As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 29, 2021
1933 Act File No. 002-22019
1940 Act File No. 811-01241
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION |
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WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 |
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FORM N-1A |
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REGISTRATION STATEMENT
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POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 237 |
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REGISTRATION STATEMENT
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AMENDMENT NO. 210 |
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EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST |
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter) |
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Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 |
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) |
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(617) 482-8260 |
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(Registrant’s Telephone Number) |
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MAUREEN A. GEMMA |
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Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 |
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(Name and Address of Agent for Service) |
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Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund
Class I Shares - EFGIX
Prospectus Dated
April 1, 2021
The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has not approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this Prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Information in this Prospectus
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Page |
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Page |
Fund Summary |
2 |
Investment Objective & Principal Policies and Risks |
6 |
Investment Objective |
2 |
Management and Organization |
14 |
Fees and Expenses of the Fund |
2 |
Valuing Shares |
15 |
Portfolio Turnover |
2 |
Purchasing Shares |
15 |
Principal Investment Strategies |
2 |
Redeeming Shares |
18 |
Principal Risks |
3 |
Shareholder Account Features |
19 |
Performance |
4 |
Additional Tax Information |
21 |
Management |
5 |
Financial Highlights |
23 |
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares |
5 |
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Tax Information |
5 |
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Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries |
5 |
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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 appreciation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. Investors may also pay commissions or other fees to their financial intermediary, which are not reflected below.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) |
Class I |
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) |
None |
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the lower of net asset value at time of purchase or redemption) |
None |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) |
Class I |
Management Fees |
0.80% |
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees |
None |
Other Expenses |
2.10% |
Total Annual Fund Offering Expenses |
2.90% |
Expense Reimbursement (1) |
(1.95)% |
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement |
0.95% |
(1)The investment adviser and administrator and sub-adviser have agreed to reimburse the Fund’s expenses to the extent that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses exceed 0.95% for Class I shares. This expense reimbursement will continue through March 31, 2022. Any amendment to or termination of this reimbursement would require 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 of unaffiliated funds, borrowing costs (including borrowing costs of any acquired funds), taxes or litigation expenses. Amounts reimbursed may be recouped by the investment adviser and administrator and sub-adviser during the same 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, that the operating expenses remain the same and that any expense reimbursement arrangement remains in place for the contractual period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 Year |
3 Years |
5 Years |
10 Years |
|
Class I shares |
$97 |
$713 |
$1,356 |
$3,083 |
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. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 54% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest (i) primarily in equity securities; (ii) at least 30% of its net assets in companies located outside of the United States, which may include emerging market countries; and (iii) in issuers located in at least five different countries (including the United States). An issuer will be considered to be located outside of the United States if it is domiciled in, derives a significant portion of its revenue from, or its primary trading venue is outside of the United States. The Fund may purchase securities that trade in the form of depositary receipts. The Fund expects to hold approximately 25 to 40 stocks. The Fund may invest in companies of any size, including smaller, less seasoned companies. More than 25% of the Fund’s total assets may be denominated in any single currency. The Fund may invest in exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), a type of pooled investment vehicle, in order to manage cash positions or seek exposure to certain markets or market sectors. The Fund may also invest in publicly traded real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund2Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
In selecting securities to implement the Fund’s core investment approach, the portfolio manager seeks companies that, in his opinion, are high in quality or improving in quality. Investment decisions for the Fund are made primarily on the basis of fundamental bottom-up research conducted by the investment adviser’s and sub-adviser’s research staff. The portfolio manager seeks companies which he believes have strong business franchises but whose value is not yet fully reflected in their share prices. Such companies may include companies with a high return on invested capital, companies with a sustainable competitive advantage and/or companies with shareholder-friendly management teams. The Fund’s focus on valuation and quality companies may help dampen performance volatility in down markets. The portfolio manager seeks to manage investment risk by maintaining issuer and industry diversification among the Fund’s holdings, and by utilizing fundamental analysis of risk/return characteristics in securities selection. The portfolio manager may also consider financially material environmental, social and governance factors in evaluating an issuer. These considerations may be taken into account alongside other fundamental research in the securities selection process. Securities may be sold if, in the opinion of the portfolio manager, the price moves above a fair level of valuation, the company’s fundamentals deteriorate or to pursue more attractive investment opportunities.
Principal Risks
Market Risk. The value of investments held by the Fund may increase or decrease in response to economic, political, financial, public health crises (such as epidemics or pandemics) or other disruptive events (whether real, expected or perceived) in the U.S. and global markets. The frequency and magnitude of such changes in value cannot be predicted. Certain securities and other investments held by the Fund may experience increased volatility, illiquidity, or other potentially adverse effects in reaction to changing market conditions. Monetary and/or fiscal actions taken by U.S. or foreign governments to stimulate or stabilize the global economy may not be effective and could lead to high market volatility.
Equity Securities Risk. The value of equity securities and related instruments may decline in response to adverse changes in the economy or the economic outlook; deterioration in investor sentiment; interest rate, currency, and commodity price fluctuations; adverse geopolitical, social or environmental developments; issuer and sector-specific considerations, which are more significant in a focused fund that invests in a limited number of securities; or other factors. Market conditions may affect certain types of stocks to a greater extent than other types of stocks. If the stock market declines in value, the value of the Fund’s equity securities will also likely decline. Although prices can rebound, there is no assurance that values will return to previous levels.
Foreign Investment Risk. Foreign investments can be adversely affected by political, economic and market developments abroad, including the imposition of economic and other sanctions by the United States or another country. There may be less publicly available information about foreign issuers because they may not be subject to reporting practices, requirements or regulations comparable to those to which United States companies are subject. Foreign markets may be smaller, less liquid and more volatile than the major markets in the United States and, as a result, Fund share values may be more volatile. Trading in foreign 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. Depositary receipts are subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign instruments.
Emerging Markets Investment Risk. Investment markets within emerging market countries are typically smaller, less liquid, less developed and more volatile than those in more developed markets like the United States, and may be focused in certain economic sectors. Emerging market securities often involve greater risks than developed market securities. The information available about an emerging market issuer may be less reliable than for comparable issuers in more developed capital markets.
Currency Risk. Exchange rates for currencies fluctuate daily. The value of foreign investments may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency exchange rates in relation to the U.S. dollar. Currency markets generally are not as regulated as securities markets and currency transactions are subject to settlement, custodial and other operational risks.
