0000912938-16-001046.txt : 20161222
0000912938-16-001046.hdr.sgml : 20161222
20161222163151
ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000912938-16-001046
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: NSAR-B
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 4
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20161031
FILED AS OF DATE: 20161222
DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20161222
EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20161222
FILER:
COMPANY DATA:
COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: MFS MUNICIPAL INCOME TRUST
CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000801961
IRS NUMBER: 046554822
STATE OF INCORPORATION: MA
FISCAL YEAR END: 1031
FILING VALUES:
FORM TYPE: NSAR-B
SEC ACT: 1940 Act
SEC FILE NUMBER: 811-04841
FILM NUMBER: 162066939
BUSINESS ADDRESS:
STREET 1: 111 HUNTINGTON AVENUE
STREET 2: 24TH FLOOR
CITY: BOSTON
STATE: MA
ZIP: 02199
BUSINESS PHONE: 18006372929
MAIL ADDRESS:
STREET 1: 111 HUNTINGTON AVENUE
STREET 2: 24TH FLOOR
CITY: BOSTON
STATE: MA
ZIP: 02199
NSAR-B
1
answer.fil
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PAGE 2
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PAGE 3
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PAGE 9
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SIGNATURE KINO CLARK
TITLE ASSISTANT TREASURER
EX-99.77B ACCT LTTR
2
b77dt.txt
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Trustees and the Shareholders of MFS Municipal Income Trust:
In planning and performing our audit of the financial statements of MFS
Municipal Income Trust (the "Fund") as of and for the year ended October 31,
2016, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States), we considered the Fund's internal control over
financial reporting, including controls over safeguarding securities, as a basis
for designing our auditing procedures for the purpose of expressing our opinion
on the financial statements and to comply with the requirements of Form N-SAR,
but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the
Fund's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no
such opinion.
The management of the Fund is responsible for establishing and maintaining
effective internal control over financial reporting. In fulfilling this
responsibility, estimates and judgments by management are required to assess the
expected benefits and related costs of controls. A fund's internal control over
financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance
regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of
financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles. A fund's internal control over financial reporting
includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of
records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the
transactions and dispositions of the assets of the fund; (2) provide reasonable
assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of
financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the fund are being made only
in accordance with authorizations of management of the fund and trustees of the
trust; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely
detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of a fund's assets
that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting
may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of
effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become
inadequate because of changes in conditions or that the degree of compliance
with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
A deficiency in internal control over financial reporting exists when the design
or operation of a control does not allow management or employees, in the normal
course of performing their assigned functions, to prevent or detect
misstatements on a timely basis. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a
combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such
that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of a fund's
annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a
timely basis.
Our consideration of the Fund's internal control over financial reporting was
for the limited purpose described in the first paragraph and would not
necessarily disclose all deficiencies in internal control that might be material
weaknesses under standards established by the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States). However, we noted no deficiencies in the
Fund's internal control over financial reporting and its operation, including
controls for safeguarding securities, that we consider to be a material
weakness, as defined above, as of October 31, 2016.
This report is intended solely for the information and use of management, the
Board of Trustees of MFS Municipal Income Trust and the Securities and Exchange
Commission and is not intended to be and should not be used by anyone other than
these specified parties.
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
December 15, 2016
EX-99.77Q1 OTHR EXHB
3
q771a.txt
Unknown;
MASTER AMENDED AND RESTATED
BY-LAWS
OF
THE TRUSTS IDENTIFIED ON APPENDIX A HERETO [CLOSED-END FUNDS]
DECEMBER 18, 2007, AS REVISED:
December 16, 2008 (Article III; Section 5)
November 1, 2014 (Article VI: Sections 1, 2, 3, 13 and 14)
April 27, 2016 (Article XII)
May 2, 2016 (Article XIV: Sections 1 and 2)
AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS
OF
THE TRUSTS IDENTIFIED ON APPENDIX A HERETO
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
The terms "Commission", "Declaration", "Distributor", "Interested
Person", "Investment Adviser", "Majority Shareholder Vote", "1940 Act",
"Shareholder", "Shares", "Transfer Agent", "Trust", "Trust Property" and
"Trustees" have the respective meanings given them in the Amended and Restated
Declaration of Trust of the Trusts identified on Appendix A hereto. References
to a "Trust" mean each Trust severally and not jointly. These By-Laws shall be
subject to the Declaration for all purposes.
ARTICLE II
OFFICES
SECTION 1. PRINCIPAL OFFICE. Until changed by the Trustees, the
principal office of the Trust in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall be in
the City of Boston, County of Suffolk.
SECTION 2. OTHER OFFICES. The Trust may have offices in such other places
without as well as within The Commonwealth of Massachusetts as the Trustees may
from time to time determine.
<1>
ARTICLE III
SHAREHOLDERS
SECTION 1. MEETINGS. Except as provided in the next sentence, regular
meetings of the Shareholders for the election of Trustees and the transaction of
such other business as may properly come before the meeting shall be held, so
long as Shares are listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange, on at
least an annual basis, on such day and at such place as shall be designated by
the Trustees. In the event that such a meeting is not held in any annual period
if so required, whether the omission be by oversight or otherwise, a subsequent
special meeting may be called by the Trustees and held in lieu of such meeting
with the same effect as if held within such annual period. Special meetings of
the Shareholders may be called at any time by a majority of the Trustees.
Meetings of the Shareholders for the purpose of considering the removal of a
person serving as Trustee shall be called by the Trustees if they are requested
in writing to do so by Shareholders holding in the aggregate Shares representing
not less than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of the outstanding Shares of
the Trust having voting rights. Any such meeting shall be held within or without
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts on such day and at such time as the Trustees
shall designate.
SECTION 2. NOTICE OF MEETINGS. Notice of all meetings of Shareholders,
stating the time, place and purposes of the meeting, shall be given by the
Trustees in accordance with the Declaration, mailed or sent at least (ten) 10
days and not more than ninety (90) days before the meeting. Only the business
stated in the notice of the meeting shall be considered at such meeting. Any
adjourned meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice, even if the
date of such adjourned meeting is more than 90 days after the notice of the
meeting was mailed or sent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if either the
President or Clerk of the Trust, or in the absence or unavailability of the
President and the Clerk, any officer of the Trust, determines that as a result
of force majeure or an act of God or war, the date, time or place designated for
a meeting or adjourned meeting of Shareholders is not reasonably practicable or
available, such officer may, without further notice to Shareholders, designate
such other date, time or place for such meeting or adjourned meeting as such
officer shall, in his or her sole discretion, determine. No notice need be given
to any Shareholder who shall have failed to inform the Trust of his current
address or if a written waiver of notice, executed before or after the meeting
by the Shareholder or his attorney thereunto authorized, is filed with the
records of the meeting.
