MFS Government Markets Income Trust is calling a special shareholder meeting on June 18, 2026 to approve a new investment advisory agreement with abrdn Inc. and to elect a new five-member Aberdeen‑aligned board.
If both proposals and other transaction conditions are satisfied, Aberdeen will replace MFS as investment adviser and administrator in early July 2026, the board will shrink from eleven to five trustees, the fund’s name will change to Aberdeen Government Markets Income Fund, and Aberdeen’s fixed income team will assume portfolio management using its own research‑driven process.
The advisory fee structure would shift to a tiered rate based on Managed Assets, with headline expenses before waivers rising but an Aberdeen expense limitation targeting total ordinary operating expenses at 0.79% of Managed Assets for at least two years. The fund intends to maintain its current investment objective, fundamental policies, and a managed distribution rate of 7.25% of average monthly NAV, while transitioning the portfolio gradually to Aberdeen’s style. MFS and Aberdeen will bear solicitation and meeting costs, estimated at $13,321, and the board unanimously recommends shareholders vote in favor of both proposals.
Sit Investment Associates and Sit Fixed Income Advisors II report beneficial ownership of 9,913,156 common shares of MFS Government Markets Income Trust, representing 30.4% of the outstanding class. These shares are held with shared voting and shared dispositive power; neither entity has sole authority.
The percentage is based on 32,590,193 shares outstanding as of November 30, 2025, as reported in the issuer’s Form N-CSR. The firms state that no individual client account owns more than 5% of the outstanding shares and that none of their directors or executive officers own shares directly.
MFS Government Markets Income Trust (MGF) is asking shareholders to approve two linked proposals at a Special Meeting on June 18, 2026: (1) replace MFS with Aberdeen as investment adviser via a New Management Agreement and (2) elect five new Trustees. Both proposals must be approved for the changes to take effect, which are expected to become effective on or about July 20, 2026, subject to other closing conditions. The New Management Agreement would change the fee structure to a tiered management fee based on Managed Assets and includes an Aberdeen Expense Limitation of 0.79% for at least two years. The Board and a majority of independent Trustees recommend voting FOR both proposals.
Sit Investment Associates, Inc. and Sit Fixed Income Advisors II, LLC filed Amendment No. 3 to a Schedule 13D reporting their beneficial ownership of 9,448,005 shares of MFS Government Markets Income Trust common stock, representing 29% of the outstanding shares.
The Sit entities report shared voting and dispositive power over all 9,448,005 shares and no sole voting or dispositive power. The filing notes that underlying clients of the Sit entities have the right to dividends and sale proceeds, that no individual client account owns more than 5% of the fund’s shares, and that none of the Sit entities’ directors or executive officers hold shares directly.
MFS Government Markets Income Trust filed an insider report for portfolio manager Geoffrey Schechter that shows no transactions in the issuer’s securities. The filing lists no purchases, sales, option exercises, gifts, or restructurings, and does not report any derivative positions.
Sit Investment Associates, Inc. and Sit Fixed Income Advisors II, LLC filed Amendment No. 2 to a Schedule 13D updating their ownership in MFS Government Markets Income Trust. They report beneficial ownership of 9,072,498 common shares, representing 27.8% of the fund.
Their reported holdings are based on 32,590,193 shares outstanding as of November 30, 2025, as disclosed in the issuer’s Form N-CSR. The Sit entities have shared power to vote and dispose of these shares, while individual client accounts each hold under 5% and their directors and executive officers do not own shares directly.
Sit Investment Associates, Inc. and Sit Fixed Income Advisors II, LLC have amended their ownership report on MFS Government Markets Income Trust. The Sit entities report beneficial ownership of 8,744,665 shares of common stock, representing 26.8% of the outstanding shares, with shared voting and dispositive power over all such shares.
The percentage is based on 32,590,193 shares outstanding as of November 30, 2025. The firms state that none of their individual client accounts holds more than 5% of the fund’s shares and that none of their directors or executive officers owns shares directly.
Sit Investment Associates and Sit Fixed Income Advisors II filed a Schedule 13D reporting beneficial ownership of 9,101,782 common shares of MFS Government Markets Income Trust, representing 27.9% of the fund’s outstanding shares as of November 30, 2025. The firms hold shared voting and dispositive power over these shares through client accounts they advise, with no single client account owning more than 5% of the fund. They state the position is for investment purposes but outline that they may buy, sell, vote, or otherwise act on the shares as they deem advisable and may engage with management and the Board, submit shareholder proposals, or nominate trustees. The Sit entities sent a February 24, 2026 letter to the Board formally opposing a proposed reorganization in which MFS Government Markets Income Trust and three related funds would merge into MFS Multimarket Income Trust.
MGF submitted an N-CEN annual report template-style filing that lists fund governance, service providers, and operational items for the reporting period. The excerpt includes a recorded aggregate brokerage commissions amount of $13,558.37 and multiple principal transactions line items (largest shown $122,434,850.36).
The filing enumerates custodians, transfer agents, pricing services, securities lending questions, and director/CCO record fields but most identifying details are left blank in the provided excerpt.
MFS Government Markets Income Trust (MGF) is a closed-end fund seeking high current income, primarily by investing in U.S. and foreign government-related bonds. The Board maintains a managed distribution policy targeting an annual rate of 7.25% of average monthly net asset value (NAV), paid monthly, which can include return of capital.
For the year ended November 30, 2025, the fund returned 5.40% at NAV and 7.37% at market price, compared with 5.56% for the Bloomberg U.S. Government/Mortgage Index and 5.65% for its blended benchmark. Net assets were about $103.9 million, with a NAV of $3.19 per share and a market price of $3.13.
The portfolio is heavily focused on interest-rate-sensitive securities, with U.S. Treasury and agency mortgage-backed securities dominating fixed income exposure and an average duration of 6.0 years. Over the period, distributions under the managed policy included roughly $3.57 million of ordinary income and $3.98 million classified as tax return of capital, which reduces the asset base over time.