

    $0.00        $0.00        $0.0 0(w)      $0.00 (w)      $0.00 (w)      $0.03   
Less distributions declared to shareholders                                   

From net investment income

    $—        $—        $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.03

From tax return of capital

                  (0.00 )(w)      (0.00 )(w)               

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $—        $—        $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.03

Net asset value, end of period

    $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00   

Total return (%) (r)

    0.00 (n)      0.00        0.00 (w)      0.00 (w)      0.31        3.39   
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                                   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    0.68 (a)      0.69        0.69        0.68        0.72        0.90   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    0.17 (a)      0.12        0.20        0.27        0.38        0.50   

Net investment income

    0.00 (a)      0.00        0.00 (w)      0.00 (w)      0.23        3.24   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $757        $810        $5,743        $6,172        $5,697        $4,094   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

17


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class 529A     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00   
Income (loss) from investment operations                                   

Net investment income (d)

    $0.00        $0.00        $0.00        $0.00 (w)      $0.00 (w)      $0.03   

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments

                  (0.00 )(w)      0.00 (w)      (0.00 )(w)        

Total from investment operations

    $0.00        $0.00        $(0.00 )(w)      $0.00 (w)      $0.0 0(w)      $0.03   
Less distributions declared to shareholders                                   

From net investment income

    $—        $—        $—        $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.03

From tax return of capital

                         (0.00 )(w)               

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $—        $—        $—        $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.03

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00   

Total return (%) (r)

    0.00 (n)      0.00        0.00 (w)      0.00 (w)      0.28        3.23   
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                                   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.03 (a)      1.03        1.04        1.03        1.12        1.40   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    0.17 (a)      0.13        0.20        0.27        0.40        0.65   

Net investment income

    0.00 (a)      0.00        0.00        0.00 (w)      0.19        3.05   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $10,589        $10,330        $9,710        $9,919        $6,926        $3,777   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

18


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class 529B     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00   
Income (loss) from investment operations                                   

Net investment income (d)

    $0.00        $0.00        $0.00        $0.00 (w)      $0.00 (w)      $0.02   

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments

                  (0.00 )(w)      0.00 (w)      (0.00 )(w)        

Total from investment operations

    $0.00        $0.00        $(0.00 )(w)      $0.00 (w)      $0.00 (w)      $0.02   
Less distributions declared to shareholders                                   

From net investment income

    $—        $—        $—        $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.02

From tax return of capital

                         (0.00 )(w)               

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $—        $—        $—        $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.02

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00   

Total return (%) (r)(t)

    0.00 (n)      0.00        0.00 (w)      0.00 (w)      0.08        2.21   
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                                   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.78( a)      1.78        1.79        1.79        1.83        2.04   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    0.17 (a)      0.12        0.20        0.27        0.51        1.64   

Net investment income

    0.00 (a)      0.00        0.00        0.00 (w)      0.04        1.91   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $701        $665        $1,073        $1,613        $1,942        $700   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

19


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class 529C     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00   
Income (loss) from investment operations                                   

Net investment income (d)

    $0.00        $0.00        $0.00        $0.00 (w)      $0.00 (w)      $0.02   

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments

                  (0.00 )(w)      0.00 (w)      (0.00 )(w)        

Total from investment operations

    $0.00        $0.00        $(0.00 )(w)      $0.00 (w)      $0.00 (w)      $0.02   
Less distributions declared to shareholders                                   

From net investment income

    $—        $—        $—        $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.02

From tax return of capital

                         (0.00 )(w)               

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $—        $—        $—        $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.02

Net asset value, end of period

    $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00        $1.00   

Total return (%) (r)(t)

    0.00 (n)      0.00        0.00 (w)      0.00 (w)      0.08        2.21   
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                                   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.78 (a)      1.78        1.79        1.78        1.83        2.04   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    0.17 (a)      0.13        0.20        0.27        0.52        1.64   

Net investment income

    0.00 (a)      0.00        0.00        0.00 (w)      0.04        1.85   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $4,946        $5,020        $5,525        $6,224        $4,391        $1,820   

 

(a) Annualized.
(d) Per share data is based on average shares outstanding.
(f) Ratios do not reflect reductions from fees paid indirectly, if applicable.
(n) Not annualized.
(r) Certain expenses have been reduced without which performance would have been lower.
(t) Total returns do not include any applicable sales charges.
(w) Per share amount was less than $0.01 and total return or ratio was less than 0.01%, as applicable.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

20


Table of Contents

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

(1) Business and Organization

MFS Cash Reserve Fund (the fund) is a series of MFS Series Trust I (the trust). The trust is organized as a Massachusetts business trust and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as an open-end management investment company.

(2) Significant Accounting Policies

General – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated subsequent events occurring after the date of the fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities through the date that the financial statements were issued.

In January 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update 2013-01 (“ASU 2013-01”) entitled Balance Sheet (Topic 210) – Clarifying the Scope of Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities which is intended to clarify the scope of Accounting Standards Update 2011-11 (“ASU 2011-11”), Balance Sheet (Topic 210) – Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities. Consistent with the effective date for ASU 2011-11, ASU 2013-01 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. ASU 2013-01 limits the scope of ASU 2011-11’s disclosure requirements on offsetting to financial assets and financial liabilities related to derivatives, repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements, and securities lending and securities borrowing transactions. Although still evaluating the potential impact of these two ASUs to the fund, management expects that the impact of the fund’s adoption will be limited to additional financial statement disclosures.

Investment Valuations – Pursuant to procedures approved by the Board of Trustees, investments held by the fund are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Amortized cost involves valuing an instrument at its cost as adjusted for amortization of premium or accretion of discount rather than its current market value. The amortized cost value of an instrument can be different from the market value of an instrument.

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the fund’s assets or liabilities. These inputs are categorized into three broad levels. In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, an investment’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The fund’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the investment. Level 1 includes unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 includes other significant observable market-based inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speed, and credit risk). Level 3 includes

 

21


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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

unobservable inputs, which may include the adviser’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments. The following is a summary of the levels used as of February 28, 2013 in valuing the fund’s assets or liabilities:

 

Investments at Value    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
Short Term Securities      $—         $392,338,936         $—         $392,338,936   

For further information regarding security characteristics, see the Portfolio of Investments.

Repurchase Agreements – The fund entered into repurchase agreements with approved counterparties. Each repurchase agreement is recorded at cost. The fund requires that the securities collateral in a repurchase transaction be transferred to a custodian. The fund monitors, on a daily basis, the value of the collateral to ensure that its value, including accrued interest, is greater than amounts owed to the fund under each such repurchase agreement. The fund and other funds managed by MFS may utilize a joint trading account for the purpose of entering into one or more repurchase agreements.

Indemnifications – Under the fund’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the fund enters into agreements with service providers that may contain indemnification clauses. The fund’s maximum exposure under these agreements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the fund that have not yet occurred.

Investment Transactions and Income – Investment Transactions and Income –Investment transactions are recorded on the trade date. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. All premium and discount is amortized or accreted for financial statement purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Fees Paid Indirectly – The fund’s custody fee may be reduced according to an arrangement that measures the value of cash deposited with the custodian by the fund. This amount, for the six months ended February 28, 2013, is shown as a reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations.

Tax Matters and Distributions – The fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to distribute all of its taxable income, including realized capital gains. As a result, no provision for federal income tax is required. The fund’s federal tax returns, when filed, will remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for a three year period.

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Certain capital accounts in the financial statements are periodically adjusted for permanent differences in order to reflect their tax character. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or net asset value per share. Temporary differences which arise from recognizing certain items of income, expense, gain or loss in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes will reverse at some time in the future. Distributions in excess of net

 

22


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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

investment income or net realized gains are temporary overdistributions for financial statement purposes resulting from differences in the recognition or classification of income or distributions for financial statement and tax purposes.

Book/tax differences primarily relate to the timing of recognition of certain expenses.

The fund declared no distributions for the current period or for the year ended August 31, 2012.

The federal tax cost and the tax basis components of distributable earnings were as follows:

 

As of 2/28/13       
Cost of investments      $392,338,936   
As of 8/31/12       
Capital loss carryforwards      (207,708
Late year ordinary loss deferral      (1,403
Other temporary differences      (15,289

The aggregate cost above includes prior fiscal year end tax adjustments, if applicable.

Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized for fund fiscal years beginning after August 31, 2011 may be carried forward indefinitely, and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses (“post-enactment losses”). Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for eight years and treated as short-term losses (“pre-enactment losses”). As a transition rule, the Act requires that all post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

As of August 31, 2012, the fund had capital loss carryforwards available to offset future realized gains as follows:

 

Pre-enactment losses which expire as
follows:
 
8/31/15      $(219
8/31/16      (22,989
8/31/17      (184,390
Total      $(207,598
Post-enactment losses which are
characterized as follows:
 
Short-Term      $(110

Multiple Classes of Shares of Beneficial Interest – The fund offers multiple classes of shares, which differ in their respective distribution, service, and program manager fees. The fund’s income and common expenses are allocated to shareholders based on the value of settled shares outstanding of each class. The fund’s realized and unrealized gain (loss) are allocated to shareholders based on the daily net assets of each class. Dividends are declared separately for each class. Differences in per share dividend rates are generally due to differences in separate class expenses. Class B and Class 529B shares will convert to Class A and Class 529A shares, respectively, approximately eight years after purchase.

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

(3) Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Adviser – The fund has an investment advisory agreement with MFS to provide overall investment management and related administrative services and facilities to the fund.

The management fee is computed daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.40% of the fund’s average daily net assets.

During the six months ended February 28, 2013, MFS voluntarily waived receipt of $812,128 of the fund’s management fee in order to avoid a negative yield. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, this voluntary waiver had the effect of reducing the management fee by 0.40% of average daily net assets on an annualized basis. The management fee incurred for the six months ended February 28, 2013 was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.00% of the fund’s average daily net assets.

In order to avoid a negative yield for the six months ended February 28, 2013, MFS voluntarily agreed to reduce certain other expenses in the amount of $229,332, which is shown as a reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations.

Distributor – The Board of Trustees has adopted a distribution plan for certain class shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

The fund’s distribution plan provides that the fund will pay MFD for services provided by MFD and financial intermediaries in connection with the distribution and servicing of certain share classes. One component of the plan is a distribution fee paid to MFD and another component of the plan is a service fee paid to MFD. MFD may subsequently pay all, or a portion, of the distribution and/or service fees to financial intermediaries.

Distribution Plan Fee Table:

 

     Distribution
Fee Rate (d)
     Service
Fee Rate (d)
     Total
Distribution
Plan (d)
     Annual
Effective
Rate (e)
     Distribution
and Service
Fee
 
Class A              0.25%         0.25%         0.00%         $155,412   
Class B      0.75%         0.25%         1.00%         0.00%         167,304   
Class C      0.75%         0.25%         1.00%         0.00%         247,592   
Class R1      0.75%         0.25%         1.00%         0.00%         115,372   
Class R2      0.25%         0.25%         0.50%         0.00%         205,422   
Class R3              0.25%         0.25%         0.00%         95,709   
Class 529A              0.25%         0.25%         0.00%         13,185   
Class 529B      0.75%         0.25%         1.00%         0.00%         3,263   
Class 529C      0.75%         0.25%         1.00%         0.00%         24,889   

Total Distribution and Service Fees

  

           $1,028,148   

 

(d) In accordance with the distribution plan for certain classes, the fund pays distribution and/or service fees equal to these annual percentage rates of each class’s average daily net assets. The distribution and service fee rates disclosed by class represent the current rates in effect at the end of the reporting period.
(e)

The annual effective rates represent actual fees incurred under the distribution plan for the six months ended February 28, 2013 based on each class’s average daily net assets. MFD has agreed in writing to waive the Class A and Class 529A service fee. This written agreement will continue until modified by the fund’s Board of Trustees, but such agreement will continue until at least December 31, 2013. These reductions for Class A and Class 529A amounted to

 

24


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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

  $155,412 and $13,185, respectively, and are shown as a reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations. During the six months ended February 28, 2013, MFD voluntarily waived a receipt of $859,551 of the fund’s distribution and service fees to ensure the fund avoids a negative yield for Class B, Class C, Class R1, Class R2, Class R3, Class 529B, and Class 529C shares. This amount is reflected as a reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations.

Certain Class A shares acquired through an exchange may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) upon redemption depending on when the shares exchanged were originally purchased. Class C and Class 529C shares are subject to a CDSC in the event of a shareholder redemption within 12 months of purchase. Class B and Class 529B shares are subject to a CDSC in the event of a shareholder redemption within six years of purchase. All contingent deferred sales charges are paid to MFD and during the six months ended February 28, 2013, were as follows:

 

     Amount  
Class A      $106   
Class B      61,670   
Class C      5,292   
Class 529C      50   

The fund has entered into and may from time to time enter into contracts with program managers and other parties which administer the tuition programs through which an investment in the fund’s 529 share classes is made. The fund has entered into an agreement with MFD pursuant to which MFD receives an annual fee of up to 0.10% of the average daily net assets attributable to each 529 share class. MFD has agreed to waive a portion of this fee in an amount equal to 0.05% of the average daily net assets for each 529 share class. This waiver agreement will continue until modified by the fund’s Board of Trustees but such agreement will continue at least until December 31, 2013, after which MFD may eliminate this waiver without a vote of the fund’s Board of Trustees. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, this waiver amounted to $4,044. In addition, MFS voluntarily waived receipt of $4,045 of the fund’s program manager fees in order to avoid a negative yield for Class 529A, Class 529B, and Class 529C shares. This voluntary waiver had the effect of reducing the program manager fee by 0.10% of average daily net assets attributable to Class 529A, Class 529B, and Class 529C shares on an annualized basis. The program manager fee incurred for the six months ended February 28, 2013 was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.00% of the average daily net assets attributable to each 529 share class. The services provided by MFD, or a third party with which MFD contracts, include recordkeeping and tax reporting and account services, as well as services designed to maintain the program’s compliance with the Internal Revenue Code and other regulatory requirements. Program manager fees and waivers for the six months ended February 28, 2013, were as follows:

 

     Fee      Waiver  
Class 529A      $5,274         $5,274   
Class 529B      326         326   
Class 529C      2,489         2,489   

Total Program Manager Fees and Waivers

     $8,089         $8,089   

 

25


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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

Shareholder Servicing Agent – MFS Service Center, Inc. (MFSC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MFS, receives a fee from the fund for its services as shareholder servicing agent calculated as a percentage of the average daily net assets of the fund as determined periodically under the supervision of the fund’s Board of Trustees. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, the fee was $130,709, which equated to 0.0644% annually of the fund’s average daily net assets. MFSC also receives payment from the fund for out-of-pocket expenses, sub-accounting and other shareholder servicing costs which may be paid to affiliated and unaffiliated service providers. For the six months ended February 28, 2012, these out-of-pocket expenses, sub-accounting and other shareholder servicing costs amounted to $289,644.

Administrator – MFS provides certain financial, legal, shareholder communications, compliance, and other administrative services to the fund. Under an administrative services agreement, the fund partially reimburses MFS the costs incurred to provide these services. The fund is charged an annual fixed amount of $17,500 plus a fee based on average daily net assets. The administrative services fee incurred for the six months ended February 28, 2013 was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.0157% of the fund’s average daily net assets.

Trustees’ and Officers’ Compensation – The fund pays compensation to independent Trustees in the form of a retainer, attendance fees, and additional compensation to Board and Committee chairpersons. The fund does not pay compensation directly to Trustees or officers of the fund who are also officers of the investment adviser, all of whom receive remuneration for their services to the fund from MFS. Certain officers and Trustees of the fund are officers or directors of MFS, MFD, and MFSC.

Prior to December 31, 2001, the fund had an unfunded defined benefit plan (“DB plan”) for independent Trustees. As of December 31, 2001, the Board took action to terminate the DB plan with respect to then-current and any future independent Trustees, such that the DB plan covers only certain of those former independent Trustees who retired on or before December 31, 2001. The DB plan resulted in a pension expense of $378 and is included in independent Trustees’ compensation for the six months ended February 28, 2013. The liability for deferred retirement benefits payable to certain independent Trustees under the DB plan amounted to $14,259 at February 28, 2013, and is included in “Payable for independent Trustees’ compensation” in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Other – This fund and certain other funds managed by MFS (the funds) have entered into services agreements (the Agreements) which provide for payment of fees by the funds to Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC in return for the provision of services of an Independent Chief Compliance Officer (ICCO) and Assistant ICCO, respectively, for the funds. The ICCO and Assistant ICCO are officers of the funds and the sole members of Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC, respectively. The funds can terminate the Agreements with Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC at any time under the terms of the Agreements. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, the aggregate fees paid by the fund to Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC were $1,297 and are included in “Miscellaneous” expense in the Statement of Operations. MFS has agreed to reimburse the fund for a portion of the payments made by the fund

 

26


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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

in the amount of $359, which is shown as a reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations. Additionally, MFS has agreed to bear all expenses associated with office space, other administrative support, and supplies provided to the ICCO and Assistant ICCO.

(4) Shares of Beneficial Interest

The fund’s Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest. Transactions in fund shares were as follows:

 

     Six months ended
2/28/13
     Year ended
8/31/12
 
     Shares      Amount      Shares      Amount  
Shares sold            

Class A

     31,735,527         $31,735,528         57,061,460         $57,061,469   

Class B

     9,236,750         9,236,751         15,789,004         15,789,004   

Class C

     16,004,568         16,004,569         33,095,076         33,095,075   

Class R1

     4,478,916         4,478,916         6,221,434         6,221,434   

Class R2

     11,814,897         11,814,897         21,753,341         21,753,341   

Class R3

     11,176,203         11,176,203         16,302,385         16,302,385   

Class R4

     94,602         94,603         5,164,020         5,164,020   

Class 529A

     2,914,847         2,914,847         4,265,918         4,265,919   

Class 529B

     121,349         121,349         263,423         263,423   

Class 529C

     1,100,485         1,100,485         2,477,346         2,477,345   
     88,678,144         $88,678,148         162,393,407         $162,393,415   
Shares reacquired            

Class A

     (35,260,399      $(35,260,399      (84,412,371      $(84,412,372

Class B

     (11,687,142      (11,687,146      (31,069,642      (31,069,650

Class C

     (18,499,828      (18,499,828      (45,187,020      (45,187,020

Class R1

     (6,671,118      (6,671,118      (10,565,350      (10,565,350

Class R2

     (15,080,413      (15,080,413      (42,160,206      (42,160,206

Class R3

     (22,888,529      (22,888,529      (22,875,541      (22,875,541

Class R4

     (147,561      (147,561      (10,096,711      (10,096,711

Class 529A

     (2,655,485      (2,655,485      (3,645,993      (3,645,993

Class 529B

     (85,332      (85,333      (671,541      (671,541

Class 529C

     (1,174,086      (1,174,085      (2,981,917      (2,981,917
     (114,149,893      $(114,149,897      (253,666,292      $(253,666,301
Net change            

Class A

     (3,524,872      $(3,524,871      (27,350,911      $(27,350,903

Class B

     (2,450,392      (2,450,395      (15,280,638      (15,280,646

Class C

     (2,495,260      (2,495,259      (12,091,944      (12,091,945

Class R1

     (2,192,202      (2,192,202      (4,343,916      (4,343,916

Class R2

     (3,265,516      (3,265,516      (20,406,865      (20,406,865

Class R3

     (11,712,326      (11,712,326      (6,573,156      (6,573,156

Class R4

     (52,959      (52,958      (4,932,691      (4,932,691

Class 529A

     259,362         259,362         619,925         619,926   

Class 529B

     36,017         36,016         (408,118      (408,118

Class 529C

     (73,601      (73,600      (504,571      (504,572
     (25,471,749      $(25,471,749      (91,272,885      $(91,272,886

 

27


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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

The sale of fund shares has been suspended except in certain circumstances. Please see the fund’s prospectus for details.

(5) Line of Credit

The fund and certain other funds managed by MFS participate in a $1.1 billion unsecured committed line of credit, subject to a $1 billion sublimit, provided by a syndication of banks under a credit agreement. Borrowings may be made for temporary financing needs. Interest is charged to each fund, based on its borrowings, generally at a rate equal to the higher of the Federal Reserve funds rate or one month LIBOR plus an agreed upon spread. A commitment fee, based on the average daily, unused portion of the committed line of credit, is allocated among the participating funds at the end of each calendar quarter. In addition, the fund and other funds managed by MFS have established unsecured uncommitted borrowing arrangements with certain banks for temporary financing needs. Interest is charged to each fund, based on its borrowings, at a rate equal to the Federal Reserve funds rate plus an agreed upon spread. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, the fund’s commitment fee and interest expense were $1,354 and $0, respectively, and are included in “Miscellaneous” expense in the Statement of Operations.

 

28


Table of Contents

BOARD REVIEW OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

A discussion regarding the Board’s most recent review and renewal of the fund’s Investment Advisory Agreement with MFS is available by clicking on the fund’s name under “Mutual Funds” in the “Products” section of the MFS Web site (mfs.com).

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND INFORMATION

A general description of the MFS funds’ proxy voting policies and procedures is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-225-2606, by visiting the Proxy Voting section of mfs.com or by visiting the SEC’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov.

Information regarding how the fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 is available without charge by visiting the Proxy Voting section of mfs.com or by visiting the SEC’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov.

QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO DISCLOSURE

The fund will file a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. A shareholder can obtain the quarterly portfolio holdings report at mfs.com. The fund’s Form N-Q is also available on the EDGAR database on the Commission’s Internet Web site at http://www.sec.gov, and may be reviewed and copied at the:

Public Reference Room

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, NE, Room 1580

Washington, D.C. 20549

Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. Copies of the fund’s Form N-Q also may be obtained, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the Public Reference Section at the above address.

FURTHER INFORMATION

From time to time, MFS may post important information about the fund or the MFS funds on the MFS web site (mfs.com). This information is available by visiting the “News & Commentary” section of mfs.com or by clicking on the fund’s name under “Mutual Funds” in the “Products” section of mfs.com.

PROVISION OF FINANCIAL REPORTS AND SUMMARY PROSPECTUSES

The fund produces financial reports every six months and updates its summary prospectus and prospectus annually. To avoid sending duplicate copies of materials to households, only one copy of the fund’s annual and semiannual report and summary prospectus may be mailed to shareholders having the same last name and residential address on the fund’s records. However, any shareholder may contact MFSC (please see back cover for address and telephone number) to request that copies of these reports and summary prospectuses be sent personally to that shareholder.

 

29


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

Save paper with eDelivery.

 

LOGO

MFS® will send you prospectuses,

reports, and proxies directly via e-mail so you will get information faster with less mailbox clutter.

To sign up:

1. Go to mfs.com.

2. Log in via MFS® Access.

3. Select eDelivery.

If you own your MFS fund shares through a financial institution or a retirement plan, MFS® TALK, MFS® Access, or eDelivery may not be available to you.

 

CONTACT

WEB SITE

mfs.com

MFS TALK

1-800-637-8255

24 hours a day

ACCOUNT SERVICE AND LITERATURE

Shareholders

1-800-225-2606

Financial advisors

1-800-343-2829

Retirement plan services

1-800-637-1255

MAILING ADDRESS

MFS Service Center, Inc.

P.O. Box 55824

Boston, MA 02205-5824

OVERNIGHT MAIL

MFS Service Center, Inc.

c/o Boston Financial Data Services

30 Dan Road

Canton, MA 02021-2809

 


Table of Contents

SEMIANNUAL REPORT

February 28, 2013

 

LOGO

 

MFS® CORE EQUITY FUND

 

LOGO

 

RGI-SEM

 


Table of Contents

MFS® CORE EQUITY FUND

 

CONTENTS

 

Letter from the Chairman and CEO     1   
Portfolio composition     2   
Expense table     3   
Portfolio of investments     5   
Statement of assets and liabilities     14   
Statement of operations     16   
Statements of changes in net assets     17   
Financial highlights    
18
  
Notes to financial statements     27   
Board review of investment advisory agreement     41   
Proxy voting policies and information     41   
Quarterly portfolio disclosure     41   
Further information    
41
  
Provision of financial reports and summary prospectuses     41   
Contact information    back cover   

 

The report is prepared for the general information of shareholders. It is authorized for distribution to prospective investors only when preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus.

 

NOT FDIC INSURED Ÿ MAY LOSE VALUE Ÿ NO BANK GUARANTEE


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND CEO

 

Dear Shareholders:

Global financial markets began 2013 with greater optimism. U.S. and Asian economic trends have turned more positive. Europe continues to struggle through its economic

slump. However, even there, sentiment has improved. The U.S. Congress averted its year-end fiscal cliff, but a degree of uncertainty remains regarding upcoming negotiations over spending cuts and the debt ceiling. The U.S. Federal Reserve Board is continuing its accommodative monetary easing, while the U.S. housing and job markets have made steady gains. Corporate profits have been resilient, and investors have demonstrated increased tolerance for risk.

Overseas, the eurozone remains in a broad contraction, with economic output receding in France as well as Italy and Spain.

However, large-scale early repayments of European Central Bank loans by banks and Germany’s strong rebound in manufacturing activity are encouraging signs. In Asia, both China and Japan appear to be in the early stages of a turnaround. China’s economic activity has picked up from last year’s relative slowdown, and Japan’s sharp devaluation of the yen, an important anti-deflationary measure, seems to be having its desired impact: Japanese stocks have soared, corporate profits are rising and confidence is returning among consumers, businesses and investors.

As always, managing risk in the face of uncertainty remains a top priority for investors. At MFS®, our uniquely collaborative investment process employs global research and active risk management. Our global team of investment professionals shares ideas and evaluates opportunities across continents, investment disciplines and asset classes — all with a goal of building better insights, and ultimately better results, for our clients.

We remain mindful of the many economic challenges investors face today, and believe it is more important than ever to maintain a long-term view and employ time-tested principles, such as asset allocation and diversification. We also remain confident that our unique approach can serve investors well as they work with their financial advisors to identify and pursue the most suitable opportunities.

Respectfully,

 

LOGO

Robert J. Manning

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

MFS Investment Management®

April 12, 2013

The opinions expressed in this letter are subject to change, may not be relied upon for investment advice, and no forecasts can be guaranteed.

 

1


Table of Contents

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION

 

Portfolio structure

 

LOGO

 

Top ten holdings  
Exxon Mobil Corp.     4.4%   
Apple, Inc.     2.8%   
Pfizer, Inc.     2.2%   
ACE Ltd.     1.9%   
Philip Morris International, Inc.     1.6%   
JPMorgan Chase & Co.     1.6%   
Google, Inc., “A”     1.5%   
Johnson & Johnson     1.4%   
Target Corp.     1.3%   
Verizon Communications, Inc.     1.2%   
Equity sectors  
Financial Services     17.5%   
Technology (s)     14.8%   
Health Care     12.1%   
Energy     9.9%   
Industrial Goods & Services     7.7%   
Consumer Staples     7.5%   
Utilities & Communications     6.5%   
Leisure     6.1%   
Retailing     6.1%   
Basic Materials     3.5%   
Special Products & Services     2.9%   
Transportation     2.2%   
Autos & Housing     2.0%   
 

 

(s) Includes securities sold short.

Percentages are based on net assets as of 2/28/13.

The portfolio is actively managed and current holdings may be different.

 

2


Table of Contents

EXPENSE TABLE

Fund expenses borne by the shareholders during the period, September 1, 2012 through February 28, 2013

As a shareholder of the fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on certain purchase or redemption payments, and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period September 1, 2012 through February 28, 2013.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class in the following table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class in the following table provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads). Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

3


Table of Contents

Expense Table – continued

 

Share
Class
       Annualized
Expense
Ratio
    Beginning
Account Value
9/01/12
    Ending
Account Value
2/28/13
    Expenses
Paid During
Period (p)
9/01/12-2/28/13
 
A   Actual     1.12%        $1,000.00        $1,107.51        $5.85   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.12%        $1,000.00        $1,019.24        $5.61   
B   Actual     1.87%        $1,000.00        $1,103.75        $9.75   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.87%        $1,000.00        $1,015.52        $9.35   
C   Actual     1.87%        $1,000.00        $1,103.39        $9.75   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.87%        $1,000.00        $1,015.52        $9.35   
I   Actual     0.87%        $1,000.00        $1,109.14        $4.55   
  Hypothetical (h)     0.87%        $1,000.00        $1,020.48        $4.36   
R1   Actual     1.87%        $1,000.00        $1,103.56        $9.75   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.87%        $1,000.00        $1,015.52        $9.35   
R2   Actual     1.37%        $1,000.00        $1,106.70        $7.16   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.37%        $1,000.00        $1,018.00        $6.85   
R3   Actual     1.12%        $1,000.00        $1,107.60        $5.85   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.12%        $1,000.00        $1,019.24        $5.61   
R4   Actual     0.87%        $1,000.00        $1,109.36        $4.55   
  Hypothetical (h)     0.87%        $1,000.00        $1,020.48        $4.36   
R5   Actual     0.78%        $1,000.00        $1,073.74        $1.31 (i) 
  Hypothetical (h)     0.78%        $1,000.00        $1,020.93        $3.91   

 

(h) 5% class return per year before expenses.
(i) For the period from the class inception, January 2, 2013, through the stated period end.
(p) Expenses paid are equal to each class’s annualized expense ratio, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period, divided by the number of days in the year. Expenses paid do not include any applicable sales charges (loads). If these transaction costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.

Expenses Impacting Table

Expense ratios include 0.01% of investment related expenses from short sale dividend and interest expenses that are outside of the expense cap arrangement (See Note 3 of the Notes to Financial Statements).

 

4


Table of Contents

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

2/28/13 (unaudited)

The Portfolio of Investments is a complete list of all securities owned by your fund. It is categorized by broad-based asset classes.

 

Common Stocks - 98.5%                 
Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Aerospace - 3.1%                 
Embraer S.A., ADR      50,870      $ 1,726,528   
Honeywell International, Inc.      150,360        10,540,236   
Lockheed Martin Corp.      29,670        2,610,960   
Precision Castparts Corp.      35,200        6,567,968   
United Technologies Corp.      97,740        8,850,357   
    

 

 

 
             $ 30,296,049   
Apparel Manufacturers - 1.3%                 
Guess?, Inc.      131,050      $ 3,628,775   
NIKE, Inc., “B”      89,740        4,887,240   
VF Corp.      24,230        3,907,330   
    

 

 

 
             $ 12,423,345   
Automotive - 1.3%                 
Delphi Automotive PLC      214,340      $ 8,970,129   
General Motors Co. (a)      151,150        4,103,723   
    

 

 

 
             $ 13,073,852   
Biotechnology - 2.0%                 
Biogen Idec, Inc. (a)      26,940      $ 4,481,200   
Celgene Corp. (a)      56,890        5,869,910   
Gilead Sciences, Inc. (a)      113,680        4,855,273   
ViroPharma, Inc. (a)      154,490        3,852,981   
    

 

 

 
             $ 19,059,364   
Broadcasting - 2.1%                 
News Corp., “A”      334,380      $ 9,630,144   
Time Warner, Inc.      54,730        2,909,994   
Walt Disney Co.      144,380        7,881,704   
    

 

 

 
             $ 20,421,842   
Brokerage & Asset Managers - 1.2%                 
BlackRock, Inc.      13,444      $ 3,223,199   
Franklin Resources, Inc.      24,260        3,426,725   
FXCM, Inc., “A”      107,960        1,419,674   
NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc.      122,080        3,865,053   
    

 

 

 
             $ 11,934,651   

 

5


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Business Services - 2.0%                 
Accenture PLC, “A”      56,320      $ 4,187,955   
Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Inc. (a)      33,900        947,844   
Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.      126,230        4,752,560   
FleetCor Technologies, Inc. (a)      63,150        4,408,502   
Gartner, Inc. (a)      49,760        2,476,058   
Performant Financial Corp. (a)      213,544        2,829,458   
Xoom Corp. (a)      7,900        167,954   
    

 

 

 
             $ 19,770,331   
Cable TV - 1.2%                 
Comcast Corp., “Special A”      149,480      $ 5,726,579   
Time Warner Cable, Inc.      66,830        5,773,444   
    

 

 

 
             $ 11,500,023   
Chemicals - 1.1%                 
Celanese Corp.      88,010      $ 4,123,269   
LyondellBasell Industries N.V., “A”      71,000        4,162,020   
PPG Industries, Inc.      19,380        2,609,711   
    

 

 

 
             $ 10,895,000   
Computer Software - 4.1%                 
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (a)      147,151      $ 7,726,899   
Citrix Systems, Inc. (a)      87,760        6,222,184   
Nuance Communications, Inc. (a)      136,070        2,505,049   
Oracle Corp.      315,530        10,810,058   
Salesforce.com, Inc. (a)      40,470        6,848,333   
Symantec Corp. (a)      155,280        3,639,763   
TIBCO Software, Inc. (a)      88,560        1,899,612   
    

 

 

 
             $ 39,651,898   
Computer Software - Systems - 5.2%                 
Apple, Inc. (s)      61,690      $ 27,229,966   
EMC Corp. (a)      348,690        8,023,357   
Hewlett-Packard Co.      527,480        10,623,447   
International Business Machines Corp.      4,700        943,901   
Vantiv, Inc. (a)      161,490        3,514,022   
    

 

 

 
             $ 50,334,693   
Construction - 0.7%                 
Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.      81,770      $ 6,435,299   
Consumer Products - 2.0%                 
Colgate-Palmolive Co.      94,110      $ 10,769,007   
International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.      58,450        4,265,681   

 

6


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Consumer Products - continued                 
Newell Rubbermaid, Inc.      197,240      $ 4,603,582   
    

 

 

 
             $ 19,638,270   
Consumer Services - 0.9%                 
Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (a)      45,020      $ 1,078,229   
Priceline.com, Inc. (a)      10,560        7,260,845   
    

 

 

 
             $ 8,339,074   
Containers - 0.7%                 
Packaging Corp. of America      110,550      $ 4,618,779   
Silgan Holdings, Inc.      40,950        1,757,984   
    

 

 

 
             $ 6,376,763   
Electrical Equipment - 1.8%                 
AMETEK, Inc.      104,880      $ 4,387,130   
Danaher Corp. (s)      130,900        8,063,440   
Sensata Technologies Holding B.V. (a)      98,720        3,207,413   
W.W. Grainger, Inc.      9,800        2,219,308   
    

 

 

 
             $ 17,877,291   
Electronics - 2.9%                 
Altera Corp.      281,670      $ 9,976,751   
ASML Holding N.V.      46,569        3,305,468   
KLA-Tencor Corp.      17,500        958,300   
Linear Technology Corp.      86,100        3,292,464   
Microchip Technology, Inc.      214,920        7,838,132   
NXP Semiconductors N.V. (a)      88,630        2,864,522   
    

 

 

 
             $ 28,235,637   
Energy - Independent - 3.8%                 
Cabot Oil & Gas Corp.      73,350      $ 4,545,500   
Concho Resources, Inc. (a)      28,070        2,525,177   
CONSOL Energy, Inc.      24,440        785,746   
EOG Resources, Inc.      30,270        3,805,242   
EQT Corp.      42,050        2,652,935   
Marathon Petroleum Corp.      41,790        3,463,555   
Noble Energy, Inc.      52,120        5,776,460   
Occidental Petroleum Corp.      22,900        1,885,357   
Peabody Energy Corp.      26,650        574,574   
Pioneer Natural Resources Co.      43,970        5,531,866   
SM Energy Co.      30,651        1,774,080   
Valero Energy Corp.      73,970        3,372,292   
    

 

 

 
             $ 36,692,784   

 

7


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Energy - Integrated - 4.4%                 
Exxon Mobil Corp. (s)      478,822      $ 42,878,510   
Food & Beverages - 3.2%                 
Coca-Cola Co.      296,790      $ 11,491,709   
Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc.      100,340        3,590,165   
General Mills, Inc.      132,210        6,114,713   
Mead Johnson Nutrition Co., “A”      36,250        2,715,488   
Mondelez International, Inc.      262,270        7,251,766   
    

 

 

 
             $ 31,163,841   
Food & Drug Stores - 1.0%                 
CVS Caremark Corp.      144,930      $ 7,408,822   
Kroger Co.      67,320        1,966,417   
    

 

 

 
             $ 9,375,239   
Gaming & Lodging - 0.6%                 
Wynn Resorts Ltd.      51,840      $ 6,060,096   
General Merchandise - 1.3%                 
Target Corp.      196,450      $ 12,368,492   
Health Maintenance Organizations - 0.7%                 
Aetna, Inc.      99,780      $ 4,708,618   
UnitedHealth Group, Inc.      33,860        1,809,817   
    

 

 

 
             $ 6,518,435   
Insurance - 3.8%                 
ACE Ltd.      214,730      $ 18,335,795   
American International Group, Inc. (a)      167,390        6,362,494   
MetLife, Inc.      213,620        7,570,693   
Validus Holdings Ltd.      143,020        5,095,803   
    

 

 

 
             $ 37,364,785   
Internet - 2.6%                 
eBay, Inc. (a)      62,310      $ 3,407,111   
Google, Inc., “A” (a)      17,960        14,389,552   
Rackspace Hosting, Inc. (a)      74,210        4,145,371   
Shutterfly, Inc. (a)      73,160        3,166,365   
    

 

 

 
             $ 25,108,399   
Leisure & Toys - 0.3%                 
Activision Blizzard, Inc.      131,110      $ 1,874,873   
Brunswick Corp.      39,830        1,451,405   
    

 

 

 
             $ 3,326,278   

 

8


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Machinery & Tools - 2.5%                 
Eaton Corp. PLC      103,810      $ 6,433,106   
Joy Global, Inc.      89,690        5,680,965   
Kennametal, Inc.      90,780        3,674,774   
Roper Industries, Inc.      71,330        8,888,431   
    

 

 

 
             $ 24,677,276   
Major Banks - 4.5%                 
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.      38,210      $ 5,722,330   
JPMorgan Chase & Co.      316,530        15,484,648   
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.      94,360        5,887,120   
State Street Corp.      114,370        6,472,198   
Wells Fargo & Co.      300,160        10,529,613   
    

 

 

 
             $ 44,095,909   
Medical & Health Technology & Services - 1.2%                 
AmerisourceBergen Corp.      69,670      $ 3,288,424   
Cerner Corp. (a)      14,220        1,243,681   
Express Scripts Holding Co. (a)      103,330        5,880,510   
Henry Schein, Inc. (a)      18,500        1,650,570   
    

 

 

 
             $ 12,063,185   
Medical Equipment - 2.9%                 
AtriCure, Inc. (a)      114,240      $ 1,014,451   
Cooper Cos., Inc.      38,380        4,070,583   
Covidien PLC      89,010        5,658,366   
DexCom, Inc. (a)      65,940        984,484   
Endologix, Inc. (a)      62,660        943,660   
NxStage Medical, Inc. (a)      159,540        1,790,039   
Sirona Dental Systems, Inc. (a)      22,460        1,595,109   
St. Jude Medical, Inc.      87,580        3,590,780   
Stryker Corp.      65,890        4,209,053   
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.      52,950        3,907,710   
    

 

 

 
             $ 27,764,235   
Metals & Mining - 0.5%                 
Cliffs Natural Resources, Inc.      41,110      $ 1,046,661   
Lundin Mining Corp. (a)      343,950        1,557,572   
Teck Resources Ltd., “B”      67,083        2,077,052   
    

 

 

 
             $ 4,681,285   
Natural Gas - Distribution - 0.2%                 
Spectra Energy Corp.      77,380      $ 2,247,115   

 

9


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Natural Gas - Pipeline - 0.6%                 
Enbridge, Inc.      84,060      $ 3,745,714   
Kinder Morgan, Inc.      45,177        1,674,711   
    

 

 

 
             $ 5,420,425   
Network & Telecom - 0.2%                 
Fortinet, Inc. (a)      41,890      $ 1,012,900   
Juniper Networks, Inc. (a)      61,350        1,268,718   
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,281,618   
Oil Services - 1.7%                 
Cameron International Corp. (a)      74,520      $ 4,748,414   
Dresser-Rand Group, Inc. (a)      62,290        3,840,801   
FMC Technologies, Inc. (a)      44,740        2,322,453   
Oil States International, Inc. (a)      6,840        520,866   
Schlumberger Ltd.      45,060        3,507,921   
Superior Energy Services, Inc. (a)      20,110        531,910   
Transocean, Inc.      26,890        1,406,347   
    

 

 

 
             $ 16,878,712   
Other Banks & Diversified Financials - 4.5%                 
American Express Co.      70,600      $ 4,387,790   
BancorpSouth, Inc.      70,280        1,075,284   
CapitalSource, Inc.      342,890        3,086,010   
CIT Group, Inc. (a)      102,220        4,278,929   
Citigroup, Inc.      203,670        8,548,030   
EuroDekania Ltd. (a)(z)      580,280        630,689   
Fifth Third Bancorp      387,710        6,141,326   
PrivateBancorp, Inc.      198,250        3,550,658   
Visa, Inc., “A”      57,150        9,066,276   
Western Union Co.      188,640        2,646,619   
    

 

 

 
             $ 43,411,611   
Pharmaceuticals - 5.3%                 
Eli Lilly & Co.      86,320      $ 4,718,251   
Johnson & Johnson      174,960        13,316,206   
Perrigo Co.      22,880        2,589,330   
Pfizer, Inc.      783,546        21,445,654   
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (a)      68,200        4,600,772   
Zoetis, Inc. (a)      149,090        4,987,061   
    

 

 

 
             $ 51,657,274   
Pollution Control - 0.3%                 
Stericycle, Inc. (a)      30,250      $ 2,901,580   

 

10


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Printing & Publishing - 0.3%                 
Moody’s Corp.      70,340      $ 3,380,540   
Railroad & Shipping - 1.1%                 
Diana Shipping, Inc. (a)      218,910      $ 1,858,546   
Kansas City Southern Co.      18,460        1,900,826   
Union Pacific Corp.      49,710        6,815,738   
    

 

 

 
             $ 10,575,110   
Real Estate - 3.5%                 
Equity Lifestyle Properties, Inc., REIT      133,010      $ 9,801,507   
Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc., REIT      154,260        10,711,814   
Public Storage, Inc., REIT      36,660        5,543,359   
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc., REIT      223,370        7,882,727   
    

 

 

 
             $ 33,939,407   
Restaurants - 1.6%                 
McDonald’s Corp.      117,460      $ 11,264,414   
Starbucks Corp.      85,780        4,702,460   
    

 

 

 
             $ 15,966,874   
Specialty Chemicals - 1.2%                 
Airgas, Inc.      32,843      $ 3,293,496   
Albemarle Corp.      22,350        1,454,538   
Ecolab, Inc.      86,840        6,647,602   
    

 

 

 
             $ 11,395,636   
Specialty Stores - 2.5%                 
Amazon.com, Inc. (a)      7,950      $ 2,100,947   
AutoZone, Inc. (a)      11,730        4,459,160   
Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc. (a)      69,460        3,941,855   
Children’s Place Retail Store, Inc. (a)      63,350        2,879,891   
Express, Inc. (a)      218,170        4,036,145   
rue21, Inc. (a)      107,020        2,889,540   
Tiffany & Co.      63,990        4,297,568   
    

 

 

 
             $ 24,605,106   
Telecommunications - Wireless - 0.8%                 
American Tower Corp., REIT      57,770      $ 4,482,952   
SBA Communications Corp. (a)      42,650        3,033,268   
    

 

 

 
             $ 7,516,220   

 

11


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Telephone Services - 2.1%                 
AT&T, Inc.      235,740      $ 8,465,423   
Verizon Communications, Inc.      258,330        12,020,095   
    

 

 

 
             $ 20,485,518   
Tobacco - 2.3%                 
Lorillard, Inc.      171,570      $ 6,612,308   
Philip Morris International, Inc.      170,520        15,645,210   
    

 

 

 
             $ 22,257,518   
Trucking - 1.1%                 
Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.      127,550      $ 4,955,318   
Swift Transportation Co. (a)      416,850        5,639,981   
    

 

 

 
             $ 10,595,299   
Utilities - Electric Power - 2.3%                 
AES Corp.      182,970      $ 2,126,111   
American Electric Power Co., Inc.      77,180        3,611,252   
Calpine Corp. (a)      179,810        3,308,504   
CMS Energy Corp.      133,517        3,552,887   
Edison International      71,990        3,457,680   
Great Plains Energy, Inc.      143,450        3,131,514   
PG&E Corp.      64,610        2,754,961   
    

 

 

 
             $ 21,942,909   
Total Common Stocks (Identified Cost, $820,488,038)            $ 957,860,603   
Convertible Preferred Stocks - 0.5%                 
Utilities - Electric Power - 0.5%                 
PPL Corp., 9.5%      45,860      $ 2,513,128   
PPL Corp., 8.75%      42,560        2,334,842   
Total Convertible Preferred Stocks
(Identified Cost, $4,496,166)
           $ 4,847,970   
     Strike Price     First Exercise                
       
Warrants - 0.0%                                
Natural Gas - Pipeline - 0.0%                                
Kinder Morgan, Inc. (1 share for 1 warrant)
(Identified Cost, $89,611) (a)
  $ 40        2/15/12        47,040      $ 206,976   

 

12


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Money Market Funds - 0.8%                 
Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio, 0.13%,
at Cost and Net Asset Value (v)
     8,250,921      $ 8,250,921   
Total Investments (Identified Cost, $833,324,736)            $ 971,166,470   
Securities Sold Short - (0.2)%                 
Electronics - (0.2)%                 
Xilinx, Inc. (Proceeds Received $1,794,522)      (55,000   $ (2,049,850
Other Assets, Less Liabilities - 0.4%              3,428,274   
Net Assets - 100.0%            $ 972,544,894   

 

(a) Non-income producing security.
(s) Security or a portion of the security was pledged to cover collateral requirements for securities sold short and certain derivative transactions.
(v) Underlying affiliated fund that is available only to investment companies managed by MFS. The rate quoted for the MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio is the annualized seven-day yield of the fund at period end.
(z) Restricted securities are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and are subject to legal restrictions on resale. These securities generally may be resold in transactions exempt from registration or to the public if the securities are subsequently registered. Disposal of these securities may involve time-consuming negotiations and prompt sale at an acceptable price may be difficult. The fund holds the following restricted securities:

 

Restricted Securities    Acquisition
Date
  
Cost
     Value  
EuroDekania Ltd.    3/08/07-6/25/07      $8,173,430         $630,689   
% of Net assets         0.1%   

At February 28, 2013, the fund had cash collateral of $1,989,103 and other liquid securities with an aggregate value of $1,735,948 to cover any commitments for securities sold short and certain derivative contracts. Cash collateral is comprised of “Deposits with brokers” in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

The following abbreviations are used in this report and are defined:

 

ADR   American Depositary Receipt
PLC   Public Limited Company
REIT   Real Estate Investment Trust

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

13


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

At 2/28/13 (unaudited)

This statement represents your fund’s balance sheet, which details the assets and liabilities comprising the total value of the fund.

 

Assets         

Investments-

  

Non-affiliated issuers, at value (identified cost, $825,073,815)

     $962,915,549   

Underlying affiliated funds, at cost and value

     8,250,921   

Total investments, at value (identified cost, $833,324,736)

     $971,166,470   

Deposits with brokers

     1,989,103   

Receivables for

  

Investments sold

     3,398,882   

Fund shares sold

     1,685,045   

Interest and dividends

     1,677,742   

Other assets

     5,846   

Total assets

     $979,923,088   
Liabilities         

Payables for

  

Securities sold short, at value (proceeds received, $1,794,522)

     $2,049,850   

Investments purchased

     3,407,053   

Fund shares reacquired

     1,247,510   

Payable to affiliates

  

Investment adviser

     32,594   

Shareholder servicing costs

     504,624   

Distribution and service fees

     17,749   

Payable for independent Trustees’ compensation

     104,418   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     14,396   

Total liabilities

     $7,378,194   

Net assets

     $972,544,894   
Net assets consist of         

Paid-in capital

     $926,327,575   

Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies

     137,585,779   

Accumulated net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

     (95,819,408

Undistributed net investment income

     4,450,948   

Net assets

     $972,544,894   

Shares of beneficial interest outstanding

     45,282,804   

 

14


Table of Contents

Statement of Assets and Liabilities (unaudited) – continued

 

 

     Net assets      Shares
outstanding
     Net asset value
per share (a)
 

Class A

     $763,288,207         35,187,747         $21.69   

Class B

     41,572,755         2,078,551         20.00   

Class C

     67,988,144         3,424,822         19.85   

Class I

     23,044,199         1,020,975         22.57   

Class R1

     3,541,734         178,677         19.82   

Class R2

     17,984,882         844,857         21.29   

Class R3

     51,864,197         2,397,869         21.63   

Class R4

     3,153,406         144,549         21.82   

Class R5

     107,370         4,757         22.57   

 

(a) Maximum offering price per share was equal to the net asset value per share for all share classes, except for Class A, for which the maximum offering price per share was $23.01 [100 / 94.25 x $21.69]. On sales of $50,000 or more, the maximum offering price of Class A shares is reduced. A contingent deferred sales charge may be imposed on redemptions of Class A, Class B, and Class C shares. Redemption price per share was equal to the net asset value per share for Classes I, R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

15


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

Six months ended 2/28/13 (unaudited)

This statement describes how much your fund earned in investment income and accrued in expenses. It also describes any gains and/or losses generated by fund operations.

 

Net investment income         

Income

  

Dividends

     $10,015,844   

Interest

     44,400   

Dividends from underlying affiliated funds

     5,780   

Foreign taxes withheld

     (17,071

Total investment income

     $10,048,953   

Expenses

  

Management fee

     $2,742,864   

Distribution and service fees

     1,541,145   

Shareholder servicing costs

     871,233   

Administrative services fee

     64,590   

Independent Trustees’ compensation

     20,041   

Custodian fee

     45,124   

Shareholder communications

     41,494   

Audit and tax fees

     25,140   

Legal fees

     5,664   

Dividend and interest expense on securities sold short

     39,715   

Miscellaneous

     90,614   

Total expenses

     $5,487,624   

Fees paid indirectly

     (66

Reduction of expenses by investment adviser

     (802

Net expenses

     $5,486,756   

Net investment income

     $4,562,197   
Realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency   

Realized gain (loss) (identified cost basis)

  

Investments

     $41,555,947   

Written options

     49,267   

Securities sold short

     140,895   

Foreign currency

     (814

Net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

     $41,745,295   

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

  

Investments

     $48,315,946   

Securities sold short

     (255,328

Translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies

     (627

Net unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency translation

     $48,059,991   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

     $89,805,286   

Change in net assets from operations

     $94,367,483   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

16


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

These statements describe the increases and/or decreases in net assets resulting from operations, any distributions, and any shareholder transactions.