SECTION 3. RECORD DATE FOR MEETINGS. For the purpose of determining the
Shareholders who are entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting, or to
participate in any distribution, or for the purpose of any other action, the
Trustees may from time to time close the transfer books for such period, not
exceeding thirty (30) days, as the Trustees may determine; or without closing
the transfer books the Trustees may fix a date not more than ninety (90) days
prior to the date of any meeting of Shareholders or distribution or other action
as a record date for the determination of the persons to be treated as
Shareholders of record for such purpose. The Trustees also may select the time
of day as of which the calculations for determining how many votes each
Shareholder is entitled to pursuant to the Declaration shall be performed.
SECTION 4. PROXIES. At any meeting of Shareholders, any holder of Shares
entitled to vote thereat may vote by proxy, provided that no proxy shall be
voted at any meeting unless it shall have been placed on file with the Clerk, or
with such other officer or agent of the Trust as the Clerk may direct, for
verification prior to the time at which such vote shall be taken. Pursuant to a
vote of a majority of the Trustees, proxies may be solicited in the name of one
or more Trustees or one or more of the officers of the Trust. When any Share is
held jointly by several persons, any one of them may vote at any meeting in
person or by proxy in respect of such Share (and a proxy shall be valid if
executed by any one of them), but if more than one of them shall be present at
such meeting in person or by proxy, and such joint owners or their proxies so
present disagree as to any vote to be cast, such vote shall not be received in
respect of such Share. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a
Shareholder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise,
and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger. The placing
of a Shareholder's name on a proxy pursuant to telephonic or electronically
transmitted instructions obtained pursuant to procedures reasonably designed to
verify that such instructions have been authorized by such Shareholder shall
constitute execution of such proxy by or on behalf of such Shareholder. If the
holder of any such Share is a minor or a person of unsound mind, and subject to
guardianship or to the legal control of any other person as regards the charge
or management of such Share, he may vote by his guardian or such other person
appointed or having such control, and such vote may be given in person or by
proxy. Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of a
proxy may be substituted for or used in lieu of the original proxy for any and
all purposes for which the original proxy could be used, provided that such
copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete
reproduction of the entire original proxy or the portion thereof to be returned
by the Shareholder.
SECTION 5. QUORUM AND ADJOURNMENT. Except when a larger quorum is required
by any provision of law, Shares representing thirty percent (30%) of the voting
power of the outstanding Shares entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum at
any meeting of Shareholders, except that where any provision of law, the
Declaration or these By-laws requires that holders of any series or class shall
vote as a series or class, then Shares representing 30 percent (unless a larger
quorum is required as specified above) of the voting power of the aggregate
number of Shares of that series or class entitled to vote shall be necessary to
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by that series or class. In
the absence of a quorum, Shareholders entitled to cast votes representing 30
percent of the voting power of the outstanding Shares entitled to vote present
in person or by proxy, or, where any provision of law, the Declaration or these
By- laws requires that holders of any series or class shall vote as a series or
class, Shareholders entitled to cast votes representing 30 percent of the voting
power of the outstanding Shares of that series or class entitled to vote present
in person or by proxy, may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum
shall be present. Only Shareholders of record shall be entitled to vote on any
matter.
SECTION 6. INSPECTION OF RECORDS. The records of the Trust shall be open
to inspection by Shareholders to the same extent as is permitted shareholders of
a Massachusetts business corporation.
SECTION 7. ACTION WITHOUT MEETING. Any action which may be taken by
Shareholders may be taken without a meeting if Shareholders holding Shares
representing a majority of the voting power of the Shares entitled to vote on
the matter (or such larger proportion thereof as shall be required by law, the
Declaration or these By-Laws for approval of such matter) consent to the action
in writing and the written consents are filed with the records of the meetings
of Shareholders. Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken
at a meeting of Shareholders.
SECTION 8. ADVANCE NOTICE OF SHAREHOLDER NOMINEES FOR TRUSTEES AND OTHER
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS.
(a)As used in this Section 8, the term "annual meeting" refers to any annual
meeting of Shareholders as well as any special meeting held in lieu of an annual
meeting as described in the first two sentences of Article III Section 1 of
these Bylaws, and the term "special meeting" refers to all meetings of
Shareholders other than an annual meeting or a special meeting in lieu of an
annual meeting.
(b)The matters proposed by Shareholders to be considered and brought before any
annual or special meeting of Shareholders shall be limited to only such matters,
including the nomination and election of Trustees, as shall be brought properly
before such meeting in compliance with the procedures set forth in this Section
8. Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth
in this Section 8 shall be eligible for election as Trustees, and no proposal to
fix the number of Trustees shall be brought before an annual or special meeting
of Shareholders or otherwise considered unless in accordance with the procedures
set forth in this Section 8, except as may be otherwise provided in these Bylaws
with respect to the right of holders of preferred shares of beneficial interest,
if any, of the Trust to nominate and elect a specified number of Trustees in
certain circumstances.
(c)For any matter to be properly before any annual meeting, the matter must be
(i) specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of a
majority of the Trustees pursuant to Article III Section 2 of these Bylaws or
(ii) brought before the meeting in the manner specified in this Section 8(c) by
a Shareholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting or by a Shareholder (a
"Beneficial Owner") that holds Shares entitled to vote at the meeting through a
nominee or "street name" holder of record and that can demonstrate to the Trust
such indirect ownership and such Beneficial Owner's entitlement to vote such
Shares, provided that the Shareholder was the Shareholder of record or the
Beneficial Owner held such Shares at the time the notice provided for in this
Section 8(c) is delivered to the Secretary.
