0001193125-12-347866.txt : 20120809 0001193125-12-347866.hdr.sgml : 20120809 20120809170129 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-12-347866 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: SC TO-I PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 10 FILED AS OF DATE: 20120809 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20120809 SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: MFS HIGH YIELD MUNICIPAL TRUST CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000809844 IRS NUMBER: 042950868 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MA FISCAL YEAR END: 1130 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC TO-I SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 005-84331 FILM NUMBER: 121021131 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 500 BOYLSTON ST STREET 2: 20TH FL LEGAL DEPT. CITY: BOSTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02116 BUSINESS PHONE: 6179545000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 500 BOYLSTON ST STREET 2: 20TH FL LEGAL DEPT CITY: BOSTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02116 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: COLONIAL MUNICIPAL INCOME TRUST DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: MFS HIGH YIELD MUNICIPAL TRUST CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000809844 IRS NUMBER: 042950868 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MA FISCAL YEAR END: 1130 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC TO-I BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 500 BOYLSTON ST STREET 2: 20TH FL LEGAL DEPT. CITY: BOSTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02116 BUSINESS PHONE: 6179545000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 500 BOYLSTON ST STREET 2: 20TH FL LEGAL DEPT CITY: BOSTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02116 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: COLONIAL MUNICIPAL INCOME TRUST DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 SC TO-I 1 d379945dsctoi.htm MFS HIGH YIELD MUNICIPAL TRUST SC TO-I MFS HIGH YIELD MUNICIPAL TRUST SC TO-I

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE TO

Tender Offer Statement Under Section 14(D)(1) or 13(E)(1) of the

Securities Exchange Act Of 1934

 

 

MFS High Yield Municipal Trust

(Name of Subject Company (Issuer))

 

 

MFS High Yield Municipal Trust

(Name of Filing Person (Issuer))

Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares, Series F, Without Par

(Title of Class of Securities)

59318E201

(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)

Susan S. Newton

Massachusetts Financial Services Company

500 Boylston Street

Boston, MA 02116

Telephone: (617) 951-7000

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications on Behalf of the Person(s) Filing Statement)

With a Copy to:

David C. Sullivan

Ropes & Gray LLP

Prudential Tower

800 Boylston Street

Boston, MA 02199-3600

Telephone: (617) 951-7000

Calculation of Filing Fee

 

Transaction Valuation   Amount of Filing Fee
$71,250,000 (a)   $8,165.25 (b)

(a) Calculated as the aggregate maximum purchase price to be paid for 3,000 shares in the offer, based upon a price of 95% of the liquidation preference of $25,000 per share (or $23,750 per share). The aggregate maximum purchase price to be paid by each Trust is as follows:

(b) Calculated at $114.60 per $1,000,000 of the Transaction Valuation.

 

¨ Check the box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing with which the offsetting fee was previously paid. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

Amount Previously Paid:    Not Applicable    Filing Party:  Not Applicable
Form or Registration No.:   Not Applicable    Date Filed:    Not Applicable

 

¨ Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary communications made before the commencement of a tender offer.

Check the appropriate boxes below to designate any transactions to which the statement relates:

 

¨ third party tender offer subject to Rule 14d-1.

 

x issuer tender offer subject to Rule 13e-4.

 

¨ going-private transaction subject to Rule 13e-3.

 

¨ amendment to Schedule 13D under Rule 13d-2.

Check the following box if the filing is a final amendment reporting the results of the tender offer.  ¨

 

 

 


ITEMS 1 THROUGH 9 AND ITEM 11.

This Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO is filed by MFS High Yield Municipal Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Trust”). This Schedule TO relates to the Trust’s offer to purchase for cash up to 100% of its outstanding shares of preferred stock, without par value and a liquidation preference of $25,000 per share, designated Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares, Series F (the “Preferred Stock”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Trust’s Offer to Purchase dated August 9, 2012 (the “Offer to Purchase”) and the related Letter of Transmittal (the “Letter of Transmittal” which, together with the Offer to Purchase, as each may be amended and supplemented from time to time, constitute the “Offer”), copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibits (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii), respectively. The price to be paid for the Preferred Stock is an amount per share, net to the seller in cash, equal to 95% of the liquidation preference of $25,000 per share (or $23,750 per share), plus any unpaid dividends accrued through September 7, 2012, or such later date to which the Offer is extended. The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal is incorporated herein by reference with respect to Items 1 through 9 and Item 11 of this Schedule TO.

ITEM 10.

Not applicable.

ITEM 12. EXHIBITS.

 

Exhibit No.    Document
(a)(1)(i)    Offer to Purchase dated August 9, 2012.
(a)(1)(ii)    Form of Letter of Transmittal.
(a)(1)(iii)    Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.
(a)(1)(iv)    Form of Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees.
(a)(1)(v)    Form of Letter to Clients for use by Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees.
(a)(1)(vi)    Form of Notice of Withdrawal.
(a)(1)(vii)    Script furnished to individuals making solicitations in connection with the tender offer.
(a)(5)(i)    Definitive proxy statement dated August 9, 2012 and filed on Schedule 14A (incorporated by reference to the Trust’s Schedule 14A filed on August 9, 2012).
(a)(5)(ii)    Script furnished to individuals making solicitations in connection with the proxy statement.
(a)(5)(iii)    Press Release issued on August 9, 2012.

ITEM 13.

Not applicable.


SIGNATURE

After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

 

MFS High Yield Municipal Trust
By:   /s/    SUSAN S. NEWTON        
Name:   Susan S. Newton
Title:   Assistant Secretary and Assistant Clerk

Dated as of: August 9, 2012


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

  

Document

(a)(1)(i)    Offer to Purchase dated August 9, 2012.
(a)(1)(ii)    Form of Letter of Transmittal.
(a)(1)(iii)    Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.
(a)(1)(iv)    Form of Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees.
(a)(1)(v)    Form of Letter to Clients for use by Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees.
(a)(1)(vi)    Form of Notice of Withdrawal.
(a)(1)(vii)    Script furnished to individuals making solicitations in connection with the tender offer.
(a)(5)(i)    Definitive proxy statement dated August 9, 2012 and filed on Schedule 14A (incorporated by reference to the Trust’s Schedule 14A filed on August 9, 2012).
(a)(5)(ii)    Script furnished to individuals making solicitations in connection with the proxy statement.
(a)(5)(iii)    Press Release issued on August 9, 2012.
EX-99.(A)(1)(I) 2 d379945dex99a1i.htm OFFER TO PURCHASE OFFER TO PURCHASE
Table of Contents

Offer by

Each of

MFS® MUNICIPAL INCOME TRUST

MFS® INVESTMENT GRADE MUNICIPAL TRUST

MFS® CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL FUND

MFS® HIGH INCOME MUNICIPAL TRUST

MFS® HIGH YIELD MUNICIPAL TRUST

(each a “Fund”)

To Purchase for Cash

Up to 100% of Its Outstanding Preferred Shares

(MFS Municipal Income Trust; Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares Series T and Series TH)

(MFS Investment Grade Municipal Trust; Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares Series M)

(MFS California Municipal Fund; Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares Series TH)

(MFS High Income Municipal Trust; Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares Series T and Series W)

(MFS High Yield Municipal Trust; Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares Series F)

 

 

EACH FUND’S OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 8:00 A.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2012, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED.

 

 

Each Fund’s Offer (as defined herein) is conditioned upon there being validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration of such Fund’s offer that number of Preferred Shares (as defined herein) which represent at least 70% of the Fund’s outstanding Preferred Shares, the Fund’s issuance of privately placed new preferred shares (“New Preferred Shares”) in an amount equal to the aggregate liquidation preference of the Preferred Shares accepted for payment in such Fund’s Offer, the approval of the proposal to amend such Fund’s Bylaws to replace Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (“S&P”) with Fitch, Inc. (“Fitch”) as a rating agency for the Preferred Shares and to make certain other changes, as set forth in the Fund’s proxy statement dated August 9, 2012, and certain other conditions as outlined in this Offer and in the related letter of transmittal.

If the Offer of any Fund is completed, such Fund will purchase Preferred Shares at a price equal to 95% of the liquidation preference of $25,000 per share if properly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the Expiration Date (as defined herein).

 

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Neither the Funds, nor the Funds’ Boards of Trustees (each a “Board”) nor Massachusetts Financial Services Company, the investment adviser for each of the Funds (the “Adviser” or “MFS”), makes any recommendation as to whether to tender or not to tender Preferred Shares in the Offer. No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations in connection with the Offer other than those contained in this Offer and in the letter of transmittal, and, if given or made, such information or representations may not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Boards or the officers of the Funds or the Adviser. The Funds have been advised that no Trustee or executive officer of any Fund intends to tender any Preferred Shares pursuant to the Offer.

You may direct questions and requests for assistance to AST Fund Solutions, the information agent for the Offer, at its address and telephone number set forth on the back cover of this Offer. Shareholders may obtain additional copies of this Offer, the letter of transmittal, the notice of guaranteed delivery, the notice of withdrawal or any other tender materials from the information agent and may also contact their brokers, dealers, banks, trust companies or other nominees for copies of these documents. If you do not wish to tender your Preferred Shares, you need not take any action.

IMPORTANT PROCEDURES

If you want to tender all or part of your Preferred Shares, you must do one of the following before the Offer expires:

 

   

If your Preferred Shares are registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, contact the nominee and have the nominee tender your Preferred Shares for you; or

 

   

Deliver your Preferred Shares pursuant to the procedures for book-entry transfers set forth in Section 3 of this Offer prior to the expiration date of the applicable tender offer.

If you want to tender your Preferred Shares and your Preferred Shares are not immediately available, or you cannot comply with the procedures for book-entry transfers described in this Offer on a timely basis, you may tender such Preferred Shares by following the procedures for guaranteed delivery set forth in Section 3 of this Offer. A Fund may reject any tender not fully in compliance with these procedures.

To tender your Preferred Shares, you must follow the procedures described in this Offer, the letter of transmittal and the other documents related to the Offer.

THIS OFFER TO PURCHASE AND EACH FUND’S RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION, AND YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY READ BOTH IN THEIR ENTIRETY BEFORE YOU MAKE A DECISION WITH RESPECT TO THE OFFER.

August 9, 2012

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     PAGE  

SUMMARY TERM SHEET

     4   

INTRODUCTION

     8   

THE OFFER

     10   

1. Terms of the Offer; Expiration Date

     10   

2. Extension of Tender Period; Termination; Amendment

     11   

3. Procedures for Tendering Preferred Shares

     11   

4. Withdrawal Rights

     13   

5. Acceptance for Payment and Payment

     14   

6. Certain Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences

     15   

7. Price Range of Preferred Shares; Dividends

     17   

8. Source and Amount of Funds; Effect of the Offer

     18   

9. Purpose of the Offer

     21   

10. Information Concerning the Funds

     21   

11. Interest of the Trustees and Executive Officers; Transactions and Arrangements

     22   

12. Legal Matters; Regulatory Approvals

     22   

13. Conditions to the Offer

     23   

14. Fees and Expenses

     24   

15. Miscellaneous

     24   

 

 

 

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SUMMARY TERM SHEET

 

   
SECURITIES SOUGHT:    Up to 100% of the Preferred Shares of each Fund
   
PRICE OFFERED PER SHARE:    95% of the liquidation preference of $25,000 per share (or $23,750 per share)
   
SCHEDULED EXPIRATION DATE:    September 7, 2012
   
PURCHASER:   

Each of:

MFS Municipal Income Trust

MFS Investment Grade Municipal Trust

MFS California Municipal Fund

MFS High Income Municipal Trust

MFS High Yield Municipal Trust

 

This is an issuer tender offer.

The following are some of the questions that you, as a Preferred Shareholder (as defined herein), may have and answers to those questions. You should carefully read this offer to purchase and each Fund’s related letter of transmittal (the “Offer Documents”) in their entirety because the information in this summary term sheet is not complete and additional important information is contained in the Offer Documents.

WHO IS OFFERING TO BUY MY PREFERRED SHARES?

This is an issuer tender offer. Each Fund is offering to purchase Preferred Shares it previously issued. Each Fund is a Massachusetts Business Trust.

HOW MUCH IS EACH FUND OFFERING TO PAY AND WHAT IS THE FORM OF PAYMENT?

Each Fund is offering to purchase up to 100% of its outstanding Preferred Shares for cash, at a price per share equal to 95% of the liquidation preference of $25,000 per share (or $23,750 per share) if properly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the date and time such Fund’s Offer expires (or if the Offer is extended, on the date to which the Offer is extended), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Offer and the related letter of transmittal.

WILL I HAVE TO PAY ANY FEES OR COMMISSIONS?

If you tender your Preferred Shares in the Offer, you will not have to pay brokerage fees, commissions or similar expenses. If you own Preferred Shares through a broker or other nominee holder, and your broker or other Nominee Holder tenders your Preferred Shares on your behalf, your broker or other nominee holder may charge you a fee for doing so. You should consult your broker or other nominee holder to determine whether any charges will apply.

WHEN WILL THE TENDER OFFER EXPIRE AND MAY THE OFFER BE EXTENDED?

Each Fund’s Offer will expire at 8:00 a.m., New York City time, on September 7, 2012, unless extended. The Offer period may be extended by a Fund issuing a press release or making some other public announcement no later than 9:00 a.m. New York City time on the next business day after the Offer otherwise would have expired. An extension of the Offer by one Fund has no impact on the expiration time of any other Fund’s Offer.

 

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If you hold your Preferred Shares directly, you have until the expiration of the Offer to decide whether to tender your Preferred Shares in the Offer. If you cannot deliver everything required to make a valid tender to Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, the depositary for the Offer (the “Depositary”) prior to such time, you may be able to use a guaranteed delivery procedure, which is described in Section 3 of this Offer.

If your Preferred Shares are registered in the name of your broker or other nominee holder, you may need to decide whether to tender your Preferred Shares in an Offer before 8:00 a.m. New York City time, on September 7, 2012, in order to allow such Nominee Holder time to tender your Preferred Shares. You should consult your broker or other nominee holder to determine if there is an earlier deadline by which you must inform such nominee holder of any decision to tender your Preferred Shares and provide to such nominee holder any other required materials.

IS THERE A LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF PREFERRED SHARES I MAY TENDER?

No, each Fund is offering to purchase up to 100% of its outstanding Preferred Shares.

DOES EACH FUND HAVE THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO MAKE PAYMENT?

Assuming each Fund purchases 100% of its outstanding Preferred Shares at 95% of the liquidation preference of $25,000 per share (or $23,750 per share), the total cost, not including fees and expenses incurred in connection with each Offer, will be approximately $108,062,500 for MFS Municipal Income Trust, $46,312,500 for MFS Investment Grade Municipal Trust, $23,227,500 for MFS California Municipal Fund, $92,625,000 for MFS High Income Municipal Trust, and $71,250,000 for MFS High Yield Municipal Trust, plus for each Fund any unpaid dividends accrued through the Expiration Date (as defined herein). Each Fund intends to use proceeds from a private placement by each Fund of New Preferred Shares to pay the purchase price for Preferred Shares tendered. See Section 8 of this Offer.

HOW DO I TENDER MY PREFERRED SHARES IN AN OFFER?

To tender Preferred Shares in an Offer, you must deliver the Preferred Shares to the Depositary not later than the time the Offer expires. If your Preferred Shares are held in street name by your broker or other nominee holder, such nominee can tender your Preferred Shares through The Depository Trust Company. See Section 3 of this Offer which describes procedures for tendering your Preferred Shares.

WHEN AND HOW WILL I BE PAID FOR MY TENDERED PREFERRED SHARES?

If accepted for payment, each Fund will pay for all validly tendered and not withdrawn Preferred Shares promptly after the Expiration Date for its Offer. Each Fund will pay for your validly tendered and not withdrawn Preferred Shares in United States dollars by depositing the purchase price with the Depositary, which will act as your agent for the purpose of receiving payments from us and transmitting such payments to you. In all cases, payment for tendered Preferred Shares will be made only after timely receipt by the Depositary of the Preferred Shares, confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such Preferred Shares, and any other required documents as described in Section 3 of this Offer.

HOW DO I WITHDRAW TENDERED PREFERRED SHARES IN AN OFFER?

You can withdraw tendered Preferred Shares at any time until an Offer has expired and, if a Fund has not agreed to accept your Preferred Shares for payment by October 5, 2012, you can withdraw them at any time after such time until the Fund accepts Preferred Shares for payment. See Section 4 of this Offer.

To withdraw Preferred Shares, you must deliver a written notice of withdrawal (a form of which can be provided upon request from AST Fund Solutions (“AST”), the Information Agent for the Offer), with the required information to the Depositary, while you have the right to withdraw the Preferred Shares. If your Preferred

 

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Shares are registered in the name of your broker of other nominee holder, contact that nominee holder to withdraw your tendered Preferred Shares. You may need to allow such nominee holder additional time to withdraw your tendered Preferred Shares. You should consult your broker or other nominee holder to determine if there is an earlier deadline by which you must inform such nominee holder of any decision to withdraw your tendered Preferred Shares.

Withdrawals of tenders of Preferred Shares may not be rescinded, and any Preferred Shares validly withdrawn will thereafter be deemed not validly tendered for purposes of an Offer. However, withdrawn Preferred Shares may be retendered by following one of the procedures described in Section 3 of this Offer at any time prior to the Expiration Date. See Section 4 of this Offer.

WHAT ARE THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF TENDERING PREFERRED SHARES?

Generally, the receipt of cash for Preferred Shares pursuant to the Offer generally will be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes and may also be a taxable transaction under applicable state, local, foreign and other tax laws. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the sale of your Preferred Shares for cash generally will be treated either as (1) a sale of exchange of the Preferred Shares, or (2) a distribution with respect to the Preferred Shares that is potentially taxable as a dividend. See Section 6 of this Offer.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF EACH OFFER?

