N-CSRS 1 d737644dncsrs.htm MFS SERIES TRUST XV N-CSRS MFS SERIES TRUST XV N-CSRS
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF

REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number 811-04253

MFS SERIES TRUST XV

(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: October 31

Date of reporting period: April 30, 2019


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ITEM 1.

REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS.


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Semiannual Report

April 30, 2019

 

LOGO

 

     MFS® Commodity Strategy Fund

 

LOGO

 

Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the fund’s annual and semiannual shareholder reports will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the complete reports will be made available on the fund’s Web site (funds.mfs.com), and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a Web site link to access the report.

If you are already signed up to receive shareholder reports by email, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may sign up to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the fund by email by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank) or, if you hold your shares directly with the fund, by calling 1-800-225-2606 or by logging on to MFS Access at mfs.com.

Beginning on January 1, 2019, you may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. Contact your financial intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports. If you invest directly with the fund, you can call 1-800-225-2606 or send an email request to orderliterature@mfs.com to let the fund know that you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all funds held in your account if you invest through your financial intermediary or all funds held with the MFS fund complex if you invest directly.

 

CMS-SEM

 


Table of Contents

MFS® Commodity Strategy Fund

 

CONTENTS

 

Letter from the Executive Chairman     1  
Portfolio composition     2  
Expense table     4  
Consolidated portfolio of investments     6  
Consolidated statement of assets and liabilities     22  
Consolidated statement of operations     24  
Consolidated statements of changes in net assets     25  
Consolidated financial highlights     26  
Notes to consolidated financial statements     33  
Proxy voting policies and information     49  
Quarterly portfolio disclosure     49  
Further information     49  
Information about fund contracts and legal claims     49  
Provision of financial reports and summary prospectuses     49  
Contact information    back cover

 

 

 

The report is prepared for the general information of shareholders.

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

 

NOT FDIC INSURED MAY LOSE VALUE NO BANK GUARANTEE



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LOGO

 

LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN

 

Dear Shareholders:

Markets experienced a bout of volatility in late 2018 as a result of higher interest rates, international trade friction, and geopolitical uncertainty surrounding issues such as

Brexit. Those concerns dissipated in the early months of 2019 due to the more dovish posture of the U.S. Federal Reserve and other global central banks, reported progress toward a trade pact between the United States and China, and action against a no-deal Brexit by the British Parliament. However, a last-minute breakdown in negotiations between the U.S. and China derailed the market’s momentum and increased concerns over the future pace of global growth. Compounding Brexit uncertainty was the resignation of British Prime Minister Theresa May, potentially ushering in a harder form of Brexit than she had advocated. U.S. equities have continued to outperform their global peers due in

part to fiscal stimulus undertaken in late 2017 and early 2018, which contributed to the continuation of relatively healthy levels of U.S. economic output against a backdrop of slower global growth. Inflation remains largely subdued globally, which is encouraging for asset markets. Rising incomes in many developed and emerging markets are supportive of gains in consumption, though a challenging environment for global trade has hindered manufacturing in most regions.

Since launching the first U.S. open-end mutual fund in 1924, MFS® has been committed to a single purpose: to create value by allocating capital responsibly for clients. Through our powerful global investment platform, we combine collective expertise, thoughtful risk management, and long-term discipline to uncover what we believe are the best investment opportunities in the market.

Respectfully,

 

LOGO

Robert J. Manning

Executive Chairman

MFS Investment Management

June 17, 2019

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

 

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PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION

 

Portfolio structure (c)(i)

 

LOGO

 

Fixed income sectors (i)

 

Investment Grade Corporates     33.0%  
U.S. Treasury Securities     28.2%  
Collateralized Debt Obligations     8.7%  
Asset-Backed Securities     8.3%  
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities     5.0%  
Emerging Markets Bonds     2.5%  
Non-U.S. Government Bonds     1.5%  
Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities     1.0%  
Mortgage-Backed Securities     0.5%  
Municipal Bonds     0.4%  
U.S. Government Agencies     0.1%  
Composition including fixed income credit quality (a)(i)

 

AAA     8.4%  
AA     12.4%  
A     13.6%  
BBB     23.2%  
U.S. Government     25.0%  
Federal Agencies     0.6%  
Not Rated     6.0%  
Non-Fixed Income     98.7%  
Cash & Cash Equivalents     14.1%  
Other     (102.0)%  
Commodity exposure (c)(i)  

 

LOGO

 

 

2


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Portfolio Composition – continued

 

(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. U.S. Government includes securities issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Federal Agencies includes rated and unrated U.S. Agency fixed-income securities, U.S. Agency mortgage-backed securities, and collateralized mortgage obligations of U.S. Agency mortgage-backed securities. Not Rated includes fixed income securities and fixed income derivatives, which have not been rated by any rating agency. Non-Fixed Income includes equity securities (including convertible bonds and equity derivatives) and/or commodity-linked derivatives. The fund may or may not have held all of these instruments on this date. The fund is not rated by these agencies.

(c)

MFS expects to gain exposure to the commodities markets by investing a portion of the fund’s assets in the MFS Commodity Strategy Portfolio, a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary organized in the Cayman Islands (“Subsidiary”). The Subsidiary gains exposure to the commodities markets by investing in commodity linked derivatives (such as commodity-linked futures, options, and/or swaps). The Subsidiary’s investments in commodity-linked derivatives are leveraged (i.e. involves investment exposure greater than the amount of the investment). For more information about commodity-linked derivatives and the risks of investing in such derivatives, please see the fund’s prospectus.

(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.

The fund invests a portion of its assets in the MFS Commodity Strategy Portfolio, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the fund. Percentages reflect exposure to the underlying holdings of the MFS Commodity Strategy Portfolio and not to the exposure from investing directly in the MFS Commodity Strategy Portfolio itself.

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.

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

Percentages are based on net assets as of April 30, 2019.

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

 

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EXPENSE TABLE

Fund expenses borne by the shareholders during the period, November 1, 2018 through April 30, 2019

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

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period November 1, 2018 through April 30, 2019.

Actual Expenses

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

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

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

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

 

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Table of Contents

Expense Table – continued

 

Share
Class
       Annualized
Expense
Ratio
    Beginning
Account Value
11/01/18
    Ending
Account Value
4/30/19
    Expenses
Paid During
Period (p)
11/01/18-4/30/19
 
A   Actual     1.08%       $1,000.00       $990.42       $5.33  
  Hypothetical (h)     1.08%       $1,000.00       $1,019.44       $5.41  
B   Actual     1.83%       $1,000.00       $986.92       $9.02  
  Hypothetical (h)     1.83%       $1,000.00       $1,015.72       $9.15  
C   Actual     1.83%       $1,000.00       $986.82       $9.01  
  Hypothetical (h)     1.83%       $1,000.00       $1,015.72       $9.15  
I   Actual     0.83%       $1,000.00       $992.63       $4.10  
  Hypothetical (h)     0.83%       $1,000.00       $1,020.68       $4.16  
R1   Actual     1.83%       $1,000.00       $986.82       $9.01  
  Hypothetical (h)     1.83%       $1,000.00       $1,015.72       $9.15  
R2   Actual     1.33%       $1,000.00       $988.82       $6.56  
  Hypothetical (h)     1.33%       $1,000.00       $1,018.20       $6.66  
R3   Actual     1.08%       $1,000.00       $991.66       $5.33  
  Hypothetical (h)     1.08%       $1,000.00       $1,019.44       $5.41  
R4   Actual     0.83%       $1,000.00       $992.63       $4.10  
  Hypothetical (h)     0.83%       $1,000.00       $1,020.68       $4.16  
R6   Actual     0.83%       $1,000.00       $992.60       $4.10  
  Hypothetical (h)     0.83%       $1,000.00       $1,020.68       $4.16  

 

(h)

5% class return per year before expenses.

(p)

“Expenses Paid During Period” are equal to each class’s annualized expense ratio, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). Expenses paid do not include any applicable sales charges (loads). If these transaction costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.

 

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CONSOLIDATED PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

4/30/19 (unaudited)

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

 

Bonds - 85.6%                 
Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Asset-Backed & Securitized - 22.9%                 
A Voce CLO Ltd., 2014-1A, “A2R”, FLR, 4.147% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 1.55%), 7/15/2026 (n)    $ 1,167,000     $ 1,165,813  
A Voce CLO Ltd., 2014-1A, “BR”, FLR, 4.747% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 2.15%), 7/15/2026 (n)      1,518,000       1,514,931  
AIMCO Properties CLO LP, 2014-AA, “B1R”, FLR, 4.191% (LIBOR -3mo. + 1.6%), 7/20/2026 (n)      1,183,000       1,183,904  
AIMCO Properties CLO LP, 2014-AA, “B2R”, 3.49%, 7/20/2026 (n)      376,000       372,129  
Allegro CLO Ltd., 2014-1RA, “A2”, FLR, 4.191% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 1.6%), 10/21/2028 (n)      252,269       249,681  
ALM Loan Funding CLO, 2015-12A, “A2A2”, FLR, 3.951% (LIBOR -3mo. + 1.35%), 4/16/2027 (n)      2,726,878       2,690,585  
ALM Loan Funding CLO, 2015-16A, “BR2”, FLR, 4.497% (LIBOR -3mo. + 1.9%), 7/15/2027 (n)      1,497,569       1,484,073  
Americredit Automobile Receivables Trust, 2017-2, “C”, 2.97%, 3/20/2023      1,265,000       1,269,321  
Avery Point CLO Ltd., 2014-1A, “CR”, FLR, 4.93% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 2.35%), 4/25/2026 (n)      1,150,000       1,150,881  
Avis Budget Rental Car Funding LLC, 2019-1A, “A”, 3.45%, 3/20/2023 (n)      2,690,000       2,722,720  
Ballyrock Ltd., CLO, 2018-1A, “A2”, FLR, 4.191% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 1.6%), 4/20/2031 (n)      1,368,365       1,340,314  
Ballyrock Ltd., CLO, 2018-1A, “B”, FLR, 4.491% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 1.9%), 4/20/2031 (n)      579,877       554,717  
Bancorp Commercial Mortgage Trust, 2018-CR3, “B”, FLR, 4.022% (LIBOR - 1mo. + 1.55%), 1/15/2033 (n)      1,177,240       1,180,442  
Bancorp Commercial Mortgage Trust, 2018-CRE4, “AS”, FLR, 3.573% (LIBOR - 1mo. + 1.1%), 9/15/2035 (n)      1,512,000       1,504,590  
Bancorp Commercial Mortgage Trust, 2019-CRE5, “AS”, FLR, 3.822% (LIBOR - 1mo. + 1.35%), 3/15/2036 (n)      1,181,173       1,181,542  
Bancorp Commercial Mortgage Trust, 2019-CRE5, “B”, FLR, 3.972% (LIBOR - 1mo. + 1.5%), 3/15/2036 (n)      1,635,470       1,635,470  
Barclays Commercial Mortgage Securities LLC, 2018-C2, “XA”, 0.938%, 12/15/2051 (i)(z)      19,666,350       1,190,044  
BSPRT, 2018-FL4 Issuer Ltd., FLR, 4.572% (LIBOR - 1mo. + 2.1%), 9/15/2035 (n)      1,813,000       1,816,385  
Business Jet Securities LLC, 2018-1, “A”, 4.335%, 2/15/2033 (n)      1,460,092       1,471,126  
BXMT Ltd., 2017-FL1 “A”, FLR, 3.343% (LIBOR - 1mo. + 0.87%), 6/15/2035 (n)      1,415,000       1,412,360  

 

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Table of Contents

Consolidated Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Asset-Backed & Securitized - continued                 
Caravana Auto Receivables Trust, 2019-1A, “B”, 3.29%, 8/15/2023 (n)    $ 2,715,000     $ 2,727,473  
CD Commercial Mortgage Trust, 2017-CD4, “XA”, 1.471%, 5/10/2050 (i)      12,036,863       900,360  
Chesapeake Funding II LLC, 2016-1A, “A2”, FLR, 3.622% (LIBOR -1mo. + 1.15%), 3/15/2028 (n)      128,471       128,619  
Chesapeake Funding II LLC, 2017-2A, “B”, 2.81%, 5/15/2029 (n)      832,000       830,214  
Chesapeake Funding II LLC, 2017-2A, “C”, 3.01%, 5/15/2029 (n)      372,000       370,888  
Chesapeake Funding II LLC, 2017-3A, “B”, 2.57%, 8/15/2029 (n)      536,000       532,890  
Chesapeake Funding II LLC, 2017-4A, “B”, 2.59%, 11/15/2029 (n)      578,000       572,323  
Chesapeake Funding II LLC, 2017-4A, “C”, 2.76%, 11/15/2029 (n)      709,000       701,405  
CNH Equipment Trust, 2016-C, “A4”, 1.76%, 9/15/2023      1,855,638       1,833,224  
Colony Starwood Homes, 2016-2A, “A”, FLR, 3.722% (LIBOR - 1mo. + 1.25%), 12/17/2033 (n)      870,615       870,613  
CPS Auto Trust, 2016-D, “B”, 2.11%, 3/15/2021 (n)      685,269       684,498  
CPS Auto Trust, 2017-C, “C”, 2.86%, 6/15/2023 (n)      820,000       818,790  
Credit Acceptance Auto Loan Trust, 2016-3A, “A”, 2.15%, 4/15/2024 (n)      546,852       545,947  
Credit Acceptance Auto Loan Trust, 2017-2A, “B”, 3.02%, 4/15/2026 (n)      1,822,000       1,816,626  
Cutwater CLO Ltd., 2015-1A, “AR”, FLR, 3.816% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 1.22%), 1/15/2029 (n)      2,261,829       2,256,880  
Cutwater Ltd., 2014-1A, “A2R”, FLR, 4.296% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 1.7%), 7/15/2026 (n)      2,250,000       2,247,709  
Dell Equipment Finance Trust, 2017-2, “B”, 2.47%, 10/24/2022 (n)      510,000       508,142  
Dell Equipment Finance Trust, 2018-2, “B”, 3.55%, 10/22/2023 (n)      1,616,000       1,639,577  
DLL Securitization Trust, 2017-A, “A3”, 2.14%, 12/15/2021 (n)      555,000       551,880  
DT Auto Owner Trust, 2017-1A, “D”, 3.55%, 11/15/2022 (n)      905,000       907,864  
DT Auto Owner Trust, 2017-2A, “C”, 3.03%, 1/17/2023 (n)      998,805       999,024  
DT Auto Owner Trust, 2017-2A, “D”, 3.89%, 1/15/2023 (n)      1,290,000       1,296,926  
DT Auto Owner Trust, 2017-3A, “C”, 3.01%, 5/15/2023 (n)      901,000       901,176  
DT Auto Owner Trust, 2018-2A, “C”, 3.67%, 3/15/2024 (n)      576,000       580,785  
Enterprise Fleet Financing LLC, 1.74%, 2/22/2022 (n)      111,483       111,271  
Exantas Capital Corp. CLO Ltd., 2019-RS07, “B”, FLR, 4.199% (LIBOR - 1mo. + 1.7%), 4/15/2036 (z)      1,788,500       1,790,744  
Exeter Automobile Receivables Trust, 2018-1A, “B”, 2.75%, 4/15/2022 (n)      1,385,000       1,383,543  
Exeter Automobile Receivables Trust, 2018-2A, “C”, 3.69%, 3/15/2023 (n)      1,825,000       1,838,703  
Figueroa CLO Ltd., 2014-1A, “BR”, FLR, 4.096% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 1.5%), 1/15/2027 (n)      2,050,000       2,043,801  
Flagship CLO, 2014-8A, “BRR”, FLR, 4.001% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 1.4%), 1/16/2026 (z)      1,598,837       1,587,442  

 

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Consolidated Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Asset-Backed & Securitized - continued                 
Flagship Credit Auto Trust, 2016-1, “A”, 2.77%, 12/15/2020 (n)    $ 1,301     $ 1,301  
Ford Credit Auto Owner Trust, 2014-2, “A”, 2.31%, 4/15/2026 (n)      1,602,000       1,598,344  
Fort Cre LLC, 2018-1A, “A1”, FLR, 3.837% (LIBOR - 1mo. + 1.35%), 11/21/2035 (n)      1,471,500       1,471,497  
Freedom Financial, 2019-1, “A”, 3.42%, 6/18/2026 (z)      759,000       759,217  
GMF Floorplan Owner Revolving Trust, 2017-A1, “A”, 2.22%, 1/18/2022 (n)      1,010,000       1,006,508  
Granite Point Mortgage Trust, Inc., FLR, 3.387% (LIBOR - 1mo. + 0.9%), 11/21/2035 (n)      2,152,704       2,153,378  
GS Mortgage Securities Trust, 4.592%, 8/10/2043 (n)      2,104,000       2,130,263  
GS Mortgage Securities Trust, 2017-GS6, “XA”, 1.046%, 5/10/2050 (i)      10,970,881       765,294  
GS Mortgage Securities Trust, 2017-GS7, “XA”, 1.134%, 8/10/2050 (i)      11,420,030       814,011  
Hertz Fleet Lease Funding LP, 2016-1, “A2”, 1.96%, 4/10/2030 (n)      203,167       202,966  
Hertz Fleet Lease Funding LP, 2017-1, “A2”, 2.13%, 4/10/2031 (n)      1,610,591       1,605,592  
Hertz Fleet Lease Funding LP, 2018-1, “B”, 3.64%, 5/10/2032 (n)      862,000       868,651  
Hertz Fleet Lease Funding LP, 2018-1, “C”, 3.77%, 5/10/2032 (n)      495,000       498,772  
Invitation Homes Trust, 2018-SFR1, “B”, FLR, 3.423% (LIBOR - 1mo. + 0.95%), 3/17/2037 (n)      953,000       945,812  
Invitation Homes Trust, 2018-SFR2, “A”, FLR, 3.323% (LIBOR - 1mo. + 0.85%), 12/17/2036 (n)      1,683,753       1,672,373  
JPMorgan Chase & Co., 4.717%, 2/15/2046 (n)      1,791,104       1,838,772  
JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Corp., 1.228%, 9/15/2050 (i)      13,042,618       835,686  
KKR Real Estate Financial Trust, Inc. Ltd., 2018-FL1, “C”, FLR, 4.472% (LIBOR - 1mo. + 2%), 6/15/2036 (n)      1,177,500       1,186,126  
LoanCore Ltd., 2018-CRE1, “AS”, FLR, 3.972% (LIBOR - 1mo. + 1.5%), 5/15/2028 (n)      1,731,000       1,730,996  
LoanCore Ltd., 2018-CRE1, “C”, FLR, 5.022% (LIBOR - 1mo. + 2.55%), 5/15/2028 (n)      577,000       579,162  
Loomis, Sayles & Co., CLO, “A2”, FLR, 3.996% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 1.4%), 4/15/2028 (n)      2,652,449       2,632,190  
Loomis, Sayles & Co., CLO, 2015-2A, “A1R”, FLR, 3.496% (LIBOR -3mo. + 0.9%), 4/15/2028 (n)      1,283,932       1,273,070  
Madison Park Funding Ltd., 2014-13A, “BR2”, FLR, 4.091% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 1.5%), 4/19/2030 (n)      2,174,539       2,153,861  
Magnetite CLO Ltd., 2015-16A, “BR”, FLR, 3.8% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 1.2%), 1/18/2028 (n)      2,590,000       2,555,480  
Magnetite XI Ltd., 2014-11A, “BR”, FLR, 4.7% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 2.1%), 1/18/2027 (n)      805,000       803,717  
Man GLG U.S. CLO 2018-2 Ltd., 2018-2A, “BR”, FLR, 5.046% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 2.45%), 10/15/2028      2,019,578       2,013,441  

 

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Table of Contents

Consolidated Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Asset-Backed & Securitized - continued                 
Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust, 2017-C33, “XA”, 1.431%, 5/15/2050 (i)    $ 11,917,635     $ 884,909  
Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, 2017-H1, “XA”, 1.443%, 6/15/2050 (i)      4,676,343       367,519  
Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, 2018-H4, “XA”, 0.867%, 12/15/2051 (i)      16,471,411       1,082,122  
Mountain Hawk CLO Ltd., 2013-2A, “BR”, FLR, 4.191% (LIBOR -3mo. + 1.6%), 7/20/2024 (n)      1,809,670       1,809,686  
Mountain Hawk CLO Ltd., 2014-3A, “BR”, FLR, 4.4% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 1.8%), 4/18/2025 (n)      2,325,000       2,323,872  
Nationstar HECM Loan Trust, 2018-1A, “M1”, 3.238%, 2/25/2028 (n)      1,027,000       1,026,148  
Nationstar HECM Loan Trust, 2018-2A, “M1”, 3.551%, 7/25/2028 (n)      1,072,000       1,069,840  
Nationstar HECM Loan Trust, 2018-3, “A”, 3.554%, 11/25/2028 (n)      1,467,234       1,462,710  
Navistar Financial Dealer Note Master Owner Trust II, 2018-1, “B”, FLR, 3.276% (LIBOR - 1mo. + 0.8%), 9/25/2023 (n)      302,000       302,497  
Navistar Financial Dealer Note Master Owner Trust II, 2018-1, “C”, FLR, 3.526% (LIBOR - 1mo. + 1.05%), 9/25/2023 (n)      340,000       340,842  
Neuberger Berman CLO Ltd., 2015-20A, “BR”, 3.846%, 1/15/2028 (z)      2,729,000       2,664,085  
Neuberger Berman CLO Ltd., 2016-21A, “CR”, FLR, 4.191% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 1.6%), 4/20/2027 (n)      1,515,565       1,462,113  
NextGear Floorplan Master Owner Trust, 2017-1A, “A2”, 2.54%, 4/18/2022 (n)      938,000       935,309  
NextGear Floorplan Master Owner Trust, 2017-2A, “B”, 3.02%, 10/17/2022 (n)      766,000       765,230  
Oaktree CLO Ltd., 2014-2A, “BR”, FLR, 5.141% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 2.55%), 10/20/2026 (n)      1,149,000       1,147,965  
OCP CLO Ltd., 2015-10A, “A2R”, FLR, 3.886% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 1.3%), 10/26/2027 (z)      2,211,957       2,188,039  
OneMain Financial Issuance Trust, 2017-1A, “A1”, 2.37%, 9/14/2032 (n)      1,525,000       1,514,654  
Oscar U.S. Funding Trust, 2017-1A, “A3”, 2.82%, 6/10/2021 (n)      1,048,217       1,047,424  
Oscar U.S. Funding Trust, 2017-2A, “A2B”, FLR, 3.131% (LIBOR -1mo. + 0.65%), 11/10/2020 (n)      232,046       232,119  
Oscar U.S. Funding Trust, 2018-2A, “A3”, 3.39%, 9/12/2022 (n)      820,000       825,498  
PFS Financing Corp., 2017-C, “A”, FLR, 2.942% (LIBOR - 1mo. + 0.47%), 10/15/2021 (n)      670,000       669,401  
Santander Drive Auto Receivables Trust, 2017-2, “C”, 2.79%, 8/15/2022      769,000       768,397  
Santander Drive Auto Receivables Trust, 2018-1, “B”, 2.63%, 7/15/2022      1,246,000       1,244,944  

 

9


Table of Contents

Consolidated Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Asset-Backed & Securitized - continued                 
Santander Retail Auto Lease Trust, 2017-A, “B”, 2.68%, 1/20/2022 (n)    $ 866,000     $ 864,261  
Shackelton Ltd., CLO, 2013-4RA, “B”, FLR, 4.496% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 1.9%), 4/13/2031 (n)      722,762       699,833  
Shelter Growth CRE, 2018-FL1, “A”, FLR, 3.472% (LIBOR - 1mo. + 1%), 1/15/2035 (z)      510,562       511,038  
Sierra Receivables Funding Co. LLC, 2015-1A, “A”, 2.4%, 3/22/2032 (n)      186,618       185,973  
Starwood Waypoint Homes Trust, 2017-1, “B”, FLR, 3.642% (LIBOR - 1mo. + 1.17%), 1/17/2035 (n)      1,514,489       1,510,752  
Thacher Park CLO Ltd., 2014-1A, “CR”, FLR, 4.791% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 2.2%), 10/20/2026 (n)      1,143,000       1,142,960  
TICP Ltd., CLO, 2018-3R, “B”, FLR, 3.941% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 1.35%), 4/20/2028 (n)      681,356       670,974  
TICP Ltd., CLO, 2018-3R, “C”, FLR, 4.391% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 1.8%), 4/20/2028 (n)      1,195,706       1,162,034  
TPG Real Estate Finance, 2018-FL2, “AS”, FLR, 3.922% (LIBOR -1mo. + 1.45%), 11/15/2037 (n)      1,914,000       1,917,004  
Tricon American Homes Trust, 2015-SFR1, “1A”, 2.589%, 11/17/2033 (n)      1,020,915       1,009,324  
UBS Commercial Mortgage Trust, 2017-C1, “XA”, 1.022%, 11/15/2050 (i)      7,924,307       486,545  
UBS Commercial Mortgage Trust, 2018-C14, “XA”, 1.01%, 12/15/2051 (i)      8,078,694       593,202  
Verizon Owner Trust, 2016-1A, “A”, 1.42%, 1/20/2021 (n)      368,963       367,906  
Verizon Owner Trust, 2017-3A, “B”, 2.38%, 4/20/2022 (n)      769,000       764,263  
Veros Auto Receivables Trust, 2017-1, “A”, 2.84%, 4/17/2023 (n)      112,024       111,882  
Veros Auto Receivables Trust, 2018-1, “A”, 3.63%, 5/15/2023 (n)      1,034,809       1,036,775  
West CLO Ltd., 2013-1A, “A2BR”, 3.393%, 11/07/2025 (n)      1,174,000       1,163,155  
WF-RBS Commercial Mortgage Trust, 2011-C3, “A4”, 4.375%, 3/15/2044 (n)      2,276,538       2,333,872  
    

 

 

 
             $ 137,833,921  
Automotive - 1.5%                 
BMW US Capital LLC, 3.1%, 4/12/2021 (n)    $ 1,639,000     $ 1,651,542  
Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC, 5.085%, 1/07/2021      984,000       1,009,676  
Harley-Davidson Financial Services, 4.05%, 2/04/2022 (n)      1,251,000       1,276,473  
Harley-Davidson Financial Services, FLR, 3.555% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 0.94%), 3/02/2021 (n)      1,473,000       1,472,779  
Hyundai Capital America, 3.75%, 7/08/2021 (n)      1,082,000       1,091,623  
Volkswagen Group of America Co., 3.875%, 11/13/2020 (n)      1,177,000       1,193,347  
Volkswagen Group of America Co., 4%, 11/12/2021 (n)      1,177,000       1,201,894  
    

 

 

 
             $ 8,897,334  

 

10


Table of Contents

Consolidated Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Broadcasting - 0.4%                 
Fox Corp., 3.666%, 1/25/2022 (n)    $ 716,000     $ 730,978  
Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc., 3.5%, 10/01/2020      1,512,000       1,524,490  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,255,468  
Brokerage & Asset Managers - 0.9%                 
E*TRADE Financial Corp., 2.95%, 8/24/2022    $ 3,060,000     $ 3,057,278  
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., 2.75%, 12/01/2020      2,520,000       2,521,610  
    

 

 

 
             $ 5,578,888  
Cable TV - 1.0%                 
Comcast Corp., 3.45%, 10/01/2021    $ 1,507,000     $ 1,534,733  
NBCUniversal Media LLC, 4.375%, 4/01/2021      1,800,000       1,856,197  
Time Warner Cable, Inc., 5%, 2/01/2020      2,308,000       2,340,434  
    

