Aberdeen (NYSE: VFL) to manage $2bn in MFS closed-end fund assets
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Aberdeen Investments has agreed to acquire certain assets related to MFS' business of managing U.S. closed-end funds totaling $2bn in assets as of September 30, 2025. Subject to conditions and shareholder approvals, Aberdeen would become manager of two U.S. closed-end funds formed by consolidating nine MFS-managed funds and one Aberdeen-managed fund.
Aberdeen highlights that the enlarged funds are expected to have meaningful scale, with Aberdeen already managing $26.1bn in closed-end funds as of September 30, 2025, and states the acquisition is income accretive from year one. The combined funds will be led by Aberdeen’s Global Head of Fixed Income and are intended to focus on fixed income and private credit, including a multi-sector fund investing across bond sectors. Shareholders are advised that a combined prospectus/proxy statement will be filed for the proposed combination and that closed-end fund shares may trade at premiums or discounts to net asset value.
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Insights
Aberdeen will take over management of consolidated MFS closed-end funds totaling $2bn, pending shareholder approvals.
The agreement would shift management of U.S. closed-end funds totaling $2bn in assets as of September 30, 2025 from MFS to Aberdeen Investments, tied to a consolidation of ten existing funds into two larger vehicles. Aberdeen already manages $26.1bn in closed-end funds as of the same date and describes the deal as income accretive from year one, suggesting scale benefits for its advisory business.
For fund investors, the proposal primarily changes the investment adviser and combines multiple portfolios into fewer, larger funds, subject to fund shareholder approvals and other conditions. The funds are expected to emphasize fixed income and private credit, with one multi-sector fund investing across bond sectors. The disclosure reiterates that closed-end funds can trade at premiums or discounts to net asset value and that there is no assurance any fund will achieve its objective, underscoring the usual market and strategy risks alongside this manager transition.
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FAQ
What transaction involving MFS and Aberdeen affects abrdn National Municipal Income Fund (VFL)?
MFS and Aberdeen Investments have agreed that Aberdeen will acquire certain assets related to MFS’ business of providing investment management services to U.S. closed-end funds totaling $2bn in assets as of September 30, 2025, with Aberdeen proposed as manager of two consolidated closed-end funds, subject to conditions and shareholder approvals.
How many closed-end funds are being consolidated under this MFS–Aberdeen agreement for VFL holders?
The agreement contemplates consolidating nine closed-end funds managed by MFS and one closed-end fund managed by Aberdeen into two U.S. closed-end funds, which are proposed to be managed by Aberdeen, pending fund shareholder approvals and other conditions.
How large is Aberdeen’s closed-end fund business relative to the $2bn MFS assets in this deal?
Aberdeen Investments reports managing 15 U.S. closed-end funds and 13 non-U.S. closed-end funds with total closed-end fund assets of $26.1bn as of September 30, 2025, excluding the $2bn in assets referenced in the agreement with MFS.
Who will lead management of the consolidated closed-end funds after the MFS–Aberdeen transaction?
The consolidated closed-end funds are expected to be managed by Jonathan Mondillo, Aberdeen Investments’ Global Head of Fixed Income, focusing on Aberdeen’s core areas of fixed income and private credit, including a multi-sector fund investing across a range of bond sectors.
What risks and trading features of closed-end funds are highlighted for VFL investors?
The disclosure notes that closed-end funds trade on stock exchanges, and their share prices can be above (a premium) or below (a discount) net asset value. It also states there is no assurance a fund will achieve its investment objective and that past performance does not guarantee future results.
Filed
by MFS Municipal Income Trust
pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Subject Companies:
abrdn
National Municipal Income Fund
File No.: 811-07410
Date: December 12, 2025
Press Release
12 December 2025
Aberdeen enters into agreement with MFS and Proposed as Manager of Closed End Funds totalling $2bn
Aberdeen Investments (‘Aberdeen’), the global specialty asset manager, has reached an agreement with MFS to acquire certain assets related to MFS’ business of providing investment management services to closed end funds totalling $2bn as of September 30, 2025. Subject to certain conditions and fund shareholder approvals, Aberdeen would be appointed manager of two US closed-end funds (CEFs) resulting from the consolidation of nine (9) CEFs managed by MFS and one CEF managed by Aberdeen.
