================================================================================ UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 -------------- SCHEDULE TO TENDER OFFER STATEMENT UNDER SECTION 14(D)(1) OR SECTION 13(E)(1) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 --------------- MFS GOVERNMENT MARKETS INCOME TRUST (Name Of Subject Company (Issuer)) --------------- MFS GOVERNMENT MARKETS INCOME TRUST (Name of Filing Persons (Offeror)) Common Shares of Beneficial Interest Without Par Value (Title of Class of Securities) 552939100 (CUSIP Number of Class of Securities) --------------- Susan S. Newton Massachusetts Financial Services Company 500 Boylston Street Boston, Massachusetts 02116 (617) 954-5000 (Name, address and telephone number of person authorized to receive notices and communications on behalf of filing persons) with copies to: Gregory D. Sheehan, Esq. Ropes & Gray LLP One International Place Boston, Massachusetts 02110 (617) 951-7000 CALCULATION OF FILING FEE ======================================= ======================================= Transaction Valuation Amount Of Filing Fee --------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- Not Applicable* Not Applicable* ======================================= ======================================= * A filing fee is not required in connection with this filing as it relates solely to preliminary communications made before the commencement of a tender offer. |_| Check the box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing with which the offsetting fee was previously paid. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. Amount Previously Paid: N/A Form or Registration No.: N/A Filing Party: N/A Date Filed: N/A |X| Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary communications made before the commencement of a tender offer. Check the appropriate boxes below to designate any transactions to which the statement relates: |_| third-party tender offer subject to Rule 14d-1. |X| issuer tender offer subject to Rule 13e-4. |_| going-private transaction subject to Rule 13e-3. |_| amendment to Schedule 13D under Rule 13d-2. Check the following box if the filing is a final amendment reporting the results of the tender offer: |_| ================================================================================