As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 23, 2011
1933 Act File No. 2-22019
1940 Act File No. 811-1241
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT of 1933
¨
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 126
x
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
¨
AMENDMENT NO. 99
x
EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(617) 482-8260
(Registrant’s Telephone Number)
MAUREEN A. GEMMA
Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
It is proposed that this filing will become effective pursuant to Rule 485 (check appropriate box):
¨ | immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) | ¨ | on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) |
x | on December 30, 2011 pursuant to paragraph (b) | ¨ | 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) |
¨ | 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) | ¨ | on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) |
If appropriate, check the following box: | |||
¨ | This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment. |
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital ^
Select Equity
Fund
^
Class A Shares - ESEAX ^ Class I Shares - ESEIX
A non-diversified mutual fund seeking long-term capital growth ^
Prospectus Dated
^
December 30, 2011
The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or
determined whether this Prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. |
Information in this Prospectus | |||
Page | Page | ||
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Fund Summary | 2 | Investment Objective & Principal Policies and Risks | 5 |
Investment Objective | 2 | Management and Organization | 8 |
Fees and Expenses of the Fund | 2 | Related Performance Information | 8 |
Portfolio Turnover | 2 | Valuing Shares | 9 |
Principal Investment Strategies | 3 | Purchasing Shares | 9 |
Principal Risks | 3 | Sales Charges | 12 |
Performance | 4 | Redeeming Shares | ^13 |
Management | 4 | Shareholder Account Features | ^14 |
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares | 4 | Additional Tax Information | ^16 |
Tax Information | 4 | ^ | ^ |
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries | 4 | ||
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This Prospectus contains important information about the Fund and the services
available to shareholders. Please save it for reference.
Fund Summary
Investment Objective
The Fund’s investment objective is to seek long-term capital growth.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for a reduced sales charge if you invest, or agree to invest over a 13-month period, at least $50,000 in Eaton Vance Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial intermediary and in Sales Charges beginning on page ^ 12 of ^ this Prospectus and page 18 of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | Class A | ^ | Class I |
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Maximum Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of offering price) | ^5.75% | None | |
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the lower of net asset value at purchase or redemption) | ^None | None | |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)^ | Class A | Class I | |
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Management Fees | 0.80% | 0.80% | |
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees | ^0.25% | n/a | |
Other Expenses (estimated) | ^0.27% | ^0.27% | |
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | ^1.32% | 1.07% | |
Expense Reimbursement (1) | ^(0.12 )% | ^(0.12 )% | |
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement | ^1.20% | 0.95% |
(1) | The investment adviser, sub-adviser and administrator have agreed to reimburse the Fund’s expenses to the extent that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses exceed ^ 1.20 % for Class A^ shares and ^ 0.95 % for Class I shares. This expense reimbursement will continue through January 31, 2013. Any amendments or a termination of this reimbursement would require written approval of the Board of Trustees. |
The expense reimbursement relates to ordinary operating expenses only and does not include expenses such as : brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest expense, taxes or litigation expenses. Amounts reimbursed may be recouped by the investment adviser, sub-adviser and administrator during the Fund’s current fiscal year to the extent actual expenses are less than the contractual expense cap during such year. |
Example . This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
2
Prospectus dated December 30, 2011
Expenses with Redemption | Expenses without Redemption | |||
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1 Year | 3 Years | 1 Year | 3 Years | |
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Class A shares | $690 | $958 | $690 | $958 |
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Class I shares | $ 97 | $328 | $ 97 | $ 328 |
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” the portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests ^ at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities (the “80% Policy”) . The Fund ^ seeks to invest in companies with a demonstrated history of earnings growth, strong cash flow and high returns on capital that management believes are attractively valued relative to earnings or cash flow per share . The Fund may invest in companies of any size. Although it invests primarily in U.S. traded securities (including depositary receipts evidencing ownership in underlying foreign stocks), the Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in foreign securities, including those trading in developed and emerging international markets. The Fund may invest in re al e s^ tate investment trusts and may lend its securities.
The Fund invests in a ^portfolio of common stocks, emphasizing investments in quality companies that management believes to be undervalued. ^ Characteristics of quality companies include a history of sustained growth in earnings and operating cash flow, high returns on capital, attractive margins, strong fixed charge coverages and leading industry positions. The investment adviser seeks to purchase stocks of companies capable of sustaining consistent earnings growth while maintaining a strong financial condition. Investments are determined based primarily on fundamental analysis of a company’s financial trends, products and services and other factors . The investment adviser may utilize “financial quality ratings” provided by nationally recognized rating services as part of its investment analysis but does not rely solely upon such ratings in making investment decisions. The investment adviser may sell a security when its fundamentals deteriorate or when it is no longer attractively valued in relation to the market as a whole or other potential investments.
Principal Risks
Equity Investing Risk . The Fund’s shares are sensitive to stock market volatility and the stocks in which the Fund invests may be more volatile than the stock market as a whole. The prices of stocks may decline in response to conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate and commodity price fluctuations, as well as issuer or sector specific events. Market conditions may affect certain types of stocks to a greater extent than other types of stocks. If the stock market declines, the value of Fund shares will also likely decline and, although stock values can rebound, there is no assurance that values will return to previous levels.
Issuer Diversification Risk . The Fund is “non-diversified” which means it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a single issuer than funds that are “diversified.” Non-diversified funds face the risk of focusing investments in a small number of issuers, making them more susceptible to risks affecting such issuers than a more diversified fund might be.
Smaller Company Equity Risk . The stocks of smaller, less seasoned companies are generally subject to greater price fluctuations, limited liquidity, higher transaction costs and higher investment risk. Smaller companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, may be dependent on a limited management group, and may lack substantial capital reserves or an established performance record. There may be generally less publicly available information about such companies than for larger, more established companies.
Foreign and Emerging Market Investment Risk. Because the Fund ^ may invest a portion of its assets in foreign instruments, the value of Fund shares can be adversely affected by changes in currency exchange rates and political, economic and market developments abroad. In emerging or less developed countries, these risks can be more significant. Investment markets in emerging market countries are typically substantially smaller, less liquid and more volatile than the major markets in developed countries. As a result, Fund share values may be more volatile than if it invested only in developed markets. Emerging market countries may have relatively unstable governments and economies. Emerging market investments often are subject to speculative trading, which typically contributes to volatility. Trading in foreign and emerging markets typically involves higher expense than trading in the United States. The Fund may have difficulties enforcing its legal or contractual rights in a foreign country. The value of investments denominated in foreign currencies can be adversely affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Depositary receipts are subject to many of the risks associated with investing in foreign securities including political, economic and market risks.
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
3
Prospectus dated December 30, 2011
Real Estate Investment Trust Risk . Real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) are subject to special risks associated with real estate. Securities of companies in the real estate industry are sensitive to factors such as changes in real estate values, property taxes, interest rates, cash flow of underlying real estate assets, occupancy rates, government regulations affecting zoning, land use, and rents, and the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer. Companies in the real estate industry may also be subject to liabilities under environmental and hazardous waste laws, among others. Changes in underlying real estate values may have an exaggerated effect to the extent that REITs concentrate investments in particular geographic regions or property types.
Securities Lending Risk . Securities lending involves possible delay in recovery of the securities or possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially. As a result, the value of Fund shares may fall and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The value of Fund shares could also fall if a loan is called and the Fund is required to liquidate reinvested collateral at a loss or if the investment adviser is unable to reinvest cash collateral at rates that exceed the costs involved.
Risks Associated with Active Management . The Fund is an actively managed portfolio and its success depends upon the investment skills and analytical abilities of the investment adviser to develop and effectively implement strategies to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Subjective decisions made by the investment adviser may cause the Fund to incur losses or to miss profit opportunities on which it may otherwise have capitalized.
General Fund Investing Risks . The Fund is not a complete investment program and you may lose money by investing in the Fund. All investments carry a certain amount of risk and there is no guarantee that the Fund will be able to achieve its investment objective. Annual Fund Operating Expenses expressed as a percentage of the Fund’s average daily net assets may change as Fund assets increase and decrease, and the Annual Fund Operating Expenses may differ in the future. Purchase and redemption activities by Fund shareholders may impact the management of the Fund and its ability to achieve its investment objective. Investors in the Fund should have a long-term investment perspective and be able to tolerate potentially sharp declines in value. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency, entity or person.
Performance
Performance history will be available for the Fund after the Fund has been in operation for one calendar year.
Management
Investment Adviser . Eaton Vance Management (“Eaton Vance”).
Investment Sub-Adviser . Atlanta Capital Management Company, LLC (“Atlanta Capital”).
Portfolio Managers
William O. Bell, IV , Vice President of Atlanta Capital, has co-managed the Fund since its inception in 2011.
W. Matthew Hereford , Vice President of Atlanta Capital, has co-managed the Fund since its inception in 2011.
Charles B. Reed , Managing Director – Equities at Atlanta Capital, has co-managed the Fund since its inception in 2011.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
You may purchase, redeem or exchange Fund shares on any business day, which is any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for ^ business. You may purchase, redeem or exchange Fund shares either through your financial intermediary or directly from the Fund either by writing to Eaton Vance Funds, P.O. Box 9653, Providence, RI 02940-9653, or by calling 1-800-262-1122. The minimum initial purchase or exchange into the Fund is $1,000 for Class A and ^$250,000 for Class I (waived in certain circumstances). There is no minimum for subsequent investments.
Tax Information
The Fund’s distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income and/or capital gains, unless you are exempt from taxation.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase Fund shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank) (collectively, “financial intermediaries”), the Fund, its principal underwriter and its affiliates may pay the financial intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the financial intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
4
Prospectus dated December 30, 2011
Investment Objectives & Principal Policies and Risks
The Fund is permitted to engage in the following investment practices to the extent set forth in “Fund ^ Summary” above. ^ ^
A statement of the investment objective and principal investment policies and risks of the Fund is set forth above in “Fund Summary 3 . Set forth below is additional information about such policies and risks of the Fund described in “Fund Summary” above. Information also is included about other types of investments and practices that the Fund may engage in from time to time.
Foreign and Emerging Market Investments. Investments in foreign issuers could be affected by factors not present in the United States, including expropriation, armed conflict, confiscatory taxation, lack of uniform accounting and auditing standards, less publicly available financial and other information, and potential difficulties in enforcing contractual obligations. Because foreign issuers may not be subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standard practices and requirements and regulatory measures comparable to those in the United States, there may be less publicly available information about such foreign issuers. Settlements of securities transactions in foreign countries are subject to risk of loss, may be delayed and are generally less frequent than in the United States, which could affect the liquidity of the Fund’s assets.
^
As an alternative to holding foreign-traded investments, the Fund may invest in dollar-denominated investments of foreign companies that trade on U.S. exchanges or in the U.S. over-the-counter market (including depositary receipts that evidence ownership in underlying foreign investments); unless otherwise stated in Fund Summary, such investments are not subject to any stated limitation on investing in foreign investments.
The foregoing risks of foreign investing can be more significant in less developed countries characterized as emerging market countries, which may offer higher potential for gains and losses than investments in the developed markets of the world. Political and economic structures in emerging market countries generally lack the social, political and economic stability of developed countries, which may affect the value of the Fund’s investments in these countries and also the ability of the Fund to access markets in such countries. Governmental actions can have a significant effect on the economic conditions in emerging market countries, which also may adversely affect the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments. The laws of emerging market countries relating to the limited liability of corporate shareholders, fiduciary duties of officers and directors, and bankruptcy of state enterprises are generally less well developed than or different from such laws in the United States. It may be more difficult to obtain a judgment in the courts of these countries than it is in the United States. Disruptions due to work stoppages and trading improprieties in foreign securities markets have caused such markets to close. If extended closings were to occur in stock markets where the Fund is heavily invested, the Fund’s ability to redeem Fund shares could become impaired. In such circumstances, the Fund may have to sell more liquid securities than it would otherwise choose to sell. Emerging market ^ securities are also subject to speculative trading, which contributes to their volatility.
Foreign Currencies. The value of foreign assets and currencies as measured in U.S. dollars may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in foreign currency rates and exchange control regulations, application of foreign tax laws (including withholding tax), governmental administration of economic or monetary policies (in this country or abroad), and relations between nations and trading. Foreign currencies also are subject to settlement, custodial and other operational risks. Currency exchange rates can be affected unpredictably by intervention by U.S. or foreign governments or central banks, or the failure to intervene, or by currency controls or political developments in the United States or abroad. Costs are incurred in connection with conversions between currencies. The Fund may engage in spot transactions and forward foreign currency exchange contracts, purchase and sell options on currencies and purchase and sell currency futures contracts and related options thereon (collectively, “Currency Instruments”) to seek to hedge against the decline in the value of currencies in which its portfolio holdings are denominated against the U.S. dollar. Use of Currency Instruments may involve substantial currency risk and may also involve counterparty, leverage or liquidity risk.
Derivatives. The Fund may enter into derivatives transactions with respect to any security or other instrument in which it is permitted to invest or any related security, instrument, index or economic indicator (“reference instruments”)^ . The Fund may engage in derivative transactions to seek return, to hedge against fluctuations in securities prices, interest rates or currency exchange rates, or as a substitute for the purchase or sale of securities or currencies. Derivatives are financial instruments the value of which is derived from the underlying reference instrument. Derivatives transactions can involve substantial risk. Derivatives typically allow the Fund to increase or decrease the level of risk to which the Fund is exposed more quickly and efficiently than transactions in other types of instruments. The Fund incurs costs in connection with opening and closing derivatives positions. The Fund may engage in the derivative transactions set forth below, as well as in other derivative transactions with substantially similar characteristics and risks.
Certain derivative transactions may give rise to a form of leverage. The Fund is required to segregate liquid assets or otherwise cover the Fund’s obligation created by a transaction that may give rise to leverage. The use of leverage may cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it may not be advantageous to do so to satisfy its obligations or to meet segregation requirements. Leverage may cause the Fund to be more volatile than if it had not been leveraged, as certain types of leverage may exaggerate the effect of any increase or decrease in the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities. The loss on leverage transactions may substantially exceed the initial investment.
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
5
Prospectus dated December 30, 2011
The use of derivatives can lead to losses because of adverse movements in the price or value of the asset, index, rate or instrument underlying a derivative, due to failure of a counterparty or due to tax or regulatory constraints. Derivatives risks may be more significant when derivatives are used to enhance return or as a substitute for a cash investment position, rather than solely to hedge the risk of a position held by the Fund. When derivatives are used to gain or limit exposure to a particular market or market segment, their performance may not correlate as expected to the performance of such market thereby causing the Fund to fail to achieve its original purpose for using such derivatives. A decision as to whether, when and how to use derivatives involves the exercise of specialized skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived transaction may be unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected events. Derivative instruments may be difficult to value, may be illiquid, and may be subject to wide swings in valuation caused by changes in the value of the underlying instrument. The loss on derivative transactions may substantially exceed the initial investment.
Options on Securities, Indices and Currencies . The Fund may engage in transactions in exchange-traded and over-the-counter (“OTC”) options. There are several risks associated with transactions in options such as imperfect correlation, counterparty risk and an insufficient liquid secondary market for particular options. By buying a put option, the Fund acquires a right to sell the underlying instrument at the exercise price, thus limiting the Fund’s risk of loss through a decline in the market value of the instrument until the put option expires. The Fund will pay a premium to the seller of the option for the right to receive payments of cash to the extent that the value of the applicable instrument declines below the exercise price as of the option valuation date. If the price of the instrument is above the exercise price of the option as of the option valuation date, the option expires worthless and the Fund will not be able to recover the option premium paid to the seller. The Fund may purchase uncovered put options. The Fund also has authority to write ( i.e., sell) put options. The Fund will receive a premium for writing a put option, which increases the Fund’s return. In writing a put option, the Fund has the obligation to buy the underlying instrument at an agreed upon price if the price of such instrument decreases below the exercise price. If the value of the instrument on the option expiration date is above the exercise price, the option will generally expire worthless and the Fund, as option seller, will have no obligation to the option holder.
A purchased call option gives the Fund the right to buy, and obligates the seller to sell, the underlying instrument at the exercise price at any time during the option period. The Fund also is authorized to write ( i.e., sell) call options on instruments in which it may invest and to enter into closing purchase transactions with respect to such options. A covered call option is an option in which the Fund, in return for a premium, gives another party a right to buy specified instruments owned by the Fund at a specified future date and price set at the time of the contract. The Fund’s ability to sell the instrument underlying a call option may be limited while the option is in effect unless the Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction. Uncovered calls have speculative characteristics and are riskier than covered calls because there is no underlying instrument held by the Fund that can act as a partial hedge. As the writer of a covered call option or an index call option, the Fund forgoes, during the option’s life, the opportunity to profit from increases in the market value of the security or the index covering the call option above the sum of the option premium received and the exercise price of the call, but has retained the risk of loss, minus the option premium received, should the price of the underlying security or index decline.
OTC options involve risk that the issuer or counterparty will fail to perform its contractual obligations. Participants in these markets are typically not subject to the same credit evaluation and regulatory oversight as are members of “exchange-based” markets. By engaging in option transactions in these markets, the Fund may take a credit risk with regard to parties with which it trades and also may bear the risk of settlement default.
Covered Calls and Equity Collars . While the Fund generally will write only covered call options, it may sell the instrument underlying a call option prior to entering into a closing purchase transaction on up to 5% of the Fund’s net assets, provided that such sale will not occur more than three days prior to the option buy back. In an equity collar, the Fund simultaneously writes a call option and purchases a put option on the same instrument.
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Futures Contracts . The Fund may engage in transactions in futures contracts and options on futures contracts. Futures are standardized, exchange-traded contracts that obligate a purchaser to take delivery, and a seller to make delivery, of a specific amount of an asset at a specified future date at a specified price. The Fund also is authorized to purchase or sell call and put options on futures contracts. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts and options are imperfect correlation, liquidity, unanticipated market movement and counterparty risk.
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts . Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are individually negotiated and privately traded so they are dependent upon the creditworthiness of the counterparty. They are subject to the risk of political and economic factors applicable to the countries issuing the underlying currencies. Furthermore, unlike trading in most other types of instruments, there is no systematic reporting of last sale information with respect to the foreign currencies underlying forwards. As a result, available information may not be complete.
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
6
Prospectus dated December 30, 2011
Equity Swaps . Equity swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with another party of their respective returns as calculated on a notional amount of an equity index (such as the S&P 500 Index), basket of equity securities, or individual equity security. The success of swap agreements is dependent on the investment adviser’s ability to predict correctly whether certain types of investments are likely to produce greater returns than other investments. Other risks include liquidity and counterparty risk. |
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Short Sales . The Fund may engage in covered short sales ^ (on individual securities held or on an index or basket of securities whose constituents are held in whole or in part or for which liquid assets have been segregated) . A short sale on an individual security typically involves the sale of a security that is borrowed from a broker or other institution to complete the sale. Short sales expose the seller to the risk that it will be required to acquire securities to replace the borrowed securities (also known as " covering " the short position) at a time when the securities sold short have appreciated in value, thus resulting in a loss. When making a short sale, the Fund must segregate liquid assets equal to (or otherwise cover) its obligations under the short sale. The seller of a short position generally realizes a profit on the transaction if the price it receives on the short sale exceeds the cost of closing out the position by purchasing securities in the market, but generally realizes a loss if the cost of closing out the short position exceeds the proceeds of the short sale.
Smaller Companies . Securities of smaller, less seasoned companies, which may include legally restricted securities, are generally subject to greater price fluctuations, limited liquidity, higher transaction costs and higher investment risk. Because of the absence of any public trading market for some of these investments (such as those which are legally restricted) it may take longer to liquidate these positions at fair value than would be the case for publicly traded securities.
Illiquid Securities . The Fund may not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, which may be difficult to value properly and may involve greater risks than liquid securities. Illiquid securities include those legally restricted as to resale (such as those issued in private placements), and may include commercial paper issued pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and securities eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A thereunder. Certain ^ Section 4(2) and Rule 144A securities may be treated as liquid securities if the investment adviser determines that such treatment is warranted. Even if determined to be liquid, holdings of these securities may increase the level of Fund illiquidity if eligible buyers become uninterested in purchasing them.
Borrowing . The Fund is authorized to borrow in accordance with applicable regulations, but currently intends to borrow only for temporary purposes (such as to satisfy redemption requests, to remain fully invested in anticipation of expected cash inflows and to settle transactions). The Fund will not purchase additional investment securities while outstanding borrowings exceed 5% of the value of its total assets.
Securities Lending . The Fund may seek to earn income by lending portfolio securities to broker-dealers or other institutional borrowers. As with other extensions of credit, there are risks of delay in recovery or even loss of rights in the securities loaned if the borrower of the securities fails financially. Loans will only be made to firms that have been approved by the investment adviser and the investment adviser or the securities lending agent will periodically monitor the financial condition of such organizations while any loans are outstanding. In addition, loans will only be made when the investment adviser believes the expected returns, net of expenses, justify the attendant risk. Securities loans currently are required to be secured continuously by collateral in cash, cash equivalents (such as money market instruments) or other liquid securities held by the custodian and maintained in an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. The Fund may lend up to one-third of the value of its total assets (including borrowings) or such other amount as is permitted under relevant law.
Cash and Cash Equivalents . The Fund may invest in cash or cash equivalents, including high quality short-term instruments or an affiliated investment company that invests in such instruments.
General . Unless otherwise stated, the Fund’s investment objective and certain other policies may be changed without shareholder approval. During unusual market conditions, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in cash or cash equivalents temporarily, which may be inconsistent with its investment objective(s) and other policies. The Fund might not use all of the strategies and techniques or invest in all of the types of securities described in this Prospectus or the Statement of Additional Information. While at times the Fund may use alternative investment strategies in an effort to limit its losses, it may choose not to do so.
The Fund’s 80% Policy will not be changed unless shareholders are given at least 60 days’ advance written notice of the change and, for the purpose of such policy, net assets include any assets purchased with borrowings for investment purposes.
The Fund’s investment policies include a provision allowing the Fund to invest (i) all of its investable assets in an open-end management investment company with substantially the same investment objective, policies and restrictions as the Fund; or (ii) in more than one open-end management investment company sponsored by Eaton Vance or its affiliates, provided any such companies have investment objectives, policies and restrictions that are consistent with those of the Fund. Any such company or companies would be advised by the Fund’s investment adviser (or an affiliate) and the Fund would not pay directly any advisory fee with respect to the assets so invested. The Fund may initiate investments in one or more such investment companies at any time without shareholder approval.
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
7
Prospectus dated December 30, 2011
Management and Organization
Management . The Fund’s investment adviser is Eaton Vance Management (“Eaton Vance”), with offices at Two International Place Boston, MA 02110. Eaton Vance has been managing assets since 1924 and managing mutual funds since 1931. Eaton Vance and its affiliates currently manage ^ over $185 billion on behalf of mutual funds, institutional clients and individuals.
Pursuant to an investment sub-advisory agreement, Eaton Vance has delegated the investment management of the Fund to Atlanta Capital Management Company, LLC (“Atlanta Capital”), with offices at 1075 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 2100, Atlanta, GA 30309. Atlanta Capital is a majority–owned affiliate of Eaton Vance Corp. Eaton Vance pays Atlanta Capital a portion of the advisory fee for sub-advisory services provided to the Fund.
Eaton Vance serves as investment adviser and provides administrative services and related office facilities. Under its investment advisory and administrative agreement, Eaton Vance receives a monthly fee as follows:
Annual Fee Rate | |
Average Daily Net Assets for the Month | (for each level) |
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up to $500 million | 0.800% |
$500 million but less than $1 billion | 0.775% |
$1 billion but less than $2.5 billion | 0.750% |
$2.5 billion but less than $5 billion | 0.730% |
$5 billion and over | 0.715% |
William O. Bell, IV, W. Matthew Hereford and Charles B. Reed comprise the management team for the Fund. Mr. Bell and Mr. Hereford, Vice Presidents of Atlanta Capital, and Mr. Reed, a Managing Director – Equities at Atlanta Capital, have managed the Fund since its inception in 2011. All have been employed by Atlanta Capital for more than five years.
The Fund’s semiannual shareholder report will provide information regarding the basis for the Trustees’ approval of the Fund’s investment advisory and administrative agreement and the investment sub-advisory agreement.
The Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about each portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by each portfolio manager, and each portfolio manager’s ownership of Fund shares.
Eaton Vance also serves as the sub-transfer agent for the Fund. For the sub-transfer agency services it provides, Eaton Vance receives an aggregate fee based upon the actual expenses it incurs for its sub-transfer agency services. This fee is paid to Eaton Vance by the Fund’s transfer agent from the fees the transfer agent receives from the Eaton Vance funds.
Organization . The Fund is a series of Eaton Vance Growth Trust, a Massachusetts business trust. The Fund offers multiple classes of shares. Each Class represents a pro rata interest in the Fund but is subject to different expenses and rights. The Fund does not hold annual shareholder meetings but may hold special meetings for matters that require shareholder approval (such as electing or removing trustees, approving management or advisory contracts or changing investment policies that may only be changed with shareholder approval).
Related Performance Information
The Fund has substantially the same investment objective, policies and strategies as an existing account that is managed by Atlanta Capital. Listed below is “composite performance” for Atlanta Capital with regard to this similarly managed account. The managed account included in the composite is not a mutual fund registered under the 1940 Act, and therefore not subject to investment limitations, diversification requirements and other restrictions imposed by the 1940 Act and the Internal Revenue Code. If such requirements were applicable to the managed account, the performance shown may have been lower.
This composite data is provided to illustrate the past performance of Atlanta Capital in managing the strategy employed by the Fund and should not be considered as an indication of future performance of the Fund or Atlanta Capital. The performance figures shown below reflect the deduction of the highest fee on the current standard institutional fee schedule for the investment style. The fees and expenses of the Fund are higher than those of ^ an institutional account. If the managed account had been subject to the same fees and expenses as the Fund, the performance shown for the composite would have been lower. The performance figures were calculated in accordance with the industry standards for preparing and presenting investment adviser performance. This methodology differs from the Securities and Exchange Commission’s standardized method that the Fund will use to calculate its own performance.
The performance of the composite is shown in the table below for the stated periods ended September 30, 2011. Also shown is the performance of a broad-based securities index used as the composite’s benchmark.
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
8
Prospectus dated December 30, 2011
Average Annual Total Return | 1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | Since Inception* | |
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^ | |||||
High Quality Opportunistic Composite | 6.19% | 3.21% | 2.58% | 2.58% | |
Russell 1000 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | 0.91% | 1.61% | -0.91% | -0.91% |
* | Inception date for the Composite was ^ October 1, 2006 . Assets in the composite as of September 30, 2011 ^ were approximately $1.3 million. Investors cannot invest directly in an Index. |
Valuing Shares
The Fund values its shares once each day only when the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”) is open for trading (typically Monday through Friday), as of the close of regular trading on the Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m. eastern time). The purchase price of Fund shares is their net asset ^ value (plus a sales charge for Class A shares), which is derived from the value of Fund holdings . When purchasing or redeeming Fund shares through a financial intermediary, your financial intermediary must receive your order by the close of the Exchange in order for the purchase price or the redemption price to be based on that day’s net asset value per share. It is the financial intermediary’s responsibility to transmit orders promptly. The Fund may accept purchase and redemption orders as of the time of their receipt by certain financial intermediaries (or their designated intermediaries).
The Trustees have adopted procedures for valuing investments and have delegated to the investment adviser the daily valuation of such investments. The investment adviser has delegated daily valuation of the Fund to the sub-adviser. Pursuant to the procedures, exchange-listed securities normally are valued at closing sale prices. The ^ investment adviser or sub-adviser may use the fair value of a security if market prices are unavailable or deemed unreliable , or if events occur after the close of a securities market (usually a foreign market) and before the Fund values its assets that would materially affect net asset value. In addition, for foreign equity securities that meet certain criteria, the Trustees have approved the use of a fair value service that values such securities to reflect market trading that occurs after the close of the applicable foreign markets of comparable securities or other instruments that have a strong correlation to the fair-valued securities. A security that is fair valued may be valued at a price higher or lower than actual market quotations or the value determined by other funds using their own fair valuation procedures. Because foreign securities trade on days when Fund shares are not priced, the value of securities held by the Fund can change on days when Fund shares cannot be redeemed. The investment adviser and sub-advis e r e xpect^ to fair value domestic securities in limited circumstances, such as when the securities are subject to restrictions on resale. Eaton Vance has established a Valuation Committee that oversees the valuation of investments.
Purchasing Shares
You may purchase shares through your financial intermediary or by mailing an account application form to the transfer agent (see back cover for address). Purchase orders will be executed at the net asset value (plus any applicable sales charge) next determined after their receipt in proper form (meaning that they are complete and contain all necessary information) by the Fund’s transfer agent. The Fund’s transfer agent or your financial intermediary must receive your purchase in proper form no later than the close of regular trading on the Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m. eastern time) for your purchase to be effected at that day’s net asset value. If you purchase shares through a financial intermediary, that intermediary may charge you a fee for executing the purchase for you. The Fund may suspend the sale of its shares at any time and any purchase order may be refused for any reason. The Fund does not issue share certificates.^
Class A Shares^
Your initial investment must be at least $1,000. After your initial investment, additional investments may be made in any amount at any time by sending a check payable to the order of the Fund or the transfer agent directly to the transfer agent (see back cover for address). Please include your name and account number and the name of the Fund and Class of shares with each investment. You also may make additional investments by accessing your account via the Eaton Vance website at www.eatonvance.com. Purchases made through the Internet from a pre-designated bank account will have a trade date that is the first business day after the purchase is requested. For more information about purchasing shares through the Internet, please call 1-800-262-1122.
You may make automatic investments of $50 or more each month or each quarter from your bank account. You can establish bank automated investing on the account application or by providing written instructions. Please call 1-800-262-1122 Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (eastern time) for further information. The minimum initial investment amount and Fund policy of redeeming accounts with low account balances are waived for bank automated investing ^ accounts (other than for Class I) , certain group purchase plans (including tax-deferred retirement and other pension plans and proprietary fee-based programs sponsored by financial intermediaries) and for persons affiliated with Eaton Vance, its affiliates and certain Fund service providers (as described in the Statement of Additional Information).
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
9
Prospectus dated December 30, 2011
Class I Shares
Class I shares are offered to clients of financial intermediaries who (i) charge such clients an ongoing fee for advisory, investment, consulting or similar services, or (ii) have entered into an agreement with the principal underwriter to offer Class I shares through a no-load network or platform. Such clients may include individuals, corporations, endowments, foundations and qualified plans (including tax-deferred retirement plans and profit sharing plans). Class I shares also are offered to investment and institutional clients of Eaton Vance and its affiliates and certain persons affiliated with Eaton Vance and certain Fund service providers. Your initial investment must be at least $250,000. Subsequent investments of any amount may be made at any time, including through automatic investment each month or quarter from your bank account. You may make automatic investments of $50 or more each month or each quarter from your bank account. You can establish bank automated investing on the account application or by providing written instructions. Please call 1-800-262-1122 Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (eastern time) for further information.
The minimum initial investment is waived for persons affiliated with Eaton Vance, its affiliates and certain Fund service providers (as described in the Statement of Additional Information). The initial minimum investment also is waived for individual accounts of a financial intermediary that charges an ongoing fee for its services or offers Class I shares through a no-load network or platform (in each case, as described above), provided the aggregate value of such accounts invested in Class I shares is at least $250,000 (or is anticipated by the principal underwriter to reach $250,000) and for corporations, endowments, foundations and qualified plans with assets of at least $100 million.
Class I shares may be purchased through a financial intermediary or by requesting your bank to transmit immediately available funds (Federal Funds) by wire. To make an initial investment by wire, you must complete an account application and telephone the Shareholder Services Department at 1-800-262-1122 to be assigned an account number. You may request an account application by calling 1-800-262-1122 Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (eastern time). The Shareholder Services Department must be advised by telephone of each additional investment by wire.
Restrictions on Excessive Trading and Market Timing . The Fund is not intended for excessive trading or market timing. Market timers seek to profit by rapidly switching money into a fund when they expect the share price of the fund to rise and taking money out of the fund when they expect those prices to fall. By realizing profits through short-term trading, shareholders that engage in rapid purchases and sales or exchanges of a fund’s shares may dilute the value of shares held by long-term shareholders. Volatility resulting from excessive purchases and sales or exchanges of fund shares, especially involving large dollar amounts, may disrupt efficient portfolio management. In particular, excessive purchases and sales or exchanges of a fund’s shares may cause a fund to have difficulty implementing its investment strategies, may force the fund to sell portfolio securities at inopportune times to raise cash or may cause increased expenses (such as increased brokerage costs, realization of taxable capital gains without attaining any investment advantage or increased administrative costs).
A fund that invests all or a portion of its assets in foreign securities may be susceptible to a time zone arbitrage strategy in which shareholders attempt to take advantage of fund share prices that may not reflect developments in a foreign securities market that occur after the close of such market but prior to the pricing of fund shares. In addition, a fund that invests in securities that are, among other things, thinly traded, traded infrequently or relatively illiquid (including ^ restricted securities and certain small- and mid-cap companies ) is susceptible to the risk that the current market price for such securities may not accurately reflect current market values. A shareholder may seek to engage in short-term trading to take advantage of these pricing differences (commonly referred to as “price arbitrage”). The ^ investment adviser and sub-adviser are authorized to use the fair value of a security if prices are unavailable or are deemed unreliable (see “Valuing Shares”). The use of fair value pricing and the restrictions on excessive trading and market timing described below are intended to reduce a shareholder’s ability to engage in price or time zone arbitrage to the detriment of the Fund.
The Boards of Trustees of the Eaton Vance funds have adopted policies to discourage short-term trading and market timing and to seek to minimize their potentially detrimental effects. Pursuant to these policies, if an investor (through one or more accounts) makes more than one round-trip (being a purchase, including an exchange purchase, followed or preceded by a redemption, including an exchange redemption, followed or preceded by a purchase, including an exchange purchase) within 90 days, it generally will be deemed to constitute market timing or excessive trading. Under the policies, the Fund or its principal underwriter will reject or cancel a purchase order, suspend or terminate the exchange privilege or terminate the ability of an investor to invest in the Eaton Vance funds if the Fund or the principal underwriter determines that a proposed transaction involves market timing or excessive trading that it believes is likely to be detrimental to the Fund. The Fund and its principal underwriter use reasonable efforts to detect market timing and excessive trading activity, but they cannot ensure that they will be able to identify all cases of market timing and excessive trading. The Fund or its principal underwriter may also reject or cancel any purchase order (including an exchange) from an investor or group of investors for any other reason. Decisions to reject or cancel purchase orders (including exchanges) in the Fund are inherently subjective and will be made in a manner believed to be in the best interest of a Fund’s shareholders. No Eaton Vance fund has any arrangement to permit market timing.
The following fund share transactions generally are exempt from the market timing and excessive trading policy described above because the Fund and the principal underwriter believe they generally do not raise market timing or excessive trading concerns:
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
10
Prospectus dated December 30, 2011
· |
transactions made pursuant to a systematic purchase plan or as the result of automatic reinvestment of dividends or distributions, or initiated by the Fund ( e.g., for failure to meet applicable account minimums); |
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transactions made by participants in employer sponsored retirement plans involving participant payroll or employer contributions or loan repayments, redemptions as part of plan terminations or at the direction of the plan, mandatory retirement distributions, or rollovers; |
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transactions made by model-based discretionary advisory accounts; |
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transactions made by an Eaton Vance fund that is structured as a “fund-of-funds”, provided the transactions are in response to fund inflows and outflows or are part of a reallocation of fund assets in accordance with its investment policies; or |
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transactions in shares of Eaton Vance U.S. Government Money Market Fund. |
It may be difficult for the Fund or the principal underwriter to identify market timing or excessive trading in omnibus accounts traded through financial intermediaries. The Fund and the principal underwriter have provided guidance to financial intermediaries (such as banks, broker-dealers, insurance companies and retirement administrators) concerning the application of the Eaton Vance funds’ market timing and excessive trading policies to Fund shares held in omnibus accounts maintained and administered by such intermediaries, including guidance concerning situations where market timing or excessive trading is considered to be detrimental to the Fund. The Fund or its principal underwriter may rely on a financial intermediary’s policy to restrict market timing and excessive trading if it believes that policy is likely to prevent market timing that is likely to be detrimental to the Fund. Such policy may be more or less restrictive than the Fund’s policy. Although the Fund or the principal underwriter reviews trading activity at the omnibus account level for activity that indicates potential market timing or excessive trading activity, the Fund and the principal underwriter typically will not request or receive individual account data unless suspicious trading activity is identified. The Fund and the principal underwriter generally rely on financial intermediaries to monitor trading activity in omnibus accounts in good faith in accordance with their own or Fund policies. The Fund and the principal underwriter cannot ensure that these financial intermediaries will in all cases apply the policies of the Fund or their own policies, as the case may be, to accounts under their control.
Choosing a Share Class . The Fund offers different classes of shares. The different classes of shares represent investments in the same portfolio of securities, but the classes are subject to different sales charges and expenses and will likely have different share prices due to differences in class expenses. In choosing the class of shares that suits your investment needs, you should consider:
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how long you expect to own your shares; |
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how much you intend to invest; |
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the sales charge and total operating expenses associated with owning each class; and |
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whether you qualify for a reduction or waiver of any applicable sales charges (see “Reducing or Eliminating Class A Sales Charges” under “Sales Charges” below). |
Each investor’s considerations are different. You should speak with your financial intermediary to help you decide which class of shares is best for you. Set forth below is a brief description of each class of shares offered by the Fund.
Class A shares are offered at net asset value plus a front-end sales charge of up to 5.75%. This charge is deducted from the amount you invest. The Class A sales charge is reduced for purchases of $50,000 or more. The sales charge applicable to your purchase may be reduced under the right of accumulation or a statement of intention, which are described in “Reducing or Eliminating Class A Sales Charges” under “Sales Charges” below. Some investors may be eligible to purchase Class A shares at net asset value under certain circumstances, which are also described below. Class A shares pay distribution and service fees equal to 0.25% annually of average daily net assets.^
^
Class I shares are offered to clients of financial intermediaries who (i) charge such clients an ongoing fee for advisory, investment, consulting or similar services, or (ii) have entered into an agreement with the principal underwriter to offer Class I shares through a no-load network or platform. Such clients may include individuals, corporations, endowments, foundations and qualified plans (as described above). Class I shares are also offered to investment and institutional clients of Eaton Vance and its affiliates and certain persons affiliated with Eaton Vance and certain Fund service providers. Class I shares do not pay distribution or service fees.
Payments to Financial Intermediaries . ^ In addition to payments disclosed under “Sales Charges” below, the principal underwriter, out of its own resources, may make cash payments to certain financial intermediaries who provide marketing support, transaction processing and/or administrative services and, in some cases, include some or all Eaton Vance funds in preferred or specialized selling programs. Payments made by the principal underwriter to a financial intermediary may be significant and are typically in the form of fees based on Fund sales, assets, transactions processed and/or accounts attributable to that financial intermediary.
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
11
Prospectus dated December 30, 2011
Financial intermediaries also may receive amounts from the principal underwriter in connection with educational or due diligence meetings that include information concerning Eaton Vance funds. The principal underwriter may pay or allow other promotional incentives or payments to financial intermediaries to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations.
Certain financial intermediaries that maintain fund accounts for the benefit of their customers provide sub-accounting, recordkeeping and/or administrative services to the Eaton Vance funds and are compensated for such services by the funds. As used in this Prospectus, the term “financial intermediary” includes any broker, dealer, bank (including bank trust departments), registered investment adviser, financial planner, a retirement plan and/or its administrator, their designated intermediaries and any other firm having a selling, administration or similar agreement with the principal underwriter or its affiliates.
Sales Charges
Class A Front-End Sales Charge . Class A shares are offered at net asset value per share plus a sales charge that is determined by the amount of your investment. The current sales charge schedule is:
Sales Charge* | Sales Charge* | Dealer Commission | |
as Percentage of | as Percentage of Net | as a Percentage of | |
Amount of Purchase | Offering Price | Amount Invested | Offering Price |
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Less than $50,000 | 5.75% | 6.10% | 5.00% |
$50,000 but less than $100,000 | 4.75% | 4.99% | 4.00% |
$100,000 but less than $250,000 | 3.75% | 3.90% | 3.00% |
$250,000 but less than $500,000 | 3.00% | 3.09% | 2.50% |
$500,000 but less than $1,000,000 | 2.00% | 2.04% | 1.75% |
$1,000,000 or more | 0.00** | 0.00** | 1.00% |
* | Because the offering price per share is rounded to two decimal places, the actual sales charge you pay on a purchase of Class A shares may be more or less than your total purchase amount multiplied by the applicable sales charge percentage. |
** | No sales charge is payable at the time of purchase on investments of $1 million or more. A CDSC of 1.00% will be imposed on such investments (as described below) in the event of redemptions within 18 months of purchase. |
The principal underwriter may also pay commissions of up to 1.00% on sales of Class A shares made at net asset value to certain tax-deferred retirement plans.
Reducing or Eliminating Class A Sales Charges . Front-end sales charges on purchases of Class A shares may be reduced under the right of accumulation or under a statement of intention. To receive a reduced sales charge, you must inform your financial intermediary or the Fund at the time you purchase shares that you qualify for such a reduction. If you do not let your financial intermediary or the Fund know you are eligible for a reduced sales charge at the time of purchase, you will not receive the discount to which you may otherwise be entitled.
Right of Accumulation . Under the right of accumulation, the sales charge you pay is reduced if the current market value of your holdings in the Fund or any other Eaton Vance fund (based on the current maximum public offering price) plus your new purchase total $50,000 or more. Class A shares of Eaton Vance U.S. Government Money Market Fund cannot be included under the right of accumulation. Shares owned by you, your spouse and children under age twenty-one may be combined for purposes of the right of accumulation, including shares held for the benefit of any of you in omnibus or “street name” accounts. In addition, shares held in a trust or fiduciary account of which any of the foregoing persons is the sole beneficiary (including retirement accounts) may be combined for purposes of the right of accumulation. Shares purchased and/or owned in a SEP, SARSEP and SIMPLE IRA plan also may be combined for purposes of the right of accumulation for the plan and its participants. You may be required to provide documentation to establish your ownership of shares included under the right of accumulation (such as account statements for you, your spouse and children or marriage certificates, birth certificates and/or trust or other fiduciary-related documents).
Statement of Intention . Under a statement of intention, purchases of $50,000 or more made over a 13-month period are eligible for reduced sales charges. Shares eligible under the right of accumulation (other than those included in employer-sponsored retirement plans) may be included to satisfy the amount to be purchased under a statement of intention. Under a statement of intention, the principal underwriter may hold 5% of the dollar amount to be purchased in escrow in the form of shares registered in your name until you satisfy the statement or the 13-month period expires. A statement of intention does not obligate you to purchase (or the Fund to sell) the full amount indicated in the statement.
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
12
Prospectus dated December 30, 2011
Class A shares are offered at net asset value (without a sales charge) to clients of financial intermediaries who (i) charge an ongoing fee for advisory, investment, consulting or similar services, or (ii) have entered into an agreement with the principal underwriter to offer Class A shares through a no-load network or platform. Such clients may include individuals, corporations, endowments, foundations and pension plans (including tax-deferred retirement plans and profit sharing plans). Class A shares also are offered at net asset value to investment and institutional clients of Eaton Vance and its affiliates; certain persons affiliated with Eaton Vance; and to certain fund service providers as described in the Statement of Additional Information. Class A shares may also be purchased at net asset value pursuant to the reinvestment privilege and exchange privilege and when distributions are reinvested. See “Shareholder Account Features” for details.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge .^ Class A shares purchased at net asset value in amounts of $1 million or more are subject to a 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) if redeemed within 18 months of purchase. The CDSC is based on the lower of the net asset value at the time of purchase or the time of redemption. Shares acquired through the reinvestment of distributions are exempt from the CDSC. Redemptions are made first from shares which are not subject to a CDSC.
CDSC Waivers . CDSCs are waived for certain redemptions pursuant to a Withdrawal Plan (see “Shareholder Account Features”). The CDSC is also waived following the death of a beneficial owner of shares (a death certificate and other applicable documents may be required).
Distribution and Service Fees . Class A shares have in effect a plan under Rule 12b-1 that allows the Fund to pay distribution fees for the sale and distribution of shares (so-called “12b-1 fees”) and service fees for personal and/or shareholder account services. Class A shares pay distribution and service fees equal to 0.25% of average daily net assets annually. After the sale of shares, the principal underwriter receives the distribution and service fees for one year and thereafter financial intermediaries generally receive them based on the value of shares sold by such dealers for shareholder servicing performed by such financial intermediaries. Distribution and service fees are subject to the limitations contained in the sales charge rule of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
More information about sales charges is available free of charge on the Eaton Vance website at www.eatonvance.com and in the Statement of Additional Information. Please consult the Eaton Vance website for any updates to sales charge information before making a purchase of Fund shares.