 

 

 
             $ 5,731,364  
Chemicals - 0.2%                 
Sasol Chemicals (USA) LLC, 5.875%, 3/27/2024    $ 1,003,000     $ 1,064,358  
Computer Software - 0.7%                 
Dell Investments LLC/EMC Corp., 4.42%, 6/15/2021    $ 2,707,000     $ 2,772,367  
Dell Investments LLC/EMC Corp., 4%, 7/15/2024 (n)      1,422,000       1,437,617  
    

 

 

 
             $ 4,209,984  
Conglomerates - 1.4%                 
Roper Technologies, Inc., 2.8%, 12/15/2021    $ 508,000     $ 506,631  
United Technologies Corp., 3.1%, 6/01/2022      881,000       887,097  
United Technologies Corp., 3.65%, 8/16/2023      3,088,000       3,165,198  
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp., 4.4%, 3/15/2024      2,892,000       2,972,891  
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp., FLR, 3.91% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 1.05%), 9/15/2021      754,000       754,371  
    

 

 

 
             $ 8,286,188  
Consumer Products - 0.4%                 
Reckitt Benckiser Treasury Services PLC, 2.375%, 6/24/2022 (n)    $ 2,414,000     $ 2,374,660  
Consumer Services - 0.4%                 
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., 2.8%, 6/06/2023    $ 1,506,000     $ 1,489,291  
QVC, Inc., 5.125%, 7/02/2022      1,156,000       1,208,740  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,698,031  
Electrical Equipment - 0.2%                 
Molex Electronic Technologies LLC, 2.878%, 4/15/2020 (n)    $ 1,408,000     $ 1,405,880  

 

11


Table of Contents

Consolidated Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Electronics - 1.3%                 
Broadcom Corp./Broadcom Cayman Finance Ltd., 3%, 1/15/2022    $ 3,985,000     $ 3,961,230  
Broadcom, Inc., 3.125%, 4/15/2021 (n)      1,550,000       1,549,302  
Microchip Technology, Inc., 3.922%, 6/01/2021 (n)      2,558,000       2,594,837  
    

 

 

 
             $ 8,105,369  
Emerging Market Quasi-Sovereign - 0.6%                 
Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd., 4.625%, 10/25/2022    $ 1,716,000     $ 1,777,879  
Corporacion Financiera de Desarrollo S.A., 3.25%, 7/15/2019 (n)      1,170,000       1,170,351  
Indian Oil Corp. Ltd., 5.75%, 8/01/2023      858,000       925,441  
    

 

 

 
             $ 3,873,671  
Energy - Integrated - 1.1%                 
BP Capital Markets PLC, 2.521%, 1/15/2020    $ 806,000     $ 805,220  
Cenovus Energy, Inc., 3%, 8/15/2022      2,172,000       2,144,564  
Cenovus Energy, Inc., 3.8%, 9/15/2023      593,000       596,154  
Eni S.p.A., 4%, 9/12/2023 (n)      740,000       758,574  
Shell International Finance B.V., 1.375%, 5/10/2019      2,500,000       2,499,350  
    

 

 

 
             $ 6,803,862  
Entertainment - 0.1%                 
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., 2.65%, 11/28/2020    $ 836,000     $ 832,960  
Financial Institutions - 1.5%                 
AerCap Ireland Capital Ltd., 4.45%, 12/16/2021    $ 1,723,000     $ 1,769,958  
Avolon Holdings Funding Ltd., 3.625%, 5/01/2022 (z)      1,818,000       1,821,727  
Avolon Holdings Funding Ltd., 3.95%, 7/01/2024 (z)      1,131,000       1,123,796  
GE Capital International Funding Co., 2.342%, 11/15/2020      4,269,000       4,222,825  
    

 

 

 
             $ 8,938,306  
Food & Beverages - 0.7%                 
Conagra Brands, Inc., 3.8%, 10/22/2021    $ 1,039,000     $ 1,059,335  
Conagra Brands, Inc., FLR, 3.341% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 0.75%), 10/22/2020      742,000       742,240  
Constellation Brands, Inc., FLR, 3.383% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 0.7%), 11/15/2021      739,000       739,559  
Diageo PLC, 3%, 5/18/2020      967,000       970,730  
Pernod Ricard S.A., 5.75%, 4/07/2021 (n)      480,000       504,992  
    

 

 

 
             $ 4,016,856  
Health Maintenance Organizations - 0.3%                 
Halfmoon Parent, Inc., FLR, 3.264% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 0.65%), 9/17/2021 (n)    $ 1,496,000     $ 1,496,390  

 

12


Table of Contents

Consolidated Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Industrial - 0.1%                 
Century Housing Corp., 3.995%, 11/01/2021    $ 691,000     $ 692,784  
Insurance - 0.6%                 
American International Group, Inc., 2.3%, 7/16/2019    $ 1,182,000     $ 1,181,100  
Metropolitan Life Global Funding I, 2%, 4/14/2020 (n)      2,200,000       2,185,967  
    

 

 

 
             $ 3,367,067  
Insurance - Health - 0.3%                 
UnitedHealth Group, Inc., 1.95%, 10/15/2020    $ 1,775,000     $ 1,758,333  
Insurance - Property & Casualty - 0.3%                 
Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc., 2.75%, 1/30/2022    $ 1,522,000     $ 1,521,203  
International Market Quasi-Sovereign - 1.1%                 
Caisse d’Amortissement de la Dette Sociale, 1.875%, 1/13/2020 (n)    $ 1,230,000     $ 1,225,006  
CPPIB Capital, Inc., 1.25%, 9/20/2019 (n)      1,980,000       1,970,116  
Dexia Credit Local S.A., 2.25%, 2/18/2020 (n)      580,000       578,570  
Dexia Credit Local S.A., 1.875%, 9/15/2021 (n)      2,010,000       1,979,233  
Kommunalbanken A.S., 1.375%, 10/26/2020 (n)      720,000       708,810  
    

 

 

 
             $ 6,461,735  
Internet - 0.5%                 
Baidu, Inc., 2.75%, 6/09/2019    $ 539,000     $ 538,945  
Baidu, Inc., 3.875%, 9/29/2023      2,225,000       2,266,621  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,805,566  
Local Authorities - 0.4%                 
Kommuninvest i Sverige AB, 1.125%, 9/17/2019 (n)    $ 2,390,000     $ 2,377,156  
Machinery & Tools - 0.3%                 
CNH Industrial Capital LLC, 4.2%, 1/15/2024    $ 1,931,000     $ 1,973,413  
Major Banks - 7.1%                 
ABN AMRO Bank N.V., 2.65%, 1/19/2021 (n)    $ 3,685,000     $ 3,671,808  
Barclays PLC, 4.61% to 2/15/2022, FLR (LIBOR - 3mo. + 1.4%) to 2/15/2023      5,181,000       5,309,276  
Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 2.3%, 9/06/2019      1,725,000       1,723,047  
Credit Agricole, “A”, FLR, 4.014% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 1.43%), 1/10/2022 (n)      750,000       760,351  
Credit Suisse Group AG, 3.8%, 9/15/2022      1,764,000       1,800,569  
Credit Suisse Group AG, 3.574%, 1/09/2023 (n)      2,060,000       2,077,184  
DNB Bank A.S.A., 2.125%, 10/02/2020 (n)      1,910,000       1,894,037  
HSBC Holdings PLC, 3.262% to 3/13/2022, FLR (LIBOR - 3mo. + 1.055%) to 3/13/2023      2,661,000       2,679,834  

 

13


Table of Contents

Consolidated Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Major Banks - continued                 
HSBC Holdings PLC, 3.033% to 11/22/2022, FLR (LIBOR - 3mo. + 0.923%) to 11/22/2023    $ 957,000     $ 956,724  
JPMorgan Chase & Co., 3.207% to 4/01/2022, FLR (LIBOR - 3mo. + 0.695%) to 4/01/2023      2,839,000       2,857,482  
KeyBank N.A., 3.3%, 2/01/2022      772,000       783,681  
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc., 2.95%, 3/01/2021      449,000       450,350  
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc., 3.535%, 7/26/2021      1,593,000       1,619,131  
National Australia Bank Ltd., 1.375%, 7/12/2019      1,100,000       1,097,439  
NatWest Markets PLC, 3.625%, 9/29/2022 (n)      1,150,000       1,152,695  
PNC Bank N.A., 2.25%, 7/02/2019      1,140,000       1,139,225  
Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC, 4.269% to 3/22/2024, FLR     
(LIBOR - 3mo. + 1.762%) to 3/22/2025      1,282,000       1,306,994  
Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB, 2.45%, 5/27/2020 (n)      2,200,000       2,191,750  
Svenska Handelsbanken AB, 2.25%, 6/17/2019      1,725,000       1,723,922  
UBS Group Funding (Switzerland) AG, 3.491%, 5/23/2023 (n)      4,587,000       4,614,949  
UBS Group Funding Ltd., 3%, 4/15/2021 (n)      3,100,000       3,106,917  
    

 

 

 
             $ 42,917,365  
Medical & Health Technology & Services - 0.3%                 
Becton, Dickinson and Co., 2.404%, 6/05/2020    $ 796,000     $ 791,832  
Becton, Dickinson and Co., 2.894%, 6/06/2022      948,000       945,480  
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,737,312  
Medical Equipment - 0.4%                 
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc., 2.7%, 4/01/2020    $ 1,894,000     $ 1,890,259  
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc., FLR, 3.375% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 0.75%), 3/19/2021      356,000       354,870  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,245,129  
Metals & Mining - 0.5%                 
Glencore Finance (Canada) Ltd., 4.95%, 11/15/2021 (n)    $ 729,000     $ 760,347  
Glencore Funding LLC, 3%, 10/27/2022 (n)      610,000       603,423  
Glencore Funding LLC, 4.125%, 3/12/2024 (n)      1,280,000       1,297,956  
Vale Overseas Ltd., 4.375%, 1/11/2022      285,000       289,987  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,951,713  
Midstream - 0.7%                 
Andeavor Logistics LP/Tesoro Logistics Finance Corp., 3.5%, 12/01/2022    $ 1,661,000     $ 1,679,319  
El Paso LLC, 6.5%, 9/15/2020      1,874,000       1,962,304  
MPLX LP, 3.375%, 3/15/2023      471,000       473,872  
    

 

 

 
             $ 4,115,495  

 

14


Table of Contents

Consolidated Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Mortgage-Backed - 0.5%                 
Fannie Mae, 4.5%, 4/01/2024 - 5/01/2025    $ 307,931     $ 316,996  
Fannie Mae, 4%, 3/01/2025      27,470       28,414  
Fannie Mae, 3%, 12/01/2031      601,951       606,346  
Fannie Mae, 2%, 5/25/2044      1,765,277       1,728,928  
Freddie Mac, 1.017%, 4/25/2024 (i)      127,600       4,498  
Freddie Mac, 4%, 7/01/2025      211,148       218,863  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,904,045  
Municipals - 0.4%                 
New Jersey Economic Development Authority State Pension Funding Rev., Capital Appreciation, “B”, 0%, 2/15/2023    $ 3,058,000     $ 2,689,328  
Oils - 0.1%                 
Phillips 66, FLR, 3.246% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 0.6%), 2/26/2021    $ 839,000     $ 839,060  
Other Banks & Diversified Financials - 3.5%                 
American Express Co., 3.7%, 11/05/2021    $ 1,473,000     $ 1,504,414  
Banque Federative du Credit Mutuel S.A., 2.2%, 7/20/2020 (n)      1,854,000       1,840,510  
Branch Banking & Trust Co., 1.45%, 5/10/2019      1,570,000       1,569,529  
Capital One Financial Corp., 2.4%, 10/30/2020      590,000       587,228  
Compass Bank, 3.5%, 6/11/2021      1,498,000       1,513,684  
Compass Bank, 2.875%, 6/29/2022      2,837,000       2,822,584  
Discover Bank, 3.1%, 6/04/2020      1,190,000       1,193,284  
First Republic Bank, 2.375%, 6/17/2019      278,000       277,860  
Groupe BPCE S.A., 2.5%, 7/15/2019      1,234,000       1,233,346  
Groupe BPCE S.A., 4%, 9/12/2023 (n)      1,193,000       1,218,380  
Groupe BPCE S.A., FLR, 3.836% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 1.24%), 9/12/2023 (n)      1,193,000       1,193,491  
Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A., FLR, 3.218% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 0.63%), 7/17/2019      3,136,000       3,136,301  
UniCredito Italiano S.p.A., 6.572%, 1/14/2022 (n)      1,297,000       1,366,790  
UniCredito Italiano S.p.A., 3.75%, 4/12/2022 (n)      1,342,000       1,342,225  
    

 

 

 
             $ 20,799,626  
Pharmaceuticals - 2.1%                 
Actavis Funding SCS, 3%, 3/12/2020    $ 1,058,000     $ 1,058,141  
Actavis Funding SCS, 3.45%, 3/15/2022      2,322,000       2,333,763  
Bayer U.S. Finance II LLC, 3.5%, 6/25/2021 (n)      2,275,000       2,286,506  
Celgene Corp., 2.875%, 8/15/2020      1,912,000       1,913,721  
Celgene Corp., 2.75%, 2/15/2023      1,297,000       1,284,833  
Shire Acquisitions Investments Ireland Designated Activity Co., 1.9%, 9/23/2019      2,740,000       2,729,463  
Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., 3.8%, 11/26/2020 (n)      1,031,000       1,045,090  
    

 

 

 
             $ 12,651,517  

 

15


Table of Contents

Consolidated Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Printing & Publishing - 0.2%                 
Moody’s Corp., 3.25%, 6/07/2021    $ 1,266,000     $ 1,277,577  
Retailers - 0.4%                 
Alimentation Couche-Tard, Inc., 2.35%, 12/13/2019 (n)    $ 1,786,000     $ 1,780,099  
Macy’s Retail Holdings, Inc., 3.875%, 1/15/2022      580,000       584,485  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,364,584  
Supranational - 0.2%                 
Corporacion Andina de Fomento, 2%, 5/10/2019    $ 1,180,000     $ 1,179,776  
Telecommunications - Wireless - 1.2%                 
American Tower Corp., REIT, 2.8%, 6/01/2020    $ 573,000     $ 573,008  
American Tower Corp., REIT, 2.25%, 1/15/2022      2,250,000       2,216,325  
American Tower Corp., REIT, 3%, 6/15/2023      1,462,000       1,457,964  
Crown Castle International Corp., 3.4%, 2/15/2021      610,000       614,678  
Crown Castle International Corp., 3.15%, 7/15/2023      755,000       755,540  
SBA Tower Trust, 2.877%, 7/09/2021 (n)      660,000       656,358  
SBA Tower Trust, 2.898%, 10/15/2044 (n)      878,000       877,122  
    

 

 

 
             $ 7,150,995  
Tobacco - 1.1%                 
B.A.T Capital Corp., 2.297%, 8/14/2020    $ 2,011,000     $ 1,995,596  
B.A.T Capital Corp., 2.764%, 8/15/2022      708,000       697,959  
Imperial Tobacco Finance PLC, 2.95%, 7/21/2020 (n)      3,866,000       3,856,137  
    

 

 

 
             $ 6,549,692  
Transportation - Services - 0.4%                 
TTX Co., 2.6%, 6/15/2020 (n)    $ 2,400,000     $ 2,396,484  
U.S. Government Agencies and Equivalents - 0.1%                 
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, 1.945%, 6/23/2019    $ 750,000     $ 749,459  
Small Business Administration, 2.25%, 7/01/2021      110,662       110,609  
    

 

 

 
             $ 860,068  
U.S. Treasury Obligations - 24.9%                 
U.S. Treasury Notes, 1.25%, 5/31/2019 (f)(s)    $ 15,000,000     $ 14,985,532  
U.S. Treasury Notes, 0.875%, 7/31/2019 (f)(s)      15,000,000       14,940,820  
U.S. Treasury Notes, 1%, 9/30/2019 (f)(s)      15,000,000       14,912,572  
U.S. Treasury Notes, 1%, 11/15/2019 (f)(s)      15,000,000       14,882,813  
U.S. Treasury Notes, 1.375%, 10/31/2020      38,541,000       38,006,545  
U.S. Treasury Notes, 2.375%, 3/15/2021 (f)      8,081,000       8,092,995  
U.S. Treasury Notes, 2.25%, 3/31/2021      14,000,000       13,991,797  
U.S. Treasury Notes, 2.625%, 6/15/2021      29,872,000       30,096,040  
    

 

 

 
             $ 149,909,114  

 

16


Table of Contents

Consolidated Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Utilities - Electric Power - 2.3%                 
Dominion Energy, Inc., 2.962%, 7/01/2019    $ 780,000     $ 779,998  
Dominion Energy, Inc., 2.579%, 7/01/2020      1,136,000       1,131,265  
Emera U.S. Finance LP, 2.15%, 6/15/2019      1,165,000       1,163,722  
Emera U.S. Finance LP, 2.7%, 6/15/2021      468,000       464,894  
Enel Finance International N.V., 2.875%, 5/25/2022 (n)      2,820,000       2,786,819  
Engie Energia Chile S.A., 5.625%, 1/15/2021      2,755,000       2,861,756  
Eversource Energy, 2.5%, 3/15/2021      730,000       726,153  
FirstEnergy Corp., 2.85%, 7/15/2022      581,000       576,871  
NextEra Energy, Inc., 2.9%, 4/01/2022      1,411,000       1,417,100  
WEC Energy Group, Inc., 3.375%, 6/15/2021      1,056,000       1,068,702  
WEC Energy Group, Inc., 3.1%, 3/08/2022      826,000       831,969  
    

 

 

 
             $ 13,809,249  
Total Bonds (Identified Cost, $513,149,456)

 

  $ 514,708,876  
Investment Companies (h) - 6.1%                 
Money Market Funds - 6.1%                 
MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio, 2.48% (v)
(Identified Cost, $36,607,955)
     36,612,902     $ 36,612,902  
Short-Term Obligations (s)(y) - 2.7%                 
Bank of Montreal/Chicago Branch, 2.45%, due 5/03/2019    $ 1,000,000     $ 1,000,000  
Cisco Systems, Inc., 2.42%, due 5/16/2019      4,000,000       3,995,967  
Exxon Mobil Corp., 2.41%, due 5/03/2019      4,000,000       3,999,464  
Freddie Mac, 2.35%, due 5/01/2019      152,000       152,000  
Intel Corp., 2.44%, due 5/17/2019      3,000,000       2,996,747  
Siemens Capital Co. LLC, 2.45%, due 5/06/2019      4,000,000       3,998,639  
Total Short-Term Obligations (Identified Cost, $16,142,817)

 

  $ 16,142,817  
Other Assets, Less Liabilities - 5.6%              33,553,286  
Net Assets - 100.0%            $ 601,017,881  

 

(f)

All or a portion of the security has been segregated as collateral for open futures contracts and uncleared swap agreements.

(h)

An affiliated issuer, which 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 $36,612,902 and $530,851,693, respectively.

(i)

Interest only security for which the fund receives interest on notional principal (Par amount). Par amount shown is the notional principal and does not reflect the cost of the security.

(n)

Securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be sold in the ordinary course of business in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At period end, the aggregate value of these securities was $190,997,862, representing 31.8% of net assets.

 

17


Table of Contents

Consolidated Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

(s)

All or a portion of security is held by a wholly-owned subsidiary. See Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for details of the wholly-owned subsidiary.

(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.

(y)

The rate shown represents an annualized yield at time of purchase.

(z)

Restricted securities are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and are subject to legal restrictions on resale. These securities generally may be resold in transactions exempt from registration or to the public if the securities are subsequently registered. Disposal of these securities may involve time-consuming negotiations and prompt sale at an acceptable price may be difficult. The fund holds the following restricted securities:

 

Restricted Securities   Acquisition
Date
  Cost     Value  
Avolon Holdings Funding Ltd., 3.625%, 5/01/2022   4/11/19-4/12/19     $1,817,202       $1,821,727  
Avolon Holdings Funding Ltd., 3.95%, 7/01/2024   4/11/19-4/12/19     1,124,955       1,123,796  
Barclays Commercial Mortgage Securities LLC, 2018-C2, “XA”, 0.938%, 12/15/2051   12/06/18     1,188,892       1,190,044  
Exantas Capital Corp. CLO Ltd., 2019-RS07, “B”, FLR, 4.199% (LIBOR - 1mo. + 1.7%), 4/15/2036   4/04/19     1,788,500       1,790,744  
Flagship CLO, 2014-8A, “BRR”, FLR, 4.001%
(LIBOR - 3mo. + 1.4%), 1/16/2026
  2/07/19     1,589,146       1,587,442  
Freedom Financial, 2019-1, “A”, 3.42%, 6/18/2026   4/25/19     758,950       759,217  
Neuberger Berman CLO Ltd., 2015-20A, “BR”, 3.846%, 1/15/2028   11/15/17     2,729,000       2,664,085  
OCP CLO Ltd., 2015-10A, “A2R”, FLR,
3.886% (LIBOR - 3mo. + 1.3%), 10/26/2027
  11/27/17     2,211,957       2,188,039  
Shelter Growth CRE, 2018-FL1, “A”, FLR,
3.483% (LIBOR - 1mo. + 1%), 1/15/2035
  4/26/19     511,359       511,038  
Total Restricted Securities         $13,636,132  
% of Net assets         2.3%  

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

 

BCOMALTR    Bloomberg Aluminum Subindex Total Return, this index is composed of futures contracts on aluminum.
BCOMBOTR    Bloomberg Soybean Oil Subindex Total Return, this index is composed of futures contracts on soybean oil.
BCOMCNTR    Bloomberg Corn Subindex Total Return, this index is composed of futures contracts on corn. It reflects the return on fully collateralized futures positions. It is quoted in USD.
BCOMCOT    Bloomberg Brent Crude Subindex Total Return, this index is composed of futures contracts on brent crude.
BCOMCTTR    Bloomberg Cotton Subindex Total Return, this index is composed of futures contracts on cotton. It reflects the return on fully collateralized futures positions. It is quoted in USD.
BCOMF3T    Bloomberg Commodity Index 3 Month Forward Total Return, this index is composed of longer-dated futures contracts on 19 physical commodities.
BCOMFCT    Bloomberg Feeder Cattle Subindex Total Return, this index is comprised of futures contracts on feeder cattle. It is quoted in USD.

 

18


Table of Contents

Consolidated Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

BCOMGCTR    Bloomberg Gold Subindex Total Return, this index is composed of futures contracts on gold.
BCOMGOT    Bloomberg Gas and Oil Subindex Total Return, this index is composed of futures contracts on gas and oil.
BCOMHGTR    Bloomberg Copper Subindex Total Return, this index is composed of futures contracts on copper.
BCOMHOTR    Bloomberg Heating Oil Subindex Total Return, this index is composed of futures contracts on heating oil. It reflects the return on fully collateralized futures positions. It is quoted in USD.
BCOMKCTR    Bloomberg Coffee Subindex Total Return, this index is composed of futures contracts on coffee. It reflects the return on fully collateralized futures positions. It is quoted in USD.
BCOMKWT    Bloomberg Kansas Wheat Subindex Total Return, this index is composed of futures contracts on wheat and Kansas wheat. It is quoted in USD.
BCOMNGTR    Bloomberg Natural Gas Subindex Total Return, this index is composed of futures contracts on natural gas. It reflects the return on fully collateralized futures positions. It is quoted in USD.
BCOMRBTR    Bloomberg Unleaded Gasoline Subindex Total Return, this index is composed of futures contracts on unleaded gasoline. It reflects the return on fully collateralized futures positions. It is quoted in USD.
BCOMSBTR    Bloomberg Sugar Subindex Total Return, this index is composed of futures contracts on sugar. It reflects the return on fully collateralized futures positions. It is quoted in USD.
BCOMSMT    Bloomberg Soybean Meal Subindex Total Return, this index is composed of futures contracts on soybean meal.
BCOMTR    Bloomberg Commodity Index Total Return
BCOMWHTR    Bloomberg Wheat Subindex Total Return, this index is composed of futures contracts on wheat. It reflects the return on fully collateralized futures positions. It is quoted in USD.
BCOMZSTR    Bloomberg Zinc Subindex Total Return, this index is composed of futures contracts on zinc.
CLO    Collateralized Loan Obligation
FLR    Floating Rate. Interest rate resets periodically based on the parenthetically disclosed reference rate plus a spread (if any). The period-end rate reported may not be the current rate. All reference rates are USD unless otherwise noted.
LIBOR    London Interbank Offered Rate
MLCILPRT    Merrill Lynch International Bloomberg Commodity Index Total Return
REIT    Real Estate Investment Trust
SPGCCCTR    S&P GSCI Cocoa Index Total Return

Derivative Contracts at 4/30/19

Futures Contracts

 

Description   Long/
Short
    Currency     Contracts     Notional
Amount
  Expiration
Date
   

Value/

Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 
Asset Derivatives

 

         
Interest Rate Futures

 

       
U.S. Treasury Note 2 yr     Long       USD       90     $19,170,703     June - 2019       $53,120  
           

 

 

 

 

19


Table of Contents

Consolidated Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Uncleared Swap Agreements

 

Maturity
Date
       Notional
Amount
         Counterparty   Cash Flows to
Receive (Monthly)
  Cash Flows to
Pay (Monthly)
  Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
   

Net
Unamortized

Upfront
Payments
(Receipts)

    Value  
Asset Derivatives            
Total Return Swaps            
5/31/19   USD     6,077,757     (Short)   Merrill Lynch International   3 month T-Bill + 0.05%   BCOMSBTR (floating rate)     $13,422       $—       $13,422  
6/17/19   USD     3,499,509     (Short)   Merrill Lynch International   3 month T-Bill + 0%   BCOMBOTR (floating rate)     7,588             7,588  
8/21/19   USD     4,410,720     (Short)   Merrill Lynch International   3 month T-Bill + 0.04%   BCOMKCTR (floating rate)     9,849             9,849  
1/08/20   USD     6,604,191     (Short)   Merrill Lynch International   3 month T-Bill + 0%   BCOMSMT (floating rate)     14,390             14,390  
2/28/20   USD     5,235,975     (Short)   Merrill Lynch International   3 month T-Bill + 0.04%   BCOMKWT (floating rate)     12,449             12,449  
4/14/20   USD     4,728,460     (Short)   Merrill Lynch International   3 month T-Bill + 0%   BCOMCNTR (floating rate)     10,039             10,039  
4/22/20   USD     6,540,589     (Short)   Morgan Stanley   3 month T-Bill + 0.01%   BCOMWHTR (floating rate)     14,902             14,902  
6/04/20   USD     10,000,000     (Long)   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   BCOMTR (floating rate)   3 month T-Bill + 0.09%     4,724             4,724  
6/04/20   USD     75,000,000     (Long)   Merrill Lynch International   MLCILPRT (floating rate)   3 month T-Bill + 0.13%     26,824             26,824  
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
                $114,187       $—       $114,187  
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Liability Derivatives            
Total Return Swaps            
6/17/19   USD     3,954,429     (Long)   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   BCOMGCTR (floating rate)   3 month T-Bill + 0.07%     $(8,666     $—       $(8,666
6/17/19   USD     4,651,618     (Long)   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   BCOMNGTR (floating rate)   3 month T-Bill + 0.08%     (10,692           (10,692
7/12/19   USD     73,121,974     (Long)   Merrill Lynch International   MLCILPRT (floating rate)   3 month T-Bill + 0.13%     (163,725           (163,725
7/26/19   USD     12,399,810     (Long)   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   BCOMTR (floating rate)   3 month T-Bill + 0.09%     (27,293           (27,293
8/21/19   USD     11,603,374     (Long)   Goldman Sachs International   BCOMF3T (floating rate)   3 month T-Bill + 0.11%     (25,804           (25,804
8/21/19   USD     57,444,034     (Long)   Goldman Sachs International   BCOMTR (floating rate)   3 month T-Bill + 0.09%     (126,641           (126,641
8/21/19   USD     9,574,006     (Long)   Citibank N.A.   BCOMTR (floating rate)   3 month T-Bill + 0.12%     (21,326           (21,326
8/21/19   USD     30,626,424     (Long)   Merrill Lynch International   MLCILPRT (floating rate)   3 month T-Bill + 0.13%     (68,575           (68,575
8/21/19   USD     67,018,040     (Long)   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   BCOMTR (floating rate)   3 month T-Bill + 0.09%     (147,510           (147,510
9/23/19   USD     7,164,897     (Long)   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   BCOMCTTR (floating rate)   3 month T-Bill + 0.15%     (16,320           (16,320
10/28/19   USD     9,317,395     (Long)   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   BCOMZSTR (floating rate)   3 month T-Bill + 0.09%     (20,927           (20,927
11/19/19   USD     1,738,177     (Long)   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   BCOMALTR (floating rate)   3 month T-Bill + 0.09%     (4,078           (4,078
11/19/19   USD     4,248,469     (Long)   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   SPGCCCTR (floating rate)   3 month T-Bill + 0.09%     (8,922           (8,922
11/26/19   USD     15,658,337     (Long)   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   BCOMF3T (floating rate)   3 month T-Bill + 0.11%     (34,823           (34,823
12/19/19   USD     8,662,648     (Long)   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   BCOMCOT (floating rate)   3 month T-Bill + 0.08%     (17,603           (17,603
12/19/19   USD     6,771,849     (Long)   Merrill Lynch International   BCOMFCT (floating rate)   3 month T-Bill + 0.15%     (15,867           (15,867