Smaller Company Risk. The stocks of smaller, less seasoned companies are generally subject to greater price fluctuations, limited liquidity, higher transaction costs and higher investment risk than the stocks of larger, more established companies. Such 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. Stocks of these companies frequently have lower trading volumes making them more volatile and potentially more difficult to value.
ETF Risk. ETFs are subject to the risks of investing in the underlying securities or other investments. ETF shares may trade at a premium or discount to net asset value and are subject to secondary market trading risks. In addition, the Fund will bear a pro rata portion of the operating expenses of an ETF in which it invests. Other pooled investment vehicles generally are subject to risks similar to those of ETFs.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund3Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
Real Estate Risk. Real estate investments are subject to risks associated with owning real estate, including declines in real estate values, increases in property taxes, fluctuations in interest rates, limited availability of mortgage financing, decreases in revenues from underlying real estate assets, declines in occupancy rates, changes in government regulations affecting zoning, land use, and rents, environmental liabilities, and risks related to 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. REITs must satisfy specific requirements for favorable tax treatment and can involve unique risks in addition to the risks generally affecting the real estate industry. Changes in underlying real estate values may have an exaggerated effect to the extent that investments are concentrated in particular geographic regions or property types.
Liquidity Risk. The Fund is exposed to liquidity risk when trading volume, lack of a market maker or trading partner, large position size, market conditions, or legal restrictions impair its ability to sell particular investments or to sell them at advantageous market prices. Consequently, the Fund may have to accept a lower price to sell an investment or continue to hold it or keep the position open, sell other investments to raise cash or abandon an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on the Fund’s performance. These effects may be exacerbated during times of financial or political stress.
Risks Associated with Active Management. The success of the Fund’s investment strategy depends on portfolio management’s successful application of analytical skills and investment judgment. Active management involves subjective decisions.
General Fund Investing Risks. The Fund is not a complete investment program and there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. It is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. The Fund is designed to be a long-term investment vehicle and is not suited for short-term trading. Investors in the Fund should have a long-term investment perspective and be able to tolerate potentially sharp declines in value. Purchase and redemption activities by Fund shareholders may impact the management of the Fund and its ability to achieve its investment objective(s). In addition, the redemption by one or more large shareholders or groups of shareholders of their holdings in the Fund could have an adverse impact on the remaining shareholders in the Fund. The Fund relies on various service providers, including the investment adviser, in its operations and is susceptible to operational, information security and related events (such as public health crises, cyber or hacking attacks) that may affect the service providers or the services that they provide to the Fund. 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.
Performance
The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and how the Fund’s average annual returns over time compare with those of a broad-based securities market index. Past performance (both before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. The Fund’s performance reflects the effects of expense reductions. Absent these reductions, performance would have been lower. Updated Fund performance information can be obtained by visiting www.eatonvance.com.
Calendar year-by-year total return (Class I)
Year |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
Year Total Return |
-0.48% |
20.85% |
-7.80% |
31.77% |
13.88% |
During the period from December 31, 2015 through December 31, 2020, the highest quarterly total return for Class I was 20.06% for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, and the lowest quarterly return was -21.87% for the quarter ended March 31, 2020.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund4Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
Average Annual Total Return as of December 31, 2020 |
One Year |
Five Years |
Life of Fund |
Return Before Taxes |
13.88% |
10.71% |
10.71% |
Return After Taxes on Distributions |
13.80% |
10.03% |
10.04% |
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares |
8.30% |
8.66% |
8.67% |
MSCI World Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) |
15.90% |
12.18% |
12.19% |
The Fund commenced operations on December 17, 2015. (Source for the MSCI World Index: MSCI.) MSCI data may not be reproduced or used for any other purpose. MSCI provides no warranties, has not prepared or approved this report, and has no liability hereunder. Investors cannot invest directly in an Index.
After-tax returns are calculated using the highest historical individual federal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on a shareholder’s tax situation and the actual characterization of distributions, and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to shareholders who hold shares in tax-deferred accounts or to shares held by non-taxable entities. Return After Taxes on Distributions for a period may be the same as Return Before Taxes for that period because no taxable distributions were made during that period. Also, Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares for a period may be greater than or equal to Return Before Taxes and/or Return After Taxes on Distributions for the same period because of losses realized on the sale of Fund shares.
Management
Investment Adviser. Eaton Vance Management (“Eaton Vance”).
Investment Sub-Adviser. Eaton Vance Advisers International Ltd. (“EVAIL”).
Portfolio Manager. The Fund is managed by Christopher Dyer, Director and Vice President of EVAIL and Director of Global Equity, who has managed the Fund since its inception in December 2015.
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 the Fund, 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 $250,000 (waived in certain circumstances). There is no minimum for subsequent investments.
Tax Information
If your shares are held in a taxable account, the Fund’s distributions will be taxed to you as ordinary income and/or capital gains, unless you are exempt from taxation. If your shares are held in a tax-advantaged account, you will generally be taxed only upon withdrawals from the account.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase the Fund’s 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 Focused Global Opportunities Fund5Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
Investment Objective & Principal Policies and Risks
The investment objective and principal investment policies and risks of the Fund are described in its Fund Summary. Set forth below is additional information about such policies and risks, as well as information about other types of investments and practices in which the Fund may engage from time to time. See also “Strategies and Risks” in the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).
Definitions. As used herein, the following terms have the indicated meaning: “1940 Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; “1933 Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; “ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended; and “investment adviser” means the Fund’s investment adviser but if the Fund is sub-advised, it refers to the sub-adviser(s) providing day-to-day management with respect to the investments or strategies discussed.
Equity Securities. Equity securities include: common stocks; preferred stocks, including convertible and contingent convertible preferred stocks; equity interests in trusts, partnerships, joint ventures and other unincorporated entities or enterprises; depositary receipts, rights and warrants in underlying equity interests; and other securities that are treated as equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The Fund cannot predict the income it might receive from equity securities because issuers generally have discretion as to the payment of any dividends or distributions.
The value of equity securities and related instruments may decline in response to adverse changes in the economy or the economic outlook; deterioration in investor sentiment; interest rate, currency, and commodity price fluctuations; adverse geopolitical, social or environmental developments; issuer- and sector-specific considerations; and other factors. 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. Although stock prices can rebound, there is no assurance that values will return to previous levels.
Foreign 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. Evidence of ownership of certain foreign investments may be held outside the United States, and the Fund may be subject to the risks associated with the holding of such property overseas.