 

Change in net assets    Six months ended
2/28/13
(unaudited)
     Year ended
8/31/12
    
 
From operations                  

Net investment income

     $4,562,197         $4,257,841   

Net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

     41,745,295         43,944,879   

Net unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency translation

     48,059,991         69,484,871   

Change in net assets from operations

     $94,367,483         $117,687,591   
Distributions declared to shareholders                  

From net investment income

     $(4,250,197      $(4,062,237

Change in net assets from fund share transactions

     $(2,378,151      $(23,975,464

Total change in net assets

     $87,739,135         $89,649,890   
Net assets                  

At beginning of period

     884,805,759         795,155,869   

At end of period (including undistributed net investment income of $4,450,948 and $4,138,948, respectively)

     $972,544,894         $884,805,759   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

17


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the fund’s financial performance for the semiannual period and the past 5 fiscal years (or life of a particular share class, if shorter). Certain information reflects financial results for a single fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate by which an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the fund share class (assuming reinvestment of all distributions) held for the entire period.

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class A     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $19.68        $17.20        $14.62        $13.87        $16.75        $19.83   
Income (loss) from investment operations                   

Net investment income (d)

    $0.11        $0.11        $0.11        $0.10        $0.12        $0.09   

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency

    2.01        2.47        2.58        0.77        (2.92     (1.71

Total from investment operations

    $2.12        $2.58        $2.69        $0.87        $(2.80     $(1.62
Less distributions declared to shareholders                   

From net investment income

    $(0.11     $(0.10     $(0.11     $(0.12     $(0.08     $—   

From net realized gain
on investments

                                       (1.46

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $(0.11     $(0.10     $(0.11     $(0.12     $(0.08     $(1.46

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $21.69        $19.68        $17.20        $14.62        $13.87        $16.75   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    10.81 (n)      15.10        18.39        6.27        (16.55     (8.94
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                   

Expenses before expense reductions (f)

    1.12 (a)      1.15        1.18        1.24        1.36        1.24   

Expenses after expense reductions (f)

    1.12 (a)      1.15        1.18        1.23        1.21        1.21   

Net investment income

    1.10 (a)      0.61        0.60        0.68        1.03        0.52   

Portfolio turnover

    32 (n)      65        66        77        109        86   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $763,288        $686,616        $612,504        $547,296        $559,572        $650,476   
Supplemental Ratios (%):                   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets
after expense reductions excluding
short sale dividend and interest
expense (f)

    1.11 (a)      1.15        1.17        1.22        1.21        N/A   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

18


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class B     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $18.11        $15.86        $13.50        $12.80        $15.45        $18.52   
Income (loss) from investment operations                   

Net investment income (loss) (d)

    $0.03        $(0.02     $(0.02     $(0.01     $0.05        $(0.02

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency

    1.86        2.27        2.38        0.71        (2.70     (1.59

Total from investment operations

    $1.89        $2.25        $2.36        $0.70        $(2.65     $(1.61
Less distributions declared to shareholders                   

From net investment income

    $—        $—        $—        $(0.00 )(w)      $—        $—   

From net realized gain
on investments

                                       (1.46

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $—        $—        $—        $(0.00 )(w)      $—        $(1.46

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $20.00        $18.11        $15.86        $13.50        $12.80        $15.45   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    10.44 (n)      14.19        17.48        5.49        (17.15     (9.55
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                   

Expenses before expense reductions (f)

    1.87 (a)      1.91        1.93        1.99        2.07        1.88   

Expenses after expense reductions (f)

    1.87 (a)      1.90        1.93        1.98        1.90        1.86   

Net investment income (loss)

    0.34 (a)      (0.14     (0.15     (0.06     0.42        (0.14

Portfolio turnover

    32 (n)      65        66        77        109        86   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $41,573        $43,320        $49,181        $55,327        $79,608        $162,122   
Supplemental Ratios (%):                   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets
after expense reductions excluding
short sale dividend and interest
expense (f)

    1.86 (a)      1.90        1.92        1.97        1.90        N/A   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

19


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class C     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $17.98        $15.74        $13.39        $12.75        $15.38        $18.44   
Income (loss) from investment operations                   

Net investment income (loss) (d)

    $0.03        $(0.02     $(0.02     $(0.01     $0.04        $(0.02

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency

    1.84        2.26        2.37        0.70        (2.67     (1.58

Total from investment operations

    $1.87        $2.24        $2.35        $0.69        $(2.63     $(1.60
Less distributions declared to shareholders                   

From net investment income

    $—        $—        $—        $(0.05     $—        $—   

From net realized gain
on investments

                                       (1.46

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $—        $—        $—        $(0.05     $—        $(1.46

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $19.85        $17.98        $15.74        $13.39        $12.75        $15.38   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    10.40 (n)      14.23        17.55        5.40        (17.10     (9.54
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                   

Expenses before expense reductions (f)

    1.87 (a)      1.90        1.93        1.99        2.06        1.89   

Expenses after expense reductions (f)

    1.87 (a)      1.90        1.93        1.98        1.91        1.86   

Net investment income (loss)

    0.34 (a)      (0.14     (0.15     (0.07     0.34        (0.14

Portfolio turnover

    32 (n)      65        66        77        109        86   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $67,988        $64,258        $62,249        $59,265        $63,993        $79,213   
Supplemental Ratios (%):                   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets
after expense reductions excluding
short sale dividend and interest
expense (f)

    1.86 (a)      1.90        1.92        1.97        1.91        N/A   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

20


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class I     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $20.49        $17.91        $15.21        $14.43        $17.47        $20.54   
Income (loss) from investment operations                   

Net investment income (d)

    $0.14        $0.16        $0.15        $0.15        $0.17        $0.17   

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency

    2.10        2.57        2.70        0.79        (3.06     (1.78

Total from investment operations

    $2.24        $2.73        $2.85        $0.94        $(2.89     $(1.61
Less distributions declared to shareholders                   

From net investment income

    $(0.16     $(0.15     $(0.15     $(0.16     $(0.15     $—   

From net realized gain
on investments

                                       (1.46

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $(0.16     $(0.15     $(0.15     $(0.16     $(0.15     $(1.46

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $22.57        $20.49        $17.91        $15.21        $14.43        $17.47   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

    10.97 (n)      15.36        18.73        6.47        (16.29     (8.56
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                   

Expenses before expense reductions (f)

    0.87 (a)      0.90        0.93        0.99        1.06        0.89   

Expenses after expense reductions (f)

    0.87 (a)      0.90        0.93        0.98        0.91        0.86   

Net investment income

    1.34 (a)      0.86        0.83        0.93        1.32        0.88   

Portfolio turnover

    32 (n)      65        66        77        109        86   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $23,044        $20,441        $17,250        $16,291        $15,766        $17,269   
Supplemental Ratios (%):                   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets
after expense reductions excluding
short sale dividend and interest
expense (f)

    0.86 (a)      0.90        0.92        0.97        0.91        N/A   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

21


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class R1     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $17.95        $15.72        $13.38        $12.75        $15.39        $18.45   
Income (loss) from investment operations                   

Net investment income (loss) (d)

    $0.03        $(0.02     $(0.02     $(0.01     $0.04        $(0.03

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency

    1.84        2.25        2.37        0.70        (2.68     (1.57

Total from investment operations

    $1.87        $2.23        $2.35        $0.69        $(2.64     $(1.60
Less distributions declared to shareholders                   

From net investment income

    $—        $—        $(0.01     $(0.06     $—        $—   

From net realized gain
on investments

                                       (1.46

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $—        $—        $(0.01     $(0.06     $—        $(1.46

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $19.82        $17.95        $15.72        $13.38        $12.75        $15.39   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

    10.42 (n)      14.19        17.56        5.43        (17.15     (9.53
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                   

Expenses before expense reductions (f)

    1.87 (a)      1.90        1.93        1.99        2.06        1.95   

Expenses after expense reductions (f)

    1.87 (a)      1.90        1.93        1.98        1.91        1.91   

Net investment income (loss)

    0.34 (a)      (0.14     (0.15     (0.07     0.32        (0.18

Portfolio turnover

    32 (n)      65        66        77        109        86   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $3,542        $4,098        $3,904        $3,688        $3,735        $3,663   
Supplemental Ratios (%):                   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets
after expense reductions excluding
short sale dividend and interest
expense (f)

    1.86(a     1.90        1.92        1.97        1.91        N/A   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

22


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class R2     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $19.28        $16.86        $14.33        $13.62        $16.45        $19.53   
Income (loss) from investment operations                   

Net investment income (d)

    $0.08        $0.06        $0.06        $0.06        $0.10        $0.06   

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency

    1.98        2.42        2.54        0.75        (2.87     (1.68

Total from investment operations

    $2.06        $2.48        $2.60        $0.81        $(2.77     $(1.62
Less distributions declared to shareholders                   

From net investment income

    $(0.05     $(0.06     $(0.07     $(0.10     $(0.06     $—   

From net realized gain
on investments

                                       (1.46

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $(0.05     $(0.06     $(0.07     $(0.10     $(0.06     $(1.46

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $21.29        $19.28        $16.86        $14.33        $13.62        $16.45   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

    10.73 (n)      14.74        18.14        5.97        (16.71     (9.08
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                   

Expenses before expense reductions (f)

    1.37 (a)      1.40        1.43        1.49        1.56        1.45   

Expenses after expense reductions (f)

    1.37 (a)      1.40        1.43        1.48        1.41        1.41   

Net investment income

    0.84 (a)      0.36        0.35        0.43        0.82        0.34   

Portfolio turnover

    32 (n)      65        66        77        109        86   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $17,985        $17,369        $16,424        $14,013        $15,483        $16,539   
Supplemental Ratios (%):                   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets
after expense reductions excluding
short sale dividend and interest
expense (f)

    1.36 (a)      1.40        1.42        1.47        1.41        N/A   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

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Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class R3     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $19.63        $17.16        $14.59        $13.85        $16.73        $19.80   
Income (loss) from investment operations                   

Net investment income (d)

    $0.11        $0.11        $0.11        $0.10        $0.13        $0.10   

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency

    2.00        2.47        2.57        0.77        (2.91     (1.71

Total from investment operations

    $2.11        $2.58        $2.68        $0.87        $(2.78     $(1.61
Less distributions declared to shareholders                   

From net investment income

    $(0.11     $(0.11     $(0.11     $(0.13     $(0.10     $—   

From net realized gain
on investments

                                       (1.46

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $(0.11     $(0.11     $(0.11     $(0.13     $(0.10     $(1.46

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $21.63        $19.63        $17.16        $14.59        $13.85        $16.73   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

    10.82 (n)      15.12        18.38        6.25        (16.48     (8.90
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                   

Expenses before expense reductions (f)

    1.12 (a)      1.15        1.18        1.24        1.32        1.19   

Expenses after expense reductions (f)

    1.12 (a)      1.15        1.18        1.23        1.16        1.17   

Net investment income

    1.09 (a)      0.61        0.60        0.68        1.07        0.57   

Portfolio turnover

    32 (n)      65        66        77        109        86   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $51,864        $46,833        $32,277        $26,573        $25,741        $28,185   
Supplemental Ratios (%):                   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets
after expense reductions excluding
short sale dividend and interest
expense (f)

    1.11 (a)      1.15        1.17        1.22        1.16        N/A   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

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Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class R4     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $19.81        $17.32        $14.72        $13.98        $16.92        $19.96   
Income (loss) from investment operations                   

Net investment income (d)

    $0.14        $0.16        $0.13        $0.14        $0.10        $0.15   

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency

    2.03        2.48        2.62        0.76        (2.90     (1.73

Total from investment operations

    $2.17        $2.64        $2.75        $0.90        $(2.80     $(1.58
Less distributions declared to shareholders                   

From net investment income

    $(0.16     $(0.15     $(0.15     $(0.16     $(0.14     $—   

From net realized gain
on investments

                                       (1.46

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $(0.16     $(0.15     $(0.15     $(0.16     $(0.14     $(1.46

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $21.82        $19.81        $17.32        $14.72        $13.98        $16.92   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

    10.99 (n)      15.36        18.68        6.40        (16.28     (8.67
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                   

Expenses before expense reductions (f)

    0.87 (a)      0.91        0.92        0.98        0.96        0.92   

Expenses after expense reductions (f)

    0.87 (a)      0.90        0.92        0.97        0.95        0.90   

Net investment income

    1.37 (a)      0.86        0.75        0.92        0.75        0.83   

Portfolio turnover

    32 (n)      65        66        77        109        86   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $3,153        $1,871        $1,367        $408        $1,633        $60   
Supplemental Ratios (%):                   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets
after expense reductions excluding
short sale dividend and interest
expense (f)

    0.86 (a)      0.90        0.91        0.97        0.95        N/A   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

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Financial Highlights – continued

 

    

Period ended
2/28/13 (i)

(unaudited)

 
Class R5   
    
        

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $21.02   
Income (loss) from investment operations         

Net investment income (d)

     $0.05   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

     1.50 (g) 

Total from investment operations

     $1.55   

Net asset value, end of period (x)

     $22.57   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

     7.37 (n) 
Ratios (%) (to average net assets) and Supplemental data:         

Expenses before expense reductions (f)

     0.78 (a) 

Expenses after expense reductions (f)

     0.78 (a) 

Net investment income

     1.35 (a) 

Portfolio turnover

     32 (n) 

Net assets at end of period (000 omitted)

     $107   
Supplemental Ratios (%):         

Ratio of expenses to average net assets after expense reductions excluding short sale dividend and interest expense (f)

     0.78 (a) 

 

(a) Annualized.
(d) Per share data is based on average shares outstanding.
(f) Ratios do not reflect reductions from fees paid indirectly, if applicable.
(g) The per share amount varies from the net realized and unrealized gain/loss for the period because of the timing of sales of fund shares and the per share amount of realized and unrealized gains and losses at such time.
(i) For the period from the class inception, January 2, 2013, through the stated period end.
(n) Not annualized.
(r) Certain expenses have been reduced without which performance would have been lower.
(s) From time to time the fund may receive proceeds from litigation settlements, without which performance would be lower. Excluding the effect of the proceeds received from a non-recurring litigation settlement against Enron Corp., the Class A, Class B, Class C, Class I, Class R1, Class R2, Class R3, and Class R4 total returns for the year ended August 31, 2009 would have been lower by approximately 2.41%, 2.40%, 2.42%, 2.40%, 2.40%, 2.36%, 2.40% and 2.40%, respectively.
(t) Total returns do not include any applicable sales charges.
(w) Per share amount was less than $0.01.
(x) The net asset values per share and total returns have been calculated on net assets which include adjustments made in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles required at period end for financial reporting purposes.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

26


Table of Contents

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

(1) Business and Organization

MFS Core Equity Fund (the fund) is a series of MFS Series Trust I (the trust). The trust is organized as a Massachusetts business trust and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as an open-end management investment company.

(2) Significant Accounting Policies

General – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated subsequent events occurring after the date of the fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities through the date that the financial statements were issued.

In January 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update 2013-01 (“ASU 2013-01”) entitled Balance Sheet (Topic 210) – Clarifying the Scope of Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities which is intended to clarify the scope of Accounting Standards Update 2011-11 (“ASU 2011-11”), Balance Sheet (Topic 210) – Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities. Consistent with the effective date for ASU 2011-11, ASU 2013-01 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. ASU 2013-01 limits the scope of ASU 2011-11’s disclosure requirements on offsetting to financial assets and financial liabilities related to derivatives, repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements, and securities lending and securities borrowing transactions. Although still evaluating the potential impacts of these two ASUs to the fund, management expects that the impact of the fund’s adoption will be limited to additional financial statement disclosures.

Investment Valuations – Equity securities, including restricted equity securities, are generally valued at the last sale or official closing price as provided by a third-party pricing service on the market or exchange on which they are primarily traded. Equity securities, for which there were no sales reported that day, are generally valued at the last quoted daily bid quotation as provided by a third-party pricing service on the market or exchange on which such securities are primarily traded. Equity securities held short, for which there were no sales reported for that day, are generally valued at the last quoted daily ask quotation as provided by a third-party pricing service on the market or exchange on which such securities are primarily traded. Short-term instruments with a maturity at issuance of 60 days or less generally are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Exchange-traded options are generally valued at the last sale or official closing price as provided by a third-party pricing service on the exchange on which such options are primarily traded. Exchange-traded options for which there were no sales reported that day are generally valued at the last daily bid quotation as provided by a third-party pricing service on the exchange on which such options are primarily traded. Options not traded on an

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

exchange are generally valued at a broker/dealer bid quotation. Foreign currency options are generally valued at valuations provided by a third-party pricing service. Open-end investment companies are generally valued at net asset value per share. Securities and other assets generally valued on the basis of information from a third-party pricing service may also be valued at a broker/dealer bid quotation. Values obtained from third-party pricing services can utilize both transaction data and market information such as yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics, and other market data. The values of foreign securities and other assets and liabilities expressed in foreign currencies are converted to U.S. dollars using the mean of bid and asked prices for rates provided by a third-party pricing service.

The Board of Trustees has delegated primary responsibility for determining or causing to be determined the value of the fund’s investments (including any fair valuation) to the adviser pursuant to valuation policies and procedures approved by the Board. If the adviser determines that reliable market quotations are not readily available, investments are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the adviser in accordance with such procedures under the oversight of the Board of Trustees. Under the fund’s valuation policies and procedures, market quotations are not considered to be readily available for most types of debt instruments and floating rate loans and many types of derivatives. These investments are generally valued at fair value based on information from third-party pricing services. In addition, investments may be valued at fair value if the adviser determines that an investment’s value has been materially affected by events occurring after the close of the exchange or market on which the investment is principally traded (such as foreign exchange or market) and prior to the determination of the fund’s net asset value, or after the halting of trading of a specific security where trading does not resume prior to the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded. Events that occur on a frequent basis after foreign markets close (such as developments in foreign markets and significant movements in the U.S. markets) and prior to the determination of the fund’s net asset value may be deemed to have a material effect on the value of securities traded in foreign markets. Accordingly, the fund’s foreign equity securities may often be valued at fair value. The adviser generally relies on third-party pricing services or other information (such as the correlation with price movements of similar securities in the same or other markets; the type, cost and investment characteristics of the security; the business and financial condition of the issuer; and trading and other market data) to assist in determining whether to fair value and at what value to fair value an investment. The value of an investment for purposes of calculating the fund’s net asset value can differ depending on the source and method used to determine value. When fair valuation is used, the value of an investment used to determine the fund’s net asset value may differ from quoted or published prices for the same investment. There can be no assurance that the fund could obtain the fair value assigned to an investment if it were to sell the investment at the same time at which the fund determines its net asset value per share.

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the fund’s assets or liabilities. These inputs are categorized into three broad levels. In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, an investment’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The fund’s assessment of the

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the investment. Level 1 includes unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 includes other significant observable market-based inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speed, and credit risk). Level 3 includes unobservable inputs, which may include the adviser’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments. The following is a summary of the levels used as of February 28, 2013 in valuing the fund’s assets or liabilities:

 

Investments at Value    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
Equity Securities:            

United States

     $932,821,787         $—         $—         $932,821,787   

Canada

     11,981,110                         11,981,110   

Israel

     7,726,899                         7,726,899   

Netherlands

     6,169,990                         6,169,990   

Greece

     1,858,546                         1,858,546   

Brazil

     1,726,528                         1,726,528   

United Kingdom

                     630,689         630,689   
Mutual Funds      8,250,921                         8,250,921   
Total Investments      $970,535,781         $—         $630,689         $971,166,470   
Short Sales      $(2,049,850      $—         $—         $(2,049,850

For further information regarding security characteristics, see the Portfolio of Investments.

The following is a reconciliation of level 3 assets for which significant unobservable inputs were used to determine fair value. The fund’s policy is to recognize transfers between the levels as of the end of the period. The table presents the activity of level 3 securities held at the beginning and the end of the period.

 

     Equity Securities  
Balance as of 8/31/12      $849,797   

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (219,108
Balance as of 2/28/13      $630,689   

The net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) from investments still held as level 3 at February 28, 2013 is $(219,108).

Foreign Currency Translation – Purchases and sales of foreign investments, income, and expenses are converted into U.S. dollars based upon currency exchange rates prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions or on the reporting date for foreign denominated receivables and payables. Gains and losses attributable to foreign currency exchange rates on sales of securities are recorded for financial statement purposes as net realized gains and losses on investments. Gains and losses attributable to foreign exchange rate movements on receivables, payables, income and expenses are recorded for financial statement purposes as foreign currency transaction gains and losses. That portion of both realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments that results from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates is not separately disclosed.

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

Derivatives – The fund uses derivatives for different purposes, primarily to increase or decrease exposure to a particular market or segment of the market, or security, to increase or decrease interest rate or currency exposure, or as alternatives to direct investments. Derivatives are used for hedging or non-hedging purposes. While hedging can reduce or eliminate losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains. When the fund uses derivatives as an investment to increase market exposure, or for hedging purposes, gains and losses from derivative instruments may be substantially greater than the derivative’s original cost.

The derivative instruments used by the fund were written options and purchased options. At February 28, 2013, the fund did not have any outstanding derivative instruments.

The following table presents, by major type of derivative contract, the realized gain (loss) on derivatives held by the fund for the six months ended February 28, 2013 as reported in the Statement of Operations:

 

Risk   

Investments
(Purchased

Options)

     Written
Options
 
Equity      $151,616         $49,267   

There is no change in unrealized gain (loss) from derivative transactions at period end.

Derivative counterparty credit risk is managed through formal evaluation of the creditworthiness of all potential counterparties. On certain over-the-counter derivatives, the fund attempts to reduce its exposure to counterparty credit risk whenever possible by entering into an International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) Master Agreement on a bilateral basis with each of the counterparties with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. The ISDA Master Agreement gives each party to the agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under such agreement if there is a certain deterioration in the credit quality of the other party. The ISDA Master Agreement gives the fund the right, upon an event of default by the applicable counterparty or a termination of the agreement, to close out all transactions traded under such agreement and to net amounts owed under each transaction to one net amount payable by one party to the other. This right to close out and net payments across all transactions traded under the ISDA Master Agreement could result in a reduction of the fund’s credit risk to such counterparty equal to any amounts payable by the fund under the applicable transactions, if any. However, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the ISDA Master Agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the fund and the applicable counterparty.

Collateral requirements differ by type of derivative. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange traded derivatives (i.e., futures contracts and exchange-traded options) while collateral terms are contract specific for over-the-counter traded derivatives (i.e., forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swap agreements and over-the-counter options). For derivatives traded under an ISDA Master Agreement, the collateral requirements are netted across all transactions traded under such agreement and one amount is posted from one party to

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

the other to collateralize such obligations. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the fund under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as “Deposits with brokers”. Securities collateral pledged for the same purpose, if any, is noted in the Portfolio of Investments.

Written Options – In exchange for a premium, the fund wrote call options on securities that it anticipated the price would decline and also wrote put options on securities that it anticipated the price would increase. At the time the option was written, the fund believed the premium received exceeded the potential loss that could result from adverse price changes in the options’ underlying securities. In a written option, the fund as the option writer grants the buyer the right to purchase from, or sell to, the fund a specified number of shares or units of a particular security, currency or index at a specified price within a specified period of time.

The premium received is initially recorded as a liability in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The option is subsequently marked-to-market daily with the difference between the premium received and the market value of the written option being recorded as unrealized appreciation or depreciation. When a written option expires, the fund realizes a gain equal to the amount of the premium received. The difference between the premium received and the amount paid on effecting a closing transaction is considered a realized gain or loss. When a written call option is exercised, the premium received is offset against the proceeds to determine the realized gain or loss. When a written put option is exercised, the premium reduces the cost basis of the security purchased by the fund.

At the initiation of the written option contract, for exchange traded options, the fund is required to deposit securities or cash as collateral with the custodian for the benefit of the broker. For over-the-counter options, the fund may post collateral subject to the terms of an ISDA Master Agreement as generally described above if the market value of the options contract moves against it. The fund, as writer of an option, may have no control over whether the underlying securities may be sold (call) or purchased (put) and, as a result, bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the securities underlying the written option. Losses from writing options can exceed the premium received and can exceed the potential loss from an ordinary buy and sell transaction. Although the fund’s market risk may be significant, the maximum counterparty credit risk to the fund is equal to the market value of any collateral posted to the broker. For over-the-counter options, this risk is mitigated in cases where there is an ISDA Master Agreement between the fund and the counterparty providing for netting as described above.

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

The following table represents the written option activity in the fund during the six months ended February 28, 2013:

 

     

Number of

contracts

    

Premiums

received

 
Outstanding, beginning of period              $—   
Options written      2,580         634,549   
Options closed      (2,515      (629,392
Options expired      (65      (5,157
Outstanding, end of period              $—   

Purchased Options – The fund purchased call and put options for a premium. Purchased call and put options entitle the holder to buy and sell a specified number of shares or units of a particular security, currency or index at a specified price at a specified date or within a specified period of time. Purchasing call options may hedge against an anticipated increase in the dollar cost of securities or currency to be acquired or increase the fund’s exposure to an underlying instrument. Purchasing put options may hedge against an anticipated decline in the value of portfolio securities or currency or decrease the fund’s exposure to an underlying instrument.

The premium paid is initially recorded as an investment in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. That investment is subsequently marked-to-market daily with the difference between the premium paid and the market value of the purchased option being recorded as unrealized appreciation or depreciation. Premiums paid for purchased call and put options which have expired are treated as realized losses on investments in the Statement of Operations. Upon the exercise or closing of a purchased call option, the premium paid is added to the cost of the security or financial instrument purchased. Upon the exercise or closing of a purchased put option, the premium paid is offset against the proceeds on the sale of the underlying security or financial instrument in order to determine the realized gain or loss on investments.

Whether or not the option is exercised, the fund’s maximum risk of loss from purchasing an option is the amount of premium paid. All option contracts involve credit risk if the counterparty to the option contract fails to perform. For over-the-counter options, this risk is mitigated in cases where there is an ISDA Master Agreement between the fund and the counterparty providing for netting as described above and for posting of collateral by the counterparty to the fund to cover the fund’s exposure to the counterparty under such ISDA Master Agreement.

Short Sales – The fund entered into short sales whereby it sells a security it does not own in anticipation of a decline in the value of that security. The fund will realize a gain if the security price decreases and a loss if the security price increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the fund replaces the borrowed security. Losses from short sales can exceed the proceeds of the security sold; and they can also exceed the potential loss from an ordinary buy and sell transaction. The amount of any premium, dividends, or interest the fund may be required to pay in connection with a short sale will be recognized as a fund expense. During the six months ended February 28, 2013, this expense amounted to $39,715. The fund segregates cash or

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

marketable securities in an amount that, when combined with the amount of proceeds from the short sale deposited with the broker, at least equals the current market value of the security sold short.

Security Loans – State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”), as lending agent, loans the securities of the fund to certain qualified institutions (the “Borrowers”) approved by the fund. The loans are collateralized by cash and/or U.S. Treasury and federal agency obligations in an amount typically at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. The market value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of business of the fund and any additional required collateral is delivered to the fund on the next business day. State Street provides the fund with indemnification against Borrower default. The fund bears the risk of loss with respect to the investment of cash collateral. On loans collateralized by cash, the cash collateral is invested in a money market fund or short-term securities. A portion of the income generated upon investment of the collateral is remitted to the Borrowers, and the remainder is allocated between the fund and the lending agent. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasury and/or federal agency obligations, a fee is received from the Borrower, and is allocated between the fund and the lending agent. Income from securities lending is included in “Interest” income in the Statement of Operations. The dividend and interest income earned on the securities loaned is accounted for in the same manner as other dividend and interest income.

Indemnifications – Under the fund’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the fund enters into agreements with service providers that may contain indemnification clauses. The fund’s maximum exposure under these agreements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the fund that have not yet occurred.

Investment Transactions and Income – Investment transactions are recorded on the trade date. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends received in cash are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Certain dividends from foreign securities will be recorded when the fund is informed of the dividend if such information is obtained subsequent to the ex-dividend date. Dividend and interest payments received in additional securities are recorded on the ex-dividend or ex-interest date in an amount equal to the value of the security on such date.

The fund may receive proceeds from litigation settlements. Any proceeds received from litigation involving portfolio holdings are reflected in the Statement of Operations in realized gain/loss if the security has been disposed of by the fund or in unrealized gain/loss if the security is still held by the fund. Any other proceeds from litigation not related to portfolio holdings are reflected as other income in the Statement of Operations.

Fees Paid Indirectly – The fund’s custody fee may be reduced according to an arrangement that measures the value of cash deposited with the custodian by the fund. This amount, for the six months ended February 28, 2013, is shown as a reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations.

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

Tax Matters and Distributions – The fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to distribute all of its taxable income, including realized capital gains. As a result, no provision for federal income tax is required. The fund’s federal tax returns, when filed, will remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for a three year period. Foreign taxes have been accrued by the fund in the accompanying financial statements.

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Certain capital accounts in the financial statements are periodically adjusted for permanent differences in order to reflect their tax character. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or net asset value per share. Temporary differences which arise from recognizing certain items of income, expense, gain or loss in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes will reverse at some time in the future. Distributions in excess of net investment income or net realized gains are temporary overdistributions for financial statement purposes resulting from differences in the recognition or classification of income or distributions for financial statement and tax purposes.

Book/tax differences primarily relate to wash sale loss deferrals.

The tax character of distributions made during the current period will be determined at fiscal year end. The tax character of distributions declared to shareholders for the last fiscal year is as follows:

 

     8/31/12  
Ordinary income (including any
short-term capital gains)
     $4,062,237   

The federal tax cost and the tax basis components of distributable earnings were as follows:

 

As of 2/28/13       
Cost of investments      $833,810,049   
Gross appreciation      159,078,427   
Gross depreciation      (21,722,006
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)      $137,356,421   
As of 8/31/12       
Undistributed ordinary income      4,248,421   
Capital loss carryforwards      (136,867,721
Other temporary differences      (321,232
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)      89,040,565   

The aggregate cost above includes prior fiscal year end tax adjustments, if applicable.

Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized for fund fiscal years beginning after August 31, 2011 may be carried forward indefinitely, and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses (“post-enactment losses”). Previously, net capital losses were carried

 

34


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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

forward for eight years and treated as short-term losses (“pre-enactment losses”). As a transition rule, the Act requires that all post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

As of August 31, 2012, the fund had capital loss carryforwards available to offset future realized gains. Such losses expire as follows:

 

8/31/16      $(38,715,457
8/31/18      (98,152,264
Total      $(136,867,721

The availability of a portion of the capital loss carryforwards, which were acquired on July 24, 2009 in connection with the acquisition of the MFS New Endeavor Fund, may be limited in a given year.

Multiple Classes of Shares of Beneficial Interest – The fund offers multiple classes of shares, which differ in their respective distribution and service fees. The fund’s income, realized and unrealized gain (loss), and common expenses are allocated to shareholders based on the daily net assets of each class. Dividends are declared separately for each class. Differences in per share dividend rates are generally due to differences in separate class expenses. Class B shares will convert to Class A shares approximately eight years after purchase. The fund’s distributions declared to shareholders as reported in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets are presented by class as follows:

 

     From net investment
income
 
     Six months
ended

2/28/13
     Year
ended
8/31/12
 
Class A      $3,763,479         $3,629,814   
Class I      153,997         144,617   
Class R2      46,102         53,991   
Class R3      268,678         219,844   
Class R4      17,941         13,971   
Total      $4,250,197         $4,062,237   

(3) Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Adviser – The fund has an investment advisory agreement with MFS to provide overall investment management and related administrative services and facilities to the fund. The management fee is computed daily and paid monthly at the following annual rates:

 

First $500 million of average daily net assets      0.65
Average daily net assets in excess of $500 million      0.55

The management fee incurred for the six months ended February 28, 2013 was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.60% of the fund’s average daily net assets.

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

The investment adviser has agreed in writing to pay a portion of the fund’s total annual operating expenses, exclusive of interest, taxes, extraordinary expenses, brokerage and transaction costs, and investment-related, such that total fund operating expenses do not exceed the following rates annually of each class’s average daily net assets.

 

Classes  
A   B     C     I     R1     R2     R3     R4     R5  
1.26%     2.01%        2.01%        1.01%        2.01%        1.51%        1.26%        1.01%        0.94%   

This written agreement will continue until modified by the fund’s Board of Trustees, but such agreement will continue at least until December 31, 2013. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, the fund’s actual expenses did not exceed the limit and therefore, the investment adviser did not pay any portion of the fund’s expenses related to this agreement.

Distributor – MFS Fund Distributors, Inc. (MFD), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MFS, as distributor, received $308,887 for the six months ended February 28, 2013, as its portion of the initial sales charge on sales of Class A shares of the fund.

The Board of Trustees has adopted a distribution plan for certain class shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

The fund’s distribution plan provides that the fund will pay MFD for services provided by MFD and financial intermediaries in connection with the distribution and servicing of certain share classes. One component of the plan is a distribution fee paid to MFD and another component of the plan is a service fee paid to MFD. MFD may subsequently pay all, or a portion, of the distribution and/or service fees to financial intermediaries.

Distribution Plan Fee Table:

 

    

Distribution

Fee Rate (d)

    

Service

Fee Rate (d)

    

Total

Distribution

Plan (d)

    

Annual

Effective

Rate (e)

     Distribution
and Service
Fee
 
Class A              0.25%         0.25%         0.25%         $884,556   
Class B      0.75%         0.25%         1.00%         1.00%         209,991   
Class C      0.75%         0.25%         1.00%         1.00%         324,560   
Class R1      0.75%         0.25%         1.00%         1.00%         18,996   
Class R2      0.25%         0.25%         0.50%         0.50%         43,066   
Class R3              0.25%         0.25%         0.25%         59,976   
Total Distribution and Service Fees            $1,541,145   

 

(d) In accordance with the distribution plan for certain classes, the fund pays distribution and/or service fees equal to these annual percentage rates of each class’s average daily net assets. The distribution and service fee rates disclosed by class represent the current rates in effect at the end of the reporting period.
(e) The annual effective rates represent actual fees incurred under the distribution plan for the six months ended February 28, 2013 based on each class’s average daily net assets.

Certain Class A shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) in the event of a shareholder redemption within 18 months of purchase for shares purchased on or after August 1, 2012, and within 24 months of purchase for shares purchased prior to August 1, 2012. Class C shares are subject to a CDSC in the event of a shareholder redemption within 12 months of purchase. Class B shares are subject to a

 

36


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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

CDSC in the event of a shareholder redemption within six years of purchase. All contingent deferred sales charges are paid to MFD and during the six months ended February 28, 2013, were as follows:

 

     Amount  
Class A      $3,845   
Class B      19,849   
Class C      1,188   

Shareholder Servicing Agent – MFS Service Center, Inc. (MFSC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MFS, receives a fee from the fund for its services as shareholder servicing agent calculated as a percentage of the average daily net assets of the fund as determined periodically under the supervision of the fund’s Board of Trustees. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, the fee was $295,384, which equated to 0.0651% annually of the fund’s average daily net assets. MFSC also receives payment from the fund for out-of-pocket expenses, sub-accounting and other shareholder servicing costs which may be paid to affiliated and unaffiliated service providers. Class R5 shares do not incur sub-accounting fees. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, these out-of-pocket expenses, sub-accounting and other shareholder servicing costs amounted to $575,849.

Administrator – MFS provides certain financial, legal, shareholder communications, compliance, and other administrative services to the fund. Under an administrative services agreement, the fund partially reimburses MFS the costs incurred to provide these services. The fund is charged an annual fixed amount of $17,500 plus a fee based on average daily net assets. The administrative services fee incurred for the six months ended February 28, 2013 was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.0142% of the fund’s average daily net assets.

Trustees’ and Officers’ Compensation – The fund pays compensation to independent Trustees in the form of a retainer, attendance fees, and additional compensation to Board and Committee chairpersons. The fund does not pay compensation directly to Trustees or officers of the fund who are also officers of the investment adviser, all of whom receive remuneration for their services to the fund from MFS. Certain officers and Trustees of the fund are officers or directors of MFS, MFD, and MFSC.

Prior to December 31, 2001, the fund had an unfunded defined benefit plan (“DB plan”) for independent Trustees. As of December 31, 2001, the Board took action to terminate the DB plan with respect to then-current and any future independent Trustees, such that the DB plan covers only certain of those former independent Trustees who retired on or before December 31, 2001. Effective January 1, 2002, accrued benefits under the DB plan for then-current independent Trustees who continued were credited to an unfunded retirement deferral plan (the “Retirement Deferral plan”), which was established for and exists solely with respect to these credited amounts, and is not available for other deferrals by these or other independent Trustees. Although the Retirement Deferral plan is unfunded, amounts deferred under the plan are periodically adjusted for investment experience as if they had been invested in shares of the fund. The DB plan resulted in a pension expense of $1,315 and the Retirement Deferral plan resulted in an expense of $9,266. Both

 

37


Table of Contents

Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

amounts are included in independent Trustees’ compensation for the six months ended February 28, 2013. The liability for deferred retirement benefits payable to certain independent Trustees under both plans amounted to $104,076 at February 28, 2013, and is included in “Payable for independent Trustees’ compensation” in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Other – This fund and certain other funds managed by MFS (the funds) have entered into services agreements (the Agreements) which provide for payment of fees by the funds to Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC in return for the provision of services of an Independent Chief Compliance Officer (ICCO) and Assistant ICCO, respectively, for the funds. The ICCO and Assistant ICCO are officers of the funds and the sole members of Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC, respectively. The funds can terminate the Agreements with Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC at any time under the terms of the Agreements. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, the aggregate fees paid by the fund to Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC were $2,808 and are included in “Miscellaneous” expense in the Statement of Operations. MFS has agreed to reimburse the fund for a portion of the payments made by the fund in the amount of $802, which is shown as a reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations. Additionally, MFS has agreed to bear all expenses associated with office space, other administrative support, and supplies provided to the ICCO and Assistant ICCO.

The fund invests in the MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio which is managed by MFS and seeks current income consistent with preservation of capital and liquidity. Income earned on this investment is included in “Dividends from underlying affiliated funds” in the Statement of Operations. This money market fund does not pay a management fee to MFS.

On December 31, 2012, MFS purchased 4,757 shares of Class R5 for an aggregate amount of $100,000.

(4) Portfolio Securities

Purchases and sales of investments, other than purchased option transactions, short sales, and short-term obligations, aggregated $290,844,051 and $286,546,927, respectively.

 

38


Table of Contents

Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

(5) Shares of Beneficial Interest

The fund’s Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest. Transactions in fund shares were as follows:

 

     Six months ended
2/28/13 (i)
     Year ended
8/31/12
 
     Shares      Amount      Shares      Amount  
Shares sold            

Class A

     3,496,625         $71,896,816         6,098,731         $112,010,702   

Class B

     80,010         1,511,800         365,332         6,162,175   

Class C

     161,901         3,042,299         273,865         4,562,737   

Class I

     107,473         2,324,269         219,369         4,167,067   

Class R1

     12,449         232,562         44,008         723,302   

Class R2

     69,497         1,408,957         271,987         4,901,210   

Class R3

     183,830         3,774,872         700,462         12,884,565   

Class R4

     64,721         1,324,665         69,234         1,292,761   

Class R5

     4,757         100,000                   
     4,181,263         $85,616,240         8,042,988         $146,704,519   
Shares issued to shareholders in
reinvestment of distributions
            

Class A

     173,769         $3,492,749         191,573         $3,293,135   

Class I

     6,426         134,304         6,214         110,986   

Class R2

     2,220         43,807         2,968         50,059   

Class R3

     13,407         268,678         12,826         219,844   

Class R4

     888         17,941         709         12,243   
     196,710         $3,957,479         214,290         $3,686,267   
Shares reacquired            

Class A

     (3,376,654      $(69,035,413      (7,005,794      $(129,393,313

Class B

     (393,089      (7,439,148      (1,074,996      (18,090,170

Class C

     (311,317      (5,810,000      (654,543      (11,047,038

Class I

     (90,510      (1,924,071      (191,258      (3,650,463

Class R1

     (62,041      (1,157,141      (64,177      (1,096,038

Class R2

     (127,559      (2,508,357      (348,657      (6,285,007

Class R3

     (185,576      (3,761,199      (207,778      (3,754,987

Class R4

     (15,499      (316,541      (54,459      (1,049,234
     (4,562,245      $(91,951,870      (9,601,662      $(174,366,250

 

39


Table of Contents

Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

     Six months ended
2/28/13 (i)
     Year ended
8/31/12
 
     Shares      Amount      Shares      Amount  
Net change            

Class A

     293,740         $6,354,152         (715,490      $(14,089,476

Class B

     (313,079      (5,927,348      (709,664      (11,927,995

Class C

     (149,416      (2,767,701      (380,678      (6,484,301

Class I

     23,389         534,502         34,325         627,590   

Class R1

     (49,592      (924,579      (20,169      (372,736

Class R2

     (55,842      (1,055,593      (73,702      (1,333,738

Class R3

     11,661         282,351         505,510         9,349,422   

Class R4

     50,110         1,026,065         15,484         255,770   

Class R5

     4,757         100,000                   
     (184,272      $(2,378,151      (1,344,384      $(23,975,464

 

(i) For Class R5, the period is from inception, January 2, 2013, through the stated period end.

(6) Line of Credit

The fund and certain other funds managed by MFS participate in a $1.1 billion unsecured committed line of credit, subject to a $1 billion sublimit, provided by a syndication of banks under a credit agreement. Borrowings may be made for temporary financing needs. Interest is charged to each fund, based on its borrowings, generally at a rate equal to the higher of the Federal Reserve funds rate or one month LIBOR plus an agreed upon spread. A commitment fee, based on the average daily, unused portion of the committed line of credit, is allocated among the participating funds at the end of each calendar quarter. In addition, the fund and other funds managed by MFS have established unsecured uncommitted borrowing arrangements with certain banks for temporary financing needs. Interest is charged to each fund, based on its borrowings, at a rate equal to the Federal Reserve funds rate plus an agreed upon spread. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, the fund’s commitment fee and interest expense were $2,774 and $0, respectively, and are included in “Miscellaneous” expense in the Statement of Operations.

(7) Transactions in Underlying Affiliated Funds-Affiliated Issuers

An affiliated issuer may be considered one in which the fund owns 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities, or a company which is under common control. For the purposes of this report, the fund assumes the following to be an affiliated issuer:

 

Underlying Affiliated Fund   

Beginning

Shares/Par

Amount

    

Acquisitions

Shares/Par

Amount

    

Dispositions

Shares/Par

Amount

   

Ending

Shares/Par

Amount

 
MFS Institutional Money
Market Portfolio
     12,697,876         57,657,832         (62,104,787     8,250,921   
Underlying Affiliated Fund    Realized
Gain (Loss)
     Capital Gain
Distributions
    

Dividend

Income

   

Ending

Value

 
MFS Institutional Money
Market Portfolio
     $—         $—         $5,780        $8,250,921   

 

40


Table of Contents

BOARD REVIEW OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

A discussion regarding the Board’s most recent review and renewal of the fund’s Investment Advisory Agreement with MFS is available by clicking on the fund’s name under “Mutual Funds” in the “Products” section of the MFS Web site (mfs.com).

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND INFORMATION

A general description of the MFS funds’ proxy voting policies and procedures is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-225-2606, by visiting the Proxy Voting section of mfs.com or by visiting the SEC’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov.

Information regarding how the fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 is available without charge by visiting the Proxy Voting section of mfs.com or by visiting the SEC’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov.

QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO DISCLOSURE

The fund will file a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. A shareholder can obtain the quarterly portfolio holdings report at mfs.com. The fund’s Form N-Q is also available on the EDGAR database on the Commission’s Internet Web site at http://www.sec.gov, and may be reviewed and copied at the:

Public Reference Room

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, NE, Room 1580

Washington, D.C. 20549

Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. Copies of the fund’s Form N-Q also may be obtained, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the Public Reference Section at the above address.

FURTHER INFORMATION

From time to time, MFS may post important information about the fund or the MFS funds on the MFS web site (mfs.com). This information is available by visiting the “News & Commentary” section of mfs.com or by clicking on the fund’s name under “Mutual Funds” in the “Products” section of mfs.com.

PROVISION OF FINANCIAL REPORTS AND SUMMARY PROSPECTUSES

The fund produces financial reports every six months and updates its summary prospectus and prospectus annually. To avoid sending duplicate copies of materials to households, only one copy of the fund’s annual and semiannual report and summary prospectus may be mailed to shareholders having the same last name and residential address on the fund’s records. However, any shareholder may contact MFSC (please see back cover for address and telephone number) to request that copies of these reports and summary prospectuses be sent personally to that shareholder.

 

41


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

Save paper with eDelivery.

 

LOGO

MFS® will send you prospectuses,

reports, and proxies directly via e-mail so you will get information faster with less mailbox clutter.

To sign up:

1. Go to mfs.com.

2. Log in via MFS® Access.

3. Select eDelivery.

If you own your MFS fund shares through a financial institution or a retirement plan, MFS® TALK, MFS® Access, or eDelivery may not be available to you.

CONTACT

WEB SITE

mfs.com

MFS TALK

1-800-637-8255

24 hours a day

ACCOUNT SERVICE AND LITERATURE

Shareholders

1-800-225-2606

Financial advisors

1-800-343-2829

Retirement plan services

1-800-637-1255

MAILING ADDRESS

MFS Service Center, Inc.

P.O. Box 55824

Boston, MA 02205-5824

OVERNIGHT MAIL

MFS Service Center, Inc.

c/o Boston Financial Data Services

30 Dan Road

Canton, MA 02021-2809

 


Table of Contents

SEMIANNUAL REPORT

February 28, 2013

 

LOGO

 

MFS® GLOBAL LEADERS FUND

 

LOGO

 

GLD-SEM

 


Table of Contents

MFS® GLOBAL LEADERS FUND

 

CONTENTS

 

Letter from the Chairman and CEO     1   
Portfolio composition     2   
Expense table     3   
Portfolio of investments     5   
Statement of assets and liabilities     8   
Statement of operations     9   
Statements of changes in net assets     10   
Financial highlights     11   
Notes to financial statements     14   
Board review of investment advisory agreement     23   
Proxy voting policies and information     23   
Quarterly portfolio disclosure     23   
Further information     23   
Provision of financial reports and summary prospectuses     23   
Contact information    back cover   

The report is prepared for the general information of shareholders.

It is authorized for distribution to prospective investors only when preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus.

 

NOT FDIC INSURED Ÿ MAY LOSE VALUE Ÿ NO BANK GUARANTEE


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND CEO

 

Dear Shareholders:

Global financial markets began 2013 with greater optimism. U.S. and Asian economic trends have turned more positive. Europe continues to struggle through its economic

slump. However, even there, sentiment has improved. The U.S. Congress averted its year-end fiscal cliff, but a degree of uncertainty remains regarding upcoming negotiations over spending cuts and the debt ceiling. The U.S. Federal Reserve Board is continuing its accommodative monetary easing, while the U.S. housing and job markets have made steady gains. Corporate profits have been resilient, and investors have demonstrated increased tolerance for risk.

Overseas, the eurozone remains in a broad contraction, with economic output receding in France as well as Italy and Spain.

However, large-scale early repayments of European Central Bank loans by banks and Germany’s strong rebound in manufacturing activity are encouraging signs. In Asia, both China and Japan appear to be in the early stages of a turnaround. China’s economic activity has picked up from last year’s relative slowdown, and Japan’s sharp devaluation of the yen, an important anti-deflationary measure, seems to be having its desired impact: Japanese stocks have soared, corporate profits are rising and confidence is returning among consumers, businesses and investors.

As always, managing risk in the face of uncertainty remains a top priority for investors. At MFS®, our uniquely collaborative investment process employs global research and active risk management. Our global team of investment professionals shares ideas and evaluates opportunities across continents, investment disciplines and asset classes — all with a goal of building better insights, and ultimately better results, for our clients.

We remain mindful of the many economic challenges investors face today, and believe it is more important than ever to maintain a long-term view and employ time-tested principles, such as asset allocation and diversification. We also remain confident that our unique approach can serve investors well as they work with their financial advisors to identify and pursue the most suitable opportunities.

Respectfully,

 

LOGO

Robert J. Manning

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

MFS Investment Management®

April 12, 2013

The opinions expressed in this letter are subject to change, may not be relied upon for investment advice, and no forecasts can be guaranteed.

 

1


Table of Contents

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION

 

Portfolio structure

 

LOGO

 

Top ten holdings  
Nestle S.A.     3.2%   
Groupe Danone     3.1%   
Heineken N.V.     3.1%   
Tiffany & Co.     3.1%   
Publicis Groupe S.A.     2.9%   
Diageo PLC     2.9%   
Danaher Corp.     2.8%   
Pernod Ricard S.A.     2.8%   
Schneider Electric S.A.     2.8%   
Target Corp.     2.8%   
Equity sectors  
Consumer Staples     35.4%   
Retailing     23.8%   
Leisure     14.7%   
Industrial Goods & Services     7.4%   
Financial Services     4.6%   
Technology     2.7%   
Basic Materials     2.6%   
Special Products & Services     1.8%   
Issuer country weightings (x)   
United States     36.8%   
France     14.0%   
United Kingdom     11.8%   
Switzerland     9.0%   
Japan     7.2%   
Netherlands     5.4%   
China     3.8%   
Germany     2.7%   
Italy     2.2%   
Other Countries     7.1%   
Currency exposure weightings (y)   
United States Dollar     36.8%   
Euro     27.4%   
British Pound Sterling     11.8%   
Swiss Franc     9.0%   
Japanese Yen     7.2%   
Hong Kong Dollar     5.8%   
Brazilian Real     2.0%   
 

 

(x) Represents the portfolio’s exposure to issuer countries as a percentage of a portfolio’s net assets.
(y) Represents the portfolio’s exposure to a particular currency as a percentage of a portfolio’s net assets.