 

20


Table of Contents

Consolidated Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Uncleared Swap Agreements – continued

 

Maturity
Date
      

Notional

Amount

         Counterparty   Cash Flows to
Receive (Monthly)
  Cash Flows to
Pay (Monthly)
  Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
    Net
Unamortized
Upfront
Payments
(Receipts)
    Value  
Liability Derivatives - continued          
Total Return Swaps - continued          
1/08/20   USD     17,537,244     (Long)   Goldman Sachs International   BCOMF3T (floating rate)   3 month T-Bill + 0.12%     $(39,158     $—       $(39,158
1/08/20   USD     18,568,846     (Long)   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   BCOMF3T (floating rate)   3 month T-Bill + 0.11%     (41,298           (41,298
2/20/20   USD     20,968,816     (Long)   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   BCOMTR (floating rate)   3 month T-Bill + 0.09%     (46,154           (46,154
3/19/20   USD     56,437,385     (Long)   Goldman Sachs International   BCOMF3T (floating rate)   3 month T-Bill + 0.12%     (126,011           (126,011
4/14/20   USD     5,946,600     (Long)   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   BCOMHGTR (floating rate)   3 month T-Bill + 0.08%     (13,130           (13,130
4/14/20   USD     8,281,624     (Long)   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   BCOMHOTR (floating rate)   3 month T-Bill + 0.07%     (17,073           (17,073
4/14/20   USD     8,294,997     (Long)   Merrill Lynch International   BCOMGOT (floating rate)   3 month T-Bill + 0.09%     (17,390           (17,390
4/22/20   USD     21,605,568     (Long)   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   BCOMF3T (floating rate)   3 month T-Bill + 0.10%     (47,857           (47,857
4/22/20   USD     6,889,711     (Long)   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   BCOMTR (floating rate)   3 month T-Bill + 0.09%     (15,165           (15,165
4/22/20   USD     21,605,568     (Long)   Goldman Sachs International   BCOMF3T (floating rate)   3 month T-Bill + 0.12%     (48,239           (48,239
4/22/20   USD     6,697,583     (Long)   Citibank N.A.   BCOMRBTR (floating rate)   3 month T-Bill + 0.11%     (13,319           (13,319
4/22/20   USD     20,623,497     (Long)   Merrill Lynch International   BCOMF3T (floating rate)   3 month T-Bill + 0.13%     (46,229           (46,229
6/04/20   USD     9,000,000     (Long)   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   BCOMF3T (floating rate)   3 month T-Bill + 0.10%     (655           (655
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
                $(1,190,450     $—       $(1,190,450
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

At April 30, 2019, the fund had liquid securities with an aggregate value of $56,328,870 to cover any collateral or margin obligations for certain derivative contracts.

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

21


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

At 4/30/19 (unaudited)

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, $529,292,273)

     $530,851,693  

Investments in affiliated issuers, at value (identified cost, $36,607,955)

     36,612,902  

Cash

     34,636,387  

Receivables for

  

Due from uncleared swap brokers

     3,921,166  

Net daily variation margin on open futures contracts

     9,126  

Fund shares sold

     459,163  

Interest

     2,628,478  

Uncleared swaps, at value

     114,187  

Other assets

     1,855  

Total assets

     $609,234,957  
Liabilities         

Payables for

  

Due to uncleared swap brokers

     $4,363,823  

Investments purchased

     2,517,567  

Uncleared swaps, at value

     1,190,450  

Payable to affiliates

  

Investment adviser

     24,874  

Shareholder servicing costs

     138  

Distribution and service fees

     13  

Payable for independent Trustees’ compensation

     51  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     120,160  

Total liabilities

     $8,217,076  

Net assets

     $601,017,881  
Net assets consist of         

Paid-in capital

     $712,137,469  

Total distributable earnings (loss)

     (111,119,588

Net assets

     $601,017,881  

Shares of beneficial interest outstanding

     110,630,395  

 

22


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Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities (unaudited) – continued

 

 

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

Class A

     $207,139        38,127        $5.43  

Class B

     48,828        9,021        5.41  

Class C

     60,229        11,126        5.41  

Class I

     73,510        13,532        5.43  

Class R1

     48,767        9,009        5.41  

Class R2

     48,941        9,026        5.42  

Class R3

     49,028        9,035        5.43  

Class R4

     49,114        9,044        5.43  

Class R6

     600,432,325        110,522,475        5.43  

 

(a)

Maximum offering price per share was equal to the net asset value per share for all share classes, except for Class A, for which the maximum offering price per share was $5.76 [100 / 94.25 x $5.43]. Redemption price per share was equal to the net asset value per share for Classes I, R1, R2, R3, R4, and R6.

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

23


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

Six months ended 4/30/19 (unaudited)

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

 

Net investment income (loss)         

Income

  

Interest

     $8,190,212  

Dividends from affiliated issuers

     528,569  

Foreign taxes withheld

     (413

Total investment income

     $8,718,368  

Expenses

  

Management fee

     $2,182,472  

Distribution and service fees

     1,032  

Shareholder servicing costs

     573  

Administrative services fee

     44,889  

Independent Trustees’ compensation

     6,790  

Custodian fee

     24,284  

Shareholder communications

     5,526  

Audit and tax fees

     46,527  

Legal fees

     4,341  

Miscellaneous

     122,473  

Total expenses

     $2,438,907  

Reduction of expenses by investment adviser

     (28,649

Net expenses

     $2,410,258  

Net investment income (loss)

     $6,308,110  
Realized and unrealized gain (loss)         

Realized gain (loss) (identified cost basis)

  

Unaffiliated issuers

     $44,483  

Affiliated issuers

     1,821  

Futures contracts

     79,674  

Swap agreements

     (16,623,924

Net realized gain (loss)

     $(16,497,946

Change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation

  

Unaffiliated issuers

     $5,636,443  

Affiliated issuers

     625  

Futures contracts

     106,790  

Swap agreements

     406,298  

Net unrealized gain (loss)

     $6,150,156  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     $(10,347,790

Change in net assets from operations

     $(4,039,680

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

24


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

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

 

Change in net assets    Six months ended
4/30/19
(unaudited)
    

Year ended
10/31/18

 
From operations                  

Net investment income (loss)

     $6,308,110        $8,802,961  

Net realized gain (loss)

     (16,497,946      (17,795,994

Net unrealized gain (loss)

     6,150,156        (5,986,791

Change in net assets from operations

     $(4,039,680      $(14,979,824

Total distributions to shareholders

     $(18,500,721      $(18,500,745

Change in net assets from fund share transactions

     $35,283,673        $29,680,123  

Total change in net assets

     $12,743,272        $(3,800,446
Net assets                  

At beginning of period

     588,274,609        592,075,055  

At end of period

     $601,017,881        $588,274,609  

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the fund’s financial performance for the semiannual period and the past 5 fiscal years (or life of a particular share class, if shorter). Certain information reflects financial results for a single fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate 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.

 

   

Six months

ended

4/30/19

    Year ended  
Class A   10/31/18     10/31/17     10/31/16     10/31/15     10/31/14 (z)     4/30/14  
    (unaudited)                                      

Net asset value,
beginning of
period

    $5.65       $6.00       $5.89       $5.93       $7.88       $9.28       $9.09  
Income (loss) from investment operations

 

                               

Net investment
income
(loss) (d)

    $0.05       $0.07       $0.03 (c)      $0.01       $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.01     $(0.00 )(w) 

Net realized and
unrealized
gain (loss)

    (0.11     (0.25     0.10       (0.05 )(g)      (1.95     (1.39     0.22  

Total from investment
operations

    $(0.06     $(0.18     $0.13       $(0.04     $(1.95     $(1.40     $0.22  
Less distributions declared to shareholders

 

                               

From net
investment
income

    $(0.16     $(0.17     $(0.02     $(0.00 )(w)      $—       $—       $(0.03

Net asset value, end
of period (x)

    $5.43       $5.65       $6.00       $5.89       $5.93       $7.88       $9.28  

Total return (%)
(r)(s)(t)(x)

    (0.96 )(n)      (2.98     2.25 (c)      (0.61     (24.75     (15.09 )(n)      2.40  
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:

 

                               

Expenses before
expense
reductions (f)

    1.09 (a)      1.09       1.06 (c)      1.07       1.08       1.10 (a)      1.06  

Expenses after
expense
reductions (f)

    1.08 (a)      1.08       1.05 (c)      1.06       1.07       1.10 (a)      1.05  

Net investment
income (loss)

    1.93 (a)      1.22       0.58 (c)      0.21       (0.00 )(w)      (0.20 )(a)      (0.05

Portfolio turnover

    20 (n)      72       51       32       51       21 (n)      43  

Net assets at end
of period
(000 omitted)

    $207       $63       $49       $48       $48       $97       $114  

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

26


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Consolidated Financial Highlights – continued

 

    

Six months

ended

4/30/19

   

Year ended

10/31/18 (i)

 
Class B
     (unaudited)        

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $5.64       $5.71  
Income (loss) from investment operations

 

Net investment income (loss) (d)

     $0.03       $0.02  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.10     (0.09

Total from investment operations

     $(0.07     $(0.07
Less distributions declared to shareholders

 

From net investment income

     $(0.16     $—  

Net asset value, end of period (x)

     $5.41       $5.64  

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

     (1.31 )(n)      (1.23 )(n) 
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:

 

Expenses before expense reductions (f)

     1.84 (a)      1.94 (a) 

Expenses after expense reductions (f)

     1.83 (a)      1.93 (a) 

Net investment income (loss)

     1.15 (a)      1.34 (a) 

Portfolio turnover

     20 (n)      72  

Net assets at end of period (000 omitted)

     $49       $52  
    

Six months

ended

4/30/19

   

Year ended

10/31/18 (i)

 
Class C
     (unaudited)        

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $5.64       $5.71  
Income (loss) from investment operations

 

Net investment income (loss) (d)

     $0.03       $0.02  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.11     (0.09

Total from investment operations

     $(0.08     $(0.07
Less distributions declared to shareholders

 

From net investment income

     $(0.15     $—  

Net asset value, end of period (x)

     $5.41       $5.64  

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

     (1.32 )(n)      (1.23 )(n) 
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:

 

Expenses before expense reductions (f)

     1.84 (a)      1.94 (a) 

Expenses after expense reductions (f)

     1.83 (a)      1.93 (a) 

Net investment income (loss)

     1.17 (a)      1.41 (a) 

Portfolio turnover

     20 (n)      72  

Net assets at end of period (000 omitted)

     $60       $49  

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

27


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Consolidated Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months

ended
4/30/19

    Year ended  
Class I   10/31/18     10/31/17     10/31/16     10/31/15     10/31/14 (z)     4/30/14  
    (unaudited)                                      

Net asset value,
beginning of
period

    $5.65       $6.00       $5.90       $5.94       $7.90       $9.28       $9.10  
Income (loss) from investment operations

 

                               

Net investment
income
(loss) (d)

    $0.06       $0.09       $0.05 (c)      $0.03       $0.02       $0.00 (w)      $0.02  

Net realized and
unrealized
gain (loss)

    (0.10     (0.25     0.09       (0.04 )(g)      (1.96     (1.38     0.21  

Total from investment
operations

    $(0.04     $(0.16     $0.14       $(0.01     $(1.94     $(1.38     $0.23  
Less distributions declared to shareholders

 

                               

From net
investment
income

    $(0.18     $(0.19     $(0.04     $(0.03     $(0.02     $—       $(0.05

Net asset value, end
of period (x)

    $5.43       $5.65       $6.00       $5.90       $5.94       $7.90       $9.28  

Total return (%)
(r)(s)(t)(x)

    (0.74 )(n)      (2.73     2.32 (c)      (0.20     (24.63     (14.87 )(n)      2.56  
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:

 

                               

Expenses before
expense
reductions (f)

    0.84 (a)      0.85       0.82 (c)      0.83       0.83       0.85 (a)      0.81  

Expenses after
expense
reductions (f)

    0.83 (a)      0.84       0.81 (c)      0.82       0.82       0.85 (a)      0.80  

Net investment
income (loss)

    2.20 (a)      1.45       0.83 (c)      0.45       0.25       0.05 (a)      0.20  

Portfolio turnover

    20 (n)      72       51       32       51       21 (n)      43  

Net assets at end
of period
(000 omitted)

    $74       $48       $49       $48       $48       $80       $94  

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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Consolidated Financial Highlights – continued

 

Class R1   

Six months

ended
4/30/19

    Year ended
10/31/18 (i)
 
     (unaudited)        

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $5.64       $5.71  
Income (loss) from investment operations

 

Net investment income (loss) (d)

     $0.03       $0.02  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.11     (0.09

Total from investment operations

     $(0.08     $(0.07
Less distributions declared to shareholders

 

From net investment income

     $(0.15     $—  

Net asset value, end of period (x)

     $5.41       $5.64  

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

     (1.32 )(n)      (1.23 )(n) 
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:

 

Expenses before expense reductions (f)

     1.84 (a)      1.94 (a) 

Expenses after expense reductions (f)

     1.83 (a)      1.93 (a) 

Net investment income (loss)

     1.17 (a)      1.35 (a) 

Portfolio turnover

     20 (n)      72  

Net assets at end of period (000 omitted)

     $49       $49  
Class R2    Six months
ended
4/30/19
    Year ended
10/31/18 (i)
 
     (unaudited)        

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $5.65       $5.71  
Income (loss) from investment operations

 

Net investment income (loss) (d)

     $0.04       $0.02  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.10     (0.08

Total from investment operations

     $(0.06     $(0.06
Less distributions declared to shareholders

 

From net investment income

     $(0.17     $—  

Net asset value, end of period (x)

     $5.42       $5.65  

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

     (1.12 )(n)      (1.05 )(n) 
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:

 

Expenses before expense reductions (f)

     1.34 (a)      1.44 (a) 

Expenses after expense reductions (f)

     1.33 (a)      1.43 (a) 

Net investment income (loss)

     1.67 (a)      1.86 (a) 

Portfolio turnover

     20 (n)      72  

Net assets at end of period (000 omitted)

     $49       $49  

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

29


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Consolidated Financial Highlights – continued

 

Class R3    Six months
ended
4/30/19
    Year ended
10/31/18 (i)
 
     (unaudited)        

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $5.65       $5.71  
Income (loss) from investment operations

 

Net investment income (loss) (d)

     $0.05       $0.03  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.10     (0.09

Total from investment operations

     $(0.05     $(0.06
Less distributions declared to shareholders

 

From net investment income

     $(0.17     $—  

Net asset value, end of period (x)

     $5.43       $5.65  

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

     (0.83 )(n)      (1.05 )(n) 
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:

 

Expenses before expense reductions (f)

     1.09 (a)      1.19 (a) 

Expenses after expense reductions (f)

     1.08 (a)      1.18 (a) 

Net investment income (loss)

     1.91 (a)      2.10 (a) 

Portfolio turnover

     20 (n)      72  

Net assets at end of period (000 omitted)

     $49       $49  
Class R4    Six months
ended
4/30/19
    Year ended
10/31/18 (i)
 
     (unaudited)        

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $5.65       $5.71  
Income (loss) from investment operations

 

Net investment income (loss) (d)

     $0.06       $0.03  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.10     (0.09

Total from investment operations

     $(0.04     $(0.06
Less distributions declared to shareholders

 

From net investment income

     $(0.18     $—  

Net asset value, end of period (x)

     $5.43       $5.65  

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

     (0.74 )(n)      (1.05 )(n) 
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:

 

Expenses before expense reductions (f)

     0.84 (a)      0.94 (a) 

Expenses after expense reductions (f)

     0.83 (a)      0.93 (a) 

Net investment income (loss)

     2.16 (a)      2.35 (a) 

Portfolio turnover

     20 (n)      72  

Net assets at end of period (000 omitted)

     $49       $49  

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

30


Table of Contents

Consolidated Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months

ended
4/30/19

    Year ended  
Class R6   10/31/18     10/31/17     10/31/16     10/31/15     10/31/14 (z)     4/30/14  
    (unaudited)                                      

Net asset value,
beginning of
period

    $5.65       $6.00       $5.90       $5.94       $7.90       $9.29       $9.10  
Income (loss) from investment operations

 

                               

Net investment
income
(loss) (d)

    $0.06       $0.09       $0.05 (c)      $0.03       $0.02       $0.00 (w)      $0.02  

Net realized and
unrealized
gain (loss)

    (0.10     (0.25     0.09       (0.04 )(g)      (1.96     (1.39     0.22  

Total from investment
operations

    $(0.04     $(0.16     $0.14       $(0.01     $(1.94     $(1.39     $0.24  
Less distributions declared to shareholders

 

                               

From net
investment
income

    $(0.18     $(0.19     $(0.04     $(0.03     $(0.02     $—       $(0.05

Net asset value, end
of period (x)

    $5.43       $5.65       $6.00       $5.90       $5.94       $7.90       $9.29  

Total return (%)
(r)(s)(t)(x)

    (0.74 )(n)      (2.74     2.32 (c)      (0.20     (24.63     (14.96 )(n)      2.67  
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:

 

                               

Expenses before
expense
reductions (f)

    0.84 (a)      0.84       0.81 (c)      0.82       0.83       0.86 (a)      0.81  

Expenses after
expense
reductions (f)

    0.83 (a)      0.83       0.80 (c)      0.82       0.83       0.85 (a)      0.81  

Net investment
income (loss)

    2.17 (a)      1.46       0.83 (c)      0.45       0.26       0.05 (a)      0.19  

Portfolio turnover

    20 (n)      72       51       32       51       21 (n)      43  

Net assets at end
of period
(000 omitted)

    $600,432       $587,864       $591,976       $563,314       $555,170       $539,510       $547,015  

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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Consolidated Financial Highlights – continued

 

 

(a)

Annualized.

(c)

Amount reflects a one-time reimbursement of expenses by the custodian (or former custodian) without which net investment income and performance would be lower and expenses would be higher.

(d)

Per share data is based on average shares outstanding.

(f)

Ratios do not reflect reductions from fees paid indirectly, if applicable.

(g)

The per share amount varies from the net realized and unrealized gain/loss for the period because of the timing of sales of fund shares and the per share amount of realized and unrealized gains and losses at such time.

(i)

For Class B, Class C, Class R1, Class R2, Class R3, and Class R4, the period is from the class inception, August 15, 2018, through the stated period end.

(n)

Not annualized.

(r)

Certain expenses have been reduced without which performance would have been lower.

(s)

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

(t)

Total returns do not include any applicable sales charges.

(w)

Per share amount was less than $0.01 and total return or ratio was less than 0.01%, as applicable.

(x)

The net asset values and total returns have been calculated on net assets which include adjustments made in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles required at period end for financial reporting purposes.

(z)

For the period May 1, 2014 through October 31, 2014. On June 10, 2014, the fund changed its fiscal year-end from April 30 to October 31.

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

32


Table of Contents

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

(1) Business and Organization

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

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

Principles of Consolidation – The fund gains exposure to the commodities markets by investing a portion of the fund’s assets in the MFS Commodity Strategy Portfolio, a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary organized in the Cayman Islands (“Subsidiary”). The fund will not invest directly in commodities. The fund may invest up to 25% of its assets (at the time of purchase) in the Subsidiary. The Subsidiary has the same objective, strategies, and restrictions as the fund, except that the Subsidiary gains exposure to the commodities market by investing directly in commodity-linked futures, options, and swaps. The fund also invests directly in debt securities, and the Subsidiary may also invest in debt securities. As of April 30, 2019, the Subsidiary’s net assets were $109,213,839, which represented 18.2% of the fund’s net assets. The fund’s financial statements have been consolidated and include the accounts of the fund and the Subsidiary. All inter-fund balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

General – The preparation of Consolidated 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 Consolidated 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 Consolidated Financial Statements, management has evaluated subsequent events occurring after the date of the fund’s Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities through the date that the Consolidated Financial Statements were issued. The fund invests in foreign securities. Investments in foreign securities are vulnerable to the effects of changes in the relative values of the local currency and the U.S. dollar and to the effects of changes in each country’s market, economic, industrial, political, regulatory, geopolitical, and other conditions.

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 has

 

33


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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

evaluated the potential impacts of ASU 2017-08 and 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 Consolidated 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. Swap agreements are generally valued at valuations provided by a third-party pricing service, which for cleared swaps includes an evaluation of any trading activity at the clearinghouses. 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. In determining values, third-party pricing services can utilize both transaction data and market information such as yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics, and other market data. The values of foreign securities and other assets and liabilities expressed in foreign currencies are converted to U.S. dollars using the mean of bid and asked prices for rates provided by a third-party pricing service.

The Board of Trustees has delegated primary responsibility for determining or causing to be determined the value of the fund’s investments (including any fair valuation) to the adviser pursuant to valuation policies and procedures approved by the Board. If the adviser determines that reliable market quotations are not readily available, investments are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the adviser in accordance with such procedures under the oversight of the Board of Trustees. Under the fund’s valuation policies and procedures, market quotations are not considered to be readily available for most types of debt instruments and floating rate loans and many types of derivatives. These investments are generally valued at fair value based on information from third-party pricing services. In addition, investments may be valued at fair value if the adviser determines that an investment’s value has been materially affected by events occurring after the close of the exchange or market on which the investment is principally traded (such as foreign exchange or market) and prior to the determination of the fund’s net asset value, or after the halting of trading of a specific security where

 

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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 and swap agreements. The following is a summary of the levels used as of April 30, 2019 in valuing the fund’s assets or liabilities:

 

Financial Instruments    Level 1      Level 2     Level 3      Total  
U.S. Treasury Bonds & U.S. Government Agency & Equivalents      $—        $150,769,182       $—        $150,769,182  
Non-U.S. Sovereign Debt             11,515,182              11,515,182  
Municipal Bonds             2,689,328              2,689,328  
U.S. Corporate Bonds             109,394,404              109,394,404  
Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities             8,912,920              8,912,920  
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities             29,655,752              29,655,752  
Asset-Backed Securities (including CDOs)             102,169,294              102,169,294  
Foreign Bonds             99,602,814              99,602,814  
Short Term Securities             16,142,817              16,142,817  
Mutual Funds      36,612,902                     36,612,902  
Total      $36,612,902        $530,851,693       $—        $567,464,595  
Other Financial Instruments                           
Futures Contracts – Assets      $53,120        $—       $—        $53,120  
Swap Agreements – Assets             114,187              114,187  
Swap Agreements – Liabilities             (1,190,450            (1,190,450

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

 

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

The derivative instruments used by the fund during the period were futures contracts and swap agreements. 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 Consolidated 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 April 30, 2019 as reported in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities:

 

        Fair Value (a)  
Risk   Derivative Contracts   Asset Derivatives     Liability Derivatives  
Interest Rate   Interest Rate Futures     $53,120       $—  
Commodity   Total Return Swaps     114,187       (1,190,450
Total       $167,307     $ (1,190,450

 

(a)

Values presented in this table for futures contracts correspond to the values reported in the fund’s Consolidated Portfolio of Investments. Only the current day net variation margin for futures contract is separately reported within the Consolidated 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 six months ended April 30, 2019 as reported in the Consolidated Statement of Operations:

 

Risk    Futures
Contracts
     Swap
Agreements
 
Interest Rate      $79,674        $—  
Commodity             (16,623,924
Total      $79,674        $(16,623,924

 

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The following table presents, by major type of derivative contract, the change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation on derivatives held by the fund for the six months ended April 30, 2019 as reported in the Consolidated Statement of Operations:

 

Risk    Futures
Contracts
     Swap
Agreements
 
Interest Rate      $106,790        $—  
Commodity             406,298  
Total      $106,790        $406,298  

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 specified 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 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 an 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 Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities as restricted cash for uncleared derivatives and/or deposits with brokers for cleared derivatives. Securities pledged as collateral or margin for the same purpose, if any, are noted in the Consolidated 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 “Miscellaneous” expense in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

 

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The following table presents the fund’s derivative assets and liabilities (by type) on a gross basis as of April 30, 2019:

 

Gross Amounts of:    Derivative Assets      Derivative Liabilities  
Future Contracts (a)      $9,126        $—  
Swaps, at value      114,187        (1,190,450
Total Gross Amount of Derivative Assets and Liabilities Presented in the Consolidated Statement of Assets & Liabilities      $123,313        $(1,190,450
Less: Derivatives Assets and Liabilities Not Subject to a Master Netting Agreement or Similar Arrangement      9,126         
Total Gross Amount of Derivative Assets and Liabilities Subject to a Master Netting Agreement or Similar Arrangement      $114,187        $(1,190,450

 

(a)

The amount presented here represents the fund’s current day net variation margin for futures contracts. This amount, which is recognized within the fund’s Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities, differs from the fair value of the futures contracts which is presented in the tables that follow the fund’s Consolidated Portfolio of Investments.