Foreign issuers may become subject to sanctions imposed by the United States or another country, which could result in the immediate freeze of the foreign issuers’ assets or securities. The imposition of such sanctions could impair the market value of the securities of such foreign issuers and limit the Fund’s ability to buy, sell, receive or deliver the securities. Trading in certain foreign markets is also subject to liquidity risk.
Political events in foreign countries may cause market disruptions. In June 2016, the United Kingdom (“UK”) voted in a referendum to leave the European Union (“EU”) (“Brexit”). Effective January 31, 2020, the UK ceased to be a member of the EU and, following a transition period during which the EU and the UK Government engaged in a series of negotiations regarding the terms of the UK’s future relationship with the EU, the EU and the UK Government signed an agreement on December 30, 2020 regarding the economic relationship between the UK and the EU. This agreement became effective on a provisional basis on January 1, 2021. There remains significant market uncertainty regarding Brexit’s ramifications, and the range and potential implications of the possible political, regulatory, economic, and market outcomes in the UK, EU and beyond are difficult to predict. The end of the Brexit transition period may cause greater market volatility and illiquidity, currency fluctuations, deterioration in economic activity, a decrease in business confidence, and an increased likelihood of a recession in the UK. If one or more additional countries leave the EU or the EU dissolves, the world’s securities markets likely will be significantly disrupted.
As an alternative to holding foreign-traded investments, the Fund may invest in U.S. dollar-denominated investments of foreign companies that trade on U.S. exchanges or in the U.S. over-the-counter market including depositary receipts, such as American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), which evidence 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, currency risk. Depositary receipts may be sponsored or
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund6Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
unsponsored. Unsponsored depositary receipts are established without the participation of the issuer. As a result, available information concerning the issuer of an unsponsored depository receipt may not be as current as for sponsored depositary receipts, and the prices of unsponsored depositary receipts may be more volatile than if such instruments were sponsored by the issuer. Unsponsored depositary receipts may involve higher expenses, may not pass through voting or other shareholder rights and may be less liquid.
Emerging Markets Investments. The risks of foreign investments can be more significant in emerging markets. Emerging markets 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. Securities markets within emerging market countries may experience low or non-existent trading volume, resulting in a lack of liquidity and increased volatility in prices for such securities, as compared to securities of comparable issuers in more developed capital markets. 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. In particular, trade disputes may result in governmental actions that could have an adverse effect on investments in emerging market countries, including but not limited to restrictions on investments in, or required divestment of, particular issuers or industries. There may be less publicly available information about issuers in emerging markets than would be available about issuers in more developed capital markets, and such issuers may not be subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements comparable to those to which U.S. companies are subject . 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 developed than or different from such laws in the United States. It may be more difficult to make a claim or obtain a judgment in the courts of these countries than it is in the United States. The possibility of fraud, negligence, undue influence being exerted by an issuer or refusal to recognize ownership exists in some emerging markets. The prices at which investments may be acquired may be affected by trading by persons with information that is not publicly available and by securities transactions by brokers in anticipation of transactions in particular securities. 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, or the failure to intervene, by U.S. or foreign governments or central banks or by currency controls or political developments in the United States or abroad. If the U.S. dollar rises in value relative to a foreign currency, a security denominated in that foreign currency will be worth less in U.S. dollars. If the U.S. dollar decreases in value relative to a foreign currency, a security denominated in that foreign currency will be worth more in U.S. dollars. A devaluation of a currency by a country’s government or banking authority will have a significant impact on the value of any investments denominated in that currency. 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.
Smaller Companies. Securities of smaller companies, which may include legally restricted securities, are generally subject to greater price fluctuations, limited liquidity, higher transaction costs and higher investment risk than the securities of larger, more established companies. Because of the absence of any public trading market for some of these investments (such as those which are legally restricted) it may be more difficult to value these investments and may take longer to liquidate these positions at fair value than would be the case for publicly traded securities.
Derivatives. Generally, derivatives can be characterized as financial instruments whose performance is derived at least in part from the performance of an underlying reference instrument. Derivative instruments may be acquired in the United States or abroad consistent with the Fund’s investment strategy and may include the various types of exchange-traded and over-the-counter (“OTC”) instruments described herein and other instruments with substantially similar characteristics and risks. Fund obligations created pursuant to derivative instruments may give rise to leverage, which would subject the Fund to the requirements described under “Asset Coverage” in the Fund’s SAI. The Fund may invest in a derivative transaction if it is permitted to own, invest in, or otherwise have economic exposure to the reference instrument. Depending on the type of derivative instrument and the Fund’s investment strategy, a reference instrument could be a
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund7Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
security, instrument, index, currency, commodity, economic indicator or event (“reference instruments”). The Fund may engage in derivative transactions to seek return, to hedge against fluctuations in securities prices or currency exchange rates, or as a substitute for the purchase or sale of securities or currencies. The Fund may trade in the specific type(s) and/or combinations of derivative transactions listed below.
Derivative instruments are subject to a number of risks, including adverse or unexpected movements in the price of the reference instrument, and counterparty, liquidity, market, tax and leverage risks. Certain derivatives may also be subject to credit risk and interest rate risk. In addition, derivatives also involve the risk that changes in their value may not correlate perfectly with the assets, rates, indices or instruments they are designed to hedge or closely track. 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.
OTC derivative instruments involve an additional risk in that the issuer or counterparty may 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, an option or commodity exchange or swap execution facility or clearinghouse 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 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.
The U.S. and non-U.S. derivatives markets have undergone substantial changes in recent years as a result of changes under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) in the United States and regulatory changes in Europe, Asia and other non-U.S. jurisdictions. In particular, the Dodd-Frank Act and related regulations require many derivatives to be cleared and traded on an exchange, expand entity registration requirements, impose business conduct requirements on counterparties, and impose other regulatory requirements that will continue to change derivatives markets as regulations are implemented. As of October 28, 2020, the SEC has adopted new regulations that may significantly alter a Fund’s regulatory obligations with regard to its derivatives usage. In particular, the new regulations will, upon implementation, eliminate the current asset segregation framework for covering derivatives and certain other financial instruments, impose new responsibilities on the Board and establish new reporting and recordkeeping requirements for a Fund and may, depending on the extent to which a Fund uses derivatives, impose value at risk limitations on a Fund’s use of derivatives, and require the Fund’s Board to adopt a derivative risk management program. The implementation of these requirements may limit the ability of a Fund to use derivative instruments as part of its investment strategy, increase the costs of using these instruments or make them less effective. Additional future regulation of the derivatives markets may make the use of derivatives more costly, may limit the availability or reduce the liquidity of derivatives, and may impose limits or restrictions on the counterparties with which the Fund engages in derivative transactions. Fund management cannot predict the effects of any new governmental regulation that may be implemented, and there can be no assurance that any new government regulation will not adversely affect the Fund’s performance or ability to achieve its investment objectives.