Redeeming Shares
You can redeem shares in any of the following ways:
By Mail |
Send your request to the transfer agent along with any certificates and stock powers. The request must be signed exactly as your account is registered (for instance, a joint account must be signed by all registered owners to be accepted) and a Medallion signature guarantee may be required. You can obtain a Medallion signature guarantee at banks, savings and loan institutions, credit unions, securities dealers, securities exchanges, clearing agencies and registered securities associations that participate in The Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program, Inc. (STAMP, Inc.). Only Medallion signature guarantees issued in accordance with STAMP, Inc. will be accepted. You may be asked to provide additional documents if your shares are registered in the name of a corporation, partnership or fiduciary. |
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By Telephone |
Certain shareholders can redeem by calling 1-800-262-1122 Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (eastern time). Proceeds of a telephone redemption are generally limited to $100,000 per account (which may include shares of one or more Eaton Vance funds) and can be sent only to the account address or to a bank pursuant to prior instructions. |
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By Internet |
Certain shareholders can redeem by logging on to the Eaton Vance website at www.eatonvance.com. Proceeds of internet redemptions are generally limited to $100,000 per account (which may include shares of one or more Eaton Vance funds) and can be sent only to the account address or to a bank pursuant to prior instructions. |
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For Additional Information |
Please call 1-800-262-1122 Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (eastern time). |
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Through a Financial Intermediary |
Your financial intermediary is responsible for transmitting the order promptly. A financial intermediary may charge a fee for this service. |
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
13
Prospectus dated December 30, 2011
If you redeem shares, your redemption price will be based on the net asset value per share next computed after the redemption request is received in proper form (meaning that it is complete and contains all necessary information) by the Fund’s transfer agent or your financial intermediary. Your redemption proceeds normally will be paid in cash within seven days, reduced by the amount of any applicable CDSC and any federal income and state tax required to be withheld. Payments will be sent by regular mail. However, if you have given complete written authorization in advance, you may request that the redemption proceeds be wired directly to your bank account. The bank designated may be any bank in the United States. The request may be made by calling 1-800-262-1122 or by sending a Medallion signature guaranteed letter of instruction to the transfer agent (see back cover for address). Certain redemption requests including those involving shares held by certain corporations, trusts or certain other entities and shares that are subject to certain fiduciary arrangements may require additional documentation and may be redeemed only by mail. You may be required to pay the costs of such transaction by the Fund or your bank. No costs are currently charged by the Fund. However, charges may apply for expedited mail delivery services. The Fund may suspend or terminate the expedited payment procedure upon at least 30 days’ notice.
If you recently purchased shares, the proceeds of a redemption will not be sent until the purchase check (including a certified or cashier’s check) has cleared. If the purchase check has not cleared, redemption proceeds may be delayed up to 15 days from the purchase date. If your account value falls below $750 (other than due to market decline), you may be asked either to add to your account or redeem it within 60 days. If you take no action, your account will be redeemed and the proceeds sent to you.
While redemption proceeds are normally paid in cash, redemptions may be paid by distributing marketable securities. If you receive securities, you could incur brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash.
Shareholder Account Features
Distributions . You may have your Fund distributions paid in one of the following ways:
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Full Reinvest Option |
Distributions are reinvested in additional shares. This option will be assigned if you do not specify an option. |
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Partial Reinvest Option |
Dividends are paid in cash and capital gains are reinvested in additional shares. |
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Cash Option |
Distributions are paid in cash. |
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Exchange Option |
Distributions are reinvested in additional shares of any class of another Eaton Vance fund chosen by you, subject to the terms of that fund’s prospectus. Before selecting this option, you must obtain a prospectus of the other fund and consider its objectives, risks, and charges and expenses carefully. |
Information about the Fund . From time to time, you may receive the following:
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Semiannual and annual reports containing a list of portfolio holdings as of the end of the second and fourth fiscal quarters, respectively, performance information and financial statements. |
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Periodic account statements, showing recent activity and total share balance. |
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Tax information needed to prepare your income tax returns. |
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Proxy materials, in the event a shareholder vote is required. |
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Special notices about significant events affecting your Fund. |
Most fund information (including semiannual and annual reports, prospectuses and proxy statements) as well as your periodic account statements can be delivered electronically. For more information please go to www.eatonvance.com/edelivery.
The Eaton Vance funds have established policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of portfolio holdings and other information concerning Fund characteristics. A description of these policies and procedures is provided below and additionally in the Statement of Additional Information. Such policies and procedures regarding disclosure of portfolio holdings are designed to prevent the misuse of material, non-public information about the funds.
The Fund will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) a list of its portfolio holdings as of the end of the first and third fiscal quarters on Form N-Q. The Fund’s annual and semiannual reports (as filed on Form N-CSR) and each Form N-Q may be viewed on the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). The most recent fiscal quarter end holdings may also be viewed on the Eaton Vance website (www.eatonvance.com). Portfolio holdings information that is filed with the SEC is posted on the Eaton Vance website approximately 60 days after the end of the quarter to which it relates. Portfolio holdings information as of each month end is posted to the website approximately one month after such month end. The Fund also posts information about certain portfolio characteristics (such as top ten holdings and asset allocation) at least quarterly on the Eaton Vance website approximately ten business days after the period end and the Fund may also post performance attribution as of a month end or more frequently if deemed appropriate.
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
14
Prospectus dated December 30, 2011
Withdrawal Plan . You may redeem shares on a regular periodic basis by establishing a systematic withdrawal plan. Withdrawals will not be subject to any applicable CDSC if they are, in the aggregate, less than or equal to 12% annually of the greater of either the initial account balance or the current account balance. Because purchases of Class A shares are generally subject to an initial sales charge, Class A shareholders should not make withdrawals from their accounts while also making purchases.
Tax-Deferred Retirement Plans . Distributions will be invested in additional shares for all tax-deferred retirement plans.
Exchange Privilege . You may exchange your Fund shares for shares of the same Class of another Eaton Vance fund. Exchanges are made at net asset value. If your shares are subject to a CDSC, the CDSC will continue to apply to your new shares at the same CDSC rate. For purposes of the CDSC, your shares will continue to age from the date of your ^ original purchase of Fund shares.
Before exchanging, you should read the prospectus of the new fund carefully. Exchanges are subject to the terms applicable to purchases of the new fund’s shares as set forth in its prospectus. If you wish to exchange shares, write to the transfer agent (see back cover for address), log on to your account at www.eatonvance.com or call 1-800-262-1122. Periodic automatic exchanges are also available. The exchange privilege may be changed or discontinued at any time. You will receive at least 60 days’ notice of any material change to the privilege. This privilege may not be used for “market timing” and may be terminated for market timing accounts or for any other reason. For additional information, see “Restrictions on Excessive Trading and Market Timing” under “Purchasing ^ Shares " .
Reinvestment Privilege . If you redeem shares, you may reinvest at net asset value all or any portion of the redemption proceeds in the same class of shares of the Fund you redeemed from, provided that the reinvestment occurs within 60 days of the redemption, and the privilege has not been used more than once in the prior 12 months. Under these circumstances your account will be credited with any CDSC paid in connection with the redemption. Any CDSC period applicable to the shares you acquire upon reinvestment will run from the date of your original share purchase. Reinvestment requests must be in writing. At the time of a reinvestment, you or your financial intermediary must notify the Fund or the transfer agent that you are reinvesting redemption proceeds in accordance with this privilege. If you reinvest, your purchase will be at the next determined net asset value following receipt of your request.
Telephone and Electronic Transactions . You can redeem or exchange shares by telephone as described in this Prospectus. In addition, certain transactions may be conducted through the Eaton Vance website. The transfer agent and the principal underwriter have procedures in place to authenticate telephone and electronic instructions (such as using security codes or verifying personal account information). As long as the transfer agent and principal underwriter follow reasonable procedures, they will not be responsible for unauthorized telephone or electronic transactions and you bear the risk of possible loss resulting from these transactions. You may decline the telephone redemption option on the account application. Telephone instructions are recorded.
“Street Name” Accounts . If your shares are held in a “street name” account at a financial intermediary, that intermediary (and not the Fund or its transfer agent) will perform all recordkeeping, transaction processing and distribution payments. Because the Fund will have no record of your transactions, you should contact your financial intermediary to purchase, redeem or exchange shares, to make changes in your account, or to obtain account information. You will not be able to utilize a number of shareholder features, such as telephone or internet transactions, directly with the Fund. If you transfer shares in a “street name” account to an account with another financial intermediary or to an account directly with the Fund, you should obtain historical information about your shares prior to the transfer.
Procedures for Opening New Accounts . To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires financial institutions to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each new customer who opens a Fund account and to determine whether such person’s name appears on government lists of known or suspected terrorists or terrorist organizations. When you open an account, the transfer agent or your financial intermediary will ask you for your name, address, date of birth (for individuals), residential or business street address (although post office boxes are still permitted for mailing) and social security number, taxpayer identification number, or other government-issued identifying number. You also may be asked to produce a copy of your driver’s license, passport or other identifying documents in order to verify your identity. In addition, it may be necessary to verify your identity by cross-referencing your identification information with a consumer report or other electronic databases. Other information or documents may be required to open accounts for corporations and other entities. Federal law prohibits the Fund and other financial institutions from opening a new account unless they receive the minimum identifying information described above. If a person fails to provide the information requested, any application by that person to open a new account will be rejected. Moreover, if the transfer agent or the financial intermediary is unable to verify the identity of a person based on information provided by that person, it may take additional steps including, but not limited to, requesting additional information or documents from the person, closing the person’s account or reporting the matter to the appropriate federal authorities. If your account is closed for this reason, your shares may be automatically redeemed at the net asset value next determined. If the Fund’s net asset value has decreased since your purchase, you will lose money as a result of this redemption. The Fund has also designated an anti-money laundering compliance officer.
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
15
Prospectus dated December 30, 2011
Account Questions . If you have any questions about your account or the services available, please call Eaton Vance Shareholder Services at 1-800-262-1122 Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (eastern time), or write to the transfer agent (see back cover for address).
Additional Tax Information
The Fund makes distributions (if any) annually. Dividends may not be paid if Fund expenses exceed Fund income for the period. Distributions of income and net short-term capital gains will be taxable as ordinary income. Distributions of any long-term capital gains are taxable as long-term capital gains. Over time, distributions by the Fund can generally be expected to include both dividends taxable as ordinary income and capital gain distributions taxable as long-term gains. Taxes on distributions of capital gains are determined by how long the Fund owned the investment that generated them, rather than how long a shareholder has owned his or her shares in the Fund. For the taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2012, distributions of investment income designated by the Fund as derived from “qualified dividend income” are taxed at the rates applicable to long-term capital gains, provided the holding period and other requirements are met at both the shareholder and Fund level. The Fund’s distributions will be taxable as described above whether they are paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares. A portion of the Fund’s income distributions may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporations.
Investors who purchase shares at a time when the Fund’s net asset value reflects gains that are either unrealized or realized but not distributed will pay the full price for the shares and then may receive some portion of the purchase price back as a taxable distribution. Certain distributions paid in January may be taxable to shareholders as if received on December 31 of the prior year. A redemption of Fund shares, including an exchange for shares of another fund, is a taxable transaction.
Investments in foreign securities may be subject to foreign withholding taxes, which would decrease the Fund’s return on such securities. Shareholders generally will not be entitled to claim a credit or deduction with respect to foreign taxes paid by the Fund. In addition, investments in foreign securities or foreign currencies may increase or accelerate the Fund’s recognition of ordinary income and may affect the timing or amount of the Fund’s distributions.
Shareholders should consult with their advisers concerning the applicability of federal, state, local and other taxes to an investment.
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
16
Prospectus dated December 30, 2011
More Information
About the Fund: More information is available in the Statement of Additional Information. The Statement of Additional Information is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. Additional information about the Fund’s investments will be available in the annual and semiannual reports to shareholders. In the annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during the past fiscal year. You may obtain free copies of the Statement of Additional Information and the shareholder reports on Eaton Vance’s website at www.eatonvance.com or by contacting the principal underwriter:
Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc.
Two International Place
Boston, MA 02110
1-800-262-1122
website: www.eatonvance.com
You will find and may copy information about the Fund (including the Statement of Additional Information and shareholder reports): at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s public reference room in Washington, DC (call 1-800-732-0330 for information on the operation of the public reference room); on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website(www.sec.gov); or, upon payment of copying fees, by writing to the SEC’s Public Reference Section, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549-0102, or by electronic mail at publicinfo@sec.gov.
Shareholder Inquiries : You can obtain more information from Eaton Vance Shareholder Services or the Fund transfer agent, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. If you own shares and would like to add to, redeem or change your account, please write or call below:
^ | ||
The Fund’s Investment Company Act No. is 811-0 12 4^1^. | ^ATLCSEP | |
5534 -12/11 | © 2011 Eaton Vance Management | |
STATEMENT OF
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ^ December 30, 2011 |
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital ^
Select Equity
Fund
Class A Shares - ESEAX ^ Class I Shares - ESEIX
Two International Place
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
1-800-262-1122
This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) provides general information about the Fund. The Fund is a non- diversified, open-end management investment company. The Fund is a series of Eaton Vance Growth Trust (the “Trust”). Capitalized terms used in this SAI and not otherwise defined have the meanings given to them in the Prospectus.
This SAI contains additional information about: | |||
Page | Page | ||
Strategies and Risks ^ | 2 | Sales Charges ^ | 20 |
Investment Restrictions ^ | 5 | Performance ^ | 22 |
Management and Organization ^ | 7 | Taxes ^ | 24 |
Investment Advisory and Administrative Services ^ | 15 | Portfolio Securities Transactions ^ | 32 |
Other Service Providers ^ | 18 | Financial Statements ^ | 33 |
Calculation of Net Asset Value ^ | 18 | Additional Information About Investment Strategies ^ | 33 |
Purchasing and Redeeming Shares ^ | 19 | ||
Appendix A: Class A Fees, Performance and Ownership ^ | 64 | Appendix D: Eaton Vance Funds Proxy Voting Policy and Prcedures ^ | 67 |
^ | |||
Appendix B: Class ^ I Performance and Ownership ^ | 65 | Appendix E: Atlanta Capital Management Company, LLC Proxy Voting Policies ^ | 69 |
^ | |||
Appendix C: Equity Rankings ^ | 66 |
This SAI is NOT a prospectus and is authorized for distribution to prospective investors only if preceded or accompanied by the Fund Prospectus dated December ^ 30 , 2011 , as supplemented from time to time, which is incorporated herein by reference. This SAI should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus, which may be obtained by calling 1-800-262-1122.
© 2011 Eaton Vance Management
Definitions
The following terms that may be used in this SAI have the meaning set forth below:
“1940 Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;
“1933 Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended;
“CEA” means Commodity Exchange Act;
“CFTC” means the Commodities Futures Trading Commission;
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;
“Exchange” means the New York ^
S
tock Exchange;
“FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority;
“Fund” means the Fund
or Funds
listed on the cover of this SAI unless stated otherwise;
“investment adviser” means the investment adviser identified in the prospectus and, with respect to the implementation of the
Fund’s investment strategies (including as described under “Taxes”) and portfolio securities transactions, any sub-adviser identified
in the prospectus;
“IRS” means the Internal Revenue Service;
“Portfolio” means a registered investment company sponsored by the Eaton Vance organization in which one or more Funds and
other investors may invest substantially all or any portion of their assets;
“Subsidiary” means a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Fund or the Portfolio as described in the prospectus
, if applicable
;
“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; and
“Trust” means Eaton Vance Growth Trust , of which the Fund is a series.
STRATEGIES AND RISKS
The Fund prospectus identifies the types of investments the Fund will invest in principally in seeking its investment objective and the principal risks associated therewith. The categories checked in the table below ^ are all of the investments the Fund is permitted to make, including its principal investments. To the extent that an investment type or practice listed below is not identified in the Fund prospectus as a principal investment, the Fund generally expects to invest less than 5% of its ^total assets in such investment type. If a particular investment type that is checked and listed below but not referred to in the prospectus becomes a more significant part of the Fund’s strategy, the prospectus may be amended to disclose that investment . Information about various investment types and practices and the associated risks is included in this SAI under “Additional Information about Investment Strategies”.
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
2
SAI dated December 30, 2011
^ | |
Convertible Securities | ü |
^ | |
Credit Linked Securities | |
^ | |
Derivative Instruments and Related Risks | ü |
^ | |
Direct Investments | |
^ | |
Emerging Market Investments | ü |
^ | |
Equity Investments | ü |
^ | |
Equity Linked Securities | |
^ | |
Exchange-Traded Funds (“ETFs”) | ü |
^ | |
Exchange-Traded Notes (“ETNs”) | |
^ | |
Fixed-Income Securities | ü |
^ | |
Foreign Currency Transactions | ü |
^ | |
Foreign Investments | ü |
^ | |
Forward Foreign Currency Contracts | ü |
^ | |
Forward Rate Agreements | |
^ | |
Futures Contracts | ü |
^ | |
Health Sciences Companies | |
^ | |
High Yield Securities | |
Hybrid Instruments | |
^ | |
Illiquid Securities | ü |
^ | |
Indexed Securities | |
Inflation-Indexed (or Inflation-Linked) Bonds | |
^ | |
Junior Loans | |
^ | |
Liquidity or Protective Put Agreements | |
^ | |
Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”) | ü |
^ | |
Mortgage-Backed Securities (“MBS”) | |
^ | |
Mortgage Dollar Rolls |
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
3
SAI dated December 30, 2011
^ | |
Municipal Lease Obligations (“MLOs”) | |
^ | |
Municipal Obligations | |
^ | |
Option Contracts | ü |
^ | ^ |
Pooled Investment Vehicles | ü |
^ | |
Preferred Securities | ü |
^ | |
Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”) | ü |
^ | |
Events Regarding FNMA and FHLMC | |
^ | ^ |
Repurchase Agreements | |
Residual Interest Bonds | |
^ | ^ |
Reverse Repurchase Agreements | |
Royalty Bonds | |
^ | ^ |
Securities with Equity and Debt Characteristics | ü |
^ | |
Senior Loans | |
^ | ^ |
Short Sales | ü |
^ | ^ |
Smaller Companies | ü |
^ | |
Stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities (“SMBS”) | |
^ | ^ |
Structured Notes | |
^ | |
Swap Agreements | ü |
^ | |
Swaptions | ü |
^ | ^ |
Trust Certificates | |
U.S. Government Securities | |
^ | ^ |
Unlisted Securities | ü |
^ | |
Variable Rate Obligations | |
^ | ^ |
Warrants | ü |
^ | |
When-Issued Securities, Delayed Delivery and Forward Commitments | |
^ | ^ |
Zero Coupon Bonds |
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
4
SAI dated December 30, 2011
Other Disclosures Regarding Investment Practices | Permitted for or Relevant to the Fund |
Asset Coverage | ü |
^ | |
Average Effective Maturity | |
^ | |
Borrowing for Investment Purposes | |
Borrowing for Temporary Purposes | ü |
^ | |
Diversified Status | |
Dividend Capture Trading | |
^ | |
Duration | |
^ | |
Fund Investing in a Portfolio | |
^ | |
Investments in the Subsidiary | |
^ | |
Loan Facility | |
^ | |
Participation in the ReFlow Liquidity Program | ü |
^ | |
Portfolio Turnover | ü |
ü | |
Securities Lending | |
^ | |
Short-Term Trading | |
Tax-Managed Investing |
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
The following investment restrictions of the Fund are designated as fundamental policies and as such cannot be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities, which as used in this SAI means the lesser of:^ (a) 67% of the shares of the Fund present or represented by proxy at a meeting if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares are present or represented at the meeting; or^ (b) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. Accordingly, the Fund may not:
(1) |
Borrow money or issue senior securities except as permitted by the 1940 Act; |
(2) |
Purchase securities on margin (but the Fund may obtain such short-term credits as may be necessary for the |
clearance of purchases and sales of securities). The deposit or payment by the Fund of initial, maintenance or | |
variation margin in connection with all types of options and futures contract transactions is not considered the | |
purchase of a security on margin; | |
(3) |
Underwrite or participate in the marketing of securities of others, except insofar as it may technically be deemed to |
be an underwriter in selling a portfolio security under circumstances which may require the registration of the same | |
under the 1933 Act; | |
(4) |
Purchase or sell real estate, although it may purchase and sell securities which are secured by real estate and |
securities of companies which invest or deal in real estate; |
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
5
SAI dated December 30, 2011
(5) | Make loans to other persons, except by (a) the acquisition of debt securities and making portfolio investments, (b) |
entering into repurchase agreements, (c) lending portfolio securities and (d) lending cash consistent with applicable | |
law; | |
(6) | Concentrate its investments in any particular industry, but, if deemed appropriate for the Fund’s objective, up to (but |
less than) 25% of the value of its assets may be invested in securities of companies in any one industry (although | |
more than 25% may be invested in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies or | |
instrumentalities). |
In addition, the Fund may:
(7) | Purchase and sell commodities and commodities contracts of all types and kinds (including without limitation futures |
contracts, options on futures contracts and other commodities-related investments) to the extent permitted by law. ^ |
For purposes of determining industry classifications, the investment adviser considers an issuer to be in a particular industry if a third party has designated the issuer to be in that industry, unless the investment adviser is aware of circumstances that make the third party’s classification inappropriate. In such a case, the investment adviser will assign an industry classification to the issuer.
In connection with Restriction ^ (1) above, the 1940 Act currently permits investment companies to borrow money so long as there is 300% asset coverage of the borrowing ( i.e. , borrowings do not exceed one-third of the investment company’s total assets after subtracting liabilities other than the borrowings) . There is no current intent to borrow money, except for the limited purposes described in the ^ P rospectus.
Notwithstanding its investment policies and restrictions, the Fund may, in compliance with the requirements of the 1940 Act, invest (i) all of its investable assets in an open-end management investment company with substantially the same investment objective(s), policies and restrictions as the Fund; or (ii) in more than one open-end management investment company sponsored by Eaton Vance or its affiliates, provided any such company has investment objective(s), policies and restrictions that are consistent with those of the Fund.
In addition, to the extent a registered open-end investment company acquires securities of a portfolio in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(G) under the 1940 Act, such portfolio shall not acquire any securities of a registered open-end investment company in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(G) under the 1940 Act.
The following nonfundamental investment policies have been adopted by the Fund . A nonfundamental investment policy may be changed by the Trustees with respect to the Fund without approval by the Fund’s shareholders . The Fund^ will not:
· |
make short sales of securities or maintain a short position, unless at all times when a short position is open (i) it owns an equal amount of such securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable, without payment of any further consideration, for securities of the same issue as, and equal in amount to, the securities sold short or (ii) it holds in a segregated account cash or other liquid securities (to the extent required under the 1940 Act) in an amount equal to the current market value of the securities sold short, and unless not more than 25% of its net assets (taken at current value) is held as collateral for such sales at any one time; or |
· |
invest more than 15% of net assets in investments which are not readily marketable, including restricted securities and repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days. Restricted securities for the purposes of this limitation do not include securities eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act and commercial paper issued pursuant to Section 4(2) of said Act that the Board of Trustees, or its delegate, determines to be liquid. Any such determination by a delegate will be made pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board. When investing in Rule 144A securities, the level of portfolio illiquidity may be increased to the extent that eligible buyers become uninterested in purchasing such securities. |
Whenever an investment policy or investment restriction set forth in the Prospectus or this SAI states a maximum percentage of assets that may be invested in any security or other asset, or describes a policy regarding quality standards, such percentage limitation or standard shall be determined immediately after and as a result of the acquisition by the Fund of such security or asset. Accordingly, any later increase or decrease resulting from a change in values, assets or other circumstances or any subsequent rating change made by a rating service (or as determined by the investment adviser if the security is not rated by a rating agency), will not compel the Fund to dispose of such security or other asset. However, the Fund must always be in compliance with the borrowing policy and limitation on investing in illiquid securities set forth above. If a sale of securities is required to comply with the 15% limit on illiquid securities, such sales will be made in an orderly manner with consideration of the best interests of shareholders.
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
6
SAI dated December 30, 2011
MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION
Fund Management. The Trustees of the Trust are responsible for the overall management and supervision of the affairs of the Trust . The Trustees and officers of the Trust are listed below. Except as indicated, each individual has held the office shown or other offices in the same company for the last five years. Trustees and officers of the Trust hold indefinite terms of office. The “Noninterested Trustees” consist of those Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust, as that term is defined under the 1940 Act. The business address of each Trustee and officer is Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110. As used in this SAI, “BMR” refers to Boston Management and Research, “EVC” refers to Eaton Vance Corp., “EV” refers to Eaton Vance, ^ Inc., “EVD” refers to Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. and “Eaton Vance” refers to Eaton Vance Management (see “Principal Underwriter” under “Other Service Providers”). EVC and EV are the corporate parent and trustee, respectively, of Eaton Vance and BMR. Each officer affiliated with Eaton Vance may hold a position with other Eaton Vance affiliates that is comparable to his or her position with Eaton Vance listed below.
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
7
SAI dated December 30, 2011
Number of Portfolios | |||||
in Fund Complex | |||||
Trust | Term of Office and | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Overseen By | Other Directorships Held | |
Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) | Length of Service | and Other Relevant Experience | Trustee (1) | During Last Five Years (2) |
Interested Trustee | |||||
THOMAS E. FAUST JR. | Trustee | Since 2007 | Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of EVC, | ^ 180 | Director of EVC. |
1958 | Director and President of EV, Chief Executive Officer and | ||||
President of Eaton Vance and BMR, and Director of EVD. | |||||
Trustee and/or officer of ^ 180 registered investment | |||||
companies and 1 private investment company managed by | |||||
Eaton Vance or BMR. Mr. Faust is an interested person | |||||
because of his positions with BMR, Eaton Vance, EVC, EVD | |||||
and EV, which are affiliates of the Trust^ . | |||||
Noninterested Trustees | |||||
SCOTT E. ESTON | Trustee | Since 2011 | Private investor. Formerly held various positions at | ^ 180 | None |
1956 | Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo and Co., L.L.C. (investment | ||||
management firm) (1997-2009), including Chief Operating | |||||
Officer (2002-2009), Chief Financial Officer (1997-2009) | |||||
and Chairman of the Executive Committee (2002-2008); | |||||
President and Principal Executive Officer, GMO Trust | |||||
(open-end registered investment company) (2006-2009). | |||||
Former Partner, Coopers and Lybrand L.L.P. (now | |||||
PricewaterhouseCoopers) (public accounting firm) | |||||
(1987-1997). | |||||
BENJAMIN C. ESTY | Trustee | Since 2005 | Roy and Elizabeth Simmons Professor of Business | ^ 180 | None |
1963 | Administration and Finance Unit Head, Harvard University | ||||
Graduate School of Business Administration. | |||||
ALLEN R. FREEDMAN | Trustee | Since 2007 | Private Investor. Former Chairman (2002-2004) and a | ^ 180 | Director of Stonemor Partners |
1940 | Director (1983-2004) of Systems & Computer Technology | L.P. (owner and operator of | |||
Corp. (provider of software to higher education). Formerly, a | cemeteries). Formerly, Director | ||||
Director of L^ o ring Ward International (fund distributor) | of Assurant, Inc. (insurance | ||||
(2005-2007). Former Chairman and a Director of Indus | provider) (1979-2011). | ||||
International, Inc. (provider of enterprise management | |||||
software to the power generating industry) (2005-2007). | |||||
Former Chief Executive Officer of Assurant, Inc. (insurance | |||||
provider) (1979-2000). | |||||
WILLIAM H. PARK | Trustee | Since 2003 | Consultant and private investor. Formerly, Chief Financial | ^ 180 | None |
1947 | Officer, Aveon Group, L.P. (investment management firm) | ||||
(2010-2011). Formerly, Vice Chairman, Commercial | |||||
Industrial Finance Corp. (specialty finance company) | |||||
(2006-2010). Formerly, President and Chief Executive | |||||
Officer, Prizm Capital Management, LLC (investment | |||||
management firm) (2002-2005). Formerly, Executive Vice | |||||
President and Chief Financial Officer, United Asset | |||||
Management Corporation (investment management firm) | |||||
(1982-2001). Formerly, Senior Manager, Price Waterhouse | |||||
(now PricewaterhouseCoopers) (an independent registered | |||||
public accounting firm) (1972-1981). | |||||
RONALD A. PEARLMAN | Trustee | Since 2003 | Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center. | ^ 180 | None |
1940 | Formerly, Deputy Assistant Secretary (Tax Policy) and | ||||
Assistant Secretary (Tax Policy), U.S. Department of the | |||||
Treasury (1983-1985). Formerly, Chief of Staff, Joint | |||||
Committee on Taxation, U.S. Congress (1988-1990). |
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
8
SAI dated December 30, 2011
Number of Portfolios | |||||
in Fund Complex | |||||
Trust | Term of Office and | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Overseen By | Other Directorships Held | |
Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) | Length of Service | and Other Relevant Experience | Trustee (1) | During Last Five Years (2) |
HELEN FRAME PETERS | Trustee | Since 2008 | Professor of Finance, Carroll School of Management, Boston | ^ 180 | Formerly, Director of BJ’s |
1948 | College. Formerly, Dean, Carroll School of Management, | Wholesale Club, Inc. (wholesale | |||
Boston College (2000-2002). Formerly, Chief Investment | club retailer) (2004-2011) . | ||||
Officer, Fixed Income, Scudder Kemper Investments | Formerly, Trustee of SPDR Index | ||||
(investment management firm) (1998-1999). Formerly, | Shares Funds and SPDR Series | ||||
Chief Investment Officer, Equity and Fixed Income, Colonial | Trust (exchange traded funds) | ||||
Management Associates (investment management firm) | (2000-2009). Formerly, Director | ||||
(1991-1998). | of Federal Home Loan Bank of | ||||
Boston (a bank for banks) | |||||
(2007-2009). | |||||
LYNN A. STOUT | Trustee | Since 1998 | Paul Hastings Professor of Corporate and Securities Law | ^ 180 | None |
1957 | (since 2006) and Professor of Law (2001-2006), University | ||||
of California at Los Angeles School of Law . | |||||
HARRIETT TEE TAGGART | Trustee | Since 2011 | Managing Director, Taggart Associates (a professional | ^ 180 | Director of Albemarle |
1948 | practice firm)^ . F ormerly, Partner and Senior Vice | Corporation (chemicals | |||
President, Wellington Management Company, ^ LLP | manufacturer) (since 2007)^ | ||||
(investment management firm) (1983-2006). | and The Hanover Group | ||||
(specialty property and casualty | |||||
insurance company) (since | |||||
2009). Formerly, Director of | |||||
Lubrizol Corporation (specialty | |||||
chemicals) (2007-2011). | |||||
RALPH F. VERNI | Chairman of the | Chairman of the Board | Consultant and private investor. Formerly, Chief Investment | ^180 | None |
1943 | Board and | since 2007 and Trustee | Officer (1982-1992), Chief Financial Officer (1988-1990) | ||
Trustee | since 2005 | and Director (1982-1992), New England Life. Formerly, | |||
Chairperson, New England Mutual Funds (1982-1992). | |||||
Formerly, President and Chief Executive Officer, State Street | |||||
Management & Research (1992-2000). Formerly, | |||||
Chairperson, State Street Research Mutual Funds | |||||
(1992-2000). Formerly, Director, W.P. Carey, LLC | |||||
(1998-2004) and First Pioneer Farm Credit Corp. | |||||
(2002-2006). |
(1) | Includes both master and feeder funds in a master-feeder structure. |
(2) | During their respective tenures, the Trustees (except for Mr. Eston and Ms. Taggart) also served as trustees of one or more of the following Eaton Vance funds (which operated in the years noted): Eaton Vance Credit Opportunities Fund (launched in 2005 and terminated in 2010); Eaton Vance Insured Florida Plus Municipal Bond Fund (launched in 2002 and terminated in 2009); and Eaton Vance National Municipal Income Trust (launched in 1998 and terminated in 2009). |
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
9
SAI dated December 30, 2011
The Board of Trustees has general oversight responsibility with respect to the business and affairs of the Trust and the Fund. The Board has engaged an investment adviser and (if applicable) a sub-adviser (collectively the “adviser”) to manage the Fund and an administrator to administer the Fund and is responsible for overseeing such adviser and administrator and other service providers to the Trust and the Fund. The Board is currently composed of ten Trustees, including nine Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (each an “Independent Trustee”). In addition to eight regularly scheduled meetings per year, the Board holds special meetings or informal conference calls to discuss specific matters that may require action prior to the next regular meeting. As discussed below, the Board has established five committees to assist the Board in performing its oversight responsibilities. ^
The Board has appointed an Independent Trustee to serve in the role of Chairman. The Chairman’s primary role is to participate in the preparation of the agenda for meetings of the Board and the identification of information to be presented to the Board with respect to matters to be acted upon by the Board. The Chairman also presides at all meetings of the Board and acts as a liaison with service providers, officers, attorneys, and other Trustees generally between meetings. The Chairman may perform such other functions as may be requested by the Board from time to time. Except for any duties specified herein or pursuant to the Trust’s Declaration of Trust or By-laws, the designation of Chairman does not impose on such Independent Trustee any duties, obligations or liability that is greater than the duties, obligations or liability imposed on such person as a member of the Board, generally. ^
The Fund and the Trust are subject to a number of risks, including, among others, investment, compliance, operational, and valuation risks. Risk oversight is part of the Board’s general oversight of the Fund and the Trust and is addressed as part of various activities of the Board of Trustees and its Committees. As part of its oversight of the Fund and Trust, the Board directly, or through a Committee, relies on and reviews reports from, among others, Fund management, the adviser, the administrator, the principal underwriter, the Chief Compliance Officer (the “CCO”), and other Fund service providers responsible for day-to-day oversight of Fund investments, operations and compliance to assist the Board in identifying and understanding the nature and extent of risks and determining whether, and to what extent, such risks can be mitigated. The Board also interacts with the CCO and with senior personnel of the adviser, administrator, principal underwriter and other Fund service providers and provides input on risk management issues during meetings of the Board and its Committees. Each of the adviser, administrator, principal underwriter and the other Fund service providers has its own, independent interest and responsibilities in risk management, and its policies and methods for carrying out risk management functions will depend, in part, on its individual priorities, resources and controls. It is not possible to identify all of the risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. Moreover, it is necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve the Fund’s goals. ^
The Board, with the assistance of management and with input from the Board’s various committees, reviews investment policies and risks in connection with its review of Fund performance. The Board has appointed a Fund Chief Compliance Officer who oversees the implementation and testing of the Fund compliance program and reports to the Board regarding compliance matters for the Fund and its principal service providers. In addition, as part of the Board’s periodic review of the advisory, subadvisory (if applicable), distribution and other service provider agreements, the Board may consider risk management aspects of their operations and the functions for which they are responsible. With respect to valuation, the Board approves and periodically reviews valuation policies and procedures applicable to valuing the Fund’s shares. The administrator, the investment adviser and the sub-adviser (if applicable) are responsible for the implementation and day-to-day administration of these valuation policies and procedures and provides reports periodically to the Board regarding these and related matters. In addition, the Board or the Audit Committee of the Board receives reports periodically from the independent public accounting firm for the Fund regarding tests performed by such firm on the valuation of all securities, as well as with respect to other risks associated with mutual funds. Reports received from service providers, legal counsel and the independent public accounting firm assist the Board in performing its oversight function. ^
The Trust’s Declaration of Trust does not set forth any specific qualifications to serve as a Trustee. The Charter of the Governance Committee also does not set forth any specific qualifications, but does set forth certain factors that the Committee may take into account in considering Independent Trustee candidates. In general, no one factor is decisive in the selection of an individual to join the Board. Among the factors the Board considers when concluding that an individual should serve on the Board are the following: (i) knowledge in matters relating to the mutual fund industry; (ii) experience as a director or senior officer of public companies; (iii) educational background; (iv) reputation for high ethical standards and professional integrity; (v) specific financial, technical or other expertise, and the extent to which such expertise would complement the Board of Trustees’ existing mix of skills, core competencies and qualifications; (vi) perceived ability to contribute to the ongoing functions of the Board of Trustees, including the ability and commitment to attend meetings regularly and work collaboratively with other members of the Board of Trustees; (vii) the ability to qualify as an Independent Trustee for purposes of the 1940 Act and any other actual or potential conflicts of interest involving the individual and the Fund; and (viii) such other factors as the Board determines to be relevant in light of the existing composition of the Board of Trustees.
Among the attributes or skills common to all Trustees ^ are their ability to review critically, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them, to interact effectively with the other Trustees, management, sub-advisers, other service providers, counsel and independent registered public accounting firms, and to exercise effective and independent business judgment in the performance of their duties as Trustees. Each Trustee’s ability to perform his or her duties effectively has been attained through the Trustee’s business, consulting, public service and/or academic positions and through experience from service as a Board member in the Eaton Vance
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Group of Funds (and/or in other capacities, including for any predecessor funds), public companies, or non-profit entities or other organizations as set forth below. Each Trustee’s ability to perform his or her duties effectively also has been enhanced by his or her educational background, professional training, and/or other life experiences.
In respect of each current Trustee, the individual’s substantial professional accomplishments and experience, including in fields related to the operations of the Eaton Vance Group of Funds, were a significant factor in the determination that the individual should serve as a Trustee. The following is a summary of each Trustee’s particular professional experience and additional considerations that contributed to the Board’s conclusion that he or she should serve as a Trustee:
Scott E. Eston^ . Mr. Eston has served as a Trustee ^ in the Eaton Vance Group of Funds since 2011. He currently serves on the investment and advisory board of the BAC Seed Fund, a real estate investment firm, and is also a member of Michigan State University’s Financial Management Institute Advisory Board. From 1997 through 2009, Mr. Eston served in several capacities at Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo and Co. (“GMO”), including as Chairman of the Executive Committee and Chief Operating and Chief Financial Officer, and also as the President and Principal Executive officer of GMO Trust, an affiliated open-end registered investment company. From 1978 through 1997, Mr. Eston was a partner at Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. (now PricewaterhouseCoopers).
Benjamin C. Esty . Mr. Esty has served as a Trustee in the Eaton Vance Group of Funds since 2005 and is the Chairperson of the Portfolio Management Committee. He is the Roy and Elizabeth Simmons Professor of Business Administration and Finance Unit Head at the Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration.
Thomas E. Faust ^ Jr . Mr. Faust has served as a Trustee in the Eaton Vance Group of Funds since 2007. He is currently Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of EVC, Director and President of EV, Chief Executive Officer and President of Eaton Vance and BMR, and Director of EVD. Mr. Faust previously served as an equity analyst, portfolio manager, Director of Equity Research and Management and Chief Investment Officer of Eaton Vance (1985-2007). He holds ^B.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an MBA from^ Harvard Business School. Mr. Faust has been a Chartered Financial Analyst since 1988.
Allen R. Freedman . Mr. Freedman has served as a Trustee in the Eaton Vance Group of Funds since 2007. Mr. Freedman also serves as a Director of Stonemor Partners L.P. where he also serves as the Chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Trust and Compliance Committee. Mr. Freedman was previously a Director of Assurant, Inc. from 1979-2011, a Director of Systems & Computer Technology Corp. from 1983-2004 and Chairman from 2002-2004, a Director of Loring Ward International from 2005-2007 and Chairman and a Director of Indus International, Inc. from 2005-2007. Mr. Freedman was formerly the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fortis, Inc. (predecessor to Assurant, Inc.), a specialty insurance company he founded in 1978 and from which he retired in 2000. Mr. Freedman also served as a Director of the Fortis Mutual Funds and First Fortis Life Insurance Company. He remains a Director of Union Security Life Insurance Company of New York, successor to First Fortis. Mr. Freedman is a founding director of the Association of Audit Committee Members, Inc.
William H. Park . Mr. Park has served as a Trustee in the Eaton Vance Group of Funds since 2003 and is the Chairperson of the Audit Committee. Mr. Park was formerly the Chief Financial Officer of Aveon Group, L.P. from 2010-2011. Mr. Park also served as Vice Chairman of Commercial Industrial Finance Corp. from 2006-2010, as President and Chief Executive Officer of Prizm Capital Management, LLC from 2002-2005, as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of United Asset Management Corporation from 1982-2001 and as Senior Manager of Price Waterhouse (now PricewaterhouseCoopers) from 1972-1981.
Ronald ^ A. Pearlman . Mr. Pearlman has served as a Trustee in the Eaton Vance Group of Funds since 2003 and is the Chairperson of the Compliance Reports and Regulatory Matters Committee. He is a Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center. Previously, Mr. Pearlman was Deputy Assistant Secretary (Tax Policy) and Assistant Secretary (Tax Policy), U.S. Department of the Treasury from 1983-1985 and served as Chief of Staff, Joint Committee on Taxation, U.S. Congress from 1988-1990. Mr. Pearlman was engaged in the private practice of law from 1969-2000, with the exception of the periods of government service. He represented large domestic and multinational businesses in connection with the tax aspects of complex transactions and high net worth individuals in connection with tax and business planning. ^
Helen Frame Peters . Ms. Peters has served as a Trustee in the Eaton Vance Group of Funds since 2008. She is currently a Professor of Finance at Carroll School of Management, Boston College and was formerly Dean of Carroll School of Management from 2000-2002. Ms. Peters was previously a Director of BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc. from 2004-2011. In addition, Ms. Peters was the Chief Investment Officer, Fixed Income at Scudder Kemper Investments from 1998-1999 and Chief Investment Officer, Equity and Fixed Income at Colonial Management Associates from 1991-1998. Ms. Peters also served as a Trustee of SPDR Index Shares Funds and SPDR Series Trust from 2000-2009 and as a Director of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston from 2007-2009. ^
Lynn A. Stout . Ms. Stout has served as a Trustee in the Eaton Vance Group of Funds since 1998 and is the Chairperson of the Governance Committee. She has been the Paul Hastings Professor of Corporate and Securities Law at the University of California at Los Angeles School of Law since 2006. Previously, Ms. Stout was Professor of Law at the University of California at Los Angeles School from 2001-2006. ^
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Harriett Tee Taggart^ . Ms. Taggart has served as a ^ Trustee in the Eaton Vance Group of Funds since 2011. She currently manages a professional practice, Taggart Associates. Since 2007, Ms. Taggart has been a Director of Albermarle Corporation,^ a specialty chemical company. Since 2009 she has served as a Director of the Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. Ms. Taggart is also a trustee or member of several major non-profit boards, advisory committees and endowment investment companies. From 1983 through 2006, Ms. Taggart served in several capacities at Wellington Management Company, LLP, an investment management firm, including as a Partner, Senior Vice President and chemical industry sector portfolio manager. Ms. Taggart also served as a Director of the Lubrizol Corporation, a specialty chemicals manufacturer from 2007-2011.
Ralph F. Verni . Mr. Verni has served as a Trustee in the Eaton Vance Group of Funds since 2005 and is the Independent Chairperson of the Board and the Chairperson of the Contract Review Committee. Mr. Verni was formerly the Chief Investment Officer (from 1982-1992), Chief Financial Officer (from 1988-1990) and Director (from 1982-1992) of New England Life. Mr. Verni was also the Chairperson of the New England Mutual Funds from 1982-1992; President and Chief Executive Officer of State Street Management & Research from 1992-2000; Chairperson of the State Street Research Mutual Funds from 1992-2000; Director of W.P. Carey, LLC from 1998-2004; and Director of First Pioneer Farm Credit Corp. from 2002-2006. Mr. Verni has been a Chartered Financial Analyst since 1977.
The Board of Trustees of the Trust^ have several standing Committees, including the Governance Committee, the Audit Committee, the Portfolio Management Committee, the Compliance Reports and Regulatory Matters Committee and the Contract Review Committee. Each of the Committees ^ are comprised of only noninterested Trustees.
Mmes. Stout (Chair), Peters and Taggart, and Messrs. Eston, Esty, Freedman, Park, Pearlman and Verni are members of the Governance Committee. The purpose of the Governance Committee is to consider, evaluate and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees with respect to the structure, membership and operation of the Board of Trustees and the Committees thereof, including the nomination and selection of noninterested Trustees and a Chairperson of the Board of Trustees and the compensation of such persons^
The Governance Committee will, when a vacancy exists or is anticipated, consider any nominee for noninterested Trustee recommended by a shareholder if such recommendation is submitted in writing to the Governance Committee, contains sufficient background information concerning the candidate, including evidence the candidate is willing to serve as a noninterested Trustee if selected for the position, and is received in a sufficiently timely manner.
Messrs. Park (Chair), Eston and Verni, and Mmes. Peters and Stout are members of the Audit Committee. The Board of Trustees has designated Mr. Park, a noninterested Trustee, as audit committee financial expert. The Audit Committee’s purposes are to^ (i) oversee the Fund^ ’ s accounting and financial reporting processes, its internal control over financial reporting, and, as appropriate, the internal control over financial reporting of certain service providers; (ii) oversee or, as appropriate, assist Board oversight of the quality and integrity of the Fund ’s financial statements and the independent audit thereof; (iii) oversee, or, as appropriate, assist Board oversight of, the Fund ’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements that relate to the Fund ’s accounting and financial reporting, internal control over financial reporting and independent audits; (iv) approve prior to appointment the engagement and, when appropriate, replacement of the independent registered public accounting firm, and, if applicable, nominate the independent registered public accounting firm to be proposed for shareholder ratification in any proxy statement of the Fund;^ (v) evaluate the qualifications, independence and performance of the independent registered public accounting firm and the audit partner in charge of leading the audit; and (vi) prepare, as necessary, audit committee reports consistent with the requirements of applicable SEC and stock exchange rules for inclusion in the proxy statement of the Fund.
Messrs. Verni (Chair), Esty, Freedman, Park and Pearlman, and Mmes. Peters and Taggart are currently members of the Contract Review Committee. The purposes of the Contract Review Committee are to consider, evaluate and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees concerning the following matters:^ (i) contractual arrangements with each service provider to the Fund , including advisory, sub-advisory, transfer agency, custodial and fund accounting, distribution services and administrative services; (ii) any and all other matters in which any service provider (including Eaton Vance or any affiliated entity thereof) has an actual or potential conflict of interest with the interests of the Fund^ or investors therein ; and (iii) any other matter appropriate for review by the noninterested Trustees, unless the matter is within the responsibilities of the other Committees of the Board of Trustees.
Messrs. Esty (Chair) and Freedman, and Mmes. Peters and Taggart are currently members of the Portfolio Management Committee. The purposes of the Portfolio Management Committee are to:^ (i) assist the Board of Trustees in its oversight of the portfolio management process employed by the Fund and its investment adviser and sub-adviser(s), if applicable, relative to the Fund’s^ stated objective(s), strategies and restrictions; (ii) assist the Board of Trustees in its oversight of the trading policies and procedures and risk management techniques applicable to the Fund^ ; and (iii) assist the Board of Trustees in its monitoring of the performance results of all funds and portfolios, giving special attention to the performance of certain funds and portfolios that it or the Board of Trustees identifies from time to time.
