MFS CHARTER INCOME TRUST 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 811-05822

MFS CHARTER INCOME TRUST

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

111 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02199

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Christopher R. Bohane

Massachusetts Financial Services Company

111 Huntington Avenue

Boston, Massachusetts 02199

(Name and address of agents for service)

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

Date of fiscal year end: November 30

Date of reporting period: May 31, 2018


Table of Contents
ITEM 1. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS.

 


Table of Contents

Semiannual Report

May 31, 2018

 

LOGO

 

MFS® Charter Income Trust

 

LOGO

 

MCR-SEM

 


Table of Contents

MANAGED DISTRIBUTION POLICY DISCLOSURE

The MFS Charter Income Trust’s (the fund) Board of Trustees adopted a managed distribution policy. The fund seeks to pay monthly distributions based on an annual rate of 8.00% of the fund’s average monthly net asset value. The primary purpose of the managed distribution policy is to provide shareholders with a constant, but not guaranteed, fixed minimum rate of distribution each month. You should not draw any conclusions about the fund’s investment performance from the amount of the current distribution or from the terms of the fund’s managed distribution policy. The Board may amend or terminate the managed distribution policy at any time without prior notice to fund shareholders. The amendment or termination of the managed distribution policy could have an adverse effect on the market price of the fund’s shares.

With each distribution, the fund will issue a notice to shareholders and an accompanying press release which will provide detailed information regarding the amount and composition of the distribution and other related information. The amounts and sources of distributions reported in the notice to shareholders are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the fund’s investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes. Please refer to “Tax Matters and Distributions” under Note 2 of the Notes to Financial Statements for information regarding the tax character of the fund’s distributions.

Under a managed distribution policy the fund may at times distribute more than its net investment income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may result in a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the fund is paid back to you. Any such returns of capital will decrease the fund’s total assets and, therefore, could have the effect of increasing the fund’s expense ratio. In addition, in order to make the level of distributions called for under its managed distribution policy, the fund may have to sell portfolio securities at a less than opportune time. A return of capital does not necessarily reflect the fund’s investment performance and should not be confused with ‘yield’ or ‘income’. The fund’s total return in relation to changes in net asset value is presented in the Financial Highlights.


Table of Contents

MFS® Charter Income Trust

New York Stock Exchange Symbol: MCR

 

Letter from the Executive Chairman     1  
Portfolio composition     2  
Portfolio managers’ profiles     4  
Other notes     5  
Portfolio of investments     6  
Statement of assets and liabilities     31  
Statement of operations     32  
Statements of changes in net assets     33  
Statement of cash flows     34  
Financial highlights     35  
Notes to financial statements     37  
Report of independent registered public accounting firm     51  
Proxy voting policies and information     52  
Quarterly portfolio disclosure     52  
Further information     52  
Information about fund contracts and legal claims     53  
Contact information    back cover  

 

NOT FDIC INSURED MAY LOSE VALUE NO BANK GUARANTEE



Table of Contents

LOGO

 

LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN

 

Dear Shareholders:

Rising bond yields, international trade friction and geopolitical uncertainty have contributed to a measurable uptick in market volatility — a departure from the

low-volatility environment that prevailed for much of 2017. In recent months, against this backdrop, global markets have given back some of the strong gains recorded during 2017 and early 2018. Global economic growth remains healthy, notwithstanding signs of a modest slowdown over the past few months, particularly in Europe.

Although the U.S. Federal Reserve continues to gradually raise interest rates and shrink its balance sheet, monetary policy remains accommodative around the world, with many central banks taking only tentative steps toward tighter policies. Newly

enacted U.S. tax reforms have been welcomed by equity markets, while emerging market economies have benefited from the solid macroeconomic backdrop.

Around the world, inflation remains largely subdued, but tight labor markets and solid global demand have investors on the lookout for its potential resurgence. Increased U.S. protectionism is also a growing concern, as investors fear that trade disputes could disrupt the synchronized rise in global growth.

As a global investment manager, MFS® strives to create long-term value and protect capital for clients through an active approach and an investment platform built on nearly a century of expertise. To make that long-term value meaningful for clients, we work to align with you on our beliefs, your needs and the time it takes to deliver on your desired outcomes.

Respectfully,

 

LOGO

Robert J. Manning

Executive Chairman

MFS Investment Management

July 16, 2018

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

 

1


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PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION

 

Portfolio structure (i)

 

LOGO

 

Fixed income sectors (i)  
High Yield Corporates     61.1%  
Non-U.S. Government Bonds     16.3%  
Investment Grade Corporates     11.7%  
Emerging Markets Bonds     10.8%  
Mortgage-Backed Securities     5.1%  
U.S. Treasury Securities     2.3%  
Collateralized Debt Obligations     1.6%  
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities     0.4%  
Asset-Backed Securities     0.2%  
Municipal Bonds     0.2%  
Floating Rate Loans     0.2%  
Composition including fixed income
credit quality (a)(i)
 
AAA     4.5%  
AA     4.2%  
A     8.3%  
BBB     15.7%  
BB     36.0%  
B     28.8%  
CCC     4.2%  
CC     0.2%  
C     0.1%  
D (o)     0.0%  
U.S. Government     13.9%  
Federal Agencies     5.1%  
Not Rated     (11.1)%  
Non-Fixed Income     0.2%  
Cash & Cash Equivalents (Less Liabilities)     (22.1)%  
Other     12.0%  
Portfolio facts (i)  
Average Duration (d)     6.0  
Average Effective Maturity (m)     7.7 yrs.  
 

 

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 any 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.
(d) Duration is a measure of how much a bond’s price is likely to fluctuate with general changes in interest rates, e.g., if rates rise 1.00%, a bond with a 5-year duration is likely to lose about 5.00% of its value due to the interest rate move.
(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.
(m) In determining each instrument’s effective maturity for purposes of calculating the fund’s dollar-weighted average effective maturity, MFS uses the instrument’s stated maturity or, if applicable, an earlier date on which MFS believes it is probable that a maturity-shortening device (such as a put, pre-refunding or prepayment) will cause the instrument to be repaid. Such an earlier date can be substantially shorter than the instrument’s stated maturity.
(o) Less than 0.1%.

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.

From time to time Cash & Cash Equivalents may be negative due to borrowings for leverage transactions and/or timing of cash receipts and disbursements.

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

Percentages are based on net assets as of May 31, 2018.

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

 

3


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PORTFOLIO MANAGERS’ PROFILES

 

Portfolio Manager   Primary Role   Since   Title and Five Year History
Richard Hawkins   Co-Lead Portfolio
Manager
  2004   Investment Officer of MFS; employed in the investment management area of MFS since 1988.
Robert Spector   Co-Lead and
Global Debt

Instruments
Portfolio Manager

  2015   Investment Officer of MFS; employed in the investment management area of MFS since 2011.
William Adams   Below Investment
Grade Debt
Instruments
Portfolio Manager
  2011   Investment Officer of MFS; employed in the investment management area of MFS since 2009.
Ward Brown   Emerging
Markets Debt
Instruments
Portfolio Manager
  2012   Investment Officer of MFS; employed in the investment management area of MFS since 2005.
David Cole   Below Investment
Grade Debt
Instruments
Portfolio Manager
  2006   Investment Officer of MFS; employed in the investment management area of MFS since 2004.
Pilar Gomez-Bravo   Debt Instruments
Portfolio Manager
  2013   Investment Officer of MFS; employed in the investment management area of MFS since 2013.
Joshua Marston   Structured
Securities
Portfolio Manager
  2012   Investment Officer of MFS; employed in the investment management area of MFS since 1999.
Robert Persons   Investment Grade
Debt Instruments
Portfolio Manager
  2013   Investment Officer of MFS; employed in the investment management area of MFS since 2000.
Matt Ryan   Emerging
Markets Debt
Instruments
Portfolio Manager
  2004   Investment Officer of MFS; employed in the investment management area of MFS since 1997.
Michael Skatrud   Below Investment

Grade Debt
Instruments

Portfolio Manager

  2018   Investment Officer of MFS; employed in the investment management area of MFS since 2013.
Erik Weisman   Sovereign Debt
Obligations
Portfolio Manager
  2012   Investment Officer of MFS; employed in the investment management area of MFS since 2002.

Note to Shareholders: Effective March 1, 2018, Michael Skatrud became a Portfolio Manager of the Fund. Effective June 30, 2018, Richard Hawkins is no longer a Portfolio Manager of the Fund. Effective September 1, 2018, William Adams will no longer be a Portfolio Manager of the Fund.

 

4


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OTHER NOTES

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

The fund’s monthly distributions may include a return of capital to shareholders to the extent that the fund’s net investment income and net capital gains, determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, are insufficient to meet the fund’s target annual distribution rate. Distributions that are treated for federal income tax purposes as a return of capital will reduce each shareholder’s basis in his or her shares and, to the extent the return of capital exceeds such basis, will be treated as gain to the shareholder from a sale of shares. It may also result in a recharacterization of what economically represents a return of capital to ordinary income in those situations where a fund has long term capital gains and a capital loss carryforward. Returns of shareholder capital may have the effect of reducing the fund’s assets and increasing the fund’s expense ratio.

The fund’s target annual distribution rate is calculated based on an annual rate of

8.00% of the fund’s average monthly net asset value, not a fixed share price, and the fund’s dividend amount will fluctuate with changes in the fund’s average monthly net assets.

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

 

5


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PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

5/31/18 (unaudited)

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

 

Bonds - 120.2%                 
Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Aerospace - 1.2%                 
Dae Funding LLC, 5%, 8/01/2024 (n)    $ 1,535,000     $ 1,446,738  
Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc., 3.483%, 12/01/2027 (n)      140,000       133,561  
KLX, Inc., 5.875%, 12/01/2022 (n)      1,180,000       1,233,100  
L3 Technologies, Inc., 3.85%, 6/15/2023      213,000       213,125  
Lockheed Martin Corp., 3.55%, 1/15/2026      263,000       260,522  
Transdigm Holdings UK PLC, 6.875%, 5/15/2026 (n)      260,000       265,200  
TransDigm, Inc., 6.5%, 7/15/2024      925,000       943,500  
TransDigm, Inc., 6.375%, 6/15/2026      635,000       638,175  
    

 

 

 
             $ 5,133,921  
Airlines - 0.2%                 
Ryanair Ltd., 1.125%, 3/10/2023    EUR 600,000     $ 712,352  
Apparel Manufacturers - 0.1%                 
Coach, Inc., 4.125%, 7/15/2027    $ 385,000     $ 372,661  
Asset-Backed & Securitized - 2.3%                 
Bayview Financial Revolving Mortgage Loan Trust, FLR, 3.568% (LIBOR-1mo. + 1.6%), 12/28/2040 (z)    $ 414,969     $ 376,524  
Chesapeake Funding II LLC, 2016-1A, “A2”, FLR, 3.069% (LIBOR-1mo. + 1.15%), 3/15/2028 (n)      763,450       765,675  
Commercial Mortgage Trust, 2015-DC1, “A5”, 3.35%, 2/10/2048      500,000       494,274  
Crest Ltd., CDO, 7%, (0.001% cash or 7% PIK) 1/28/2040 (a)(p)      3,484,427       365,865  
Dryden Senior Loan Fund, 2013-26A, “AR”, CLO, FLR, 3.248% (LIBOR-3mo. + 0.9%), 4/15/2029 (z)      592,000       591,911  
Dryden Senior Loan Fund, 2014-34A, “CR”, CLO, FLR, 4.497% (LIBOR-3mo. + 2.15%), 10/15/2026 (n)      255,098       254,856  
First Union-Lehman Brothers Bank of America, 1.133%, 11/18/2035 (i)      752,969       15,782  
Flatiron CLO Ltd., 2013-1A, “A2R”, FLR, 4.003% (LIBOR-3mo. + 1.65%), 1/17/2026 (n)      929,626       929,596  
HarbourView CLO VII Ltd., 7RA, “B”, FLR, 3.522% (LIBOR-3mo. + 1.7%), 7/18/2031 (z)      940,000       940,000  
JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Trust, 2007-LD11, “AM”, 6.005%, 6/15/2049      557,170       566,085  
Loomis, Sayles & Co., CLO, 2015-2A, “A1R”, FLR, 3.253% (LIBOR-3mo. + 0.9%), 4/15/2028 (n)      2,526,000       2,524,694  

 

6


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Asset-Backed & Securitized - continued                 
Octagon Investment Partners XVII Ltd., 2013-1A, “BR2”, FLR, 3.384% (LIBOR-3mo. + 1.4%), 1/25/2031 (n)    $ 1,050,000     $ 1,050,264  
Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust, 2015-NXS1, “A5”, 3.148%, 5/15/2048      768,632       751,417  
    

 

 

 
             $ 9,626,943  
Automotive - 1.4%                 
Allison Transmission, Inc., 5%, 10/01/2024 (n)    $ 2,006,000     $ 1,990,955  
Ferrari N.V., 1.5%, 3/16/2023    EUR 350,000       414,522  
General Motors Co., 6.75%, 4/01/2046    $ 123,000       140,326  
General Motors Financial Co., Inc., 3.45%, 4/10/2022      256,000       253,416  
General Motors Financial Co., Inc., 4.35%, 1/17/2027      129,000       126,781  
IHO Verwaltungs GmbH, 4.75%, (4.75% cash or 5.5% PIK) 9/15/2026 (n)(p)      1,230,000       1,156,200  
Jaguar Land Rover PLC, 4.5%, 10/01/2027 (n)      215,000       190,275  
Lear Corp., 3.8%, 9/15/2027      238,000       227,545  
LKQ European Holdings B.V., 3.625%, 4/01/2026 (n)    EUR 100,000       115,333  
RCI Banque S.A., 1%, 5/17/2023      600,000       708,978  
Volkswagen Bank GmbH, 0.75%, 6/15/2023      220,000       255,877  
Volkswagen International Finance N.V., 2.7%, 12/31/2099      100,000       117,490  
Volkswagen Leasing GmbH, 1.375%, 1/20/2025      240,000       281,721  
    

 

 

