MFS CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL FUND N-CSR
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF

REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number 811-09537

MFS CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL FUND

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

111 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02199

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Christopher R. Bohane

Massachusetts Financial Services Company

111 Huntington Avenue

Boston, Massachusetts 02199

(Name and address of agents for service)

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

Date of fiscal year end: November 30

Date of reporting period: November 30, 2017


Table of Contents
ITEM 1. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS.


Table of Contents

ANNUAL REPORT

November 30, 2017

 

LOGO

 

MFS® CALIFORNIA

MUNICIPAL FUND

 

LOGO

 

CCA-ANN

 


Table of Contents

MFS® CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL FUND

NYSE American Symbol: CCA

 

Letter from the Executive Chairman     1  
Portfolio composition     2  
Management review     4  
Performance summary     8  
Portfolio managers’ profiles     10  
Dividend reinvestment and cash purchase plan     11  
Portfolio of investments     12  
Statement of assets and liabilities     23  
Statement of operations     24  
Statements of changes in net assets     25  
Statement of cash flows     26  
Financial highlights     27  
Notes to financial statements     29  
Report of independent registered public accounting firm     40  
Results of shareholder meeting     41  
Trustees and officers     42  
Board review of investment advisory agreement     48  
Proxy voting policies and information     52  
Quarterly portfolio disclosure     52  
Further information     52  
Information about fund contracts and legal claims     53  
Federal tax information     53  
MFS® privacy notice     54  
Contact information    back cover  

 

NOT FDIC INSURED MAY LOSE VALUE NO BANK GUARANTEE



Table of Contents

LOGO

 

LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN

 

Dear Shareholders:

Most markets have proved resilient over the past year, despite uncertainty accompanying a new presidential administration in the United States and unease over

ongoing negotiations between the United Kingdom and the European Union regarding Brexit. U.S. share prices have reached new highs in recent months although the U.S. Federal Reserve has continued to gradually hike interest rates and has begun to shrink its balance sheet.

Globally, we’ve experienced a synchronized upturn in economic growth for more than a year. Despite the improvement in economic activity, there are few immediate signs of worrisome inflation amid muted wage gains around the world. Emerging market economies have been boosted in part by a weaker

U.S. dollar and are recovering despite lingering concerns over the potential for restrictive U.S. trade policies. Commodity markets have recovered somewhat in response to solid global demand and robust global trade, though not enough to rekindle inflation fears.

At MFS®, we believe having a disciplined, long-term investment approach through a full market cycle is essential to capturing the best opportunities while also managing risk. In our view, such a strategy, along with the professional guidance of a financial advisor, will help you reach your investment objectives.

Respectfully,

 

LOGO

Robert J. Manning

Executive Chairman

MFS Investment Management

January 16, 2018

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

 

1


Table of Contents

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION

 

Portfolio structure (i)(j)

LOGO

 

Top five industries (i)  
General Obligations – Schools     33.0%  
Healthcare Revenue – Hospitals     27.6%  
State & Local Agencies     13.4%  
Water & Sewer Utility Revenue     12.1%  
Airport Revenue     11.2%  
Composition including fixed income credit quality (a)(i)  
AAA     2.1%  
AA     62.6%  
A     62.5%  
BBB     20.1%  
BB     1.1%  
B     5.0%  
CC     0.5%  
D     2.7%  
Not Rated (j)     2.4%  
Cash & Cash Equivalents (Less Liabilities)     (69.3)%  
Other     10.3%  
Portfolio facts (i)  
Average Duration (d)     8.9  
Average Effective Maturity (m)     15.2 yrs.  
Jurisdiction (i)  
California     161.3%  
Puerto Rico     4.8%  
New York     1.8%  
Guam     1.4%  
U.S. Treasury Securities (j)     (10.3)%  
 
(a) For all securities other than those specifically described below, ratings are assigned to underlying securities utilizing ratings from Moody’s, Fitch, and Standard & Poor’s rating agencies and applying the following hierarchy: If all three agencies provide a rating, the middle rating (after dropping the highest and lowest ratings) is assigned; if two of the three agencies rate a security, the lower of the two is assigned. Ratings are shown in the S&P and Fitch scale (e.g., AAA). Securities rated BBB or higher are considered investment grade. All ratings are subject to change. Not Rated includes fixed income securities, including fixed income futures contracts, which have not been rated by any rating agency. The fund may or may not have held all of these instruments on this date. The fund is not rated by these agencies.
(d) Duration is a measure of how much a bond’s price is likely to fluctuate with general changes in interest rates, e.g., if rates rise 1.00%, a bond with a 5-year duration is likely to lose about 5.00% of its value due to the interest rate move. This calculation is based on net assets applicable to common shares as of November 30, 2017.

 

2


Table of Contents

Portfolio Composition – continued

 

(i) For purposes of this presentation, the components include the value of securities, and reflect the impact of the equivalent exposure of derivative positions, if any. These amounts may be negative from time to time. Equivalent exposure is a calculated amount that translates the derivative position into a reasonable approximation of the amount of the underlying asset that the portfolio would have to hold at a given point in time to have the same price sensitivity that results from the portfolio’s ownership of the derivative contract. When dealing with derivatives, equivalent exposure is a more representative measure of the potential impact of a position on portfolio performance than value. The bond component will include any accrued interest amounts.
(j) For the purpose of managing the fund’s duration, the fund holds short treasury futures with a bond equivalent exposure of (10.3)%, which reduce the fund’s interest rate exposure but not its credit exposure.
(m) In determining an instrument’s effective maturity for purposes of calculating the fund’s dollar-weighted average effective maturity, MFS uses the instrument’s stated maturity or, if applicable, an earlier date on which MFS believes it is probable that a maturity-shortening device (such as a put, pre-refunding or prepayment) will cause the instrument to be repaid. Such an earlier date can be substantially shorter than the instrument’s stated maturity. This calculation is based on gross assets, which consists of net assets applicable to common shares plus the value of preferred shares, as of November 30, 2017.

Where the fund holds convertible bonds, they are treated as part of the equity portion of the portfolio.

Cash & Cash Equivalents includes any cash, investments in money market funds, short-term securities, and other assets less liabilities. Please see the Statement of Assets and Liabilities for additional information related to the fund’s cash position and other assets and liabilities.

Cash & Cash Equivalents is negative due to the aggregate liquidation value of variable rate municipal term preferred shares.

Other includes equivalent exposure from currency derivatives and/or any offsets to derivative positions.

Percentages are based on net assets applicable to common shares as of November 30, 2017.

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

 

3


Table of Contents

MANAGEMENT REVIEW

Summary of Results

MFS California Municipal Fund (“fund”) is a closed-end fund. The fund’s investment objective is to seek high current income exempt from federal income tax and California personal income tax, but may also consider capital appreciation. The fund invests, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets, including assets attributable to preferred shares and borrowings for investment purposes, in debt securities the interest on which in the opinion of issuer counsel (or other reputable authority) is exempt from federal regular income tax and California personal income tax.

For the twelve months ended November 30, 2017, shares of the fund provided a total return of 8.26%, at net asset value and a total return of 9.02%, at market value. This compares with a return of 5.58% for the fund’s benchmark, the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index.

The performance commentary below is based on the net asset value performance of the fund which reflects the performance of the underlying pool of assets held by the fund. The total return at market value represents the return earned by owners of the shares of the fund which are traded publicly on the exchange.

Market Environment

For the first time in many years, the global economy experienced a period of synchronized economic growth over the reporting period. The rebound in emerging markets (“EM”) economies was more pronounced (despite the slight deceleration in Chinese growth at the end of the period), helped by larger economies, such as Brazil and Russia, emerging from recessions. At the same time, developed markets (“DM”) economies continued to grow at or above potential. Market confidence increased in the US during the period fueled, in part, by a more lenient US regulatory backdrop and hopes for a significant cut in corporate tax rates.

Globally, markets benefited from a reflation trade as commodity prices strengthened, activity and growth prospects improved, and inflation moved higher, though within moderate bounds. As a result, there were more tightening signals and actions by DM central banks. The US Federal Reserve (“Fed”) increased interest rates by 25 basis points three times during the period, bringing the total number of quarter-percent hikes in the federal funds rate to four, since December 2015. The European Central Bank announced an extension of its quantitative easing program at the end of the period, but reduced the pace of its monthly asset purchases by half. In addition, the Bank of England hiked its base rate for the first time in a decade, near the end of the period. Markets were comforted, along with central banks, by the decline in fears of a populist surge in Europe after establishment candidates won the Dutch and French elections, though a right-wing populist party gained seats in the German parliament for the first time in the post-World War II era. Additionally, European growth reflected a generally calmer political economic backdrop.

In recent months, the US dollar reversed the sharp rise seen early in the period, easing what had been a substantial headwind to earnings for multinationals. US consumer spending held up well during the second half of the period amid a modest increase in real wages and relatively low gasoline prices. However, demand for autos cooled from

 

4


Table of Contents

Management Review – continued

 

the record level logged early in the period, while the housing market improved, albeit constrained by below-average inventory levels. Global trade, which was sluggish early in the period, showed signs of improvement in the period’s second half, a positive indicator of global economic activity and prospects. Early in the period, there was a selloff in EM due to fears that President Trump would follow through on various campaign threats and promises that were judged to be detrimental to EM. While President Trump withdrew the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and began the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, significant additional policy action was lacking on economic issues involving EM. As a result, EM resumed their upward trajectory, powered by strong inflows throughout 2017.

10-Year US Treasury yields exhibited quite a bit of volatility during the reporting period, reaching as high as 2.62% in March 2017, and as low as 2.05% in September 2017, before finishing the reporting period essentially unchanged from one year ago. The increase in yields was driven by optimism over the potential for stronger US growth in the wake of the US presidential election, as well as signs of improving global growth, and a modest improvement in oil prices, which investors felt could lead to a reflationary environment. However, yields declined subsequent to March 2017 as investors priced in a lower likelihood of fiscal stimulus, and little indication of higher inflation led markets to believe that the Fed would be dovish, or more gradual, in normalizing policy. US Treasury yields then rose during the latter part of the reporting period as the Fed signaled that it viewed the low inflationary environment as temporary, and that further increases in the Fed Funds rate were likely, and that the Fed would likely begin unwinding its balance sheet in the fall as well.

For the reporting period, the municipal market largely took its cue from the direction of US Treasury rates. Yields rose early in the period, post-election, pushed higher by a combination of negative flows into the asset class and increased issuance in the last quarter of calendar 2016. Yields declined with US Treasury yields beginning in March, before hitting their lowest levels of the year in September 2017. Finally, yields began to rise beginning in September and continued rising through the end of the period as investors appeared to have begun pricing in increasing odds of tax reform passing through Congress. Further pushing municipal rates higher was the expectation of increasing supply through the end of calendar 2017 as issuers raced to beat potential changes in rules pertaining to tax-exempt financing.

Amid the volatile yield environment, the yield curve flattened dramatically. Yields on shorter-dated municipal bonds, maturing inside of 5 years, rose in response to the tightening of monetary policy by the Fed, while yields on longer-dated municipal bonds, maturing beyond 5 years, declined amidst the stagnant growth and lack of inflation. As a result, the broader US investment grade municipal bond market provided modestly positive returns with long-dated bonds dramatically outperforming short-dated bonds. For the period as a whole, the municipal market (as measured by the ratio of yields on high-quality municipal bonds divided by yields on comparable maturity US Treasury bonds) outperformed the US Treasury market. The yield ratio on 10-year bonds began the year at approximately 105%, peaked in December 2016 at 107.5%, and reached a low in July 2017 at 80%, before spiking at the end of the period to 95%. Furthermore, mid-quality and lower-quality municipal bonds outperformed higher-quality municipal bonds. Fundamentals generally remained stable

 

5


Table of Contents

Management Review – continued

 

for the majority of municipal issuers, supporting the performance of mid-to-lower tier credits. Slow-but-steady US economic growth should continue to support municipal bond credit fundamentals. However, markets remain concerned about underfunded public employee pension systems and other post-retirement benefits promised to public employees, and the political challenges in enacting reforms.

Additionally, during the period, Hurricane Maria made landfall on the island of Puerto Rico. The hurricane had a devastating impact on the island’s residents and the government’s ability to provide basic human services such as water, power and healthcare. The prospects for long-term recovery are still uncertain and the government and many of its agencies and instrumentalities, which were already operating under an oversight board established by the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA), are in the process of amending their financial plans in light of the recent events. As such, prices of the majority of debt issued from the jurisdiction of Puerto Rico, both insured and uninsured, have declined since late September.

Factors Affecting Performance

Relative to the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index, the fund’s allocation to “B” rated (r) bonds not held within the benchmark, particularly within the industrial revenue sector, and a greater exposure to “A” rated bonds, supported performance. Positive bond selection in both the local and health care sectors, particularly bonds rated “A” and “AA”, also benefited relative returns. The fund’s longer-than-benchmark duration (d) stance further aided relative results.

The fund employs leverage which has been created through the issuance of variable rate municipal term preferred shares. To the extent that investments are purchased through the use of leverage, the fund’s net asset value will increase or decrease at a greater rate than a comparable unleveraged fund. During the reporting period, the use of leverage had a positive impact on the fund’s performance due to the incremental yield.

Conversely, the combination of the fund’s greater exposure to, and weak bond selection in, Puerto Rico-issued bonds, weighed on relative returns. Bond selection within the power sector was another factor that held back the fund’s relative performance.

Respectfully,

Portfolio Manager(s)

Michael Dawson and Geoffrey Schechter

 

(d) Duration is a measure of how much a bond’s price is likely to fluctuate with general changes in interest rates, e.g., if rates rise 1.00%, a bond with a 5-year duration is likely to lose about 5.00% of its value.
(r) Bonds rated “BBB”, “Baa”, or higher are considered investment grade; bonds rated “BB”, “Ba”, or below are considered non-investment grade. The source for bond quality ratings is Moody’s Investors Service, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch, Inc. and are applied using the following hierarchy: If all three agencies provide a rating, the middle rating (after dropping the highest and lowest ratings) is assigned; if two of the three agencies rate a security, the lower of the two is assigned. Ratings are shown in the S&P and Fitch scale (e.g., AAA). For securities which are not rated by any of the three agencies, the security is considered Not Rated.

 

6


Table of Contents

Management Review – continued

 

The views expressed in this report are those of the portfolio manager(s) only through the end of the period of the report as stated on the cover and do not necessarily reflect the views of MFS or any other person in the MFS organization. These views are subject to change at any time based on market or other conditions, and MFS disclaims any responsibility to update such views. These views may not be relied upon as investment advice or an indication of trading intent on behalf of any MFS portfolio. References to specific securities are not recommendations of such securities, and may not be representative of any MFS portfolio’s current or future investments.

 

7


Table of Contents

PERFORMANCE SUMMARY THROUGH 11/30/17

The following chart presents the fund’s historical performance in comparison to its benchmark(s). Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost; current performance may be lower or higher than quoted. The performance shown does not reflect the deduction of taxes, if any, that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the sale of fund shares. Performance data shown represents past performance and is no guarantee of future results.

Price Summary for MFS California Municipal Fund

 

                   Date        Price       

 

Year Ended 11/30/17

     Net Asset Value        11/30/17          $12.44    
              11/30/16          $12.04    
     NYSE American Price        11/30/17          $11.82    
              9/06/17  (high) (t)         $12.50    
              12/22/16  (low) (t)         $11.18    
                11/30/16          $11.36      

Total Returns vs Benchmark(s)

 

         

 

Year Ended 11/30/17

     MFS California Municipal Fund at       
    

NYSE American Price (r)

       9.02%    
    

Net Asset Value (r)

       8.26%    
       Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index (f)        5.58%      

 

(f) Source: FactSet Research Systems Inc.

 

(r) Includes reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions.

 

(t) For the period December 1, 2016 through November 30, 2017.

Benchmark Definition(s)

Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index – a market capitalization-weighted index that measures the performance of the tax-exempt bond market.

It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

Notes to Performance Summary

The fund’s shares may trade at a discount or premium to net asset value. When fund shares trade at a premium, buyers pay more than the net asset value underlying fund shares, and shares purchased at a premium would receive less than the amount paid for them in the event of the fund’s concurrent liquidation.

 

8


Table of Contents

Performance Summary – continued

 

The fund’s monthly distributions may include a return of capital to shareholders to the extent that distributions are in excess of the fund’s net investment income and net capital gains, determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations. Distributions that are treated for federal income tax purposes as a return of capital will reduce each shareholder’s basis in his or her shares and, to the extent the return of capital exceeds such basis, will be treated as gain to the shareholder from a sale of shares. Returns of shareholder capital may have the effect of reducing the fund’s assets and increasing the fund’s expense ratio.

Net asset values and performance results based on net asset value per share do not include adjustments made for financial reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and may differ from amounts reported in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities or the Financial Highlights.

From time to time the fund may receive proceeds from litigation settlements, without which performance would be lower.

 

In accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, the fund hereby gives notice that it may from time to time repurchase common and/or preferred shares of the fund in the open market at the option of the Board of Trustees and on such terms as the Trustees shall determine.

 

9


Table of Contents

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS’ PROFILES

 

Portfolio Manager   Primary Role   Since   Title and Five Year History
Michael Dawson   Portfolio
Manager
  2007   Investment Officer of MFS; employed in the investment management area of MFS since 1998.
Geoffrey Schechter   Portfolio
Manager
  2007   Investment Officer of MFS; employed in the investment management area of MFS since 1993.

 

10


Table of Contents

DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT AND CASH PURCHASE PLAN

The fund offers a Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan (the “Plan”) that allows common shareholders to reinvest either all of the distributions paid by the fund or only the long-term capital gains. Generally, purchases are made at the market price unless that price exceeds the net asset value (the shares are trading at a premium). If the shares are trading at a premium, purchases will be made at a price of either the net asset value or 95% of the market price, whichever is greater. You can also buy shares on a quarterly basis in any amount $100 and over. The Plan Agent will purchase shares under the Cash Purchase Plan on the 15th of January, April, July, and October or shortly thereafter.

If shares are registered in your own name, new shareholders will automatically participate in the Plan, unless you have indicated that you do not wish to participate. If your shares are in the name of a brokerage firm, bank, or other nominee, you can ask the firm or nominee to participate in the Plan on your behalf. If the nominee does not offer the Plan, you may wish to request that your shares be re-registered in your own name so that you can participate. There is no service charge to reinvest distributions, nor are there brokerage charges for shares issued directly by the fund. However, when shares are bought on the NYSE American or otherwise on the open market, each participant pays a pro rata share of the transaction expenses, including commissions. Dividends and capital gains distributions are taxable whether received in cash or reinvested in additional shares – the automatic reinvestment of distributions does not relieve you of any income tax that may be payable (or required to be withheld) on the distributions.

If your shares are held directly with the Plan Agent, you may withdraw from the Plan at any time by going to the Plan Agent’s website at www.computershare.com/investor, by calling 1-800-637-2304 any business day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time or by writing to the Plan Agent at P.O. Box 43078, Providence, RI 02940-3078. Please have available the name of the fund and your account number. For certain types of registrations, such as corporate accounts, instructions must be submitted in writing. Please call for additional details. When you withdraw from the Plan, you can receive the value of the reinvested shares in one of three ways: your full shares will be held in your account, the Plan Agent will sell your shares and send the proceeds to you, or you may transfer your full shares to your investment professional who can hold or sell them. Additionally, the Plan Agent will sell your fractional shares and send the proceeds to you.