Since the first quarter of 2008, the periodic auctions for auction rate securities like the Preferred Shares have not attracted sufficient clearing bids for there to be a successful auction. The Funds believe that such auctions are unlikely to be successful in the future. The Funds also believe that no well-established secondary market exists outside the auctions for auction rate securities. Each Fund is conducting its Offer to provide liquidity to holders of Preferred Shares. See Section 9 of this Offer.

Please bear in mind that neither the Funds, nor the Funds’ Boards, nor MFS has made any recommendations as to whether you should tender your Preferred Shares. Preferred Shareholders are urged to consult their own investment and tax advisors and make their own decisions whether to tender any Preferred Shares and, if so, how many Preferred Shares to tender.

ARE THERE ANY CONDITIONS TO EACH OFFER?

Each Fund’s Offer is conditioned upon there being validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration of such Fund’s Offer that number of Preferred Shares which represent at least 70% of the Fund’s outstanding Preferred Shares, the Fund’s issuance of New Preferred Shares in an amount equal to the aggregate liquidation preference of the Preferred Shares accepted for payment in the Offer, and the approval of the proposal to amend such Fund’s Bylaws to replace S&P with Fitch as a rating agency for the Preferred Shares and to make certain other changes, as set forth in the Fund’s proxy statement dated August 9, 2012. Each Offer is also subject to certain other conditions as described in Section 13 of this Offer.

IS THE CLOSING OF ONE FUND’S OFFER CONTINGENT ON THE CLOSING OF ANY OTHER FUNDS OFFER?

No. The conditions to each Fund’s Offer are only applicable to such Fund’s Offer. The failure to close a certain Fund’s Offer because a condition is not satisfied or waived has no bearing on any other Fund’s Offer.

IF I DECIDE NOT TO TENDER MY PREFERRED SHARES IN AN OFFER, HOW WILL THE OFFER AFFECT MY PREFERRED SHARES?

If you decide not to tender your Preferred Shares, you will still own the same number of Preferred Shares, and the terms of the Preferred Shares will remain the same (but see Section 8 for the implications of the proposed

 

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amendments to each Fund’s Bylaws that would replace S&P with Fitch as a rating agency for the Preferred Shares and make certain other changes). The Preferred Shares are not listed on any securities exchange and there is no established trading market for the Preferred Shares. Since the first quarter of 2008, the weekly auctions for the Preferred Shares have not attracted sufficient clearing bids for there to be a successful auction. As a result, holders desiring to sell their Preferred Shares have been, and in the future may be, unable to do so and, even if they can sell their Preferred Shares, may be forced to sell at a substantial discount to the liquidation preference of Preferred Shares outside of the auction process. If you do not tender your Preferred Shares, each Fund cannot assure you that you will be able to sell your Preferred Shares in the future; you may be forced to hold the Preferred Shares indefinitely or you may have to sell your Preferred Shares at a significant discount to their liquidation preference of $25,000 per share. See Section 8 of this Offer.

HOW WILL I BE NOTIFIED IF AN OFFER IS EXTENDED?

If a Fund decides to extend its Offer, we will inform the Depositary and the Information Agent of that fact and will make an announcement of the extension not later than 9:00 a.m. on the next business day after the day on which the applicable Offer was scheduled to expire. See Section 2 of this Offer.

WHO CAN I TALK TO IF I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT AN OFFER?

If you own Preferred Shares through a broker or other nominee holder, you can call your broker or other nominee holder. You can also contact Warren Antler, of AST, the Information Agent, at (212) 400-2605, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Eastern time, or at wantler@astfundssolutions.com.

 

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Dear Preferred Shareholder:

INTRODUCTION

MFS Municipal Income Trust (“Municipal Income”), MFS Investment Grade Municipal Trust (“Investment Grade”), MFS California Municipal Fund (“California Municipal”), MFS High Income Municipal Trust (“High Income”), and MFS High Yield Municipal Trust (“High Yield”), each a Massachusetts business trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as a closed-end management investment company, each hereby offers to purchase for cash up to 100% of such Fund’s outstanding preferred shares of beneficial interest, without par value, and liquidation preference of $25,000 per share, designated Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares as follows (with respect to each Fund, “Municipal Preferred” or the “Preferred Shares”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Offer to Purchase and in each Fund’s related Letter of Transmittal (which together, with respect to each Fund, constitutes such Fund’s “Offer” and, collectively, the “Offers”):

 

   
Fund    Preferred Shares
   
MFS Municipal Income Trust   

Series T Municipal Preferred

Series TH Municipal Preferred

   
MFS Investment Grade Municipal Trust    Series M Municipal Preferred
   
MFS California Municipal Fund    Series TH Municipal Preferred
   
MFS High Income Municipal Trust   

Series T Municipal Preferred

Series W Municipal Preferred

   
MFS High Yield Municipal Trust    Series F Municipal Preferred

The price to be paid for the Preferred Shares is an amount to the seller in cash, equating to 95% of the liquidation preference of $25,000 per share (or $23,750 per share), plus any unpaid dividends accrued through the Expiration Date (as defined herein) (the “Per Share Amount”). Each Offer is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Offer and in the related letter of transmittal.

This Offer is open to all holders of Preferred Shares (with respect to each Fund, “Preferred Shareholders”) and is conditioned upon there being validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration of such Fund’s Offer that number of Preferred Shares which represent at least 70% of the Fund’s Preferred Shares, the Fund’s private placement of new preferred shares (“New Preferred Shares”) in an amount equal to the aggregate liquidation preference of the Preferred Shares accepted for payment in such Fund’s Offer and the approval of the proposal to amend such Fund’s Bylaws to replace Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (“S&P”) with Fitch, Inc. (“Fitch”) as a rating agency for the Preferred Shares and to make certain other changes, as set forth in the Fund’s proxy statement dated August 9, 2012. Each Offer is also subject to other conditions as outlined in the Offer and in the letter of transmittal. See Section 13 “Conditions to the Offer”.

None of the Funds, their Boards of Trustees, nor MFS makes any recommendation as to whether you should tender or not tender Preferred Shares in the Offers. No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations in connection with the Offer other than those contained in this Offer and in the related letter of transmittal, and if given or made, such information or representations should not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Funds, their Boards of Trustees or MFS. We have been advised that no Trustee or executive officer of any Fund intends to tender any Preferred Shares pursuant to the Offer.

 

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You will not be obligated to pay brokerage fees, commissions or, except as set forth in “Terms of the Offer; Expiration Date,” stock transfer taxes on the sale of Preferred Shares pursuant to an Offer. However, if you own Preferred Shares through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee (“Nominee Holder”), and your broker or other Nominee Holder tenders your Preferred Shares on your behalf, your broker or other Nominee Holder may charge you a fee for doing so. You should consult your broker or other Nominee Holder to determine whether any charges will apply. Each Fund will pay all charges and expenses of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, the depositary (the “Depositary”), and AST Fund Solutions, the information agent (the “Information Agent”), incurred in connection with such Fund’s Offer. See “Fees and Expenses.” The receipt of cash for Preferred Shares purchased by a Fund pursuant to an Offer generally will be a taxable transaction for federal income tax purposes. In addition, if you fail to complete, sign and return to the applicable withholding agent a Form W-9 (or a substitute form) (or in the case of certain non-U.S. Preferred Shareholders, an appropriate IRS Form W-8 or substitute form), you may be subject to backup withholding on the gross proceeds payable to you pursuant to an Offer, and certain non-U.S. Preferred Shareholders may be subject to U.S. federal income tax withholding on gross proceeds payable to them pursuant to an Offer. See “Certain Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences.”

THIS OFFER TO PURCHASE AND THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND YOU SHOULD READ THEM CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY BEFORE YOU MAKE ANY DECISION WITH RESPECT TO THE OFFER.

If you do not wish to tender your Preferred Shares, you need not take any action.

 

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THE OFFER

1. TERMS OF THE OFFER; EXPIRATION DATE

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Offer and the letter of transmittal, each Fund will accept for payment and pay cash for up to 100% of its outstanding Preferred Shares, validly tendered prior to 8:00 a.m. New York City time, on September 7, 2012, or such later date to which the Offer is extended (the “Expiration Date”), and not withdrawn as permitted by Section 4. Each Fund reserves the right to extend its Offer to a later Expiration Date. The Offer period may be extended by a Fund issuing a press release or making some other public announcement no later than 9:00 a.m. New York City time on the next business day after the Offer otherwise would have expired.

If a Fund makes a material change in the terms of its Offer or the information concerning its Offer, or if it waives a material condition of its Offer, such Fund will extend its Offer to the extent required under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). During any such extension, all shares previously tendered and not withdrawn will remain subject to the Offer, subject to the right of any such tendering shareholder to withdraw his, her or its shares.

The price to be paid for the Preferred Shares is an amount per share, net to the seller in cash, equal to 95% of the liquidation preference of $25,000 per share (or $23,750 per share), plus any unpaid dividends accrued through the Expiration Date (as defined herein). See Section 7. Under no circumstances will interest be paid on the offer price for tendered Preferred Shares, regardless of any extension of or amendment to the Offer or any delay in paying for such Preferred Shares.

When considering whether to tender Preferred Shares, Preferred Shareholders should be aware that the payment received pursuant to each Offer will be less than the amount that Preferred Shareholders would be entitled to receive upon redemption of such Preferred Shares under the terms of the Preferred Shares or upon a liquidation of the Fund.

Each Fund’s Offer is being made to all of such Fund’s Preferred Shareholders. Each Offer is conditioned upon at least 70% of such Fund’s Preferred Shares being tendered, such Fund’s issuance of New Preferred Shares in an amount equal to the aggregate liquidation preference of the Preferred Shares accepted for payment in the Offer and the approval of the proposal to amend such Fund’s Bylaws to replace S&P with Fitch as a ratings agency for the Preferred Shares. Each Offer is also subject to certain other conditions as described in Section 13. No one Fund’s Offer is contingent on the consummation of any other Fund’s Offer.

Subject to the terms and conditions of its Offer, a Fund will pay the consideration offered or return the tendered securities promptly after the termination or withdrawal of its Offer. If payment of the purchase price is to be made to, or Preferred Shares not tendered or not purchased is to be returned in the name of any person other than the registered holder(s), or if a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the sale or transfer of Preferred Shares to a Fund pursuant to its Offer, then the amount of any stock or share transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered holder(s), such other person or otherwise) will be deducted from the purchase price unless satisfactory evidence of the payment of such taxes, or exemption there from, is submitted.

As of the date of this Offer to Purchase, there were 4,550 Preferred Shares outstanding for Municipal Income 1,950 Preferred Shares outstanding for Investment Grade, 978 Preferred Shares outstanding for California Municipal, 3,900 Preferred Shares outstanding for High Income and 3,000 Preferred Shares outstanding for High Yield. As of the date of this Offer to Purchase, the Trustees and executive officers of each Fund did not beneficially own any Preferred Shares.

 

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2. EXTENSION OF TENDER PERIOD, TERMINATION; AMENDMENT

Each Fund expressly reserves the right, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, to extend the period of time during which its Offer is pending by making a public announcement therefore. During any such extension, all Preferred Shares previously tendered and not purchased or withdrawn will remain subject to the applicable Offer. Each Fund also reserves the right, at any time and from time to time up to and including the Expiration Date, to (a) terminate its Offer and not to purchase or pay for any Preferred Shares or, subject to applicable law, postpone payment for Preferred Shares upon the occurrence of any of the conditions specified in Section 13 of this Offer; and (b) amend its Offer in any respect by making a public announcement thereof. Such public announcement will be issued no later than 9:00 a.m. New York City time on the next business day after the previously scheduled Expiration Date. Without limiting the manner in which a Fund may choose to make a public announcement of extension, termination or amendment, except as provided by applicable law, the Fund shall have no obligation to publish, advertise or otherwise communicate any such public announcement.

If a Fund materially changes the terms of its Offer or the information concerning its Offer, or if it waives a material condition of its Offer, that Fund will extend its Offer to the extent required by rules promulgated under the Exchange Act. These rules require that the minimum period during which an offer must remain open following material changes in the terms of the offer or information concerning the offer (other than a change in price or a change in percentage of securities sought) will depend on the facts and circumstances, including the relative materiality of such terms or information. If (i) a Fund increases or decreases the price to be paid for Preferred Shares, or the Fund decreases the number of Preferred Shares being sought and (ii) its Offer is scheduled to expire at any time earlier than the expiration of a period ending on the tenth business day from, and including, the date that notice of such increase or decrease is first published, sent or given, its Offer will be extended at least until the expiration of such period of ten business days.

3. PROCEDURES FOR TENDERING PREFERRED SHARES

To tender Preferred Shares pursuant to an Offer, either (i) you must comply with The Depository Trust Company’s Automated Tender Offer Program (“ATOP”) procedures in which the Depositary must receive delivery of such Preferred Shares pursuant to the procedures for book-entry transfer described below (and a timely confirmation of such delivery into its account at The Depository Trust Company through ATOP along with an Agent’s Message (as defined below)) by the Expiration Date, or (ii) the guaranteed delivery procedures described below must be complied with.

Preferred Shareholders whose Preferred Shares are registered in the name of a broker or other Nominee Holder should contact such Nominee Holder if they desire to tender their Preferred Shares. Such Preferred Shareholders may need to inform their brokers or other Nominee Holders of any decision to tender Preferred Shares, and deliver any required materials, before 8:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date. You should consult your broker or other Nominee Holder to determine when you would need to inform such Nominee Holder of any decision to tender Preferred Shares and to deliver any required materials to them in order to tender your Preferred Shares.

Participants in the ATOP program must electronically transmit their acceptance of the exchange by causing The Depository Trust Company to transfer the Preferred Shares to the Depositary in accordance with ATOP procedures for transfer. The Depository Trust Company will then send an Agent’s Message to the Depositary.

Book-Entry Delivery. The Depositary will make a request to establish an account with respect to the Preferred Shares at The Depository Trust Company (the “Book-Entry Transfer Facility”) for purposes of each Offer promptly after the date of this Offer, and any financial institution that is a participant in the system of the Book-Entry Transfer Facility may make book-entry delivery of Preferred Shares by causing the Book-Entry Transfer Facility to transfer such Preferred Shares into the Depositary’s account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility in accordance with the procedures of the Book-Entry Transfer Facility. However, although delivery of Preferred Shares may be effected through book-entry transfer, an Agent’s Message and any other required documents must,

 

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in any case, be received by the Depositary at its address set forth on the back cover of the Offer by the Expiration Date, or the guaranteed delivery procedure described below must be complied with. Delivery of any other required documents to the Book-Entry Transfer Facility does not constitute delivery to the Depositary. “Agent’s Message” means a message, transmitted by the Book-Entry Transfer Facility to, and received by, the Depositary and forming a part of a book-entry confirmation which states that (1) the Book-Entry Transfer Facility has received an express acknowledgment from the participant in its ATOP that is tendering the Preferred Shares that are the subject of such book-entry confirmation, (2) the participant has received, and agrees to be bound by, the terms of the Offer and (3) a Fund may enforce such agreement against such participant. Delivery of an Agent’s Message will also constitute an acknowledgment from the tendering participant that the representations described in this Offer are true and correct.

Guaranteed Delivery. If you wish to tender Preferred Shares pursuant to the Offer and cannot deliver such Preferred Shares and all other required documents to the Depositary by the Expiration Date, or cannot complete the procedure for delivery by book-entry transfer on a timely basis, you may nevertheless tender such Preferred Shares if all of the following conditions are met:

(i) for Preferred Shares held in street name, such tender is made by or through an Eligible Institution;

(ii) a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery in the form provided by the Fund is received by the Depositary (as provided below) by the Expiration Date; and

(iii) a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof) with any required signature guarantee or an Agent’s Message and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal and, for Preferred Shares held in street name, confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such Preferred Shares into the Depositary’s account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility, are received by the Depositary within three New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) trading days after the date of execution of the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.

The Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may be delivered by hand or mail to the Depositary and must include a guarantee by an Eligible Institution in the form set forth in such Notice. The method of delivery of Preferred Shares and all other required documents, including through the Book-Entry Transfer Facility, is at your option and risk and the delivery will be deemed made only when actually received by the Depositary. If delivery is by mail, registered mail with return receipt requested, properly insured, is recommended. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to ensure timely delivery.

U.S. Federal Tax Withholding. Under U.S. federal income tax law, the gross proceeds otherwise payable to an individual or certain non-corporate Preferred Shareholders pursuant to an Offer may be subject to a 28% backup withholding tax unless the Preferred Shareholder provides the information described in Section 6 below. In addition, under certain circumstances, a withholding rate of 30% (or a lower applicable treaty rate) may be applied to the gross payments payable to a Non-U.S. Preferred Shareholder, as described in Section 6 below.

Determination of Validity; Rejection of Shares; waiver of Defects; No obligation to Give Notice of Defects. Each Fund will determine, in its sole discretion, all questions as to the number of Preferred Shares to be accepted, and the validity, form, eligibility, including time of receipt, and acceptance for payment of any tender of Preferred Shares. Each Fund’s determination will be final and binding on all parties. Each Fund reserves the absolute right to reject any or all tenders it determines not to be in proper form or the acceptance of or payment for which it determines may be unlawful. Each Fund also reserves the absolute right to waive any of the conditions of the Offer and any defect or irregularity in the tender of any particular Preferred Shares or any particular Preferred Shareholder. No tender of Preferred Shares will be deemed to be properly made until all defects or irregularities have been cured by the tendering Preferred Shareholder or waived by the Fund. None of the Funds, the Depositary, the Information Agent, or any other person will be under any duty to give notice of any defects or irregularities in any tender, or incur any liability for failure to give any such notice. A Fund’s interpretation of the terms of and conditions to the Offer, including the letter of transmittal and the instructions thereto, will be final and binding. By tendering Preferred Shares to a Fund, you agree to accept all decisions that Fund makes concerning these matters and waive any right you might otherwise have to challenge those decisions.

