Quantcast
The MFWire
Manage Email Alerts | Sponsorships | About MFWire | Who We Are

Subscribe to MFWire.com's News Alerts [click]

Rating:MFS is Hit with a Share Class Suit Not Rated 0.0 Email Routing List Email & Route  Print Print
Thursday, July 31, 2008

MFS is Hit with a Share Class Suit

Reported by Erin Kello

A Pennsylvania law firm has filed suit against MFS Investment Management on behalf on investors who purchased class A shares of certain multi-class MFS stock mutual funds. The suit, filed by Barrack Rodos & Bacine, alleged that MFS knowingly presented class A shares as the best performing share class for the long-term, causing shareholders to choose them when class B and or C shares would have been more appropriate.

The complaints alleged that MFS earned excessive profits through the scheme while the plaintiff and other class members saw decreased returns on their investments.

When approached for comment, MFS spokesman, John Reilly, told the MFWire "MFS believes that this lawsuit is baseless and completely without merit. We plan to defend ourselves vigorously against it."




Company Press Release

PHILADELPHIA, July 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Barrack Rodos & Bacine announces that it has filed a class action lawsuit against MFS Investment Management ("MFS") in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania on behalf of investors who purchased class A shares of certain multi-class MFS stock mutual funds in the aggregate amount of less than $50,000 during the period July 28, 2003 through July 28, 2008 ("Class Period"), and paid a load or commission. The complaint charges MFS, Massachusetts Financial Services Co., and MFS Funds Distributors, Inc. with violations of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 78j(b), and Rule 10b-5, 17 C.F.R. Sec. 240.10b-5. The case is captioned Smith v. MFS Investment Management, et al., and is docketed at 3:08-cv-1407.

The complaint alleges that, during the Class Period, defendants engaged in a scheme to defraud investors by disseminating prospectuses for the following mutual funds that contain incorrect, incomplete and misleading information: Massachusetts Investors Growth Stock Fund (MIGFX); Massachusetts Investors Trust (MITTX); MFS Aggressive Growth Allocation Fund (MAAGX); MFS Conservative Allocation Fund (MACFX); MFS Core Equity Fund (MRGAX); MFS Core Growth Fund (MFCAX); MFS Emerging Growth Fund (MFEGX); MFS Emerging Markets Equity Fund (MEMAX); MFS Global Equity Fund (MWEFX); MFS Global Growth Fund (MWOFX); MFS Global Total Return Fund (MFWTX); MFS Growth Allocation Fund (MAGWX); MFS International Diversification Fund (MDIDX); MFS International Growth Fund (MGRAX); MFS International New Discovery Fund (MIDAX); MFS International Value Fund (MGIAX); MFS Mid Cap Growth Fund (OTCAX); MFS Mid Cap Value Fund (MVCAX); MFS Moderate Allocation Fund (MAMAX); MFS New Discovery Fund (MNDAX); MFS New Endeavor Fund (MECAX); MFS Research Fund (MFRFX); MFS Research International Fund (MRSAX); MFS Sector Rotational Fund (SRFAX); MFS Strategic Value Fund (MSVTX); MFS Technology Fund (MTCAX); MFS Total Return Fund (MSFRX); MFS Union Standard Equity Fund (MUEAX); MFS Util

ities Fund (MMUFX); and MFS Value Fund (MEIAX).

According to the complaint, the defendants, in contravention of their disclosure obligations, knowingly presented class A shares as the best performing share class for the long-term, causing the class members to purchase class A shares of the aforementioned mutual funds, when class B and/or class C shares would have been their best investment choice for any holding period. By making misleading disclosures in, and omitting material information from, the prospectuses for these funds, defendants earned excessive profits while the plaintiff and other class members suffered decreased returns on their investments.

If you acquired class A shares of any of the MFS mutual funds listed above in the aggregate amount of less than $50,000 during the Class Period, and paid a load or commission, you may, not later than September 26, 2008, file a motion with the court seeking to serve as lead plaintiff of the proposed class. To discuss your rights regarding the appointment of lead plaintiff and for additional information about your interest in this class action, or if you purchased class A shares of fund families other than MFS and paid a load or a commission and would like to discuss whether you have a similar claim regarding those other funds, please call: 877-FUND-304 (877-386-3304).
 

Stay ahead of the news ... Sign up for our email alerts now
CLICK HERE

0.0
 Do You Recommend This Story?



GO TO: MFWire
Return to Top
 News Archives
2025: Q3Q2Q1
2024: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2023: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2022: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2021: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2020: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2019: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2018: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2017: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2016: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2015: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2014: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2013: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2012: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2011: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2010: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2009: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2008: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2007: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2006: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2005: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2004: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2003: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2002: Q4Q3Q2Q1
 Subscribe via RSS:
Raw XML
Add to My Yahoo!
follow us in feedly


    Sorry, no records in the database matched your search parameters. Clich back and try again.



  1. Nicsa webinar - New research by Alex Edmans and the Diversity Project - The Power of diverse thinking: How the best teams make decisions, July 1
  2. MFDF Director Discussion Series - Open Forum, July 9
  3. MFDF webinar - Mid-Year Tax Update for Registered Investment Companies, July 10
  4. MFDF Director Discussion Series - Open Forum (Philadelphia), July 15
  5. 2025 MMI Women in Advisory Solutions Forum, Jul 15-16
  6. Nicsa webinar - How Trusted GenAI is Transforming Data Access in Asset Management, July 16
  7. MFDF webinar - M&A and Consolidation in Asset Management, July 16
  8. MFDF webinar - ETF Conversions, July 17
  9. MFDF Director Discussion Series - Open Forum (New York), July 22
  10. MFDF Ask Anything webinar - AI Edition, July 24
  11. MFDF webinar - Use of Derivatives by RICs, July 29
  12. MFDF Director Discussion Series - Open Forum (Columbus, Ohio), August 20
  13. Samfund Soiree Boston 2025, August 21
  14. MFDF webinar - The Audit Committee Chair's Guide to Balancing Duties and Emerging Issues, September 3
  15. ICI ETF Conference, Sep 8-10
  16. Nicsa webinar - Reimagining Reconciliation: AI, Regulation, and Capital Markets Transformation, September 10
  17. MFDF webinar - Series Trust Funds - Compliance and Board Reporting, September 10
  18. MFDF In Focus - Board Oversight of DEI in Current Landscape, September 11
  19. MFDF webinar - MFDF 15(c) White Paper Webinar Series: Part 4 – Enforcement Action Takeaways, September 16
  20. MFDF webinar - Latest in Closed-End Funds Litigations, September 23
  21. MFDF webinar - Fixed Income Insights: Navigating Market Trends & Opportunities, September 24
  22. MFDF webinar - Risk Management Essentials for RICs and Boards, September 29
  23. MFDF webinar - Diligent - Tools for Fund Board Book, October 1
  24. 10th annual Fuse Forum, October 8
  25. MFDF webinar - Essential Strategies in Board Oversight of Operational Risk Management, October 14
  26. 2025 MMI Annual Conference, Oct 15-17




©All rights reserved to InvestmentWires, Inc. 1997-2025
14 Wall Street | 20th Floor | New York, NY 10005 | P: 212-331-8968 | F: 212-331-8998
Privacy Policy :: Terms of Use