The following table presents (by counterparty) the fund’s derivative assets net of amounts available for offset under Master Netting Agreements (or similar arrangements) and net of the related collateral held by the fund at April 30, 2019:

 

          Amounts Not Offset in the
Consolidated Statement of Assets & Liabilities
 
     Gross Amount
of Derivative
Assets Subject
to a Master
Netting
Agreement (or
Similar
Arrangement)
by Counterparty
    Financial
Instruments
Available
for Offset
    Financial
Instruments
Collateral
Received (b)
    Cash
Collateral
Received (b)
    Net Amount
of Derivative
Assets by
Counterparty
 
JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     $4,724       $(4,724     $—       $—       $—  
Merrill Lynch          
International     94,561       (94,561                  
Morgan Stanley     14,902                         14,902  
Total     $114,187       $(99,285     $—       $—       $14,902  

 

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The following table presents (by counterparty) the fund’s derivative liabilities net of amounts available for offset under Master Netting Agreements (or similar arrangements) and net of the related collateral pledged by the fund at April 30, 2019:

 

          Amounts Not Offset in the
Consolidated Statement of Assets & Liabilities
 
     Gross Amounts
of Derivative
Liabilities Subject
to a Master
Netting
Agreement (or
Similar
Arrangement)
by Counterparty
    Financial
Instruments
Available
for Offset
    Financial
Instruments
Collateral
Pledged (b)
    Cash
Collateral
Pledged (b)
    Net Amount
of Derivative
Liabilities by
Counterparty
 
Citibank N.A.     $(34,645     $—       $34,645       $—       $—  
Goldman Sachs International     (365,853           365,853              
JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     (478,166     4,724       473,442              
Merrill Lynch International     (311,786     94,561       217,225              
Total     $(1,190,450     $99,285       $1,091,165       $—       $—  

 

(b)

The amount presented here may be less than the total amount of collateral (received)/pledged as the excess collateral (received)/pledged is not shown for purposes of this presentation.

Futures Contracts – The fund entered into futures contracts which may be used to hedge against or obtain broad market exposure, interest rate exposure, currency 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 specified 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, exchange 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.

Swap Agreements – During the period the fund entered into swap agreements. Swap agreements generally involve a periodic exchange of cash payments on a net basis, at specified intervals or upon the occurrence of specified events, between the fund and a counterparty. Certain swap agreements may be entered into as a bilateral contract

 

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(“uncleared swaps”) while others are required to be centrally cleared (“cleared swaps”). In a cleared swap transaction, the ultimate counterparty to the transaction is a clearinghouse (the “clearinghouse”). The contract is transferred and accepted by the clearinghouse immediately following execution of the swap contract with an executing broker. Thereafter, throughout the term of the cleared swap, the fund interfaces indirectly with the clearinghouse through a clearing broker and has counterparty risk to the clearing broker as well.

Both cleared and uncleared swap agreements are marked to market daily. The value of uncleared swap agreements is reported in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities as “Uncleared swaps, at value” which includes any related interest accruals to be paid or received by the fund. For cleared swaps, payments (variation margin) are made or received by the fund each day, depending on the daily fluctuations in the value of the cleared swap, such that only the current day net receivable or payable for variation margin is reported in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

For both cleared and uncleared swaps, the periodic exchange of net cash payments, at specified intervals or upon the occurrence of specified events as stipulated by the agreement, is recorded as realized gain or loss on swap agreements in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Premiums paid or received at the inception of the agreements are amortized using the effective interest method over the term of the agreement as realized gain or loss on swap agreements in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. A liquidation payment received or made upon early termination is recorded as a realized gain or loss on swap agreements in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. The change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation on swap agreements in the Consolidated Statement of Operations reflects the aggregate change over the reporting period in the value of swaps net of any unamortized premiums paid or received.

Risks related to swap agreements include the possible lack of a liquid market, unfavorable market and interest rate movements of the underlying instrument and the failure of the counterparty to perform under the terms of the agreements. The fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk is the discounted net value of the cash flows to be received from/paid to the counterparty over the contract’s remaining life, to the extent that the amount is positive. To address counterparty risk, uncleared swap agreements are limited to only highly-rated counterparties. Risk is further reduced by having an ISDA Master Agreement between the fund and the counterparty providing for netting as described above and, where applicable, by the posting of collateral by the counterparty to the fund to cover the fund’s exposure to the counterparty under such ISDA Master Agreement. The fund’s counterparty risk due to cleared swaps is mitigated by the fact that the clearinghouse is the true counterparty to the transaction and the regulatory requirement safeguards in the event of a clearing broker bankruptcy.

The fund entered into total return swaps on various commodity indexes in order to gain exposure without having to own the underlying commodities. Under a total return swap the fund pays the counterparty interest (based on a fixed or floating rate) and in return receives a payment equal to the increase in the total return of the reference index. To the extent there is a decline in the total return of the index, the fund pays the counterparty for that decline in addition to making the fixed or floating rate interest

 

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payment. On a monthly basis, the change in the total return of the index is measured to determine the monthly payment due to or from the counterparty. These payments are included in “Due from uncleared swap brokers” or “Due to uncleared swap brokers” in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The total return of the reference index includes changes in the market value of the index and any interest or dividend payments attributable to the index.

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. Some securities may be purchased on a “when-issued” or “forward delivery” basis, which means that the securities will be delivered to the fund at a future date, usually beyond customary settlement time. 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.

The fund may receive proceeds from litigation settlements. Any proceeds received from litigation involving portfolio holdings are reflected in the Consolidated 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 Consolidated Statement of Operations.

The fund invests a significant portion of its assets in asset-backed and/or mortgage-backed securities. For these securities, the value of the debt instrument also depends on the credit quality and adequacy of the underlying assets or collateral as well as whether there is a security interest in the underlying assets or collateral. Enforcing rights, if any, against the underlying assets or collateral may be difficult. U.S. Government securities not supported as to the payment of principal or interest by the U.S. Treasury, such as those issued by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks, are subject to greater credit risk than are U.S. Government securities supported by the U.S. Treasury, such as those issued by Ginnie Mae.

The fund purchased or sold debt securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, or in a “To Be Announced” (TBA) or “forward commitment” transaction with delivery or payment to occur at a later date beyond the normal settlement period. At the time a fund enters into a commitment to purchase or sell a security, the transaction is recorded and the value of the security acquired is reflected in the fund’s net asset value. The price of such security and the date that the security will be delivered and paid for are fixed at the time the transaction is negotiated. The value of the security may vary with market fluctuations. No interest accrues to the fund until payment takes place. At the time that a fund enters into this type of transaction, the fund is required

 

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to have sufficient cash and/or liquid securities to cover its commitments. Losses may arise due to changes in the value of the underlying securities or if the counterparty does not perform under the contract’s terms, or if the issuer does not issue the securities due to political, economic or other factors. Additionally, losses may arise due to declines in the value of the securities prior to settlement date.

To mitigate the counterparty credit risk on TBA securities and other types of forward settling mortgage-backed securities, the fund whenever possible enters into a Master Securities Forward Transaction Agreement (“MSFTA”) on a bilateral basis with each of the counterparties with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. The MSFTA gives each party to the agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under such agreement if there is a specified deterioration in the credit quality of the other party. Upon an event of default or a termination of the MSFTA, the non-defaulting party has the right to close out all transactions traded under such agreement and to net amounts owed under each transaction to one net amount payable by one party to the other. This right to close out and net payments across all transactions traded under the MSFTA 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.

For mortgage-backed securities traded under a MSFTA, the collateral and margining requirements are contract specific. Collateral amounts across all transactions traded under such agreement are netted and an amount is posted from one party to the other to collateralize such obligations. Cash that has been pledged to cover the fund’s collateral or margin obligations under a MSFTA, if any, will be reported separately on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities as restricted cash. Securities pledged as collateral or margin for the same purpose, if any, are noted in the Consolidated Portfolio of Investments.

Tax Matters and Distributions – The fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to distribute all of its taxable income, including realized capital gains. As a result, no provision for federal income tax is required. The fund’s federal tax returns, when filed, will remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for a three year period. 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. Foreign taxes, if any, have been accrued by the fund in the accompanying financial statements in accordance with the applicable foreign tax law. Foreign income taxes may be withheld by certain countries in which the fund invests. Additionally, capital gains realized by the fund on securities issued in or by certain foreign countries may be subject to capital gains tax imposed by those countries.

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

 

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purposes will reverse at some time in the future. Distributions in excess of net investment income or net realized gains are temporary overdistributions for financial statement purposes resulting from differences in the recognition or classification of income or distributions for financial statement and tax purposes.

Book/tax differences primarily relate to amortization and accretion of debt securities and treating the Subsidiary as a separate holding for tax purposes instead of a consolidated entity.

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

 

     Year ended
10/31/18
 
Ordinary income (including any
short-term capital gains)
     $18,500,745  

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

 

As of 4/30/19       
Cost of investments      $566,231,431  
Gross appreciation      2,711,115  
Gross depreciation      (1,477,951
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)      $1,233,164  
As of 10/31/18       
Undistributed ordinary income      16,044,335  
Capital loss carryforwards      (98,195,348
Other temporary differences      149,243,111  
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)      (155,671,285

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

As of October 31, 2018, the fund had capital loss carryforwards available to offset future realized gains. These net capital losses may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Such losses are characterized as follows:

 

Short-Term      $(76,689,367
Long-Term      (21,505,981
Total      $(98,195,348

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

 

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approximately ten years after purchase. The fund’s distributions declared to shareholders as reported in the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Net Assets are presented by class as follows:

 

     From net investment
income
 
     Six months
ended
4/30/19
     Year
ended
10/31/18
 
Class A      $1,840        $1,416  
Class B      1,445         
Class C      1,355         
Class I      1,502        1,543  
Class R1      1,356         
Class R2      1,450         
Class R3      1,497         
Class R4      1,545         
Class R6      18,488,731        18,497,786  
Total      $18,500,721        $18,500,745  

(3) Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Adviser – The fund and the Subsidiary have investment advisory agreements with MFS to provide overall investment management and related administrative services and facilities to the fund. The management fee is computed daily and paid monthly at the following annual rates based on the fund’s average daily net assets:

 

Up to $1 billion      0.75
In excess of $1 billion      0.70

The Subsidiary does not pay a management fee to MFS.

MFS has agreed in writing to reduce its management fee by a specified amount if certain MFS mutual fund assets exceed thresholds agreed to by MFS and the fund’s Board of Trustees. For the six months ended April 30, 2019, this management fee reduction amounted to $28,649, which is included in the reduction of total expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. The management fee incurred for the six months ended April 30, 2019 was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.74% of the fund’s average daily net assets.

Distributor – MFS Fund Distributors, Inc. (MFD), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MFS, as distributor, received $291 for the six months ended April 30, 2019, as its portion of the initial sales charge on sales of Class A shares of the fund.

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

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

 

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Distribution Plan Fee Table:

 

     Distribution
Fee Rate (d)
     Service
Fee Rate (d)
     Total
Distribution
Plan (d)
     Annual
Effective
Rate (e)
     Distribution
and Service
Fee
 
Class A             0.25%        0.25%        0.25%        $106  
Class B      0.75%        0.25%        1.00%        1.00%        251  
Class C      0.75%        0.25%        1.00%        1.00%        256  
Class R1      0.75%        0.25%        1.00%        1.00%        239  
Class R2      0.25%        0.25%        0.50%        0.50%        120  
Class R3             0.25%        0.25%        0.25%        60  
Total Distribution and Service Fees

 

           $1,032  

 

(d)

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

(e)

The annual effective rates represent actual fees incurred under the distribution plan for the six months ended April 30, 2019 based on each class’s average daily net assets. MFD has voluntarily agreed to rebate a portion of each class’s 0.25% service fee attributable to accounts for which MFD retains the 0.25% service fee except for accounts attributable to MFS or its affiliates’ seed money. There were no service fee rebates for the period ending April 30, 2019.

Certain Class A shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) in the event of a shareholder redemption within 18 months of purchase. Class B shares are subject to a CDSC in the event of a shareholder redemption within six years of purchase. Class C shares are subject to a CDSC in the event of a shareholder redemption within 12 months of purchase. There were no contingent deferred sales charges imposed during the six months ended April 30, 2019.

Shareholder Servicing Agent – MFS Service Center, Inc. (MFSC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MFS, receives a fee from the fund for its services as shareholder servicing agent calculated as a percentage of the average daily net assets of the fund as determined periodically under the supervision of the fund’s Board of Trustees. For the six months ended April 30, 2019, the fee was $387, which equated to 0.0001% annually of the fund’s average daily net assets. MFSC also receives payment from the fund for out-of-pocket expenses, sub-accounting and other shareholder servicing costs which may be paid to affiliated and unaffiliated service providers. Class R6 shares do not incur sub-accounting fees. For the six months ended April 30, 2019, these out-of-pocket expenses, sub-accounting and other shareholder servicing costs amounted to $186.

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. The administrative services fee incurred for the six months ended April 30, 2019 was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.0154% of the fund’s average daily net assets.

Trustees’ and Officers’ Compensation – The fund pays compensation to independent Trustees in the form of a retainer, attendance fees, and additional

 

45


Table of Contents

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

compensation to Board and Committee chairpersons. The fund does not pay compensation directly to Trustees or officers of the fund who are also officers of the investment adviser, all of whom receive remuneration for their services to the fund from MFS. Certain officers and Trustees of the fund are officers or directors of MFS, MFD, and MFSC.

Other – This fund and certain other funds managed by MFS (the funds) have entered into 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 six months ended April 30, 2019, the fee paid by the fund under this agreement was $519 and is included in “Miscellaneous” expense in the Consolidated 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.

On August 15, 2018, MFS purchased 8,757 shares each of Class B, Class C, Class R1, Class R2, Class R3, and Class R4 for an aggregate amount of $300,000 as an initial investment in the class.

At April 30, 2019, MFS held approximately 81% and 65% of the outstanding shares of Class C and Class I, respectively, and 100% of the outstanding shares of Class B, Class R1, Class R2, Class R3, and Class R4.

(4) Portfolio Securities

For the six months ended April 30, 2019, purchases and sales of investments, other than short-term obligations, were as follows:

 

     Purchases      Sales  
U.S. Government securities      $13,977,625        $13,759,968  
Non-U.S. Government securities      $100,821,400        $81,147,085  

 

46


Table of Contents

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

(5) Shares of Beneficial Interest

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

 

     Six months ended
4/30/19
    Year ended
10/31/18 (i)
 
     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount  
Shares sold         

Class A

     26,591       $144,466       2,739       $15,758  

Class B

     52       275       9,284       53,114  

Class C

     2,118       11,295       8,756       50,000  

Class I

     4,735       25,000              

Class R1

                 8,756       50,000  

Class R2

                 8,757       50,000  

Class R3

                 8,757       50,000  

Class R4

                 8,757       50,000  

Class R6

     6,020,290       32,220,754       17,803,093       104,027,255  
     6,053,786       $32,401,790       17,858,899       $104,346,127  
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions         

Class A

     342       $1,840       249       $1,416  

Class B

     269       1,445              

Class C

     252       1,355              

Class I

     280       1,502       272       1,543  

Class R1

     253       1,356              

Class R2

     269       1,450              

Class R3

     278       1,497              

Class R4

     287       1,545              

Class R6

     3,436,567       18,488,731       3,250,929       18,497,786  
     3,438,797       $18,500,721       3,251,450       $18,500,745  
Shares reacquired         

Class B

     (584     $(3,156           $—  

Class R6

     (2,892,395     (15,615,682     (15,685,327     (93,166,749
     (2,892,979     $(15,618,838     (15,685,327     $(93,166,749
Net change         

Class A

     26,933       $146,306       2,988       $17,174  

Class B

     (263     (1,436     9,284       53,114  

Class C

     2,370       12,650       8,756       50,000  

Class I

     5,015       26,502       272       1,543  

Class R1

     253       1,356       8,756       50,000  

Class R2

     269       1,450       8,757       50,000  

Class R3

     278       1,497       8,757       50,000  

Class R4

     287       1,545       8,757       50,000  

Class R6

     6,564,462       35,093,803       5,368,695       29,358,292  
     6,599,604       $35,283,673       5,425,022       $29,680,123  

 

(i)

For Class B, Class C, Class R1, Class R2, Class R3, and Class R4, the period is from the class inception, August 15, 2018, through the stated period end.

 

47


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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

Class T shares were not publicly available for sale during the period. Please see the fund’s prospectus for details.

Effective June 1, 2019, purchases of the fund’s Class B shares are closed to new and existing investors subject to certain exceptions. Please see the fund’s prospectus for details.

The fund is one of several mutual funds in which certain MFS funds may invest. The MFS funds do not invest in the underlying funds for the purpose of exercising management or control. At the end of the period, the MFS Growth Allocation Fund, the MFS Moderate Allocation Fund, the MFS Aggressive Growth Allocation Fund, the MFS Conservative Allocation Fund, the MFS Lifetime 2040 Fund, the MFS Lifetime 2030 Fund, the MFS Lifetime Income Fund, the MFS Lifetime 2035 Fund, the MFS Lifetime 2050 Fund, the MFS Lifetime 2045 Fund, the MFS Lifetime 2020 Fund, and the MFS Lifetime 2025 Fund were the owners of record of approximately 32%, 27%, 15%, 9%, 3%, 3%, 2%, 2%, 2%, 2%, 1%, and 1%, respectively, of the value of outstanding voting shares of the fund. In addition, the MFS Lifetime 2055 Fund and the MFS Lifetime 2060 Fund were each the owners of record of less than 1% of the value of outstanding voting shares of the fund.

(6) Line of Credit

The fund and certain other funds managed by MFS participate in a $1.25 billion unsecured committed line of credit, subject to a $1 billion sublimit, provided by a syndicate 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 highest of one month LIBOR, the Federal Funds Effective Rate and the Overnight Bank Funding Rate, 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. 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 rates equal to customary reference rates plus an agreed upon spread. For the six months ended April 30, 2019, the fund’s commitment fee and interest expense were $1,824 and $0, respectively, and are included in “Miscellaneous” expense in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

(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
Value
    Purchases     Sales
Proceeds
    Realized
Gain
(Loss)
    Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation or
Depreciation
    Ending
Value
 
MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio     $67,288,030       $111,093,221       $141,770,795       $1,821       $625       $36,612,902  
Affiliated Issuers                               Dividend
Income
    Capital Gain
Distributions
 
MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio

 

        $528,569       $—  

 

48


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 files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q or as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT (for first and third fiscal quarters ending March 31, 2019 or after). The fund’s Form N-Q or Form N-PORT reports are available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. A shareholder can obtain the portfolio holdings report for the first and third quarters of the fund’s fiscal year at mfs.com/openendfunds by choosing the fund’s name and then selecting the “Resources” tab and clicking on “Prospectus and Reports”.

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/openendfunds by choosing the fund’s name.

INFORMATION ABOUT FUND CONTRACTS AND LEGAL CLAIMS

The fund has entered into contractual arrangements with an investment adviser, administrator, distributor, shareholder servicing agent, 529 program manager (if applicable), 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 and Declaration of Trust, 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.

PROVISION OF FINANCIAL REPORTS AND SUMMARY PROSPECTUSES

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

 

49


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

Save paper with eDelivery.

 

LOGO

MFS® will send you prospectuses,

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

To sign up:

1. Go to mfs.com.

2. Log in via MFS® Access.

3. Select eDelivery.

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

 

CONTACT

WEB SITE

mfs.com

MFS TALK

1-800-637-8255

24 hours a day

ACCOUNT SERVICE AND LITERATURE

Shareholders

1-800-225-2606

Financial advisors

1-800-343-2829

Retirement plan services

1-800-637-1255

MAILING ADDRESS

MFS Service Center, Inc.

P.O. Box 219341

Kansas City, MO 64121-9341

OVERNIGHT MAIL

MFS Service Center, Inc.

Suite 219341

430 W 7th Street

Kansas City, MO 64105-1407

 


Table of Contents

Semiannual Report

April 30, 2019

 

LOGO

 

MFS® Global Alternative Strategy Fund

 

LOGO

 

Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the fund’s annual and semiannual shareholder reports will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the complete reports will be made available on the fund’s Web site (funds.mfs.com), and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a Web site link to access the report.

If you are already signed up to receive shareholder reports by email, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may sign up to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the fund by email by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank) or, if you hold your shares directly with the fund, by calling 1-800-225-2606 or by logging on to MFS Access at mfs.com.

Beginning on January 1, 2019, you may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. Contact your financial intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports. If you invest directly with the fund, you can call 1-800-225-2606 or send an email request to orderliterature@mfs.com to let the fund know that you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all funds held in your account if you invest through your financial intermediary or all funds held with the MFS fund complex if you invest directly.

 

DTR-SEM

 


Table of Contents

MFS® Global Alternative Strategy Fund

 

CONTENTS

 

Letter from the Executive Chairman     1  
Portfolio composition     2  
Expense table     4  
Portfolio of investments     6  
Statement of assets and liabilities     36  
Statement of operations     38  
Statements of changes in net assets     39  
Financial highlights     40  
Notes to financial statements     50  
Proxy voting policies and information     68  
Quarterly portfolio disclosure     68  
Further information     68  
Information about fund contracts and legal claims     68  
Provision of financial reports and summary prospectuses     68  
Contact information    back cover

 

 

 

The report is prepared for the general information of shareholders.

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

 

NOT FDIC INSURED MAY LOSE VALUE NO BANK GUARANTEE



Table of Contents

LOGO

 

LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN

 

Dear Shareholders:

Markets experienced a bout of volatility in late 2018 as a result of higher interest rates, international trade friction, and geopolitical uncertainty surrounding issues such as

Brexit. Those concerns dissipated in the early months of 2019 due to the more dovish posture of the U.S. Federal Reserve and other global central banks, reported progress toward a trade pact between the United States and China, and action against a no-deal Brexit by the British Parliament. However, a last-minute breakdown in negotiations between the U.S. and China derailed the market’s momentum and increased concerns over the future pace of global growth. Compounding Brexit uncertainty was the resignation of British Prime Minister Theresa May, potentially ushering in a harder form of Brexit than she had advocated. U.S. equities have continued to outperform their global peers due in

part to fiscal stimulus undertaken in late 2017 and early 2018, which contributed to the continuation of relatively healthy levels of U.S. economic output against a backdrop of slower global growth. Inflation remains largely subdued globally, which is encouraging for asset markets. Rising incomes in many developed and emerging markets are supportive of gains in consumption, though a challenging environment for global trade has hindered manufacturing in most regions.

Since launching the first U.S. open-end mutual fund in 1924, MFS® has been committed to a single purpose: to create value by allocating capital responsibly for clients. Through our powerful global investment platform, we combine collective expertise, thoughtful risk management, and long-term discipline to uncover what we believe are the best investment opportunities in the market.

Respectfully,

 

LOGO

Robert J. Manning

Executive Chairman

MFS Investment Management

June 17, 2019

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

 

              Derivative Overlay
Positions (b)
       
         

Active Security

Selection (a)

    Long     Short     Net Market
Exposure (c)
 
Fixed Income   U.S.     18.4%       35.6%       (11.9)%       42.1%  
  Japan     0.0%       9.3%       0.0%       9.3%  
  United Kingdom     0.4%       2.1%       0.0%       2.5%  
  Europe ex-U.K.     0.8%       0.7%       0.0%       1.5%  
  Emerging Markets     0.3%       0.0%       0.0%       0.3%  
  Asia/Pacific ex-Japan     0.3%       0.0%       (2.7)%       (2.4)%  
    North America ex-U.S.     0.0%       0.0%       (10.6)%       (10.6)%  
Equity   Europe ex-U.K.     9.0%       7.2%       (2.9)%       13.3%  
  U.S. Large Cap     28.2%       0.0%       (18.0)%       10.2%  
  United Kingdom     3.4%       1.3%       0.0%       4.7%  
  Emerging Markets     2.3%       5.1%       (6.0)%       1.4%  
  North America ex-U.S.     1.0%       0.0%       0.0%       1.0%  
  Asia/Pacific ex-Japan     1.1%       3.6%       (4.0)%       0.7%  
  Japan     3.0%       0.0%       (2.6)%       0.4%  
  U.S Small/Mid Cap     19.1%       0.0%       (19.0)%       0.1%  
    Developed - Middle East/Africa     0.1%       0.0%       0.0%       0.1%  
Cash   Cash & Cash Equivalent (d)                             12.6%  
  Other (e)                             12.8%  

 

Top ten holdings (c)

 

USD Interest Rate Swap, Receive 2.437% - APR 2021     24.3%  
USD Interest Rate Swap, Receive 2.533% - MAR 2024     11.4%  
Japan Government Bond 10 yr Future - JUN 2019     9.3%  
S&P/ASX 200 Index Future - JUN 2019     (3.8)%  
U.S. Treasury Note 10 yr Future - JUN 2019     (4.1)%  
USD Interest Rate Swap, Pay 2.482% - APR 2029     (5.3)%  
S&P MidCap 400 Index Future - JUN 2019     (9.1)%  
Russell 2000 Index Future - JUN 2019     (9.8)%  
Canadian Treasury Bond 10 yr Future - JUN 2019     (10.6)%  
S&P 500 Index Future - JUN 2019     (18.0)%  

 

2


Table of Contents

Portfolio Composition – continued

 

(a)

Represents the actively managed portion of the portfolio and for purposes of this presentation, components include the value of securities, less any securities sold short. The bond component will include any accrued interest amounts. This also reflects the equivalent exposure of certain derivative positions. These amounts may be negative from time to time.

(b)

Represents the tactical overlay portion of the portfolio which is how the fund manages its exposure to markets and currencies through the use of derivative positions. Percentages reflect the equivalent exposure of those derivative positions.

(c)

For purposes of this presentation, the components include the value of securities, less any securities sold short, and reflect the impact of the equivalent exposure of all derivative positions. These amounts may be negative from time to time. The bond component will include any accrued interest amounts.

(d)

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.

(e)

Other includes currency derivatives and/or the offsetting of the leverage produced by the fund’s derivative positions, including payables and/or receivables of the finance leg of interest rate swaps and the unrealized gain or loss in connection with forward currency exchange contracts.

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 value of derivatives may be different.

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

Percentages are based on net assets as of April 30, 2019.

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

 

3


Table of Contents

EXPENSE TABLE

Fund expenses borne by the shareholders during the period, November 1, 2018 through April 30, 2019

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

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period November 1, 2018 through April 30, 2019.

Actual Expenses

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

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

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

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

 

4


Table of Contents

Expense Table – continued

 

Share
Class
       Annualized
Expense
Ratio
    Beginning
Account Value
11/01/18
   

Ending

Account Value
4/30/19

   

Expenses

Paid During
Period (p)

11/01/18-4/30/19

 
A   Actual     1.35%       $1,000.00       $1,057.06       $6.89  
  Hypothetical (h)     1.35%       $1,000.00       $1,018.10       $6.76  
B   Actual     2.10%       $1,000.00       $1,053.99       $10.69  
  Hypothetical (h)     2.10%       $1,000.00       $1,014.38       $10.49  
C   Actual     2.10%       $1,000.00       $1,052.79       $10.69  
  Hypothetical (h)     2.10%       $1,000.00       $1,014.38       $10.49  
I   Actual     1.10%       $1,000.00       $1,058.95       $5.62  
  Hypothetical (h)     1.10%       $1,000.00       $1,019.34       $5.51  
R1   Actual     2.10%       $1,000.00       $1,053.50       $10.69  
  Hypothetical (h)     2.10%       $1,000.00       $1,014.38       $10.49  
R2   Actual     1.60%       $1,000.00       $1,055.01       $8.15  
  Hypothetical (h)     1.60%       $1,000.00       $1,016.86       $8.00  
R3   Actual     1.35%       $1,000.00       $1,056.85       $6.88  
  Hypothetical (h)     1.35%       $1,000.00       $1,018.10       $6.76  
R4   Actual     1.10%       $1,000.00       $1,058.77       $5.62  
  Hypothetical (h)     1.10%       $1,000.00       $1,019.34       $5.51  
R6   Actual     1.03%       $1,000.00       $1,059.29       $5.26  
  Hypothetical (h)     1.03%       $1,000.00       $1,019.69       $5.16  

 

(h)

5% class return per year before expenses.

(p)

“Expenses Paid During Period” are equal to each class’s annualized expense ratio, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). Expenses paid do not include any applicable sales charges (loads). If these transaction costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.