 

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Your Representation and Warranty; Our Acceptance Constitutes an Agreement. A tender of Preferred Shares under any of the procedures described above will constitute your acceptance of the terms and conditions of the Offer, as well as your representation and warranty to the Fund that:

 

   

you have the full power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer the Preferred Shares tendered, as specified in the Letter of Transmittal or otherwise.

Each Fund’s acceptance for payment of Preferred Shares tendered under the Offer will constitute a binding agreement between you and that Fund with respect to such Preferred Shares, upon the terms and conditions of its Offer described in this and related documents.

By making the book-entry transfer of Preferred Shares as described above, subject to, and effective upon, acceptance for payment of the Preferred Shares tendered in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of an Offer, in consideration of the acceptance for payment of such Preferred Shares in accordance with the terms of the Offer, the tendering Preferred Shareholder shall be deemed to sell, assign and transfer to, or upon the order of, the Fund all right, title and interest in and to all the Preferred Shares that is being tendered and that are being accepted for purchase pursuant to the Offer (and any and all dividends, distributions, other shares or other securities or rights declared or issuable in respect of such Preferred Shares after the Expiration Date) and irrevocably constitute and appoint the Depositary the true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact of the undersigned with respect to such Preferred Shares (and any such dividends, distributions, other shares or securities or rights), with full power of substitution (such power of attorney being deemed to be an irrevocable power coupled with an interest) to (a) transfer ownership of such Preferred Shares (and any such other dividends, distributions, other shares or securities or rights), together with all accompanying evidences of transfer and authenticity to or upon the order of the Fund, upon receipt by the Depositary, as the agent of the tendering Preferred Shareholder, of the purchase price; (b) present such Preferred Shares (and any such other dividends, distributions, other shares or securities or rights) for transfer on the books of the Fund; and (c) receive all benefits and otherwise exercise all rights of beneficial ownership of such Preferred Shares (and any such other dividends, distributions, other shares or securities or rights), all in accordance with the terms of the Offer. Upon such acceptance for payment, all prior powers of attorney given by the tendering Preferred Shareholder with respect to such Preferred Shares (and any such other dividends, distributions, other shares or securities or rights) will, without further action, be revoked and no subsequent powers of attorney may be given by the tendering Preferred Shareholder (and, if given, will not be effective).

By making the book-entry transfer of Preferred Shares as described above, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of an Offer, the tendering Preferred Shareholder also shall be deemed to represent and warrant that: (a) the tendering Preferred Shareholder has full power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer the tendered Preferred Shares (and any such other dividends, distributions, other shares or securities or rights declared or issuable in respect of such Preferred Shares after the Expiration Date); (b) when and to the extent a Fund accepts the Preferred Shares for purchase, the Fund will acquire good, marketable and unencumbered title thereto, free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges, proxies, encumbrances or other obligations relating to their sale or transfer, and not subject to any adverse claim; (c) on request, the tendering Preferred Shareholder will execute and deliver any additional documents deemed by the Depositary or the Fund to be necessary or desirable to complete the sale, assignment and transfer of the tendered Preferred Shares (and any such other dividends, distributions, other shares or securities or rights declared or issuable in respect of such Preferred Shares after the Expiration Date); and (d) the tendering Preferred Shareholder has read the Offer Documents and agreed to all of the terms of the Offer.

4. WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS

Preferred Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer may be withdrawn pursuant to the procedures set forth below at any time prior to the Expiration Date, and unless already accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer, at any time after October 5, 2012. If your Preferred Shares are registered in the name of your broker or other Nominee Holder, you may need to allow such Nominee Holder additional time to withdraw your tendered Preferred

 

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Shares. You should consult your broker or other Nominee Holder to determine if there is an earlier deadline by which you must inform such Nominee Holder of any decision to withdraw your tendered Preferred Shares. After the Expiration Date, Preferred Shares may not be withdrawn except as otherwise provided in this section.

For a withdrawal to be effective, a written notice of withdrawal must be timely received by the Depositary at its address set forth on the back cover of this Offer and must specify the name of the person having tendered the Preferred Shares to be withdrawn, the number of Preferred Shares to be withdrawn and the name of the registered holder of the Preferred Shares to be withdrawn, if different from the name of the person who tendered the Preferred Shares. If the Preferred Shares to be withdrawn have been delivered to the Depositary, a signed notice of withdrawal with (except in the case of Preferred Shares tendered by an Eligible Institution) signatures guaranteed by an Eligible Institution must be submitted prior to the release of such Preferred Shares. In addition, such notice must specify the name and number of the account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility to be credited with the withdrawn Preferred Shares. Withdrawals may not be rescinded, and any Preferred Shares validly withdrawn will thereafter be deemed not validly tendered for purposes of an Offer. However, withdrawn Preferred Shares may be retendered by again following one of the procedures described in Section 3 at any time prior to the Expiration Date.

All questions as to the form and validity (including time of receipt) of any notice of withdrawal will be determined by a Fund in its sole discretion, which determination will be final and binding. None of the Funds, the Depositary, the Information Agent, or any other person will be under any duty to give notification of any defects or irregularities in any notice of withdrawal or incur any liability for failure to give any such notification.

The method of delivery of any documents related to a withdrawal is at the risk of the withdrawing Preferred Shareholder. Any documents related to a withdrawal will be deemed delivered only when actually received by the Depositary. If delivery is by mail, registered mail with return receipt requested, properly insured, is recommended. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to ensure timely delivery.

5. ACCEPTANCE FOR PAYMENT AND PAYMENT

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer, each Fund will accept for payment, and will pay cash for, Preferred Shares validly tendered on or before the Expiration Date, and not properly withdrawn in accordance with Section 4, promptly after the Expiration Date of such Fund’s Offer. Each Fund expressly reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to delay the acceptance for payment of, or payment for, Preferred Shares, in order to comply, in whole or in part with any applicable law.

For purposes of the Offer, each Fund will be deemed to have accepted for payment Preferred Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn as, if and when it gives or causes to be given oral or written notice to the Depositary of its acceptance for payment such Preferred Shares pursuant to the Offer. Payment for Preferred Shares accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer will be made by deposit of the aggregate purchase price therefore with the Depositary, which will act as agent for the tendering Preferred Shareholders for purpose of receiving payments from the Fund and transmitting such payments to the tendering Preferred Shareholders. In all cases, payment for Preferred Shares accepted for payment pursuant to an Offer will be made only after timely receipt by the Depositary of a confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such Preferred Shares into the Depositary’s account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility, a properly completed Agent’s Message and any other required documents. Accordingly, payment may be made to tendering Preferred Shareholders at different times if delivery of the Preferred Shares and other required documents occurs at different times. For a description of the procedure for tendering Preferred Shares pursuant to an Offer, see Section 3. Under no circumstances will interest on the purchase price for Preferred Shares be paid, regardless of any delay in making such payment. If a Fund increases the consideration to be paid for Preferred Shares pursuant to its Offer, that Fund will pay such increased consideration for all Preferred Shares purchased pursuant to its Offer.

 

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If any tendered Preferred Shares are not accepted for payment pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Offer for any reason, or are not accepted because of an invalid tender, such unpurchased or untendered Preferred Shares will be returned via credit to an account maintained at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility (as defined below), without expense to you, or to other persons at your discretion, as promptly as practicable following the expiration or termination of that Offer.

The purchase price of the Preferred Shares will equal 95% of the liquidation preference of $25,000 per share net to the seller in cash (or $23,750 per share), plus any unpaid dividends accrued through the Expiration Date. If you own Preferred Shares through a broker or other Nominee Holder, and your broker or other Nominee Holder tenders your Preferred Shares on your behalf, your broker or other Nominee Holder may charge you a fee for doing so. You should consult your broker or other Nominee Holder to determine whether any charges will apply.

6. CERTAIN MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

The following summary of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the sale of Preferred Shares pursuant to an Offer by a Fund is for general information purposes only. Unless otherwise noted, this discussion deals only with shares held as capital assets and does not deal with special situations or particular types of Preferred Shareholders subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax laws (including financial institutions or dealers in securities or commodities, regulated investment companies, traders in securities that elect to mark their holdings to market, insurance companies, Preferred Shareholders subject to the federal alternative minimum tax, or Preferred Shareholders whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar). This discussion is not tax advice and does not address all aspects of taxation (including other federal (non-income) taxes or state, local, or foreign taxes) that may be relevant to particular Preferred Shareholders in light of their own investment or tax circumstances. Furthermore, this discussion assumes that no Preferred Shareholder actually or, pursuant to certain constructive ownership rules in Section 318 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), constructively holds Common Shares or other shares of stock in a Fund. A Preferred Shareholder who actually or constructively holds Common Shares or other shares of stock in a Fund may have different tax considerations and consequences from those described below and should consult its tax advisor about the special tax considerations and consequences that may apply or arise.

The discussion below is based upon the provisions of the Code and regulations, rulings and judicial decisions thereunder as of the date hereof, and such authorities may be repealed, revoked or modified, possibly on a retroactive basis, so as to result in U.S. federal income tax consequences different from those discussed below.

Preferred Shareholders should consult their own tax advisors concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences of participating in the Offer in light of their particular situations as well as any consequences arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.

As used herein, a “U.S. Preferred Shareholder” means a Preferred Shareholder that is (i) a citizen or resident of the U.S., (ii) a corporation (or any other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes), partnership or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the U.S., any State or any political subdivision thereof, (iii) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of the source of the income, or (iv) a trust if it (x) is subject to the supervision of a court within the U.S. and one or more U.S. persons has the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (y) has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person. A “Non-U.S. Preferred Shareholder” is a Preferred Shareholder that is not a U.S. Preferred Shareholder.

A sale of Preferred Shares of a Fund for cash in the Offer generally will be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Depending on a Preferred Shareholder’s particular circumstances, the sale of Preferred Shares pursuant to an Offer generally will be treated either (i) as a “sale or exchange” producing gain or loss or (ii) as the receipt of a distribution from the Fund that is potentially taxable to the Preferred Shareholder as a dividend.

 

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Under Section 302(b) of the Code, a sale of Preferred Shares of a Fund pursuant to an Offer generally will be treated as a sale or exchange of those Preferred Shares if the receipt of cash by the shareholder: (a) results in a complete termination of the Preferred Shareholder’s interest in the Fund, (b) results in a “substantially disproportionate” redemption with respect to the Preferred Shareholder, or (c) is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to the Preferred Shareholder. Generally, for this purpose a “substantially disproportionate” redemption is one that reduces the Preferred Shareholder’s percentage voting interest in the Fund by more than 20% and after which the Preferred Shareholder owns a less-than-50% voting interest in the Fund. Also, generally, for this purpose, a redemption is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” if it results in a “meaningful reduction” of a Preferred Shareholder’s percentage interest in the Fund. Whether a reduction is “meaningful” depends on a Preferred Shareholder’s particular facts and circumstances; in general, the smaller a Preferred Shareholder’s percentage interest in the Fund, the more likely that any such reduction therein will be treated as “meaningful.”

In determining whether any of these tests has been met, Preferred Shares of a Fund actually owned, as well as Preferred Shares of the Fund considered to be owned by the Preferred Shareholder by reason of certain constructive ownership rules set forth in Section 318 of the Code, generally must be taken into account. Further, contemporaneous dispositions or acquisitions of the Fund’s stock by a Preferred Shareholder or a related party may be deemed to be part of a single integrated transaction for purposes of determining whether any of the three tests have been satisfied. Preferred Shareholders participating in an Offer should consult with their tax advisers regarding the applicability of one or more of these tests to their particular situations.

If any of these three tests for sale or exchange treatment under Section 302(b) is met, a Preferred Shareholder will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the price paid by a Fund for the Preferred Shares purchased in the Offer (minus any amounts treated as a dividend, as explained below) and the Preferred Shareholder’s adjusted basis in such Preferred Shares. If such Preferred Shares are held as a capital asset, the gain or loss will be capital gain or loss, which generally will be long term capital gain if such Preferred Shares have been owned (or are deemed to have been owned) for more than one year. The maximum federal income tax rate currently applicable to long term capital gains recognized by individuals and other non-corporate taxpayers is 15%. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations. To the extent that a Preferred Shareholder receives, as part of its gross proceeds on the tender of its Preferred Shares, accumulated and unpaid dividends, the portion of the gross proceeds representing such dividend amounts generally will be treated as either exempt-interest dividends, ordinary income dividends, or capital gain dividends in the hands of the Preferred Shareholder, as reported by the Fund, to the extent such dividends have been previously declared by the Fund. The tax treatment of each such type of dividend for Preferred Shareholders is explained in the next paragraph.

If the requirements of Section 302(b) of the Code are not met, amounts received by a Preferred Shareholder in exchange for its Preferred Shares pursuant to a Fund’s Offer will be taxable to the Preferred Shareholder as a dividend to the extent of such Preferred Shareholder’s allocable share of the Fund’s current and/or accumulated earnings and profits. In this case, a Preferred Shareholder will not be permitted to recognize any loss in connection with its tender of its Preferred Shares pursuant to the Offer. Any such dividend will constitute as either an exempt-interest dividend, ordinary income dividend or capital gain dividend. A dividend properly reported by the Fund as an exempt-interest dividend is generally not subject to federal income tax. An ordinary income dividend is generally taxable at ordinary income tax rates, and a dividend properly reported as a capital gain dividend is generally taxable at long-term capital gain rates. No portion of any amount a Preferred Shareholder receives from a Fund in connection with an Offer that is treated as an ordinary income dividend is expected to qualify for the corporate dividends-received deduction (for corporate Preferred Shareholders) or as “qualified dividend income” (for certain non-corporate Preferred Shareholders). To the extent that amounts received in connection with an Offer exceed a Preferred Shareholder’s allocable share of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits for a taxable year, those excess amounts will first be treated as a non-taxable return of capital, causing a reduction in the adjusted basis of such Preferred Shareholder’s Preferred Shares, and any amounts in excess of the Preferred Shareholder’s adjusted basis in its Preferred Shares will constitute taxable

 

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gain. Any remaining adjusted basis in the Preferred Shares tendered to the Fund (after reduction by the non-taxable return of capital amount) will be transferred to any remaining Preferred Shares held by such Preferred Shareholder following an Offer. In addition, in the case of a corporate Preferred Shareholder, if the requirements of Section 302(b) of the Code are not met and the Preferred Shareholder is treated as receiving a dividend from the Fund, in certain cases the dividend could constitute an “extraordinary dividend” under Section 1059 of the Code, potentially resulting in special basis adjustments for any remaining Preferred Shares held by such Preferred Shareholder following the Offer and the recognition of gain. Corporate Preferred Shareholders should consult their tax advisers for the possible applicability of this special rule to them.

Backup Federal Income Tax Withholding. Backup withholding tax of 28% may be imposed on the gross proceeds paid to a tendering U.S. Preferred Shareholder unless the U.S. Preferred Shareholder provides to the applicable withholding agent, generally on an IRS Form W-9 or substitute form its taxpayer identification number (employer identification number of social security number), certifies as to no loss of exemption from backup withholding, complies with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules or is otherwise exempt from backup withholding. In order for a Non-U.S. Preferred Shareholder to qualify as an exempt recipient not subject to backup withholding, such Non-U.S. Preferred Shareholder must certify as to their non-U.S. status to the applicable withholding agent, generally on an IRS Form W-8 or substitute form. Backup withholding is not an additional federal income tax. Rather, the federal income tax liability of a person subject to backup withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax withheld. If withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund may be obtained provided that the required information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service. Tendering Preferred Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors and the applicable withholding agent, such as their broker or other Nominee Holder about the requirements.

Withholding for Non-U.S. Preferred Shareholders. In certain circumstances, a U.S. federal income tax equal to 30% (or a lower applicable treaty rate) may be withheld from the gross payments payable to a Non-U.S. Preferred Shareholder or his or her agent (any such withholding generally is applicable to gross proceeds that are effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the U.S.). In order to obtain a reduced rate of withholding pursuant to a tax treaty, in general, a Non-U.S. Preferred Shareholder generally must deliver to the applicable withholding agent before the payment a properly completed and executed IRS Form W-8BEN or substitute form. In order to obtain an exemption from withholding on the grounds that the gross proceeds paid pursuant to the Offer are effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the U.S., a Non-U.S. Preferred Shareholder must deliver to the applicable withholding agent a properly completed and executed IRS Form W-8ECI or substitute form. If this withholding tax is applied, but no or fewer income taxes are due (e.g., because the gross proceeds constitute “sale or exchange” proceeds under Section 302(b), as described above) a Non-U.S. Shareholder may be eligible to obtain a refund of all or a portion of any tax withheld. Backup withholding generally will not apply to amounts subject to the 30% or a treaty-reduced rate of withholding. Non-U.S. Preferred Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors and the applicable withholding agent, such as their broker or other Nominee Holder, regarding the application of U.S. federal income tax withholding, including eligibility for a withholding tax reduction or exemption, and the refund procedure.

7. PRICE RANGE OF PREFERRED SHARES; DIVIDENDS

The Preferred Shares are not listed and do not trade on any securities exchange. Therefore, no trading market for the Preferred Shares has been established outside the auction process and no price history is available. In addition, since the first quarter of 2008, the weekly auctions for the Preferred Shares have failed.

The terms of each Offer provide that Preferred Shareholders tendering Preferred Shares are entitled to receive all dividends accrued on the Preferred Shares on or before the Expiration Date, but not yet paid. Prior to the Expiration Date, dividends will be paid on the regularly scheduled dividend payment dates for the Preferred Shares. The amount and frequency of dividends in the future will be set at auction according to the terms of the Preferred Shares or, if an auction fails, at the Maximum Rate described below or as otherwise provided pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Shares.