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Messrs. Pearlman (Chair) and Eston, and Ms. Stout are currently members of the Compliance Reports and Regulatory Matters Committee. The purposes of the Compliance Reports and Regulatory Matters Committee are to:^ (i) assist the Board of Trustees in its oversight role with respect to compliance issues and certain other regulatory matters affecting the Fund^ ; (ii) serve as a liaison between the Board of Trustees and the Fund’s^ CCO; and (iii) serve as a “qualified legal compliance committee” within the rules promulgated by the SEC.
Share Ownership. The following table shows the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each Trustee in ^all Eaton Vance Funds overseen by the Trustee as of December 31, 2010. None of the Trustees owned shares of the Fund as of December 31, 2010 since the Fund had not commenced operations .
As of December 31, 2010 , no Noninterested Trustee or any of their immediate family members owned beneficially or of record any class of securities of EVC, EVD or any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC or EVD.
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During the calendar years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2010 , no noninterested Trustee (or their immediate family members) had:
(1) |
Any direct or indirect interest in Eaton Vance, EVC, EVD or any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC or EVD; |
(2) |
Any direct or indirect material interest in any transaction or series of similar transactions with (i) the Trust or any Fund; (ii) another fund managed by EVC, distributed by EVD or a person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC or EVD; (iii) EVC or EVD; (iv) a person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC or EVD; or (v) an officer of any of the above; or |
(3) |
Any direct or indirect relationship with (i) the Trust or any Fund; (ii) another fund managed by EVC, distributed by EVD or a person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC or EVD; (iii) EVC or EVD; (iv) a person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC or EVD; or (v) an officer of any of the above. |
During the calendar years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2010 , no officer of EVC, EVD or any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC or EVD served on the Board of Directors of a company where a noninterested Trustee of the Trust or any of their immediate family members served as an officer.
Noninterested Trustees ^may elect to defer receipt of all or a percentage of their annual fees in accordance with the terms of a Trustees Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Trustees’ Plan”). Under the Trustees’ Plan, an eligible Trustee may elect to have his or her deferred fees invested ^in the shares of one or more funds in the Eaton Vance Family of Funds, and the amount paid to the Trustees under the Trustees’ Plan will be determined based upon the performance of such investments. Deferral of Trustees’ fees in accordance with the Trustees’ Plan will have a negligible effect on the assets, liabilities, and net income ^of ^ a participating Fund ^or ^ Portfolio, and do not require that a participating Trustee be retained. There is no retirement plan for Trustees .
The fees and expenses of the Trustees of the Trust are paid by the Fund (and other series of the Trust) . (A Trustee of the Trust who is a member of the Eaton Vance organization receives no compensation from the Trust .) During the fiscal year ^ ending September 30, ^ 2012 , it is estimated that the Trustees of the Trust^ will earn the following compensation in their capacities as Trustees from the Trust . For the year ended December 31, 2010 , the Trustees earned the following compensation in their capacities as Trustees of the funds in the Eaton Vance fund complex (1) :
Scott E. | Benjamin C. | Allen R. | William H. | Ronald A. | Helen Frame | Lynn A. | Harriet Tee | Ralph F. | |
Source of Compensation ^ | Eston ^ | Esty ^ | Freedman ^ | Park ^ | Pearlman ^ | Peters ^ | Stout ^ | Taggart^ | Verni |
Trust (2) | $ 587 | $ 641 | $ 605 | $ 641 | $ 641 | $ 587 | $ 641 | $ 587 | $ 899 |
Trust and Fund Complex (1) | $210,000 | $230,000 | $210,000 | $230,000 | $230,000 | $210,000 | $230,000^ (3) | $210,000 | $325,000^ (4) |
(1) | ^ As of December 30, 2011, the Eaton Vance fund complex consists of 180 registered investment companies or series thereof. Mr. Eston and Ms. Taggart became Trustees effective September 1, 2011, and thus the compensation figures listed for the Trust and Fund Complex are estimated based on amounts each would have received if they had been Trustees for the full 2010 calendar year. Heidi L. Steiger resigned as a Trustee effective November 29, 2010^ . For the calendar year ended December 31, 2010^ , she received $210,000 from the Trust and Fund Complex. |
(2) | The Trust consisted of ^ 9 Funds as of September 30, 2011. |
(3) | Includes $45,000 of deferred compensation. |
(4) | Includes $162,500 of deferred compensation. |
Organization. The Fund is a series of the Trust, which was organized under Massachusetts law on May ^ 25, 1989 and is operated as an open-end management investment company. The Trust may issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest (no par value per share) in one or more series (such as the Fund). The Trustees of the Trust have divided the shares of the Fund into multiple classes. Each class represents an interest in the Fund, but is subject to different expenses, rights and privileges. The Trustees have the authority under the Declaration of Trust to create additional classes of shares with differing rights and privileges. When issued and outstanding, shares are fully paid and nonassessable by the Trust. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each full share held. Fractional shares may be voted proportionately. Shares of the Fund will be voted together except that only shareholders of a particular class may vote on matters affecting only that class. Shares have no preemptive or conversion rights and are freely transferable. In the event of the liquidation of the Fund, shareholders of each class are entitled to share pro rata in the net assets attributable to that class available for distribution to shareholders.
As permitted by Massachusetts law, there will normally be no meetings of shareholders for the purpose of electing Trustees unless and until such time as less than a majority of the Trustees of the Trust holding office have been elected by shareholders. In such an event the Trustees then in office will call a shareholders’ meeting for the election of Trustees. Except for the foregoing circumstances and unless removed by action of the shareholders in accordance with the Trust’s By-laws, the Trustees shall continue to hold office and may appoint successor Trustees. The Trust’s By-laws provide that no person shall serve as a Trustee if shareholders
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holding two-thirds of the outstanding shares have removed him or her from that office either by a written declaration filed with the Trust’s custodian or by votes cast at a meeting called for that purpose. The By-laws further provide that under certain circumstances the shareholders may call a meeting to remove a Trustee and that the Trust is required to provide assistance in communication with shareholders about such a meeting.
The Trust’s Declaration of Trust may be amended by the Trustees when authorized by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, the financial interests of which are affected by the amendment. The Trustees may also amend the Declaration of Trust without the vote or consent of shareholders to change the name of the Trust or any series or to make such other changes (such as reclassifying series or classes of shares or restructuring the Trust) as do not have a materially adverse effect on the financial interests of shareholders or if they deem it necessary to conform it to applicable federal or state laws or regulations. The Trust’s By-laws provide that the Trust will indemnify its Trustees and officers against liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with any litigation or proceeding in which they may be involved because of their offices with the Trust. However, no indemnification will be provided to any Trustee or officer for any liability to the Trust or shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
The Trust or any series or class thereof may be terminated by: (1) the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds of the shares outstanding and entitled to vote at any meeting of shareholders of the Trust or the appropriate series or class thereof, or by an instrument or instruments in writing without a meeting, consented to by the holders of two-thirds of the shares of the Trust or a series or class thereof, provided, however, that, if such termination is recommended by the Trustees, the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust or a series or class thereof entitled to vote thereon shall be sufficient authorization; or (2) by ^ the approval of ^a majority of the Trustees then in office, to be followed by a written notice to^ shareholders.
Under Massachusetts law, if certain conditions prevail, shareholders of a Massachusetts business trust (such as the Trust) could be deemed to have personal liability for the obligations of the Trust. Numerous investment companies registered under the 1940 Act have been formed as Massachusetts business trusts, and management is not aware of an instance where such liability has been imposed. The Trust’s Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of liability on the part of Fund shareholders and the Trust’s By-laws provide that the Trust shall assume the defense on behalf of any Fund shareholders. The Declaration of Trust also contains provisions limiting the liability of a series or class to that series or class. Moreover, the Trust’s By-laws also provide for indemnification out of Fund property of any shareholder held personally liable solely by reason of being or having been a shareholder for all loss or expense arising from such liability. The assets of the Fund are readily marketable and will ordinarily substantially exceed its liabilities. In light of the nature of the Fund’s business and the nature of its assets, management believes that the possibility of the Fund’s liability exceeding its assets, and therefore the shareholder’s risk of personal liability, is remote.
Proxy Voting Policy.^ The Board of Trustees of the Trust has adopted a proxy voting policy and procedures (the “Fund Policy”), pursuant to which the Trustees have delegated proxy voting responsibility to the investment sub-adviser and adopted the proxy voting policies and procedures of the investment sub-adviser (the “Policies”). An independent proxy voting service has been retained to assist in the voting of Fund proxies through the provision of vote analysis, implementation and recordkeeping and disclosure services. The Trustees will review the Fund’s proxy voting records from time to time and will annually consider approving the Policies for the upcoming year. For a copy of the Fund Policy and investment sub-adviser Policies, see Appendix D and Appendix E, respectively. Pursuant to certain provisions of the 1940 Act and certain exemptive orders relating to funds investing in other funds, a Fund or Portfolio may be required or may elect to vote its interest in another fund in the same proportion as the holders of all other shares of that fund. Information on how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-262-1122, and (2) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
Investment Advisory and Administrative Services^ ^ . The investment adviser ^ and sub-adviser manage the investments and affairs of the Fund and provide^ related office facilities and personnel subject to the supervision of the Trust ’s Board of Trustees. The investment sub- adviser furnishes investment research, advice and supervision, furnishes an investment program and determines what securities will be purchased, held or sold by the Fund and what portion, if any, of the Fund’s assets will be held uninvested. The Investment Advisory and Administrative Agreement and Investment Sub-Adviso r y Agr e ement re quire^ the investment adviser or sub-adviser, as the case may be, to pay the salaries and fees of all officers and Trustees of the Trust who are members of the investment adviser’s or sub-adviser’s organization and all personnel of the investment adviser or sub-adviser performing services relating to research and investment activities.^ ^
^ The Investment Advisory and Administrative Agreement and Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement with the investment adviser or sub-adviser continues in effect from year to year so long as such continuance is approved at least annually (i) by the vote of a majority of the noninterested Trustees of the Trust cast in person at a meeting specifically called for the purpose of voting on such approval and (ii) by the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. Each Agreement may be terminated at any time without penalty on sixty (60) days’ written notice by the Board of Trustees or either party, or by
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vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, and each Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment. Each Agreement provides that the investment adviser or sub-adviser may render services to others. Each Agreement also provides that the investment adviser or sub-adviser shall not be liable for any loss incurred in connection with the performance of its duties, or action taken or omitted under the Agreement, in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties thereunder, or for any losses sustained in the acquisition, holding or disposition of any security or other investment.
Information About Eaton Vance^ ^ . Eaton Vance is a^ business trust^ organized under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. EV serves as trustee of ^ Eaton Vance . EV and Eaton Vance are wholly-owned subsidiaries of EVC, a Maryland corporation and publicly-held holding company. BMR is an indirect subsidiary of EVC. EVC through its subsidiaries and affiliates engages primarily in investment management, administration and marketing activities. The Directors of EVC are Thomas E. Faust Jr., Ann E. Berman, Leo I. Higdon, Jr., Dorothy E. Puhy, Duncan W. Richardson, Winthrop H. Smith, Jr. and Richard A. Spillane, Jr. All shares of the outstanding Voting Common Stock of EVC are deposited in a Voting Trust, the Voting Trustees of which are Mr. Faust, Jeffrey P. Beale, Cynthia J. Clemson, Maureen A. Gemma, Brian D. Langstraat, Michael R. Mach, Frederick S. Marius, David C. McCabe, Thomas M. Metzold, Scott H. Page, Mr. Richardson, Walter A. Row, III, ^Judith A. Saryan, David M. Stein, Payson F. Swaffield, Mark S. Venezia, Michael W. Weilheimer, Robert J. Whelan and Matthew J. Witkos (all of whom are officers of Eaton Vance or its affiliates). The Voting Trustees have unrestricted voting rights for the election of Directors of EVC. All of the outstanding voting trust receipts issued under said Voting Trust are owned by certain of the officers of ^ Eaton Vance who are also officers, or officers and Directors of EVC and EV. As indicated under “Management and Organization,” all of the officers of the Trust (as well as Mr. Faust who is also a Trustee) hold positions in the Eaton Vance organization.
Code of Ethics. The investment adviser, sub-advis^ e r , principal underwriter, and the Fund have adopted Codes of Ethics governing personal securities transactions. Under the Codes, employees of ^ the investment adviser, the sub-adviser and the principal underwriter may purchase and sell securities (including securities held or eligible for purchase by ^ the Fund) subject to the provisions of the Codes and certain employees are also subject to pre-clearance, reporting requirements and other procedures.
Information About Atlanta Capital. Atlanta Capital, a majority-owned affiliate of EVC, is an Atlanta, Georgia based equity and fixed income manager with a primary focus on separate account management for institutional clients. At September 30, 2011, Atlanta Capital’s assets under management totaled approximately $11 billion. Atlanta Capital was founded in 1969 as a registered investment adviser.
Portfolio Managers. The members of the portfolio management team (each referred to as a “portfolio manager”) of the Fund are listed below. Each portfolio manager manages other investment companies and/or investment accounts in addition to the Fund. The following tables show, as of ^ October 31, 2011, the number of accounts each portfolio manager managed in each of the listed categories and the total assets (in millions of dollars) in the accounts managed within each category. The table s also show^ the number of accounts with respect to which the advisory fee is based on the performance of the account, if any, and the total assets (in millions of dollars) in those accounts.
Number of | Total Assets of | Number of Accounts | Total Assets of Accounts | |
All Accounts | All Accounts | Paying a Performance Fee | Paying a Performance Fee | |
William O. Bell, IV | ||||
Registered Investment Companies | 1 ^ | $1,632.7 | 0 ^ | $0 |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 3 ^ | $ 137.7 | 0 ^ | $0 |
Other Accounts (1) | 126 ^ | $1,952.1 | 0 ^ | $0 |
W. Matthew Hereford | ||||
Registered Investment Companies | 1 ^ | $1,632.7 | 0 ^ | $0 |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 3 ^ | $ 132.7 | 0 ^ | $0 |
Other Accounts (1) | 126 ^ | $1,952.1 | 0 ^ | $0 |
^ | ||||
Charles B. Reed | ||||
Registered Investment Companies | 1 ^ | $1,632.7 | 0 ^ | $0 |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 3 ^ | $ 132.7 | 0 ^ | $0 |
Other Accounts (1) | 126 ^ | $1,952.1 | 0 ^ | $0 |
^ |
(1) | For “Other Accounts” that are part of a wrap account program, the number of accounts cited includes the number of sponsors for which the portfolio manager provides management services rather than the number of individual customer accounts within each wrap account program. |
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None of the portfolio managers beneficially owned shares of the Fund since the Fund has not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI. The following table shows the dollar range of shares of the Fund beneficially owned by its portfolio manager(s) in the Eaton Vance Family of Funds as of December 31, 2010.
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity | ||
Dollar Range of Equity Securities | Securities Owned in all Registered Funds in | |
Portfolio Managers | Owned in the Fund | the Eaton Vance Family of Funds |
William O. Bell, IV | None | $100,001 - $500,000 |
^ | ||
W. Matthew Hereford | None | $100,001 - $500,000 |
^ | ||
Charles B. Reed | None | $500,001 - $1,000,000 |
It is possible that conflicts of interest may arise in connection with a portfolio manager’s management of the Fund’s investments on the one hand and the investments of other accounts for which the portfolio manager is responsible ^on the other. For example, a portfolio manager may have conflicts of interest in allocating management time, resources and investment opportunities among the Fund and other accounts he advises. In addition , due to differences in the investment strategies or restrictions between the Fund and the other accounts, a portfolio manager may take action with respect to another account that differs from the action taken with respect to the Fund. In some cases, another account managed by a portfolio manager may compensate the investment adviser based on the performance of the securities held by that account. The existence of such a performance based fee may create additional conflicts of interest for the portfolio manager in the allocation of management time, resources and investment opportunities. Whenever conflicts of interest arise, the portfolio manager will endeavor to exercise his discretion in a manner that he believes is equitable to all interested persons. The investment adviser has adopted several policies and procedures designed to address these potential conflicts including a code of ethics and policies that govern the investment adviser’s trading practices, including among other things the aggregation and allocation of trades among clients, brokerage allocation, cross trades and best execution.^
Compensation Structure for Atlanta Capital. Compensation of Atlanta Capital portfolio managers and other investment professionals has three primary components: (1) a base salary, (2) an annual cash bonus, and (3) annual stock-based compensation consisting of options to purchase shares of EVC’s nonvoting common ^ stock, restricted shares of EVC’s nonvoting common stock, and , for certain individuals, grants of profit participation interests in Atlanta ^ C apital. Investment professionals also receive certain retirement, insurance and other benefits that are broadly available to Atlanta Capital employees. Compensation of Atlanta Capital investment professionals is reviewed primarily on an annual basis. Cash bonuses, stock-based compensation awards, and adjustments in base salary are typically paid or put into effect at or shortly after the October 31st fiscal year end of EVC.
Method to Determine Compensation. Atlanta Capital compensates its portfolio managers based primarily on the scale and complexity of their portfolio responsibilities and the ^performance of managed funds and accounts. Each portfolio manager is evaluated based on the composite performance of funds and accounts in each product for which the individual serves on the portfolio management team. Performance is normally based on periods ending on the June ^ 30th preceding fiscal year end. The primary measures of management team performance are one-year, three-year, and five-year total return investment performance against product-specific benchmarks and peer groups. These factors are evaluated on an equal weighted basis. Fund performance is evaluated primarily against a peer group of funds as determined by Lipper, Inc. and/or Morningstar, Inc. For managers responsible for multiple funds and accounts or serving on multiple portfolio management teams, investment performance is evaluated on an aggregate basis, based on averages or weighted averages among the managed funds and accounts. The performance of accounts for which Atlanta Capital is paid a performance - based incentive fee is not considered separately or accorded disproportionate weightings in determining portfolio manager incentive compensation.
The compensation of portfolio managers with other job responsibilities (such as heading an investment group or providing analytical support to other portfolios) will include consideration of the scope of such responsibilities and the managers’ performance in meeting them.
Atlanta Capital seeks to compensate portfolio managers commensurate with their responsibilities and performance, and competitive with other firms within the investment management industry. ^ Atlanta Capital utilizes industry survey data as a factor in determining salary, bonus and stock-based compensation levels for portfolio managers and other investment professionals. Salaries, bonuses and stock-based compensation are also influenced by the operating performance of Atlanta Capital and its parent company. The size of the overall incentive compensation pool is determined each year by Atlanta Capital’s management team in consultation with
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EVC and depends primarily on Atlanta Capital’s profitability for the year. While the salaries of Atlanta Capital portfolio managers are comparatively fixed, cash bonuses and stock-based compensation may fluctuate ^ substantially from year to year, based on changes in manager performance and other factors as described herein.
Administrative Services . Eaton Vance also provides administrative services to the Fund. Under its Investment Advisory and Administrative Agreement, Eaton Vance has been engaged to administer the Funds affairs, subject to the supervision of the Trustees of the Trust, and shall furnish office space and all necessary office facilities, equipment and personnel for administering the affairs of the Fund.
Sub-Transfer Agency Services. Eaton Vance also serves as sub-transfer agent for the Fund. As sub-transfer agent, Eaton Vance performs the following services directly on behalf of the Fund: (1) provides call center services to financial intermediaries and shareholders; (2) answers written inquiries related to shareholder accounts (matters relating to portfolio management, distribution of shares and other management policy questions will be referred to the Fund); (3) furnishes an SAI to any shareholder who requests one in writing or by telephone from the Fund; and (4) processes transaction requests received via telephone. For the sub-transfer agency services it provides, Eaton Vance receives an aggregate annual fee equal to the lesser of $2.5 million or the actual expenses incurred by Eaton Vance in the performance of those services. This fee is paid to Eaton Vance by the Fund’s transfer agent from fees it receives from the Eaton Vance funds . The Fund will pay a pro rata share of such fee.
Expenses. The Fund is responsible for all expenses not expressly stated to be payable by another party (such as expenses required to be paid pursuant to an agreement with the investment adviser, the principal underwriter or the administrator ). In the case of expenses incurred by the Trust, the Fund is responsible for its pro rata share of those expenses. The only expenses of the Fund allocated to a particular class are those incurred under the Distribution Plan applicable to that class (if any) and certain other class-specific expenses.
OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS
Principal Underwriter. Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. (“EVD”), Two International Place, Boston, MA 02110 is the principal underwriter of the Fund. The principal underwriter acts as principal in selling shares under a Distribution Agreement with the Trust. The expenses of printing copies of prospectuses used to offer shares and other selling literature and of advertising are borne by the principal underwriter. The fees and expenses of qualifying and registering and maintaining qualifications and registrations of the Fund and its shares under federal and state securities laws are borne by the Fund. The Distribution Agreement is renewable annually by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (including a majority of the noninterested Trustees who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Distribution Agreement or any applicable Distribution Plan), may be terminated on sixty days’ notice either by such Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding Fund shares or on six months’ notice by the principal underwriter and is automatically terminated upon assignment. The principal underwriter distributes shares on a “best efforts” basis under which it is required to take and pay for only such shares as may be sold. EVD is a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of EVC. Mr. Faust is a Director of EVD.
Custodian. State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”), 200 Clarendon Street, Boston, ^ MA 02116, serves as custodian to the Fund. State Street has custody of all cash and securities of the Fund, maintains the general ledger of the Fund and computes the daily net asset value of shares of the Fund. In such capacity it attends to details in connection with the sale, exchange, substitution, transfer or other dealings with the Fund’s investments, receives and disburses all funds and performs various other ministerial duties upon receipt of proper instructions from the Trust. State Street ^provides services in connection with the preparation of shareholder reports and the electronic filing of such reports with the SEC. EVC and its affiliates and their officers and employees from time to time have transactions with various banks, including State Street. It is Eaton Vance’s opinion that the terms and conditions of such transactions were not and will not be influenced by existing or potential custodial or other relationships between the Fund and such banks.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. Deloitte & Touche LLP, 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116, is the independent registered public accounting firm of the Fund , providing audit and related services, assistance and consultation with respect to the preparation of filings with the SEC.
Transfer Agent. BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., P.O. Box 9653, Providence, RI 02940-9653, serves as transfer and dividend disbursing agent for the Fund.
CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
The net asset value of the Fund is determined by State Street (as agent and custodian) by subtracting the liabilities of the Fund from the value of its total assets. The Fund is closed for business and will not ^ issue a net asset value on the following business holidays and any other business day that the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”) is closed: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
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SAI dated December 30, 2011
The Board of Trustees has approved procedures pursuant to which investments are valued for purposes of determining the Fund’s net asset value. Listed below is a summary of the methods generally used to value investments ^ ( some or all of which may be held by the Fund) under the procedures.
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Equity securities (including common stock, exchange traded funds, closed end funds, preferred equity securities, exchange traded notes and other instruments that trade on recognized stock exchanges) are valued at the last sale, official close or if there are no reported sales at the mean between the bid and asked price on the primary exchange on which they are traded. |
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Most debt obligations are valued on the basis of market valuations furnished by a pricing service or at the mean of the bid and asked prices provided by recognized broker/dealers of such securities. The pricing service may use a pricing matrix to determine valuation. |
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Short-term obligations and money market securities maturing in sixty days or less typically are valued at amortized cost which approximates value. |
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Foreign securities and currencies are valued in U.S. dollars based on foreign currency exchange quotations supplied by a pricing service. |
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Senior and Junior Loans are valued on the basis of prices furnished by a pricing service. The pricing service uses transactions and market quotations from brokers in determining values. |
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Most seasoned fixed-rate 30 year MBS are valued by Eaton Vance using a matrix pricing system, which takes into account bond prices, yield differentials, anticipated prepayments and interest rates provided by dealers. |
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Futures contracts are valued at the settlement or closing price on the primary exchange or board of trade on which they are traded. |
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Exchange-traded options are valued at the mean of the bid and asked prices. Over-the-counter options are valued based on quotations obtained from a pricing service or from a broker (typically the counterparty to the option). |
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Non-exchange traded derivatives (including swap agreements, forward contracts and equity participation notes) are generally valued on the basis of valuations provided by a pricing service or using quotes provided by a broker/dealer (typically the counterparty). |
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Precious metals are valued are valued at the New York Composite mean quotation. |
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Liabilities with a payment or maturity date of 364 days or less are stated at their principal value and longer dated liabilities generally will be carried at their fair value. |
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Valuations of foreign securities may be adjusted from prices in effect at the close of trading on foreign exchanges to more accurately reflect their fair value as of the close of regular trading on the Exchange. Such fair valuations may be based on information provided by a pricing service. |
Investments which are unable to be valued in accordance with the foregoing methodologies are valued at fair value using methods determined in good faith by or at the direction of the Trustees. Such methods may include consideration of relevant factors, including but not limited to (i) the type of security, the existence of any contractual restrictions on the security’s disposition, (ii) the price and extent of public trading in similar securities of the issuer or of comparable companies or entities, (iii) quotations or relevant information obtained from broker-dealers or other market participants, (iv) information obtained from the issuer, analysts, and/or the appropriate stock exchange (for exchange-traded securities), (v) an analysis of the company’s or entity’s financial condition, (vi) an evaluation of the forces that influence the issuer and the market(s) in which the security is purchased and sold^ . (vii) an analysis of the terms of any transaction involving the issuer of such securities; and (viii) any other factors deemed relevant by the investment adviser. The portfolio managers of one Eaton Vance fund that invests in Senior and Junior Loans may not possess the same information about a Senior or Junior Loan as the portfolio managers of another Eaton Vance fund. As such, at times the fair value of a Loan determined by certain Eaton Vance portfolio managers may vary from the fair value of the same Loan determined by other portfolio managers.
PURCHASING AND REDEEMING SHARES
Additional Information About Purchases. Fund shares are offered for sale only in states where they are registered. Fund shares are continuously offered through financial intermediaries which have entered into agreements with the principal underwriter. Shares of the Fund are sold at the offering price, which is the net asset value plus the initial sales charge, if any. The Fund receives the net asset value. The principal underwriter receives the sales charge, all or a portion of which may be reallowed to the financial intermediaries responsible for selling Fund shares. The sales charge table in the Prospectus is applicable to purchases of the Fund alone or in combination with purchases of certain other funds offered by the principal underwriter, made at a single time by^ (i) an individual, or an individual, his or her spouse and their children under the age of twenty-one, purchasing shares for his or their
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SAI dated December 30, 2011
own account, and (ii) a trustee or other fiduciary purchasing shares for a single trust estate or a single fiduciary account. The table is also presently applicable to (1) purchases of Class A shares pursuant to a written Statement of Intention; or (2) purchases of Class A shares pursuant to the Right of Accumulation and declared as such at the time of purchase. See “Sales Charges”.
In connection with employee benefit or other continuous group purchase plans, the Fund may accept initial investments of less than the minimum investment amount on the part of an individual participant. In the event a shareholder who is a participant of such a plan terminates participation in the plan, his or her shares will be transferred to a regular individual account. However, such account will be subject to the right of redemption by the Fund as described below.
Class I Share Purchases. Class I shares are available for purchase by clients of financial intermediaries who (i) charge such clients an ongoing fee for advisory, investment, consulting or similar services, or (ii) have entered into an agreement with the principal underwriter to offer Class I shares through a no-load network or platform. Such clients may include individuals, corporations, endowments, foundations and qualified plans (including tax-deferred retirement plans and profit sharing plans). Class I shares also are offered to investment and institutional clients of Eaton Vance and its affiliates; certain persons affiliated with Eaton Vance and certain Fund service providers; current and retired Directors and Trustees of Eaton Vance funds; employees of Eaton Vance and its affiliates and such persons’ spouses, parents, siblings and lineal descendants and their beneficial accounts.
Suspension of Sales. The Trust may, in its absolute discretion, suspend, discontinue or limit the offering of one or more of its classes of shares at any time. In determining whether any such action should be taken, the Trust’s management intends to consider all relevant factors, including (without limitation) the size of the Fund or class, the investment climate and market conditions, the volume of sales and redemptions of shares . The Class A ^Distribution Plan^ may continue in effect and payments may be made under the Plan^ following any such suspension, discontinuance or limitation of the offering of shares; however, there is no contractual obligation to continue any Plan for any particular period of time. Suspension of the offering of shares would not, of course, affect a shareholder’s ability to redeem shares.
Additional Information About Redemptions. The right to redeem shares of the Fund can be suspended and the payment of the redemption price deferred when the Exchange is closed (other than for customary weekend and holiday closings), during periods when trading on the Exchange is restricted as determined by the SEC, or during any emergency as determined by the SEC which makes it impracticable for ^ the Fund to dispose of its securities or value its assets, or during any other period permitted by order of the SEC for the protection of investors.
Due to the high cost of maintaining small accounts, the Trust reserves the right to redeem accounts with balances of less than $750 . Prior to such a redemption, shareholders will be given 60 days’ written notice to make an additional purchase. However, no such redemption would be required by the Trust if the cause of the low account balance was a reduction in the net asset value of shares . No CDSC or redemption fees, if applicable, will be imposed with respect to such involuntary redemptions.
While normally payments will be made in cash for redeemed shares, the Trust, subject to compliance with applicable regulations, has reserved the right to pay the redemption price of shares of the Fund, either totally or partially, by a distribution in kind of readily marketable ^ securities. The securities so distributed would be valued pursuant to the valuation procedures described in this SAI. If a shareholder received a distribution in kind, the shareholder could incur brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash.
Systematic Withdrawal Plan. The transfer agent will send to the shareholder regular monthly or quarterly payments of any permitted amount designated by the shareholder based upon the value of the shares held. The checks will be drawn from share redemptions and hence, may require the recognition of taxable gain or loss. Income dividends and capital gains distributions in connection with withdrawal plan accounts will be credited at net asset value as of the record date for each distribution. Continued withdrawals in excess of current income will eventually use up principal, particularly in a period of declining market prices. A shareholder may not have a withdrawal plan in effect at the same time he or she has authorized Bank Automated Investing or is otherwise making regular purchases of Fund shares. The shareholder, the transfer agent or the principal underwriter may terminate the withdrawal plan at any time without penalty.
Other Information. The Fund’s net asset value per share is normally rounded to two decimal places. In certain situations (such as a merger, share split or a purchase or sale of shares that represents a significant portion of a share class), the administrator may determine to extend the calculation of the net asset value per share to additional decimal places to ensure that neither the value of the Fund nor a shareholder’s shares is diluted materially as the result of a purchase or sale or other transaction.^
SALES CHARGES
Dealer Commissions. The principal underwriter may, from time to time, at its own expense, provide additional incentives to financial intermediaries which employ registered representatives who sell Fund shares and/or shares of other funds distributed by the principal underwriter. In some instances, such additional incentives may be offered only to certain financial intermediaries whose representatives sell or are expected to sell significant amounts of shares. In addition, the principal underwriter may from time to
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SAI dated December 30, 2011
time increase or decrease the sales commissions payable to financial intermediaries. The principal underwriter may allow, upon notice to all financial intermediaries with whom it has agreements, discounts up to the full sales charge during the periods specified in the notice. During periods when the discount includes the full sales charge, such financial intermediaries may be deemed to be underwriters as that term is defined in the 1933 Act.
Purchases at Net Asset Value. Class A shares may be sold at net asset value to current and retired Directors and Trustees of Eaton Vance funds and portfolios; to clients (including custodial, agency, advisory and trust accounts) and current and retired officers and employees of Eaton Vance, its affiliates and other investment advisers and sub-advisers of Eaton Vance sponsored funds; and to such persons’ spouses, parents, siblings and lineal descendants and their beneficial accounts. Such shares may also be issued at net asset value (1) in connection with the merger (or similar transaction) of an investment company (or series or class thereof) or personal holding company with the Fund (or class thereof), (2) to investors making an investment as part of a fixed fee program whereby an entity unaffiliated with the investment adviser provides investment services, such as management, brokerage and custody, (3) to investment advisors, financial planners or other intermediaries who place trades for their own accounts or the accounts of their clients and who charge a management, consulting or similar ongoing fee for their services; clients of such investment advisors, financial planners or other intermediaries who place trades for their own accounts if the accounts are linked to the master account of such investment advisor, financial planner or other intermediary on the books and records of the broker or agent; financial intermediaries who have entered into an agreement with the principal underwriter to offer Class A shares through a no-load network or platform^ and to retirement and deferred compensation plans and trusts used to fund those plans, including, but not limited to, those defined in Section 401(a), 403(b) or 457 of the Code and “rabbi trusts” , (4) to officers and employees of the Fund’s custodian and transfer agent^ and (5) in connection with the ReFlow liquidity program. Class A shares may also be sold at net asset value to registered representatives and employees of financial intermediaries. Sales charges generally are waived because either (i) there is no sales effort involved in the sale of shares or (ii) the investor is paying a fee (other than the sales charge) to the financial intermediary involved in the sale. Any new or revised sales charge or CDSC waiver will be prospective only.
Waiver of Investment Minimums. In addition to waivers described in the Prospectus, minimum investment amounts are waived for current and retired Directors and Trustees of Eaton Vance funds and portfolios, clients (including custodial, agency, advisory and trust accounts), current and retired officers and employees of Eaton Vance, its affiliates and other investment advisers and sub-advisers of Eaton Vance sponsored funds, and for such persons’ spouses, parents, siblings and lineal descendants and their beneficial accounts. The minimum initial investment amount is also waived for officers and employees of the Fund’s custodian and transfer agent. Investments in ^ a Fund by ReFlow in connection with the Re^ f low liquidity program are also not subject to the minimum investment amount.
Statement of Intention. If it is anticipated that $50,000 or more of Class A shares and shares of other funds exchangeable for Class A shares of another Eaton Vance fund will be purchased within a 13-month period, the Statement of Intention section of the account application should be completed so that shares may be obtained at the same reduced sales charge as though the total quantity were invested in one lump sum. Shares eligible for the right of accumulation (see below) as of the date of the Statement and purchased during the 13-month period will be included toward the completion of the Statement. If you make a Statement of Intention, the transfer agent is authorized to hold in escrow sufficient shares (5% of the dollar amount specified in the Statement) which can be redeemed to make up any difference in sales charge on the amount intended to be invested and the amount actually invested. A Statement of Intention does not obligate the shareholder to purchase or the Fund to sell the full amount indicated in the Statement.
If the amount actually purchased during the 13-month period is less than that indicated in the Statement, the shareholder will be requested to pay the difference between the sales charge applicable to the shares purchased and the sales charge paid under the Statement of Intention. If the payment is not received in 20 days, the appropriate number of escrowed shares will be redeemed in order to realize such difference. If the total purchases during the 13-month period are large enough to qualify for a lower sales charge than that applicable to the amount specified in the Statement, all transactions will be computed at the expiration date of the Statement to give effect to the lower sales charge. Any difference will be refunded to the shareholder in cash or applied to the purchase of additional shares, as specified by the shareholder. This refund will be made by the financial intermediary and the principal underwriter. If at the time of the recomputation, the financial intermediary for the account has changed, the adjustment will be made only on those shares purchased through the current financial intermediary for the account. If the sales charge rate changes during the 13-month period, all shares purchased or charges assessed after the date of such change will be subject to the then applicable sales charge.
Right of Accumulation. Under the right of accumulation, the applicable sales charge level is calculated by aggregating the dollar amount of the current purchase and the value (calculated at the maximum current offering price) of shares owned by the shareholder. Class A shares of Eaton Vance U.S. Government Money Market Fund cannot be accumulated for purposes of this privilege. The sales charge on the shares being purchased will then be applied at the rate applicable to the aggregate. Share purchases eligible for the right of accumulation are described under “Sales Charges” in the Prospectus. For any such discount to be made available at the time of purchase a purchaser or his or her financial intermediary must provide the principal underwriter (in the case
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SAI dated December 30, 2011
of a purchase made through a financial intermediary) or the transfer agent (in the case of an investment made by mail) with sufficient information to permit verification that the purchase order qualifies for the accumulation privilege. Confirmation of the order is subject to such verification. The right of accumulation privilege may be amended or terminated at any time as to purchases occurring thereafter.
Tax-Deferred Retirement Plans. Shares may be available for purchase in connection with certain tax-deferred retirement plans. Detailed information concerning these plans, including certain exceptions to minimum investment requirements, and copies of the plans are available from the principal underwriter. This information should be read carefully and consulting with an attorney or tax adviser may be advisable. The information sets forth the service fee charged for retirement plans and describes the federal income tax consequences of establishing a plan. Participant accounting services (including trust fund reconciliation services) will be offered only through third party recordkeepers and not by the principal underwriter. Under all plans, dividends and distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional shares.
Distribution Plans
The Trust has in effect a compensation-type Distribution Plan for Class A shares (the “Class A Plan”) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The Class A Plan is designed to^ (i) finance activities which are primarily intended to result in the distribution and sales of Class A shares and to make payments in connection with the distribution of such shares and (ii) pay service fees for personal services and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts to the principal underwriter, financial intermediaries and other persons. The distribution and service fees payable under the Class A Plan shall not exceed 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to Class A shares for any fiscal year. Class A distribution and service fees are paid monthly in arrears . For the distribution and service fees paid by Class A shares, see Appendix ^ A. ^
The Trustees of the Trust believe that the Plan will be a significant factor in the expected growth of the Fund’s assets, and will result in increased investment flexibility and advantages which have benefitted and will continue to benefit the Fund and its shareholders. The Eaton Vance organization may profit by reason of the operation of a Plan through an increase in Fund assets and if at any point in time the aggregate amounts received by the principal underwriter pursuant to a Plan exceeds the total expenses incurred in distributing Fund shares. Because payments to the principal underwriter under the Plan are limited, uncovered distribution charges, if applicable, (sales expenses of the principal underwriter plus interest, less the above fees and CDSCs received by it) may exist indefinitely. For sales commissions, CDSCs and uncovered distribution charges, if applicable, see Appendix A. ^
A Plan continues in effect from year to year so long as such continuance is approved at least annually by the vote of both a majority of (i) the noninterested Trustees of the Trust who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or any agreements related to the Plan (the “Plan Trustees”) and (ii) all of the Trustees then in office. A Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the Plan Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the applicable Class. Quarterly Trustee review of a written report of the amount expended under the Plan and the purposes for which such expenditures were made is required. A Plan may not be amended to increase materially the payments described therein without approval of the shareholders of the affected Class and the Trustees. So long as a Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of the noninterested Trustees shall be committed to the discretion of such Trustees. The Trustees, including the Plan Trustees, initially approved the current Plan(s) on December 12, 2011. Any Trustee of the Trust who is an “interested” person of the Trust has an indirect financial interest in a Plan because his or her employer (or affiliates thereof) receives distribution and/or service fees under the Plan or agreements related thereto. ^
^
PERFORMANCE
Performance Calculations. Average annual total return before deduction of taxes (“pre-tax return”) is determined by multiplying a hypothetical initial purchase order of $1,000 by the average annual compound rate of return (including capital appreciation/depreciation, and distributions paid and reinvested) for the stated period and annualizing the result. The calculation assumes^ (i) that all distributions are reinvested at net asset value on the reinvestment dates during the period, (ii) the deduction of the maximum of any initial sales charge from the initial $1,000 purchase, (iii) a complete redemption of the investment at the end of the period, and (iv) the deduction of any applicable CDSC at the end of the period.
Average annual total return after the deduction of taxes on distributions is calculated in the same manner as pre-tax return except the calculation assumes that any federal income taxes due on distributions are deducted from the distributions before they are reinvested. Average annual total return after the deduction of taxes on distributions and taxes on redemption also is calculated in the same manner as pre-tax return except the calculation assumes that^ (i) any federal income taxes due on distributions are deducted from the distributions before they are reinvested and (ii) any federal income taxes due upon redemption are deducted at the end of the period. After-tax returns are based on the highest federal income tax rates in effect for individual taxpayers as of the time of each assumed distribution and redemption (taking into account their tax character), and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. In calculating after-tax returns, the net value of any federal income tax credits available to shareholders is applied to reduce
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SAI dated December 30, 2011
federal income taxes payable on distributions at or near year-end and, to the extent the net value of such credits exceeds such distributions, is then assumed to be reinvested in additional Fund shares at net asset value on the last day of the fiscal year in which the credit was generated or, in the case of certain tax credits, on the date on which the year-end distribution is paid. For pre-tax and after-tax total return information, see Appendix A and Appendix B.
In addition to the foregoing total return figures, the Fund may provide pre-tax and after-tax annual and cumulative total return, as well as the ending redeemable cash value of a hypothetical investment. If shares are subject to a sales charge, total return figures may be calculated based on reduced sales charges or at net asset value. These returns would be lower if the full sales charge was imposed. After-tax returns may also be calculated using different tax rate assumptions and taking into account state and local income taxes as well as federal taxes .
Yield is computed pursuant to a standardized formula by dividing the net investment income per share earned during a recent thirty-day period by the maximum offering price (including the maximum of any initial sales charge) per share on the last day of the period and annualizing the resulting figure. Yield figures do not reflect the deduction of any applicable CDSC, but assume the maximum of any initial sales charge. Actual yield may be affected by variations in sales charges on investments.
Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings and Related Information. The Board of Trustees has adopted policies and procedures (the “Policies”) with respect to the disclosure of information about portfolio holdings of the Fund. See the Fund’s Prospectus for information on disclosure made in filings with the SEC and/or posted on the Eaton Vance website and disclosure of certain portfolio characteristics. Pursuant to the Policies, information about portfolio holdings of the Fund may also be disclosed as follows:
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Confidential disclosure for a legitimate Fund purpose: Portfolio holdings may be disclosed, from time to time as necessary, for a legitimate business purpose of the Fund, believed to be in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders, provided there is a duty or an agreement that the information be kept confidential. Any such confidentiality agreement includes provisions intended to impose a duty not to trade on the non-public information. The Policies permit disclosure of portfolio holdings information to the following: 1) affiliated and unaffiliated service providers that have a legal or contractual duty to keep such information confidential, such as employees of the investment adviser (including portfolio managers and, in the case of a Portfolio, the portfolio manager of any account that invests in the Portfolio), the administrator, custodian, transfer agent, principal underwriter, etc. described herein and in the Prospectus; 2) other persons who owe a fiduciary or other duty of trust or confidence to the Fund (such as Fund legal counsel and independent registered public accounting firm); or 3) persons to whom the disclosure is made in advancement of a legitimate business purpose of the Fund and who have expressly agreed in writing to maintain the disclosed information in confidence and to use it only in connection with the legitimate business purpose underlying the arrangement. To the extent applicable to an Eaton Vance fund, such persons may include securities lending agents which may receive information from time to time regarding selected holdings which may be loaned by a Fund, in the event a Fund is rated, credit rating agencies (Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group), analytical service providers engaged by the investment adviser (Advent, Bloomberg L.P., Evare, Factset, McMunn Associates, Inc. and The Yield Book, Inc.), proxy evaluation vendors (Institutional Shareholder Servicing Inc.), pricing services (TRPS Mark-to-Market Pricing Service, WM Company Reuters Information Services and Non-Deliverable Forward Rates Service, Pricing Direct, FT Interactive Data Corp., Standard & Poor’s Securities Evaluation Service, Inc., SuperDerivatives and Stat Pro.), which receive information as needed to price a particular holding, translation services, lenders under Fund credit facilities (Citibank, N.A. and its affiliates), consultants and other product evaluators (Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC) and, for purposes of facilitating portfolio transactions, financial intermediaries and other intermediaries (national and regional municipal bond dealers and mortgage-backed securities dealers). These entities receive portfolio information on an as needed basis in order to perform the service for which they are being engaged. If required in order to perform their duties, this information will be provided in real time or as soon as practical thereafter. Additional categories of disclosure involving a legitimate business purpose may be added to this list upon the authorization of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. In addition, in connection with a redemption in kind, the redeeming shareholder may be required to agree to keep the information about the securities to be so distributed confidential, except to the extent necessary to dispose of the securities. |
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Historical portfolio holdings information:^ From time to time, the Fund may be requested to provide historic portfolio holdings information or certain characteristics of portfolio holdings that have not been made public previously. In such case, the requested information may be provided if: the information is requested for due diligence or another legitimate purpose; the requested portfolio holdings or portfolio characteristics are for a period that is no more recent than the date of the portfolio holdings or portfolio characteristics posted to the Eaton Vance website; and the dissemination of the requested information is reviewed and approved in accordance with the Policies. |
The Fund , the investment adviser , sub-adviser and principal underwriter will not receive any monetary or other consideration in connection with the disclosure of information concerning the Fund’s portfolio holdings.
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SAI dated December 30, 2011
The Policies may not be waived, or exception made, without the consent of the C hief C ompliance O fficer (“CCO”) of the Fund. The CCO may not waive or make exception to the Policies unless such waiver or exception is consistent with the intent of the Policies, which is to ensure that disclosure of portfolio information is in the best interest of Fund shareholders. In determining whether to permit a waiver of or exception to the Policies, the CCO will consider whether the proposed disclosure serves a legitimate purpose of the Fund, whether it could provide the recipient with an advantage over Fund shareholders or whether the proposed disclosure gives rise to a conflict of interest between the Fund’s shareholders and its investment adviser, principal underwriter or other affiliated person. The CCO will report all waivers of or exceptions to the Policies to the Trustees at their next meeting. The Trustees may impose additional restrictions on the disclosure of portfolio holdings information at any time.
The Policies are designed to provide useful information concerning the Fund to existing and prospective Fund shareholders while at the same time inhibiting the improper use of portfolio holdings information in trading Fund shares and/or portfolio securities held by the Fund . However, there can be no assurance that the provision of any portfolio holdings information is not susceptible to inappropriate uses (such as the development of “market timing” models), particularly in the hands of highly sophisticated investors, or that it will not in fact be used in such ways beyond the control of the Fund .