Notes to Expense Table

Expense ratios include 0.06% of interest expense on uncovered collateral or margin obligations with the broker (See Note 2 of the Notes to Financial Statements) that are outside of the expense limitation arrangement (See Note 3 of the Notes to Financial Statements).

 

5


Table of Contents

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

4/30/19 (unaudited)

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

 

Common Stocks - 66.9%                 
Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Aerospace - 1.6%                 
Boeing Co. (f)      2,047     $ 773,131  
CACI International, Inc., “A” (a)      2,307       449,727  
Cubic Corp.      986       55,985  
Curtiss-Wright Corp.      461       52,526  
FLIR Systems, Inc.      1,307       69,193  
Harris Corp.      1,228       206,918  
Honeywell International, Inc.      291       50,526  
L3 Technologies, Inc.      255       55,738  
Leidos Holdings, Inc.      5,000       367,400  
Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad      8,800       16,240  
ManTech International Corp., “A”      734       45,501  
Northrop Grumman Corp.      102       29,571  
Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC      26,507       316,133  
Saab AB, “B”      2,194       72,193  
Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd.      26,800       78,029  
TransDigm Group, Inc. (a)      167       80,581  
United Technologies Corp.      273       38,932  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,758,324  
Airlines - 0.1%                 
Aena S.A.      254     $ 47,106  
Alaska Air Group, Inc.      407       25,193  
Delta Air Lines, Inc.      1,103       64,294  
Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte S.A.B. de C.V.      10,631       65,498  
    

 

 

 
             $ 202,091  
Alcoholic Beverages - 1.4%                 
Ambev S.A., ADR      5,975     $ 28,142  
China Resources Beer Holdings Co. Ltd.      44,000       201,076  
Compania Cervecerias Unidas S.A., ADR      2,930       80,692  
Constellation Brands, Inc., “A”      1,324       280,251  
Diageo PLC      6,799       286,679  
Heineken N.V.      3,616       390,321  
Molson Coors Brewing Co.      7,152       459,087  
Pernod Ricard S.A.      4,823       840,362  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,566,610  
Apparel Manufacturers - 0.9%                 
Adidas AG      286     $ 73,490  
Coats Group PLC      65,499       73,795  

 

6


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Apparel Manufacturers - continued                 
Compagnie Financiere Richemont S.A.      2,508     $ 183,371  
Hanesbrands, Inc.      1,283       23,184  
Levi Strauss & Co., “A” (a)      3,054       68,440  
LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE      2,100       822,138  
NIKE, Inc., “B”      2,105       184,882  
PVH Corp.      336       43,341  
Skechers USA, Inc., “A” (a)      5,174       163,809  
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,636,450  
Automotive - 0.6%                 
Copart, Inc. (a)      1,535     $ 103,336  
Harley-Davidson, Inc.      822       30,603  
Hella KGaA Hueck & Co.      699       37,992  
KAR Auction Services, Inc.      1,133       63,992  
Koito Manufacturing Co. Ltd.      1,300       77,638  
Lear Corp.      2,171       310,453  
LKQ Corp. (a)      2,517       75,762  
NGK Spark Plug Co. Ltd      3,200       61,632  
Stoneridge, Inc. (a)      2,202       69,209  
USS Co. Ltd.      8,300       158,952  
Visteon Corp. (a)      1,387       91,570  
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,081,139  
Biotechnology - 0.7%                 
Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. (a)      1,031     $ 20,764  
Alder Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)      2,275       30,917  
Amgen, Inc.      778       139,511  
Amicus Therapeutics, Inc. (a)      2,520       33,617  
Biogen, Inc. (a)(f)      1,433       328,501  
Bio-Techne Corp.      1,325       271,082  
Gilead Sciences, Inc.      1,380       89,755  
Immunomedics, Inc. (a)      1,149       18,407  
Morphosys AG, ADR (a)      1,155       28,482  
Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. (a)      325       23,478  
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)      207       71,030  
Tricida, Inc. (a)      652       22,338  
Twist Bioscience Corp.      425       10,056  
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)      675       114,061  
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,201,999  
Broadcasting - 0.3%                 
Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc.      1,491     $ 34,293  
Netflix, Inc. (a)      1,565       579,895  
    

 

 

 
             $ 614,188  

 

7


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Brokerage & Asset Managers - 1.4%                 
Apollo Global Management LLC, “A”      2,185     $ 71,428  
ASX Ltd.      1,565       82,192  
BlackRock, Inc.      538       261,059  
Blackstone Group LP      1,019       40,210  
CME Group, Inc.      195       34,886  
Computershare Ltd.      9,825       123,493  
Daiwa Securities Group, Inc.      14,400       66,904  
Euronext N.V.      1,020       70,873  
Hamilton Lane, Inc., “A”      1,052       51,401  
HealthEquity, Inc. (a)      530       35,907  
IG Group Holdings PLC      10,314       68,565  
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.      1,121       91,193  
Invesco Ltd.      2,014       44,248  
NASDAQ, Inc. (f)      7,554       696,479  
Raymond James Financial, Inc.      655       59,978  
Schroders PLC      2,030       83,834  
TD Ameritrade Holding Corp. (f)      8,533       448,665  
TMX Group Ltd.      3,070       195,837  
WisdomTree Investments, Inc.      5,106       36,763  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,563,915  
Business Services - 4.0%                 
Accenture PLC, “A” (f)      6,251     $ 1,141,870  
Amdocs Ltd.      1,081       59,541  
Ashtead Group PLC      3,755       103,904  
BrightView Holdings, Inc. (a)      3,695       59,268  
Bunzl PLC      3,941       118,661  
CarGurus, Inc. (a)      1,267       51,618  
Cerved Information Solutions S.p.A.      1,657       16,169  
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., “A”      1,437       104,843  
Compass Group PLC      14,178       322,248  
CoStar Group, Inc. (a)      226       112,152  
Doshisha Co. Ltd.      3,700       59,156  
DXC Technology Co. (s)      6,177       406,076  
Edenred      485       22,852  
Endava PLC, ADR (a)      2,419       79,996  
Equifax, Inc.      2,214       278,853  
EVO Payments, Inc., “A” (a)      1,312       38,980  
Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.      4,238       491,311  
First Data Corp. (a)      2,493       64,469  
Fiserv, Inc. (a)(f)      9,350       815,694  
FleetCor Technologies, Inc. (a)      547       142,740  
Global Payments, Inc.      3,785       552,875  

 

8


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Business Services - continued                 
Intertek Group PLC      2,307     $ 160,946  
Meitec Corp.      2,500       116,212  
MSCI, Inc.      1,176       265,047  
Nomura Research Institute Ltd.      3,600       176,115  
PRA Group, Inc. (a)      1,531       43,052  
SGS S.A.      77       203,202  
Sodexo      942       108,032  
Total System Services, Inc.      1,365       139,558  
TransUnion      1,970       137,210  
Verisk Analytics, Inc., “A” (f)      2,491       351,580  
WNS (Holdings) Ltd., ADR (a)      1,313       75,038  
Worldpay, Inc. (a)      2,156       252,705  
    

 

 

 
             $ 7,071,973  
Cable TV - 0.5%                 
Altice USA, Inc.      3,092     $ 72,847  
Comcast Corp., “A” (f)      17,696       770,307  
    

 

 

 
             $ 843,154  
Chemicals - 1.1%                 
3M Co.      996     $ 188,752  
Celanese Corp.      412       44,451  
CF Industries Holdings, Inc.      5,366       240,289  
DowDuPont, Inc.      637       24,493  
Eastman Chemical Co.      785       61,921  
FMC Corp.      990       78,269  
Givaudan S.A.      149       385,898  
Ingevity Corp. (a)      484       55,665  
LyondellBasell Industries N.V., “A”      4,616       407,270  
PPG Industries, Inc.      3,824       449,320  
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,936,328  
Computer Software - 4.4%                 
8x8, Inc. (a)      2,334     $ 55,829  
Adobe Systems, Inc. (a)(f)      4,892       1,415,011  
ANSYS, Inc. (a)      1,515       296,637  
Autodesk, Inc. (a)      1,153       205,476  
Avalara, Inc. (a)      919       54,101  
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (a)(f)      12,097       839,290  
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (a)      455       54,946  
Dassault Systemes S.A.      2,150       340,134  
DocuSign, Inc. (a)      766       43,409  
EMIS Group PLC      5,910       86,160  
Everbridge, Inc. (a)      936       69,161  

 

9


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Computer Software - continued                 
Microsoft Corp. (f)      13,713     $ 1,790,918  
OBIC Co. Ltd.      5,300       615,014  
Okta, Inc. (a)      2,056       213,886  
Oracle Corp.      1,517       83,936  
Pagerduty, Inc.      810       37,989  
Paylocity Holding Corp. (a)      626       60,440  
PTC, Inc. (a)      1,147       103,769  
RingCentral, Inc. (a)      322       37,471  
Salesforce.com, Inc. (a)      2,123       351,038  
SAP SE      5,075       652,203  
Veeva Systems, Inc.      247       34,548  
VeriSign, Inc.      1,037       204,756  
Zendesk, Inc. (a)      803       70,487  
    

 

 

 
             $ 7,716,609  
Computer Software - Systems - 2.6%                 
Amadeus IT Group S.A.      11,622     $ 924,459  
Apple, Inc.      3,409       684,084  
Box, Inc. (a)      2,545       52,478  
Constellation Software, Inc.      59       52,058  
EPAM Systems, Inc. (a)      335       60,086  
Five9, Inc. (a)      407       21,600  
Hitachi Ltd.      10,700       356,373  
International Business Machines Corp.      2,405       337,349  
Model N, Inc. (a)      2,237       41,474  
NCR Corp. (a)      1,012       29,297  
NICE Systems Ltd., ADR (a)      407       56,109  
Pluralsight, Inc., “A” (a)      1,297       46,031  
Presidio, Inc.      2,893       43,453  
Proofpoint, Inc. (a)      390       48,914  
Q2 Holdings, Inc. (a)      884       66,671  
Rapid7, Inc. (a)      1,191       64,719  
RealPage, Inc. (a)      773       50,407  
ServiceNow, Inc. (a)      2,347       637,234  
SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc.      2,235       151,220  
Tableau Software, Inc., “A”      2,399       292,222  
Tech Data Corp. (a)      3,019       321,856  
Temenos Group AG      155       25,769  
Venture Corp. Ltd.      6,600       82,348  
Verint Systems, Inc. (a)      1,484       89,619  
Workday, Inc.      486       99,936  
Zebra Technologies Corp., “A” (a)      182       38,427  
    

 

 

 
             $ 4,674,193  

 

10


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Conglomerates - 0.1%                 
DCC PLC      1,482     $ 132,340  
Melrose Industries PLC      13,514       35,632  
    

 

 

 
             $ 167,972  
Construction - 1.6%                 
Bellway PLC      2,405     $ 97,596  
Eagle Materials, Inc.      510       46,364  
Forterra PLC      19,824       80,653  
Foundation Building Materials, Inc. (a)      3,334       45,309  
Geberit AG      231       96,871  
GMS, Inc. (a)      2,661       46,887  
Lennox International, Inc.      240       65,148  
Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc., REIT      532       58,206  
Mohawk Industries, Inc. (a)      211       28,749  
Owens Corning      2,796       143,351  
Reliance Worldwide Corp.      27,156       93,421  
Sherwin-Williams Co.      1,220       554,893  
Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.      561       82,243  
Summit Materials, Inc., “A” (a)      3,772       66,085  
Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd.      10,500       75,891  
Toll Brothers, Inc. (f)      20,015       762,571  
Toto Ltd.      1,700       71,850  
Vulcan Materials Co.      2,765       348,694  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,764,782  
Consumer Products - 1.9%                 
Colgate-Palmolive Co.      7,645     $ 556,480  
Estee Lauder Cos., Inc., “A”      879       151,021  
Kao Corp.      4,700       362,354  
Kimberly-Clark Corp.      187       24,007  
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.      11,600       926,615  
L’Oréal S.A.      2,533       696,332  
Newell Brands, Inc.      4,059       58,368  
Prestige Brands Holdings, Inc. (a)      981       28,861  
Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC      7,261       586,753  
Sensient Technologies Corp.      925       64,861  
    

 

 

 
             $ 3,455,652  
Consumer Services - 0.9%                 
51job, Inc., ADR (a)      167     $ 15,421  
Asante, Inc.      4,100       80,058  
Bookings Holdings, Inc. (a)      160       296,798  
Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Inc. (a)      3,466       444,168  
Kroton Educacional S.A.      25,934       64,576  

 

11


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Consumer Services - continued                 
MakeMyTrip Ltd. (a)      5,491     $ 138,428  
OneSpaWorld Holdings Ltd. (a)      3,234       43,918  
Planet Fitness, Inc. (a)      6,823       516,501  
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,599,868  
Containers - 0.3%                 
Berry Global Group, Inc. (a)      3,019     $ 177,517  
Brambles Ltd.      8,216       69,792  
Graphic Packaging Holding Co.      11,043       153,277  
Sealed Air Corp.      871       40,606  
WestRock Co.      917       35,194  
    

 

 

 
             $ 476,386  
Electrical Equipment - 1.8%                 
AMETEK, Inc.      3,710     $ 327,111  
Amphenol Corp., “A”      2,762       274,985  
CTS Corp.      1,172       35,101  
HD Supply Holdings, Inc. (a)      3,530       161,286  
IMI PLC      9,174       125,670  
Johnson Controls International PLC      7,701       288,787  
Legrand S.A.      1,059       77,823  
Littlefuse, Inc.      827       166,268  
Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. (a)      689       513,484  
Resideo Technologies, Inc. (a)      3,326       75,500  
Rockwell Automation, Inc.      1,213       219,201  
Schneider Electric S.A.      6,607       559,190  
Sensata Technologies Holding PLC (a)      1,199       59,878  
Spectris PLC      3,697       132,478  
TE Connectivity Ltd.      691       66,094  
TriMas Corp. (a)      1,416       43,797  
WESCO International, Inc. (a)      698       39,954  
    

 

 

 
             $ 3,166,607  
Electronics - 2.4%                 
Analog Devices, Inc.      4,002     $ 465,192  
ASM International N.V.      440       29,887  
Broadcom, Inc.      1,033       328,907  
Brooks Automation, Inc.      1,355       50,826  
Halma PLC      31,750       745,029  
Intel Corp.      7,915       403,982  
IPG Photonics Corp. (a)      144       25,161  
Keysight Technologies, Inc. (a)      714       62,139  
Kyocera Corp.      400       25,725  
Marvell Technology Group Ltd.      2,245       56,170  

 

12


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Electronics - continued                 
Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.      937     $ 56,220  
Mellanox Technologies Ltd. (a)      377       45,353  
Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.      1,199       186,696  
nLIGHT, Inc. (a)      2,823       73,765  
OSI Systems, Inc. (a)      244       21,992  
Plexus Corp. (a)      696       41,885  
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.      782       30,694  
Silicon Laboratories, Inc. (a)      454       48,878  
Silicon Motion Technology Corp., ADR      2,693       102,980  
Stanley Electric Co. Ltd.      2,500       67,818  
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd.      11,654       97,679  
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd., ADR      17,835       781,530  
Texas Instruments, Inc.      3,749       441,745  
    

 

 

 
             $ 4,190,253  
Energy - Independent - 1.0%                 
Cabot Oil & Gas Corp.      2,088     $ 54,058  
Cairn Energy PLC (a)      12,912       28,825  
Caltex Australia Ltd.      2,154       41,317  
Concho Resources, Inc.      198       22,845  
Diamondback Energy, Inc.      124       13,192  
EOG Resources, Inc.      321       30,832  
Hess Corp.      815       52,258  
Marathon Petroleum Corp.      6,710       408,438  
Matador Resources Co. (a)      1,318       25,951  
Oil Search Ltd.      5,811       31,871  
Parsley Energy, Inc., “A” (a)      2,499       49,880  
Phillips 66      5,696       536,962  
Pioneer Natural Resources Co.      471       78,403  
Valero Energy Corp.      3,381       306,522  
WPX Energy, Inc. (a)      7,201       100,022  
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,781,376  
Energy - Integrated - 0.3%                 
BP PLC      15,017     $ 109,464  
BP PLC, ADR      1,215       53,132  
Chevron Corp.      552       66,273  
Eni S.p.A.      3,587       61,225  
Exxon Mobil Corp.      2,969       238,351  
Galp Energia SGPS S.A.      4,005       67,246  
    

 

 

 
             $ 595,691  

 

13


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Engineering - Construction - 0.1%                 
Construction Partners, Inc., “A” (a)      2,664     $ 34,898  
KBR, Inc.      7,036       156,340  
    

 

 

 
             $ 191,238  
Entertainment - 0.2%                 
CTS Eventim AG      750     $ 38,392  
IMAX Corp. (a)      2,376       57,927  
Live Nation, Inc. (a)      444       29,011  
Manchester United PLC, “A”      2,183       43,027  
Merlin Entertainments PLC      25,149       120,093  
    

 

 

 
             $ 288,450  
Food & Beverages - 2.8%                 
Archer Daniels Midland Co.      1,278     $ 56,999  
Beazley PLC      39,941       299,998  
Britvic PLC      8,180       97,441  
Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.      847       34,820  
Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprungli AG      19       126,331  
Coca-Cola European Partners PLC      941       50,428  
Danone S.A.      9,764       789,370  
General Mills, Inc.      6,658       342,687  
Hostess Brands, Inc. (a)      4,056       54,350  
Ingredion, Inc.      3,283       311,064  
J.M. Smucker Co.      494       60,579  
Kellogg Co.      492       29,668  
Mondelez International, Inc.      729       37,070  
Mowi A.S.A.      5,165       111,892  
Nestle S.A.      14,637       1,408,467  
Nestle S.A., ADR      2,964       286,115  
Nomad Foods Ltd.      1,812       37,690  
PepsiCo, Inc.      363       46,482  
Post Holdings, Inc. (a)      232       26,165  
S Foods, Inc.      2,400       82,253  
Sanderson Farms, Inc.      770       116,755  
Tate & Lyle PLC      9,199       92,077  
TreeHouse Foods, Inc. (a)      675       45,212  
Tyson Foods, Inc., “A”      5,224       391,852  
    

 

 

 
             $ 4,935,765  
Food & Drug Stores - 0.1%                 
Japan Meat Co. Ltd.      3,700     $ 56,823  
Kroger Co.      1,747       45,037  
Sundrug Co. Ltd.      1,200       32,271  
    

 

 

 
             $ 134,131  

 

14


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Forest & Paper Products - 0.1%                 
Suzano Papel e Celulose S.A., ADR      3,373     $ 69,619  
Trex Co., Inc. (a)      563       38,999  
    

 

 

 
             $ 108,618  
Furniture & Appliances - 0.2%                 
Whirlpool Corp.      2,212     $ 307,070  
Gaming & Lodging - 0.4%                 
Crown Resorts Ltd.      11,026     $ 103,300  
Marriott International, Inc., “A”      1,439       196,308  
Paddy Power Betfair PLC      3,724       315,064  
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.      371       44,869  
Wyndham Hotels Group, LLC      578       32,206  
    

 

 

 
             $ 691,747  
General Merchandise - 0.2%                 
B&M European Value Retail S.A.      15,520     $ 79,839  
Dollar General Corp.      313       39,466  
Dollar Tree, Inc. (a)      1,430       159,131  
Dollarama, Inc.      4,051       121,678  
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. (a)      302       28,883  
    

 

 

 
             $ 428,997  
Health Maintenance Organizations - 0.9%                 
Anthem, Inc.      395     $ 103,897  
Cigna Corp. (f)      5,310       843,441  
Humana, Inc.      1,452       370,855  
Molina Healthcare, Inc. (a)      464       60,148  
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. (f)      1,218       283,879  
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,662,220  
Insurance - 2.4%                 
AIA Group Ltd.      76,600     $ 780,666  
Aon PLC (s)      4,128       743,618  
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.      767       64,137  
Assurant, Inc.      538       51,110  
Athene Holding Ltd. (a)      1,024       46,244  
Chubb Ltd.      272       39,494  
Everest Re Group Ltd.      488       114,924  
Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd.      449       214,120  
Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.      793       95,644  
Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.      1,928       100,854  
Hiscox Ltd.      5,173       112,921  
Lincoln National Corp.      844       56,312  

 

15


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Insurance - continued                 
MetLife, Inc.      12,302     $ 567,491  
Prudential Financial, Inc.      4,414       466,604  
Reinsurance Group of America, Inc.      141       21,363  
Safety Insurance Group, Inc.      195       18,119  
Sony Financial Holdings, Inc.      4,700       95,976  
Swiss Re Ltd.      457       43,980  
Third Point Reinsurance Ltd. (a)      2,787       32,357  
Travelers Cos., Inc.      2,770       398,188  
Unum Group      924       34,114  
Zurich Insurance Group AG      217       69,192  
    

 

 

 
             $ 4,167,428  
Internet - 1.4%                 
Alphabet, Inc., “A” (a)(f)      505     $ 605,475  
Alphabet, Inc., “C” (a)      469       557,397  
Baidu, Inc., ADR (a)      2,511       417,404  
Facebook, Inc., “A” (a)      1,978       382,545  
IAC/InterActiveCorp (a)      468       105,225  
Naver Corp.      2,016       206,234  
Rightmove PLC      22,825       160,903  
Scout24 AG      593       30,528  
Stamps.com, Inc. (a)      366       31,403  
Tradeweb Markets, Inc.      340       13,685  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,510,799  
Leisure & Toys - 0.5%                 
Brunswick Corp.      7,146     $ 365,947  
Electronic Arts, Inc. (a)(f)      3,763       356,168  
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (a)      982       95,087  
    

 

 

 
             $ 817,202  
Machinery & Tools - 3.1%                 
Actuant Corp., “A”      826     $ 21,129  
AGCO Corp.      6,159       435,934  
Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.      4,365       204,544  
Cummins, Inc.      3,626       602,967  
Daikin Industries Ltd.      900       114,458  
Eaton Corp. PLC (s)      8,777       726,911  
Flowserve Corp.      297       14,562  
Gardner Denver Holdings, Inc. (a)      665       22,444  
Gates Industrial Corp. PLC (a)      1,024       16,466  
GEA Group AG      10,403       290,767  
Illinois Tool Works, Inc.      2,377       369,932  
ITT, Inc.      1,426       86,344  

 

16


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Machinery & Tools - continued                 
Kennametal, Inc.      1,873     $ 76,231  
Kubota Corp.      4,900       73,743  
Nordson Corp.      824       120,263  
PACCAR, Inc.      4,201       301,086  
Regal Beloit Corp.      6,482       551,489  
Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, Inc.      2,135       74,277  
Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, Inc.      8,706       302,959  
Roper Technologies, Inc.      1,469       528,399  
Schindler Holding AG      303       65,361  
Spirax-Sarco Engineering PLC      4,574       492,071  
United Rentals, Inc.      602       84,834  
    

 

 

 
             $ 5,577,171  
Major Banks - 1.2%                 
Bank of America Corp. (f)      17,070     $ 522,001  
Barclays PLC      29,489       63,172  
BNP Paribas      1,874       99,734  
Capital One Financial Corp.      693       64,331  
Comerica, Inc.      790       62,086  
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.      190       39,125  
Huntington Bancshares, Inc.      5,270       73,358  
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (f)      5,490       637,115  
KeyCorp      4,338       76,132  
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.      13,000       65,140  
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.      189       25,880  
State Street Corp.      261       17,659  
Svenska Handelsbanken AB      12,371       135,015  
UBS Group AG      8,115       108,829  
Wells Fargo & Co.      3,310       160,237  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,149,814  
Medical & Health Technology & Services - 1.3%                 
AmerisourceBergen Corp.      2,538     $ 189,741  
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (a)      310       43,546  
CVS Health Corp.      8,067       438,683  
Guardant Health, Inc. (a)      407       26,663  
HCA Healthcare, Inc.      2,929       372,657  
Henry Schein, Inc. (a)      924       59,191  
Hogy Medical Co. Ltd.      2,500       81,691  
ICON PLC (a)      1,311       179,056  
McKesson Corp.      1,944       231,822  
Medidata Solutions, Inc. (a)      347       31,348  
Miraca Holdings, Inc.      2,500       64,111  

 

17


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Medical & Health Technology & Services - continued                 
Premier, Inc., “A” (a)      4,451     $ 147,907  
Quest Diagnostics, Inc.      704       67,852  
Sonic Healthcare Ltd.      2,180       39,419  
Syneos Health, Inc. (a)      643       30,176  
Teladoc Health, Inc. (a)      1,016       57,790  
Universal Health Services, Inc.      481       61,024  
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (f)      4,205       225,262  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,347,939  
Medical Equipment - 2.5%                 
Ansell Ltd.      5,653     $ 107,597  
Becton, Dickinson and Co.      145       34,907  
Boston Scientific Corp. (a)      4,412       163,773  
Cooper Cos., Inc.      427       123,796  
Danaher Corp.      4,475       592,669  
Edwards Lifesciences Corp. (a)      694       122,193  
EssilorLuxottica      3,444       419,113  
Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. (a)      422       21,813  
iRhythm Technologies, Inc. (a)      454       34,645  
Masimo Corp. (a)      665       86,550  
Medtronic PLC      6,946       616,874  
Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (a)      917       51,517  
Mesa Laboratories, Inc.      183       43,314  
Nevro Corp. (a)      442       27,276  
Nihon Kohden Corp.      2,500       72,990  
OptiNose, Inc. (a)      2,151       21,424  
OrthoPediatrics Corp.      193       7,863  
PerkinElmer, Inc.      4,441       425,625  
QIAGEN N.V. (a)      4,937       190,650  
Quidel Corp. (a)      783       50,065  
Senseonics Holdings, Inc. (a)      4,282       9,977  
Silk Road Medical, Inc.      690       28,732  
STERIS PLC      1,907       249,779  
Stryker Corp.      802       151,506  
Terumo Corp.      3,000       90,520  
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.      2,146       595,408  
West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.      669       82,815  
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.      586       72,172  
    

 

 

 
             $ 4,495,563  
Metals & Mining - 0.0%                 
Rio Tinto PLC      1,405     $ 81,804  

 

18


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Natural Gas - Distribution - 0.2%                 
China Resources Gas Group Ltd.      8,000     $ 37,018  
Italgas S.p.A      17,412       108,583  
New Jersey Resources Corp.      845       42,317  
NiSource, Inc.      1,478       41,059  
Sempra Energy      587       75,107  
South Jersey Industries, Inc.      3,959       127,163  
    

 

 

 
             $ 431,247  
Natural Gas - Pipeline - 0.5%                 
APA Group      5,520     $ 37,435  
Enbridge, Inc.      1,243       45,918  
Enterprise Products Partners LP      11,621       332,709  
EQM Midstream Partners LP      3,695       169,970  
Equitrans Midstream Corp.      9,057       188,657  
Plains GP Holdings LP      2,418       57,065  
    

 

 

 
             $ 831,754  
Network & Telecom - 0.3%                 
Cisco Systems, Inc.      6,929     $ 387,678  
Interxion Holding N.V. (a)      910       62,963  
LM Ericsson Telephone Co., “B”      3,712       36,740  
Motorola Solutions, Inc.      387       56,080  
VTech Holdings Ltd.      7,200       65,669  
    

 

 