Options. Options may be traded on an exchange and OTC. By buying a put option on a particular instrument, the Fund acquires a right to sell the underlying instrument at the exercise price. By buying a put option on an index, the Fund acquires a right to receive the cash difference between the strike price of the option and the index price at expiration. A purchased put position also typically can be sold at any time by selling at prevailing market prices. Purchased put options generally are expected to limit the Fund's risk of loss through a decline in the market value of the underlying security or index until the put option expires. When buying a put option, the Fund pays a premium to the seller of the option. If the price of the underlying security or index 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 on securities, meaning it will not own the securities underlying the option.
The Fund may also write (i.e., sell) put options. The Fund will receive a premium for selling a put option, which may increase the Fund's return. In selling a put option on a security, the Fund has the obligation to buy the security at an agreed upon price if the price of such instrument decreases below the exercise price. By selling a put option on an
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund8Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
index, the Fund has an obligation to make a payment to the buyer to the extent that the value of the index decreases below the exercise price as of the option valuation date. If the value of the underlying security or index on the option’s 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.
The Fund may purchase call options. By purchasing a call option on a security, the Fund has the right to buy the security at the option’s exercise price. By buying a call option on an index, the Fund acquires the right to receive the cash difference between the market price of the index and strike price at expiration. Call options typically can be exercised any time prior to option maturity or, sold at the prevailing market price.
The Fund may also write (i.e., sell) a call option on a security or index in return for a premium. A call written on a security obligates the Fund to deliver the underlying security at the option exercise price. Written index call options obligate the Fund to make a cash payment to the buyer at expiration if the market price of the index is above the option strike price. Calls typically can also be bought back by the Fund at prevailing market prices and the Fund also may enter into closing purchase transactions with respect to written call options. The Fund may write call options on securities that it owns (so-called covered calls) and also may write uncovered call options. With respect to written covered calls, the Fund may sell the underlying security prior to entering into a closing purchase transaction on up to 5% of its net assets within three days of such transaction. The Fund may also engage in various types of option strategies using put and/or call options.
The Fund’s options positions are marked to market daily. The value of options is affected by changes in the value and dividend rates of their underlying instruments, changes in interest rates, changes in the actual or perceived volatility of the relevant index or market and the remaining time to the options’ expiration, as well as trading conditions in the options market. The hours of trading for options may not conform to the hours during which the underlying instruments are traded. To the extent that the options markets close before markets for the underlying instruments, significant price and rate movements can take place in the markets that would not be reflected concurrently in the options markets.
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 call options have speculative characteristics and are riskier than covered call options because there is no underlying instrument held by the Fund that can act as a partial hedge. As the seller of a covered call option or an index call option, the Fund may forego, during the option’s life, the opportunity to profit from increases in the market value of the underlying instrument covering the call option above the sum of the premium received by the Fund and the exercise price of the call. The Fund also retains the risk of loss, minus the option premium received, should the price of the underlying instrument decline.
Participants in OTC markets are typically not subject to the same credit evaluation and regulatory oversight as are members of “exchange-based” markets. OTC option contracts generally carry greater liquidity risk than exchange-traded contracts. This risk may be increased in times of financial stress, if the trading market for OTC options becomes restricted. The ability of the Fund to transact business with any one or a number of counterparties may increase the potential for losses to the Fund, due to the lack of any independent evaluation of the counterparties or their financial capabilities, and the absence of a regulated market to facilitate settlement of the options.
Swaptions. Swaptions are options giving the option owner the right (but not the obligation) to enter into a swap agreement as buyer or seller, or to extend, shorten, cancel or otherwise modify an existing swap agreement at a future date on specified terms.
Depending on the terms of the particular swaption, the Fund generally will 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. When the Fund writes a swaption, upon exercise of the option, the Fund will become obligated according to the terms of the underlying swap agreement.
Futures Contracts. Futures are standardized, exchange-traded contracts. Futures contracts on securities obligate a purchaser to take delivery, and a seller to make delivery, of a specific amount of the financial instrument called for in the contract at a specified future date at a specified price. An index futures contract obligates the purchaser to take, and a seller to deliver, an amount of cash equal to a specific dollar amount times the difference between the value of a specific index at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the agreement is made. No physical delivery of the underlying securities in the index is made. It is the practice of holders of futures contracts to close out their positions on or before the expiration date by use of offsetting contract positions, and physical delivery of financial instruments or delivery of cash, as applicable, is thereby avoided. An option on a futures contract gives the holder the right to enter into a specified futures contract.
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts. A forward foreign currency exchange contract (“currency forward”) 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.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund9Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
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.
Certain currency forwards may be individually negotiated and privately traded, exposing them to credit and counterparty risks. The precise matching of the currency forward 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. Currency forwards 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 currency forwards. As a result, available information may not be complete.
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.
Counterparty Risk. A financial institution or other counterparty with whom the Fund does business (such as trading or as a derivatives counterparty), or that underwrites, distributes or guarantees any instruments that the Fund owns or is otherwise exposed to, may decline in financial condition and become unable to honor its commitments. This could cause the value of Fund shares to decline or could delay the return or delivery of collateral or other assets to the Fund. Counterparty risk is increased for contracts with longer maturities.
Leverage. Certain types of Fund transactions may give rise to economic leverage, which represents a non-cash exposure to the underlying reference instrument. Leverage can increase both the risk and return potential of the Fund.
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’s share price 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 leveraged investments may substantially exceed the initial investment.
Short Sales. The Fund may engage in short sales on securities or a basket or index of securities. 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. When making a short sale, the Fund must segregate liquid assets with a broker or the custodian equal to (or otherwise cover) its obligations under the short sale. Generally, securities held in a segregated account cannot be sold unless they are replaced with other liquid assets. This may limit the Fund’s investment flexibility, as well as its ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations. The seller of a short position generally realizes a profit from the transaction if the proceeds it receives on the short sale exceed the cost of purchasing the securities sold short in the market, but will generally realize a loss if the cost of closing the short position exceeds the proceeds from the short sale. The Fund pays interest or dividend expense with respect to securities sold short.