 
             $ 5,979,419  
Banks & Diversified Financials (Covered Bonds) - 0.0%          
CaixaBank S.A., 1.125%, 1/12/2023    EUR 200,000     $ 229,304  
Broadcasting - 2.3%                 
Liberty Media Corp. - Liberty Formula One, 8.5%, 7/15/2029    $ 720,000     $ 774,000  
Liberty Media Corp. - Liberty Formula One, 8.25%, 2/01/2030      480,000       510,240  
Match Group, Inc., 6.375%, 6/01/2024      1,195,000       1,245,788  
Meredith Corp., 6.875%, 2/01/2026 (n)      985,000       994,850  
Netflix, Inc., 5.875%, 2/15/2025      785,000       807,647  
Netflix, Inc., 4.375%, 11/15/2026      400,000       376,004  
Netflix, Inc., 3.625%, 5/15/2027    EUR 775,000       897,144  
Netflix, Inc., 4.875%, 4/15/2028 (n)    $ 325,000       308,783  
ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG, 2.625%, 4/15/2021    EUR 315,000       384,333  
RELX Finance B.V., 1%, 3/22/2024      150,000       176,805  
SES S.A., 1.625%, 3/22/2026      200,000       233,646  
Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., 5.125%, 2/15/2027 (n)    $ 1,285,000       1,195,050  
WMG Acquisition Corp., 5%, 8/01/2023 (n)      210,000       207,375  
WMG Acquisition Corp., 4.875%, 11/01/2024 (n)      1,360,000       1,326,000  
WMG Acquisition Corp., 5.5%, 4/15/2026 (n)      225,000       222,750  
WPP Finance 2016 Co., 1.375%, 3/20/2025    EUR 120,000       139,971  
    

 

 

 
             $ 9,800,386  

 

7


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Brokerage & Asset Managers - 0.3%                 
Charles Schwab Corp., 3.85%, 5/21/2025    $ 229,000     $ 232,422  
E*TRADE Financial Corp., 2.95%, 8/24/2022      199,000       194,193  
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., 2.75%, 12/01/2020      178,000       177,352  
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., 3.75%, 12/01/2025      292,000       292,517  
TD Ameritrade Holding Corp., 3.3%, 4/01/2027      282,000       272,588  
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,169,072  
Building - 3.0%                 
ABC Supply Co., Inc., 5.75%, 12/15/2023 (n)    $ 1,155,000     $ 1,170,881  
ABC Supply Co., Inc., 5.875%, 5/15/2026 (n)      1,130,000       1,110,225  
Beacon Escrow Corp., 4.875%, 11/01/2025 (n)      970,000       892,400  
Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc., 6.375%, 10/01/2023      335,000       346,625  
CRH America Finance, Inc., 4.5%, 4/04/2048 (n)      205,000       194,230  
Elementia S.A. de C.V., 5.5%, 1/15/2025 (n)      210,000       198,713  
Gibraltar Industries, Inc., 6.25%, 2/01/2021      1,045,000       1,052,837  
Imerys S.A., 1.5%, 1/15/2027    EUR 200,000       233,341  
James Hardie International Finance Ltd., 4.75%, 1/15/2025 (n)    $ 205,000       199,106  
James Hardie International Finance Ltd., 5%, 1/15/2028 (n)      930,000       882,086  
Martin Marietta Materials, Inc., 3.45%, 6/01/2027      133,000       124,513  
Martin Marietta Materials, Inc., 3.5%, 12/15/2027      179,000       167,714  
New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co, Inc., 10.125%, 4/01/2022 (n)      945,000       1,004,063  
New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co., Inc., 6.25%, 3/15/2026 (n)      731,000       734,655  
Owens Corning, 4.4%, 1/30/2048      175,000       151,217  
PriSo Acquisition Corp., 9%, 5/15/2023 (n)      740,000       771,450  
Standard Industries, Inc., 5.375%, 11/15/2024 (n)      1,760,000       1,729,200  
Standard Industries, Inc., 6%, 10/15/2025 (n)      835,000       843,350  
Summit Materials LLC/Summit Materials Finance Co., 6.125%, 7/15/2023      1,015,000       1,025,150  
    

 

 

 
             $ 12,831,756  
Business Services - 3.2%                 
Alliance Data Systems Corp., 5.875%, 11/01/2021 (n)    $ 1,500,000     $ 1,528,125  
Alliance Data Systems Corp., 5.375%, 8/01/2022 (n)      685,000       688,425  
Ascend Learning LLC, 6.875%, 8/01/2025 (n)      670,000       670,000  
CDK Global, Inc., 4.875%, 6/01/2027      1,725,000       1,625,812  
Cisco Systems, Inc., 2.2%, 2/28/2021      350,000       343,759  
Equinix, Inc., 5.375%, 1/01/2022      305,000       313,769  
Equinix, Inc., 5.375%, 4/01/2023      1,425,000       1,457,062  
Equinix, Inc., 5.75%, 1/01/2025      202,000       205,535  
Equinix, Inc., 5.875%, 1/15/2026      490,000       499,188  
Fidelity National Information Services, Inc., 3.875%, 6/05/2024      146,000       146,684  

 

8


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Business Services - continued                 
Fidelity National Information Services, Inc., 5%, 10/15/2025    $ 39,000     $ 41,312  
Fidelity National Information Services, Inc., 3%, 8/15/2026      267,000       245,879  
First Data Corp., 5%, 1/15/2024 (n)      2,055,000       2,052,945  
MSCI, Inc., 4.75%, 8/01/2026 (n)      1,175,000       1,148,563  
Tencent Holdings Ltd., 2.985%, 1/19/2023 (n)      288,000       281,614  
Tencent Holdings Ltd., 3.595%, 1/19/2028 (n)      400,000       383,551  
Travelport Worldwide Ltd., 6%, 3/15/2026 (n)      1,105,000       1,110,525  
Vantiv LLC/Vantiv Issuer Corp, 4.375%, 11/15/2025 (n)      900,000       850,500  
    

 

 

 
             $ 13,593,248  
Cable TV - 5.6%                 
Altice Financing S.A., 6.625%, 2/15/2023 (n)    $ 1,290,000     $ 1,271,682  
Altice Financing S.A., 7.5%, 5/15/2026 (n)      340,000       325,125  
Altice U.S. Finance I Corp., 5.5%, 5/15/2026 (n)      705,000       677,011  
CCO Holdings LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp., 5.125%, 5/01/2023 (n)      1,475,000       1,465,781  
CCO Holdings LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp., 5.75%, 1/15/2024      1,910,000       1,914,775  
CCO Holdings LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp., 5.375%, 5/01/2025 (n)      470,000       458,250  
CCO Holdings LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp., 5.75%, 2/15/2026 (n)      1,475,000       1,445,057  
CCO Holdings LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp., 5.875%, 5/01/2027 (n)      640,000       629,200  
Charter Communications Operating LLC, 6.384%, 10/23/2035      217,000       231,514  
Cox Communications, Inc., 4.6%, 8/15/2047 (n)      322,000       303,011  
CSC Holdings LLC, 5.5%, 4/15/2027 (n)      1,395,000       1,335,712  
DISH DBS Corp., 5%, 3/15/2023      605,000       521,637  
DISH DBS Corp., 5.875%, 11/15/2024      845,000       702,153  
Intelsat Jackson Holdings S.A., 5.5%, 8/01/2023      485,000       424,072  
Intelsat Jackson Holdings S.A., 8%, 2/15/2024 (n)      245,000       259,088  
Lynx II Corp., 6.375%, 4/15/2023 (n)      555,000       561,938  
Shaw Communications, Inc., 5.65%, 10/01/2019    CAD 260,000       208,856  
Sirius XM Radio, Inc., 4.625%, 5/15/2023 (n)    $ 740,000       727,975  
Sirius XM Radio, Inc., 6%, 7/15/2024 (n)      1,500,000       1,537,500  
Sirius XM Radio, Inc., 5.375%, 4/15/2025 (n)      705,000       697,069  
Sky PLC, 2.5%, 9/15/2026    EUR 250,000       315,299  
Telenet Finance Luxembourg S.A., 5.5%, 3/01/2028 (n)    $ 1,200,000       1,164,206  
Time Warner Cable, Inc., 4.5%, 9/15/2042      119,000       100,406  
Unitymedia KabelBW GmbH, 6.125%, 1/15/2025 (n)      1,370,000       1,413,155  
Videotron Ltd., 5.375%, 6/15/2024 (n)      350,000       353,826  
Videotron Ltd., 5.125%, 4/15/2027 (n)      1,840,000       1,780,200  
Virgin Media Finance PLC, 5.75%, 1/15/2025 (n)      200,000       189,250  

 

9


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Cable TV - continued                 
Virgin Media Secured Finance PLC, 5.25%, 1/15/2026 (n)    $ 1,100,000     $ 1,031,250  
VTR Finance B.V., 6.875%, 1/15/2024 (n)      480,000       489,552  
Ziggo Bond Finance B.V., 5.875%, 1/15/2025 (n)      1,155,000       1,091,475  
    

 

 

 
             $ 23,626,025  
Chemicals - 1.3%                 
Air Liquide Finance Co., 2.25%, 9/27/2023 (n)    $ 261,000     $ 245,791  
Axalta Coating Systems Co., 4.875%, 8/15/2024 (n)      1,270,000       1,254,125  
Consolidated Energy Finance S.A., 6.875%, 6/15/2025 (n)      610,000       622,200  
OCI N.V., 6.625%, 4/15/2023 (n)      1,155,000       1,187,340  
PolyOne Corp., 5.25%, 3/15/2023      865,000       880,717  
SPCM S.A., 4.875%, 9/15/2025 (n)      1,250,000       1,187,500  
    

 

 

 
             $ 5,377,673  
Computer Software - 0.9%                 
Diamond 1 Finance Corp./Diamond 2 Finance Corp., 5.875%, 6/15/2021 (n)    $ 985,000     $ 1,011,228  
Diamond 1 Finance Corp./Diamond 2 Finance Corp., 6.02%, 6/15/2026 (n)      670,000       707,062  
Microsoft Corp., 4.1%, 2/06/2037      161,000       169,277  
Oracle Corp., 3.4%, 7/08/2024      251,000       250,798  
Ubisoft Entertainment S.A., 1.289%, 1/30/2023    EUR 100,000       117,461  
VeriSign, Inc., 4.625%, 5/01/2023    $ 1,035,000       1,042,762  
VeriSign, Inc., 5.25%, 4/01/2025      250,000       255,313  
VeriSign, Inc., 4.75%, 7/15/2027      345,000       333,788  
    

 

 

 
             $ 3,887,689  
Computer Software - Systems - 1.3%                 
Apple, Inc., 4.5%, 2/23/2036    $ 217,000     $ 237,239  
Apple, Inc., 3.6%, 7/31/2042    GBP 130,000       204,022  
Apple, Inc., 4.25%, 2/09/2047    $ 84,000       86,643  
CDW LLC/CDW Finance Corp., 5.5%, 12/01/2024      395,000       406,850  
CDW LLC/CDW Finance Corp., 5%, 9/01/2025      695,000       686,521  
Fair Isaac Corp., 5.25%, 5/15/2026 (n)      1,295,000       1,307,950  
JDA Software Group, Inc., 7.375%, 10/15/2024 (n)      805,000       829,150  
Sabre GLBL, Inc., 5.375%, 4/15/2023 (n)      1,690,000       1,707,238  
    

 

 

 
             $ 5,465,613  
Conglomerates - 2.9%                 
Amsted Industries Co., 5%, 3/15/2022 (n)    $ 2,335,000     $ 2,335,000  
Apex Tool Group LLC, 9%, 2/15/2023 (n)      820,000       795,400  
BWX Technologies, Inc., 5.375%, 7/15/2026 (n)      1,135,000       1,146,350  
EnerSys, 5%, 4/30/2023 (n)      1,965,000       1,942,894  
Enpro Industries, Inc., 5.875%, 9/15/2022      1,340,000       1,370,150  

 

10


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Conglomerates - continued                 
Entegris, Inc., 4.625%, 2/10/2026 (n)    $ 1,440,000     $ 1,380,600  
Gates Global LLC, 6%, 7/15/2022 (n)      436,000       440,360  
Smiths Group PLC, 2%, 2/23/2027    EUR 200,000       239,077  
SPX FLOW, Inc., 5.625%, 8/15/2024 (n)    $ 1,315,000       1,298,562  
TriMas Corp., 4.875%, 10/15/2025 (n)      1,195,000       1,138,237  
    

 

 

 
             $ 12,086,630  
Construction - 0.7%                 
Empresas ICA S.A.B. de C.V., 8.9%, 2/04/2021 (a)(d)    $ 450,000     $ 70,562  
Empresas ICA S.A.B. de C.V., 8.875%, 5/29/2024 (a)(d)(n)      853,000       136,480  
Mattamy Group Corp., 6.5%, 10/01/2025 (n)      1,270,000       1,255,357  
Toll Brothers Finance Corp., 4.875%, 11/15/2025      335,000       322,856  
Toll Brothers Finance Corp., 4.35%, 2/15/2028      1,280,000       1,153,280  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,938,535  
Consumer Products - 0.7%                 
Coty, Inc., 4.75%, 4/15/2026 (n)    EUR 200,000     $ 232,697  
Prestige Brands, Inc., 6.375%, 3/01/2024 (n)    $ 695,000       684,575  
Reckitt Benckiser Treasury Services PLC, 3.625%, 9/21/2023 (n)      250,000       249,879  
Reckitt Benckiser Treasury Services PLC, 3%, 6/26/2027 (n)      272,000       254,901  
Spectrum Brands, Inc., 6.125%, 12/15/2024      170,000       172,337  
Spectrum Brands, Inc., 5.75%, 7/15/2025      1,335,000       1,321,650  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,916,039  
Consumer Services - 1.8%                 
G4S International Finance PLC, 1.5%, 6/02/2024    EUR 200,000     $ 234,741  
G4S International Finance PLC, 1.5%, 1/09/2023      200,000       238,384  
Interval Acquisition Corp., 5.625%, 4/15/2023    $ 870,000       881,963  
Matthews International Corp., 5.25%, 12/01/2025 (n)      1,050,000       1,015,875  
NVA Holdings, Inc., 6.875%, 4/01/2026 (n)      530,000       522,209  
Priceline Group, Inc., 1.8%, 3/03/2027    EUR 1,100,000       1,296,700  
Priceline Group, Inc., 3.55%, 3/15/2028    $ 141,000       134,601  
Service Corp. International, 4.625%, 12/15/2027      1,000,000       953,510  
ServiceMaster Co. LLC, 5.125%, 11/15/2024 (n)      1,055,000       1,022,031  
Visa, Inc., 4.15%, 12/14/2035      234,000       245,480  
Visa, Inc., 4.3%, 12/14/2045      150,000       158,534  
West Corp., 8.5%, 10/15/2025 (n)      805,000       746,155  
    

 

 

 
             $ 7,450,183  
Containers - 3.0%                 
Berry Global Group, Inc., 5.5%, 5/15/2022    $ 1,025,000     $ 1,042,937  
Berry Global Group, Inc., 6%, 10/15/2022      915,000       942,450  
Berry Global Group, Inc., 5.125%, 7/15/2023      420,000       415,800  

 