If you have any questions or for further information or a copy of the Plan, contact the Plan Agent Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (the Transfer Agent for the fund) at 1-800-637-2304, at the Plan Agent’s website at www.computershare.com/investor, or by writing to the Plan Agent at P.O. Box 43078, Providence, RI 02940-3078.

 

11


Table of Contents

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

11/30/17

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

 

Municipal Bonds - 167.4%  
Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Airport Revenue - 11.0%  
Los Angeles, CA, Department of Airports Rev. (Los Angeles International), “C”, BHAC, 5.25%, 5/15/2038 (Prerefunded 5/15/2018)    $ 750,000     $ 763,632  
Orange County, CA, Airport Rev., “A”, 5%, 7/01/2031      190,000       199,368  
San Diego County, CA, Regional Airport Authority Rev., “A”, 5%, 7/01/2021      500,000       542,050  
San Diego County, CA, Regional Airport Authority Rev., “A”, 5%, 7/01/2043      500,000       569,690  
San Diego County, CA, Regional Airport Authority Rev., “B”, 5%, 7/01/2042      335,000       390,091  
San Diego County, CA, Regional Airport Authority Rev., “B”, 5%, 7/01/2047      335,000       388,580  
San Francisco, CA, City & County Airports Commission, International Airport Rev., “A”, 5%, 5/01/2030      285,000       320,132  
San Francisco, CA, City & County Airports Commission, International Airport Rev., “A”, 5%, 5/01/2031      150,000       168,222  
San Jose, CA, Airport Rev., “A-2”, 5.25%, 3/01/2034      440,000       486,116  
    

 

 

 
      $ 3,827,881  
General Obligations - General Purpose - 5.8%  
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, “A”, NATL, 5.5%, 7/01/2020    $ 165,000     $ 171,075  
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Public Improvement Refunding, “A-4”, AGM, 5%, 7/01/2031      40,000       41,712  
Puerto Rico Public Buildings Authority Rev., “H”, AMBAC, 5.5%, 7/01/2018      125,000       126,300  
Puerto Rico Public Buildings Authority Rev., “M-2”, AMBAC, 10%, 7/01/2035      30,000       31,496  
State of California, 5.25%, 4/01/2035      455,000       517,990  
State of California, 5.5%, 3/01/2040      630,000       681,836  
State of California, 5.25%, 11/01/2040      415,000       456,006  
    

 

 

 
      $ 2,026,415  
General Obligations - Schools - 32.7%  
Alhambra, CA, Unified School District, “B”, ASSD GTY, 5.25%, 8/01/2028 (Prerefunded 8/01/2019)    $ 500,000     $ 530,500  
Banning, CA, Unified School District (Election of 2006), “B”, ASSD GTY, 5.25%, 8/01/2033 (Prerefunded 8/01/2018)      500,000       513,095  
Beaumont, CA, Unified School District (Election of 2008), Capital Appreciation, “C”, AGM, 0%, 8/01/2040      955,000       388,465  

 

12


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued  
General Obligations - Schools - continued  
Beaumont, CA, Unified School District (Election of 2008), Capital Appreciation, “C”, AGM, 0%, 8/01/2044    $ 1,000,000     $ 348,340  
Folsom Cordova, CA, Unified School District (Election of 2012), “A”, 5%, 10/01/2038      535,000       610,178  
Lake Tahoe, CA, Unified School District (Election of 2008), Capital Appreciation, AGM, 0% to 8/01/2032, 6.375% to 8/01/2045      515,000       367,566  
Los Angeles, CA, Community College District, 3%, 8/01/2039      455,000       428,587  
Mendocino Lake, CA, Community College District Rev. (Election of 2006), Capital Appreciation, “B”, AGM, 0%, 8/01/2032      330,000       203,656  
Montebello, CA, Unified School District (Election of 2004), “A-1”, ASSD GTY, 5.25%, 8/01/2034 (Prerefunded 8/01/2019)      355,000       376,655  
Mount San Antonio, CA, Community College District Rev. (Election of 2008), Convertible Capital Appreciation, “A”, 0% to 8/01/2028, 6.25% to 8/01/2043      855,000       694,140  
Napa Valley, CA, Unified School District, 5%, 8/01/2020      225,000       245,259  
Oakland, CA, Unified School District Rev., AGM, 5%, 8/01/2028      170,000       203,640  
Oakland, CA, Unified School District Rev., AGM, 5%, 8/01/2030      170,000       201,793  
Pittsburg, CA, Unified School District, “B”, AGM, 5.5%, 8/01/2034 (Prerefunded 8/01/2018)      500,000       513,915  
Pomona, CA, Unified School District, “A”, NATL, 6.55%, 8/01/2029      1,000,000       1,296,720  
San Diego CA, Unified School District, “I”, 4%, 7/01/2047      355,000       378,558  
San Diego, CA, Community College (Election of 2002), 5.25%, 8/01/2033 (Prerefunded 8/01/2019)      125,000       132,731  
San Diego, CA, Unified School District (Election of 2008), Capital Appreciation, “G”, 0%, 7/01/2034      265,000       124,065  
San Joaquin, CA, Delta Community College District (Election of 2004), Capital Appreciation, “B”, AGM, 0%, 8/01/2018      400,000       396,656  
San Jose, CA, Evergreen Community College District (Election of 2010), “A”, 5%, 8/01/2041      265,000       296,429  
San Mateo County, CA, Union High School District, “E”, 3%, 9/01/2041      560,000       516,219  
Santee, CA, School District (Election of 2006), Capital Appreciation, “D”, ASSD GTY, 0%, 8/01/2043      765,000       276,746  
Vallejo City, CA, Unified School District, “A”, NATL, 5.9%, 8/01/2025      500,000       594,105  
Victor, CA, Elementary School District (Election of 2008), “A”, ASSD GTY, 5.125%, 8/01/2034 (Prerefunded 8/01/2019)      500,000       529,480  
West Contra Costa, CA, Unified School District, “A”, NATL, 5.7%, 2/01/2023      500,000       596,725  
West Covina, CA, Unified School District, “A”, NATL, 5.8%, 2/01/2021      500,000       560,630  
    

 

 

 
      $ 11,324,853  

 

13


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued  
Healthcare Revenue - Hospitals - 27.2%  
ABAG Finance Authority for Non-Profit Corps., CA, Rev. (Sharp Healthcare), 6.25%, 8/01/2039    $ 505,000     $ 546,102  
ABAG Finance Authority for Non-Profit Corps., CA, Rev. (Sharp Healthcare), “A”, 5%, 8/01/2026      110,000       122,826  
California Health Facilities Financing Authority Rev. (Children’s Hospital Los Angeles), “A”, 5%, 8/15/2042      450,000       513,824  
California Health Facilities Financing Authority Rev. (Memorial Health Services), “A”, 5%, 10/01/2033      295,000       331,559  
California Health Facilities Financing Authority Rev. (Scripps Health), “A”, 5%, 11/15/2032      525,000       592,169  
California Health Facilities Financing Authority Rev. (Scripps Health), “A”, 5%, 11/15/2040      255,000       286,164  
California Health Facilities Financing Authority Rev. (Sutter Health), “B”, 5%, 11/15/2046      535,000       615,689  
California Health Facilities Financing Authority Rev. (Sutter Health), “B”, 5.875%, 8/15/2031      500,000       559,305  
California Health Facilities Financing Authority Rev. (Sutter Health), “B”, 5%, 11/15/2035      460,000       540,394  
California Municipal Finance Authority Rev. (Community Medical Centers), “A”, 5%, 2/01/2042      75,000       83,934  
California Municipal Finance Authority Rev. (Community Medical Centers), “A”, 5%, 2/01/2036      225,000       254,441  
California Municipal Finance Authority Rev. (Community Medical Centers), “A”, 5%, 2/01/2037      150,000       169,248  
California Municipal Finance Authority Rev. (NorthBay Healthcare Group), 5%, 11/01/2028      45,000       50,816  
California Municipal Finance Authority Rev. (NorthBay Healthcare Group), 5%, 11/01/2029      35,000       39,454  
California Municipal Finance Authority Rev. (NorthBay Healthcare Group), 5%, 11/01/2044      85,000       93,089  
California Municipal Finance Authority Rev. (NorthBay Healthcare Group), 5%, 11/01/2030      15,000       16,869  
California Municipal Finance Authority Rev. (NorthBay Healthcare Group), 5%, 11/01/2035      65,000       71,901  
California Public Finance Authority Rev. (Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital), 5%, 10/15/2047      455,000       500,778  
California Statewide Communities Development Authority Rev. (Adventist), ASSD GTY, 5%, 3/01/2037 (Prerefunded 5/23/2018)      495,000       503,707  
California Statewide Communities Development Authority Rev. (Enloe Medical Center), “A”, CALHF, 5.5%, 8/15/2023      500,000       514,555  
California Statewide Communities Development Authority Rev. (Kaiser Permanente), “A”, 5%, 4/01/2042      455,000       511,648  

 

14


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued  
Healthcare Revenue - Hospitals - continued  
California Statewide Communities Development Authority Rev. (Loma Linda University Medical Center), “A”, 5.5%, 12/01/2054    $ 350,000     $ 385,329  
California Statewide Communities Development Authority Rev. (Redlands Community Hospital), 5%, 10/01/2046      350,000       389,347  
California Statewide Communities Development Authority Rev. (Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital), 5.25%, 11/01/2030      260,000       282,459  
California Statewide Communities Development Authority Rev. (Sutter Health), “A”, 5%, 8/15/2032      610,000       684,859  
California Statewide Communities Development Authority Rev. (Trinity Health Corp.), 5%, 12/01/2041      450,000       502,461  
Upland, CA, COP (San Antonio Community Hospital), 6.375%, 1/01/2032      250,000       280,403  
    

 

 

 
      $ 9,443,330  
Healthcare Revenue - Long Term Care - 5.4%  
ABAG Finance Authority for Non-Profit Corps., CA, Rev. (Episcopal Senior Communities), 6.125%, 7/01/2041    $ 150,000     $ 167,067  
ABAG Finance Authority for Non-Profit Corps., CA, Rev. (Eskaton Properties, Inc.), 5%, 11/15/2035      230,000       249,532  
California Statewide Communities Development Authority Rev. (899 Charleston Project), “A”, 5.25%, 11/01/2044      295,000       314,125  
California Statewide Communities Development Authority Rev. (Episcopal Communities & Services for Seniors Obligated Group), 5%, 5/15/2047      315,000       343,095  
California Statewide Communities Development Authority Rev. (Front Port Communities and Services), “A”, 4%, 4/01/2042      115,000       118,796  
California Statewide Communities Development Authority Rev. (Front Port Communities and Services), “A”, 5%, 4/01/2047      315,000       356,048  
Los Angeles County, CA, Regional Financing Authority Rev. (MonteCedro Inc. Project), “A”, CALHF, 5%, 11/15/2044      300,000       336,624  
    

 

 

 
      $ 1,885,287  
Industrial Revenue - Other - 1.8%  
New York Liberty Development Corp. Rev. (Goldman Sachs Headquarters), 5.25%, 10/01/2035    $ 485,000     $ 612,410  
Miscellaneous Revenue - Other - 4.9%  
ABAG Finance Authority for Non-Profit Corps., CA, Rev. (Jackson Lab), 5%, 7/01/2037    $ 400,000     $ 442,424  
California Infrastructure & Economic Development Bank Rev. (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Obligated Group), “A”, 5%, 11/01/2030      235,000       272,252  

 

15


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued  
Miscellaneous Revenue - Other - continued  
California Infrastructure & Economic Development Bank Rev. (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Obligated Group), “A”, 5%, 11/01/2034    $ 170,000     $ 194,915  
California Infrastructure & Economic Development Bank Rev. (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Obligated Group), “A”, 5%, 11/01/2035      170,000       194,410  
California Infrastructure & Economic Development Bank Rev. (Walt Disney Family Museum), 5.25%, 2/01/2033 (Prerefunded 2/01/2018)      160,000       161,024  
California Statewide Communities Development Authority Rev. (Buck Institute for Research on Aging), AGM, 5%, 11/15/2044      385,000       435,019  
    

 

 

 
      $ 1,700,044  
Port Revenue - 6.8%  
Alameda, CA, Corridor Transportation Authority Second Subordinate Lien Rev., “B”, AGM, 5%, 10/01/2036    $ 600,000     $ 691,404  
Alameda, CA, Corridor Transportation Authority Second Subordinate Lien Rev., “B”, 5%, 10/01/2037      470,000       533,417  
Port of Oakland, CA, Rev., “P”, 5%, 5/01/2033      1,000,000       1,113,890  
    

 

 

 
      $ 2,338,711  
Sales & Excise Tax Revenue - 1.1%  
California Economic Recovery, “A”, 5%, 7/01/2020 (Prerefunded 7/01/2019)    $ 250,000     $ 263,728  
Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corp., Sales Tax Rev., “C”, 5%, 8/01/2040 (a)(d)      215,000       85,248  
Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corp., Sales Tax Rev., Capital Appreciation, “A”, NATL, 0%, 8/01/2042      120,000       25,690  
    

 

 

 
      $ 374,666  
Secondary Schools - 2.8%  
California School Finance Authority, Charter School Rev. (Aspire Public Schools - Obligated Group), 5%, 8/01/2040    $ 85,000     $ 93,146  
California School Finance Authority, Charter School Rev. (Aspire Public Schools - Obligated Group), 5%, 8/01/2045      85,000       91,660  
California School Finance Authority, School Facility Rev. (Alliance for College-Ready Public Schools Projects), “A”, 5%, 7/01/2030      255,000       287,418  
California School Finance Authority, School Facility Rev. (Kipp LA Projects), “A”, 5%, 7/01/2037      85,000       96,928  
California School Finance Authority, School Facility Rev. (Kipp LA Projects), “A”, 5%, 7/01/2047      130,000       145,521  
California Statewide Communities Development Authority School Facility Rev. (Alliance for College-Ready Public Schools), “A”, 6.375%, 7/01/2047      230,000       256,482  
    

 

 

 
      $ 971,155  

 

16


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued  
Single Family Housing - State - 1.0%  
California Housing Finance Agency Rev. (Home Mortgage), “L”, 5.45%, 8/01/2033    $ 335,000     $ 336,678  
State & Agency - Other - 1.4%  
Sacramento County, CA, Public Facilities Project, COP, AMBAC, 4.75%, 10/01/2027    $ 500,000     $ 501,300  
State & Local Agencies - 13.3%  
California Public Works Board Lease Rev. (Department of Corrections), “E”, AGM, 3%, 10/01/2036    $ 415,000     $ 399,898  
California Public Works Board Lease Rev. (Judicial Council Projects), “A”, 5%, 3/01/2028      380,000       432,189  
California Public Works Board Lease Rev. (New Stockton Courthouse), “B”, 5%, 10/01/2033      275,000       317,136  
Los Angeles County, CA, Schools Regionalized Business Service Corp., Pooled Financing, Capital Appreciation, “A”, AMBAC, 0%, 8/01/2018      2,020,000       1,999,174  
Los Angeles County, CA, Schools Regionalized Business Service Corp., Pooled Financing, Capital Appreciation, “A”, AMBAC, 0%, 8/01/2023      1,220,000       1,059,997  
Los Angeles, CA, Municipal Improvement Corp. Lease Rev., “B”, ASSD GTY, 5.5%, 4/01/2030 (Prerefunded 4/01/2019)      390,000       410,381  
    

 

 

 
      $ 4,618,775  
Tax - Other - 1.5%  
Puerto Rico Convention Center District Authority, Hotel Occupancy Tax Rev., “A”, AMBAC, 5%, 7/01/2031    $ 90,000     $ 85,401  
Puerto Rico Infrastructure Financing Authority Special Tax Rev., “C”, AMBAC, 5.5%, 7/01/2024      120,000       123,996  
Puerto Rico Infrastructure Financing Authority Special Tax Rev., “C”, AMBAC, 5.5%, 7/01/2026      80,000       81,582  
Puerto Rico Infrastructure Financing Authority Special Tax Rev., “C”, AMBAC, 5.5%, 7/01/2027      210,000       212,791  
    

 

 

 
      $ 503,770  
Tax Assessment - 9.9%  
Fontana, CA, Public Finance Authority, Tax Allocation Rev. (Sub Lien North Fontana Redevelopment), “A”, AMBAC, 5%, 10/01/2029    $ 1,000,000     $ 1,000,800  
Huntington Park, CA, Public Financing Authority Rev., “A”, AGM, 5.25%, 9/01/2019      500,000       501,300  
North Natomas, CA, Community Facilities District Special Tax, “4-E”, 5.25%, 9/01/2033      160,000       180,198  
Riverside County, CA, Jurupa Valley Redevelopment Project Rev., “B”, AGM, 5%, 10/01/2030      190,000       221,798  
Riverside County, CA, Jurupa Valley Redevelopment Project Rev., “B”, AGM, 5%, 10/01/2031      225,000       261,965  

 

17


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued  
Tax Assessment - continued  
Riverside County, CA, Redevelopment Agency, Tax Allocation, “A”, AGM, 5%, 10/01/2034    $ 295,000     $ 336,825  
San Dieguito, CA, Public Facilities Authority, “A”, AMBAC, 5%, 8/01/2032      500,000       510,745  
San Francisco, CA, City & County Redevelopment Successor Agency, Community Facilities District No. 6 (Mission Bay South Public Improvements), “A”, 5%, 8/01/2033      130,000       142,702  
San Francisco, CA, City & County Redevelopment Successor Agency, Tax Allocation (Mission Bay South Redevelopment Project), “A”, 5%, 8/01/2043      250,000       283,515  
    

 

 

 
      $ 3,439,848  
Tobacco - 4.9%  
Golden State, CA, Tobacco Securitization Corp., Tobacco Settlement Rev., “A-1”, 5.125%, 6/01/2047    $ 1,000,000     $ 999,990  
Golden State, CA, Tobacco Securitization Corp., Tobacco Settlement Rev., Unrefunded Balance, 5.75%, 6/01/2047      675,000       680,056  
    

 

 

 
      $ 1,680,046  
Toll Roads - 3.1%  
Bay Area Toll Authority, California Toll Bridge Rev., “S-7”, 4%, 4/01/2033    $ 515,000     $ 560,104  
Bay Area Toll Authority, California Toll Bridge Rev., “S-7”, 4%, 4/01/2034      145,000       156,960  
Riverside County, CA, Transportation Commission, Toll Rev., “A”, 5.75%, 6/01/2044      320,000       358,742  
    

 

 

 
      $ 1,075,806  
Transportation - Special Tax - 2.4%  
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Highway & Transportation Authority Rev., “D”, AGM, 5%, 7/01/2032    $ 55,000     $ 55,109  
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Highway & Transportation Authority Rev., “J”, NATL, 5%, 7/01/2029      10,000       9,500  
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Highway & Transportation Authority Rev., “L”, NATL, 5.25%, 7/01/2035      30,000       27,423  
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Highway & Transportation Authority Rev., “L”, AMBAC, 5.25%, 7/01/2038      345,000       329,530  
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Highway & Transportation Authority Rev., “N”, NATL, 5.25%, 7/01/2032      35,000       32,892  
San Francisco, CA, Municipal Transportation Agency Rev., “B”, 5%, 3/01/2037      335,000       371,629  
    