If the Fund does not own the securities sold short, the short sale exposes the Fund to the risk that it will be required to purchase 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. There is no assurance that a security sold short will decline in value or make a profit for the Fund. In addition, there is no guarantee that any security needed to cover the short position will be available for purchase. Short selling carries a risk that the counterparty to the short sale may fail to honor its contract terms, causing a loss to the Fund. If the Fund invests the proceeds received for selling securities short in other investments, the Fund is employing a form of leverage.
Real Estate Investments. Companies primarily engaged in the real estate industry and other real estate-related investments may include publicly traded real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) or real estate operating companies that either own properties or make construction or mortgage loans, real estate developers, companies with substantial real estate holdings and other companies whose products and services are related to the real estate industry, such as lodging operators, brokers, property management companies, building supply manufacturers, mortgage lenders, or mortgage servicing companies. REITs tend to be small to medium-sized companies, and may include equity REITs and mortgage REITs. The value of a REIT can depend on the structure of and cash flow generated by the REIT. REITs are pooled investment vehicles that have expenses of their own, so the Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of those expenses. The Fund will not own real estate directly.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund10Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
Real estate investments are subject to special risks including 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 investments concentrate in particular geographic regions or property types.
Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the REIT, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. Further, equity and mortgage REITs are dependent upon management skills and generally may not be diversified. Equity and mortgage REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers, and self-liquidations. In addition, equity and mortgage REITs could possibly fail to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income or to maintain their exemptions from registration under the 1940 Act. The above factors may also adversely affect a borrower’s or a lessee’s ability to meet its obligations to a REIT. In the event of a default by a borrower or lessee, a REIT may experience delays in enforcing its rights as a mortgagee or lessor and may incur substantial costs associated with protecting its investments.
Shares of REITs may trade less frequently and, therefore, are subject to more erratic price movements than securities of larger issuers. REITs are also subject to credit, market, liquidity and interest rate risks.
REITs may issue debt securities to fund their activities. The value of these debt securities may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the REIT, the creditworthiness of the REIT, interest rates, and tax and regulatory requirements, among other things.
Pooled Investment Vehicles. The Fund may invest in pooled investment vehicles. Pooled investment vehicles are open- and closed-end investment companies unaffiliated with the investment adviser, open-end investment companies affiliated with the investment adviser and exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”). Pooled investment vehicles are subject to the risks of investing in the underlying securities or other instruments that they own. The market for common shares of closed-end investment companies and ETFs, which are generally traded on an exchange and may be traded at a premium or discount to net asset value, is affected by the demand for those securities, regardless of the value of such fund’s underlying securities. Additionally, natural or environmental disasters, widespread disease or other public health issues, war, acts of terrorism or other events could result in increased premiums or discounts to such fund’s net asset value. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management fees and other operating expenses paid by unaffiliated and certain affiliated pooled investment vehicles in which it invests. If such fees exceed 0.01%, the costs associated with such investments will be reflected under Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses in the Fund’s Annual Fund Operating Expenses table(s) in its Fund Summary. Requirements of the 1940 Act may limit the Fund’s ability to invest in other investment companies, including ETFs, unless the investment company has received an exemptive order from the SEC on which the Fund may rely.
Restricted Securities. Securities held by the Fund may be legally restricted as to resale (such as those issued in private placements), including commercial paper issued pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the 1933 Act, securities eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A thereunder, and securities of U.S. and non-U.S. issuers initially offered and sold outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S thereunder. Restricted securities may not be listed on an exchange and may have no active trading market. The Fund may incur additional expense when disposing of restricted 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. In addition, if the sub-adviser receives non-public information about the issuer, the Fund may as a result be unable to sell the securities.
Restricted securities may be difficult to value properly and may involve greater risks than securities that are not subject to restrictions on resale. It may be difficult to sell restricted securities at a price representing fair value until such time as the securities may be sold publicly. 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 sub-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. Holdings of restricted securities may increase the level of Fund illiquidity if eligible buyers become uninterested in purchasing them. Restricted securities may involve a high degree of business and financial risk, which may result in substantial losses.
Liquidity Risk. The Fund is exposed to liquidity risk when trading volume, lack of a market maker, or legal restrictions impair the Fund’s ability to sell particular investments or close derivative positions at an advantageous market price. Trading opportunities are also more limited for securities and other instruments that are not widely held or are traded in less developed markets. These factors may make it more difficult to sell or buy a security at a favorable price or time. Consequently, the Fund may have to accept a lower price to sell an investment or continue to hold it or keep the position open, sell other investments to raise cash or abandon an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund11Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
effect on the Fund’s performance. It also may be more difficult to value less liquid investments. These effects may be exacerbated during times of financial or political stress. Increased Fund redemption activity also may increase liquidity risk due to the need of the Fund to sell portfolio investments and may negatively impact Fund performance.
The Fund will not acquire any illiquid investment if, immediately after the acquisition, the Fund will have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments. Illiquid investments mean any investments that the Fund’s sub-adviser reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in seven calendar days or less under then-current market conditions without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment.
Borrowing. The Fund is permitted to borrow for temporary purposes (such as to satisfy redemption requests, to remain fully invested in anticipation of expected cash inflows and to settle transactions). Any borrowings by the Fund are subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act. Borrowings are also subject to the terms of any credit agreement between the Fund and lender(s). Fund borrowings may be equal to as much as 331/3% of the value of the Fund’s total assets (including such borrowings) less the Fund’s liabilities (other than borrowings). The Fund will not purchase additional investments while outstanding borrowings exceed 5% of the value of its total assets.
In addition, the Fund will be required to maintain a specified level of asset coverage with respect to all borrowings and may be required to sell some of its holdings to reduce debt and restore coverage at times when it may not be advantageous to do so. The rights of the lender to receive payments of interest and repayments of principal of any borrowings made by the Fund under a credit facility are senior to the rights of holders of shares with respect to the payment of dividends or upon liquidation. In the event of a default under a credit arrangement, the lenders may have the right to cause a liquidation of the collateral (i.e., sell Fund assets) and, if any such default is not cured, the lenders may be able to control the liquidation as well.
Cash and Money Market Instruments. The Fund may invest in cash or money market instruments, including high quality short-term instruments or an affiliated investment company that invests in such instruments. During unusual market conditions, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in cash or money market instruments temporarily, which may be inconsistent with its investment objective(s) and other policies.
Money market instruments 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 instruments; adverse economic, political or other developments affecting issuers of money market instruments; changes in the credit quality of issuers; and default by a counterparty.