 
             $ 609,130  
Oil Services - 0.3%                 
Apergy Corp. (a)      429     $ 17,027  
Core Laboratories N.V.      866       54,896  
Frank’s International N.V. (a)      11,423       66,710  
Liberty Oilfield Services, Inc.      2,355       35,113  
NOW, Inc. (a)      4,447       65,015  
Oil States International, Inc. (a)      989       19,107  
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.      8,891       120,829  
Schlumberger Ltd.      1,836       78,361  
    

 

 

 
             $ 457,058  
Other Banks & Diversified Financials - 3.8%                 
Aeon Financial Service Co. Ltd.      3,400     $ 69,908  
AIB Group PLC      15,512       71,994  
Air Lease Corp.      1,183       45,616  
Bank of Hawaii Corp.      846       69,693  
Bank OZK      1,015       33,140  
BB&T Corp.      661       33,843  
Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.      616       18,474  

 

19


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Other Banks & Diversified Financials - continued                 
Brookline Bancorp, Inc.      3,528     $ 53,096  
Cathay General Bancorp, Inc.      1,518       55,847  
Chiba Bank Ltd.      13,700       71,732  
Citigroup, Inc. (f)      19,807       1,400,355  
Credicorp Ltd.      1,080       255,852  
CVB Financial Corp.      216       4,687  
Discover Financial Services      2,910       237,136  
Element Fleet Management Corp.      13,802       85,612  
First Hawaiian, Inc.      3,324       91,909  
First Republic Bank      792       83,651  
Grupo Financiero Banorte S.A. de C.V.      38,722       244,758  
Hanmi Financial Corp.      2,314       54,888  
HDFC Bank Ltd.      2,741       91,327  
HDFC Bank Ltd., ADR      3,379       387,402  
Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A      36,609       95,959  
Julius Baer Group Ltd.      5,051       243,491  
Jyske Bank      1,455       58,604  
KBC Group N.V.      1,069       79,157  
Lakeland Financial Corp.      1,500       71,625  
Legacytextas Financial Group, Inc.      3,122       125,130  
M&T Bank Corp.      325       55,273  
Mastercard, Inc., “A”      624       158,646  
Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co.      58,850       83,850  
Northern Trust Corp.      657       64,747  
Prosperity Bancshares, Inc.      900       66,276  
Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc.      1,098       38,309  
Signature Bank      1,719       227,028  
SunTrust Banks, Inc.      1,181       77,332  
Synchrony Financial      5,171       179,279  
TCF Financial Corp.      2,807       62,119  
Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc.      708       45,829  
Textainer Group Holdings Ltd. (a)      2,424       23,246  
U.S. Bancorp      7,713       411,257  
UMB Financial Corp.      1,209       84,461  
Visa, Inc., “A” (f)      4,944       812,942  
Wintrust Financial Corp.      2,328       177,394  
    

 

 

 
             $ 6,702,874  
Pharmaceuticals - 2.5%                 
Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. (a)      1,164     $ 6,646  
Bayer AG      7,684       511,414  
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.      5,709       265,069  
Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc. (a)      1,447       20,157  

 

20


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Pharmaceuticals - continued                 
Elanco Animal Health, Inc. (a)      2,692     $ 84,798  
Eli Lilly & Co.      7,865       920,520  
Forty Seven, Inc. (a)      800       15,192  
Genomma Lab Internacional S.A., “B” (a)      19,110       15,362  
GW Pharmaceuticals PLC, ADR (a)      192       32,508  
Johnson & Johnson (s)      6,727       949,852  
Merck & Co., Inc.      1,595       125,542  
Mylan N.V. (a)      1,153       31,119  
Novo Nordisk A.S., “B”      2,500       122,253  
Orchard RX Ltd., ADR (a)      1,116       20,166  
PetIQ, Inc. (a)      1,378       37,854  
Pfizer, Inc.      1,530       62,133  
Principia Biopharma, Inc. (a)      661       19,771  
Roche Holding AG      2,968       782,379  
Santen Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.      13,200       201,516  
Zoetis, Inc.      1,875       190,950  
    

 

 

 
             $ 4,415,201  
Pollution Control - 0.1%                 
Evoqua Water Technologies LLC (a)      5,094     $ 69,380  
Stericycle, Inc. (a)      397       23,181  
    

 

 

 
             $ 92,561  
Precious Metals & Minerals - 0.0%                 
Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd.      1,546     $ 64,020  
Printing & Publishing - 0.4%                 
IHS Markit Ltd. (a)      2,908     $ 166,512  
Moody’s Corp.      1,905       374,561  
RELX PLC      3,940       90,415  
S&P Global, Inc.      396       87,381  
    

 

 

 
             $ 718,869  
Railroad & Shipping - 0.5%                 
Canadian National Railway Co.      4,945     $ 458,797  
Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd.      115       25,768  
Kansas City Southern Co.      702       86,444  
StealthGas, Inc. (a)      4,413       15,755  
Union Pacific Corp.      1,730       306,279  
    

 

 

 
             $ 893,043  
Real Estate - 2.6%                 
Annaly Mortgage Management, Inc., REIT      2,432     $ 24,539  
Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust, REIT      49,000       108,080  

 

21


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Real Estate - continued                 
Big Yellow Group PLC, REIT      2,348     $ 31,873  
Brixmor Property Group Inc., REIT      5,803       103,758  
Concentradora Fibra Danhos S.A. de C.V., REIT      54,038       79,043  
Corporate Office Properties Trust, REIT      2,848       79,402  
Deutsche Wohnen SE      5,592       251,319  
EPR Properties, REIT      6,887       543,109  
Equity Commonwealth, REIT      1,579       50,212  
Grand City Properties S.A.      3,505       82,398  
Hibernia PLC, REIT      43,207       69,299  
Industrial Logistics Properties Trust, REIT      20,568       408,275  
LEG Immobilien AG      760       88,438  
Life Storage, Inc., REIT      1,329       126,640  
Medical Properties Trust, Inc., REIT      35,962       627,897  
Office Properties Income Trust      1,767       47,956  
Public Storage, Inc., REIT      127       28,090  
Simon Property Group, Inc., REIT      1,122       194,891  
Spirit Realty Capital, Inc., REIT      1,772       71,695  
STAG Industrial, Inc., REIT      5,061       145,656  
STORE Capital Corp., REIT      24,867       828,568  
Sun Communities, Inc., REIT      482       59,325  
TAG Immobilien AG      21,147       475,318  
Two Harbors Investment Corp, REIT      3,129       43,368  
VICI Properties, Inc., REIT      1,757       40,060  
W.P. Carey, Inc., REIT      822       65,201  
    

 

 

 
             $ 4,674,410  
Restaurants - 1.2%                 
Aramark      1,250     $ 38,850  
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc., “A” (a)      17       11,697  
Darden Restaurants, Inc.      3,622       425,947  
Performance Food Group Co. (a)      1,901       77,846  
Starbucks Corp. (f)      9,964       774,004  
U.S. Foods Holding Corp. (a)(f)      9,469       346,092  
Wendy’s Co.      1,677       31,209  
Yum China Holdings, Inc.      7,562       359,497  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,065,142  
Special Products & Services - 0.0%                 
Boyd Group Income Fund, EU      491     $ 53,945  
Specialty Chemicals - 1.3%                 
Akzo Nobel N.V.      1,094     $ 92,886  
Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. (a)      5,608       151,304  
Croda International PLC      2,486       167,955  

 

22


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Specialty Chemicals - continued                 
Ferro Corp. (a)      7,815     $ 139,654  
Ferroglobe PLC      7,656       16,460  
Kansai Paint Co. Ltd.      5,100       97,162  
Linde PLC      4,141       744,985  
Nitto Denko Corp.      700       37,499  
RPM International, Inc.      1,572       95,342  
Sika AG      3,148       481,955  
Symrise AG      833       80,069  
Univar, Inc. (a)      6,583       146,998  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,252,269  
Specialty Stores - 2.3%                 
Amazon.com, Inc. (a)      1,190     $ 2,292,559  
Best Buy Co., Inc.      2,538       188,853  
BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (a)      2,157       61,151  
Costco Wholesale Corp.      157       38,548  
Dufry AG      635       62,032  
Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. (a)      780       37,456  
Hudson Ltd., “A” (a)      4,298       65,931  
Just Eat PLC (a)      9,215       83,994  
Michaels Co., Inc. (a)      3,133       35,215  
Nitori Co. Ltd.      500       59,621  
O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. (a)      320       121,142  
Ross Stores, Inc.      2,895       282,726  
Ryohin Keikaku Co. Ltd.      400       75,632  
Target Corp.      4,515       349,551  
Tractor Supply Co.      1,371       141,899  
Urban Outfitters, Inc. (a)      1,764       52,444  
Zumiez, Inc. (a)      2,032       54,112  
    

 

 

 
             $ 4,002,866  
Telecommunications - Wireless - 0.6%                 
Advanced Info Service Public Co. Ltd.      7,000     $ 41,660  
American Tower Corp., REIT      1,694       330,838  
Infrastrutture Wireless Italiane S.p.A. (n)      1,259       10,421  
KDDI Corp.      10,600       242,306  
SBA Communications Corp., REIT (a)      1,160       236,327  
SoftBank Group Corp.      1,000       104,394  
Tele2 AB, “B”      1,854       24,734  
    

 

 

 
             $ 990,680  
Telephone Services - 0.1%                 
Bezeq - The Israel Telecommunication Corp. Ltd.      84,998     $ 58,115  
Hellenic Telecommunications Organization S.A.      2,778       38,574  

 

23


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Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Common Stocks - continued                 
Telephone Services - continued                 
Verizon Communications, Inc.      2,377     $ 135,940  
    

 

 

 
             $ 232,629  
Tobacco - 0.8%                 
Altria Group, Inc.      6,800     $ 369,444  
British American Tobacco PLC      2,525       98,449  
Japan Tobacco, Inc.      5,900       136,768  
Philip Morris International, Inc. (f)      8,217       711,264  
Swedish Match AB      2,390       116,415  
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,432,340  
Trucking - 0.1%                 
Hamakyorex Co. Ltd.      2,000     $ 73,898  
Schneider National, Inc.      999       20,879  
Yamato Holdings Co. Ltd.      1,500       32,596  
    

 

 

 
             $ 127,373  
Utilities - Electric Power - 2.0%                 
AES Corp.      17,366     $ 297,306  
American Electric Power Co., Inc.      286       24,467  
Black Hills Corp.      1,325       96,407  
CenterPoint Energy, Inc.      1,768       54,808  
CLP Holdings Ltd.      5,500       62,363  
CMS Energy Corp.      1,668       92,657  
Duke Energy Corp.      4,840       441,021  
E.ON AG      4,681       50,234  
Eversource Energy      920       65,927  
Exelon Corp. (f)      15,007       764,607  
FirstEnergy Corp.      1,170       49,175  
Iberdrola S.A.      8,475       76,976  
NextEra Energy, Inc.      148       28,777  
NRG Energy, Inc. (f)      10,757       442,866  
Pinnacle West Capital Corp.      748       71,262  
Portland General Electric Co.      1,793       93,792  
Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc.      1,328       79,215  
Southern Co.      9,158       487,389  
Vistra Energy Corp.      4,818       131,290  
WEC Energy Group, Inc.      690       54,117  
    

 

 

 
             $ 3,464,656  
Total Common Stocks (Identified Cost, $105,692,236)            $ 118,473,583  

 

24


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Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Bonds - 19.9%                 
Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Aerospace - 0.2%                 
Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc., 3.483%, 12/01/2027    $ 160,000     $ 156,450  
L3 Technologies, Inc., 3.85%, 6/15/2023      238,000       245,930  
    

 

 

 
             $ 402,380  
Apparel Manufacturers - 0.2%                 
Tapestry, Inc., 4.125%, 7/15/2027    $ 412,000     $ 399,237  
Automotive - 0.5%                 
General Motors Co., 4.875%, 10/02/2023    $ 400,000     $ 421,389  
General Motors Co., 5.15%, 4/01/2038      166,000       159,665  
Lear Corp., 3.8%, 9/15/2027      221,000       215,162  
    

 

 

 
             $ 796,216  
Broadcasting - 0.2%                 
Fox Corp., 4.03%, 1/25/2024 (n)    $ 300,000     $ 311,871  
Brokerage & Asset Managers - 0.9%                 
Charles Schwab Corp., 3.2%, 1/25/2028    $ 564,000     $ 561,571  
E*TRADE Financial Corp., 2.95%, 8/24/2022      201,000       200,821  
E*TRADE Financial Corp., 3.8%, 8/24/2027      131,000       127,738  
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., 2.35%, 9/15/2022      353,000       347,451  
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., 3.75%, 12/01/2025      277,000       288,437  
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,526,018  
Building - 0.5%                 
Martin Marietta Materials, Inc., 4.25%, 7/02/2024    $ 418,000     $ 435,759  
Martin Marietta Materials, Inc., 3.5%, 12/15/2027      194,000       186,799  
Masco Corp., 4.375%, 4/01/2026      302,000       308,411  
    

 

 

 
             $ 930,969  
Business Services - 0.5%                 
Fidelity National Information Services, Inc., 3.5%, 4/15/2023    $ 369,000     $ 375,091  
Fidelity National Information Services, Inc., 5%, 10/15/2025      263,000       286,239  
Verisk Analytics, Inc., 4.125%, 3/15/2029      173,000       178,056  
    

 

 

 
             $ 839,386  
Cable TV - 0.2%                 
Charter Communications Operating LLC/Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp., 6.384%, 10/23/2035    $ 335,000     $ 378,498  
Chemicals - 0.1%                 
Sasol Chemicals (USA) LLC, 5.875%, 3/27/2024    $ 228,000     $ 241,948  

 

25


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Computer Software - 0.5%                 
Dell International LLC/EMC Corp., 4.9%, 10/01/2026 (n)    $ 238,000     $ 243,778  
Microsoft Corp., 4.25%, 2/06/2047      600,000       657,018  
    

 

 

 
             $ 900,796  
Computer Software - Systems - 0.2%                 
Apple, Inc., 4.25%, 2/09/2047    $ 300,000     $ 316,508  
Conglomerates - 0.1%                 
Wabtec Corp., 4.95%, 9/15/2028    $ 118,000     $ 121,588  
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp., 4.4%, 3/15/2024      61,000       62,706  
    

 

 

 
             $ 184,294  
Consumer Products - 0.3%                 
Reckitt Benckiser Treasury Services PLC, 3.625%, 9/21/2023 (n)    $ 300,000     $ 307,868  
Whirlpool Corp., 4.75%, 2/26/2029      228,000       236,933  
    

 

 

 
             $ 544,801  
Consumer Services - 1.1%                 
IHS Markit Ltd., 3.625%, 5/01/2024    $ 47,000     $ 47,150  
IHS Markit Ltd., 4%, 3/01/2026 (n)      250,000       249,293  
IHS Markit Ltd., 4.25%, 5/01/2029      71,000       70,881  
Priceline Group, Inc., 3.65%, 3/15/2025      319,000       328,003  
Priceline Group, Inc., 3.6%, 6/01/2026      536,000       547,787  
Visa, Inc., 2.75%, 9/15/2027      220,000       217,037  
Visa, Inc., 4.15%, 12/14/2035      527,000       564,418  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,024,569  
Electronics - 0.3%                 
Broadcom Corp./Broadcom Cayman Finance Ltd., 3.875%, 1/15/2027    $ 300,000     $ 286,275  
Broadcom Corp./Broadcom Cayman Finance Ltd., 3.5%, 1/15/2028      306,000       282,028  
    

 

 

 
             $ 568,303  
Energy - Integrated - 0.3%                 
BP Capital Markets America, Inc., 3.41%, 2/11/2026    $ 340,000     $ 346,276  
Eni S.p.A., 4.75%, 9/12/2028 (n)      200,000       209,201  
    

 

 

 
             $ 555,477  
Entertainment - 0.2%                 
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., 3.7%, 3/15/2028    $ 312,000     $ 302,123  
Financial Institutions - 0.3%                 
AerCap Ireland Capital Ltd., 4.875%, 1/16/2024    $ 150,000     $ 157,540  
AerCap Ireland Capital Ltd., 3.65%, 7/21/2027      300,000       285,346  
Avolon Holdings Funding Ltd., 4.375%, 5/01/2026 (z)      94,000       93,443  
    

 

 

 
             $ 536,329  

 

26


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Food & Beverages - 0.3%                 
Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc., 4.15%, 1/23/2025    $ 300,000     $ 313,304  
Constellation Brands, Inc., 3.5%, 5/09/2027      300,000       294,708  
    

 

 

 
             $ 608,012  
Forest & Paper Products - 0.2%                 
Suzano Austria GmbH, 6%, 1/15/2029 (n)    $ 250,000     $ 267,500  
Gaming & Lodging - 0.3%                 
GLP Capital LP/GLP Financing II, Inc., 5.3%, 1/15/2029    $ 108,000     $ 113,919  
Marriott International, Inc., 4%, 4/15/2028      386,000       393,262  
    

 

 

 
             $ 507,181  
Health Maintenance Organizations - 0.1%                 
Halfmoon Parent, Inc., 4.125%, 11/15/2025 (n)    $ 170,000     $ 175,716  
Insurance - 0.2%                 
American International Group, Inc., 4.5%, 7/16/2044    $ 331,000     $ 323,225  
Insurance - Health - 0.4%                 
UnitedHealth Group, Inc., 4.625%, 7/15/2035    $ 615,000     $ 670,984  
Insurance - Property & Casualty - 0.7%                 
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., 2.75%, 3/15/2023    $ 588,000     $ 589,580  
Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc., 3.5%, 6/03/2024      700,000       717,691  
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,307,271  
Machinery & Tools - 0.2%                 
CNH Industrial Capital LLC, 4.2%, 1/15/2024    $ 327,000     $ 334,182  
Major Banks - 2.7%                 
Bank of America Corp., 3.124% to 1/20/2022, FLR (LIBOR - 3mo. + 1.16%) to 1/20/2023    $ 397,000     $ 398,168  
Bank of America Corp., 3.366% to 1/23/2025, FLR (LIBOR - 3mo. + 0.81%) to 1/23/2026      700,000       700,593  
Bank of America Corp., 3.419% to 12/20/2027, FLR (LIBOR - 3mo. + 1.04%) to 12/20/2028      550,000       540,107  
JPMorgan Chase & Co., 3.25%, 9/23/2022      650,000       657,917  
JPMorgan Chase & Co., 3.782% to 2/01/2027, FLR (LIBOR - 3mo. + 1.337%) to 2/01/2028      500,000       508,426  
JPMorgan Chase & Co., 6.75% to 2/01/2024, FLR (LIBOR - 3mo. + 3.78%) to 1/29/2049      500,000       553,905  
Morgan Stanley, 3.125%, 7/27/2026      686,000       668,166  
Morgan Stanley, 3.95%, 4/23/2027      580,000       585,668  
Wells Fargo & Co., 3.75%, 1/24/2024      210,000       216,099  
    

 

 

 
             $ 4,829,049  

 

27


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Medical & Health Technology & Services - 1.6%                 
Becton, Dickinson and Co., 3.734%, 12/15/2024    $ 73,000     $ 74,180  
Becton, Dickinson and Co., 4.685%, 12/15/2044      496,000       507,847  
Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings, 3.6%, 2/01/2025      207,000       207,336  
Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings, 4.7%, 2/01/2045      359,000       349,496  
Life Technologies Corp., 6%, 3/01/2020      325,000       333,343  
Life Technologies Corp., 5%, 1/15/2021      532,000       547,463  
Northwell Healthcare, Inc., 3.979%, 11/01/2046      39,000       37,341  
Northwell Healthcare, Inc., 4.26%, 11/01/2047      310,000       310,292  
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., 3.15%, 1/15/2023      400,000       402,833  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,770,131  
Medical Equipment - 0.4%                 
Abbott Laboratories, 4.9%, 11/30/2046    $ 300,000     $ 341,985  
Boston Scientific Corp., 3.75%, 3/01/2026      84,000       85,733  
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc., 3.55%, 4/01/2025      250,000       249,307  
    

 

 

 
             $ 677,025  
Metals & Mining - 0.2%                 
Glencore Funding LLC, 4.125%, 5/30/2023 (n)    $ 331,000     $ 338,133  
Midstream - 1.1%                 
APT Pipelines Ltd., 5%, 3/23/2035 (n)    $ 472,000     $ 483,390  
Dominion Gas Holdings LLC, 2.8%, 11/15/2020      713,000       713,801  
MPLX LP, 4.5%, 4/15/2038      182,000       174,552  
ONEOK, Inc., 4.95%, 7/13/2047      250,000       249,532  
Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC, 4.2%, 3/15/2028      336,000       340,338  
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,961,613  
Natural Gas - Distribution - 0.1%                 
NiSource, Inc., 5.65%, 2/01/2045    $ 85,000     $ 99,483  
Network & Telecom - 0.4%                 
AT&T, Inc., 5.65%, 2/15/2047    $ 611,000     $ 686,832  
Oils - 0.5%                 
Marathon Petroleum Corp., 4.75%, 9/15/2044    $ 373,000     $ 374,593  
Valero Energy Corp., 4.9%, 3/15/2045      479,000       503,280  
    

 

 

 
             $ 877,873  
Other Banks & Diversified Financials - 0.1%                 
Capital One Financial Corp., 3.75%, 3/09/2027    $ 229,000     $ 227,061  
Pollution Control - 0.1%                 
Republic Services, Inc., 3.95%, 5/15/2028    $ 243,000     $ 253,708  

 

28


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Retailers - 0.4%                 
Best Buy Co., Inc., 4.45%, 10/01/2028    $ 158,000     $ 161,138  
Dollar Tree, Inc., 4%, 5/15/2025      193,000       196,827  
Dollar Tree, Inc., 4.2%, 5/15/2028      57,000       57,403  
Home Depot, Inc., 3.9%, 6/15/2047      245,000       247,062  
    

 

 

 
             $ 662,430  
Specialty Chemicals - 0.2%                 
Ecolab, Inc., 4.35%, 12/08/2021    $ 326,000     $ 339,062  
Telecommunications - Wireless - 1.5%                 
American Tower Corp., REIT, 3.5%, 1/31/2023    $ 325,000     $ 329,998  
American Tower Corp., REIT, 5%, 2/15/2024      400,000       431,729  
American Tower Corp., REIT, 4%, 6/01/2025      264,000       272,778  
Crown Castle International Corp., 4.45%, 2/15/2026      617,000       646,661  
Crown Castle International Corp., 3.7%, 6/15/2026      369,000       369,963  
SBA Tower Trust, 2.898%, 10/15/2044 (n)      618,000       617,382  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,668,511  
Tobacco - 0.3%                 
Altria Group, Inc., 4.4%, 2/14/2026    $ 57,000     $ 58,875  
Altria Group, Inc., 4.8%, 2/14/2029      146,000       151,710  
Reynolds American, Inc., 3.25%, 6/12/2020      357,000       358,320  
    

 

 

 
             $ 568,905  
Transportation - Services - 0.2%                 
ERAC USA Finance LLC, 7%, 10/15/2037 (n)    $ 328,000     $ 428,056  
Utilities - Electric Power - 1.1%                 
Berkshire Hathaway Energy, 4.5%, 2/01/2045    $ 273,000     $ 288,715  
Duke Energy Progress LLC, 3.45%, 3/15/2029      289,000       295,499  
Enel Finance International N.V., 4.875%, 6/14/2029 (n)      250,000       260,499  
Exelon Corp., 3.497%, 6/01/2022      346,000       350,858  
Jersey Central Power & Light Co., 4.3%, 1/15/2026 (z)      182,000       189,277  
PPL Capital Funding, Inc., 5%, 3/15/2044      285,000       305,370  
PPL WEM Holdings PLC, 5.375%, 5/01/2021 (n)      200,000       206,436  
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,896,654  
Total Bonds (Identified Cost, $34,503,090)

 

  $ 35,238,320  
Preferred Stocks - 0.2%                 
Aerospace - 0.0%                 
Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC      1,837,977     $ 2,397  

 

29


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Preferred Stocks - continued                 
Consumer Products - 0.1%                 
Henkel AG & Co. KGaA      2,287     $ 231,475  
Specialty Chemicals - 0.1%                 
Fuchs Petrolub SE      2,648     $ 115,176  
Total Preferred Stocks (Identified Cost, $397,342)

 

  $ 349,048  
Investment Companies (h) - 12.0%                 
Money Market Funds - 12.0%                 
MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio, 2.48% (v)
(Identified Cost, $21,233,083)
     21,233,083     $ 21,233,083  
Securities Sold Short - (0.0)%                 
Medical & Health Technology & Services - (0.0)%                 
Healthcare Services Group, Inc.      (256   $ (8,666
Telecommunications - Wireless - (0.0)%                 
Crown Castle International Corp., REIT      (114   $ (14,339
Total Securities Sold Short (Proceeds Received, $17,614)

 

  $ (23,005
Other Assets, Less Liabilities - 1.0%              1,752,439  
Net Assets - 100.0%            $ 177,023,468  

 

(a)

Non-income producing security.

(f)

All or a portion of the security has been segregated as collateral for open futures contracts and cleared swap agreements.

(h)

An affiliated issuer, which 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 $21,233,083 and $154,060,951, respectively.

(n)

Securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be sold in the ordinary course of business in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At period end, the aggregate value of these securities was $4,109,544, representing 2.3% of net assets.

(s)

Security or a portion of the security was pledged to cover collateral requirements for securities sold short.

(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.