Percentages are based on net assets as of 2/28/13.

The portfolio is actively managed and current holdings may be different.

 

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Table of Contents

EXPENSE TABLE

Fund expenses borne by the shareholders during the period,

September 1, 2012 through February 28, 2013

As a shareholder of the fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on certain purchase or redemption payments, and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period September 1, 2012 through February 28, 2013.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class in the following table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class in the following table provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads). Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

3


Table of Contents

Expense Table – continued

 

 

Share
Class
       Annualized
Expense
Ratio
    Beginning
Account Value
9/01/12
   

Ending

Account Value
2/28/13

   

Expenses

Paid During
Period (p)

9/01/12-2/28/13

 

A

  Actual     1.45%        $1,000.00        $1,112.13        $7.59   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.45%        $1,000.00        $1,017.60        $7.25   
B   Actual     2.20%        $1,000.00        $1,107.85        $11.50   
  Hypothetical (h)     2.20%        $1,000.00        $1,013.88        $10.99   
C   Actual     2.20%        $1,000.00        $1,107.96        $11.50   
  Hypothetical (h)     2.20%        $1,000.00        $1,013.88        $10.99   
I   Actual     1.20%        $1,000.00        $1,113.81        $6.29   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.20%        $1,000.00        $1,018.84        $6.01   

 

(h) 5% class return per year before expenses.
(p) Expenses paid are equal to each class’s annualized expense ratio, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period, divided by the number of days in the year. Expenses paid do not include any applicable sales charges (loads). If these transaction costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.

 

4


Table of Contents

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

2/28/13 (unaudited)

The Portfolio of Investments is a complete list of all securities owned by your fund. It is categorized by broad-based asset classes.

 

Common Stocks - 93.0%                 
Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Alcoholic Beverages - 13.5%                 
Anheuser-Busch InBev N.V.      1,374      $ 128,725   
Diageo PLC      6,544        196,175   
Heineken N.V.      2,785        207,462   
Pernod Ricard S.A.      1,465        190,096   
SABMiller PLC      3,660        181,952   
    

 

 

 
             $ 904,410   
Apparel Manufacturers - 14.3%                 
Burberry Group PLC      5,268      $ 109,967   
Compagnie Financiere Richemont S.A.      1,390        111,125   
Guess?, Inc.      4,640        128,482   
Li & Fung Ltd.      98,000        131,415   
LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton S.A.      892        153,263   
NIKE, Inc., “B”      3,376        183,857   
Tod’s S.p.A.      1,006        145,654   
    

 

 

 
             $ 963,763   
Broadcasting - 7.7%                 
Nippon Television Holdings, Inc.      9,000      $ 135,354   
Publicis Groupe S.A.      2,985        197,269   
Walt Disney Co.      3,376        184,296   
    

 

 

 
             $ 516,919   
Business Services - 1.8%                 
Accenture PLC, “A”      1,620      $ 120,463   
Chemicals - 2.6%                 
3M Co.      1,678      $ 174,512   
Computer Software - 2.7%                 
SAP AG      2,320      $ 181,092   
Consumer Products - 3.9%                 
Procter & Gamble Co.      2,008      $ 152,969   
Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC      1,652        110,998   
    

 

 

 
             $ 263,967   

 

5


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) - continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Electrical Equipment - 5.7%                 
Danaher Corp.      3,100      $ 190,960   
Schneider Electric S.A.      2,458        189,077   
    

 

 

 
             $ 380,037   
Food & Beverages - 14.4%                 
Groupe Danone      3,020      $ 209,249   
M. Dias Branco S.A. Industria e Comercio de Alimentos      3,400        130,545   
Nestle S.A.      3,089        215,573   
Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding Corp.      44,000        115,452   
Unilever N.V.      4,041        156,368   
Want Want China Holdings Ltd.      101,000        141,689   
    

 

 

 
             $ 968,876   
Food & Drug Stores - 2.4%                 
Lawson, Inc.      2,200      $ 163,534   
Gaming & Lodging - 2.1%                 
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC      4,764      $ 138,125   
General Merchandise - 2.8%                 
Target Corp.      2,963      $ 186,550   
Machinery & Tools - 1.7%                 
Schindler Holding AG      776      $ 116,566   
Other Banks & Diversified Financials - 4.6%                 
Julius Baer Group Ltd.      4,300      $ 162,953   
Visa, Inc., “A”      906        143,728   
    

 

 

 
             $ 306,681   
Restaurants - 4.9%                 
McDonald’s Corp.      1,900      $ 182,210   
YUM! Brands, Inc.      2,220        145,366   
    

 

 

 
             $ 327,576   
Specialty Stores - 4.3%                 
Industria de Diseno Textil S.A.      600      $ 79,954   
Tiffany & Co.      3,082        206,987   
    

 

 

 
             $ 286,941   
Tobacco - 3.6%                 
Imperial Tobacco Group PLC      1,602      $ 58,085   
Japan Tobacco, Inc.      5,900        186,185   
    

 

 

 
             $ 244,270   
Total Common Stocks (Identified Cost, $5,260,275)            $ 6,244,282   

 

6


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) - continued

 

 

Money Market Funds - 5.7%                 
Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio, 0.13%,
at Cost and Net Asset Value (v)
     384,615      $ 384,615   
Total Investments (Identified Cost, $5,644,890)            $ 6,628,897   
Other Assets, Less Liabilities - 1.3%              90,084   
Net Assets - 100.0%            $ 6,718,981   

 

(v) Underlying affiliated fund that is available only to investment companies managed by MFS. The rate quoted for the MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio is the annualized seven-day yield of the fund at period end.

The following abbreviations are used in this report and are defined:

 

PLC   Public Limited Company

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

At 2/28/13 (unaudited)

This statement represents your fund’s balance sheet, which details the assets and liabilities comprising the total value of the fund.

 

Assets         

Investments-

  

Non-affiliated issuers, at value (identified cost, $5,260,275)

     $6,244,282   

Underlying affiliated funds, at cost and value

     384,615   

Total investments, at value (identified cost, $5,644,890)

     $6,628,897   

Receivables for

  

Fund shares sold

     95,844   

Interest and dividends

     19,334   

Receivable from investment adviser

     11,969   

Other assets

     242   

Total assets

     $6,756,286   
Liabilities         

Payable to affiliates

  

Shareholder servicing costs

     $27   

Distribution and service fees

     93   

Payable for independent Trustees’ compensation

     15   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     37,170   

Total liabilities

     $37,305   

Net assets

     $6,718,981   
Net assets consist of         

Paid-in capital

     $5,043,212   

Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies

     983,952   

Accumulated net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

     705,836   

Accumulated distributions in excess of net investment income

     (14,019

Net assets

     $6,718,981   

Shares of beneficial interest outstanding

     504,031   

 

     Net assets      Shares
outstanding
     Net asset value
per share (a)
 

Class A

     $3,418,486         256,422         $13.33   

Class B

     242,012         18,277         13.24   

Class C

     616,553         46,555         13.24   

Class I

     2,441,930         182,777         13.36   

 

(a) Maximum offering price per share was equal to the net asset value per share for all share classes, except for Class A, for which the maximum offering price per share was $14.14 [100 / 94.25 x $13.33]. On sales of $50,000 or more, the maximum offering price of Class A shares is reduced. A contingent deferred sales charge may be imposed on redemptions of Class A, Class B, and Class C shares. Redemption price per share was equal to the net asset value per share for Class I.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

Six months ended 2/28/13 (unaudited)

This statement describes how much your fund earned in investment income and accrued in expenses. It also describes any gains and/or losses generated by fund operations.

 

Net investment income         

Income

  

Dividends

     $101,696   

Dividends from underlying affiliated funds

     415   

Foreign taxes withheld

     (3,419

Total investment income

     $98,692   

Expenses

  

Management fee

     $54,149   

Distribution and service fees

     14,156   

Shareholder servicing costs

     4,251   

Administrative services fee

     8,679   

Independent Trustees’ compensation

     643   

Custodian fee

     5,859   

Shareholder communications

     2,898   

Audit and tax fees

     24,451   

Legal fees

     103   

Registration fees

     32,553   

Miscellaneous

     5,493   

Total expenses

     $153,235   

Fees paid indirectly

     (1

Reduction of expenses by investment adviser

     (66,798

Net expenses

     $86,436   

Net investment income

     $12,256   
Realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency   

Realized gain (loss) (identified cost basis)

  

Investments

     $755,270   

Foreign currency

     (949

Net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

     $754,321   

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

  

Investments

     $542,802   

Translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies

     (142

Net unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency translation

     $542,660   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

     $1,296,981   

Change in net assets from operations

     $1,309,237   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

9


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

These statements describe the increases and/or decreases in net assets resulting from operations, any distributions, and any shareholder transactions.

 

Change in net assets    Six months ended
2/28/13
(unaudited)
   

Period ended
8/31/12 (c)

 
From operations                 

Net investment income

     $12,256        $29,840   

Net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

     754,321        83,911   

Net unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency translation

     542,660        441,292   

Change in net assets from operations

     $1,309,237        $555,043   
Distributions declared to shareholders                 

From net investment income

     $(60,003     $—   

From net realized gain on investments

     (128,508       

Total distributions declared to shareholders

     $(188,511     $—   

Change in net assets from fund share transactions

     $(5,190,109     $10,233,321   

Total change in net assets

     $(4,069,383     $10,788,364   
Net assets                 

At beginning of period

     10,788,364          

At end of period (including accumulated distributions in excess of net investment income of $14,019 and undistributed net investment income of $33,728, respectively)

     $6,718,981        $10,788,364   

 

(c) For the period from the commencement of the fund’s investment operations, September 28, 2011, through the stated period end.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

10


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the fund’s financial performance for the semiannual period and the past 5 fiscal years (or life of a particular share class, if shorter). Certain information reflects financial results for a single fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate by which an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the fund share class (assuming reinvestment of all distributions) held for the entire period.

 

Class A
    
  

Six months

ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

   

Period

ended

8/31/12 (c)

 
          

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $12.16        $10.00   
Income (loss) from investment operations                 

Net investment income (d)

     $0.01        $0.20   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign
currency

     1.35        1.96   

Total from investment operations

     $1.36        $2.16   
Less distributions declared to shareholders                 

From net investment income

     $(0.06     $—   

From net realized gain on investments

     (0.13       

Total distributions declared to shareholders

     $(0.19     $—   

Net asset value, end of period (x)

     $13.33        $12.16   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

     11.21 (n)      21.60 (n) 
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                

Expenses before expense reductions (f)

     2.54 (a)      6.60 (a) 

Expenses after expense reductions (f)

     1.45 (a)      1.45 (a) 

Net investment income

     0.16 (a)      1.83 (a)(l) 

Portfolio turnover

     32 (n)      19 (n) 

Net assets at end of period (000 omitted)

     $3,418        $8,331   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

Class B  

Six months

ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

   

Period

ended
8/31/12 (c)

 
         

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $12.07        $10.00   
Income (loss) from investment operations                

Net investment loss (d)

    $(0.03     $(0.01

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign
currency

    1.33        2.08   

Total from investment operations

    $1.30        $2.07   
Less distributions declared to shareholders                

From net investment income

    $(0.00 )(w)      $—   

From net realized gain on investments

    (0.13       

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $13.24        $12.07   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    10.78 (n)      20.70 (n) 
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
               

Expenses before expense reductions (f)

    3.40 (a)      5.96 (a) 

Expenses after expense reductions (f)

    2.20 (a)      2.20 (a) 

Net investment loss

    (0.47 )(a)      (0.10 )(a) 

Portfolio turnover

    32 (n)      19 (n) 

Net assets at end of period (000 omitted)

    $242        $131   
Class C  

Six months

ended
2/28/13
(unaudited)

   

Period

ended
8/31/12 (c)

 
         

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $12.07        $10.00   
Income (loss) from investment operations                

Net investment loss (d)

    $(0.03     $(0.01

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign
currency

    1.33        2.08   

Total from investment operations

    $1.30        $2.07   
Less distributions declared to shareholders                

From net investment income

    $(0.00 )(w)      $—   

From net realized gain on investments

    (0.13       

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $13.24        $12.07   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    10.80 (n)      20.70 (n) 
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
               

Expenses before expense reductions (f)

    3.42 (a)      5.96 (a) 

Expenses after expense reductions (f)

    2.20 (a)      2.20 (a) 

Net investment loss

    (0.52 )(a)      (0.07 )(a) 

Portfolio turnover

    32 (n)      19 (n) 

Net assets at end of period (000 omitted)

    $617        $133   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

12


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

Class I   

Six months

ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

   

Period

ended
8/31/12 (c)

 
          

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $12.18        $10.00   
Income (loss) from investment operations                 

Net investment income (d)

     $0.04        $0.09   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign
currency

     1.34        2.09   

Total from investment operations

     $1.38        $2.18   
Less distributions declared to shareholders                 

From net investment income

     $(0.07     $—   

From net realized gain on investments

     (0.13       

Total distributions declared to shareholders

     $(0.20     $—   

Net asset value, end of period (x)

     $13.36        $12.18   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

     11.38 (n)      21.80 (n) 
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                

Expenses before expense reductions (f)

     2.37 (a)      4.94 (a) 

Expenses after expense reductions (f)

     1.20 (a)      1.20 (a) 

Net investment income

     0.56 (a)      0.90 (a) 

Portfolio turnover

     32 (n)      19 (n) 

Net assets at end of period (000 omitted)

     $2,442        $2,193   

 

(a) Annualized.
(c) For the period from the commencement of the fund’s investment operations, September 28, 2011, through the stated period end.
(d) Per share data is based on average shares outstanding.
(f) Ratios do not reflect reductions from fees paid indirectly, if applicable.
(l) The net investment income ratio does not vary from the class specific expense differential because of the timing of sales of fund shares and the allocation of fund level income at such time.
(n) Not annualized.
(r) Certain expenses have been reduced without which performance would have been lower.
(s) From time to time the fund may receive proceeds from litigation settlements, without which performance would be lower.
(t) Total returns do not include any applicable sales charges.
(w) Per share amount was less than $0.01.
(x) The net asset values per share and total returns have been calculated on net assets which include adjustments made in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles required at period end for financial reporting purposes.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

13


Table of Contents

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

(1) Business and Organization

MFS Global Leaders Fund (the fund) is a series of MFS Series Trust I (the trust). The trust is organized as a Massachusetts business trust and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as an open-end management investment company.

(2) Significant Accounting Policies

General – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated subsequent events occurring after the date of the fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities through the date that the financial statements were issued. The fund invests in foreign securities. Investments in foreign securities are vulnerable to the effects of changes in the relative values of the local currency and the U.S. dollar and to the effects of changes in each country’s legal, political, and economic environment.

In January 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update 2013-01 (“ASU 2013-01”) entitled Balance Sheet (Topic 210) – Clarifying the Scope of Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities which is intended to clarify the scope of Accounting Standards Update 2011-11 (“ASU 2011-11”), Balance Sheet (Topic 210) – Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities. Consistent with the effective date for ASU 2011-11, ASU 2013-01 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. ASU 2013-01 limits the scope of ASU 2011-11’s disclosure requirements on offsetting to financial assets and financial liabilities related to derivatives, repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements, and securities lending and securities borrowing transactions. Although still evaluating the potential impacts of these two ASUs to the fund, management expects that the impact of the fund’s adoption will be limited to additional financial statement disclosures.

Investment Valuations – Equity securities, including restricted equity securities, are generally valued at the last sale or official closing price as provided by a third-party pricing service on the market or exchange on which they are primarily traded. Equity securities, for which there were no sales reported that day, are generally valued at the last quoted daily bid quotation as provided by a third-party pricing service on the market or exchange on which such securities are primarily traded. Short-term instruments with a maturity at issuance of 60 days or less generally are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Open-end investment companies are generally valued at net asset value per share. Securities and other assets generally valued on the basis of information from a third-party pricing service may also be valued at a broker/dealer bid quotation. Values obtained from third-party pricing services can utilize both transaction data and market information such as yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics, and other market data. The values

 

14


Table of Contents

Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

of foreign securities and other assets and liabilities expressed in foreign currencies are converted to U.S. dollars using the mean of bid and asked prices for rates provided by a third-party pricing service.

The Board of Trustees has delegated primary responsibility for determining or causing to be determined the value of the fund’s investments (including any fair valuation) to the adviser pursuant to valuation policies and procedures approved by the Board. If the adviser determines that reliable market quotations are not readily available, investments are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the adviser in accordance with such procedures under the oversight of the Board of Trustees. Under the fund’s valuation policies and procedures, market quotations are not considered to be readily available for most types of debt instruments and floating rate loans and many types of derivatives. These investments are generally valued at fair value based on information from third-party pricing services. In addition, investments may be valued at fair value if the adviser determines that an investment’s value has been materially affected by events occurring after the close of the exchange or market on which the investment is principally traded (such as foreign exchange or market) and prior to the determination of the fund’s net asset value, or after the halting of trading of a specific security where trading does not resume prior to the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded. Events that occur on a frequent basis after foreign markets close (such as developments in foreign markets and significant movements in the U.S. markets) and prior to the determination of the fund’s net asset value may be deemed to have a material effect on the value of securities traded in foreign markets. Accordingly, the fund’s foreign equity securities may often be valued at fair value. The adviser generally relies on third-party pricing services or other information (such as the correlation with price movements of similar securities in the same or other markets; the type, cost and investment characteristics of the security; the business and financial condition of the issuer; and trading and other market data) to assist in determining whether to fair value and at what value to fair value an investment. The value of an investment for purposes of calculating the fund’s net asset value can differ depending on the source and method used to determine value. When fair valuation is used, the value of an investment used to determine the fund’s net asset value may differ from quoted or published prices for the same investment. There can be no assurance that the fund could obtain the fair value assigned to an investment if it were to sell the investment at the same time at which the fund determines its net asset value per share.

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the fund’s assets or liabilities. These inputs are categorized into three broad levels. In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, an investment’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The fund’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the investment. Level 1 includes unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 includes other significant observable market-based inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speed, and credit risk). Level 3 includes unobservable inputs, which may include the adviser’s own assumptions in determining

 

15


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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

the fair value of investments. The following is a summary of the levels used as of February 28, 2013 in valuing the fund’s assets or liabilities:

 

Investments at Value    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
Equity Securities:            

United States

     $2,000,380         $—         $—         $2,000,380   

France

     576,442         362,512                 938,954   

United Kingdom

     461,002         334,300                 795,302   

Switzerland

     162,953         443,264                 606,217   

Japan

     485,073                         485,073   

Netherlands

             363,830                 363,830   

China

     257,141                         257,141   

Germany

             181,092                 181,092   

Italy

     145,654                         145,654   

Other Countries

     390,685         79,954                 470,639   
Mutual Funds      384,615                         384,615   
Total Investments      $4,863,945         $1,764,952         $—         $6,628,897   

For further information regarding security characteristics, see the Portfolio of Investments.

Of the level 2 investments presented above, equity investments amounting to $1,387,685 would have been considered level 1 investments at the beginning of the period. Of the level 1 investments presented above, equity investments amounting to $523,910 would have been considered level 2 investments at the beginning of the period. The primary reason for changes in the classifications between levels 1 and 2 occurs when foreign equity securities are fair valued using other observable market-based inputs in place of the closing exchange price due to events occurring after the close of the exchange or market on which the investment is principally traded. The fund’s foreign equity securities may often be valued at fair value. The fund’s policy is to recognize transfers between the levels as of the end of the period.

Foreign Currency Translation – Purchases and sales of foreign investments, income, and expenses are converted into U.S. dollars based upon currency exchange rates prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions or on the reporting date for foreign denominated receivables and payables. Gains and losses attributable to foreign currency exchange rates on sales of securities are recorded for financial statement purposes as net realized gains and losses on investments. Gains and losses attributable to foreign exchange rate movements on receivables, payables, income and expenses are recorded for financial statement purposes as foreign currency transaction gains and losses. That portion of both realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments that results from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates is not separately disclosed.

Indemnifications – Under the fund’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the fund enters into agreements with service providers that may contain indemnification clauses. The fund’s maximum exposure under these agreements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the fund that have not yet occurred.

 

16


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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

Investment Transactions and Income – Investment transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividends received in cash are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Certain dividends from foreign securities will be recorded when the fund is informed of the dividend if such information is obtained subsequent to the ex-dividend date. Dividend payments received in additional securities are recorded on the ex-dividend date in an amount equal to the value of the security on such date.

The fund may receive proceeds from litigation settlements. Any proceeds received from litigation involving portfolio holdings are reflected in the Statement of Operations in realized gain/loss if the security has been disposed of by the fund or in unrealized gain/loss if the security is still held by the fund. Any other proceeds from litigation not related to portfolio holdings are reflected as other income in the Statement of Operations.

Fees Paid Indirectly – The fund’s custody fee may be reduced according to an arrangement that measures the value of cash deposited with the custodian by the fund. This amount, for the six months ended February 28, 2013, is shown as a reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations.

Tax Matters and Distributions – The fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to distribute all of its taxable income, including realized capital gains. As a result, no provision for federal income tax is required. The fund’s federal tax returns, when filed, will remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for a three year period. Foreign taxes have been accrued by the fund in the accompanying financial statements.

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Certain capital accounts in the financial statements are periodically adjusted for permanent differences in order to reflect their tax character. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or net asset value per share. Temporary differences which arise from recognizing certain items of income, expense, gain or loss in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes will reverse at some time in the future. Distributions in excess of net investment income or net realized gains are temporary overdistributions for financial statement purposes resulting from differences in the recognition or classification of income or distributions for financial statement and tax purposes.

During the period ended August 31, 2012, there were no significant adjustments due to differences between book and tax accounting.

The tax character of distributions made during the current period will be determined at fiscal year end. The fund declared no distributions for the period ended August 31, 2012.

 

17


Table of Contents

Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

The federal tax cost and the tax basis components of distributable earnings were as follows:

 

As of 2/28/13       
Cost of investments      $5,644,890   
Gross appreciation      1,026,537   
Gross depreciation      (42,530
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)      $984,007   
As of 8/31/12       
Undistributed ordinary income      113,751   
Other temporary differences      87   
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)      441,205   

Multiple Classes of Shares of Beneficial Interest – The fund offers multiple classes of shares, which differ in their respective distribution and service fees. The fund’s income, realized and unrealized gain (loss), and common expenses are allocated to shareholders based on the daily net assets of each class. Dividends are declared separately for each class. Differences in per share dividend rates are generally due to differences in separate class expenses. Class B shares will convert to Class A shares approximately eight years after purchase. The fund’s distributions declared to shareholders as reported in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets are presented by class as follows:

 

     From net investment
income
     From net realized gain on
investments
 
    

Six months
ended
2/28/13

    

Six months
ended
2/28/13

 
Class A      $47,256         $101,361   
Class B              1,620   
Class C      30         2,914   
Class I      12,717         22,613   
Total      $60,003         $128,508   

(3) Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Adviser – The fund has an investment advisory agreement with MFS to provide overall investment management and related administrative services and facilities to the fund.

The management fee is computed daily and paid monthly at the following annual rates:

 

First $1 billion of average daily net assets      0.90
Next $1.5 billion of average daily net assets      0.75
Average daily net assets in excess of $2.5 billion      0.65

The management fee incurred for the six months ended February 28, 2013 was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.90% of the fund’s average daily net assets.

The investment adviser has agreed in writing to pay a portion of the fund’s total annual operating expenses, exclusive of interest, taxes, extraordinary expenses, brokerage and

 

18


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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

transaction costs, and investment-related expenses, such that total fund operating expenses do not exceed the following rates annually of each class’ average daily net assets.

 

Class A     Class B     Class C     Class I  
  1.45%        2.20     2.20     1.20

This written agreement will continue until modified by the fund’s Board of Trustees, but such agreement will continue at least until December 31, 2013. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, this reduction amounted to $66,787 and is reflected as a reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations.

Distributor – MFS Fund Distributors, Inc. (MFD), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MFS, as distributor, received $7,135 for the six months ended February 28, 2013, as its portion of the initial sales charge on sales of Class A shares of the fund.

The Board of Trustees has adopted a distribution plan for certain class shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

The fund’s distribution plan provides that the fund will pay MFD for services provided by MFD and financial intermediaries in connection with the distribution and servicing of certain share classes. One component of the plan is a distribution fee paid to MFD and another component of the plan is a service fee paid to MFD. MFD may subsequently pay all, or a portion, of the distribution and/or service fees to financial intermediaries.

Distribution Plan Fee Table:

 

     Distribution
Fee Rate (d)
   Service
Fee Rate (d)
   Total
Distribution
Plan (d)
   Annual
Effective
Rate (e)
   Distribution
and Service
Fee
 
Class A       0.25%    0.25%    0.25%      $11,524   
Class B    0.75%    0.25%    1.00%    1.00%      855   
Class C    0.75%    0.25%    1.00%    1.00%      1,777   
Total Distribution and Service Fees         $14,156   

 

(d) In accordance with the distribution plan for certain classes, the fund pays distribution and/or service fees equal to these annual percentage rates of each class’s average daily net assets. The distribution and service fee rates disclosed by class represent the current rates in effect at the end of the reporting period.
(e) The annual effective rates represent actual fees incurred under the distribution plan for the six months ended February 28, 2013 based on each class’s average daily net assets.

Certain Class A shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) in the event of a shareholder redemption within 18 months of purchase for shares purchased on or after August 1, 2012, and within 24 months of purchase for shares purchased prior to August 1, 2012. Class C shares are subject to a CDSC in the event of a shareholder redemption within 12 months of purchase. Class B shares are subject to a CDSC in the event of a shareholder redemption within six years of purchase. There were no contingent deferred sales charges imposed during the six months ended February 28, 2013.

Shareholder Servicing Agent – MFS Service Center, Inc. (MFSC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MFS, receives a fee from the fund for its services as shareholder servicing agent calculated as a percentage of the average daily net assets of the fund as determined periodically under the supervision of the fund’s Board of Trustees. For the

 

19


Table of Contents

Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

six months ended February 28, 2013, the fee was $3,374, which equated to 0.0560% annually of the fund’s average daily net assets. MFSC also receives payment from the fund for out-of-pocket expenses, sub-accounting and other shareholder servicing costs which may be paid to affiliated and unaffiliated service providers. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, these out-of-pocket expenses, sub-accounting and other shareholder servicing costs amounted to $877.

Administrator – MFS provides certain financial, legal, shareholder communications, compliance, and other administrative services to the fund. Under an administrative services agreement, the fund partially reimburses MFS the costs incurred to provide these services. The fund is charged an annual fixed amount of $17,500 plus a fee based on average daily net assets. The administrative services fee incurred for the six months ended February 28, 2013 was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.1441% of the fund’s average daily net assets.

Trustees’ and Officers’ Compensation – The fund pays compensation to independent Trustees in the form of a retainer, attendance fees, and additional compensation to Board and Committee chairpersons. The fund does not pay compensation directly to Trustees or officers of the fund who are also officers of the investment adviser, all of whom receive remuneration for their services to the fund from MFS. Certain officers and Trustees of the fund are officers or directors of MFS, MFD, and MFSC.

Other – This fund and certain other funds managed by MFS (the funds) have entered into services agreements (the Agreements) which provide for payment of fees by the funds to Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC in return for the provision of services of an Independent Chief Compliance Officer (ICCO) and Assistant ICCO, respectively, for the funds. The ICCO and Assistant ICCO are officers of the funds and the sole members of Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC, respectively. The funds can terminate the Agreements with Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC at any time under the terms of the Agreements. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, the aggregate fees paid by the fund to Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC were $35 and are included in “Miscellaneous” expense in the Statement of Operations. MFS has agreed to reimburse the fund for a portion of the payments made by the fund in the amount of $11, which is shown as a reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations. Additionally, MFS has agreed to bear all expenses associated with office space, other administrative support, and supplies provided to the ICCO and Assistant ICCO.

The fund invests in the MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio which is managed by MFS and seeks current income consistent with preservation of capital and liquidity. Income earned on this investment is included in “Dividends from underlying affiliated funds” in the Statement of Operations. This money market fund does not pay a management fee to MFS.

On September 27, 2011, MFS purchased 10,000 shares each of Class A, Class B, and Class C and 180,000 shares of Class I for an aggregate amount of $2,100,000. At February 28, 2013, MFS held 55% and 100% of the outstanding shares of Class B and Class I, respectively.

 

20


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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

(4) Portfolio Securities

Purchases and sales of investments, other than short-term obligations, aggregated $3,553,756 and $8,999,953, respectively.

(5) Shares of Beneficial Interest

The fund’s Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest. Transactions in fund shares were as follows:

     Six months ended
2/28/13
     Period ended
8/31/12 (c)
 
     Shares      Amount      Shares      Amount  
Shares sold            

Class A

     251,169         $3,199,615         696,148         $8,342,949   

Class B

     7,437         94,787         10,883         110,505   

Class C

     35,285         445,420         11,386         116,228   

Class I

                     180,000         1,800,000   
     293,891         $3,739,822         898,417         $10,369,682   
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions            

Class A

     11,590         $147,077                 $—   

Class B

     129         1,620                   

Class C

     233         2,944                   

Class I

     2,777         35,330                   
     14,729         $186,971                 $—   
Shares reacquired            

Class A

     (691,580      $(9,115,503      (10,905      $(131,549

Class B

     (107      (1,334      (65      (766

Class C

     (5      (65      (344      (4,046
     (691,692      $(9,116,902      (11,314      $(136,361
Net change            

Class A

     (428,821      $(5,768,811      685,243         $8,211,400   

Class B

     7,459         95,073         10,818         109,739   

Class C

     35,513         448,299         11,042         112,182   

Class I

     2,777         35,330         180,000         1,800,000   
     (383,072      $(5,190,109      887,103         $10,233,321   

 

(c) For the period from the commencement of the fund’s investment operations, September 28, 2011, through the stated period end.

(6) Line of Credit

The fund and certain other funds managed by MFS participate in a $1.1 billion unsecured committed line of credit, subject to a $1 billion sublimit, provided by a syndication of banks under a credit agreement. Borrowings may be made for temporary financing needs. Interest is charged to each fund, based on its borrowings, generally at a rate equal to the higher of the Federal Reserve funds rate or one month LIBOR plus an agreed upon spread. A commitment fee, based on the average daily,

 

21


Table of Contents

Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

unused portion of the committed line of credit, is allocated among the participating funds at the end of each calendar quarter. In addition, the fund and other funds managed by MFS have established unsecured uncommitted borrowing arrangements with certain banks for temporary financing needs. Interest is charged to each fund, based on its borrowings, at a rate equal to the Federal Reserve funds rate plus an agreed upon spread. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, the fund’s commitment fee and interest expense were $17 and $0, respectively, and are included in “Miscellaneous” expense in the Statement of Operations.

(7) Transactions in Underlying Affiliated Funds-Affiliated Issuers

An affiliated issuer may be considered one in which the fund owns 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities, or a company which is under common control. For the purposes of this report, the fund assumes the following to be an affiliated issuer:

 

Underlying Affiliated Fund    Beginning
Shares/Par
Amount
     Acquisitions
Shares/Par
Amount
     Dispositions
Shares/Par
Amount
     Ending
Shares/Par
Amount
 
MFS Institutional Money
Market Portfolio
     358,853         3,491,721         (3,465,959      384,615   
Underlying Affiliated Fund    Realized
Gain (Loss)
     Capital Gain
Distributions
     Dividend
Income
     Ending
Value
 
MFS Institutional Money
Market Portfolio
     $—         $—         $415         $384,615   

 

22


Table of Contents

BOARD REVIEW OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

A discussion regarding the Board’s approval of the fund’s Investment Advisory Agreement with MFS is available by clicking on the fund’s name under “Mutual Funds” in the “Products” section of the MFS Web site (mfs.com).

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND INFORMATION

A general description of the MFS funds’ proxy voting policies and procedures is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-225-2606, by visiting the Proxy Voting section of mfs.com or by visiting the SEC’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov.

Information regarding how the fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 is available without charge by visiting the Proxy Voting section of mfs.com or by visiting the SEC’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov.

QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO DISCLOSURE

The fund will file a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. A shareholder can obtain the quarterly portfolio holdings report at mfs.com. The fund’s Form N-Q is also available on the EDGAR database on the Commission’s Internet Web site at http://www.sec.gov, and may be reviewed and copied at the:

Public Reference Room

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, NE, Room 1580

Washington, D.C. 20549

Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. Copies of the fund’s Form N-Q also may be obtained, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the Public Reference Section at the above address.

FURTHER INFORMATION

From time to time, MFS may post important information about the fund or the MFS funds on the MFS web site (mfs.com). This information is available by visiting the “News & Commentary” section of mfs.com or by clicking on the fund’s name under “Mutual Funds” in the “Products” section of mfs.com.

PROVISION OF FINANCIAL REPORTS AND SUMMARY PROSPECTUSES

The fund produces financial reports every six months and updates its summary prospectus and prospectus annually. To avoid sending duplicate copies of materials to households, only one copy of the fund’s annual and semiannual report and summary prospectus may be mailed to shareholders having the same last name and residential address on the fund’s records. However, any shareholder may contact MFSC (please see back cover for address and telephone number) to request that copies of these reports and summary prospectuses be sent personally to that shareholder.

 

23


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

Save paper with eDelivery.

 

LOGO

MFS® will send you prospectuses,

reports, and proxies directly via e-mail so you will get information faster with less mailbox clutter.

To sign up:

1. Go to mfs.com.

2. Log in via MFS® Access.

3. Select eDelivery.

If you own your MFS fund shares through a financial institution or a retirement plan, MFS® TALK, MFS® Access, or eDelivery may not be available to you.

 

CONTACT

WEB SITE

mfs.com

MFS TALK

1-800-637-8255

24 hours a day

ACCOUNT SERVICE AND LITERATURE

Shareholders

1-800-225-2606

Financial advisors

1-800-343-2829

Retirement plan services

1-800-637-1255

MAILING ADDRESS

MFS Service Center, Inc.

P.O. Box 55824

Boston, MA 02205-5824

OVERNIGHT MAIL

MFS Service Center, Inc.

c/o Boston Financial Data Services

30 Dan Road

Canton, MA 02021-2809

 


Table of Contents

SEMIANNUAL REPORT

February 28, 2013

 

LOGO

 

MFS® NEW DISCOVERY FUND

 

LOGO

 

NDF-SEM

 


Table of Contents

MFS® NEW DISCOVERY FUND

 

CONTENTS

 

Letter from the Chairman and CEO     1   
Portfolio composition     2   
Expense table     3   
Portfolio of investments     5   
Statement of assets and liabilities     10   
Statement of operations     12   
Statements of changes in net assets     13   
Financial highlights     14   
Notes to financial statements     26   
Board review of investment advisory agreement     38   
Proxy voting policies and information     38   
Quarterly portfolio disclosure     38   
Further information     38   
Provision of financial reports and summary prospectuses     38   
Contact information    back cover   

The report is prepared for the general information of shareholders.

It is authorized for distribution to prospective investors only when preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus.

 

NOT FDIC INSURED Ÿ MAY LOSE VALUE Ÿ NO BANK GUARANTEE


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND CEO

 

Dear Shareholders:

Global financial markets began 2013 with greater optimism. U.S. and Asian economic trends have turned more positive. Europe continues to struggle through its economic

slump. However, even there, sentiment has improved. The U.S. Congress averted its year-end fiscal cliff, but a degree of uncertainty remains regarding upcoming negotiations over spending cuts and the debt ceiling. The U.S. Federal Reserve Board is continuing its accommodative monetary easing, while the U.S. housing and job markets have made steady gains. Corporate profits have been resilient, and investors have demonstrated increased tolerance for risk.

Overseas, the eurozone remains in a broad contraction, with economic output receding in France as well as Italy and Spain.

However, large-scale early repayments of European Central Bank loans by banks and Germany’s strong rebound in manufacturing activity are encouraging signs. In Asia, both China and Japan appear to be in the early stages of a turnaround. China’s economic activity has picked up from last year’s relative slowdown, and Japan’s sharp devaluation of the yen, an important anti-deflationary measure, seems to be having its desired impact: Japanese stocks have soared, corporate profits are rising and confidence is returning among consumers, businesses and investors.

As always, managing risk in the face of uncertainty remains a top priority for investors. At MFS®, our uniquely collaborative investment process employs global research and active risk management. Our global team of investment professionals shares ideas and evaluates opportunities across continents, investment disciplines and asset classes — all with a goal of building better insights, and ultimately better results, for our clients.

We remain mindful of the many economic challenges investors face today, and believe it is more important than ever to maintain a long-term view and employ time-tested principles, such as asset allocation and diversification. We also remain confident that our unique approach can serve investors well as they work with their financial advisors to identify and pursue the most suitable opportunities.

Respectfully,

 

LOGO

Robert J. Manning

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

MFS Investment Management®

April 12, 2013

The opinions expressed in this letter are subject to change, may not be relied upon for investment advice, and no forecasts can be guaranteed.

 

1


Table of Contents

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION

 

Portfolio structure

 

LOGO

 

Top ten holdings  
Cabot Oil & Gas Corp.     2.2%   
Swift Transportation Co.     2.0%   
HomeAway, Inc.     2.0%   
Conceptus, Inc.     2.0%   
Diana Shipping, Inc.     1.8%   
Atwood Oceanics, Inc.     1.8%   
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc.     1.8%   
Constant Contact, Inc.     1.7%   
Range Resources Corp.     1.6%   
Align Technology, Inc.     1.6%   
Equity sectors  
Technology     20.0%   
Health Care     18.0%   
Industrial Goods & Services     12.7%   
Energy     10.2%   
Special Products & Services     9.7%   
Basic Materials     7.5%   
Transportation     7.3%   
Retailing     5.2%   
Leisure     4.4%   
Consumer Staples     2.5%   
Financial Services     1.9%   
 

 

Percentages are based on net assets as of 2/28/13.

The portfolio is actively managed and current holdings may be different.

 

2


Table of Contents

EXPENSE TABLE

Fund expenses borne by the shareholders during the period,

September 1, 2012 through February 28, 2013

As a shareholder of the fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on certain purchase or redemption payments, and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period September 1, 2012 through February 28, 2013.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class in the following table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class in the following table provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads). Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

3


Table of Contents

Expense Table – continued

 

Share
Class
       Annualized
Expense
Ratio
    Beginning
Account Value
9/01/12
    Ending
Account Value
2/28/13
    Expenses
Paid During
Period (p)
9/01/12-2/28/13
 
A   Actual     1.33%        $1,000.00        $1,138.82        $7.05   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.33%        $1,000.00        $1,018.20        $6.66   
B   Actual     2.08%        $1,000.00        $1,134.34        $11.01   
  Hypothetical (h)     2.08%        $1,000.00        $1,014.48        $10.39   
C   Actual     2.08%        $1,000.00        $1,134.74        $11.01   
  Hypothetical (h)     2.08%        $1,000.00        $1,014.48        $10.39   
I   Actual     1.08%        $1,000.00        $1,140.13        $5.73   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.08%        $1,000.00        $1,019.44        $5.41   
R1   Actual     2.08%        $1,000.00        $1,134.53        $11.01   
  Hypothetical (h)     2.08%        $1,000.00        $1,014.48        $10.39   
R2   Actual     1.58%        $1,000.00        $1,137.30        $8.37   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.58%        $1,000.00        $1,016.96        $7.90   
R3   Actual     1.33%        $1,000.00        $1,138.96        $7.05   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.33%        $1,000.00        $1,018.20        $6.66   
R4   Actual     1.08%        $1,000.00        $1,140.30        $5.73   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.08%        $1,000.00        $1,019.44        $5.41   
R5   Actual     0.97%        $1,000.00        $1,141.06        $5.15   
  Hypothetical (h)     0.97%        $1,000.00        $1,019.98        $4.86   
529A   Actual     1.38%        $1,000.00        $1,138.07        $7.32   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.38%        $1,000.00        $1,017.95        $6.90   
529B   Actual     2.13%        $1,000.00        $1,134.21        $11.27   
  Hypothetical (h)     2.13%        $1,000.00        $1,014.23        $10.64   
529C   Actual     2.13%        $1,000.00        $1,134.13        $11.27   
  Hypothetical (h)     2.13%        $1,000.00        $1,014.23        $10.64   

 

(h) 5% class return per year before expenses.
(p) Expenses paid are equal to each class’s annualized expense ratio, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period, divided by the number of days in the year. Expenses paid do not include any applicable sales charges (loads). If these transaction costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.

 

4


Table of Contents

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

2/28/13 (unaudited)

The Portfolio of Investments is a complete list of all securities owned by your fund. It is categorized by broad-based asset classes.

 

Common Stocks - 99.4%                 
Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Airlines - 1.1%                 
U.S. Airways Group, Inc. (a)      724,530      $ 9,730,434   
United Continental Holdings, Inc. (a)      262,430        7,009,505   
    

 

 

 
             $ 16,739,939   
Biotechnology - 0.7%                 
ViroPharma, Inc. (a)      427,940      $ 10,672,824   
Brokerage & Asset Managers - 1.0%                 
LPL Financial Holdings, Inc.      471,950      $ 14,880,584   
Business Services - 7.1%                 
Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Inc. (a)      753,040      $ 21,054,998   
Concur Technologies, Inc. (a)      237,940        16,703,388   
Constant Contact, Inc. (a)(h)      1,792,205        25,323,857   
FleetCor Technologies, Inc. (a)      48,390        3,378,106   
Gartner, Inc. (a)      317,270        15,787,355   
Performant Financial Corp. (a)      1,089,160        14,431,370   
Xoom Corp. (a)      384,768        8,180,168   
    

 

 

 
             $ 104,859,242   
Chemicals - 1.0%                 
Intrepid Potash, Inc.      717,970      $ 14,151,189   
Computer Software - 4.6%                 
ANSYS, Inc. (a)      225,680      $ 17,106,544   
Blackbaud, Inc.      137,020        3,809,156   
CommVault Systems, Inc. (a)      213,110        15,759,485   
Nuance Communications, Inc. (a)      789,149        14,528,233   
Qlik Technologies, Inc. (a)      672,145        17,475,770   
    

 

 

 
             $ 68,679,188   
Computer Software - Systems - 7.4%                 
E2open, Inc. (a)      179,980      $ 3,556,405   
Exa Corp. (a)      525,610        5,198,283   
ExactTarget, Inc. (a)      514,030        11,462,869   
FleetMatics Group PLC (a)      866,100        20,569,875   
Fusion-io, Inc. (a)(l)      618,071        10,433,038   
Greenway Medical Technologies, Inc. (a)      487,739        7,730,663   
Guidewire Software, Inc. (a)      361,930        13,228,542   

 

5


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Computer Software - Systems - continued                 
Linx S.A. (a)      405,800      $ 6,558,322   
PROS Holdings, Inc. (a)      299,206        7,797,308   
SciQuest, Inc. (a)(h)      1,227,125        23,499,444   
    

 

 

 
             $ 110,034,749   
Consumer Services - 2.6%                 
HomeAway, Inc. (a)      993,937      $ 29,321,142   
MakeMyTrip Ltd. (a)      718,663        9,694,764   
    

 

 

 
             $ 39,015,906   
Electrical Equipment - 2.8%                 
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc., “A”      259,278      $ 22,121,599   
Sensata Technologies Holding B.V. (a)      579,597        18,831,107   
    

 

 

 
             $ 40,952,706   
Electronics - 5.4%                 
Mellanox Technologies Ltd. (a)(l)      284,690      $ 15,011,704   
Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.      778,222        19,136,479   
NXP Semiconductors N.V. (a)      363,660        11,753,491   
Ultratech, Inc. (a)      262,040        10,738,399   
Universal Display Corp. (a)      123,587        3,878,160   
Veeco Instruments, Inc. (a)      635,703        20,285,283   
    

 

 

 
             $ 80,803,516   
Energy - Independent - 3.8%                 
Cabot Oil & Gas Corp.      528,198      $ 32,732,430   
Range Resources Corp.      316,804        24,330,547   
    

 

 

 
             $ 57,062,977   
Food & Beverages - 2.5%                 
Flowers Foods, Inc.      406,210      $ 11,446,998   
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (a)      551,140        26,322,446   
    

 

 

 
             $ 37,769,444   
Gaming & Lodging - 1.2%                 
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (a)      556,670      $ 17,245,637   
General Merchandise - 1.2%                 
Five Below, Inc. (a)      438,266      $ 17,442,987   
Internet - 2.6%                 
Millennial Media, Inc. (a)      697,760      $ 6,538,011   
Rackspace Hosting, Inc. (a)      213,270        11,913,262   

 

6


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Internet - continued                 
Shutterfly, Inc. (a)      476,260      $ 20,612,533   
    

 

 

 
             $ 39,063,806   
Machinery & Tools - 9.9%                 
Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.      975,130      $ 22,525,503   
IPG Photonics Corp.      250,640        14,860,446   
Joy Global, Inc.      322,686        20,438,931   
Kennametal, Inc.      449,720        18,204,666   
Polypore International, Inc. (a)      492,763        18,862,968   
Proto Labs, Inc. (a)      312,860        14,544,861   
Titan Machinery, Inc. (a)      254,284        7,183,523   
United Rentals, Inc. (a)      249,815        13,342,619   
WABCO Holdings, Inc. (a)      236,837        16,275,439   
    

 

 

 
             $ 146,238,956   
Medical & Health Technology & Services - 5.2%                 
Advisory Board Co. (a)      174,506      $ 8,866,650   
Brookdale Senior Living, Inc. (a)      528,415        14,626,527   
Capital Senior Living Corp. (a)      447,870        10,301,010   
Healthcare Services Group, Inc.      804,893        19,397,921   
HMS Holdings Corp. (a)      493,410        14,303,956   
IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (a)      111,800        10,299,016   
    

 

 

 
             $ 77,795,080   
Medical Equipment - 9.8%                 
Align Technology, Inc. (a)      764,144      $ 24,024,687   
Cepheid, Inc. (a)      560,920        20,434,316   
Conceptus, Inc. (a)      1,303,056        29,097,240   
DexCom, Inc. (a)      668,818        9,985,453   
Endologix, Inc. (a)      1,312,233        19,762,229   
Globus Medical, Inc., “A” (a)(l)      911,127        13,165,785   
NxStage Medical, Inc. (a)      1,111,124        12,466,811   
Uroplasty, Inc. (a)(h)      1,402,803        3,422,839   
Volcano Corp. (a)      600,512        12,995,080   
    

 

 

 
             $ 145,354,440   
Metals & Mining - 4.0%                 
Globe Specialty Metals, Inc.      1,344,998      $ 19,220,021   
GrafTech International Ltd. (a)      1,535,060        11,344,093   
Iluka Resources Ltd.      1,732,781        18,538,263   
Molycorp, Inc. (a)      1,575,780        9,675,289   
    

 

 

 
             $ 58,777,666   

 

7


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Oil Services - 6.4%                 
Atwood Oceanics, Inc. (a)      519,329      $ 26,563,678   
Basic Energy Services, Inc. (a)      785,800        11,496,254   
Dresser-Rand Group, Inc. (a)      334,904        20,650,181   
Helmerich & Payne, Inc.      108,340        7,178,608   
Key Energy Services, Inc. (a)      1,269,860        10,895,399   
Superior Energy Services, Inc. (a)      696,220        18,415,019   
    

 

 

 
             $ 95,199,139   
Other Banks & Diversified Financials - 0.9%                 
Air Lease Corp.      356,026      $ 9,673,226   
First Republic Bank      98,850        3,603,083   
    

 

 

 
             $ 13,276,309   
Pharmaceuticals - 2.3%                 
Kythera Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)      179,100      $ 4,667,346   
Perrigo Co.      116,390        13,171,856   
Zoetis, Inc. (a)      477,650        15,977,393   
    

 

 

 
             $ 33,816,595   
Railroad & Shipping - 2.3%                 
Diana Shipping, Inc. (a)      3,192,248      $ 27,102,186   
Navios Maritime Holdings, Inc.      1,786,550        6,645,966   
    

 

 

 
             $ 33,748,152   
Restaurants - 3.2%                 
Arcos Dorados Holdings, Inc.      1,745,140      $ 22,110,924   
Chuy’s Holdings, Inc. (a)      515,333        14,692,144   
Dunkin Brands Group, Inc.      295,540        10,979,311   
    

 

 

 
             $ 47,782,379   
Specialty Chemicals - 2.5%                 
Rockwood Holdings, Inc.      255,550      $ 15,997,430   
Tronox Ltd., “A”      1,040,200        21,365,708   
    

 

 

 
             $ 37,363,138   
Specialty Stores - 4.0%                 
Citi Trends, Inc. (a)(h)      1,185,673      $ 12,200,575   
Monro Muffler Brake, Inc.      494,033        18,303,923   
Tiffany & Co.      153,880        10,334,581   
Zumiez, Inc. (a)      830,710        19,023,259   
    

 

 

 
             $ 59,862,338   

 

8


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Trucking - 3.9%                 
Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (a)      426,096      $ 20,107,470   
Celadon Group, Inc.      363,290        7,240,370   
Swift Transportation Co. (a)      2,230,950        30,184,754   
    

 

 

 
             $ 57,532,594   
Total Common Stocks (Identified Cost, $1,255,750,108)            $ 1,476,121,480   
Money Market Funds - 1.0%                 
MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio, 0.13%,
at Cost and Net Asset Value (v)
     15,261,335      $ 15,261,335   
Collateral for Securities Loaned - 0.9%                 
Navigator Securities Lending Prime Portfolio,
0.22%, at Cost and Net Asset Value (j)
     13,672,716      $ 13,672,716   
Total Investments (Identified Cost, $1,284,684,159)            $ 1,505,055,531   
Other Assets, Less Liabilities - (1.3)%              (20,021,965
Net Assets - 100.0%            $ 1,485,033,566   

 

(a) Non-income producing security.
(h) Affiliated issuers are those in which the fund’s holdings of an issuer represent 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer.
(j) The rate quoted is the annualized seven-day yield of the fund at period end.
(l) A portion of this security is on loan.
(v) Underlying affiliated fund that is available only to investment companies managed by MFS. The rate quoted for the MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio is the annualized seven-day yield of the fund at period end.