<2>
In addition to any other requirements under applicable law and the
Declaration of Trust and these Bylaws, persons nominated by Shareholders for
election as Trustees and any other proposals by Shareholders may be properly
brought before an annual meeting only pursuant to timely notice (the
"Shareholder Notice") in writing to the Secretary. To be timely, the Shareholder
Notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive
offices of the Trust not less than forty-five (45) nor more than ninety (90)
days prior to the first anniversary date of the date on which the Trust first
sent its proxy materials for the prior year's annual meeting; provided, however,
with respect to the annual meeting to be held in the calendar years 2008 and
2009, the Shareholder Notice must be so delivered or mailed and so received on
or before June 13, 2008 and May 1, 2009, respectively; provided further,
however, if and only if the annual meeting is not scheduled to be held within a
period that commences thirty (30) days before the first anniversary date of the
annual meeting for the preceding year and ends thirty (30) days after such
anniversary date (an annual meeting date outside such period being referred to
herein as an "Other Annual Meeting Date"), such Shareholder Notice must be given
in the manner provided herein by the later of the close of business on (i) the
date forty-five (45) days prior to such Other Annual Meeting Date or (ii) the
tenth (10th) business day following the date such Other Annual Meeting Date is
first publicly announced or disclosed.
Any Shareholder desiring to nominate any person or persons (as the case
may be) for election as a Trustee or Trustees of the Trust shall deliver, as
part of such Shareholder Notice: (i) a statement in writing setting forth (A)
the name, age, date of birth, business address, residence address and
nationality of the person or persons to be nominated; (B) the class or series
and number of all Shares of the Trust owned of record or beneficially by each
such person or persons, as reported to such Shareholder by such nominee(s); (C)
any other information regarding each such person required by paragraphs (a),
(d), (e) and
(f) of Item 401 of Regulation S-K or paragraph (b) of Item 22 of Rule 14a-101
(Schedule 14A) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (or the
corresponding provisions of any regulation or rule subsequently adopted by the
Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency applicable to the
Trust); (D) any other information regarding the person or persons to be
nominated that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other
filings required to be made in connection with solicitation of proxies for
election of Trustees pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder; and (E) whether such Shareholder
believes any nominee is or will be an "interested person" of the Trust (as
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) and, if not an
"interested person," information regarding each nominee that will be sufficient
for the Trust to make such determination; and (ii) the written and signed
consent of the person or persons to be nominated to be named as nominees and to
serve as Trustees if elected. In addition, the Trustees may require any proposed
nominee to furnish such other information as they may reasonably require or deem
necessary to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a
Trustee. Any Shareholder Notice required by this Section 8(c) in respect of a
proposal to fix the number of Trustees shall also set forth a description of and
the text of
<3>
the proposal, which description and text shall state a fixed number of Trustees
that otherwise complies with applicable law, these Bylaws and the Declaration of
Trust.
Without limiting the foregoing, any Shareholder who gives a Shareholder
Notice of any matter proposed to be brought before a Shareholder meeting
(whether or not involving nominees for Trustees) shall deliver, as part of such
Shareholder Notice: (i) the description of and text of the proposal to be
presented; (ii) a brief written statement of the reasons why such Shareholder
favors the proposal; (iii) such Shareholder's name and address as they appear on
the Trust's books; (iv) any other information relating to the Shareholder that
would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required
to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies with respect to the
matter(s) proposed pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder; (v) the class or series and number of all
Shares of the Trust owned beneficially and of record by such Shareholder; (vi)
any material interest of such Shareholder in the matter proposed (other than as
a Shareholder); (vii) a representation that the Shareholder intends to appear in
person or by proxy at the Shareholder meeting to act on the matter(s) proposed;
(viii) if the proposal involves nominee(s) for Trustees, a description of all
arrangements or understandings between the Shareholder and each proposed nominee
and any other person or persons (including their names) pursuant to which the
nomination(s) are to be made by the Shareholder; and (ix) in the case of a
Beneficial Owner, evidence establishing such Beneficial Owner's indirect
ownership of, and entitlement to vote, Shares at the meeting of Shareholders.
As used in this Section 8, Shares "beneficially owned" shall mean all Shares
which such person is deemed to beneficially own pursuant to Rules 13d-3 and 13d-
5 under the Exchange Act.
(d)For any matter to be properly before any special meeting, the matter must be
specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of a majority of
the Trustees pursuant to Article III Section 2 of these Bylaws. In the event the
Trust calls a special meeting for the purpose of electing one or more Trustees,
any Shareholder may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for
election to such position(s) as specified in the Trust's notice of meeting if
and only if the Shareholder provides a notice containing the information
required in the Shareholder Notice to the Secretary required with respect to
annual meetings by Section 8(c) hereof, and such notice is delivered to or
mailed and received at the principal executive office of the Trust not later
than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which
the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Trustees to
be elected at such meeting are publicly announced or disclosed.
(e)For purposes of this Section 8, a matter shall be deemed to have been
"publicly announced or disclosed" if such matter is disclosed in a press release
reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national
news service, in a document publicly filed by the Trust with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, or in a Web site accessible to the public maintained by the
Trust or by its investment adviser or an affiliate of such investment adviser
with respect to the Trust.
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(f)In no event shall an adjournment or postponement (or a public announcement
thereof) of a meeting of Shareholders commence a new time period (or extend any
time period) for the giving of notice as provided in this Section 8.
(g)The person presiding at any meeting of Shareholders, in addition to making
any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting,
shall have the power and duty to (i) determine whether a nomination or proposal
of other matters to be brought before a meeting and notice thereof have been
duly made and given in the manner provided in this Section 8 and elsewhere in
these Bylaws and the Declaration of Trust and (ii) if not so made or given, to
direct and declare at the meeting that such nomination and/or such other matters
shall be disregarded and shall not be considered. Any determination by the
person presiding shall be binding on all parties absent manifest error.
(h)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 8 or otherwise in
these Bylaws, unless required by federal law, no matter shall be considered at
or brought before any annual or special meeting unless such matter has been
approved for these purposes by a majority of the Trustees and, in particular, no
Beneficial Owner shall have any rights as a Shareholder except as may be
required by federal law. Furthermore, nothing in this Section 8 shall be
construed as creating any implication or presumption as to the requirements of
federal law.