TAXES
The following is a summary of some of the tax consequences affecting the Fund and its shareholders. The summary does not address all of the special tax rules applicable to certain classes of investors, such as IRAs and other retirement plans, tax-exempt entities, foreign investors, insurance companies and financial institutions. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisors with respect to special tax rules that may apply in their particular situations, as well as the federal, state, local, and, where applicable, foreign tax consequences of investing in the Fund.
Taxation of the Fund. The Fund, as a series of the Trust, is treated as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes. The Fund has elected to be treated and intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Code. Accordingly, the Fund intends to satisfy certain requirements relating to sources of its income and diversification of its assets and to distribute substantially all of its net investment income (including tax-exempt income, if any) and net short-term and long-term capital gains (after reduction by any available capital loss carryforwards) in accordance with the timing requirements imposed by the Code, so as to maintain its RIC status and to avoid paying any federal income tax. If the Fund qualifies for treatment as a RIC and satisfies the above-mentioned distribution requirements, it will not be subject to federal income tax on income paid to its shareholders in the form of dividends or capital gain distributions. The Fund intends to qualify as a RIC for its current fiscal year .
The Fund also seeks to avoid payment of federal excise tax. However, if the Fund fails to distribute in a calendar year substantially all of its ordinary income for such year and substantially all of its capital gain net income for the one-year period ending October 31 (or later if the Fund is permitted to so elect and so elects), plus any retained amount from the prior year, the Fund will be subject to a 4% excise tax on the undistributed amounts. In order to avoid incurring a federal excise tax obligation, the Code requires that the Fund distribute (or be deemed to have distributed) by December 31 of each calendar year (i) at least 98% of its ordinary income (excluding tax-exempt income, if any) for such year, (ii) at least 98.2% of its capital gain net income (which is the excess of its realized capital gains over its realized capital losses), generally computed on the basis of the one-year period ending on October 31 of such year, after reduction by any available capital loss carryforwards, and (iii) 100% of any income and capital gains from the prior year (as previously computed) that was not paid out during such year and on which the Fund paid no federal income tax. If the Fund fails to meet these requirements it will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax on the undistributed amounts. Under current law, provided that the Fund qualifies as a RIC (and, where applicable, the Portfolio is treated as partnerships for Massachusetts and federal tax purposes), the Fund should not be liable for any income, corporate excise or franchise tax in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
If the Fund does not qualify as a RIC for any taxable year, the Fund’s taxable income will be subject to corporate income taxes, and all distributions from earnings and profits, including distributions of tax-exempt income and net capital gain (if any), will be taxable to the shareholder as dividend income. However, such distributions may be eligible (i) for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2013, to be treated as qualified dividend income in the case of shareholders taxed as individuals and (ii) for the dividends-received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders. In addition, in order to re-qualify for taxation as a RIC, the Fund may be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make substantial distributions.
In certain situations, the Fund may, for a taxable year, elect to defer all or a portion of its capital losses realized after October and net ordinary losses incurred after December until the next taxable year in computing its investment company taxable income and net capital gain, which will defer the recognition of such realized losses. Such deferrals and other rules regarding gains and losses realized after October may affect the tax character of shareholder distributions.
The Code contains a provision codifying the judicial economic substance doctrine, which has traditionally been used by courts to deny tax benefits for transactions that lack economic substance; a strict liability penalty is imposed for an understatement of tax liability due to a transaction’s lack of economic substance.
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Taxation of the Portfolio. If the Fund invests its assets in the Portfolio, the Portfolio normally must satisfy the applicable source of income and diversification requirements in order for the Fund to also satisfy these requirements. For federal income tax purposes, the Portfolio intends to be treated as a partnership that is not a “publicly traded partnership” and, as a result, will not be subject to federal income tax. The Fund, as an investor in the Portfolio, will be required to take into account in determining its federal income tax liability its share of such Portfolio’s income, gains, losses, deductions and credits, without regard to whether it has received any distributions from such Portfolio. The Portfolio will allocate at least annually among its investors, including the Fund, the Portfolio’s net investment income, net realized capital gains, and any other items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit. For purposes of applying the requirements of the Code regarding qualification as a RIC, the Fund (i) will be deemed to own its proportionate share of each of the assets of the Portfolio and (ii) will be entitled to the gross income of the Portfolio attributable to such share. Under current law, provided that the Portfolio is treated as partnerships for Massachusetts and federal tax purposes^, the Portfolio should not be liable for any income, corporate excise or franchise tax in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Taxation of the Subsidiary. To the extent described in the Prospectus, the Fund may invest in the Subsidiary. The Subsidiary is classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As described in the ^ p rospectus, the Fund has either applied for or received from the IRS a private ruling relating to the treatment of the income ^ allocated to the Fund from the Subsidiary for purposes of the Fund’s status as a “RIC” under the Code. Foreign corporations, such as the Subsidiary, will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income taxation unless they are deemed to be engaged in a U.S. trade or business. It is expected that the Subsidiary will conduct it activities in a manner so as to meet the requirements of a safe harbor under Section 864(b)(2) of the Code under which the Subsidiary may engage in trading in stocks or securities or certain commodities without being deemed to be engaged in a U.S. trade or business. However, if certain of the Subsidiary’s activities were determined not to be of the type described in the safe harbor (which is not expected), then the activities of the Subsidiary may constitute a U.S. trade or business, or be taxed as such.
The Subsidiary is treated as a controlled foreign corporation (“CFC”) for tax purposes and the Fund is treated as a “U.S. shareholder” of the Subsidiary. As a result, the Fund is required to include in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes all of ^ the Subsidiary’s “subpart F income,” whether or not such income is distributed by the Subsidiary. It is expected that all of the Subsidiary’s income will be “subpart F income.” The Fund’s recognition of ^ the Subsidiary’s “subpart F income” will increase the Fund’s tax basis in ^ the Subsidiary. ^ Allocations by the Subsidiary to the Fund will be tax-free, to the extent of its previously undistributed “subpart F income,” and will correspondingly reduce the Fund’s tax basis in the Subsidiary. “Subpart F income” is generally treated as ordinary income, regardless of the character of the Subsidiary’s underlying income. If a net loss is realized by the Subsidiary, such loss is not generally available to offset the income earned by the Fund.^
Tax Consequences of Certain Investments. The following summary of the tax consequences of certain types of investments applies to the Fund and the Portfolio, as appropriate. References in the following summary to “the Fund” are to any Fund or Portfolio that can engage in the particular practice as described in the ^ p rospectus or SAI.
Securities Acquired at Market Discount or with Original Issue Discount. Investment in securities acquired at a market discount, or in zero coupon, deferred interest, payment-in-kind and certain other securities with original issue discount, generally may cause the Fund to realize income prior to the receipt of cash payments with respect to these securities. Such income will be accrued daily by the Fund and, in order to avoid a tax payable by the Fund, the Fund may be required to liquidate securities that it might otherwise have continued to hold in order to generate cash so that the Fund may make required distributions to its shareholders. The Fund may elect to accrue market discount income on a daily basis.
Lower Rated or Defaulted Securities. Investments in securities that are at risk of, or are in, default present special tax issues for the Fund. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as when the Fund may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount or market discount, when and to what extent deductions may be taken for bad debts or worthless securities and how payments received on obligations in default should be allocated between principal and income.
Municipal Obligations. Any recognized gain or income attributable to market discount on long-term tax-exempt municipal obligations ( i.e. , obligations with a term of more than one year) purchased after April 30, 1993 (except to the extent of a portion of the discount attributable to original issue discount), is taxable as ordinary income. A long-term debt obligation is generally treated as acquired at a market discount if purchased after its original issue at a price less than (i) the stated principal amount payable at maturity, in the case of an obligation that does not have original issue discount or (ii) in the case of an obligation that does have original issue discount, the sum of the issue price and any original issue discount that accrued before the obligation was purchased, subject to a de minimis exclusion.
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From time to time proposals have been introduced before Congress for the purpose of restricting or eliminating the federal income tax exemption for interest on certain types of municipal obligations, and it can be expected that similar proposals may be introduced in the future. As a result of any such future legislation, the availability of municipal obligations for investment by the Fund and the value of the securities held by it may be affected. It is possible that events occurring after the date of issuance of municipal obligations, or after the Fund’s acquisition of such an obligation, may result in a determination that the interest paid on that obligation is taxable, even retroactively.
If the Fund seeks income exempt from state and/or local taxes, information about such taxes is contained in an appendix to this SAI (see the Table of Contents).
Tax Credit Bonds. If the Fund holds, directly or indirectly, one or more tax credit bonds (including Build America Bonds, clean renewable energy bonds and other qualified tax credit bonds) on one or more applicable dates during a taxable year and the Fund satisfies the minimum distribution requirement, the Fund may elect to permit its shareholders to claim a tax credit on their income tax returns equal to each shareholder‘s proportionate share of tax credits from the applicable bonds that otherwise would be allowed to the Fund. In such a case, shareholders must include in gross income (as interest) their proportionate share of the income attributable to their proportionate share of those offsetting tax credits. A shareholder‘s ability to claim a tax credit associated with one or more tax credit bonds may be subject to certain limitations imposed by the Code. Even if the Fund is eligible to pass through tax credits to shareholders, the Fund may choose not to do so.
Derivatives. The Fund’s investment s in options, futures contracts, hedging transactions, forward contracts (to the extent permitted) and certain other transactions may be subject to special tax rules (including mark-to-market, constructive sale, straddle, wash sale, short sale and other rules), the effect of which may be to accelerate income to the Fund, defer Fund losses, cause adjustments in the holding periods of Fund securities, convert capital gain into ordinary income and convert short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of Fund distributions.
Investments in so-called “section 1256 contracts,” such as regulated futures contracts, most foreign currency forward contracts traded in the interbank market and options on most stock indices, are subject to special tax rules. All section 1256 contracts held by the Fund at the end of its taxable year are required to be marked to their market value, and any unrealized gain or loss on those positions will be included in the Fund’s income as if each position had been sold for its fair market value at the end of the taxable year. The resulting gain or loss will be combined with any gain or loss realized by the Fund from positions in section 1256 contracts closed during the taxable year. Provided such positions were held as capital assets and were not part of a “hedging transaction” nor part of a “straddle,” 60% of the resulting net gain or loss will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss, and 40% of such net gain or loss will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss, regardless of the period of time the positions were actually held by the Fund.
Fund positions in index options that do not qualify as “section 1256 contracts” under the Code generally will be treated as equity options governed by Code Section 1234. Pursuant to Code Section 1234, if a written option expires unexercised, the premium received is short-term capital gain to the Fund. If the Fund enters into a closing transaction with respect to a written option, the difference between the premium received and the amount paid to close out its position is short-term capital gain or loss. If an option written by the Fund that is not a “section 1256 contract” is cash settled, any resulting gain or loss will be short-term capital gain. For an option purchased by the Fund that is not a “section 1256 contract” any gain or loss resulting from sale of the option will be a capital gain or loss, and will be short-term or long-term, depending upon the holding period for the option. If the option expires, the resulting loss is a capital loss and is short-term or long-term, depending upon the holding period for the option. If a put option written by the Fund is exercised and physically settled, the premium received is treated as a reduction in the amount paid to acquire the underlying securities, increasing the gain or decreasing the loss to be realized by the Fund upon sale of the securities. If a call option written by the Fund is exercised and physically settled, the premium received is included in the sale proceeds, increasing the gain or decreasing the loss realized by the Fund at the time of option exercise.
As a result of entering into swap contracts, the Fund may make or receive periodic net payments. The Fund may also make or receive a payment when a swap is terminated prior to maturity through an assignment of the swap or other closing transaction. Periodic net payments will generally constitute ordinary income or deductions, while termination of a swap will generally result in capital gain or loss (which will be a long-term capital gain or loss if the Fund has been a party to a swap for more than one year). With respect to certain types of swaps, the Fund may be required to currently recognize income or loss with respect to future payments on such swaps or may elect under certain circumstances to mark such swaps to market annually for tax purposes as ordinary income or loss. The tax treatment of many types of credit default swaps is uncertain.
Short Sales. In general, gain or loss on a short sale is recognized when the Fund closes the sale by delivering the borrowed property to the lender, not when the borrowed property is sold. Gain or loss from a short sale is generally considered to be capital gain or loss to the extent that the property used to close the short sale constitutes a capital asset in the Fund’s hands. Except with respect to certain situations where the property used to close a short sale has a long-term holding period on the date of the short sale, special rules generally treat the gains on short sales as short-term capital gains. These rules may also terminate the running of the holding period of “substantially identical property” held by the Fund. Moreover, a loss on a short sale will be treated as a long-term
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capital loss if, on the date of the short sale, “substantially identical property” has been held by the Fund for more than one year. In general, the Fund will not be permitted to deduct payments made to reimburse the lender of securities for dividends paid on borrowed stock if the short sale is closed on or before the 45th day after the short sale is entered.
Constructive Sales. The Fund may recognize gain (but not loss) from a constructive sale of certain “appreciated financial positions” if the Fund enters into a short sale, offsetting notional principal contract, or forward contract transaction with respect to the appreciated position or substantially identical property. Appreciated financial positions subject to this constructive sale treatment include interests (including options and forward contracts and short sales) in stock and certain other instruments. Constructive sale treatment does not apply if the transaction is closed out not later than thirty days after the end of the taxable year in which the transaction was initiated, and the underlying appreciated securities position is held unhedged for at least the next sixty days after the hedging transaction is closed.
Gain or loss on a short sale will generally not be realized until such time as the short sale is closed. However, as described above in the discussion of constructive sales, if the Fund holds a short sale position with respect to securities that have appreciated in value, and it then acquires property that is the same as or substantially identical to the property sold short, the Fund generally will recognize gain on the date it acquires such property as if the short sale were closed on such date with such property. Similarly, if the Fund holds an appreciated financial position with respect to securities and then enters into a short sale with respect to the same or substantially identical property, the Fund generally will recognize gain as if the appreciated financial position were sold at its fair market value on the date it enters into the short sale. The subsequent holding period for any appreciated financial position that is subject to these constructive sale rules will be determined as if such position were acquired on the date of the constructive sale.
Foreign Investments and Currencies. The Fund’s investments in foreign securities may be subject to foreign withholding taxes or other foreign taxes with respect to income (possibly including, in some cases, capital gains), which would decrease the Fund’s income on such securities. These taxes may be reduced or eliminated under the terms of an applicable U.S. income tax treaty. If more than 50% of ^Fund assets at year end consists of the debt and equity securities of foreign corporations, the Fund may elect to permit shareholders to claim a credit or deduction on their income tax returns for their pro rata portion of qualified taxes paid by the Fund to foreign countries. If the election is made, shareholders will include in gross income from foreign sources their pro rata share of such taxes. A shareholder’s ability to claim a foreign tax credit or deduction in respect of foreign taxes paid by the Fund may be subject to certain limitations imposed by the Code (including a holding period requirement applied at both the Fund and shareholder level), as a result of which a shareholder may not get a full credit or deduction for the amount of such taxes. In particular, the Fund must own the dividend-paying stock for more than 15 days during the 31-day period beginning 15 days prior to the ex-dividend date. Likewise, shareholders must hold their Fund shares (without protection from risk or loss) on the ex-dividend date and for at least 15 additional days during the 31-day period beginning 15 days prior to the ex-dividend date to be eligible to claim the foreign tax with respect to a given dividend. Shareholders who do not itemize deductions on their federal income tax returns may claim a credit (but no deduction) for such taxes. Individual shareholders subject to the alternative minimum tax (“AMT”) may not deduct such taxes for AMT purposes.
Transactions in foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated debt securities and certain foreign currency options, futures contracts, forward contracts and similar instruments (to the extent permitted) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency. Under Section 988 of the Code, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates between the time the Fund accrues income or receivables or expenses or other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time the Fund actually collects such income or pays such liabilities are generally treated as ordinary income or ordinary loss.
Investments in “passive foreign investment companies” (“PFICs”) could subject the Fund to U.S. federal income tax or other charges on certain distributions from such companies and on disposition of investments in such companies; however, the tax effects of such investments may be mitigated by making an election to mark such investments to market annually or treat the PFIC as a “qualified electing fund”. If the Fund were to invest in a PFIC and elect to treat the PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” under the Code, the Fund might be required to include in income each year a portion of the ordinary earnings and net capital gains of the qualified electing fund, even if not distributed to the Fund, and such amounts would be subject to the distribution requirements described above. In order to make this election, the Fund would be required to obtain certain annual information from the PFICs in which it invests, which may be difficult or impossible to obtain. Alternatively, if the Fund were to make a mark-to-market election with respect to a PFIC, the Fund would be treated as if it had sold and repurchased the PFIC stock at the end of each year. In such case, the Fund would report any such gains as ordinary income and would deduct any such losses as ordinary losses to the extent of previously recognized gains. This election must be made separately for each PFIC, and once made, would be effective for all subsequent taxable years unless revoked with the consent of the IRS. The Fund may be required to recognize income in excess of the distributions it receives from PFICs and its proceeds from dispositions of PFIC stock in any particular year. As a result, the Fund may have to distribute this “phantom” income and gain to satisfy the distribution requirement and to avoid imposition of the 4% excise tax.
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U.S. Government Securities. Distributions paid by the Fund that are derived from interest on obligations of the U.S. Government and certain of its agencies and instrumentalities (but generally not distributions of capital gains realized upon the disposition of such obligations) may be exempt from state and local income taxes. The Fund generally intends to advise shareholders of the extent, if any, to which its distributions consist of such interest. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisers regarding the possible exclusion of such portion of their dividends for state and local income tax purposes.
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). Any investment by the Fund in equity securities of a REIT qualifying as such under Subchapter M of the Code may result in the Fund‘s receipt of cash in excess of the REIT‘s earnings; if the Fund distributes these amounts, these distributions could constitute a return of capital to Fund shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Investments in REIT equity securities also may require the Fund to accrue and distribute income not yet received. To generate sufficient cash to make the requisite distributions, the Fund may be required to sell securities in its portfolio (including when it is not advantageous to do so) that it otherwise would have continued to hold. Dividends received by the Fund from a REIT will not qualify for the corporate dividends-received deduction and generally will not constitute qualified dividend income.
Inflation-Indexed Bonds. Periodic adjustments for inflation to the principal amount of an inflation-indexed bond may give rise to original issue discount, which will be includable in the Fund’s gross income (see “Securities Acquired at Market Discount or with Original Issue Discount” above). Also, if the principal value of an inflation-indexed bond is adjusted downward due to inflation, amounts previously distributed in the taxable year may be characterized in some circumstances as a return of capital (see “Taxation of Fund Shareholders” below).
Taxation of Fund Shareholders. Subject to the discussion of distributions of tax-exempt income below, Fund distributions of investment income and net gains from investments held for one year or less will be taxable as ordinary income. Fund distributions of any net gains from investments held for more than one year are taxable as long-term capital gains. Taxes on distributions of capital gains are determined by how long the Fund owned the investments that generated the gains, rather than how long a shareholder has owned his or her shares in the Fund. Dividends and distributions on the Fund’s shares are generally subject to federal income tax as described herein to the extent they are made out of the Fund’s earnings and profits, even though such dividends and distributions may economically represent a return of a particular shareholder’s investment. Such distributions are likely to occur in respect of shares purchased at a time when the Fund’s net asset value reflects gains that are either unrealized, or realized but not distributed. Such realized gains may be required to be distributed even when the Fund’s net asset value also reflects unrealized losses.
Distributions paid by the Fund during any period may be more or less than the amount of net investment income and capital gains actually earned during the period. If the Fund makes a distribution to a shareholder in excess of the Fund‘s current and accumulated earnings and profits in any taxable year, the excess distribution will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of such shareholder‘s tax basis in its shares, and thereafter as capital gain. A return of capital is not taxable, but it reduces a shareholder‘s tax basis in its shares, thus reducing any loss or increasing any gain on a subsequent taxable disposition by the shareholder of its shares.
Ordinarily, shareholders are required to take taxable distributions by the Fund into account in the year in which the distributions are made. However, for federal income tax purposes, dividends that are declared by the Fund in October, November or December as of a record date in such month and actually paid in January of the following year will be treated as if they were paid on December 31 of the year declared. Therefore, such dividends will generally be taxable to a shareholder in the year declared rather than in the year paid.
The amount of distributions payable by the Fund may vary depending on general economic and market conditions, the composition of investments, current management strategy and Fund operating expenses. The Fund will inform shareholders of the tax character of all distributions annually as required by applicable rules and regulations. The maximum rates for ordinary income and short-term capital gain are currently 35% and are scheduled to increase to 39.6%; for long-term gains the maximum rate is currently 15% and is scheduled to increase to 20% for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2013.
The Fund may elect to retain its net capital gain, in which case the Fund will be taxed thereon (except to the extent of any available capital loss carryovers) at the 35% corporate tax rate. In such a case, it is expected that the Fund also will elect to have shareholders of record on the last day of its taxable year treated as if each received a distribution of its pro rata share of such gain, with the result that each shareholder will be required to report its pro rata share of such gain on its tax return as long-term capital gain, will receive a refundable tax credit for its pro rata share of tax paid by the Fund on the gain, and will increase the tax basis for its shares by an amount equal to the deemed distribution less the tax credit.
Any Fund distribution, other than dividends that are declared by the Fund on a daily basis, will have the effect of reducing the per share net asset value of Fund shares by the amount of the distribution. If a shareholder buys shares when the Fund has unrealized or realized but not yet distributed ordinary income or capital gains, the shareholder will pay full price for the shares and then may receive a portion back as a taxable distribution even though such distribution may economically represent a return of the shareholder’s investment.
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Tax-Exempt Income. Distributions by the Fund of net tax-exempt interest income that are properly designated as “exempt-interest dividends” may be treated by shareholders as interest excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes under Section 103(a) of the Code. In order for the Fund to be entitled to pay the tax-exempt interest income as exempt-interest dividends to its shareholders, the Fund must satisfy certain requirements, including the requirement that, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, at least 50% of the value of its total assets consists of obligations the interest on which is exempt from regular federal income tax under Code Section 103(a). Interest on certain municipal obligations may be taxable for purposes of the federal AMT and for state and local purposes. In addition, corporate shareholders must include the full amount of exempt-interest dividends in computing the preference items for the purposes of the AMT. Fund shareholders are required to report tax-exempt interest on their federal income tax returns.
Tax-exempt distributions received from the Fund are taken into account in determining, and may increase, the portion of social security and certain railroad retirement benefits that may be subject to federal income tax. Interest on indebtedness incurred by a shareholder to purchase or carry Fund shares that distributes exempt-interest dividends will not be deductible for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If a shareholder receives exempt interest dividends with respect to any Fund share and if the share is held by the shareholder for six months or less, then any loss on the sale or exchange of the share may, to the extent of the exempt-interest dividends, be disallowed. Furthermore, a portion of any exempt-interest dividend paid by the Fund that represents income derived from certain revenue or private activity bonds held by the Fund may not retain its tax-exempt status in the hands of a shareholder who is a “substantial user” of a facility financed by such bonds, or a “related person” thereof. In addition, the receipt of dividends and distributions from the Fund may affect a foreign corporate shareholder’s federal “branch profits” tax liability and the federal “excess net passive income” tax liability of a shareholder of a Subchapter S corporation. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisors as to whether they are (i) “substantial users” with respect to a facility or “related” to such users within the meaning of the Code or (ii) subject to a federal alternative minimum tax, the federal “branch profits” tax, or the federal “excess net passive income” tax.
Qualified Dividend Income. For the taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2012, “qualified dividend income” received by an individual will be taxed at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain (currently at a maximum rate of 15%). In order for some portion of the dividends received by Fund shareholders to be qualified dividend income, the Fund must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to some portion of the dividend-paying stocks in its portfolio and the shareholder must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to the Fund’s shares. A dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income (1) if the dividend is received with respect to any share of stock held for fewer than 61 days during the 121-day period beginning at the date which is 60 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend (or, ^ in the case of certain preferred stock, 91 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date), (2) to the extent that the recipient is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property, (3) if the recipient elects to have the dividend income treated as investment interest, or (4) if the dividend is received from a foreign corporation that is (a) not eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the U.S. (with the exception of dividends paid on stock of such a foreign corporation readily tradable on an established securities market in the U.S.) or (b) treated as a passive foreign investment company. In general, distributions of investment income ^ reported by the Fund as derived from qualified dividend income will be treated as qualified dividend income by a shareholder taxed as an individual provided the shareholder meets the holding period and other requirements described above with respect to the Fund’s shares. In any event, if the aggregate qualified dividends received by the Fund during any taxable year are 95% or more of its gross income, then 100% of the Fund’s dividends (other than properly ^ reported capital gain dividends) will be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income. For this purpose, the only gain with respect to the sale of stocks and securities included in the term “gross income” is the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss.
Dividends Received Deduction for Corporations. A portion of distributions made by the Fund which are derived from dividends from U.S. corporations may qualify for the dividends-received deduction (“DRD”) for corporations. The DRD is reduced to the extent the Fund shares with respect to which the dividends are received are treated as debt-financed under the Code and is eliminated if the shares are deemed to have been held for less than a minimum period, generally more than 45 days during the 91-day period beginning 45 days before the ex-dividend date or if the recipient is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. Receipt of certain distributions qualifying for the DRD may result in reduction of the tax basis of the corporate shareholder’s shares. Distributions eligible for the DRD may give rise to or increase the alternative minimum tax for certain corporations.
Recognition of Unrelated Business Taxable Income by Tax-Exempt Shareholders. Under current law, tax-exempt investors generally will not recognize unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”) from distributions from the Fund. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a tax-exempt shareholder could recognize UBTI if shares in the Fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of a tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of Code section 514(b). In addition, certain types of income received by the Fund from REITs, real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMICs”), taxable mortgage pools or other investments may cause the Fund to designate some or all of its distributions as “excess inclusion income.” To Fund shareholders such excess inclusion income may: (1) constitute taxable income as UBTI for those shareholders who would otherwise be tax-exempt such as individual
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SAI dated December 30, 2011
retirement accounts, 401(k) accounts, Keogh plans, pension plans and certain charitable entities; (2) not be offset by otherwise allowable deductions for tax purposes; (3) not be eligible for reduced U.S. withholding for non-U.S. shareholders even from tax treaty countries; and (4) cause the Fund to be subject to tax if certain “disqualif i ed organizations” as defined by the Code are Fund shareholders.
Redemption or Exchange of Fund Shares. Generally, upon sale or exchange of Fund shares, a shareholder will realize a taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized and the basis in shares. Such gain or loss will be treated as capital gain or loss if the shares are capital assets in the shareholder’s hands, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares are held for more than one year, and short-term capital gain or loss if the shares are held for one year or less.
Any loss realized upon the sale or exchange of Fund shares with a tax holding period of six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any distributions treated as long-term capital gain with respect to such shares. In addition, all or a portion of a loss realized on a redemption or other disposition of Fund shares may be disallowed under “wash sale” rules to the extent the shareholder acquired other shares of the same Fund (whether through the reinvestment of distributions or otherwise) within the period beginning 30 days before the redemption of the loss shares and ending 30 days after such date. Any disallowed loss will result in an adjustment to the shareholder’s tax basis in some or all of the other shares acquired.
Sales charges paid upon a purchase of shares subject to a front-end sales charge cannot be taken into account for purposes of determining gain or loss on a redemption or exchange of the shares before the 91st day after their purchase to the extent a sales charge is reduced or eliminated in a subsequent acquisition of Fund shares (or shares of another fund) on or before January 31 of the following calendar year pursuant to the reinvestment or exchange privilege. Any disregarded amounts will result in an adjustment to the shareholder’s tax basis in some or all of any other shares acquired.
Applicability of Medicare Contribution Tax. The Code imposes a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax on unearned income of certain U.S. individuals, estates and trusts. For individuals, the tax is on the lesser of the “net investment income” and the excess of modified adjusted gross income over $200,000 (or $250,000 if married filing jointly). Net investment income includes interest, dividends, and gross income and capital gains derived from passive activities and trading in securities or commodities. Net investment income is reduced by deductions “properly allocable” to this income. This tax is effective with respect to amounts received, and taxable years beginning, after December 31, 2012.
Back-Up Withholding for U.S. Shareholders. Amounts paid by the Fund to individuals and certain other shareholders who have not provided the Fund with their correct taxpayer identification number (“TIN”) and certain certifications required by the IRS as well as shareholders with respect to whom the Fund has received certain information from the IRS or a broker, may be subject to “backup” withholding of federal income tax arising from the Fund’s taxable dividends and other distributions as well as the proceeds of redemption transactions (including repurchases and exchanges), at a rate of 28% for amounts paid through 2012. The backup withholding rate will be 31% for amounts paid thereafter. An individual’s TIN is generally his or her social security number. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amount withheld may be credited against a shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability.
Taxation of Foreign Shareholders. In general, dividends (other than capital gain dividends and exempt-interest dividends) paid to a shareholder that is not a “U.S. person” within the meaning of the Code (a “foreign person” or “foreign shareholder”) are subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate). The withholding tax does not apply to regular dividends paid to a foreign person who provides a Form W-8ECI, certifying that the dividends are effectively connected with the foreign person’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States. Instead, the effectively connected dividends will be subject to regular U.S. income tax as if the foreign person were a U.S. shareholder. A non-U.S. corporation receiving effectively connected dividends may also be subject to additional “branch profits tax” imposed at a rate of 30% (or lower treaty rate). A foreign person who fails to provide an IRS Form W-8BEN or other applicable form may be subject to backup withholding at the appropriate rate. A foreign shareholder would generally be exempt from U.S. federal income tax, including withholding tax, on gains realized on the sale of shares of the Fund, net capital gain dividends, exempt interest dividends, and amounts retained by the Fund that are reported as undistributed capital gains.
For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2012, properly-reported dividends are generally exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax where they (i) are paid in respect of the Fund’s “qualified net interest income” (generally, the Fund’s U.S. source interest income, other than certain contingent interest and interest from obligations of a corporation or partnership in which the Fund is at least a 10% shareholder, reduced by expenses that are allocable to such income) or (ii) are paid in respect of the Fund’s “qualified short-term capital gains” (generally, the excess of the Fund’s net short-term capital gain over the Fund’s long-term capital loss for such taxable year). However, depending on its circumstances, the Fund may report all, some or none of its potentially eligible dividends as such qualified net interest income or as qualified short-term capital gains and/or treat such dividends, in whole or in part, as ineligible for this exemption from withholding. In order to qualify for this exemption from withholding, a non-U.S. shareholder will need to comply with applicable certification requirements relating to its non-U.S. status (including, in general, furnishing an IRS Form
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
30
SAI dated December 30, 2011
W-8BEN or substitute Form). In the case of shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may withhold even if the Fund reports the payment as qualified net interest income or qualified short-term capital gain. Non-U.S. shareholders should contact their intermediaries with respect to the application of these rules to their accounts.
For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2012, distributions that the Fund reports as “short-term capital gain dividends” or “long-term capital gain dividends” will not be treated as such to a recipient foreign shareholder if the distribution is attributable to gain received from the sale or exchange of U.S. real property or an interest in a U.S. real property holding corporation and the Fund’s direct or indirect interests in U.S. real property exceeded certain levels. Instead, if the foreign shareholder has not owned more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Fund at any time during the one year period ending on the date of distribution, such distributions will be subject to 30% withholding by the Fund and will be treated as ordinary dividends to the foreign shareholder; if the foreign shareholder owned more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Fund at any time during the one year period ending on the date of the distribution, such distribution will be treated as real property gain subject to 35% withholding tax and could subject the foreign shareholder to U.S. filing requirements. Additionally, if the Fund’s direct or indirect interests in U.S. real property were to exceed certain levels, a foreign shareholder realizing gains upon redemption from the Fund on or before December 31, 2011 could be subject to the 35% withholding tax and U.S. filing requirements unless more than 50% of the Fund’s shares were owned by U.S. persons at such time or unless the foreign person had not held more than 5% of the Fund’s outstanding shares throughout either such person’s holding period for the redeemed shares or, if shorter, the previous five years.
In addition, the same rules apply with respect to distributions to a foreign shareholder from the Fund and redemptions of a foreign shareholder’s interest in the Fund attributable to a REIT’s distribution to the Fund of gain from the sale or exchange of U.S. real property or an interest in a U.S. real property holding corporation, if the Fund’s direct or indirect interests in U.S. real property were to exceed certain levels. The rule with respect to distributions and redemptions attributable to a REIT’s distribution to the Fund will not expire for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2012.
The rules laid out in the previous two paragraphs, other than the withholding rules, will apply notwithstanding the Fund’s participation in a wash sale transaction or its payment of a substitute dividend.
Provided that 50% or more of the value of the Fund’s stock is held by U.S. shareholders, distributions of U.S. real property interests (including securities in a U.S. real property holding corporation, unless such corporation is regularly traded on an established securities market and the Fund has held 5% or less of the outstanding shares of the corporation during the five-year period ending on the date of distribution) occurring on or before December 31, 2011, in redemption of a foreign shareholder’s shares of the Fund will cause the Fund to recognize gain. If the Fund is required to recognize gain, the amount of gain recognized will equal to the fair market value of such interests over the Fund’s adjusted bases to the extent of the greatest foreign ownership percentage of the Fund during the five-year period ending on the date of redemption.
In the case of foreign non-corporate shareholders, the Fund may be required to backup withhold U.S. federal income tax on distributions that are otherwise exempt from withholding tax unless such shareholders furnish the Fund with proper notification of their foreign status.
Compliance with the HIRE Act. Beginning with payments made after December 31, 2013, the Code will impose a U.S. withholding tax of 30% on payments (including , beginning with payments made after December 31, 2014, gross proceeds) that are attributable to certain U.S. investments and made to certain non-U.S. financial institutions, including non-U.S. investment funds, and other non-U.S. persons that fail to comply with certain reporting requirements to the IRS in respect of its direct and indirect U.S. investors and/or accountholders. These payments could include U.S.-source dividends and the gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of stock that can produce U.S.-source dividends. Non-U.S. shareholders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the possible implications of these requirements on their investment in the Fund.
Requirements of Form 8886. Under Treasury regulations, if a shareholder realizes a loss on disposition of the Fund’s shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a RIC are not excepted. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances. Under certain circumstances, certain tax-exempt entities and their managers may be subject to excise tax if they are parties to certain reportable transactions.
Other Taxes. Dividends, distributions and redemption proceeds may also be subject to additional state, local and foreign taxes depending on each shareholder’s particular situation.
Changes in Taxation. The taxation of the Fund, the Portfolio, the Subsidiary and shareholders may be adversely affected by future legislation, Treasury regulations, IRS revenue procedures and/or guidance issued by the IRS.
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
31
SAI dated December 30, 2011
PORTFOLIO SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS
Decisions concerning the execution of portfolio security transactions, including the selection of the market and the broker-dealer firm, are made by the investment adviser^ . The Fund is responsible for the expenses associated with its portfolio transactions. The investment adviser is also responsible for the execution of transactions for all other accounts managed by it. The investment adviser places the portfolio security transactions for execution with one or more broker-dealer firms. The investment adviser uses its best efforts to obtain execution of portfolio security transactions at prices which in the investment adviser’s judgment are advantageous to the client and at a reasonably competitive spread or (when a disclosed commission is being charged) at reasonably competitive commission rates. In seeking such execution, the investment adviser will use its best judgment in evaluating the terms of a transaction, and will give consideration to various relevant factors, including without limitation the full range and quality of the broker-dealer firm’s services , including the responsiveness of the firm to the investment adviser, the size and type of the transaction, the nature and character of the market for the security, the confidentiality, speed and certainty of effective execution required for the transaction, the general execution and operational capabilities of the broker-dealer firm, the reputation, reliability, experience and financial condition of the firm, the value and quality of the services rendered by the firm in this and other transactions, and the amount of the spread or commission, if any . In addition, the investment adviser may consider the receipt of Research Services (as defined below), provided it does not compromise the investment adviser^ ’ s obligation to seek best overall execution for the Fund. The investment adviser may engage in portfolio brokerage transactions with a broker-dealer firm that sells shares of Eaton Vance funds, provided such transactions are not directed to that firm as compensation for the promotion or sale of such shares.
Transactions on stock exchanges and other agency transactions involve the payment of negotiated brokerage commissions. Such commissions vary among different broker-dealer firms, and a particular broker-dealer may charge different commissions according to such factors as the difficulty and size of the transaction and the volume of business done with such broker-dealer. Transactions in foreign securities often involve the payment of brokerage commissions, which may be higher than those in the United States. There is generally no stated commission in the case of securities traded in the over-the-counter markets including transactions in fixed-income securities which are generally purchased and sold on a net basis ( i.e. , without commission) through broker-dealers and banks acting for their own account rather than as brokers. Such firms attempt to profit from such transactions by buying at the bid price and selling at the higher asked price of the market for such obligations, and the difference between the bid and asked price is customarily referred to as the spread. Fixed-income transactions may also be transactions directly with the issuer of the obligations. In an underwritten offering the price paid often includes a disclosed fixed commission or discount retained by the underwriter or dealer. Although spreads or commissions paid on portfolio security transactions will, in the judgment of the investment adviser, be reasonable in relation to the value of the services provided, commissions exceeding those which another firm might charge may be paid to broker-dealers who were selected to execute transactions on behalf of the investment adviser’s clients in part for providing brokerage and research services to the investment adviser.
Pursuant to the safe harbor provided in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), a broker or dealer who executes a portfolio transaction on behalf of the investment adviser client may receive a commission ^ that is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if the investment adviser determines in good faith that such compensation was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided. This determination may be made on the basis of either that particular transaction or on the basis of the overall responsibility which the investment adviser and its affiliates have for accounts over which they exercise investment discretion. “Research Services” as used herein includes any and all brokerage and research services to the extent permitted by Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act. Generally, Research Services may include, but are not limited to, such matters as research, analytical and quotation services, data, information and other services products and materials which assist the investment adviser in the performance of its investment responsibilities. More specifically, Research Services may include general economic, political, business and market information, industry and company reviews, evaluations of securities and portfolio strategies and transactions, technical analysis of various aspects of the securities markets, recommendations as to the purchase and sale of securities and other portfolio transactions, certain financial, industry and trade publications, certain news and information services , and certain research oriented computer software, data bases and services. Any particular Research Service obtained through a broker-dealer may be used by the investment adviser in connection with client accounts other than those accounts which pay commissions to such broker-dealer. Any such Research Service may be broadly useful and of value to the investment adviser in rendering investment advisory services to all or a significant portion of its clients, or may be relevant and useful for the management of only one client’s account or of a few clients’ accounts, or may be useful for the management of merely a segment of certain clients’ accounts, regardless of whether any such account or accounts paid commissions to the broker-dealer through which such Research Service was obtained. The investment adviser evaluates the nature and quality of the various Research Services obtained through broker-dealer firms and may attempt to allocate sufficient portfolio security transactions to such firms to ensure the continued receipt of Research Services which the investment adviser believes are useful or of value to it in rendering investment advisory services to its clients. The investment adviser may also receive brokerage and Research Services from underwriters and dealers in fixed-price offerings.
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
32
SAI dated December 30, 2011
Research Services provided by (and produced by) broker-dealers that execute portfolio transactions or from affiliates of executing broker-dealers are referred to as “Proprietary Research”. The investment adviser may and does consider the receipt of Proprietary Research Services as a factor in selecting broker dealers to execute client portfolio transactions, provided it does not compromise the investment adviser’s obligation to seek best overall execution. The investment adviser also may consider the receipt of Research Services under so called “client commission arrangements” or “commission sharing arrangements” (both referred to as “CCAs”) as a factor in selecting broker dealers to execute transactions, provided it does not compromise the investment adviser’s obligation to seek best overall execution. Under a CCA arrangement, the investment adviser may cause client accounts to effect transactions through a broker-dealer and request that the broker-dealer allocate a portion of the commissions paid on those transactions to a pool of commission credits that are paid to other firms that provide Research Services to the investment adviser. Under a CCA, the broker-dealer that provides the Research Services need not execute the trade. Participating in CCAs may enable the investment adviser to consolidate payments for research using accumulated client commission credits from transactions executed through a particular broker-dealer to periodically pay for Research Services obtained from and provided by other firms, including other broker-dealers that supply Research Services. The investment adviser believes that CCAs offer the potential to optimize the execution of trades and the acquisition of a variety of high quality Research Services that the investment adviser might not be provided access to absent CCAs. The investment adviser will only enter into and utilize CCAs to the extent permitted by Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act.
The investment companies sponsored by the investment adviser or its affiliates also may allocate brokerage commissions to acquire information relating to the performance, fees and expenses of such companies and other investment companies, which information is used by the Trustees of such companies to fulfill their responsibility to oversee the quality of the services provided to various entities, including the investment adviser, to such companies. Such companies may also pay cash for such information.
Securities considered as investments for the Fund may also be appropriate for other investment accounts managed by the investment adviser or its affiliates. Whenever decisions are made to buy or sell securities by the Fund and one or more of such other accounts simultaneously, the investment adviser will allocate the security transactions (including “new” issues) in a manner which it believes to be equitable under the circumstances. As a result of such allocations, there may be instances where the Fund will not participate in a transaction that is allocated among other accounts. If an aggregated order cannot be filled completely, allocations will generally be made on a pro rata basis. An order may not be allocated on a pro rata basis where, for example:^ (i) consideration is given to portfolio managers who have been instrumental in developing or negotiating a particular investment; (ii) consideration is given to an account with specialized investment policies that coincide with the particulars of a specific investment; (iii) pro rata allocation would result in odd-lot or de minimis amounts being allocated to a portfolio or other client; or (iv) where the investment adviser reasonably determines that departure from a pro rata allocation is advisable. While these aggregation and allocation policies could have a detrimental effect on the price or amount of the securities available to the Fund from time to time, it is the opinion of the Trustees of the Trust that the benefits from the investment adviser organization outweigh any disadvantage that may arise from exposure to simultaneous transactions.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
There are no financial statemen^ts for the Fund because ^ as of the date of this SAI, the Fund had not commenced operations.