11


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Containers - continued                 
Crown American LLC, 4.5%, 1/15/2023    $ 875,000     $ 852,119  
Crown Americas LLC/Crown Americas Capital Corp., 4.75%, 2/01/2026 (n)      555,000       524,253  
Crown Americas LLC/Crown Americas Capital Corp. V, 4.25%, 9/30/2026      520,000       470,600  
DS Smith PLC, 1.375%, 7/26/2024    EUR 300,000       350,109  
Flex Acquisition Co., Inc., 6.875%, 1/15/2025 (n)    $ 725,000       699,625  
Multi-Color Corp., 6.125%, 12/01/2022 (n)      1,321,000       1,354,025  
Reynolds Group, 5.75%, 10/15/2020      494,245       497,334  
Reynolds Group, 5.125%, 7/15/2023 (n)      1,200,000       1,179,000  
Reynolds Group, 7%, 7/15/2024 (n)      535,000       549,017  
San Miguel Industrias PET S.A., 4.5%, 9/18/2022 (n)      337,000       325,205  
Sealed Air Corp., 4.875%, 12/01/2022 (n)      1,420,000       1,448,400  
Sealed Air Corp., 5.125%, 12/01/2024 (n)      390,000       395,363  
Sealed Air Corp., 5.5%, 9/15/2025 (n)      220,000       227,150  
Silgan Holdings, Inc., 4.75%, 3/15/2025      855,000       810,112  
W/S Packaging Group, Inc., 9%, 4/15/2023 (n)      695,000       712,375  
    

 

 

 
             $ 12,795,874  
Electrical Equipment - 0.5%                 
Arrow Electronics, Inc., 3.5%, 4/01/2022    $ 173,000     $ 170,551  
CommScope Tech LLC, 5%, 3/15/2027 (n)      2,185,000       2,042,975  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,213,526  
Electronics - 0.7%                 
ASML Holding N.V., 1.375%, 7/07/2026    EUR 250,000     $ 297,450  
Broadcom Corp./Broadcom Cayman Finance Ltd., 3.875%, 1/15/2027    $ 240,000       229,129  
Sensata Technologies B.V., 5.625%, 11/01/2024 (n)      520,000       540,150  
Sensata Technologies B.V., 5%, 10/01/2025 (n)      1,555,000       1,558,887  
Tyco Electronics Group S.A., 2.375%, 12/17/2018      294,000       293,693  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,919,309  
Emerging Market Quasi-Sovereign - 2.3%                 
Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline, 4.6%, 11/02/2047 (n)    $ 400,000     $ 373,690  
Bank of China (Luxembourg), FLR, 3.339% (LIBOR-3mo. + 1.00%), 7/12/2019      450,000       452,527  
BPRL International Singapore Private Ltd., 4.375%, 1/18/2027      567,000       542,618  
Empresa Nacional del Petroleo, 3.75%, 8/05/2026 (n)      207,000       192,278  
Empresa Nacional del Petroleo, 3.75%, 8/05/2026      568,000       527,604  
Export-Import Bank of India, 3.375%, 8/05/2026      576,000       528,698  
Kazakhstan Temir Zholy Finance B.V., 4.85%, 11/17/2027 (n)      451,000       440,221  
KazMunayGas National Co., 5.375%, 4/24/2030 (n)      800,000       799,200  
NTPC Ltd., 4.25%, 2/26/2026      442,000       429,728  

 

12


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Emerging Market Quasi-Sovereign - continued                 
Office Cherifien des Phosphates, 6.875%, 4/25/2044 (n)    $ 351,000     $ 377,420  
Pertamina, 6%, 5/03/2042 (n)      318,000       325,979  
Pertamina PT, 6%, 5/03/2042      654,000       670,409  
Petrobras Global Finance B.V., 6.125%, 1/17/2022      44,000       46,068  
Petrobras Global Finance B.V., 7.375%, 1/17/2027      37,000       37,549  
Petrobras International Finance Co., 6.75%, 1/27/2041      1,116,000       1,034,532  
Petroleos del Peru S.A., 4.75%, 6/19/2032      475,000       451,849  
PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara, 5.45%, 5/21/2028 (n)      750,000       771,800  
Southern Gas Corridor CJSC, 6.875%, 3/24/2026      1,315,000       1,426,775  
State Grid Overseas Investment (2016) Ltd., 2.75%, 5/04/2022 (n)      402,000       390,973  
    

 

 

 
             $ 9,819,918  
Emerging Market Sovereign - 5.0%                 
Dominican Republic, 7.5%, 5/06/2021 (n)    $ 548,000     $ 573,745  
Dominican Republic, 8.625%, 4/20/2027      758,000       867,910  
Dominican Republic, 6.5%, 2/15/2048 (n)      150,000       143,874  
Government of India, 7.17%, 1/08/2028    INR 70,000,000       991,924  
Government of Ukraine, 7.75%, 9/01/2026    $ 200,000       196,512  
Government of Ukraine, 7.375%, 9/25/2032 (n)      231,000       213,349  
Hellenic Republic, 4.375%, 8/01/2022    EUR 1,327,000       1,584,699  
Oriental Republic of Uruguay, 4.975%, 4/20/2055    $ 563,000       541,887  
Republic of Argentina, 6.25%, 4/22/2019      348,000       350,436  
Republic of Argentina, 2.5%, 12/31/2038      353,000       213,745  
Republic of Croatia, 5.5%, 4/04/2023 (n)      1,146,000       1,196,605  
Republic of Hungary, 5.75%, 11/22/2023      486,000       526,095  
Republic of Hungary, 7.625%, 3/29/2041      470,000       651,589  
Republic of Indonesia, 11.625%, 3/04/2019 (n)      571,000       607,858  
Republic of Indonesia, 2.875%, 7/08/2021 (z)    EUR 175,000       218,598  
Republic of Indonesia, 3.375%, 4/15/2023 (n)    $ 302,000       293,125  
Republic of Indonesia, 2.15%, 7/18/2024 (z)    EUR 161,000       194,227  
Republic of Indonesia, 4.125%, 1/15/2025    $ 1,368,000       1,354,384  
Republic of Indonesia, 4.125%, 1/15/2025 (n)      342,000       338,596  
Republic of Indonesia, 4.625%, 4/15/2043      1,349,000       1,268,892  
Republic of Panama, 9.375%, 4/01/2029      719,000       1,006,600  
Republic of Paraguay, 6.1%, 8/11/2044 (n)      550,000       573,375  
Republic of South Africa, 10.5%, 12/21/2026    ZAR 5,509,000       482,438  
Republic of South Africa, 5.875%, 6/22/2030    $ 865,000       884,462  
Republic of South Africa, 7%, 2/28/2031    ZA R33,453,000       2,222,667  
Republic of South Africa, 5.65%, 9/27/2047    $ 431,000       410,959  
Republic of Sri Lanka, 6.125%, 6/03/2025      1,286,000       1,242,366  
Republic of Turkey, 4.875%, 10/09/2026      1,183,000       1,061,293  
Russian Federation, 4.75%, 5/27/2026      800,000       805,760  
    

 

 

 
             $ 21,017,970  

 

13


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Energy - Independent - 4.6%                 
Afren PLC, 10.25%, 4/08/2019 (a)(d)(z)    $ 451,812     $ 1,130  
Alta Mesa Holdings LP/Alta Mesa Finance Services Corp., 7.875%, 12/15/2024      1,460,000       1,529,350  
CrownRock LP/CrownRock Finance, Inc., 5.625%, 10/15/2025 (n)      1,305,000       1,269,139  
Diamondback Energy, Inc., 5.375%, 5/31/2025      1,780,000       1,762,200  
Diamondback Energy, Inc., 5.375%, 5/31/2025 (n)      490,000       483,875  
Gulfport Energy Corp., 6%, 10/15/2024      1,140,000       1,071,600  
Gulfport Energy Corp., 6.375%, 5/15/2025      685,000       657,593  
Hunt Oil Co. of Peru LLC, 6.375%, 6/01/2028 (z)      428,000       428,000  
Indigo Natural Resources LLC, 6.875%, 2/15/2026 (n)      1,060,000       1,012,300  
Parsley Energy LLC/Parsley Finance Corp., 5.625%, 10/15/2027 (n)      1,785,000       1,762,687  
PDC Energy, Inc., 6.125%, 9/15/2024      1,755,000       1,785,712  
QEP Resources, Inc., 5.25%, 5/01/2023      1,535,000       1,502,381  
QEP Resources, Inc., 5.625%, 3/01/2026      670,000       639,850  
Sanchez Energy Corp., 6.125%, 1/15/2023      680,000       447,100  
Seven Generations Energy, 6.75%, 5/01/2023 (n)      1,230,000       1,282,275  
Seven Generations Energy, 5.375%, 9/30/2025 (n)      795,000       767,175  
SM Energy Co., 6.75%, 9/15/2026      1,465,000       1,490,638  
SRC Energy, Inc., 6.25%, 12/01/2025 (n)      850,000       856,375  
Tengizchevroil Finance Co. International Ltd., 4%, 8/15/2026      987,000       930,263  
    

 

 

 
             $ 19,679,643  
Energy - Integrated - 0.1%                 
LUKOIL International Finance B.V., 4.563%, 4/24/2023 (n)    $ 544,000     $ 540,901  
Entertainment - 1.5%                 
Cedar Fair LP, 5.375%, 6/01/2024    $ 405,000     $ 406,013  
Cedar Fair LP, 5.375%, 4/15/2027 (n)      735,000       728,569  
Cinemark USA, Inc., 5.125%, 12/15/2022      1,430,000       1,440,725  
Cinemark USA, Inc., 4.875%, 6/01/2023      1,050,000       1,014,510  
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc., 5.625%, 3/15/2026 (n)      725,000       723,187  
Six Flags Entertainment Corp., 4.875%, 7/31/2024 (n)      2,315,000       2,233,975  
    

 

 

 
             $ 6,546,979  
Financial Institutions - 1.1%                 
AerCap Ireland Capital Ltd., 3.65%, 7/21/2027    $ 379,000     $ 348,461  
EXOR N.V., 1.75%, 1/18/2028    EUR 200,000       224,883  
Navient Corp., 7.25%, 1/25/2022    $ 1,355,000       1,432,912  
Navient Corp., 7.25%, 9/25/2023      765,000       805,162  
Park Aerospace Holdings Ltd., 5.5%, 2/15/2024 (n)      1,940,000       1,903,625  
    

 

 

 
             $ 4,715,043  

 

14


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Food & Beverages - 3.3%                 
Anheuser-Busch InBev N.V., 1.5%, 4/18/2030    EUR 250,000     $ 286,529  
Anheuser-Busch InBev S.A., 6.875%, 11/15/2019    $ 300,000       317,136  
Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc., 4.7%, 2/01/2036      283,000       291,515  
Aramark Services, Inc., 4.75%, 6/01/2026      1,225,000       1,185,188  
Aramark Services, Inc., 5%, 2/01/2028 (n)      760,000       731,500  
Asahi Group Holdings Ltd., 1.151%, 9/19/2025    EUR 150,000       175,554  
Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc., 1.875%, 3/18/2030      200,000       240,457  
Cott Holdings, Inc., 5.5%, 4/01/2025 (n)    $ 1,510,000       1,487,350  
Danone S.A., 2.077%, 11/02/2021 (n)      236,000       226,966  
Danone S.A., 2.589%, 11/02/2023 (n)      553,000       524,702  
JBS USA LLC/JBS USA Finance, Inc., 6.75%, 2/15/2028 (n)      215,000       203,175  
JBS USA Lux S.A./JBS USA Finance, Inc., 5.875%, 7/15/2024 (n)      1,500,000       1,436,250  
Kraft Heinz Foods Co., 5.2%, 7/15/2045      31,000       31,064  
Kraft Heinz Foods Co., 4.375%, 6/01/2046      130,000       116,146  
Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc., 4.625%, 11/01/2024 (n)      890,000       874,425  
Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc., 4.875%, 11/01/2026 (n)      520,000       515,450  
Marb Bondco PLC, 6.875%, 1/19/2025 (n)      400,000       369,000  
Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., 5.875%, 9/30/2027 (n)      1,380,000       1,297,200  
Pinnacle Foods Finance LLC/Pinnacle Foods Finance Corp., 5.875%, 1/15/2024      1,430,000       1,469,325  
U.S. Foods Holding Corp., 5.875%, 6/15/2024 (n)      1,590,000       1,617,825  
Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co., 2.9%, 10/21/2019 (n)      107,000       107,160  
Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co., 3.375%, 10/21/2020 (n)      300,000       301,341  
    

 

 

 
             $ 13,805,258  
Forest & Paper Products - 0.0%                 
Appvion, Inc., 9%, 6/01/2020 (d)(n)    $ 281,000     $ 1,405  
Gaming & Lodging - 2.1%                 
CCM Merger, Inc., 6%, 3/15/2022 (n)    $ 815,000     $ 829,426  
GLP Capital LP/GLP Financing II, Inc., 5.375%, 11/01/2023      535,000       551,050  
GLP Capital LP/GLP Financing II, Inc., 5.25%, 6/01/2025      1,250,000       1,252,225  
GLP Capital LP/GLP Financing II, Inc., 5.375%, 4/15/2026      145,000       143,874  
Hilton Domestic Operating Co., Inc., 5.125%, 5/01/2026 (n)      950,000       925,062  
Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC, 4.625%, 4/01/2025      1,260,000       1,215,900  
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC, 3.75%, 8/14/2025    GBP 100,000       142,631  
MGM Resorts International, 6.625%, 12/15/2021    $ 825,000       874,500  
Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc., REIT, 5%, 4/15/2021      1,375,000       1,381,875  
Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc., REIT, 5%, 4/15/2023      725,000       720,469  
Wyndham Hotels Group, LLC, 5.375%, 4/15/2026 (n)      1,025,000       1,022,437  
    

 

 

 
             $ 9,059,449  

 

15


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Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Industrial - 0.5%                 
Cleaver Brooks, Inc., 7.875%, 3/01/2023 (n)    $ 855,000     $ 881,719  
KAR Auction Services, Inc., 5.125%, 6/01/2025 (n)      1,480,000       1,406,000  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,287,719  
Insurance - 0.3%                 
American International Group, Inc., 1.875%, 6/21/2027    EUR 110,000     $ 126,457  
AssuredPartners Inc., 7%, 8/15/2025 (n)    $ 810,000       791,775  
Credit Agricole Assurances S.A., 2.625% to 1/29/2028, FLR to 1/29/2048    EUR 200,000       216,843  
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,135,075  
Insurance - Health - 0.8%                 
Aetna, Inc., 2.8%, 6/15/2023    $ 317,000     $ 304,547  
Centene Corp., 6.125%, 2/15/2024      1,180,000       1,240,475  
Centene Corp., 5.375%, 6/01/2026 (n)      1,220,000       1,233,054  
UnitedHealth Group, Inc., 2.7%, 7/15/2020      528,000       526,411  
    

 

 