The following abbreviations are used in this report and are defined:

 

PLC   Public Limited Company

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

9


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

At 2/28/13 (unaudited)

This statement represents your fund’s balance sheet, which details the assets and liabilities comprising the total value of the fund.

 

Assets         

Investments-

  

Non-affiliated issuers, at value (identified cost, $1,189,557,668)

     $1,425,347,481   

Underlying affiliated funds, at cost and value

     15,261,335   

Other affiliated issuers, at value (identified cost, $79,865,156)

     64,446,715   

Total investments, at value, including $13,866,327 of securities on loan (identified cost, $1,284,684,159)

     $1,505,055,531   

Receivables for

  

Investments sold

     8,037,174   

Fund shares sold

     8,716,586   

Interest and dividends

     460,073   

Other assets

     7,818   

Total assets

     $1,522,277,182   
Liabilities         

Payables for

  

Investments purchased

     $20,050,942   

Fund shares reacquired

     2,707,250   

Collateral for securities loaned, at value

     13,672,716   

Payable to affiliates

  

Investment adviser

     70,646   

Shareholder servicing costs

     609,643   

Distribution and service fees

     18,476   

Program manager fees

     15   

Payable for independent Trustees’ compensation

     5,493   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     108,435   

Total liabilities

     $37,243,616   

Net assets

     $1,485,033,566   
Net assets consist of         

Paid-in capital

     $1,320,968,293   

Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies

     220,371,378   

Accumulated net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

     (45,911,714

Accumulated net investment loss

     (10,394,391

Net assets

     $1,485,033,566   

Shares of beneficial interest outstanding

     64,173,244   

 

10


Table of Contents

Statement of Assets and Liabilities (unaudited) – continued

 

 

     Net assets      Shares
outstanding
     Net asset value
per share (a)
 

Class A

     $608,980,352         26,517,103         $22.97   

Class B

     33,602,750         1,651,333         20.35   

Class C

     105,695,916         5,186,210         20.38   

Class I

     236,080,062         9,641,263         24.49   

Class R1

     7,728,705         381,768         20.24   

Class R2

     41,784,622         1,881,776         22.20   

Class R3

     76,969,122         3,353,949         22.95   

Class R4

     161,867,624         6,867,092         23.57   

Class R5

     206,916,502         8,443,097         24.51   

Class 529A

     3,930,143         175,275         22.42   

Class 529B

     264,838         13,336         19.86   

Class 529C

     1,212,930         61,042         19.87   

 

(a) Maximum offering price per share was equal to the net asset value per share for all share classes, except for Classes A and 529A, for which the maximum offering prices per share were $24.37 [100 / 94.25 x $22.97] and $23.79 [100 / 94.25 x $22.42], respectively. On sales of $50,000 or more, the maximum offering prices of Class A and Class 529A shares are reduced. A contingent deferred sales charge may be imposed on redemptions of Class A, Class B, Class C, Class 529B, and Class 529C shares. Redemption price per share was equal to the net asset value per share for Classes I, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and 529A.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

11


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

Six months ended 2/28/13 (unaudited)

This statement describes how much your fund earned in investment income and accrued in expenses. It also describes any gains and/or losses generated by fund operations.

 

Net investment loss         

Income

  

Dividends

     $4,611,551   

Income on securities loaned

     540,570   

Dividends from underlying affiliated funds

     5,757   

Foreign taxes withheld

     (12,924

Total investment income

     $5,144,954   

Expenses

  

Management fee

     $5,828,401   

Distribution and service fees

     1,523,359   

Program manager fees

     2,376   

Shareholder servicing costs

     870,204   

Administrative services fee

     89,835   

Independent Trustees’ compensation

     14,437   

Custodian fee

     63,584   

Shareholder communications

     53,598   

Audit and tax fees

     26,593   

Legal fees

     8,187   

Miscellaneous

     106,535   

Total expenses

     $8,587,109   

Fees paid indirectly

     (487

Reduction of expenses by investment adviser and distributor

     (154,054

Net expenses

     $8,432,568   

Net investment loss

     $(3,287,614
Realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency   

Realized gain (loss) (identified cost basis)

  

Investments:

  

Non-affiliated issuers

     $60,060,236   

Other affiliated issuers

     (721,685

Foreign currency

     (19,527

Net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

     $59,319,024   

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

  

Investments

     $117,308,941   

Translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies

     6   

Net unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency translation

     $117,308,947   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

     $176,627,971   

Change in net assets from operations

     $173,340,357   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

12


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

These statements describe the increases and/or decreases in net assets resulting from operations, any distributions, and any shareholder transactions.

 

Change in net assets    Six months ended
2/28/13
(unaudited)
     Year ended
8/31/12
 
From operations                  

Net investment loss

     $(3,287,614      $(9,789,936

Net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

     59,319,024         (77,936,137

Net unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency translation

     117,308,947         197,089,128   

Change in net assets from operations

     $173,340,357         $109,363,055   
Distributions declared to shareholders                  

From net realized gain on investments

     $—         $(208,715,402

Change in net assets from fund share transactions

     $64,635,175         $125,313,234   

Total change in net assets

     $237,975,532         $25,960,887   
Net assets                  

At beginning of period

     1,247,058,034         1,221,097,147   

At end of period (including accumulated net investment loss of $10,394,391 and $7,106,777, respectively)

     $1,485,033,566         $1,247,058,034   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

13


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the fund’s financial performance for the semiannual period and the past 5 fiscal years (or life of a particular share class, if shorter). Certain information reflects financial results for a single fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate by which an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the fund share class (assuming reinvestment of all distributions) held for the entire period.

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class A     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $20.17        $22.63        $19.03        $16.22        $17.96        $20.48   
Income (loss) from investment operations   

Net investment loss (d)

    $(0.06     $(0.16     $(0.22     $(0.17     $(0.13     $(0.16

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency

    2.86        1.80        5.23        2.98        (1.61 )(g)      (1.70

Total from investment operations

    $2.80        $1.64        $5.01        $2.81        $(1.74     $(1.86
Less distributions declared to shareholders   

From net realized gain on
investments

    $—        $(4.10     $(1.41     $—        $—        $(0.66

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

    $22.97        $20.17        $22.63        $19.03        $16.22        $17.96   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    13.88 (n)      9.88        26.13        17.32        (9.69     (9.31
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.35 (a)      1.39        1.40        1.51        1.70        1.61   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    1.33 (a)      1.35        1.30        1.41        1.60        1.51   

Net investment loss

    (0.54 )(a)      (0.83     (0.90     (0.92     (1.05     (0.86

Portfolio turnover

    50 (n)      128        205        167        150        95   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $608,980        $529,749        $626,258        $338,380        $248,658        $282,079   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

14


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Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class B     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $17.94        $20.73        $17.65        $15.16        $16.90        $19.44   
Income (loss) from investment operations   

Net investment loss (d)

    $(0.12     $(0.28     $(0.37     $(0.29     $(0.21     $(0.27

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency

    2.53        1.59        4.86        2.78        (1.53 )(g)      (1.61

Total from investment
operations

    $2.41        $1.31        $4.49        $2.49        $(1.74     $(1.88
Less distributions declared to shareholders   

From net realized gain on
investments

    $—        $(4.10     $(1.41     $—        $—        $(0.66

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

    $20.35        $17.94        $20.73        $17.65        $15.16        $16.90   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    13.43 (n)      9.08        25.18        16.42        (10.30     (9.92
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    2.10 (a)      2.14        2.15        2.26        2.41        2.27   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    2.08 (a)      2.10        2.05        2.16        2.30        2.17   

Net investment loss

    (1.28 )(a)      (1.59     (1.65     (1.67     (1.76     (1.53

Portfolio turnover

    50 (n)      128        205        167        150        95   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $33,603        $30,308        $33,037        $26,777        $27,582        $38,724   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

15


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Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class C     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $17.96        $20.76        $17.67        $15.18        $16.93        $19.46   
Income (loss) from investment operations   

Net investment loss (d)

    $(0.12     $(0.28     $(0.37     $(0.30     $(0.21     $(0.27

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency

    2.54        1.58        4.87        2.79        (1.54 )(g)      (1.60

Total from investment
operations

    $2.42        $1.30        $4.50        $2.49        $(1.75     $(1.87
Less distributions declared to shareholders   

From net realized gain on
investments

    $—        $(4.10     $(1.41     $—        $—        $(0.66

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

    $20.38        $17.96        $20.76        $17.67        $15.18        $16.93   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    13.47 (n)      9.01        25.21        16.40        (10.34     (9.86
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    2.10 (a)      2.14        2.15        2.26        2.40        2.26   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    2.08 (a)      2.10        2.05        2.16        2.30        2.16   

Net investment loss

    (1.29 )(a)      (1.59     (1.65     (1.67     (1.75     (1.51

Portfolio turnover

    50 (n)      128        205        167        150        95   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $105,696        $91,138        $95,479        $37,144        $25,431        $29,661   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

16


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Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class I     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $21.48        $23.77        $19.88        $16.91        $18.67        $21.19   
Income (loss) from investment operations   

Net investment loss (d)

    $(0.03     $(0.12     $(0.17     $(0.13     $(0.10     $(0.10

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency

    3.04        1.93        5.47        3.10        (1.66 )(g)      (1.76

Total from investment
operations

    $3.01        $1.81        $5.30        $2.97        $(1.76     $(1.86
Less distributions declared to shareholders   

From net realized gain on
investments

    $—        $(4.10     $(1.41     $—        $—        $(0.66

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

    $24.49        $21.48        $23.77        $19.88        $16.91        $18.67   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

    14.01 (n)      10.16        26.48        17.56        (9.43     (8.99
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.10 (a)      1.15        1.15        1.26        1.35        1.26   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    1.08 (a)      1.10        1.05        1.16        1.25        1.16   

Net investment loss

    (0.31 )(a)      (0.59     (0.65     (0.67     (0.71     (0.51

Portfolio turnover

    50 (n)      128        205        167        150        95   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $236,080        $170,830        $323,848        $263,575        $238,410        $90,045   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

17


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Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class R1     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $17.84        $20.65        $17.58        $15.10        $16.84        $19.37   
Income (loss) from investment operations   

Net investment loss (d)

    $(0.12     $(0.28     $(0.37     $(0.29     $(0.21     $(0.27

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency

    2.52        1.57        4.85        2.77        (1.53 )(g)      (1.60

Total from investment
operations

    $2.40        $1.29        $4.48        $2.48        $(1.74     $(1.87
Less distributions declared to shareholders   

From net realized gain on
investments

    $—        $(4.10     $(1.41     $—        $—        $(0.66

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

    $20.24        $17.84        $20.65        $17.58        $15.10        $16.84   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

    13.45 (n)      9.00        25.22        16.42        (10.33     (9.91
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    2.10 (a)      2.14        2.15        2.26        2.40        2.30   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    2.08 (a)      2.10        2.05        2.16        2.30        2.20   

Net investment loss

    (1.28 )(a)      (1.59     (1.65     (1.67     (1.76     (1.54

Portfolio turnover

    50 (n)      128        205        167        150        95   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $7,729        $7,506        $6,904        $5,253        $4,217        $4,565   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

18


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Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class R2     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $19.52        $22.09        $18.65        $15.94        $17.68        $20.21   
Income (loss) from investment operations   

Net investment loss (d)

    $(0.08     $(0.21     $(0.28     $(0.22     $(0.16     $(0.19

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency

    2.76        1.74        5.13        2.93        (1.58 )(g)      (1.68

Total from investment
operations

    $2.68        $1.53        $4.85        $2.71        $(1.74     $(1.87
Less distributions declared to shareholders   

From net realized gain on
investments

    $—        $(4.10     $(1.41     $—        $—        $(0.66

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

    $22.20        $19.52        $22.09        $18.65        $15.94        $17.68   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

    13.73 (n)      9.58        25.79        17.00        (9.84     (9.48
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.60 (a)      1.64        1.65        1.76        1.90        1.80   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    1.58 (a)      1.60        1.55        1.66        1.80        1.70   

Net investment loss

    (0.78 )(a)      (1.09     (1.15     (1.17     (1.26     (1.03

Portfolio turnover

    50 (n)      128        205        167        150        95   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $41,785        $35,599        $24,316        $13,125        $11,312        $13,675   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

19


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class R3     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $20.15        $22.62        $19.02        $16.22        $17.94        $20.45   
Income (loss) from investment operations   

Net investment loss (d)

    $(0.06     $(0.16     $(0.22     $(0.18     $(0.13     $(0.15

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency

    2.86        1.79        5.23        2.98        (1.59 )(g)      (1.70

Total from investment
operations

    $2.80        $1.63        $5.01        $2.80        $(1.72     $(1.85
Less distributions declared to shareholders   

From net realized gain on
investments

    $—        $(4.10     $(1.41     $—        $—        $(0.66

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

    $22.95        $20.15        $22.62        $19.02        $16.22        $17.94   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

    13.90 (n)      9.84        26.14        17.26        (9.59     (9.27
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.35 (a)      1.39        1.40        1.51        1.65        1.57   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    1.33 (a)      1.35        1.30        1.41        1.55        1.47   

Net investment loss

    (0.53 )(a)      (0.83     (0.90     (0.93     (1.00     (0.82

Portfolio turnover

    50 (n)      128        205        167        150        95   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $76,969        $61,125        $28,966        $6,456        $3,492        $4,204   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

20


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Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class R4     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $20.67        $23.04        $19.31        $16.42        $18.13        $20.60   
Income (loss) from investment operations   

Net investment loss (d)

    $(0.03     $(0.12     $(0.16     $(0.13     $(0.10     $(0.10

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency

    2.93        1.85        5.30        3.02        (1.61 )(g)      (1.71

Total from investment
operations

    $2.90        $1.73        $5.14        $2.89        $(1.71     $(1.81
Less distributions declared to shareholders   

From net realized gain on
investments

    $—        $(4.10     $(1.41     $—        $—        $(0.66

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

    $23.57        $20.67        $23.04        $19.31        $16.42        $18.13   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

    14.03 (n)      10.13        26.43        17.60        (9.43     (9.00
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.10 (a)      1.14        1.15        1.26        1.40        1.30   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    1.08 (a)      1.10        1.05        1.16        1.30        1.20   

Net investment loss

    (0.28 )(a)      (0.58     (0.66     (0.67     (0.76     (0.55

Portfolio turnover

    50 (n)      128        205        167        150        95   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $161,868        $141,694        $78,534        $50,147        $42,974        $55,828   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

21


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Financial Highlights – continued

 

Class R5  

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Year
ended
8/31/2012 (i)
 
         

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $21.48        $19.73   
Income (loss) from investment operations   

Net investment loss (d)

    $(0.02     $(0.03

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

    3.05        1.78   

Total from investment operations

    $3.03        $1.75   

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $24.51        $21.48   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

    14.11 (n)      8.87 (n) 
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
               

Expenses before expense reductions (f)

    1.00 (a)      1.07 (a) 

Expenses after expense reductions (f)

    0.97 (a)      1.05 (a) 

Net investment loss

    (0.17 )(a)      (0.49 )(a) 

Portfolio turnover

    50 (n)      128   

Net assets at end of period (000 omitted)

    $206,917        $174,681   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

22


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class 529A     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $19.70        $22.22        $18.71        $15.97        $17.70        $20.23   
Income (loss) from investment operations   

Net investment loss (d)

    $(0.06     $(0.17     $(0.24     $(0.19     $(0.14     $(0.19

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency

    2.78        1.75        5.16        2.93        (1.59 )(g)      (1.68

Total from investment
operations

    $2.72        $1.58        $4.92        $2.74        $(1.73     $(1.87
Less distributions declared to shareholders   

From net realized gain on
investments

    $—        $(4.10     $(1.41     $—        $—        $(0.66

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

    $22.42        $19.70        $22.22        $18.71        $15.97        $17.70   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    13.81 (n)      9.80        26.09        17.16        (9.77     (9.48
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.45 (a)      1.49        1.50        1.61        1.80        1.80   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    1.38 (a)      1.40        1.39        1.51        1.70        1.70   

Net investment loss

    (0.58 )(a)      (0.89     (0.99     (1.02     (1.15     (1.04

Portfolio turnover

    50(n     128        205        167        150        95   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $3,930        $3,304        $2,848        $1,735        $1,444        $1,568   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

23


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class 529B     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $17.51        $20.35        $17.36        $14.92        $16.65        $19.20   
Income (loss) from investment operations   

Net investment loss (d)

    $(0.12     $(0.28     $(0.38     $(0.31     $(0.22     $(0.29

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency

    2.47        1.54        4.78        2.75        (1.51 )(g)      (1.60

Total from investment
operations

    $2.35        $1.26        $4.40        $2.44        $(1.73     $(1.89
Less distributions declared to shareholders   

From net realized gain on
investments

    $—        $(4.10     $(1.41     $—        $—        $(0.66

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

    $19.86        $17.51        $20.35        $17.36        $14.92        $16.65   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    13.42 (n)      8.99        25.08        16.35        (10.39     (10.10
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    2.20 (a)      2.24        2.24        2.36        2.50        2.45   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    2.13 (a)      2.15        2.14        2.26        2.40        2.35   

Net investment loss

    (1.34 )(a)      (1.64     (1.74     (1.77     (1.85     (1.70

Portfolio turnover

    50 (n)      128        205        167        150        95   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $265        $217        $197        $204        $175        $212   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

24


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class 529C     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $17.52        $20.36        $17.36        $14.93        $16.66        $19.21   
Income (loss) from investment operations   

Net investment loss (d)

    $(0.12     $(0.28     $(0.38     $(0.31     $(0.22     $(0.29

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency

    2.47        1.54        4.79        2.74        (1.51 )(g)      (1.60

Total from investment
operations

    $2.35        $1.26        $4.41        $2.43        $(1.73     $(1.89
Less distributions declared to shareholders   

From net realized gain on
investments

    $—        $(4.10     $(1.41     $—        $—        $(0.66

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

    $19.87        $17.52        $20.36        $17.36        $14.93        $16.66   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    13.41 (n)      8.98        25.14        16.28        (10.38     (10.10
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    2.20 (a)      2.24        2.25        2.36        2.48        2.45   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    2.13 (a)      2.15        2.14        2.26        2.38        2.34   

Net investment loss

    (1.33 )(a)      (1.64     (1.74     (1.78     (1.83     (1.70

Portfolio turnover

    50 (n)      128        205        167        150        95   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $1,213        $906        $709        $469        $393        $299   

 

(a) Annualized.
(d) Per share data is based on average shares outstanding.
(f) Ratios do not reflect reductions from fees paid indirectly, if applicable.
(g) The per share amount varies from the net realized and unrealized gain/loss for the period because of the timing of sales of fund shares and the per share amount of realized and unrealized gains and losses at such time.
(i) For the period from the class inception, June 1, 2012, through the stated period end.
(n) Not annualized.
(r) Certain expenses have been reduced without which performance would have been lower.
(s) From time to time the fund may receive proceeds from litigation settlements, without which performance would be lower.
(t) Total returns do not include any applicable sales charges.
(x) The net asset values per share and total returns have been calculated on net assets which include adjustments made in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles required at period end for financial reporting purposes.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

(1) Business and Organization

MFS New Discovery Fund (the fund) is a series of MFS Series Trust I (the trust). The trust is organized as a Massachusetts business trust and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as an open-end management investment company.

(2) Significant Accounting Policies

General – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated subsequent events occurring after the date of the fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities through the date that the financial statements were issued. The fund will generally focus on securities of small size companies which may be more volatile than those of larger companies.

In January 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update 2013-01 (“ASU 2013-01”) entitled Balance Sheet (Topic 210) – Clarifying the Scope of Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities which is intended to clarify the scope of Accounting Standards Update 2011-11 (“ASU 2011-11”), Balance Sheet (Topic 210) – Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities. Consistent with the effective date for ASU 2011-11, ASU 2013-01 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. ASU 2013-01 limits the scope of ASU 2011-11’s disclosure requirements on offsetting to financial assets and financial liabilities related to derivatives, repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements, and securities lending and securities borrowing transactions. Although still evaluating the potential impacts of these two ASUs to the fund, management expects that the impact of the fund’s adoption will be limited to additional financial statement disclosures.

Investment Valuations – Equity securities, including restricted equity securities, are generally valued at the last sale or official closing price as provided by a third-party pricing service on the market or exchange on which they are primarily traded. Equity securities, for which there were no sales reported that day, are generally valued at the last quoted daily bid quotation as provided by a third-party pricing service on the market or exchange on which such securities are primarily traded. Short-term instruments with a maturity at issuance of 60 days or less generally are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Open-end investment companies are generally valued at net asset value per share. Securities and other assets generally valued on the basis of information from a third-party pricing service may also be valued at a broker/dealer bid quotation. Values obtained from third-party pricing services can utilize both transaction data and market information such as yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics, and other market data. The values

 

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of foreign securities and other assets and liabilities expressed in foreign currencies are converted to U.S. dollars using the mean of bid and asked prices for rates provided by a third-party pricing service.

The Board of Trustees has delegated primary responsibility for determining or causing to be determined the value of the fund’s investments (including any fair valuation) to the adviser pursuant to valuation policies and procedures approved by the Board. If the adviser determines that reliable market quotations are not readily available, investments are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the adviser in accordance with such procedures under the oversight of the Board of Trustees. Under the fund’s valuation policies and procedures, market quotations are not considered to be readily available for most types of debt instruments and floating rate loans and many types of derivatives. These investments are generally valued at fair value based on information from third-party pricing services. In addition, investments may be valued at fair value if the adviser determines that an investment’s value has been materially affected by events occurring after the close of the exchange or market on which the investment is principally traded (such as foreign exchange or market) and prior to the determination of the fund’s net asset value, or after the halting of trading of a specific security where trading does not resume prior to the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded. Events that occur on a frequent basis after foreign markets close (such as developments in foreign markets and significant movements in the U.S. markets) and prior to the determination of the fund’s net asset value may be deemed to have a material effect on the value of securities traded in foreign markets. Accordingly, the fund’s foreign equity securities may often be valued at fair value. The adviser generally relies on third-party pricing services or other information (such as the correlation with price movements of similar securities in the same or other markets; the type, cost and investment characteristics of the security; the business and financial condition of the issuer; and trading and other market data) to assist in determining whether to fair value and at what value to fair value an investment. The value of an investment for purposes of calculating the fund’s net asset value can differ depending on the source and method used to determine value. When fair valuation is used, the value of an investment used to determine the fund’s net asset value may differ from quoted or published prices for the same investment. There can be no assurance that the fund could obtain the fair value assigned to an investment if it were to sell the investment at the same time at which the fund determines its net asset value per share.

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the fund’s assets or liabilities. These inputs are categorized into three broad levels. In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, an investment’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The fund’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the investment. Level 1 includes unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 includes other significant observable market-based inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speed, and credit risk). Level 3 includes unobservable inputs, which may include the adviser’s own assumptions in determining

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

the fair value of investments. The following is a summary of the levels used as of February 28, 2013 in valuing the fund’s assets or liabilities:

 

Investments at Value    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
Equity Securities:            

United States

     $1,358,705,860         $—         $—         $1,358,705,860   

Greece

     33,748,152                         33,748,152   

Argentina

     22,110,924                         22,110,924   

Australia

             18,538,263                 18,538,263   

Israel

     15,011,704                         15,011,704   

Netherlands

     11,753,491                         11,753,491   

India

     9,694,764                         9,694,764   

Brazil

     6,558,322                         6,558,322   
Mutual Funds      28,934,051                         28,934,051   
Total Investments      $1,486,517,268         $18,538,263         $—         $1,505,055,531   

For further information regarding security characteristics, see the Portfolio of Investments.

Of the level 2 investments presented above, equity investments amounting to $18,538,263 would have been considered level 1 investments at the beginning of the period. The primary reason for changes in the classifications between levels 1 and 2 occurs when foreign equity securities are fair valued using other observable market-based inputs in place of the closing exchange price due to events occurring after the close of the exchange or market on which the investment is principally traded. The fund’s foreign equity securities may often be valued at fair value. The fund’s policy is to recognize transfers between the levels as of the end of the period.

Foreign Currency Translation – Purchases and sales of foreign investments, income, and expenses are converted into U.S. dollars based upon currency exchange rates prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions or on the reporting date for foreign denominated receivables and payables. Gains and losses attributable to foreign currency exchange rates on sales of securities are recorded for financial statement purposes as net realized gains and losses on investments. Gains and losses attributable to foreign exchange rate movements on receivables, payables, income and expenses are recorded for financial statement purposes as foreign currency transaction gains and losses. That portion of both realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments that results from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates is not separately disclosed.

Security Loans – State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”), as lending agent, loans the securities of the fund to certain qualified institutions (the “Borrowers”) approved by the fund. The loans are collateralized by cash and/or U.S. Treasury and federal agency obligations in an amount typically at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. The market value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of business of the fund and any additional required collateral is delivered to the fund on the next business day. State Street provides the fund with indemnification against Borrower default. The fund bears the risk of loss with respect to the investment of cash collateral. On loans collateralized by cash, the cash collateral is invested in a

 

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money market fund or short-term securities. Collateral for securities loaned is held at carrying value, which approximates fair value. If the collateral for securities loaned was carried at fair value, its fair value would be considered level 2 under the fair value hierarchy. A portion of the income generated upon investment of the collateral is remitted to the Borrowers, and the remainder is allocated between the fund and the lending agent. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasury and/or federal agency obligations, a fee is received from the Borrower, and is allocated between the fund and the lending agent. Income from securities lending is separately reported in the Statement of Operations. The dividend and interest income earned on the securities loaned is accounted for in the same manner as other dividend and interest income.

Indemnifications – Under the fund’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the fund enters into agreements with service providers that may contain indemnification clauses. The fund’s maximum exposure under these agreements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the fund that have not yet occurred.

Investment Transactions and Income – Investment transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividends received in cash are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Certain dividends from foreign securities will be recorded when the fund is informed of the dividend if such information is obtained subsequent to the ex-dividend date. Dividend payments received in additional securities are recorded on the ex-dividend date in an amount equal to the value of the security on such date.

The fund may receive proceeds from litigation settlements. Any proceeds received from litigation involving portfolio holdings are reflected in the Statement of Operations in realized gain/loss if the security has been disposed of by the fund or in unrealized gain/loss if the security is still held by the fund. Any other proceeds from litigation not related to portfolio holdings are reflected as other income in the Statement of Operations.

Fees Paid Indirectly – The fund’s custody fee may be reduced according to an arrangement that measures the value of cash deposited with the custodian by the fund. This amount, for the six months ended February 28, 2013, is shown as a reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations.

Tax Matters and Distributions – The fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to distribute all of its taxable income, including realized capital gains. As a result, no provision for federal income tax is required. The fund’s federal tax returns, when filed, will remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for a three year period. Foreign taxes have been accrued by the fund in the accompanying financial statements.

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Certain capital accounts in the financial statements are periodically adjusted for permanent differences in order to reflect their tax character. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or net asset value per share. Temporary differences which arise from recognizing certain items

 

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of income, expense, gain or loss in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes will reverse at some time in the future. Distributions in excess of net investment income or net realized gains are temporary overdistributions for financial statement purposes resulting from differences in the recognition or classification of income or distributions for financial statement and tax purposes.

Book/tax differences primarily relate to net operating losses and wash sale loss deferrals.

The tax character of distributions declared to shareholders for the last fiscal year is as follows:

 

     8/31/12  
Ordinary income (including any
short-term capital gains)
     $178,380,330   
Long-term capital gains      30,335,072   
Total distributions      $208,715,402   

The federal tax cost and the tax basis components of distributable earnings were as follows:

 

As of 2/28/13       
Cost of investments      $1,306,650,849   
Gross appreciation      255,759,923   
Gross depreciation      (57,355,241
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)      $198,404,682   
As of 8/31/12       
Capital loss carryforwards      (76,893,008
Post-October capital loss deferral      (6,371,040
Late year ordinary loss deferral      (7,101,118
Other temporary differences      (5,659
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)      81,095,741   

The aggregate cost above includes prior fiscal year end tax adjustments, if applicable.

As of August 31, 2012, the fund had capital loss carryforwards available to offset future realized gains. Such losses are characterized as follows:

 

Short-Term      $(67,780,301
Long-Term      (9,112,707
Total      $(76,893,008

Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), the above net capital losses may be carried forward indefinitely, and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for eight years and treated as short-term losses.

Multiple Classes of Shares of Beneficial Interest – The fund offers multiple classes of shares, which differ in their respective distribution, service, and program manager fees. The fund’s income, realized and unrealized gain (loss), and common expenses are

 

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allocated to shareholders based on the daily net assets of each class. Dividends are declared separately for each class. Differences in per share dividend rates are generally due to differences in separate class expenses. Class B and Class 529B shares will convert to Class A and Class 529A shares, respectively, approximately eight years after purchase. The fund’s distributions declared to shareholders as reported in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets are presented by class as follows:

 

     From net realized gain on
investments
 
     Six months
ended
2/28/13
     Year
ended
8/31/12
 
Class A      $—         $99,420,129   
Class B              6,304,306   
Class C              18,068,323   
Class I              55,378,566   
Class R1              1,433,390   
Class R2              4,989,580   
Class R3              7,142,920   
Class R4              15,256,911   
Class 529A              525,456   
Class 529B              41,844   
Class 529C              153,977   
Total      $—         $208,715,402   

(3) Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Adviser – The fund has an investment advisory agreement with MFS to provide overall investment management and related administrative services and facilities to the fund. The management fee is computed daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.90% of the fund’s average daily net assets. The investment adviser has agreed in writing to reduce its management fee to 0.80% of average daily net assets in excess of $1 billion up to $2.5 billion and 0.75% of average daily net assets in excess of $2.5 billion. This written agreement will continue until modified by the fund’s Board of Trustees, but such agreement will continue at least until December 31, 2013. This management fee reduction amounted to $151,710, which is shown as a reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations. The management fee incurred for the six months ended February 28, 2013 was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.88% of the fund’s average daily net assets.

The investment adviser has agreed in writing to pay a portion of the fund’s total annual operating expenses, exclusive of interest, taxes, extraordinary expenses, brokerage and transaction costs, and investment-related expenses, such that total annual fund operating expenses do not exceed the following rates annually of each class’s average daily net assets:

 

Classes
A   B   C   I   R1   R2   R3   R4   R5   529A   529B   529C
1.41%   2.16%   2.16%   1.16%   2.16%   1.66%   1.41%   1.16%   1.10%   1.46%   2.21%   2.21%

 

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This written agreement will continue until modified by the fund’s Board of Trustees, but such agreement will continue at least until December 31, 2013. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, the fund’s actual operating expenses did not exceed the limit and therefore, the investment adviser did not pay any portion of the fund’s expenses related to this agreement.

Distributor – MFS Fund Distributors, Inc. (MFD), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MFS, as distributor, received $78,344 and $1,338 for the six months ended February 28, 2013, as its portion of the initial sales charge on sales of Class A and Class 529A shares of the fund, respectively.

The Board of Trustees has adopted a distribution plan for certain class shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

The fund’s distribution plan provides that the fund will pay MFD for services provided by MFD and financial intermediaries in connection with the distribution and servicing of certain share classes. One component of the plan is a distribution fee paid to MFD and another component of the plan is a service fee paid to MFD. MFD may subsequently pay all, or a portion, of the distribution and/or service fees to financial intermediaries.

Distribution Plan Fee Table:

 

     Distribution
Fee Rate (d)
     Service
Fee Rate (d)
     Total
Distribution
Plan (d)
     Annual
Effective
Rate (e)
     Distribution
and Service
Fee
 
Class A              0.25%         0.25%         0.25%         $679,352   
Class B      0.75%         0.25%         1.00%         1.00%         154,823   
Class C      0.75%         0.25%         1.00%         1.00%         464,953   
Class R1      0.75%         0.25%         1.00%         1.00%         37,311   
Class R2      0.25%         0.25%         0.50%         0.50%         93,248   
Class R3              0.25%         0.25%         0.25%         83,052   
Class 529A              0.25%         0.25%         0.25%         4,381   
Class 529B      0.75%         0.25%         1.00%         1.00%         1,139   
Class 529C      0.75%         0.25%         1.00%         1.00%         5,100   
Total Distribution and Service Fees            $1,523,359   

 

(d) In accordance with the distribution plan for certain classes, the fund pays distribution and/or service fees equal to these annual percentage rates of each class’s average daily net assets. The distribution and service fee rates disclosed by class represent the current rates in effect at the end of the reporting period.
(e) The annual effective rates represent actual fees incurred under the distribution plan for the six months ended February 28, 2013 based on each class’s average daily net assets.

Certain Class A shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) in the event of a shareholder redemption within 18 months of purchase for shares purchased on or after August 1, 2012, and within 24 months of purchase for shares purchased prior to August 1, 2012. Class C and Class 529C shares are subject to a CDSC in the event of a shareholder redemption within 12 months of purchase. Class B and Class 529B shares are subject to a CDSC in the event of a shareholder redemption within

 

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six years of purchase. All contingent deferred sales charges are paid to MFD and during the six months ended February 28, 2013, were as follows:

 

     Amount  
Class A      $1,621   
Class B      21,148   
Class C      5,825   
Class 529B      1   
Class 529C        

The fund has entered into and may from time to time enter into contracts with program managers and other parties which administer the tuition programs through which an investment in the fund’s 529 share classes is made. The fund has entered into an agreement with MFD pursuant to which MFD receives an annual fee of up to 0.10% of the average daily net assets attributable to each 529 share class. MFD has agreed to waive a portion of this fee in an amount equal to 0.05% of the average daily net assets for each 529 share class. This waiver agreement will continue until modified by the fund’s Board of Trustees but such agreement will continue at least until December 31, 2013, after which MFD may eliminate this waiver without a vote of the fund’s Board of Trustees. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, this waiver amounted to $1,188 and is reflected as a reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations. The program manager fee incurred for the six months ended February 28, 2013 was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.05% of the average daily net assets attributable to each 529 share class. The services provided by MFD, or a third party with which MFD contracts, include recordkeeping and tax reporting and account services, as well as services designed to maintain the program’s compliance with the Internal Revenue Code and other regulatory requirements. Program manager fees and waivers for the six months ended February 28, 2013, were as follows:

 

     Fee      Waiver  
Class 529A      $1,752         $876   
Class 529B      114         57   
Class 529C      510         255   
Total Program Manager Fees and Waivers      $2,376         $1,188   

Shareholder Servicing Agent – MFS Service Center, Inc. (MFSC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MFS, receives a fee from the fund for its services as shareholder servicing agent calculated as a percentage of the average daily net assets of the fund as determined periodically under the supervision of the fund’s Board of Trustees. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, the fee was $167,382, which equated to 0.0258% annually of the fund’s average daily net assets. MFSC also receives payment from the fund for out-of-pocket expenses, sub-accounting and other shareholder servicing costs which may be paid to affiliated and unaffiliated service providers. Class R5 shares do not incur sub-accounting fees. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, these out-of-pocket expenses, sub-accounting and other shareholder servicing costs amounted to $702,822.

Administrator – MFS provides certain financial, legal, shareholder communications, compliance, and other administrative services to the fund. Under an administrative services agreement, the fund partially reimburses MFS the costs incurred to provide

 

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these services. The fund is charged an annual fixed amount of $17,500 plus a fee based on average daily net assets. The administrative services fee incurred for the six months ended February 28, 2013 was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.0139% of the fund’s average daily net assets.

Trustees’ and Officers’ Compensation – The fund pays compensation to independent Trustees in the form of a retainer, attendance fees, and additional compensation to Board and Committee chairpersons. The fund does not pay compensation directly to Trustees or officers of the fund who are also officers of the investment adviser, all of whom receive remuneration for their services to the fund from MFS. Certain officers and Trustees of the fund are officers or directors of MFS, MFD, and MFSC.

Prior to December 31, 2001, the fund had an unfunded defined benefit plan (“DB plan”) for independent Trustees. As of December 31, 2001, the Board took action to terminate the DB plan with respect to then-current and any future independent Trustees, such that the DB plan covers only certain of those former independent Trustees who retired on or before December 31, 2001. The DB plan resulted in a pension expense of $88 and is included in independent Trustees’ compensation for the six months ended February 28, 2013. The liability for deferred retirement benefits payable to certain independent Trustees under the DB plan amounted to $5,194 at February 28, 2013, and is included in “Payable for independent Trustees’ compensation” in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Other – This fund and certain other funds managed by MFS (the funds) have entered into services agreements (the Agreements) which provide for payment of fees by the funds to Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC in return for the provision of services of an Independent Chief Compliance Officer (ICCO) and Assistant ICCO, respectively, for the funds. The ICCO and Assistant ICCO are officers of the funds and the sole members of Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC, respectively. The funds can terminate the Agreements with Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC at any time under the terms of the Agreements. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, the aggregate fees paid by the fund to Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC were $3,952 and are included in “Miscellaneous” expense in the Statement of Operations. MFS has agreed to reimburse the fund for a portion of the payments made by the fund in the amount of $1,156, which is shown as a reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations. Additionally, MFS has agreed to bear all expenses associated with office space, other administrative support, and supplies provided to the ICCO and Assistant ICCO.

The fund invests in the MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio which is managed by MFS and seeks current income consistent with preservation of capital and liquidity. Income earned on this investment is included in “Dividends from underlying affiliated funds” in the Statement of Operations. This money market fund does not pay a management fee to MFS.

On May 31, 2012, MFS purchased 5,068 shares of Class R5 for an aggregate amount of $100,000.

 

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(4) Portfolio Securities

Purchases and sales of investments, other than short-term obligations, aggregated $719,422,922 and $661,198,278, respectively.

(5) Shares of Beneficial Interest

The fund’s Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest. Transactions in fund shares were as follows:

 

     Six months ended
2/28/13
     Year ended
8/31/12 (i)
 
     Shares      Amount      Shares      Amount  
Shares sold            

Class A

     3,547,737         $76,340,465         8,858,818         $175,776,653   

Class B

     184,506         3,492,075         400,753         7,115,653   

Class C

     753,755         14,464,554         1,508,319         26,246,463   

Class I

     3,716,987         85,685,040         5,957,386         122,417,695   

Class R1

     49,247         919,768         138,140         2,476,394   

Class R2

     462,805         9,478,026         1,059,597         20,115,423   

Class R3

     857,428         18,228,633         2,162,572         41,914,938   

Class R4

     1,026,219         22,422,467         4,077,139         81,702,018   

Class R5

     908,340         20,358,238         8,463,019         167,200,800   

Class 529A

     13,660         283,229         24,840         473,601   

Class 529B

     2,082         38,792         2,413         42,428   

Class 529C

     11,876         216,459         11,978         206,930   
     11,534,642         $251,927,746         32,664,974         $645,688,996   
Shares issued to shareholders in
reinvestment of distributions
            

Class A

             $—         4,208,808         $74,032,927   

Class B

                     354,912         5,582,759   

Class C

                     807,632         12,720,205   

Class I

                     2,058,795         38,499,472   

Class R1

                     91,590         1,433,390   

Class R2

                     243,767         4,158,664   

Class R3

                     406,309         7,142,920   

Class R4

                     842,465         15,164,363   

Class 529A

                     30,586         525,456   

Class 529B

                     2,724         41,844   

Class 529C

                     10,017         153,977   
             $—         9,057,605         $159,455,977   

 

35


Table of Contents

Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

     Six months ended
2/28/13
     Year ended
8/31/12 (i)
 
     Shares      Amount      Shares      Amount  
Shares reacquired            

Class A

     (3,297,028      $(69,147,377      (14,471,666      $(292,040,337

Class B

     (222,900      (4,165,290      (659,423      (11,595,176

Class C

     (640,797      (11,880,169      (1,842,148      (32,728,132

Class I

     (2,029,822      (45,004,373      (13,683,903      (276,958,702

Class R1

     (88,125      (1,643,254      (143,450      (2,531,852

Class R2

     (404,323      (8,299,901      (580,642      (11,240,311

Class R3

     (536,474      (11,253,866      (816,514      (15,912,499

Class R4

     (1,012,608      (21,966,156      (1,474,168      (29,566,876

Class R5

     (595,967      (13,736,992      (332,295      (6,826,002

Class 529A

     (6,130      (125,612      (15,891      (304,266

Class 529B

     (1,155      (21,464      (2,408      (39,477

Class 529C

     (2,555      (48,117      (5,113      (88,109
     (8,837,884      $(187,292,571      (34,027,621      $(679,831,739
Net change            

Class A

     250,709         $7,193,088         (1,404,040      $(42,230,757

Class B

     (38,394      (673,215      96,242         1,103,236   

Class C

     112,958         2,584,385         473,803         6,238,536   

Class I

     1,687,165         40,680,667         (5,667,722      (116,041,535

Class R1

     (38,878      (723,486      86,280         1,377,932   

Class R2

     58,482         1,178,125         722,722         13,033,776   

Class R3

     320,954         6,974,767         1,752,367         33,145,359   

Class R4

     13,611         456,311         3,445,436         67,299,505   

Class R5

     312,373         6,621,246         8,130,724         160,374,798   

Class 529A

     7,530         157,617         39,535         694,791   

Class 529B

     927         17,328         2,729         44,795   

Class 529C

     9,321         168,342         16,882         272,798   
     2,696,758         $64,635,175         7,694,958         $125,313,234   

 

(i) For Class R5, the period is from inception, June 1, 2012, through the stated period end.

The fund is one of several mutual funds in which the MFS funds-of-funds may invest. The MFS funds-of-funds do not invest in the underlying MFS funds for the purpose of exercising management or control. At the end of the period, the MFS Growth Allocation Fund, MFS Moderate Allocation Fund, MFS Aggressive Growth Allocation Fund, and MFS Conservative Allocation Fund were the owners of record of approximately 5%, 4%, 2%, and 2%, respectively, of the value of outstanding voting shares of the fund. In addition, the MFS Lifetime 2010 Fund, MFS Lifetime 2020 Fund, MFS Lifetime 2030 Fund, MFS Lifetime 2040 Fund, MFS Lifetime 2050 Fund, and MFS Lifetime Retirement Income Fund were each the owners of record of less than 1% of the value of outstanding voting shares of the fund.

(6) Line of Credit

The fund and certain other funds managed by MFS participate in a $1.1 billion unsecured committed line of credit, subject to a $1 billion sublimit, provided by a

 

36


Table of Contents

Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

syndication of banks under a credit agreement. Borrowings may be made for temporary financing needs. Interest is charged to each fund, based on its borrowings, generally at a rate equal to the higher of the Federal Reserve funds rate or one month LIBOR plus an agreed upon spread. A commitment fee, based on the average daily, unused portion of the committed line of credit, is allocated among the participating funds at the end of each calendar quarter. In addition, the fund and other funds managed by MFS have established unsecured uncommitted borrowing arrangements with certain banks for temporary financing needs. Interest is charged to each fund, based on its borrowings, at a rate equal to the Federal Reserve funds rate plus an agreed upon spread. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, the fund’s commitment fee and interest expense were $3,846 and $0, respectively, and are included in “Miscellaneous” expense in the Statement of Operations.

(7) Transactions in Underlying Affiliated Funds-Affiliated Issuers

An affiliated issuer may be considered one in which the fund owns 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities, or a company which is under common control. For the purposes of this report, the fund assumes the following to be affiliated issuers:

 

Underlying Affiliated Fund   

Beginning

Shares/Par

Amount

   

Acquisitions

Shares/Par
Amount

    

Dispositions

Shares/Par

Amount

   

Ending

Shares/Par

Amount

 
MFS Institutional Money
Market Portfolio
     1,725,717        195,418,058         (181,882,440     15,261,335   
Underlying Affiliated Fund   

Realized

Gain (Loss)

   

Capital Gain

Distributions

    

Dividend

Income

   

Ending

Value

 
MFS Institutional Money
Market Portfolio
     $—        $—         $5,757        $15,261,335   
Other Affiliated Issuers   

Beginning

Shares/Par

Amount

   

Acquisitions

Shares/Par

Amount

    

Dispositions

Shares/Par

Amount

   

Ending

Shares/Par

Amount

 
Citi Trends, Inc.      1,075,873        130,600         (20,800     1,185,673   
Constant Contact, Inc.      884,165        926,710         (18,670     1,792,205   
SciQuest, Inc.      1,035,584        211,671         (20,130     1,227,125   
Uroplasty, Inc.      1,389,553        39,960         (26,710     1,402,803   
Other Affiliated Issuers   

Realized

Gain (Loss)

   

Capital Gain

Distributions

    

Dividend

Income

   

Ending

Value

 
Citi Trends, Inc.      $(443,170     $—         $—        $12,200,575   
Constant Contact, Inc.      (138,721                    25,323,857   
SciQuest, Inc.      (26,520                    23,499,444   
Uroplasty, Inc.      (113,274                    3,422,839   
     $(721,685     $—         $—        $64,446,715   

 

37


Table of Contents

BOARD REVIEW OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

A discussion regarding the Board’s most recent review and renewal of the fund’s Investment Advisory Agreement with MFS is available by clicking on the fund’s name under “Mutual Funds” in the “Products” section of the MFS Web site (mfs.com).

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND INFORMATION

A general description of the MFS funds’ proxy voting policies and procedures is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-225-2606, by visiting the Proxy Voting section of mfs.com or by visiting the SEC’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov.

Information regarding how the fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 is available without charge by visiting the Proxy Voting section of mfs.com or by visiting the SEC’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov.

QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO DISCLOSURE

The fund will file a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. A shareholder can obtain the quarterly portfolio holdings report at mfs.com. The fund’s Form N-Q is also available on the EDGAR database on the Commission’s Internet Web site at http://www.sec.gov, and may be reviewed and copied at the:

Public Reference Room

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, NE, Room 1580

Washington, D.C. 20549

Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. Copies of the fund’s Form N-Q also may be obtained, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the Public Reference Section at the above address.

FURTHER INFORMATION

From time to time, MFS may post important information about the fund or the MFS funds on the MFS web site (mfs.com). This information is available by visiting the “News & Commentary” section of mfs.com or by clicking on the fund’s name under “Mutual Funds” in the “Products” section of mfs.com.

PROVISION OF FINANCIAL REPORTS AND SUMMARY PROSPECTUSES

The fund produces financial reports every six months and updates its summary prospectus and prospectus annually. To avoid sending duplicate copies of materials to households, only one copy of the fund’s annual and semiannual report and summary prospectus may be mailed to shareholders having the same last name and residential address on the fund’s records. However, any shareholder may contact MFSC (please see back cover for address and telephone number) to request that copies of these reports and summary prospectuses be sent personally to that shareholder.

 

38


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

Save paper with eDelivery.

 

LOGO

MFS® will send you prospectuses,

reports, and proxies directly via e-mail so you will get information faster with less mailbox clutter.

To sign up:

1. Go to mfs.com.

2. Log in via MFS® Access.

3. Select eDelivery.

If you own your MFS fund shares through a financial institution or a retirement plan, MFS® TALK, MFS® Access, or eDelivery may not be available to you.

 

CONTACT

WEB SITE

mfs.com

MFS TALK

1-800-637-8255

24 hours a day

ACCOUNT SERVICE AND LITERATURE

Shareholders

1-800-225-2606

Financial advisors

1-800-343-2829

Retirement plan services

1-800-637-1255

MAILING ADDRESS

MFS Service Center, Inc.

P.O. Box 55824

Boston, MA 02205-5824

OVERNIGHT MAIL

MFS Service Center, Inc.

c/o Boston Financial Data Services

30 Dan Road

Canton, MA 02021-2809

 


Table of Contents

SEMIANNUAL REPORT

February 28, 2013

 

LOGO

 

MFS® RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL FUND

 

LOGO

 

RIF-SEM

 


Table of Contents

MFS® RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL FUND

 

CONTENTS

 

Letter from the Chairman and CEO     1   
Portfolio composition     2   
Expense table     3   
Portfolio of investments     5   
Statement of assets and liabilities     11   
Statement of operations     13   
Statements of changes in net assets     14   
Financial highlights     15   
Notes to financial statements     28   
Board review of investment advisory agreement     40   
Proxy voting policies and information     40   
Quarterly portfolio disclosure     40   
Further information     40   
Provision of financial reports and summary prospectuses     40   
Contact information    back cover   

The report is prepared for the general information of shareholders.

It is authorized for distribution to prospective investors only when preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus.

 

NOT FDIC INSURED Ÿ MAY LOSE VALUE Ÿ NO BANK GUARANTEE


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND CEO

 

Dear Shareholders:

Global financial markets began 2013 with greater optimism. U.S. and Asian economic trends have turned more positive. Europe continues to struggle through its economic

slump. However, even there, sentiment has improved. The U.S. Congress averted its year-end fiscal cliff, but a degree of uncertainty remains regarding upcoming negotiations over spending cuts and the debt ceiling. The U.S. Federal Reserve Board is continuing its accommodative monetary easing, while the U.S. housing and job markets have made steady gains. Corporate profits have been resilient, and investors have demonstrated increased tolerance for risk.

Overseas, the eurozone remains in a broad contraction, with economic output receding in France as well as Italy and Spain.

However, large-scale early repayments of European Central Bank loans by banks and Germany’s strong rebound in manufacturing activity are encouraging signs. In Asia, both China and Japan appear to be in the early stages of a turnaround. China’s economic activity has picked up from last year’s relative slowdown, and Japan’s sharp devaluation of the yen, an important anti-deflationary measure, seems to be having its desired impact: Japanese stocks have soared, corporate profits are rising and confidence is returning among consumers, businesses and investors.

As always, managing risk in the face of uncertainty remains a top priority for investors. At MFS®, our uniquely collaborative investment process employs global research and active risk management. Our global team of investment professionals shares ideas and evaluates opportunities across continents, investment disciplines and asset classes — all with a goal of building better insights, and ultimately better results, for our clients.