 

 

 
      $ 826,083  

 

18


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued  
Universities - Colleges - 6.6%  
California Educational Facilities Authority Rev. (Loma Linda University), “A”, 5%, 4/01/2036    $ 75,000     $ 86,068  
California Educational Facilities Authority Rev. (Loma Linda University), “A”, 5%, 4/01/2037      235,000       269,066  
California Educational Facilities Authority Rev. (University of San Francisco), 6.125%, 10/01/2030      285,000       332,079  
California Municipal Finance Authority Rev. (Azusa Pacific University Project), “B”, 5%, 4/01/2035      345,000       382,943  
California Public Works Board Lease Rev. (The Regents of the University of California), 5%, 12/01/2028 (Prerefunded 12/01/2021)      375,000       423,180  
California State University Rev., “A”, 5%, 11/01/2024      370,000       415,677  
California State University Rev., “A”, 5%, 11/01/2030      270,000       317,444  
Puerto Rico Industrial, Tourist, Educational, Medical & Environmental Control Facilities Financing Authority, Educational Facilities Rev. (University Plaza Project), NATL, 5%, 7/01/2033      75,000       69,759  
    

 

 

 
      $ 2,296,216  
Universities - Dormitories - 0.8%  
California Municipal Finance Authority, Student Housing Rev. (Bowles Hall Foundation) “A”, 5%, 6/01/2035    $ 25,000     $ 27,487  
California Statewide Communities Development Authority Rev. (Lancer Plaza Project), 5.875%, 11/01/2043      230,000       258,920  
    

 

 

 
      $ 286,407  
Utilities - Cogeneration - 0.7%  
California Pollution Control Financing Authority, Water Furnishing Rev. (Poseidon Resources Desalination Project), 5%, 11/21/2045    $ 150,000     $ 162,066  
California Pollution Control Financing Authority, Water Furnishing Rev. (San Diego County Water Desalination Project Pipeline), 5%, 11/21/2045      75,000       75,374  
    

 

 

 
      $ 237,440  
Utilities - Municipal Owned - 7.4%  
California Department of Water Resources, Power Supply Rev., “L”, 5%, 5/01/2019    $ 305,000     $ 319,991  
Guam Power Authority Rev., “A”, AGM, 5%, 10/01/2039      50,000       54,999  
Guam Power Authority Rev., “A”, AGM, 5%, 10/01/2044      55,000       60,320  
Northern California Power Agency, Capital Facilities Rev., “A”, 5.25%, 8/01/2024      390,000       419,383  
Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority Rev., “DDD”, AGM, 3.625%, 7/01/2023      10,000       10,001  
Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority Rev., “DDD”, AGM, 3.65%, 7/01/2024      55,000       55,011  

 

19


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued  
Utilities - Municipal Owned - continued  
Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority Rev., “SS”, ASSD GTY, 4.375%, 7/01/2030    $ 5,000     $ 5,001  
Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority Rev., “UU”, ASSD GTY, 4.25%, 7/01/2027      40,000       40,014  
Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority Rev., “VV”, NATL, 5.25%, 7/01/2032      5,000       4,699  
Sacramento, CA, Municipal Utility District Electric Rev., “U”, AGM, 5%, 8/15/2019 (Prerefunded 8/15/2018)      290,000       297,644  
Sacramento, CA, Municipal Utility District Electric Rev., “X”, 5%, 8/15/2025 (Prerefunded 8/15/2021)      95,000       106,258  
Sacramento, CA, Municipal Utility District Electric Rev., Unrefunded Balance, “U”, AGM, 5%, 8/15/2019      460,000       471,247  
Sacramento, CA, Municipal Utility District Electric Rev., Unrefunded Balance, “X”, 5%, 8/15/2025      275,000       307,483  
Vernon, CA, Electric System Rev., “A”, 5.5%, 8/01/2041      370,000       410,090  
    

 

 

 
      $ 2,562,141  
Utilities - Other - 3.0%  
California M-S-R Energy Authority Gas Rev., “A”, 6.5%, 11/01/2039    $ 245,000     $ 346,891  
Southern California Public Power Authority (Natural Gas Project No. 1), “A”, 5%, 11/01/2033      585,000       707,300  
    

 

 

 
      $ 1,054,191  
Water & Sewer Utility Revenue - 11.9%  
Atwater, CA, Public Financing Authority Wastewater Rev., ASSD GTY, 5%, 5/01/2034    $ 500,000     $ 524,650  
California Department of Water Resources Rev. (Central Valley Project Water System), “AE”, 5%, 12/01/2028 (Prerefunded 6/01/2018)      480,000       488,986  
California Department of Water Resources Rev., Unrefunded Balance, 5%, 12/01/2028      20,000       20,375  
Escondido, CA, Joint Powers Financing Authority Rev. (Water System Financing), 5%, 9/01/2041      460,000       510,296  
Guam Waterworks Authority Rev. (Water and Wastewater System), 5%, 7/01/2036      20,000       22,037  
Guam Waterworks Authority Rev. (Water and Wastewater System), 5%, 1/01/2046      105,000       115,051  
Guam Waterworks Authority Rev. (Water and Wastewater System), “A”, 5%, 7/01/2029      105,000       115,430  
Guam Waterworks Authority Rev. (Water and Wastewater System), “A”, 5%, 7/01/2035      105,000       113,433  
Madera, CA, Financing Authority, Irrigation Rev., 6.5%, 1/01/2040 (Prerefunded 1/01/2020)      440,000       484,585  
Norco, CA, Financing Authority, Enterprise Rev., AGM, 5.625%, 10/01/2039      215,000       229,373  

 

20


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued  
Water & Sewer Utility Revenue - continued  
Oxnard, CA, Financing Authority, Wastewater Rev., AGM, 5%, 6/01/2030    $ 340,000     $ 388,671  
Oxnard, CA, Financing Authority, Wastewater Rev., AGM, 5%, 6/01/2031      85,000       96,896  
Soquel Creek, CA, Water District, COP, 5%, 3/01/2043      370,000       415,166  
Tulare, CA, Sewer Rev., AGM, 5%, 11/15/2031      350,000       407,771  
Tulare, CA, Sewer Rev., AGM, 5%, 11/15/2035      170,000       195,565  
    

 

 

 
      $ 4,128,285  
Total Municipal Bonds (Identified Cost, $54,565,069)     $ 58,051,738  
Investment Companies (h) - 1.3%  
Money Market Funds - 1.3%  
MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio, 1.19% (v)
(Identified Cost, $435,550)
     435,550     $ 435,507  
Other Assets, Less Liabilities - 1.7%       572,906  
VMTPS, at liquidation value of $24,425,000 net of unamortized debt issuance costs of $29,740 (issued by the fund) - (70.4)%       (24,395,260
Net Assets applicable to common shares - 100.0%     $ 34,664,891  

 

(a) Non-income producing security.
(d) In default.
(h) An affiliated issuer may be considered one in which the fund owns 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities, or a company which is under common control. At period end, the aggregate values of the fund’s investments in affiliated issuers and in unaffiliated issuers were $435,507 and $58,051,738, respectively.
(v) Affiliated issuer that is available only to investment companies managed by MFS. The rate quoted for the MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio is the annualized seven-day yield of the fund at period end.

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

 

COP   Certificate of Participation
VMTPS   Variable Rate Municipal Term Preferred Shares

 

Insurers
AGM    Assured Guaranty Municipal
AMBAC    AMBAC Indemnity Corp.
ASSD GTY    Assured Guaranty Insurance Co.
BHAC    Berkshire Hathaway Assurance Corp.
CALHF    California Health Facility Construction Loan Insurance Program
NATL    National Public Finance Guarantee Corp.

 

21


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Derivative Contracts at 11/30/17

Futures Contracts

 

Description  

Long/

Short

    Currency     Contracts   Notional
Amount
    Expiration
Date
    Value/
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 
Assets Derivatives            
Interest Rate Futures            
U.S. Treasury Bond 30 yr     Short       USD     8     $1,213,750       March - 2018       $15,721  
U.S. Treasury Note 10 yr     Short       USD     19     2,356,891       March - 2018       17,742  
           

 

 

 
              $33,463  
           

 

 

 

At November 30, 2017, the fund had cash collateral of $43,450 to cover any collateral or margin obligations for certain derivative contracts. Restricted cash and deposits with brokers in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities are comprised of cash collateral.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

22


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

At 11/30/17

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

 

Assets         

Investments in unaffiliated issuers, at value (identified cost, $54,565,069)

     $58,051,738  

Investments in affiliated issuers, at value (identified cost, $435,550)

     435,507  

Deposits with brokers for futures contracts

     43,450  

Receivables for

 

Daily variation margin on open futures contracts

     11,766  

Interest

     634,168  

Receivable from investment adviser

     13,987  

Other assets

     1,224  

Total assets

     $59,191,840  
Liabilities         

Payables for

 

Distributions on common shares

     $220  

Interest expense

     41,871  

Payable to affiliates

 

Transfer agent and dividend disbursing costs

     19  

Payable for independent Trustees’ compensation

     5  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     89,574  

VMTPS, at liquidation value of $24,425,000 net of unamortized debt issuance costs of $29,740

     24,395,260  

Total liabilities

     $24,526,949  

Net assets applicable to common shares

     $34,664,891  
Net assets consist of         

Paid-in capital - common shares

     $32,209,278  

Unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     3,520,089  

Accumulated net realized gain (loss)

     (1,130,658

Undistributed net investment income

     66,182  

Net assets applicable to common shares

     $34,664,891  

VMTPS, at liquidation value of $24,425,000 net of unamortized debt issuance costs of $29,740 (977 shares of Series 2019/3 issued and outstanding at $25,000 per share)

     24,395,260  

Net assets including preferred shares

     $59,060,151  

Common shares of beneficial interest issued and outstanding

     2,786,275  

Net asset value per common share (net assets of $34,664,891 / 2,786,275 shares of beneficial interest outstanding)

     $12.44  

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

23


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

Year ended 11/30/17

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

 

Net investment income (loss)  

Income

 

Interest

     $2,533,452  

Dividends from affiliated issuers

     6,523  

Total investment income

     $2,539,975  

Expenses

 

Management fee

     $384,076  

Transfer agent and dividend disbursing costs

     6,476  

Administrative services fee

     18,944  

Independent Trustees’ compensation

     10,625  

Stock exchange fee

     14,992  

Custodian fee

     5,792  

Shareholder communications

     19,015  

Audit and tax fees

     80,818  

Legal fees

     8,935  

Interest expense and amortization of VMTPS debt issuance costs

     496,837  

Miscellaneous

     65,169  

Total expenses

     $1,111,679  

Reduction of expenses by investment adviser

     (141,821

Net expenses

     $969,858  

Net investment income (loss)

     $1,570,117  
Realized and unrealized gain (loss)  

Realized gain (loss) (identified cost basis)

 

Unaffiliated issuers

     $110,113  

Affiliated issuers

     86  

Futures contracts

     (21,309

Net realized gain (loss)

     $88,890  

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

 

Unaffiliated issuers

     $969,417  

Affiliated issuers

     (43

Futures contracts

     27,598  

Net unrealized gain (loss)

     $996,972  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     $1,085,862  

Change in net assets from operations

     $2,655,979  

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

24


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

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

 

     Year ended  
     11/30/17      11/30/16  
Change in net assets  
From operations  

Net investment income (loss)

     $1,570,117        $1,723,243  

Net realized gain (loss)

     88,890        (39,069

Net unrealized gain (loss)

     996,972        (1,695,160

Change in net assets from operations

     $2,655,979        $(10,986
Distributions declared to common shareholders  

From net investment income

     $(1,533,844      $(1,648,053
Share transactions applicable to common and
preferred shares
                 

Net asset value of shares issued to common shareholders in reinvestment of distributions

     $—        $493  

Total change in net assets

     $1,122,135        $(1,658,546
Net assets applicable to common shares  

At beginning of period

     33,542,756        35,201,302  

At end of period (including undistributed net investment income of $66,182 and $73,075, respectively)

     $34,664,891        $33,542,756  

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

25


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

Year ended 11/30/17

This statement provides a summary of cash flows from investment activity for the fund.

 

Cash flows from operating activities:         

Change in net assets from operations

     $2,655,979  
Adjustments to reconcile change in net assets from operations to net cash provided by operating activities:         

Purchase of investment securities

     (7,409,057

Proceeds from disposition of investment securities

     7,375,938  

Proceeds from disposition of short-term investments, net

     167  

Realized gain/loss on investments

     (110,199

Unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

     (969,374

Net amortization/accretion of income

     (74,050

Amortization of VMTPS debt issuance costs

     22,338  

Decrease in interest receivable

     43,557  

Increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities

     8,463  

Increase in receivable from investment adviser

     (3,182

Decrease in receivable for daily variation margin on open futures contracts

     110  

Increase in deposits with brokers

     (14,450

Increase in other assets

     (13

Increase in payable for interest expense

     7,683  

Net cash provided by operating activities

     $1,533,910  
Cash flows from financing activities:         

Cash distributions paid on common shares

     (1,533,910

Net cash used by financing activities

     $(1,533,910
Cash:         

Beginning of period

     $—  

End of period

     $—  

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

Cash paid during the year ended November 30, 2017 for interest was $466,816.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

26


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

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

 

Common Shares   Year ended  
    11/30/17     11/30/16     11/30/15     11/30/14     11/30/13  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $12.04       $12.63       $12.55       $11.32       $13.03  
Income (loss) from investment operations                                  

Net investment income (loss) (d)

    $0.56       $0.62       $0.67       $0.64       $0.66  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

    0.39       (0.62     0.03       1.22       (1.75

Total from investment operations

    $0.95       $(0.00     $0.70       $1.86       $(1.09
Less distributions declared to common shareholders                  

From net investment income

    $(0.55     $(0.59     $(0.62     $(0.63     $(0.62

Net asset value, end of period

    $12.44       $12.04       $12.63       $12.55       $11.32  

Market value, end of period

    $11.82       $11.36       $11.72       $10.91       $9.76  

Total return at market value (%)

    9.02       1.57       13.45       18.45       (18.83

Total return at net asset value (%) (j)(r)(s)(x)

    8.26       (0.10     6.28       17.48       (8.17
Ratios (%) (to average net assets
applicable to common shares) and
Supplemental data:
                                       

Expenses before expense reductions (f)

    3.21       2.82       2.67       2.75       2.70  

Expenses after expense reductions (f)

    2.80       2.46       2.30       2.38       2.42  

Net investment income (loss)

    4.53       4.75       5.34       5.32       5.47  

Portfolio turnover

    11       6       11       17       12  

Net assets at end of period (000 omitted)

    $34,665       $33,543       $35,201       $34,969       $31,554  
Supplemental Ratios (%):                                  

Ratio of expenses to average net assets applicable to common shares after expense
reductions and excluding interest expense
and fees (f)(l)

    1.36       1.34       1.41       1.43       1.43  

Ratio of expenses to average net assets applicable to common and preferred shares
after expense reductions and excluding
interest expense and fees (f)(l)

    0.80       0.80       0.83       0.83       0.83  

Net investment income available to common
shares

    4.53       4.75       5.34       5.32       5.47  

 

27


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

    Year ended  
    11/30/17     11/30/16     11/30/15     11/30/14     11/30/13  
Senior Securities:                                        

VMTPS

    977       977       977       977       977  

Asset coverage per preferred share (k)

    $60,451       $59,279       $61,030       $60,792       $57,296  

Involuntary liquidation preference per preferred share (m)

    $25,000       $25,000       $25,000       $25,000       $25,000  

Average market value per preferred share (m)(u)

    $25,000       $25,000       $25,000       $25,000       $25,000  

 

(d) Per share data is based on average shares outstanding.
(f) Ratios do not reflect reductions from fees paid indirectly, if applicable.
(j) Total return at net asset value is calculated using the net asset value of the fund, not the publicly traded price and therefore may be different than the total return at market value.
(k) Calculated by subtracting the fund’s total liabilities (not including liquidation preference of VMTPS) from the fund’s total assets and dividing this number by the total number of preferred shares outstanding.
(l) Interest expense and fees relate to payments made to the holders of the floating rate certificates from trust assets, interest expense paid to shareholders of VMTPS and amortization of VMTPS debt issuance costs, as applicable. For periods prior to November 30, 2016, the expense ratio includes amortization of VMTPS debt issuance costs.
(m) Amount excludes accrued interest on VMTPS.
(r) Certain expenses have been reduced without which performance would have been lower.
(s) From time to time the fund may receive proceeds from litigation settlements, without which performance would be lower.
(u) Average market value represents the approximate fair value of each of the fund’s VMTPS.
(x) The net asset values and total returns at net asset value have been calculated on net assets which include adjustments made in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles required at period end for financial reporting purposes.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

28


Table of Contents

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(1) Business and Organization

MFS California Municipal Fund (the fund) is organized as a Massachusetts business trust and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as a diversified closed-end management investment company.

The fund is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services – Investment Companies.

(2) Significant Accounting Policies

General – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated subsequent events occurring after the date of the fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities through the date that the financial statements were issued. The fund invests primarily in municipal instruments. The value of municipal instruments can be affected by changes in their actual or perceived credit quality. The credit quality of municipal instruments can be affected by, among other things, the financial condition of the issuer or guarantor, the issuer’s future borrowing plans and sources of revenue, the economic feasibility of the revenue bond project or general borrowing purpose, and political or economic developments in the region where the instrument is issued. Municipal instruments generally trade in the over-the-counter market. Municipal instruments backed by current and anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific assets can be negatively affected by the discontinuance of the taxation supporting the projects or assets or the inability to collect revenues for the project or from the assets. If the Internal Revenue Service determines an issuer of a municipal instrument has not complied with the applicable tax requirements, interest from the security could become taxable, the security could decline in value, and distributions made by the fund could be taxable to shareholders.

In October 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released its Final Rule on Investment Company Reporting Modernization (the “Rule”). The Rule, which introduced two new regulatory reporting forms for investment companies – Form N-PORT and Form N-CEN – also contained amendments to Regulation S-X which impact financial statement presentation, particularly the presentation of derivative investments, for all reporting periods ending after August 1, 2017. The fund has adopted the Rule’s Regulation S-X amendments and believes that the fund’s financial statements are in compliance with those amendments.

In November 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) – Restricted Cash (“ASU 2016-18”). For entities that have restricted cash and are required to present a statement of cash flows, ASU 2016-18 changes the cash flow presentation for restricted cash. Although still evaluating the potential impacts of ASU 2016-18, management expects that the effects of the fund’s

 

29


Table of Contents

Notes to Financial Statements – continued

 

adoption will be limited to the reclassification of restricted cash on the fund’s Statement of Cash Flows and the addition of disclosures regarding the nature of the restrictions on restricted cash. ASU 2016-18 will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods.

In March 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2017-08, Receivables – Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20) – Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities (“ASU 2017-08”). For entities that hold callable debt securities at a premium, ASU 2017-08 requires that the premium be amortized to the earliest call date. ASU 2017-08 will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is still evaluating the potential impacts of ASU 2017-08 but believes that adoption of ASU 2017-08 will not have a material effect on the fund’s overall financial position or its overall results of operations.