Securities Lending. The Fund may lend its portfolio securities to broker-dealers and other institutional borrowers. During the existence of a loan, the Fund will continue to receive the equivalent of the interest paid by the issuer on the securities loaned, or all or a portion of the interest on investment of the collateral, if any. The Fund may pay lending fees to such borrowers. 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 firms while such loans are outstanding. Securities loans will only be made when the investment adviser believes that the expected returns, net of expenses, justify the attendant risks. 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 engage in securities lending to generate income. Upon return of the loaned securities, the Fund would be required to return the related collateral to the borrower and may be required to liquidate portfolio securities in order to do so. The Fund may lend up to one-third of the value of its total assets or such other amount as may be permitted by law.
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. To the extent that the portfolio securities acquired with such collateral have decreased in value, it may result in the Fund realizing a loss at a time when it would not otherwise do so. As such, securities lending may introduce leverage into the Fund. The Fund also may incur losses if the returns on securities that it acquires with cash collateral are less than the applicable rebate rates paid to borrowers and related administrative costs.
Converting to Master-Feeder Structure. The Fund may invest all of its investable assets in an open-end management investment company (“master fund”) with substantially the same investment objective, policies and restrictions as the Fund. Any such master fund 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 a master fund at any time without shareholder approval.
Cybersecurity Risk. With the increased use of technologies by Fund service providers to conduct business, such as the Internet, the Fund is susceptible to operational, information security and related risks. The Fund relies on communications technology, systems, and networks to engage with clients, employees, accounts, shareholders, and service providers, and a cyber incident may inhibit the Fund’s ability to use these technologies. In general, cyber incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. Cyber attacks include, but are not limited to, gaining unauthorized access to
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund12Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
digital systems (e.g., through “hacking” or malicious software coding) for purposes of misappropriating assets or sensitive information, corrupting data, or causing operational disruption. Cyber attacks may also be carried out in a manner that does not require gaining unauthorized access, such as causing denial-of-service attacks on websites. A denial-of-service attack is an effort to make network services unavailable to intended users, which could cause shareholders to lose access to their electronic accounts, potentially indefinitely. Employees and service providers also may not be able to access electronic systems to perform critical duties for the Fund, such as trading and NAV calculation, during a denial-of-service attack. There is also the possibility for systems failures due to malfunctions, user error and misconduct by employees and agents, natural disasters, or other foreseeable and unforeseeable events.
Because technology is consistently changing, new ways to carry out cyber attacks are always developing. Therefore, there is a chance that some risks have not been identified or prepared for, or that an attack may not be detected, which puts limitations on the Fund's ability to plan for or respond to a cyber attack. Like other funds and business enterprises, the Fund and its service providers have experienced, and will continue to experience, cyber incidents consistently. In addition to deliberate cyber attacks, unintentional cyber incidents can occur, such as the inadvertent release of confidential information by the Fund or its service providers.
The Fund uses third party service providers who are also heavily dependent on computers and technology for their operations. Cybersecurity failures by or breaches of the Fund’s investment adviser or administrator and other service providers (including, but not limited to, the custodian or transfer agent), and the issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, may disrupt and otherwise adversely affect their business operations. This may result in financial losses to the Fund, impede Fund trading, interfere with the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, limit a shareholder’s ability to purchase or redeem shares of the Fund or cause violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, litigation costs, or additional compliance costs. While many of the Fund’s service providers have established business continuity plans and risk management systems intended to identify and mitigate cyber attacks, there are inherent limitations in such plans and systems, including the possibility that certain risks have not been identified. The Fund cannot control the cybersecurity plans and systems put in place by service providers to the Fund and issuers in which the Fund invests. The Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result.
Research Process. The Fund’s portfolio management utilizes information provided by, and the expertise of, the research staff of the investment adviser, sub-adviser and/or certain of their affiliates in making investment decisions. As part of the research process, portfolio management may consider financially material environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) factors. Such factors, alongside other relevant factors, may be taken into account in the Fund’s securities selection process.
Recent Market Conditions. An outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus was first detected in China in late 2019 and subsequently spread internationally. This coronavirus has resulted in closing borders, enhanced health screenings, changes to healthcare service preparation and delivery, quarantines, cancellations, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The impact of this coronavirus has resulted in a substantial economic downturn, which may continue for an extended period of time. Health crises caused by outbreaks of disease, such as the coronavirus outbreak, may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks and disrupt normal market conditions and operations. The impact of this outbreak has negatively affected the worldwide economy, as well as the economies of individual countries and industries, and could continue to affect the market in significant and unforeseen ways. Other epidemics and pandemics that may arise in the future may have similar effects. For example, a global pandemic or other widespread health crisis could cause substantial market volatility and exchange trading suspensions and closures. In addition, the increasing interconnectedness of markets around the world may result in many markets being affected by events or conditions in a single country or region or events affecting a single or small number of issuers. The coronavirus outbreak and public and private sector responses thereto have led to large portions of the populations of many countries working from home for indefinite periods of time, temporary or permanent layoffs, disruptions in supply chains, and lack of availability of certain goods. The impact of such responses could adversely affect the information technology and operational systems upon which the Fund and the Fund’s service providers rely, and could otherwise disrupt the ability of the employees of the Fund’s service providers to perform critical tasks relating to the Fund. Any such impact could adversely affect the Fund’s performance, or the performance of the securities in which the Fund invests and may lead to losses on your investment in the Fund.
General. Unless otherwise stated, the Fund's investment objective and certain other policies may be changed without shareholder approval. Shareholders will receive 60 days' advance written notice of any material change in the investment objective. 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 SAI. While at times the Fund may use alternative investment strategies in an effort to limit its losses, it may choose not to do so.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund13Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
The Fund’s annual operating expenses are expressed as a percentage of the Fund’s average daily net assets and may change as Fund assets increase and decrease over time. Purchase and redemption activities by Fund shareholders may impact the management of the Fund and its ability to achieve its investment objective. In addition, the redemption by one or more large shareholders or groups of shareholders of their holdings in the Fund could have an adverse impact on the remaining shareholders in the Fund. Mutual funds, investment advisers, other market participants and many securities markets are subject to rules and regulations and the jurisdiction of one or more regulators. Changes to applicable rules and regulations or to widely accepted market conventions or standards could have an adverse effect on securities markets and market participants, as well as on the Fund’s ability to execute its investment strategy. With the increased use of technologies by Fund service providers, such as the Internet, to conduct business, the Fund is susceptible to operational, information security and related risks. See “Additional Information about Investment Strategies and Risks” in the Fund’s SAI.