ARTICLE IV
TRUSTEES
SECTION 1. MEETINGS OF THE TRUSTEES. The Trustees may in their discretion
provide for regular or stated meetings of the Trustees. Notice of regular or
stated meetings need not be given. Meetings of the Trustees other than regular
or stated meetings shall be held whenever called by the Chair of the Trustees or
by any one of the Trustees at the time being in office. Notice of the time and
place of each meeting other than regular or stated meetings shall be given by
the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or the Clerk or an Assistant Clerk or
by the officer, Chair of the Trustees or other Trustee calling the meeting and
shall be mailed to each Trustee at least two days before the meeting, or shall
be telegraphed, cabled, or wirelessed or sent by facsimile or other electronic
means to each Trustee at his usual or last known business or residence address,
or personally delivered to him at least one day before the meeting. Such notice
may, however, be waived by any Trustee. Notice of a meeting need not be given to
any Trustee if a written waiver of notice, executed by him before or after the
meeting, is filed with the records of the meeting, or to any Trustee who attends
the meeting without protesting prior thereto or at its commencement the lack of
notice to him. A notice or waiver of notice need not specify the purpose of any
meeting. Except as provided by law the Trustees may meet by means of a telephone
conference circuit or similar communications equipment by means of which all
persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, which telephone
conference meeting shall be deemed to have been held at a place
designated by the Trustees at the meeting.
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Participation in a telephone conference meeting shall constitute presence in
person at such meeting.
SECTION 2. QUORUM AND MANNER OF ACTING. A majority of the Trustees shall
be present at any regular or special meeting of the Trustees in order to
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such meeting and (except
as otherwise required by law, the Declaration or these By-Laws) the act of a
majority of the Trustees present at any such meeting, at which a quorum is
present, shall be the act of the Trustees. In the absence of a quorum, a
majority of the Trustees present may adjourn the meeting from time to time until
a quorum shall be present. Notice of an adjourned meeting need not be given.
ARTICLE V
COMMITTEES AND ADVISORY BOARD
SECTION 1. EXECUTIVE AND OTHER COMMITTEES. The Trustees by vote of a
majority of all the Trustees may elect from their own number an Executive
Committee to consist of not less than three (3) Trustees to hold office at the
pleasure of the Trustees which shall have the power to conduct the current and
ordinary business of the Trust while the Trustees are not in session, including
the purchase and sale of securities and the designation of securities to be
delivered upon redemption of Shares of the Trust, and such other powers of the
Trustees as the Trustees may, from time to time, delegate to the Executive
Committee except those powers which by law, the Declaration or these By-Laws
they are prohibited from delegating. The Trustees may also elect other
Committees from time to time, the number composing such Committees, the powers
conferred upon the same (subject to the same limitations as with respect to the
Executive Committee) and the term of membership on such Committees to be
determined by the Trustees. The Trustees may designate a Chair of any such
Committee. In the absence of such designation a Committee may elect its own
Chair.
may:
SECTION 2. MEETING, QUORUM AND MANNER OF ACTING. The Trustees
(i)provide for stated meetings of any Committee;
(ii)specify the manner of calling and notice required for special meetings of
any Committee;
(iii)specify the number of members of a Committee required to constitute a
quorum and the number of members of a Committee required to exercise specified
powers delegated to such Committee;
(iv)authorize the making of decisions to exercise specified powers by written
assent of the requisite number of members of a Committee without a meeting; and
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(v)authorize the members of a Committee to meet by means of a telephone
conference circuit or similar communications equipment by means of which all
persons participating in the meeting can hear each other.
Each Committee shall keep and maintain regular minutes of its meetings and
records of decisions taken without a meeting.
SECTION 3. ADVISORY BOARD. The Trustees may appoint an Advisory Board to
consist in the first instance of not less than three (3) members. Members of
such Advisory Board shall not be Trustees or officers and need not be
Shareholders. A member of such Advisory Board shall hold office for such period
as the Trustees may by resolution provide. Any member of such board may resign
therefrom by a written instrument signed by him which shall take effect upon
delivery to the Trust. The Advisory Board shall have no legal powers and shall
not perform the functions of Trustees in any manner, such Advisory Board being
intended merely to act in an advisory capacity. Such Advisory Board shall meet
at such times and upon such notice as the Trustees may by resolution provide.
ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS AND CHAIR OF THE TRUSTEES
SECTION 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS. The officers of the Trust shall be a
President, a Treasurer and a Clerk, who shall be elected by the Trustees. In
addition, there shall be a Chief Compliance Officer, who shall be elected or
appointed by a majority of the Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees
who are not Interested Persons of the Trust ("Independent Trustees"), and
otherwise in accordance with rule 38a-1 (or any successor rule) under the 1940
Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time ("Rule 38a-1"). The Trustees
may elect or appoint such other officers or agents of the Trust as the business
of the Trust may require, including one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary and
one or more Assistant Secretaries, one or more Assistant Treasurers, and one or
more Assistant Clerks. The Trustees may delegate to any officer of the Trust or
Committee the power to appoint any subordinate officers or agents. In addition,
there shall be an office of Chair of the Trustees, which shall serve on behalf
of the Trustees, but shall not be an office of the Trust. The office of Chair of
the Trustees may be held by more than one person. Any Chair of the Trustees
shall be elected by a majority of the Trustees, including a majority of the
Independent Trustees.
SECTION 2. TERM OF OFFICE AND QUALIFICATIONS. Except as otherwise provided
by law, the Declaration or these By-Laws, the Chair of the Trustees, the
President, the Treasurer, the Clerk and the Chief Compliance Officer shall hold
office until his resignation has been accepted by the Trustees or until his
respective successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or in each case
until he sooner dies, resigns, is removed or becomes disqualified. All other
officers shall hold office at the pleasure of the Trustees. Any two or more
offices may be held by the same person. Any officer of the Trust may be, but
none need be, a Trustee or Shareholder. Any Chair of the Trustees shall be an
Independent Trustee, shall not be an officer of the Trust and may be, but need
not be, a Shareholder.
SECTION 3. REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION. The Trustees, at any regular or
special meeting of the Trustees, may remove any officer of the Trust with or
without cause by a vote or consent of a majority of the Trustees, provided that
any removal of the Chief Compliance Officer shall also require the vote or
consent of a majority of the Independent Trustees and otherwise be in accordance
with the provisions of Rule 38a-1. The Trustees may at any time remove any Chair
of the Trustees with or without cause by a vote or consent of a majority of the
Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Trustees. Any officer or agent
appointed by any officer or Committee may be removed with or without cause by
such appointing officer or Committee (subject to the provisions of Rule 38a-1 in
the case of the Chief Compliance Officer). Any officer of the Trust or Chair of
the Trustees may resign at any time by written instrument signed by him and
delivered to the Trust. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless
specified to be effective at some other time. Except to the extent expressly
provided in a written agreement with the Trust, no officer of the Trust or Chair
of the Trustees resigning or removed shall have any right to any compensation
for any period following his resignation or removal, or any right to damages on
account of such removal.