 

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8. SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS; EFFECT OF THE OFFER

If 100% of the outstanding Preferred Shares are purchased pursuant to each Offer, the estimated cost to each Fund, not including fees and expenses incurred in connection with each Offer, will be approximately $108,062,500 for MFS Municipal Income Trust, $46,312,500 for MFS Investment Grade Municipal Trust, $23,227,500 for MFS California Municipal Fund, $92,625,000 for MFS High Income Municipal Trust, and $71,250,000 for MFS High Yield Municipal Trust, plus for each Fund any unpaid dividends accrued through the Expiration Date.

Each Fund intends to use proceeds from a private placement of such Fund’s New Preferred Shares to pay the purchase price for Preferred Shares accepted for payment. See Sections 2 and 13 of the Offer.

The issuance of New Preferred Shares by each Fund is subject to the following material conditions: (1) receipt of certain minimum ratings on the New Preferred Shares from rating agencies; (2) the receipt of customary legal opinions by the purchasers regarding transaction; (3) certain other customary conditions to issuance as set forth in the purchase agreement.

Purchase Price in the Offer is Less than Liquidation Preference. The Per Share Amount reflects a 5% discount to the liquidation preference of $25,000 per share of Preferred Shares. As a result, Preferred Shareholders who tender their Preferred Shares for purchase by a Fund pursuant to its Offer will realize less than they are entitled to receive upon a liquidation of the Fund (to the extent assets are available in such liquidation). In addition, in the event a Fund were to effect a redemption of Preferred Shares pursuant to their terms, the Fund would be required to pay a redemption price equal to 100% of the liquidation preference of the Preferred Shares to be redeemed (plus accrued dividends). Each Fund may consider in the future, based upon circumstances existing at such time, what action, if any, to take with respect to any Preferred Shares that remain outstanding after its Offer, including a redemption of such Preferred Shares. No Fund, however, currently intends to redeem any Preferred Shares that remain outstanding after its Offer expires.

Effect of Proposed Amendments to each Fund’s Bylaws to Replace S&P with Fitch as a Rating Agency for the Fund’s Preferred Shares. As described in the Proxy Statement dated August 9, 2012, each Board has approved amendments (the “Amendments”) to each Fund’s Bylaws that would replace S&P with Fitch as one of the two rating agencies (along with Moody’s) that provide credit ratings for the Fund’s Preferred Shares and make certain other changes. The Board of each Fund has recommended that its holders of Preferred Shares vote to approve the Amendments at their upcoming meeting.

In accordance with the Bylaws of each Fund, each Fund’s Preferred Shares currently receive credit ratings from S&P and Moody’s, each a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (an “NRSRO”). Each Fund’s Preferred Shares have maintained the highest rating from S&P (a “AAA” rating) since their initial issuance. On July 12, 2012, Moody’s announced that it downgraded its ratings of each Fund’s Preferred Shares from its highest rating of “Aaa” to “Aa2” for all Funds except MFS Investment Grade Municipal Trust, and from “Aaa” to “Aal” for MFS Investment Grade Municipal Trust pursuant to a revised ratings methodology, along with similar downgrades of its ratings of preferred shares of most applicable U.S. closed-end funds.

The Statement Creating Two Series of Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares of MFS Municipal Income Trust and, Article 12, Section 12.1 of the bylaws of MFS California Municipal Fund, MFS High Income Municipal Trust, MFS High Yield Municipal Trust, and MFS Investment Grade Municipal Trust, designate and specify the rights and preferences of the Trusts’ ARPS.

The proposed Amendments would replace S&P with Fitch, also an NRSRO, as one of the two rating agencies that rate a Fund’s Preferred Shares. If approved by Preferred Shareholders, the Amendments will take effect for a Fund subject to the Board’s consideration of the rating assigned to the Preferred Shares of the Fund by Fitch, as of the close of business on the date of the meeting. If the Preferred Shareholders do not approve the Amendments for a Fund, or if the Board of a Fund determines not to implement the Amendments, the Amendments will not take effect for the Fund and S&P will remain as a rating agency for the ARPS of the Fund.

 

 

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The Amendments incorporate, in place of the current S&P criteria, ratings criteria issued by Fitch with respect to its ratings of debt and preferred stock issued by closed-end investment companies (the “Fitch Criteria”). Each Fund’s current bylaws include the specifics of the S&P ratings criteria, including eligible asset definitions, discount factors, asset coverage test formulas and reporting requirements, within the defined terms and related provisions of the bylaws themselves. The Amendments instead incorporate the Fitch Criteria in full by reference as an appendix to each Fund’s bylaws and, through the use of defined terms and cross-references, look largely to the specifics and guidance provided in the Fitch Criteria for these purposes. In this regard, the Amendments contemplate interaction with Fitch for related interpretive guidance, including with respect to the treatment of securities or other assets which are not specifically referenced in the Fitch Criteria.

The foregoing provides only a summary of the Amendments and is qualified in its entirety by reference to each Fund’s Bylaws, as proposed to be amended by the Amendments.

Based on input and recommendations from MFS, the Boards of each Fund have approved the proposed Amendments as being in the best interests of the Funds and their shareholders, and recommend the same for approval by the Preferred Shareholders.

As noted above, the Funds expect to purchase Preferred Shares accepted for payment in each Offer with proceeds of newly issued New Preferred Shares. It is expected that a condition to the purchaser’s agreement to purchase the Funds’ New Preferred Shares is that the New Preferred Shares be rated “AAA” by Fitch and “Aaa” to “Aa3” by Moody’s.

If less than 100% of a Fund’s Preferred Shares are tendered in any Offer, such Fund would continue after its Offer with both Preferred Shares and New Preferred Shares outstanding. In that case, and in the absence of the Amendments and replacement of S&P with Fitch as a rating agency for Preferred Shares for a Fund, the Fund would then have three separate rating agencies rating its outstanding preferred shares (i.e., S&P and Moody’s for Preferred Shares and Fitch and Moody’s for New Preferred Shares), each with ratings criteria and related requirements that differ in various respects. The Boards and MFS believe that having the same two rating agencies (Fitch and Moody’s) rate both Preferred Shares and New Preferred Shares would continue to provide adequate protections for remaining Preferred Shares holders, with the benefit of reducing expenses and administrative burdens to the Funds that would be associated with ensuring compliance with three separate sets of ratings criteria for the Funds’ outstanding preferred shares. The Boards and MFS also believe that observance of three separate sets of ratings criteria could unduly burden and restrict the efficient management of the Fund’s portfolios, with potential adverse effects on the Funds’ investment performance and returns for common shareholders.

The Boards and MFS took into account that, in August 2010, S&P issued a release requesting comments on proposed changes to its methodologies and assumptions for rating market value securities, including preferred shares issued by U.S. registered closed-end funds. Among other changes, S&P proposed more conservative criteria for stress testing of asset coverage for preferred shares, including greater market value “haircuts” and new industry concentration limits for fund holdings, and a six-month minimum liquidation period for certain asset types. To date, S&P has not indicated publicly when it may adopt the proposed changes or how they might be modified from those summarized in the August 2010 release.

MFS’ analysis of S&P’s proposed changes in reference to the Funds’ current portfolios indicates that, if adopted as proposed, they would result in the Preferred Shares of each Fund qualifying for a lower rating than their current “AAA” rating from S&P, in some cases qualifying for a “BBB” rating or lower. While it is unclear whether or when S&P might adopt the changes or, if so, whether or to what extent S&P would downgrade its ratings of any of the Funds’ Preferred Shares, based on current investment processes, any such downgrades (depending on the extent) could result in a Fund paying dividends at higher Maximum Rates to its Preferred Shareholders than may be the case with Fitch as a ratings agency.

 

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The Boards, based on input and recommendations from MFS, believe that, in light of the burden of complying with three separate sets of rating criteria, the uncertainty regarding the S&P proposals and potential Preferred Shares downgrades by S&P, and possible resulting increases to the Funds’ leverage expenses and/or changes to a Fund’s investment processes, replacing S&P with Fitch as a rating agency of the Preferred Shares would be in the best interests of the Funds.

With respect to each Fund, approval of the proposal to amend such Fund’s Bylaws requires the affirmative vote of more than 50% of such Fund’s outstanding Preferred Shares.

Effect on Net Asset Value of Common Shares. To pay the aggregate purchase price of Preferred Shares accepted for payment pursuant to its Offer, each Fund anticipates using proceeds from the issuance of New Preferred Shares.

Preferred Shareholders should note that each Offer is expected to result in accretion to the net asset value of the common shares of beneficial interest of each Fund (“Common Shares”) following its Offer, due to the fact that the tender price would represent a 5% discount to the liquidation preference of the Preferred Shares. The price to be paid in each Offer represents a discount to the liquidation preference of $25,000 for each Preferred Share, which is the amount a Preferred Shareholder would be entitled to receive, after payment of a Fund’s liabilities, in the event of a liquidation of the Fund (to the extent assets are available). In addition, the price to be paid in each Offer represents a discount to the amount payable upon a redemption of the Preferred Shares pursuant to their terms.

A Fund is required by law to pay for tendered Preferred Shares it accepts for payment promptly after the Expiration Date of its Offer. Because each Fund will not know the number of Preferred Shares tendered until the Expiration Date, the Fund will not know until the Expiration Date the amount of cash required to pay for such Preferred Shares. If on or prior to the Expiration Date a Fund does not have, or believes it is unlikely to have, sufficient cash to pay for all Preferred Shares tendered, it may extend its Offer to allow additional time to raise sufficient cash.

Lack of Market for Preferred Shares. The actual number of Preferred Shares outstanding subsequent to completion of an Offer will depend on the number of Preferred Shares tendered and purchased in the Offer. Any Preferred Shares not tendered pursuant to an Offer will remain issued and outstanding until repurchased or redeemed by a Fund. Although it has no current plan to do so, if at some future point a Fund were to redeem the Preferred Shares in accordance with their terms, it would be required to pay the full liquidation preference of $25,000 per share plus accrued dividends to the date of redemption. As described above, there have not been sufficient clearing bids in the recent auctions to effect transfers of the Preferred Shares and there can be no assurance that there will be future liquidity for the Preferred Shares. In making any decision as to whether to effect a redemption of any Preferred Shares remaining outstanding following the consummation of its Offer, each Fund will take into account the particular facts and circumstances that may then exist, including its then current financial position and liquidity, the market for the investments held by the Fund, the distribution rate on the Preferred Shares and such other factors as the Fund deems relevant.

Preferred Shares each Fund acquires pursuant to its Offer will be canceled and returned to the status of authorized but unissued shares and will be available for the Fund to issue without further action by the shareholders of the Fund (except as required by applicable law or the rules of the “NYSE” or any other securities exchanges on which the Common Shares may then be listed) for purposes including, without limitation, the raising of additional capital for use in the Fund’s business.

Tax Consequences of Purchase to Preferred Shareholders. Each Fund’s purchase of tendered Preferred Shares pursuant to its Offer will have tax consequences for tendering Preferred Shareholders and may have tax consequences for non-tendering Preferred Shareholders. See Section 6 of the Offer.

 

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Accounting treatment of the transaction. Under generally accepted accounting principles, the New Preferred Shares are considered mandatorily redeemable securities with a stated fixed maturity date and as such will be classified as a liability on each Fund’s financial statements. Costs related to the issuance of the New Preferred Shares will be considered debt issuance costs and will be deferred and amortized into expense over the life of the New Preferred Shares. The New Preferred Shares, if issued, will be reported at their liquidation preference amount. Accumulated unpaid dividends will be separately accounted for as interest payable and reported as interest expense in the Statement of Operations.

9. PURPOSE OF THE OFFER

The purpose of the Offer is to provide liquidity for Preferred Shareholders.

Each Fund issued the Preferred Shares for purposes of investment leverage to augment the amount of investment capital available for use in the pursuit of such Fund’s investment objectives. Through the use of leverage, each Fund, similar to other closed-end funds, sought to enhance the distributions and investment return available over time to the common shareholders by earning a rate of portfolio return (which includes the return related to investment made with the proceeds from leverage) that exceeds the leverage cost, typically over the long term.

Under market conditions as they existed prior to the first quarter of 2008, distribution rates on the Preferred Shares for each rate period generally were set at the market clearing rate determined through an auction process maintained and administered by unaffiliated broker-dealers that brought together bidders, who sought to buy Preferred Shares, and holders of Preferred Shares, who sought to sell their Preferred Shares. The terms of the Preferred Shares generally provide that, if an auction fails to establish a market clearing rate (because of an imbalance of sell orders over bids), the distribution payment rate over the next distribution period is set at the “Maximum Rate” and holders will continue to hold their Preferred Shares. As a result, in a failed auction, holders of Preferred Shares who desire to sell their Preferred Shares are unable to do so. A failed auction is not a default under the terms of the Preferred Shares. In the case of a failed auction, a Fund continues to pay distributions, but at the specified Maximum Rate rather than at a market clearing rate.

Consistent with patterns in the broader market for auction rate securities, beginning in the first quarter of 2008, each auction of the Preferred Shares has not attracted sufficient clearing bids for there to be a successful auction. As a result, the Maximum Rate has been triggered and holders attempting to sell their Preferred Shares through such auctions have been unsuccessful.

The periodic auctions for auction rate securities like the Preferred Shares are not occurring, and each Fund believes that such auctions are unlikely to re-start in the near future, if at all. Each Fund also believes that no well-established secondary market for auction rate securities exists today.

10. INFORMATION CONCERNING THE FUNDS

Each Fund is a closed-end management investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust, whose principal executive offices are located at 500 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02116, telephone: (617) 954-5000.

Available Information about the Funds. Each Fund is subject to the informational requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and in accordance therewith files annual reports, proxy statement and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) relating to its business, financial condition and other matters. Each Fund is required to disclose in such proxy statements certain information, as of particular dates, concerning the Fund’s Trustees and executive officers, their remuneration, the principal holders of the Fund’s securities and any material interest of such persons in transactions with the Fund. Each Fund has also filed an Issuer Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO with the SEC and a definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A relating to the proposed Bylaw amendments. Such reports, proxy statements and other information may be inspected at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E.,

 

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Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies may be obtained, by mail, upon payment of the SEC’s customary charges, by writing to its principal office at 100 F. Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Such reports and other information are also available on the SEC’s web site (http://www.sec.gov).

Agreements Involving the Funds. MFS acts as the investment manager for each Fund pursuant to an investment management agreement.

Each Fund also is a party to certain other service agreements. Each Fund has an administrative services agreement with MFS that provides that MFS shall provide each Fund with administrative personnel and services. Computershare, Inc. serves as each Fund’s transfer agent, registrar and dividend paying agent. Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas serves as each Fund’s auction agent, transfer agent, registrar and dividend paying agent for its Preferred Shares and the depositary for each Offer. AST Fund Solutions serves as each Fund’s information agent. State Street Bank serves as the custodian for each Fund.

11. INTEREST OF THE TRUSTEES AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS; TRANSACTIONS AND ARRANGEMENTS

The business address of the Trustees and executive officers of each Fund is 500 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116. As of the date of this Offer to Purchase, the Trustees and executive officers of each Fund did not beneficially own any Preferred Shares.

Based on each Fund’s records and upon information provided to the Fund by its Trustees and executive officer, none of the Funds, nor, to the best of each Fund’s knowledge, none of the Trustees or executive officers of any Fund, has effected any transactions in the Preferred Shares, during the sixty day period prior to the date hereof.

To the best of each Fund’s knowledge, none of each Fund’s executive officers, Trustees, or affiliates currently intends to tender Preferred Shares, if any, held of record or beneficially by such person for purchase pursuant to each Offer.

Except as set forth in this Offer to Purchase, to the best of each Fund’s knowledge, each Fund knows of no agreement, arrangement or understanding, contingent or otherwise or whether or not legally enforceable, between (a) the Fund, any of the Fund’s executive officers or Trustees, any person controlling the Fund or any executive officer, trustee or director of any corporation or other person ultimately in control of the Fund and (b) any person with respect to any securities of the Fund (including, but not limited to, any agreement, arrangement or understanding concerning the transfer or the voting of any such securities, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls, guarantees of loans, guarantees against loss, or the giving or withholding of proxies, consents or authorizations).

12. LEGAL MATTERS; REGULATORY APPROVALS

Except as described in this Offer to Purchase, we are not aware of any license or regulatory permit that appears to be material to our business that might be adversely affected by our acquisition of Preferred Shares as contemplated by the Offer or of any approval or other action by any government or governmental, administrative or regulatory authority or agency, domestic or foreign, that would be required for our acquisition or ownership of Preferred Shares as contemplated by the Offer. Should any such approval or other action be required, we currently contemplate that we will seek approval or such other action. We cannot predict whether we may determine that we are required to delay the acceptance for payment of, or payment for, Preferred Shares tendered in response to the Offer, pending the outcome of any such matters. There can be no assurance that any approval or other action, if needed, would be obtained or would be obtained without substantial conditions or that the failure to obtain any approval or other action might not result in adverse consequences to our business. Our obligation to accept for payment and pay for shares under the offer is subject to various conditions. See Section 13.