 

30


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Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

(z)

Restricted securities are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and are subject to legal restrictions on resale. These securities generally may be resold in transactions exempt from registration or to the public if the securities are subsequently registered. Disposal of these securities may involve time-consuming negotiations and prompt sale at an acceptable price may be difficult. The fund holds the following restricted securities:

 

Restricted Securities    Acquisition
Date
   Cost      Value  
Avolon Holdings Funding Ltd., 4.375%, 5/01/2026    4/11/19      $93,556        $93,443  
Jersey Central Power & Light Co., 4.3%, 1/15/2026    2/05/19      184,601        189,277  
Total Restricted Securities            $282,720  
% of Net assets            0.2%  

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

 

ADR   American Depositary Receipt
EU   Equity Unit
FLR   Floating Rate. Interest rate resets periodically based on the parenthetically disclosed reference rate plus a spread (if any). The period-end rate reported may not be the current rate. All reference rates are USD unless otherwise noted.
LIBOR   London Interbank Offered Rate
REIT   Real Estate Investment Trust

Abbreviations indicate amounts shown in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. All amounts are stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated. A list of abbreviations is shown below:

 

AUD   Australian Dollar
BRL   Brazilian Real
CAD   Canadian Dollar
CHF   Swiss Franc
DKK   Danish Krone
EUR   Euro
GBP   British Pound
HKD   Hong Kong Dollar
ILS   Israeli Shekel
INR   Indian Rupee
JPY   Japanese Yen
KRW   South Korean Won
MXN   Mexican Peso
NOK   Norwegian Krone
NZD   New Zealand Dollar
RUB   Russian Ruble
SEK   Swedish Krona
SGD   Singapore Dollar
TRY   Turkish Lira
TWD   Taiwan Dollar
ZAR   South African Rand

 

31


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Derivative Contracts at 4/30/19

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

 

Currency
Purchased

   

Currency

Sold

  Counterparty   Settlement
Date
    Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 
Asset Derivatives        
CHF     678,311     USD   670,000   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     7/10/2019       $293  
EUR     457,249     USD   511,000   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     5/13/2019       2,348  
GBP     2,101,017     USD   2,728,000   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     7/10/2019       21,847  
JPY     319,014,375     USD   2,861,000   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     5/13/2019       5,495  
NOK     11,396,423     USD   1,315,043   Goldman Sachs International     5/13/2019       6,529  
NOK     14,791,550     USD   1,711,000   Goldman Sachs International     7/10/2019       8,204  
USD     122,651     AUD   173,413   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     5/13/2019       371  
USD     239,802     BRL   909,113   Goldman Sachs International     5/14/2019       8,185  
USD     9,910,806     CHF   9,869,825   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     5/13/2019       213,936  
USD     1,053,000     CHF   1,046,564   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     5/14/2019       24,671  
USD     548,483     DKK   3,600,026   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     5/13/2019       7,075  
USD     18,869,231     EUR   16,594,638   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     5/13/2019       238,609  
USD     1,654,506     HKD   12,943,366   Goldman Sachs International     5/14/2019       4,272  
USD     191,000     HKD   1,496,573   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     7/10/2019       24  
USD     8,398,776     JPY   923,104,513   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     5/13/2019       104,248  
USD     585,129     KRW   656,982,480   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     7/10/2019       21,219  
USD     4,122,000     NOK   35,540,910   Goldman Sachs International     5/13/2019       544  
USD     2,684,850     NZD   3,975,730   Goldman Sachs International     5/13/2019       28,948  
USD     5,159,000     NZD   7,481,094   Goldman Sachs International     5/14/2019       161,312  
USD     1,133,516     SEK   10,449,091   Goldman Sachs International     5/13/2019       32,265  
USD     3,298,000     SEK   30,538,408   Goldman Sachs International     5/14/2019       79,224  
USD     3,757,000     SEK   35,457,725   Goldman Sachs International     7/10/2019       2,240  
USD     464,847     SGD   631,442   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     5/13/2019       505  
USD     358,442     TWD   11,006,325   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     7/10/2019       606  
USD     255,795     ZAR   3,558,491   Goldman Sachs International     5/13/2019       7,365  
           

 

 

 
              $980,335  
           

 

 

 

 

32


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts - continued

 

Currency
Purchased

   

Currency

Sold

  Counterparty   Settlement
Date
    Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 
Liability Derivatives        
AUD     186,540     USD   132,000   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     5/13/2019       $(463
AUD     3,458,098     USD   2,484,000   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     5/14/2019       (45,493
CAD     3,304,613     USD   2,488,721   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     5/13/2019       (21,308
CAD     6,417,832     USD   4,872,000   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     5/14/2019       (79,949
GBP     940,897     USD   1,244,000   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     5/13/2019       (16,327
GBP     1,326,534     USD   1,763,000   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     5/14/2019       (32,052
INR     5,980,440     USD   86,000   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     5/13/2019       (143
KRW     135,486,000     USD   120,584   Goldman Sachs International     5/14/2019       (4,548
NOK     35,373,634     USD   4,126,000   Goldman Sachs International     5/14/2019       (23,770
NZD     15,187,162     USD   10,322,000   Goldman Sachs International     5/14/2019       (176,333
SEK     37,590,507     USD   4,066,000   Goldman Sachs International     5/14/2019       (103,926
USD     812,000     AUD   1,151,218   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     7/10/2019       (917
USD     4,201,000     CAD   5,637,015   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     5/14/2019       (8,033
USD     758,000     CAD   1,019,219   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     7/10/2019       (4,141
USD     6,388,319     GBP   4,943,387   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     5/13/2019       (61,763
USD     121,299     ILS   439,381   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     5/13/2019       (915
USD     329,466     INR   23,458,980   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     7/10/2019       (4,859
USD     114,806     MXN   2,241,897   Goldman Sachs International     5/13/2019       (3,238
USD     5,310,000     NZD   7,956,415   Goldman Sachs International     7/10/2019       (11,059
USD     112,573     RUB   7,501,212   Goldman Sachs International     5/14/2019       (3,237
           

 

 

 
              $(602,474
           

 

 

 

Futures Contracts

 

Description   Long/
Short
    Currency     Contracts     Notional
Amount
    Expiration
Date
 

Value/

Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 
Asset Derivatives

 

         
Equity Futures

 

         
BIST 30 Index     Long       TRY       2,520       $5,142,922     June - 2019     $12,838  
CAC 40 Index     Long       EUR       57       3,545,944     May - 2019     94,702  
FTSE 100 Index     Long       GBP       24       2,306,985     June - 2019     94,716  
FTSE MIB Index     Long       EUR       28       3,369,264     June - 2019     185,442  
Hang Seng China Enterprises Index     Short       HKD       78       5,701,752     May - 2019     26,810  
IBEX 35 Index     Long       EUR       36       3,860,219     May - 2019     38,103  

 

33


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Futures Contracts - continued

 

Description   Long/
Short
    Currency     Contracts     Notional
Amount
    Expiration
Date
 

Value/

Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 
Asset Derivatives - continued

 

     
Equity Futures - continued

 

     
IBOV Index     Long       BRL       30       $742,330     June - 2019     $2,242  
KOSPI 200 Index     Long       KRW       51       3,115,054     June - 2019     39,493  
NIFTY Index     Short       USD       153       3,604,374     May - 2019     9,476  
OMX Stockholm 30 Index     Long       SEK       114       2,003,401     May - 2019     47,602  
S&P/ASX 200 Index     Short       AUD       61       6,777,107     June - 2019     63,656  
           

 

 

 
              $615,080  
           

 

 

 
Interest Rate Futures

 

       
German Euro-Bund 10 yr     Long       EUR       7       $1,297,882     June - 2019     $2,396  
Japan Government Bond 10 yr     Long       JPY       12       16,452,803     June - 2019     4,506  
           

 

 

 
              $6,902  
           

 

 

 
              $621,982  
           

 

 

 
Liability Derivatives

 

       
Equity Futures

 

         
AEX 25 Index     Short       EUR       18       $2,294,376     May - 2019     $(54,693
DAX Index     Short       EUR       8       2,770,576     June - 2019     (191,257
FTSE/JSE Top 40 Index     Short       ZAR       20       735,911     June - 2019     (18,735
Hang Seng Index     Long       HKD       34       6,385,835     May - 2019     (80,560
Mexican Bolsa Index     Short       MXN       17       400,767     June - 2019     (13,248
MSCI Singapore Index     Short       SGD       8       222,660     May - 2019     (1,529
MSCI Taiwan Index     Short       USD       3       122,610     May - 2019     (471
Russell 2000 Index     Short       USD       218       17,376,780     June - 2019     (624,751
S&P 500 Index     Short       USD       216       31,843,800     June - 2019     (1,973,621
S&P MidCap 400 Index     Short       USD       82       16,181,880     June - 2019     (817,144
Topix Index     Short       JPY       32       4,626,514     June - 2019     (27,928
           

 

 

 
              $(3,803,937
           

 

 

 
Interest Rate Futures

 

   
Australian Note 10 yr     Short       AUD       49       $4,776,542     June - 2019     $(78,554
Canadian Treasury Bond 10 yr     Short       CAD       182       18,771,934     June - 2019     (131,408
Long Gilt 10 yr     Long       GBP       22       3,652,556     June - 2019     (1,182
U.S. Treasury Note 10 yr     Short       USD       58       7,172,969     June - 2019     (62,012
           

 

 

 
              $(273,156
           

 

 

 
              $(4,077,093
           

 

 

 

 

34


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Cleared Swap Agreements

 

Maturity
Date
  Notional
Amount
  Counterparty  

Cash Flows to
Receive/

Frequency

 

Cash Flows to

Pay/Frequency

  Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
    Net
Unamortized
Upfront
Payments
(Receipts)
    Value  
Asset Derivatives                
Interest Rate Swaps                
4/11/21   USD     42,850,000       centrally cleared   2.437%/Semi-annually   2.581% FLR (3-Month Libor)/Quarterly     $34,358       $—       $34,358  
3/01/24   USD     19,822,000       centrally cleared   2.533%/Semi-annually   2.629% FLR (3-Month Libor)/Quarterly     189,659             189,659  
4/11/29   USD     9,414,447       centrally cleared   2.581% FLR (3-Month Libor)/Quarterly   2.482%/Semi-annually     6,168             6,168  
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
                $230,185       $—       $230,185  
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Liability Derivatives                
Interest Rate Swaps                
3/01/49   USD     4,400,000       centrally cleared   2.629% FLR (3-Month Libor)/Quarterly   2.844%/Semi-annually     $(135,317     $—       $(135,317
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

At April 30, 2019, the fund had cash collateral of $712,057 and other liquid securities with an aggregate value of $13,398,318 to cover any collateral or margin obligations for securities sold short and certain derivative contracts. Restricted cash and/or deposits with brokers in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities are comprised of cash collateral.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

35


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

At 4/30/19 (unaudited)

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, $140,592,668)

     $154,060,951  

Investments in affiliated issuers, at value (identified cost, $21,233,083)

     21,233,083  

Cash

     166,389  

Foreign currency, at value (identified cost, $61,578)

     61,578  

Deposits with brokers for

  

Futures contracts

     700,038  

Securities sold short

     12,019  

Receivables for

  

Net daily variation margin on open cleared swap agreements

     18,160  

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     980,335  

Net daily variation margin on open futures contracts

     151,192  

Investments sold

     292,450  

Fund shares sold

     159,246  

Interest and dividends

     744,889  

Receivable from investment adviser

     15,397  

Other assets

     752  

Total assets

     $178,596,479  
Liabilities         

Payables for

  

Securities sold short, at value (proceeds received, $17,614)

     $23,005  

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     602,474  

Net daily variation margin on open futures contracts

     30,569  

Investments purchased

     605,473  

Fund shares reacquired

     71,594  

Payable to affiliates

  

Shareholder servicing costs

     90,234  

Distribution and service fees

     1,385  

Payable for independent Trustees’ compensation

     853  

Deferred country tax expense payable

     2,062  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     145,362  

Total liabilities

     $1,573,011  

Net assets

     $177,023,468  
Net assets consist of         

Paid-in capital

     $204,451,127  

Total distributable earnings (loss)

     (27,427,659

Net assets

     $177,023,468  

Shares of beneficial interest outstanding

     16,709,170  

 

36


Table of Contents

Statement of Assets and Liabilities (unaudited) – continued

 

 

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

Class A

     $33,042,550        3,127,609        $10.56  

Class B

     4,933,242        476,763        10.35  

Class C

     11,289,981        1,088,208        10.37  

Class I

     120,626,415        11,345,249        10.63  

Class R1

     205,822        20,098        10.24  

Class R2

     819,534        78,470        10.44  

Class R3

     1,004,447        95,002        10.57  

Class R4

     50,634        4,752        10.66  

Class R6

     5,050,843        473,019        10.68  

 

(a)

Maximum offering price per share was equal to the net asset value per share for all share classes, except for Class A, for which the maximum offering price per share was $11.20 [100 / 94.25 x $10.56]. On sales of $50,000 or more, the maximum offering price of Class A shares is reduced. A contingent deferred sales charge may be imposed on redemptions of Class A, Class B, and Class C shares. Redemption price per share was equal to the net asset value per share for Classes I, R1, R2, R3, R4, and R6.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

37


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

Six months ended 4/30/19 (unaudited)

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

 

Net investment income (loss)         

Income

  

Dividends

     $1,261,633  

Interest

     665,692  

Dividends from affiliated issuers

     284,413  

Other

     4,907  

Foreign taxes withheld

     (45,584

Total investment income

     $2,171,061  

Expenses

  

Management fee

     $704,178  

Distribution and service fees

     130,324  

Shareholder servicing costs

     74,553  

Administrative services fee

     17,242  

Independent Trustees’ compensation

     3,338  

Custodian fee

     95,087  

Shareholder communications

     16,667  

Audit and tax fees

     49,595  

Legal fees

     1,085  

Dividend and interest expense on securities sold short

     377  

Interest expense and fees

     51,933  

Registration fees

     68,275  

Miscellaneous

     37,094  

Total expenses

     $1,249,748  

Fees paid indirectly

     (4,114

Reduction of expenses by investment adviser and distributor

     (150,464

Net expenses

     $1,095,170  

Net investment income (loss)

     $1,075,891  
Realized and unrealized gain (loss)         

Realized gain (loss) (identified cost basis)

  

Unaffiliated issuers (net of $221 country tax)

     $4,787,460  

Affiliated issuers

     64  

Futures contracts

     5,194,395  

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     854,373  

Foreign currency

     (87,190

Net realized gain (loss)

     $10,749,102  

Change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation

  

Unaffiliated issuers (net of $1,059 increase in deferred country tax)

     $9,398,831  

Affiliated issuers

     1,398  

Futures contracts

     (11,092,207

Swap agreements

     94,868  

Securities sold short

     (2,358

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     (770,330

Translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies

     (67,040

Net unrealized gain (loss)

     $(2,436,838

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     $8,312,264  

Change in net assets from operations

     $9,388,155  

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

38


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

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

 

Change in net assets    Six months ended
4/30/19
(unaudited)
    

Year ended
10/31/18

 
From operations                  

Net investment income (loss)

     $1,075,891        $1,884,157  

Net realized gain (loss)

     10,749,102        7,078,537  

Net unrealized gain (loss)

     (2,436,838      (8,965,439

Change in net assets from operations

     $9,388,155        $(2,745

Total distributions to shareholders

     $(1,715,111      $(5,670,263

Change in net assets from fund share transactions

     $(30,646,242      $(96,629,679

Total change in net assets

     $(22,973,198      $(102,302,687
Net assets                  

At beginning of period

     199,996,666        302,299,353  

At end of period

     $177,023,468        $199,996,666  

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

39


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the fund’s financial performance for the semiannual period and the past 5 fiscal years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate 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.

 

   

Six months
ended

4/30/19

    Year ended  
Class A   10/31/18     10/31/17     10/31/16     10/31/15     10/31/14  
    (unaudited)                                

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $10.07       $10.26       $10.00       $10.38       $10.65       $10.28  
Income (loss) from investment operations

 

                       

Net investment income (loss) (d)

    $0.06       $0.06       $0.04       $0.06       $0.05       $0.05  

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss)

    0.51       (0.07     0.46       (0.35     (0.23     0.45  

Total from investment operations

    $0.57       $(0.01     $0.50       $(0.29     $(0.18     $0.50  
Less distributions declared to shareholders

 

                       

From net investment income

    $(0.08     $(0.18     $(0.24     $(0.09     $(0.09     $(0.13

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $10.56       $10.07       $10.26       $10.00       $10.38       $10.65  

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    5.71 (n)      (0.06     5.18       (2.77     (1.67     4.93  
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:

 

                       

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.52 (a)      1.46       1.63       1.47       1.40       1.47  

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    1.35 (a)      1.37       1.51       1.46       1.39       1.40  

Net investment income (loss)

    1.12 (a)      0.64       0.39       0.57       0.49       0.45  

Portfolio turnover

    25 (n)      37       37       51       49       94  

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $33,043       $35,972       $50,452       $125,642       $181,537       $128,066  
Supplemental Ratios (%):

 

                       

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

    1.29 (a)      1.34       1.40       1.39       1.39       1.40  

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

40


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended

4/30/19

    Year ended  
Class B   10/31/18     10/31/17     10/31/16     10/31/15     10/31/14  
    (unaudited)                                

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $9.82       $10.01       $9.76       $10.14       $10.41       $10.07  
Income (loss) from investment operations

 

                       

Net investment income (loss) (d)

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

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss)

    0.51       (0.07     0.44       (0.33     (0.22     0.44  

Total from investment operations

    $0.53       $(0.08     $0.41       $(0.35     $(0.25     $0.41  
Less distributions declared to shareholders

 

                       

From net investment income

    $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.11     $(0.16     $(0.03     $(0.02     $(0.07

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $10.35       $9.82       $10.01       $9.76       $10.14       $10.41  

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    5.40 (n)      (0.81     4.35       (3.50     (2.42     4.10  
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:

 

                       

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    2.27 (a)      2.21       2.37       2.22       2.15       2.22  

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    2.10 (a)      2.12       2.25       2.21       2.14       2.15  

Net investment income (loss)

    0.37 (a)      (0.09     (0.29     (0.18     (0.24     (0.30

Portfolio turnover

    25 (n)      37       37       51       49       94  

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $4,933       $5,061       $6,354       $8,714       $9,654       $8,637  
Supplemental Ratios (%):

 

                       

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

    2.04 (a)      2.09       2.15       2.14       2.14       2.15  

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

41


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months

ended
4/30/19

    Year ended  
Class C   10/31/18     10/31/17     10/31/16     10/31/15     10/31/14  
    (unaudited)                                

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $9.85       $10.00       $9.74       $10.13       $10.40       $10.06  
Income (loss) from investment operations

 

                       

Net investment income (loss) (d)

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

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss)

    0.50       (0.06     0.44       (0.34     (0.22     0.44  

Total from investment operations

    $0.52       $(0.07     $0.41       $(0.36     $(0.25     $0.41  
Less distributions declared to shareholders

 

                       

From net investment income

    $—       $(0.08     $(0.15     $(0.03     $(0.02     $(0.07

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $10.37       $9.85       $10.00       $9.74       $10.13       $10.40  

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    5.28 (n)      (0.72     4.35       (3.53     (2.37     4.12  
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:

 

                       

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    2.27 (a)      2.22       2.38       2.22       2.15       2.22  

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    2.10 (a)      2.13       2.26       2.21       2.14       2.15  

Net investment income (loss)

    0.36 (a)      (0.10     (0.30     (0.18     (0.26     (0.30

Portfolio turnover

    25 (n)      37       37       51       49       94  

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $11,290       $13,845       $24,540       $43,754       $55,745       $41,318  
Supplemental Ratios (%):

 

                       

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

    2.04 (a)      2.10       2.15       2.14       2.14       2.15  

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

42


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Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months

ended
4/30/19

    Year ended  
Class I   10/31/18     10/31/17     10/31/16     10/31/15     10/31/14  
    (unaudited)                                

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $10.15       $10.35       $10.10       $10.48       $10.75       $10.37  
Income (loss) from investment operations

 

                       

Net investment income (loss) (d)

    $0.07       $0.09       $0.07       $0.08       $0.07       $0.07  

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss)

    0.52       (0.07     0.46       (0.34     (0.22     0.46  

Total from investment operations

    $0.59       $0.02       $0.53       $(0.26     $(0.15     $0.53  
Less distributions declared to shareholders

 

                       

From net investment income

    $(0.11     $(0.22     $(0.28     $(0.12     $(0.12     $(0.15

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $10.63       $10.15       $10.35       $10.10       $10.48       $10.75  

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    5.89 (n)      0.19       5.42       (2.52     (1.44     5.18  
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:

 

                       

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.27 (a)      1.21       1.38       1.22       1.15       1.23  

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    1.10 (a)      1.12       1.26       1.21       1.15       1.15  

Net investment income (loss)

    1.37 (a)      0.90       0.71       0.82       0.69       0.68  

Portfolio turnover

    25 (n)      37       37       51       49       94  

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $120,626       $137,065       $211,360       $371,340       $538,464       $228,066  
Supplemental Ratios (%):

 

                       

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

    1.04 (a)      1.10       1.15       1.14       1.15       1.15  

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

43


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months

ended
4/30/19

    Year ended  
Class R1   10/31/18     10/31/17     10/31/16     10/31/15     10/31/14  
    (unaudited)                                

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $9.72       $9.93       $9.72       $10.10       $10.37       $10.02  
Income (loss) from investment operations

 

                       

Net investment income (loss) (d)

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

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss)

    0.50       (0.07     0.44       (0.33     (0.22     0.44  

Total from investment operations

    $0.52       $(0.08     $0.41       $(0.35     $(0.25     $0.41  
Less distributions declared to shareholders

 

                       

From net investment income

    $—       $(0.13     $(0.20     $(0.03     $(0.02     $(0.06

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $10.24       $9.72       $9.93       $9.72       $10.10       $10.37  

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    5.35 (n)      (0.83     4.38       (3.52     (2.42     4.14  
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:

 

                       

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    2.27 (a)      2.22       2.37       2.23       2.15       2.22  

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    2.10 (a)      2.13       2.24       2.22       2.14       2.15  

Net investment income (loss)

    0.38 (a)      (0.08     (0.26     (0.21     (0.29     (0.29

Portfolio turnover

    25 (n)      37       37       51       49       94  

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $206       $195       $363       $328       $239       $151  
Supplemental Ratios (%):

 

                       

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

    2.04 (a)      2.10       2.15       2.15       2.14       2.15  

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

44


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months

ended
4/30/19

    Year ended  
Class R2   10/31/18     10/31/17     10/31/16     10/31/15     10/31/14  
    (unaudited)                                

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $9.91       $10.11       $9.89       $10.26       $10.53       $10.18  
Income (loss) from investment operations

 

                       

Net investment income (loss) (d)

    $0.04       $0.04       $0.02       $0.03       $0.03       $0.02  

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss)

    0.50       (0.06     0.44       (0.34     (0.23     0.45  

Total from investment operations

    $0.54       $(0.02     $0.46       $(0.31     $(0.20     $0.47  
Less distributions declared to shareholders

 

                       

From net investment income

    $(0.01     $(0.18     $(0.24     $(0.06     $(0.07     $(0.12

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $10.44       $9.91       $10.11       $9.89       $10.26       $10.53  

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    5.50 (n)      (0.22     4.81       (2.99     (1.88     4.64  
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:

 

                       

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.77 (a)      1.71       1.86       1.72       1.65       1.73  

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    1.60 (a)      1.61       1.74       1.72       1.64       1.65  

Net investment income (loss)

    0.85 (a)      0.42       0.23       0.31       0.26       0.18  

Portfolio turnover

    25 (n)      37       37       51       49       94  

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $820       $1,434       $1,560       $1,300       $1,139       $1,028  
Supplemental Ratios (%):

 

                       

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

    1.54 (a)      1.59       1.65       1.65       1.64       1.65  

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

45


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months

ended
4/30/19

    Year ended  
Class R3   10/31/18     10/31/17     10/31/16     10/31/15     10/31/14  
    (unaudited)                                

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $10.09       $10.29       $10.06       $10.39       $10.65       $10.28  
Income (loss) from investment operations

 

                       

Net investment income (loss) (d)

    $0.06       $0.07       $0.05       $0.05       $0.05       $0.05  

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss)

    0.51       (0.07     0.45       (0.34     (0.23     0.45  

Total from investment operations

    $0.57       $0.00 (w)      $0.50       $(0.29     $(0.18     $0.50  
Less distributions declared to shareholders

 

                       

From net investment income

    $(0.09     $(0.20     $(0.27     $(0.04     $(0.08     $(0.13

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $10.57       $10.09       $10.29       $10.06       $10.39       $10.65  

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    5.69 (n)      0.00 (w)      5.17       (2.83     (1.72     4.87  
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:

 

                       

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.52 (a)      1.46       1.61       1.49       1.40       1.47  

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    1.35 (a)      1.37       1.49       1.47       1.39       1.40  

Net investment income (loss)

    1.13 (a)      0.65       0.49       0.47       0.43       0.48  

Portfolio turnover

    25 (n)      37       37       51       49       94  

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $1,004       $997       $1,009       $932       $707       $270  
Supplemental Ratios (%):

 

                       

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

    1.29 (a)      1.34       1.40       1.40       1.39       1.40  

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

46


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months

ended
4/30/19

    Year ended  
Class R4   10/31/18     10/31/17     10/31/16     10/31/15     10/31/14  
    (unaudited)                                

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $10.18       $10.37       $10.13       $10.44       $10.76       $10.38  
Income (loss) from investment operations

 

                       

Net investment income (loss) (d)

    $0.07       $0.09       $0.07       $0.09       $0.09       $0.08  

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss)

    0.52       (0.07     0.46       (0.35     (0.30 )(g)      0.45  

Total from investment operations

    $0.59       $0.02       $0.53       $(0.26     $(0.21     $0.53  
Less distributions declared to shareholders

 

                       

From net investment income

    $(0.11     $(0.21     $(0.29     $(0.05     $(0.11     $(0.15

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $10.66       $10.18       $10.37       $10.13       $10.44       $10.76  

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    5.88 (n)      0.24       5.40       (2.50     (1.94     5.13  
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:

 

                       

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.27 (a)      1.22       1.39       1.22       1.14       1.21  

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    1.10 (a)      1.13       1.26       1.21       1.13       1.15  

Net investment income (loss)

    1.33 (a)      0.91       0.71       0.85       0.81       0.75  

Portfolio turnover

    25 (n)      37       37       51       49       94  

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $51       $90       $128       $192       $161       $1,483  
Supplemental Ratios (%):

 

                       

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

    1.04 (a)      1.10       1.15       1.14       1.13       1.15  

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

47


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months

ended
4/30/19

    Year ended  
Class R6   10/31/18     10/31/17     10/31/16     10/31/15     10/31/14  
    (unaudited)                                

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $10.20       $10.41       $10.16       $10.54       $10.81       $10.42  
Income (loss) from investment operations

 

                       

Net investment income (loss) (d)

    $0.07       $0.10       $0.09       $0.09       $0.06       $0.08  

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss)

    0.53       (0.08     0.45       (0.35     (0.21     0.46  

Total from investment operations

    $0.60       $0.02       $0.54       $(0.26     $(0.15     $0.54  
Less distributions declared to shareholders

 

                       

From net investment income

    $(0.12     $(0.23     $(0.29     $(0.12     $(0.12     $(0.15

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $10.68       $10.20       $10.41       $10.16       $10.54       $10.81  

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    5.93 (n)      0.24       5.57       (2.45     (1.38     5.29  
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:

 

                       

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.20 (a)      1.16       1.24       1.12       1.08       1.14  

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    1.03 (a)      1.07       1.12       1.11       1.07       1.07  

Net investment income (loss)

    1.45 (a)      0.97       0.84       0.92       0.61       0.79  

Portfolio turnover

    25 (n)      37       37       51       49       94  

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $5,051       $5,337       $6,533       $5,743       $4,099       $140  
Supplemental Ratios (%):

 

                       

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

    0.97 (a)      1.04       1.03       1.04       1.07       1.07  

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

48


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

 

(a)

Annualized.

(d)

Per share data is based on average shares outstanding.

(f)

Ratios do not reflect reductions from fees paid indirectly, if applicable.

(g)

The per share amount varies from the net realized and unrealized gain/loss for the period because of the timing of sales of fund shares and the per share amount of realized and unrealized gains and losses at such time.

(n)

Not annualized.

(r)

Certain expenses have been reduced without which performance would have been lower.

(s)

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

(t)

Total returns do not include any applicable sales charges.

(w)

Per share amount was less than $0.01 and total return or ratio was less than 0.01%, as applicable.

(x)

The net asset values and total returns have been calculated on net assets which include adjustments made in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles required at period end for financial reporting purposes.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

49


Table of Contents

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

(1) Business and Organization

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

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 in derivatives as part of its principal investment strategy. Derivatives can be highly volatile and involve risks in addition to the risks of the underlying indicators on which the derivative is based. Derivatives can involve leverage. The fund invests in foreign securities. Investments in foreign securities are vulnerable to the effects of changes in the relative values of the local currency and the U.S. dollar and to the effects of changes in each country’s market, economic, industrial, political, regulatory, geopolitical, and other conditions.

