MFS Adjourns MCR Special Shareholder Meeting to May 14, 2026
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 01 2026
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Source: Newsfilter
- Meeting Postponement: MFS announced the adjournment of the special shareholder meeting for MFS Charter Income Trust to May 14, 2026, to solicit additional shareholder votes supporting the reorganization agreement with MFS Multimarket Income Trust, ensuring broad shareholder participation and backing.
- Reorganization Proposal: On December 10, 2025, the MCR Board unanimously approved the reorganization proposal and mailed a prospectus to shareholders as of December 11, 2025, in early February 2026, emphasizing that the reorganization is in the best interests of shareholders, aiming to enhance overall company value.
- Importance of Shareholder Votes: The postponement of the meeting not only aims to increase voting opportunities for shareholders but also reflects MFS's commitment to valuing shareholder opinions, which is expected to bolster support for the reorganization and drive future growth and stability for the company.
- Investment Risk Advisory: As a closed-end investment company, MCR's shares may trade at a discount to net asset value, and investors are advised to carefully consider investment risks, including potential principal loss, ensuring they are well-informed when participating in the vote.
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About MCR
MFS Charter Income Trust (Fund) is a diversified closed-end management investment company. The Fund’s investment objective is to seek high current income, but also considers capital appreciation. The Fund primarily invests in debt instruments. The Fund also invests in corporate bonds of the United States and/or foreign issuers, United States government securities, foreign government securities, mortgage-backed securities and other securitized instruments of United States and/or foreign issuers, and/or debt instruments of issuers located in emerging market countries. It invests in a range of fixed income sectors, such as high yield corporates, emerging markets bonds, investment grade corporates, Non- United States government bonds, commercial mortgage-backed securities, mortgage-backed securities, collateralized debt obligations, municipal bonds, asset-backed securities and United States treasury securities. The Fund's investment advisor is Massachusetts Financial Services Company.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Reorganization Announcement: MFS Investment Management has announced the completion of the reorganization of MFS Charter Income Trust and MFS Intermediate High Income Fund into MFS Multimarket Income Trust on June 22, 2026, aimed at optimizing investment structure and enhancing management efficiency.
- Trading Cessation: All shares of the Target Funds will cease trading on the NYSE after market close on June 18, 2026, with shareholders receiving newly issued common shares of the Surviving Fund, ensuring a smooth transition of shareholder interests.
- Adviser Change: Prior to the reorganization's completion, abrdn Inc. will replace MFS as the investment adviser for the Surviving Fund, with five new trustees appointed, indicating a significant shift in management.
- Name Change Plan: Following the reorganization, the Surviving Fund will be renamed from “MFS Multimarket Income Trust” to “Aberdeen Multi-Market Income Fund,” reflecting the new management direction and brand identity.
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- Distribution Announcement: MFS Investment Management has announced monthly distributions for its closed-end funds, including MFS® Charter Income Trust, MFS® Intermediate High Income Fund, and MFS® Multimarket Income Trust, all scheduled for June 15, 2026, demonstrating the company's ongoing commitment to providing returns to investors.
- Distribution Details: Each fund's distribution amounts are $0.043740, $0.014140, and $0.032840, respectively, with all distributions sourced from 'Other Sources,' which may include short-term capital gains and return of capital, reflecting the funds' diversified income streams.
- Reorganization Plans: These distributions represent the final payouts before the funds reorganize into the MFS Multimarket Income Trust, a move approved by shareholders, expected to complete after trading on June 18, 2026, indicating strategic decisions aimed at optimizing asset structures.
- Future Outlook: Following the reorganization, shareholders will receive newly issued common shares of MMT and will be eligible for MMT's monthly distribution in July 2026, underscoring the company's commitment to creating long-term value for shareholders and enhancing investment appeal.
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- Distribution Overview: MFS® Charter Income Trust's distribution amount for May 2026 is $0.04399 per share, with 30% derived from net investment income and 70% from capital return, indicating the fund's stability and potential for investor returns.
- Source Analysis: MFS Government Markets Income Trust has a distribution of $0.01872 per share, with 48% from net investment income and 52% from capital return, reflecting the fund's earnings structure and risk management strategy in the current market environment.
- High-Yield Fund Performance: MFS Intermediate High-Income Fund's distribution for May 2026 is $0.01424 per share, with an annualized distribution rate of 9.55%, showcasing its competitiveness in the high-yield investment sector and attracting investors seeking stable cash flows.
- Diversified Investment Strategy: MFS Multimarket Income Trust's distribution is $0.03298 per share, with 63% coming from net investment income, demonstrating the effectiveness of its diversified portfolio aimed at providing a continuous income stream for investors.
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- Fund Reorganization Approval: Shareholders of MFS Charter Income Trust and MFS Intermediate High Income Fund have approved the reorganization into MFS Multimarket Income Trust, indicating strong shareholder support for strategic adjustments that are expected to enhance management efficiency and investment returns.
- New Investment Adviser Appointment: Following the reorganization, abrdn Inc. has been appointed as the new investment adviser for MFS Multimarket Income Trust, aiming to improve portfolio performance through professional management and enhance the fund's competitive position in the market.
- Election of New Trustees: MFS Multimarket Income Trust will add five new trustees to its board, which aims to enhance decision-making quality and governance structure through a diversified management team, thereby better serving shareholder interests.
- Issuance of Additional Shares: To support the reorganization, MFS Multimarket Income Trust will issue additional common shares, a move that not only strengthens the capital base but also provides funding for future investment opportunities.
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- Distribution Overview: MFS Investment Management announced monthly distributions for several closed-end funds on May 1, 2026, with ex-dividend dates on May 19, 2026, and record and payable dates also on May 29, 2026, demonstrating the company's commitment to providing returns to investors.
- Distribution Amount Details: For instance, MFS® High Yield Municipal Trust (NYSE:CMU) has a distribution of $0.01650 per share, while MFS® Government Markets Income Trust (NYSE:MGF) distributes $0.018720 per share, reflecting the diversity in income sources and distribution strategies across different funds.
- Managed Distribution Plan: All funds adopt a managed distribution plan, which allows for the distribution of long-term capital gains or return of capital if monthly investment income is insufficient, aiming to stabilize investor return expectations amidst varying market conditions.
- Investor Notification Mechanism: Whenever a distribution does not consist solely of net investment income, the fund will issue a notice to shareholders and a press release detailing the amount and composition of the distribution, ensuring transparency and aiding investors in making informed decisions.
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- Meeting Postponement: MFS announced the adjournment of the special shareholder meeting for MFS Charter Income Trust to May 14, 2026, to solicit additional shareholder votes supporting the reorganization agreement with MFS Multimarket Income Trust, ensuring broad shareholder participation and backing.
- Reorganization Proposal: On December 10, 2025, the MCR Board unanimously approved the reorganization proposal and mailed a prospectus to shareholders as of December 11, 2025, in early February 2026, emphasizing that the reorganization is in the best interests of shareholders, aiming to enhance overall company value.
- Importance of Shareholder Votes: The postponement of the meeting not only aims to increase voting opportunities for shareholders but also reflects MFS's commitment to valuing shareholder opinions, which is expected to bolster support for the reorganization and drive future growth and stability for the company.
- Investment Risk Advisory: As a closed-end investment company, MCR's shares may trade at a discount to net asset value, and investors are advised to carefully consider investment risks, including potential principal loss, ensuring they are well-informed when participating in the vote.
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