 

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13. CONDITIONS FOR THE OFFER

Notwithstanding any other provision of each Offer, it is the announced policy of each Board, which may be changed by the Trustees, and a condition to each Offer that a Fund cannot accept tenders or effect repurchases if: (1) there have been validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration of such Fund’s Offer that number of Preferred Shares which represent less than 70% of the Fund’s outstanding Preferred Shares; (2) the Fund is unable to issue New Preferred Shares in an amount equal to the aggregate liquidation preference of the Preferred Shares accepted in the Offer; (3) a Fund is not able to secure the approval of such Fund’s proposal to amend its Bylaws to replace S&P with Fitch as a rating agency for the Preferred Shares and to make certain other changes, as set forth in the Fund’s proxy statement dated August 9, 2012; (4) such transactions, if consummated, would (a) result in delisting of the applicable Fund’s Common Shares from the NYSE; (b) impair the applicable Fund’s status as a regulated investment company under the Code (which would make the Fund subject to federal income tax on all of its net income and gains in addition to the taxation of Preferred Shareholders who receive distributions from the Fund); or (c) result in a failure to comply with the applicable asset coverage requirements in the event any senior securities are issued and outstanding; (5) there shall be instituted, pending or threatened before any governmental entity or court any action, proceeding, application or claim, or any judgment, order or injunction sought, or any other action taken by any person or entity, which (a) restrains, prohibits or materially delays the making or consummation of the Offer; (b) challenges the acquisition by the Fund of Preferred Shares pursuant to the Offer or the Board’s fulfillment of its fiduciary obligations in connection with the Offer; (c) seeks to obtain any material amount of damages in connection with the Offer; or (d) otherwise directly or indirectly adversely affects the Offer or the Fund; (6) there is any (a) suspension of or limitation on prices for trading securities generally on the NYSE or other national securities exchange(s); (b) declaration of a banking moratorium by Federal or state authorities or any suspension of payment by banks in the United States or New York State; (c) limitation affecting the Fund or the issuers of its portfolio securities imposed by federal or state authorities on the extension of credit by lending institutions; (d) commencement of war, armed hostilities or other international or national calamity directly or indirectly involving the United States; or (e) in the Board’s judgment, other events or conditions which would have a material adverse effect on the Fund or the Preferred Shareholders if tendered Preferred Shares were purchased; or (7) the Board determines that effecting any such transaction would constitute a breach of its fiduciary duty owed to the Fund or its Preferred Shareholders.

In order to facilitate each Offer, if you own Preferred Shares through a broker or other Nominee Holder, when your broker or other Nominee Holder tenders your Preferred Shares on your behalf, your broker or other Nominee Holder will be required to provide the Depositary additional contact information for its Auction Department, or whoever at your broker or other Nominee Holder submits auction instructions for the Preferred Shares on its behalf. If your broker or other Nominee Holder is unable to provide this contact information, each Fund, in its sole discretion, may waive this requirement.

Each Fund reserves the right, at any time during the pendency of its Offer, to terminate, extend or amend its Offer in any respect. In the event any of the foregoing conditions are modified or waived in whole or in part at any time, each Fund will promptly make a public announcement of such waiver and may, depending on the materiality of the modification or waiver, extend its Offer period as provided in the section “The Offer—Section 2: Extension of Tender Period; Termination; Amendment” of this Offer to Purchase.

The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of each Fund and may be asserted by the Fund regardless of the circumstances (including any action or inaction by the Fund) giving rise to any of these conditions, and may be waived by the Fund, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, on or before the Expiration Date, in its sole discretion. A Fund’s failure at any time to exercise any of the foregoing rights shall not be deemed a waiver of any of these rights, and each of these rights shall be deemed an ongoing right that may be asserted at any time and from time to time. Any determination or judgment by a Fund concerning the events described above will be final and binding on all parties.

 

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14. FEES AND EXPENSES

Each Fund has retained AST Fund Solutions to act as the Information Agent and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas to act as the Depositary in connection with its Offer. The Information Agent may contact holders of Preferred Shares by mail, telephone, telex, email, telegraph and personal interviews and may request brokers and other Nominee Holders to forward materials relating to the Offer to beneficial owners. The Information Agent and the Depositary each will receive reasonable and customary compensation for their respective services, will be reimbursed for certain reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and will be indemnified against certain liabilities in connection therewith, including certain liabilities under the federal securities laws.

Each Fund will not pay any fees or commissions to any broker, any other Nominee Holder, or any other person (other than the Information Agent and the Depositary) for soliciting tenders of Preferred Shares pursuant to its Offer. Brokers and other Nominee Holders will, upon request, be reimbursed by the applicable Fund(s) for reasonable and necessary costs and expenses incurred by them in forwarding materials to their customers. No such broker or other Nominee Holder has been authorized to act as the agent of the Funds, the Information Agent, or the Depositary for purposes of the Offer.

15. MISCELLANEOUS

Each Offer is not being made to (nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of) holders of Preferred Shares in any jurisdiction in which the making of the Offer or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction. We are not aware of any jurisdiction where the making of the Offer is not in compliance with applicable law. If we become aware of any jurisdiction where the making of the Offer is not in compliance with any applicable law, we will make a good faith effort to comply with the applicable law.

In accordance with Rule 13e-4 under the Exchange Act, we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO that contains additional information with respect to the Offer. The Schedule TO, including the exhibits and any amendments thereto, may be examined, and copies may be obtained, at the places and in the manner set forth in Section 10.

We have not authorized any person to make any recommendation on our behalf regarding whether you should tender or refrain from tendering your shares in the Offer. We have not authorized any person to provide any information or make any representation in connection with the Offer, other than those contained in this Offer or in the related letter of transmittal. You should not rely upon any recommendation, information or representation that is given or made to you as having been authorized by the Fund, the Board, the officers of the Fund, its Adviser, the Fund’s transfer agent, the Depositary or the Information Agent.

MFS MUNICIPAL INCOME TRUST

MFS INVESTMENT GRADE MUNICIPAL TRUST

MFS CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL FUND

MFS HIGH INCOME MUNICIPAL TRUST

MFS HIGH YIELD MUNICIPAL TRUST

August 9, 2012

 

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The letter of transmittal, certificates for shares and any other required documents should be sent or delivered by each fund shareholder or the shareholder’s broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or nominee to the depositary as follows:

The Depositary for the Tender Offer is:

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

By Mail or Overnight Courier:

Reorganization Unit

DB Services Americas, Inc.

US CTAS Operations

5022 Gate Parkway, Suite 200

Jacksonville, FL 32256

 

DELIVERY OF THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET

FORTH ABOVE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY TO THE DEPOSITARY.

Any questions, requests for assistance or requests for additional copies of this offer to purchase, the letter of transmittal or the notice of guaranteed delivery may be directed to the information agent at the telephone number or address set forth below. You may also contact your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or nominee for assistance concerning the offer. To confirm delivery of shares, shareholders are directed to contact the Depositary.

The Information Agent for the Tender Offer is:

AST Fund Solutions

110 Wall Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY 10005

Should you have any questions about this Offer, please contact Warren Antler, of AST, at (212) 400-2605 Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time or at wantler@astfundsolutions.com.

 

25

EX-99.(A)(1)(II) 3 d379945dex99a1ii.htm FORM OF LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL FORM OF LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

To Tender Preferred Shares (Designated Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares Series F)

of

MFS® High Yield Municipal Trust

Pursuant to the Offer to Purchase

Dated August 9, 2012

THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS EXPIRE AT 8:00 A.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2012, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED.

The Depositary for the Offer is:

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

The Information Agent for the Offer is:

AST Fund Solutions

Delivery by First Class Mail, By Registered, Certified or Express Mail, By Overnight Courier, or By Hand should be directed to:

Reorganization Unit

DB Services Americas, Inc.

US CTAS Operations

5022 Gate Parkway, Suite 200

Jacksonville, FL 32256

DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY.

THE INSTRUCTIONS ACCOMPANYING THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IS COMPLETED.

This Letter of Transmittal relates to the offer by MFS High Yield Municipal Trust (the “Fund”), a Massachusetts business trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, to purchase for cash up to 100% of its outstanding preferred shares of beneficial interest, without par value and liquidation preference of $25,000 per share, designated Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares Series F (the “Preferred Shares”) upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the offer to purchase dated August 9, 2012 (the “Offer to Purchase”), receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, and in this Letter of Transmittal, which, together with the Offer to Purchase, each as amended or supplemented from time to time, together constitute the “Offer.”


   
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED SHARES TENDERED     
   
Name(s) and Address(es)  of Registered Holder(s)
(Please fill in, if blank)
  Series F Preferred Shares Tendered*
(attach Additional Signed List if Necessary)
    
   
      1       ¨         All    
   
      2       ¨         Partial:                             
   
* Unless otherwise indicated, it will be assumed that all (and not partial) Series F Preferred Shares are being tendered. See Instruction 3.    

If you wish to tender all or any part of your Series F Preferred Shares of the Funds, you should either:

 

   

tender your Series F Preferred Shares pursuant to the procedure for book-entry tender set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase; or

 

   

request a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to effect the transaction for you. If your Preferred Shares are registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, you should contact such person if you desire to tender your Preferred Shares.

If you desire to tender Series F Preferred Shares and such Series F Preferred Shares cannot be delivered to the Depositary or you cannot comply with the procedure for book-entry transfer or your other required documents cannot be delivered to the Depositary, in any case, by the expiration of the Offer, you must tender such Series F Preferred Shares pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedure set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase.

Questions and requests for assistance or for additional copies of this Letter of Transmittal, the Offer to Purchase or the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery or the Notice of Withdrawal may be directed to Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (“Depositary”) at its address or telephone number set forth on the first page of this Letter of Transmittal.


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING TENDERED PREFERRED SHARES

PLEASE READ ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY.

 

Name of Tendering
Institution
 

 

Account
Number
 

 

Transaction Code
Number
 

 

Contact Person in Auction Department of Tendering
Institution*
 

 

Email Address of Contact Person in Auction
Department*
 

 

Broker-Dealer who submits auction instructions to the Auction Agent on
your behalf
 

 

 

 

¨ CHECK HERE IF TENDERED PREFERRED SHARES ARE BEING DELIVERED PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY PREVIOUSLY SENT OR CONCURRENTLY BEING SENT TO THE DEPOSITARY AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:

 

Name(s) of Tendering Holder(s) of
Preferred Shares
 

 

Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed
Delivery
 

 

Name of Institution which Guaranteed
Delivery
 

 

 

 

* If there is no established Auction Department, please include contact information for the party that submits auction instructions for Preferred Shares.


Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned hereby tenders to MFS High Yield Municipal Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Fund”), the above-described preferred shares of beneficial interest, without par value per share and liquidation preference of $25,000 per share, designated Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares Series F, pursuant to the Fund’s offer to purchase for cash up to 100% of its outstanding Preferred Shares, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Fund’s Offer to Purchase dated August 9, 2012 (the “Offer to Purchase”), receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, and this Letter of Transmittal which, together with the Offer to Purchase, each as amended or supplemented from time to time, together constitute the “Offer.” The price to be paid for the Preferred Shares is an amount per share, net to the seller in cash, equal to 95% of the liquidation preference per share (or $23,750 per share), plus any unpaid dividends accrued through September 7, 2012, or such later date to which the Offer is extended. The Offer by the Fund is conditioned upon there being validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration of the Fund’s offer that number of Preferred Shares (as defined herein) which represent at least 70% of the Fund’s outstanding Preferred Shares, the Fund’s issuance of privately placed new preferred shares (“New Preferred Shares”) and the approval of the proposals to amend the Fund’s Bylaws to replace Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. with Fitch, Inc. as a rating agency for the Preferred Shares as set forth in the proxy statement dated August 9, 2012.

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer and effective upon acceptance for payment of and payment for the Preferred Shares tendered herewith, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers to, or upon the order of, the Fund all right, title and interest in and to all the Preferred Shares that is being tendered hereby and appoints the Depositary as the true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact of the undersigned with respect to such Preferred Shares, with full knowledge that the depositary also acts as the agent of the Fund, with full power of substitution (such power of attorney being deemed to be an irrevocable power coupled with an interest), to:

 

  (i) transfer ownership of such Preferred Shares on the account books maintained by the Book-Entry Transfer Facility (as defined in the Offer to Purchase), as applicable, together, in any such case, with all accompanying evidences of transfer and authenticity, to or upon the order of the Fund;

 

  (ii) present such Preferred Shares for transfer on the books of the Fund; and

 

  (iii) receive all benefits and otherwise exercise all rights of beneficial ownership of such Preferred Shares, subject to the next paragraph, all in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer.

The undersigned hereby covenants, represents and warrants to the Fund that:

 

  (i) the undersigned has full power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer the Preferred Shares tendered hereby and that when and to the extent the same are accepted for payment by the Fund, the Fund will acquire good, marketable and unencumbered title thereto, free and clear of all security interest, liens, restrictions, charges, encumbrances, conditional sales agreements or other obligations relating to the sale or transfer of the Preferred Shares and not subject to any adverse claims;

 

  (ii) the undersigned understands that tenders of Preferred Shares pursuant to any of the procedures described in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase and in the instructions to this Letter of Transmittal will constitute the undersigned’s acceptance of the terms and conditions of the Offer;

 

  (iii) the undersigned will, upon request, execute and deliver any additional documents deemed by the Depositary or the Fund to be necessary or desirable to complete the sale, assignment and transfer of the Preferred Shares tendered hereby; and

 

  (iv) the undersigned has read, understands and agrees to all the terms of the Offer.

All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred by this Letter of Transmittal shall survive the death or incapacity of the undersigned, and any obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the heirs, personal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, assigns, trustees in bankruptcy and legal representatives of the undersigned. Except as stated in the Offer to Purchase, this tender is irrevocable.


The purchase price of each Preferred Share will equal 95% of the liquidation preference per share (or $23,750 per share), plus any unpaid dividends accrued through September 7, 2012, or such later date to which the Offer is extended. All Preferred Shares validly tendered on or before the expiration date of the Offer and not properly withdrawn will be purchased, subject to the terms and conditions of the Offer. If any tendered Preferred Shares are not accepted for payment pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Offer for any reason, such Preferred Shares will be returned without expense to the holder of Preferred Shares (“Preferred Shareholder”) in accordance with Section 5 of the Offer to Purchase.

The undersigned understands that tenders of Preferred Shares pursuant to any one of the procedures described in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase and in the instructions hereto will constitute a binding agreement between the undersigned and the Fund upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer. The undersigned acknowledges that under no circumstances will the Fund pay interest on the purchase price, including, without limitation, by reason of any delay in making payment.

The undersigned recognizes that under the circumstances set forth in the Offer to Purchase, the Fund may terminate or amend the Offer; may postpone the acceptance for payment of, or the payment for, Preferred Shares tendered; or may accept for payment fewer than all of the Preferred Shares tendered.

A wire for the aggregate net purchase price for the Preferred Shares tendered and purchased will sent to the account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility.


SIGN HERE

(Please complete and return the Substitute Form W-9 below)*

 

(Signature(s) of Owners)
Dated:   __________________
Name(s):    

 

 
(Please Print)
Capacity (full title and location signed):        ________________________________________

 

Address:    

 

 
(Include Zip Code)
Area Code and Telephone Number:        ____________________________________________
(Must be signed by registered holder(s) exactly as name(s) appear(s) on a security position listing or by person(s) authorized to become registered holder(s) by certificate(s) and documents transmitted herewith. If signature is by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, agent, officer of a corporation or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, please set forth full title and location of signing and see Instruction 4.)
Guarantee Of Signature(s)
(See Instructions 1 and 4)
Authorized Signature:                                                                                                                                               
Name:                                                                                                                                                                             
Title:                                                                                                                                                                                
(Please Type or Print)
Name of Firm:                                                                                                                                                             
Address:                                                                                                                                                                         
(Include Zip Code)
Area Code and Telephone No.:                                                                                                                              
Dated:                                                                                                                                                                             

 

 

* A foreign person (as defined in the enclosed “Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9”) should NOT complete and return the enclosed Substitute Form W-9, but should instead contact the Depositary or its broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for the appropriate certification.


 

SUBSTITUTE

FORM W-9

Department of the

Treasury/Internal

Revenue Service

  

Payer’s Request for Taxpayer Identification

Number and Certification

Part I

Taxpayer Identification No. — For All Accounts

 

Enter your taxpayer identification number in the appropriate box.

For most individuals and sole proprietors, this is your Social Security Number. For other entities, it is your Employer Identification Number. If you do not have a number, see “How to Obtain a TIN” in the “Guidelines For Certification of Taxpayer

Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9” (“Guidelines”) below. Note: If the account is in more than one name, see the chart on page 1 of the Guidelines to determine what number to enter.

    

Social Security Number

_____________________

 

OR

Employee Identification Number

_____________________

 

   

Part II

For Payees Exempt From Backup Payer’s Request for Withholding (see Guidelines)

 

  Certification – Under penalties of perjury, I certify that:

 

  (1) The number shown on this form (i) is my correct Taxpayer Identification Number or (ii) I am waiting for a number to be issued to me and either (a) I have mailed or delivered an application to receive a taxpayer identification number to the appropriate Internal Revenue Service Center or Social Security Administration Office or (b) I intend to mail or deliver an application in the near future. I understand that if I do not provide a taxpayer identification number within sixty (60) days, all reportable payments made to me thereafter will be subject to backup withholding until I provide a number, and certain reportable payments may be subject to withholding within that sixty (60) day period until I have provided a taxpayer identification number;

 

  (2) I am not subject to backup withholding either because (a) I am exempt from backup withholding, (b) I have not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) that I am subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends, or (c) the IRS has notified me that I am no longer subject to backup withholding;

 

  (3) I am a U.S. citizen or other U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien (as defined in the enclosed Guidelines)); and

 

  (4) Any information provided on this Substitute Form W-9 is true, correct and complete.

(Please cross out certification (2) if you have been notified by the IRS that you are currently subject to backup withholding because you have failed to report all interest and dividends on your tax return.)