The CEFs proposed to be managed by Aberdeen will stand to benefit from significant scale, creating a springboard for potential future growth:
| - | Four MFS municipal bond CEFs and one Aberdeen municipal bond CEF, the abrdn National Municipal Income Fund (NYSE American: VFL), will be consolidated to create a c.$1bn AUM municipal bond fund |
| - | Five MFS taxable fixed income CEFs will be consolidated to create a c.$1.2bn AUM multi-sector fixed income CEF (including investments in private credit) |
As one of the largest global managers, with $26.1bn AUM as of September 30, 2025 in CEFs (excluding this transaction), Aberdeen is well placed to support consolidation in the sector, delivering larger funds that benefit from economies of scale and that offer greater liquidity for investors. No staff or corporate entities will transfer as part of the transaction, and the acquisition is income accretive from year one.
Alan Goodson, Head of Product - Americas, Aberdeen Investments, adds:
Filed by MFS Municipal Income Trust
pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Subject Companies:
abrdn National Municipal Income Fund
File No.: 811-07410
Date: December 12, 2025
Press Release
“This is an exciting opportunity to bring our institutional expertise and leadership in fixed income and private credit to US retail investors through a liquid, closed end fund structure. The consolidated funds, which will be managed by Aberdeen’s Global Head of Fixed Income, Jonathan Mondillo, will offer meaningful scale and concentrate on Aberdeen’s core areas of expertise, where we see clear potential for continued growth. Given MFS’ tenure in the US funds space, we are proud they have chosen Aberdeen for this agreement.”
Jonathan Mondillo, Global Head of Fixed Income, Aberdeen Investments, says:
“It is my pleasure to lead the management of these funds in areas where we see clear potential for growth, add value, and showcase the importance of active management. The consolidated funds will come with scale and with ample potential for future growth. The multi-sector fund, will mark Aberdeen’s first U.S. foray into this segment of the market, investing across a range of bond sectors and allocating to private credit to in an effort deliver a high level of income and risk adjusted returns.
Ends
Media enquiries
Caroline Wolf
Prosek Partners
cwolf@prosek.com
646-818-9210
Notes to editors:
About Aberdeen Investments:
Aberdeen Investments is a global specialist asset manager that focuses on areas where we have both strength and scale across public and private markets, including credit, specialist equities and real assets.
Filed
by MFS Municipal Income Trust
pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Subject Companies:
abrdn
National Municipal Income Fund
File No.: 811-07410
Date: December 12, 2025
Press Release
Our teams collaborate across regions, asset classes and specialisms, connecting diverse perspectives and working with clients to identify investment opportunities that suit their needs.
As of September 30, 2025, Aberdeen Investments had approximately $515 billion in assets under management. Moreover, closed-end funds are an important element of Aberdeen Investments’ client base in the U.S. and globally, managing 15 U.S. closed-end funds and 13 non-U.S. closed-end funds, totaling $26.1 billion in assets as of September 30, 2025.
www.aberdeeninvestments.com
Important Information
Aberdeen Investments Global is the trade name of Aberdeen's investments business, herein referred to as "Aberdeen Investments" or "Aberdeen". In the United States, Aberdeen Investments refers to the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: abrdn Inc., abrdn Investments Limited, and abrdn Asia Limited.
MFS is a registered investment adviser. As of November 30, 2025, MFS had approximately $655.2 billion in assets under management.
The information in this press release is for informational purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to or in connection with the proposed transaction or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
In connection with the proposed combination, the Acquiring Fund plans to file with the SEC a combined prospectus/proxy statement. When the prospectus/proxy statement becomes available, shareholders are
Filed
by MFS Municipal Income Trust
pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Subject Companies:
abrdn
National Municipal Income Fund
File No.: 811-07410
Date: December 12, 2025
Press Release
advised to read it because it will contain important information about the proposed transaction and related matters. The prospectus/proxy statement, when available, will be available for free at the SEC’s website www.sec.gov.
Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. A Fund’s investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the fund’s portfolio. There is no assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
The value at which a closed-end fund stock trades on a stock exchange is a function of external market factors that are not under the
control of the Fund’s Board or Investment Advisor. Closed-end Fund shares may therefore trade at a premium or a discount to
net asset value at any given time. Shareholders should be aware that a fund trading at a premium to net asset value may not be sustainable,
and a fund’s discount to net asset value can widen as well as narrow. Shareholders of a fund trading at a premium who participate
in that fund’s dividend reinvestment plan should note the reinvestment of distributions may occur at a premium to net asset value.