We remain mindful of the many economic challenges investors face today, and believe it is more important than ever to maintain a long-term view and employ time-tested principles, such as asset allocation and diversification. We also remain confident that our unique approach can serve investors well as they work with their financial advisors to identify and pursue the most suitable opportunities.

Respectfully,

 

LOGO

Robert J. Manning

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

MFS Investment Management®

April 12, 2013

The opinions expressed in this letter are subject to change, may not be relied upon for investment advice, and no forecasts can be guaranteed.

 

1


Table of Contents

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION

 

Portfolio structure

 

LOGO

 

Top ten holdings  
Nestle S.A.     2.8%   
Royal Dutch Shell PLC, “A”     2.6%   
Rio Tinto Ltd.     2.4%   
Novartis AG     2.3%   
Roche Holding AG     2.2%   
Westpac Banking Corp.     2.2%   
Barclays PLC     2.0%   
BP PLC     1.9%   
Groupe Danone     1.8%   
HSBC Holdings PLC     1.8%   
Global equity sectors  
Financial Services     24.7%   
Capital Goods     23.5%   
Energy     10.6%   
Health Care     10.3%   
Consumer Staples     10.2%   
Technology     7.3%   
Consumer Cyclicals     7.1%   
Telecommunications/Cable Television     4.9%   
Issuer country weightings (x)   
Japan     22.3%   
United Kingdom     19.3%   
Switzerland     10.7%   
France     10.0%   
Germany     5.4%   
Netherlands     4.6%   
Australia     4.0%   
Hong Kong     3.8%   
United States     2.9%   
Other Countries     17.0%   
Currency exposure weightings (y)   
Euro     24.1%   
Japanese Yen     22.3%   
British Pound Sterling     19.3%   
Swiss Franc     10.7%   
Hong Kong Dollar     4.8%   
United States Dollar     4.0%   
Australian Dollar     4.0%   
Brazilian Real     2.5%   
Swedish Krona     2.0%   
Other Currencies     6.3%   
 

 

 

(x) Represents the portfolio’s exposure to issuer countries as a percentage of a portfolio’s net assets.
(y) Represents the portfolio’s exposure to a particular currency as a percentage of a portfolio’s net assets.

Percentages are based on net assets as of 2/28/13.

The portfolio is actively managed and current holdings may be different.

 

2


Table of Contents

EXPENSE TABLE

Fund expenses borne by the shareholders during the period,

September 1, 2012 through February 28, 2013

As a shareholder of the fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on certain purchase or redemption payments, and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period September 1, 2012 through February 28, 2013.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class in the following table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class in the following table provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads). Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

3


Table of Contents

Expense Table – continued

 

Share
Class
       Annualized
Expense
Ratio
    Beginning
Account Value
9/01/12
    Ending
Account Value
2/28/13
    Expenses
Paid During
Period (p)
9/01/12-2/28/13
 
A   Actual     1.18%        $1,000.00        $1,125.76        $6.22   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.18%        $1,000.00        $1,018.94        $5.91   
B   Actual     1.93%        $1,000.00        $1,121.46        $10.15   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.93%        $1,000.00        $1,015.22        $9.64   
C   Actual     1.93%        $1,000.00        $1,121.23        $10.15   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.93%        $1,000.00        $1,015.22        $9.64   
I   Actual     0.93%        $1,000.00        $1,127.18        $4.91   
  Hypothetical (h)     0.93%        $1,000.00        $1,020.18        $4.66   
R1   Actual     1.93%        $1,000.00        $1,121.68        $10.15   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.93%        $1,000.00        $1,015.22        $9.64   
R2   Actual     1.43%        $1,000.00        $1,124.78        $7.53   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.43%        $1,000.00        $1,017.70        $7.15   
R3   Actual     1.18%        $1,000.00        $1,125.96        $6.22   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.18%        $1,000.00        $1,018.94        $5.91   
R4   Actual     0.93%        $1,000.00        $1,127.70        $4.91   
  Hypothetical (h)     0.93%        $1,000.00        $1,020.18        $4.66   
R5   Actual     0.82%        $1,000.00        $1,127.65        $4.33   
  Hypothetical (h)     0.82%        $1,000.00        $1,020.73        $4.11   
529A   Actual     1.23%        $1,000.00        $1,125.75        $6.48   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.23%        $1,000.00        $1,018.70        $6.16   
529B   Actual     1.98%        $1,000.00        $1,121.81        $10.42   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.98%        $1,000.00        $1,014.98        $9.89   
529C   Actual     1.98%        $1,000.00        $1,121.67        $10.42   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.98%        $1,000.00        $1,014.98        $9.89   

 

(h) 5% class return per year before expenses.
(p) Expenses paid are equal to each class’s annualized expense ratio, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period, divided by the number of days in the year. Expenses paid do not include any applicable sales charges (loads). If these transaction costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.

 

4


Table of Contents

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

2/28/13 (unaudited)

The Portfolio of Investments is a complete list of all securities owned by your fund. It is categorized by broad-based asset classes.

 

Common Stocks - 98.6%                 
Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Alcoholic Beverages - 2.5%                 
Heineken N.V.      998,110      $ 74,351,708   
Pernod Ricard S.A.      457,535        59,369,085   
    

 

 

 
             $ 133,720,793   
Apparel Manufacturers - 1.9%                 
Li & Fung Ltd.      38,186,000      $ 51,206,148   
LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton S.A.      276,777        47,555,786   
    

 

 

 
             $ 98,761,934   
Automotive - 3.8%                 
DENSO Corp.      1,877,700      $ 78,803,032   
GKN PLC      8,035,224        33,172,266   
Honda Motor Co. Ltd.      2,466,600        91,941,989   
    

 

 

 
             $ 203,917,287   
Broadcasting - 1.5%                 
Nippon Television Holdings, Inc.      1,992,600      $ 29,967,466   
Publicis Groupe S.A.      780,105        51,554,733   
    

 

 

 
             $ 81,522,199   
Business Services - 2.8%                 
Amadeus IT Holding S.A.      1,211,697      $ 30,935,576   
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., “A” (a)      358,200        27,499,014   
Compass Group PLC      2,128,614        25,849,859   
Mitsubishi Corp.      1,729,600        34,315,831   
Nomura Research, Inc.      1,257,900        28,499,191   
    

 

 

 
             $ 147,099,471   
Computer Software - 0.6%                 
Dassault Systems S.A.      290,739      $ 32,932,164   
Computer Software - Systems - 0.9%                 
Canon, Inc.      1,373,500      $ 49,863,281   
Conglomerates - 0.9%                 
Hutchison Whampoa Ltd.      4,172,000      $ 44,944,376   
Consumer Products - 0.9%                 
Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC      733,382      $ 49,276,047   

 

5


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Electrical Equipment - 3.5%                 
Legrand S.A.      409,526      $ 18,827,927   
Schneider Electric S.A.      1,072,065        82,466,431   
Siemens AG      820,589        85,298,463   
    

 

 

 
             $ 186,592,821   
Electronics - 1.0%                 
ASML Holding N.V.      182,103      $ 12,910,267   
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd.      11,683,326        41,154,419   
    

 

 

 
             $ 54,064,686   
Energy - Independent - 2.3%                 
Cairn Energy PLC (a)      2,172,351      $ 8,954,051   
Cenovus Energy, Inc.      872,560        28,251,906   
INPEX Corp.      7,341        39,045,345   
Oil Search Ltd.      2,436,220        19,201,582   
Reliance Industries Ltd.      1,681,694        25,156,634   
    

 

 

 
             $ 120,609,518   
Energy - Integrated - 5.4%                 
BG Group PLC      2,714,603      $ 47,997,491   
BP PLC      15,154,890        102,063,083   
Royal Dutch Shell PLC, “A”      4,183,875        137,733,114   
    

 

 

 
             $ 287,793,688   
Engineering - Construction - 1.7%                 
JGC Corp.      2,131,000      $ 58,809,990   
Keppel Corp. Ltd.      3,352,400        31,345,795   
    

 

 

 
             $ 90,155,785   
Food & Beverages - 5.2%                 
Groupe Danone      1,396,884      $ 96,787,128   
M. Dias Branco S.A. Industria e Comercio de Alimentos      737,400        28,312,822   
Nestle S.A.      2,153,516        150,288,076   
    

 

 

 
             $ 275,388,026   
Food & Drug Stores - 0.7%                 
Lawson, Inc.      388,500      $ 28,878,682   
Wumart Stores, Inc., “H”      4,960,000        9,720,976   
    

 

 

 
             $ 38,599,658   
Gaming & Lodging - 1.0%                 
Sands China Ltd.      10,520,800      $ 50,124,241   

 

6


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Insurance - 3.3%                 
AIA Group Ltd.      12,546,200      $ 54,354,572   
Delta Lloyd N.V.      1,066,680        18,847,768   
Hiscox Ltd.      3,047,503        24,133,181   
ING Groep N.V. (a)      6,895,473        55,324,071   
Sony Financial Holdings, Inc.      1,334,400        21,076,293   
    

 

 

 
             $ 173,735,885   
Internet - 0.7%                 
Yahoo Japan Corp.      82,504      $ 34,936,692   
Machinery & Tools - 3.1%                 
Glory Ltd.      1,620,300      $ 37,129,326   
Joy Global, Inc.      814,730        51,604,998   
Schindler Holding AG      437,533        67,642,927   
Sinotruk Hong Kong Ltd.      9,883,000        6,804,789   
    

 

 

 
             $ 163,182,040   
Major Banks - 11.9%                 
Banco Santander S.A.      4,135,480      $ 31,374,018   
Barclays PLC      22,427,044        104,310,690   
BNP Paribas      1,510,980        84,365,337   
HSBC Holdings PLC      8,661,703        95,973,142   
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.      6,627,200        36,678,753   
Standard Chartered PLC      2,427,305        65,966,640   
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.      2,334,600        93,444,449   
Westpac Banking Corp.      3,718,945        116,650,560   
    

 

 

 
             $ 628,763,589   
Medical & Health Technology & Services - 1.0%                 
Diagnosticos da America S.A.      2,790,500      $ 19,243,369   
Miraca Holdings, Inc.      720,000        34,761,031   
    

 

 

 
             $ 54,004,400   
Medical Equipment - 0.5%                 
Sonova Holding AG      225,807      $ 27,030,348   
Metals & Mining - 3.4%                 
Iluka Resources Ltd. (l)      5,375,661      $ 57,511,836   
Rio Tinto Ltd.      2,323,514        124,816,256   
    

 

 

 
             $ 182,328,092   
Natural Gas - Distribution - 1.7%                 
China Resources Gas Group Ltd.      6,246,000      $ 14,480,257   
GDF SUEZ      1,743,053        32,843,940   

 

7


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Natural Gas - Distribution - continued                 
Tokyo Gas Co. Ltd.      8,821,000      $ 42,634,675   
    

 

 

 
             $ 89,958,872   
Network & Telecom - 1.3%                 
Ericsson, Inc., “B”      5,642,235      $ 68,244,610   
Other Banks & Diversified Financials - 7.9%                 
Aeon Credit Service Co. Ltd. (l)      1,317,300      $ 30,669,257   
Bank Rakyat Indonesia      23,283,000        22,710,789   
DBS Group Holdings Ltd.      3,581,000        43,481,691   
Erste Group Bank AG      2,189,445        70,169,903   
Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico S.A.B. de C.V., ADR (a)      1,271,460        18,970,183   
HDFC Bank Ltd., ADR      555,250        21,127,263   
ICICI Bank Ltd.      885,062        16,886,784   
Itau Unibanco Holding S.A., ADR      972,130        17,167,816   
KBC Group N.V.      1,001,962        37,163,433   
PT Bank Mandiri Tbk.      19,493,000        20,240,649   
Sberbank of Russia, ADR      1,822,321        25,129,807   
Siam Commercial Bank Co. Ltd.      3,649,200        21,833,869   
UBS AG      2,908,901        45,688,174   
UniCredit S.p.A. (a)      5,354,560        27,207,583   
    

 

 

 
             $ 418,447,201   
Pharmaceuticals - 8.8%                 
Bayer AG      704,396      $ 69,762,665   
GlaxoSmithKline PLC      4,170,139        91,932,468   
Novartis AG      1,778,970        120,484,994   
Roche Holding AG      513,397        117,054,065   
Santen Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.      1,513,800        67,777,214   
    

 

 

 
             $ 467,011,406   
Precious Metals & Minerals - 0.4%                 
Newcrest Mining Ltd.      855,823      $ 19,701,909   
Railroad & Shipping - 1.4%                 
East Japan Railway Co.      453,400      $ 33,458,367   
Kuehne & Nagel, Inc. AG      339,860        39,059,330   
    

 

 

 
             $ 72,517,697   
Real Estate - 1.6%                 
GSW Immobilien AG      509,759      $ 20,314,864   
Mitsubishi Estate Co. Ltd.      2,537,000        63,226,562   
    

 

 

 
             $ 83,541,426   

 

8


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Restaurants - 1.3%                 
Arcos Dorados Holdings, Inc.      2,876,500      $ 36,445,255   
Whitbread PLC      910,375        34,844,762   
    

 

 

 
             $ 71,290,017   
Specialty Chemicals - 4.2%                 
Akzo Nobel N.V.      1,312,566      $ 83,580,031   
Chugoku Marine Paints Ltd.      1,754,000        9,537,340   
Linde AG      489,781        88,691,881   
Nippon Paint Co. Ltd.      1,918,000        18,147,438   
Symrise AG      601,599        22,812,445   
    

 

 

 
             $ 222,769,135   
Specialty Stores - 0.7%                 
Hennes & Mauritz AB, “B”      1,019,320      $ 36,422,820   
Telecommunications - Wireless - 2.8%                 
KDDI Corp.      960,400      $ 72,115,482   
TIM Participacoes S.A., ADR      1,257,561        27,364,527   
Vodafone Group PLC      20,331,757        51,062,730   
    

 

 

 
             $ 150,542,739   
Telephone Services - 2.1%                 
Bezeq - The Israel Telecommunication Corp. Ltd.      17,384,080      $ 22,219,796   
BT Group PLC      6,543,722        26,574,988   
China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd.      14,868,000        21,590,634   
TDC A.S.      3,218,077        24,227,204   
Telecom Italia S.p.A.      29,106,878        18,772,232   
    

 

 

 
             $ 113,384,854   
Tobacco - 1.6%                 
Japan Tobacco, Inc.      2,750,800      $ 86,806,452   
Trucking - 1.1%                 
Yamato Holdings Co. Ltd.      3,559,000      $ 59,553,447   
Utilities - Electric Power - 0.8%                 
Energias do Brasil S.A.      6,518,500      $ 39,550,967   
Utilities - Water - 0.4%                 
SUEZ Environnement      1,705,440      $ 22,744,069   
Total Common Stocks (Identified Cost, $4,659,793,138)            $ 5,231,834,642   

 

9


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Money Market Funds - 0.7%                 
Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio, 0.13%,
at Cost and Net Asset Value (v)
     37,680,544      $ 37,680,544   
Collateral for Securities Loaned - 0.5%                 
Navigator Securities Lending Prime Portfolio, 0.22%,
at Cost and Net Asset Value (j)
     23,150,000      $ 23,150,000   
Total Investments (Identified Cost, $4,720,623,682)            $ 5,292,665,186   
Other Assets, Less Liabilities - 0.2%              12,804,980   
Net Assets - 100.0%            $ 5,305,470,166   

 

(a) Non-income producing security.
(j) The rate quoted is the annualized seven-day yield of the fund at period end.
(l) A portion of this security is on loan.
(v) Underlying affiliated fund that is available only to investment companies managed by MFS. The rate quoted for the MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio is the annualized seven-day yield of the fund at period end.

The following abbreviations are used in this report and are defined:

 

ADR   American Depositary Receipt
PLC   Public Limited Company

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

10


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

At 2/28/13 (unaudited)

This statement represents your fund’s balance sheet, which details the assets and liabilities comprising the total value of the fund.

 

Assets         

Investments-

  

Non-affiliated issuers, at value (identified cost, $4,682,943,138)

     $5,254,984,642   

Underlying affiliated funds, at cost and value

     37,680,544   

Total investments, at value, including $21,944,635 of securities on loan
(identified cost, $4,720,623,682)

     $5,292,665,186   

Foreign currency, at value (identified cost, $908,672)

     908,871   

Receivables for

  

Investments sold

     7,214,801   

Fund shares sold

     24,246,665   

Interest and dividends

     15,087,087   

Other assets

     30,356   

Total assets

     $5,340,152,966   
Liabilities         

Payable for fund shares reacquired

     $8,107,383   

Collateral for securities loaned, at value

     23,150,000   

Payable to affiliates

  

Investment adviser

     220,956   

Shareholder servicing costs

     1,711,263   

Distribution and service fees

     27,165   

Program manager fees

     9   

Payable for independent Trustees’ compensation

     14,791   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     1,451,233   

Total liabilities

     $34,682,800   

Net assets

     $5,305,470,166   
Net assets consist of         

Paid-in capital

     $5,599,776,755   

Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies (net of $1,173,129 deferred country tax)

     570,696,084   

Accumulated net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

     (885,559,815

Undistributed net investment income

     20,557,142   

Net assets

     $5,305,470,166   

Shares of beneficial interest outstanding

     335,651,461   

 

11


Table of Contents

Statement of Assets and Liabilities (unaudited) – continued

 

     Net assets      Shares
outstanding
     Net asset value
per share (a)
 

Class A

     $1,100,236,443         69,812,554         $15.76   

Class B

     22,783,322         1,507,958         15.11   

Class C

     86,052,664         5,793,799         14.85   

Class I

     1,210,513,639         74,452,417         16.26   

Class R1

     4,572,688         312,803         14.62   

Class R2

     123,621,823         8,082,036         15.30   

Class R3

     189,911,144         12,179,200         15.59   

Class R4

     444,464,531         28,205,813         15.76   

Class R5

     2,120,115,980         135,094,577         15.69   

Class 529A

     2,066,060         132,847         15.55   

Class 529B

     197,062         13,364         14.75   

Class 529C

     934,810         64,093         14.59   

 

(a) Maximum offering price per share was equal to the net asset value per share for all share classes, except for Classes A and 529A, for which the maximum offering prices per share were $16.72 [100 / 94.25 x $15.76] and $16.50 [100 / 94.25 x $15.55], respectively. On sales of $50,000 or more, the maximum offering prices of Class A and Class 529A shares are reduced. A contingent deferred sales charge may be imposed on redemptions of Class A, Class B, Class C, Class 529B, and Class 529C shares. Redemption price per share was equal to the net asset value per share for Classes I, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and 529A.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

12


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

Six months ended 2/28/13 (unaudited)

This statement describes how much your fund earned in investment income and accrued in expenses. It also describes any gains and/or losses generated by fund operations.

 

Net investment income         

Income

  

Dividends

     $49,118,961   

Interest

     402,245   

Dividends from underlying affiliated funds

     40,771   

Foreign taxes withheld

     (3,574,882

Total investment income

     $45,987,095   

Expenses

  

Management fee

     $19,172,442   

Distribution and service fees

     2,355,870   

Program manager fees

     1,516   

Shareholder servicing costs

     2,213,206   

Administrative services fee

     264,239   

Independent Trustees’ compensation

     36,018   

Custodian fee

     522,929   

Shareholder communications

     90,362   

Audit and tax fees

     37,713   

Legal fees

     30,779   

Miscellaneous

     216,697   

Total expenses

     $24,941,771   

Fees paid indirectly

     (108

Reduction of expenses by investment adviser and distributor

     (5,246

Net expenses

     $24,936,417   

Net investment income

     $21,050,678   
Realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency   

Realized gain (loss) (identified cost basis)

  

Investments (net of $40,486 country tax)

     $152,727,311   

Foreign currency

     (514,537

Net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

     $152,212,774   

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

  

Investments (net of $523,889 increase in deferred country tax)

     $436,428,588   

Translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies

     (60,291

Net unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency translation

     $436,368,297   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

     $588,581,071   

Change in net assets from operations

     $609,631,749   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

13


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

These statements describe the increases and/or decreases in net assets resulting from operations, any distributions, and any shareholder transactions.

 

Change in net assets    Six months ended
2/28/13
(unaudited)
    

Year ended
8/31/12

 
From operations                  

Net investment income

     $21,050,678         $98,185,186   

Net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

     152,212,774         (44,297,721

Net unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency translation

     436,368,297         (79,771,886

Change in net assets from operations

     $609,631,749         $(25,884,421
Distributions declared to shareholders                  

From net investment income

     $(97,500,393      $(86,230,428

Change in net assets from fund share transactions

     $28,249,515         $407,269,195   

Total change in net assets

     $540,380,871         $295,154,346   
Net assets                  

At beginning of period

     4,765,089,295         4,469,934,949   

At end of period (including undistributed net investment income of $20,557,142 and $97,006,857, respectively)

     $5,305,470,166         $4,765,089,295   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

14


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the fund’s financial performance for the semiannual period and the past 5 fiscal years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate by which an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the fund share class (assuming reinvestment of all distributions) held for the entire period.

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class A     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning
of period

    $14.25        $14.66        $12.93        $13.03        $16.14        $20.56   
Income (loss) from investment operations   

Net investment
income (d)

    $0.05        $0.28        $0.26        $0.21        $0.22        $0.30   

Net realized and
unrealized gain (loss)
on investments and
foreign currency

    1.73        (0.45     1.67        (0.11     (2.92     (2.45

Total from investment
operations

    $1.78        $(0.17     $1.93        $0.10        $(2.70     $(2.15
Less distributions declared to shareholders   

From net investment
income

    $(0.27     $(0.24     $(0.20     $(0.20     $(0.20     $(0.28

From net realized gain on
investments

                                (0.21     (1.99

Total distributions declared
to shareholders

    $(0.27     $(0.24     $(0.20     $(0.20     $(0.41     $(2.27

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

    $15.76        $14.25        $14.66        $12.93        $13.03        $16.14   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    12.58 (n)      (1.03     14.89        0.65        (16.22     (12.46
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.18 (a)      1.21        1.19        1.25        1.35        1.32   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    1.18 (a)      1.21        1.19        1.25        1.35        1.32   

Net investment income

    0.65 (a)(m)      2.02        1.67        1.59        1.95        1.57   

Portfolio turnover

    18 (n)      37        43        56        88        68   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $1,100,236        $970,501        $1,008,654        $1,466,337        $1,254,399        $1,628,324   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

15


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class B     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning
of period

    $13.59        $13.96        $12.30        $12.39        $15.34        $19.61   
Income (loss) from investment operations   

Net investment
income (loss) (d)

    $(0.01     $0.16        $0.11        $0.09        $0.13        $0.14   

Net realized and
unrealized gain (loss)
on investments and
foreign currency

    1.66        (0.42     1.62        (0.09     (2.77     (2.30

Total from investment
operations

    $1.65        $(0.26     $1.73        $—        $(2.64     $(2.16
Less distributions declared to shareholders   

From net investment
income

    $(0.13     $(0.11     $(0.07     $(0.09     $(0.10     $(0.12

From net realized gain on
investments

                                (0.21     (1.99

Total distributions declared
to shareholders

    $(0.13     $(0.11     $(0.07     $(0.09     $(0.31     $(2.11

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

    $15.11        $13.59        $13.96        $12.30        $12.39        $15.34   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    12.23 (n)      (1.82     14.02        (0.09     (16.85     (13.00
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.93 (a)      1.96        1.95        1.99        2.05        1.97   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    1.93 (a)      1.96        1.94        1.99        2.05        1.97   

Net investment income (loss)

    (0.11 )(a)(m)      1.19        0.76        0.71        1.25        0.77   

Portfolio turnover

    18 (n)      37        43        56        88        68   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $22,783        $23,369        $33,059        $40,476        $55,961        $111,389   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

16


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class C     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning
of period

    $13.39        $13.78        $12.16        $12.27        $15.23        $19.52   
Income (loss) from investment operations   

Net investment
income (loss) (d)

    $(0.01     $0.16        $0.12        $0.10        $0.14        $0.15   

Net realized and
unrealized gain (loss)
on investments and
foreign currency

    1.63        (0.42     1.59        (0.10     (2.77     (2.29

Total from investment
operations

    $1.62        $(0.26     $1.71        $—        $(2.63     $(2.14
Less distributions declared to shareholders   

From net investment
income

    $(0.16     $(0.13     $(0.09     $(0.11     $(0.12     $(0.16

From net realized gain on
investments

                                (0.21     (1.99

Total distributions declared
to shareholders

    $(0.16     $(0.13     $(0.09     $(0.11     $(0.33     $(2.15

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

    $14.85        $13.39        $13.78        $12.16        $12.27        $15.23   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    12.12 (n)      (1.80     14.05        (0.03     (16.88     (13.00
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.93 (a)      1.96        1.95        2.00        2.05        1.97   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    1.93 (a)      1.96        1.95        2.00        2.05        1.97   

Net investment income (loss)

    (0.10 )(a)(m)      1.23        0.80        0.78        1.30        0.86   

Portfolio turnover

    18 (n)      37        43        56        88        68   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $86,053        $84,133        $99,830        $101,267        $110,142        $168,396   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

17


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class I     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning
of period

    $14.71        $15.15        $13.35        $13.44        $16.65        $21.14   
Income (loss) from investment operations   

Net investment
income (d)

    $0.07        $0.35        $0.29        $0.26        $0.26        $0.37   

Net realized and
unrealized gain (loss)
on investments and
foreign currency

    1.78        (0.49     1.74        (0.12     (3.01     (2.52

Total from investment operations

    $1.85        $(0.14     $2.03        $0.14        $(2.75     $(2.15
Less distributions declared to shareholders   

From net investment
income

    $(0.30     $(0.30     $(0.23     $(0.23     $(0.25     $(0.35

From net realized gain on
investments

                                (0.21     (1.99

Total distributions declared
to shareholders

    $(0.30     $(0.30     $(0.23     $(0.23     $(0.46     $(2.34

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

    $16.26        $14.71        $15.15        $13.35        $13.44        $16.65   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

    12.72 (n)      (0.82     15.19        0.92        (16.00     (12.15
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    0.93 (a)      0.96        0.95        1.00        1.05        0.97   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    0.93 (a)      0.96        0.95        1.00        1.05        0.97   

Net investment income

    0.87 (a)(m)      2.45        1.86        1.90        2.31        1.93   

Portfolio turnover

    18 (n)      37        43        56        88        68   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $1,210,514        $1,143,621        $2,484,795        $1,926,221        $1,456,884        $2,167,218   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

18


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

    

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class R1      2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                  

Net asset value, beginning
of period

     $13.17        $13.57        $11.98        $12.10        $15.05        $19.38   
Income (loss) from investment operations   

Net investment
income (loss) (d)

     $(0.01     $0.15        $0.12        $0.10        $0.14        $0.16   

Net realized and
unrealized gain (loss)
on investments and
foreign currency

     1.60        (0.40     1.57        (0.10     (2.74     (2.28

Total from investment
operations

     $1.59        $(0.25     $1.69        $—        $(2.60     $(2.12
Less distributions declared to shareholders   

From net investment
income

     $(0.14     $(0.15     $(0.10     $(0.12     $(0.14     $(0.22

From net realized gain on
investments

                                 (0.21     (1.99

Total distributions declared
to shareholders

     $(0.14     $(0.15     $(0.10     $(0.12     $(0.35     $(2.21

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

     $14.62        $13.17        $13.57        $11.98        $12.10        $15.05   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

     12.17 (n)      (1.80     14.09        (0.09     (16.87     (13.03
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

     1.93 (a)      1.96        1.95        2.00        2.05        2.02   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

     1.93 (a)      1.96        1.95        2.00        2.05        2.02   

Net investment income (loss)

     (0.10 )(a)(m)      1.18        0.84        0.77        1.34        0.92   

Portfolio turnover

     18 (n)      37        43        56        88        68   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

     $4,573        $4,914        $6,288        $5,868        $6,311        $8,930   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

19


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

    

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class R2      2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                  

Net asset value, beginning
of period

     $13.83        $14.26        $12.59        $12.70        $15.76        $20.14   
Income (loss) from investment operations   

Net investment
income (d)

     $0.03        $0.24        $0.20        $0.18        $0.20        $0.36   

Net realized and
unrealized gain (loss)
on investments and
foreign currency

     1.68        (0.44     1.64        (0.11     (2.87     (2.49

Total from investment
operations

     $1.71        $(0.20     $1.84        $0.07        $(2.67     $(2.13
Less distributions declared to shareholders   

From net investment
income

     $(0.24     $(0.23     $(0.17     $(0.18     $(0.18     $(0.26

From net realized gain on
investments

                                 (0.21     (1.99

Total distributions declared
to shareholders

     $(0.24     $(0.23     $(0.17     $(0.18     $(0.39     $(2.25

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

     $15.30        $13.83        $14.26        $12.59        $12.70        $15.76   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

     12.48 (n)      (1.32     14.61        0.45        (16.45     (12.63
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

     1.43 (a)      1.46        1.45        1.50        1.54        1.51   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

     1.43 (a)      1.46        1.45        1.50        1.54        1.51   

Net investment income

     0.40 (a)(m)      1.78        1.37        1.34        1.88        2.02   

Portfolio turnover

     18 (n)      37        43        56        88        68   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

     $123,622        $107,567        $91,693        $72,425        $60,790        $96,672   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

20


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class R3     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning
of period

    $14.10        $14.53        $12.82        $12.92        $16.06        $20.47   
Income (loss) from investment operations   

Net investment
income (d)

    $0.05        $0.28        $0.23        $0.21        $0.23        $0.30   

Net realized and
unrealized gain (loss)
on investments and
foreign currency

    1.71        (0.45     1.68        (0.10     (2.93     (2.43

Total from investment
operations

    $1.76        $(0.17     $1.91        $0.11        $(2.70     $(2.13
Less distributions declared to shareholders   

From net investment
income

    $(0.27     $(0.26     $(0.20     $(0.21     $(0.23     $(0.29

From net realized gain on
investments

                                (0.21     (1.99

Total distributions declared
to shareholders

    $(0.27     $(0.26     $(0.20     $(0.21     $(0.44     $(2.28

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

    $15.59        $14.10        $14.53        $12.82        $12.92        $16.06   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

    12.60 (n)      (1.06     14.88        0.72        (16.26     (12.42
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.18 (a)      1.21        1.20        1.25        1.29        1.27   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    1.18 (a)      1.21        1.20        1.25        1.29        1.27   

Net investment income

    0.64 (a)(m)      2.05        1.54        1.55        2.09        1.61   

Portfolio turnover

    18 (n)      37        43        56        88        68   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $189,911        $168,989        $154,869        $151,073        $133,545        $62,056   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

21


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class R4     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning
of period

    $14.26        $14.70        $12.96        $13.05        $16.19        $20.60   
Income (loss) from investment operations   

Net investment
income (d)

    $0.06        $0.32        $0.28        $0.24        $0.20        $0.34   

Net realized and
unrealized gain (loss)
on investments and
foreign currency

    1.74        (0.46     1.69        (0.10     (2.88     (2.43

Total from investment
operations

    $1.80        $(0.14     $1.97        $0.14        $(2.68     $(2.09
Less distributions declared to shareholders   

From net investment
income

    $(0.30     $(0.30     $(0.23     $(0.23     $(0.25     $(0.33

From net realized gain on
investments

                                (0.21     (1.99

Total distributions declared
to shareholders

    $(0.30     $(0.30     $(0.23     $(0.23     $(0.46     $(2.32

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

    $15.76        $14.26        $14.70        $12.96        $13.05        $16.19   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

    12.77 (n)      (0.84     15.19        0.95        (16.03     (12.15
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    0.93 (a)      0.96        0.95        1.00        1.00        1.01   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    0.93 (a)      0.96        0.95        1.00        1.00        1.01   

Net investment income

    0.85 (a)(m)      2.28        1.83        1.77        1.72        1.81   

Portfolio turnover

    18 (n)      37        43        56        88        68   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $444,465        $825,288        $561,557        $482,217        $476,076        $148,343   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

22


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class R5 (y)     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning
of period

    $14.20        $14.63        $12.90        $13.00        $16.14        $20.57   
Income (loss) from investment operations   

Net investment
income (d)

    $0.08        $0.17        $0.26        $0.23        $0.24        $0.35   

Net realized and
unrealized gain (loss)
on investments and
foreign currency

    1.72        (0.31 )(g)      1.69        (0.11     (2.93     (2.45

Total from investment
operations

    $1.80        $(0.14     $1.95        $0.12        $(2.69     $(2.10
Less distributions declared to shareholders   

From net investment
income

    $(0.31     $(0.29     $(0.22     $(0.22     $(0.24     $(0.34

From net realized gain on
investments

                                (0.21     (1.99

Total distributions declared
to shareholders

    $(0.31     $(0.29     $(0.22     $(0.22     $(0.45     $(2.33

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

    $15.69        $14.20        $14.63        $12.90        $13.00        $16.14   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

    12.76 (n)      (0.85     15.07        0.81        (16.12     (12.25
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    0.82 (a)      0.89        1.05        1.10        1.14        1.07   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    0.82 (a)      0.89        1.05        1.10        1.14        1.07   

Net investment income

    1.02 (a)(m)      1.20 (l)      1.71        1.73        2.25        1.89   

Portfolio turnover

    18 (n)      37        43        56        88        68   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $2,120,116        $1,433,832        $26,173        $24,820        $23,560        $16,633   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

23


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

    

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class 529A      2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                  

Net asset value, beginning
of period

     $14.06        $14.49        $12.78        $12.88        $15.96        $20.34   
Income (loss) from investment operations   

Net investment
income (d)

     $0.04        $0.27        $0.22        $0.20        $0.21        $0.26   

Net realized and
unrealized gain (loss)
on investments and
foreign currency

     1.71        (0.45     1.68        (0.12     (2.89     (2.42

Total from investment
operations

     $1.75        $(0.18     $1.90        $0.08        $(2.68     $(2.16
Less distributions declared to shareholders   

From net investment
income

     $(0.26     $(0.25     $(0.19     $(0.18     $(0.19     $(0.23

From net realized gain on
investments

                                 (0.21     (1.99

Total distributions declared
to shareholders

     $(0.26     $(0.25     $(0.19     $(0.18     $(0.40     $(2.22

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

     $15.55        $14.06        $14.49        $12.78        $12.88        $15.96   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

     12.58 (n)      (1.15     14.80        0.54        (16.32     (12.60
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

     1.28 (a)      1.31        1.30        1.35        1.45        1.51   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

     1.23 (a)      1.26        1.29        1.35        1.45        1.51   

Net investment income

     0.59 (a)(m)      1.96        1.47        1.47        1.90        1.40   

Portfolio turnover

     18 (n)      37        43        56        88        68   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

     $2,066        $1,762        $1,747        $1,512        $1,451        $2,017   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

24


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

    

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class 529B      2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                  

Net asset value, beginning
of period

     $13.25        $13.57        $11.99        $12.11        $15.05        $19.31   
Income (loss) from investment operations   

Net investment
income (loss) (d)

     $(0.01     $0.13        $0.09        $0.09        $0.12        $0.15   

Net realized and
unrealized gain (loss)
on investments and
foreign currency

     1.62        (0.38     1.58        (0.10     (2.74     (2.30

Total from investment
operations

     $1.61        $(0.25     $1.67        $(0.01     $(2.62     $(2.15
Less distributions declared to shareholders   

From net investment
income

     $(0.11     $(0.07     $(0.09     $(0.11     $(0.11     $(0.12

From net realized gain on
investments

                                 (0.21     (1.99

Total distributions declared
to shareholders

     $(0.11     $(0.07     $(0.09     $(0.11     $(0.32     $(2.11

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

     $14.75        $13.25        $13.57        $11.99        $12.11        $15.05   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

     12.18 (n)      (1.84     13.90        (0.14     (16.99     (13.16
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

     2.03 (a)      2.06        2.04        2.10        2.15        2.16   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

     1.98 (a)      2.01        2.04        2.10        2.15        2.16   

Net investment income (loss)

     (0.17 )(a)(m)      1.03        0.66        0.69        1.19        0.83   

Portfolio turnover

     18 (n)      37        43        56        88        68   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

     $197        $199        $366        $461        $449        $616   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

25


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

    

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class 529C      2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                  

Net asset value, beginning
of period

     $13.17        $13.56        $12.00        $12.12        $15.06        $19.31   
Income (loss) from investment operations   

Net investment
income (loss) (d)

     $(0.01     $0.15        $0.11        $0.09        $0.13        $0.13   

Net realized and
unrealized gain (loss)
on investments and
foreign currency

     1.60        (0.41     1.56        (0.10     (2.75     (2.28

Total from investment
operations

     $1.59        $(0.26     $1.67        $(0.01     $(2.62     $(2.15
Less distributions declared to shareholders   

From net investment
income

     $(0.17     $(0.13     $(0.11     $(0.11     $(0.11     $(0.11

From net realized gain on
investments

                                 (0.21     (1.99

Total distributions declared
to shareholders

     $(0.17     $(0.13     $(0.11     $(0.11     $(0.32     $(2.10

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

     $14.59        $13.17        $13.56        $12.00        $12.12        $15.06   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

     12.17 (n)      (1.83     13.89        (0.11     (16.98     (13.16
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

     2.03 (a)      2.06        2.05        2.10        2.15        2.16   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

     1.98 (a)      2.01        2.04        2.10        2.15        2.16   

Net investment income (loss)

     (0.16 )(a)(m)      1.19        0.81        0.76        1.23        0.73   

Portfolio turnover

     18 (n)      37        43        56        88        68   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

     $935        $914        $906        $796        $631        $843   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

26


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

 

(a) Annualized.
(d) Per share data is based on average shares outstanding.
(f) Ratios do not reflect reductions from fees paid indirectly, if applicable.
(g) The per share amount varies from the net realized and unrealized gain/loss for the period because of the timing of sales of fund shares and the per share amount of realized and unrealized gains and losses at such time.
(l) The net investment income ratio does not vary by the class specific expense differential because of the timing of sales of fund shares and the allocation of fund level income at such time.
(m) Recognition of net investment income by the fund may be affected by the timing of the declaration of dividends by companies in which the fund invests and the actual annual net investment income ratio may differ.
(n) Not annualized.
(r) Certain expenses have been reduced without which performance would have been lower.
(s) From time to time the fund may receive proceeds from litigation settlements, without which performance would be lower.
(t) Total returns do not include any applicable sales charges.
(x) The net asset values per share and total returns have been calculated on net assets which include adjustments made in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles required at period end for financial reporting purposes.
(y) As further discussed in Note 5 in the Notes to Financial Statements, on May 10, 2012, sales of Class W shares (including exchanges) were suspended. On May 11, 2012, certain Class W shares were automatically converted to Class I shares. Shareholders of certain Class W shares became shareholders of Class I and received Class I shares with a total net asset value equal to their Class W shares at the time of the conversion. On May 30, 2012, remaining Class W shares, which represented MFS seed money, were redesignated Class R5. Class R5 shares are generally available only to certain eligible retirement plans and to funds distributed by MFD. Class R5 shares do not pay a 12b-1 distribution fee or sub-accounting costs. On June 1, 2012, Class R5 shares were offered for sale to the public. For further information about the fund’s fee arrangements, please see Note 3 in the Notes to Financial Statements.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

27


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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

(1) Business and Organization

MFS Research International Fund (the fund) is a series of MFS Series Trust I (the trust). The trust is organized as a Massachusetts business trust and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as an open-end management investment company.

(2) Significant Accounting Policies

General – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated subsequent events occurring after the date of the fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities through the date that the financial statements were issued. The fund invests in foreign securities. Investments in foreign securities are vulnerable to the effects of changes in the relative values of the local currency and the U.S. dollar and to the effects of changes in each country’s legal, political, and economic environment.

In January 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update 2013-01 (“ASU 2013-01”) entitled Balance Sheet (Topic 210) – Clarifying the Scope of Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities which is intended to clarify the scope of Accounting Standards Update 2011-11 (“ASU 2011-11”), Balance Sheet (Topic 210) – Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities. Consistent with the effective date for ASU 2011-11, ASU 2013-01 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. ASU 2013-01 limits the scope of ASU 2011-11’s disclosure requirements on offsetting to financial assets and financial liabilities related to derivatives, repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements, and securities lending and securities borrowing transactions. Although still evaluating the potential impacts of these two ASUs to the fund, management expects that the impact of the fund’s adoption will be limited to additional financial statement disclosures.

Investment Valuations – Equity securities, including restricted equity securities, are generally valued at the last sale or official closing price as provided by a third-party pricing service on the market or exchange on which they are primarily traded. Equity securities, for which there were no sales reported that day, are generally valued at the last quoted daily bid quotation as provided by a third-party pricing service on the market or exchange on which such securities are primarily traded. Short-term instruments with a maturity at issuance of 60 days or less generally are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Open-end investment companies are generally valued at net asset value per share. Securities and other assets generally valued on the basis of information from a third-party pricing service may also be valued at a broker/dealer bid quotation. Values obtained from third-party pricing services can utilize both transaction data and market information such as yield, quality, coupon

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics, and other market data. The values of foreign securities and other assets and liabilities expressed in foreign currencies are converted to U.S. dollars using the mean of bid and asked prices for rates provided by a third-party pricing service.

The Board of Trustees has delegated primary responsibility for determining or causing to be determined the value of the fund’s investments (including any fair valuation) to the adviser pursuant to valuation policies and procedures approved by the Board. If the adviser determines that reliable market quotations are not readily available, investments are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the adviser in accordance with such procedures under the oversight of the Board of Trustees. Under the fund’s valuation policies and procedures, market quotations are not considered to be readily available for most types of debt instruments and floating rate loans and many types of derivatives. These investments are generally valued at fair value based on information from third-party pricing services. In addition, investments may be valued at fair value if the adviser determines that an investment’s value has been materially affected by events occurring after the close of the exchange or market on which the investment is principally traded (such as foreign exchange or market) and prior to the determination of the fund’s net asset value, or after the halting of trading of a specific security where trading does not resume prior to the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded. Events that occur on a frequent basis after foreign markets close (such as developments in foreign markets and significant movements in the U.S. markets) and prior to the determination of the fund’s net asset value may be deemed to have a material effect on the value of securities traded in foreign markets. Accordingly, the fund’s foreign equity securities may often be valued at fair value. The adviser generally relies on third-party pricing services or other information (such as the correlation with price movements of similar securities in the same or other markets; the type, cost and investment characteristics of the security; the business and financial condition of the issuer; and trading and other market data) to assist in determining whether to fair value and at what value to fair value an investment. The value of an investment for purposes of calculating the fund’s net asset value can differ depending on the source and method used to determine value. When fair valuation is used, the value of an investment used to determine the fund’s net asset value may differ from quoted or published prices for the same investment. There can be no assurance that the fund could obtain the fair value assigned to an investment if it were to sell the investment at the same time at which the fund determines its net asset value per share.

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the fund’s assets or liabilities. These inputs are categorized into three broad levels. In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, an investment’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The fund’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the investment. Level 1 includes unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 includes other significant observable market-based inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speed, and credit risk). Level 3 includes

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

unobservable inputs, which may include the adviser’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments. The following is a summary of the levels used as of February 28, 2013 in valuing the fund’s assets or liabilities:

 

Investments at Value    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
Equity Securities:            

Japan

     $1,182,077,582         $—         $—         $1,182,077,582   

United Kingdom

     531,242,483         493,418,288                 1,024,660,771   

Switzerland

     27,030,348         540,217,566                 567,247,914   

France

     234,962,245         294,484,354                 529,446,599   

Germany

     198,188,437         88,691,881                 286,880,318   

Netherlands

             245,013,845                 245,013,845   

Australia

             213,065,887                 213,065,887   

Hong Kong

     200,629,336                         200,629,336   

Brazil

     131,639,502                         131,639,502   

Other Countries

     445,089,971         406,082,917                 851,172,888   
Mutual Funds      60,830,544                         60,830,544   
Total Investments      $3,011,690,448         $2,280,974,738         $—         $5,292,665,186   

For further information regarding security characteristics, see the Portfolio of Investments.

Of the level 2 investments presented above, equity investments amounting to $1,417,629,969 would have been considered level 1 investments at the beginning of the period. Of the level 1 investments presented above, equity investments amounting to $1,241,267,081 would have been considered level 2 investments at the beginning of the period. The primary reason for changes in the classifications between levels 1 and 2 occurs when foreign equity securities are fair valued using other observable market-based inputs in place of the closing exchange price due to events occurring after the close of the exchange or market on which the investment is principally traded. The fund’s foreign equity securities may often be valued at fair value. The fund’s policy is to recognize transfers between the levels as of the end of the period.

Foreign Currency Translation – Purchases and sales of foreign investments, income, and expenses are converted into U.S. dollars based upon currency exchange rates prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions or on the reporting date for foreign denominated receivables and payables. Gains and losses attributable to foreign currency exchange rates on sales of securities are recorded for financial statement purposes as net realized gains and losses on investments. Gains and losses attributable to foreign exchange rate movements on receivables, payables, income and expenses are recorded for financial statement purposes as foreign currency transaction gains and losses. That portion of both realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments that results from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates is not separately disclosed.

Security Loans – State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”), as lending agent, loans the securities of the fund to certain qualified institutions (the “Borrowers”) approved by the fund. The loans are collateralized by cash and/or U.S. Treasury and federal agency obligations in an amount typically at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. The market value of the loaned securities is determined at the

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

close of business of the fund and any additional required collateral is delivered to the fund on the next business day. State Street provides the fund with indemnification against Borrower default. The fund bears the risk of loss with respect to the investment of cash collateral. On loans collateralized by cash, the cash collateral is invested in a money market fund or short-term securities. Collateral for securities loaned is held at carrying value, which approximates fair value. If the collateral for securities loaned was carried at fair value, its fair value would be considered level 2 under the fair value hierarchy. A portion of the income generated upon investment of the collateral is remitted to the Borrowers, and the remainder is allocated between the fund and the lending agent. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasury and/or federal agency obligations, a fee is received from the Borrower, and is allocated between the fund and the lending agent. Income from securities lending is included in “Interest” income in the Statement of Operations. The dividend and interest income earned on the securities loaned is accounted for in the same manner as other dividend and interest income.

Indemnifications – Under the fund’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the fund enters into agreements with service providers that may contain indemnification clauses. The fund’s maximum exposure under these agreements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the fund that have not yet occurred.

Investment Transactions and Income – Investment transactions are recorded on the trade date. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends received in cash are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Certain dividends from foreign securities will be recorded when the fund is informed of the dividend if such information is obtained subsequent to the ex-dividend date. Dividend and interest payments received in additional securities are recorded on the ex-dividend or ex-interest date in an amount equal to the value of the security on such date.

The fund may receive proceeds from litigation settlements. Any proceeds received from litigation involving portfolio holdings are reflected in the Statement of Operations in realized gain/loss if the security has been disposed of by the fund or in unrealized gain/loss if the security is still held by the fund. Any other proceeds from litigation not related to portfolio holdings are reflected as other income in the Statement of Operations.

Fees Paid Indirectly – The fund’s custody fee may be reduced according to an arrangement that measures the value of cash deposited with the custodian by the fund. This amount, for the six months ended February 28, 2013, is shown as a reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations.

Tax Matters and Distributions – The fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to distribute all of its taxable income, including realized capital gains. As a result, no provision for federal income tax is required. The fund’s federal tax returns, when filed, will remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for a three year period. Foreign taxes have been accrued by the fund in the accompanying financial statements.

 

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Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Certain capital accounts in the financial statements are periodically adjusted for permanent differences in order to reflect their tax character. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or net asset value per share. Temporary differences which arise from recognizing certain items of income, expense, gain or loss in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes will reverse at some time in the future. Distributions in excess of net investment income or net realized gains are temporary overdistributions for financial statement purposes resulting from differences in the recognition or classification of income or distributions for financial statement and tax purposes.

Book/tax differences primarily relate to wash sale loss deferrals.

The tax character of distributions made during the current period will be determined at fiscal year end. The tax character of distributions declared to shareholders for the last fiscal year is as follows:

 

     8/31/12  
Ordinary income (including any
short-term capital gains)
     $86,230,428   

The federal tax cost and the tax basis components of distributable earnings were as follows:

 

As of 2/28/13       
Cost of investments      $4,781,755,330   
Gross appreciation      747,547,580   
Gross depreciation      (236,637,724
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)      $510,909,856   
As of 8/31/12       
Undistributed ordinary income      97,448,102   
Capital loss carryforwards      (950,682,226
Post-October capital loss deferral      (25,958,715
Other temporary differences      (1,202,485
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)      73,957,379   

The aggregate cost above includes prior fiscal year end tax adjustments, if applicable.

Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized for fund fiscal years beginning after August 31, 2011 may be carried forward indefinitely, and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses (“post-enactment losses”). Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for eight years and treated as short-term losses (“pre-enactment losses”). As a transition rule, the Act requires that all post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

 

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As of August 31, 2012, the fund had capital loss carryforwards available to offset future realized gains as follows:

 

Pre-enactment losses which expire
as follows:
 
8/31/17      $(25,733,785
8/31/18      (896,771,380
Total      $(922,505,165
Post-enactment losses which are
characterized as follows:
 
Short-Term      $(21,127,833
Long-Term      (7,049,228
Total      $(28,177,061

Multiple Classes of Shares of Beneficial Interest – The fund offers multiple classes of shares, which differ in their respective distribution, service, and program manager fees. The fund’s income, realized and unrealized gain (loss), and common expenses are allocated to shareholders based on the daily net assets of each class. Dividends are declared separately for each class. Differences in per share dividend rates are generally due to differences in separate class expenses. Class B and Class 529B shares will convert to Class A and Class 529A shares, respectively, approximately eight years after purchase. The fund’s distributions declared to shareholders as reported in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets are presented by class as follows:

 

     From net investment
income
 
     Six months
ended
2/28/13
     Year
ended
8/31/12
 
Class A      $18,082,586         $17,123,611   
Class B      216,225         241,704   
Class C      914,829         927,483   
Class I      24,235,060         50,054,535   
Class R1      49,846         67,476   
Class R2      1,877,801         1,503,599   
Class R3      3,284,789         2,881,452   
Class R4      17,572,798         12,653,505   
Class R5      31,219,429         736,250   
Class 529A      33,635         30,552   
Class 529B      1,468         1,521   
Class 529C      11,927         8,740   
Total      $97,500,393         $86,230,428   

On May 30, 2012, Class W shares were redesignated Class R5. See Note 5 for additional information.