 

 

Signature of U.S. Person:         Date:       

 

Name (as shown on your income tax return):       

 

Business name (if different from above):     

 

Address:       

 

City:  ____________________________   State:  ___________________________   Zip:  _____________________

  Check the appropriate box:

 

¨    Individual/Sole Proprietor

  

¨    Corporation

  

¨    S Corporation

¨    Partnership

  

¨    Trust/Estate

  

¨    Other ____________

¨    Limited Liability Company. Enter the tax classification (S = S corporation,

        C = corporation, P = partnership): ________________

  

¨    Exempt from backup withholding

     
NOTE: FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM MAY RESULT IN IRS PENALTIES AND BACKUP WITHHOLDING OF 28% OF ANY AMOUNTS OTHERWISE PAYABLE TO YOU PURSUANT TO THE OFFER. PLEASE REVIEW THE GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 (SEE BELOW) FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.


INSTRUCTIONS

Forming Part of the Terms and Conditions of the Offer

1. Guarantee of Signatures. Except as otherwise provided below, all signatures on this Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by a financial institution (including most banks, savings and loan associations and brokerage houses) that is a member of a recognized Medallion Program approved by The Securities Transfer Association, Inc., including the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (STAMP), or any other “eligible guarantor institution” (as such term is defined in Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) (each an “Eligible Institution”). Signatures on this Letter of Transmittal need not be guaranteed if such Preferred Shares are tendered for the account of an Eligible Institution. See Instruction 4.

2. Delivery of Preferred Shares. Delivery of Preferred Shares is to be made by book-entry delivery pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase; an Agent’s Message (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) should be utilized. A confirmation of a book-entry transfer into the Depositary’s account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility of all Preferred Shares delivered electronically, as well as an Agent’s Message, and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Depositary at its address set forth on the front page of this Letter of Transmittal by the Expiration Date (as defined in the Offer to Purchase). Preferred Shareholders who cannot deliver their Preferred Shares and all other required documents to the Depositary by the Expiration Date must tender their Preferred Shares pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedure set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase. Pursuant to such procedure: (i) such tender must be made by or through an Eligible Institution, (ii) a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery substantially in the form provided by the Fund must be received by the Depositary by the Expiration Date and (iii) a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof) with any required signature guarantee or an Agent’s Message and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal and, for Preferred Shares held in street name, confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such Preferred Shares into the Depositary’s account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility, must be received by the Depositary within three NYSE trading days after the date of execution of the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, all as provided in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase.

The method of delivery of any documents is at the option and risk of the tendering Preferred Shareholder. If delivery is by mail, registered mail with return receipt requested, properly insured, is recommended. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to ensure timely delivery.

No alternative, conditional or contingent tenders will be accepted, and no fractional Preferred Shares will be purchased. By executing this Letter of Transmittal, the tendering Preferred Shareholder waives any right to receive any notice of the acceptance for payment of the Preferred Shares.

3. Partial Tenders. If any tendered Preferred Shares are not accepted for payment pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Offer for any reason, or if any tendered Preferred Shares are not accepted because of an invalid tender, or if any tendered Preferred Shares are properly withdrawn, Preferred Shares will be returned to the appropriate account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility without charge by the Fund to the tendering Preferred Shareholder, as soon as practicable following expiration or termination of the Offer or the proper withdrawal of the Preferred Shares.

4. Stock Transfer Taxes. The Fund will pay any stock transfer taxes with respect to the sale and transfer of any Preferred Shares to it or its order pursuant to the Offer. If, however, a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the sale or transfer of Preferred Shares to the Fund pursuant to the Offer, then the amount of any stock transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered holder(s), such other person or otherwise) will be deducted from the purchase price unless satisfactory evidence of the payment of such taxes, or exemption therefrom, is submitted herewith.

5. Substitute Form W-9. Under U.S. federal income tax law, a backup withholding tax of 28% may be imposed on the gross proceeds otherwise payable to certain Preferred Shareholders pursuant to the Offer. In order to avoid such backup withholding, each tendering Preferred Shareholder must provide the applicable


withholding agent with such Preferred Shareholder’s correct taxpayer identification number and certify that such Preferred Shareholder or payee is not subject to such backup withholding by completing the Substitute Form W-9 set forth above (or, in the case of a foreign Preferred Shareholder, an appropriate IRS Form W-8 or Substitute Form W-8). In general, if a Preferred Shareholder is an individual, the taxpayer identification number is the Social Security number of such individual. If the applicable withholding agent is not provided with the correct taxpayer identification number, the Preferred Shareholder will be subject to a $50 penalty imposed by the Internal Revenue Service unless the failure to provide the correct number is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect. A false statement made on the Substitute Form W-9 without any reasonable basis that results in no backup withholding will be subject to a $500 penalty, and the willful falsification of certifications or affirmations may be subject to criminal penalties, including fines and/or imprisonment. Certain Preferred Shareholders (including, among others, all corporations and certain foreign individuals) are not subject to these backup withholding and reporting requirements. However, such Preferred Shareholders should complete the Substitute Form W-9 (or, in the case of a foreign Preferred Shareholders, an appropriate IRS Form W-8 or Substitute Form W-8) to avoid erroneous backup withholding. For further information concerning backup withholding and instructions for completing the Substitute Form W-9 (including how to obtain a taxpayer identification number if you do not have one and how to complete the Substitute Form W-9 if Preferred Shares is held in more than one name), consult the Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9.

Foreign persons should not complete a Substitute Form W-9. Instead, in order to establish that a foreign person qualifies as an exempt recipient for which backup withholding is not required, such person should submit an appropriate IRS Form W-8 or Substitute Form W-8, attesting to its status. These forms can be obtained from the Depositary or from the relevant broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee.

Backup withholding is not an additional federal income tax. Rather, the federal income tax liability of a person subject to backup withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax withheld. If withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund may be obtained provided that the required information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service. NOTE: FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THE SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 (OR AN APPROPRIATE IRS FORM W-8 OR SUBSTITUTE FORM W-8) MAY RESULT IN PENALTIES AND BACKUP WITHHOLDING ON ANY AMOUNTS OTHERWISE PAYABLE TO YOU PURSUANT TO THE OFFER. PLEASE REVIEW THE GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.

6. Waiver of Conditions. Subject to the Offer to Purchase, the conditions of the Offer may be waived, in whole or in part, by the Fund, at any time and from time to time, in the case of any Preferred Shares tendered.

7. Irregularities. The Fund will determine, in its sole discretion, all questions as to the number of Preferred Shares to be accepted, and the validity, form, eligibility, including time of receipt, and acceptance for payment of any tender of Preferred Shares. The Fund’s determination will be final and binding on all parties. The Fund reserves the absolute right to reject any or all tenders it determines not to be in proper form or the acceptance of or payment for which it determines may be unlawful. The Fund also reserves the absolute right to waive any defect or irregularity in the tender of any particular Preferred Shares or any particular Preferred Shareholder. No tender of Preferred Shares will be deemed to be properly made until all defects or irregularities have been cured by the tendering Preferred Shareholder or waived by the Fund. None of the Fund, the Depositary, the Information Agent, or any other person will be under any duty to give notice of any defects or irregularities in any tender, or incur any liability for failure to give any such notice. The Fund’s interpretation of the terms of and conditions to the Offer, including this Letter of Transmittal and the instructions thereto, will be final and binding. By tendering Preferred Shares to the Fund, you agree to accept all decisions the Fund makes concerning these matters and waive any right you might otherwise have to challenge those decisions.

8. Acceptance of Tendered Shares. If a Preferred Shareholder tenders all of his or her Preferred Shares, all such Preferred Shares credited to such Preferred Shareholder’s account(s) will be tendered unless the Preferred Shareholder otherwise specifies.


9. Contact Information. In order to facilitate the Offer and any auctions for Preferred Shares that may remain outstanding after the Offer is completed, each broker or other Nominee Holder must provide additional contact information for its Auction Department, or whoever at the broker or other Nominee Holder submits auction instructions for the Preferred Shares on its behalf, and/or the Broker-Dealer, if a different party, that submits those auction instructions to the Auction Agent. If you are unable to provide this contact information, the Fund, in its sole discretion, may waive this requirement.

* * * * *

Any questions and requests for assistance may be directed to the Information Agent at its address and telephone number set forth on the first page of this Letter of Transmittal. Additional copies of the Offer to Purchase, the Letter of Transmittal and Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may be obtained from the Information Agent at its address and telephone number set forth on the first page of this Letter of Transmittal. Preferred Shareholders may also contact their broker, dealer, commercial bank or trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Offer.


GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION

NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9

Guidelines for Determining the Proper Taxpayer Identification Number for the Payee (You) to Give the Payer.—A Social Security number and an individual taxpayer identification number each has nine digits separated by two hyphens: i.e., 000-00-0000. An employer identification number has nine digits separated by only one hyphen: i.e., 00-0000000. The table below will help determine the proper number to give the payer. All “Section” references are to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. “IRS” is the Internal Revenue Service.

 

   
For this type of account:    Give the SOCIAL SECURITY
NUMBER or INDIVIDUAL
TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION
NUMBER of—

1. An individual

   The individual

2. Two or more individuals (joint account)

   The actual owner of the account or, if combined funds, the first individual on the account(1)

3. Custodian account of a minor (Uniform Transfers/Gift to Minors Act)

   The minor(2)

4. (a) Usual revocable savings trust account (grantor is also trustee)

   The grantor-trustee(1)

    (b) So-called trust account that is not a legal or valid trust under state law

   The actual owner(1)

5. Sole proprietorship or single-member limited liability company (“LLC”) that is a disregarded entity

   The member(3)

6. Grantor trust filing under Optional Form 1099 Filing Method 1 (see Regulation 1.671-4(b)(2)(i)(A))

   The grantor*
   
For this type of account:    EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION
NUMBER of—

7. Valid trust, estate, or pension trust

   The legal entity(4)

8. Corporation or entity electing corporate status on IRS Form 8832 or Form 2553

   The corporation or entity

9. Religious, charitable, or educational organization or association, club, or other tax-exempt organization

   The organization

10. Partnership or multi-member LLC

   The partnership or LLC

11. Broker or registered nominee

   The broker or nominee

12. Account with the Department of Agriculture in the name of a public entity (such as a state or local government, school district, or prison) that receives agricultural program payments

   The public entity

13. Grantor trust filing under the Form 1041 Filing Method or the Optional Form 1099 Filing Method 2 (see Regulation 1.671-4(b)(2)(i)(B))

  

The trust


(1) 

List first and circle the name of the person whose number you furnish. If only one person on a joint account has a number, that person’s number must be furnished.

(2) 

Circle the minor’s name and furnish the minor’s social security number.

(3) 

You must show your individual name, but you may also enter your business or “doing business as” name. You may use either your social security number or your employer identification number (if you have one). If you are a sole proprietor, the IRS encourages you to use your social security number.

(4) 

List first and circle the name of the legal trust, estate, or pension trust. (Do not furnish the taxpayer identification number of the personal representative or trustee unless the legal entity itself is not designated in the account title.)

* Grantor also must provide a Form W-9 to trustee of trust.

 

Note: If no name is circled when there is more than one name, the number will be considered to be that of the first name listed.


GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION

NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9

Obtaining a Number

If you do not have a taxpayer identification number, obtain Form SS-5 (Application for a Social Security Card) at the local Social Security Administration (“SSA”) office or Form SS-4 (Application for Employer Identification Number) or Form W-7 (Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) from the SSA or IRS or by calling (800) TAX-FORM, and apply for a number.

Definition of a U.S. person

For U.S. federal tax purposes, you are considered a U.S. person if you are:

 

   

An individual who is a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien,

 

   

A partnership, corporation, company, or association created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States,

 

   

An estate (other than a foreign estate), or

 

   

A domestic trust (as defined in Regulations section 301.7701-7).

A person that is not a U.S. person is a foreign person. If you are a foreign person, do not use this Substitute Form W-9. Instead, use the appropriate IRS Form W-8 or Substitute Form W-8, which can be obtained from the Depositary.

Payees Exempt from Backup Withholding

Payees specifically exempted from backup withholding on all reportable payments include the following:

 

   

An organization exempt from tax under Section 501(a), an individual retirement account (IRA), or a custodial account under Section 403(b)(7), if the account satisfies the requirements of Section 401(f)(2).

 

   

The United States or a state thereof, the District of Columbia, a possession of the United States, or a political subdivision or wholly-owned agency or instrumentality of any one or more of the foregoing.

 

   

An international organization or any agency or instrumentality thereof.

 

   

A foreign government or any political subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof.

Payees that may be specifically exempted from backup withholding include the following:

 

   

A corporation.

 

   

A financial institution.

 

   

A dealer in securities or commodities required to register in the United States, the District of Columbia, or a possession of the United States.

 

   

A real estate investment trust.

 

   

A common trust fund operated by a bank under Section 584(a).

 

   

An entity registered at all times during the taxable year under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

   

A middleman known in the investment community as a nominee or custodian.

 

   

A futures commission merchant registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

 

   

A foreign central bank of issue.

 

   

A trust exempt from tax under Section 664 or described in Section 4947.


Payments of dividends and interest generally exempt from backup withholding include, but are not limited to:

 

   

Payments to nonresident aliens subject to withholding under Section 1441.

 

   

Payments to partnerships not engaged in a trade or business in the United States and that have at least one nonresident alien partner.

Certain payments that are exempt from information reporting are also exempt from backup withholding. For details, see Sections 6041, 6041A, 6042, 6044, 6045, 6049, 6050A and 6050N.

U.S. EXEMPT PAYEES DESCRIBED ABOVE MUST FILE FORM W-9 OR A SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 TO AVOID POSSIBLE ERRONEOUS BACKUP WITHHOLDING. FILE THAT FORM WITH THE PAYER. FURNISH YOUR TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON THE FORM, CHECK THE BOX LABELED “EXEMPT FROM BACKUP WITHHOLDING” ON THE FORM, SIGN AND DATE THE FORM AND RETURN IT TO THE PAYER.

Privacy Act Notice—Section 6109 requires most recipients of dividends and certain other payments to provide a correct taxpayer identification number to payers, who must report the payments to the IRS. The IRS uses the number for identification purposes and may also provide this information to various government agencies for tax enforcement or litigation purposes. Payers must be given the numbers whether or not recipients are required to file tax returns. Payers must generally withhold at least 28% of taxable interest, dividend, and certain other payments to a payee who does not furnish a taxpayer identification number to a payer. Certain penalties may also apply.

Penalties

(1) Failure to Furnish Taxpayer Identification Number. If you fail to furnish your taxpayer identification number to a payer, you are subject to a penalty of $50 for each such failure unless your failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect.

(2) Civil Penalty for False Information with Respect to Withholding. If you make a false statement with no reasonable basis that results in no backup withholding, you are subject to a $500 penalty.

(3) Criminal Penalty for Falsifying Information. Willfully falsifying certifications or affirmations may subject you to criminal penalties including fines and/or imprisonment.

(4) Misuse of Taxpayer Identification Numbers. If the requester discloses or uses taxpayer identification numbers in violation of federal law, the requester may be subject to civil and criminal penalties.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT YOUR TAX CONSULTANT OR THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE.

EX-99.(A)(1)(III) 4 d379945dex99a1iii.htm FORM OF NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY FORM OF NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY

NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY

To Tender Preferred Shares

Of

MFS® Municipal Income Trust,

MFS® Investment Grade Municipal Trust,

MFS® California Municipal Fund,

MFS® High Income Municipal Trust, or

MFS® High Yield Municipal Trust

(each a “Fund,” collectively the “Funds”)

Pursuant to the Offer to Purchase

Dated August 9, 2012

This form, or a form substantially equivalent to this form, must be used to accept the Offer (as defined in the Letter of Transmittal), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer Documents (as defined below), if the preferred shares of beneficial interest, without par value and liquidation preference of $25,000 per share, designated Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares (with respect to a Fund, the “Preferred Shares”), of a Fund, and/or all other documents required by the Fund’s Letter of Transmittal, cannot be delivered to the Depositary (as defined in the offer to purchase, dated August 9, 2012 (the “Offer to Purchase”)) on or before 8:00 a.m., New York City time, September 7, 2012, or such later date to which the Offer is extended (the “Expiration Date”). Such form may be delivered by hand or mailed to the Depositary, and must be received by the Depositary on or before the Expiration Date. See Section 3, Procedures for Tendering Preferred Shares, of the Offer to Purchase.

The Depositary for the Offer is:

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

Toll Free

(800) 735-7777 Option #1

By First Class Mail, By Overnight Courier, By Hand:

Reorganization Unit

DB Services Americas, Inc.

US CTAS Operations

5022 Gate Parkway, Suite 200

Jacksonville, FL 32256

DELIVERY OF THIS NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY.

This Notice of Guaranteed Delivery is not to be used to guarantee signatures. If a signature on a Fund’s Letter of Transmittal is required to be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” under the instructions thereto, such signature guarantee must appear in the applicable space provided in the signature box on the Letter of Transmittal.


Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned hereby tenders to the Fund named below, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in its Offer to Purchase dated August 9, 2012 and the related Letter of Transmittal (which together, with respect to a Fund, constitute the “Offer Documents”), receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, Preferred Shares, pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedure set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase.

 

     

Name of Fund

 

     

¨ check here if the shares will be tendered by book-entry transfer

 

     

Number of Preferred Shares tendered

 

     

DRS Transaction Advice Numbers

(if applicable)

 

     

Account Number

  

     

Signature

 

     

Name(s) of Tendering Institution

 

     

(Address)

 

     

(Zip Code)

 

     

(Area Code and Telephone Number)


GUARANTEE

(Not to be used for signature guarantee)

The undersigned, a firm which is a bank, broker, dealer, credit union, savings association or other entity which is a member in good standing of a recognized Medallion Program approved by The Securities Transfer Association, Inc., including the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program, or any other “eligible guarantor institution” (as such term is defined in Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), hereby (a) represents that the above named person(s) “own(s)” the Preferred Shares tendered hereby and (b) guarantees to deliver to the Depositary (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) the Preferred Shares tendered hereby, together with a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal or, in the case of a book-entry delivery, an Agent’s Message (as defined in the Offer to Purchase), and any other required documents, all within three trading days of the New York Stock Exchange after the date hereof.