 
             $ 3,304,487  
Insurance - Property & Casualty - 0.7%                 
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., 2.75%, 3/15/2023    $ 234,000     $ 230,067  
Chubb INA Holdings, Inc., 2.3%, 11/03/2020      95,000       93,577  
Chubb INA Holdings, Inc., 2.875%, 11/03/2022      221,000       217,897  
Chubb INA Holdings, Inc., 1.55%, 3/15/2028    EUR 100,000       115,552  
Chubb INA Holdings, Inc., 2.5%, 3/15/2038      126,000       148,400  
Hub International Ltd., 7%, 5/01/2026 (n)    $ 540,000       540,432  
Liberty Mutual Group, Inc., 4.25%, 6/15/2023      365,000       371,398  
Liberty Mutual Group, Inc., 2.75%, 5/04/2026 (z)    EUR 100,000       124,574  
Liberty Mutual Group, Inc., 2.75%, 5/04/2026      100,000       124,573  
Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc., 3.5%, 6/03/2024    $ 159,000       158,091  
Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc., 4.35%, 1/30/2047      131,000       132,971  
QBE Capital Funding III Ltd., 7.5%, 5/24/2041    GBP 200,000       293,055  
XLIT Ltd., 3.25%, 6/29/2047    EUR 230,000       264,847  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,815,434  
International Market Quasi-Sovereign - 0.1%                 
Bank of Iceland, 1.75%, 9/07/2020    EUR 300,000     $ 361,271  
Landsbanki Islands HF, 1.125% to 1/19/2023, FLR to 1/19/2024      150,000       174,661  
    

 

 

 
             $ 535,932  
International Market Sovereign - 14.8%                 
Bonos y Obligaciones del Estado, 5.75%, 7/30/2032    EUR 542,000     $ 941,697  
Commonwealth of Australia, 5.75%, 5/15/2021    AUD 2,319,000       1,935,423  
Commonwealth of Australia, 5.5%, 4/21/2023      490,000       424,640  

 

16


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
International Market Sovereign - continued                 
Commonwealth of Australia, 2.75%, 11/21/2027    AUD 1,031,000     $ 784,418  
Commonwealth of Australia, 3.75%, 4/21/2037      197,000       164,425  
Federal Republic of Germany, 2.5%, 8/15/2046    EUR 195,000       313,174  
Government of Australia, 2.25%, 5/21/2028    AUD 3,386,000       2,464,325  
Government of Canada, 3.25%, 6/01/2021    CAD 187,000       149,401  
Government of Canada, 1.5%, 6/01/2023      4,707,000       3,526,547  
Government of Canada, 1.5%, 6/01/2026      1,148,000       840,547  
Government of Canada, 5.75%, 6/01/2033      948,000       1,055,193  
Government of Canada, 4%, 6/01/2041      925,000       934,281  
Government of Canada, 2.75%, 12/01/2048      260,000       222,983  
Government of Japan, 2.2%, 9/20/2027    JPY 649,900,000       7,184,655  
Government of Japan, 2.4%, 3/20/2037      668,350,000       8,282,785  
Government of Japan, 1.8%, 3/20/2043      81,000,000       944,569  
Government of New Zealand, 4.5%, 4/15/2027    NZD 2,225,000       1,771,362  
Kingdom of Belgium, 5.5%, 3/28/2028    EUR 440,000       755,067  
Kingdom of Spain, 5.4%, 1/31/2023      746,000       1,068,609  
Kingdom of Spain, 5.15%, 10/31/2028      2,200,000       3,455,337  
Kingdom of Spain, 4.7%, 7/30/2041      788,000       1,298,080  
Republic of France, 1.75%, 5/25/2023      2,393,904       3,056,460  
Republic of France, 4.75%, 4/25/2035      279,000       511,752  
Republic of France, 4.5%, 4/25/2041      580,000       1,100,447  
Republic of France, 4%, 4/25/2055      582,000       1,118,743  
Republic of Italy, 3.75%, 3/01/2021      1,581,000       1,957,646  
Republic of Italy, 5.5%, 9/01/2022      925,000       1,228,731  
Republic of Italy, 2.5%, 12/01/2024      2,572,000       3,021,315  
Republic of Portugal, 4.95%, 10/25/2023      1,894,000       2,693,616  
Republic of Portugal, 2.875%, 10/15/2025      598,000       767,597  
Republic of Portugal, 4.125%, 4/14/2027      2,662,000       3,697,171  
United Kingdom Treasury, 4.25%, 12/07/2027    GBP 313,000       529,027  
United Kingdom Treasury, 4.25%, 3/07/2036      111,000       207,171  
United Kingdom Treasury, 3.25%, 1/22/2044      2,533,000       4,439,645  
    

 

 

 
             $ 62,846,839  
Local Authorities - 0.1%                 
Province of Alberta, 4.5%, 12/01/2040    CAD 255,000     $ 242,089  
Province of British Columbia, 2.3%, 6/18/2026      370,000       276,669  
    

 

 

 
             $ 518,758  
Machinery & Tools - 0.3%                 
Ashtead Capital, Inc., 5.625%, 10/01/2024 (n)    $ 1,185,000     $ 1,217,587  
Major Banks - 2.5%                 
Bank of America Corp., 2.625%, 4/19/2021    $ 370,000     $ 364,312  
Bank of America Corp., 3.004%, 12/20/2023      399,000       388,071  

 

17


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Major Banks - continued                 
Bank of America Corp., 3.5%, 4/19/2026    $ 400,000     $ 388,445  
Bank of America Corp., 3.248%, 10/21/2027      462,000       432,999  
Bank of America Corp., 5.875% to 3/15/2028, FLR to 12/31/2059      900,000       889,875  
Bank of New York Mellon Corp., 2.95%, 1/29/2023      414,000       406,700  
Barclays Bank PLC, 6%, 1/14/2021    EUR 250,000       327,843  
Credit Agricole S.A., 7.375%, 12/18/2023    GBP 100,000       166,144  
Credit Suisse Group AG, 6.5%, 8/08/2023 (n)    $ 200,000       213,750  
Credit Suisse Group AG, 1.25%, 7/17/2025    EUR 150,000       171,868  
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., 2.625%, 4/25/2021    $ 360,000       353,265  
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., 5.75%, 1/24/2022      500,000       538,117  
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., 3.85%, 1/26/2027      314,000       304,676  
HSBC Holdings PLC, 4.375%, 11/23/2026      269,000       265,302  
JPMorgan Chase & Co., 2.95%, 10/01/2026      601,000       559,793  
JPMorgan Chase & Co., 3.54% to 5/01/2027, FLR to 5/01/2028      291,000       279,304  
JPMorgan Chase & Co., 4.26% to 2/22/2047, FLR to 2/22/2048      153,000       148,229  
Morgan Stanley, 3.125%, 7/27/2026      262,000       245,992  
Morgan Stanley, 2.625%, 3/09/2027    GBP 200,000       262,983  
Morgan Stanley, 3.95%, 4/23/2027    $ 514,000       496,036  
PNC Bank N.A., 2.6%, 7/21/2020      295,000       292,619  
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc., 3.544%, 1/17/2028      439,000       427,799  
UBS Group AG, 6.875%, 12/29/2049      1,420,000       1,441,300  
UBS Group Funding (Jersey) Ltd., 1.5%, 11/30/2024    EUR 300,000       354,673  
UBS Group Funding (Switzerland) AG, 2.859% to 8/15/2022, FLR to 8/15/2023 (n)    $ 750,000       720,793  
Wells Fargo & Co., 4.1%, 6/03/2026      48,000       47,312  
    

 

 

 
             $ 10,488,200  
Medical & Health Technology & Services - 4.5%                 
Becton, Dickinson and Co., 2.675%, 12/15/2019    $ 379,000     $ 376,995  
Becton, Dickinson and Co., 1.401%, 5/24/2023    EUR 250,000       294,782  
Becton, Dickinson and Co., 3.734%, 12/15/2024    $ 239,000       234,606  
CVS Health Corp., 5.05%, 3/25/2048      153,000       156,914  
DaVita, Inc., 5.125%, 7/15/2024      560,000       546,000  
DaVita, Inc., 5%, 5/01/2025      1,075,000       1,018,885  
HCA, Inc., 7.5%, 2/15/2022      2,085,000       2,277,862  
HCA, Inc., 5%, 3/15/2024      975,000       982,020  
HCA, Inc., 5.375%, 2/01/2025      695,000       682,838  
HCA, Inc., 5.875%, 2/15/2026      1,855,000       1,866,612  
HCA, Inc., 5.25%, 6/15/2026      215,000       214,194  
HealthSouth Corp., 5.125%, 3/15/2023      1,425,000       1,439,250  
HealthSouth Corp., 5.75%, 11/01/2024      30,000       30,450  

 

18


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Medical & Health Technology & Services - continued          
Heartland Dental, LLC, 8.5%, 5/01/2026 (n)    $ 675,000     $ 669,094  
Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings, 3.2%, 2/01/2022      200,000       198,137  
Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings, 4.7%, 2/01/2045      310,000       305,996  
Life Technologies Corp., 6%, 3/01/2020      200,000       209,281  
Northwell Healthcare, Inc., 3.979%, 11/01/2046      40,000       36,828  
Northwell Healthcare, Inc., 4.26%, 11/01/2047      307,000       296,562  
Polaris, 8.5%, 12/01/2022 (n)      805,000       832,169  
Quintiles IMS Holdings, Inc., 5%, 10/15/2026 (n)      1,225,000       1,169,875  
Quorum Health Corp., 11.625%, 4/15/2023      550,000       541,750  
Tenet Healthcare Corp., 8.125%, 4/01/2022      765,000       800,381  
Tenet Healthcare Corp., 6.75%, 6/15/2023      945,000       940,275  
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., 3%, 4/15/2023      360,000       351,631  
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., 3.2%, 8/15/2027      476,000       448,028  
Universal Health Services, Inc., 7.625%, 8/15/2020      1,410,000       1,415,287  
West Street Merger Sub, Inc., 6.375%, 9/01/2025 (n)      800,000       764,000  
    

 

 

 
             $ 19,100,702  
Medical Equipment - 0.6%                 
Teleflex, Inc., 5.25%, 6/15/2024    $ 960,000     $ 969,600  
Teleflex, Inc., 4.875%, 6/01/2026      610,000       594,750  
Teleflex, Inc., 4.625%, 11/15/2027      790,000       742,600  
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc., 1.414%, 12/13/2022    EUR 300,000       359,034  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,665,984  
Metals & Mining - 3.5%                 
Cameco Corp., 5.67%, 9/02/2019    CAD 262,000     $ 208,695  
First Quantum Minerals Ltd., 7%, 2/15/2021 (n)    $ 495,000       497,475  
First Quantum Minerals Ltd., 7.25%, 4/01/2023 (n)      1,070,000       1,072,675  
First Quantum Minerals Ltd., 6.5%, 3/01/2024 (n)      350,000       332,500  
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc., 3.875%, 3/15/2023      445,000       427,761  
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc., 5.4%, 11/14/2034      410,000       377,200  
Freeport-McMoRan, Inc., 6.875%, 2/15/2023      2,525,000       2,708,062  
Glencore Finance (Europe) S.A., 1.25%, 3/17/2021    EUR 330,000       393,964  
Kaiser Aluminum Corp., 5.875%, 5/15/2024    $ 1,835,000       1,885,462  
Kinross Gold Corp., 5.95%, 3/15/2024      746,000       779,570  
Kinross Gold Corp., 4.5%, 7/15/2027 (n)      384,000       352,320  
Lundin Mining Corp., 7.875%, 11/01/2022 (n)      630,000       660,996  
Northwest Acquisitions ULC/Dominion Finco, Inc., 7.125%, 11/01/2022 (n)      1,135,000       1,149,188  
Novelis Corp., 5.875%, 9/30/2026 (n)      1,595,000       1,563,259  
Petra Diamonds U.S. Treasury PLC, 7.25%, 5/01/2022 (n)      505,000       500,960  
Steel Dynamics, Inc., 5.25%, 4/15/2023      430,000       436,988  
Steel Dynamics, Inc., 5.5%, 10/01/2024      670,000       683,400  

 

19


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Metals & Mining - continued                 
TMS International Corp., 7.25%, 8/15/2025 (n)    $ 655,000     $ 677,925  
    

 

 

 
             $ 14,708,400  
Midstream - 3.1%                 
APT Pipelines Ltd., 5%, 3/23/2035 (n)    $ 280,000     $ 290,082  
Blue Racer Midstream LLC/Blue Racer Finance Corp., 6.125%, 11/15/2022 (n)      655,000       666,607  
Cheniere Energy, Inc., 5.875%, 3/31/2025      730,000       761,937  
DCP Midstream LLC, 3.875%, 3/15/2023      770,000       741,125  
DCP Midstream LP, 4.95%, 4/01/2022      651,000       659,138  
DCP Midstream LP, 5.6%, 4/01/2044      530,000       506,150  
Energy Transfer Equity LP, 5.875%, 1/15/2024      1,430,000       1,483,625  
Energy Transfer Equity LP, 5.5%, 6/01/2027      565,000       572,769  
MPLX LP, 4.5%, 4/15/2038      170,000       162,095  
ONEOK, Inc., 4.95%, 7/13/2047      474,000       480,554  
Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC, 4.2%, 3/15/2028      333,000       324,272  
Tallgrass Energy GP, LP, 5.5%, 1/15/2028 (n)      2,355,000       2,275,519  
Targa Resources Partners LP/Targa Resources Finance Corp, 5.375%, 2/01/2027      2,515,000       2,436,406  
Targa Resources Partners LP/Targa Resources Finance Corp., 5.25%, 5/01/2023      860,000       866,450  
Targa Resources Partners LP/Targa Resources Finance Corp., 5.125%, 2/01/2025 (n)      925,000       913,437  
    

 

 

 
             $ 13,140,166  
Mortgage-Backed - 5.1%                 
Fannie Mae, 5.5%, 9/01/2019 - 7/01/2035    $ 212,194     $ 226,048  
Fannie Mae, 2.287%, 4/25/2020      1,537,976       1,538,371  
Fannie Mae, 6.5%, 4/01/2032 - 1/01/2033      42,647       47,442  
Fannie Mae, 6%, 8/01/2034 - 2/01/2037      78,204       86,738  
Freddie Mac, 3.064%, 8/25/2024      1,141,916       1,141,075  
Freddie Mac, 2.811%, 1/25/2025      11,000,000       10,798,888  
Freddie Mac, 0.109%, 2/25/2025 (i)      38,000,000       382,151  
Freddie Mac, 2.673%, 3/25/2026      701,000       674,449  
Freddie Mac, 3.243%, 4/25/2027      991,000       986,047  
Freddie Mac, 3.117%, 6/25/2027      298,465       292,903  
Freddie Mac, 3.194%, 7/25/2027      1,073,000       1,058,066  
Freddie Mac, 3.244%, 8/25/2027      1,160,000       1,147,294  
Freddie Mac, 3.187%, 9/25/2027      492,000       484,251  
Freddie Mac, 3.286%, 11/25/2027      591,000       585,692  
Freddie Mac, 3.35%, 1/25/2028      830,000       826,650  
Freddie Mac, 0.125%, 2/25/2028 (i)      36,576,000       527,803  
Freddie Mac, 0.291%, 2/25/2028 (i)      15,572,000       437,006  
Freddie Mac, 0.249%, 4/25/2028 (i)      15,983,000       210,610  