Householding. Consistent with applicable law, duplicate mailings of shareholder reports and certain other Fund information to shareholders residing at the same address may be eliminated.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
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Asset Coverage |
To the extent required by SEC guidelines, if a transaction^ exposes the Fund to an obligation to another party it will either: (1) enter an offsetting (“covered”) position for the same type of financial asset; or (2) segregate cash or liquid securities on the books of either the custodian or the investment adviser with a value sufficient at all times to cover its potential obligations not covered. Assets used as cover or segregated cannot be sold while the position(s) requiring cover is open unless replaced with other appropriate assets. As a result, if a large portion of assets is segregated or committed as cover, it could impede portfolio management or the ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations. The types of transactions that may require asset coverage include (but are not limited to) reverse repurchase agreements, repurchase agreements, short sales, securities lending, forward contracts, options, forward commitments, futures contracts, when-issued securities, swap agreements , residual interest bonds and participation in revolving credit facilities. |
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Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
33
SAI dated December 30, 2011
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
34
SAI dated December 30, 2011
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Borrowing for Investment Purposes |
Successful use of a borrowing strategy depends on the investment adviser’s ability to predict correctly interest rates and market movements. There is no assurance that a borrowing strategy will be successful. Upon the expiration of the term of the Fund’s existing credit arrangement, the lender may not be willing to extend further credit to the Fund or may only be willing to do so at an increased cost to the Fund. If the Fund is not able to extend its credit arrangement, it may be required to liquidate holdings to repay amounts borrowed from the lender. Borrowing to increase investments generally will exaggerate the effect on the Fund’s net asset value of any increase or decrease in the value of the security purchased with the borrowings. Successful use of a borrowing strategy depends on the investment adviser’s ability to predict correctly interest rates and market movements. There can be no assurance that the use of borrowings will be successful. In connection with its borrowings, the Fund will be required to maintain specified asset coverage with respect to such borrowings by both the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the terms of its credit facility with the lender. The Fund may be required to dispose of portfolio investments on unfavorable terms if market fluctuations or other factors reduce the required asset coverage to less than the prescribed amount. Borrowings involve additional expense to the Fund. |
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Borrowing for Temporary Purposes |
The Fund may borrow for temporary purposes (such as to satisfy redemption requests, to remain fully invested in advance of the settlement of share purchases and settle transactions). The Fund typically makes any such borrowings pursuant to an umbrella credit facility to which most of the Eaton Vance mutual funds have access. The Fund’s ability to borrow under the credit facility is subject to its terms and conditions, which in some cases may limit the Fund’s ability to borrow under the facility. The credit facility is subject to an annual renewal, which cannot be assured. If the Fund does not have the ability to borrow for temporary purposes, it may be required to sell securities at inopportune times to meet short-term liquidity needs. Borrowings involve additional expense to the Fund. |
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Build America Bonds |
Build America Bonds are taxable municipal obligations issued pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the “Act”) or other legislation providing for the issuance of taxable municipal debt on which the issuer receives federal support. Enacted in February 2009, the Act authorizes state and local governments to issue taxable bonds on which, assuming certain specified conditions are satisfied, issuers may either (i) receive reimbursement from the U.S. Treasury with respect to its interest payments on the bonds (“direct pay” Build America Bonds) or (ii) provide tax credits to investors in the bonds (“tax credit” Build America Bonds). Unlike most other municipal obligations, interest received on Build America Bonds is subject to federal income tax and may be subject to state income tax. Under the terms of the Act, issuers of direct pay Build America Bonds are entitled to receive reimbursement from the U.S. Treasury currently equal to 35% (or 45% in the case of Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds) of the interest paid. Holders of tax credit Build America Bonds can receive a federal tax credit currently equal to 35% of the coupon interest received. The Fund may invest in “principal only” strips of tax credit Build America Bonds, which entitle the holder to receive par value of such bonds if held to maturity. The Fund does not expect to receive (or pass through to shareholders) tax credits as a result of its investments. The federal interest subsidy or tax credit continues for the life of the bonds. Build America Bonds are an alternative form of financing to state and local governments whose primary means for accessing the capital markets has been through issuance of tax-free municipal bonds. Build America Bonds can appeal to a broader array of investors than the high income U.S. taxpayers that have traditionally provided the market for municipal bonds. Build America Bonds may provide a lower net cost of funds to issuers. Pursuant to the terms of the Act, the issuance of Build America Bonds ceased on December 31, 2010. As a result, the availability of such bonds is limited and the market for the bonds and/or their liquidity may be affected. |
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Call and Put Features on Obligations |
Issuers of obligations may reserve the right to call (redeem) the obligation. If an issuer redeems an obligation with a call right during a time of declining interest rates, the holder of the obligation may not be able to reinvest the proceeds in securities providing the same investment return as provided by the securities redeemed. Some obligations may have “put” or “demand” features that allow early redemption by the holder. Longer term fixed-rate bonds may give the holder a right to request redemption at certain times (often annually after the lapse of an intermediate term). This “put” or “demand” feature enhances an obligation’s liquidity by shortening its effective maturity and enables the security to trade at a price equal to or very close to par. If a demand feature terminates prior to being exercised, the holder of the obligation would be subject to the longer maturity of the obligation, which could experience substantially more volatility. Obligations with a “put” or “demand” feature are more defensive than conventional long term bonds (protecting to some degree against a rise in interest rates) while providing greater opportunity than comparable intermediate term bonds, because they can be retained if interest rates decline. |
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Cash Equivalents |
Cash equivalents include short term, high quality, U.S. dollar denominated instruments such as commercial paper, certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances issued by U.S. or foreign banks , and Treasury bills and other obligations with a maturity of one year or less. Certificates of deposit are certificates issued against funds deposited in a commercial bank, are for a definite period of time, earn a specified rate of return, and are normally negotiable. Bankers’ acceptances are short-term credit instruments used to finance the import, export, transfer or storage of goods. They are termed “accepted” when a bank guarantees their payment at maturity. |
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Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
35
SAI dated December 30, 2011
The obligations of foreign branches of U.S. banks may be general obligations of the parent bank in addition to the issuing branch, or may be limited by the terms of a specific obligation and by governmental regulation. Payment of interest and principal upon these obligations may also be affected by governmental action in the country of domicile of the branch (generally referred to as sovereign risk). In addition, evidence of ownership of portfolio securities may be held outside of the U.S. and generally will be subject to the risks associated with the holding of such property overseas. Various provisions of U.S. law governing the establishment and operation of domestic branches do not apply to foreign branches of domestic banks. The obligations of U.S. branches of foreign banks may be general obligations of the parent bank in addition to the issuing branch, or may be limited by the terms of a specific obligation and by federal and state regulation as well as by governmental action in the country in which the foreign bank has its head office. Cash equivalents are often acquired directly from the issuers thereof or otherwise are normally traded on a net basis (without commission) through broker-dealers and banks acting for their own account. Such firms attempt to profit from such transactions by buying at the bid price and selling at the higher asked price of the market, and the difference is customarily referred to as the spread. Cash equivalents may be adversely affected by market and economic events, such as a sharp rise in prevailing short-term interest rates; adverse developments in the banking industry, which issues or guarantees many money market securities; adverse economic, political or other developments affecting domestic issuers of money market securities; changes in the credit quality of issuers; and default by a counterparty. These securities may be subject to federal income, state income and/or other taxes. Instead of investing in cash equivalents directly, the Fund may invest in an affiliated money market fund (such as Eaton Vance Cash Reserves Fund, LLC which is managed by Eaton Vance) or unaffiliated money market fund. |
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Collateralized Mortgage Obligations ("CMOs") |
CMOs are backed by a pool of mortgages or mortgage loans. The key feature of the CMO structure is the prioritization of the cash flows from the pool of mortgages among the several classes, or tranches, of the CMO, thereby creating a series of obligations with varying rates and maturities. Senior CMO classes will typically have priority over residual CMOs as to the receipt of principal and or interest payments on the underlying mortgages. CMOs also issue sequential and parallel pay classes, including planned amortization class and target amortization classes and fixed and floating rate CMO tranches. CMOs issued by U.S. government agencies are backed by agency mortgages, while privately issued CMOs may be backed by either government agency mortgages or private mortgages. Payments of principal and interest are passed through to each CMO tranche at varying schedules resulting in bonds with different coupons, effective maturities and sensitivities to interest rates. Parallel pay CMOs are structured to provide payments of principal on each payment date to more than one class, concurrently on a proportionate or disproportionate basis. Sequential pay CMS generally pay principal to only one class at a time while paying interest to several classes. CMOs generally are secured by an assignment to a trustee under the indenture pursuant to which the bonds are issued of collateral consisting of a pool of mortgages. Payments with respect to the underlying mortgages generally are made to the trustee under the indenture. CMOs are designed to be retired as the underlying mortgages are repaid. In the event of sufficient early prepayments on such mortgages, the class or series of CMO first to mature generally will be retired prior to maturity. Therefore, although in most cases the issuer of CMOs will not supply additional collateral in the event of such prepayments, there will be sufficient collateral to secure CMOs that remain outstanding. Floating rate CMO tranches carry interest rates that are tied in a fixed relationship to an index subject to an upper limit, or “cap,” and sometimes to a lower limit, or “floor.” CMOs may be less liquid and may exhibit greater price volatility than other types of mortgage- or asset-backed securities. |
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Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities ("CMBS") |
CMBS include securities that reflect an interest in, and are secured by, mortgage loans on commercial real property, such as hotels, office buildings, retail stores, hospitals and other commercial buildings. CMBS may have a lower repayment uncertainty than other mortgage-related securities because commercial mortgage loans generally prohibit or impose penalties on prepayment of principal. The risks of investing in CMBS reflect the risks of investing in the real estate securing the underlying mortgage loans, including the effects of local and other economic conditions on real estate markets, the ability of tenants to make loan payment, and the ability of a property to attract and retain tenants. CMBS may be less liquid and may exhibit greater price volatility than other types of mortgage- or asset-backed securities. |
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Commodity-Related ^ Investments |
The value of commodities investments will generally be affected by overall market movements and factors specific to a particular industry or commodity, which may include weather, embargoes, tariffs, and health, political, international and regulatory developments. Economic and other events (whether real or perceived) can reduce the demand for commodities, which may reduce market prices and cause the value of Fund shares to fall. The frequency and magnitude of such changes cannot be predicted. Exposure to commodities and commodities markets may subject the Fund to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. No active trading market may exist for certain commodities investments, which may impair the ability of the Fund to sell or to realize the full value of such investments in the event of the need to liquidate such investments. In addition, adverse market conditions may impair the liquidity of actively traded commodities investments. Certain types of commodities instruments (such as total return swaps and commodity-linked notes) are subject to the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or will be unable to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument. To the extent commodity-related investments are held through the Subsidiary, the Subsidiary is not subject to U.S. laws (including securities laws) and their protections. The Subsidiary is subject to the laws of the Cayman Islands, a foreign jurisdiction, and can be affected by developments in that jurisdiction. |
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
36
SAI dated December 30, 2011
Certain commodities are subject to limited pricing flexibility because of supply and demand factors. Others are subject to broad price fluctuations as a result of the volatility of the prices for certain raw materials and the instability of supplies of other materials. These additional variables may create additional investment risks and result in greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The commodities which underlie commodity futures contracts and commodity swaps may be subject to additional economic and non-economic variables, such as drought, floods, weather, livestock disease, embargoes, tariffs, and international economic, political and regulatory developments. Unlike the financial futures markets, in the commodity futures markets there are costs of physical storage associated with purchasing the underlying commodity. The price of the commodity futures contract will reflect the storage costs of purchasing the physical commodity, including the time value of money invested in the physical commodity. To the extent that the storage costs for an underlying commodity change while the Fund is invested in futures contracts on that commodity, the value of the futures contract may change proportionately. In the commodity futures markets, producers of the underlying commodity may decide to hedge the price risk of selling the commodity by selling futures contracts today to lock in the price of the commodity at delivery tomorrow. In order to induce speculators to purchase the other side of the same futures contract, the commodity producer generally must sell the futures contract at a lower price than the expected future spot price. Conversely, if most hedgers in the futures market are purchasing futures contracts to hedge against a rise in prices, then speculators will only sell the other side of the futures contract at a higher futures price than the expected future spot price of the commodity. The changing nature of the hedgers and speculators in the commodity markets will influence whether futures prices are above or below the expected future spot price, which can have significant implications for the Fund. If the nature of hedgers and speculators in futures markets has shifted when it is time for the Fund to reinvest the proceeds of a maturing contract in a new futures contract, the Fund might reinvest at higher or lower futures prices, or choose to pursue other investments. |
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Common Stocks |
Common stock represents an equity ownership interest in the issuing corporation. Holders of common stock generally have voting rights in the issuer and are entitled to receive common stock dividends when, as and if declared by the corporation’s board of directors. Common stock normally occupies the most subordinated position in an issuer’s capital structure. Returns on common stock investments consist of any dividends received plus the amount of appreciation or depreciation in the value of the stock. Although common stocks have historically generated higher average returns than fixed-income securities over the long term and particularly during periods of high or rising concerns about inflation, common stocks also have experienced significantly more volatility in returns and may not maintain their real value during inflationary periods. An adverse event, such as an unfavorable earnings report, may depress the value of a particular common stock. Also, the prices of common stocks are sensitive to general movements in the stock market and a drop in the stock market may depress the price of common stocks. Common stock prices fluctuate for many reasons, including changes in investors’ perceptions of the financial condition of an issuer or the general condition of the relevant stock market, or when political or economic events affecting the issuer occur. In addition, common stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates as the costs of capital rise and borrowing costs increase. |
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Convertible Securities |
A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, preferred securit^ y , or other security that entitles the holder to acquire common stock or other equity securities of the same or a different issuer. A convertible security entitles the holder to receive interest paid or accrued on debt or the dividend paid on preferred securities until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. Before conversion, convertible securities have characteristics similar to nonconvertible income securities in that they ordinarily provide a stable stream of income with generally higher yields than those of common stocks of the same or similar issuers, but lower yields than comparable nonconvertible securities. The value of a convertible security is influenced by changes in interest rates, with investment value declining as interest rates increase and increasing as interest rates decline. The credit standing of the issuer and other factors also may have an effect on the convertible security’s investment value. ^ A c onvertible securit^ y rank senior to common stock in a corporation’s capital structure but are usually subordinated to comparable nonconvertible securities. Convertible securities may be purchased for their appreciation potential when they yield more than the underlying securities at the time of purchase or when they are considered to present less risk of principal loss than the underlying securities. Generally speaking, the interest or dividend yield of a convertible security is somewhat less than that of a non-convertible security of similar quality issued by the same company. ^ A c onvertible securit^ y may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in the convertible security’s governing instrument. Convertible securities are issued and traded in a number of securities markets. Even in cases where a substantial portion of the convertible securities held by the Fund are denominated in U.S. dollars, the underlying equity securities may be quoted in the currency of the country where the issuer is domiciled. As a result, fluctuations in the exchange rate between the currency in which the debt security is denominated and the currency in which the share price is quoted will affect the value of the convertible security. With respect to convertible securities denominated in a currency different from that of the underlying equity securities, the conversion price may be based on a fixed exchange rate established at the time the securit^i e s are issued, which may increase the effects of currency risk. |
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
37
SAI dated December 30, 2011
Holders of convertible securities generally have a claim on the assets of the issuer prior to the common stockholders but may be subordinated to other debt securities of the same issuer. Certain convertible debt securities may provide a put option to the holder, which entitles the holder to cause the securit^ ies to be redeemed by the issuer at a premium over the stated principal amount of the debt securit^ ies under certain circumstances. Synthetic convertible securities may include either cash-settled convertibles or manufactured convertibles. Cash-settled convertibles are instruments that are created by the issuer and have the economic characteristics of traditional convertible securities but may not actually permit conversion into the underlying equity securities in all circumstances. As an example, a private company may issue a cash-settled convertible that is convertible into common stock only if the company successfully completes a public offering of its common stock prior to maturity and otherwise pays a cash amount to reflect any equity appreciation. ^ M anufactured convertibles are created by the investment adviser or another party by combining separate securities that possess one of the two principal characteristics of a convertible security, i.e. , fixed - income (“fixed - income component”) or a right to acquire equity securities (“convertibility component”). The fixed - income component is achieved by investing in nonconvertible fixed - income securities, such as nonconvertible bonds, preferred securities and money market instruments. The convertibility component is achieved by investing in call options, warrants, or other securities with equity conversion features (“equity features”) granting the holder the right to purchase a specified quantity of the underlying stocks within a specified period of time at a specified price or, in the case of a stock index option, the right to receive a cash payment based on the value of the underlying stock index. A manufactured convertible differs from traditional convertible securities in several respects. Unlike a traditional convertible security, which is a single security that has a unitary market value, a manufactured convertible is comprised of two or more separate securities, each with its own market value. Therefore, the total “market value” of such a manufactured convertible is the sum of the values of its fixed - income component and its convertibility component. More flexibility is possible in the creation of a manufactured convertible than in the purchase of a traditional convertible security. Because many corporations have not issued convertible securities, the investment adviser may combine a fixed - income instrument and an equity feature with respect to the stock of the issuer of the fixed - income instrument to create a synthetic convertible security otherwise unavailable in the market. The investment adviser may also combine a fixed - income instrument of an issuer with an equity feature with respect to the stock of a different issuer when the investment adviser believes such a manufactured convertible would better promote the Fund’s objective than alternative investments. For example, the investment adviser may combine an equity feature with respect to an issuer’s stock with a fixed - income security of a different issuer in the same industry to diversify the Fund’s credit exposure, or with a U.S. Treasury instrument to create a manufactured convertible with a higher credit profile than a traditional convertible security issued by that issuer. A manufactured convertible also is a more flexible investment in that its two components may be purchased separately and, upon purchasing the separate securities, “combined” to create a manufactured convertible. For example, the Fund may purchase a warrant for eventual inclusion in a manufactured convertible while postponing the purchase of a suitable bond to pair with the warrant pending development of more favorable market conditions. The value of a manufactured convertible may respond to certain market fluctuations differently from a traditional convertible security with similar characteristics. For example, in the event the Fund created a manufactured convertible by combining a short-term U.S. Treasury instrument and a call option on a stock, the manufactured convertible would be expected to outperform a traditional convertible of similar maturity that is convertible into that stock during periods when Treasury instruments outperform corporate fixed - income securities and underperform during periods when corporate fixed - income securities outperform Treasury instruments. |
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Credit Linked Securities |
See also “Derivative Instruments and Related Risks” herein. Credit linked securities are issued by a limited purpose trust or other vehicle that, in turn, invests in a derivative instrument or basket of derivative instruments, such as credit default swaps, interest rate swaps, and other securities in order to provide exposure to certain fixed - income markets. Credit linked securities may be used as a cash management tool in order to gain exposure to a certain market and to remain fully invested when more traditional income producing securities are not available. Like an investment in a bond, investments in credit linked securities represent the right to receive periodic income payments (in the form of distributions) and payment of principal at the end of the term of the security. However, these payments are conditioned on the issuer’s receipt of payments from, and the issuer’s potential obligations to, the counterparties to the derivative instruments and other securities in which the issuer invests. An issuer may sell one or more credit default swaps, under which the issuer would receive a stream of payments over the term of the swap agreements provided that no event of default has occurred with respect to the referenced debt obligation upon which the swap is based. If a default occurs, the stream of payments may stop and the issuer would be obligated to pay the counterparty the par (or other agreed upon value) of the referenced debt obligation. This, in turn, would reduce the amount of income and principal that the holder of the credit linked security would receive. Credit linked securities generally will be exempt from registration under the ^ 1933 Act. Accordingly, there may be no established trading market for the securities and they may constitute illiquid investments. |
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Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
38
SAI dated December 30, 2011
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Derivative Instruments and Related Risks |
Generally, derivatives can be characterized as financial instruments whose performance is derived at least in part from the performance of an underlying reference instrument (such as securities, commodities, indices, or market indicators) Derivative instruments may be ^ acquired in the United States or abroad and include the various types of exchange-traded and over-the-counter (“OTC”) instruments described ^ herein and other instruments with substantially similar characteristics and risks. Derivative instruments may be based on securities, indices, currencies, commodities, economic indicators and events (referred to as “reference instruments”). Fund obligations created pursuant to derivative instruments may be subject to the requirements described under “Asset Coverage” herein.^ Derivative instruments are subject to a number of risks, including adverse or unexpected movements in the price of the reference instrument, and counterparty, liquidity, tax, correlation and leverage risks. Use of derivative instruments may cause the realization of higher amounts of short-term capital gains (generally taxed at ordinary income tax rates) than if such instruments had not been used. Success in using derivative instruments to hedge portfolio assets depends on the degree of price correlation between the derivative instruments and the hedged asset. Imperfect correlation may be caused by several factors, including temporary price disparities among the trading markets for the derivative instrument, the reference instrument and the Fund’s assets. To the extent that a derivative instrument is intended to hedge against an event that does not occur, the Fund may realize losses. Over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivative instruments involve an additional risk in that the issuer or counterparty will fail to perform its contractual obligations. Some derivative instruments are not readily marketable or may become illiquid under adverse market conditions. In addition, during periods of market volatility, a commodity exchange may suspend or limit trading in an exchange-traded derivative instrument, which may make the contract temporarily illiquid and difficult to price. Commodity exchanges may also establish daily limits on the amount that the price of a futures contract or futures option can vary from the previous day’s settlement price. Once the daily limit is reached, no trades may be made that day at a price beyond the limit. This may prevent the closing out of positions to limit losses. The staff of the SEC takes the position that certain purchased OTC options, and assets used as cover for written OTC options, are illiquid. The ability to terminate OTC derivative instruments may depend on the cooperation of the counterparties to such contracts. For thinly traded derivative instruments, the only source of price quotations may be the selling dealer or counterparty. In addition, certain provisions of the Code limit the use of derivative instruments. Derivatives permit the Fund to increase or decrease the level of risk, or change the character of the risk, to which its portfolio is exposed in much the same way as the Fund can increase or decrease the level of risk, or change the character of the risk, of its portfolio by making investments in specific securities. There can be no assurance that the use of derivative instruments will benefit the Fund. |
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Direct Investments |
Direct investments include (i) the private purchase from an enterprise of an equity interest in the enterprise in the form of shares of common stock or equity interests in trusts, partnerships, joint ventures or similar enterprises, and (ii) the purchase of such an equity interest in an enterprise from a principal investor in the enterprise. At the time of making a direct investment, the Fund will enter into a shareholder or similar agreement with the enterprise and one or more other holders of equity interests in the enterprise. These agreements may, in appropriate circumstances, provide the ability to appoint a representative to the board of directors or similar body of the enterprise and for eventual disposition of the investment in the enterprise. Such a representative would be expected to monitor the investment and protect the Fund’s rights in the investment and would not be appointed for the purpose of exercising management or control of the enterprise. |
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Diversified Status |
With respect to 75% of its total assets, an investment company that is registered with the SEC as a “diversified” fund: (1) may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of any one issuer (except obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities and securities of other investment companies); and (2) may not own more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer. |
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Dividend Capture Trading |
In a dividend capture trade, the Fund sells a stock that has gone ex-dividend to purchase another stock paying a dividend before the next dividend of the stock being sold. The use of a dividend capture trading strategy exposes the Fund to higher portfolio turnover, increased trading costs and potential for capital loss or gain, particularly in the event of significant short-term price movements of stocks subject to dividend capture trading. |
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Duration |
Duration measures the time-weighted expected cash flows of a fixed-income security, which can determine its sensitivity to changes in the general level of interest rates. Securities with longer durations generally tend to be more sensitive to interest rate changes than securities with shorter durations. A mutual fund with a longer dollar-weighted average duration generally can be expected to be more sensitive to interest rate changes than a fund with a shorter dollar-weighted average duration. Duration differs from maturity in that it considers a security’s coupon payments in addition to the amount of time until the security matures. Various techniques may be used to shorten or lengthen Fund duration. As the value of a security changes over time, so will its duration. The duration of a Fund that invests in multiple Portfolios is the sum of its allocable share of the duration of each of the Portfolios in which it invests, which is determined by multiplying the Portfolio’s duration by the Fund’s percentage ownership of that Portfolio. |
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Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
39
SAI dated December 30, 2011
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
40
SAI dated December 30, 2011
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Events Regarding FNMA and FHLMC |
The value of FNMA and FHLMC securities fell sharply in 2008 due to concerns that these agencies did not have sufficient capital to offset losses. In mid-2008, the U.S. Treasury Department was authorized to increase the size of home loans that FNMA and FHLMC could purchase in certain residential areas and, until 2009, to lend FNMA and FHLMC emergency funds and to purchase the companies’ stock. In September 2008, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that FNMA and FHLMC had been placed in conservatorship by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”), a newly created independent regulator. In connection with the conservatorship, the U.S. Treasury Department entered into Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreements (“PSPAs”) under which, if the FHFA determines that the liabilities of FNMA and FHLMC have exceeded their assets under generally accepted accounting principles, the U.S. Treasury Department will contribute cash capital to the company in an amount equal to the difference between liabilities and assets. The PSPAs are designed to provide protection to the senior and subordinated debt and the MBS issued by FNMA and FHLMC. On February 18, 2009, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that it was doubling the size of its commitment to each of FNMA and FHLMC under the Senior Preferred Stock Program to $200 billion. The U.S. Treasury Department’s obligations under the Senior Preferred Stock Program are for an indefinite period of time for a maximum amount of $200 billion per entity. FNMA and FHLMC are continuing to operate as going concerns while in conservatorship, and each remains liable for all of its obligations, including its guaranty obligations, associated with its mortgage-backed securities. The Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement is intended to enhance each of FNMA and FHLMC’s ability to meet its obligations. FHFA has indicated that the conservatorship of each entity will end when the director of FHFA determines that FHFA’s plan to restore the entity to a safe and solvent condition has been completed. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Treasury Department initiatives discussed above with respect to the debt and mortgage-backed securities issued by FNMA and FHLMC will be successful. |
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Exchange-Traded Funds ("ETFs") |
ETFs are pooled investment vehicles that are designed to provide investment results corresponding to an index. These indexes may be either broad-based, sector or international. ETFs usually are units of beneficial interest in an investment trust or represent undivided ownership interests in a portfolio of securities (or commodities), in each case with respect to a portfolio of all or substantially all of the component securities of, and in substantially the same weighting as, the relevant benchmark index. ETFs are designed to provide investment results that generally correspond to the price and yield performance of the component securities (or commodities) of the benchmark index. ETFs are listed on an exchange and trade in the secondary market on a per-share basis. The values of ETFs are subject to change as the values of their respective component securities (or commodities) fluctuate according to market volatility. Investments in ETFs may not exactly match the performance of a direct investment in the respective indices to which they are intended to correspond due to the temporary unavailability of certain index securities in the secondary market or other extraordinary circumstances, such as discrepancies with respect to the weighting of securities. Typically, the ETF bears its own operational expenses, which are deducted from its assets. To the extent that the Fund invests in ETFs, the Fund must bear these expenses in addition to the expenses of its own operation. |
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Exchange-Traded Notes ("ETNs") |
ETNs are senior, unsecured, unsubordinated debt securities whose returns are linked to the performance of a particular market benchmark or strategy minus applicable fees. ETNs are traded on an exchange during normal trading hours. However, investors can also hold the ETN until maturity. At maturity, the issuer pays to the investor a cash amount equal to the principal amount, subject to the day’s market benchmark or strategy factor. ETNs do not make periodic coupon payments or provide principal protection. ETNs are subject to credit risk and the value of the ETN may drop due to a downgrade in the issuer’s credit rating, despite the underlying market benchmark or strategy remaining unchanged. The value of an ETN may also be influenced by time to maturity, level of supply and demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in underlying assets, changes in the applicable interest rates, changes in the issuer’s credit rating, and economic, legal, political, or geographic events that affect the referenced underlying asset. When the Fund invests in ETNs it will bear its proportionate share of any fees and expenses borne by the ETN. The Fund’s decision to sell its ETN holdings may be limited by the availability of a secondary market. In addition, although an ETN may be listed on an exchange, the issuer may not be required to maintain the listing and there can be no assurance that a secondary market will exist for an ETN. ETNs are subject to tax risk. No assurance can be given that the IRS will accept, or a court will uphold, how the Fund characterizes and treats ETNs for tax purposes. Further, the IRS and Congress are considering proposals that would change the timing and character of income and gains from ETNs. An ETN that is tied to a specific market benchmark or strategy may not be able to replicate and maintain exactly the composition and relative weighting of securities, commodities or other components in the applicable market benchmark or strategy. Some ETNs that use leverage can, at times, be relatively illiquid and, thus, they may be difficult to purchase or sell at a fair price. Leveraged ETNs are subject to the same risk as other instruments that use leverage in any form. The market value of ETN shares may differ from that of their market benchmark or strategy. This difference in price may be due to the fact that the supply and demand in the market for ETN shares at any point in time is not always identical to the supply and demand in the market for the securities, commodities or other components underlying the market benchmark or strategy that the ETN seeks to track. As a result, there may be times when an ETN share trades at a premium or discount to its market benchmark or strategy. |
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Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
41
SAI dated December 30, 2011
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Fixed-Income Securities |
Fixed-income securities are used by issuers to borrow money. Fixed-income securities include bonds, preferred, preference and convertible securities, notes, debentures, asset-backed securities (including those backed by mortgages), loan participations and assignments, equipment lease certificates, equipment trust certificates and conditional sales contracts. Generally, issuers of fixed-income securities pay investors periodic interest and repay the amount borrowed either periodically during the life of the security and/or at maturity. Some fixed-income securities, such as zero coupon bonds, do not pay current interest, but are purchased at a discount from their face values , and values accumulate over time to face value at maturity. The market prices of fixed-income securities fluctuate depending on such factors as interest rates, credit quality and maturity. In general, market prices of fixed-income securities decline when interest rates rise and increase when interest rates fall. Fixed - income securities are subject to risk factors such as sensitivity to interest rate and real or perceived changes in economic conditions, payment expectations, liquidity and valuation. Fixed-income securities with longer maturities (for example, over ten years) are more affected by changes in interest rates and provide less price stability than securities with short-term maturities (for example, one to ten years). Fixed - income securities bear the risk of principal and interest default by the issuer, which will be greater with higher yielding, lower grade securities. During an economic downturn, the ability of issuers to service their debt may be impaired. The rating assigned to a fixed-income security by a rating agency does not reflect assessment of the volatility of the security’s market value or of the liquidity of an investment in the securities. Credit ratings are based largely on the issuer’s historical financial condition and a rating agency’s investment analysis at the time of rating, and the rating assigned to any particular security is not necessarily a reflection of the issuer’s current financial condition. Credit quality can change from time to time, and recently issued credit ratings may not fully reflect the actual risks posed by a particular high yield security. If relevant to the Fund(s) in this SAI, corporate bond ratings are described in an appendix to the SAI (see the table of contents)^While typically paying a fixed^ rate of income, preferred securities may be considered to be equity securities for purposed of the Fund’s investment restrictions. |
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Foreign Currency Transactions |
As measured in U.S. dollars, the value of assets denominated in foreign currencies may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in foreign currency rates and exchange control regulations. Currency exchange rates can also be affected unpredictably by intervention by U.S. or foreign governments or central banks, or the failure to intervene, or by currency controls or political developments in the United States or abroad. Foreign currency exchange transactions may be conducted on a spot ( i.e. , cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market or through entering into derivative currency transactions (see “Forward Currency Exchange Contracts,” “Option Contracts,” “Futures Contracts” and “Swap Agreements – Currency Swaps” herein). Currency transactions are subject to the risk of a number of complex political and economic factors applicable to the countries issuing the underlying currencies. Furthermore, unlike trading in most other types of instruments, there is no systematic reporting of last sale information with respect to the foreign currencies underlying the derivative currency transactions. As a result, available information may not be complete. In an over-the-counter trading environment, there are no daily price fluctuation limits. |
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Foreign Investments |
Investing in securities issued by companies whose principal business activities are outside the United States may involve significant risks not present in domestic investments. For example, because foreign companies may not be subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements and regulatory measures comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies, there may be less publicly available information about a foreign company than about a domestic company. Volume and liquidity in most foreign debt markets is less than in the United States and securities of some foreign companies are less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. companies. There is generally less government supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, broker-dealers and listed companies than in the United States. In addition, with respect to certain foreign countries, there is the possibility of nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, currency blockage, political or social instability, or diplomatic developments , which could affect investments in those countries. Any of these actions could adversely affect securities prices, impair the Fund’s ability to purchase or sell foreign securities , or transfer the Fund’s assets or income back to the United States, or otherwise adversely affect Fund operations. In the event of nationalization, expropriation or confiscation, the Fund could lose its entire investment in that country. Other potential foreign market risks include exchange controls, difficulties in valuing securities, defaults on foreign government securities, and difficulties of enforcing favorable legal judgments in foreign courts. Moreover, individual foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross national product, reinvestment of capital, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency , and balance of payments position. Certain economies may rely heavily on particular industries or foreign capital and are more vulnerable to diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or country, changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. Foreign securities markets, while growing in volume and sophistication, are generally not as developed as those in the United States. Foreign countries may not have the infrastructure or resources to respond to natural and other disasters that interfere with economic activities, which may adversely affect issuers located in such countries. |
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
42
SAI dated December 30, 2011
Settlement and clearance procedures in certain foreign markets differ significantly from those in the United States. Payment for securities before delivery may be required and in some countries delayed settlements are customary, which increases the risk of loss. The Fund generally holds its foreign securities and cash in foreign banks and securities depositories. Some foreign banks and securities depositories may be recently organized or new to the foreign custody business. In addition, there may be limited or no regulatory oversight over their operations. Also, the laws of certain countries may put limits on the Fund’s ability to recover its assets if a foreign bank, depository or issuer of a security or any of their agents goes bankrupt. Certain countries may require withholding on dividends paid on portfolio securities and on realized capital gains. In addition, it is often more expensive to buy, sell and hold securities in certain foreign markets than in the United States. Foreign brokerage commissions are generally higher than commissions on securities traded in the United States and may be non-negotiable. The fees paid to foreign banks and securities depositories generally are higher than those charged by U.S. banks and depositories. The increased expense of investing in foreign markets reduces the amount earned on investments and typically results in a higher operating expense ratio for the Fund as compared to investment companies that invest only in the United States. Deposit^ a ry receipts (including American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) and ^ Global Depositary Receipts “GDRs”)) are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer and are alternatives to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their national markets and currencies. However, they continue to be subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities. These risks include the political and economic risks of the underlying issuer’s country, as well as in the case of depositary receipts traded on ^ foreign markets, exchange risk. Deposit^ a ry^ r eceipts may be sponsored or unsponsored. Unsponsored receipts are established without the participation of the issuer. As a result, available information concerning the issuer of an unsponsored ^ d epository^ r eceipt may not be as current as for sponsored ^ d eposit^ a ry^ r eceipts, and the prices of unsponsored ^ d eposit^ a ry^ r eceipts may be more volatile than if such instruments were sponsored by the issuer. Unsponsored receipts may involve higher expenses, may not pass-through voting or other shareholder rights and they may be less liquid. Unless other provided in the Fund’s prospectus, in determining the domicile of an issuer , the investment adviser may consider the domicile determination of the Fund’s benchmark index or a leading provider of global indexes and may take into account such factors as where the company’s securities are listed, and where the company is legally organized, maintains principal corporate offices and/or conducts its principal operations. |
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Forward Foreign Currency Contracts |
See also “Derivative Instruments and Related Risks” herein. A forward foreign currency exchange contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. These contracts may be bought or sold to protect against an adverse change in the relationship between currencies or to increase exposure to a particular foreign currency. Cross-hedging may be done by using forward contracts in one currency (or basket of currencies) to hedge against fluctuations in the value of instruments denominated in a different currency (or the basket of currencies and the underlying currency). Use of a different foreign currency (for hedging or on-hedging purposes) magnifies exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are individually negotiated and privately traded so they are dependent upon the creditworthiness of the counterparty. The precise matching of the forward contract amounts and the value of the instruments denominated in the corresponding currencies will not generally be possible. In addition, it may not be possible to hedge against long-term currency changes. When a currency is difficult to hedge or to hedge against the dollar, the Fund may enter into a forward contract to sell a currency whose changes in value are generally considered to be linked to such currency. Currency transactions can result in losses if the currency being hedged fluctuates in value to a degree or in a direction that is not anticipated. In addition, there is the risk that the perceived linkage between various currencies may not be present or may not be present during the particular time the hedge is in place. If the Fund purchases a bond denominated in a foreign currency with a higher interest rate than is available on U.S. bonds of a similar maturity, the additional yield on the foreign bond could be substantially reduced or lost if the Fund were to enter into a direct hedge by selling the foreign currency and purchasing the U.S. dollar. Some of the forward foreign currency contracts may be classified as non-deliverable forwards (“NDFs”). NDFs are cash-settled, forward contracts that may be thinly traded. NDFs are commonly quoted for time periods of one month up to two years, and are normally quoted and settled in U.S. dollars, but may be settled in other currencies. They are often used to gain exposure to or hedge exposure to foreign currencies that are not internationally traded. NDFs may also be used to gain or hedge exposure to gold. |
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Forward Rate Agreements |
See also “Derivative Instruments and Related Risks” herein. Under a forward rate agreement, the buyer locks in an interest rate at a future settlement date. If the interest rate on the settlement date exceeds the lock rate, the buyer pays the seller the difference between the two rates. If the lock rate exceeds the interest rate on the settlement date, the seller pays the buyer the difference between the two rates. Any such gain received by the Fund would be taxable. These instruments are traded in the OTC market. |
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Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
43
SAI dated December 30, 2011
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
44
SAI dated December 30, 2011
The risks of investing in hybrid instruments reflect a combination of the risks of investing in securities, options, futures and currencies. An investment in a hybrid instrument may entail significant risks that are not associated with a similar investment in a traditional debt instrument that has a fixed principal amount, is denominated in U.S. dollars or bears interest either at a fixed rate or a floating rate determined by reference to a common, nationally published benchmark. The risks of a particular hybrid instrument will depend upon the terms of the instrument, but may include the possibility of significant changes in the benchmark(s) or the prices of the underlying assets to which the instrument is linked. Such risks generally depend upon factors unrelated to the operations or credit quality of the issuer of the hybrid instrument, which may not be foreseen by the purchaser, such as economic and political events, the supply and demand of the underlying assets and interest rate movements. Hybrid instruments may be highly volatile and their use by the Fund may not be successful. Hybrid instruments may also carry liquidity risk since the instruments are often “customized” to meet the portfolio needs of a particular investor, and therefore, the number of investors that are willing and able to buy such instruments in the secondary market may be smaller than that for more traditional debt securities. Hybrid instruments may bear interest or pay preferred dividends at below market (or even relatively nominal) rates. Alternatively, hybrid instruments may bear interest at above market rates but bear an increased risk of principal loss (or ). The latter scenario may result if “leverage” is used to structure the hybrid instrument. Leverage risk occurs when the hybrid instrument is structured so that a given change in a benchmark or underlying asset is multiplied to produce a greater value change in the hybrid instrument, thereby magnifying the risk of loss as well as the potential for gain. Hybrid instruments are potentially more volatile and carry greater market risks than traditional debt instruments. Depending on the structure of the particular hybrid instrument, changes in a benchmark may be magnified by the terms of the hybrid instrument and have an even more dramatic and substantial effect upon the value of the hybrid instrument. Also, the prices of the hybrid instrument and the benchmark or underlying asset may not move in the same direction or at the same time. Hybrids can be used as an efficient means of pursuing a variety of investment goals, including currency hedging, duration management, and increased total return and creating exposure to a particular market or segment of that market. The value of a hybrid or its interest rate may be a multiple of a benchmark and, as a result, may be leveraged and move (up or down) more steeply and rapidly than the benchmark. These benchmarks may be sensitive to economic and political events, such as commodity shortages and currency devaluations, which cannot be readily foreseen by the purchaser of a hybrid. Under certain conditions, the redemption value of a hybrid could be zero. The purchase of hybrids also exposes the Fund to the credit risk of the issuer of the hybrids. These risks may cause significant fluctuations in the net asset value of the Fund. Certain hybrid instruments may provide exposure to the commodities markets. These are derivative securities with one or more commodity-linked components that have payment features similar to commodity futures contracts, commodity options, or similar instruments. Commodity-linked hybrid instruments may be either equity or debt securities, leveraged or unleveraged, and are considered hybrid instruments because they have both security and commodity-like characteristics. A portion of the value of these instruments may be derived from the value of a commodity, futures contract, index or other economic variable. The Fund will only invest in commodity-linked hybrid instruments that qualify under applicable rules of the CFTC for an exemption from the provisions of the CEA. Certain issuers of structured products such as hybrid instruments may be deemed to be investment companies as defined in the 1940 Act. As a result, the Fund’s investments in these products may be subject to limits applicable to investments in investment companies and may be subject to restrictions contained in the 1940 Act. |
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Illiquid Securities |
Illiquid securities include securities legally restricted as to resale, and may include commercial paper issued pursuant to Section 4(2) of the 1933 Act and securities eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A thereunder. Section 4(2) and Rule 144A securities may, however, be treated as liquid by the investment adviser pursuant to procedures adopted by the Trustees, which require consideration of factors such as trading activity, availability of market quotations and number of dealers willing to purchase the security. Even if determined to be liquid, Rule 144A securities may increase the level of portfolio illiquidity if eligible buyers become uninterested in purchasing such securities. It may be difficult to sell illiquid securities at a price representing fair value until such time as the securities may be sold publicly. It also may be more difficult to determine the fair value of such securities for purposes of computing the Fund’s net asset value. Where registration is required, a considerable period may elapse between a decision to sell the securities and the time when it would be permitted to sell. Thus, the Fund may not be able to obtain as favorable a price as that prevailing at the time of the decision to sell. The Fund may incur additional expense when disposing of illiquid securities, including all or a portion of the cost to register the securities. The Fund also may acquire securities through private placements under which it may agree to contractual restrictions on the resale of such securities that are in addition to applicable legal restrictions. Such restrictions might prevent the sale of such securities at a time when such sale would otherwise be desirable. |
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
45
SAI dated December 30, 2011
At times, a^ portion of the Fund’s assets may be invested in securities as to which the Fund, by itself or together with other accounts managed by the investment adviser and its affiliates, holds a major portion or all of such securities. Under adverse market or economic conditions or in the event of adverse changes in the financial condition of the issuer, the Fund could find it more difficult to sell such securities when the investment adviser believes it advisable to do so or may be able to sell such securities only at prices lower than if such securities were more widely held. It may also be more difficult to determine the fair value of such securities for purposes of computing the Fund’s net asset value. |
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Indexed Securities |