Balance Sheet Offsetting – The fund’s accounting policy with respect to balance sheet offsetting is that, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) Master Agreement, or similar agreement, does not result in an offset of reported amounts of financial assets and financial liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the fund and the applicable counterparty. The fund’s right to setoff may be restricted or prohibited by the bankruptcy or insolvency laws of the particular jurisdiction to which a specific master netting agreement counterparty is subject. Balance sheet offsetting disclosures, to the extent applicable to the fund, have been included in the fund’s Significant Accounting Policies note under the captions for each of the fund’s in-scope financial instruments and transactions.

Investment Valuations – Debt instruments and floating rate loans, including restricted debt instruments, are generally valued at an evaluated or composite bid as provided by a third-party pricing service. Short-term instruments with a maturity at issuance of 60 days or less may be valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Futures contracts are generally valued at last posted settlement price on their primary exchange as provided by a third-party pricing service. Futures contracts for which there were no trades that day for a particular position are generally valued at the closing bid quotation on their primary exchange as provided by a third-party pricing service. Open-end investment companies are generally valued at net asset value per share. Securities and other assets generally valued on the basis of information from a third-party pricing service may also be valued at a broker/dealer bid quotation. Values obtained from third-party pricing services can utilize both transaction data and market information such as yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics, and other market data.

The Board of Trustees has delegated primary responsibility for determining or causing to be determined the value of the fund’s investments (including any fair valuation) to the adviser pursuant to valuation policies and procedures approved by the Board. If the adviser determines that reliable market quotations are not readily available, investments are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the adviser in accordance with such procedures under the oversight of the Board of Trustees. Under the fund’s valuation policies and procedures, market quotations are not considered to be readily

 

30


Table of Contents

Notes to Financial Statements – continued

 

available for most types of debt instruments and floating rate loans and many types of derivatives. These investments are generally valued at fair value based on information from third-party pricing services. In addition, investments may be valued at fair value if the adviser determines that an investment’s value has been materially affected by events occurring after the close of the exchange or market on which the investment is principally traded (such as foreign exchange or market) and prior to the determination of the fund’s net asset value, or after the halting of trading of a specific security where trading does not resume prior to the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded. The adviser generally relies on third-party pricing services or other information (such as the correlation with price movements of similar securities in the same or other markets; the type, cost and investment characteristics of the security; the business and financial condition of the issuer; and trading and other market data) to assist in determining whether to fair value and at what value to fair value an investment. The value of an investment for purposes of calculating the fund’s net asset value can differ depending on the source and method used to determine value. When fair valuation is used, the value of an investment used to determine the fund’s net asset value may differ from quoted or published prices for the same investment. There can be no assurance that the fund could obtain the fair value assigned to an investment if it were to sell the investment at the same time at which the fund determines its net asset value per share.

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the fund’s assets or liabilities. These inputs are categorized into three broad levels. In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, an investment’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The fund’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the investment. Level 1 includes unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 includes other significant observable market-based inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speed, and credit risk). Level 3 includes unobservable inputs, which may include the adviser’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments. Other financial instruments are derivative instruments, such as futures contracts. The following is a summary of the levels used as of November 30, 2017 in valuing the fund’s assets or liabilities:

 

Financial Instruments    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
Municipal Bonds      $—        $58,051,738        $—        $58,051,738  
Mutual Funds      435,507                      435,507  
Total      $435,507        $58,051,738        $—        $58,487,245  
Other Financial Instruments                            
Futures Contracts - Assets      $33,463        $—        $—        $33,463  

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

Derivatives – The fund uses derivatives for different purposes, primarily to increase or decrease exposure to a particular market or segment of the market, or security, to increase or decrease interest rate exposure, or as alternatives to direct investments.

 

31


Table of Contents

Notes to Financial Statements – continued

 

Derivatives are used for hedging or non-hedging purposes. While hedging can reduce or eliminate losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains. When the fund uses derivatives as an investment to increase market exposure, or for hedging purposes, gains and losses from derivative instruments may be substantially greater than the derivative’s original cost.

The derivative instruments used by the fund were futures contracts. Depending on the type of derivative, the fund may exit a derivative position by entering into an offsetting transaction with a counterparty or exchange, negotiating an agreement with the derivative counterparty, or novating the position to a third party. The fund may be unable to promptly close out a futures position in instances where the daily fluctuation in the price for that type of future exceeds the daily limit set by the exchange. The fund’s period end derivatives, as presented in the Portfolio of Investments and the associated Derivative Contract tables, generally are indicative of the volume of its derivative activity during the period.

The following table presents, by major type of derivative contract, the fair value, on a gross basis, of the asset and liability components of derivatives held by the fund at November 30, 2017 as reported in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities:

 

             

Fair Value (a)

Risk   Derivative Contracts          Asset Derivatives
Interest Rate   Interest Rate Futures     $33,463

 

(a) The value for futures contracts presented in this table corresponds to the value reported in the fund’s Portfolio of Investments. Only the current day net variation margin for futures contracts is separately reported within the fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

The following table presents, by major type of derivative contract, the realized gain (loss) on derivatives held by the fund for the year ended November 30, 2017 as reported in the Statement of Operations:

 

Risk    Futures Contracts  
Interest Rate      $(21,309

The following table presents, by major type of derivative contract, the change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on derivatives held by the fund for the year ended November 30, 2017 as reported in the Statement of Operations:

 

Risk    Futures Contracts  
Interest Rate      $27,598  

Derivative counterparty credit risk is managed through formal evaluation of the creditworthiness of all potential counterparties. On certain, but not all, uncleared derivatives, the fund attempts to reduce its exposure to counterparty credit risk whenever possible by entering into an ISDA Master Agreement on a bilateral basis. The ISDA Master Agreement gives each party to the agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under such agreement if there is a certain deterioration in the credit quality of the other party. Upon an event of default or a termination of the ISDA Master Agreement, the non-defaulting party has the right to close out all transactions

 

32


Table of Contents

Notes to Financial Statements – continued

 

traded under such agreement and to net amounts owed under each agreement to one net amount payable by one party to the other. This right to close out and net payments across all transactions traded under the ISDA Master Agreement could result in a reduction of the fund’s credit risk to such counterparty equal to any amounts payable by the fund under the applicable transactions, if any.

Collateral and margin requirements differ by type of derivative. For cleared derivatives (e.g., futures contracts, cleared swaps, and exchange-traded options), margin requirements are set by the clearing broker and the clearing house and collateral, in the form of cash or securities, is posted by the fund directly with the clearing broker. Collateral terms are counterparty agreement specific for uncleared derivatives (e.g., forward foreign currency exchange contracts, uncleared swap agreements, and uncleared options) and collateral, in the form of cash and securities, is held in segregated accounts with the fund’s custodian in connection with these agreements. For derivatives traded under an ISDA Master Agreement, which contains a collateral support annex, the collateral requirements are netted across all transactions traded under such counterparty-specific agreement and one amount is posted from one party to the other to collateralize such obligations. Cash that has been segregated or delivered to cover the fund’s collateral or margin obligations under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as restricted cash for uncleared derivatives or deposits with brokers for cleared derivatives, respectively. Securities pledged as collateral or margin for the same purpose, if any, are noted in the Portfolio of Investments. The fund may be required to make payments of interest on uncovered collateral or margin obligations with the broker. Any such payments are included in interest expense in the Statement of Operations.

Futures Contracts – The fund entered into futures contracts which may be used to hedge against or obtain broad market exposure, interest rate exposure, or to manage duration. A futures contract represents a commitment for the future purchase or sale of an asset at a specified price on a specified date.

Upon entering into a futures contract, the fund is required to deposit with the broker, either in cash or securities, an initial margin in an amount equal to a certain percentage of the notional amount of the contract. Subsequent payments (variation margin) are made or received by the fund each day, depending on the daily fluctuations in the value of the contract, and are recorded for financial statement purposes as unrealized gain or loss by the fund until the contract is closed or expires at which point the gain or loss on futures contracts is realized.

The fund bears the risk of interest rates or securities prices moving unexpectedly, in which case, the fund may not achieve the anticipated benefits of the futures contracts and may realize a loss. While futures contracts may present less counterparty risk to the fund since the contracts are exchange traded and the exchange’s clearinghouse guarantees payments to the broker, there is still counterparty credit risk due to the insolvency of the broker. The fund’s maximum risk of loss due to counterparty credit risk is equal to the margin posted by the fund to the broker plus any gains or minus any losses on the outstanding futures contracts.

Statement of Cash Flows – Information on financial transactions which have been settled through the receipt or disbursement of cash is presented in the Statement of

 

33


Table of Contents

Notes to Financial Statements – continued

 

Cash Flows. The cash amount shown in the Statement of Cash Flows is the amount included within the fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities and includes cash on hand at its custodian bank and does not include any short-term investments.

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

Investment Transactions and Income – Investment transactions are recorded on the trade date. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. All premium and discount is amortized or accreted for financial statement purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Interest payments received in additional securities are recorded on the ex-interest date in an amount equal to the value of the security on such date. Debt obligations may be placed on non-accrual status or set to accrue at a rate of interest less than the contractual coupon when the collection of all or a portion of interest has become doubtful. Interest income for those debt obligations may be further reduced by the write-off of the related interest receivables when deemed uncollectible.

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

Tax Matters and Distributions – The fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to distribute all of its taxable and tax-exempt income, including realized capital gains. As a result, no provision for federal income tax is required. The fund’s federal tax returns, when filed, will remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for a three year period. Management has analyzed the fund’s tax positions taken on federal and state tax returns for all open tax years and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability.

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

 

34


Table of Contents

Notes to Financial Statements – continued

 

Book/tax differences primarily relate to expiration of capital loss carryforwards, amortization and accretion of debt securities, derivative transactions, and non-deductible expenses that result from the treatment of Variable Rate Municipal Term Preferred Shares (“VMTPS”) as equity for tax purposes.

The tax character of distributions declared to shareholders for the last two fiscal years is as follows:

 

     Year ended
11/30/17
     Year ended
11/30/16
 
Ordinary income (including any short-term capital gains)      $1,800        $7,707  
Tax-exempt income      2,006,492        2,017,315  
Total distributions      $2,008,292        $2,025,022  

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

 

As of 11/30/17       
Cost of investments      $54,588,411  
Gross appreciation     
4,056,385
 
Gross depreciation      (124,088
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)      $3,932,297  
Undistributed ordinary income      17,052  
Undistributed tax-exempt income      98,388  
Capital loss carryforwards      (1,550,033
Other temporary differences      42,091  

Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized for fund fiscal years beginning after November 30, 2011 may be carried forward indefinitely, and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses (“post-enactment losses”). Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for eight years and treated as short-term losses (“pre-enactment losses”). As a transition rule, the Act requires that all post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

As of November 30, 2017, the fund had capital loss carryforwards available to offset future realized gains as follows:

 

Pre-enactment losses which
expire as follows:
      
11/30/18      $(696,235
11/30/19      (725,457
Total      $(1,421,692
Post-enactment losses which are
characterized as follows:
 
Short-Term      $(128,341

 

35


Table of Contents

Notes to Financial Statements – continued

 

(3) Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Adviser – The fund has an investment advisory agreement with MFS to provide overall investment management and related administrative services and facilities to the fund. The management fee is computed daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.65% of the fund’s average daily net assets (including the value of preferred shares).

The investment adviser has agreed in writing to pay a portion of the fund’s total annual operating expenses, excluding interest expense on VMTPS, amortization of debt issuance costs on VMTPS, taxes, extraordinary expenses, brokerage and transaction costs, other interest expense, and investment-related expenses, such that total fund operating expenses do not exceed 0.80% annually of the fund’s average daily net assets (including the value of preferred shares). This written agreement will continue until modified by the fund’s Board of Trustees, but such agreement will continue at least until November 30, 2018. For the year ended November 30, 2017, this reduction amounted to $141,821, which is included in the reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations.

Transfer Agent – The fund engages Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (“Computershare”) as the sole transfer agent for the fund’s common shares. MFS Service Center, Inc. (MFSC) monitors and supervises the activities of Computershare for an agreed upon fee approved by the Board of Trustees. For the year ended November 30, 2017, these fees paid to MFSC amounted to $127.

Administrator – MFS provides certain financial, legal, shareholder communications, compliance, and other administrative services to the fund. Under an administrative services agreement, the fund reimburses MFS the costs incurred to provide these services. The fund is charged an annual fixed amount of $17,500 plus a fee based on average daily net assets (including the value of preferred shares). The administrative services fee incurred for the year ended November 30, 2017 was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.0321% of the fund’s average daily net assets (including the value of preferred shares).

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

Other – This fund and certain other funds managed by MFS (the funds) have entered into a service agreement (the ISO Agreement) which provides for payment of fees solely by the funds to Tarantino LLC in return for the provision of services of an Independent Senior Officer (ISO) for the funds. Frank L. Tarantino serves as the ISO and is an officer of the funds and the sole member of Tarantino LLC. The funds can terminate the ISO Agreement with Tarantino LLC at any time under the terms of the ISO Agreement. For the year ended November 30, 2017, the fee paid by the fund under this agreement was $62 and is included in “Miscellaneous” expense in the

 

36


Table of Contents

Notes to Financial Statements – continued

 

Statement of Operations. MFS has agreed to bear all expenses associated with office space, other administrative support, and supplies provided to the ISO.

The fund invests in the MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio which is managed by MFS and seeks current income consistent with preservation of capital and liquidity. This money market fund does not pay a management fee to MFS.

(4) Portfolio Securities

For the year ended November 30, 2017, purchases and sales of investments, other than short-term obligations, aggregated $6,746,738 and $6,159,905, respectively.

(5) Shares of Beneficial Interest

The fund’s Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest. The fund reserves the right to repurchase shares of beneficial interest of the fund subject to Trustee approval. During the years ended November 30, 2017 and November 30, 2016, the fund did not repurchase any shares. Other transactions in fund shares were as follows:

 

     Year ended
11/30/17
     Year ended
11/30/16
 
     Shares      Amount      Shares      Amount  
Shares issued to shareholders in
reinvestment of distributions
            $—        37        $493  

(6) Line of Credit

The fund and certain other funds managed by MFS participate in a $1.25 billion unsecured committed line of credit, subject to a $1 billion sublimit, provided by a syndication of banks under a credit agreement. Borrowings may be made for temporary financing needs. Interest is charged to each fund, based on its borrowings, generally at a rate equal to the higher of the Overnight Federal Reserve funds rate or daily one month LIBOR plus an agreed upon spread. A commitment fee, based on the average daily, unused portion of the committed line of credit, is allocated among the participating funds at the end of each calendar quarter. In addition, the fund and other funds managed by MFS have established unsecured uncommitted borrowing arrangements with certain banks for temporary financing needs. Interest is charged to each fund, based on its borrowings, at a rate equal to the Overnight Federal Reserve funds rate plus an agreed upon spread. For the year ended November 30, 2017, the fund’s commitment fee and interest expense were $232 and $0, respectively, and are included in “Miscellaneous” expense in the Statement of Operations.

 

37


Table of Contents

Notes to Financial Statements – continued

 

(7) Investments in Affiliated Issuers

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

 

Affiliated Issuers          Beginning
Shares/Par
Amount
    Acquisitions
Shares/Par
Amount
    Dispositions
Shares/Par
Amount
    Ending
Shares/Par
Amount
 
MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio       435,717       9,166,332       (9,166,499     435,550  
Affiliated Issuers   Realized
Gain (Loss)
    Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
    Capital Gain
Distributions
    Dividend
Income
    Ending
Value
 
MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio     $86       $(43     $—       $6,523       $435,507  

(8) Preferred Shares

The fund has 977 shares issued and outstanding of VMTPS, series 2019/3. The outstanding VMTPS are redeemable at the option of the fund in whole or in part at the liquidation preference of $25,000 per share, plus accumulated and unpaid dividends, but generally solely for the purpose of decreasing the leverage of the fund. The VMTPS are subject to a mandatory term redemption date of March 31, 2019 unless extended through negotiation with the private holders of the VMTPS. There is no assurance that the term of the VMTPS will be extended or that the VMTPS will be replaced with any other preferred shares or other form of leverage upon the redemption of the VMTPS. Six months prior to the term redemption date of the VMTPS, the fund is required to begin to segregate liquid assets with the fund’s custodian to fund the redemption. Dividends on the VMTPS are cumulative and are reset weekly to a fixed spread against the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) Municipal Swap Index. During the year ended November 30, 2017, the VMTPS dividend rates ranged from 1.71% to 2.12%. For the year ended November 30, 2017, the average dividend rate was 1.95%.

In the fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities, the VMTPS aggregate liquidation preference is shown as a liability since they have a stated mandatory redemption date. Dividends paid to the VMTPS are treated as interest expense and recorded as incurred. For the year ended November 30, 2017, interest expense related to the dividends paid to VMTPS amounted to $474,448 and is included in “Interest expense and amortization of VMTPS debt issuance costs” in the Statement of Operations. Costs directly related to the issuance of the VMTPS are considered debt issuance costs. Debt issuance costs are presented as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability and are being amortized into interest expense over the life of the VMTPS. The period-end carrying value for the VMTPS in the fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities is its liquidation value less any unamortized debt issuance costs, which approximates its fair value. Its fair value would be considered level 2 under the fair value hierarchy.

 

38


Table of Contents

Notes to Financial Statements – continued

 

Under the terms of a purchase agreement between the fund and the investor in the VMTPS, the fund is subject to various investment restrictions. These investment-related requirements are in various respects more restrictive than those to which the fund is otherwise subject in accordance with its investment objectives and policies. In addition, the fund is subject to certain restrictions on its investments imposed by guidelines of the rating agencies that rate the VMTPS, which guidelines may be changed by the applicable rating agency, in its sole discretion, from time to time. These guidelines may impose asset coverage or portfolio composition requirements that are more stringent than those imposed on the fund by the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”).

The fund is required to maintain certain asset coverage with respect to the VMTPS as defined in the fund’s governing documents and the 1940 Act. One of a number of asset coverage-related requirements is that the fund is not permitted to declare or pay common share dividends unless immediately thereafter the fund has a minimum asset coverage ratio of 200% with respect to the VMTPS after deducting the amount of such common share dividends.

The 1940 Act requires that the preferred shareholders of the fund, voting as a separate class, have the right to elect at least two trustees at all times, and elect a majority of the trustees at any time when dividends on the preferred shares are unpaid for two full years. Unless otherwise required by law or under the terms of the preferred shares, each preferred share is entitled to one vote and preferred shareholders will vote together with common shareholders as a single class.

Leverage involves risks and special considerations for the fund’s common shareholders. To the extent that investments are purchased by the fund with proceeds from the issuance of preferred shares, the fund’s net asset value will increase or decrease at a greater rate than a comparable unleveraged fund. Changes in the value of the fund’s portfolio will be borne entirely by the common shareholders. It is possible that the fund will be required to sell assets at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so in order to redeem preferred shares to comply with asset coverage or other restrictions including those imposed by the 1940 Act and the rating agencies that rate the preferred shares. There is no assurance that the fund’s leveraging strategy will be successful.