 

20


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Mortgage-Backed - continued                 
Freddie Mac, 6%, 8/01/2034    $ 59,973     $ 66,890  
    

 

 

 
             $ 21,518,374  
Municipals - 0.2%                 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Public Improvement, “C-7”, 6%, 7/01/2027    $ 20,000     $ 20,018  
Oklahoma Development Finance Authority, Health System     
Rev. (OU Medicine Project), “C”, 5.45%, 8/15/2028      346,000       364,805  
Oklahoma Development Finance Authority, Health System     
Rev. (OU Medicine Project), “C”, 4.65%, 8/15/2030      221,000       233,699  
Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority Rev., “PP”, 5%, 7/01/2022      95,000       95,538  
    

 

 

 
             $ 714,060  
Natural Gas - Distribution - 0.2%                 
Boston Gas Co., 3.15%, 8/01/2027 (n)    $ 248,000     $ 236,108  
GNL Quintero S.A., 4.634%, 7/31/2029 (n)      323,000       315,894  
Infraestructura Energética Nova S.A.B. de C.V, 4.875%, 1/14/2048 (n)      500,000       438,750  
    

 

 

 
             $ 990,752  
Natural Gas - Pipeline - 0.1%                 
Peru LNG, 5.375%, 3/22/2030    $ 540,000     $ 532,980  
Network & Telecom - 0.8%                 
AT&T, Inc., 4.25%, 6/01/2043    GBP 100,000     $ 141,918  
British Telecommunications PLC, 3.125%, 11/21/2031      150,000       194,534  
Deutsche Telekom International Finance B.V., 1.5%, 4/03/2028    EUR 200,000       231,397  
Telefonica Celular del Paraguay S.A., 6.75%, 12/13/2022    $ 517,000       527,857  
Verizon Communications, Inc., 4.812%, 3/15/2039      323,000       316,409  
Zayo Group LLC/Zayo Capital, Inc., 6.375%, 5/15/2025      745,000       755,244  
Zayo Group LLC/Zayo Capital, Inc., 5.75%, 1/15/2027 (n)      1,285,000       1,243,238  
    

 

 

 
             $ 3,410,597  
Oil Services - 1.1%                 
Apergy Corp, 6.375%, 5/01/2026 (n)    $ 565,000     $ 574,888  
Bristow Group, Inc., 6.25%, 10/15/2022      976,000       755,180  
Diamond Offshore Drill Co., 7.875%, 8/15/2025      440,000       454,300  
Diamond Offshore Drill Co., 5.7%, 10/15/2039      945,000       763,087  
Ensco PLC, 7.75%, 2/01/2026      830,000       790,575  
Schlumberger Ltd., 2.65%, 11/20/2022 (n)      310,000       301,243  
Trinidad Drilling Ltd., 6.625%, 2/15/2025 (n)      1,105,000       1,052,512  
    

 

 

 
             $ 4,691,785  

 

21


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Oils - 0.5%                 
Marathon Petroleum Corp., 4.75%, 9/15/2044    $ 200,000     $ 197,468  
Neste Oyj, 1.5%, 6/07/2024    EUR 100,000       118,859  
Parkland Fuel Corp., 6%, 4/01/2026 (n)    $ 1,465,000       1,450,350  
Phillips 66, 4.875%, 11/15/2044      150,000       159,361  
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,926,038  
Other Banks & Diversified Financials - 0.7%                 
BBVA Bancomer S.A. de C.V., 6.75%, 9/30/2022 (n)    $ 1,004,000     $ 1,065,746  
Belfius Bank S.A., 3.125%, 5/11/2026    EUR 200,000       244,740  
BPCE S.A., 5.25%, 4/16/2029    GBP 100,000       151,196  
Citizens Bank N.A., 2.55%, 5/13/2021    $ 250,000       245,147  
Deutsche Bank AG, 1.875%, 2/28/2020    GBP 200,000       263,354  
Groupe BPCE S.A., 12.5% to 9/30/2019, FLR to 8/29/2049 (n)    $ 113,000       124,230  
ING Groep N.V., 3.95%, 3/29/2027      249,000       244,913  
Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A., 5.25%, 1/28/2022    GBP 100,000       146,455  
JSC Kazkommertsbank, 5.5%, 12/21/2022    $ 342,000       340,290  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,826,071  
Pharmaceuticals - 0.7%                 
Celgene Corp., 2.875%, 8/15/2020    $ 524,000     $ 520,829  
Gilead Sciences, Inc., 2.35%, 2/01/2020      52,000       51,638  
Mallinckrodt International Finance S.A., 5.75%, 8/01/2022 (n)      710,000       614,150  
Mallinckrodt International Finance S.A., 5.625%, 10/15/2023 (n)      315,000       260,269  
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc., 5.5%, 3/01/2023 (n)      890,000       828,457  
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc., 6.125%, 4/15/2025 (n)      705,000       652,125  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,927,468  
Pollution Control - 0.1%                 
Republic Services, Inc., 3.95%, 5/15/2028    $ 242,000     $ 240,991  
Precious Metals & Minerals - 0.2%                 
Teck Resources Ltd., 6%, 8/15/2040    $ 130,000     $ 130,325  
Teck Resources Ltd., 6.25%, 7/15/2041      890,000       916,700  
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,047,025  
Printing & Publishing - 0.2%                 
Nielsen Finance LLC, 5%, 4/15/2022 (n)    $ 744,000     $ 738,026  
Real Estate - Apartment - 0.1%                 
Grand City Properties S.A., 1.375%, 8/03/2026    EUR 300,000     $ 339,441  

 

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Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Real Estate - Healthcare - 0.7%                 
MPT Operating Partnership LP/MPT Financial Co., REIT, 5.25%, 8/01/2026    $ 1,470,000     $ 1,425,900  
MPT Operating Partnership LP/MPT Financial Co., REIT, 5%, 10/15/2027      1,460,000       1,372,488  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,798,388  
Real Estate - Office - 0.2%                 
Boston Properties, Inc., REIT, 3.125%, 9/01/2023    $ 250,000     $ 244,069  
Merlin Properties SOCIMI S.A., REIT, 2.225%, 4/25/2023    EUR 250,000       305,645  
Merlin Properties SOCIMI S.A., REIT, 1.875%, 11/02/2026      150,000       171,098  
    

 

 

 
             $ 720,812  
Real Estate - Other - 0.6%                 
CyrusOne LP/CyrusOne Finance Corp., REIT, 5%, 3/15/2024    $ 1,620,000     $ 1,622,025  
CyrusOne LP/CyrusOne Finance Corp., REIT, 5.375%, 3/15/2027      845,000       849,225  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,471,250  
Restaurants - 0.7%                 
Golden Nugget, Inc., 6.75%, 10/15/2024 (n)    $ 690,000     $ 697,763  
IRB Holding Corp., 6.75%, 2/15/2026 (n)      785,000       741,825  
KFC Holding Co./Pizza Hut Holdings LLC/Taco Bell of America LLC, 5.25%, 6/01/2026 (n)      1,365,000       1,334,287  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,773,875  
Retailers - 0.5%                 
Best Buy Co., Inc., 5.5%, 3/15/2021    $ 347,000     $ 365,200  
Hanesbrands, Inc., 4.625%, 5/15/2024 (n)      300,000       292,875  
Hanesbrands, Inc., 4.875%, 5/15/2026 (n)      1,280,000       1,235,200  
Home Depot, Inc., 3%, 4/01/2026      310,000       298,870  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,192,145  
Specialty Chemicals - 0.5%                 
A Schulman, Inc., 6.875%, 6/01/2023    $ 775,000     $ 813,944  
Univar USA, Inc., 6.75%, 7/15/2023 (n)      1,430,000       1,478,262  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,292,206  
Specialty Stores - 0.3%                 
Group 1 Automotive, Inc., 5%, 6/01/2022    $ 1,025,000     $ 1,027,563  
Richemont International S.A., 1.5%, 3/26/2030    EUR 200,000       235,844  
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,263,407  
Supermarkets - 0.4%                 
Albertsons Cos. LLC/Safeway Co., 6.625%, 6/15/2024    $ 960,000     $ 902,688  
Esselunga S.p.A., 0.875%, 10/25/2023    EUR 150,000       174,585  
Esselunga S.p.A., 1.875%, 10/25/2027      150,000       172,840  

 

23


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Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Supermarkets - continued                 
Eurotorg LLC via Bonitron D.A.C., 8.75%, 10/30/2022    $ 427,000     $ 431,290  
Loblaw Cos. Ltd., 4.86%, 9/12/2023    CAD 262,000       216,986  
    

 

 

 
      $ 1,898,389  
Supranational - 0.1%                 
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 2.8%, 1/13/2021    AUD 170,000     $ 129,793  
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 4.25%, 6/24/2025      210,000       171,802  
International Finance Corp., 3.25%, 7/22/2019      305,000       233,414  
    

 

 

 
      $ 535,009  
Telecommunications - Wireless - 2.9%  
Altice Luxembourg S.A., 7.75%, 5/15/2022 (n)    $ 665,000     $ 638,400  
Altice Luxembourg S.A., 7.625%, 2/15/2025 (n)      935,000       827,484  
American Tower Corp., 1.95%, 5/22/2026    EUR 120,000       141,633  
American Tower Corp., REIT, 3.5%, 1/31/2023    $ 465,000       460,933  
Crown Castle International Corp., 3.7%, 6/15/2026      157,000       150,090  
Digicel Group Ltd., 6.75%, 3/01/2023 (n)      1,150,000       996,906  
SBA Communications Corp., 4%, 10/01/2022 (n)      1,190,000       1,142,400  
SBA Communications Corp., 4.875%, 9/01/2024      510,000       476,218  
SBA Tower Trust, 2.898%, 10/11/2044 (n)      220,000       220,120  
Sprint Corp., 7.875%, 9/15/2023      1,065,000       1,117,717  
Sprint Corp., 7.125%, 6/15/2024      1,240,000       1,249,300  
Sprint Corp., 7.625%, 3/01/2026      405,000       416,137  
Sprint Nextel Corp., 6%, 11/15/2022      1,395,000       1,388,025  
T-Mobile USA, Inc., 6.5%, 1/15/2024      615,000       642,675  
T-Mobile USA, Inc., 5.125%, 4/15/2025      815,000       814,837  
T-Mobile USA, Inc., 6.5%, 1/15/2026      700,000       730,625  
T-Mobile USA, Inc., 5.375%, 4/15/2027      695,000       681,969  
Vodafone Group PLC, 4.125%, 5/30/2025      122,000       121,892  
    

 

 

 
      $ 12,217,361  
Telephone Services - 0.4%  
Level 3 Financing, Inc., 5.375%, 1/15/2024    $ 390,000     $ 380,250  
Level 3 Financing, Inc., 5.375%, 5/01/2025      1,215,000       1,175,512  
TELUS Corp., 5.05%, 7/23/2020    CAD 265,000       214,741  
    

 

 

 
      $ 1,770,503  
Tobacco - 0.2%                 
Imperial Brands Finance PLC, 1.375%, 1/27/2025    EUR 150,000     $ 175,005  
Reynolds American, Inc., 8.125%, 6/23/2019    $ 92,000       96,798  
Reynolds American, Inc., 4.45%, 6/12/2025      415,000       420,522  
    

 

 

 
      $ 692,325  

 

24


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Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Transportation - Services - 0.6%                 
Autostrade per L’Italia S.p.A., 1.75%, 6/26/2026    EUR 250,000     $ 287,260  
Brambles Finance PLC, 1.5%, 10/04/2027      150,000       175,679  
Compagnie Financial et Indus Unternehmensanleihe, 0.75%, 9/09/2028      200,000       218,186  
ERAC USA Finance LLC, 7%, 10/15/2037 (n)    $ 250,000       314,401  
Heathrow Funding Ltd., 1.875%, 7/12/2032    EUR 150,000       175,633  
Heathrow Funding Ltd., 4.625%, 10/31/2046    GBP 100,000       166,514  
Navios Maritime Holding, Inc., 7.375%, 1/15/2022 (n)    $ 575,000       431,969  
Navios South American Logistics, Inc./Navios Logistics     
Finance (U.S.), Inc., 7.25%, 5/01/2022      130,000       126,912  
Syncreon Group BV/Syncre, 8.625%, 11/01/2021 (n)      670,000       582,900  
Transurban Finance Co., 1.75%, 3/29/2028    EUR 200,000       230,564  
    

 

 

 
      $ 2,710,018  
U.S. Treasury Obligations - 13.8%                 
U.S. Treasury Bonds, 5.25%, 2/15/2029    $ 616,000     $ 752,579  
U.S. Treasury Bonds, 4.5%, 2/15/2036      987,200       1,210,014  
U.S. Treasury Bonds, 4.75%, 2/15/2037 (f)      1,885,200       2,395,088  
U.S. Treasury Bonds, 3.125%, 2/15/2043 (f)      1,345,200       1,381,352  
U.S. Treasury Bonds, 3.625%, 2/15/2044      771,000       860,629  
U.S. Treasury Bonds, 3%, 5/15/2047      1,553,000       1,557,004  
U.S. Treasury Notes, 0.75%, 10/31/2018      14,000,000       13,924,531  
U.S. Treasury Notes, 1.25%, 12/15/2018      9,000,000       8,958,164  
U.S. Treasury Notes, 0.875%, 5/15/2019      17,000,000       16,777,539  
U.S. Treasury Notes, 2.125%, 12/31/2022      3,482,000       3,402,839  
U.S. Treasury Notes, 2.375%, 8/15/2024      3,727,500       3,648,727  
U.S. Treasury Notes, 2.875%, 5/31/2025      1,701,000       1,712,296  
U.S. Treasury Notes, 2.25%, 11/15/2025      1,486,000       1,431,958  
U.S. Treasury Notes, 2.75%, 2/15/2028      566,000       561,998  
    

 

 

 
      $ 58,574,718  
Utilities - Electric Power - 3.1%                 
Calpine Corp., 5.5%, 2/01/2024    $ 1,765,000     $ 1,606,150  
Calpine Corp., 5.75%, 1/15/2025      930,000       846,300  
Calpine Corp., 5.25%, 6/01/2026 (n)      695,000       656,775  
Covanta Holding Corp., 6.375%, 10/01/2022      310,000       315,425  
Covanta Holding Corp., 5.875%, 3/01/2024      995,000       977,587  
Covanta Holding Corp., 5.875%, 7/01/2025      1,215,000       1,171,321  
Dominion Resources, Inc., 2.5%, 12/01/2019      250,000       248,150  
Drax Finco PLC, 6.625%, 11/01/2025 (z)      750,000       759,375  
Duke Energy Florida LLC, 3.2%, 1/15/2027      310,000       300,415  
EDP Finance B.V., 5.25%, 1/14/2021 (n)      200,000       207,130  
EDP Finance B.V., 2%, 4/22/2025    EUR 100,000       119,909  