See also “Derivative Instruments and Related Risks” herein. Index securities are securities that fluctuate in value with an index. The interest rate or, in some cases, the principal payable at the maturity of an indexed security may change positively or inversely in relation to one or more interest rates, financial indices, securities prices or other financial indicators (“reference prices”). An indexed security may be leveraged to the extent that the magnitude of any change in the interest rate or principal payable on an indexed security is a multiple of the change in the reference price. Thus, indexed securities may decline in value due to adverse market changes in reference prices. Because indexed securities derive their value from another instrument, security or index, they are considered derivative debt securities, and are subject to different combinations of prepayment, extension, interest rate and/or other market risks. Indexed securities may include interest only (“IO”) and principal only (“PO”) securities, floating rate securities linked to the Cost of Funds Index (“COFI floaters”), other “lagging rate” floating securities, floating rate securities that are subject to a maximum interest rate (“capped floaters”), leveraged floating rate securities (“super floaters”), leveraged inverse floating rate securities (“inverse floaters”), dual index floaters, range floaters, index amortizing notes and various currency indexed notes. Indexed securities may be issued by the U.S. Government or one of its agencies or instrumentalities or, if privately issued, collateralized by mortgages that are insured, guaranteed or otherwise backed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities. |
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Inflation-Indexed (or Inflation-Linked) Bonds |
Inflation-indexed bonds are fixed - income securities the principal value of which is periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation. Inflation-indexed bonds are issued by governments, their agencies or instrumentalities and corporations. Two structures are common^ : The U.S. Treasury and some other issuers use a structure that accrues inflation into the principal value of the bond. Most other issuers pay out the inflation accruals as part of a semiannual coupon. The principal amount of an inflation-indexed bond is adjusted in response to changes in the level of inflation. Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed in the case of U.S. Treasury inflation-indexed bonds, and therefore, the principal amount of such bonds cannot be reduced below par even during a period of deflation. However, the current market value of these bonds is not guaranteed and will fluctuate, reflecting the risk of changes in their yields. In certain jurisdictions outside the United States, the repayment of the original bond principal upon the maturity of an inflation-indexed bond is not guaranteed, allowing for the amount of the bond repaid at maturity to be less than par. The interest rate for inflation-indexed bonds is fixed at issuance as a percentage of this adjustable principal. Accordingly, the actual interest income may both rise and fall as the principal amount of the bonds adjusts in response to movements in the ^ C onsumer^ P rice^ I ndex. The value of inflation-indexed bonds is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates in turn are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. Therefore, if inflation were to rise at a faster rate than nominal interest rates, real interest rates might decline, leading to an increase in value of inflation-indexed bonds. In contrast, if nominal interest rates increased at a faster rate than inflation, real interest rates might rise, leading to a decrease in value of inflation-indexed bonds. While these securities are expected to be protected from long-term inflationary trends, short-term increases in inflation may lead to a decline in value. If interest rates rise due to reasons other than inflation (for example, due to changes in currency exchange rates), investors in these securities may not be protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the bond’s inflation measure. |
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Investments in the Subsidiary |
^The Subsidiary is organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands, and is overseen by a sole director affiliated with Eaton Vance. The Fund is the sole shareholder of the Subsidiary, and it is not currently expected that shares of the Subsidiary will be sold or offered to other investors. The Subsidiary expects to invest primarily in commodity-linked derivative instruments, including swap agreements, commodity options, futures and options on futures, backed by a portfolio of inflation-indexed securities and other fixed-income securities and is also permitted to invest in any other investments permitted by the Fund. To the extent that the Fund invests in the Subsidiary, the Fund will be subject to the risks associated with those derivative instruments and other securities, which are discussed elsewhere in the Prospectus and this SAI. While the Subsidiary may be operated similarly to the Fund, it is not registered under the 1940 Act and, unless otherwise noted in the Prospectus and this SAI, is not subject to the investor protections of the 1940 Act and other U.S. regulations. Changes in the laws of the U.S. and/or the Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in the Prospectus and this SAI and could negatively affect the Fund and its shareholders. |
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Junior Loans |
Secured and unsecured subordinated loans, second lien loans and subordinated bridge loans (“Junior Loans”) are generally second in line in terms of repayment priority. A second lien loan may have a claim on the same collateral pool as the first lien or it may be secured by a separate set of assets. Second lien loans generally give investors priority over general unsecured creditors in the event of an asset sale. |
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
46
SAI dated December 30, 2011
Bridge loans or bridge facilities are short-term loan arrangements (e.g., 12 to 18 months) typically made by a ^ b orrower in anticipation of intermediate-term or long-term permanent financing. Most bridge loans are structured as floating-rate debt with step-up provisions under which the interest rate on the bridge loan rises the longer the loan remains outstanding and may be converted into senior exchange notes if the loan has not been prepaid in full on or prior to its maturity date. Bridge loans may be subordinate to other debt and may be secured or unsecured. Bridge loans are generally made with the expectation that the ^ b orrower will be able to obtain permanent financing in the near future. Any delay in obtaining permanent financing subjects the bridge loan investor to increased risk. A ^ b orrower^ with an outstanding bridge loan may be unable to locate permanent financing to replace the bridge loan, which may impair the ^ b orrower’s perceived creditworthiness. From time to time, the Fund may make a commitment to participate in a bridge loan facility, obligating itself to participate in the facility if it funds. In return for this commitment, the Fund receives a fee. Junior Loans, which may be purchased either in the form of an assignment or a loan participation are subject to the same general risks inherent to any loan investment. Due to their lower place in the ^ b orrower’s capital structure and possible unsecured status, Junior Loans involve a higher degree of overall risk than Senior Loans of the same ^ b orrower. |
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Liquidity or Protective Put Agreements |
See also “Derivative Instruments and Related Risks” herein. The Fund may enter into a separate agreement with the seller of an instrument or some other person granting the Fund the right to put the instrument to the seller thereof or the other person at an agreed upon price. Interest income generated by certain municipal bonds with put or demand features may be taxable. |
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Loan Facility |
Senior Debt Portfolio may employ borrowings and leverage as described in the prospectus. The Portfolio has entered into a commercial paper program and liquidity facility subject to the terms of an Order of the SEC (Release No. 26320) granting an exemption from Section 18(f)(1) of the 1940 Act. The program, administered by Citicorp North America, Inc., is with certain conduit lenders who issue commercial paper, in an amount up to $640 million through which the Portfolio employs leverage pursuant to its investment guidelines and subject to the risks described in the Prospectus. Under the terms of the program, the Portfolio pays an annual fee equal to 0.60% on its outstanding borrowings for the administration of the program and an annual fee of 0.45% on the total commitment amount, as well as interest on advances under the program. |
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Master Limited Partnerships ("MLPs") |
MLPs are publicly-traded limited partnership interests or units. An MLP that invests in a particular industry (e.g., oil and gas) will be harmed by detrimental economic events within that industry. As partnerships, MLPs may be subject to less regulation (and less protection for investors) under state laws than corporations. In addition, MLPs may be subject to state taxation in certain jurisdictions, which may reduce the amount of income paid by an MLP to its investors. |
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Mortgage-Backed Securities ("MBS") |
MBS are “pass through” securities, meaning that a pro rata share of regular interest and principal payments, as well as unscheduled early prepayments, on the underlying mortgage pool is passed through monthly to the holder. MBS may include conventional mortgage pass through securities, participation interests in pools of adjustable and fixed rate mortgage loans, stripped mortgage-backed securities (described herein), floating rate mortgage-backed securities and certain classes of multiple class CMOs. MBS pay principal to the holder over their term, which differs from other forms of debt securities that normally provide for principal payment at maturity or specified call dates. MBS are subject to the general risks associated with investing in real estate securities; that is, they may lose value if the value of the underlying real estate to which a pool of mortgages relates declines. In addition, investments in MBS involve certain specific risks, including the failure of a party to meet its commitments under the related operative documents, adverse interest rate changes and the effects of prepayments on mortgage cash flows. Certain MBS may be purchased on a when-issued basis subject to certain limitations and requirements. There are currently three types of MBS: (1) those issued by the U.S. Government or one of its agencies or instrumentalities, such as the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”), the Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”); (2) those issued by private issuers that represent an interest in or are collateralized by pass through securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or one of its agencies or instrumentalities; and (3) those issued by private issuers that represent an interest in or are collateralized by whole mortgage loans or pass through securities without a government guarantee but that usually have some form of private credit enhancement. Privately issued MBS are structured similar to GNMA, FNMA and FHLMC MBS , and are issued by originators or and investors in mortgage loans, including depositary institutions mortgage banks and special purpose subsidiaries of the foregoing. |
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
47
SAI dated December 30, 2011
GNMA Certificates and FNMA Mortgage- Backed Certificates are MBS representing part ownership of a pool of mortgage loans. GNMA loans (issued by lenders such as mortgage bankers, commercial banks and savings and loan associations) are either insured by the Federal Housing Administration or guaranteed by the Veterans Administration. A pool of such mortgages is assembled and, after being approved by GNMA, is offered to investors through securities dealers. Once such pool is approved by GNMA, the timely payment of interest and principal on the Certificates issued representing such pool is guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. GNMA is a wholly^ owned U.S. Government corporation within the Department of Housing and Urban Development. FNMA, a federally chartered corporation owned entirely by private stockholders, purchases both conventional and federally insured or guaranteed residential mortgages from various entities, including savings and loan associations, savings banks, commercial banks, credit unions and mortgage bankers, and packages pools of such mortgages in the form of pass-through securities generally called FNMA Mortgage-Backed Certificates, which are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by FNMA but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government; however, they are supported by the right of FNMA to borrow from the U.S. Treasury Department. FHLMC, a corporate instrumentality of the U.S. Government created by Congress for the purposes of increasing the availability of mortgage credit for residential housing, issues participation certificates (“PCs”) representing undivided interest in FHLMC’S mortgage portfolio. While FHLMC guarantees the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of the principal of its PCs, its PCs are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. FHLMC PCs differ from GNMA Certificates in that the mortgages underlying the PCs are monthly “conventional” mortgages rather than mortgages insured or guaranteed by a federal agency or instrumentality. However, in several other respects, such as the monthly pass-through of interest and principal (including unscheduled prepayments) and the unpredictability of future unscheduled prepayments on the underlying mortgage pools, FHLMC PCs are similar to GNMA Certificates. See also ^ “Events Regarding FNMA and FHLMC” herein. While it is not possible to accurately predict the life of a particular issue of MBS, the actual life of any such security is likely to be substantially less than the final maturities of the mortgage loans underlying the security. This is because unscheduled early prepayments of principal on MBS will result from the prepayment, refinancings or foreclosure of the underlying mortgage loans in the mortgage pool. Prepayments of MBS may not be able to be reinvested at the same interest rate. Because of the regular scheduled payments of principal and the early unscheduled prepayments of principal, MBS is less effective than other types of obligations as a means of “locking-in” attractive long-term interest rates. As a result, this type of security may have less potential for capital appreciation during periods of declining interest rates than other U.S. Government securities of comparable maturities, although many issues of MBS may have a comparable risk of decline in market value during periods of rising interest rates. If MBS is purchased at a premium above its par value, a scheduled payment of principal and an unscheduled prepayment of principal, which would be made at par, will accelerate the realization of a loss equal to that portion of the premium applicable to the payment or prepayment. If MBS has been purchased at a discount from its par value, both a scheduled payment of principal and an unscheduled prepayment of principal will increase current returns and will accelerate the recognition of income, which, when distributed to Fund shareholders, will be taxable as ordinary income. |
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Mortgage Dollar Rolls |
In a mortgage dollar roll, a Fund sells MBS for delivery in the current month and simultaneously contracts to repurchase substantially similar (same type, coupon and maturity) MBS on a specified future date. During the roll period, the Fund forgoes principal and interest paid on the MBS. The Fund is compensated by the difference between the current sales price and the lower forward price for the future purchase (often referred to as the “drop”) as well as by the interest earned on the cash proceeds of the initial sales. A “covered roll” is a specific type of dollar roll for which there is an offsetting cash position or a cash equivalent security position which matures on or before the forward settlement date of the dollar roll transaction. The Fund will only enter into covered rolls. Covered rolls are not treated as a borrowing or other senior security and will be excluded from the calculation of the Fund’s borrowings and other senior securities. |
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Municipal Lease Obligations ("MLOs") |
MLOs are obligations in the form of a lease, installment purchase or conditional sales contract (which typically provide for the title to the leased asset to pass to the governmental issuer) that is issued by state or local governments to acquire equipment and facilities. Interest income from MLOs is generally exempt from local and state taxes in the state of issuance. MLOs, like other municipal debt obligations, are subject to the risk of non-payment. Although MLOs do not constitute general obligations of the issuer for which the issuer’s unlimited taxing power is pledged, a lease obligation is frequently backed by the issuer’s covenant to budget for, appropriate and make the payments due under the lease obligation. However, certain lease obligations contain “non-appropriation” clauses, which provide that the issuer has no obligation to make lease or installment purchase payments in future years unless money is appropriated for such purpose on a yearly basis. Although “non-appropriation” lease obligations ^ may be secured by the leased property, disposition of the property in the event of foreclosure might prove difficult. Participations in municipal leases are undivided interests in a portion of the total obligation. Participations entitle their holders to receive a pro rata share of all payments under the lease. |
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
48
SAI dated December 30, 2011
MLOs and participations therein represent a type of financing that ^ may not ^ have the depth of marketability associated with more conventional securities and, as such, they may be less liquid than conventional securities. Certain MLOs may be deemed illiquid for the purpose of the Fund’s limitation on investments in illiquid securities, unless determined by the investment adviser, pursuant to guidelines adopted by the Trustees, to be liquid securities. The investment adviser will consider a MLO to be liquid if it is rated investment grade (being a n MLO rated BBB or Baa or higher) by a nationally recognized statistical organization or is insured by an insurer rated investment grade. If a n MLO or participation does not meet the foregoing criteria, then the investment adviser will consider the MLO to be illiquid unless it conducts an analysis of relevant factors and concludes that the MLO is liquid. In conducting such an analysis, the investment adviser will consider the factors it believes are relevant to the marketability of the obligation, to the extent that information regarding such factor is available to the investment adviser and pertinent to the liquidity determination, which may include: (1) the willingness of dealers to bid for the obligation; (2) the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the obligation and the number of other potential buyers; (3) the frequency of trades and quotes for the obligation; (4) the nature of the marketplace trades, including the time needed to dispose of the obligation, the method of soliciting offers, and the mechanics of transfer; (5) the willingness of the governmental issuer to continue to appropriate funds for the payment of the obligation; (6) how likely or remote an event of non-appropriation may be, which depends in varying degrees on a variety of factors, including those relating to the general creditworthiness of the governmental issuer, its dependence on its continuing access to the credit markets, and the importance to the issuer of the equipment, property or facility covered by the lease or contract; (7) an assessment of the likelihood that the lease may or may not be cancelled ; and (8) other factors and information unique to the obligation in determining its liquidity. The ability of issuers of MLO s to make timely lease payments may be adversely impacted in general economic downturns and as relative governmental cost burdens are allocated and reallocated among federal, state and local governmental units. Such non-payment would result in a reduction of income from and value of the obligation. Issuers of MLOs might seek protection under the bankruptcy laws. In the event of bankruptcy of such an issuer, holders of MLOs could experience delays and limitations with respect to the collection of principal and interest on such MLOs and may not, in all circumstances, be able to collect all principal and interest to which it is entitled. To enforce its rights in the event of a default in lease payments, the Fund might take possession of and manage the assets securing the issuer’s obligations on such securities or otherwise incur costs to protect its right, which may increase the Fund’s operating expenses and adversely affect the net asset value of the Fund. When the lease contains a non-appropriation clause, however, the failure to pay would not be a default and the Fund would not have the right to take possession of the assets. Any income derived from the Fund’s ownership or operation of such assets may not be tax-exempt.^ |
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Municipal Obligations |
Municipal obligations include debt obligations issued to obtain funds for various public purposes, including the construction of a wide range of public facilities, refunding of outstanding obligations and obtaining funds for general operating expenses and loans to other public institutions and facilities. Certain types of bonds are issued by or on behalf of public authorities to finance various privately owned or operated facilities, including certain facilities for the local furnishing of electric energy or gas, sewage facilities, solid waste disposal facilities and other specialized facilities. Municipal obligations include bonds as well as tax-exempt commercial paper, project notes and municipal notes such as tax, revenue and bond anticipation notes of short maturity, generally less than three years. While most municipal bonds pay a fixed rate of interest semiannually in cash, there are exceptions. Some bonds pay no periodic cash interest, but rather make a single payment at maturity representing both principal and interest. Some bonds may pay interest at a variable or floating rate. Bonds may be issued or subsequently offered with interest coupons materially greater or less than those then prevailing, with price adjustments reflecting such deviation. ^ Municipal obligations may be subject to credit enhancements such as letters of credit, Standby Bond Purchase Agreements (“SBPAs”) and municipal bond insurance. Letters of credit are issued by a third party, usually a bank, to enhance liquidity and ensure repayment of principal and any accrued interest if the underlying municipal bond should default. The credit quality of companies that provide such credit enhancements will affect the value of those securities. An SBPA is a liquidity facility provided to pay the purchase price of bonds that cannot be remarketed. The obligation of the liquidity provider (usually a bank) is only to advance funds to purchase tendered bonds that cannot be remarketed and does not cover principal or interest under any other circumstances. The liquidity provider’s obligations under the SBPA are usually subject to numerous conditions, including the continued creditworthiness of underlying borrowers. |
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
49
SAI dated December 30, 2011
^ Municipal obligations may be insured as to their scheduled payment of principal and interest. Although the insurance feature may reduce some financial risks, the premiums for insurance and the higher market price sometimes paid for insured obligations may reduce the current yield on the insured obligation. Insured obligations also may be secured by bank credit agreements or escrow accounts. Changes in the ratings of an insurer may affect the value of an insured obligation, and in some cases may even cause the value of a security to be less than a comparable uninsured obligation. The insurance does not guarantee the market value of the insured obligation or the net asset value of the Fund’s shares. The credit rating of an insured obligation reflects the credit rating of the insurer, based on its claims-paying ability. The obligation of a municipal bond insurance company to pay a claim extends over the life of each insured obligation. Although defaults on insured municipal obligations have been low to date and municipal bond insurers have met their claims, there is no assurance this will continue. A higher-than expected default rate could strain the insurer’s loss reserves and adversely affect its ability to pay claims to bondholders. Because a significant portion of insured municipal obligations that have been issued and are outstanding is insured by a small number of insurance companies, an event involving one or more of these insurance companies, such as a credit rating downgrade, could have a significant adverse effect on the value of the municipal obligations insured by that insurance company and on the municipal bond markets as a whole. If relevant to the Fund(s) in this SAI, the claims-paying ability ratings are described in an appendix to the SAI (see the table of contents). In general, there are three categories of municipal obligations, the interest on which is exempt from federal income tax and is not a tax preference item for purposes of the alternative minimum tax (“AMT”): (i) certain “public purpose” obligations (whenever issued), which include obligations issued directly by state and local governments or their agencies to fulfill essential governmental functions; (ii) certain obligations issued before August 8, 1986 for the benefit of non-governmental persons or entities; and (iii) certain “private activity bonds” issued after August 7, 1986 which include “qualified Section 501(c)(3) bonds” or refundings of certain obligations included in the second category. Opinions relating to the validity of municipal bonds, exclusion of municipal bond interest from an investor’s gross income for federal income tax purposes and, where applicable, state and local income tax, are rendered by bond counsel to the issuing authorities at the time of issuance. Interest on certain “private activity bonds” issued after August 7, 1986 is exempt from regular federal income tax, but such interest (including a distribution by the Fund derived from such interest) is treated as a tax preference item which could subject the recipient to or increase the recipient’s liability for the AMT. For corporate shareholders, the Fund’s distributions derived from interest on all municipal obligations (whenever issued) are included in “adjusted current earnings” for purposes of the AMT as applied to corporations (to the extent not already included in alternative minimum taxable income as income attributable to private activity bonds). The two principal classifications of municipal bonds are “general obligation” and “revenue” bonds. Issuers of general obligation bonds include states, counties, cities, towns and regional districts. The proceeds of these obligations are used to fund a wide range of public projects, including the construction or improvement of schools, highways and roads, water and sewer systems and a variety of other public purposes. The basic security of general obligation bonds is the issuer’s pledge of its faith, credit, and taxing power for the payment of principal and interest. The taxes that can be levied for the payment of debt service may be limited or unlimited as to rate and amount. Typically, the only security for a limited obligation or revenue bond is the net revenue derived from a particular facility or class of facilities financed thereby or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special tax or other special revenues. Revenue bonds have been issued to fund a wide variety of revenue-producing public capital projects including: electric, gas, water and sewer systems; highways, bridges and tunnels; port and airport facilities; colleges and universities; hospitals; and convention, recreational, tribal gaming and housing facilities. Although the security behind these bonds varies widely, many provide additional security in the form of a debt service reserve fund ^ that may also be used to make principal and interest payments on the issuer’s obligations. In addition, some revenue obligations (as well as general obligations) are insured by a bond insurance company or backed by a letter of credit issued by a banking institution. Revenue bonds also include, for example, pollution control, health care and housing bonds, which, although nominally issued by municipal authorities, are generally not secured by the taxing power of the municipality but by the revenues of the authority derived from payments by the private entity which owns or operates the facility financed with the proceeds of the bonds. Obligations of housing finance authorities have a wide range of security features, including reserve funds and insured or subsidized mortgages, as well as the net revenues from housing or other public projects. Many of these bonds do not generally constitute the pledge of the credit of the issuer of such bonds. The credit quality of such revenue bonds is usually directly related to the credit standing of the user of the facility being financed or of an institution which provides a guarantee, letter of credit or other credit enhancement for the bond issue. Investing in revenue bonds may involve (without limitation) the following risks. Hospital bond ratings are often based on feasibility studies ^ that contain projections of expenses, revenues and occupancy levels. A hospital’s income available to service its debt may be influenced by demand for hospital services, management capabilities, the service area economy, efforts by insurers and government agencies to limit rates and expenses, competition, availability and expense of malpractice insurance, and Medicaid and Medicare funding. |
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
50
SAI dated December 30, 2011
Electric utilities face problems in financing large construction programs in an inflationary period, cost increases and delay occasioned by safety and environmental considerations (particularly with respect to nuclear facilities), difficulty in obtaining fuel at reasonable prices, and in achieving timely and adequate rate relief from regulatory commissions, effects of energy conservation and limitations on the capacity of the capital market to absorb utility debt. Industrial development bonds (“IDBs”) are normally secured only by the revenues from the project and not by state or local government tax payments, they are subject to a wide variety of risks, many of which relate to the nature of the specific project. Generally, IDBs are sensitive to the risk of a slowdown in the economy. Standard tobacco bonds are secured by a single source of revenue, installment payments made by tobacco companies stemming from the settlement of lawsuits brought against them by various states (the “Master Settlement Agreement”). Appropriation - backed tobacco bonds are supported by the same Master Settlement Agreement payments as standard tobacco bonds, but are also subject to a state’s pledge that the governor will request an appropriation of funds in its annual budget for debt service if Master Settlement Agreement revenues are insufficient. These payments are not generally fixed but rather are tied to the volume of the company’s U.S. sales of cigarettes. Tobacco bonds are subject to several risks, including the risk that cigarette consumption declines or that a tobacco company defaults on its obligation to make payments to the state. Escrowed tobacco bonds no longer rely on Master Settlement Agreement revenue as security, and are backed by a variety of government securities. The airline industry has historically exhibited volatility, with market disruptions, mergers and occasional bankruptcy filings. The industry has been prone to issues including, but not limited to, intense competition, labor and union conflicts and variable jet fuel and security costs. Court rulings have given some guidance to the viability of collateral structures. However, there is still uncertainty as to the strength of collateral pledged under various security systems. Certain municipal bonds issued by Native American tribes may be subject to the risk that a taxing authority would determine that the income from such bonds is not eligible for tax-exempt status. In the event of any final adverse ruling to this effect, holders of such bonds may be subject to penalties. Education-related bonds are comprised of two types: (i) those issued to finance projects for public and private colleges and universities, charter schools and private schools, and (ii) those representing pooled interests in student loans. Bonds issued to supply educational institutions with funding are subject to many risks, including the risks of unanticipated revenue decline, primarily the result of decreasing student enrollment, decreasing state and federal funding, or changes in general economic conditions. Additionally, higher than anticipated costs associated with salaries, utilities, insurance or other general expenses could impair the ability of a borrower to make annual debt service payments. Student loan revenue bonds are generally offered by state (or sub-state) authorities or commissions and are backed by pools of student loans. Underlying student loans may be guaranteed by state guarantee agencies and may be subject to reimbursement by the United States Department of Education through its guaranteed student loan program. Others may be private, uninsured loans made to parents or students which may be supported by reserves or other forms of credit enhancement. Recoveries of principal due to loan defaults may be applied to redemption of bonds or may be used to re-lend, depending on program latitude and demand for loans. Cash flows supporting student loan revenue bonds are impacted by numerous factors, including the rate of student loan defaults, seasoning of the loan portfolio, and student repayment deferral periods of forbearance. Other risks associated with student loan revenue bonds include potential changes in federal legislation regarding student loan revenue bonds, state guarantee agency reimbursement and continued federal interest and other program subsidies currently in effect. Transportation debt may be issued to finance the construction of airports, toll roads, highways, or other transit facilities. Airport bonds are dependent on the economic conditions of the airport’s service area and may be affected by the business strategies and fortunes of specific airlines. They may also be subject to competition from other airports and modes of transportation. Air traffic generally follows broader economic trends and is also affected by the price and availability of fuel. Toll road bonds are also affected by the cost and availability of fuel as well as toll levels, the presence of competing roads and the general economic health of an area. Fuel costs, transportation taxes and fees, and availability of fuel also affect other transportation-related securities, as do the presence of alternate forms of transportation, such as public transportation. Water and sewer revenue bonds are generally secured by the fees charged to each user of the service. The issuers of water and sewer revenue bonds generally enjoy a monopoly status and latitude in their ability to raise rates. However, lack of water supply due to insufficient rain, run-off, or snow pack can be a concern and has led to past defaults. Further, public resistance to rate increases, declining numbers of customers in a particular locale, costly environmental litigation, and Federal environmental mandates are challenges faced by issuers of water and sewer bonds. |
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
51
SAI dated December 30, 2011
The obligations of any person or entity to pay the principal of and interest on a municipal obligation are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors, such as the Federal Bankruptcy Act, and laws, if any, that may be enacted by Congress or state legislatures extending the time for payment of principal or interest, or both, or imposing other constraints upon enforcement of such obligations. Certain bond structures may be subject to the risk that a taxing authority may issue an adverse ruling regarding tax-exempt status. There is also the possibility that as a result of adverse economic conditions (including unforeseen financial events, natural disasters and other conditions that may affect an issuer’s ability to pay its obligations), litigation or other conditions, the power or ability of any person or entity to pay when due principal of and interest on a municipal obligation may be materially affected or interest and principal previously paid may be required to be refunded. There have been instances of defaults and bankruptcies involving municipal obligations which were not foreseen by the financial and investment communities. The Fund will take whatever action it considers appropriate in the event of anticipated financial difficulties, default or bankruptcy of either the issuer of any municipal obligation or of the underlying source of funds for debt service. Such action may include : (i) retaining the services of various persons or firms (including affiliates of the investment adviser) to evaluate or protect any real estate, facilities or other assets securing any such obligation or acquired by the Fund as a result of any such event^ ; (ii) managing (or engaging other persons to manage) or otherwise dealing with any real estate, facilities or other assets so acquired ; and (iii) taking such other actions as the adviser (including, but not limited to, payment of operating or similar expenses of the underlying project) may deem appropriate to reduce the likelihood or severity of loss on the fund’s investment. The Fund will incur additional expenditures in taking protective action with respect to portfolio obligations in (or anticipated to be in) default and assets securing such obligations. Historically , municipal bankruptcies have been rare and certain provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code governing such bankruptcy are unclear. Further, the application of state law to municipal obligation issuers could produce varying results among the states or among municipal obligation issuers within a state. These uncertainties could have a significant impact on the prices of the municipal obligations in which the Fund invests. There could be economic, business or political developments or court decisions that adversely affect all municipal obligations in the same sector. Developments such as changes in healthcare regulations, environmental considerations related to construction, construction cost increases and labor problems, failure of healthcare facilities to maintain adequate occupancy levels, and inflation can affect municipal obligations in the same sector. As the similarity in issuers of municipal obligations held by the Fund increases, the potential for fluctuations in the Fund’s share price also may increase. The secondary market for some municipal obligations issued within a state (including issues ^ that are privately placed with the Fund) is less liquid than that for taxable debt obligations or other more widely traded municipal obligations. No established resale market exists for certain of the municipal obligations in which the Fund may invest. The market for obligations rated below investment grade is also likely to be less liquid than the market for higher rated obligations. As a result, the Fund may be unable to dispose of these municipal obligations at times when it would otherwise wish to do so at the prices at which they are valued. Municipal obligations that are rated below investment grade but that, subsequent to the assignment of such rating, are backed by escrow accounts containing U.S. Government obligations may be determined by the investment adviser to be of investment grade quality for purposes of the Fund’s investment policies. In the case of a defaulted obligation, the Fund may incur additional expense seeking recovery of its investment. Defaulted obligations are denoted in the “Portfolio of Investments” in the “Financial Statements” included in the Fund’s reports to shareholders. |
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Option Contracts |
See also “Derivative Instruments and Related Risks” herein. An option contract is a contract that gives the holder of the option, in return for a premium, the right to buy from (in the case of a call) or sell to (in the case of a put) the writer of the option the reference instrument underlying the option (or the cash value of the index) at a specified exercise price at any time during the term of the option. The writer of an option on a security has the obligation upon exercise of the option to deliver the reference instrument (or the cash) upon payment of the exercise price or to pay the exercise price upon delivery of the reference instrument (or the cash). Upon exercise of an index option, the writer of an option on an index is obligated to pay the difference between the cash value of the index and the exercise price multiplied by the specified multiplier for the index option. Options may be “covered” meaning that party required to deliver the reference instrument if the option is exercised owns that instrument (or has set aside sufficient assets to meet its obligation to deliver the instrument). Options may be listed on an exchange or traded in the OTC market. In general, exchange-traded options have standardized exercise prices and expiration dates and may require the parties to post margin against their obligations, and the performance of the parties’ obligations in connection with such options is guaranteed by the exchange or a related clearing corporation. OTC options have more flexible terms negotiated between the buyer and the seller, but generally do not require the parties to post margin and are subject to greater credit risk. OTC options also involve greater liquidity risk. The staff of the SEC takes the position that certain purchased OTC options, and assets used as cover for written OTC options, are illiquid. Derivatives on economic indicators generally are offered in an auction format and are booked and settled as OTC options. Options on futures contracts are discussed ^ herein under “Futures Contracts.” |
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
52
SAI dated December 30, 2011
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
53
SAI dated December 30, 2011
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Portfolio Turnover |
A change in the securities held by the Fund is known as “portfolio turnover” and generally involves expense to the Fund, including brokerage commissions or dealer markups and other transaction costs on both the sale of securities and the reinvestment of the proceeds in other securities. If sales of portfolio securities cause the Fund to realize net short-term capital gains, such gains will be taxable as ordinary income to taxable shareholders. Portfolio turnover rate for a fiscal year is the ratio of the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities to the monthly average of the value of portfolio securities - excluding securities whose maturities at acquisition were one year or less. The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is not a limiting factor when the investment adviser considers a change in the Fund’s portfolio holdings. The portfolio turnover rate(s) of the Fund for recent fiscal periods is included in the Financial Highlights in the prospectus. |
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Preferred Securities |
Preferred securities represent an equity ownership interest in the issuing corporation that has a higher claim on the assets and earnings than common stock. Preferred securities generally have a dividend that must be paid out before dividends to common stockholders and the shares usually do not have voting rights. Preferred securities involve credit risk, which is the risk that a preferred security will decline in price, or fail to pay dividends when expected, because the issuer experiences a decline in its financial status. While a part of an issuer’s equity structure, preferred securities may be considered to be fixed-income securities for purposes of the Fund’s investment restrictions. |
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Real Estate Investment Trusts ("REITs")^ |
Securities of companies in the real estate industry , such as REITs , are sensitive to factors , such as changes in : real estate values, property taxes, interest rates, cash flow of underlying real estate assets, occupancy rates, government regulations affecting zoning, land use, and rents, and the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer. Companies in the real estate industry may also be subject to liabilities under environmental and hazardous waste laws, among others. Changes in underlying real estate values may have an exaggerated effect to the extent that REITs concentrate investments in particular geographic regions or property types. Investments in REITs may also be adversely affected by rising interest rates. By investing in REITs, the Fund will bear REIT expenses in addition to its own expenses. |
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Repurchase Agreements |
Repurchase agreements involve the purchase of a security coupled with an agreement to resell at a specified date and price. In the event of the bankruptcy of the counterparty to a repurchase agreement, recovery of cash may be delayed. To the extent that, in the meantime, the value of the purchased securities may have decreased, a loss could result. Repurchase agreements that mature in more than seven days will be treated as illiquid. Unless the prospectus states otherwise, the terms of a repurchase agreement will provide that the value of the collateral underlying the repurchase agreement will always be at least equal to the repurchase price, including any accrued interest earned on the agreement, and will be marked to market daily. |
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Residual Interest Bonds |
Residual interest bonds are a form of derivative and are subject to the risks described under “Derivative Investments” herein. Residual interest bonds represent beneficial interests in a special purpose trust formed by a third-party sponsor for the purpose of holding municipal obligations purchased from the Fund or from another third party. The special purpose trust typically sells two classes of beneficial interests: short-term floating rate interests (sometimes known as “put bonds” or “puttable securities”), which are sold to third-party investors, and residual interests bonds. The short-term floating rate interests have first priority on the cash flow from the municipal obligations. The holder of the residual interest bond is paid the residual cash flow from the special purpose trust. If the Fund is the initial seller of the municipal obligation to the special purpose trust, it receives the proceeds from the sale of the floating rate interests in the special purpose trust, less certain transaction costs. These proceeds generally would be used to purchase additional municipal obligations or other permitted investments. If the Fund purchases all or a portion of the short-term floating rate securities sold by the special purpose trust, it may surrender those short-term floating rate securities together with a proportionate amount of residual interest bonds to the trustee of the special purpose trust in exchange for a proportionate amount of the municipal obligations owned by the special purpose trust. Although volatile, residual interest bonds typically offer the potential for yields exceeding the yields available on fixed rate fixed rate obligations with comparable credit quality, coupon, call provisions and maturity. All voting rights and decisions to be made with respect to any other rights relating to the municipal obligations held in the special purpose trust are passed through to the Fund, as the holder of the residual interest bonds. Residual interest bonds pay interest or income that, in the opinion of counsel to the issuer, is exempt from regular federal income tax. The investment adviser will not conduct its own analysis of the tax status of the interest or income paid by residual interest bonds held by the Fund, but will rely on the opinion of counsel to the issuer. |
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
54
SAI dated December 30, 2011
Residual interest bonds have interest rate adjustment formulas that generally reduce or, in the extreme, eliminate the interest paid to holder of the residual interest bonds when short-term interest rates rise, and increase the interest paid when short-term interest rates fall. Residual interest bonds have varying degrees of liquidity, and the market for these securities is relatively volatile. These securities tend to underperform the market for fixed-rate bonds in a rising long-term interest rate environment, but tend to outperform the market for fixed-rate bonds when long-term interest rates decline or remain relatively stable. These securities usually permit the holder to convert the floating rate to a fixed rate (normally adjusted downward), and this optional conversion feature may provide a partial hedge against rising rates if exercised at an opportune time. In a transaction in which the Fund purchases a residual interest bond from a trust, and the underlying municipal obligation was held by the Fund prior to being deposited into the trust, the Fund treats the transaction as a secured borrowing for financial reporting purposes. As a result, the Fund will incur a non-cash interest expense with respect to interest paid by the trust on the variable rate securities, and will recognize additional interest income in an amount directly corresponding to the non-cash interest expense. Therefore, the Fund’s net asset value per share and performance are not affected by the non-cash interest expense. This accounting treatment does not apply to residual interest bonds acquired by the Fund when the Fund did not previously own the underlying municipal obligation. ^ Residual interest bonds have the effect of providing a degree of leverage, since they may increase or decrease in value in response to changes, as an illustration, in market interest rates at a rate that is a multiple of the rate at which fixed-rate securities increase or decrease in response to such changes. While residual interest bonds expose the Fund to leverage risk because they provide two or more dollars of bond market exposure for every dollar invested, they are not subject to the Fund’s restrictions on borrowings. Under certain circumstances, the Fund may enter into a so-called shortfall and forbearance agreement with the sponsor of a residual interest bond. Such agreements commit the Fund to reimburse the sponsor of such residual interest bond, upon the termination of the trust issuing the residual interest bond, the difference between the liquidation value of the municipal obligation held by the special purpose trust and the principal amount due to the holders of the floating rate security issued in conjunction with the residual interest bond. Absent a shortfall and forbearance agreement, the Fund would not be required to make such a reimbursement. If the Fund chooses not to enter into such an agreement, the residual interest bond could be terminated and the Fund could incur a loss. A residual interest bond generally is considered highly leveraged if the principal amount of the short-term floating rate interests issued by the related residual interest bond trust exceeds 50% of the principal amount of the municipal obligations owned by the residual interest bond trust. The sponsor of a highly leveraged residual interest bond trust generally will retain a liquidity provider that stands ready to purchase the short-term floating rate interests at their original purchase price upon the occurrence of certain events, such as on a certain date prior to the scheduled expiration date of the transaction, upon a certain percentage of the floating rate interests failing to be remarketed in a timely fashion, upon the bonds owned by the residual interest bond trust being downgraded (but not below investment grade or upon the occurrence of a bankruptcy event with respect to the issuer of the municipal obligations) or upon the occurrence of certain regulatory or tax events. However, the liquidity provider is not required to purchase the floating rate interests upon the occurrence of certain other events, including upon the downgrading of the municipal obligations owned by the residual interest bond trust below investment grade or certain events that indicate the issuer of the municipal obligations may be entering bankruptcy. The general effect of these provisions is to pass to the holders of the floating rate interests the most severe credit risks associated with the municipal obligations owned by the residual interest bond trust and to leave with the liquidity provider the interest rate risk and certain other risks associated with the municipal obligations. If the liquidity provider acquires the floating rate interests upon the occurrence of an event described above, the liquidity provider generally will be entitled to an in-kind distribution of the municipal obligations owned by the special purpose trust or to cause the trust to sell the bonds and distribute the proceeds to the liquidity provider. The liquidity provider generally will enter into an agreement with the Fund that will require the Fund to make a payment to the liquidity provider in an amount equal to any loss suffered by the liquidity provider in connection with the foregoing transactions. The net economic effect of this agreement is that the Fund is required to repurchase the municipal obligations it sells to the sponsor only upon the occurrence of certain events (such as a failed remarketing of the floating rate interests—most likely due to an adverse change in interest rates) but not others (such as a default of the municipal obligations). The Fund may also invest in short-term floating rate interest residual bonds. The remarketing agent for the special purpose trust sets a floating or variable rate on typically a weekly basis. These securities grant the Fund the right to require the issuer or a specified third party acting as agent for the issuer (e.g., a tender agent) to purchase the bonds, usually at par, at a certain time or times prior to maturity or upon the occurrence of specified events or conditions. The put option or tender option right is typically available to the investor on a periodic (e.g., daily, weekly or monthly) basis. Typically, the put option is exercisable on dates on which the floating or variable rate changes. |
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Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
55
SAI dated December 30, 2011
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Reverse Repurchase Agreements |
Under a reverse repurchase agreement, the Fund temporarily transfers possession of a portfolio instrument to another party, such as a bank or broker-dealer, in return for cash. At the same time, the Fund agrees to repurchase the instrument at an agreed upon time (normally within seven days) and price, which reflects an interest payment. The Fund may enter into a reverse repurchase agreement for various purposes, including, but not limited to, when it is able to invest the cash acquired at a rate higher than the cost of the agreement or as a means of raising cash to satisfy redemption requests without the necessity of selling portfolio assets. In a reverse repurchase agreement, any fluctuations in the market value of either the securities transferred to another party or the securities in which the proceeds may be invested would affect the market value of the Fund’s assets. As a result, such transactions may increase fluctuations in the value of the Fund. Because reverse repurchase agreements may be considered to be the practical equivalent of borrowing funds, they constitute a form of leverage. Such agreements will be treated as subject to investment restrictions regarding “borrowings.” If the Fund reinvests the proceeds of a reverse repurchase agreement at a rate lower than the cost of the agreement, entering into the agreement will lower the Fund’s yield. |
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Royalty Bonds |
To the extent described in the Prospectus, the Fund may invest in royalty bonds. |
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Securities Lending |
The Fund may lend its portfolio securities to major banks, broker-dealers and other financial institutions in compliance with the 1940 Act. No lending may be made with any companies affiliated with the investment adviser. These loans earn income and are collateralized by cash, securities or letters of credit. The Fund may realize a loss if it is not able to invest cash collateral at rates higher than the costs to enter the loan. When the loan is closed, the lender is obligated to return the collateral to the borrower. The lender could suffer a loss if the value of the collateral is below the market value of the borrowed securities or if the borrow defaults on the loan. The lender may pay reasonable finder’s, lending agent, administrative and custodial fees in connection with its loans. The investment adviser may instruct the securities lending agent to terminate loans and recall securities with voting rights so that the securities may be voted in accordance with the Fund’s proxy voting policy and procedures if deemed appropriate to do so. Cash collateral received by the Fund in respect of loaned securities is invested in Eaton Vance Cash Collateral Fund, LLC (“Cash Collateral Fund”), a privately offered investment company holding high quality, U.S. dollar denominated money market instruments. The investment objective of Cash Collateral Fund is to provide as high a rate of income as may be consistent with preservation of capital and maintenance of liquidity. Although not a registered money market mutual fund, Cash Collateral Fund conducts all of its investment activities in accordance with the requirements of Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. There can be no assurance that Cash Collateral Fund will be able to maintain a stable net asset value and the Fund could experience a loss of its invested collateral. Cash Collateral Fund invests in high quality, U.S. dollar-denominated money market instruments of domestic and foreign issuers, including U.S. Government securities and prime commercial paper. When appropriate, Cash Collateral Fund may also invest in other high-grade, short-term obligations , including certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and other short-term securities issued by domestic or foreign banks or their subsidiaries or branches. Cash Collateral Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued basis and for future delivery by means of “forward commitments.” Cash Collateral Fund may enter into repurchase agreements. Cash Collateral Fund may invest without limit in U.S. dollar-denominated obligations of foreign issuers, including foreign banks. Cash Collateral Fund does not limit the amount of its assets that can be invested in one type of instrument or in any foreign country. Information about the portfolio holdings of Cash Collateral Fund is available on request. As compensation for its services as manager, Eaton Vance is paid a fee at a rate of 0.08% annually of the average daily net assets of Cash Collateral Fund. Eaton Vance pays all of Cash Collateral Fund’s custody, audit and other ordinary operating expenses, excluding extraordinary, non-recurring items such as expenses incurred in connection with litigation, proceedings, claims and reorganization expenses. Payments to Eaton Vance for managing Cash Collateral Fund are in addition to the investment advisory fee paid by the Fund. |
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Securities with Equity and Debt Characteristics |
Securities may have a combination of equity and debt characteristics. These securities may at times behave more like equity than debt or vice versa. Some types of convertible bonds, preferred stocks or other preferred securities automatically convert into common stocks or other securities at a stated conversion ratio and some may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a predetermined price. These securities, prior to conversion, may pay a fixed rate of interest or a dividend. Because convertible securities have both debt and equity characteristics, their values vary in response to many factors, including the values of the securities into which they are convertible, general market and economic conditions, and convertible market valuations, as well as changes in interest rates, credit spreads and the credit quality of the issuer. The prices and yields of nonconvertible preferred securities or preferred stocks generally move with changes in interest rates and the issuer’s credit quality, similar to the factors affecting debt securities. If these securities are ranked at the bottom of an issuer’s debt capital structure, they may be more sensitive to economic changes than more senior debt securities. These securities may also be viewed as more equity-like by the market when the issuer or its parent company experience financial problems. |
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Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
56
SAI dated December 30, 2011
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Senior Loans |