The eligible institution that completes this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery must communicate the guarantee to the Depositary (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) and must deliver all required documents to the Depositary within the time period set forth in the Offer to Purchase. Failure to do so could result in a financial loss to the eligible institution.

 

      

 

(Name of Firm)

 

      

 

(Authorized Signature)

 

      

 

(Name)

 

      

 

(Address)

 

      

 

(Zip Code)

 

      

 

(Area Code and Telephone Number)

Dated:                     , 2012

EX-99.(A)(1)(IV) 5 d379945dex99a1iv.htm FORM OF LETTER TO BROKERS,DEALERS FORM OF LETTER TO BROKERS,DEALERS

Offer by

Each of

MFS® Municipal Income Trust

MFS® Investment Grade Municipal Trust

MFS® California Municipal Fund

MFS® High Income Municipal Trust

MFS® High Yield Municipal Trust

(each a “Fund,” collectively the “Funds”)

to Purchase for Cash

Up To 100% of Its Outstanding Preferred Shares

(MFS Municipal Income Trust; Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares Series T and Series TH)

(MFS Investment Grade Municipal Trust; Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares Series M)

(MFS California Municipal Fund; Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares Series TH)

(MFS High Income Municipal Trust; Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares Series T and Series W)

(MFS High Yield Municipal Trust; Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares Series F)

 

 

August 9, 2012

To Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks,

Trust Companies and Other Nominees:

We have been appointed to act as Depositary (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) in connection with an offer by each of the Funds, each a Massachusetts business trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, to purchase for cash up to 100% of its outstanding preferred shares of beneficial interest, without par value and liquidation preference of $25,000 per share, designated Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares, (with respect to each Fund, the “Preferred Shares”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the offer to purchase dated August 9, 2012 (the “Offer to Purchase”) and each Fund’s related letter of transmittal (the “Letter of Transmittal,” which, together with the Offer to Purchase, each as amended or supplemented from time to time, constitutes such Fund’s “Offer” and, collectively, the “Offers”). The price to be paid for each Fund’s Preferred Shares is an amount per share, net to the seller in cash, equal to 95% of the liquidation preference per share (or $23,750 per share), plus any unpaid dividends accrued through September 7, 2012, or such later date to which the Fund’s Offer is extended.

We are asking you to contact your clients for whom you hold a Fund’s Preferred Shares registered in your name (or in the name of your nominee) or who hold a Fund’s Preferred Shares registered in their own names. Please bring the Offer(s) to their attention as promptly as possible.

For your information and for forwarding to your clients, we are enclosing the following documents:

1. The Offer to Purchase dated August 9, 2012;

2. Letter(s) of Transmittal for your use and for the information of your clients, including Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9, which provides information relating to backup federal income tax withholding;

3. Notice of Guaranteed Delivery to be used to accept an Offer if the Preferred Shares and all other required documents cannot be delivered to the Depositary (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) by the Expiration Date (as defined in the Offer to Purchase);

4. Notice of Withdrawal to be used to withdraw previously tendered Preferred Shares; and


5. A form of letter which may be sent to your clients for whose accounts you hold a Fund’s Preferred Shares registered in your name (or in the name of your nominee), with space provided for obtaining such clients’ instructions with regard to the Offer(s).

Your prompt action is requested. We urge you to contact your clients as promptly as possible. EACH FUND’S OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS EXPIRE AT 8:00 A.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2012, UNLESS THE APPLICABLE OFFER IS EXTENDED.

Each Offer is not being made to, nor will a Fund accept tenders from, holders of Preferred Shares in any jurisdiction in which the Offer or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction.

No Fund will pay any fees or commissions to any broker, dealer or other person (other than the Information Agent or the Depositary as described in the Offer to Purchase) for soliciting tenders of Preferred Shares pursuant to an Offer. Each Fund will, however, upon request, reimburse you for reasonable and necessary costs and expenses incurred by you in forwarding any of the enclosed materials to your clients. Each Fund will pay all stock transfer taxes applicable to its purchase of Preferred Shares pursuant to an Offer, except as otherwise provided in the Offer to Purchase. However, backup withholding may be required unless either an exemption is proved or the required taxpayer identification information and certifications are provided. See Section 3, “Procedures for Tendering Preferred Shares,” of the Offer to Purchase.

In order to accept an Offer, an Agent’s Message (as defined in the Offer to Purchase), and any other required documents, should be sent to the Depositary (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) by 8:00 a.m., New York city time, on September 7, 2012.

In order to facilitate an Offer and any auctions for Preferred Shares that may remain outstanding after the Offer is completed, when you tender Preferred Shares on behalf of your clients you will need to provide additional contact information for your Auction Department and/or the Broker-Dealer who submits auction instructions for the Preferred Shares on your behalf. Should you be unable to provide this contact information, each Fund, in its sole discretion, may waive this requirement. Please contact AST Fund Solutions, the Information Agent for the Offer, at (212) 400-2605 or at wantler@astfundsolutions.com with any questions.

Neither the Funds nor the Funds’ Boards of Trustees make any recommendation to any holder of Preferred Shares as to whether to tender all or any Preferred Shares.

Any inquiries you may have with respect to an Offer should be addressed to, and additional copies of the enclosed materials may be obtained from, the Information Agent at the addresses and telephone number set forth on the back cover of the Offer to Purchase.

Very truly yours,

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN OR IN THE ENCLOSED DOCUMENTS SHALL CONSTITUTE YOU THE AGENT OF EITHER FUND, THE INFORMATION AGENT OR THE DEPOSITARY, OR AUTHORIZE YOU OR ANY OTHER PERSON TO USE ANY DOCUMENT OR MAKE ANY STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF ANY OF THEM IN CONNECTION WITH EITHER OFFER OTHER THAN THE MATERIALS ENCLOSED HEREWITH AND THE STATEMENTS SPECIFICALLY SET FORTH IN SUCH MATERIALS.

EX-99.(A)(1)(V) 6 d379945dex99a1v.htm FORM OF LETTER TO CLIENTS FORM OF LETTER TO CLIENTS

Offer by

Each of

MFS® Municipal Income Trust

MFS® Investment Grade Municipal Trust

MFS® California Municipal Fund

MFS® High Income Municipal Trust

MFS® High Yield Municipal Trust

(each a “Fund,” collectively the “Funds”)

to Purchase for Cash

Up To 100% of Its Outstanding Preferred Shares

(MFS Municipal Income Trust; Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares Series T and Series TH)

(MFS Investment Grade Municipal Trust; Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares Series M)

(MFS California Municipal Fund; Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares Series TH)

(MFS High Income Municipal Trust; Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares Series T and Series W)

(MFS High Yield Municipal Trust; Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares Series F)

 

 

August 9, 2012

To Our Clients:

Enclosed for your consideration is the offer to purchase dated August 9, 2012 (the “Offer to Purchase”) in connection with an offer by each of the Funds, each a Massachusetts business trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, to purchase for cash up to 100% of its outstanding preferred shares of beneficial interest, without par value and a liquidation preference of $25,000 per share, designated Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares (with respect to each Fund, the “Preferred Shares”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase and each Fund’s related Letter of Transmittal (the “Letter of Transmittal,” which, together with the Offer to Purchase, each as amended or supplemented from time to time, constitutes such Fund’s “Offer” and, collectively, the “Offers”). The price to be paid for a Fund’s Preferred Shares is an amount per share, net to the seller in cash, equal to 95% of the liquidation preference per share (or $23,750 per share), plus any unpaid dividends accrued through September 7, 2012, or such later date to which that Fund’s Offer is extended. Each Fund’s Offer is conditioned upon there being validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration of such Fund’s Offer that number of Preferred Shares which represent at least 70% of the Fund’s outstanding Preferred Shares, such Fund’s issuance of privately placed new preferred shares (“New Preferred Shares”), and the approval of the proposals to amend such Fund’s bylaws to replace Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (“S&P”) with Fitch, Inc. (“Fitch”) as a rating agency for the Preferred Shares as set forth in the proxy statement dated August 9, 2012. Each Offer is also subject to certain other conditions as described in the Offer to Purchase.

We are the registered holder of record of Preferred Shares held for your account. A tender of such Preferred Shares can be made only by us as the registered holder of record and only pursuant to your instructions. The Offer to Purchase is being furnished to you for your information only and cannot be used by you to tender Preferred Shares held by us for your account.

We request instructions as to whether you wish us to tender all or any Preferred Shares held by us for your account, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer(s).

Your attention is invited to the following:

 

  1. The purchase price to be paid for a Fund’s Preferred Shares is an amount per share, net to the seller in cash, equal to 95% of the liquidation preference per share (or $23,750 per share), plus any unpaid dividends accrued through September 7, 2012, or such later date to which an Offer is extended. When considering whether to tender Preferred Shares, you should be aware that the payment received pursuant to the Offer will be less than the amount that you would be entitled to receive upon redemption of your Preferred Shares under the terms of the Preferred Shares or upon a liquidation of the Fund.


  2. Each Fund’s Offer and withdrawal rights expire at 8:00 a.m., New York City time, on September 7, 2012, unless the Offer is extended.

 

  3. Each Offer is conditioned upon a minimum of 70% of the applicable Fund’s outstanding Preferred Shares being tendered, such Fund’s ability to issue new preferred shares and the approval of the proposals to amend such Fund’s bylaws to replace S&P with Fitch as a rating agency for the Preferred Shares as set forth in the proxy statement dated August 9, 2012. Each Offer is also subject to certain other conditions as described in Offer to Purchase.

 

  4. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of a Fund’s Offer, such Fund will purchase all Preferred Shares validly tendered (and not withdrawn) on or prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in the Offer to Purchase).

 

  5. Any stock transfer taxes applicable to the sale of Preferred Shares to a Fund pursuant to that Fund’s Offer will be paid by that Fund, except as otherwise provided in the Offer to Purchase.

 

  6. No fees or commissions will be payable to any Fund in connection with the Offers. However, brokers and other nominees who tender Preferred Shares pursuant to your instructions may charge you a fee for doing so.

 

  7. Your instructions to us should be forwarded in ample time before the Expiration Date to permit us to submit a tender on your behalf.

 

  8 In order to facilitate auctions for any Preferred Shares that may remain outstanding after the Offers are completed, please provide, if known, the contact information for the Auction Department at your broker or other nominee, or the Broker-Dealer (if a different party) that submits auction instructions to the Auction Agent on your behalf.

If you wish to have us tender all or any of your Preferred Shares, please so instruct us by completing, executing, detaching and returning to us the instruction form on the detachable part hereof. If you authorize the tender of your Preferred Shares, all such Preferred Shares will be tendered unless otherwise specified on the detachable part hereof. Your instructions to us should be forwarded as promptly as possible in order to permit us to submit a tender on your behalf in accordance with the terms and conditions of an Offer.

Each Offer is not being made to, nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of, holders of Preferred Shares in any jurisdiction in which the making of an Offer or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction.

Neither the Funds nor the Funds’ Boards of Trustees (each, a “Board”) are making any recommendation to any holder of Preferred Shares as to whether to tender or refrain from tendering Preferred Shares in an Offer. Each holder of Preferred Shares is urged to read the Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal and accompanying materials carefully in evaluating an Offer. No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations in connection with an Offer other than the materials enclosed herewith and the statements specifically set forth in such materials, and, if given or made, such information or representations may not be relied upon as having been authorized by a Fund or its Board.

Payment for Preferred Shares purchased pursuant to an Offer will in all cases be made only after timely receipt by Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (the “Depositary”) of (a) timely confirmation of the book-entry transfer of such Preferred Shares into the account maintained by the Depositary at the Depository (the “Book-Entry Transfer Facility”), pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase, (b) an Agent’s Message (as defined in the Offer to Purchase), in connection with a book-entry delivery, and (c) any other documents required by the applicable Letter of Transmittal. Accordingly, payment may not be made to all tendering holders of Preferred Shares at the same time depending upon when confirmations of book-entry transfer of such Preferred Shares into the Depositary’s account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility are actually received by the Depositary.


Instructions with Respect to Offer by each of

MFS Municipal Income Trust

MFS Investment Grade Municipal Trust

MFS California Municipal Fund

MFS High Income Municipal Trust

MFS High Yield Municipal Trust

(each a “Fund,” collectively the “Funds”)

to Purchase for Cash

Up To 100% of Its Outstanding Preferred Shares

(MFS Municipal Income Trust; Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares Series T and Series TH)

(MFS Investment Grade Municipal Trust; Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares Series M)

(MFS California Municipal Fund; Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares Series TH)

(MFS High Income Municipal Trust; Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares Series T and Series W)

(MFS High Yield Municipal Trust; Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares Series F)

The undersigned acknowledge(s) receipt of the enclosed letter and the offer to purchase dated August 9, 2012 (the “Offer to Purchase”) and related letter of transmittal in connection with an offer by each of the Funds, each a Massachusetts business trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, to purchase for cash up to 100% of its outstanding preferred shares of beneficial interest, without par value and liquidation preference of $25,000 per share, designated Auction Rate Preferred Shares (with respect to each Fund, the “Preferred Shares”).

This will instruct you to tender the number of Preferred Shares as indicated below (or if no number is indicated below, all the Preferred Shares) held by you for the account of the undersigned, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase and related letter of transmittal.

 

Fund Name:                                                          SIGN HERE
   
Series:                                                                                                                                                                                                
   
CUSIP(S):                                                             
                                                                                                                                   
Number of Preferred Shares to be Tendered:    Signature(s)
   
                                              amount of Preferred Shares*     
                                                                                                                                   
     Please type or print name(s)
Dated                                              , 2012     
                                                                                                                                   
If known:    Please type or print address
   
Auction Desk Contact Information:                                                                                                                                  
     Area Code and Telephone Number
    Name:                                                               
                                                                                                                                   
    Email Address:                                                Social Security or other Taxpayer Identification Number
   
Broker-Dealer that provides instructions to Auction Agent:                                  


PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM TO THE BROKERAGE

FIRM MAINTAINING YOUR ACCOUNT

The method of delivery of this form is at the option and risk of the tendering holder of Preferred Shares. If delivery is by mail, registered mail with return receipt requested, properly insured, is recommended. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to ensure timely delivery.

 

* Unless otherwise indicated, it will be assumed that all Preferred Shares held by us for your account is to be tendered. Specify series if more than one series is tendered and not all Preferred Shares held by us for your account are to be tendered.
EX-99.(A)(1)(VI) 7 d379945dex99a1vi.htm FORM OF NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL FORM OF NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL

Instructions for Withdrawal

of

Previously Tendered Preferred Shares

of

MFS® Municipal Income Trust

MFS® Investment Grade Municipal Trust

MFS® California Municipal Fund

MFS® High Income Municipal Trust

MFS® High Yield Municipal Trust

(each a “Fund,” collectively the “Funds”)

If you tendered to any of the Funds, each a Massachusetts business trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, in connection with the offer by each Fund to purchase for cash up to 100% of its outstanding preferred shares of beneficial interest, without par value and liquidation preference of $25,000 per share, designated Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares, (with respect to each Fund, the “Preferred Shares”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the offer to purchase dated August 9, 2012 (the “Offer to Purchase”) and each Fund’s related letter of transmittal (the “Letter of Transmittal,” which, together with the Offer to Purchase, each as amended or supplemented from time to time, constitutes such Fund’s “Offer” and, collectively, the “Offers”), and you wish to withdraw all or any of your Preferred Shares, please fill out the attached Notice of Withdrawal. If your Preferred Shares are registered in the name of your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee (“Nominee Holder”), contact that Nominee Holder to withdraw your tendered Preferred Shares.

1. Withdrawal. If you have tendered your Preferred Shares pursuant to an Offer, you may withdraw your Preferred Shares previously tendered by completing, executing and sending the attached “Notice of Withdrawal” to any one of the addresses set forth on the first page of the Notice of Withdrawal. If your Preferred Shares are registered in the name of your broker or other Nominee Holder, contact that Nominee Holder to withdraw your tendered Preferred Shares.

2. Delivery of Notice of WithdrawalDeutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (the “Depositary”) must receive the Notice of Withdrawal prior to 8:00 a.m., New York City time, on September 7, 2012 (the “Expiration Date”), unless the Offer is extended. The method of delivery of any documents related to a withdrawal is at the option and risk of the withdrawing holder of Preferred Shares. Any documents related to a withdrawal will be deemed delivered only when actually received by the Depositary. If delivery is by mail, registered mail with return receipt requested, properly insured, is recommended. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to ensure timely delivery. If your Preferred Shares are registered in the name of your broker or other Nominee Holder, you may need to allow such Nominee Holder additional time to withdraw your tendered Preferred Shares. You should consult your broker or other Nominee Holder to determine if there is an earlier deadline by which you must inform such Nominee Holder of any decision to withdraw your tendered Preferred Shares.

3. Procedures and Signature Guarantee. The Notice of Withdrawal must specify the name of the Fund, name of the person who tendered the Preferred Shares to be withdrawn, the number of Preferred Shares to be withdrawn and the name of the registered holder of Preferred Shares, if different from that of the person who tendered such Preferred Shares. If the Preferred Shares to be withdrawn has been delivered to the Depositary, a signed notice of withdrawal or an Agent’s Message (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) with (except in the case of Preferred Shares tendered by an Eligible Institution (as defined below)) signatures guaranteed by an Eligible Institution must be submitted prior to the withdrawal of such Preferred Shares. In addition, such notice must specify the name and number of the account at The Depository Trust Company (the “Book-Entry Transfer

 


Facility”) to be credited with the withdrawn Preferred Shares. An “Eligible Institution” is a financial institution (including most banks, savings and loan associations and brokerage houses) that is a member of a recognized Medallion Program approved by The Securities Transfer Association Inc., including the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (STAMP). If this Notice of Withdrawal is signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, agents, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such persons should so indicate when signing, should indicate location of signing and must submit proper evidence satisfactory to a Fund of their authority to so act.