 

25


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Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Bonds - continued                 
Utilities - Electric Power - continued                 
Emera U.S. Finance LP, 2.7%, 6/15/2021    $ 98,000     $ 95,584  
Emera U.S. Finance LP, 3.55%, 6/15/2026      112,000       106,420  
Enel Finance International N.V., 1.125%, 9/16/2026    EUR 200,000       220,961  
Enel Finance International N.V., 4.75%, 5/25/2047 (n)    $ 442,000       421,954  
Engie Energia Chile S.A., 5.625%, 1/15/2021      757,000       787,464  
Exelon Corp., 3.497%, 6/01/2022      151,000       149,730  
Innogy Finance B.V., 4.75%, 1/31/2034    GBP 100,000       157,648  
NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc., 3.55%, 5/01/2027    $ 377,000       363,508  
NextEra Energy Operating Co., 4.25%, 9/15/2024 (n)      1,390,000       1,327,450  
Pattern Energy Group, Inc., 5.875%, 2/01/2024 (n)      1,385,000       1,402,312  
PPL WEM Holdings PLC, 5.375%, 5/01/2021 (n)      250,000       261,688  
Virginia Electric & Power Co., 3.5%, 3/15/2027      475,000       467,717  
    

 

 

 
             $ 12,970,973  
Total Bonds (Identified Cost, $519,484,150)            $ 508,862,994  
Common Stocks - 0.2%                 
Energy - Independent - 0.1%                 
Frontera Energy Corp. (a)      8,177     $ 239,570  
Oil Services - 0.1%                 
LTRI Holdings LP (a)(u)      615     $ 546,993  
Total Common Stocks (Identified Cost, $1,645,970)     $ 786,563  
Floating Rate Loans (g)(r) - 0.2%                 
Consumer Products - 0.0%                 
Spectrum Brands, Inc., Term Loan B, 4.145%, 6/23/2022    $ 128,578     $ 128,417  
Medical & Health Technology & Services - 0.2%                 
DaVita HealthCare Partners, Inc., Term Loan B, 4.73%, 6/24/2021    $ 553,097     $ 557,384  
Total Floating Rate Loans (Identified Cost, $680,540)     $ 685,801  
Investment Companies (h) - 1.4%                 
Money Market Funds - 1.4%                 
MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio, 1.82% (v)
(Identified Cost, $6,158,198)
     6,159,205     $ 6,158,589  

 

26


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Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

 

Underlying/Expiration
Date/Exercise Price
   Put/Call      Counterparty      Notional
Amount
    Par Amount/
Number of
Contracts
    Value ($)  
Purchased Options - 0.0%                           
Market Index Securities - 0.0%                           
Markit CDX North America Investment Grade Index July 2018 @ $80 (Premiums Paid, $24,250)      Put       
Goldman Sachs
International
 
 
     $19,739,261       $19,400,000       $18,812  
Other Assets, Less Liabilities - (22.0)%                        (93,291,602
Net Assets - 100.0%                        $423,221,157  

 

(a) Non-income producing security.
(d) In default.
(f) All or a portion of the security has been segregated as collateral for open futures contracts.
(g) The rate shown represents a weighted average coupon rate on settled positions at period end, unless otherwise indicated.
(h) An affiliated issuer may be considered one in which the fund owns 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities, or a company which is under common control. At period end, the aggregate values of the fund’s investments in affiliated issuers and in unaffiliated issuers were $6,158,589 and $510,354,170, 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 $172,324,869, representing 40.7% of net assets.
(p) Payment-in-kind security for which interest income may be received in additional securities and/or cash.
(r) Remaining maturities of floating rate loans may be less than stated maturities shown as a result of contractual or optional prepayments by the borrower. Such prepayments cannot be predicted with certainty. These loans may be subject to restrictions on resale. Floating rate loans generally have rates of interest which are determined periodically by reference to a base lending rate plus a premium.
(u) The security was valued using significant unobservable inputs and is considered level 3 under the fair value hierarchy. For further information about the fund’s level 3 holdings, please see Note 2 in the Notes to Financial Statements.
(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.
(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

 

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Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

  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  
Afren PLC, 10.25%, 4/08/2019    3/01/12-4/02/13      $478,722        $1,130  
Bayview Financial Revolving Mortgage Loan Trust, FLR, 3.568% (LIBOR-1mo. + 1.6%), 12/28/2040    3/01/06      414,969        376,524  
Drax Finco PLC, 6.625%, 11/01/2025    4/12/18      750,000        759,375  
Dryden Senior Loan Fund, 2013-26A, “AR”, CLO, FLR, 3.248% (LIBOR-3mo. + 0.9%), 4/15/2029    4/09/18      592,000        591,911  
HarbourView CLO VII Ltd., 7RA, “B”, FLR, 3.522% (LIBOR-3mo. + 1.7%), 7/18/2031    5/17/18      940,000        940,000  
Hunt Oil Co. of Peru LLC, 6.375%, 6/01/2028    5/29/18      429,712        428,000  
Liberty Mutual Group, Inc., 2.75%, 5/04/2026    4/26/16      112,211        124,574  
Republic of Indonesia, 2.875%, 7/08/2021    7/02/14      238,121        218,598  
Republic of Indonesia, 2.15%, 7/18/2024    7/11/17      184,263        194,227  
Total Restricted Securities            $3,634,339  
% of Net assets            0.9%  

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

 

CDO   Collateralized Debt Obligation
CJSC   Closed Joint Stock Company
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.
JSC   Joint Stock Company
PLC   Public Limited Company
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
CAD   Canadian Dollar
CHF   Swiss Franc
DKK   Danish Krone
EUR   Euro
GBP   British Pound
HKD   Hong Kong Dollar
INR   Indian Rupee
JPY   Japanese Yen
KRW   South Korean Won
MXN   Mexican Peso
NOK   Norwegian Krone
NZD   New Zealand Dollar
SEK   Swedish Krona
SGD   Singapore Dollar
ZAR   South African Rand

 

28


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Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Derivative Contracts at 5/31/18

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

 

Currency
Purchased
    Currency Sold   Counterparty   Settlement
Date
    Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 
Asset Derivatives        
CHF     74,082     USD   74,981   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     7/27/2018       $537  
EUR     596,471     USD   699,224   Goldman Sachs International     7/27/2018       934  
EUR     244,146     USD   285,976   UBS AG     7/27/2018       610  
HKD     4,165,000     USD   531,626   Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC     7/27/2018       49  
JPY     54,000,000     USD   496,140   Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC     7/27/2018       2,066  
NZD     1,778,000     USD   1,231,794   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     7/27/2018       12,492  
USD     797,471     AUD   1,053,963   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     7/27/2018       123  
USD     1,688,590     CAD   2,153,584   Barclays Bank PLC     7/27/2018       25,348  
USD     6,338,687     CAD   8,089,610   Deutsche Bank AG     7/27/2018       90,972  
USD     4,648,248     CAD   5,931,620   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     7/27/2018       67,178  
USD     3,072,644     EUR   2,607,497   Deutsche Bank AG     7/27/2018       11,874  
USD     44,971,744     EUR   38,015,289   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     7/27/2018       348,102  
USD     872,330     GBP   650,000   Goldman Sachs International     7/27/2018       5,986  
USD     9,888,546     GBP   7,334,683   Merrill Lynch International     7/27/2018       112,606  
USD     1,025,428     INR   69,200,000   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     6/11/2018       774  
USD     36,388     SEK   317,881   Goldman Sachs International     7/27/2018       194  
USD     1,075,771     ZAR   13,114,000   Brown Brothers Harriman     6/08/2018       46,152  
USD     439,847     ZAR   5,537,498   Goldman Sachs International     6/08/2018       5,081  
USD     1,948,712     ZAR   23,158,879   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     6/08/2018       130,438  
           

 

 

 
              $861,516  
           

 

 

 
Liability Derivatives    
CAD     2,873,147     USD   2,233,724   Goldman Sachs International     7/27/2018       $(14,754
DKK     31,438     USD   4,967   Barclays Bank PLC     7/27/2018       (8
EUR     1,231,614     USD   1,446,878   Deutsche Bank AG     7/27/2018       (1,167
EUR     460,000     USD   541,936   Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC     7/27/2018       (1,972
KRW     18,240,500     USD   17,038   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     6/19/2018       (109
MXN     94     USD   5   Barclays Bank PLC     7/27/2018       (0
NOK     17,612,912     USD   2,174,724   Goldman Sachs International     7/27/2018       (17,749
SEK     18,589,000     USD   2,135,823   Barclays Bank PLC     7/27/2018       (19,234
SGD     677,142     USD   506,987   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     7/27/2018       (688
ZAR     13,185,000     USD   1,066,985   Brown Brothers Harriman     6/08/2018       (31,792
ZAR     5,620,370     USD   444,972   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     6/08/2018       (3,700
USD     4,043,772     AUD   5,360,143   HSBC Bank     7/27/2018       (11,301
USD     1,644,801     AUD   2,177,924   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     7/27/2018       (2,849
USD     1,536,723     EUR   1,311,000   Goldman Sachs International     7/27/2018       (2,173
USD     2,493,842     EUR   2,127,546   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     7/27/2018       (3,544
USD     1,404     HKD   11,000   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     7/27/2018       (1
USD     12,430,915     JPY   1,373,199,681   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     7/27/2018       (238,258
USD     2,871,466     NZD   4,163,530   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     7/27/2018       (42,271
USD     2,043,980     SEK   18,220,000   Deutsche Bank AG     7/27/2018       (30,594
           

 

 

 
              $(422,164
           

 

 

 

 

29


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Futures Contracts

 

Description   Long/
Short
    Currency     Contracts   Notional
Amount
    Expiration
Date
  Value/
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 
Asset Derivatives  
Interest Rate Futures  
Euro BTP 3 yr     Long       EUR       42     $5,381,374     June - 2018     $105,239  
Euro-Bund 10 yr     Long       EUR         1     189,550     June - 2018     5,973  
Euro-Buxl 30 yr     Long       EUR         5     998,135     June - 2018     58,324  
Long Gilt 10 yr     Long       GBP         7     1,148,851     September - 2018     9,208  
U.S. Treasury Note 2 yr     Short       USD       43     9,126,078     September - 2018     6,943  
U.S. Treasury Note 5 yr     Long       USD     113     12,869,641     September - 2018     455  
U.S. Treasury Ultra Bond     Long       USD       23     3,668,500     September - 2018     27,398  
           

 

 

 
              $213,540  
           

 

 

 
Liability Derivatives  
Interest Rate Futures  
Euro BTP 10 yr     Short       EUR       10     $1,475,459     June - 2018     $(21,360
Euro-Bobl 5 yr     Short       EUR         8     1,239,474     June - 2018     (12,532
Government of Canada Bond 10 yr     Short       CAD       10     1,048,434     September - 2018     (6,201
U.S. Treasury Bond 30 yr     Short       USD       26     3,773,250     September - 2018     (18,172
U.S. Treasury Note 10 yr     Short       USD     379     45,645,813     September - 2018     (7,289
U.S. Treasury Ultra Note 10 yr     Short       USD       55     7,058,906     September - 2018     (4,965
           

 

 

 
              $(70,519
           

 

 

 

At May 31, 2018, the fund had cash collateral of $10,000 and other liquid securities with an aggregate value of $531,065 to cover any collateral or margin obligations for 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

 

30


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

At 5/31/18 (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, $521,834,910)

     $510,354,170  

Investments in affiliated issuers, at value (identified cost, $6,158,198)

     6,158,589  

Cash

     204,846  

Foreign currency, at value (identified cost, $1,678,936)

     1,681,930  

Restricted cash for

  

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     10,000  

Receivables for

  

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     861,516  

Daily variation margin on open futures contracts

     6,595  

Investments sold

     6,957,443  

Interest

     5,904,495  

Other assets

     28,948  

Total assets

     $532,168,532  
Liabilities         

Notes payable

     $100,000,000  

Payables for

  

Distributions

     184,898  

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     422,164  

Investments purchased

     7,994,847  

Payable to affiliates

  

Investment adviser

     13,228  

Transfer agent and dividend disbursing costs

     1,348  

Payable for independent Trustees’ compensation

     11,523  

Accrued interest expense

     200,775  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     118,592  

Total liabilities

     $108,947,375  

Net assets

     $423,221,157  
Net assets consist of         

Paid-in capital

     $460,477,131  

Unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (10,921,673

Accumulated net realized gain (loss)

     (14,858,044

Accumulated distributions in excess of net investment income

     (11,476,257

Net assets

     $423,221,157  

Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (48,241,368 shares authorized less
63,403 capital shares to be retired)

     48,177,965  

Net asset value per share (net assets of $423,221,157 / 48,177,965 shares of beneficial interest outstanding)

     $8.78  

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

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Financial Statements

 

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

Six months ended 5/31/18 (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

     $11,116,214  

Dividends from affiliated issuers

     60,050  

Other

     22,363  

Foreign taxes withheld

     (1,583

Total investment income

     $11,197,044  

Expenses

  

Management fee

     $1,211,364  

Transfer agent and dividend disbursing costs

     31,916  

Administrative services fee

     37,691  

Independent Trustees’ compensation

     34,371  

Stock exchange fee

     24,400  

Custodian fee

     24,861  

Shareholder communications

     84,249  

Audit and tax fees

     40,612  

Legal fees

     8,743  

Interest expense and fees

     1,087,578  

Miscellaneous

     29,703  

Total expenses

     $2,615,488  

Net investment income (loss)

     $8,581,556  
Realized and unrealized gain (loss)         

Realized gain (loss) (identified cost basis)

  

Unaffiliated issuers

     $5,939  

Affiliated issuers

     (342

Futures contracts

     1,620,490  

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     881,157  

Foreign currency

     41,019  

Net realized gain (loss)

     $2,548,263  

Change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation

  

Unaffiliated issuers

     $(17,492,850

Affiliated issuers

     529  

Futures contracts

     (236,265

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     211,440  

Translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies

     (38,145

Net unrealized gain (loss)

     $(17,555,291

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     $(15,007,028

Change in net assets from operations

     $(6,425,472

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

32


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
5/31/18
(unaudited)
    

Year ended
11/30/17

 
From operations                  

Net investment income (loss)

     $8,581,556        $19,512,041  

Net realized gain (loss)

     2,548,263        3,230,744  

Net unrealized gain (loss)