Senior Loans primarily include senior floating rate loans and secondarily senior floating rate debt obligations (including those issued by an asset-backed pool), and interests therein. Senior Loans are floating rate senior loans of ^ b orrowers with interest rates that float, adjust or vary periodically based on benchmark indicators, specified adjustment schedules or prevailing interest rates. Senior Loans are often secured by specific assets or “collateral”, although they may not be secured by collateral. A Senior Loan is typically originated, negotiated and structured by a U.S. or foreign commercial bank, insurance company, finance company or other financial institution (the “Agent”) for a group of loan investors (“Loan Investors”), generally referred to as a “syndicate”. The Agent typically administers and enforces the Senior Loan on behalf of the Loan Investors in the syndicate. In addition, an institution, typically but not always the Agent, holds any collateral on behalf of the Loan Investors. Loan interests primarily take the form of assignments purchased in the primary or secondary market. Loan interests may also take the form of participation interests in, or novations of, a Senior Loan. The purchaser of an assignment typically succeeds to all the rights and obligations under the loan agreement of the assigning Loan Investor and becomes a Loan Investor under the loan agreement with the same rights and obligations as the assigning Loan Investor. Participations in a Loan Investor’s portion of a Senior Loan typically result in a contractual relationship only with such Loan Investor, not with the ^ b orrower. As a result, the purchaser may have the right to receive payments of principal, interest and any fees to which it is entitled only from the Loan Investor selling the participation and only upon receipt by such Loan Investor of such payments from the ^ b orrower. The purchaser generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the ^ b orrower with the terms of the loan agreement or any set-off rights against the ^ b orrower with respect to any funds acquired by other Loan Investors and the purchaser may not directly benefit from the collateral supporting the Senior Loan. As a result, the purchaser assumes the credit risk of both the ^ b orrower and the Loan Investor selling the participation. In the event of the insolvency of the Loan Investor selling the participation, the Fund may be treated as a general creditor of such Loan Investor. The Fund will take whatever action it considers appropriate in the event of anticipated financial difficulties, default or bankruptcy of the ^ b orrower. Such action may include : (i) retaining the services of various persons or firms (including affiliates of the investment adviser) to evaluate or protect any collateral or other assets securing any Senior Loan or acquired as a result of any such event^ ; (ii) managing (or engaging other persons to manage) or otherwise dealing with any collateral or other assets so acquired ; and (iii) taking such other actions (including, but not limited to, payment of operating or similar expenses relating to the collateral) as the investment adviser may deem appropriate to reduce the likelihood or severity of loss on the Fund’s investment and/or maximize the return on such investment. The Fund will incur additional expenditures in taking protective action with respect to Senior Loans in (or anticipated to be in) default and assets securing such Loans. In certain circumstances, the Fund may receive equity or equity-like securities from a ^ b orrower to settle the Loan or may acquire an equity interest in the ^ b orrower. Representatives of the Fund also may join creditor or similar committees relating to Loans. The Fund will only acquire participations if the Loan Investor selling the participation, and any other persons interpositioned between the Fund and the Loan Investor (an “Interposed Person”), at the time of investment, has outstanding debt or deposit obligations rated investment grade (BBB or A-3 or higher by Standard & Poor’s ^or Baa or P- 3 or higher by Moody’s^ or comparably rated by another nationally recognized rating agency) or determined by the investment adviser to be of comparable quality. Similarly, the Fund will only purchase an assignment or participation or act as a Loan Investor with respect to a syndicated Senior Loan only where the Agent with respect to such Senior Loan at the time of investment has outstanding debt or deposit obligations rated investment grade or determined by the investment adviser to be of comparable quality. Notwithstanding the forgoing, the Fund may enter into a transaction to acquire an assignment or participation with an Interposed Person where such Interposed Person does not have outstanding debt or deposit obligations rated investment grade if the Fund does so in compliance with applicable written procedures governing such transactions. Loan Collateral. Borrowers generally will, for the term of the Senior Loan, pledge collateral to secure their obligation. In addition Senior Loans may be guaranteed by or secured by assets of the ^ b orrower’s owners or affiliates. During the term of the Senior Loan, the value of collateral securing the Loan may decline in value causing the Loan to be under collateralized. Collateral may consist of assets that may not be readily liquidated, and there is no assurance that the liquidation of such assets would satisfy fully a ^ b orrower’s obligations under a Senior Loan. In addition, if a Senior Loan is foreclosed, the Fund could become part owner of the collateral and would bear the costs and liabilities associated with owning and disposing of such collateral. Fees. The Fund may receive a facility fee when it buys a Senior Loan , and pay a facility when it sells a Senior Loan. On an ongoing basis, the Fund may receive a commitment fee based on the undrawn portion of the underlying line of credit portion of a Senior Loan. In certain circumstances, the Fund may receive a prepayment penalty fee upon the prepayment of a Senior Loan by a ^borrower or an amendment fee. |
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
57
SAI dated December 30, 2011
Loan Administration. In a typical Senior Loan the Agent administers the terms of the loan agreement and is responsible for the collection of principal, and interest payments from the ^ b orrower and the apportionment of these payments to the Loan Investors. Failure by the Agent to fulfill its obligations may delay or adversely affect receipt of payment by the Fund. Furthermore, unless under the terms of a loan agreement or participation (as applicable) the Fund has direct recourse against the ^ b orrower, the Fund must rely on the Agent and the other Loan Investors to use appropriate remedies against the ^ b orrower. The Agent is typically responsible for monitoring compliance with covenants contained in the loan agreement based upon reports prepared by the ^ b orrower. The typical practice of an Agent or a Loan Investor in relying exclusively or primarily on reports from the ^ b orrower may involve the risk of fraud by the ^ b orrower. It is unclear whether an investment in a Senior Loan offers the securities law protections against fraud and misrepresentation. A financial institution’s appointment as Agent may usually be terminated in the event that it fails to observe the requisite standard of care or becomes insolvent. A successor Agent would generally be appointed to replace the terminated Agent, and assets held by the Agent under the Loan Agreement should remain available to holders of Senior Loans. However, if assets held by the Agent for the benefit of the Fund were determined to be subject to the claims of the Agent’s general creditors, the Fund might incur certain costs and delays in realizing payment on a Senior Loan, or suffer a loss of principal and/or interest. In situations involving other Interposed Persons similar risks may arise. Regulatory Changes . To the extent that legislation or state or federal regulators that regulate certain financial institutions impose additional requirements or restrictions with respect to the ability of such institutions to make loans, particularly in connection with highly leveraged transactions, the availability of Senior Loans for investment may be adversely affected. Further, such legislation or regulation could depress the market value of Senior Loans. Additional Information. Interests in Senior Loans generally are not listed on any national securities exchange or automated quotation system and no active market may exist for many of certain Senior Loans. A secondary market exists for Senior Loans may be subject to irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods. From time to time the investment adviser and its affiliates may borrow money from various banks in connection with their business activities. Such banks may also sell interests in Senior Loans to or acquire them from the Fund or may be intermediate participants with respect to Senior Loans in which the Fund owns interests. Such banks may also act as Agents for Senior Loans held by the Fund. The Fund may purchase and retain in its portfolio a Senior Loan where the ^ b orrower has experienced, or may be perceived to be likely to experience, credit problems, including involvement in or recent emergence from bankruptcy reorganization proceedings or other forms of debt restructuring. While such investments may provide opportunities for enhanced income as well as capital appreciation, they generally involve greater risk and may be considered speculative. The Fund may from time to time participate on ad-hoc committees formed by creditors to negotiate with the management of financially troubled ^ b orrowers. The Fund may incur legal fees as a result of such participation. In addition, such participation may restrict the Fund’s ability to trade in or acquire additional positions in a particular security when it might otherwise desire to do so. Participation by the Fund also may expose the Fund to potential liabilities under bankruptcy or other laws governing the rights of creditors and debtors. The Fund will participate on such committees only when the investment adviser believes that such participation is necessary or desirable to enforce the Fund’s rights as a creditor or to protect the value of a Senior Loan held by the Fund. Lenders can be sued by other creditors and the debtor and its shareholders. Losses could be greater than the original loan amount and occur years after the loan’s recovery. If a ^ b orrower becomes involved in bankruptcy proceedings, a court may invalidate the Fund’s security interest in the loan collateral or subordinate the Fund’s rights under the loan agreement to the interests of the ^ b orrower’s unsecured creditors or cause interest previously paid to be refunded to the ^ b orrower. There are also other events, such as the failure to perfect a security interest due to faulty documentation or faulty official filings, which could lead to the invalidation of the Fund’s security interest in loan collateral. If any of these events occur, the Fund’s performance could be negatively affected. In some instances, other accounts managed by the investment adviser may hold other securities issued by ^ b orrowers the Senior Loans of which may be held by the Fund. These other securities may include, for example, debt securities that are subordinate to the Senior Loans held by the Fund, convertible debt or common or preferred equity securities. In certain circumstances, such as if the credit quality of the ^ b orrower deteriorates, the interests of holders of these other securities may conflict with the interests of the holders of the ^ b orrower’s Senior Loans. In such cases, the investment adviser may owe conflicting fiduciary duties to the Fund and other client accounts. The investment adviser will endeavor to carry out its obligations to all of its clients to the fullest extent possible, recognizing that in some cases certain clients may achieve a lower economic return, as a result of these conflicting client interests, than if the investment adviser’s client accounts collectively held only a single category of the issuer’s securities. |
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
58
SAI dated December 30, 2011
The Fund may acquire warrants and other equity securities as part of a unit combining a Senior Loan and equity securities of a ^ b orrower or its affiliates. The Fund may also acquire equity securities or debt securities (including non-dollar denominated debt securities) issued in exchange for a Senior Loan or issued in connection with the debt restructuring or reorganization of a ^ b orrower, or if such acquisition, in the judgment of the investment adviser, may enhance the value of a Senior Loan or would otherwise be consistent with the Fund’s investment policies. |
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Short Sales |
Short sales are transactions in which a party sells a security it does not own in anticipation of a decline in the market value of that security. To complete such a transaction, the party must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer. When the party is required to return the borrowed security, it typically will purchase the security in the open market. The price at such time may be more or less than the price at which the party sold the security. Until the security is replaced, the party is required to repay the lender any dividends or interest, which accrues during the period of the loan. To borrow the security, it also may be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold. The net proceeds of the short sale will be retained by the broker, to the extent necessary to meet margin requirements, until the short position is closed out. Transaction costs are incurred in effecting short sales. A short seller will incur a loss as a result of a short sale if the price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which it replaces the borrowed security. A gain will be realized if the price of the security declines in price between those dates. The amount of any gain will be decreased, and the amount of any loss increased, by the amount of the premium, dividends or interest the short seller may be required to pay, if any, in connection with a short sale. Short sales may be “against the box” or uncovered. In a short sale^ “against the box”, at the time of the sale, the short seller owns or has the immediate and unconditional right to acquire the identical security at no additional cost. In an uncovered short sale, the short seller does not own the underlying security and, as such, losses from uncovered short sales may be significant. The Fund may sell short securities representing an index or basket of securities whose constituents the Fund holds in whole or in part. A short sale of an index or basket of securities will be a covered short sale if the underlying index or basket of securities is the same or substantially identical to securities held by the Fund. Use of short sales is limited by the Fund’s non-fundamental restriction relating thereto. |
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Short-Term Trading |
^ Fixed-income s ecurities may be sold in anticipation of market decline (a rise in interest rates) or purchased in anticipation of a market rise (a decline in interest rates) and later sold. In addition, such a security may be sold and another purchased at approximately the same time to take advantage of what is believed to be a temporary disparity in the normal yield relationship between the two securities. Yield disparities may occur for reasons not directly related to the investment quality of particular issues or the general movement of interest rates, such as changes in the overall demand for or supply of various types of fixed-income securities or changes in the investment objectives of investors. |
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Smaller Companies |
The investment risk associated with smaller companies is higher than that normally associated with larger, more established companies due to the greater business risks associated with small size, the relative age of the company, limited product lines, distribution channels and financial and managerial resources. Further, there is typically less publicly available information concerning smaller companies than for larger companies. The securities of small companies are often traded only over-the-counter and may not be traded in the volumes typical of trading on a national securities exchange. As a result, stocks of smaller companies are often more volatile than those of larger companies, which are often traded on a national securities exchange. |
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Stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities ("SMBS") |
SMBS are derivative multiclass mortgage securities. SMBS commonly involve two classes of securities that receive different proportions of the interest and principal distributions on a pool of mortgage assets. A common type of SMBS will have one class receiving most of the interest from the mortgages, while the other class will receive most of the principal. In the most extreme case, the interest only class receives all of the interest while the principal only class receives the entire principal. The yield to maturity on an interest only class is extremely sensitive to the rate of principal payments (including pre-payments) on the related underlying mortgage assets, and a rapid rate of principal payments may have a material adverse effect on the yield to maturity from these securities. If the underlying mortgages experience greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, the initial investment in these securities may not be recouped. Although the market for such securities is increasingly liquid, certain SMBS may not be readily marketable and will be considered illiquid. The market value of the class consisting entirely of principal payments generally is unusually volatile in response to changes in interest rates. The yields on a class of SMBS that receives all or most of the interest from mortgages are generally higher than prevailing market yields on other MBS because their cash flow patterns are more volatile and there is a greater risk that the initial investment will not be fully recouped. |
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Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
59
SAI dated December 30, 2011
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Structured Notes |
See also “Derivative Instruments and Related Risks” herein. Structured notes are derivative debt instruments, the interest rate or principal of which is determined by an unrelated indicator (for example, a currency, security, commodity or index thereof). The terms of the instrument may be “structured” by the purchaser and the borrower issuing the note. Indexed securities may include structured notes as well as securities other than debt securities, the interest rate or principal of which is determined by an unrelated indicator. Indexed securities may include a multiplier that multiplies the indexed element by a specified factor and, therefore, the value of such securities may be very volatile. The terms of structured notes and indexed securities may provide that in certain circumstances no principal is due at maturity, which may result in a loss of invested capital. Structured notes and indexed securities may be positively or negatively indexed, so that appreciation of the unrelated indicator may produce an increase or a decrease in the interest rate or the value of the structured note or indexed security at maturity may be calculated as a specified multiple of the change in the value of the unrelated indicator. Structured notes and indexed securities may entail a greater degree of market risk than other types of investments because the investor bears the risk of the unrelated indicator. Structured notes or indexed securities also may be more volatile, less liquid, and more difficult to accurately price than less complex securities and instruments or more traditional debt securities. |
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Swap Agreements |
See also “Derivative Instruments and Related Risks” herein. Swap agreements are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a few weeks to more than one year. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on a particular predetermined reference instrument or instruments, which can be adjusted for an interest rate factor. The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties are generally calculated with respect to a “notional amount” ( i.e. , the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate or in a “basket” of securities representing a particular index). Other types of swap agreements may calculate the obligations of the parties to the agreement on a “net basis.” Consequently, a party’s current obligations (or rights) under a swap agreement will generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement (the “net amount”). Whether the use of swap agreements will be successful will depend on the investment adviser’s ability to predict correctly whether certain types of reference instruments are likely to produce greater returns than other instruments. Swap agreements may be subject to contractual restrictions on transferability and termination and they may have terms of greater than seven days. The Fund’s obligations under a swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owed to the Fund under the swap). Developments in the swaps market, including potential government regulation, could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to terminate existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements, as well ^ as to participate in swap agreements in the future. If there is a default by the counterparty to a swap, the Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the swap agreement, but any recovery may be delayed depending on the circumstances of the default. Swap agreements include (but are not limited to): Currency Swaps. Currency swaps involve the exchange of the rights of the parties to make or receive payments in specified currencies. Because currency swaps usually involve the delivery of the entire principal value of one designated currency in exchange for the other designated currency, the entire principal value of a currency swap is subject to the risk that the other party to the swap will default on its contractual delivery obligations. If the investment adviser is incorrect in its forecasts of market value and currency exchange rates, performance may be adversely affected. Equity Swaps. An equity swap is an agreement in which at least one party’s payments are based on the rate of return of an equity security or equity index, such as the S&P 500. The other party’s payments can be based on a fixed rate, a non-equity variable rate, or even a different equity index. The Fund may enter into equity index swaps on a net basis pursuant to which the future cash flows from two reference instruments are netted out, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two. Credit Default Swaps. Under a credit default swap agreement, the protection “buyer” in a credit default contract is generally obligated to pay the protection “seller” an upfront or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no credit event, such as a default, on a reference instrument has occurred. If a credit event occurs, the seller generally must pay the buyer the “par value” (full notional value) of the reference instrument in exchange for an equal face amount of the reference instrument described in the swap, or the seller may be required to deliver the related net cash amount, if the swap is cash settled. If the Fund is a buyer and no credit event occurs, the Fund may recover nothing if the swap is held through its termination date. As a seller, the Fund generally receives an upfront payment or a fixed rate of income throughout the term of the swap provided that there is no credit event. As the seller, the Fund would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. The determination of a credit event under the swap agreement will depend on the terms of the agreement and may rely on the decision of persons that are not a party to the agreement. The Fund’s obligations under a credit default swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owed to the Fund). |
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
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SAI dated December 30, 2011
^ Inflation Swaps. Inflation swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest, e.g., an exchange of fixed rate payments for floating rate payments or an exchange of floating rate payments based on two different reference indices. By design, one of the reference indices is an inflation index, such as the Consumer Price Index. Inflation swaps can be designated as zero coupon, where both sides of the swap compound interest over the life of the swap and then the accrued interest is paid out only at the swap’s maturity. Total Return Swaps. Total return swap agreements are contracts in which one party agrees to make periodic payments to another party based on the change in market value of the assets underlying the contract, which may include a specified security, basket of securities or securities indices during the specified period, in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or the total return from other underlying assets. Total return swap agreements may be used to obtain exposure to a security or market without owning or taking physical custody of such security or investing directly in such market. Total return swap agreements may effectively add leverage to the Fund’s portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. Generally, the Fund will enter into total return swaps on a net basis (i.e., the two payment streams are netted out, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments). The net amount of the excess, if any, of the Fund’s obligations over its entitlements with respect to each total return swap will be accrued on a daily basis. If the total return swap transaction is entered into on other than a net basis, the full amount of the Fund’s obligations will be accrued on a daily basis, and the full amount of the Fund’s obligations will be segregated by the Fund in an amount equal to or greater than the market value of the liabilities under the total return swap or the amount it would have cost the Fund initially to make an equivalent direct investment, plus or minus any amount the Fund is obligated to pay or is to receive under the total return swap agreement. Interest Rate Swaps, Caps and Floors. Interest rate swaps are OTC contracts in which each party agrees to make a periodic interest payment based on an index or the value of an asset in return for a periodic payment from the other party based on a different index or asset. The purchase of an interest rate floor entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index falls below a predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling such interest rate floor. The purchase of an interest rate cap entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index rises above a predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling such interest rate cap. The Fund usually will enter into interest rate swap transactions on a net basis (i.e., the two payment streams are netted out, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments). The net amount of the excess, if any, of the Fund’s obligations over its entitlements with respect to each interest rate swap will be accrued on a daily basis. If the interest rate swap transaction is entered into on other than a net basis, the full amount of the Fund’s obligations will be accrued on a daily basis. Certain ^ f ederal income tax requirements may limit the Fund’s ability to engage in certain interest rate transactions. |
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Swaptions |
See also “Derivative Instruments and Related Risks” herein. A swaption is a contract that gives a counterparty the right (but not the obligation) in return for payment of a premium, to enter into a new swap agreement or to shorten, extend, cancel or otherwise modify an existing swap agreement, at some designated future time on specified terms. The Fund may write (sell) and purchase put and call swaptions. Depending on the terms of the particular option agreement, the Fund will generally incur a greater degree of risk when it writes a swaption than it will incur when it purchases a swaption. When the Fund purchases a swaption, it risks losing only the amount of the premium it has paid should it decide to let the option expire unexercised. However, when the Fund writes a swaption, upon exercise of the option the Fund will become obligated according to the terms of the underlying agreement. |
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Tax-Managed Investing |
Taxes are a major influence on the net returns that investors receive on their taxable investments. There are four components of the returns of a mutual fund that invests in equities - price appreciation, distributions of qualified dividend income, distributions of other investment income and distributions of realized short-term and long-term capital gains - which are treated differently for federal income tax purposes. Distributions of income other than qualified dividend income and distributions of net realized short-term gains (on stocks held for one year or less) are taxed as ordinary income, at rates currently as high as 35%. Distributions of qualified dividend income and net realized long-term gains (on stocks held for more than one year) are currently taxed at rates up to 15%. These rates are scheduled to increase to 39.6% and 20%, respectively, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2013. The provisions of the Code applicable to qualified dividend income are effective through 2012 (the “sunset provisions”). Thereafter, qualified dividend income will be subject to tax at ordinary income rates unless further legislative action is taken. The Fund’s investment program and the tax treatment of Fund distributions may be affected by IRS interpretations of the Code and future changes in tax laws and regulations, including changes resulting from the sunset provisions described above that would have the effect of repealing the favorable treatment of qualified dividend income and reimposing the higher tax rates applicable to ordinary income in 2013 unless further legislative action is taken. Returns derived from price appreciation are untaxed until the shareholder disposes of his or her shares. Upon disposition, a capital gain (short-term, if the shareholder has held his or her shares for one year or less, otherwise long-term) equal to the difference between the net proceeds of the disposition and the shareholder’s adjusted tax basis is realized. |
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Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
61
SAI dated December 30, 2011
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SAI dated December 30, 2011
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Warrants |
See also “Derivative Instruments and Related Risks” herein. Warrants are an option, but not the obligation, to purchase an instrument at a fixed price valid for a specific period of time. Warrants typically are issued by the issuer of the underlying reference instrument. Warrants do not represent ownership of the instrument, but only the right to buy it. The prices of warrants do not necessarily move parallel to the prices of the underlying reference instruments. Warrants may become valueless if not sold or exercised prior to their expiration. Warrants have no voting rights, pay no dividends and have no rights with respect to the assets of the corporation issuing them. These factors can make warrants more speculative than other types of investments. ^(Canadian special warrants issued in private placements prior to a public offering are not considered ^ warrants.) |
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When-Issued Securities, Delayed Delivery and Forward Commitments |
Securities may be purchased on a “forward commitment^, ” “when-issued” or “delayed delivery” basis (meaning securities are purchased or sold with payment and delivery taking place in the future) in order to secure what is considered to be an advantageous price and yield at the time of entering into the transaction. When the Fund agrees to purchase such securities, it assumes the risk of any decline in value of the security from the date of the agreement to purchase.^ The Fund does not earn interest on the securities it has committed to purchase until they are paid for and delivered on the settlement date. From the time of entering into the transaction until delivery and payment is made at a later date, the securities that are the subject of the transaction are subject to market fluctuations. In forward commitment, when-issued or delayed delivery transactions, if the seller or buyer, as the case may be, fails to consummate the transaction the counterparty may miss the opportunity of obtaining a price or yield considered to be advantageous. However, no payment or delivery is made until payment is received or delivery is made from the other party to the transaction. |
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Zero Coupon Bonds |
^ Zero coupon bonds are debt obligations that do not require the periodic payment of interest and are issued at a significant discount from face value. The discount approximates the total amount of interest the bonds will accrue and compound over the period until maturity at a rate of interest reflecting the market rate of the security at the time of purchase. The effect of owning debt obligations that do not make current interest payments is that a fixed yield is earned not only on the original investment but also, in effect, on all discount accretion during the life of the debt obligation. This implicit reinvestment of earnings at a fixed rate eliminates the risk of being unable to invest distributions at a rate as high as the implicit yield on the zero coupon bond, but at the same time eliminates the holder’s ability to reinvest at higher rates in the future. For this reason, zero coupon bonds may be subject to substantially greater price fluctuations during periods of changing market interest rates than are comparable securities that pay interest currently. The Fund is required to accrue income from zero coupon bonds on a current basis, even though it does not receive that income currently in cash, and the Fund is required to distribute that income for each taxable year. Thus, the Fund may have to sell other investments to obtain cash needed to make income distributions. |
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SAI dated December 30, 2011
APPENDIX A
Class A Fees, Performance & Ownership ^^
As of the date of this SAI, this Class of the Fund had not yet commenced operations so there is no fee or performance information.
Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities. As of December 21, 2011, there were no shares of this Class of the Fund outstanding.
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APPENDIX B
^ Class I Performance & Ownership ^^
As of the date of this SAI, this Class of the Fund had not yet commenced operations so there is no performance or ownership information.
Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities. As of December 21, 2011, there were no shares of this Class of the Fund outstanding.
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SAI dated December 30, 2011
APPENDIX C
^ EQUITY RANKINGS ^^
Value Line's Financial Strength Ranking
A company’s Financial Strength is the estimated financial strength of a company relative to all others followed in the ^V a lue Line ^ C omposite Index. It is derived by Value Line’s ^ A nalysts after taking into consideration five main factors in varying weights; Earnings Coverage, Debt to Equity, Market Capitalization, Quick Ratio, and Fixed Charge Coverage. The Value Line analysis focuses on net income, cash flow, the amount of debt outstanding, and the outlook for profits. Other factors also enter into the equation.
Standard and Poor's Quality Ranking System
Standard and Poor’s Quality Ranking System captures the growth and stability of a company’s earnings and dividends history in a single symbol. In assessing Quality Rankings, Standard and Poor’s recognized that earnings and dividend performance is the end result of the interplay of various factors such as products and industry position, corporate resources, and financial policy. Standard and Poor’s Quality Ranking System rankings are generated by a computerized ranking system based on per-share earnings and dividend records of the most recent ^ 10 years. Basic scores are computed for earnings and dividends, and then adjusted as indicated by a set of predetermined modifiers for change in the rate of growth, stability within long-term trend, and cyclicality. Adjusted scores for earnings and dividends are then combined to yield a final ranking .
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APPENDIX D ^
EATON VANCE FUNDS
PROXY VOTING POLICY AND PROCEDURES
^ I. Overview
The Boards of Trustees (the “Boards”) of the Eaton Vance Funds (the “Funds”) recognize that it is their fiduciary responsibility to actively monitor the Funds’ operations. The Boards have always placed paramount importance on their oversight of the implementation of the Funds’ investment strategies and the overall management of the Funds’ investments. A critical aspect of the investment management of the Funds continues to be the effective assessment and voting of proxies relating to the Funds’ portfolio securities. While the Boards will continue to delegate the day-to-day responsibilities relating to the management of the proxy-voting process to the relevant investment adviser or sub-adviser, if applicable, of the Fund (or its underlying portfolio in the case of a master-feeder arrangement), the Boards have determined that it is in the interests of the Funds’ shareholders to adopt these written proxy voting policy and procedures (the “Policy”). For purposes of this Policy the term “Fund” shall include a Fund’s underlying portfolio in the case of a master-feeder arrangement and the term “Adviser” shall mean the adviser to a Fund or its sub-adviser if a sub-advisory relationship exists.
^ II. Delegation of Proxy Voting Responsibilities
Pursuant to investment advisory agreements between each Fund and its Adviser, the Adviser has long been responsible for reviewing proxy statements relating to Fund investments and, if the Adviser deems it appropriate to do so, to vote proxies on behalf of the Funds. The Boards hereby formally delegate this responsibility to the Adviser, except as otherwise described in this Policy. In so doing, the Boards hereby adopt on behalf of each Fund the proxy voting policies and procedures of the Adviser(s) to each Fund as the proxy voting policies and procedures of the Fund. The Boards recognize that the Advisers may from time to time amend their policies and procedures. The Advisers will report material changes to the Boards in the manner set forth in Section V below. In addition, the Boards will annually review and approve the Advisers’ proxy voting policies and procedures.
III.^ Delegation of Proxy Voting Disclosure Responsibilities
The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) recently enacted certain new reporting requirements for registered investment companies. The Commission’s new regulations require that funds (other than those which invest exclusively in non-voting securities) make certain disclosures regarding their proxy voting activities. The most significant disclosure requirement for the Funds is the duty pursuant to Rule 30b1-4 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), to file Form N-PX no later than August 31st of each year beginning in 2004. Under Form N-PX, each Fund will be required to disclose, among other things, information concerning proxies relating to the Fund’s portfolio investments, whether or not the Fund (or its Adviser) voted the proxies relating to securities held by the Fund and how it voted in the matter and whether it voted for or against management.
The Boards hereby delegate to each Adviser the responsibility for recording, compiling and transmitting in a timely manner all data required to be filed on Form N-PX to Eaton Vance Management, which acts as administrator to each of the Funds (the “Administrator”), for each Fund that such Adviser manages. The Boards hereby delegate the responsibility to file Form N-PX on behalf of each Fund to the Administrator.
^ IV. Conflict of Interest
The Boards expect each Adviser, as a fiduciary to the Fund(s) it manages, to put the interests of each Fund and its shareholders above those of the Adviser. In the event that in connection with its proxy voting responsibilities a material conflict of interest arises between a Fund’s shareholders and the Fund’s Adviser or the Administrator (or any of their affiliates) or any affiliated person of the Fund, and the Proxy Administrator intends to vote the proxy in a manner inconsistent with the guidelines approved by the Board, the Adviser, to the extent it is aware or reasonably should have been aware of the material conflict, will refrain from voting any proxies related to companies giving rise to such material conflict until it notifies and consults with the appropriate Board(s), or any committee, sub-committee or group of Independent Trustees identified by such Board (as long as such committee, sub-committee or group contains at least two or more Independent Trustees), concerning the material conflict.
Once the Adviser notifies the relevant Board(s), committee, sub-committee or group of Independent Trustees of the Board, of the material conflict, the Board(s), committee, sub-committee or group of Independent Trustees, shall convene a meeting to review and consider all relevant materials related to the proxies involved. In considering such proxies, the Adviser shall make available all materials requested by the Board, committee, sub-committee or group of Independent Trustees and make reasonably available appropriate personnel to discuss the matter upon request. The Board, committee, sub-committee or group of Independent Trustees will instruct the Adviser on the appropriate course of action. If the Board, committee, sub-committee or group of Independent Trustees is unable to meet and the failure to vote a proxy would have a material adverse impact on the Fund(s) involved, each
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Adviser will have the right to vote such proxy, provided that it discloses the existence of the material conflict to the Board, committee, sub-committee or group of Independent Trustees at its next meeting. Any determination regarding the voting of proxies of each Fund that is made by the committee, sub-committee or group of Independent Trustees shall be deemed to be a good faith determination regarding the voting of proxies by the full Board.
^ V. Reports
The Administrator shall make copies of each Form N-PX filed on behalf of the Funds available for the Boards’ review upon the Boards’ request. The Administrator (with input from the Adviser for the relevant Fund(s)) shall also provide any reports reasonably requested by the Boards regarding the proxy voting records of the Funds.
Each Adviser shall annually report any material changes to such Adviser’s proxy voting policies and procedures to the relevant Board(s) and the relevant Board(s) will annually review and approve the Adviser’s proxy voting policies and procedures. Each Adviser shall report any changes to such Adviser’s proxy voting policies and procedures to the Administrator prior to implementing such changes in order to enable the Administrator to effectively coordinate the Funds’ disclosure relating to such policies and procedures. ^
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
68
SAI dated December 30, 2011
APPENDIX E
ATLANTA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LLC
PROXY VOTING POLICIES
I. Introduction
Atlanta Capital Management Company, LLC (“ACM”) has adopted and implemented policies (and the procedures into which they are incorporated) that ACM believes are reasonably designed to ensure that proxies are voted in the best interest of clients, in accordance with its fiduciary duties and Rule 206(4)-6 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. ACM’s authority to vote the proxies of its clients is established by their advisory contracts or similar documentation. These proxy policies (and the procedures into which they are incorporated) reflect the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) requirements governing advisers and the long-standing fiduciary standards and responsibilities for ERISA accounts set out in the Department of Labor Bulletin 94-2 C.F.R. 2509.94-2 (July 29, 1994).
II. Overview
ACM manages its clients’ assets with the overriding goal of seeking to provide the greatest possible return to such clients consistent with governing laws and the investment policies of each client. In pursuing that goal, ACM seeks to exercise its clients’ rights as shareholders of voting securities to support sound corporate governance of the companies issuing those securities with the principle aim of maintaining or enhancing the companies’ economic value.
The exercise of shareholder rights is generally performed by casting votes by proxy at shareholder meetings on matters submitted to shareholders for approval (for example, the election of directors or the approval of a company’s stock option plans for directors, officers or employees). ACM is adopting the formal written guidelines described in detail below and will utilize such guidelines in voting proxies on behalf of its clients. These guidelines are designed to promote accountability of a company’s management and Board of Directors to its shareholders and to align the interests of management with those of shareholders.
In seeking to ensure a level of consistency and rationality in the proxy voting process, the guidelines contained in these policies are designed to address the manner in which certain matters that arise regularly in proxies will generally be voted. However, ACM takes the view that these guidelines should not be used as mechanical instructions for the exercise of this important shareholder right. Except in the instance of routine matters related to corporate administrative matters which are not expected to have a significant economic impact on the company or its shareholders (on which ACM will routinely vote with management), ACM will review each matter on a case-by-case basis and reserve the right to deviate from these guidelines when it believes the situation warrants such a deviation. In addition, no set of guidelines can anticipate all situations that may arise. In special cases, the Proxy Administrator (the person specifically charged with the responsibility to review and vote proxies on behalf of ACM’s clients) may seek insight from ACM’s analysts, portfolio managers and/or Executive Committee on how a particular proxy proposal will impact the financial prospects of a company, and vote accordingly. The guidelines are just that: guidelines, rather than hard and fast rules, simply because corporate governance issues are so varied.
III. RiskMetrics Group
In order to facilitate this proxy voting process, ACM has retained RiskMetrics Group (“RMG”) to assist the firm with in-depth proxy research, vote execution, and the recordkeeping necessary for the appropriate management of a client account. RMG is an advisor that specializes in providing a variety of fiduciary-level services related to proxy voting. In addition to analyses, RMG delivers to ACM voting reports that reflect voting activities for ACM’s clients, enabling the clients to monitor voting activities performed by ACM.
IV. Proxy Edge (Broadridge BR)
In addition ACM has retained ProxyEdge (“BR”) to assist the firm with vote execution, and the record keeping necessary for the appropriate management of a client account. ProxyEdge is an advisor that specializes in providing a variety of fiduciary-level services related to proxy voting. Wrap clients may view generic large cap, small cap and SMID cap voting reports at www.atlcap.com.
V. Proxy Voting Guidelines
The following guidelines relate to the types of proposals that are most frequently presented in proxy statements to shareholders. Absent unusual circumstances, ACM will utilize these guidelines when voting proxies on behalf of its clients.
A. Election of Board of Directors
ACM believes that a Board of Directors should primarily be independent, not have significant ties to management and consist of members who are all elected annually. In addition, ACM believes that important Board committees ( e.g. , audit, nominating and compensation committees) should be entirely independent. In general,
· | ACM will support the election of directors that result in a Board made up of a majority of independent directors. |
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ACM will support the election of independent directors to serve on the audit, compensation, and/or nominating committees of a Board of Directors. |
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ACM will hold all directors accountable for the actions of the Board’s committees. For example, ACM will consider withholding votes for nominees who have recently approved compensation arrangements that ACM deems excessive or proposed equity-based compensation plans that unduly dilute the ownership interests of shareholders. |
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ACM will support efforts to declassify existing Boards, and will vote against efforts by companies to adopt classified Board structures. |
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ACM will vote against proposals for cumulative voting, confidential stockholder voting and the granting of pre-emptive rights. |
B. Approval of Independent Auditors
ACM believes that the relationship between the company and its auditors should be limited primarily to the audit engagement and closely allied audit-related and tax services, although non-audit services may be provided so long as they are consistent with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and, if required, have been approved by an independent audit committee. ACM will also consider the reputation of the auditor and any problems that may have arisen in the auditor’s performance of services.
C. Executive Compensation
ACM believes that appropriately designed equity-based compensation plans, approved by shareholders, can be an effective way to align the interests of shareholders and the interests of management, employees, and directors. However, ACM is opposed to plans that substantially dilute shareholders’ ownership interests in the company or have objectionable structural features.
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ACM will generally vote against plans where total potential dilution (including all equity-based plans) seems likely to exceed 15% of shares outstanding over ten years and extends longer than ten years. |
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ACM will generally vote against plans if annual option grants exceed 2% of shares outstanding. |
These total and annual dilution thresholds are guidelines, not ceilings, and when assessing a plan’s impact on client shareholdings ACM considers other factors such as specific industry practices, company and stock performance and management credibility. The Proxy Administrator may consult with the relevant analyst(s) or portfolio manager(s) or, if appropriate, members of senior management, to determine when or if it may be appropriate to exceed these guidelines.
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ACM will typically vote against plans that have any of the following structural features: | |
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Ability to re-price underwater options without shareholder approval. |
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The unrestricted ability to issue options with an exercise price below the stock’s current market price. |
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Automatic share replenishment (“evergreen”) feature. |
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ACM is supportive of measures intended to increase long-term stock ownership by executives. These may include: | |
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Requiring senior executives to hold a minimum amount of stock in the company (frequently expressed as a certain multiple of the executive’s salary). |
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Using restricted stock grants instead of options. |
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Utilizing phased vesting periods or vesting tied to company specific milestones or stock performance. |
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ACM will generally support the use of employee stock purchase plans to increase company stock ownership by employees, provided that shares purchased under the plan are acquired for no less than 85% of their market value. |
In assessing a company’s executive compensation plan, ACM will weigh all components of the plan. For example, the grant of stock options to executives of a company in a particular year may appear excessive if that grant goes above 2% of the shares outstanding of the company. However, such grants may be appropriate if the senior management of the company has accepted significantly reduced cash compensation for the year in lieu of receiving a greater number of options.
D. Corporate Structure Matters/Anti-Takeover Defenses
As a general matter, ACM opposes anti-takeover measures and other proposals designed to limit the ability of shareholders to act on possible transactions. In general,
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Because a classified board structure prevents shareholders from electing a full slate of directors annually, ACM will typically vote against proposals to create classified boards and vote in favor of shareholder proposals to declassify a board. |
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ACM will vote for proposals to subject shareholder rights plans (“poison pills”) to a shareholder vote. |
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ACM will vote for shareholder proposals that seek to eliminate supermajority voting requirements and oppose proposals seeking to implement supermajority voting requirements. |
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ACM will generally vote against proposals to authorize preferred stock whose voting, conversion, dividend and other rights are determined at the discretion of the Board of Directors when the stock is issued when used as an anti-takeover device. However, such “blank check” preferred stock may be issued for legitimate financing needs and ACM can vote for proposals to issue such preferred stock in those circumstances. |
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ACM will vote for proposals to lower barriers to shareholder action (for example, limiting rights to call special meetings or act by written consent). |
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ACM will vote against proposals for a separate class of stock with disparate voting rights. |
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ACM will consider on a case-by-case basis board-approved proposals regarding changes to a company’s capitalization, however ACM will generally vote in favor of proposals authorizing the issuance of additional common stock (except in the case of a merger, restructuring or other significant corporate event which will be handled on a case-by-case basis). |
E. State of Incorporation/Offshore Presence
Under ordinary circumstances, ACM will not interfere with a choice to reincorporate or reorganize a company in a different jurisdiction, provided that management’s decision has been approved by a Board of Directors. ACM recognizes that there may be benefits to reincorporation (such as tax benefits and more developed business laws in the jurisdiction of reincorporation). Each proposal to reincorporate in offshore tax havens will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine whether such actions are in the best interests of the shareholders of the company including ACM’s clients.
F. Environmental/Social Policy Issues
ACM believes that “ordinary business matters” are primarily the responsibility of management and should be approved solely by the company’s Board of Directors. ACM recognizes that certain social and environmental issues raised in shareholder proposals are the subjects of vigorous public debate and many are the subject of legal statutes or regulation by federal and/or state agencies. ACM generally supports management on these types of proposals, though exceptions may be made in certain instances where ACM believes a proposal has substantial economic implications. ACM expects that the companies in which clients’ assets are invested will act as responsible corporate citizens.
G. Circumstances Under Which ACM Will Abstain From Voting
ACM will seek to vote all proxies for clients who have delegated the responsibility to vote such proxies to ACM. Under certain circumstances, the costs to clients associated with voting such proxies would far outweigh the benefit derived from exercising the right to vote. In those circumstances, ACM will make a case-by-case determination on whether or not to vote such proxies. In the case of countries that require so-called “share blocking,” ACM may also abstain from voting. ACM will not seek to vote proxies on behalf of its clients unless it has agreed to take on that responsibility on behalf of a client. Finally, ACM may be required to abstain from voting on a particular proxy in a situation where a conflict exists between ACM and its client. The policy for resolution of such conflicts is described below in Section VII.
VI. Recordkeeping
ACM will maintain records relating to the proxies voted on behalf of its clients in accordance with Section 204-2 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. Those records will include:
· |
A copy of ACM’s proxy voting policies and procedures; |
· |
Proxy statements received regarding client securities (if such proxies are available on the SEC’s EDGAR system or a third party undertakes to promptly provide a copy of such documents to ACM, ACM does not need to retain a separate copy of the proxy statement); |
· |
A record of each vote cast; |
· |
A copy of any document created by ACM that was material to making a decision on how to vote a proxy for a client or that details the basis for such a decision; and |
· |
Each written client request for proxy voting records and ACM’s written response to any client request (whether written or oral) for such records. |
All records described above will be maintained in an easily accessible place for six years and will be maintained in the offices of ACM for two years after they are created.
VII. Identification and Resolution of Conflicts with Clients
As fiduciary to its clients, ACM puts the interests of its clients ahead of its own. In order to ensure that relevant personnel of ACM are able to identify potential conflicts of interest, ACM will take the following steps:
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund
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SAI dated December 30, 2011
· |
Quarterly, the Compliance Officer will seek information from the supervisor of each functional unit of ACM (marketing, operations, etc.) Each supervisor will be asked to provide a list of significant clients or prospective clients of ACM. For example, a supervisor would report the fact that ACM was in discussions with a corporate client considering management of the corporation’s pension plan assets. |
· |
The Compliance Officer will compile a list of the companies identified (the “Conflicted Companies”) and provide that list to the Proxy Administrator. |
· |
The Proxy Administrator will compare the list of Conflicted Companies with the names of companies for which he expects to receive or has received proxy statements (the “Proxy Companies”). If a Conflicted Company is also a Proxy Company, the Proxy Administrator will report that fact to the Compliance Officer and members of senior management of ACM. |
The Compliance Officer and designated members of senior management will then determine if a conflict of interest exists between ACM and its client. If they determine that a conflict exists, they will take the following steps to seek to resolve such conflict prior to voting any proxies relating to these Conflicted Companies.
· |
If the Proxy Administrator expects to vote the proxy of the Conflicted Company strictly according to the guidelines contained in these Proxy Voting Policies (the “Policies”), he will (i) inform the Compliance Officer and designated members of senior management of that fact, (ii) vote the proxies and (iii) record the existence of the conflict and the resolution of the matter. |
· |
If the Proxy Administrator intends to vote in a manner inconsistent with the guidelines contained herein or, if the issues raised by the proxy are not contemplated by these Policies, and the matters involved in such proxy could have a material economic impact on the client(s) involved, the Proxy Administrator will seek instruction on how the proxy should be voted from: |
· | The client, in the case of an individual or corporate client; | |
· | The Board of Directors, or any committee thereof identified by the Board, in the case of a Fund; or | |
· | The adviser, in situations where the Adviser acts as a sub-adviser to such adviser. |
ACM will provide all reasonable assistance to each party to enable such party to make an informed decision.
If the client or Board of Directors, as the case may be, fails to instruct the Proxy Administrator on how to vote the proxy, the Proxy Administrator will generally abstain from voting in order to avoid the appearance of impropriety. If however, the failure of ACM to vote its clients’ proxies would have a material adverse economic impact on ACM’s clients’ securities holdings in the Conflicted Company, ACM may vote such proxies in order to protect its clients’ interests. In either case, the Proxy Administrator will record the existence of the conflict and the resolution of ^ the matter.