 

39


Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Trustees and Shareholders of MFS California Municipal Fund:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of MFS California Municipal Fund (the Fund) as of November 30, 2017, and the related statements of operations and cash flows for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of November 30, 2017, by correspondence with the custodian and others. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of MFS California Municipal Fund at November 30, 2017, the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

LOGO

Boston, Massachusetts

January 16, 2018

 

40


Table of Contents

RESULTS OF SHAREHOLDER MEETING

(unaudited)

At the annual meeting of shareholders of MFS California Municipal Fund, which was held on October 5, 2017, the following actions were taken:

Item 1: To elect the following individuals as Trustees, elected by the holders of common and preferred shares together:

 

     Number of Shares  

Nominee

   For     

Withheld Authority

 
Steven E. Buller      2,283,626.000        102,733.000  
Michael Hegarty      2,283,626.000        102,733.000  

Item 2: To elect the following individuals as Trustees, elected by the holders of preferred shares only:

 

     Number of Shares  

Nominee

   For     

Withheld Authority

 
John P. Kavanaugh      977        0  
Laurie J. Thomsen      977        0  

 

41


Table of Contents

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS — IDENTIFICATION AND BACKGROUND

The Trustees and Officers of the Trust, as of January 1, 2018, are listed below, together with their principal occupations during the past five years. (Their titles may have varied during that period.) The address of each Trustee and Officer is 111 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02199-7618.

 

Name, Age

 

Position(s)
Held

with Fund

 

Trustee/
Officer

Since (h)

  Term
Expiring
  Number of
MFS Funds
overseen
by the
Trustee
 

Principal
Occupations
During

the Past

Five Years

 

Other

Directorships
During the Past
Five Years  (j)

INTERESTED TRUSTEES        
Robert J. Manning (k)
(age 54)
  Trustee   February 2004   2019   137   Massachusetts Financial Services Company, Executive Chairman (since January 2017); Director; Chairman of the Board; Chief Executive Officer (until 2015); Co-Chief Executive Officer (2015-2016)   N/A

Robin A. Stelmach (k)

(age 56)

  Trustee   January 2014   2018   137  

Massachusetts Financial

Services Company, Vice Chair (since January 2017); Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President (until January 2017)

  N/A
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES        

John P. Kavanaugh

(age 63)

  Trustee and Chair of Trustees   January 2009   2018   137   Private investor   N/A

 

42


Table of Contents

Trustees and Officers – continued

 

Name, Age

 

Position(s)
Held

with Fund

 

Trustee/
Officer

Since (h)

  Term
Expiring
  Number of
MFS Funds
overseen
by the
Trustee
 

Principal
Occupations
During

the Past

Five Years

 

Other

Directorships
During the Past
Five Years  (j)

Steven E. Buller

(age 66)

  Trustee   February 2014   2020   137   Financial Accounting Standards Advisory Council, Chairman (2014-2015); Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, Standing Advisory Group, Member (until 2014); BlackRock, Inc. (investment management), Managing Director (until 2014), BlackRock Finco UK (investment management), Director (until 2014)   N/A

John A. Caroselli

(age 63)

  Trustee   March 2017   2018   137   JC Global Advisors, LLC (management consulting), President (since 2015); First Capital Corporation (commercial finance), Executive Vice President (until 2015)   N/A

Maureen R. Goldfarb

(age 62)

  Trustee   January 2009   2019   137   Private investor   N/A
Michael Hegarty
(age 73)
  Trustee   December 2004   2020   137   Private investor   Rouse Properties Inc., Director (until 2016); Capmark Financial Group Inc., Director (until 2015)

 

43


Table of Contents

Trustees and Officers – continued

 

Name, Age

 

Position(s)
Held

with Fund

 

Trustee/
Officer

Since (h)

  Term
Expiring
  Number of
MFS Funds
overseen
by the
Trustee
 

Principal
Occupations
During

the Past

Five Years

 

Other

Directorships
During the Past
Five Years  (j)

Clarence Otis, Jr.

(age 61)

  Trustee   March 2017   2018   137   Darden Restaurants, Inc., Chief Executive Officer (until 2014)   VF Corporation, Director; Verizon Communications, Inc., Director; The Travelers Companies, Director; Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Director (until 2015)

Maryanne L. Roepke

(age 61)

  Trustee   May 2014   2019   137   American Century Investments (investment management), Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer (until 2014)   N/A
Laurie J. Thomsen
(age 60)
  Trustee   March 2005   2018   137   Private investor   The Travelers Companies, Director; Dycom Industries, Inc., Director (since 2015)

 

Name, Age

 

Position(s)
Held

with Fund

 

Trustee/Officer

Since (h)

 

Term

Expiring

 

Number of
MFS Funds
for which
the Person is
an Officer

 

Principal
Occupations
During the

Past Five Years

OFFICERS          
Christopher R. Bohane (k)
(age 43)
  Assistant Secretary and Assistant Clerk   July 2005   N/A   137   Massachusetts Financial Services Company, Vice President and Assistant General Counsel

Kino Clark (k)

(age 49)

 

Assistant

Treasurer

  January 2012   N/A   137   Massachusetts Financial Services Company, Vice President

 

44


Table of Contents

Trustees and Officers – continued

 

Name, Age

 

Position(s)
Held

with Fund

 

Trustee/Officer

Since (h)

 

Term

Expiring

 

Number of
MFS Funds
for which
the Person is
an Officer

 

Principal
Occupations
During the

Past Five Years

John W. Clark, Jr. (k)

(age 50)

  Assistant Treasurer   April 2017   N/A   137   Massachusetts Financial Services Company, Vice President (since March 2017); Deutsche Bank (financial services), Department Head – Treasurer’s Office (until February 2017)

Thomas H. Connors (k)

(age 58)

 

Assistant

Secretary and Assistant Clerk

  September 2012   N/A   137   Massachusetts Financial Services Company, Vice President and Senior Counsel
Ethan D. Corey (k)
(age 54)
  Assistant
Secretary and Assistant Clerk
  July 2005   N/A   137   Massachusetts Financial Services Company, Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel
David L. DiLorenzo (k)
(age 49)
  President   July 2005   N/A   137   Massachusetts Financial Services Company, Senior Vice President

Heidi W. Hardin (k)

(age 50)

  Secretary and Clerk   April 2017   N/A   137   Massachusetts Financial Services Company, Executive Vice President and General Counsel (since March 2017); Harris Associates (investment management), General Counsel (from September 2015 to January 2017); Janus Capital Management LLC (investment management), Senior Vice President and General Counsel (until September 2015)

 

45


Table of Contents

Trustees and Officers – continued

 

Name, Age

 

Position(s)
Held

with Fund

 

Trustee/Officer

Since (h)

 

Term

Expiring

 

Number of
MFS Funds
for which
the Person is
an Officer

 

Principal
Occupations
During the

Past Five Years

Brian E. Langenfeld (k)

(age 44)

  Assistant
Secretary and Assistant Clerk
  June 2006   N/A   137   Massachusetts Financial Services Company, Vice President and Senior Counsel
Susan A. Pereira (k)
(age 47)
  Assistant
Secretary and Assistant Clerk
  July 2005   N/A   137   Massachusetts Financial Services Company, Vice President and Senior Counsel

Kasey L. Phillips (k)

(age 47)

  Assistant Treasurer   September 2012   N/A   137   Massachusetts Financial Services Company, Vice President

Matthew A. Stowe (k)

(age 43)

  Assistant Secretary and Assistant Clerk   October 2014   N/A   137   Massachusetts Financial Services Company, Vice President and Assistant General Counsel
Frank L. Tarantino
(age 73)
 

Independent

Senior Officer

  June 2004   N/A   137   Tarantino LLC (provider of compliance services), Principal
Richard S. Weitzel (k)
(age 47)
  Assistant Secretary and Assistant Clerk   October 2007   N/A   137   Massachusetts Financial Services Company, Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel

Martin J. Wolin (k)

(age 50)

  Chief Compliance Officer   July 2015   N/A   137   Massachusetts Financial Services Company, Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer (since July 2015); Mercer (financial service provider), Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, North America and Latin America (until June 2015)

 

46


Table of Contents

Trustees and Officers – continued

 

Name, Age

 

Position(s)
Held

with Fund

 

Trustee/Officer

Since (h)

 

Term

Expiring

 

Number of
MFS Funds
for which
the Person is
an Officer

 

Principal
Occupations
During the

Past Five Years

James O. Yost (k)
(age 57)
  Treasurer   September 1990   N/A   137   Massachusetts Financial Services Company, Senior Vice President

 

(h) Date first appointed to serve as Trustee/officer of an MFS Fund. Each Trustee has served continuously since appointment unless indicated otherwise. For the period from December 15, 2004 until February 22, 2005, Mr. Manning served as Advisory Trustee. Prior to January 2012, Messrs. DiLorenzo and Yost served as Assistant Treasurers of the Funds. From January 2012 through December 2016, Messrs. DiLorenzo and Yost served as Treasurer and Deputy Treasurer of the Funds, respectively.
(j) Directorships or trusteeships of companies required to report to the Securities and Exchange Commission (i.e., “public companies”).
(k) “Interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (referred to as the 1940 Act), which is the principal federal law governing investment companies like the fund, as a result of a position with MFS. The address of MFS is 111 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02199-7618.

The Trust holds annual shareholder meetings for the purpose of electing Trustees, and Trustees are elected for fixed terms. Two Trustees, each holding a term of one year, are elected annually by holders of the Trust’s preferred shares. The remaining Trustees are currently divided into three classes, each having a term of three years which term expires on the date of the third annual meeting following the election to office of the Trustee’s class. Each year the term of one class expires. Each Trustee and officer will serve until next elected or his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement or removal. Under the terms of the Board’s retirement policy, an Independent Trustee shall retire at the end of the calendar year in which he or she reaches the earlier of 75 years of age or 15 years of service on the Board (or, in the case of any Independent Trustee who joined the Board prior to 2015, 20 years of service on the Board).

Messrs. Buller and Otis and Ms. Roepke are members of the Trust’s Audit Committee.

Each of the Interested Trustees and certain Officers hold comparable officer positions with certain affiliates of MFS.

 

 

Investment Adviser   Custodian

Massachusetts Financial Services Company

111 Huntington Avenue

Boston, MA 02199-7618

 

State Street Bank and Trust Company

1 Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111-2900

Portfolio Manager(s)   Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Michael Dawson   Ernst & Young LLP
Geoffrey Schechter   200 Clarendon Street
  Boston, MA 02116

 

47


Table of Contents

BOARD REVIEW OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

The Investment Company Act of 1940 requires that both the full Board of Trustees and a majority of the non-interested (“independent”) Trustees, voting separately, annually approve the continuation of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement with MFS. The Trustees consider matters bearing on the Fund and its advisory arrangements at their meetings throughout the year, including a review of performance data at each regular meeting. In addition, the independent Trustees met several times over the course of three months beginning in May and ending in July, 2017 (“contract review meetings”) for the specific purpose of considering whether to approve the continuation of the investment advisory agreement for the Fund and the other investment companies that the Board oversees (the “MFS Funds”). The independent Trustees were assisted in their evaluation of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement by independent legal counsel, from whom they received separate legal advice and with whom they met separately from MFS during various contract review meetings. The independent Trustees were also assisted in this process by the MFS Funds’ Independent Senior Officer, a senior officer appointed by and reporting to the independent Trustees.

In connection with their deliberations regarding the continuation of the investment advisory agreement, the Trustees, including the independent Trustees, considered such information and factors as they believed, in light of the legal advice furnished to them and their own business judgment, to be relevant. The investment advisory agreement for the Fund was considered separately, although the Trustees also took into account the common interests of all MFS Funds in their review. As described below, the Trustees considered the nature, quality, and extent of the various investment advisory, administrative, and shareholder services performed by MFS under the existing investment advisory agreement and other arrangements with the Fund.

In connection with their contract review meetings, the Trustees received and relied upon materials that included, among other items: (i) information provided by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”), an independent third party, on the investment performance (based on net asset value) of the Fund for various time periods ended December 31, 2016 and the investment performance (based on net asset value) of a group of funds with substantially similar investment classifications/objectives (the “Lipper performance universe”), (ii) information provided by Broadridge on the Fund’s advisory fees and other expenses and the advisory fees and other expenses of comparable funds identified by Broadridge (the “Broadridge expense group”), (iii) information provided by MFS on the advisory fees of portfolios of other clients of MFS, including institutional separate accounts and other clients, (iv) information as to whether and to what extent applicable expense waivers, reimbursements or fee “breakpoints” are observed for the Fund, (v) information regarding MFS’ financial results and financial condition, including MFS’ and certain of its affiliates’ estimated profitability from services performed for the Fund and the MFS Funds as a whole, and compared to MFS’ institutional business, (vi) MFS’ views regarding the outlook for the mutual fund industry and the strategic business plans of MFS, (vii) descriptions of various functions performed by MFS for the Funds, such as compliance monitoring and portfolio trading practices, and (viii) information regarding the overall organization of MFS, including information about MFS’ senior management and other personnel

 

48


Table of Contents

Board Review of Investment Advisory Agreement – continued

 

providing investment advisory, administrative and other services to the Fund and the other MFS Funds. The comparative performance, fee and expense information prepared and provided by Broadridge was not independently verified and the independent Trustees did not independently verify any information provided to them by MFS.

The Trustees’ conclusion as to the continuation of the investment advisory agreement was based on a comprehensive consideration of all information provided to the Trustees and not the result of any single factor. Some of the factors that figured particularly in the Trustees’ deliberations are described below, although individual Trustees may have evaluated the information presented differently from one another, giving different weights to various factors. It is also important to recognize that the fee arrangements for the Fund and other MFS Funds are the result of years of review and discussion between the independent Trustees and MFS, that certain aspects of such arrangements may receive greater scrutiny in some years than in others, and that the Trustees’ conclusions may be based, in part, on their consideration of these same arrangements during the course of the year and in prior years.

Based on information provided by Broadridge and MFS, the Trustees reviewed the Fund’s total return investment performance as well as the performance of peer groups of funds over various time periods. The Trustees placed particular emphasis on the total return performance of the Fund’s common shares in comparison to the performance of funds in its Lipper performance universe over the three-year period ended December 31, 2016, which the Trustees believed was a long enough period to reflect differing market conditions. The total return performance of the Fund’s common shares ranked 9th out of a total of 17 funds in the Lipper performance universe for this three-year period (a ranking of first place out of the total number of funds in the performance universe indicating the best performer and a ranking of last place out of the total number of funds in the performance universe indicating the worst performer). The total return performance of the Fund’s common shares ranked 8th out of a total of 17 funds for the one-year period and 4th out of a total of 17 funds for the five-year period ended December 31, 2016. Given the size of the Lipper performance universe and information previously provided by MFS regarding differences between the Fund and other funds in its Lipper performance universe, the Trustees also reviewed the Fund’s performance in comparison to the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index. The Fund out-performed the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index for each of the three- and five-year periods ended December 31, 2016 and underperformed the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index for the one-year period ended December 31, 2016 (one-year: 0.1% total return for the Fund versus 0.2% total return for the benchmark; three-year: 8.3% total return for the Fund versus 4.1% total return for the benchmark; five-year: 7.6% total return for the Fund versus 3.3% total return for the benchmark). Because of the passage of time, these performance results may differ from the performance results for more recent periods, including those shown elsewhere in this report.

In the course of their deliberations, the Trustees took into account information provided by MFS in connection with the contract review meetings, as well as during investment review meetings conducted with portfolio management personnel during the course of the year regarding the Fund’s performance. After reviewing these and

 

49


Table of Contents

Board Review of Investment Advisory Agreement – continued

 

related factors, the Trustees concluded, within the context of their overall conclusions regarding the investment advisory agreement, that they were satisfied with MFS’ responses and efforts relating to investment performance.

In assessing the reasonableness of the Fund’s advisory fee, the Trustees considered, among other information, the Fund’s advisory fee and the total expense ratio of the Fund’s common shares as a percentage of average daily net assets (including the value of preferred shares) and the advisory fee and total expense ratios of peer groups of funds based on information provided by Broadridge. The Trustees considered that MFS currently observes an expense limitation for the Fund, which may not be changed without the Trustees’ approval. The Trustees also considered that, according to the data provided by Broadridge (which takes into account any fee reductions or expense limitations that were in effect during the Fund’s last fiscal year), the Fund’s effective advisory fee rate was approximately at the Broadridge expense group median and the Fund’s total expense ratio was higher than the Broadridge expense group median.

The Trustees also considered the advisory fees charged by MFS to any institutional separate accounts advised by MFS (“separate accounts”) and unaffiliated investment companies for which MFS serves as subadviser (“subadvised funds”) that have comparable investment strategies to the Fund, if any. In comparing these fees, the Trustees considered information provided by MFS as to the generally broader scope of services provided by MFS to the Fund, as well as the more extensive regulatory burdens imposed on MFS in managing the Fund, in comparison to separate accounts and subadvised funds.

The Trustees considered that, as a closed-end fund, the Fund is unlikely to experience meaningful asset growth. As a result, the Trustees did not view the potential for realization of economies of scale as the Fund’s assets grow to be a material factor in their deliberations. The Trustees noted that they would consider economies of scale in the future in the event the Fund experiences significant asset growth, such as through a material increase in the market value of the Fund’s portfolio securities.

The Trustees also considered information prepared by MFS relating to MFS’ costs and profits with respect to the Fund, the MFS Funds considered as a group, and other investment companies and accounts advised by MFS, as well as MFS’ methodologies used to determine and allocate its costs to the MFS Funds, the Fund and other accounts and products for purposes of estimating profitability.

After reviewing these and other factors described herein, the Trustees concluded, within the context of their overall conclusions regarding the investment advisory agreement, that the advisory fees charged to the Fund represent reasonable compensation in light of the services being provided by MFS to the Fund.

In addition, the Trustees considered MFS’ resources and related efforts to continue to retain, attract and motivate capable personnel to serve the Fund. The Trustees also considered current and developing conditions in the financial services industry, including the presence of large and well-capitalized companies which are spending, and appear to be prepared to continue to spend, substantial sums to engage personnel and to provide services to competing investment companies. In this regard, the Trustees also considered the financial resources of MFS and its ultimate parent,

 

50


Table of Contents

Board Review of Investment Advisory Agreement – continued

 

Sun Life Financial Inc. The Trustees also considered the advantages and possible disadvantages to the Fund of having an adviser that also serves other investment companies as well as other accounts.

The Trustees also considered the nature, quality, cost, and extent of administrative services provided to the Fund by MFS under agreements other than the investment advisory agreement. The Trustees also considered the nature, extent and quality of certain other services MFS performs or arranges for on the Fund’s behalf, which may include securities lending programs, directed expense payment programs, class action recovery programs, and MFS’ interaction with third-party service providers, principally custodians and sub-custodians. The Trustees concluded that the various non-advisory services provided by MFS and its affiliates on behalf of the Fund were satisfactory.

The Trustees also considered benefits to MFS from the use of the Fund’s portfolio brokerage commissions, if applicable, to pay for investment research and various other factors. Additionally, the Trustees considered so-called “fall-out benefits” to MFS such as reputational value derived from serving as investment manager to the Fund.

Based on their evaluation of factors that they deemed to be material, including those factors described above, the Board of Trustees, including the independent Trustees, concluded that the Fund’s investment advisory agreement with MFS should be continued for an additional one-year period, commencing August 1, 2017.

 

51


Table of Contents

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND INFORMATION

MFS votes proxies on behalf of the fund pursuant to proxy voting policies and procedures that are available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-225-2606, by visiting mfs.com/proxyvoting, or by visiting the SEC’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov.

Information regarding how the fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 is available by August 31 of each year without charge by visiting mfs.com/proxyvoting, or by visiting the SEC’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov.

QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO DISCLOSURE

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

Public Reference Room

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, NE, Room 1580

Washington, D.C. 20549

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

FURTHER INFORMATION

From time to time, MFS may post important information about the fund or the MFS funds on the MFS web site (mfs.com). This information is available at https://www.mfs.com/en-us/what-we-do/announcements.html or at mfs.com/closedendfunds by choosing the fund’s name.

Additional information about the fund (e.g. performance, dividends and the fund’s price history) is also available by clicking on the fund’s name under “Closed-End Funds” in the “Products” section of mfs.com.

 

52


Table of Contents

INFORMATION ABOUT FUND CONTRACTS AND LEGAL CLAIMS

The fund has entered into contractual arrangements with an investment adviser, administrator, transfer agent, and custodian who each provide services to the fund. Unless expressly stated otherwise, shareholders are not parties to, or intended beneficiaries of these contractual arrangements, and these contractual arrangements are not intended to create any shareholder right to enforce them against the service providers or to seek any remedy under them against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the fund.

Under the Trust’s By-Laws, any claims asserted against or on behalf of the MFS Funds, including claims against Trustees and Officers, must be brought in state and federal courts located within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

FEDERAL TAX INFORMATION (unaudited)

The fund will notify shareholders of amounts for use in preparing 2017 income tax forms in January 2018. The following information is provided pursuant to provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

Of the dividends paid from net investment income during the fiscal year, 99.91% is designated as exempt interest dividends for federal income tax purposes. If the fund has earned income on private activity bonds, a portion of the dividends paid may be considered a tax preference item for purposes of computing a shareholder’s alternative minimum tax.

 

53


Table of Contents

rev. 3/16

 

 

FACTS

 

  WHAT DOES MFS DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?   LOGO

 

Why?   Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.

 

What?  

The types of personal information we collect and share depend on the product or service you have with us. This information can include:

 

 Social Security number and account balances

 Account transactions and transaction history

 Checking account information and wire transfer instructions

 

When you are no longer our customer, we continue to share your information as described in this notice.

 

How?   All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday business. In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers’ personal information; the reasons MFS chooses to share; and whether you can limit this sharing.

 

Reasons we can share your
personal information
  Does MFS
share?
  Can you limit
this sharing?

For our everyday business purposes –

such as to process your transactions, maintain your account(s), respond to court orders and legal investigations, or report to credit bureaus

  Yes   No

For our marketing purposes –

to offer our products and services to you

  No   We don’t share

For joint marketing with other

financial companies

  No   We don’t share

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes –

information about your transactions and experiences

  No   We don’t share

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes –

information about your creditworthiness

  No   We don’t share
For nonaffiliates to market to you   No   We don’t share

 

Questions?   Call 800-225-2606 or go to mfs.com.

 

54


Table of Contents
Page 2  

 


 

Who we are
Who is providing this notice?   MFS Funds, MFS Investment Management, MFS Institutional Advisors, Inc., and MFS Heritage Trust Company.

 

What we do
How does MFS protect my personal information?   To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include procedural, electronic, and physical safeguards for the protection of the personal information we collect about you.
How does MFS collect my personal information?  

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

 

 open an account or provide account information

 direct us to buy securities or direct us to sell your securities

 make a wire transfer

 

We also collect your personal information from others, such as credit bureaus, affiliates, or other companies.

Why can’t I limit all sharing?  

Federal law gives you the right to limit only

 

 sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes – information about your creditworthiness

 affiliates from using your information to market to you

 sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you

 

State laws and individual companies may give you additional rights to limit sharing.

 

Definitions
Affiliates  

Companies related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.

 

 MFS does not share personal information with affiliates, except for everyday business purposes as described on page one of this notice.

Nonaffiliates  

Companies not related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.

 

 MFS does not share with nonaffiliates so they can market to you.

Joint marketing  

A formal agreement between nonaffiliated financial companies that together market financial products or services to you.

 

 MFS doesnt jointly market.

 

 

Other important information
If you own an MFS product or receive an MFS service in the name of a third party such as a bank or broker-dealer, their privacy policy may apply to you instead of ours.

 

55


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

CONTACT US

TRANSFER AGENT, REGISTRAR, AND

DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT

CALL

1-800-637-2304

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time

WRITE

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

P.O. Box 43078

Providence, RI 02940-3078

 

NYSE American Symbol: CCA


Table of Contents
ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS.

The Registrant has adopted a Code of Ethics pursuant to Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and as defined in Form N-CSR that applies to the Registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial and accounting officer. Effective January 1, 2017, the Code was amended to (i) clarify that the term “for profit” company as used in Section II.B of the Code excludes the investment adviser and its subsidiaries and pooled investment vehicles sponsored by the investment adviser or its subsidiaries, (ii) align the Code’s provisions regarding receipt of gifts and entertainment in Section II.B of the Code with the gifts and entertainment policy of the Funds’ investment adviser, and (iii) make other administrative changes. During the period covered by the report, the Registrant has not granted a waiver, including an implicit waiver, from any provision of the Code.

A copy of the Code effective as of January 1, 2017 is filed as an exhibit to this Form N-CSR.

 

ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.

Messrs. Steven E. Buller and Clarence Otis, Jr. and Ms. Maryanne L. Roepke, members of the Audit Committee, have been determined by the Board of Trustees in their reasonable business judgment to meet the definition of “audit committee financial expert” as such term is defined in Form N-CSR. In addition, Messrs. Buller and Otis and Ms. Roepke are “independent” members of the Audit Committee (as such term has been defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission in regulations implementing Section 407 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002). The Securities and Exchange Commission has stated that the designation of a person as an audit committee financial expert pursuant to this Item 3 on the Form N-CSR does not impose on such a person any duties, obligations or liability that are greater than the duties, obligations or liability imposed on such person as a member of the Audit Committee and the Board of Trustees in the absence of such designation or identification.

 

ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.

Items 4(a) through 4(d) and 4(g):

The Board of Trustees has appointed Ernst & Young LLP (“E&Y”) to serve as independent accountants to the Registrant (hereinafter the “Registrant” or the “Fund”). The tables below set forth the audit fees billed to the Fund as well as fees for non-audit services provided to the Fund and/or to the Fund’s investment adviser, Massachusetts Financial Services Company (“MFS”), and to various entities either controlling, controlled by, or under common control with MFS that provide ongoing services to the Fund (“MFS Related Entities”).


Table of Contents

For the fiscal years ended November 30, 2017 and 2016, audit fees billed to the Fund by E&Y were as follows:

 

     Audit Fees  
     2017      2016  

Fees billed by E&Y:

     

MFS California Municipal Fund

     58,340        56,664  

For the fiscal years ended November 30, 2017 and 2016, fees billed by E&Y for audit-related, tax and other services provided to the Fund and for audit-related, tax and other services provided to MFS and MFS Related Entities were as follows:

 

     Audit-Related  Fees1      Tax Fees2      All Other Fees3  
     2017      2016      2017      2016      2017      2016  

Fees billed by E&Y:

                 

To MFS California Municipal Fund

     11,538        11,027        10,102        9,953        1,012        1,014  
     Audit-Related Fees1      Tax Fees2      All Other Fees3  
   2017      2016      2017      2016      2017      2016  

Fees billed by E&Y:

                 

To MFS and MFS Related Entities of MFS California Municipal Fund*

     1,603,983        1,412,499        0        0        101,450        116,023  

 

     Aggregate Fees for Non-audit
Services
 
   2017      2016  

Fees Billed by E&Y:

     

To MFS California Municipal Fund, MFS and MFS Related Entities#

     1,859,905        1,676,116  

 

* 

This amount reflects the fees billed to MFS and MFS Related Entities for non-audit services relating directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund (portions of which services also related to the operations and financial reporting of other funds within the MFS Funds complex).

# This amount reflects the aggregate fees billed by E&Y for non-audit services rendered to the Fund and for non-audit services rendered to MFS and the MFS Related Entities.
1 

The fees included under “Audit-Related Fees” are fees related to assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of financial statements, but not reported under ‘‘Audit Fees,’’ including accounting consultations, agreed-upon procedure reports, attestation reports, comfort letters and internal control reviews.

2 

The fees included under “Tax Fees” are fees associated with tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning, including services relating to the filing or amendment of federal, state or local income tax returns, regulated investment company qualification reviews and tax distribution and analysis.

3 

The fees included under “All Other Fees” are fees for products and services provided by E&Y other than those reported under “Audit Fees,” “Audit-Related Fees” and “Tax Fees,” including fees for services related to review of internal controls and review of Rule 38a-1 compliance program.


Table of Contents

Item 4(e)(1):

Set forth below are the policies and procedures established by the Audit Committee of the Board of Trustees relating to the pre-approval of audit and non-audit related services:

To the extent required by applicable law, pre-approval by the Audit Committee of the Board is needed for all audit and permissible non-audit services rendered to the Fund and all permissible non-audit services rendered to MFS or MFS Related Entities if the services relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Registrant. Pre-approval is currently on an engagement-by-engagement basis. In the event pre-approval of such services is necessary between regular meetings of the Audit Committee and it is not practical to wait to seek pre-approval at the next regular meeting of the Audit Committee, pre-approval of such services may be referred to the Chair of the Audit Committee for approval; provided that the Chair may not pre-approve any individual engagement for such services exceeding $50,000 or multiple engagements for such services in the aggregate exceeding $100,000 in each period between regular meetings of the Audit Committee. Any engagement pre-approved by the Chair between regular meetings of the Audit Committee shall be presented for ratification by the entire Audit Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting.

Item 4(e)(2):

None, or 0%, of the services relating to the Audit-Related Fees, Tax Fees and All Other Fees paid by the Fund and MFS and MFS Related Entities relating directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Registrant disclosed above were approved by the audit committee pursuant to paragraphs (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X (which permits audit committee approval after the start of the engagement with respect to services other than audit, review or attest services, if certain conditions are satisfied).

Item 4(f):

Not applicable.

Item 4(h):

The Registrant’s Audit Committee has considered whether the provision by a Registrant’s independent registered public accounting firm of non-audit services to MFS and MFS Related Entities that were not pre-approved by the Committee (because such services did not relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Registrant) was compatible with maintaining the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm as the Registrant’s principal auditors.

 

ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.

The Registrant has an Audit Committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Steven E. Buller and Clarence Otis, Jr. and Ms. Maryanne L. Roepke.


Table of Contents
ITEM 6. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

A schedule of investments of the Registrant is included as part of the report to shareholders of the Registrant under Item 1 of this Form N-CSR.

 

ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

February 1, 2017

Massachusetts Financial Services Company, MFS Institutional Advisors, Inc., MFS International (UK) Limited, MFS Heritage Trust Company, MFS Investment Management (Canada) Limited, MFS Investment Management Company (Lux) S.à r.l., MFS International Singapore Pte. Ltd., MFS Investment Management K.K., MFS International Australia Pty. Ltd.; and MFS’ other subsidiaries that perform discretionary investment management activities (collectively, “MFS”) have adopted proxy voting policies and procedures, as set forth below (“MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures”), with respect to securities owned by the clients for which MFS serves as investment adviser and has the power to vote proxies, including the pooled investment vehicles sponsored by MFS (the “MFS Funds”). References to “clients” in these policies and procedures include the MFS Funds and other clients of MFS, such as funds organized offshore, sub-advised funds and separate account clients, to the extent these clients have delegated to MFS the responsibility to vote proxies on their behalf under the MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures.

The MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures include:

 

  A. Voting Guidelines;

 

  B. Administrative Procedures;

 

  C Records Retention; and

 

  D. Reports.


Table of Contents
A. VOTING GUIDELINES

 

  1. General Policy; Potential Conflicts of Interest

MFS’ policy is that proxy voting decisions are made in what MFS believes to be the best long-term economic interests of MFS’ clients, and not in the interests of any other party or in MFS’ corporate interests, including interests such as the distribution of MFS Fund shares and institutional client relationships.

MFS reviews corporate governance issues and proxy voting matters that are presented for shareholder vote by either management or shareholders of public companies. Based on the overall principle that all votes cast by MFS on behalf of its clients must be in what MFS believes to be the best long-term economic interests of such clients, MFS has adopted proxy voting guidelines, set forth below, that govern how MFS generally will vote on specific matters presented for shareholder vote.

As a general matter, MFS votes consistently on similar proxy proposals across all shareholder meetings. However, some proxy proposals, such as certain excessive executive compensation, environmental, social and governance matters, are analyzed on a case-by-case basis in light of all the relevant facts and circumstances of the proposal. Therefore, MFS may vote similar proposals differently at different shareholder meetings based on the specific facts and circumstances of the issuer or the terms of the proposal. In addition, MFS also reserves the right to override the guidelines with respect to a particular proxy proposal when such an override is, in MFS’ best judgment, consistent with the overall principle of voting proxies in the best long-term economic interests of MFS’ clients.

MFS also generally votes consistently on the same matter when securities of an issuer are held by multiple client accounts, unless MFS has received explicit voting instructions to vote differently from a client for its own account. From time to time, MFS may also receive comments on the MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures from its clients. These comments are carefully considered by MFS when it reviews these guidelines and revises them as appropriate.

These policies and procedures are intended to address any potential material conflicts of interest on the part of MFS or its subsidiaries that are likely to arise in connection with the voting of proxies on behalf of MFS’ clients. If such potential material conflicts of interest do arise, MFS will analyze, document and report on such potential material conflicts of interest (see Sections B.2 and D below), and shall ultimately vote the relevant proxies in what MFS believes to be the best long-term economic interests of its clients. The MFS Proxy Voting Committee is responsible for monitoring and reporting with respect to such potential material conflicts of interest.

MFS is also a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment. In developing these guidelines, MFS considered environmental, social and corporate governance issues in light of MFS’ fiduciary obligation to vote proxies in the best long-term economic interest of its clients.


Table of Contents
2. MFS’ Policy on Specific Issues

Election of Directors

MFS believes that good governance should be based on a board with at least a simple majority of directors who are “independent” of management, and whose key committees (e.g., compensation, nominating, and audit committees) consist entirely of “independent” directors. While MFS generally supports the board’s nominees in uncontested or non-contentious elections, we will not support a nominee to a board of a U.S. issuer (or issuer listed on a U.S. exchange) if, as a result of such nominee being elected to the board, the board would consist of a simple majority of members who are not “independent” or, alternatively, the compensation, nominating (including instances in which the full board serves as the compensation or nominating committee) or audit committees would include members who are not “independent.”

MFS will also not support a nominee to a board if we can determine that he or she attended less than 75% of the board and/or relevant committee meetings in the previous year without a valid reason stated in the proxy materials or other company communications. In addition, MFS may not support some or all nominees standing for re-election to a board if we can determine: (1) the board or its compensation committee has re-priced or exchanged underwater stock options since the last annual meeting of shareholders and without shareholder approval; (2) the board or relevant committee has not taken adequately responsive action to an issue that received majority support or opposition from shareholders; (3) the board has implemented a poison pill without shareholder approval since the last annual meeting and such poison pill is not on the subsequent shareholder meeting’s agenda, (including those related to net-operating loss carry-forwards); (4) the board or relevant committee has failed to adequately oversee risk by allowing the hedging and/or significant pledging of company shares by executives; or (5) there are governance concerns with a director or issuer.

For directors who are not a CEO of a public company, MFS will vote against a nominee who serves on more than five (5) public company boards in total. MFS may consider exceptions to this policy if (i) the director is either retired or listed as “professional director” in the proxy statement; (ii) the company has disclosed the director’s plans to step down from the number of public company boards exceeding five (5) within a reasonable time; or (iii) the director exceeds the permitted number of public company board seats solely due to either his/her board service on an affiliated company (e.g., a subsidiary), or service on more than one investment company within the same investment company complex.

For directors who are also a CEO of a public company, MFS will vote against a nominee who serves on more than three (3) public-company boards in total. However, we will support his or her re-election to the board of the company for which he or she serves as CEO).


Table of Contents

MFS may not support certain board nominees of U.S. issuers under certain circumstances where MFS deems compensation to be egregious due to pay-for-performance issues and/or poor pay practices. Please see the section below titled “MFS’ Policy on Specific Issues - Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation” for further details.

MFS evaluates a contested or contentious election of directors on a case-by-case basis considering the long-term financial performance of the company relative to its industry, management’s track record, the qualifications of all nominees, and an evaluation of what each side is offering shareholders.

Majority Voting and Director Elections

MFS votes for reasonably crafted proposals calling for directors to be elected with an affirmative majority of votes cast and/or the elimination of the plurality standard for electing directors (including binding resolutions requesting that the board amend the company’s bylaws), provided the proposal includes a carve-out for a plurality voting standard when there are more director nominees than board seats (e.g., contested elections) (“Majority Vote Proposals”).

Classified Boards

MFS generally supports proposals to declassify a board (i.e.; a board in which only one-third of board members is elected each year) for all issuers other than for certain closed-end investment companies. MFS generally opposes proposals to classify a board for issuers other than for certain closed-end investment companies.

Proxy Access

MFS believes that the ability of qualifying shareholders to nominate a certain number of directors on the company’s proxy statement (“Proxy Access”) may have corporate governance benefits. However, such potential benefits must be balanced by its potential misuse by shareholders. Therefore, we support Proxy Access proposals at U.S. issuers that establish an ownership criteria of 3% of the company held continuously for a period of 3 years. In our view, such qualifying shareholders should have the ability to nominate at least 2 directors. Companies should be mindful of imposing any undue impediments within its bylaws that may render Proxy Access impractical, including re-submission thresholds for director nominees via Proxy Access.

MFS analyzes all other proposals seeking Proxy Access on a case-by-case basis. In its analysis, MFS will consider the proposed ownership criteria for qualifying shareholders (such as ownership threshold and holding period) as well as the proponent’s rationale for seeking Proxy Access.


Table of Contents

Stock Plans

MFS opposes stock option programs and restricted stock plans that provide unduly generous compensation for officers, directors or employees, or that could result in excessive dilution to other shareholders. As a general guideline, MFS votes against restricted stock, stock option, non-employee director, omnibus stock plans and any other stock plan if all such plans for a particular company involve potential dilution, in the aggregate, of more than 15%. However, MFS will also vote against stock plans that involve potential dilution, in aggregate, of more than 10% at U.S. issuers that are listed in the Standard and Poor’s 100 index as of December 31 of the previous year. In the cases where a stock plan amendment is seeking qualitative changes and not additional shares, MFS will vote its shares on a case-by-case basis.

MFS also opposes stock option programs that allow the board or the compensation committee to re-price underwater options or to automatically replenish shares without shareholder approval. MFS also votes against stock option programs for officers, employees or non-employee directors that do not require an investment by the optionee, that give “free rides” on the stock price, or that permit grants of stock options with an exercise price below fair market value on the date the options are granted. MFS will consider proposals to exchange existing options for newly issued options, restricted stock or cash on a case-by-case basis, taking into account certain factors, including, but not limited to, whether there is a reasonable value-for-value exchange and whether senior executives are excluded from participating in the exchange.

MFS supports the use of a broad-based employee stock purchase plans to increase company stock ownership by employees, provided that shares purchased under the plan are acquired for no less than 85% of their market value and do not result in excessive dilution.