     (17,555,291      13,229,301  

Change in net assets from operations

     $(6,425,472      $35,972,086  
Distributions declared to shareholders                  

From net investment income

     $(11,301,876      $(16,248,537

From tax return of capital

            (21,298,942

From other sources

     (6,430,802       

Total distributions declared to shareholders

     $(17,732,678      $(37,547,479

Change in net assets from fund share transactions

     $(9,211,430      $(18,955,628

Total change in net assets

     $(33,369,580      $(20,531,021
Net assets                  

At beginning of period

     456,590,737        477,121,758  

At end of period (including accumulated distributions in excess of net investment income of $11,476,257 and accumulated net investment loss of $2,325,135, respectively)

     $423,221,157        $456,590,737  

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

33


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

Six months ended 5/31/18 (unaudited)

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

 

Cash flows from operating activities:         

Change in net assets from operations

     $(6,425,472
Adjustments to reconcile change in net assets from operations to net cash provided by operating activities:         

Purchase of investment securities

     (225,358,192

Proceeds from disposition of investment securities

     243,333,201  

Purchase of short-term investments, net

     (354,000

Realized gain/loss on investments

     (5,939

Unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

     17,492,321  

Unrealized appreciation/depreciation on foreign currency contracts

     (211,440

Net amortization/accretion of income

     764,181  

Increase in interest receivable

     (11,907

Decrease in accrued expenses and other liabilities

     (46,881

Decrease in receivable for daily variation margin on open futures contracts

     208,628  

Increase in restricted cash

     (10,000

Increase in other assets

     (25,021

Increase in interest payable

     49,661  

Net cash provided by operating activities

     $29,399,140  
Cash flows from financing activities:         

Distributions paid in cash

     (17,742,995

Repurchase of shares of beneficial interest

     (10,610,474

Net cash used by financing activities

     $(28,353,469

Net increase in cash

     $1,045,671  
Cash:         

Beginning of period (including foreign currency of $5,356)

     $841,105  

End of period (including foreign currency of $1,681,930)

     $1,886,776  

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

Cash paid during the six months ended May 31, 2018 for interest was $1,037,918.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

34


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

5/31/18

    Year ended  
      11/30/17     11/30/16     11/30/15     11/30/14     11/30/13  
    (unaudited)                                

Net asset value, beginning
of period

    $9.26       $9.26       $9.20       $10.17       $10.17       $10.40  
Income (loss) from investment operations                                  

Net investment income (loss) (d)

    $0.18       $0.39       $0.46 (c)      $0.49       $0.52       $0.57  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

    (0.32     0.33       0.32       (0.68     0.04       (0.18

Total from investment operations

    $(0.14     $0.72       $0.78       $(0.19     $0.56       $0.39  
Less distributions declared to shareholders                                  

From net investment income

    $(0.23     $(0.32     $(0.50     $(0.81     $(0.58     $(0.62

From other sources

    (0.13     (0.43     (0.24                  

Total distributions declared to shareholders

    $(0.36     $(0.75     $(0.74     $(0.81     $(0.58     $(0.62

Net increase from repurchase of capital shares

    $0.02       $0.03       $0.02       $0.03       $0.02       $0.00 (w) 

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $8.78       $9.26       $9.26       $9.20       $10.17       $10.17  

Market value, end of period

    $7.93       $8.40       $8.35       $7.92       $8.81       $8.97  

Total return at market value (%)

    (1.34 )(n)      9.67       15.19       (1.28     4.68       (6.13

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

    (0.91 )(n)      9.02       9.97 (c)      (0.66     6.58       4.28  
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                                 

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.19 (a)      1.05       0.99 (c)      0.90       0.87       0.92  

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       0.87       0.92  

Net investment income (loss)

    3.92 (a)      4.16       5.01 (c)      5.01       5.09       5.53  

Portfolio turnover

    39 (n)      52       43       37       44       52  

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $423,221       $456,591       $477,122       $484,037       $548,530       $557,238  
Supplemental Ratios (%):                                          

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

    0.70 (a)      0.71       0.73 (c)      0.73       0.72       0.75  

 

35


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended

5/31/18

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

Total notes payable outstanding (000 omitted)

    $100,000       $100,000       $100,000       $100,000       $100,000       $100,000  

Asset coverage per $1,000 of indebtedness (k)

    $5,232       $5,566       $5,771       $5,840       $6,485       $6,572  

 

(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.
(j) Total return at net asset value is calculated using the net asset value of the fund, not the publicly traded price and therefore may be different than the total return at market value.
(k) Calculated by subtracting the fund’s total liabilities (not including notes payable) from the fund’s total assets and dividing this number by the notes payable outstanding and then multiplying by 1,000.
(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.
(w) Per share amount was less than $0.01.
(x) The net asset values and total returns at net asset value have been calculated on net assets which include adjustments made in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles required at period end for financial reporting purposes.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

36


Table of Contents

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

(1) Business and Organization

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

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

(2) Significant Accounting Policies

General – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated subsequent events occurring after the date of the fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities through the date that the financial statements were issued. The fund invests in high-yield securities rated below investment grade. Investments in below investment grade quality securities can involve a substantially greater risk of default or can already be in default, and their values can decline significantly. Below investment grade quality securities tend to be more sensitive to adverse news about the issuer, or the market or economy in general, than higher quality debt instruments. The fund invests in foreign securities, including securities of emerging market issuers. 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. Investments in emerging markets can involve additional and greater risks than the risks associated with investments in developed foreign markets. Emerging markets can have less developed markets, greater custody and operational risk, less developed legal, regulatory, and accounting systems, and greater political, social, and economic instability than developed markets.

In November 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) – Restricted Cash (“ASU 2016-18”). For entities that have restricted cash and are required to present a statement of cash flows, ASU 2016-18 changes the cash flow presentation for restricted cash. Management has evaluated the potential impacts of ASU 2016-18 and expects that the effects of the fund’s adoption will be limited to the reclassification of restricted cash on the fund’s Statement of Cash Flows and the addition of disclosures regarding the nature of the restrictions on restricted cash. ASU 2016-18 will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods.

In March 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2017-08, Receivables – Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20) – Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities (“ASU 2017-08”). For entities that hold callable debt securities at a premium, ASU 2017-08 requires that the premium be amortized to

 

37


Table of Contents

Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

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 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, 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. 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. Exchange-traded options are generally valued at the last sale or official closing price on their primary exchange as provided by a third-party pricing service. Exchange-traded options for which there were no sales reported that day are generally valued at the last daily bid quotation on their primary exchange as provided by a third-party pricing service. Options not traded on an exchange are generally valued at a broker/dealer bid quotation. Foreign currency options are generally valued at valuations provided by a third-party pricing service. 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. 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.

 

38


Table of Contents

Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

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 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,

 

39


Table of Contents

Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

such as futures contracts and forward foreign currency exchange contracts. The following is a summary of the levels used as of May 31, 2018 in valuing the fund’s assets or liabilities:

 

Financial Instruments    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
Equity Securities      $239,570        $—        $546,993        $786,563  
U.S. Treasury Bonds & U.S. Government Agency & Equivalents             58,574,718               58,574,718  
Non-U.S. Sovereign Debt             94,755,669               94,755,669  
Municipal Bonds             714,060               714,060  
U.S. Corporate Bonds             253,586,848               253,586,848  
Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities             21,518,374               21,518,374  
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities             1,827,558               1,827,558  
Asset-Backed Securities (including CDOs)             7,799,385               7,799,385  
Foreign Bonds             70,105,194               70,105,194  
Floating Rate Loans             685,801               685,801  
Mutual Funds      6,158,589                      6,158,589  
Total      $6,398,159        $509,567,607        $546,993        $516,512,759  
Other Financial Instruments                            
Futures Contracts – Assets      $213,540        $—        $—        $213,540  
Futures Contracts – Liabilities      (70,519                    (70,519
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts – Assets             861,516               861,516  
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts – Liabilities             (422,164             (422,164

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

The following is a reconciliation of level 3 assets for which significant unobservable inputs were used to determine fair value. The fund’s policy is to recognize transfers between the levels as of the end of the period. The table presents the activity of level 3 securities held at the beginning and the end of the period.

 

     Equity Securities  
Balance as of 11/30/17      $546,993  

Change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation

     0  
Balance as of 5/31/18      $546,993  

The net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation from investments held as level 3 at May 31, 2018 is $0. At May 31, 2018, the fund held one level 3 security.

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

 

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

The following table presents, by major type of derivative contract, the fair value, on a gross basis, of the asset and liability components of derivatives held by the fund at May 31, 2018 as reported in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities:

 

        Fair Value (a)  
Risk   Derivative Contracts   Asset Derivatives     Liability Derivatives  
Interest Rate   Interest Rate Futures     $213,540       $(70,519
Interest Rate   Purchased Interest Rate Options     18,812        
Foreign Exchange   Forward Foreign Currency Exchange     861,516       (422,164
Total       $1,093,868       $(492,683

 

(a) The value of purchased options outstanding is included in investments in unaffiliated issuers, at value, within the fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Values presented in this table for futures contracts correspond to the values reported in the fund’s Portfolio of Investments. Only the current day net variation margin for futures contracts is separately reported within the fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

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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 May 31, 2018 as reported in the Statement of Operations:

 

Risk    Futures
Contracts
    

Forward

Foreign

Currency

Exchange

Contracts

 
Interest Rate      $1,620,490        $—  
Foreign Exchange             881,157  
Total      $1,620,490        $881,157  

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 May 31, 2018 as reported in the Statement of Operations:

 

Risk    Futures
Contracts
    

Forward

Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts

     Unaffiliated
Issuers
(Purchased
Options)
 
Interest Rate      $(236,265      $—        $(5,438
Foreign Exchange             211,440         
Total      $(236,265      $211,440        $(5,438

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 one amount is posted from one party

 

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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.

Purchased Options – The fund purchased put options for a premium. Purchased put options entitle the holder to sell a specified number of shares or units of a particular security, currency or index at a specified price at a specified date or within a specified period of time. Purchasing put options may hedge against an anticipated decline in the value of portfolio securities or currency or decrease the fund’s exposure to an underlying instrument.

The premium paid is initially recorded as an investment in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. That investment is subsequently marked-to-market daily with the difference between the premium paid and the market value of the purchased option being recorded as unrealized appreciation or depreciation. Premiums paid for purchased put options which have expired are treated as realized losses on investments in the Statement of Operations. Upon the exercise or closing of a purchased put option, the premium paid is offset against the proceeds on the sale of the underlying security or financial instrument in order to determine the realized gain or loss on investments.

Whether or not the option is exercised, the fund’s maximum risk of loss from purchasing an option is the amount of premium paid. All option contracts involve credit risk if the counterparty to the option contract fails to perform. For uncleared options, 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.

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

 

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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 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.

Loans and Other Direct Debt Instruments – The fund invests in loans and loan participations or other receivables. These investments may include standby financing commitments, including revolving credit facilities, which contractually obligate the fund to supply additional cash to the borrower on demand. The fund generally provides this financial support in order to preserve its existing investment or to obtain a more senior secured interest in the assets of the borrower. Loan participations involve a risk of insolvency of the lending bank or other financial intermediary.

Statement of Cash Flows – Information on financial transactions which have been settled through the receipt or disbursement of cash is presented in the Statement of Cash Flows. The cash amount shown in the Statement of Cash Flows is the amount included within the fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities and includes cash on hand at its custodian bank and does not include any short-term investments.

Indemnifications – Under the fund’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the fund enters into agreements with service providers that may contain

 

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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. The fund earns certain fees in connection with its floating rate loan purchasing activities. These fees are in addition to interest payments earned and may include amendment fees, commitment fees, facility fees, consent fees, and prepayment fees. Commitment fees are recorded on an accrual basis as income in the accompanying financial statements. 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. Debt obligations may be placed on non-accrual status or set to accrue at a rate of interest less than the contractual coupon when the collection of all or a portion of interest has become doubtful. Interest income for those debt obligations may be further reduced by the write-off of the related interest receivables when deemed uncollectible.

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

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 to have sufficient cash and/or liquid securities to cover its commitments. Losses may

 

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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 this risk of loss 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 one 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 Statement of Assets and Liabilities as restricted cash. Securities pledged as collateral or margin for the same purpose, if any, are noted in the 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. The fund seeks to pay monthly distributions based on an annual rate of 8.00% of the fund’s average monthly net asset value. As a result, distributions may exceed actual earnings which may result in a tax return of capital or, to the extent the fund has long-term gains and a capital loss carryforward, distributions of current year long-term gains may be recharacterized as ordinary income. 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

 

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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.

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

For the six months ended May 31, 2018, the amount of distributions estimated to be a tax return of capital was approximately $6,430,802 which is reported as distributions from other sources in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets.

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
11/30/17
 
Ordinary income (including any
short-term capital gains)
     $16,248,537  
Tax return of capital (b)      21,298,942  
Total distributions      $37,547,479  

 

(b) Distributions in excess of tax basis earnings and profits are reported in the financial statements as a tax return of capital.

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

 

As of 5/31/18       
Cost of investments      $531,533,102  
Gross appreciation      4,246,217  
Gross depreciation      (19,266,560
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)      $(15,020,343
As of 11/30/17       
Capital loss carryforwards      (12,918,244
Other temporary differences      (193,659
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)      14,079  

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

As of November 30, 2017, 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      $(2,498,649
Long-Term      (10,419,595
Total      $(12,918,244

 

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(3) Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Adviser – The fund has an investment advisory agreement with MFS to provide overall investment management and related administrative services and facilities to the fund. The management fee is computed daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.32% of the fund’s average daily net assets and 4.57% of gross income less interest expense from leveraging. Gross income is calculated based on tax elections that generally include the accretion of discount and exclude the amortization of premium, which may differ from investment income reported in the Statement of Operations. The management fee, from net assets and gross income, incurred for the six months ended May 31, 2018 was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.55% of the fund’s average daily net assets.

Transfer Agent – The fund engages Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (“Computershare”) as the sole transfer agent for the fund. MFS Service Center, Inc. (MFSC) monitors and supervises the activities of Computershare for an agreed upon fee approved by the Board of Trustees. For the six months ended May 31, 2018, these fees paid to MFSC amounted to $7,894.

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 May 31, 2018 was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.0172% 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 and MFSC.

Prior to December 31, 2001, the fund had an unfunded defined benefit plan (“DB plan”) for independent Trustees. As of December 31, 2001, the Board took action to terminate the DB plan with respect to then-current and any future independent Trustees, such that the DB plan covers only certain of those former independent Trustees who retired on or before December 31, 2001. The DB plan resulted in a pension expense of $1,653 and is included in “Independent Trustees’ compensation” in the Statement of Operations for the six months ended May 31, 2018. The liability for deferred retirement benefits payable to those former independent Trustees under the DB plan amounted to $11,512 at May 31, 2018, and is included in “Payable for independent Trustees’ compensation” in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

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

 

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terminate the ISO Agreement with Tarantino LLC at any time under the terms of the ISO Agreement. For the six months ended May 31, 2018, the fee paid by the fund under this agreement was $357 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.