(3) Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Adviser – The fund has an investment advisory agreement with MFS to provide overall investment management and related administrative services and facilities to the fund.

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

The management fee is computed daily and paid monthly at the following annual rates:

 

First $1 billion of average daily net assets      0.90
Next $1 billion of average daily net assets      0.80
Average daily net assets in excess of $2 billion      0.70

The management fee incurred for the six months ended February 28, 2013 was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.76% of the fund’s average daily net assets.

Distributor – MFS Fund Distributors, Inc. (MFD), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MFS, as distributor, received $24,400 and $756 for the six months ended February 28, 2013, as its portion of the initial sales charge on sales of Class A and Class 529A shares of the fund, respectively.

The Board of Trustees has adopted a distribution plan for certain class shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

The fund’s distribution plan provides that the fund will pay MFD for services provided by MFD and financial intermediaries in connection with the distribution and servicing of certain share classes. One component of the plan is a distribution fee paid to MFD and another component of the plan is a service fee paid to MFD. MFD may subsequently pay all, or a portion, of the distribution and/or service fees to financial intermediaries.

Distribution Plan Fee Table:

 

     Distribution
Fee Rate (d)
     Service
Fee Rate (d)
    

Total
Distribution

Plan (d)

    

Annual
Effective

Rate (e)

     Distribution
and Service
Fee
 
Class A              0.25%         0.25%         0.25%         $1,279,243   
Class B      0.75%         0.25%         1.00%         1.00%         115,901   
Class C      0.75%         0.25%         1.00%         1.00%         420,307   
Class R1      0.75%         0.25%         1.00%         1.00%         23,785   
Class R2      0.25%         0.25%         0.50%         0.50%         284,318   
Class R3              0.25%         0.25%         0.25%         224,323   
Class 529A              0.25%         0.25%         0.25%         2,387   
Class 529B      0.75%         0.25%         1.00%         1.00%         959   
Class 529C      0.75%         0.25%         1.00%         1.00%         4,647   
Total Distribution and Service Fees            $2,355,870   

 

(d) In accordance with the distribution plan for certain classes, the fund pays distribution and/or service fees equal to these annual percentage rates of each class’s average daily net assets. The distribution and service fee rates disclosed by class represent the current rates in effect at the end of the reporting period.
(e) The annual effective rates represent actual fees incurred under the distribution plan for the six months ended February 28, 2013 based on each class’s average daily net assets.

Certain Class A shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) in the event of a shareholder redemption within 18 months of purchase for shares purchased on or after August 1, 2012, and within 24 months of purchase for shares purchased prior to August 1, 2012. Class C and Class 529C shares are subject to a CDSC in the event of a shareholder redemption within 12 months of purchase. Class B and

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

Class 529B shares are subject to a CDSC in the event of a shareholder redemption within six years of purchase. All contingent deferred sales charges are paid to MFD and during the six months ended February 28, 2013, were as follows:

 

     Amount  
Class A      $173   
Class B      11,147   
Class C      1,996   
Class 529B        
Class 529C        

The fund has entered into and may from time to time enter into contracts with program managers and other parties which administer the tuition programs through which an investment in the fund’s 529 share classes is made. The fund has entered into an agreement with MFD pursuant to which MFD receives an annual fee of up to 0.10% of the average daily net assets attributable to each 529 share class. MFD has agreed to waive a portion of this fee in an amount equal to 0.05% of the average daily net assets for each 529 share class. This waiver agreement will continue until modified by the fund’s Board of Trustees but such agreement will continue at least until December 31, 2013, after which MFD may eliminate this waiver without a vote of the fund’s Board of Trustees. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, this waiver amounted to $758 and is reflected as a reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations. The program manager fee incurred for the six months ended February 28, 2013 was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.05% of the average daily net assets attributable to each 529 share class. The services provided by MFD, or a third party with which MFD contracts, include recordkeeping and tax reporting and account services, as well as services designed to maintain the program’s compliance with the Internal Revenue Code and other regulatory requirements. Program manager fees and waivers for the six months ended February 28, 2013, were as follows:

 

     Fee      Waiver  
Class 529A      $955         $478   
Class 529B      96         48   
Class 529C      465         232   
Total Program Manager Fees and Waivers      $1,516         $758   

Shareholder Servicing Agent – MFS Service Center, Inc. (MFSC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MFS, receives a fee from the fund for its services as shareholder servicing agent calculated as a percentage of the average daily net assets of the fund as determined periodically under the supervision of the fund’s Board of Trustees. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, the fee was $210,803, which equated to 0.0083% annually of the fund’s average daily net assets. MFSC also receives payment from the fund for out-of-pocket expenses, sub-accounting and other shareholder servicing costs which may be paid to affiliated and unaffiliated service providers. Class R5 shares do not incur sub-accounting fees. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, these out-of-pocket expenses, sub-accounting and other shareholder servicing costs amounted to $2,002,403.

Administrator – MFS provides certain financial, legal, shareholder communications, compliance, and other administrative services to the fund. Under an administrative

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

services agreement, the fund partially reimburses MFS the costs incurred to provide these services. The fund is charged an annual fixed amount of $17,500 plus a fee based on average daily net assets. The administrative services fee incurred for the six months ended February 28, 2013 was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.0105% of the fund’s average daily net assets.

Trustees’ and Officers’ Compensation – The fund pays compensation to independent Trustees in the form of a retainer, attendance fees, and additional compensation to Board and Committee chairpersons. The fund does not pay compensation directly to Trustees or officers of the fund who are also officers of the investment adviser, all of whom receive remuneration for their services to the fund from MFS. Certain officers and Trustees of the fund are officers or directors of MFS, MFD, and MFSC.

Prior to December 31, 2001, the fund had an unfunded defined benefit plan (“DB plan”) for independent Trustees. As of December 31, 2001, the Board took action to terminate the DB plan with respect to then-current and any future independent Trustees, such that the DB plan covers only certain of those former independent Trustees who retired on or before December 31, 2001. Effective January 1, 2002, accrued benefits under the DB plan for then-current independent Trustees who continued were credited to an unfunded retirement deferral plan (the “Retirement Deferral plan”), which was established for and exists solely with respect to these credited amounts, and is not available for other deferrals by these or other independent Trustees. Although the Retirement Deferral plan is unfunded, amounts deferred under the plan are periodically adjusted for investment experience as if they had been invested in shares of the fund. The DB plan resulted in a pension expense of $53 and the Retirement Deferral plan resulted in an expense of $1,931. Both amounts are included in independent Trustees’ compensation for the six months ended February 28, 2013. The liability for deferred retirement benefits payable to certain independent Trustees under both plans amounted to $14,769 at February 28, 2013, and is included in “Payable for independent Trustees’ compensation” in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Other – This fund and certain other funds managed by MFS (the funds) have entered into services agreements (the Agreements) which provide for payment of fees by the funds to Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC in return for the provision of services of an Independent Chief Compliance Officer (ICCO) and Assistant ICCO, respectively, for the funds. The ICCO and Assistant ICCO are officers of the funds and the sole members of Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC, respectively. The funds can terminate the Agreements with Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC at any time under the terms of the Agreements. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, the aggregate fees paid by the fund to Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC were $15,209 and are included in “Miscellaneous” expense in the Statement of Operations. MFS has agreed to reimburse the fund for a portion of the payments made by the fund in the amount of $4,488, which is shown as a reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations. Additionally, MFS has agreed to bear all expenses associated with office space, other administrative support, and supplies provided to the ICCO and Assistant ICCO.

 

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The fund invests in the MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio which is managed by MFS and seeks current income consistent with preservation of capital and liquidity. Income earned on this investment is included in “Dividends from underlying affiliated funds” in the Statement of Operations. This money market fund does not pay a management fee to MFS.

(4) Portfolio Securities

Purchases and sales of investments, other than short-term obligations, aggregated $895,631,289 and $935,522,130, respectively.

(5) Shares of Beneficial Interest

The fund’s Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest. Transactions in fund shares were as follows:

 

     Six months ended
2/28/13
     Year ended
8/31/12
 
     Shares      Amount      Shares      Amount  
Shares sold            

Class A

     9,354,637         $142,315,615         31,745,318         $434,532,911   

Class B

     54,227         786,285         141,471         1,876,698   

Class C

     401,284         5,740,251         782,952         10,214,753   

Class I

     15,739,257         247,190,523         39,915,301         570,186,885   

Class R1

     33,304         467,499         89,252         1,159,150   

Class R2

     1,402,235         20,734,468         2,630,956         35,516,421   

Class R3

     1,683,147         25,164,625         4,393,432         60,527,319   

Class R4

     4,699,830         70,702,884         25,237,244         348,372,570   

Class R5

     35,822,503         545,150,493         104,354,070         1,365,285,483   

Class 529A

     10,813         161,293         21,880         298,046   

Class 529B

     793         11,261         667         8,530   

Class 529C

     3,658         51,107         12,601         161,456   
     69,205,688         $1,058,476,304         209,325,144         $2,828,140,222   
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions            

Class A

     988,881         $14,783,775         828,065         $11,038,101   

Class B

     12,620         181,228         15,518         198,473   

Class C

     34,473         486,411         38,748         488,229   

Class I

     1,092,849         16,840,811         2,844,394         39,081,977   

Class R1

     3,550         49,310         5,200         64,422   

Class R2

     120,670         1,752,131         105,935         1,373,973   

Class R3

     222,095         3,284,789         218,292         2,881,452   

Class R4

     1,161,239         17,348,909         929,045         12,374,873   

Class R5

     2,099,491         31,219,429         46,986         623,506   

Class 529A

     2,283         33,631         2,317         30,517   

Class 529B

     105         1,468         122         1,521   

Class 529C

     862         11,927         705         8,740   
     5,739,118         $85,993,819         5,035,327         $68,165,784   

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

     Six months ended
2/28/13
    Year ended
8/31/12
 
     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount  
Shares reacquired         

Class A

     (8,649,607     $(129,945,726     (33,254,297     $(455,872,069

Class B

     (277,857     (4,033,025     (805,715     (10,705,015

Class C

     (927,405     (13,119,677     (1,783,058     (23,317,054

Class I

     (20,146,309     (322,929,898     (129,048,653     (1,770,003,865

Class R1

     (97,235     (1,359,011     (184,770     (2,392,107

Class R2

     (1,219,463     (17,793,616     (1,390,102     (18,857,493

Class R3

     (1,708,850     (25,550,600     (3,285,867     (45,202,740

Class R4

     (35,525,327     (543,114,724     (6,505,443     (90,617,432

Class R5

     (3,812,207     (58,116,333     (5,205,165     (71,497,180

Class 529A

     (5,542     (82,850     (19,472     (267,078

Class 529B

     (2,579     (36,238     (12,677     (163,810

Class 529C

     (9,820     (138,910     (10,733     (140,968
     (72,382,201     $(1,116,220,608     (181,505,952     $(2,489,036,811
Net change         

Class A

     1,693,911        $27,153,664        (680,914     $(10,301,057

Class B

     (211,010     (3,065,512     (648,726     (8,629,844

Class C

     (491,648     (6,893,015     (961,358     (12,614,072

Class I

     (3,314,203     (58,898,564     (86,288,958     (1,160,735,003

Class R1

     (60,381     (842,202     (90,318     (1,168,535

Class R2

     303,442        4,692,983        1,346,789        18,032,901   

Class R3

     196,392        2,898,814        1,325,857        18,206,031   

Class R4

     (29,664,258     (455,062,931     19,660,846        270,130,011   

Class R5

     34,109,787        518,253,589        99,195,891        1,294,411,809   

Class 529A

     7,554        112,074        4,725        61,485   

Class 529B

     (1,681     (23,509     (11,888     (153,759

Class 529C

     (5,300     (75,876     2,573        29,228   
     2,562,605        $28,249,515        32,854,519        $407,269,195   

The fund is one of several mutual funds in which the MFS funds-of-funds may invest. The MFS funds-of-funds do not invest in the underlying MFS funds for the purpose of exercising management or control. At the end of the period, the MFS International Diversification Fund, MFS Moderate Allocation Fund, MFS Growth Allocation Fund, MFS Aggressive Growth Allocation Fund, and MFS Conservative Allocation Fund were the owners of record of approximately 18%, 5%, 5%, 2%, and 2% respectively, of the value of outstanding voting shares of the fund. In addition, the MFS Lifetime 2010 Fund, MFS Lifetime 2015 Fund, MFS Lifetime 2020 Fund, MFS Lifetime 2025 Fund, MFS Lifetime 2030 Fund, MFS Lifetime 2035 Fund, MFS Lifetime 2040 Fund, MFS Lifetime 2045 Fund, MFS Lifetime 2050 Fund, MFS Lifetime 2055 Fund, and MFS Lifetime Retirement Income Fund were each the owners of record of less than 1% of the value of outstanding voting shares of the fund.

 

38


Table of Contents

Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

Redesignation of Class W to Class R5 – On May 10, 2012, sales of Class W shares (including exchanges) were suspended. On May 11, 2012, certain Class W shares were automatically converted to Class I shares. Shareholders of certain Class W shares became shareholders of Class I and received Class I shares with a total net asset value equal to their Class W shares at the time of the conversion. On May 30, 2012, remaining Class W shares, which represented MFS seed money, were redesignated as Class R5. Class R5 shares are generally available only to certain eligible retirement plans and to funds distributed by MFD. Class R5 shares do not pay a 12b-1 distribution fee or sub-accounting costs. On June 1, 2012, Class R5 shares were offered for sale to the public.

(6) Line of Credit

The fund and certain other funds managed by MFS participate in a $1.1 billion unsecured committed line of credit, subject to a $1 billion sublimit, provided by a syndication of banks under a credit agreement. Borrowings may be made for temporary financing needs. Interest is charged to each fund, based on its borrowings, generally at a rate equal to the higher of the Federal Reserve funds rate or one month LIBOR plus an agreed upon spread. A commitment fee, based on the average daily, unused portion of the committed line of credit, is allocated among the participating funds at the end of each calendar quarter. In addition, the fund and other funds managed by MFS have established unsecured uncommitted borrowing arrangements with certain banks for temporary financing needs. Interest is charged to each fund, based on its borrowings, at a rate equal to the Federal Reserve funds rate plus an agreed upon spread. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, the fund’s commitment fee and interest expense were $14,794 and $0, respectively, and are included in “Miscellaneous” expense in the Statement of Operations.

(7) Transactions in Underlying Affiliated Funds-Affiliated Issuers

An affiliated issuer may be considered one in which the fund owns 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities, or a company which is under common control. For the purposes of this report, the fund assumes the following to be an affiliated issuer:

 

Underlying Affiliated Fund    Beginning
Shares/Par
Amount
     Acquisitions
Shares/Par
Amount
     Dispositions
Shares/Par
Amount
     Ending
Shares/Par
Amount
 
MFS Institutional Money
Market Portfolio
     3,603         504,014,114         (466,337,173      37,680,544   
Underlying Affiliated Fund    Realized
Gain (Loss)
     Capital Gain
Distributions
     Dividend
Income
    

Ending

Value

 
MFS Institutional Money
Market Portfolio
     $—         $—         $40,771         $37,680,544   

 

39


Table of Contents

BOARD REVIEW OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

A discussion regarding the Board’s most recent review and renewal of the fund’s Investment Advisory Agreement with MFS is available by clicking on the fund’s name under “Mutual Funds” in the “Products” section of the MFS Web site (mfs.com).

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND INFORMATION

A general description of the MFS funds’ proxy voting policies and procedures is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-225-2606, by visiting the Proxy Voting section of mfs.com or by visiting the SEC’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov.

Information regarding how the fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 is available without charge by visiting the Proxy Voting section of mfs.com or by visiting the SEC’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov.

QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO DISCLOSURE

The fund will file a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. A shareholder can obtain the quarterly portfolio holdings report at mfs.com. The fund’s Form N-Q is also available on the EDGAR database on the Commission’s Internet Web site at http://www.sec.gov, and may be reviewed and copied at the:

Public Reference Room

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, NE, Room 1580

Washington, D.C. 20549

Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. Copies of the fund’s Form N-Q also may be obtained, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the Public Reference Section at the above address.

FURTHER INFORMATION

From time to time, MFS may post important information about the fund or the MFS funds on the MFS web site (mfs.com). This information is available by visiting the “News & Commentary” section of mfs.com or by clicking on the fund’s name under “Mutual Funds” in the “Products” section of mfs.com.

PROVISION OF FINANCIAL REPORTS AND SUMMARY PROSPECTUSES

The fund produces financial reports every six months and updates its summary prospectus and prospectus annually. To avoid sending duplicate copies of materials to households, only one copy of the fund’s annual and semiannual report and summary prospectus may be mailed to shareholders having the same last name and residential address on the fund’s records. However, any shareholder may contact MFSC (please see back cover for address and telephone number) to request that copies of these reports and summary prospectuses be sent personally to that shareholder.

 

40


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

Save paper with eDelivery.

 

LOGO

MFS® will send you prospectuses,

reports, and proxies directly via e-mail so you will get information faster with less mailbox clutter.

To sign up:

1. Go to mfs.com.

2. Log in via MFS® Access.

3. Select eDelivery.

If you own your MFS fund shares through a financial institution or a retirement plan, MFS® TALK, MFS® Access, or eDelivery may not be available to you.

 

CONTACT

WEB SITE

mfs.com

MFS TALK

1-800-637-8255

24 hours a day

ACCOUNT SERVICE AND LITERATURE

Shareholders

1-800-225-2606

Financial advisors

1-800-343-2829

Retirement plan services

1-800-637-1255

MAILING ADDRESS

MFS Service Center, Inc.

P.O. Box 55824

Boston, MA 02205-5824

OVERNIGHT MAIL

MFS Service Center, Inc.

c/o Boston Financial Data Services

30 Dan Road

Canton, MA 02021-2809

 


Table of Contents

SEMIANNUAL REPORT

February 28, 2013

 

LOGO

 

MFS® TECHNOLOGY FUND

 

LOGO

 

SCT-SEM

 


Table of Contents

MFS® TECHNOLOGY FUND

 

CONTENTS

 

Letter from the Chairman and CEO     1   
Portfolio composition     2   
Expense table     3   
Portfolio of investments     5   
Statement of assets and liabilities     9   
Statement of operations     11   
Statements of changes in net assets     12   
Financial highlights     13   
Notes to financial statements     22   
Board review of investment advisory agreement     35   
Proxy voting policies and information     35   
Quarterly portfolio disclosure     35   
Further information     35   
Provision of financial reports and summary prospectuses     35   
Contact information    back cover   

The report is prepared for the general information of shareholders.

It is authorized for distribution to prospective investors only when preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus.

 

NOT FDIC INSURED Ÿ MAY LOSE VALUE Ÿ NO BANK GUARANTEE


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND CEO

 

Dear Shareholders:

Global financial markets began 2013 with greater optimism. U.S. and Asian economic trends have turned more positive. Europe continues to struggle through its economic

slump. However, even there, sentiment has improved. The U.S. Congress averted its year-end fiscal cliff, but a degree of uncertainty remains regarding upcoming negotiations over spending cuts and the debt ceiling. The U.S. Federal Reserve Board is continuing its accommodative monetary easing, while the U.S. housing and job markets have made steady gains. Corporate profits have been resilient, and investors have demonstrated increased tolerance for risk.

Overseas, the eurozone remains in a broad contraction, with economic output receding in France as well as Italy and Spain.

However, large-scale early repayments of European Central Bank loans by banks and Germany’s strong rebound in manufacturing activity are encouraging signs. In Asia, both China and Japan appear to be in the early stages of a turnaround. China’s economic activity has picked up from last year’s relative slowdown, and Japan’s sharp devaluation of the yen, an important anti-deflationary measure, seems to be having its desired impact: Japanese stocks have soared, corporate profits are rising and confidence is returning among consumers, businesses and investors.

As always, managing risk in the face of uncertainty remains a top priority for investors. At MFS®, our uniquely collaborative investment process employs global research and active risk management. Our global team of investment professionals shares ideas and evaluates opportunities across continents, investment disciplines and asset classes — all with a goal of building better insights, and ultimately better results, for our clients.

We remain mindful of the many economic challenges investors face today, and believe it is more important than ever to maintain a long-term view and employ time-tested principles, such as asset allocation and diversification. We also remain confident that our unique approach can serve investors well as they work with their financial advisors to identify and pursue the most suitable opportunities.

Respectfully,

 

LOGO

Robert J. Manning

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

MFS Investment Management®

April 12, 2013

The opinions expressed in this letter are subject to change, may not be relied upon for investment advice, and no forecasts can be guaranteed.

 

1


Table of Contents

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION

 

Portfolio structure (i)

 

LOGO

 

Top ten holdings (i)  
Google, Inc., “A”     10.6%   
Oracle Corp.     6.1%   
Apple, Inc.     6.0%   
Qualcomm, Inc.     5.3%   
Hewlett-Packard Co.     5.0%   
Amazon.com, Inc.     4.3%   
Visa, Inc., “A”     3.7%   
MasterCard, Inc., “A”     3.6%   
Priceline.com, Inc.     3.5%   
eBay, Inc.     3.4%   
Top five industries (i)  
Computer Software - Systems (s)     18.6%   
Internet     18.2%   
Computer Software (s)     15.4%   
Electronics (s)     11.1%   
Network & Telecom (s)     8.6%   
 

 

(i) For purposes of this presentation, the components include the market value of securities, less any securities sold short, and reflect the impact of the equivalent exposure of derivative positions. These amounts may be negative from time to time. Equivalent exposure is a calculated amount that translates the derivative position into a reasonable approximation of the amount of the underlying asset that the portfolio would have to hold at a given point in time to have the same price sensitivity that results from the portfolio’s ownership of the derivative contract. When dealing with derivatives, equivalent exposure is a more representative measure of the potential impact of a position on portfolio performance than market value.
(s) Includes securities sold short.

Percentages are based on net assets as of 2/28/13.

The portfolio is actively managed and current holdings may be different.

 

2


Table of Contents

EXPENSE TABLE

Fund expenses borne by the shareholders during the period,

September 1, 2012 through February 28, 2013

As a shareholder of the fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on certain purchase or redemption payments, and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period September 1, 2012 through February 28, 2013.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class in the following table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class in the following table provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads). Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

3


Table of Contents

Expense Table – continued

 

Share
Class
       Annualized
Expense
Ratio
    Beginning
Account Value
9/01/12
    Ending
Account Value
2/28/13
    Expenses
Paid During
Period (p)
9/01/12-2/28/13
 
A   Actual     1.55%        $1,000.00        $1,048.21        $7.87   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.55%        $1,000.00        $1,017.11        $7.75   
B   Actual     2.30%        $1,000.00        $1,043.93        $11.66   
  Hypothetical (h)     2.30%        $1,000.00        $1,013.39        $11.48   
C   Actual     2.30%        $1,000.00        $1,044.01        $11.66   
  Hypothetical (h)     2.30%        $1,000.00        $1,013.39        $11.48   
I   Actual     1.31%        $1,000.00        $1,048.98        $6.66   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.31%        $1,000.00        $1,018.30        $6.56   
R1   Actual     2.30%        $1,000.00        $1,044.10        $11.66   
  Hypothetical (h)     2.30%        $1,000.00        $1,013.39        $11.48   
R2   Actual     1.79%        $1,000.00        $1,046.46        $9.08   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.79%        $1,000.00        $1,015.92        $8.95   
R3   Actual     1.55%        $1,000.00        $1,047.62        $7.87   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.55%        $1,000.00        $1,017.11        $7.75   
R4   Actual     1.29%        $1,000.00        $1,049.56        $6.56   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.29%        $1,000.00        $1,018.40        $6.46   
R5   Actual     1.07%        $1,000.00        $1,041.86        $1.77 (i) 
  Hypothetical (h)     1.07%        $1,000.00        $1,019.49        $5.36   

 

(h) 5% class return per year before expenses.
(i) For the period from the class inception, January 2, 2013, through the stated period end.
(p) Expenses paid are equal to each class’s annualized expense ratio, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period, divided by the number of days in the year. Expenses paid do not include any applicable sales charges (loads). If these transaction costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.

Expenses Impacting Table

Expense ratios include 0.22% of investment related expense from short sales that are outside of the expense cap arrangement (See Note 3 of the Notes to Financial Statements).

 

4


Table of Contents

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

2/28/13 (unaudited)

The Portfolio of Investments is a complete list of all securities owned by your fund. It is categorized by broad-based asset classes.

 

Common Stocks - 101.3%                 
Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Broadcasting - 4.0%                 
Arbitron, Inc.      7,490      $ 350,831   
Discovery Communications, Inc., “C” (a)      15,650        1,009,425   
News Corp., “A”      129,340        3,724,992   
Time Warner, Inc.      11,080        589,124   
Viacom, Inc., “B”      37,090        2,168,281   
Walt Disney Co.      23,460        1,280,681   
    

 

 

 
             $ 9,123,334   
Business Services - 5.5%                 
Accenture PLC, “A”      67,220      $ 4,998,479   
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., “A” (a)      51,040        3,918,341   
Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.      51,080        1,923,162   
FleetCor Technologies, Inc. (a)      23,440        1,636,346   
Xoom Corp. (a)      6,370        135,426   
    

 

 

 
             $ 12,611,754   
Cable TV - 0.5%                 
Ziggo N.V.      33,960      $ 1,146,536   
Computer Software - 15.6%                 
Autodesk, Inc. (a)      36,620      $ 1,344,686   
BMC Software, Inc. (a)      29,620        1,186,873   
Citrix Systems, Inc. (a)      40,380        2,862,942   
Microsoft Corp.      120,880        3,360,464   
Oracle Corp. (s)      409,530        14,030,498   
PTC, Inc. (a)      18,560        429,478   
Qlik Technologies, Inc. (a)      75,820        1,971,320   
Red Hat, Inc. (a)      25,145        1,277,617   
Salesforce.com, Inc. (a)      34,972        5,917,962   
TIBCO Software, Inc. (a)      76,380        1,638,351   
VMware, Inc. (a)      26,300        1,889,129   
    

 

 

 
             $ 35,909,320   
Computer Software - Systems - 19.1%                 
Apple, Inc. (s)      31,060      $ 13,709,884   
EMC Corp. (a)      338,050        7,778,531   
FleetMatics Group PLC (a)      46,290        1,099,388   
Guidewire Software, Inc. (a)      54,260        1,983,203   
Hewlett-Packard Co.      574,350        11,567,409   

 

5


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Computer Software - Systems - continued                 
International Business Machines Corp.      28,270      $ 5,677,464   
ServiceNow, Inc. (a)      18,610        604,267   
Splunk, Inc. (a)      40,400        1,459,652   
    

 

 

 
             $ 43,879,798   
Consumer Services - 3.6%                 
Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (a)      10,300      $ 246,685   
Priceline.com, Inc. (a)      11,830        8,134,071   
    

 

 

 
             $ 8,380,756   
Electrical Equipment - 2.2%                 
Amphenol Corp., “A”      52,700      $ 3,734,322   
W.W. Grainger, Inc.      5,770        1,306,674   
    

 

 

 
             $ 5,040,996   
Electronics - 12.1%                 
Aeroflex Holding Corp. (a)      228,370      $ 2,112,423   
Altera Corp.      145,340        5,147,943   
Atmel Corp. (a)      206,080        1,401,344   
Broadcom Corp., “A”      20,600        702,666   
Corning, Inc.      27,780        350,306   
JDS Uniphase Corp. (a)      344,280        4,875,005   
Linear Technology Corp.      62,340        2,383,882   
Mellanox Technologies Ltd. (a)(l)      27,200        1,434,256   
Microchip Technology, Inc.      205,290        7,486,926   
Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. (a)      147,680        1,947,899   
    

 

 

 
             $ 27,842,650   
Internet - 18.2%                 
eBay, Inc. (a)      144,520      $ 7,902,354   
Facebook, Inc., “A” (a)      102,160        2,783,860   
Google, Inc., “A” (a)(s)      30,355        24,320,426   
Rackspace Hosting, Inc. (a)      30,320        1,693,675   
Yahoo!, Inc. (a)      244,790        5,216,475   
    

 

 

 
             $ 41,916,790   
Network & Telecom - 8.8%                 
Finisar Corp. (a)      292,180      $ 4,280,437   
Fortinet, Inc. (a)      41,130        994,523   
Juniper Networks, Inc. (a)      139,460        2,884,033   
Qualcomm, Inc.      186,170        12,218,337   
    

 

 

 
             $ 20,377,330   

 

6


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Other Banks & Diversified Financials - 7.4%                 
MasterCard, Inc., “A”      16,130      $ 8,352,437   
Visa, Inc., “A”      54,300        8,614,152   
    

 

 

 
             $ 16,966,589   
Specialty Stores - 4.3%                 
Amazon.com, Inc. (a)      37,630      $ 9,944,480   
Total Common Stocks (Identified Cost, $195,070,760)            $ 233,140,333   
Collateral for Securities Loaned - 0.4%                 
Navigator Securities Lending Prime Portfolio, 0.22%,
at Cost and Net Asset Value (j)
     986,900      $ 986,900   
Money Market Funds - 0.2%                 
MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio, 0.13%,
at Cost and Net Asset Value (v)
     545,791      $ 545,791   
Total Investments (Identified Cost, $196,603,451)            $ 234,673,024   
Issuer/Expiration Date/Strike Price    Number
of
Contracts
        
Put Options Written - 0.0%                 
Consumer Services - 0.0%                 
Grand Canyon Education, Inc. - March 2013 @ $25
(Premiums received, $9,150)
     (187   $ (24,310
Issuer    Shares/Par         
Securities Sold Short - (2.4)%                 
Business Services - (0.5)%                 
FactSet Research Systems, Inc.      (13,000   $ (1,264,770
Computer Software - (0.2)%                 
Adobe Systems, Inc. (a)      (12,100   $ (475,530
Computer Software - Systems - (0.5)%                 
Seagate Technology PLC      (33,700   $ (1,083,792
Electronics - (1.0)%                 
Dolby Laboratories, Inc., “A”      (38,400   $ (1,224,192
Xilinx, Inc.      (28,400     (1,058,468
    

 

 

 
             $ (2,282,660

 

7


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Securities Sold Short - continued                 
Network & Telecom - (0.2)%                 
Research In Motion Ltd. (a)      (38,300   $ (511,305
Total Securities Sold Short (Proceeds Received, $5,598,934)            $ (5,618,057
Other Assets, Less Liabilities - 0.5%              1,195,765   
Net Assets - 100.0%            $ 230,226,422   

 

(a) Non-income producing security.
(j) The rate quoted is the annualized seven-day yield of the fund at period end.
(l) A portion of this security is on loan.
(s) Security or a portion of the security was pledged to cover collateral requirements for securities sold short and/or certain derivative transactions.
(v) Underlying affiliated fund that is available only to investment companies managed by MFS. The rate quoted for the MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio is the annualized seven-day yield of the fund at period end.

At February 28, 2013, the fund had cash collateral of $2,063,997 and other liquid securities with an aggregate value of $7,138,233 to cover any commitments for securities sold short and/or certain derivative contracts. Cash collateral is comprised of “Deposits with brokers” on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

The following abbreviations are used in this report and are defined:

 

PLC   Public Limited Company

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

8


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

At 2/28/13 (unaudited)

This statement represents your fund’s balance sheet, which details the assets and liabilities comprising the total value of the fund.

 

Assets         

Investments-

  

Non-affiliated issuers, at value (identified cost, $196,057,660)

     $234,127,233   

Underlying affiliated funds, at cost and value

     545,791   

Total investments, at value, including $986,526 of securities on loan
(identified cost, $196,603,451)

     $234,673,024   

Deposits with brokers

     2,063,997   

Receivables for

  

Investments sold

     1,340,568   

Fund shares sold

     209,417   

Interest and dividends

     173,514   

Other assets

     45,627   

Total assets

     $238,506,147   
Liabilities         

Payables for

  

Dividends on securities sold short

     $4,030   

Securities sold short, at value (proceeds received, $5,598,934)

     5,618,057   

Investments purchased

     368,529   

Fund shares reacquired

     1,065,929   

Written options outstanding, at value (premiums received, $9,150)

     24,310   

Collateral for securities loaned, at value

     986,900   

Payable to affiliates

  

Investment adviser

     9,661   

Shareholder servicing costs

     123,712   

Distribution and service fees

     4,464   

Payable for independent Trustees’ compensation

     37,274   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     36,859   

Total liabilities

     $8,279,725   

Net assets

     $230,226,422   
Net assets consist of         

Paid-in capital

     $207,073,692   

Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

     38,035,290   
Accumulated net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency      (12,237,387

Accumulated net investment loss

     (2,645,173

Net assets

     $230,226,422   

Shares of beneficial interest outstanding

     13,214,716   

 

9


Table of Contents

Statement of Assets and Liabilities (unaudited) – continued

 

 

     Net assets      Shares
outstanding
     Net asset value
per share (a)
 

Class A

     $135,140,359         7,674,861         $17.61   

Class B

     12,845,906         795,035         16.16   

Class C

     23,657,195         1,466,681         16.13   

Class I

     32,184,249         1,747,509         18.42   

Class R1

     1,553,238         96,467         16.10   

Class R2

     15,105,236         882,342         17.12   

Class R3

     8,674,163         492,712         17.60   

Class R4

     961,910         53,453         18.00   

Class R5

     104,166         5,656         18.42   

 

(a) Maximum offering price per share was equal to the net asset value per share for all share classes, except for Class A, for which the maximum offering price per share was $18.68 [100 / 94.25 x $17.61]. On sales of $50,000 or more, the maximum offering price of Class A shares is reduced. A contingent deferred sales charge may be imposed on redemptions of Class A, Class B, and Class C shares. Redemption price per share was equal to the net asset value per share for Classes I, R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

10


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

Six months ended 2/28/13 (unaudited)

This statement describes how much your fund earned in investment income and accrued in expenses. It also describes any gains and/or losses generated by fund operations.

 

Net investment loss         

Income

  

Dividends

     $1,004,881   

Interest

     28,513   

Dividends from underlying affiliated funds

     1,448   

Foreign taxes withheld

     (2,804

Total investment income

     $1,032,038   

Expenses

  

Management fee

     $861,180   

Distribution and service fees

     417,809   

Shareholder servicing costs

     218,303   

Administrative services fee

     20,431   

Independent Trustees’ compensation

     5,822   

Custodian fee

     16,185   

Shareholder communications

     17,600   

Audit and tax fees

     25,810   

Legal fees

     1,426   

Dividend and interest expense on securities sold short

     255,613   

Miscellaneous

     70,204   

Total expenses

     $1,910,383   

Fees paid indirectly

     (52

Reduction of expenses by investment adviser

     (202

Net expenses

     $1,910,129   

Net investment loss

     $(878,091
Realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency   

Realized gain (loss) (identified cost basis)

  

Investments

     $(6,461,131

Written options

     527,499   

Foreign currency

     395   

Net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

     $(5,933,237

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

  

Investments

     $15,686,926   

Written options

     (15,160

Securities sold short

     1,348,443   

Net unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     $17,020,209   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     $11,086,972   

Change in net assets from operations

     $10,208,881   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

11


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

These statements describe the increases and/or decreases in net assets resulting from operations, any distributions, and any shareholder transactions.

 

Change in net assets    Six months ended
2/28/13
(unaudited)
    

Year ended

8/31/12

 
From operations                  

Net investment loss

     $(878,091      $(2,469,006

Net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

     (5,933,237      12,752,221   

Net unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency translation

     17,020,209         18,514,293   

Change in net assets from operations

     $10,208,881         $28,797,508   

Change in net assets from fund share transactions

     $(11,283,150      $40,209,443   

Total change in net assets

     $(1,074,269      $69,006,951   
Net assets                  

At beginning of period

     231,300,691         162,293,740   

At end of period (including accumulated net investment loss of $2,645,173 and $1,767,082, respectively)

     $230,226,422         $231,300,691   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

12


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the fund’s financial performance for the semiannual period and the past 5 fiscal years (or life of a particular share class, if shorter). Certain information reflects financial results for a single fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate by which an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the fund share class (assuming reinvestment of all distributions) held for the entire period.

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class A     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $16.80        $14.50        $11.80        $11.06        $12.46        $13.34   
Income (loss) from investment operations                                   

Net investment loss (d)

    $(0.05     $(0.17     $(0.09     $(0.11     $(0.03     $(0.07

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
on investments and foreign currency

    0.86        2.47        2.79        0.85        (1.37     (0.81

Total from investment operations

    $0.81        $2.30        $2.70        $0.74        $(1.40     $(0.88

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $17.61        $16.80        $14.50        $11.80        $11.06        $12.46   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    4.82 (n)      15.86        22.88        6.69        (11.24     (6.60
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                                   

Expenses before expense reductions (f)

    1.55 (a)      1.45        1.52        1.63        1.85        1.66   

Expenses after expense reductions (f)

    1.55 (a)      1.45        1.52        1.57        1.48        1.51   

Net investment loss

    (0.65 )(a)      (1.08     (0.61     (0.91     (0.34     (0.56

Portfolio turnover

    28 (n)      68        106        182        226        231   

Net assets at end of period (000 omitted)

    $135,140        $143,595        $96,785        $82,976        $86,720        $64,791   
Supplemental Ratios (%):                                   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets
after expense reductions excluding
short sale dividend and interest
expense (f)

    1.33 (a)      1.38        1.43        1.53        1.44        1.50   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

13


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class B     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $15.48        $13.45        $11.03        $10.42        $11.82        $12.74   
Income (loss) from investment operations                                   

Net investment loss (d)

    $(0.11     $(0.27     $(0.18     $(0.19     $(0.08     $(0.16

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
on investments and foreign currency

    0.79        2.30        2.60        0.80        (1.32     (0.76

Total from investment operations

    $0.68        $2.03        $2.42        $0.61        $(1.40     $(0.92

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $16.16        $15.48        $13.45        $11.03        $10.42        $11.82   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    4.39 (n)      15.09        21.94        5.85        (11.84     (7.22
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                                   

Expenses before expense reductions (f)

    2.30 (a)      2.20        2.27        2.37        2.58        2.32   

Expenses after expense reductions (f)

    2.30 (a)      2.20        2.27        2.32        2.19        2.16   

Net investment loss

    (1.40 )(a)      (1.83     (1.35     (1.66     (0.98     (1.24

Portfolio turnover

    28 (n)      68        106        182        226        231   

Net assets at end of period (000 omitted)

    $12,846        $12,911        $11,365        $11,849        $15,182        $23,254   
Supplemental Ratios (%):                                   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets
after expense reductions excluding
short sale dividend and interest
expense (f)

    2.08 (a)      2.13        2.18        2.27        2.15        2.15   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

14


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class C     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $15.45        $13.43        $11.01        $10.40        $11.80        $12.72   
Income (loss) from investment operations                                   

Net investment loss (d)

    $(0.11     $(0.27     $(0.19     $(0.19     $(0.08     $(0.16

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
on investments and foreign currency

    0.79        2.29        2.61        0.80        (1.32     (0.76

Total from investment operations

    $0.68        $2.02        $2.42        $0.61        $(1.40     $(0.92

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $16.13        $15.45        $13.43        $11.01        $10.40        $11.80   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    4.40 (n)      15.04        21.98        5.87        (11.86     (7.23
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                                   

Expenses before expense reductions (f)

    2.30 (a)      2.20        2.27        2.38        2.57        2.31   

Expenses after expense reductions (f)

    2.30 (a)      2.20        2.27        2.33        2.19        2.16   

Net investment loss

    (1.40 )(a)      (1.83     (1.37     (1.66     (1.00     (1.22

Portfolio turnover

    28 (n)      68        106        182        226        231   

Net assets at end of period (000 omitted)

    $23,657        $23,940        $19,251        $16,858        $15,356        $15,765   
Supplemental Ratios (%):                                   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets
after expense reductions excluding
short sale dividend and interest
expense (f)

    2.08 (a)      2.13        2.18        2.28        2.15        2.15   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

15


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class I     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $17.56        $15.11        $12.26        $11.47        $12.88        $13.74   
Income (loss) from investment operations                                   

Net investment loss (d)

    $(0.03     $(0.14     $(0.06     $(0.08     $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.03

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
on investments and foreign currency

    0.89        2.59        2.91        0.87        (1.41     (0.83

Total from investment operations

    $0.86        $2.45        $2.85        $0.79        $(1.41     $(0.86

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $18.42        $17.56        $15.11        $12.26        $11.47        $12.88   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

    4.90 (n)      16.21        23.25        6.89        (10.95     (6.26
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                                   

Expenses before expense reductions (f)

    1.31 (a)      1.20        1.27        1.38        1.56        1.31   

Expenses after expense reductions (f)

    1.31 (a)      1.20        1.27        1.33        1.19        1.16   

Net investment loss

    (0.38 )(a)      (0.83     (0.38     (0.66     (0.03     (0.20

Portfolio turnover

    28 (n)      68        106        182        226        231   

Net assets at end of period (000 omitted)

    $32,184        $21,898        $10,833        $8,873        $6,726        $4,958   
Supplemental Ratios (%):                                   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets
after expense reductions excluding
short sale dividend and interest
expense (f)

    1.08 (a)      1.12        1.18        1.29        1.15        1.15   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

16


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class R1     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $15.42        $13.41        $10.99        $10.39        $11.78        $12.70   
Income (loss) from investment operations                                   

Net investment loss (d)

    $(0.11     $(0.26     $(0.19     $(0.19     $(0.08     $(0.15

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
on investments and foreign currency

    0.79        2.27        2.61        0.79        (1.31     (0.77

Total from investment operations

    $0.68        $2.01        $2.42        $0.60        $(1.39     $(0.92

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $16.10        $15.42        $13.41        $10.99        $10.39        $11.78   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

    4.41 (n)      14.99        22.02        5.77        (11.80     (7.24
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                                   

Expenses before expense reductions (f)

    2.30 (a)      2.21        2.27        2.38        2.58        2.36   

Expenses after expense reductions (f)

    2.30 (a)      2.21        2.27        2.32        2.19        2.21   

Net investment loss

    (1.39 )(a)      (1.82     (1.39     (1.66     (0.96     (1.22

Portfolio turnover

    28 (n)      68        106        182        226        231   

Net assets at end of period (000 omitted)

    $1,553        $1,666        $1,831        $1,421        $1,585        $2,026   
Supplemental Ratios (%):                                   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets
after expense reductions excluding
short sale dividend and interest
expense (f)

    2.08 (a)      2.13        2.18        2.28        2.15        2.20   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

17


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class R2     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $16.36        $14.15        $11.54        $10.85        $12.25        $13.14   
Income (loss) from investment operations                                   

Net investment loss (d)

    $(0.07     $(0.20     $(0.12     $(0.14     $(0.04     $(0.09

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
on investments and foreign currency

    0.83        2.41        2.73        0.83        (1.36     (0.80

Total from investment operations

    $0.76        $2.21        $2.61        $0.69        $(1.40     $(0.89

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $17.12        $16.36        $14.15        $11.54        $10.85        $12.25   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

    4.65 (n)      15.62        22.62        6.36        (11.43     (6.77
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                                   

Expenses before expense reductions (f)

    1.79 (a)      1.70        1.77        1.87        2.07        1.85   

Expenses after expense reductions (f)

    1.79 (a)      1.70        1.77        1.82        1.69        1.71   

Net investment loss

    (0.90 )(a)      (1.33     (0.87     (1.16     (0.50     (0.65

Portfolio turnover

    28 (n)      68        106        182        226        231   

Net assets at end of period (000 omitted)

    $15,105        $17,748        $15,911        $13,501        $13,775        $12,098   
Supplemental Ratios (%):                                   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets
after expense reductions excluding
short sale dividend and interest
expense (f)

    1.58        1.63        1.68        1.78        1.65        1.69   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

18


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class R3     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $16.80        $14.49        $11.79        $11.06        $12.45        $13.33   
Income (loss) from investment operations                                   

Net investment loss (d)

    $(0.05     $(0.17     $(0.09     $(0.11     $(0.02     $(0.06

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
on investments and foreign currency

    0.85        2.48        2.79        0.84        (1.37     (0.82

Total from investment operations

    $0.80        $2.31        $2.70        $0.73        $(1.39     $(0.88

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $17.60        $16.80        $14.49        $11.79        $11.06        $12.45   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

    4.76 (n)      15.94        22.90        6.60        (11.16     (6.60
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                                   

Expenses before expense reductions (f)

    1.55 (a)      1.45        1.52        1.62        1.82        1.61   

Expenses after expense reductions (f)

    1.55 (a)      1.45        1.52        1.58        1.44        1.46   

Net investment loss

    (0.65 )(a)      (1.08     (0.63     (0.90     (0.24     (0.44

Portfolio turnover

    28 (n)      68        106        182        226        231   

Net assets at end of period (000 omitted)

    $8,674        $8,720        $5,949        $4,589        $3,133        $2,390   
Supplemental Ratios (%):                                   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets
after expense reductions excluding
short sale dividend and interest
expense (f)

    1.33 (a)      1.38        1.43        1.53        1.40        1.44   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

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Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class R4     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $17.15        $14.76        $11.98        $11.21        $12.58        $13.43   
Income (loss) from investment operations                                   

Net investment income (loss) (d)

    $(0.03     $(0.14     $(0.05     $(0.08     $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.03

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
on investments and foreign currency

    0.88        2.53        2.83        0.85        (1.37     (0.82

Total from investment operations

    $0.85        $2.39        $2.78        $0.77        $(1.37     $(0.85

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $18.00        $17.15        $14.76        $11.98        $11.21        $12.58   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

    4.96 (n)      16.19        23.21        6.87        (10.89     (6.33
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                                   

Expenses before expense reductions (f)

    1.29 (a)      1.20        1.26        1.39        1.54        1.35   

Expenses after expense reductions (f)

    1.29 (a)      1.20        1.26        1.36        1.18        1.20   

Net investment loss

    (0.39 )(a)      (0.84     (0.32     (0.65     (0.02     (0.24

Portfolio turnover

    28 (n)      68        106        182        226        231   

Net assets at end of period (000 omitted)

    $962        $823        $368        $445        $153        $76   
Supplemental Ratios (%):                                   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets
after expense reductions excluding
short sale dividend and interest
expense (f)

    1.08 (a)      1.12        1.17        1.31        1.15        1.19   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

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Financial Highlights – continued

 

Class R5   

Period

ended
2/28/13 (i)

 
     (unaudited)  

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $17.68   
Income (loss) from investment operations         

Net investment loss (d)

     $(0.01

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

     0.75   

Total from investment operations

     $0.74   

Net asset value, end of period (x)

     $18.42   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

     4.19 (n) 
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
        

Expenses before expense reductions (f)

     1.07 (a) 

Expenses after expense reductions (f)

     1.07 (a) 

Net investment loss

     (0.34 )(a) 

Portfolio turnover

     28 (n) 

Net assets at end of period (000 omitted)

     $104   
Supplemental Ratios (%):         

Ratio of expenses to average net assets after expense reductions excluding short sale dividend and interest expense (f)

     0.99 (a) 

 

(a) Annualized.
(d) Per share data is based on average shares outstanding.
(f) Ratios do not reflect reductions from fees paid indirectly, if applicable.
(i) For the period from the class inception, January 2, 2013, through the stated period end.
(n) Not annualized.
(r) Certain expenses have been reduced without which performance would have been lower.
(s) From time to time the fund may receive proceeds from litigation settlements, without which performance would be lower. Excluding the effect of the proceeds received from a non-recurring litigation settlement against Nortel Networks Corp., the Class A, Class B, Class C, Class I, Class R1, Class R2, Class R3, and Class R4 total returns for the year ended August 31, 2008, would have each been lower by approximately 0.55%.
(t) Total returns do not include any applicable sales charges.
(w) Per share amount was less than $0.01.
(x) The net asset values per share and total returns have been calculated on net assets which include adjustments made in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles required at period end for financial reporting purposes.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

21


Table of Contents

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

(1) Business and Organization

MFS Technology Fund (the fund) is a series of MFS Series Trust I (the trust). The trust is organized as a Massachusetts business trust and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as an open-end management investment company.

(2) Significant Accounting Policies

General – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated subsequent events occurring after the date of the fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities through the date that the financial statements were issued. The fund invests primarily in securities of issuers in the technology industry. Issuers in a single industry can react similarly to market, economic, political and regulatory conditions and developments.

In January 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update 2013-01 (“ASU 2013-01”) entitled Balance Sheet (Topic 210) – Clarifying the Scope of Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities which is intended to clarify the scope of Accounting Standards Update 2011-11 (“ASU 2011-11”), Balance Sheet (Topic 210) – Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities. Consistent with the effective date for ASU 2011-11, ASU 2013-01 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. ASU 2013-01 limits the scope of ASU 2011-11’s disclosure requirements on offsetting to financial assets and financial liabilities related to derivatives, repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements, and securities lending and securities borrowing transactions. Although still evaluating the potential impacts of these two ASUs to the fund, management expects that the impact of the fund’s adoption will be limited to additional financial statement disclosures.

Investment Valuations – Equity securities, including restricted equity securities, are generally valued at the last sale or official closing price as provided by a third-party pricing service on the market or exchange on which they are primarily traded. Equity securities, for which there were no sales reported that day, are generally valued at the last quoted daily bid quotation as provided by a third-party pricing service on the market or exchange on which such securities are primarily traded. Equity securities held short, for which there were no sales reported for that day, are generally valued at the last quoted daily ask quotation as provided by a third-party pricing service on the market or exchange on which such securities are primarily traded. Short-term instruments with a maturity at issuance of 60 days or less generally are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Exchange-traded options are generally valued at the last sale or official closing price as provided by a third-party pricing service on the exchange on which such options are primarily traded. Exchange-traded options for which there were no sales reported that day are generally

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

valued at the last daily bid quotation as provided by a third-party pricing service on the exchange on which such options are primarily traded. Options not traded on an exchange are generally valued at a broker/dealer bid quotation. Foreign currency options are generally valued at valuations provided by a third-party pricing service. Open-end investment companies are generally valued at net asset value per share. Securities and other assets generally valued on the basis of information from a third-party pricing service may also be valued at a broker/dealer bid quotation. Values obtained from third-party pricing services can utilize both transaction data and market information such as yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics, and other market data. The values of foreign securities and other assets and liabilities expressed in foreign currencies are converted to U.S. dollars using the mean of bid and asked prices for rates provided by a third-party pricing service.