Shareholder Proposals on Executive Compensation

MFS believes that competitive compensation packages are necessary to attract, motivate and retain executives. However, MFS also recognizes that certain executive compensation practices can be “excessive” and not in the best, long-term economic interest of a company’s shareholders. We believe that the election of an issuer’s board of directors (as outlined above), votes on stock plans (as outlined above) and advisory votes on pay (as outlined below) are typically the most effective mechanisms to express our view on a company’s compensation practices.

MFS generally opposes shareholder proposals that seek to set rigid restrictions on executive compensation as MFS believes that compensation committees should retain some flexibility to determine the appropriate pay package for executives. Although we support linking executive stock option grants to a


Table of Contents

company’s performance, MFS also opposes shareholder proposals that mandate a link of performance-based pay to a specific metric. MFS generally supports reasonably crafted shareholder proposals that (i) require the issuer to adopt a policy to recover the portion of performance-based bonuses and awards paid to senior executives that were not earned based upon a significant negative restatement of earnings unless the company already has adopted a satisfactory policy on the matter, (ii) expressly prohibit the backdating of stock options, and (iii) prohibit the acceleration of vesting of equity awards upon a broad definition of a “change-in-control” (e.g.; single or modified single-trigger).

Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation

MFS will analyze advisory votes on executive compensation on a case-by-case basis. MFS will vote against an advisory vote on executive compensation if MFS determines that the issuer has adopted excessive executive compensation practices and will vote in favor of an advisory vote on executive compensation if MFS has not determined that the issuer has adopted excessive executive compensation practices. Examples of excessive executive compensation practices may include, but are not limited to, a pay-for-performance disconnect, employment contract terms such as guaranteed bonus provisions, unwarranted pension payouts, backdated stock options, overly generous hiring bonuses for chief executive officers, unnecessary perquisites, or the potential reimbursement of excise taxes to an executive in regards to a severance package. In cases where MFS (i) votes against consecutive advisory pay votes, or (ii) determines that a particularly egregious excessive executive compensation practice has occurred, then MFS may also vote against certain or all board nominees. MFS may also vote against certain or all board nominees if an advisory pay vote for a U.S. issuer is not on the agenda, or the company has not implemented the advisory vote frequency supported by a plurality/ majority of shareholders.

MFS generally supports proposals to include an advisory shareholder vote on an issuer’s executive compensation practices on an annual basis.

“Golden Parachutes”

From time to time, MFS may evaluate a separate, advisory vote on severance packages or “golden parachutes” to certain executives at the same time as a vote on a proposed merger or acquisition. MFS will support an advisory vote on a severance package on a on a case-by-case basis, and MFS may vote against the severance package regardless of whether MFS supports the proposed merger or acquisition.

Shareholders of companies may also submit proxy proposals that would require shareholder approval of severance packages for executive officers that exceed certain predetermined thresholds. MFS votes in favor of such shareholder proposals when they would require shareholder approval of any severance package for an executive officer that exceeds a certain multiple of such officer’s annual compensation that is not determined in MFS’ judgment to be excessive.


Table of Contents

Anti-Takeover Measures

In general, MFS votes against any measure that inhibits capital appreciation in a stock, including proposals that protect management from action by shareholders. These types of proposals take many forms, ranging from “poison pills” and “shark repellents” to super-majority requirements.

MFS generally votes for proposals to rescind existing “poison pills” and proposals that would require shareholder approval to adopt prospective “poison pills,” unless the company already has adopted a clearly satisfactory policy on the matter. MFS may consider the adoption of a prospective “poison pill” or the continuation of an existing “poison pill” if we can determine that the following two conditions are met: (1) the “poison pill” allows MFS clients to hold an aggregate position of up to 15% of a company’s total voting securities (and of any class of voting securities); and (2) either (a) the “poison pill” has a term of not longer than five years, provided that MFS will consider voting in favor of the “poison pill” if the term does not exceed seven years and the “poison pill” is linked to a business strategy or purpose that MFS believes is likely to result in greater value for shareholders; or (b) the terms of the “poison pill” allow MFS clients the opportunity to accept a fairly structured and attractively priced tender offer (e.g. a “chewable poison pill” that automatically dissolves in the event of an all cash, all shares tender offer at a premium price). MFS will also consider on a case-by-case basis proposals designed to prevent tenders which are disadvantageous to shareholders such as tenders at below market prices and tenders for substantially less than all shares of an issuer.

MFS will consider any poison pills designed to protect a company’s net-operating loss carryforwards on a case-by-case basis, weighing the accounting and tax benefits of such a pill against the risk of deterring future acquisition candidates.

Proxy Contests

From time to time, a shareholder may express alternative points of view in terms of a company’s strategy, capital allocation, or other issues. Such shareholder may also propose a slate of director nominees different than the slate of director nominees proposed by the company (a “Proxy Contest”). MFS will analyze Proxy Contests on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration the track record and current recommended initiatives of both company management and the dissident shareholder(s). Like all of our proxy votes, MFS will support the slate of director nominees that we believe is in the best, long-term economic interest of our clients.


Table of Contents

Reincorporation and Reorganization Proposals

When presented with a proposal to reincorporate a company under the laws of a different state, or to effect some other type of corporate reorganization, MFS considers the underlying purpose and ultimate effect of such a proposal in determining whether or not to support such a measure. MFS generally votes with management in regards to these types of proposals, however, if MFS believes the proposal is in the best long-term economic interests of its clients, then MFS may vote against management (e.g. the intent or effect would be to create additional inappropriate impediments to possible acquisitions or takeovers).

Issuance of Stock

There are many legitimate reasons for the issuance of stock. Nevertheless, as noted above under “Stock Plans,” when a stock option plan (either individually or when aggregated with other plans of the same company) would substantially dilute the existing equity (e.g. by approximately 10-15% as described above), MFS generally votes against the plan. In addition, MFS typically votes against proposals where management is asking for authorization to issue common or preferred stock with no reason stated (a “blank check”) because the unexplained authorization could work as a potential anti-takeover device. MFS may also vote against the authorization or issuance of common or preferred stock if MFS determines that the requested authorization is excessive or not warranted.

Repurchase Programs

MFS supports proposals to institute share repurchase plans in which all shareholders have the opportunity to participate on an equal basis. Such plans may include a company acquiring its own shares on the open market, or a company making a tender offer to its own shareholders.

Cumulative Voting

MFS opposes proposals that seek to introduce cumulative voting and for proposals that seek to eliminate cumulative voting. In either case, MFS will consider whether cumulative voting is likely to enhance the interests of MFS’ clients as minority shareholders.

Written Consent and Special Meetings

The right to call a special meeting or act by written consent can be a powerful tool for shareholders. As such, MFS supports proposals requesting the right for shareholders who hold at least 10% of the issuer’s outstanding stock to call a special meeting. MFS also supports proposals requesting the right for shareholders to act by written consent.


Table of Contents

Independent Auditors

MFS believes that the appointment of auditors for U.S. issuers is best left to the board of directors of the company and therefore supports the ratification of the board’s selection of an auditor for the company. Some shareholder groups have submitted proposals to limit the non-audit activities of a company’s audit firm or prohibit any non-audit services by a company’s auditors to that company. MFS opposes proposals recommending the prohibition or limitation of the performance of non-audit services by an auditor, and proposals recommending the removal of a company’s auditor due to the performance of non-audit work for the company by its auditor. MFS believes that the board, or its audit committee, should have the discretion to hire the company’s auditor for specific pieces of non-audit work in the limited situations permitted under current law.

Other Business

MFS generally votes against “other business” proposals as the content of any such matter is not known at the time of our vote.

Adjourn Shareholder Meeting

MFS generally supports proposals to adjourn a shareholder meeting if we support the other ballot items on the meeting’s agenda. MFS generally votes against proposals to adjourn a meeting if we do not support the other ballot items on the meeting’s agenda.

Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) Issues

MFS believes that a company’s ESG practices may have an impact on the company’s long-term economic financial performance and will generally support proposals relating to ESG issues that MFS believes are in the best long-term economic interest of the company’s shareholders. For those ESG proposals for which a specific policy has not been adopted, MFS considers such ESG proposals on a case-by-case basis. As a result, it may vote similar proposals differently at various shareholder meetings based on the specific facts and circumstances of such proposal.

MFS generally supports proposals that seek to remove governance structures that insulate management from shareholders (i.e., anti-takeover measures) or that seek to enhance shareholder rights. Many of these governance-related issues, including compensation issues, are outlined within the context of the above guidelines. In addition, MFS typically supports proposals that require an issuer to reimburse successful dissident shareholders (who are not seeking control of the company) for reasonable expenses that such dissident incurred in soliciting an alternative slate of director candidates. MFS also generally supports reasonably crafted shareholder proposals requesting increased disclosure around the company’s use of collateral in derivatives trading. MFS typically


Table of Contents

supports proposals for an independent board chairperson. However, we may not support such proposals if we determine there to be an appropriate and effective counter-balancing leadership structure in place (e.g.; a strong, independent lead director with an appropriate level of powers and duties). For any governance-related proposal for which an explicit guideline is not provided above, MFS will consider such proposals on a case-by-case basis and will support such proposals if MFS believes that it is in the best long-term economic interest of the company’s shareholders.

MFS generally supports proposals that request disclosure on the impact of environmental issues on the company’s operations, sales, and capital investments. However, MFS may not support such proposals based on the facts and circumstances surrounding a specific proposal, including, but not limited to, whether (i) the proposal is unduly costly, restrictive, or burdensome, (ii) the company already provides publicly-available information that is sufficient to enable shareholders to evaluate the potential opportunities and risks that environmental matters pose to the company’s operations, sales and capital investments, or (iii) the proposal seeks a level of disclosure that exceeds that provided by the company’s industry peers. MFS will analyze all other environmental proposals on a case-by-case basis and will support such proposals if MFS believes such proposal is in the best long-term economic interest of the company’s shareholders.

MFS will analyze social proposals on a case-by-case basis. MFS will support such proposals if MFS believes that such proposal is in the best long-term economic interest of the company’s shareholders. Generally, MFS will support shareholder proposals that (i) seek to amend a company’s equal employment opportunity policy to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity; and (ii) request additional disclosure regarding a company’s political contributions (including trade organizations and lobbying activity) (unless the company already provides publicly-available information that is sufficient to enable shareholders to evaluate the potential opportunities and risks that such contributions pose to the company’s operations, sales and capital investments).

The laws of various states or countries may regulate how the interests of certain clients subject to those laws (e.g. state pension plans) are voted with respect to social issues. Thus, it may be necessary to cast ballots differently for certain clients than MFS might normally do for other clients.

Foreign Issuers

MFS generally supports the election of a director nominee standing for re-election in uncontested or non-contentious elections unless it can be determined that (1) he or she failed to attend at least 75% of the board and/or relevant committee meetings in the previous year without a valid reason given in the proxy materials; (2) since the last annual meeting of shareholders and without shareholder


Table of Contents

approval, the board or its compensation committee has re-priced underwater stock options; or (3) since the last annual meeting, the board has either implemented a poison pill without shareholder approval or has not taken responsive action to a majority shareholder approved resolution recommending that the “poison pill” be rescinded. In such circumstances, we will vote against director nominee(s). Also, certain markets outside of the U.S. have adopted best practice guidelines relating to corporate governance matters (e.g. the United Kingdom’s and Japan Corporate Governance Codes). Many of these guidelines operate on a “comply or explain” basis. As such, MFS will evaluate any explanations by companies relating to their compliance with a particular corporate governance guideline on a case-by-case basis and may vote against the board nominees or other relevant ballot item if such explanation is not satisfactory. In some circumstances, MFS may submit a vote to abstain from certain director nominees or the relevant ballot items if we have concerns with the nominee or ballot item, but do not believe these concerns rise to the level where a vote against is warranted.

MFS generally supports the election of auditors, but may determine to vote against the election of a statutory auditor in certain markets if MFS reasonably believes that the statutory auditor is not truly independent.

Some international markets have also adopted mandatory requirements for all companies to hold shareholder votes on executive compensation. MFS will vote against such proposals if MFS determines that a company’s executive compensation practices are excessive, considering such factors as the specific market’s best practices that seek to maintain appropriate pay-for-performance alignment and to create long-term shareholder value. We may alternatively submit an abstention vote on such proposals in circumstances where our executive compensation concerns are not as severe.

Many other items on foreign proxies involve repetitive, non-controversial matters that are mandated by local law. Accordingly, the items that are generally deemed routine and which do not require the exercise of judgment under these guidelines (and therefore voted with management) for foreign issuers include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) receiving financial statements or other reports from the board; (ii) approval of declarations of dividends; (iii) appointment of shareholders to sign board meeting minutes; (iv) discharge of management and supervisory boards; and (v) approval of share repurchase programs (absent any anti-takeover or other concerns). MFS will evaluate all other items on proxies for foreign companies in the context of the guidelines described above, but will generally vote against an item if there is not sufficient information disclosed in order to make an informed voting decision. For any ballot item where MFS wishes to express a more moderate level of concern than a vote of against, we will cast a vote to abstain.


Table of Contents

In accordance with local law or business practices, some foreign companies or custodians prevent the sale of shares that have been voted for a certain period beginning prior to the shareholder meeting and ending on the day following the meeting (“share blocking”). Depending on the country in which a company is domiciled, the blocking period may begin a stated number of days prior or subsequent to the meeting (e.g. one, three or five days) or on a date established by the company. While practices vary, in many countries the block period can be continued for a longer period if the shareholder meeting is adjourned and postponed to a later date. Similarly, practices vary widely as to the ability of a shareholder to have the “block” restriction lifted early (e.g. in some countries shares generally can be “unblocked” up to two days prior to the meeting whereas in other countries the removal of the block appears to be discretionary with the issuer’s transfer agent). Due to these restrictions, MFS must balance the benefits to its clients of voting proxies against the potentially serious portfolio management consequences of a reduced flexibility to sell the underlying shares at the most advantageous time. For companies in countries with share blocking periods or in markets where some custodians may block shares, the disadvantage of being unable to sell the stock regardless of changing conditions generally outweighs the advantages of voting at the shareholder meeting for routine items. Accordingly, MFS will not vote those proxies in the absence of an unusual, significant vote that outweighs the disadvantage of being unable to sell the stock.

From time to time, governments may impose economic sanctions which may prohibit us from transacting business with certain companies or individuals. These sanctions may also prohibit the voting of proxies at certain companies or on certain individuals. In such instances, MFS will not vote at certain companies or on certain individuals if it determines that doing so is in violation of the sanctions.

In limited circumstances, other market specific impediments to voting shares may limit our ability to cast votes, including, but not limited to, late delivery of proxy materials, untimely vote cut-off dates, power of attorney and share re-registration requirements, or any other unusual voting requirements. In these limited instances, MFS votes securities on a best efforts basis in the context of the guidelines described above.

 

B. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

 

  1. MFS Proxy Voting Committee

The administration of these MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures is overseen by the MFS Proxy Voting Committee, which includes senior personnel from the MFS Legal and Global Investment Support Departments. The Proxy Voting Committee does not include individuals whose primary duties relate to client relationship management, marketing, or sales. The MFS Proxy Voting Committee:

 

  a. Reviews these MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures at least annually and recommends any amendments considered to be necessary or advisable;


Table of Contents
  b. Determines whether any potential material conflict of interest exists with respect to instances in which MFS (i) seeks to override these MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures; (ii) votes on ballot items not governed by these MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures; (iii) evaluates an excessive executive compensation issue in relation to the election of directors; or (iv) requests a vote recommendation from an MFS portfolio manager or investment analyst (e.g. mergers and acquisitions); and

 

  c. Considers special proxy issues as they may arise from time to time.

 

  2. Potential Conflicts of Interest

The MFS Proxy Voting Committee is responsible for monitoring potential material conflicts of interest on the part of MFS or its subsidiaries that could arise in connection with the voting of proxies on behalf of MFS’ clients. Due to the client focus of our investment management business, we believe that the potential for actual material conflict of interest issues is small. Nonetheless, we have developed precautions to assure that all proxy votes are cast in the best long-term economic interest of shareholders.1 Other MFS internal policies require all MFS employees to avoid actual and potential conflicts of interests between personal activities and MFS’ client activities. If an employee (including investment professionals) identifies an actual or potential conflict of interest with respect to any voting decision (including the ownership of securities in their individual portfolio), then that employee must recuse himself/herself from participating in the voting process. Any significant attempt by an employee of MFS or its subsidiaries to unduly influence MFS’ voting on a particular proxy matter should also be reported to the MFS Proxy Voting Committee.

In cases where proxies are voted in accordance with these MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures, no material conflict of interest will be deemed to exist. In cases where (i) MFS is considering overriding these MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures, (ii) matters presented for vote are not governed by these MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures, (iii) MFS evaluates a potentially excessive executive compensation issue in relation to the election of directors or advisory pay or severance package vote, or (iv) a vote recommendation is requested from an MFS portfolio manager or investment analyst (e.g. mergers and acquisitions); (collectively, “Non-Standard Votes”); the MFS Proxy Voting Committee will follow these procedures:

 

  a. Compare the name of the issuer of such proxy against a list of significant current (i) distributors of MFS Fund shares, and (ii) MFS institutional clients (the “MFS Significant Distributor and Client List”);

 

1  For clarification purposes, note that MFS votes in what we believe to be the best, long-term economic interest of our clients entitled to vote at the shareholder meeting, regardless of whether other MFS clients hold “short” positions in the same issuer.


Table of Contents
  b. If the name of the issuer does not appear on the MFS Significant Distributor and Client List, then no material conflict of interest will be deemed to exist, and the proxy will be voted as otherwise determined by the MFS Proxy Voting Committee;

 

  c. If the name of the issuer appears on the MFS Significant Distributor and Client List, then the MFS Proxy Voting Committee will be apprised of that fact and each member of the MFS Proxy Voting Committee will carefully evaluate the proposed vote in order to ensure that the proxy ultimately is voted in what MFS believes to be the best long-term economic interests of MFS’ clients, and not in MFS’ corporate interests; and

 

  d. For all potential material conflicts of interest identified under clause (c) above, the MFS Proxy Voting Committee will document: the name of the issuer, the issuer’s relationship to MFS, the analysis of the matters submitted for proxy vote, the votes as to be cast and the reasons why the MFS Proxy Voting Committee determined that the votes were cast in the best long-term economic interests of MFS’ clients, and not in MFS’ corporate interests. A copy of the foregoing documentation will be provided to MFS’ Conflicts Officer.

The members of the MFS Proxy Voting Committee are responsible for creating and maintaining the MFS Significant Distributor and Client List, in consultation with MFS’ distribution and institutional business units. The MFS Significant Distributor and Client List will be reviewed and updated periodically, as appropriate.

For instances where MFS is evaluating a director nominee who also serves as a director of the MFS Funds, then the MFS Proxy Voting Committee will adhere to the procedures described in section (d) above regardless of whether the portfolio company appears on our Significant Distributor and Client List.

If an MFS client has the right to vote on a matter submitted to shareholders by Sun Life Financial, Inc. or any of its affiliates (collectively “Sun Life”), MFS will cast a vote on behalf of such MFS client pursuant to the recommendations of Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc.’s (“ISS”) benchmark policy, or as required by law.