Management and Organization
Management. The Fund’s investment adviser is Eaton Vance Management (“Eaton Vance”). Eaton Vance has offices at Two International Place, Boston, MA 02110. Eaton Vance and its predecessor organizations have been managing assets since 1924 and managing mutual funds since 1931. Prior to March 1, 2021, Eaton Vance was a wholly owned subsidiary of Eaton Vance Corp. (“EVC”).
On March 1, 2021, Morgan Stanley acquired EVC (the “Transaction”) and Eaton Vance became an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley. In connection with the Transaction, the Fund entered into a new investment advisory and administrative agreement with its investment adviser and the investment adviser entered into a new investment sub-advisory agreement with its sub-adviser. Each such agreement was approved by Fund shareholders prior to the consummation of the Transaction and was effective upon its closing.
Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), whose principal offices are at 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036, is a preeminent global financial services firm engaged in securities trading and brokerage activities, as well as providing investment banking, research and analysis, financing and financial advisory services. As of December 31, 2020, after giving effect to the Transaction as described above, Morgan Stanley’s asset management operations had aggregate assets under management of approximately $1.4 trillion.
Pursuant to an investment sub-advisory agreement, Eaton Vance has delegated the investment management of the Fund to Eaton Vance Advisers International Ltd. (“EVAIL”), 125 Old Broad Street, London, EC2N 1AR, United Kingdom, a registered investment adviser. Eaton Vance pays EVAIL a portion of its fee for sub-advisory services provided to the Fund. On March 1, 2021, upon the closing of the Transaction, EVAIL became an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley. Prior to March 1, 2021, EVAIL was an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of EVC.
The Fund’s semi-annual report covering the fiscal period ended May 31 provides information regarding the basis for the Trustees’ approval of the Fund’s investment advisory and administrative agreement and the Fund’s investment sub-advisory agreement.
Eaton Vance manages the investments of the Fund and provides administrative services and related office facilities. Under its investment advisory and administrative agreement with the Fund, Eaton Vance receives a monthly fee as follows:
For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2020, the effective annual rate of the Fund’s advisory and administrative fee paid to Eaton Vance, based on the Fund’s average daily net assets, was 0.80%.
The Fund is managed by Christopher Dyer. Mr. Dyer has managed the Fund since it commenced operations in December 2015. Mr. Dyer is a Director and Vice President of EVAIL and Director of Global Equity for the Eaton Vance organization. Prior to joining EVAIL, Mr. Dyer held similar positions at Eaton Vance Management (International) Limited (“EVMI”) (2015-2017).
The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, and the portfolio manager’s ownership of Fund shares.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund14Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
Eaton Vance provides sub-transfer agency and related services to Eaton Vance mutual funds pursuant to a Sub-Transfer Agency Support Services Agreement. For its services under the agreement, Eaton Vance receives an aggregate fee from such funds equal to its actual expenses incurred in performing such services.
Organization. The Fund is a series of Eaton Vance Growth Trust, a Massachusetts business trust. 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).
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). If trading on the Exchange is halted for the day before the scheduled close of regular trading, the Fund’s net asset value per share generally will still be calculated as of the scheduled close of regular trading on the Exchange. The purchase price of Fund shares is their net asset value, 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 regular trading on 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 Board has adopted procedures for valuing investments (the “Procedures”) and has delegated to the investment adviser(s) the daily valuation of such investments. Pursuant to the Procedures, securities and other investments held by the Fund are generally valued at market value. Exchange-listed investments (including certain derivatives) are normally valued at last sale or closing prices. Exchange-traded options are valued at the mean of the bid and asked prices at valuation time as reported by the Options Price Reporting Authority for U.S. listed options, or by the relevant exchange or board of trade for non-U.S. listed options. Non-exchange traded derivatives are normally valued on the basis of quotes obtained from brokers and dealers or independent pricing services. Most loans and other debt obligations are valued using prices supplied by one or more pricing services.
An instrument’s “fair value” is the amount that the owner might reasonably expect to receive for the instrument upon its current sale in the ordinary course of business. Under certain limited circumstances, the Fund may use fair value pricing if, for example, market prices or a pricing service's prices (as applicable) are unavailable or deemed unreliable, or if events occur after the close of a securities market (usually a foreign market) and before portfolio assets are valued that cause or are likely to cause a market quotation to be unavailable or unreliable, such as corporate actions, regulatory news, or natural disasters or governmental actions that may affect investments in a particular sector, country or region. In addition, for foreign equity securities and total return swaps and futures contracts on foreign indices that meet certain criteria, the Board has approved the use of a fair value service that values such investments to reflect market trading that occurs after the close of the applicable foreign markets of comparable securities or other investments that have a strong correlation to the fair valued investments. An investment that is fair valued may be valued at a price higher or lower than (i) actual market quotations, (ii) the value determined by other funds using their own fair valuation procedures, or (iii) the price at which the investment could have been sold during the period in which fair valuation was used with respect to such investment to calculate the Fund’s NAV. Because foreign investments held by the Fund, if any, may trade on days when Fund shares are not priced, the value of such investments, and thus the net asset value of the Fund’s shares, can change on days when Fund shares cannot be redeemed or purchased. 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 next determined after their receipt in proper form (meaning that the order is complete and contains 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 U.S. registered funds sponsored by the Eaton Vance organization (the “Eaton Vance funds”) generally do not accept investments from residents of the European Union, the United Kingdom or Switzerland. The funds also do not accept investments from other non-U.S. residents, provided that a fund may accept investments from certain non-U.S. investors at the discretion of the principal underwriter. The Fund does not issue share certificates.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund15Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
As used throughout this Prospectus, the term “employer sponsored retirement plan” includes the following: an employer sponsored pension or profit sharing plan that qualifies under section 401(a) of the Code (such as a 401(k) plan, money purchase pension, profit sharing and defined benefit plan); ERISA covered 403(b) plan; Taft-Hartley multi-employer plan; and non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements that operate in a similar manner to a qualified retirement plan (including 457 plans and executive deferred compensation arrangements). Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”) are not employer sponsored retirement plans for purposes of this definition.
Your initial investment must be at least $250,000, except as noted below. 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 employer sponsored retirement plans. Class I shares may also be available through brokerage platforms of broker-dealer firms that have agreements with the Fund’s principal underwriter to offer Class I shares solely when acting as an agent for the investor. An investor acquiring Class I shares through such platforms may be required to pay a commission and/or other forms of compensation to the broker. Class I shares also are offered to investment and institutional clients of Eaton Vance and its affiliates and certain persons affiliated with Eaton Vance.