The Board of Trustees has delegated primary responsibility for determining or causing to be determined the value of the fund’s investments (including any fair valuation) to the adviser pursuant to valuation policies and procedures approved by the Board. If the adviser determines that reliable market quotations are not readily available, investments are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the adviser in accordance with such procedures under the oversight of the Board of Trustees. Under the fund’s valuation policies and procedures, market quotations are not considered to be readily available for most types of debt instruments and floating rate loans and many types of derivatives. These investments are generally valued at fair value based on information from third-party pricing services. In addition, investments may be valued at fair value if the adviser determines that an investment’s value has been materially affected by events occurring after the close of the exchange or market on which the investment is principally traded (such as foreign exchange or market) and prior to the determination of the fund’s net asset value, or after the halting of trading of a specific security where trading does not resume prior to the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded. Events that occur on a frequent basis after foreign markets close (such as developments in foreign markets and significant movements in the U.S. markets) and prior to the determination of the fund’s net asset value may be deemed to have a material effect on the value of securities traded in foreign markets. Accordingly, the fund’s foreign equity securities may often be valued at fair value. The adviser generally relies on third-party pricing services or other information (such as the correlation with price movements of similar securities in the same or other markets; the type, cost and investment characteristics of the security; the business and financial condition of the issuer; and trading and other market data) to assist in determining whether to fair value and at what value to fair value an investment. The value of an investment for purposes of calculating the fund’s net asset value can differ depending on the source and method used to determine value. When fair valuation is used, the value of an investment used to determine the fund’s net asset value may differ from quoted or published prices for the same investment. There can be no assurance that the fund could obtain the fair value assigned to an investment if it were to sell the investment at the same time at which the fund determines its net asset value per share.

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the fund’s assets or liabilities. These inputs are categorized into three broad levels. In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases,

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

an investment’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The fund’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the investment. Level 1 includes unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 includes other significant observable market-based inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speed, and credit risk). Level 3 includes unobservable inputs, which may include the adviser’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments. Other financial instruments are derivative instruments not reflected in total investments, such as written options. The following is a summary of the levels used as of February 28, 2013 in valuing the fund’s assets or liabilities:

 

Investments at Value    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
Equity Securities:            

United States

     $230,559,542         $—         $—         $230,559,542   

Israel

     1,434,255                         1,434,255   

Netherlands

             1,146,536                 1,146,536   
Short Term Securities              986,900                 986,900   
Mutual Funds      545,791                         545,791   
Total Investments      $232,539,588         $2,133,436         $—         $234,673,024   
Short Sales      $(5,618,057      $—         $—         $(5,618,057
Other Financial Instruments                            
Written Options      (24,310                      (24,310

For further information regarding security characteristics, see the Portfolio of Investments.

Of the level 2 investments presented above, equity investments amounting to $1,146,536 would have been considered level 1 investments at the beginning of the period. The primary reason for changes in the classifications between levels 1 and 2 occurs when foreign equity securities are fair valued using other observable market-based inputs in place of the closing exchange price due to events occurring after the close of the exchange or market on which the investment is principally traded. The fund’s foreign equity securities may often be valued at fair value. The fund’s policy is to recognize transfers between the levels as of the end of the period.

Foreign Currency Translation – Purchases and sales of foreign investments, income, and expenses are converted into U.S. dollars based upon currency exchange rates prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions or on the reporting date for foreign denominated receivables and payables. Gains and losses attributable to foreign currency exchange rates on sales of securities are recorded for financial statement purposes as net realized gains and losses on investments. Gains and losses attributable to foreign exchange rate movements on receivables, payables, income and expenses are recorded for financial statement purposes as foreign currency transaction gains and losses. That portion of both realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments that results from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates is not separately disclosed.

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

Derivatives – The fund uses derivatives for different purposes, primarily to increase or decrease exposure to a particular market or segment of the market, or security, to increase or decrease interest rate or currency exposure, or as alternatives to direct investments. Derivatives are used for hedging or non-hedging purposes. While hedging can reduce or eliminate losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains. When the fund uses derivatives as an investment to increase market exposure, or for hedging purposes, gains and losses from derivative instruments may be substantially greater than the derivative’s original cost.

The derivative instruments used by the fund were written options and purchased options. The fund’s period end derivatives, as presented in the Portfolio of Investments, generally are indicative of the volume of its derivative activity during the period.

The following table presents, by major type of derivative contract, the fair value, on a gross basis, of the asset and liability components of derivatives held by the fund at February 28, 2013 as reported in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities:

 

        Fair Value  
Risk   Derivative Contracts   Asset Derivatives     Liability Derivatives  
Equity   Written Equity Options     $—        $(24,310)   

The following table presents, by major type of derivative contract, the realized gain (loss) on derivatives held by the fund for the six months ended February 28, 2013 as reported in the Statement of Operations:

 

Risk    Investments
(Purchased
Options)
     Written
Options
 
Equity      $(1,804,937      $527,499   

The following table presents, by major type of derivative contract, the change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on derivatives held by the fund for the six months ended February 28, 2013 as reported in the Statement of Operations:

 

Risk    Investments
(Purchased
Options)
     Written
Options
 
Equity      $81,283         $(15,160

Derivative counterparty credit risk is managed through formal evaluation of the creditworthiness of all potential counterparties. On certain over-the-counter derivatives, the fund attempts to reduce its exposure to counterparty credit risk whenever possible by entering into an International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) Master Agreement on a bilateral basis with each of the counterparties with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. The ISDA Master Agreement gives each party to the agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under such agreement if there is a certain deterioration in the credit quality of the other party. The ISDA Master Agreement gives the fund the right, upon an event of default by the applicable counterparty or a termination of the agreement, to close out all transactions traded under such agreement and to net amounts owed under each transaction to one net amount payable by one party to the other. This right to close out and net payments across all transactions traded under the ISDA Master Agreement could result in a

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

reduction of the fund’s credit risk to such counterparty equal to any amounts payable by the fund under the applicable transactions, if any. However, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the ISDA Master Agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the fund and the applicable counterparty.

Collateral requirements differ by type of derivative. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange traded derivatives (i.e., futures contracts and exchange-traded options) while collateral terms are contract specific for over-the-counter traded derivatives (i.e., forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swap agreements and over-the-counter options). For derivatives traded under an ISDA Master Agreement, the collateral requirements are netted across all transactions traded under such agreement and one amount is posted from one party to the other to collateralize such obligations. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the fund under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as “Restricted cash.” Securities collateral pledged for the same purpose, if any, is noted in the Portfolio of Investments.

Written Options – In exchange for a premium, the fund wrote call options on securities that it anticipated the price would decline and also wrote put options on securities that it anticipated the price would increase. At the time the option was written, the fund believed the premium received exceeded the potential loss that could result from adverse price changes in the options’ underlying securities. In a written option, the fund as the option writer grants the buyer the right to purchase from, or sell to, the fund a specified number of shares or units of a particular security, currency or index at a specified price within a specified period of time.

The premium received is initially recorded as a liability in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The option is subsequently marked-to-market daily with the difference between the premium received and the market value of the written option being recorded as unrealized appreciation or depreciation. When a written option expires, the fund realizes a gain equal to the amount of the premium received. The difference between the premium received and the amount paid on effecting a closing transaction is considered a realized gain or loss. When a written call option is exercised, the premium received is offset against the proceeds to determine the realized gain or loss. When a written put option is exercised, the premium reduces the cost basis of the security purchased by the fund.

At the initiation of the written option contract, for exchange traded options, the fund is required to deposit securities or cash as collateral with the custodian for the benefit of the broker. For over-the-counter options, the fund may post collateral subject to the terms of an ISDA Master Agreement as generally described above if the market value of the options contract moves against it. The fund, as writer of an option, may have no control over whether the underlying securities may be sold (call) or purchased (put) and, as a result, bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the securities underlying the written option. Losses from writing options can exceed the premium received and can exceed the potential loss from an ordinary buy and sell transaction. Although the fund’s market risk may be significant, the maximum counterparty credit risk to the fund is equal to the market value of any collateral posted

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

to the broker. For over-the-counter options, this risk is mitigated in cases where there is an ISDA Master Agreement between the fund and the counterparty providing for netting as described above.

The following table represents the written option activity in the fund during the six months ended February 28, 2013:

 

      Number of
Contracts
     Premiums
received
 
Outstanding, beginning of period              $—   
Options written      24,603         921,858   
Options closed      (5,815      (210,474
Options exercised      (3,907      (146,294
Options expired      (14,694      (555,940
Outstanding, end of period      187         $9,150   

Purchased Options – The fund purchased call and put options for a premium. Purchased call and put options entitle the holder to buy and sell a specified number of shares or units of a particular security, currency or index at a specified price at a specified date or within a specified period of time. Purchasing call options may hedge against an anticipated increase in the dollar cost of securities or currency to be acquired or increase the fund’s exposure to an underlying instrument. Purchasing put options may hedge against an anticipated decline in the value of portfolio securities or currency or decrease the fund’s exposure to an underlying instrument.

The premium paid is initially recorded as an investment in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. That investment is subsequently marked-to-market daily with the difference between the premium paid and the market value of the purchased option being recorded as unrealized appreciation or depreciation. Premiums paid for purchased call and put options which have expired are treated as realized losses on investments in the Statement of Operations. Upon the exercise or closing of a purchased call option, the premium paid is added to the cost of the security or financial instrument purchased. Upon the exercise or closing of a purchased put option, the premium paid is offset against the proceeds on the sale of the underlying security or financial instrument in order to determine the realized gain or loss on investments.

Whether or not the option is exercised, the fund’s maximum risk of loss from purchasing an option is the amount of premium paid. All option contracts involve credit risk if the counterparty to the option contract fails to perform. For over-the-counter options, this risk is mitigated in cases where there is an ISDA Master Agreement between the fund and the counterparty providing for netting as described above and for posting of collateral by the counterparty to the fund to cover the fund’s exposure to the counterparty under such ISDA Master Agreement.

Short Sales – The fund entered into short sales whereby it sells a security it does not own in anticipation of a decline in the value of that security. The fund will realize a gain if the security price decreases and a loss if the security price increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the fund replaces the borrowed security. Losses from short sales can exceed the proceeds of the security sold; and they can also exceed the potential loss from an ordinary buy and sell transaction. The amount of any

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

premium, dividends, or interest the fund may be required to pay in connection with a short sale will be recognized as a fund expense. During the six months ended February 28, 2013, this expense amounted to $255,613. The fund segregates cash or marketable securities in an amount that, when combined with the amount of proceeds from the short sale deposited with the broker, at least equals the current market value of the security sold short.

Security Loans – State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”), as lending agent, loans the securities of the fund to certain qualified institutions (the “Borrowers”) approved by the fund. The loans are collateralized by cash and/or U.S. Treasury and federal agency obligations in an amount typically at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. The market value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of business of the fund and any additional required collateral is delivered to the fund on the next business day. State Street provides the fund with indemnification against Borrower default. The fund bears the risk of loss with respect to the investment of cash collateral. On loans collateralized by cash, the cash collateral is invested in a money market fund or short-term securities. Collateral for securities loaned is held at carrying value, which approximates fair value. If the collateral for securities loaned was carried at fair value, its fair value would be considered level 2 under the fair value hierarchy. A portion of the income generated upon investment of the collateral is remitted to the Borrowers, and the remainder is allocated between the fund and the lending agent. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasury and/or federal agency obligations, a fee is received from the Borrower, and is allocated between the fund and the lending agent. Income from securities lending is included in “Interest” income on the Statement of Operations. The dividend and interest income earned on the securities loaned is accounted for in the same manner as other dividend and interest income.

Indemnifications – Under the fund’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the fund enters into agreements with service providers that may contain indemnification clauses. The fund’s maximum exposure under these agreements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the fund that have not yet occurred.

Investment Transactions and Income – Investment transactions are recorded on the trade date. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends received in cash are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Certain dividends from foreign securities will be recorded when the fund is informed of the dividend if such information is obtained subsequent to the ex-dividend date. Dividend and interest payments received in additional securities are recorded on the ex-dividend or ex-interest date in an amount equal to the value of the security on such date.

The fund may receive proceeds from litigation settlements. Any proceeds received from litigation involving portfolio holdings are reflected in the Statement of Operations in realized gain/loss if the security has been disposed of by the fund or in unrealized gain/loss if the security is still held by the fund. Any other proceeds from litigation not related to portfolio holdings are reflected as other income in the Statement of Operations.

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

Fees Paid Indirectly – The fund’s custody fee may be reduced according to an arrangement that measures the value of cash deposited with the custodian by the fund. This amount, for the six months ended February 28, 2013, is shown as a reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations.

Tax Matters and Distributions – The fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to distribute all of its taxable income, including realized capital gains. As a result, no provision for federal income tax is required. The fund’s federal tax returns, when filed, will remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for a three year period. Foreign taxes have been accrued by the fund in the accompanying financial statements.

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Certain capital accounts in the financial statements are periodically adjusted for permanent differences in order to reflect their tax character. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or net asset value per share. Temporary differences which arise from recognizing certain items of income, expense, gain or loss in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes will reverse at some time in the future. Distributions in excess of net investment income or net realized gains are temporary overdistributions for financial statement purposes resulting from differences in the recognition or classification of income or distributions for financial statement and tax purposes.

Book/tax differences primarily relate to net operating losses, wash sale loss deferrals, and straddle loss deferrals.

The fund declared no distributions for the current period or for the year ended August 31, 2012.

The federal tax cost and the tax basis components of distributable earnings were as follows:

 

As of 2/28/13       
Cost of investments      $197,001,200   
Gross appreciation      40,994,636   
Gross depreciation      (3,322,812
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)      $37,671,824   
As of 8/31/12       
Capital loss carryforwards      (4,909,196
Late year ordinary loss deferral      (1,730,842
Other temporary differences      (2,480,673
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)      22,064,560   

The aggregate cost above includes prior fiscal year end tax adjustments, if applicable.

Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized for fund fiscal years beginning after August 31, 2011 may be carried forward indefinitely, and their character is retained as short-term and/or

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

long-term losses (“post-enactment losses”). Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for eight years and treated as short-term losses (“pre-enactment losses”). As a transition rule, the Act requires that all post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

As of August 31, 2012 the fund had capital loss carryforwards available to offset future realized gains. Such losses expire as follows:

 

8/31/17      $(4,909,196

Multiple Classes of Shares of Beneficial Interest – The fund offers multiple classes of shares, which differ in their respective distribution, service, and program manager fees. The fund’s income, realized and unrealized gain (loss), and common expenses are allocated to shareholders based on the daily net assets of each class. Dividends are declared separately for each class. Differences in per share dividend rates are generally due to differences in separate class expenses. Class B shares will convert to Class A shares approximately eight years after purchase.

(3) Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Adviser – The fund has an investment advisory agreement with MFS to provide overall investment management and related administrative services and facilities to the fund.

The management fee is computed daily and paid monthly at the following annual rates:

 

First $1 billion of average daily net assets      0.75
Average daily net assets in excess of $1 billion      0.70

The management fee incurred for the six months ended February 28, 2013 was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.75% of the fund’s average daily net assets.

The investment adviser has agreed in writing to pay a portion of the fund’s total annual operating expenses, exclusive of interest, taxes, extraordinary expenses, brokerage and transaction costs, and investment-related expenses (such as short sale dividend and interest expenses incurred in connection with the fund’s investment activity) such that total fund operating expenses do not exceed the following rates annually of each class’s average daily net assets.

 

Class A   Class B   Class C   Class I   Class R1   Class R2   Class R3   Class R4
1.63%   2.38%   2.38%   1.38%   2.38%   1.88%   1.63%   1.38%

Effective January 1, 2013 this written agreement was eliminated. For the period ended February 28, 2013, the fund’s actual operating expenses did not exceed the limit and therefore, the investment adviser did not pay any portion of the fund’s expenses related to this agreement.

Distributor – MFS Fund Distributors, Inc. (MFD), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MFS, as distributor, received $26,377 for the six months ended February 28, 2013, as its portion of the initial sales charge on sales of Class A shares of the fund.

The Board of Trustees has adopted a distribution plan for certain class shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

30


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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

The fund’s distribution plan provides that the fund will pay MFD for services provided by MFD and financial intermediaries in connection with the distribution and servicing of certain share classes. One component of the plan is a distribution fee paid to MFD and another component of the plan is a service fee paid to MFD. MFD may subsequently pay all, or a portion, of the distribution and/or service fees to financial intermediaries.

Distribution Plan Fee Table:

 

     Distribution
Fee Rate (d)
     Service
Fee Rate (d)
     Total
Distribution
Plan (d)
     Annual
Effective
Rate (e)
     Distribution
and Service
Fee
 
Class A              0.25%         0.25%         0.25%         $175,125   
Class B      0.75%         0.25%         1.00%         1.00%         63,294   
Class C      0.75%         0.25%         1.00%         1.00%         118,395   
Class R1      0.75%         0.25%         1.00%         1.00%         7,767   
Class R2      0.25%         0.25%         0.50%         0.50%         41,856   
Class R3              0.25%         0.25%         0.25%         11,372   
Total Distribution and Service Fees         $417,809   

 

(d) In accordance with the distribution plan for certain classes, the fund pays distribution and/or service fees equal to these annual percentage rates of each class’s average daily net assets. The distribution and service fee rates disclosed by class represent the current rates in effect at the end of the reporting period.
(e) The annual effective rates represent actual fees incurred under the distribution plan for the six months ended February 28, 2013 based on each class’s average daily net assets.

Certain Class A shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) in the event of a shareholder redemption within 18 months of purchase for shares purchased on or after August 1, 2012, and within 24 months of purchase for shares purchased prior to August 1, 2012. Class C shares are subject to a CDSC in the event of a shareholder redemption within 12 months of purchase. Class B shares are subject to a CDSC in the event of a shareholder redemption within six years of purchase. All contingent deferred sales charges are paid to MFD and during the six months ended February 28, 2013, were as follows:

 

     Amount  
Class A      $213   
Class B      7,243   
Class C      679   

Shareholder Servicing Agent – MFS Service Center, Inc. (MFSC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MFS, receives a fee from the fund for its services as shareholder servicing agent calculated as a percentage of the average daily net assets of the fund as determined periodically under the supervision of the fund’s Board of Trustees. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, the fee was $64,923, which equated to 0.0565% annually of the fund’s average daily net assets. MFSC also receives payment from the fund for out-of-pocket expenses, sub-accounting and other shareholder servicing costs which may be paid to affiliated and unaffiliated service providers. Class R5 shares do not incur sub-accounting fees. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, these out-of-pocket expenses, sub-accounting and other shareholder servicing costs amounted to $153,380.

 

31


Table of Contents

Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

Administrator – MFS provides certain financial, legal, shareholder communications, compliance, and other administrative services to the fund. Under an administrative services agreement, the fund partially reimburses MFS the costs incurred to provide these services. The fund is charged an annual fixed amount of $17,500 plus a fee based on average daily net assets. The administrative services fee incurred for the six months ended February 28, 2013 was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.0178% of the fund’s average daily net assets.

Trustees’ and Officers’ Compensation – The fund pays compensation to independent Trustees in the form of a retainer, attendance fees, and additional compensation to Board and Committee chairpersons. The fund does not pay compensation directly to Trustees or officers of the fund who are also officers of the investment adviser, all of whom receive remuneration for their services to the fund from MFS. Certain officers and Trustees of the fund are officers or directors of MFS, MFD, and MFSC.

Prior to December 31, 2001, the fund had an unfunded defined benefit plan (“DB plan”) for independent Trustees. As of December 31, 2001, the Board took action to terminate the DB plan with respect to then-current and any future independent Trustees, such that the DB plan covers only certain of those former independent Trustees who retired on or before December 31, 2001. Effective January 1, 2002, accrued benefits under the DB plan for then-current independent Trustees who continued were credited to an unfunded retirement deferral plan (the “Retirement Deferral plan”), which was established for and exists solely with respect to these credited amounts, and is not available for other deferrals by these or other independent Trustees. Although the Retirement Deferral plan is unfunded, amounts deferred under the plan are periodically adjusted for investment experience as if they had been invested in shares of the fund. The DB plan resulted in a pension expense of $51 and the Retirement Deferral plan resulted in an expense of $2,533. Both amounts are included in independent Trustees’ compensation for the six months ended February 28, 2013. The liability for deferred retirement benefits payable to certain independent Trustees under both plans amounted to $37,251 at February 28, 2013, and is included in “Payable for independent Trustees’ compensation” in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Other – This fund and certain other funds managed by MFS (the funds) have entered into services agreements (the Agreements) which provide for payment of fees by the funds to Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC in return for the provision of services of an Independent Chief Compliance Officer (ICCO) and Assistant ICCO, respectively, for the funds. The ICCO and Assistant ICCO are officers of the funds and the sole members of Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC, respectively. The funds can terminate the Agreements with Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC at any time under the terms of the Agreements. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, the aggregate fees paid by the fund to Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC were $711 and are included in “Miscellaneous” expense in the Statement of Operations. MFS has agreed to reimburse the fund for a portion of the payments made by the fund in the amount of $202, which is shown as a reduction of total expenses in the

 

32


Table of Contents

Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

Statement of Operations. Additionally, MFS has agreed to bear all expenses associated with office space, other administrative support, and supplies provided to the ICCO and Assistant ICCO.

The fund invests in the MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio which is managed by MFS and seeks current income consistent with preservation of capital and liquidity. Income earned on this investment is included in “Dividends from underlying affiliated funds” in the Statement of Operations. This money market fund does not pay a management fee to MFS.

On December 31, 2012, MFS purchased 5,656 shares of Class R5 for an aggregate amount of $100,000.

At February 28, 2013 MFS held 100% of the outstanding shares of Class R5.

(4) Portfolio Securities

Purchases and sales of investments, other than purchased option transactions, short sales, and short-term obligations, aggregated $65,141,272 and $79,642,459, respectively.

(5) Shares of Beneficial Interest

The fund’s Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest. Transactions in fund shares were as follows:

 

     Six months ended
2/28/13 (i)
     Year ended
8/31/12
 
     Shares      Amount      Shares      Amount  
Shares sold            

Class A

     1,176,802         $20,209,962         4,385,487         $68,224,840   

Class B

     80,631         1,249,943         249,166         3,681,517   

Class C

     156,079         2,432,189         452,692         6,675,463   

Class I

     807,505         14,133,190         825,858         13,582,625   

Class R1

     23,403         359,138         65,270         952,929   

Class R2

     156,489         2,564,037         449,751         6,881,970   

Class R3

     82,463         1,424,356         217,083         3,429,874   

Class R4

     17,791         309,706         33,836         580,313   

Class R5

     5,656         100,000                   
     2,506,819         $42,782,521         6,679,143         $104,009,531   
Shares reacquired            

Class A

     (2,046,959      $(34,563,917      (2,516,406      $(39,626,319

Class B

     (119,786      (1,875,276      (259,722      (3,774,776

Class C

     (238,835      (3,736,053      (336,739      (4,866,313

Class I

     (307,364      (5,313,612      (295,603      (4,806,624

Class R1

     (34,948      (545,016      (93,859      (1,325,651

Class R2

     (359,148      (5,952,632      (489,349      (7,511,245

Class R3

     (108,743      (1,872,247      (108,503      (1,713,405

Class R4

     (12,331      (206,918      (10,799      (175,755
     (3,228,114      $(54,065,671      (4,110,980      $(63,800,088

 

33


Table of Contents

Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

     Six months ended
2/28/13 (i)
     Year ended
8/31/12
 
     Shares      Amount      Shares      Amount  
Net change            

Class A

     (870,157      $(14,353,955      1,869,081         $28,598,521   

Class B

     (39,155      (625,333      (10,556      (93,259

Class C

     (82,756      (1,303,864      115,953         1,809,150   

Class I

     500,141         8,819,578         530,255         8,776,001   

Class R1

     (11,545      (185,878      (28,589      (372,722

Class R2

     (202,659      (3,388,595      (39,598      (629,275

Class R3

     (26,280      (447,891      108,580         1,716,469   

Class R4

     5,460         102,788         23,037         404,558   

Class R5

     5,656         100,000                   
     (721,295      $(11,283,150      2,568,163         $40,209,443   

 

(i) For Class R5, the period is from inception, January 2, 2013, though the stated period end.

(6) Line of Credit

The fund and certain other funds managed by MFS participate in a $1.1 billion unsecured committed line of credit, subject to a $1 billion sublimit, provided by a syndication of banks under a credit agreement. Borrowings may be made for temporary financing needs. Interest is charged to each fund, based on its borrowings, generally at a rate equal to the higher of the Federal Reserve funds rate or one month LIBOR plus an agreed upon spread. A commitment fee, based on the average daily, unused portion of the committed line of credit, is allocated among the participating funds at the end of each calendar quarter. In addition, the fund and other funds managed by MFS have established unsecured uncommitted borrowing arrangements with certain banks for temporary financing needs. Interest is charged to each fund, based on its borrowings, at a rate equal to the Federal Reserve funds rate plus an agreed upon spread. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, the fund’s commitment fee and interest expense were $715 and $0, respectively, and are included in “Miscellaneous” expense in the Statement of Operations.

(7) Transactions in Underlying Affiliated Funds-Affiliated Issuers

An affiliated issuer may be considered one in which the fund owns 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities, or a company which is under common control. For the purposes of this report, the fund assumes the following to be an affiliated issuer:

 

Underlying Affiliated Fund    Beginning
Shares/Par
Amount
     Acquisitions
Shares/Par
Amount
     Dispositions
Shares/Par
Amount
     Ending
Shares/Par
Amount
 
MFS Institutional Money
Market Portfolio
     2,655,233         47,675,107         (49,784,549      545,791   
Underlying Affiliated Fund    Realized
Gain (Loss)
     Capital Gain
Distributions
     Dividend
Income
     Ending
Value
 
MFS Institutional Money
Market Portfolio
     $—         $—         $1,448         $545,791   

 

34


Table of Contents

BOARD REVIEW OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

A discussion regarding the Board’s most recent review and renewal of the fund’s Investment Advisory Agreement with MFS is available by clicking on the fund’s name under “Mutual Funds” in the “Products” section of the MFS Web site (mfs.com).

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND INFORMATION

A general description of the MFS funds’ proxy voting policies and procedures is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-225-2606, by visiting the Proxy Voting section of mfs.com or by visiting the SEC’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov.

Information regarding how the fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 is available without charge by visiting the Proxy Voting section of mfs.com or by visiting the SEC’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov.

QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO DISCLOSURE

The fund will file a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. A shareholder can obtain the quarterly portfolio holdings report at mfs.com. The fund’s Form N-Q is also available on the EDGAR database on the Commission’s Internet Web site at http://www.sec.gov, and may be reviewed and copied at the:

Public Reference Room

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, NE, Room 1580

Washington, D.C. 20549

Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. Copies of the fund’s Form N-Q also may be obtained, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the Public Reference Section at the above address.

FURTHER INFORMATION

From time to time, MFS may post important information about the fund or the MFS funds on the MFS web site (mfs.com). This information is available by visiting the “News & Commentary” section of mfs.com or by clicking on the fund’s name under “Mutual Funds” in the “Products” section of mfs.com.

PROVISION OF FINANCIAL REPORTS AND SUMMARY PROSPECTUSES

The fund produces financial reports every six months and updates its summary prospectus and prospectus annually. To avoid sending duplicate copies of materials to households, only one copy of the fund’s annual and semiannual report and summary prospectus may be mailed to shareholders having the same last name and residential address on the fund’s records. However, any shareholder may contact MFSC (please see back cover for address and telephone number) to request that copies of these reports and summary prospectuses be sent personally to that shareholder.

 

35


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

Save paper with eDelivery.

 

LOGO

MFS® will send you prospectuses,

reports, and proxies directly via e-mail so you will get information faster with less mailbox clutter.

To sign up:

1. Go to mfs.com.

2. Log in via MFS® Access.

3. Select eDelivery.

If you own your MFS fund shares through a financial institution or a retirement plan, MFS® TALK, MFS® Access, or eDelivery may not be available to you.

 

CONTACT

WEB SITE

mfs.com

MFS TALK

1-800-637-8255

24 hours a day

ACCOUNT SERVICE AND LITERATURE

Shareholders

1-800-225-2606

Financial advisors

1-800-343-2829

Retirement plan services

1-800-637-1255

MAILING ADDRESS

MFS Service Center, Inc.

P.O. Box 55824

Boston, MA 02205-5824

OVERNIGHT MAIL

MFS Service Center, Inc.

c/o Boston Financial Data Services

30 Dan Road

Canton, MA 02021-2809

 


Table of Contents

SEMIANNUAL REPORT

February 28, 2013

 

LOGO

 

MFS® VALUE FUND

 

LOGO

 

EIF-SEM

 


Table of Contents

MFS® VALUE FUND

 

CONTENTS

 

Letter from the Chairman and CEO     1   
Portfolio composition     2   
Expense table     3   
Portfolio of investments     6   
Statement of assets and liabilities     11   
Statement of operations     13   
Statements of changes in net assets     14   
Financial highlights     15   
Notes to financial statements     28   
Board review of investment advisory agreement     41   
Proxy voting policies and information     41   
Quarterly portfolio disclosure     41   
Further information     41   
Provision of financial reports and summary prospectuses     41   
Contact information    back cover   

 

 

The report is prepared for the general information of shareholders.

It is authorized for distribution to prospective investors only when preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus.

 

NOT FDIC INSURED Ÿ MAY LOSE VALUE Ÿ NO BANK GUARANTEE


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND CEO

 

Dear Shareholders:

Global financial markets began 2013 with greater optimism. U.S. and Asian economic trends have turned more positive. Europe continues to struggle through its economic

slump. However, even there, sentiment has improved. The U.S. Congress averted its year-end fiscal cliff, but a degree of uncertainty remains regarding upcoming negotiations over spending cuts and the debt ceiling. The U.S. Federal Reserve Board is continuing its accommodative monetary easing, while the U.S. housing and job markets have made steady gains. Corporate profits have been resilient, and investors have demonstrated increased tolerance for risk.

Overseas, the eurozone remains in a broad contraction, with economic output receding in France as well as Italy and Spain.

However, large-scale early repayments of European Central Bank loans by banks and Germany’s strong rebound in manufacturing activity are encouraging signs. In Asia, both China and Japan appear to be in the early stages of a turnaround. China’s economic activity has picked up from last year’s relative slowdown, and Japan’s sharp devaluation of the yen, an important anti-deflationary measure, seems to be having its desired impact: Japanese stocks have soared, corporate profits are rising and confidence is returning among consumers, businesses and investors.

As always, managing risk in the face of uncertainty remains a top priority for investors. At MFS®, our uniquely collaborative investment process employs global research and active risk management. Our global team of investment professionals shares ideas and evaluates opportunities across continents, investment disciplines and asset classes — all with a goal of building better insights, and ultimately better results, for our clients.

We remain mindful of the many economic challenges investors face today, and believe it is more important than ever to maintain a long-term view and employ time-tested principles, such as asset allocation and diversification. We also remain confident that our unique approach can serve investors well as they work with their financial advisors to identify and pursue the most suitable opportunities.

Respectfully,

 

LOGO

Robert J. Manning

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

MFS Investment Management®

April 12, 2013

The opinions expressed in this letter are subject to change, may not be relied upon for investment advice, and no forecasts can be guaranteed.

 

1


Table of Contents

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION

 

Portfolio structure

 

LOGO

 

Top ten holdings  
Philip Morris International, Inc.     3.7%   
JPMorgan Chase & Co.     3.6%   
Pfizer, Inc.     3.4%   
Johnson & Johnson     3.3%   
Lockheed Martin Corp.     2.9%   
Accenture PLC, “A”     2.2%   
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.     2.2%   
Wells Fargo & Co.     2.0%   
United Technologies Corp.     2.0%   
International Business Machines Corp.     2.0%   
Equity sectors  
Financial Services     21.2%   
Health Care     13.7%   
Consumer Staples     13.0%   
Industrial Goods & Services     11.6%   
Leisure     7.7%   
Energy     6.6%   
Utilities & Communications     4.5%   
Technology     4.2%   
Retailing     4.0%   
Basic Materials     3.9%   
Special Products & Services     3.1%   
Autos & Housing     2.8%   
Transportation     2.2%   
 

 

Percentages are based on net assets as of 2/28/13.

The portfolio is actively managed and current holdings may be different.

 

2


Table of Contents

EXPENSE TABLE

Fund expenses borne by the shareholders during the period, September 1, 2012 through February 28, 2013

As a shareholder of the fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on certain purchase or redemption payments, and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period September 1, 2012 through February 28, 2013.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class in the following table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class in the following table provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads). Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

3


Table of Contents

Expense Table – continued

 

 

Share
Class
       Annualized
Expense
Ratio
    Beginning
Account Value
9/01/12
    Ending
Account Value
2/28/13
    Expenses
Paid During
Period (p)
9/01/12-2/28/13
 
A   Actual     0.91%        $1,000.00        $1,115.69        $4.77   
  Hypothetical (h)     0.91%        $1,000.00        $1,020.28        $4.56   
B   Actual     1.66%        $1,000.00        $1,111.98        $8.69   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.66%        $1,000.00        $1,016.56        $8.30   
C   Actual     1.66%        $1,000.00        $1,112.17        $8.69   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.66%        $1,000.00        $1,016.56        $8.30   
I   Actual     0.66%        $1,000.00        $1,117.37        $3.46   
  Hypothetical (h)     0.66%        $1,000.00        $1,021.52        $3.31   
R1   Actual     1.66%        $1,000.00        $1,111.59        $8.69   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.66%        $1,000.00        $1,016.56        $8.30   
R2   Actual     1.16%        $1,000.00        $1,114.83        $6.08   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.16%        $1,000.00        $1,019.04        $5.81   
R3   Actual     0.91%        $1,000.00        $1,116.04        $4.77   
  Hypothetical (h)     0.91%        $1,000.00        $1,020.28        $4.56   
R4   Actual     0.66%        $1,000.00        $1,117.54        $3.47   
  Hypothetical (h)     0.66%        $1,000.00        $1,021.52        $3.31   
R5   Actual     0.56%        $1,000.00        $1,118.17        $2.94   
  Hypothetical (h)     0.56%        $1,000.00        $1,022.02        $2.81   
529A   Actual     0.96%        $1,000.00        $1,116.21        $5.04   
  Hypothetical (h)     0.96%        $1,000.00        $1,020.03        $4.81   
529B   Actual     1.71%        $1,000.00        $1,111.29        $8.95   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.71%        $1,000.00        $1,016.31        $8.55   
529C   Actual     1.71%        $1,000.00        $1,111.87        $8.95   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.71%        $1,000.00        $1,016.31        $8.55   

 

(h) 5% class return per year before expenses.
(p) Expenses paid are equal to each class’s annualized expense ratio, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period, divided by the number of days in the year. Expenses paid do not include any applicable sales charges (loads). If these transaction costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.

Expense Changes Impacting the Table

Changes to the fund’s fee arrangements occurred during the six month period. Had these fee changes been in effect throughout the entire six month period, the annualized expense ratios would have been 0.92%, 1.67%, 1.67%, 0.67%, 1.67%, 1.17%, 0.92%, 0.67%, 0.57%, 0.97%, 1.72%, and 1.72% for Classes A, B, C, I, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, 529A, 529B, and 529C, respectively; the actual expenses paid during the period would have been approximately $4.83, $8.74, $8.75, $3.52, $8.74, $6.13, $4.83, $3.52, $2.99, $5.09, $9.00, and $9.01 for

 

4


Table of Contents

Expense Table – continued

 

Classes A, B, C, I, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, 529A, 529B, and 529C, respectively; and the hypothetical expenses paid during the period would have been approximately $4.61, $8.35, $8.35, $3.36, $8.35, $5.86, $4.61, $3.36, $2.86, $4.86, $8.60, and $8.60 for Classes A, B, C, I, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, 529A, 529B, and 529C, respectively. For further information about the fund’s fee arrangements and changes to those fee arrangements, please see Note 3 in the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

5


Table of Contents

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

2/28/13 (unaudited)

The Portfolio of Investments is a complete list of all securities owned by your fund. It is categorized by broad-based asset classes.

 

Common Stocks - 98.3%   
Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Aerospace - 7.7%   
Honeywell International, Inc.      6,038,380      $ 423,290,439   
Lockheed Martin Corp.      7,834,199        689,409,512   
Northrop Grumman Corp.      3,326,508        218,485,045   
United Technologies Corp.      5,204,375        471,256,156   
    

 

 

 
      $ 1,802,441,152   
Alcoholic Beverages - 1.8%                 
Diageo PLC      14,049,262      $ 421,165,789   
Automotive - 1.8%                 
Delphi Automotive PLC      3,428,213      $ 143,470,714   
General Motors Co. (a)      1,677,152        45,534,677   
Johnson Controls, Inc.      7,494,872        235,863,622   
    

 

 

 
      $ 424,869,013   
Broadcasting - 4.1%                 
Omnicom Group, Inc.      4,869,919      $ 280,166,440   
Viacom, Inc., “B”      4,748,428        277,593,101   
Walt Disney Co.      7,603,757        415,089,095   
    

 

 

 
      $ 972,848,636   
Brokerage & Asset Managers - 2.1%                 
BlackRock, Inc.      1,277,004      $ 306,161,709   
Franklin Resources, Inc.      1,380,963        195,061,024   
    

 

 

 
      $ 501,222,733   
Business Services - 3.1%                 
Accenture PLC, “A”      6,997,015      $ 520,298,035   
Dun & Bradstreet Corp.      1,274,094        102,691,976   
Fiserv, Inc. (a)      1,402,462        115,156,155   
    

 

 

 
      $ 738,146,166   
Cable TV - 1.0%                 
Comcast Corp., “Special A”      5,989,328      $ 229,451,156   
Chemicals - 3.1%                 
3M Co.      3,965,452      $ 412,407,008   
PPG Industries, Inc.      2,430,965        327,353,747   
    

 

 

 
      $ 739,760,755   

 

6


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Computer Software - 1.4%                 
Oracle Corp.      9,756,937      $ 334,272,662   
Computer Software - Systems - 2.2%                 
Hewlett-Packard Co.      2,163,775      $ 43,578,429   
International Business Machines Corp.      2,336,079        469,154,746   
    

 

 

 
      $ 512,733,175   
Construction - 1.0%                 
Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.      3,034,659      $ 238,827,663   
Consumer Products - 0.5%                 
Procter & Gamble Co.      1,518,790      $ 115,701,422   
Electrical Equipment - 2.7%                 
Danaher Corp.      4,806,165      $ 296,059,764   
Pentair Ltd.      1,775,260        94,568,100   
Tyco International Ltd.      7,904,035        253,008,160   
    

 

 

 
             $ 643,636,024   
Electronics - 0.6%                 
Intel Corp.      7,043,300      $ 146,852,805   
Energy - Independent - 2.7%                 
Apache Corp.      1,582,644      $ 117,542,970   
EOG Resources, Inc.      1,244,047        156,389,148   
Occidental Petroleum Corp.      4,250,785        349,967,129   
    

 

 

 
             $ 623,899,247   
Energy - Integrated - 3.9%                 
Chevron Corp.      3,815,915      $ 447,034,442   
Exxon Mobil Corp.      5,216,692        467,154,769   
    

 

 

 
             $ 914,189,211   
Engineering - Construction - 0.2%                 
Fluor Corp.      572,749      $ 35,453,163   
Food & Beverages - 5.6%                 
Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc.      1,868,330      $ 66,848,847   
Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.      2,329,390        101,607,992   
General Mills, Inc.      8,128,852        375,959,405   
Groupe Danone      3,324,687        230,360,506   
J.M. Smucker Co.      689,849        65,742,610   
Kellogg Co.      1,389,954        84,092,217   

 

7


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Food & Beverages - continued                 
Nestle S.A.      4,179,581      $ 291,681,690   
PepsiCo, Inc.      1,359,114        102,980,068   
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,319,273,335   
Food & Drug Stores - 1.5%                 
CVS Caremark Corp.      6,866,039      $ 350,991,914   
General Merchandise - 1.7%                 
Kohl’s Corp.      1,330,132      $ 61,319,085   
Target Corp.      5,381,928        338,846,187   
    

 

 

 
             $ 400,165,272   
Insurance - 7.0%                 
ACE Ltd.      3,149,299      $ 268,918,642   
Aon PLC      3,679,466        224,778,578   
Chubb Corp.      2,031,289        170,689,215   
MetLife, Inc.      10,996,441        389,713,869   
Prudential Financial, Inc.      4,780,991        265,679,670   
Travelers Cos., Inc.      4,064,418        326,860,496   
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,646,640,470   
Leisure & Toys - 0.9%                 
Hasbro, Inc.      4,985,972      $ 199,538,599   
Machinery & Tools - 0.9%                 
Eaton Corp. PLC      3,529,200      $ 218,704,524   
Major Banks - 11.1%                 
Bank of New York Mellon Corp.      13,465,717      $ 365,459,559   
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.      3,459,133        518,039,758   
JPMorgan Chase & Co.      17,132,870        838,140,000   
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.      2,573,085        160,534,773   
State Street Corp.      4,587,410        259,601,532   
Wells Fargo & Co.      13,616,139        477,654,156   
    

 

 

 
      $ 2,619,429,778   
Medical & Health Technology & Services - 0.7%                 
Express Scripts Holding Co. (a)      1,049,620      $ 59,733,874   
Quest Diagnostics, Inc.      1,914,706        107,549,036   
    

 

 

 
      $ 167,282,910   
Medical Equipment - 4.2%                 
Abbott Laboratories      5,424,323      $ 183,287,874   
Becton, Dickinson & Co.      1,395,469        122,885,000   

 

8


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Medical Equipment - continued                 
Medtronic, Inc.      5,756,140      $ 258,796,054   
St. Jude Medical, Inc.      4,572,388        187,467,908   
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.      3,271,403        241,429,541   
    

 

 

 
      $ 993,866,377   
Other Banks & Diversified Financials - 1.0%                 
MasterCard, Inc., “A”      177,274      $ 91,796,023   
Western Union Co.      10,911,638        153,090,281   
    

 

 

 
      $ 244,886,304   
Pharmaceuticals - 8.8%                 
AbbVie, Inc.      4,089,323      $ 150,977,805   
Johnson & Johnson      10,108,865        769,385,715   
Merck & Co., Inc.      4,796,969        204,974,485   
Pfizer, Inc.      29,277,955        801,337,628   
Roche Holding AG      626,032        142,734,746   
Zoetis, Inc. (a)      260,740        8,721,753   
    

 

 

 
      $ 2,078,132,132   
Printing & Publishing - 1.1%                 
McGraw-Hill Cos., Inc.      2,031,220      $ 94,553,291   
Moody’s Corp.      3,370,329        161,978,012   
    

 

 

 
      $ 256,531,303   
Railroad & Shipping - 0.5%                 
Canadian National Railway Co.      1,150,011      $ 116,611,115   
Restaurants - 0.6%                 
McDonald’s Corp.      1,480,350      $ 141,965,565   
Specialty Chemicals - 0.8%                 
Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.      2,291,180      $ 197,820,481   
Specialty Stores - 0.8%                 
Advance Auto Parts, Inc.      1,734,110      $ 132,381,957   
Staples, Inc.      4,860,321        64,059,031   
    

 

 

 
      $ 196,440,988   
Telecommunications - Wireless - 1.5%                 
Vodafone Group PLC      140,191,741      $ 352,088,261   

 

9


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Telephone Services - 2.5%                 
AT&T, Inc.      10,682,278      $ 383,600,603   
Verizon Communications, Inc.      4,217,510        196,240,740   
    

 

 

 
      $ 579,841,343   
Tobacco - 5.1%                 
Altria Group, Inc.      3,523,265      $ 118,205,541   
Lorillard, Inc.      5,791,073        223,187,953   
Philip Morris International, Inc.      9,403,902        862,808,009   
    

 

 

 
      $ 1,204,201,503   
Trucking - 1.7%   
United Parcel Service, Inc., “B”      4,698,179      $ 388,304,494   
Utilities - Electric Power - 0.4%                 
PPL Corp.      1,400,299      $ 43,157,215   
Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc.      1,379,295        44,951,224   
    

 

 

 
      $ 88,108,439   
Total Common Stocks (Identified Cost, $17,815,452,434)      $ 23,156,295,879   
Convertible Preferred Stocks - 0.2%                 
Aerospace - 0.1%                 
United Technologies Corp., 7.5%      364,100      $ 21,208,825   
Utilities - Electric Power - 0.1%                 
PPL Corp., 9.5%      426,576      $ 23,376,365   
Total Convertible Preferred Stocks (Identified Cost, $39,667,155)      $ 44,585,190   
Money Market Funds - 1.2%                 
MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio, 0.13%,
at Cost and Net Asset Value (v)
     286,525,599      $ 286,525,599   
Total Investments (Identified Cost, $18,141,645,188)      $ 23,487,406,668   
Other Assets, Less Liabilities - 0.3%        65,079,523   
Net Assets - 100.0%      $ 23,552,486,191   

 

(a) Non-income producing security.
(v) Underlying affiliated fund that is available only to investment companies managed by MFS. The rate quoted for the MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio is the annualized seven-day yield of the fund at period end.

The following abbreviations are used in this report and are defined:

 

PLC   Public Limited Company

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

10


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

At 2/28/13 (unaudited)

This statement represents your fund’s balance sheet, which details the assets and liabilities comprising the total value of the fund.

 

Assets         

Investments-

  

Non-affiliated issuers, at value (identified cost, $17,855,119,589)

     $23,200,881,069   

Underlying affiliated funds, at cost and value

     286,525,599   

Total investments, at value (identified cost, $18,141,645,188)

     $23,487,406,668   

Cash

     1,590,498   

Receivables for

  

Investments sold

     38,728,058   

Fund shares sold

     85,718,828   

Interest and dividends

     70,876,044   

Other assets

     127,853   

Total assets

     $23,684,447,949   
Liabilities         

Payables for

  

Investments purchased

     $72,931,526   

Fund shares reacquired

     49,108,145   

Payable to affiliates

  

Investment adviser

     680,349   

Shareholder servicing costs

     8,704,054   

Distribution and service fees

     191,655   

Program manager fees

     36   

Payable for independent Trustees’ compensation

     4,668   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     341,325   

Total liabilities

     $131,961,758   

Net assets

     $23,552,486,191   
Net assets consist of         

Paid-in capital

     $18,354,990,254   

Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and translation of assets
and liabilities in foreign currencies

     5,345,708,364   

Accumulated distributions in excess of net realized gain on investments and
foreign currency

     (223,497,574

Undistributed net investment income

     75,285,147   

Net assets

     $23,552,486,191   

Shares of beneficial interest outstanding

     860,963,983   

 

11


Table of Contents

Statement of Assets and Liabilities (unaudited) – continued

 

 

     Net assets      Shares
outstanding
     Net asset value
per share (a)
 

Class A

     $7,121,634,467         260,629,061         $27.32   

Class B

     167,245,879         6,153,583         27.18   

Class C

     969,503,631         35,832,157         27.06   

Class I

     9,057,022,384         329,847,372         27.46   

Class R1

     32,474,642         1,207,919         26.88   

Class R2

     538,738,574         19,880,034         27.10   

Class R3

     1,154,233,725         42,355,768         27.25   

Class R4

     2,913,324,938         106,584,231         27.33   

Class R5

     1,584,779,837         57,973,885         27.34   

Class 529A

     9,591,929         353,227         27.16   

Class 529B

     988,708         36,804         26.86   

Class 529C

     2,947,477         109,942         26.81   

 

(a) Maximum offering price per share was equal to the net asset value per share for all share classes, except for Classes A and 529A, for which the maximum offering prices per share were $28.99 [100 / 94.25 x $27.32] and $28.82 [100 / 94.25 x $27.16], respectively. On sales of $50,000 or more, the maximum offering prices of Class A and Class 529A shares are reduced. A contingent deferred sales charge may be imposed on redemptions of Class A, Class B, Class C, Class 529B, and Class 529C shares. Redemption price per share was equal to the net asset value per share for Classes I, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and 529A.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

12


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

Six months ended 2/28/13 (unaudited)

This statement describes how much your fund earned in investment income and accrued in expenses. It also describes any gains and/or losses generated by fund operations.

 

Net investment income         

Income

  

Dividends

     $307,885,191   

Interest

     109,679   

Dividends from underlying affiliated funds

     224,284   

Foreign taxes withheld

     (567,630

Total investment income

     $307,651,524   

Expenses

  

Management fee

     $57,879,726   

Distribution and service fees

     16,662,954   

Program manager fees

     6,242   

Shareholder servicing costs

     12,126,221   

Administrative services fee

     264,239   

Independent Trustees’ compensation

     97,489   

Custodian fee

     257,216   

Shareholder communications

     514,867   

Audit and tax fees

     27,263   

Legal fees

     119,108   

Miscellaneous

     660,322   

Total expenses

     $88,615,647   

Fees paid indirectly

     (139

Reduction of expenses by investment adviser and distributor

     (1,695,480

Net expenses

     $86,920,028   

Net investment income

     $220,731,496   
Realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency   

Realized gain (loss) (identified cost basis)

  

Investments

     $(32,141,378

Foreign currency

     (135,250

Net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

     $(32,276,628

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

  

Investments

     $2,223,437,985   

Translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies

     51,091   

Net unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency translation

     $2,223,489,076   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

     $2,191,212,448   

Change in net assets from operations

     $2,411,943,944   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

13


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

These statements describe the increases and/or decreases in net assets resulting from operations, any distributions, and any shareholder transactions.