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SAI dated December 30, 2011
PART C - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 28. Exhibits (with inapplicable items omitted)
(a) | (1) | Declaration of Trust dated May 25, 1989, filed as Exhibit (1)(a) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 59 filed |
August 16, 1995 (Accession No. 0000950156-95-000600) and incorporated herein by reference. | ||
(2) | Amendment to the Declaration of Trust dated August 18, 1992 filed as Exhibit (1)(b) to Post-Effective | |
Amendment No. 59 filed August 16, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference. | ||
(3) | Amendment to the Declaration of Trust dated June 23, 1997 filed as Exhibit (1)(c) to Post-Effective | |
Amendment No. 68 filed August 25, 1997 (Accession No. 0000950156-97-000646) and incorporated | ||
herein by reference. | ||
(4) | Amendment to the Declaration of Trust dated August 11, 2008 filed as Exhibit (a)(4) to Post-Effective | |
Amendment No. 102 filed December 24, 2008 (Accession No. 0000940394-08-001633) and | ||
incorporated herein by reference. | ||
(5) | Amendment to Declaration of Trust dated November 14, 2011 filed as Exhibit (a)(5) to Post-Effective | |
Amendment No. 125 filed December 22, 2011 (Accession No. 0000940394-11-001393) and | ||
incorporated herein by reference. | ||
(6) | Amended and Restated Establishment and Designation of Series of Shares of Beneficial Interest, Without | |
Par Value, as amended and restated September 19, 2011 filed as Exhibit (a)(5) to Post-Effective | ||
Amendment No. 122 filed October 7, 2011 (Accession No. 0000940394-11-001088) and incorporated | ||
herein by reference. | ||
(b) | (1) | By-Laws filed as Exhibit (2)(a) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 59 filed August 16, 1995 and |
incorporated herein by reference. | ||
(2) | Amendment to By-Laws dated December 13, 1993 filed as Exhibit (2)(b) to Post-Effective Amendment | |
No. 59 filed August 16, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference. | ||
(3) | Amendment to By-Laws of Eaton Vance Growth Trust dated June 18, 2002 filed as Exhibit (b)(3) to | |
Post-Effective Amendment No. 79 filed December 23, 2002 (Accession No. 0000940394-02-000745) | ||
and incorporated herein by reference. | ||
(4) | Amendment to By-Laws of Eaton Vance Growth Trust dated February 7, 2005 filed as Exhibit (b)(4) to | |
Post-Effective Amendment No. 89 filed March 2, 2005 (Accession No. 0000940394-05-000248) and | ||
incorporated herein by reference. | ||
(5) | Amendment to By-Laws of Eaton Vance Growth Trust dated December 11, 2006 filed as Exhibit (b)(5) to | |
Post-Effective Amendment No. 97 filed December 21, 2006 (Accession No. 0000940394-06-001172) | ||
and incorporated herein by reference. | ||
(6) | Amendment to By-Laws of Eaton Vance Growth Trust dated August 11, 2008 filed as Exhibit (b)(6) to | |
Post-Effective Amendment No. 102 filed December 24, 2008 (Accession No. 0000940394-08-001633) | ||
and incorporated herein by reference. | ||
(7) | Amendment to the By-Laws of Eaton Vance Growth Trust dated October 17, 2011 filed as Exhibit (b)(7) to | |
Post-Effective Amendment No. 125 filed December 22, 2011 (Accession No. 0000940394-11-001393) | ||
and incorporated herein by reference. | ||
(c) | Reference is made to Item 28(a) and 28(b) above. | |
(d) | (1) | Investment Advisory Agreement with Boston Management and Research for Atlanta Capital Intermediate |
Bond Fund dated December 10, 2001 filed as Exhibit (d)(1) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 78 filed | ||
December 21, 2001 (Accession No. 0000940394-01-500575) and incorporated herein by reference. | ||
(2) | Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Boston Management and Research and Atlanta Capital | |
Management Company, LLC for Atlanta Capital Intermediate Bond Fund dated December 10, 2001 filed | ||
as Exhibit (d)(2) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 78 filed December 21, 2001 and incorporated herein | ||
by reference. | ||
(3) | Investment Advisory and Administrative Agreement between Eaton Vance Growth Trust, on behalf of Eaton | |
Vance Richard Bernstein Multi-Market Equity Strategy Fund, and Eaton Vance Management dated August | ||
9, 2010 filed as Exhibit (d)(3) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 111 filed October 12, 2010 (Accession | ||
No. 0000940394-10-001024) and incorporated herein by reference. | ||
(4) | Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Eaton Vance Management and Richard Bernstein Advisors | |
LLC dated August 9, 2010 filed as Exhibit (d)(4) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 111 filed October 12, | ||
2010 (Accession No. 0000940394-10-001024) and incorporated herein by reference. |
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(5) | Investment Advisory and Administrative Agreement between Eaton Vance Growth Trust, on behalf of Eaton | ||
Vance Focused Growth Opportunities Fund and Eaton Vance Management dated March 7, 2011 filed as | |||
Exhibit (d)(5) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 116 filed March 7, 2011 (Accession No. | |||
0000940394-11-000350) and incorporated herein by reference. | |||
(6) | Investment Advisory and Administrative Agreement between Eaton Vance Growth Trust, on behalf of Eaton | ||
Vance Focused Value Opportunities Fund and Eaton Vance Management dated March 7, 2011 filed as | |||
Exhibit (d)(6) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 116 filed March 7, 2011 (Accession No. | |||
0000940394-11-000350) and incorporated herein by reference. | |||
(7) | Investment Advisory and Administrative Agreement between Eaton Vance Growth Trust, on behalf of Eaton | ||
Vance Richard Bernstein All Asset Strategy Fund, and Eaton Vance Management dated September 30, | |||
2011 filed as Exhibit (d)(7) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 121 filed September 29, 2011 (Accession | |||
No. 0000940394-11-001076) and incorporated herein by reference. | |||
(8) | Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Eaton Vance Management and Richard Bernstein Advisors | ||
LLC dated September 30, 2011 filed as Exhibit (d)(8) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 121 filed | |||
September 29, 2011 (Accession No. 0000940394-11-001076) and incorporated herein by reference. | |||
(9) | Investment Advisory and Administrative Agreement between Eaton Vance Growth Trust, on behalf of Eaton | ||
Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund, and Eaton Vance Management dated December 30, 2011 filed | |||
herewith. | |||
(10) | Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Eaton Vance Management and Atlanta Capital Management | ||
Company, LLC dated December 30, 2011 filed herewith. | |||
(e) | (1) | (a) | Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement between Eaton Vance Growth Trust and Eaton Vance |
Distributors, Inc. effective August 9, 2010 with attached Schedules A and B dated August 9, 2010 filed | |||
as Exhibit (e)(1) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 111 filed October 12, 2010 (Accession No. | |||
0000940394-10-001024) and incorporated herein by reference. | |||
(b) | Amended Schedule B dated September 30, 2011 to the Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement | ||
between Eaton Vance Growth Trust and Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. filed as Exhibit (e)(1)(b) to | |||
Post-Effective Amendment No. 121 filed September 29, 2011 (Accession No. 0000940394-11-001076) | |||
and incorporated herein by reference. | |||
(2) | Selling Group Agreement between Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. and Authorized Dealers filed as Exhibit | ||
(e)(2) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 filed to the Registration Statement of Eaton Vance Special | |||
Investment Trust (File Nos. 2-27962, 811-1545) filed April 26, 2007 (Accession No. | |||
0000940394-07-000430) and incorporated herein by reference. | |||
(f) | The Securities and Exchange Commission has granted the Registrant an exemptive order that permits the | ||
Registrant to enter into deferred compensation arrangements with its independent Trustees. See in the | |||
Matter of Capital Exchange Fund, Inc., Release No. IC-20671 (November 1, 1994). | |||
(g) | (1) | Master Custodian Agreement with State Street Bank & Trust Company dated September 1, 2010 filed as | |
Exhibit (g)(1) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 125 of Eaton Vance Municipals Trust (File Nos. 33-572, | |||
811-4409) filed November 30, 2010 (Accession No. 0000940394-10-001163) and incorporated | |||
herein by reference. | |||
(2) | Amended and Restated Services Agreement with State Street Bank & Trust Company dated September 1, | ||
2010 filed as Exhibit (g)(2) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 of Eaton Vance Special Investment Trust | |||
(File Nos. 2-27962, 811-1545) filed September 27, 2010 (Accession No. 0000940394-10-001000) | |||
and incorporated herein by reference. | |||
(h) | (1) | (a) | Management Contract between Eaton Vance Growth Trust (on behalf of Eaton Vance Asian Small |
Companies Fund, Eaton Vance Information Age Fund, Eaton Vance Greater China Growth Fund and Eaton | |||
Vance Worldwide Health Sciences Fund) and Eaton Vance Management dated June 23, 1997 filed as | |||
Exhibit (5)(a) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 68 filed August 25, 1997 and incorporated herein by | |||
reference. | |||
(b) | Fee Reduction Agreement between Eaton Vance Growth Trust and Eaton Vance Global Growth Fund dated | ||
July 28, 2006 to Management Contract dated June 23, 1997 filed as Exhibit (h)(1)(b) to Post-Effective | |||
Amendment No. 95 filed October 30, 2006 (Accession No. 0000940394-06-000845) and incorporated | |||
herein by reference. | |||
(2) | Amended and Restated Administrative Services Agreement between Eaton Vance Growth Trust (on behalf | ||
of certain of its series) and Eaton Vance Management dated April 28, 2011 with attached Schedule A | |||
dated April 28, 2011 filed as Exhibit (h)(2) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 121 filed September 29, | |||
2011 (Accession No. 0000940394-11-001076) and incorporated herein by reference. |
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(3) | Administrative Services Agreement between Eaton Vance Growth Trust (on behalf of Eaton Vance | ||
Worldwide Health Sciences Fund) and Eaton Vance Management dated August 1, 2011 filed as Exhibit | |||
(h)(3) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 121 filed September 29, 2011 (Accession No. | |||
0000940394-11-001076) and incorporated herein by reference. | |||
(4) | Transfer Agency and Shareholder Services Agreement effective September 1, 2011 filed as Exhibit (h)(4) | ||
to Post-Effective Amendment No. 121 filed September 29, 2011 (Accession No. | |||
0000940394-11-001076) and incorporated herein by reference. | |||
(5) | Sub-Transfer Agency Services Agreement effective September 1, 2011 between BNY Mellon Investment | ||
Servicing (US) Inc. and Eaton Vance Management filed as Exhibit (h)(5) to Post-Effective Amendment No. | |||
121 filed September 29, 2011 (Accession No. 0000940394-11-001076) and incorporated herein by | |||
reference. | |||
(6) | (a) | Expense Waivers/Reimbursements Agreement between Eaton Vance Management and each of the Trusts | |
(on behalf of certain of their series) listed on Schedule A dated August 17, 2011 filed as Exhibit (h)(6) to | |||
Post-Effective Amendment No. 121 filed September 29, 2011 (Accession No. 0000940394-11-001076) | |||
and incorporated herein by reference. | |||
(b) | Amended Schedule A effective January 1, 2012 to the Expense Waivers/Reimbursements Agreement | ||
dated August 17, 2011 filed as Exhibit (h)(6)(b) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 125 filed December | |||
22, 2011 (Accession No. 0000940394-11-001393) and incorporated herein by reference. | |||
(7) | Expense Reduction Agreement between Eaton Vance Growth Trust, Eaton Vance Management and Lloyd | ||
George Investment Management (Bermuda) Ltd. filed as Exhibit (h)(6) to Post-Effective Amendment No. | |||
102 filed December 24, 2008 (Accession No. 0000940394-08-001633) and incorporated herein by | |||
reference. | |||
(i) | (1) | Opinion of Internal Counsel dated October 7, 2011 filed as Exhibit (i) to Post-Effective Amendment No. | |
122 filed October 7, 2011 (Accession No. 0000940394-11-001088) and incorporated herein by | |||
reference. | |||
(2) | Consent of Internal Counsel dated December 23, 2011 filed herewith. | ||
(m) | (1) | (a) | Eaton Vance Growth Trust Class A Distribution Plan adopted June 23, 1997 and Amended April 24, 2006 |
with attached Schedule A filed as Exhibit (m)(1) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 95 filed October 30, | |||
2006 (accession No. 0000940394-06-000845) and incorporated herein by reference. | |||
(b) | Amended Schedule A to Eaton Vance Growth Trust Class A Distribution Plan effective December 30, 2011 | ||
filed herewith. | |||
(2) | Eaton Vance Growth Trust Class A Distribution Plan adopted June 23, 1997 with attached Schedule A | ||
effective June 23, 1997 filed as Exhibit (15)(b) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 68 and incorporated | |||
herein by reference. | |||
(3) | Eaton Vance Growth Trust Class A Distribution Plan adopted April 28, 2011 with attached Schedule A | ||
effective April 28, 2011 filed as Exhibit (m)(3) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 118 filed May 2, 2011 | |||
(Accession No. 0000940394-11-000539) and incorporated herein by reference. | |||
(4) | Eaton Vance Growth Trust Class B Distribution Plan adopted June 23, 1997 with attached Schedule A | ||
effective June 23, 1997 filed as Exhibit (15)(c) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 68 filed August 25, | |||
1997 and incorporated herein by reference. | |||
(5) | (a) | Eaton Vance Growth Trust Class C Distribution Plan adopted June 23, 1997 with attached Schedule A | |
effective June 23, 1997 filed as Exhibit (15)(d) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 68 filed August 25, | |||
1997 and incorporated herein by reference. | |||
(b) | Amended Schedule A to Eaton Vance Growth Trust Class C Distribution Plan effective August 10, 2009 | ||
filed as Exhibit (m)(4)(b) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 105 filed September 29, 2009 (Accession No. | |||
0000940394-09-000758) and incorporated herein by reference. | |||
(6) | (a) | Eaton Vance Growth Trust Class C Distribution Plan adopted August 9, 2010 with attached Schedule A | |
effective August 9, 2010 filed as Exhibit (m)(7) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 111 filed October 12, | |||
2010 (Accession No. 0000940394-10-001024) and incorporated herein by reference. | |||
(b) | Amended Schedule A to Eaton Vance Growth Trust Class C Distribution Plan effective September 30, 2011 | ||
filed as Exhibit (m)(6)(b) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 121 filed September 29, 2011 (Accession No. | |||
0000940394-11-001076) and incorporated herein by reference. | |||
(7) | Eaton Vance Growth Trust Class D Distribution Plan adopted December 11, 2000 with attached Schedule | ||
A filed as Exhibit (m)(5) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 76 filed January 22, 2001 (Accession No. | |||
0000940394-01-500025) and incorporated herein by reference. |
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(8) | (a) | Eaton Vance Growth Trust Class R Distribution Plan adopted December 10, 2001 with attached Schedule | |
A filed as Exhibit (m)(6) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 78 filed December 21, 2001 and incorporated | |||
herein by reference. | |||
(b) | Amended Schedule A effective June 15, 2009 to Eaton Vance Growth Trust Class R Distribution Plan filed | ||
as Exhibit (m)(6)(b) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 104 filed July 30, 2009 (Accession No. | |||
0000940394-09-000578) and incorporated herein by reference. | |||
(n) | (1) | Amended and Restated Multiple Class Plan for Eaton Vance Funds dated August 6, 2007 filed as Exhibit | |
(n) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 128 of Eaton Vance Mutual Funds Trust (File Nos. 2-90946 and | |||
811-4015) filed August 10, 2007 (Accession No. 0000940394-07-000956) and incorporated herein by | |||
reference. | |||
(2) | Schedule A effective December 30, 2011 to Amended and Restated Multiple Class Plan filed as Exhibit | ||
(n)(2) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 125 filed December 22, 2011 (Accession No. | |||
0000940394-11-001393) and incorporated herein by reference. | |||
(3) | Schedule B effective December 30, 2011 to Amended and Restated Multiple Class Plan filed as Exhibit | ||
(n)(3) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 125 filed December 22, 2011 (Accession No. | |||
0000940394-11-001393) and incorporated herein by reference. | |||
(4) | Schedule C effective December 30, 2011 to Amended and Restated Multiple Class Plan filed as Exhibit | ||
(n)(4) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 125 filed December 22, 2011 (Accession No. | |||
0000940394-11-001393) and incorporated herein by reference. | |||
(p) | (1) | Code of Ethics adopted by Eaton Vance Corp., Eaton Vance Management, Boston Management and | |
Research, Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. and the Eaton Vance Funds effective September 1, 2000, as | |||
revised July 15, 2011 filed as Exhibit (p) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 58 of Eaton Vance Investment | |||
Trust (File Nos. 33-1121, 811-4443) filed July 27, 2011 (Accession No. 0000940394-11-000910) | |||
and incorporated herein by reference. | |||
(2) | Code of Ethics adopted by Lloyd George Management Group, which includes: Lloyd George Management | ||
(BVI) Ltd, Lloyd George Investment Management (Bermuda) Ltd, Lloyd George Management (Hong Kong) | |||
Ltd, Lloyd George Investment Management (Hong Kong) Limited, Lloyd George Management (Europe) Ltd, | |||
Lloyd George Management (Singapore) Pte Ltd and the LGM Funds effective October 2008 filed as Exhibit | |||
(p)(2) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 102 filed December 24, 2008 (Accession No. | |||
0000940394-08-001633) and incorporated herein by reference. | |||
(3) | Amended and Restated Code of Ethics dated March 23, 2011 adopted by OrbiMed Advisors, LLC filed as | ||
Exhibit (p)(3) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 121 filed September 29, 2011 (Accession No. | |||
0000940394-11-001076) and incorporated herein by reference. | |||
(4) | Code of Business Conduct and Ethics adopted by Atlanta Capital Management Company, LLC effective | ||
January 1, 2006 as revised January 1, 2011 filed as Exhibit (p)(2) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 178 | |||
of Eaton Vance Mutual Funds Trust (File Nos. 02-90946, 811-4015) filed August 17, 2011 (Accession | |||
No. 0000940394-11-000993) and incorporated herein by reference. | |||
(5) | Code of Ethics adopted by Eagle Global Advisors, LLC effective May 14, 2004 (as revised October 19, | ||
2009) filed as Exhibit (p)(5) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 106 filed October 28, 2009 (Accession No. | |||
0000940394-09-000808) and incorporated herein by reference. | |||
(6) | Code of Ethics adopted by Parametric Portfolio Associates effective January 2, 2006 as revised January | ||
31, 2011 filed as Exhibit (p)(4) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 178 of Eaton Vance Mutual Funds Trust | |||
(File Nos. 02-90946, 811-4015) filed August 17, 2011 (Accession No. 0000940394-11-000993) and | |||
incorporated herein by reference. | |||
(7) | Code of Ethics adopted August, 2010 by Richard Bernstein Advisors LLC updated October, 2010 filed as | ||
Exhibit (p)(7) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 111 filed October 12, 2010 (Accession No. | |||
0000940394-10-001024) and incorporated herein by reference. | |||
(q) | (1) | Power of Attorney for Eaton Vance Growth Trust dated November 1, 2005 filed as Exhibit (q) to | |
Post-Effective Amendment No. 102 of Eaton Vance Municipals Trust (File Nos. 33-572, 811-4409) filed | |||
November 29, 2005 (Accession No. 0000940394-05-001357) and incorporated herein by reference. | |||
(2) | Power of Attorney for the President of Eaton Vance Growth Trust dated November 1, 2005 filed as Exhibit | ||
(q)(2) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 94 filed January 27, 2006 (Accession No. | |||
0000940394-06-000125) and incorporated herein by reference. |
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(3) | Power of Attorney for Asian Small Companies Portfolio, Global Growth Portfolio, Greater China Growth |
Portfolio, Growth Portfolio, Large-Cap Growth Portfolio, Small-Cap Portfolio and Worldwide Health | |
Sciences Portfolio dated November 1, 2005 filed as Exhibit (q)(2) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 93 | |
filed December 23, 2005 (Accession No. 0000940394-05-001402) and incorporated herein by | |
reference. | |
(4) | Power of Attorney for Asian Small Companies Portfolio, Global Growth Portfolio, Greater China Growth |
Portfolio and Growth Portfolio dated November 1, 2005 filed as Exhibit (q)(3) to Post-Effective | |
Amendment No. 93 filed December 23, 2005 (Accession No. 0000940394-05-001402) and | |
incorporated herein by reference. | |
(5) | Power of Attorney for Global Growth Portfolio and Growth Portfolio dated November 1, 2005 filed as |
Exhibit (q)(4) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 93 filed December 23, 2005 (Accession No. | |
0000940394-05-001402) and incorporated herein by reference. | |
(6) | Powers of Attorney for Worldwide Health Sciences Portfolio dated November 1, 2005 filed as Exhibit (q)(5) |
to Post-Effective Amendment No. 93 filed December 23, 2005 (Accession No. | |
0000940394-05-001402) and incorporated herein by reference. | |
(7) | Powers of Attorney for Asian Small Companies Portfolio, Global Growth Portfolio, Growth Portfolio, Greater |
China Growth Portfolio, Large-Cap Growth Portfolio, Small-Cap Portfolio, and Worldwide Health Sciences | |
Portfolio dated November 1, 2005 filed as Exhibit (q)(7) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 94 filed | |
January 27, 2006 (Accession No. 0000940394-06-000125) and incorporated herein by reference. | |
(8) | Powers of Attorney for Eaton Vance Growth Trust dated April 23, 2007 filed as Exhibit (q)(8) to |
Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 filed December 20, 2007 (Accession No. 0000940394-07-002090) | |
and incorporated herein by reference. | |
(9) | Powers of Attorney for Asian Small Companies Portfolio, Global Growth Portfolio, Growth Portfolio, Greater |
China Growth Portfolio, Large-Cap Growth Portfolio, Small-Cap Portfolio, and Worldwide Health Sciences | |
Portfolio dated April 23, 2007 filed as Exhibit (q)(9) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 filed December | |
20, 2007 (Accession No. 0000940394-07-002090) and incorporated herein by reference. | |
(10) | Power of Attorney for Eaton Vance Growth Trust dated November 12, 2007 filed as Exhibit (q)(10) to |
Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 filed December 20, 2007 (Accession No. 0000940394-07-002090) | |
and incorporated herein by reference. | |
(11) | Power of Attorney for Eaton Vance Growth Trust dated January 1, 2008 filed as Exhibit (q)(11) to |
Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 filed January 24, 2008 (Accession No. 0000940394-08-000061) | |
and incorporated herein by reference. | |
(12) | Power of Attorney for Large-Cap Portfolio and SMID-Cap Portfolio dated January 1, 2008 filed as Exhibit |
(q)(12) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 filed January 24, 2008 (Accession No. | |
0000940394-08-000061) and incorporated herein by reference. | |
(13) | Power of Attorney for Eaton Vance Growth Trust dated November 17, 2008 filed as Exhibit (q)(13) to |
Post-Effective Amendment No. 102 filed December 24, 2008 (Accession No. 0000940394-08-001633) | |
and incorporated herein by reference. | |
(14) | Power of Attorney for Large-Cap Portfolio and SMID-Cap Portfolio dated November 17, 2008 filed as |
Exhibit (q)(14) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 103 filed January 26, 2009 (Accession No. | |
0000940394-09-000040) and incorporated herein by reference. | |
(15) | Power of Attorney for Eaton Vance Growth Trust dated February 7, 2011 filed as Exhibit (q)(15) to |
Post-Effective Amendment No. 116 filed March 7, 2011 (Accession No. 0000940394-11-000350) and | |
incorporated herein by reference. | |
(16) | Power of Attorney for Eaton Vance Growth Trust dated October 17, 2011 filed as Exhibit (q)(16) to |
Post-Effective Amendment No. 124 filed October 31, 2011 (Accession No. 0000940394-11-001164) | |
and incorporated herein by reference. | |
(17) | Powers of Attorney for Asian Small Companies Portfolio, Focused Growth Portfolio, Global Growth Portfolio, |
Greater China Growth Portfolio, Multi-Cap Growth Portfolio, SMID-Cap Portfolio and Worldwide Health | |
Sciences Portfolio dated October 17, 2011 filed as Exhibit (q)(17) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 124 | |
filed October 31, 2011 (Accession No. 0000940394-11-001164) and incorporated herein by reference. | |
(18) | Power of Attorney for Eaton Vance Growth Trust dated November 14, 2011 filed as Exhibit (q)(18) to |
Post-Effective Amendment No. 125 filed December 22, 2011 (Accession No. 0000940394-11-001393) | |
and incorporated herein by reference. |
Item 29. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control
Not applicable
C-5
Item 30. Indemnification
Article IV of the Registrant’s Declaration of Trust permits Trustee and officer indemnification by By-Law, contract and vote. Article XI of the By-Laws contains indemnification provisions. Registrant’s Trustees and officers are insured under a standard mutual fund errors and omissions insurance policy covering loss incurred by reason of negligent errors and omissions committed in their capacities as such.
The distribution agreement of the Registrant also provides for reciprocal indemnity of the principal underwriter, on the one hand, and the Trustees and officers, on the other.
Item 31. Business and other Connections of Investment Advisers
Reference is made to: (i) the information set forth under the caption “Management and Organization” in the Statement of Additional Information; (ii) the Eaton Vance Corp. Form 10-K filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (File No. 1-8100); and (iii) the Form ADV of Eaton Vance Management (File No. 801-15930) , Boston Management and Research (File No. 801-43127), Lloyd George Investment Management (Bermuda) Limited (File No. 801-40889), Lloyd George Management (Hong Kong) Limited (File No. 801-40890), OrbiMed Advisors LLC (File No. 801-34429), Atlanta Capital Management Company, LLC (File No. 801-52179) and Richard Bernstein Advisors LLC (File No. 801-71501) filed with the Commission, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 32. Principal Underwriters
C-6
Russell E. Curtis | Vice President and Chief Operations Officer | None |
Kevin Dachille | Vice President | None |
Kevin Darrow | Vice President | None |
Drew Devereaux | Vice President | None |
Derek Devine | Vice President | None |
Todd Dickinson | Vice President | None |
Brian Dunkley | Vice President | None |
James Durocher | Senior Vice President | None |
Margaret Egan | Vice President | None |
Robert Ellerbeck | Vice President | None |
Daniel Ethier | Vice President | None |
Troy Evans | Vice President | None |
Lawrence L. Fahey | Vice President | None |
Thomas E. Faust Jr. | Director | Trustee |
James Foley | Vice President | None |
J. Timothy Ford | Vice President | None |
Kathleen Fryer | Vice President | None |
Jonathan Futterman | Vice President | None |
Anne Marie Gallagher | Vice President | None |
Sheri Gilchrist | Vice President | None |
William M. Gillen | Senior Vice President | None |
Hugh S. Gilmartin | Vice President | None |
Charles Glovsky | Vice President | None |
Bradford Godfrey | Vice President | None |
David Gordon | Vice President | None |
Linda Grasso | Vice President | None |
John Greenway | Vice President | None |
Peter Hartman | Vice President | None |
Richard Hein | Vice President | None |
Joseph Hernandez | Vice President | None |
Dori Hetrick | Vice President | None |
Toebe Hinckle | Vice President | None |
Suzanne Hingel | Vice President | None |
Perry D. Hooker | Vice President | None |
Christian Howe | Vice President | None |
Jonathan Isaac | Vice President | None |
Adrian Jackson | Vice President | None |
Elizabeth Johnson | Vice President | None |
Paul F. Jones | Vice President | None |
Steve Jones | Vice President | None |
Sean Kelly | Senior Vice President | None |
William Kennedy | Vice President | None |
Joseph Kosciuszek | Vice President | None |
Kathleen Krivelow | Vice President | None |
David Lefcourt | Vice President | None |
Paul Leonardo | Vice President | None |
Lauren Loehning | Vice President | None |
John Loy | Vice President | None |
Coleen Lynch | Vice President | None |
John Macejka | Vice President | None |
C-7
Michael Maguire | Vice President | None |
Christopher Marek | Vice President | None |
Frederick S. Marius | Vice President, Secretary, Clerk and Chief Legal Officer | None |
Geoff Marshall | Vice President | None |
Christopher Mason | Vice President | None |
Judy Snow May | Vice President | None |
Daniel J. McCarthy | Vice President | None |
Don McCaughey | Vice President | None |
Andy McClelland | Vice President | None |
Dave McDonald | Vice President | None |
Tim McEwen | Vice President | None |
Shannon McHugh-Price | Vice President | None |
Jac McLean | Senior Vice President | None |
David Michaud | Vice President | None |
Mark Milan | Vice President | None |
Don Murphy | Vice President | None |
James A. Naughton | Vice President | None |
Matthew Navins | Vice President | None |
Mark D. Nelson | Vice President | None |
Scott Nelson | Vice President | None |
Linda D. Newkirk | Vice President | None |
Paul Nicely | Vice President | None |
Paul Nobile | Senior Vice President | None |
Andrew Ogren | Vice President | None |
David Oliveri | Vice President | None |
Philip Pace | Vice President | None |
Greg Piaseckyj | Vice President | None |
Steve Pietricola | Vice President | None |
John Pumphrey | Vice President | None |
James Putman | Vice President | None |
James Queen | Vice President | None |
Christopher Remington | Vice President | None |
David Richman | Vice President | None |
Christopher Rohan | Vice President | None |
Kevin Rookey | Vice President | None |
Scott Ruddick | Senior Vice President | None |
Rocco Scanniello | Vice President | None |
Michael Shea | Vice President | None |
Alan Simeon | Vice President | None |
Randy Skarda | Vice President | None |
Kerry Smith | Vice President | None |
Jamie Smoller | Vice President | None |
Bill Squadroni | Vice President | None |
David Stokkink | Vice President | None |
Ralph Studley | Vice President | None |
Mike Sullivan | Vice President | None |
Frank Sweeney | Vice President | None |
Gigi Szekely | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer | None |
Brian Taranto | Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer | None |
Stefan Thielen | Vice President | None |
C-8
John M. Trotsky | Vice President | None |
Geoffrey Underwood | Vice President | None |
Randolph Verzillo | Vice President | None |
Greg Walsh | Vice President | None |
Stan Weiland | Vice President | None |
Robert J. Whelan | Vice President and Director | None |
Greg Whitehead | Vice President | None |
Steve Widder | Vice President | None |
Matthew J. Witkos | President, Chief Executive Officer and Director | None |
John Young | Vice President | None |
Trey Young | Vice President | None |
Gregor Yuska | Vice President | None |
Jonathan Zadrozny | Vice President | None |
_________________________ |
* Address is Two International Place, Boston, MA 02110 |
(c) Not applicable
Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records
All applicable accounts, books and documents required to be maintained by the Registrant by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules promulgated thereunder are in the possession and custody of the Registrant’s custodian, State Street Bank and Trust Company, 200 Clarendon Street, 16th Floor, Mail Code ADM27, Boston, MA 02116, and its transfer agent, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581-5120, with the exception of certain corporate documents and portfolio trading documents which are in the possession and custody of the administrator and investment adviser or sub-adviser. Registrant is informed that all applicable accounts, books and documents required to be maintained by registered investment advisers are in the custody and possession of Eaton Vance Management and Boston Management and Research, both located at Two International Place, Boston, MA 02110, Lloyd George Management (Hong Kong) Limited located at Suite 3808, One Exchange Square, Central, Hong Kong, OrbiMed Advisors LLC located at 767 3rd Avenue, New York, NY 10017, Atlanta Capital Management Company, LLC located at 1075 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 2100, Atlanta, GA 30309, Eagle Global Advisors, L.L.C. located at 5847 San Felipe, Suite 930, Houston, TX 77057 and Richard Bernstein Advisors LLC located at 520 Madison Avenue, 28th Floor, New York, NY 10022.
Item 34. Management Services
Not applicable
Item 35. Undertakings
None.
C-9
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Amendment to the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Amendment to its Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of Boston, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on December 23, 2011 .
EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST | |
By:
/s/ Duncan W. Richardson
Duncan W. Richardson, President |
|
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on December 23, 2011 .
Signature | Title |
/s/ Duncan W. Richardson | President (Chief Executive Officer) |
Duncan W. Richardson | |
/s/ Barbara E. Campbell | Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
Barbara E. Campbell |
Signature | Title | Signature | Title |
Scott E. Eston* | Trustee | Ronald A. Pearlman* | Trustee |
Scott E. Eston | Ronald A. Pearlman | ||
Benjamin C. Esty* | Trustee | Helen Frame Peters* | Trustee |
Benjamin C. Esty | Helen Frame Peters | ||
Thomas E. Faust Jr.* | Trustee | Lynn A. Stout* | Trustee |
Thomas E. Faust Jr. | Lynn A. Stout | ||
Allen R. Freedman* | Trustee | Harriett Tee Taggart* | Trustee |
Allen R. Freedman | Harriett Tee Taggart | ||
William H. Park* | Trustee | Ralph F. Verni* | Trustee |
William H. Park | Ralph F. Verni |
*By: | /s/ Maureen A. Gemma |
Maureen A. Gemma (As attorney-in-fact) |
C-10
EXHIBIT INDEX
The following exhibits are filed as part of this amendment to the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 483 of Regulation C.
Exhibit No.
|
Description
|
|
(d) | (9) | Investment Advisory and Administrative Agreement between Eaton Vance Growth Trust, on behalf of Eaton |
Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund, and Eaton Vance Management dated December 30, 2011 | ||
(10) | Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Eaton Vance Management and Atlanta Capital Management | |
Company, LLC dated December 30, 2011 | ||
(i) | (2) | Consent of Internal Counsel dated December 23, 2011 |
(m) | (1) (b) | Amended Schedule A to Eaton Vance Growth Trust Class A Distribution Plan effective December 30, 2011 |
C-11
EXHIBIT (d)(9)
EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND ADMINISTRATIVE AGREEMENT
ON BEHALF OF
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SELECT EQUITY FUND
AGREEMENT made this 30 th day of December, 2011, between Eaton Vance Growth Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund (the “Fund”), and Eaton Vance Management, a Massachusetts business trust (“Eaton Vance”).
1. Duties of Eaton Vance . The Trust hereby employs Eaton Vance to act as investment adviser for and to manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Fund and to administer the Fund’s affairs, subject to the supervision of the Trustees of the Trust, for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement.
Eaton Vance hereby accepts such employment, and undertakes to afford to the Trust the advice and assistance of Eaton Vance’s organization in the choice of investments, in the purchase and sale of securities and in the administration of the Fund and to furnish for the use of the Fund office space and all necessary office facilities, equipment and personnel for servicing the investments of the Fund and for administering its affairs and to pay the salaries and fees of all officers and Trustees of the Trust who are members of Eaton Vance’s organization and all personnel of Eaton Vance performing services relating to research and investment and administrative activities. Eaton Vance shall for all purposes herein be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, except as otherwise expressly provided or authorized, have no authority to act for or represent the Trust in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Trust.
Eaton Vance shall provide the Trust with such investment management and supervision as the Trust may from time to time consider necessary for the proper supervision of the Fund. As investment adviser to the Trust, Eaton Vance shall furnish continuously an investment program and shall determine from time to time what securities and other investments shall be acquired, disposed of or exchanged and what portion of the Fund’s assets shall be held uninvested, subject always to the applicable restrictions of the Declaration of Trust, By-Laws and registration statement of the Trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940, all as from time to time amended. Eaton Vance is authorized, in its discretion and without prior consultation with the Trust, to buy, sell, and otherwise trade in any and all types of securities, derivatives and investment instruments on behalf of the Fund. Should the Trustees of the Trust at any time, however, make any specific determination as to investment policy for the Fund and notify Eaton Vance thereof in writing, Eaton Vance shall be bound by such determination for the period, if any, specified in such notice or until similarly notified that such determination has been revoked. Eaton Vance shall take, on behalf of the Trust, all actions which it deems necessary or desirable to implement the investment policies of the Trust and of the Fund.
Eaton Vance shall place all orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities for the account of the Fund either directly with the issuer or with brokers or dealers selected by Eaton Vance, and to that end Eaton Vance is authorized as the agent of the Fund to give instructions to the custodian of the Fund as to deliveries of securities and payments of cash for the account of the Fund. In connection with the selection of such brokers or dealers and the placing of such orders, Eaton Vance shall adhere to procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Trust.
2. Compensation of Eaton Vance . For the services, payments and facilities to be furnished hereunder by Eaton Vance, Eaton Vance shall be entitled to receive from the Fund fees in an amount equal to the following average daily net assets of the Fund throughout each month:
Average Daily Net Assets for the Month | Annual Fee Rate |
Up to $500 million | 0.800% |
$500 million but less than $1 billion | 0.775% |
$1 billion but less than $2.5 billion | 0.750% |
$2.5 billion but less than $5 billion | 0.730% |
$5 billion and over | 0.715% |
Such compensation shall be paid monthly in arrears on the last business day of each month. The Fund’s daily net assets shall be computed in accordance with the Declaration of Trust of the Trust and any applicable votes and determinations of the Trustees of the Trust. In case of initiation or termination of the Agreement during any month with respect to the Fund, the fee for that month shall be based on the number of calendar days during which it is in effect.
3. Allocation of Charges and Expenses . Eaton Vance shall pay the entire salaries and fees of all of the Trust’s Trustees and officers employed by Eaton Vance and who devote part or all of their time to the affairs of Eaton Vance, and the salaries and fees of such persons shall not be deemed to be expenses incurred by the Trust for purposes of this Section 3. Except as provided in the foregoing sentence, it is understood that the Fund will pay all expenses other than those expressly stated to be payable by Eaton Vance hereunder, which expenses payable by the Fund shall include, without implied limitation, (i) expenses of organizing and maintaining the Fund and continuing its existence, (ii) registration of the Trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940, (iii) commissions, fees and other expenses connected with the acquisition, holding and disposition of securities and other investments, (iv) auditing, accounting and legal expenses, (v) taxes and interest, (vi) governmental fees, (vii) expenses of issue, sale and redemption of shares, (viii) expenses of registering and qualifying the Trust, the Fund and its shares under federal and state securities laws and of preparing and printing registration statements or other offering statements or memoranda for such purposes and for distributing the same to shareholders and investors, and fees and expenses of registering and maintaining registrations of the Fund and of the Fund’s principal underwriter, if any, as broker-dealer or agent under state securities laws, (ix) expenses of reports and notices to shareholders and of meetings of shareholders and proxy solicitations therefor, (x) expenses of reports to governmental officers and commissions, (xi) insurance expenses, (xii) association membership dues, (xiii) fees, expenses and disbursements of custodians and subcustodians for all services to the Fund (including without limitation safekeeping of funds, securities and other investments, keeping of books, accounts and records, and determination of net asset values), (xiv) fees, expenses and disbursements of transfer agents, dividend disbursing agents, shareholder servicing agents and registrars for all services to the Fund, (xv) expenses for servicing shareholder accounts, (xvi) any direct charges to shareholders approved by the Trustees of the Trust, (xvii) compensation and expenses of Trustees of the Trust who are not members of Eaton Vance’s organization, (xviii) all payments to be made and
2
expenses to be assumed by the Fund pursuant to any one or more distribution plans adopted by the Trust on behalf of the Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and (xix) such non-recurring items as may arise, including expenses incurred in connection with litigation, proceedings and claims and the obligation of the Trust to indemnify its Trustees, officers and shareholders with respect thereto.
4. Other Interests . It is understood that Trustees and officers of the Trust and shareholders of the Fund are or may be or become interested in Eaton Vance as trustees, officers, employees, shareholders or otherwise and that trustees, officers, employees and shareholders of Eaton Vance are or may be or become similarly interested in the Fund, and that Eaton Vance may be or become interested in the Fund as a shareholder or otherwise. It is also understood that trustees, officers, employees and shareholders of Eaton Vance may be or become interested (as directors, trustees, officers, employees, shareholders or otherwise) in other companies or entities (including, without limitation, other investment companies) which Eaton Vance may organize, sponsor or acquire, or with which it may merge or consolidate, and which may include the words “Eaton Vance” or “Boston Management and Research” or any combination thereof as part of their name, and that Eaton Vance or its subsidiaries or affiliates may enter into advisory or management agreements or other contracts or relationships with such other companies or entities.
5. Limitation of Liability of Eaton Vance . The services of Eaton Vance to the Trust and the Fund are not to be deemed to be exclusive, Eaton Vance being free to render services to others and engage in other business activities. In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of obligations or duties hereunder on the part of Eaton Vance, Eaton Vance shall not be subject to liability to the Trust or the Fund or to any shareholder of the Fund for any act or omission in the course of, or connected with, rendering services hereunder or for any losses which may be sustained in the acquisition, holding or disposition of any security or other investment.
The Trust expressly acknowledges the provision in the Declaration of Trust of Eaton Vance limiting the personal liability of the Trustees of Eaton Vance and the shareholders of Eaton Vance, and the Trust hereby agrees that it shall have recourse to Eaton Vance for payment of claims or obligations as between Eaton Vance and the Trust arising out of this Agreement and shall not seek satisfaction from the Trustees or shareholders or any Trustee of Eaton Vance.
6. Sub-Advisers and Sub-Administrators . Eaton Vance may employ one or more sub-advisers or sub-administrators from time to time to perform such of the acts and services of Eaton Vance including the selection of brokers or dealers or other persons to execute the Fund’s portfolio security transactions, and upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between Eaton Vance and such sub-adviser or sub-administrator and approved by the Trustees of the Trust, all as permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940. The performance of each such sub-investment adviser or sub-administrator of its obligation under any such agreement shall be supervised by Eaton Vance. Further, Eaton Vance may, with the approval of the Trustees of the Trust and without the vote of any Interests in the Trust, terminate any agreement with any sub-investment adviser or sub-administrator and/or enter into an agreement with one or more other sub-investment advisers or sub-administrators, all as permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules hereunder. In the event a sub-adviser or sub-administrator is employed, Eaton Vance retains the authority to immediately assume responsibility for any functions delegated to a sub-adviser or sub-administrator, subject to approval by the Board and notice to the sub-adviser or sub-administrator.
3
7. Duration and Termination of this Agreement . This Agreement shall become effective upon the date of its execution, and, unless terminated as herein provided, shall remain in full force and effect through and including the second anniversary of the execution of this Agreement and shall continue in full force and effect indefinitely thereafter, but only so long as such continuance after such second anniversary is specifically approved at least annually (i) by the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund and (ii) by the vote of a majority of those Trustees of the Trust who are not interested persons of Eaton Vance or the Trust cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
Either party hereto may, at any time on sixty (60) days’ prior written notice to the other, terminate this Agreement without the payment of any penalty, by action of Trustees of the Trust or the trustees of Eaton Vance, as the case may be, and the Trust may, at any time upon such written notice to Eaton Vance, terminate this Agreement by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment.
8. Amendments of the Agreement . This Agreement may be amended by a writing signed by both parties hereto, provided that no material amendment to this Agreement shall be effective until approved (i) by the vote of a majority of those Trustees of the Trust who are not interested persons of Eaton Vance or the Trust cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and (ii) if required by the Investment Company Act of 1940, by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.
9. Limitation of Liability of Trust . Eaton Vance expressly acknowledges the provision in the Declaration of Trust of the Trust limiting the personal liability of the Trustees of the Trust and the shareholders of the Fund, and Eaton Vance hereby agrees that it shall have recourse to the Trust or the Fund for payment of claims or obligations as between the Trust or the Fund and Eaton Vance arising out of this Agreement and shall not seek satisfaction from the Trustees or shareholders or any Trustee of the Trust or shareholder of the Fund.
10. Use of the Name “Eaton Vance”. Eaton Vance hereby consents to the use by the Fund of the name “Eaton Vance” as part of the Fund’s name; provided, however, that such consent shall be conditioned upon the employment of Eaton Vance or one of its affiliates as the investment adviser or administrator of the Fund. The name “Eaton Vance” or any variation thereof may be used from time to time in other connections and for other purposes by Eaton Vance and its affiliates and other investment companies that have obtained consent to the use of the name “Eaton Vance”. Eaton Vance shall have the right to require the Fund to cease using the name “Eaton Vance” as part of the Fund’s name if the Fund ceases, for any reason, to employ Eaton Vance or one of its affiliates as the Fund’s investment adviser or administrator. Future names adopted by the Fund for itself, insofar as such names include identifying words requiring the consent of Eaton Vance, shall be the property of Eaton Vance and shall be subject to the same terms and conditions.
11. Certain Definitions . The terms “assignment” and “interested persons” when used herein shall have the respective meanings specified in the Investment Company Act of 1940 as now in effect or as hereafter amended subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission by any rule, regulation or order. The term “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” shall mean the vote, at a meeting of shareholders, of the lesser of (a) 67 per centum or more of the shares of the Fund present or represented by proxy at the meeting if the holders of more than 50 per centum of the shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy at the meeting, or (b) more than 50 per centum of the shares of the Fund.
4
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed on the day and year first above written.
EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST on behalf of | |
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund | |
By: /s/ Duncan W. Richardson | |
Duncan W. Richardson, President | |
EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT | |
By: /s/ Maureen A. Gemma | |
Maureen A. Gemma, Vice President |
5
EXHIBIT (d)(10)
INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
between
EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT
and
ATLANTA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LLC
for
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SELECT EQUITY FUND
AGREEMENT made this 30 th day of December, 2011, between Eaton Vance Management, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Adviser”), and Atlanta Capital Management Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sub-Adviser”).
WHEREAS, the Adviser has entered into an Investment Advisory and Administrative Agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with Eaton Vance Growth Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Trust”) on behalf of Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund (the “Fund”), relating to the provision of portfolio management services to the Fund; and
WHEREAS, the Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser may delegate any or all of its portfolio management responsibilities under the Advisory Agreement to one or more sub-investment advisers; and
WHEREAS, the Adviser and the Trustees of the Trust desire to retain the Sub-Adviser to render portfolio management services to the Fund in the manner and on the terms set forth in this Agreement;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser agree as follows:
1. Duties of the Sub-Adviser . The Adviser hereby employs the Sub-Adviser to act as investment adviser for and to manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Fund and to administer its investment affairs, subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the Trustees of the Trust, for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement.
(a) The Sub-Adviser hereby accepts such employment and undertakes to afford to the Fund the advice and assistance of the Sub-Adviser’s organization in the choice of investments and in the purchase and sale of securities for the Fund and to furnish, for the use of the Fund, office space and all necessary office facilities, equipment and personnel for servicing the investments of the Fund and for administering its affairs and to pay the salaries and fees of all officers and Trustees of the Trust who are members of the Sub-Adviser’s organization and all personnel of the Sub-Adviser performing services relating to research and investment activities. The Sub-Adviser shall for all purposes herein be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, except as otherwise expressly provided or authorized, have no authority to act for or represent the Adviser or the Fund in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Adviser or the Fund.
(b) The Sub-Adviser shall provide the Fund with such investment management and supervision as the Fund may, from time to time, consider necessary for the proper supervision of the Fund. As investment adviser to the Fund, the Sub-Adviser shall furnish continuously an investment program and shall determine, from time to time, what securities and other investments shall be acquired, disposed of or exchanged and what portion of the Fund’s assets shall be held uninvested,
subject always to the applicable restrictions of the Trust’s Declaration of Trust, By-Laws and Registration Statement under the Investment Company Act of 1940, all as from time to time amended. The Sub-Adviser is authorized, in its discretion and without prior consultation with the Adviser or the Fund, to buy, sell, and otherwise trade in any and all types of securities and investment instruments on behalf of the Fund. Should the Trustees of the Trust at any time, however, make any specific determination as to investment policy for the Fund and notify the Sub-Adviser thereof in writing, the Sub-Adviser shall be bound by such determination for the period, if any, specified in such notice or until similarly notified that such determination has been revoked. The Sub-Adviser shall take, on behalf of the Fund, all actions that it deems necessary or desirable to implement the investment policies of the Fund.
(c) The Sub-Adviser shall place all orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities for the account of the Fund either directly with the issuer or with brokers or dealers selected by the Sub-Adviser, and, to that end, the Sub-Adviser is authorized as the agent of the Fund to give instructions to the custodian of the Fund as to deliveries of securities and payments of cash for the account of the Fund. In connection with the selection of such brokers or dealers and the placing of such orders, the Sub-Adviser shall use its best efforts to seek to execute security transactions at prices that are advantageous to the Fund and (when a disclosed commission is being charged) at reasonably competitive commission rates, and in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Trust.
(d) The Sub-Adviser shall furnish such reports, evaluations, information or analyses to the Fund and the Adviser as the Trust’s Board of Trustees or the Adviser may reasonably request from time to time, or as the Sub-Adviser may deem to be desirable.
2. Compensation of the Sub-Adviser . For the services, payments and facilities to be furnished hereunder by the Sub-Adviser, to the extent the Adviser receives at least such amount from the Fund pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall be entitled to receive from the Adviser compensation in an amount equal to the following of the average daily net asset of the Fund throughout each month as shown on the attached Schedule A. Such compensation shall be paid monthly in arrears on the last business day of each month. The Fund’s daily net assets shall be computed in accordance with the Declaration of Trust of the Trust and any applicable votes and determinations of the Trustees of the Trust. In case of initiation or termination of the Agreement during any month with respect to the Fund, the fee for that month shall be based on the number of calendar days during which it is in effect. The Sub-Adviser may, from time to time, waive all or a part of the above compensation.
3. Allocation of Charges and Expenses . It is understood that, pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Fund will pay all expenses other than those expressly stated to be payable by the Sub-Adviser hereunder or by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement, which expenses payable by the Fund shall include, without limitation, (i) expenses of maintaining the Fund and continuing its existence; (ii) registration of the Trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940; (iii) commissions, spreads, fees and other expenses connected with the acquisition, holding and disposition of securities and other investments; (iv) auditing, accounting and legal expenses; (v) taxes and interest; (vi) governmental fees; (vii) expenses of issue, sale and redemption of shares; (viii) expenses of registering and qualifying the Fund and its shares under federal and state securities laws and of preparing and printing registration statements or other offering statements or memoranda for such purposes and for distributing the same to shareholders and investors, and fees and expenses of registering and maintaining registrations of the Fund and of the Fund’s principal
2
underwriter as broker-dealer or agent under state securities laws; (ix) expenses of reports and notices to shareholders and of meetings of shareholders and proxy solicitations therefor; (x) expenses of reports to governmental officers and commissions; (xi) insurance expenses; (xii) association membership dues; (xiii) fees, expenses and disbursements of custodians and subcustodians for all services to the Fund (including without limitation safekeeping of funds, securities and other investments, keeping of books, accounts and records, and determination of net asset values, book capital account balances and tax capital account balances); (xiv) fees, expenses and disbursements of transfer agents, dividend disbursing agents, shareholder servicing agents and registrars for all services to the Fund; (xv) expenses for servicing shareholder accounts; (xvi) any direct charges to shareholders approved by the Trustees of the Trust; (xvii) compensation and expenses of Trustees of the Trust who are not members of the Adviser’s or the Sub-Adviser’s organizations; and (xviii) such non-recurring items as may arise, including expenses incurred in connection with litigation, proceedings and claims and the obligation of the Trust to indemnify its Trustees, officers, and shareholders with respect thereto.
4. Other Interests . It is understood that Trustees and officers of the Trust and shareholders of the Fund are or may be or become interested in the Sub-Adviser as trustees, officers, employees, shareholders or otherwise and that trustees, officers, employees and shareholders of the Sub-Adviser are or may be or become similarly interested in the Fund, and that the Sub-Adviser may be or become interested in the Fund as a shareholder or otherwise. It is also understood that trustees, officers, employees and shareholders of the Sub-Adviser may be or become interested (as directors, trustees, officers, employees, shareholders or otherwise) in other companies or entities (including, without limitation, other investment companies) that the Sub-Adviser may organize, sponsor, or acquire, or with which it may merge or consolidate, and which may include the words “Atlanta Capital” or any combination thereof as part of their name, and that the Sub-Adviser or its subsidiaries or affiliates may enter into advisory or management agreements or other contracts or relationships with such other companies or entities.
5. Limitation of Liability of the Sub-Adviser . The services of the Sub-Adviser to the Adviser for the benefit of the Fund are not to be deemed to be exclusive, the Sub-Adviser being free to render services to others and engage in other business activities. In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of obligations or duties hereunder on the part of the Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Adviser shall not be subject to liability to the Adviser or the Fund or any shareholder in the Fund for any act or omission in the course of, or connected with, rendering services hereunder or for any losses that may be sustained in the acquisition, holding, or disposition of any security or other investment.
6. Duration and Termination of this Agreement . This Agreement shall become effective upon the date of its execution, and, unless terminated as herein provided, shall remain in full force and effect through and including the second anniversary of the execution of this Agreement and shall continue in full force and effect indefinitely thereafter, but only so long as such continuance after such second anniversary is specifically approved at least annually (i) by the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund and (ii) by the vote of a majority of those Trustees of the Trust who are not interested persons of the Sub-Adviser, the Adviser, or the Trust cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
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This Agreement may be terminated as to the Fund without the payment of any penalty by (i) the Adviser, subject to the approval of the Trustees of the Trust; (ii) the vote of the Trustees of the Trust; (iii) the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund at any annual or special meeting; or (iv) the Sub-Adviser, in each case on sixty (60) days’ written notice. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment or in the event that the Advisory Agreement shall have terminated for any reason.
7. Amendments of the Agreement . This Agreement may be amended by a writing signed by both parties hereto, provided that no amendment to this Agreement shall be effective until approved (i) by the vote of a majority of those Trustees of the Trust who are not interested persons of the Sub-Adviser, the Adviser, or the Trust cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and (ii) by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.
8. Limitation of Liability . The Sub-Adviser expressly acknowledges the provision in the Declarations of Trust of the Trust and of the Adviser limiting the personal liability of trustees, officers, and shareholders of the Fund and the Adviser, respectively, and the Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that it shall have recourse to the Fund or the Adviser, respectively, for payment of claims or obligations as between the Fund or the Adviser, respectively, and the Sub-Adviser arising out of this Agreement and shall not seek satisfaction from the trustees, officers, or shareholders of the Fund or the Adviser.
9. Certain Definitions . The terms “assignment” and “interested persons” when used herein shall have the respective meanings specified in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as now in effect or as hereafter amended subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission by any rule, regulation or order. The term “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” shall mean the vote, at a meeting of shareholders, of the lesser of (a) 67 per centum or more of shares of the Fund present or represented by proxy at the meeting if the holders of more than 50 per centum of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy at the meeting, or (b) more than 50 per centum of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
10. Miscellaneous .
(a) If any term or provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held to be invalid or unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this Agreement or the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby and shall be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law.
(b) This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
(c) This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first above written.
EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT | |
By: /s/ Maureen A. Gemma | |
Name: Maureen A. Gemma | |
Title: Vice President | |
and not individually | |
ATLANTA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LLC | |
By: /s/ Kelly Williams | |
Name: Kelly Williams | |
Title: President and Chief Operating Officer | |
and not individually |
Acknowledged and agreed to as of the day |
and year first above written: |
EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST |
(on behalf of Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund) |
By: /s/ Duncan W. Richardson |
Name: Duncan W. Richardson |
Title: President |
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EXHIBIT (i)(2)
CONSENT OF COUNSEL
I consent to the incorporation by reference in this Post-Effective Amendment No. 126 to the Registration Statement of Eaton Vance Growth Trust (1933 Act File No. 2-22019) of my opinion dated October 7, 2011, which was filed as Exhibit (i) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 122.
/s/ Katy D. Burke
Katy D. Burke, Esq. |
|
December 23, 2011
Boston, Massachusetts
EXHIBIT (m)(1)(b)
SCHEDULE A
EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST
CLASS A DISTRIBUTION PLAN
December 30, 2011
Name of Fund | Adoption Date |
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Focused Growth Fund | October 20, 2003 |
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund | December 30, 2011 |
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital SMID-Cap Fund | October 20, 2003 |
Eaton Vance Focused Growth Opportunities Fund | March 7, 2011 |
Eaton Vance Focused Value Opportunities Fund | March 7, 2011 |
Eaton Vance Multi-Cap Growth Fund | June 23, 1997 |
Eaton Vance Richard Bernstein All Asset Strategy Fund | September 30, 2011 |
Eaton Vance Richard Bernstein Equity Strategy Fund | August 9, 2010 |
Eaton Vance Worldwide Health Sciences Fund | March 7, 2011 |
A-1