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 has evaluated the potential impacts of ASU 2017-08 and 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

 

50


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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

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 – Equity securities, including restricted equity securities and equity securities sold short, are generally valued at the last sale or official closing price on their primary market or exchange as provided by a third-party pricing service. Equity securities, for which there were no sales reported that day, are generally valued at the last quoted daily bid quotation on their primary market or exchange as provided by a third-party pricing service. Equity securities sold short, for which there were no sales reported for that day, are generally valued at the last quoted daily ask quotation on their primary market or exchange as provided by a third-party pricing service. 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. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are generally valued at the mean of bid and asked prices for the time period interpolated from rates provided by a third-party pricing service for proximate time periods. Swap agreements are generally valued at valuations provided by a third-party pricing service, which for cleared swaps includes an evaluation of any trading activity at the clearinghouses. 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. In determining values, third-party pricing services can utilize both transaction data and market information such as yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics, and other market data. The values of foreign securities and other assets and liabilities expressed in foreign currencies are converted to U.S. dollars using the mean of bid and asked prices for rates provided by a third-party pricing service.

The Board of Trustees has delegated primary responsibility for determining or causing to be determined the value of the fund’s investments (including any fair valuation) to the adviser pursuant to valuation policies and procedures approved by the Board. If the adviser determines that reliable market quotations are not readily available, investments are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the adviser in accordance with such procedures under the oversight of the Board of Trustees. Under the fund’s valuation policies and procedures, market quotations are not considered to be readily available for most types of debt instruments and floating rate loans and many types of derivatives. These investments are generally valued at fair value based on information from third-party pricing services. In addition, investments may be valued at fair value if the adviser determines that an investment’s value has been materially affected by events occurring after the close of the exchange or market on which the investment is principally traded (such as foreign exchange or market) and prior to the determination of the fund’s net asset value, or after the halting of trading of a specific security where trading does not resume prior to the close of the exchange or market on which the

 

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security is principally traded. Events that occur on a frequent basis after foreign markets close (such as developments in foreign markets and significant movements in the U.S. markets) and prior to the determination of the fund’s net asset value may be deemed to have a material effect on the value of securities traded in foreign markets. Accordingly, the fund’s foreign equity securities may often be valued at fair value. The adviser generally relies on third-party pricing services or other information (such as the correlation with price movements of similar securities in the same or other markets; the type, cost and investment characteristics of the security; the business and financial condition of the issuer; and trading and other market data) to assist in determining whether to fair value and at what value to fair value an investment. The value of an investment for purposes of calculating the fund’s net asset value can differ depending on the source and method used to determine value. When fair valuation is used, the value of an investment used to determine the fund’s net asset value may differ from quoted or published prices for the same investment. There can be no assurance that the fund could obtain the fair value assigned to an investment if it were to sell the investment at the same time at which the fund determines its net asset value per share.

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

 

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agreements. The following is a summary of the levels used as of April 30, 2019 in valuing the fund’s assets or liabilities:

 

Financial Instruments    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
Equity Securities:            

United States

     $83,499,781        $—        $—        $83,499,781  

United Kingdom

     6,085,318        2,397               6,087,715  

Japan

     81,691        5,173,732               5,255,423  

France

     4,845,953                      4,845,953  

Switzerland

     4,573,243                      4,573,243  

Germany

     3,228,347                      3,228,347  

Canada

     1,694,989                      1,694,989  

China

     1,053,662                      1,053,662  

Spain

     1,048,541                      1,048,541  

Other Countries

     7,493,317        41,660               7,534,977  
U.S. Corporate Bonds             32,247,177               32,247,177  
Foreign Bonds             2,991,143               2,991,143  
Mutual Funds      21,233,083                      21,233,083  
Total      $134,837,925        $40,456,109        $—        $175,294,034  
Securities Sold Short      $(23,005      $—        $—        $(23,005
Other Financial Instruments                            
Futures Contracts – Assets      $9,144        $612,838        $—        $621,982  
Futures Contracts – Liabilities      (3,701,920      (375,173             (4,077,093
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts – Assets             980,335               980,335  
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts – Liabilities             (602,474             (602,474
Swap Agreements – Assets             230,185               230,185  
Swap Agreements – Liabilities             (135,317             (135,317

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

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

Derivatives – The fund uses derivatives in an attempt to reduce volatility compared to the overall equity markets and to generate positive returns by adjusting the fund’s exposure to markets, asset classes, and currencies resulting from the fund’s individual

 

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security selections. Derivatives are used to increase the fund’s exposure to markets, asset classes, or currencies to which the fund’s individual security selections have resulted in no or little exposure. Alternatively, the fund uses derivatives to decrease its exposure to markets or currencies to which the fund’s individual security selections have resulted in exposure. 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 or decrease 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 during the period were futures contracts, forward foreign currency exchange contracts, and swap agreements. 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 April 30, 2019 as reported in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities:

 

        Fair Value (a)  
Risk   Derivative Contracts   Asset Derivatives     Liability Derivatives  
Interest Rate   Interest Rate Futures     $6,902       $(273,156
Interest Rate   Interest Rate Swaps     230,185       (135,317
Foreign Exchange   Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts     980,335       (602,474
Equity   Equity Futures     615,080       (3,803,937
Total       $1,832,502       $(4,814,884

 

(a)

Values presented in this table for futures contracts and cleared swap agreements correspond to the values reported in the fund’s Portfolio of Investments. Only the current day net variation margin for futures contracts and cleared swap agreements 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 six months ended April 30, 2019 as reported in the Statement of Operations:

 

Risk    Futures
Contracts
    

Forward

Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts

 
Interest Rate      $7,295        $—  
Foreign Exchange             854,373  
Equity      5,187,100         
Total      $5,194,395        $854,373  

 

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The following table presents, by major type of derivative contract, the change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation on derivatives held by the fund for the six months ended April 30, 2019 as reported in the Statement of Operations:

 

Risk    Futures
Contracts
     Swap
Agreements
    

Forward

Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts

 
Interest Rate      $(754,049      $94,868        $—  
Foreign Exchange                    (770,330
Equity      (10,338,158              
Total      $(11,092,207      $94,868        $(770,330

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 specified 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 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 an 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 and/or deposits with brokers for cleared derivatives. 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 and fees” in the Statement of Operations.

 

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The following table presents the fund’s derivative assets and liabilities (by type) on a gross basis as of April 30, 2019:

 

Gross Amounts of:    Derivative Assets      Derivative Liabilities  
Future Contracts (a)      $151,192        $(30,569
Cleared Swaps Agreements (a)      18,160         
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts      980,335        (602,474
Total Gross Amount of Derivative Assets and Liabilities Presented in the Statement of Assets & Liabilities      $1,149,687        $(633,043
Less: Derivatives Assets and Liabilities Not Subject to a Master Netting Agreement or Similar Arrangement      169,352        (30,569
Total Gross Amount of Derivative Assets and Liabilities Subject to a Master Netting Agreement or Similar Arrangement      $980,335        $(602,474

 

(a)

The amount presented here represents the fund’s current day net variation margin for futures contracts and for cleared swaps agreements. This amount, which is recognized within the fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities, differs from the fair value of the futures contracts and cleared swap agreements which is presented in the tables that follow the fund’s Portfolio of Investments.

The following table presents (by counterparty) the fund’s derivative assets net of amounts available for offset under Master Netting Agreements (or similar arrangements) and net of the related collateral held by the fund at April 30, 2019:

 

          Amounts Not Offset in the
Statement of Assets & Liabilities
 
     Gross Amount
of Derivative
Assets Subject
to a Master
Netting
Agreement (or
Similar
Arrangement)
by Counterparty
    Financial
Instruments
Available
for Offset
    Financial
Instruments
Collateral
Received (b)
    Cash
Collateral
Received (b)
    Net Amount
of Derivative
Assets by
Counterparty
 
Goldman Sachs International     $339,089       $(326,111     $—       $—       $12,978  
JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     641,246       (276,363           (310,000     54,883  
Total     $980,335       $(602,474     $—       $(310,000     $67,861  

 

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The following table presents (by counterparty) the fund’s derivative liabilities net of amounts available for offset under Master Netting Agreements (or similar arrangements) and net of the related collateral pledged by the fund at April 30, 2019:

 

          Amounts Not Offset in the
Statement of Assets & Liabilities
 
     Gross Amounts
of Derivative
Liabilities Subject
to a Master
Netting
Agreement (or
Similar
Arrangement)
by Counterparty
    Financial
Instruments
Available
for Offset
    Financial
Instruments
Collateral
Pledged (b)
    Cash
Collateral
Pledged (b)
    Net Amount
of Derivative
Liabilities by
Counterparty
 
Goldman Sachs International     $(326,111     $326,111       $—       $—       $—  
JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     (276,363     276,363                    
Total     $(602,474     $602,474       $—       $—       $—  

 

(b)

The amount presented here may be less than the total amount of collateral (received)/pledged as the excess collateral (received)/pledged is not shown for purposes of this presentation.

Futures Contracts – The fund entered into futures contracts which may be used to hedge against or obtain broad market exposure, interest rate exposure, currency 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 specified 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, exchange 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.

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts – The fund entered into forward foreign currency exchange contracts for the purchase or sale of a specific foreign currency at a fixed price on a future date. These contracts may be used to hedge the fund’s currency risk or for non-hedging purposes. For hedging purposes, the fund may enter into contracts to deliver or receive foreign currency that the fund will receive from or use in its normal investment activities. The fund may also use contracts to hedge against declines in the value of foreign currency denominated securities due to

 

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unfavorable exchange rate movements. For non-hedging purposes, the fund may enter into contracts with the intent of changing the relative exposure of the fund’s portfolio of securities to different currencies to take advantage of anticipated exchange rate changes.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are adjusted by the daily exchange rate of the underlying currency and any unrealized gains or losses are recorded as a receivable or payable for forward foreign currency exchange contracts until the contract settlement date. On contract settlement date, any gain or loss on the contract is recorded as realized gains or losses on forward foreign currency exchange contracts.

Risks may arise upon entering into these contracts from unanticipated movements in the value of the contract and from the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts. Generally, the fund’s maximum risk due to counterparty credit risk is the unrealized gain on the contract due to the use of Continuous Linked Settlement, a multicurrency cash settlement system for the centralized settlement of foreign transactions. This risk is mitigated in cases where there is an ISDA Master Agreement between the fund and the counterparty providing for netting as described above and, where applicable, by the posting of collateral by the counterparty to the fund to cover the fund’s exposure to the counterparty under such ISDA Master Agreement.

Swap Agreements – During the period the fund entered into swap agreements. Swap agreements generally involve a periodic exchange of cash payments on a net basis, at specified intervals or upon the occurrence of specified events, between the fund and a counterparty. Certain swap agreements may be entered into as a bilateral contract (“uncleared swaps”) while others are required to be centrally cleared (“cleared swaps”). In a cleared swap transaction, the ultimate counterparty to the transaction is a clearinghouse (the “clearinghouse”). The contract is transferred and accepted by the clearinghouse immediately following execution of the swap contract with an executing broker. Thereafter, throughout the term of the cleared swap, the fund interfaces indirectly with the clearinghouse through a clearing broker and has counterparty risk to the clearing broker as well.

Both cleared and uncleared swap agreements are marked to market daily. The value of uncleared swap agreements is reported in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as “Uncleared swaps, at value” which includes any related interest accruals to be paid or received by the fund. For cleared swaps, payments (variation margin) are made or received by the fund each day, depending on the daily fluctuations in the value of the cleared swap, such that only the current day net receivable or payable for variation margin is reported in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

For both cleared and uncleared swaps, the periodic exchange of net cash payments, at specified intervals or upon the occurrence of specified events as stipulated by the agreement, is recorded as realized gain or loss on swap agreements in the Statement of Operations. Premiums paid or received at the inception of the agreements are amortized using the effective interest method over the term of the agreement as realized gain or loss on swap agreements in the Statement of Operations. A liquidation payment received or made upon early termination is recorded as a realized gain or loss on swap agreements in the Statement of Operations. The change in unrealized

 

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appreciation or depreciation on swap agreements in the Statement of Operations reflects the aggregate change over the reporting period in the value of swaps net of any unamortized premiums paid or received.

Risks related to swap agreements include the possible lack of a liquid market, unfavorable market and interest rate movements of the underlying instrument and the failure of the counterparty to perform under the terms of the agreements. The fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk is the discounted net value of the cash flows to be received from/paid to the counterparty over the contract’s remaining life, to the extent that the amount is positive. To address counterparty risk, uncleared swap agreements are limited to only highly-rated counterparties. Risk is further reduced by having an ISDA Master Agreement between the fund and the counterparty providing for netting as described above and, where applicable, by the posting of collateral by the counterparty to the fund to cover the fund’s exposure to the counterparty under such ISDA Master Agreement. The fund’s counterparty risk due to cleared swaps is mitigated by the fact that the clearinghouse is the true counterparty to the transaction and the regulatory requirement safeguards in the event of a clearing broker bankruptcy.

The fund entered into interest rate swap agreements in order to manage its exposure to interest or foreign exchange rate fluctuations. Interest rate swap agreements involve the periodic exchange of cash flows, between the fund and a counterparty, based on the difference between two interest rates applied to a notional principal amount. The two interest rates exchanged may either be a fixed rate and a floating rate or two floating rates based on different indices.

Short Sales – The fund entered into short sales whereby it sells a security it does not own in anticipation of a decline in the value of that security. The fund will realize a gain if the security price decreases and a loss if the security price increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the fund replaces the borrowed security. Losses from short sales can exceed the proceeds of the security sold; and they can also exceed the potential loss from an ordinary buy and sell transaction. The amount of any premium, dividends, or interest the fund may be required to pay in connection with a short sale will be recognized as a fund expense. During the six months ended April 30, 2019, this expense amounted to $377. The fund segregates cash or marketable securities in an amount that, when combined with the amount of proceeds from the short sale deposited with the broker, at least equals the current market value of the security sold short.

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.

 

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generally accepted accounting principles. Dividends received in cash are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Certain dividends from foreign securities will be recorded when the fund is informed of the dividend if such information is obtained subsequent to the ex-dividend date. Dividend and interest payments received in additional securities are recorded on the ex-dividend or ex-interest date in an amount equal to the value of the security on such date.

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

Fees Paid Indirectly – The fund’s custody fee may be reduced by a credit earned under an arrangement that measures the value of U.S. dollars deposited with the custodian by the fund. The amount of the credit, for the six months ended April 30, 2019, is shown as a reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations.

Tax Matters and Distributions – The fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to distribute all of its taxable income, including realized capital gains. As a result, no provision for federal income tax is required. The fund’s federal tax returns, when filed, will remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for a three year period. 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. Foreign taxes, if any, have been accrued by the fund in the accompanying financial statements in accordance with the applicable foreign tax law. Foreign income taxes may be withheld by certain countries in which the fund invests. Additionally, capital gains realized by the fund on securities issued in or by certain foreign countries may be subject to capital gains tax imposed by those countries.

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

Book/tax differences primarily relate to expiration of capital loss carryforwards, amortization and accretion of debt securities, wash sale loss deferrals, and derivative transactions.

 

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

 

     Year ended
10/31/18
 
Ordinary income (including any
short-term capital gains)
     $5,670,263  

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

 

As of 4/30/19       
Cost of investments      $162,162,420  
Gross appreciation      20,172,938  
Gross depreciation      (7,041,324
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)      $13,131,614  
As of 10/31/18       
Undistributed ordinary income      1,713,654  
Capital loss carryforwards      (41,158,668
Other temporary differences      40,412  
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)      4,303,899  

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

As of October 31, 2018, the fund had capital loss carryforwards available to offset future realized gains. These net capital losses may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Such losses are characterized as follows:

 

Short-Term      $(41,158,668

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

 

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approximately ten years after purchase. The fund’s distributions declared to shareholders as reported in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets are presented by class as follows:

 

     From net investment
income
 
     Six months
ended
4/30/19
     Year
ended
10/31/18
 
Class A      $248,713        $886,465  
Class B      71        67,692  
Class C             179,880  
Class I      1,397,371        4,302,441  
Class R1             4,670  
Class R2      1,179        27,758  
Class R3      8,830        21,731  
Class R4      915        2,787  
Class R6      58,032        176,839  
Total      $1,715,111        $5,670,263  

(3) Transactions with Affiliates

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

 

Up to $1 billion      0.80
In excess of $1 billion and up to $2.5 billion      0.70
In excess of $2.5 billion      0.65

MFS has agreed in writing to reduce its management fee by a specified amount if certain MFS mutual fund assets exceed thresholds agreed to by MFS and the fund’s Board of Trustees. For the six months ended April 30, 2019, this management fee reduction amounted to $8,673, which is included in the reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations. The management fee incurred for the six months ended April 30, 2019 was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.79% of the fund’s average daily net assets.

The investment adviser has agreed in writing to pay a portion of the fund’s total annual operating expenses, excluding interest, taxes, extraordinary expenses, brokerage and transaction costs, and investment-related expenses (such as short sale dividend and interest expenses incurred in connection with the fund’s investment activity), such that total fund operating expenses do not exceed the following rates annually of each class’s average daily net assets:

 

Classes  
A   B     C     I     R1     R2     R3     R4     R6  
1.30%     2.05%       2.05%       1.05%       2.05%       1.55%       1.30%       1.05%       0.97%  

This written agreement will continue until modified by the fund’s Board of Trustees, but such agreement will continue at least until February 29, 2020. For the six months ended April 30, 2019, this reduction amounted to $141,650, which is included in the reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations.

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

Distributor – MFS Fund Distributors, Inc. (MFD), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MFS, as distributor, received $2,274 for the six months ended April 30, 2019, as its portion of the initial sales charge on sales of Class A shares of the fund.

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

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

Distribution Plan Fee Table:

 

     Distribution
Fee Rate (d)
     Service
Fee Rate (d)
     Total
Distribution
Plan (d)
     Annual
Effective
Rate (e)
     Distribution
and Service
Fee
 
Class A             0.25%        0.25%        0.25%        $40,407  
Class B      0.75%        0.25%        1.00%        1.00%        24,447  
Class C      0.75%        0.25%        1.00%        1.00%        61,131  
Class R1      0.75%        0.25%        1.00%        1.00%        980  
Class R2      0.25%        0.25%        0.50%        0.50%        2,133  
Class R3             0.25%        0.25%        0.25%        1,226  
Total Distribution and Service Fees

 

           $130,324  

 

(d)

In accordance with the distribution plan for certain classes, the fund pays distribution and/or service fees equal to these annual percentage rates of each class’s average daily net assets. The distribution and service fee rates disclosed by class represent the current rates in effect at the end of the reporting period. Any rate changes, if applicable, are detailed below.

(e)

The annual effective rates represent actual fees incurred under the distribution plan for the six months ended April 30, 2019 based on each class’s average daily net assets. MFD has voluntarily agreed to rebate a portion of each class’s 0.25% service fee attributable to accounts for which MFD retains the 0.25% service fee except for accounts attributable to MFS or its affiliates’ seed money. For the six months ended April 30, 2019, this rebate amounted to $141 for Class A and is included in the reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations.

Certain Class A shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) in the event of a shareholder redemption within 18 months of purchase. Class B shares are subject to a CDSC in the event of a shareholder redemption within six years of purchase. Class C shares are subject to a CDSC in the event of a shareholder redemption within 12 months of purchase. All contingent deferred sales charges are paid to MFD and during the six months ended April 30, 2019, were as follows:

 

     Amount  
Class A      $—  
Class B      5,212  
Class C      11  

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

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

determined periodically under the supervision of the fund’s Board of Trustees. For the six months ended April 30, 2019, the fee was $5,345, which equated to 0.0061% annually of the fund’s average daily net assets. MFSC also receives payment from the fund for out-of-pocket expenses, sub-accounting and other shareholder servicing costs which may be paid to affiliated and unaffiliated service providers. Class R6 shares do not incur sub-accounting fees. For the six months ended April 30, 2019, these out-of-pocket expenses, sub-accounting and other shareholder servicing costs amounted to $69,208.

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. The administrative services fee incurred for the six months ended April 30, 2019 was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.0196% of the fund’s average daily net assets.

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

Other – This fund and certain other funds managed by MFS (the funds) have entered into 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 six months ended April 30, 2019, the fee paid by the fund under this agreement was $167 and is included in “Miscellaneous” expense in the 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.

The fund is permitted to engage in purchase and sale transactions with funds and accounts for which MFS serves as investment adviser or sub-adviser (“cross-trades”) pursuant to a policy adopted by the Board of Trustees. This policy has been designed to ensure that cross-trades conducted by the fund comply with Rule 17a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. During the six months ended April 30, 2019, the fund engaged in purchase and sale transactions pursuant to this policy, which amounted to $19,380 and $61,742, respectively. The sales transactions resulted in net realized gains (losses) of $11,453.

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

(4) Portfolio Securities

For the six months ended April 30, 2019, purchases and sales of investments, other than short-term obligations, were as follows:

 

     Purchases      Sales  
U.S. Government securities      $—        $1,366,035  
Non-U.S. Government securities      $38,701,428        $61,543,604  

(5) Shares of Beneficial Interest

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

 

     Six months ended
4/30/19
     Year ended
10/31/18
 
     Shares      Amount      Shares      Amount  
Shares sold            

Class A

     429,925        $4,322,719        780,705        $7,850,865  

Class B

     16,594        165,756        48,937        481,543  

Class C

     33,258        332,636        48,226        475,523  

Class I

     2,414,849        25,044,392        3,262,292        33,086,213  

Class R1

     28        273        376        3,660  

Class R2

     1,008        10,088        23,026        227,746  

Class R3

     10,094        102,224        36,340        368,536  

Class R4

     668        6,935        1,370        14,015  

Class R6

     78,755        805,174        266,994        2,743,614  
     2,985,179        $30,790,197        4,468,266        $45,251,715  
Shares issued to shareholders in
reinvestment of distributions
           

Class A

     22,165        $217,875        78,434        $785,123  

Class B

     6        71        5,720        56,224  

Class C

                   16,232        159,888  

Class I

     127,664        1,262,597        381,284        3,839,533  

Class R1

                   480        4,670  

Class R2

     121        1,179        2,812        27,758  

Class R3

     898        8,830        2,167        21,731  

Class R4

     92        915        276        2,787  

Class R6

     4,608        45,760        14,958        151,223  
     155,554        $1,537,227        502,363        $5,048,937  

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

 

     Six months ended
4/30/19
    Year ended
10/31/18
 
     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount  
Shares reacquired         

Class A

     (896,862     $(9,033,528     (2,205,097     $(22,134,668

Class B

     (55,196     (547,584     (174,047     (1,714,749

Class C

     (351,159     (3,489,808     (1,111,342     (10,957,958

Class I

     (4,698,147     (47,688,992     (10,560,632     (107,220,948

Class R1

     (7     (66     (17,348     (170,377

Class R2

     (67,390     (666,023     (35,295     (351,816

Class R3

     (14,822     (149,026     (37,752     (378,874

Class R4

     (4,885     (51,045     (5,155     (51,731

Class R6

     (133,682     (1,347,594     (386,248     (3,949,210
     (6,222,150     $(62,973,666     (14,532,916     $(146,930,331
Net change         

Class A

     (444,772     $(4,492,934     (1,345,958     $(13,498,680

Class B

     (38,596     (381,757     (119,390     (1,176,982

Class C

     (317,901     (3,157,172     (1,046,884     (10,322,547

Class I

     (2,155,634     (21,382,003     (6,917,056     (70,295,202

Class R1

     21       207       (16,492     (162,047

Class R2

     (66,261     (654,756     (9,457     (96,312

Class R3

     (3,830     (37,972     755       11,393  

Class R4

     (4,125     (43,195     (3,509     (34,929

Class R6

     (50,319     (496,660     (104,296     (1,054,373
     (3,081,417     $(30,646,242     (9,562,287     $(96,629,679

Class T shares were not publicly available for sale during the period. Please see the fund’s prospectus for details.

Effective June 1, 2019, purchases of the fund’s Class B shares are closed to new and existing investors subject to certain exceptions. Please see the fund’s prospectus for details.

(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 syndicate 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 highest of one month LIBOR, the Federal Funds Effective Rate and the Overnight Bank Funding Rate, 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. 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 rates equal to customary reference rates plus an agreed upon spread. For the six months ended April 30, 2019, the fund’s commitment fee and interest expense were $607 and $0, respectively, and are included in “Interest expense and fees” in the Statement of Operations.

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – 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
Value
    Purchases     Sales
Proceeds
    Realized
Gain
(Loss)
    Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation or
Depreciation
    Ending
Value
 
MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio     $34,744,739       $60,430,642       $73,943,760       $64       $1,398       $21,233,083  
Affiliated Issuers                               Dividend
Income
    Capital Gain
Distributions
 
MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio

 

        $284,413       $—  

 

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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 files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q or as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT (for first and third fiscal quarters ending March 31, 2019 or after). The fund’s Form N-Q or Form N-PORT reports are available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. A shareholder can obtain the portfolio holdings report for the first and third quarters of the fund’s fiscal year at mfs.com/openendfunds by choosing the fund’s name and then selecting the “Resources” tab and clicking on “Prospectus and Reports”.

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/openendfunds by choosing the fund’s name.

INFORMATION ABOUT FUND CONTRACTS AND LEGAL CLAIMS

The fund has entered into contractual arrangements with an investment adviser, administrator, distributor, shareholder servicing agent, 529 program manager (if applicable), 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 and Declaration of Trust, 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.

PROVISION OF FINANCIAL REPORTS AND SUMMARY PROSPECTUSES

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

 

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LOGO

 

Save paper with eDelivery.

 

LOGO

MFS® will send you prospectuses,

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

To sign up:

1. Go to mfs.com.

2. Log in via MFS® Access.

3. Select eDelivery.

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

 

CONTACT

WEB SITE

mfs.com

MFS TALK

1-800-637-8255

24 hours a day

ACCOUNT SERVICE AND LITERATURE

Shareholders

1-800-225-2606

Financial advisors

1-800-343-2829

Retirement plan services

1-800-637-1255

MAILING ADDRESS

MFS Service Center, Inc.

P.O. Box 219341

Kansas City, MO 64121-9341

OVERNIGHT MAIL

MFS Service Center, Inc.

Suite 219341

430 W 7th Street

Kansas City, MO 64105-1407

 


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ITEM 2.

CODE OF ETHICS.

During the period covered by this report, the Registrant has not amended any provision in its Code of Ethics (the “Code”) that relates to an element of the Code’s definition enumerated in paragraph (b) of Item 2 of this Form N-CSR. During the period covered by this report, the Registrant did not grant a waiver, including an implicit waiver, from any provision of the Code.

 

ITEM 3.

AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.

Not applicable for semi-annual reports.

 

ITEM 4.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.

Not applicable for semi-annual reports.

 

ITEM 5.

AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.

Not applicable to the Registrant.

 

ITEM 6.

INVESTMENTS

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

 

ITEM 7.

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

Not applicable to the Registrant.

 

ITEM 8.

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

Not applicable to the Registrant.

 

ITEM 9.

PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.

Not applicable to the Registrant.

 

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.


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ITEM 11.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

 

(a)

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

 

(b)

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

 

ITEM 12.

DISCLOSURE OF SECURITIES LENDING ACTIVITIES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

Not applicable to the Registrant.


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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. Not applicable.

 

  (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 as EX-99.302CERT.

 

  (3)

Any written solicitation to purchase securities under Rule 23c-1 under the Act (17 CFR 270.23c-1) sent or given during the period covered by the report by or on behalf of the registrant to 10 or more persons. Not applicable.

 

  (4)

Change in the registrant’s independent public accountant. 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 as EX-99.906CERT.


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Notice

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


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SIGNATURES

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

(Registrant) MFS SERIES TRUST XV

 

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

Date: June 17, 2019

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: June 17, 2019

 

By (Signature and Title)*    JAMES O. YOST
 

James O. Yost, Treasurer

(Principal Financial Officer and Accounting Officer)

Date: June 17, 2019

 

*

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