 

Change in net assets    Six months ended
2/28/13
(unaudited)
    

Year ended
8/31/12

 
From operations                  

Net investment income

     $220,731,496         $346,024,592   

Net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

     (32,276,628      643,305,033   

Net unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency translation

     2,223,489,076         1,685,564,127   

Change in net assets from operations

     $2,411,943,944         $2,674,893,752   
Distributions declared to shareholders                  

From net investment income

     $(212,113,555      $(327,177,582

From net realized gain on investments

     (153,940,584        

Total distributions declared to shareholders

     $(366,054,139      $(327,177,582

Change in net assets from fund share transactions

     $899,690,202         $2,172,787,694   

Total change in net assets

     $2,945,580,007         $4,520,503,864   
Net assets                  

At beginning of period

     20,606,906,184         16,086,402,320   

At end of period (including undistributed net investment income of $75,285,147 and $66,667,206, respectively)

     $23,552,486,191         $20,606,906,184   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

14


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the fund’s financial performance for the semiannual period and the past 5 fiscal years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate by which an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the fund share class (assuming reinvestment of all distributions) held for the entire period.

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class A     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $24.90        $21.83        $19.46        $19.39        $23.75        $28.11   
Income (loss) from investment operations                           

Net investment income (d)

    $0.25        $0.43        $0.34        $0.32        $0.34        $0.32   

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency

    2.59        3.05        2.35        0.06 (g)      (4.35     (2.43

Total from investment operations

    $2.84        $3.48        $2.69        $0.38        $(4.01     $(2.11
Less distributions declared to shareholders                           

From net investment income

    $(0.24     $(0.41     $(0.32     $(0.31     $(0.35     $(0.31

From net realized gain on
investments

    (0.18                                 (1.94

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $(0.42     $(0.41     $(0.32     $(0.31     $(0.35     $(2.25

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

    $27.32        $24.90        $21.83        $19.46        $19.39        $23.75   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    11.57 (n)      16.16        13.78        1.88        (16.75     (8.27
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                           

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    0.92 (a)      0.95        0.95        0.98        1.09        1.11   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    0.91 (a)      0.93        0.94        0.98        1.09        1.10   

Net investment income

    1.95 (a)      1.86        1.49        1.54        1.94        1.24   

Portfolio turnover

    6 (n)      14        17        22        33        31   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $7,121,634        $6,628,244        $5,086,069        $4,980,816        $4,665,411        $5,724,586   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

15


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class B     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $24.76        $21.70        $19.34        $19.26        $23.59        $27.92   
Income (loss) from investment operations                           

Net investment income (d)

    $0.15        $0.26        $0.16        $0.16        $0.22        $0.15   

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency

    2.59        3.03        2.34        0.07 (g)      (4.34     (2.41

Total from investment
operations

    $2.74        $3.29        $2.50        $0.23        $(4.12     $(2.26
Less distributions declared to shareholders                           

From net investment income

    $(0.14     $(0.23     $(0.14     $(0.15     $(0.21     $(0.13

From net realized gain on
investments

    (0.18                                 (1.94

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $(0.32     $(0.23     $(0.14     $(0.15     $(0.21     $(2.07

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

    $27.18        $24.76        $21.70        $19.34        $19.26        $23.59   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    11.20 (n)      15.28        12.92        1.14        (17.36     (8.87
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                           

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.67 (a)      1.70        1.70        1.73        1.79        1.76   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    1.66 (a)      1.68        1.69        1.73        1.79        1.75   

Net investment income

    1.19 (a)      1.11        0.73        0.80        1.26        0.58   

Portfolio turnover

    6 (n)      14        17        22        33        31   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $167,246        $167,949        $182,654        $238,473        $371,270        $672,484   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

16


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class C     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $24.65        $21.62        $19.27        $19.21        $23.54        $27.88   
Income (loss) from investment operations                           

Net investment income (d)

    $0.15        $0.25        $0.17        $0.16        $0.22        $0.15   

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency

    2.58        3.02        2.33        0.06 (g)      (4.33     (2.41

Total from investment
operations

    $2.73        $3.27        $2.50        $0.22        $(4.11     $(2.26
Less distributions declared to shareholders                           

From net investment income

    $(0.14     $(0.24     $(0.15     $(0.16     $(0.22     $(0.14

From net realized gain on
investments

    (0.18                                 (1.94

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $(0.32     $(0.24     $(0.15     $(0.16     $(0.22     $(2.08

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

    $27.06        $24.65        $21.62        $19.27        $19.21        $23.54   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    11.22 (n)      15.23        12.97        1.11        (17.35     (8.88
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                           

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.67 (a)      1.69        1.70        1.73        1.79        1.76   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    1.66 (a)      1.68        1.69        1.73        1.79        1.75   

Net investment income

    1.20 (a)      1.11        0.74        0.79        1.24        0.59   

Portfolio turnover

    6 (n)      14        17        22        33        31   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $969,504        $906,572        $871,026        $832,696        $776,373        $950,299   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

17


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class I     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $25.02        $21.94        $19.55        $19.48        $23.87        $28.24   
Income (loss) from investment operations                           

Net investment income (d)

    $0.28        $0.49        $0.40        $0.37        $0.40        $0.41   

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency

    2.61        3.06        2.37        0.06 (g)      (4.38     (2.44

Total from investment
operations

    $2.89        $3.55        $2.77        $0.43        $(3.98     $(2.03
Less distributions declared to shareholders                           

From net investment income

    $(0.27     $(0.47     $(0.38     $(0.36     $(0.41     $(0.40

From net realized gain on
investments

    (0.18                                 (1.94

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $(0.45     $(0.47     $(0.38     $(0.36     $(0.41     $(2.34

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

    $27.46        $25.02        $21.94        $19.55        $19.48        $23.87   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

    11.74 (n)      16.42        14.10        2.12        (16.53     (7.94
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                           

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    0.67 (a)      0.70        0.70        0.73        0.79        0.76   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    0.66 (a)      0.68        0.69        0.73        0.79        0.75   

Net investment income

    2.20 (a)      2.11        1.75        1.79        2.26        1.60   

Portfolio turnover

    6 (n)      14        17        22        33        31   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $9,057,022        $7,472,693        $5,272,157        $3,289,827        $2,335,922        $1,663,139   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

18


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class R1     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $24.50        $21.48        $19.15        $19.09        $23.42        $27.76   
Income (loss) from investment operations                           

Net investment income (d)

    $0.15        $0.25        $0.17        $0.16        $0.21        $0.14   

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency

    2.55        3.01        2.32        0.06 (g)      (4.31     (2.40

Total from investment
operations

    $2.70        $3.26        $2.49        $0.22        $(4.10     $(2.26
Less distributions declared to shareholders                           

From net investment income

    $(0.14     $(0.24     $(0.16     $(0.16     $(0.23     $(0.14

From net realized gain on
investments

    (0.18                                 (1.94

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $(0.32     $(0.24     $(0.16     $(0.16     $(0.23     $(2.08

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

    $26.88        $24.50        $21.48        $19.15        $19.09        $23.42   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

    11.16 (n)      15.29        12.95        1.13        (17.38     (8.91
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                           

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.67 (a)      1.69        1.70        1.73        1.78        1.81   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    1.66 (a)      1.68        1.69        1.73        1.78        1.79   

Net investment income

    1.20 (a)      1.10        0.74        0.80        1.24        0.54   

Portfolio turnover

    6 (n)      14        17        22        33        31   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $32,475        $32,389        $33,806        $32,934        $30,690        $25,252   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

19


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class R2     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $24.69        $21.66        $19.31        $19.24        $23.59        $27.94   
Income (loss) from investment operations                           

Net investment income (d)

    $0.22        $0.37        $0.28        $0.26        $0.30        $0.27   

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency

    2.58        3.01        2.34        0.07 (g)      (4.33     (2.42

Total from investment
operations

    $2.80        $3.38        $2.62        $0.33        $(4.03     $(2.15
Less distributions declared to shareholders                           

From net investment income

    $(0.21     $(0.35     $(0.27     $(0.26     $(0.32     $(0.26

From net realized gain on
investments

    (0.18                                 (1.94

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $(0.39     $(0.35     $(0.27     $(0.26     $(0.32     $(2.20

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

    $27.10        $24.69        $21.66        $19.31        $19.24        $23.59   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

    11.48 (n)      15.80        13.51        1.66        (16.96     (8.46
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                           

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.17 (a)      1.20        1.20        1.23        1.29        1.30   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    1.16 (a)      1.18        1.19        1.23        1.28        1.28   

Net investment income

    1.70 (a)      1.61        1.24        1.29        1.73        1.10   

Portfolio turnover

    6 (n)      14        17        22        33        31   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $538,739        $517,005        $496,236        $426,938        $286,115        $246,027   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

20


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class R3     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $24.83        $21.78        $19.41        $19.34        $23.71        $28.07   
Income (loss) from investment operations                           

Net investment income (d)

    $0.25        $0.43        $0.34        $0.31        $0.34        $0.33   

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency

    2.59        3.03        2.35        0.07 (g)      (4.35     (2.43

Total from investment
operations

    $2.84        $3.46        $2.69        $0.38        $(4.01     $(2.10
Less distributions declared to shareholders                           

From net investment income

    $(0.24     $(0.41     $(0.32     $(0.31     $(0.36     $(0.32

From net realized gain on
investments

    (0.18                                 (1.94

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $(0.42     $(0.41     $(0.32     $(0.31     $(0.36     $(2.26

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

    $27.25        $24.83        $21.78        $19.41        $19.34        $23.71   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

    11.60 (n)      16.11        13.82        1.90        (16.75     (8.25
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                           

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    0.92 (a)      0.95        0.95        0.99        1.03        1.06   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    0.91 (a)      0.93        0.94        0.98        1.03        1.04   

Net investment income

    1.95 (a)      1.86        1.49        1.53        1.94        1.29   

Portfolio turnover

    6 (n)      14        17        22        33        31   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $1,154,234        $1,022,504        $763,670        $587,645        $341,993        $190,002   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

21


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class R4     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $24.90        $21.84        $19.47        $19.39        $23.77        $28.13   
Income (loss) from investment operations                           

Net investment income (d)

    $0.28        $0.49        $0.40        $0.36        $0.37        $0.40   

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency

    2.60        3.04        2.35        0.08 (g)      (4.34     (2.43

Total from investment
operations

    $2.88        $3.53        $2.75        $0.44        $(3.97     $(2.03
Less distributions declared to shareholders                           

From net investment income

    $(0.27     $(0.47     $(0.38     $(0.36     $(0.41     $(0.39

From net realized gain on
investments

    (0.18                                 (1.94

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $(0.45     $(0.47     $(0.38     $(0.36     $(0.41     $(2.33

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

    $27.33        $24.90        $21.84        $19.47        $19.39        $23.77   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

    11.75 (n)      16.40        14.05        2.18        (16.56     (7.99
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                           

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    0.67 (a)      0.70        0.70        0.74        0.77        0.80   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    0.66 (a)      0.68        0.69        0.73        0.77        0.78   

Net investment income

    2.21 (a)      2.10        1.74        1.77        2.10        1.58   

Portfolio turnover

    6 (n)      14        17        22        33        31   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $2,913,325        $2,907,088        $2,036,438        $1,266,492        $652,906        $194,753   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

22


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class R5(y)     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $24.90        $21.81        $19.44        $19.37        $23.74        $28.11   
Income (loss) from investment operations                           

Net investment income (d)

    $0.29        $0.46        $0.37        $0.35        $0.37        $0.37   

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency

    2.61        3.08        2.35        0.06 (g)      (4.35     (2.42

Total from investment
operations

    $2.90        $3.54        $2.72        $0.41        $(3.98     $(2.05
Less distributions declared to shareholders                           

From net investment income

    $(0.28     $(0.45     $(0.35     $(0.34     $(0.39     $(0.38

From net realized gain on
investments

    (0.18                                 (1.94

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $(0.46     $(0.45     $(0.35     $(0.34     $(0.39     $(2.32

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

    $27.34        $24.90        $21.81        $19.44        $19.37        $23.74   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

    11.82 (n)      16.48        13.96        2.04        (16.61     (8.05
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                           

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    0.58 (a)      0.77        0.80        0.83        0.89        0.87   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    0.56 (a)      0.76        0.79        0.83        0.88        0.85   

Net investment income

    2.27 (a)      1.98        1.63        1.70        2.12        1.54   

Portfolio turnover

    6 (n)      14        17        22        33        31   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $1,584,780        $940,695        $1,334,446        $1,393,429        $999,969        $581,005   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

23


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class 529A     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $24.74        $21.70        $19.34        $19.28        $23.62        $27.96   
Income (loss) from investment operations                           

Net investment income (d)

    $0.24        $0.42        $0.32        $0.29        $0.32        $0.27   

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency

    2.60        3.02        2.34        0.06 (g)      (4.33     (2.42

Total from investment
operations

    $2.84        $3.44        $2.66        $0.35        $(4.01     $(2.15
Less distributions declared to shareholders                           

From net investment income

    $(0.24     $(0.40     $(0.30     $(0.29     $(0.33     $(0.25

From net realized gain on
investments

    (0.18                                 (1.94

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $(0.42     $(0.40     $(0.30     $(0.29     $(0.33     $(2.19

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

    $27.16        $24.74        $21.70        $19.34        $19.28        $23.62   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    11.62 (n)      16.06        13.71        1.74        (16.84     (8.45
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                           

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.02 (a)      1.05        1.05        1.08        1.19        1.30   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    0.96 (a)      0.98        1.03        1.08        1.19        1.28   

Net investment income

    1.90 (a)      1.80        1.40        1.44        1.84        1.05   

Portfolio turnover

    6 (n)      14        17        22        33        31   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $9,592        $8,195        $6,315        $5,192        $5,008        $6,025   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

24


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class 529B     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $24.48        $21.45        $19.12        $19.06        $23.37        $27.69   
Income (loss) from investment operations                           

Net investment income (d)

    $0.14        $0.24        $0.14        $0.14        $0.20        $0.10   

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency

    2.55        3.01        2.32        0.06 (g)      (4.30     (2.39

Total from investment
operations

    $2.69        $3.25        $2.46        $0.20        $(4.10     $(2.29
Less distributions declared to shareholders                           

From net investment income

    $(0.13     $(0.22     $(0.13     $(0.14     $(0.21     $(0.09

From net realized gain on
investments

    (0.18                                 (1.94

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $(0.31     $(0.22     $(0.13     $(0.14     $(0.21     $(2.03

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

    $26.86        $24.48        $21.45        $19.12        $19.06        $23.37   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    11.13 (n)      15.27        12.84        1.01        (17.46     (9.05
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                           

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.77 (a)      1.79        1.80        1.83        1.89        1.95   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    1.71 (a)      1.73        1.78        1.83        1.89        1.94   

Net investment income

    1.15 (a)      1.05        0.64        0.70        1.15        0.40   

Portfolio turnover

    6 (n)      14        17        22        33        31   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $989        $963        $1,147        $1,198        $1,215        $1,624   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

25


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

    

Six months
ended
2/28/13

(unaudited)

    Years ended 8/31  
Class 529C      2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
                                  

Net asset value, beginning of
period

     $24.43        $21.43        $19.11        $19.05        $23.35        $27.67   
Income (loss) from investment operations                           

Net investment income (d)

     $0.14        $0.24        $0.15        $0.14        $0.20        $0.10   

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency

     2.56        2.99        2.31        0.07 (g)      (4.30     (2.39

Total from investment
operations

     $2.70        $3.23        $2.46        $0.21        $(4.10     $(2.29
Less distributions declared to shareholders                           

From net investment income

     $(0.14     $(0.23     $(0.14     $(0.15     $(0.20     $(0.09

From net realized gain on
investments

     (0.18                                 (1.94

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

     $(0.32     $(0.23     $(0.14     $(0.15     $(0.20     $(2.03

Net asset value, end of
period (x)

     $26.81        $24.43        $21.43        $19.11        $19.05        $23.35   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

     11.19 (n)      15.18        12.82        1.06        (17.45     (9.05
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                           

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

     1.77 (a)      1.79        1.80        1.83        1.89        1.95   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

     1.71 (a)      1.73        1.78        1.83        1.89        1.94   

Net investment income

     1.15 (a)      1.06        0.65        0.69        1.15        0.40   

Portfolio turnover

     6 (n)      14        17        22        33        31   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

     $2,947        $2,610        $2,438        $2,180        $1,710        $2,282   

 

(a) Annualized.
(d) Per share data is based on average shares outstanding.
(f) Ratios do not reflect reductions from fees paid indirectly, if applicable.
(g) The per share amount varies from the net realized and unrealized gain/loss for the period because of the timing of sales of fund shares and the per share amount of realized and unrealized gains and losses at such time.
(n) Not annualized.
(r) Certain expenses have been reduced without which performance would have been lower.
(s) From time to time the fund may receive proceeds from litigation settlements, without which performance would be lower.
(t) Total returns do not include any applicable sales charges.
(x) The net asset values per share and total returns have been calculated on net assets which include adjustments made in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles required at period end for financial reporting purposes.

 

26


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Financial Highlights – continued

 

(y) As further discussed in Note 5 in the Notes to Financial Statements, on May 10, 2012, sales of Class W shares (including exchanges) were suspended. On May 11, 2012, certain Class W shares were automatically converted to Class I shares. Shareholders of certain Class W shares became shareholders of Class I and received Class I shares with a total net asset value equal to their Class W shares at the time of the conversion. On May 30, 2012, remaining Class W shares, which represented MFS seed money, were redesignated Class R5. Class R5 shares are generally available only to certain eligible retirement plans and to funds distributed by MFD. Class R5 shares do not pay a 12b-1 distribution fee or sub-accounting costs. On June 1, 2012, Class R5 shares were offered for sale to the public. For further information about the fund’s fee arrangements, please see Note 3 in the Notes to Financial Statements.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

27


Table of Contents

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

(1) Business and Organization

MFS Value Fund (the fund) is a series of MFS Series Trust I (the trust). The trust is organized as a Massachusetts business trust and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as an open-end management investment company.

(2) Significant Accounting Policies

General – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated subsequent events occurring after the date of the fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities through the date that the financial statements were issued.

In January 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update 2013-01 (“ASU 2013-01”) entitled Balance Sheet (Topic 210) – Clarifying the Scope of Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities which is intended to clarify the scope of Accounting Standards Update 2011-11 (“ASU 2011-11”), Balance Sheet (Topic 210) – Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities. Consistent with the effective date for ASU 2011-11, ASU 2013-01 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. ASU 2013-01 limits the scope of ASU 2011-11’s disclosure requirements on offsetting to financial assets and financial liabilities related to derivatives, repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements, and securities lending and securities borrowing transactions. Although still evaluating the potential impact of these two ASUs to the fund, management expects that the impact of the fund’s adoption will be limited to additional financial statement disclosures.

Investment Valuations – Equity securities, including restricted equity securities, are generally valued at the last sale or official closing price as provided by a third-party pricing service on the market or exchange on which they are primarily traded. Equity securities, for which there were no sales reported that day, are generally valued at the last quoted daily bid quotation as provided by a third-party pricing service on the market or exchange on which such securities are primarily traded. Short-term instruments with a maturity at issuance of 60 days or less generally are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Open-end investment companies are generally valued at net asset value per share. Securities and other assets generally valued on the basis of information from a third-party pricing service may also be valued at a broker/dealer bid quotation. Values obtained from third-party pricing services can utilize both transaction data and market information such as yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics, and other market data. The values of foreign securities and other assets and liabilities expressed in foreign currencies are converted to U.S. dollars using the mean of bid and asked prices for rates provided by a third-party pricing service.

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

The Board of Trustees has delegated primary responsibility for determining or causing to be determined the value of the fund’s investments (including any fair valuation) to the adviser pursuant to valuation policies and procedures approved by the Board. If the adviser determines that reliable market quotations are not readily available, investments are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the adviser in accordance with such procedures under the oversight of the Board of Trustees. Under the fund’s valuation policies and procedures, market quotations are not considered to be readily available for most types of debt instruments and floating rate loans and many types of derivatives. These investments are generally valued at fair value based on information from third-party pricing services. In addition, investments may be valued at fair value if the adviser determines that an investment’s value has been materially affected by events occurring after the close of the exchange or market on which the investment is principally traded (such as foreign exchange or market) and prior to the determination of the fund’s net asset value, or after the halting of trading of a specific security where trading does not resume prior to the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded. Events that occur on a frequent basis after foreign markets close (such as developments in foreign markets and significant movements in the U.S. markets) and prior to the determination of the fund’s net asset value may be deemed to have a material effect on the value of securities traded in foreign markets. Accordingly, the fund’s foreign equity securities may often be valued at fair value. The adviser generally relies on third-party pricing services or other information (such as the correlation with price movements of similar securities in the same or other markets; the type, cost and investment characteristics of the security; the business and financial condition of the issuer; and trading and other market data) to assist in determining whether to fair value and at what value to fair value an investment. The value of an investment for purposes of calculating the fund’s net asset value can differ depending on the source and method used to determine value. When fair valuation is used, the value of an investment used to determine the fund’s net asset value may differ from quoted or published prices for the same investment. There can be no assurance that the fund could obtain the fair value assigned to an investment if it were to sell the investment at the same time at which the fund determines its net asset value per share.

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the fund’s assets or liabilities. These inputs are categorized into three broad levels. In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, an investment’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The fund’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the investment. Level 1 includes unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 includes other significant observable market-based inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speed, and credit risk). Level 3 includes unobservable inputs, which may include the adviser’s own assumptions in

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

determining the fair value of investments. The following is a summary of the levels used as of February 28, 2013 in valuing the fund’s assets or liabilities:

 

Investments at Value    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
Equity Securities:            

United States

     $21,646,238,962         $—         $—         $21,646,238,962   

United Kingdom

     352,088,261         421,165,789                 773,254,050   

Switzerland

             434,416,436                 434,416,436   

France

             230,360,506                 230,360,506   

Canada

     116,611,115                         116,611,115   
Mutual Funds      286,525,599                         286,525,599   
Total Investments      $22,401,463,937         $1,085,942,731         $—         $23,487,406,668   

For further information regarding security characteristics, see the Portfolio of Investments.

Of the level 2 investments presented above, equity investments amounting to $664,776,942 would have been considered level 1 investments at the beginning of the period. The primary reason for changes in the classifications between levels 1 and 2 occurs when foreign equity securities are fair valued using other observable market-based inputs in place of the closing exchange price due to events occurring after the close of the exchange or market on which the investment is principally traded. The fund’s foreign equity securities may often be valued at fair value. The fund’s policy is to recognize transfers between the levels as of the end of the period.

Foreign Currency Translation – Purchases and sales of foreign investments, income, and expenses are converted into U.S. dollars based upon currency exchange rates prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions or on the reporting date for foreign denominated receivables and payables. Gains and losses attributable to foreign currency exchange rates on sales of securities are recorded for financial statement purposes as net realized gains and losses on investments. Gains and losses attributable to foreign exchange rate movements on receivables, payables, income and expenses are recorded for financial statement purposes as foreign currency transaction gains and losses. That portion of both realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments that results from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates is not separately disclosed.

Security Loans – State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”), as lending agent, loans the securities of the fund to certain qualified institutions (the “Borrowers”) approved by the fund. The loans are collateralized by cash and/or U.S. Treasury and federal agency obligations in an amount typically at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. The market value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of business of the fund and any additional required collateral is delivered to the fund on the next business day. State Street provides the fund with indemnification against Borrower default. The fund bears the risk of loss with respect to the investment of cash collateral. On loans collateralized by cash, the cash collateral is invested in a money market fund or short-term securities. A portion of the income generated upon investment of the collateral is remitted to the Borrowers, and the remainder is allocated between the fund and the lending agent. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasury and/or federal agency obligations, a fee is received from the Borrower, and is allocated

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

between the fund and the lending agent. Income from securities lending is included in “Interest” income on the Statement of Operations. The dividend and interest income earned on the securities loaned is accounted for in the same manner as other dividend and interest income. At February 28, 2013 there were no securities on loan or collateral outstanding

Indemnifications – Under the fund’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the fund enters into agreements with service providers that may contain indemnification clauses. The fund’s maximum exposure under these agreements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the fund that have not yet occurred.

Investment Transactions and Income – Investment transactions are recorded on the trade date. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends received in cash are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Certain dividends from foreign securities will be recorded when the fund is informed of the dividend if such information is obtained subsequent to the ex-dividend date. Dividend and interest payments received in additional securities are recorded on the ex-dividend or ex-interest date in an amount equal to the value of the security on such date.

The fund may receive proceeds from litigation settlements. Any proceeds received from litigation involving portfolio holdings are reflected in the Statement of Operations in realized gain/loss if the security has been disposed of by the fund or in unrealized gain/loss if the security is still held by the fund. Any other proceeds from litigation not related to portfolio holdings are reflected as other income in the Statement of Operations.

Fees Paid Indirectly – The fund’s custody fee may be reduced according to an arrangement that measures the value of cash deposited with the custodian by the fund. This amount, for the six months ended February 28, 2013, is shown as a reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations.

Tax Matters and Distributions – The fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to distribute all of its taxable income, including realized capital gains. As a result, no provision for federal income tax is required. The fund’s federal tax returns, when filed, will remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for a three year period. Foreign taxes have been accrued by the fund in the accompanying financial statements.

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Certain capital accounts in the financial statements are periodically adjusted for permanent differences in order to reflect their tax character. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or net asset value per share. Temporary differences which arise from recognizing certain items of income, expense, gain or loss in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes will reverse at some time in the future. Distributions in excess of net investment income or net realized gains are temporary overdistributions for financial

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

statement purposes resulting from differences in the recognition or classification of income or distributions for financial statement and tax purposes.

Book/tax differences primarily relate to wash sale loss deferrals, treating a portion of the proceeds from redemptions as a distribution for tax purposes, write-off of capital loss carryforwards, and redemptions in-kind.

The tax character of distributions made during the current period will be determined at fiscal year end. The tax character of distributions declared to shareholders for the last fiscal year is as follows:

 

     8/31/12  
Ordinary income (including any short-term capital gains)      $327,177,582   

The federal tax cost and the tax basis components of distributable earnings were as follows:

 

As of 2/28/13       
Cost of investments      $18,298,651,113   
Gross appreciation      5,367,729,807   
Gross depreciation      (178,974,252
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)      $5,188,755,555   
As of 8/31/12       
Undistributed ordinary income      66,672,267   
Undistributed long-term capital gain      153,933,923   
Capital loss carryforwards      (34,208,360
Other temporary differences      (109,268
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)      2,965,317,570   

The aggregate cost above includes prior fiscal year end tax adjustments, if applicable.

Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized for fund fiscal years beginning after August 31, 2011 may be carried forward indefinitely, and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses (“post-enactment losses”). Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for eight years and treated as short-term losses (“pre-enactment losses”). As a transition rule, the Act requires that all post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

As of August 31, 2012, the fund had capital loss carryforwards available to offset future realized gains. Such losses expire as follows:

 

8/31/16      $(34,208,360

The availability of a portion of the capital loss carryforwards, which were acquired on July 24, 2009 in connection with the MFS Strategic Value Fund merger, may be limited in a given year.

Multiple Classes of Shares of Beneficial Interest – The fund offers multiple classes of shares, which differ in their respective distribution, service, and program manager fees. The fund’s income, realized and unrealized gain (loss), and common expenses are allocated to shareholders based on the daily net assets of each class. Dividends are

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

declared separately for each class. Differences in per share dividend rates are generally due to differences in separate class expenses. Class B and Class 529B shares will convert to Class A and Class 529A shares, respectively, approximately eight years after purchase. The fund’s distributions declared to shareholders as reported in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets are presented by class as follows:

 

     From net investment
income
     From net realized gain on
investments
 
     Six months
ended

2/28/13
     Year
ended
8/31/12
     Six months
ended

2/28/13
     Year
ended
8/31/12
 
Class A      $63,534,838         $98,708,200         $48,212,677         $—   
Class B      927,431         1,726,725         1,187,967           
Class C      5,198,056         9,100,000         6,592,979           
Class I      84,193,240         120,549,342         56,611,637           
Class R1      185,293         349,942         235,781           
Class R2      4,267,060         7,834,093         3,723,631           
Class R3      9,950,001         16,118,766         7,594,960           
Class R4      32,794,688         47,793,898         22,295,640           
Class R5      10,961,872         24,836,399         7,394,398           
Class 529A      79,937         123,759         63,081           
Class 529B      5,174         10,871         7,028           
Class 529C      15,965         25,587         20,805           
Total      $212,113,555         $327,177,582         $153,940,584         $—   

On May 30, 2012, Class W shares were redesignated Class R5. See Note 5 for additional information.

(3) Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Adviser – The fund has an investment advisory agreement with MFS to provide overall investment management and related administrative services and facilities to the fund.

The management fee is computed daily and paid monthly at the following annual rates:

 

First $7.5 billion of average daily net assets      0.60
Next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets      0.53
Average daily net assets in excess of $10 billion      0.50

The investment adviser had agreed in writing to reduce its management fee to 0.45% of average daily net assets in excess of $12.5 billion. This written agreement was terminated on December 31, 2012. Effective January 1, 2013, the investment adviser has agreed in writing to reduce its management fee to 0.45% of average daily net assets in excess of $20 billion. This written agreement will continue until modified by the fund’s Board of Trustees, but such agreement will continue at least until December 31, 2013. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, this management fee reduction amounted to $1,673,384, which is shown as a reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations.

The management fee incurred for the six months ended February 28, 2013 was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.52% of the fund’s average daily net assets.

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

Distributor – MFS Fund Distributors, Inc. (MFD), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MFS, as distributor, received $922,611 and $3,590 for the six months ended February 28, 2013, as its portion of the initial sales charge on sales of Class A and Class 529A shares of the fund, respectively.

The Board of Trustees has adopted a distribution plan for certain class shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

The fund’s distribution plan provides that the fund will pay MFD for services provided by MFD and financial intermediaries in connection with the distribution and servicing of certain share classes. One component of the plan is a distribution fee paid to MFD and another component of the plan is a service fee paid to MFD. MFD may subsequently pay all, or a portion, of the distribution and/or service fees to financial intermediaries.

Distribution Plan Fee Table:

 

     Distribution
Fee Rate (d)
     Service
Fee Rate (d)
     Total
Distribution
Plan (d)
     Annual
Effective
Rate (e)
     Distribution
and Service
Fee
 
Class A              0.25%         0.25%         0.25%         $8,436,799   
Class B      0.75%         0.25%         1.00%         1.00%         827,076   
Class C      0.75%         0.25%         1.00%         1.00%         4,583,587   
Class R1      0.75%         0.25%         1.00%         1.00%         161,012   
Class R2      0.25%         0.25%         0.50%         0.50%         1,298,100   
Class R3              0.25%         0.25%         0.25%         1,326,701   
Class 529A              0.25%         0.25%         0.25%         10,915   
Class 529B      0.75%         0.25%         1.00%         1.00%         4,789   
Class 529C      0.75%         0.25%         1.00%         1.00%         13,975   
Total Distribution and Service Fees            $16,662,954   

 

(d) In accordance with the distribution plan for certain classes, the fund pays distribution and/or service fees equal to these annual percentage rates of each class’s average daily net assets. The distribution and service fee rates disclosed by class represent the current rates in effect at the end of the reporting period. Any rate changes, if applicable, are detailed below.
(e) The annual effective rates represent actual fees incurred under the distribution plan for the six months ended February 28, 2013 based on each class’s average daily net assets.

Certain Class A shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) in the event of a shareholder redemption within 18 months of purchase for shares purchased on or after August 1, 2012, and within 24 months of purchase for shares purchased prior to August 1, 2012. Class C and Class 529C shares are subject to a CDSC in the event of a shareholder redemption within 12 months of purchase. Class B and Class 529B shares are subject to a CDSC in the event of a shareholder redemption within six years of purchase. All contingent deferred sales charges are paid to MFD and during the six months ended February 28, 2013, were as follows:

 

     Amount  
Class A      $15,932   
Class B      89,900   
Class C      26,756   
Class 529B      82   
Class 529C      1   

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

The fund has entered into and may from time to time enter into contracts with program managers and other parties which administer the tuition programs through which an investment in the fund’s 529 share classes is made. The fund has entered into an agreement with MFD pursuant to which MFD receives an annual fee of up to 0.10% of the average daily net assets attributable to each 529 share class. MFD has agreed to waive a portion of this fee in an amount equal to 0.05% of the average daily net assets for each 529 share class. This waiver agreement will continue until modified by the fund’s Board of Trustees but such agreement will continue at least until December 31, 2013, after which MFD may eliminate this waiver without a vote of the fund’s Board of Trustees. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, this waiver amounted to $3,121 and is reflected as a reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations. The program manager fee incurred for the six months ended February 28, 2013 was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.05% of the average daily net assets attributable to each 529 share class. The services provided by MFD, or a third party with which MFD contracts, include recordkeeping and tax reporting and account services, as well as services designed to maintain the program’s compliance with the Internal Revenue Code and other regulatory requirements. Program manager fees and waivers for the six months ended February 28, 2013, were as follows:

 

     Fee      Waiver  
Class 529A      $4,366         $2,183   
Class 529B      479         239   
Class 529C      1,397         699   
Total Program Manager Fees and Waivers      $6,242         $3,121   

Shareholder Servicing Agent – MFS Service Center, Inc. (MFSC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MFS, receives a fee from the fund for its services as shareholder servicing agent calculated as a percentage of the average daily net assets of the fund as determined periodically under the supervision of the fund’s Board of Trustees. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, the fee was $1,231,307, which equated to 0.0114% annually of the fund’s average daily net assets. MFSC also receives payment from the fund for out-of-pocket expenses, sub-accounting and other shareholder servicing costs which may be paid to affiliated and unaffiliated service providers. Class R5 shares do not incur sub-accounting fees. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, these out-of-pocket expenses, sub-accounting and other shareholder servicing costs amounted to $10,894,914.

Administrator – MFS provides certain financial, legal, shareholder communications, compliance, and other administrative services to the fund. Under an administrative services agreement, the fund partially reimburses MFS the costs incurred to provide these services. The fund is charged an annual fixed amount of $17,500 plus a fee based on average daily net assets. The administrative services fee incurred for the six months ended February 28, 2013 was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.0025% of the fund’s average daily net assets.

Trustees’ and Officers’ Compensation – The fund pays compensation to independent Trustees in the form of a retainer, attendance fees, and additional compensation to Board and Committee chairpersons. The fund does not pay compensation directly to Trustees or officers of the fund who are also officers of the

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

investment adviser, all of whom receive remuneration for their services to the fund from MFS. Certain officers and Trustees of the fund are officers or directors of MFS and MFSC.

Prior to December 31, 2001, the fund had an unfunded defined benefit plan (“DB plan”) for independent Trustees. As of December 31, 2001, the Board took action to terminate the DB plan with respect to then-current and any future independent Trustees, such that the DB plan covers only certain of those former independent Trustees who retired on or before December 31, 2001. The DB plan resulted in a pension expense of $82 and is included in independent Trustees’ compensation for the six months ended February 28, 2013. The liability for deferred retirement benefits payable to certain independent Trustees under the DB plan amounted to $4,639 at February 28, 2013, and is included in “Payable for independent Trustees’ compensation” in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Other – This fund and certain other funds managed by MFS (the funds) have entered into services agreements (the Agreements) which provide for payment of fees by the funds to Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC in return for the provision of services of an Independent Chief Compliance Officer (ICCO) and Assistant ICCO, respectively, for the funds. The ICCO and Assistant ICCO are officers of the funds and the sole members of Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC, respectively. The funds can terminate the Agreements with Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC at any time under the terms of the Agreements. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, the aggregate fees paid by the fund to Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC were $65,387 and are included in “Miscellaneous” expense in the Statement of Operations. MFS has agreed to reimburse the fund for a portion of the payments made by the fund in the amount of $18,975, which is shown as a reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations. Additionally, MFS has agreed to bear all expenses associated with office space, other administrative support, and supplies provided to the ICCO and Assistant ICCO.

The fund invests in the MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio which is managed by MFS and seeks current income consistent with preservation of capital and liquidity. Income earned on this investment is included in “Dividends from underlying affiliated funds” in the Statement of Operations. This money market fund does not pay a management fee to MFS.

(4) Portfolio Securities

Purchases and sales of investments, other than short-term obligations, aggregated $1,978,752,878 and $1,380,996,342, respectively.

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

(5) Shares of Beneficial Interest

The fund’s Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest. Transactions in fund shares were as follows:

 

     Six months ended
2/28/13
     Year ended
8/31/12
 
     Shares      Amount      Shares      Amount  
Shares sold            

Class A

     27,740,361         $720,402,643         101,576,026         $2,400,718,106   

Class B

     258,996         6,707,680         1,177,218         27,341,091   

Class C

     2,360,971         60,848,066         4,208,466         97,217,907   

Class I

     72,896,943         1,923,873,866         162,020,533         3,889,917,304   

Class R1

     137,027         3,484,328         346,230         7,942,833   

Class R2

     2,133,639         54,942,987         4,909,546         113,270,694   

Class R3

     5,444,991         140,736,160         15,359,979         352,757,135   

Class R4

     14,175,680         365,379,617         40,785,478         960,911,334   

Class R5

     20,679,009         528,429,980         52,410,054         1,218,231,409   

Class 529A

     26,641         683,131         64,477         1,492,662   

Class 529B

     1,187         30,131         5,300         121,535   

Class 529C

     11,543         293,574         16,701         387,565   
     145,866,988         $3,805,812,163         382,880,008         $9,070,309,575   
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions            

Class A

     3,993,507         $101,366,248         3,818,234         $86,086,303   

Class B

     75,780         1,915,073         68,019         1,522,062   

Class C

     294,376         7,406,458         242,838         5,421,963   

Class I

     3,729,319         95,078,035         3,531,395         80,008,450   

Class R1

     16,819         420,471         15,756         349,568   

Class R2

     304,168         7,658,997         337,968         7,539,321   

Class R3

     692,955         17,540,318         715,369         16,114,074   

Class R4

     2,119,549         53,787,078         2,054,612         46,411,632   

Class R5

     723,421         18,356,270         1,075,411         24,060,387   

Class 529A

     5,667         142,950         5,520         123,759   

Class 529B

     487         12,173         491         10,866   

Class 529C

     1,475         36,770         1,146         25,352   
     11,957,523         $303,720,841         11,866,759         $267,673,737   

 

37


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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

     Six months ended
2/28/13
    Year ended
8/31/12
 
     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount  
Shares reacquired         

Class A

     (37,349,105     $(967,588,326     (72,104,947     $(1,686,180,512

Class B

     (964,435     (24,931,374     (2,877,934     (66,122,400

Class C

     (3,598,305     (92,018,772     (7,970,996     (182,992,253

Class I

     (45,494,834     (1,191,382,189     (107,169,770     (2,516,493,364

Class R1

     (268,110     (6,811,973     (613,462     (13,941,269

Class R2

     (3,495,772     (89,566,204     (7,224,225     (165,364,122

Class R3

     (4,962,845     (127,790,703     (9,963,593     (233,775,094

Class R4

     (26,439,376     (677,254,297     (19,348,080     (452,651,858

Class R5

     (1,209,280     (31,874,808     (76,888,139     (1,845,948,480

Class 529A

     (10,279     (262,092     (29,757     (689,366

Class 529B

     (4,224     (107,589     (19,917     (462,377

Class 529C

     (9,882     (254,475     (24,801     (574,523
     (123,806,447     $(3,209,842,802     (304,235,621     $(7,165,195,618
Net change         

Class A

     (5,615,237     $(145,819,435     33,289,313        $800,623,897   

Class B

     (629,659     (16,308,621     (1,632,697     (37,259,247

Class C

     (942,958     (23,764,248     (3,519,692     (80,352,383

Class I

     31,131,428        827,569,712        58,382,158        1,453,432,390   

Class R1

     (114,264     (2,907,174     (251,476     (5,648,868

Class R2

     (1,057,965     (26,964,220     (1,976,711     (44,554,107

Class R3

     1,175,101        30,485,775        6,111,755        135,096,115   

Class R4

     (10,144,147     (258,087,602     23,492,010        554,671,108   

Class R5

     20,193,150        514,911,442        (23,402,674     (603,656,684

Class 529A

     22,029        563,989        40,240        927,055   

Class 529B

     (2,550     (65,285     (14,126     (329,976

Class 529C

     3,136        75,869        (6,954     (161,606
     34,018,064        $899,690,202        90,511,146        $2,172,787,694   

The fund is one of several mutual funds in which the MFS funds-of-funds may invest. The MFS funds-of-funds do not invest in the underlying MFS funds for the purpose of exercising management or control. At the end of the period, the MFS Growth Allocation Fund, the MFS Moderate Allocation Fund, the MFS Aggressive Growth Allocation Fund, and the MFS Conservative Allocation Fund were the owners of record of approximately 2%, 1%, 1%, and 1%, respectively, of the value of outstanding voting shares of the fund. In addition, the MFS Lifetime Retirement Income Fund, the MFS Lifetime 2010 Fund, the MFS Lifetime 2015 Fund, the MFS Lifetime 2020 Fund, the MFS Lifetime 2025 Fund, the MFS Lifetime 2030 Fund, the MFS Lifetime 2035 Fund, the MFS Lifetime 2040 Fund, the MFS Lifetime 2045 Fund, the MFS Lifetime 2050 Fund, and the MFS Lifetime 2055 Fund were each the owners of record of less than 1% of the value of outstanding voting shares of the fund.

Redesignation of Class W to Class R5 – On May 10, 2012, sales of Class W shares (including exchanges) were suspended. On May 11, 2012, certain Class W shares were

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

automatically converted to Class I shares. Shareholders of certain Class W shares became shareholders of Class I and received Class I shares with a total net asset value equal to their Class W shares at the time of the conversion. On May 30, 2012, remaining Class W shares, which represented MFS seed money, were redesignated Class R5. Class R5 shares are generally available only to certain eligible retirement plans and to funds distributed by MFD. Class R5 shares do not pay a 12b-1 distribution fee or sub-accounting costs. On June 1, 2012, Class R5 shares were offered for sale to the public.

(6) Line of Credit

The fund and certain other funds managed by MFS participate in a $1.1 billion unsecured committed line of credit, subject to a $1 billion sublimit, provided by a syndication of banks under a credit agreement. Borrowings may be made for temporary financing needs. Interest is charged to each fund, based on its borrowings, generally at a rate equal to the higher of the Federal Reserve funds rate or one month LIBOR plus an agreed upon spread. A commitment fee, based on the average daily, unused portion of the committed line of credit, is allocated among the participating funds at the end of each calendar quarter. In addition, the fund and other funds managed by MFS have established unsecured uncommitted borrowing arrangements with certain banks for temporary financing needs. Interest is charged to each fund, based on its borrowings, at a rate equal to the Federal Reserve funds rate plus an agreed upon spread. For the six months ended February 28, 2013, the fund’s commitment fee and interest expense were $62,558 and $0, respectively, and are included in “Miscellaneous” expense in the Statement of Operations.

(7) Transactions in Underlying Affiliated Funds-Affiliated Issuers

An affiliated issuer may be considered one in which the fund owns 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities, or a company which is under common control. For the purposes of this report, the fund assumes the following to be an affiliated issuer:

 

Underlying Affiliated Fund    Beginning
Shares/Par
Amount
     Acquisitions
Shares/Par
Amount
     Dispositions
Shares/Par
Amount
    Ending
Shares/Par
Amount
 
MFS Institutional Money
Market Portfolio
     84,789,410         1,597,426,347         (1,395,690,158     286,525,599   
Underlying Affiliated Fund    Realized
Gain (Loss)
     Capital Gain
Distributions
     Dividend
Income
    Ending
Value
 
MFS Institutional Money
Market Portfolio
     $—         $—         $224,284        $286,525,599   

(8) Redemptions In-Kind

On September 13, 2011, the fund recorded redemption proceeds for a distribution in-kind of portfolio securities that were valued at $14,673,898. The redeeming shareholder generally receives a pro rata share of the securities held by the fund. The distribution of such securities generated a realized gain of $4,770,592 for the fund.

On January 26, 2012, the fund recorded redemption proceeds for a distribution in-kind of portfolio securities that were valued at $180,389,213. The redeeming shareholder generally receives a pro rata share of the securities held by the fund. The distribution of such securities generated a realized gain of $37,005,555 for the fund.

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

On April 30, 2012, the fund recorded redemption proceeds for a distribution in-kind of portfolio securities that were valued at $15,721,682. The redeeming shareholder generally receives a pro rata share of the securities held by the fund. The distribution of such securities generated a realized gain of $6,044,203 for the fund.

 

40


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BOARD REVIEW OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

A discussion regarding the Board’s most recent review and renewal of the fund’s Investment Advisory Agreement with MFS is available by clicking on the fund’s name under “Mutual Funds” in the “Products” section of the MFS Web site (mfs.com).

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND INFORMATION

A general description of the MFS funds’ proxy voting policies and procedures is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-225-2606, by visiting the Proxy Voting section of mfs.com or by visiting the SEC’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov.

Information regarding how the fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 is available without charge by visiting the Proxy Voting section of mfs.com or by visiting the SEC’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov.

QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO DISCLOSURE

The fund will file a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. A shareholder can obtain the quarterly portfolio holdings report at mfs.com. The fund’s Form N-Q is also available on the EDGAR database on the Commission’s Internet Web site at http://www.sec.gov, and may be reviewed and copied at the:

Public Reference Room

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, NE, Room 1580

Washington, D.C. 20549

Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. Copies of the fund’s Form N-Q also may be obtained, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the Public Reference Section at the above address.

FURTHER INFORMATION

From time to time, MFS may post important information about the fund or the MFS funds on the MFS web site (mfs.com). This information is available by visiting the “News & Commentary” section of mfs.com or by clicking on the fund’s name under “Mutual Funds” in the “Products” section of mfs.com.

PROVISION OF FINANCIAL REPORTS AND SUMMARY PROSPECTUSES

The fund produces financial reports every six months and updates its summary prospectus and prospectus annually. To avoid sending duplicate copies of materials to households, only one copy of the fund’s annual and semiannual report and summary prospectus may be mailed to shareholders having the same last name and residential address on the fund’s records. However, any shareholder may contact MFSC (please see back cover for address and telephone number) to request that copies of these reports and summary prospectuses be sent personally to that shareholder.

 

41


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LOGO

 

Save paper with eDelivery.

 

LOGO

MFS® will send you prospectuses,

reports, and proxies directly via e-mail so you will get information faster with less mailbox clutter.

To sign up:

1. Go to mfs.com.

2. Log in via MFS® Access.

3. Select eDelivery.

If you own your MFS fund shares through a financial institution or a retirement plan, MFS® TALK, MFS® Access, or eDelivery may not be available to you.

 

CONTACT

WEB SITE

mfs.com

MFS TALK

1-800-637-8255

24 hours a day

ACCOUNT SERVICE AND LITERATURE

Shareholders

1-800-225-2606

Financial advisors

1-800-343-2829

Retirement plan services

1-800-637-1255

MAILING ADDRESS

MFS Service Center, Inc.

P.O. Box 55824

Boston, MA 02205-5824

OVERNIGHT MAIL

MFS Service Center, Inc.

c/o Boston Financial Data Services

30 Dan Road

Canton, MA 02021-2809

 


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ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS.

During the period covered by this report, the Registrant has not amended any provision in its Code of Ethics (the “Code”) that relates to an element of the Code’s definitions enumerated in paragraph (b) of Item 2 of this Form N-CSR. During the period covered by this report, the Registrant did not grant a waiver, including an implicit waiver, from any provision of the Code.

 

ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.

Not applicable for semi-annual reports.

 

ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.

Not applicable for semi-annual reports.

 

ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.

Not applicable to the Registrant.

 

ITEM 6. INVESTMENTS

A schedule of investments for each series of the Registrant is included as part of the report to shareholders of such series under Item 1 of this Form N-CSR.

 

ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

Not applicable to the Registrant.

 

ITEM 8. PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

Not applicable to the Registrant.

 

ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.

Not applicable to the Registrant.


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ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

There were no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may send recommendations to the Board for nominees to the Registrant’s Board since the Registrant last provided disclosure as to such procedures in response to the requirements of
Item 407 (c)(2)(iv) of Regulation S-K or this Item.

 

ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

 

(a) Based upon their evaluation of the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in
Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Act”)) as conducted within 90 days of the filing date of this report on Form N-CSR, the registrant’s principal financial officer and principal executive officer have concluded that those disclosure controls and procedures provide reasonable assurance that the material information required to be disclosed by the registrant on this report is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.

 

(b) There were no changes in the registrant’s internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Act) that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by the report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

ITEM 12. EXHIBITS.

 

(a) File the exhibits listed below as part of this form. Letter or number the exhibits in the sequence indicated.

 

  (1) Any code of ethics, or amendment thereto, that is the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2, to the extent that the registrant intends to satisfy the Item 2 requirements through filing of an exhibit.

 

  (2) A separate certification for each principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2): Attached hereto.

 

(b) If the report is filed under Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, provide the certifications required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(b)), Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13a-14(b) or
240.15d-14(b)) and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code (18 U.S.C. 1350) as an exhibit. A certification furnished pursuant to this paragraph will not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78r), or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Such certification will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the registrant specifically incorporates it by reference: Attached hereto.


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Notice

A copy of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, as amended, of the Registrant is on file with the Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and notice is hereby given that this instrument is executed on behalf of the Registrant by an officer of the Registrant as an officer and not individually and the obligations of or arising out of this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees or shareholders individually, but are binding only upon the assets and property of the respective constituent series of the Registrant.


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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

(Registrant) MFS SERIES TRUST I

 

By (Signature and Title)*    JOHN M. CORCORAN
  John M. Corcoran, President

Date: April 12, 2013

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By (Signature and Title)*    JOHN M. CORCORAN
 

John M. Corcoran, President

(Principal Executive Officer)

Date: April 12, 2013

 

By (Signature and Title)*    DAVID L. DILORENZO
 

David L. DiLorenzo, Treasurer

(Principal Financial Officer

and Accounting Officer)

Date: April 12, 2013

 

* Print name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.