SECTION 4. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE CHAIR OF THE TRUSTEES. The
powers and duties of the Chair of the Trustees shall include (i) calling
meetings of the Trustees when deemed necessary, (ii) setting the agenda for
meetings of the Trustees with input from officers of the Trust and, as necessary
or appropriate, the Trust's Investment Adviser and other service providers,
(iii) presiding at all meetings of the Trustees, (iv) presiding at all meetings
of Shareholders, except that the Chair of the Trustees may appoint the President
or another officer of the Trust to preside at such meetings in place of the
Chair of the Trustees, (v) acting as a liaison between the Board of Trustees and
the Trust's officers, Investment Adviser and other service providers and (vi)
exercising such other powers and duties relating to the operations of the
Trustees as, from time to time, may be conferred upon or assigned to such office
by the Trustees, provided that the Chair of the Trustees shall have no
individual authority to act for the Trust as an officer of the Trust. In
carrying out the responsibilities and duties of the office, the Chair of the
Trustees may seek assistance and input from other Trustees or Committees of the
Trustees, officers of the Trust and the Trust's Investment Adviser and other
service providers, as deemed necessary or appropriate. In the absence or
disability of the Chair of the Trustees, a majority of the Trustees, including a
majority of the Independent Trustees, shall appoint an Independent Trustee to
perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Chair of the Trustees,
provided that, unless and until such appointment is made, all of the Independent
Trustees shall collectively perform such duties and exercise such powers.
SECTION 5. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT. Subject to the control of
the Trustees, the Chair of the Trustees and any Committees of the Trustees, the
President shall at all times exercise a general supervision and direction over
the affairs of the Trust, including the power to employ attorneys and counsel
for the Trust and to employ such subordinate officers, agents, clerks and
employees as he may find necessary to transact the business of the Trust. The
President shall be the chief executive officer of the Trust. The President shall
have the power to grant, issue, execute or sign such powers of attorney, proxies
or other documents as may be deemed advisable or necessary in furtherance of the
interests of the Trust. The President shall perform such other duties as may be
assigned to him from time to time by the Trustees or the Chair of the Trustees.
SECTION 6. POWERS AND DUTIES OF VICE PRESIDENTS. In the absence or
disability of the President, the Vice President or, if there be more than one
Vice President, any Vice President designated by the Trustees shall perform all
the duties and may exercise any of the powers of the President, subject to the
control of the Trustees. Each Vice President shall perform such other duties as
may be assigned to him from time to time by the Trustees or the President.
SECTION 7. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE TREASURER. The Treasurer shall be the
principal financial and accounting officer of the Trust. The Treasurer shall
deliver all funds of the Trust which may come into his hands to such custodian
as the Trustees may employ. The Treasurer shall render a statement of condition
of the finances of the Trust to the Trustees as often as they shall require the
same and shall in general perform all the duties incident to the office of
Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by
the Trustees. The Treasurer shall give a bond for the faithful discharge of his
duties, if required to do so by the Trustees, in such sum and with such surety
or sureties as the Trustees shall require.
SECTION 8. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE CLERK. The Clerk shall keep the
minutes of all meetings of the Shareholders in proper books provided for that
purpose; he shall have custody of the seal of the Trust; he shall have charge of
the Share transfer books, lists and records unless the same are in the charge of
the Transfer Agent. He or the Secretary, if any, shall attend to the giving and
serving of all notices by the Trust in accordance with the provisions of these
By-Laws and as required by law; and subject to these By-Laws, he shall in
general perform all duties incident to the office of Clerk and such other duties
as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Trustees.
SECTION 9. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY. The Secretary, if any,
shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the Trustees. He shall perform such
other duties and have such other powers in addition to those specified in these
By-Laws as the Trustees shall from time to time designate. If there be no
Secretary or Assistant Secretary, the Clerk shall perform the duties of
Secretary.
SECTION 10. POWERS AND DUTIES OF ASSISTANT TREASURERS. In the
absence or disability of the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer designated by
the Trustees shall perform all the duties, and may exercise any of the powers,
of the Treasurer. Each Assistant Treasurer shall perform such other duties as
from time to time may be assigned to him by the Trustees. Each Assistant
Treasurer shall give a bond for the faithful discharge of his duties, if
required to do so by the Trustees, in such sum and with such surety or sureties
as the Trustees shall require.
SECTION 11. POWERS AND DUTIES OF ASSISTANT CLERKS. In the absence
or disability of the Clerk, any Assistant Clerk designated by the Trustees shall
perform all the duties, and may exercise any of the powers, of the Clerk. The
Assistant Clerks shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be
assigned to them by the Trustees.
SECTION 12. POWERS AND DUTIES OF ASSISTANT SECRETARIES. In the
absence or disability of the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary designated by
the Trustees shall perform all of the duties, and may exercise any of the
powers, of the Secretary. The Assistant Secretaries shall perform such other
duties as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Trustees.
SECTION 13. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE CHIEF COMPLIANCE
OFFICER. The Chief Compliance Officer shall perform the duties and have the
responsibilities of the chief compliance officer of the Trust in accordance with
Rule 38a-1, and shall perform such other duties and have such other
responsibilities as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Trustees.
The Chief Compliance Officer shall report directly to the Trustees or a
Committee of the Trustees in carrying out his functions.
SECTION 14. COMPENSATION OF OFFICERS AND TRUSTEES AND
MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY BOARD. Subject to any applicable law or provision of the
Declaration, the compensation of the officers of the Trust and Trustees
(including the Chair of the Trustees) and members of the Advisory Board shall be
fixed from time to time by the Trustees or, in the case of officers, by any
Committee or officer upon whom such power may be conferred by the Trustees,
provided that any compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer shall be approved
by a majority of the Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Trustees.
No officer shall be prevented from receiving such compensation as such officer
by reason of the fact that he is also a Trustee.
ARTICLE VII
FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of the Trust shall be as specified on Appendix A hereto,
provided, however, that the Trustees may from time to time change the fiscal
year of the Trust or any series.
ARTICLE
VIII SEAL
The Trustees may adopt a seal which shall be in such form and shall have
such inscription thereon as the Trustees may from time to time prescribe.