 


NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL

of Preferred Shares

of

MFS® Municipal Income Trust

MFS® Investment Grade Municipal Trust

MFS® California Municipal Fund

MFS® Municipal High Income Trust

MFS® High Yield Municipal Trust

(each a “Fund,” collectively the “Funds”)

(MFS Municipal Income Trust; Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares Series T and Series TH)

(MFS Investment Grade Municipal Trust; Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares Series M)

(MFS California Municipal Fund; Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares Series TH)

(MFS High Income Municipal Trust; Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares Series T and Series W)

(MFS High Yield Municipal Trust; Municipal Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares Series F)

Previously Tendered

Pursuant to the Offer to Purchase Dated August 9, 2012

THE WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE IS 8:00 A.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2012,

UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED

This Notice of Withdrawal is Submitted to:

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

By First Class Mail, By Overnight Courier, By Hand:

Reorganization Unit

DB Services Americas, Inc.

US CTAS Operations

5022 Gate Parkway, Suite 200

Jacksonville, FL 32256

If you have any questions regarding this Notice of Withdrawal, please contact AST Fund Solutions, the Information Agent for each Offer, at (212) 400-2605 or at wantler@astfundsolutions.com.

 

 
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED SHARES WITHDRAWN
 

Enter the Name (and Series if applicable) of Fund:

   

Name(s) and Address(es) of Registered Holder(s)

(Please fill in, if blank)

   Preferred Shares Withdrawn*
   
    

1    ¨    All

2    ¨    Partial:   _______________

 
*Unless otherwise indicated, it will be assumed that all Preferred Shares are being withdrawn.


This Notice of Withdrawal is to be completed if you tendered Preferred Shares of a Fund in connection with an Offer by any of the Funds and wish to withdraw shares tendered.

¨    CHECK HERE IF YOUR PREFERRED SHARES WERE TENDERED PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY PREVIOUSLY SENT TO THE DEPOSITARY AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING. PLEASE ENCLOSE A PHOTOCOPY OF SUCH NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY.

 

Name(s) of Registered Holder(s):     
Window Ticket No. (if any):     
Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery:     
Name of Institution which Guaranteed Delivery:     

Signatures are required on the next page.


NOTE: SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE PROVIDED BELOW.

PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS SET FORTH IN THIS

NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL CAREFULLY.

 

Name of Fund:     
Signature(s) of Owner(s):     
    
Date: ____________, 2012
Printed Names:     
    
Capacity and Location Signed:     
 
Address:     
      

Guarantee of Signature(s)

(Required if Preferred Shares have been delivered to the Depositary)

[For use by financial institutions only. Place medallion guarantee in space below.]

EX-99.(A)(1)(VII) 8 d379945dex99a1vii.htm SCRIPT FURNISHED FOR MAKING SOLICITATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE TENDER OFFER SCRIPT FURNISHED FOR MAKING SOLICITATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE TENDER OFFER

Questions and Answers Script for MFS Closed-End Fund Tender Offers

WHO IS OFFERING TO BUY MY PREFERRED SHARES?

Each of MFS® California Municipal Fund, MFS® High Income Municipal Trust, MFS® High Yield Municipal Trust, MFS® Investment Grade Municipal Trust and MFS® Municipal Income Trust is offering to purchase Preferred Shares it previously issued.

HOW MUCH IS EACH FUND OFFERING TO PAY AND WHAT IS THE FORM OF PAYMENT?

Each Fund is offering to purchase up to 100% of its outstanding Preferred Shares for cash, at a price per share equal to 95% of the liquidation preference of $25,000 per share (or $23,750 per share), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer.

WHEN WILL THE TENDER OFFER EXPIRE AND MAY THE OFFER BE EXTENDED?

Each Fund’s Offer will expire at 8:00 a.m., New York City time, on September 7, 2012, unless extended. If your Preferred Shares are registered in the name of your broker or other nominee holder, you may need to decide whether to tender your Preferred Shares in an Offer before the Offer expires. The Offer period may be extended by a Fund issuing a press release or making some other public announcement no later than 9:00 a.m. New York City time on the next business day after the Offer otherwise would have expired.

IS THERE A LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF PREFERRED SHARES I MAY TENDER?

No, each Fund is offering to purchase up to 100% of its outstanding Preferred Shares.

HOW DO I TENDER MY PREFERRED SHARES IN AN OFFER?

To tender Preferred Shares in an Offer, you must deliver the Preferred Shares to the Depositary not later than the time the Offer expires. If your Preferred Shares are held in street name by your broker or other nominee holder, such nominee can tender your Preferred Shares through The Depository Trust Company. Section 3 of the Offer describes procedures for tendering Preferred Shares.

WHEN AND HOW WILL I BE PAID FOR MY TENDERED PREFERRED SHARES?

If accepted for payment, each Fund will pay for all validly tendered and not withdrawn Preferred Shares promptly after the Expiration Date for its Offer.

ARE THERE ANY CONDITIONS TO EACH OFFER?

Yes, you should read Section 13 of the Offer for a description of the conditions to the Offer. Among other conditions, each Fund’s Offer is conditioned upon there being validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration of such Fund’s Offer that number of Preferred Shares which represent at least 70% of the Fund’s outstanding Preferred Shares, the Fund’s issuance of New Preferred Shares in an amount equal to the aggregate liquidation preference of the Preferred Shares accepted for payment in the Offer, and the approval of the proposal to amend such Fund’s Bylaws to replace S&P with Fitch as a rating agency for the Preferred Shares and to make certain other changes, as set forth in the Fund’s proxy statement dated August 9, 2012.

IS THE CLOSING OF ONE FUND’S OFFER CONTINGENT ON THE CLOSING OF ANY OTHER FUNDS OFFER?

No.

EX-99.(A)(5)(II) 9 d379945dex99a5ii.htm SCRIPT FURNISHED FOR MAKING SOLICITATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROXY SCRIPT FURNISHED FOR MAKING SOLICITATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROXY

Meeting Date: August 31, 2012

Outbound Script

Good (morning, afternoon, evening) my name is (AGENT’S FULL NAME). May I please speak with (Mr. /Ms. / Mrs.) (SHAREHOLDER’S FULL NAME)?

(Re-Greet If Necessary)

I am calling on a recorded line regarding a current investment with MFS Funds. I wanted to confirm that you have received the proxy material for the shareholder meeting scheduled for August 31, 2012. Have you received the information?

(Pause for response)

If “Yes” or positive response:

If you’re not able to attend the meeting, I can record your voting instructions by phone. The Board of Trustees is recommending a vote in favor. Would you like to vote along with the Board’s Recommendation?

(Pause for response)

If “No” or negative response:

I would be happy to review the meeting agenda and record your vote by phone. However, the Board of Trustees is recommending a vote in favor. Would you like to vote along with the Board’s recommendation?

(Pause for response)

If proposal review requested:

I would be happy to review the meeting agenda and record your vote by phone.

As described in more detail below, the Board of Trustees of each Trust (each a “Board”) has approved amendments (the “Amendments”) to each Trust’s Bylaws (as defined below) that would replace S&P with Fitch as one of the two rating agencies (along with Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”)) that provide credit ratings for the Trust’s ARPS. The Board of each Trust has recommended that its Preferred Shareholders vote to approve the Amendments at their upcoming Meeting.

The Board of each Trust has approved the Amendments in connection with each Trust’s intention to conduct an issuer tender offer (each a “Tender Offer”) for up to 100% of its ARPS and to replace the tendered ARPS and associated leverage with a new type of preferred shares that would be issued by the Trust, to be designated “Variable Rate Municipal Term Preferred Shares” (“VMTP”).

Each Trust’s Tender Offer will be at a price equal to 95% of the ARPS’ per share liquidation preference of $25,000 ($23,750 per share) plus any unpaid dividends accrued through the expiration date of the Tender Offer. Each Trust’s Tender Offer will be conditioned upon, among other conditions, a minimum of 70% of the Trust’s outstanding ARPS being tendered and the successful private placement of VMTP. In addition, each Trust’s Tender Offer will be conditioned upon approval of the Amendments by the Trust’s Preferred Shareholders at their upcoming Meeting.


The full details of the ARPS Tender Offers are provided in documents filed by the Trusts with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

If less than 100% of a Trust’s ARPS are tendered in the Tender Offers, the Trust would continue after its Tender Offer with both ARPS and VMTP outstanding. In that case, and in the absence of the Amendments and replacement of S&P with Fitch as a rating agency for ARPS for a Trust, the Trust would then have three separate rating agencies rating its outstanding preferred shares (i.e., S&P and Moody’s for ARPS and Fitch and Moody’s for VMTP), each with ratings criteria and related requirements that differ in various respects. The Boards and MFS believe that having the same two rating agencies (Fitch and Moody’s) rate both ARPS and VMTP would continue to provide adequate protections for remaining Preferred Shareholders, with the benefit of reducing expenses and administrative burdens to the Trusts that would be associated with ensuring compliance with three separate sets of ratings criteria for the Trusts’ outstanding preferred shares. The Boards and MFS also believe that observance of three separate sets of ratings criteria could unduly burden and restrict the efficient management of the Trust’s portfolios, with potential adverse effects on the Trusts’ investment performance and returns for common shareholders.

The Boards took into account that Fitch is among the leading NRSROs in the industry, and currently provides ratings for preferred shares issued by approximately 215 U.S. registered closed-end investment companies representing approximately $17 billion in preferred share assets. The Boards also took into account that Fitch substantially modified and updated its ratings criteria for closed-end fund preferred stock and debt in August 2009, with further updates in August 2011, as noted above.

In addition, the Boards and MFS took into account that, in August 2010, S&P issued a release requesting comments on proposed changes to its methodologies and assumptions for rating market value securities, including preferred shares issued by U.S. registered closed-end funds. Among other changes, S&P proposed more conservative criteria for stress testing of asset coverage for preferred shares, including greater market value “haircuts” and new industry concentration limits for fund holdings, and a six-month minimum liquidation period for certain asset types. S&P has not to date indicated publicly when it may adopt the proposed changes or how they might be modified from those summarized in the August 2010 release.

MFS’ analysis of S&P’s proposed changes in reference to the Trusts’ current portfolios indicates that, if adopted as proposed, they would result in the ARPS of each Trust qualifying for a lower rating than their current “AAA” rating from S&P, in some cases qualifying for a “BBB” rating or lower. While it is unclear whether or when S&P might adopt the changes or, if so, whether or to what extent S&P would downgrade its ratings of any of the Trusts’ ARPS based on current investment processes, any such downgrades (depending on the extent) could result in a Trust paying dividends at higher maximum rates to its Preferred Shareholders, thereby increasing the costs of leverage to the Trust and reducing returns to the Trust’s common shareholders1 or require modifications to a Trust’s investment processes.

 

 

1 

The maximum rate payable to the Trusts’ ARPS, while the ARPS are rated AA3/AA- or higher is 110% of the higher of (i) the interest equivalent of a specified commercial paper rate or (ii) the taxable equivalent of a calculated short-term municipal bond rate. If the ARPS ratings are downgraded by S&P (or Moody’s) to anywhere in the single A category, the 110% multiplier increases to 125%, and if downgraded to anywhere in the BBB category, the multiplier increases to 150%.


The Boards and MFS believe that, in light of the uncertainty regarding the S&P proposals, and potential ARPS downgrades by S&P and possible resulting increases to the Trusts’ leverage expenses or changes to a Trust’s investments, replacing S&P with Fitch as a rating agency of the ARPS would be in the best interests of the Trusts

The Board of Trusts is recommending a vote in favor on all proposals. Would you like to vote along with the Board’s Recommendation?

(Pause for response)

*Confirmation (after voting preference is received):

Would you like to vote all of your accounts with MFS Funds in the same manner?

(Pause for response)

I am recording your (in favor/against/abstain) vote.

For confirmation purposes:

 

   

Please state your full name.

(Pause for response)

 

   

According to our records, you reside in (city, state, zip code). (Pause for response)

 

   

To ensure that we have the correct address for the written confirmation, please state your street address.

(Pause for response)

Thank you. You will receive written confirmation of your voting instructions within 3 to 5 business days. Once you receive your confirmation, if you have any questions, feel free to contact us at the toll free number listed on the confirmation. Mr. /Ms. [SHAREHOLDER’S FULL NAME] your vote is important and your time is greatly appreciated. Thank you and have a good (morning, afternoon, evening).

Machine Script

Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening. This message is for Mr. /Mrs. [SHAREHOLDER’S FULL NAME].

I am calling on behalf of your investment with MFS Funds.

The special meeting of shareholders is scheduled to take place on August 31, 2012, and your vote has not been registered.

Please contact us at your earliest convenience at [                    ] between the hours of 9:00am and 5:00pm Eastern Standard Time.


Your vote is very important. Thank you and have a Good Day/Evening.

Inbound Script

Thank you for calling the MFS Funds Proxy Voting Line. My name is [REPRESENTATIVE’S NAME] and this call is being recorded. How can I help you?

(Pause for response)

The materials you received are regarding the Special Meeting of Shareholders scheduled for August 31, 2012.

Can I please have the last name and zip code on the materials to better assist you?

Our records indicate that there is no vote registered for your positions. There are proposals I can go over with you, however, the Board of Trustees is recommending a vote In Favor on all proposals.

Would you like to vote along with the Board’s Recommendation?

(Pause for response)

Would you like to vote all of your accounts with the MFS Funds in the same manner?

(Pause for response)

Confirmation – I am recording your (in favor/against/abstain) vote.

For confirmation purposes:

 

   

Please state your full name.

(Pause for response)

 

   

According to our records, you reside in (city, state, zip code).

(Pause for response)

 

   

To ensure that we have the correct address for the written confirmation, please state your street address.

(Pause for response)

Thank you. You will receive written confirmation of your voting instructions within 3 to 5 business days. Once you receive your confirmation, if you have any questions, feel free to contact us at the toll free number listed on the confirmation. Mr. /Mrs. /Ms. [SHAREHOLDER’S FULL NAME], your vote is important and your time is greatly appreciated. Thank you and have a good (morning, afternoon, evening).

EX-99.(A)(5)(III) 10 d379945dex99a5iii.htm PRESS RELEASE ISSUED ON JULY 25,2012 PRESS RELEASE ISSUED ON JULY 25,2012

Five MFS Municipal Closed-End Funds Commence Issuer Tender Offers for Auction Rate Preferred Shares

BOSTON (August 9, 2012) — MFS® Municipal Income Trust (NYSE: MFM), MFS® Investment Grade Municipal Trust (NYSE: CXH), MFS® California Municipal Fund (NYSE: CCA), MFS® High Income Municipal Trust (NYSE: CXE), and MFS® High Yield Municipal Trust (NYSE: CMU) each announced today that it commenced an issuer tender offer for up to 100% of its outstanding auction rate preferred shares (ARPS) at a price equal to 95% of the ARPS’ per share liquidation preference of $25,000, or $23,750 per share, plus any unpaid dividends accrued through September 7, 2012, the expiration date of the tender offers. Additional terms of each tender offer are set forth in the fund’s tender offer materials, which have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and will be distributed to ARPS holders.

Each fund’s tender offer is conditioned upon there being validly tendered and not withdrawn at least 70% of its outstanding ARPS, the successful private placement of new preferred shares, the ARPS holders approval of an amendment to each fund’s bylaws to replace Standard & Poor’s with Fitch as a rating agency for the ARPS and certain other conditions as set forth in each fund’s offer to purchase and related letter of transmittal. The new preferred shares, if successfully placed, will allow each fund to replace the leverage currently obtained through tendered ARPS with new preferred shares.

Any questions about the tender offers can be directed either to Warren Antler at AST Fund Solutions, the information agent for the tender offers, at 212-400-2605, or Justin Miller of MFS at 800-343-2829, ext. 57702.

Any tender offer will be made only by an offer to purchase, a related letter of transmittal, and related documents, which have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibits to a tender offer statement on schedule TO. The definitive proxy materials will be mailed by each fund to holders of ARPS on the record date for the special meeting relating to such fund’s proposed amendment to its bylaws as described above. ARPS holders can obtain the tender offer documents and the definitive proxy materials free of charge on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, ARPS holders may obtain additional copies of the proxy materials, the offer to purchase and related letter of transmittal for such fund, without charge, by contacting the information agent for the tender offers at 212-400-2605. ARPS holders should read these documents and related exhibits for the applicable fund carefully as the documents contain important information about each fund’s tender offer and proxy solicitation.


MFS Investment Management® (MFS®) manages $285.0 billion in assets as of July 31, 2012. The company traces its origins to 1924 and the creation of America’s first mutual fund.

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This release is not a prospectus, circular or representation intended for use in the purchase or sale of fund shares. Shares of the funds are not FDIC-insured and are not deposits or other obligations of, or guaranteed by, any bank. Shares of the funds involve investment risk, including possible loss of principal. For more complete information about each fund, including risks, charges, and expenses, please see the fund’s annual and semi annual shareholder report.

The funds are closed-end funds. Common shares of the funds are only available for purchase/sale on the NYSE at the current market price, except MFS California Municipal Fund, which is available for purchase/sale on the NYSE/AMEX at the current market price. Common shares may trade at a discount to NAV.

MFS Investment Management

500 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116

25718.1

Contacts:

MFS Shareholders or Financial Advisors (investment product information):

Information Agent: AST Fund Solutions, Warren Antler, 212-400-2605, wantler@astfundsolutions.com

MFS Investment Management: Justin Miller, 800-343-2829, ext. 57702

Media Only:

John Reilly, 617-954-5305, or Dan Flaherty, 617-954-4256