Table of Contents

Except as described in the MFS Fund’s prospectus, from time to time, certain MFS Funds (the “top tier fund”) may own shares of other MFS Funds (the “underlying fund”). If an underlying fund submits a matter to a shareholder vote, the top tier fund will generally vote its shares in the same proportion as the other shareholders of the underlying fund. If there are no other shareholders in the underlying fund, the top tier fund will vote in what MFS believes to be in the top tier fund’s best long-term economic interest. If an MFS client has the right to vote on a matter submitted to shareholders by a pooled investment vehicle advised by MFS, MFS will cast a vote on behalf of such MFS client in the same proportion as the other shareholders of the pooled investment vehicle.

 

  3. Gathering Proxies

Most proxies received by MFS and its clients originate at Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”). Broadridge and other service providers, on behalf of custodians, send proxy related material to the record holders of the shares beneficially owned by MFS’ clients, usually to the client’s proxy voting administrator or, less commonly, to the client itself. This material will include proxy ballots reflecting the shareholdings of Funds and of clients on the record dates for such shareholder meetings, as well as proxy materials with the issuer’s explanation of the items to be voted upon.

MFS, on behalf of itself and certain of its clients (including the MFS Funds) has entered into an agreement with an independent proxy administration firm pursuant to which the proxy administration firm performs various proxy vote related administrative services such as vote processing and recordkeeping functions. Except as noted below, the proxy administration firm for MFS and its clients, including the MFS Funds, is ISS. The proxy administration firm for MFS Development Funds, LLC is Glass, Lewis & Co., Inc. (“Glass Lewis”; Glass Lewis and ISS are each hereinafter referred to as the “Proxy Administrator”).

The Proxy Administrator receives proxy statements and proxy ballots directly or indirectly from various custodians, logs these materials into its database and matches upcoming meetings with MFS Fund and client portfolio holdings, which are input into the Proxy Administrator’s system by an MFS holdings data-feed. Through the use of the Proxy Administrator system, ballots and proxy material summaries for all upcoming shareholders’ meetings are available on-line to certain MFS employees and members of the MFS Proxy Voting Committee.

It is the responsibility of the Proxy Administrator and MFS to monitor the receipt of ballots. When proxy ballots and materials for clients are received by the Proxy Administrator, they are input into the Proxy Administrator’s on-line system. The Proxy Administrator then reconciles a list of all MFS accounts that hold shares of a company’s stock and the number of shares held on the record date by these accounts with the Proxy Administrator’s list of any upcoming shareholder’s meeting of that company. If a proxy ballot has not been received, the Proxy Administrator contacts the custodian requesting the reason as to why a ballot has not been received.


Table of Contents
  4. Analyzing Proxies

Proxies are voted in accordance with these MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures. The Proxy Administrator, at the prior direction of MFS, automatically votes all proxy matters that do not require the particular exercise of discretion or judgment with respect to these MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures as determined by MFS. With respect to proxy matters that require the particular exercise of discretion or judgment, the MFS Proxy Voting Committee or its representatives considers and votes on those proxy matters. MFS also receives research and recommendations from the Proxy Administrator which it may take into account in deciding how to vote. MFS uses the research of Proxy Administrators and/or other 3rd party vendors to identify (i) circumstances in which a board may have approved excessive executive compensation, (ii) environmental and social proposals that warrant further consideration or (iii) circumstances in which a non-U.S. company is not in compliance with local governance or compensation best practices. In those situations where the only MFS fund that is eligible to vote at a shareholder meeting has Glass Lewis as its Proxy Administrator, then we will utilize research from Glass Lewis to identify such issues. MFS analyzes such issues independently and does not necessarily vote with the ISS or Glass Lewis recommendations on these issues. MFS may also use other research tools in order to identify the circumstances described above. Representatives of the MFS Proxy Voting Committee review, as appropriate, votes cast to ensure conformity with these MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures.

As a general matter, portfolio managers and investment analysts have little involvement in most votes taken by MFS. This is designed to promote consistency in the application of MFS’ voting guidelines, to promote consistency in voting on the same or similar issues (for the same or for multiple issuers) across all client accounts, and to minimize the potential that proxy solicitors, issuers, or third parties might attempt to exert inappropriate influence on the vote. For votes that require a case-by-case analysis per the MFS Proxy Policies (e.g. proxy contests, potentially excessive executive compensation issues, or certain shareholder proposals), a representative of MFS Proxy Voting Committee will consult with or seek recommendations from MFS investment analysts and/or portfolio managers.2 However, the MFS Proxy Voting Committee will ultimately determine the manner in which such proxies are voted.

As noted above, MFS reserves the right to override the guidelines when such an override is, in MFS’ best judgment, consistent with the overall principle of voting proxies in the best long-term economic interests of MFS’ clients. Any such override of the guidelines shall be analyzed, documented and reported in accordance with the procedures set forth in these policies.

 

2  From time to time, due to travel schedules and other commitments, an appropriate portfolio manager or research analyst may not be available to provide a vote recommendation. If such a recommendation cannot be obtained within a reasonable time prior to the cut-off date of the shareholder meeting, the MFS Proxy Voting Committee may determine to abstain from voting.


Table of Contents
  5. Voting Proxies

In accordance with its contract with MFS, the Proxy Administrator also generates a variety of reports for the MFS Proxy Voting Committee, and makes available on-line various other types of information so that the MFS Proxy Voting Committee or proxy team may review and monitor the votes cast by the Proxy Administrator on behalf of MFS’ clients.

For those markets that utilize a “record date” to determine which shareholders are eligible to vote, MFS generally will vote all eligible shares pursuant to these guidelines regardless of whether all (or a portion of) the shares held by our clients have been sold prior to the meeting date.

 

  6. Securities Lending

From time to time, the MFS Funds or other pooled investment vehicles sponsored by MFS may participate in a securities lending program. In the event MFS or its agent receives timely notice of a shareholder meeting for a U.S. security, MFS and its agent will attempt to recall any securities on loan before the meeting’s record date so that MFS will be entitled to vote these shares. However, there may be instances in which MFS is unable to timely recall securities on loan for a U.S. security, in which cases MFS will not be able to vote these shares. MFS will report to the appropriate board of the MFS Funds those instances in which MFS is not able to timely recall the loaned securities. MFS generally does not recall non-U.S. securities on loan because there may be insufficient advance notice of proxy materials, record dates, or vote cut-off dates to allow MFS to timely recall the shares in certain markets on an automated basis. As a result, non-U.S. securities that are on loan will not generally be voted. If MFS receives timely notice of what MFS determines to be an unusual, significant vote for a non-U.S. security whereas MFS shares are on loan, and determines that voting is in the best long-term economic interest of shareholders, then MFS will attempt to timely recall the loaned shares.

 

  7. Engagement

The MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures are available on www.mfs.com and may be accessed by both MFS’ clients and the companies in which MFS’ clients invest. From time to time, MFS may determine that it is appropriate and beneficial for representatives from the MFS Proxy Voting Committee to engage in a dialogue or written communication with a company or other shareholders regarding certain matters on the company’s proxy statement that are of concern to shareholders, including environmental, social and governance matters. A company or shareholder may also seek to engage with representatives


Table of Contents

of the MFS Proxy Voting Committee in advance of the company’s formal proxy solicitation to review issues more generally or gauge support for certain contemplated proposals. For further information on requesting engagement with MFS on proxy voting issues, please visit www.mfs.com and refer to our most recent Annual Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Report for contact information.

 

C. RECORDS RETENTION

MFS will retain copies of these MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures in effect from time to time and will retain all proxy voting reports submitted to the Board of Trustees of the MFS Funds for the period required by applicable law. Proxy solicitation materials, including electronic versions of the proxy ballots completed by representatives of the MFS Proxy Voting Committee, together with their respective notes and comments, are maintained in an electronic format by the Proxy Administrator and are accessible on-line by the MFS Proxy Voting Committee. All proxy voting materials and supporting documentation, including records generated by the Proxy Administrator’s system as to proxies processed, including the dates when proxy ballots were received and submitted, and the votes on each company’s proxy issues, are retained as required by applicable law.

 

D. REPORTS

U.S. Registered MFS Funds

MFS publicly discloses the proxy voting records of the U.S. registered MFS Funds on a quarterly basis. MFS will also report the results of its voting to the Board of Trustees of the U.S. registered MFS Funds. These reports will include: (i) a summary of how votes were cast (including advisory votes on pay and “golden parachutes”) ; (ii) a summary of votes against management’s recommendation; (iii) a review of situations where MFS did not vote in accordance with the guidelines and the rationale therefore; (iv) a review of the procedures used by MFS to identify material conflicts of interest and any matters identified as a material conflict of interest; (v) a review of these policies and the guidelines; (vi) a review of our proxy engagement activity; (vii) a report and impact assessment of instances in which the recall of loaned securities of a U.S. issuer was unsuccessful; and (viii) as necessary or appropriate, any proposed modifications thereto to reflect new developments in corporate governance and other issues. Based on these reviews, the Trustees of the U.S. registered MFS Funds will consider possible modifications to these policies to the extent necessary or advisable.


Table of Contents

Other MFS Clients

MFS may publicly disclose the proxy voting records of certain other clients (including certain MFS Funds) or the votes it casts with respect to certain matters as required by law. A report can also be printed by MFS for each client who has requested that MFS furnish a record of votes cast. The report specifies the proxy issues which have been voted for the client during the year and the position taken with respect to each issue and, upon request, may identify situations where MFS did not vote in accordance with the MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures.

Except as described above, MFS generally will not divulge actual voting practices to any party other than the client or its representatives because we consider that information to be confidential and proprietary to the client. However, as noted above, MFS may determine that it is appropriate and beneficial to engage in a dialogue with a company regarding certain matters. During such dialogue with the company, MFS may disclose the vote it intends to cast in order to potentially effect positive change at a company in regards to environmental, social or governance issues.

 

ITEM 8. PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

Portfolio Manager(s)

Information regarding the portfolio manager(s) of the MFS California Municipal Fund (the “Fund”) is set forth below. Each portfolio manager is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.

 

Portfolio Manager

  

Primary Role

  

Since

  

Title and Five Year History

Michael Dawson    Portfolio Manager    2007    Investment Officer of MFS; employed in the investment area of MFS since 1998.
Geoffrey Schechter    Portfolio Manager    2007    Investment Officer of MFS; employed in the investment area of MFS since 1993.

Compensation

Portfolio manager compensation is reviewed annually. As of December 31, 2016, portfolio manager total cash compensation is a combination of base salary and performance bonus:

Base Salary – Base salary represents a smaller percentage of portfolio manager total cash compensation than performance bonus.

Performance Bonus – Generally, the performance bonus represents more than a majority of portfolio manager total cash compensation.

The performance bonus is based on a combination of quantitative and qualitative factors, generally with more weight given to the former and less weight given to the latter.

The quantitative portion is primarily based on the pre-tax performance of assets managed by the portfolio manager over three- and five-year periods relative to peer group universes and/or indices (“benchmarks”). As of December 31, 2016, the following benchmarks were used to measure the following portfolio manager’s performance for the Fund:

 

Fund

  

Portfolio Manager

  

Benchmark(s)

MFS California Municipal Fund

   Michael Dawson    Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index
   Geoffrey Schechter    Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index


Table of Contents

Additional or different benchmarks, including versions and components of indices, custom indices, and linked indices that combine performance of different indices for different portions of the time period, may also be used. Consideration is primarily given to portfolio performance over three and five years with consideration given to other periods, if available. For portfolio managers who have served for more than five years, additional, longer-term performance periods, including the ten-year and since inception periods, are also considered. For portfolio managers who have served for less than three years, additional, shorter-term performance periods, including the one-year period, may also be considered. Emphasis is generally placed on longer performance periods when multiple performance periods are available.

The qualitative portion is based on the results of an annual internal peer review process (conducted by other portfolio managers, analysts, and traders) and management’s assessment of overall portfolio manager contributions to investor relations and the investment process (distinct from fund and other account performance). This performance bonus may be in the form of cash and/or a deferred cash award, at the discretion of management. A deferred cash award is issued for a cash value and becomes payable over a three-year vesting period if the portfolio manager remains in the continuous employ of MFS or its affiliates. During the vesting period, the value of the unfunded deferred cash award will fluctuate as though the portfolio manager had invested the cash value of the award in an MFS Fund(s) selected by the portfolio manager. A selected fund may be, but is not required to be, a fund that is managed by the portfolio manager.

Portfolio managers also typically benefit from the opportunity to participate in the MFS Equity Plan. Equity interests are awarded by management, on a discretionary basis, taking into account tenure at MFS, contribution to the investment process, and other factors.

Finally, portfolio managers also participate in benefit plans (including a defined contribution plan and health and other insurance plans) and programs available generally to other employees of MFS. The percentage such benefits represent of any portfolio manager’s compensation depends upon the length of the individual’s tenure at MFS and salary level, as well as other factors.

Ownership of Fund Shares

The following table shows the dollar range of equity securities of the Fund beneficially owned by the Fund’s portfolio manager(s) as of the Fund’s fiscal year ended November 30, 2017. The following dollar ranges apply:

N. None

A. $1 – $10,000

B. $10,001 – $50,000

C. $50,001 – $100,000

D. $100,001 – $500,000

E. $500,001 – $1,000,000

F. Over $1,000,000

 

Name of Portfolio Manager

  

Dollar Range of Equity Securities in Fund

Michael Dawson    N
Geoffrey Schechter    N


Table of Contents

Other Accounts

In addition to the Fund, each portfolio manager of the Fund is named as a portfolio manager of certain other accounts managed or subadvised by MFS or an affiliate. The number and assets of these accounts were as follows as of the Fund’s fiscal year ended November 30, 2017:

 

     Registered Investment
Companies*
     Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
     Other Accounts  

Name

   Number of
Accounts
     Total Assets      Number of
Accounts
     Total Assets      Number of
Accounts
     Total Assets  

Michael Dawson

     17      $ 2.9 billion        0        N/A        0        N/A  

Geoffrey Schechter

     15      $ 18.9 billion        3      $ 650.4 million        0        N/A  

 

* Includes the Fund.

Advisory fees are not based upon performance of any of the accounts identified in the table above.

Potential Conflicts of Interest

MFS seeks to identify potential conflicts of interest resulting from a portfolio manager’s management of both the Fund and other accounts, and has adopted policies and procedures designed to address such potential conflicts.

The management of multiple funds and accounts (including proprietary accounts) gives rise to conflicts of interest if the funds and accounts have different objectives and strategies, benchmarks, time horizons and fees as a portfolio manager must allocate his or her time and investment ideas across multiple funds and accounts. In certain instances, there are securities which are suitable for the Fund’s portfolio as well as for accounts of MFS or its subsidiaries with similar investment objectives. The Fund’s trade allocation policies may give rise to conflicts of interest if the Fund’s orders do not get fully executed or are delayed in getting executed due to being aggregated with those of other accounts of MFS or its subsidiaries. A portfolio manager may execute transactions for another fund or account that may adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments. Investments selected for funds or accounts other than the Fund may outperform investments selected for the Fund.

When two or more clients are simultaneously engaged in the purchase or sale of the same security, the securities are allocated among clients in a manner believed by MFS to be fair and equitable to each. Allocations may be based on many factors and may not always be pro rata based on assets managed. The allocation methodology could have a detrimental effect on the price or volume of the security as far as the Fund is concerned.

MFS and/or a portfolio manager may have a financial incentive to allocate favorable or limited opportunity investments or structure the timing of investments to favor accounts other than the Fund, for instance, those that pay a higher advisory fee and/or have a performance adjustment and/or include an investment by the portfolio manager.


Table of Contents
ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.

MFS California Municipal Fund

 

Period

   (a)
Total number
of Shares
Purchased
     (b)
Average
Price
Paid per
Share
     (c)
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced
Plans or
Programs
     (d)
Maximum
Number (or
Approximate
Dollar Value) of
Shares that May
Yet Be Purchased
under the Plans
or Programs
 

12/01/16-12/31/16

     0        N/A        0        278,626  

 1/01/17-1/31/17

     0        N/A        0        278,626  

 2/01/17-2/28/17

     0        N/A        0        278,626  

 3/01/17-3/31/17

     0        N/A        0        278,626  

 4/01/17-4/30/17

     0        N/A        0        278,626  

 5/01/17-5/31/17

     0        N/A        0        278,626  

 6/01/17-6/30/17

     0        N/A        0        278,626  

 7/01/17-7/31/17

     0        N/A        0        278,626  

 8/01/17-8/31/17

     0        N/A        0        278,626  

 9/1/17-9/30/17

     0        N/A        0        278,626  

10/1/17-10/31/17

     0        N/A        0        278,627  

11/1/17-11/30/17

     0        N/A        0        278,627  
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

Total

     0           0     
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

Note: The Board approved procedures to repurchase shares and reviews the results periodically. The notification to shareholders of the program is part of the semi-annual and annual reports sent to shareholders. These annual programs begin on October 1st of each year. The programs conform to the conditions of Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and limit the aggregate number of shares that may be purchased in each annual period (October 1 through the following September 30) to 10% of the Registrant’s outstanding shares as of the first day of the plan year (October 1). The aggregate number of shares available for purchase for the October 1, 2017 plan year is 278,627.

 

ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

There were no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may send recommendations to the Board for nominees to the Registrant’s Board since the Registrant last provided disclosure as to such procedures in response to the requirements of Item 407 (c)(2)(iv) of Regulation S-K or this Item.


Table of Contents
ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

 

(a) Based upon their evaluation of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Act”)) as conducted within 90 days of the filing date of this Form N-CSR, the registrant’s principal financial officer and principal executive officer have concluded that those disclosure controls and procedures provide reasonable assurance that the material information required to be disclosed by the registrant on this report is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.

 

(b) There were no changes in the registrant’s internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Act) that occurred during the second fiscal quarter covered by the report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.


Table of Contents
ITEM 12. DISCLOSURE OF SECURITIES LENDING ACTIVITIES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2017, there were no fees or income related to securities lending activities of the Registrant.


Table of Contents
ITEM 13. EXHIBITS.

 

(a) File the exhibits listed below as part of this form. Letter or number the exhibits in the sequence indicated.

 

  (1) Any code of ethics, or amendment thereto, that is the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2, to the extent that the registrant intends to satisfy the Item 2 requirements through filing of an exhibit: Code of Ethics attached hereto.

 

  (2) A separate certification for each principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2): Attached hereto.

 

  (3) Any written solicitation to purchase securities under Rule 23c-1 under the Act sent or given during the period covered by the report by or on behalf of the Registrant to 10 or more persons. Not applicable.

 

(b) If the report is filed under Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, provide the certifications required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(b)), Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13a-14(b) or 240.15d-14(b)) and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code (18 U.S.C. 1350) as an exhibit. A certification furnished pursuant to this paragraph will not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78r), or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Such certification will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the registrant specifically incorporates it by reference: Attached hereto.


Table of Contents

Notice

A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended, of the Registrant is on file with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and notice is hereby given that this instrument is executed on behalf of the Registrant by an officer of the Registrant as an officer and not individually and the obligations of or arising out of this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees or shareholders individually, but are binding only upon the assets and property of the respective constituent series of the Registrant.


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Registrant: MFS CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL FUND

 

By (Signature and Title)*    DAVID L. DILORENZO
  David L. DiLorenzo, President

Date: January 16, 2018

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By (Signature and Title)*    DAVID L. DILORENZO
  David L. DiLorenzo, President (Principal Executive Officer)

Date: January 16, 2018

 

By (Signature and Title)*    JAMES O. YOST
  James O. Yost, Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer and Accounting Officer)

Date: January 16, 2018

 

* Print name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.