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ARTICLE IX WAIVERS OF NOTICE
Whenever any notice is required to be given by law, the Declaration or
these By-Laws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons
entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall
be deemed equivalent thereto. A notice shall be deemed to have been telegraphed,
cabled or wirelessed or sent by facsimile or other electronic means for the
purposes of these By-Laws when it has been delivered to a representative of any
telegraph, cable or wireless company with instruction that it be telegraphed,
cabled or wirelessed or when a confirmation of such facsimile having been sent,
or a confirmation that such electronic means has sent the notice being
transmitted, is generated. Any notice shall be deemed to be given at the time
when the same shall be mailed, telegraphed, cabled or wirelessed or when sent by
facsimile or other electronic means.
ARTICLE X
SALE OF SHARES OF THE TRUST
The Trustees may from time to time issue and sell or cause to be issued
and sold Shares for cash or other property. The Shares, including additional
Shares which may have been repurchased by the Trust (herein sometimes referred
to as "treasury shares"), may not be sold at a price less than the net asset
value thereof (as defined in Article XI hereof) determined by or on behalf of
the Trustees next after the sale is made or at some later time after such sale.
No Shares need be offered to existing Shareholders before being offered to
others. No Shares shall be sold by the Trust (although Shares previously
contracted to be sold may be issued upon payment therefor) during any period
when the determination of net asset value is suspended. In connection with the
acquisition by merger or otherwise of all or substantially all the assets of an
investment company (whether a regulated or private investment company or a
personal holding company), the Trustees may issue or cause to be issued Shares
and accept in payment therefor such assets valued at not more than market value
thereof in lieu of cash, notwithstanding that the federal income tax basis to
the Trust of any assets so acquired may be less than the market value, provided
that such assets are of the character in which the Trustees are permitted to
invest the funds of the Trust.
ARTICLE XI
NET ASSET VALUE OF SHARES
The term "net asset value" per Share of any class or series of Shares
shall mean: (i) the value of all assets of that series or class; (ii) less total
liabilities of such series or class; (iii) divided by the number of Shares of
such series or class outstanding, in each case at the time of
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such determination, all as determine by or under the direction of the Trustees.
Such value shall be determined on such days and at such time as the Trustees may
determine. Such determination shall be made with respect to securities for which
market quotations are readily available, at the market value of such securities;
and with respect to other securities and assets, at the fair value as determined
in good faith by or pursuant to the direction of the Trustees or a Committee
thereof, provided, however, that the Trustees, without shareholder approval, may
alter the method of appraising portfolio securities insofar as permitted under
the 1940 Act, including use of the amortized cost method. The Trustees may
delegate any powers and duties under this Article XI with respect to appraisal
of assets and liabilities. At any time the Trustees may cause the value per
share last determined to be determined again in a similar manner and may fix the
time when such predetermined value shall become effective. Determinations of net
asset value made by the Trustees or their delegates in good faith shall be
binding on all parties concerned.
ARTICLE XII
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
SECTION 1. LIMITATIONS ON DISTRIBUTIONS. The total of distributions to
Shareholders of a particular series or class paid in respect of any one fiscal
year, subject to the exceptions noted below, shall, when and as declared by the
Trustees, be approximately equal to the sum of:
(i)the net income, exclusive of the profits or losses realized upon the sale of
securities or other property, of such series or class for such fiscal year,
determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (which,
if the Trustees so determine, may be adjusted for net amounts included as such
accrued net income in the price of Shares of such series or class issued or
repurchased), but if the net income of such series or class exceeds the amount
distributed by less than one cent per share outstanding at the record date for
the final dividend, the excess shall be treated as distributable income of such
series or class for the following fiscal year; and
(ii)in the discretion of the Trustees, an additional amount which shall not
substantially exceed the excess of profits over losses on sales of securities or
other property allocated or belonging to such series or class for such fiscal
year; and
(iii)in the discretion of the Trustees, an additional amount from other Trust
assets.
The decision of the Trustees as to what, in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, is income and what is principal shall be final, and
except as specifically provided herein the decision of the Trustees as to what
expenses and charges of the Trust shall be charged
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against principal and what against income shall be final, all subject to any
applicable provisions of the 1940 Act. For the purposes of the limitation
imposed by this Section 1, Shares issued pursuant to Section 2 of this Article
XII shall be valued at the amount of cash which the Shareholders would have
received if they had elected to receive cash in lieu of such Shares.
Inasmuch as the computation of net income and gains for federal income tax
purposes may vary from the computation thereof on the books of the Trust, the
above provisions shall be interpreted to give to the Trustees the power in their
discretion to distribute for any fiscal year as ordinary dividends and as
capital gains distributions, respectively, additional amounts sufficient to
enable the Trust to avoid or reduce liability for taxes. Any payment made to
Shareholders pursuant to clause (ii) and/or clause (iii) of this Section 1 shall
be accompanied by a written statement showing the source or sources of such
payment, and the basis of computation thereof.
SECTION 2. DISTRIBUTIONS PAYABLE IN CASH OR SHARES. The Trustees
shall have power, to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts but subject to the limitation as to cash
distributions imposed by Section 1 of this Article XII, at any time or from time
to time to declare and cause to be paid distributions payable at the election of
any Shareholder of any series or class (whether exercised before or after the
declaration of the distribution) either in cash or in Shares of such series,
provided that the sum of:
(i)the cash distribution actually paid to any Shareholder, and
(ii)the net asset value of the Shares which that Shareholder elects to receive,
in effect at such time at or after the election as the Trustees may specify,
shall not exceed the full amount of cash to which that Shareholder would be
entitled if he elected to receive only cash.
In the case of a distribution payable in cash or Shares at the election of a
Shareholder, the Trustees may prescribe whether a Shareholder, failing to
express his election before a given time shall be deemed to have elected to take
Shares rather than cash, or to take cash rather then Shares, or to take Shares
with cash adjustment of fractions.
The Trustees, in their sole discretion, may cause the Trust to require
that all distributions payable to a shareholder in amounts less than such amount
or amounts determined from time to time by the Trustees be reinvested in
additional shares of the Trust rather than paid in cash, unless a shareholder
who, after notification that his distributions will be reinvested in additional
shares in accordance with the preceding phrase, elects to receive such
distributions in cash. Where a shareholder has elected to receive distributions
in cash and the postal or other delivery service is unable to deliver checks to
the shareholder's address of record, the Trustees, in their sole discretion, may
cause the Trust to require that such Shareholder's distribution option be
converted to having all distributions reinvested in additional shares.
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SECTION 3. STOCK DIVIDENDS. Anything in these By-Laws to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Trustees may at any time declare and distribute pro rata
among the Shareholders of any series or class a "stock dividend" out of either
authorized but unissued Shares of such series or class or treasury Shares of
such series or class or both.
ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENTS
These By-Laws, or any of them, may be altered, amended, repealed or
restated, or new By-Laws may be adopted, at any time by the Trustees. Action by
the Trustees with respect to the By-Laws shall be taken by an affirmative vote
of a majority of the Trustees.
ARTICLE XIV
CLAIMS AND DISPUTES
SECTION 1. FORUM FOR ADJUDICATION OF DISPUTES. Unless the Trust consents
in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, (i) any action or
proceeding brought by or on behalf of the Trust or any of the Trust's
Shareholders, (ii) any action asserting a claim against the Trust (or a series
thereof), or against any trustee, officer or other employee of the Trust,
whether arising under federal law, the law of any state, or the law of a non-
U.S. jurisdiction, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any
provision of the Massachusetts Business Corporation Act, the statutory or common
law of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Declaration or these By-Laws, (iv)
any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of the
Declaration, these By-Laws, or any agreement on behalf of the Trust authorized
thereunder, or (v) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs
doctrine (each, a "Covered Action") shall be brought in the state or federal
courts located within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Any person purchasing
or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of beneficial interest
of the Trust shall be (i) deemed to have notice of and consented to the
provisions of this Section, and (ii) deemed to have waived any argument relating
to the inconvenience of the forums referenced above in connection with any
action or proceeding described in this Section.
If any Covered Action is filed in a court other than the state or federal courts
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (a "Foreign Action") in the name of any
shareholder, such shareholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the
personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts in connection with any action brought in any such
courts to enforce the first paragraph of this Section (an "Enforcement Action")
and (ii) having service of process made upon such shareholder in any such
Enforcement Action by service upon such shareholder's counsel in the Foreign
Action as agent for such shareholder.
If any provision or provisions of this Section shall be held to be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or circumstance for any reason
whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality
and enforceability of such provision(s) in any other circumstance and of the
remaining provisions of this Section (including, without limitation, each
portion of any sentence of this Section containing any such provision held to be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal
or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons and
circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
SECTION 2. CLAIMS. As used herein, a "direct Shareholder claim" shall
refer to (i) a claim based upon alleged violations of a Shareholder's individual
rights independent of any harm to the Trust, including a Shareholder's voting
rights under Article III, rights to receive a dividend payment as may be
declared from time to time, rights to inspect books and records, or other
similar rights personal to the Shareholder and independent of any harm to the
Trust; and (ii) a claim for which a direct shareholder action is expressly
provided under the U.S. federal securities laws. Any claim asserted by a
Shareholder that is not a direct Shareholder claim, including without limitation
any claims purporting to be brought on behalf of the Trust or involving any
alleged harm to the Trust, shall be considered a "derivative claim" as used
herein.
a. Derivative Claims. No Shareholder shall have the right to bring or
maintain any court action or other proceeding asserting a derivative claim or
any claim asserted on behalf of the Trust or involving any alleged harm to the
Trust without first making demand on the Trustees requesting the Trustees to
bring or maintain such action, proceeding or claim. Such demand shall be
excused only when the plaintiff makes a specific showing that irreparable
nonmonetary injury to the Trust or any series or class thereof would otherwise
result, or if a majority of the Board of Trustees, or a majority of any
committee established to consider the merits of such action, has a material
personal financial interest in the action at issue. A Trustee shall not be
deemed to have a personal financial interest in an action or otherwise be
disqualified from ruling on a Shareholder demand by virtue of the fact that
such Trustee receives remuneration from his or her service on the Board of
Trustees of the Trust or on the boards of one or more investment companies with
the same or an affiliated investment adviser or underwriter, or the amount of
such remuneration. Such demand shall be mailed to the Secretary of the Trust at
the Trust's principal office and shall set forth with particularity the nature
of the proposed court action, proceeding or claim and the essential facts
relied upon by the shareholder to support the allegations made in the demand.
The Trustees shall consider such demand within 90 days of its receipt by the
Trust. In their sole discretion, the Trustees may submit the matter to a vote
of shareholders of the Trust or series or class of Shares, as appropriate. Any
decision by the Trustees to bring, maintain or settle (or not to bring,
maintain or settle) such court action, proceeding or claim, or to submit the
matter to a vote of Shareholders, shall be binding upon the Shareholders.
Master Amended and Restated By-Laws, December 18, 2007
APPENDIX A
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| |FISCAL |
|TRUST |YEAR END|
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| | |
|MFS Municipal Income Trust |10/31 |
|MFS Multimarket Income Trust |10/31 |
|MFS Government Markets Income Trust|11/30 |
|MFS Intermediate Income Trust |10/31 |
|MFS Charter Income Trust |11/30 |
|MFS Special Value Trust |10/31 |
----------------------------------------------
Endnotes
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EX-99.77Q1 OTHR EXHB
4
q771a2.txt
MFS MUNICIPAL INCOME TRUST
CERTIFICATION OF AMENDMENT
TO THE DECLARATION OF TRUST
Pursuant to Section 8.3 of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
dated December 16, 2004, as amended (the "Declaration"), of MFS Municipal Income
Trust, a business trust organized under the laws of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts (the "Trust"), the undersigned, constituting a majority of the
Trustees of the Trust, do hereby amend the following Sections of the Declaration
to be effective on May 2, 2016.
Pursuant to Section 8.3 of the Declaration, the undersigned Trustees of
the Trust, being a majority of the Trustees of the Trust, hereby replace Article
V, Section 5.7 of the Declaration to read in its entirety as follows:
"Section 5.7. Claims. As used herein, a "direct Shareholder claim" shall
refer to (i) a claim based upon alleged violations of a Shareholder's
individual rights independent of any harm to the Trust, including a
Shareholder's voting rights under Section 6.8 hereof, rights to receive a
dividend payment as may be declared from time to time, rights to inspect
books and records, or other similar rights personal to the Shareholder and
independent of any harm to the Trust; and (ii) a claim for which a direct
shareholder action is expressly provided under the U.S. federal securities
laws. Any claim asserted by a Shareholder that is not a direct Shareholder
claim, including without limitation any claims purporting to be brought on
behalf of the Trust or involving any alleged harm to the Trust, shall be
considered a "derivative claim" as used herein.