(4) Portfolio Securities

For the six months ended May 31, 2018, purchases and sales of investments, other than purchased option transactions and short-term obligations, were as follows:

 

     Purchases      Sales  
U.S. Government securities      $61,197,799        $58,463,717  
Non-U.S. Government securities      $147,641,625        $163,656,055  

(5) Shares of Beneficial Interest

The fund’s Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest. The Trustees have authorized the repurchase by the fund of up to 10% annually of its own shares of beneficial interest. The fund repurchased 1,114,470 shares of beneficial interest during the six months ended May 31, 2018 at an average price per share of $8.27 and a weighted average discount of 8.71% per share. The fund repurchased 2,208,712 shares of

beneficial interest during the year ended November 30, 2017 at the average price per share of $8.58 and a weighted average discount of 8.21% per share. Transactions in fund shares were as follows:

 

     Six months ended
5/31/18
     Year ended
11/30/17
 
     Shares      Amount      Shares      Amount  
Capital shares reacquired      (1,114,470      $(9,211,430      (2,208,712      $(18,955,628

(6) Loan Agreement

The fund has a credit agreement with a bank for a revolving secured line of credit that can be drawn upon up to $100,000,000. At May 31, 2018, the fund had outstanding borrowings under this agreement in the amount of $100,000,000, which are secured by a lien on the fund’s assets. The loan’s carrying value in the fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities approximates its fair value. The loan value as of the reporting date is considered level 2 under the fair value hierarchy. The credit agreement matures on August 19, 2018. The trustees approved the renewal of the revolving secured line of credit up to the amount of $100,000,000 on substantially similar terms for a 365 day period which matures on August 20, 2019. Borrowings under the agreement can be made for liquidity or leverage purposes. Interest is charged at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR plus an agreed upon spread with the option to choose LIBOR periods of overnight, 1, 2, 3, or 6 months, or at the option of the borrower an alternate base rate plus an agreed upon spread. The fund incurred interest expense of $1,086,336 during the period, which is included in “Interest expense and fees” in the Statement of Operations. The fund may also be charged a commitment fee based on the average daily unused portion of the revolving secured line of credit. The fund did not incur a

 

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commitment fee during the period. For the six months ended May 31, 2018, the average loan balance was $100,000,000 at a weighted average annual interest rate of 2.18%. The fund is subject to certain covenants including, but not limited to, requirements with respect to asset coverage, portfolio diversification and liquidity.

(7) Investments in Affiliated Issuers

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

 

Affiliated Issuers          Beginning
Shares/Par
Amount
    Acquisitions
Shares/Par
Amount
    Dispositions
Shares/Par
Amount
    Ending
Shares/Par
Amount
 
MFS Institutional Money
Market Portfolio
      5,804,640       101,932,870       (101,578,305     6,159,205  
Affiliated Issuers   Realized
Gain (Loss)
    Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation/
Depreciation
    Capital Gain
Distributions
    Dividend
Income
    Ending
Value
 
MFS Institutional Money
Market Portfolio
    $(342     $529       $—       $60,050       $6,158,589  

(8) Legal Proceedings

In May 2015, the Motors Liquidation Company Avoidance Action Trust (hereafter,

“AAT”) served upon the fund a complaint in an adversary proceeding in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, captioned Motors Liquidation Company Avoidance Action Trust v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., et al. (No. 09-00504 (REG)). The complaint, which was originally filed in 2009 but not served on the fund until 2015, names as defendants over 500 entities (including the fund) that held an interest in a $1.5 billion General Motors (GM) term loan in 2009, when GM filed for bankruptcy. The AAT alleges that the fund and the other term loan lenders were improperly treated as secured lenders with respect to the term loan shortly before and immediately after GM’s bankruptcy, receiving full principal and interest payments under the loan. The AAT alleges that the fund and other term loan lenders should have been treated as unsecured (or partially unsecured) creditors because the main lien securing the collateral was allegedly not perfected at the time of GM’s bankruptcy due to an erroneous filing in October 2008 that terminated the financing statement perfecting the lien. The AAT seeks to claw back payments made to the fund and the other term loan lenders after, and during the 90 days before, GM’s June 2009 bankruptcy petition. During that time period, the fund received term loan payments of approximately $1,280,000. The fund cannot predict the outcome of this proceeding. Among other things, it is unclear whether the AAT’s claims will succeed; what the fund would be entitled to as an unsecured (or partially unsecured) creditor, given the existence of other collateral not impacted by the erroneous October 2008 filing; whether third parties responsible for the erroneous October 2008 filing would bear some or all of any liability; and the degree to which the fund may be entitled to indemnification from a third party for any amount required to be disgorged. The fund has and will continue to incur legal expenses associated with the defense of this action and in related claims against third parties.

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Trustees and Shareholders of MFS Charter Income Trust:

We have reviewed the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of MFS Charter Income Trust (the Fund), including the portfolio of investments, as of May 31, 2018, and the related statements of operations, changes in net assets, cash flows and financial highlights for the six-month period ended May 31, 2018. These interim financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management.

We conducted our review in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying interim financial statements and financial highlights for them to be in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the statement of changes in net assets for the year ended November 30, 2017 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended November 30, 2017, and in our report dated January 16, 2018, we expressed an unqualified opinion on such statement of changes in net assets and financial highlights.

 

LOGO

Boston, Massachusetts

July 16, 2018

 

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

Public Reference Room

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, NE, Room 1580

Washington, D.C. 20549

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

FURTHER INFORMATION

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

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

 

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INFORMATION ABOUT FUND CONTRACTS AND LEGAL CLAIMS

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

Under the Trust’s By-Laws 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.

 

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LOGO

 

CONTACT US

TRANSFER AGENT, REGISTRAR, AND

DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT

CALL

1-800-637-2304

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

WRITE

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

P.O. Box 43078

Providence, RI 02940-3078

 

New York Stock Exchange Symbol: MCR


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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 for semi-annual reports.

 

ITEM 6. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

A schedule of investments for MFS Charter Income Trust is included as part of the report to shareholders 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 for semi-annual reports.


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

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

Effective March 1, 2018, Michael Skatrud became a portfolio manager of the Fund. Effective June 30, 2018, Richard Hawkins is no longer a portfolio manager of the Fund. Effective September 1, 2018, William Adams will no longer be a portfolio manager of the Fund.

 

Portfolio

Manager

  

Primary Role

   Since   

Title and Five Year History

Robert Spector    Lead Portfolio Manager    2015    Investment Office of MFS; employed in the investment area of MFS since 2011.
William Adams    Below Investment Grade Debt Instruments Portfolio Manager    2011    Investment Officer of MFS; employed in the investment area of MFS since 2009.
Ward Brown    Emerging Markets Debt Instruments Portfolio Manager    2012    Investment Officer of MFS; Employed in the investment area of MFS since 2005.
David Cole    Below Investment Grade Debt Instruments Portfolio Manager    2006    Investment Officer of MFS; employed in the investment area of MFS since 2004.
Pilar Gomez-Bravo    Debt Instruments Portfolio Manager    2013    Investment Officer of MFS; employed in the investment area of MFS since 2013; Imperial Capital from May 2012 to March 2013.
Joshua Marston    Structured Securities Portfolio Manager    2012    Investment Officer of MFS; Employed in the investment area of MFS since 1999.
Robert Persons    Investment Grade Debt Instruments Portfolio Manager    2013    Investment Officer of MFS; employed in the investment area of MFS since 2000.
Matt Ryan    Emerging Markets Debt Instruments Portfolio Manager    2004    Investment Officer of MFS; employed in the investment area of MFS since 1997.
Michael Skatrud    Below Investment Grade Debt Instruments Portfolio Manager    March 2018    Investment Officer of MFS; employed in the investment area of MFS since 2013
Erik Weisman    Sovereign Debt Instruments Portfolio Manager    2012    Investment Officer of MFS; Employed in the investment area of MFS since 2002.

Compensation

Portfolio manager compensation is reviewed annually. As of December 31, 2017, portfolio manager total cash compensation is a combination of base salary and performance bonus:

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

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

With respect to each portfolio manager except Mr. William Adams, the performance bonus is based on a combination of quantitative and qualitative factors, generally with more weight given to the former and less weight given to the latter.


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The quantitative portion is primarily based on the pre-tax performance of assets managed by the portfolio manager over three- and five-year periods relative to peer group universes and/or indices (“benchmarks”). As of December 31, 2017, the following benchmarks were used to measure the following portfolio manager’s performance for the Fund:

 

Fund

  

Portfolio Manager

  

Benchmark(s)

   Ward Brown    JPMorgan Emerging Markets Bond Index Global
   David Cole    Bloomberg Barclays U.S. High-Yield Corporate Bond 2% Issuer Capped Index
   Pilar Gomez-Bravo   

Citigroup World Government Bond Non-Dollar Hedged Index JPMorgan Emerging Markets Bond Index Global

Bloomberg Barclay’s U.S. High-Yield Corporate Bond 2% Issuer Capped Index

Bloomberg Barclay’s U.S. Credit Bond Index

Bloomberg Barclay’s U.S. Government/Mortgage Bond Index

   Joshua Marston    Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Government/Mortgage Bond Index
   Robert Persons    Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Credit Bond Index
   Matt Ryan    JPMorgan Emerging Markets Bond Index Global
   Michael Skatrud1    Bloomberg Barclays U.S. High-Yield Corporate Bond 2% Issuer Capped Index
   Robert Spector   

Citigroup World Government Bond Non-Dollar Hedged Index JPMorgan Emerging Markets Bond Index Global

Bloomberg Barclay’s U.S. High-Yield Corporate Bond 2% Issuer Capped Index

Bloomberg Barclay’s U.S. Credit Bond Index

Bloomberg Barclay’s U.S. Government/Mortgage Bond Index

   Erik Weisman    Citigroup World Government Bond Non-Dollar Hedged Index

 

1 

Information is as of March 1, 2018.

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

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

With respect to Mr. Adams, his compensation reflects his broader role within MFS as Chief Investment Officer-Global Fixed Income in addition to being a portfolio manager. His performance bonus is based on a combination of quantitative and qualitative factors, generally with more weight given to the former and less weight given to the latter. The quantitative portion is based on overall group investment performance and business performance metrics. The qualitative portion is based on the results of an annual internal review process conducted by the Chief Executive Officer which takes into account his broad leadership responsibilities. This performance bonus may be in the form of cash and/or a deferred cash award, at the discretion of management. A deferred cash award is issued for a cash value and becomes payable over a three-year vesting period if the portfolio manager remains in the continuous employ of MFS or its affiliates. During the vesting period, the value of the unfunded deferred cash award will fluctuate as though the portfolio manager had invested the cash value of the award in an MFS Fund(s) selected by the portfolio manager. A selected fund may be, but is not required to be, a fund that is managed by the portfolio manager.


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

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

Ownership of Fund Shares

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

N. None

A. $1 – $10,000

B. $10,001 – $50,000

C. $50,001 – $100,000

D. $100,001 – $500,000

E. $500,001 – $1,000,000

F. Over $1,000,000

 

Name of Portfolio Manager

   Dollar Range of Equity Securities in Fund
William Adams    N
Ward Brown    N
David Cole    N
Pilar Gomez-Bravo    N
Joshua Marston    N
Robert Persons    N
Matt Ryan    N
Michael Skatrud1    N
Robert Spector    N
Erik Weisman    N

 

1 

Mr. Skatrud became a Portfolio Manager of the Fund on March 1, 2018. Information is as of July 2, 2018.


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Other Accounts

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

 

      Registered Investment
Companies*
     Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
     Other Accounts  

Name

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

William Adams

     12      $ 9.2 billion        6      $ 1.1 billion        1      $ 108.4 million  

Ward Brown

     9      $ 12.4 billion        6      $ 3.7 billion        3      $ 1.2 billion  

David Cole

     11      $ 9.1 billion        4      $ 1.1 billion        1      $ 108.3 million  

Pilar Bravo-Gomez

     5      $ 4.5 billion        4      $ 3.2 billion        1      $ 459.7 million  

Joshua Marston

     10      $ 21.7 billion        8      $ 1.2 billion        12      $ 240.1 million  

Robert Persons

     17      $ 31.2 billion        9      $ 4.5 billion        4      $ 690.4 million  

Matt Ryan

     11      $ 13.0 billion        7      $ 4.4 billion        3      $ 1.2 billion  

Michael Skatrud1

(Became a Portfolio Manager of the Fund on March 1, 2018)

     11      $ 8.2 billion        5      $ 833 million        1      $ 42 million  

Robert Spector

     5      $ 4.5 billion        10      $ 5.2 billion        50      $ 2.2 billion  

Erik Weisman

     7      $ 5.8 billion        4      $ 3.3 billion        1      $ 459.7 million  

 

* Includes the Fund.
1 

Account information is as of July 2, 2018.

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

Potential Conflicts of Interest

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

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

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


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

 

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

MFS Charter Income Trust

 

Period

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

12/01/17-12/31/17

     172,240        8.54        172,240        4,424,916  

1/01/18-1/31/18

     256,249        8.40        256,249        4,168,667  

2/01/18-2/28/18

     304,409        8.19        304,409        3,864,258  

3/01/18-3/31/18

     106,825        8.16        106,825        3,757,433  

4/01/18-4/30/18

     144,344        8.14        144,344        3,613,089  

5/01/18-5/31/18

     130,403        8.02        130,403        3,482,686  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total

     1,114,470        8.27        1,114,470     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Note: The Board approved procedures to repurchase shares and reviews the results periodically. The notification to shareholders of the program is part of the semi-annual and annual reports sent to shareholders. These annual programs begin on October 1st of each year. The programs conform to the conditions of Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and limit the aggregate number of shares that may be purchased in each annual period (October 1 through the following September 30) to 10% of the Registrant’s outstanding shares as of the first day of the plan year (October 1). The aggregate number of shares available for purchase for the October 1, 2017 plan year is 4,966,142.

 

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.

 

ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

 

(a)

Based upon their evaluation of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Act”)) as conducted within 90 days of the filing date of this Form N-CSR, the registrant’s


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  principal financial officer and principal executive officer have concluded that those disclosure controls and procedures provide reasonable assurance that the material information required to be disclosed by the registrant on this report is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.

 

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

 

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

Not applicable for semi-annual reports.

 

ITEM 13. EXHIBITS.

 

(a)    (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.

 

(c) Notices to Trust’s common shareholders in accordance with Investment Company Act Section 19(a) and Rule 19a-1. Attached hereto as EX-99.19a-1.


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Notice

A copy of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust 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 CHARTER INCOME TRUST

 

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

Date: July 16, 2018

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

 

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

Date: July 16, 2018

 

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

Date: July 16, 2018

 

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