a. Derivative Claims. No Shareholder shall have the right to bring
or maintain any court action or other proceeding asserting a
derivative claim or any claim asserted on behalf of the Trust or
involving any alleged harm to the Trust without first making demand
on the Trustees requesting the Trustees to bring or maintain such
action, proceeding or claim. Such demand shall be excused only when
the plaintiff makes a specific showing that irreparable nonmonetary
injury to the Trust or any series or class thereof would otherwise
result, or if a majority of the Board of Trustees, or a majority of
any committee established to consider the merits of such action, has
a material personal financial interest in the action at issue. A
Trustee shall not be deemed to have a personal financial interest in
an action or otherwise be disqualified from ruling on a Shareholder
demand by virtue of the fact that such Trustee receives remuneration
from his or her service on the Board of Trustees of the Trust or on
the boards of one or more investment companies with the same or an
affiliated investment adviser or underwriter, or the amount of such
remuneration. Such demand shall be mailed to the Secretary of the
Trust at the Trust's principal office and shall set forth with
particularity the nature of the proposed court action, proceeding or
claim and the essential facts relied upon by the shareholder to
support the allegations made in the demand. The Trustees shall
consider such demand within 90 days of its receipt by the Trust. In
their sole discretion, the Trustees may submit the matter to a vote
of shareholders of the Trust or series or class of Shares, as
appropriate. Any decision by the Trustees to bring, maintain or
settle (or not to bring, maintain or settle) such court action,
proceeding or claim, or to submit the matter to a vote of
Shareholders, shall be binding upon the Shareholders."
Pursuant to Section 8.3 of the Declaration, the undersigned Trustees of
the Trust, being a majority of the Trustees of the Trust, hereby amend Article
VI, Section 6.2 of the Declaration to add the following language before the last
sentence of Section 6.2:
"The Trust may enter into contractual arrangements with an Investment
Adviser, Transfer Agent, and other parties who each provide services to
the Trust. 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 any
series of the Trust. The registration statement of the Trust is not a
contract between the Trust and the shareholders of the Trust and does not
give rise to any shareholder rights other than any rights conferred
explicitly by federal or state securities laws that may not be waived."
Pursuant to Section 8.3 of the Declaration, the undersigned Trustees of
the Trust, being a majority of the Trustees of the Trust, hereby add Section 9.7
to Article IX of the Declaration to read in its entirety as follows:
"Section 9.7. Forum for Adjudication of Disputes. Unless the Trust
consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, (i) any
action or proceeding brought by or on behalf of the Trust or any of the
Trust's Shareholders, (ii) any action asserting a claim against any the
Trust (or any series thereof), or against any trustee, officer or other
employee of the Trust, whether arising under federal law, the law of any
state, or the law of a non-U.S. jurisdiction, (iii) any action asserting a
claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Massachusetts Business
Corporation Act, the statutory or common law of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, the Declaration or these By-Laws, (iv) any action to
interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of this Declaration,
the Trust's by-laws, or any agreement on behalf of the Trust authorized
thereunder, or (v) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal
affairs doctrine (each, a "Covered Action") shall be brought in the state
or federal courts located within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Any
person purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares
of beneficial interest of the Trust shall be (i) deemed to have notice of
and consented to the provisions of this Section, and (ii) deemed to have
waived any argument relating to the inconvenience of the forums referenced
above in connection with any action or proceeding described in this
Section.
If any Covered Action is filed in a court other than the state or federal
courts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (a "Foreign Action") in the
name of any shareholder, such shareholder shall be deemed to have
consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts
located within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in connection with any
action brought in any such courts to enforce the first paragraph of this
Section (an "Enforcement Action") and (ii) having service of process made
upon such shareholder in any such Enforcement Action by service upon such
shareholder's counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such shareholder.
If any provision or provisions of this Section shall be held to be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or circumstance
for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law,
the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision(s) in any
other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Section
(including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this
Section containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons and
circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby."
Pursuant to Section 8.3 of the Declaration, the undersigned Trustees of
the Trust, being a majority of the Trustees of the Trust, hereby amend Section
9.3 of the Declaration to read in its entirety as follows:
"Section 9.3. Principal Office. The principal office of the Trust
is 111 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02199. The
Trustees, without a vote of Shareholders, may change the principal
office of the Trust."
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, a majority of the Trustees of the Trust have executed
this amendment, in one or more counterparts, all constituting a single
instrument, as an instrument under seal in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as
of May 2, 2016 and further certify, as provided by the provisions of Section
8.3(c) of the Declaration, that this amendment was duly adopted by the
undersigned in accordance with Section 8.3(a) of the Declaration.
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| | |
| | |
|STEVEN E. BULLER |JOHN P. KAVANAUGH |
|Steven E. Buller |John P. Kavanaugh |
|c/o MFS Investment Management |c/o MFS Investment Management|
|111 Huntington AvenueBoston, MA 02199|111 Huntington Avenue |
| |Boston, MA 02199 |
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| | |
| | |
|ROBERT E. BUTLER |ROBERT J. MANNING |
|Robert E. Butler |Robert J. Manning |
|c/o MFS Investment Management |MFS Investment Management |
|111 Huntington Avenue |111 Huntington Avenue |
|Boston, MA 02199 |Boston, MA 02199 |
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| | |
| | |
|MAUREEN R. GOLDGFARB |MARYANNE L. ROEPKE |
|Maureen R. Goldfarb |Maryanne L. Roepke |
|c/o MFS Investment Management |c/o MFS Investment Management|
|111 Huntington Avenue |111 Huntington Avenue |
|Boston, MA 02199 |Boston, MA 02199 |
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| | |
| | |
|DAVID H. GUNNING |ROBIN A. STELMACH |
|PersonNameDavid H. Gunning |Robin A. Stelmach |
|c/o MFS Investment Management |MFS Investment Management |
|111 Huntington Avenue |111 Huntington Avenue |
|Boston, MA 02199 |Boston, MA 02199 |
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| | |
| | |
|WILLIAM R. GUTOW |LAURIE J. THOMSEN |
|PersonNameWilliam R. Gutow |Laurie J. Thomsen |
|c/o MFS Investment Management |c/o MFS Investment Management|
|111 Huntington Avenue |111 Huntington Avenue |
|Boston, MA 02199 |Boston, MA 02199 |
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| | |
| | |
|MICHAEL HEGARTY |ROBERT W. IEK |
|Michael Hegarty |Robert W. Uek |
|c/o MFS Investment Management |c/o MFS Investment Management|
|111 Huntington Avenue |111 Huntington Avenue |
|Boston, MA 02199 |Boston, MA 02199 |
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