The Class I minimum initial investment is waived for persons affiliated with Eaton Vance, its affiliates and certain Fund service providers (as described in the SAI). The minimum initial investment also is waived for: (i) permitted exchanges; (ii) employer sponsored retirement plans; (iii) corporations, endowments and foundations with assets of at least $100 million; (iv) Class I shares purchased through the brokerage platforms described above; and (v) accounts of clients of financial intermediaries who (a) charge an ongoing fee for advisory, investment, consulting or similar services, or (b) have entered into an agreement with the principal underwriter to offer Class I shares through a no-load network or platform (in each case, as described above).
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 Eaton Vance Shareholder Services 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, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Eastern Time). Shareholder Services must be advised by telephone of each additional investment by wire.
Subsequent Investments. 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 provided such investments equal a minimum of $200 per year. You can establish bank automated investing on the account application or by providing written instructions to the Fund’s transfer agent. Please call 1-800-262-1122 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) for further information.
You also may make additional investments by accessing your account via the Eaton Vance website at www.eatonvance.com. The trade date of purchases made through the Internet from a pre-designated bank account will be the day the purchase is requested through the Eaton Vance website (provided the request is on a business day and submitted no later than the close of regular trading on the Exchange). For more information about purchasing shares through the Internet, please call 1-800-262-1122 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Eastern Time).
Inactive Accounts. In accordance with state “unclaimed property” (also known as “escheatment”) laws, your Fund shares may legally be considered abandoned and required to be transferred to the relevant state if no account activity or contact with the Fund or your financial intermediary occurs within a specified period of time. Please initiate contact a least once per calendar year and maintain a current and valid mailing address on record for your account. For more information, please see https://funds.eatonvance.com/mutual-funds-and-abandoned-property.php or please contact us at 1-800-262-1122.
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 (including exchanges, if permitted) of a fund’s shares may dilute the value of shares held by long-term shareholders. Volatility resulting from excessive purchases and sales of fund shares, especially involving large dollar amounts, may disrupt efficient portfolio management. In particular, excessive purchases and sales 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).
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund16Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
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 illiquid, 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(s) and sub-adviser(s) 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 the Eaton Vance funds have adopted policies to discourage short-term trading and market timing and to seek to minimize their potentially detrimental effects (the “Policy”). Under the Policy, the Board has delegated to Eaton Vance the responsibility to reject or cancel a purchase order, suspend or terminate an exchange privilege or terminate the ability of a shareholder to invest in the Eaton Vance funds if Eaton Vance determines that a proposed transaction involves market timing or excessive trading that it believes is likely to be detrimental to the Fund.
Pursuant to the Policy, two “round-trips” completed by a Fund shareholder within 90 days through one or more accounts (the “Limitation”) generally will be deemed to be indicative of market timing or trading excessively in fund shares. A “round trip” is defined as a purchase or exchange into a Fund followed or preceded by a redemption or exchange out of the Fund. Purchases and redemptions subject to the Limitation include those made by exchanging to or from another fund. Eaton Vance will evaluate transactions in Fund shares that violate the Limitation to determine whether they are likely to be detrimental to the Fund. In making such a determination, Eaton Vance may consider various factors, such as the amount, frequency and nature of trading activity. If such a determination is made, the Fund shareholder may be subject to restrictions on trading Fund shares, as described above. Eaton Vance uses reasonable efforts to detect market timing and excessive trading activity that is likely to be detrimental to the Fund, but it cannot ensure that it will be able to identify all such cases. Eaton Vance may also reject or cancel any purchase order (including an exchange) from a shareholder or group of shareholders for any other reason. In applying the Policy, and in particular when determining whether a transaction is likely to be detrimental to a Fund, Eaton Vance will be required to make judgments that are inherently subjective and will depend on the specific facts and circumstances. Such determinations will be made in a manner believed to be in the best interest of the Fund’s shareholders. No Eaton Vance fund has any arrangement to permit market timing.
The following fund share transactions generally are exempt from the Policy because they generally do not raise market timing or excessive trading concerns:
·transactions (i) made pursuant to the Fund’s systematic purchase, exchange or redemption plan, (ii) made as the result of automatic reinvestment of dividends or distributions, or (iii) initiated by the Fund (e.g., for transactions due to a failure to meet applicable account minimums);
·transactions made by participants in employer sponsored retirement plans involving (i) participant payroll or employer contributions or loan repayments, (ii) redemptions as part of plan terminations or at the direction of the plan, mandatory retirement distributions, or (iii) rollovers; or
·investments in a fund by ReFlow in connection with the ReFlow liquidity program (if applicable to the Fund, the ReFlow liquidity program is described under “Investment Objectives & Principal Policies and Risks” above).
The following Fund share transactions generally are exempt from the Limitation; however, these transactions are subject to monitoring by Eaton Vance and may be subject to restrictions if deemed likely to be detrimental to the Fund:
·transactions made by model-based discretionary advisory accounts; or
·transactions made by funds that invest in the Fund as part of an asset reallocation in accordance with their investment policies or in response to Fund inflows and outflows.
It may be difficult for Eaton Vance to identify market timing or excessive trading in omnibus accounts traded through financial intermediaries. Eaton Vance has provided guidance to financial intermediaries (such as banks, broker-dealers, insurance companies and retirement administrators) concerning the application of the Policy 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. Eaton Vance 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 Policy. Although Eaton Vance reviews trading activity at the omnibus account level for activity that indicates potential market timing or excessive trading activity, Eaton Vance typically will not request or receive individual account data unless suspicious trading activity is identified. Eaton Vance generally relies on financial intermediaries to monitor trading activity in omnibus
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund17Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
accounts in good faith in accordance with their own policies or the Policy. Eaton Vance cannot ensure that these financial intermediaries will in all cases apply the Policy or their own policies, as the case may be, to accounts under their control.
Payments to Financial Intermediaries. The principal underwriter, out of its own resources, may make cash payments to certain financial intermediaries (which may include affiliates of the principal underwriter and investment adviser) 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. 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.
More information is available free of charge on the Eaton Vance website at www.eatonvance.com and in the SAI. Please consult the Eaton Vance website before making a purchase of Fund shares.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund18Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
Redeeming Shares
You can redeem shares in any of the following ways:
By Mail |
Send your request to the transfer agent (see back cover for address). 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. Circumstances that may require a Medallion signature guarantee include, but are not limited to, requests to distribute redemption proceeds to a party other than the registered account owner(s); requests to mail redemption proceeds to an address other than the address of record; requests to distribute proceeds to a bank account not on file; requests to re-issue uncashed checks representing redemption proceeds; or transaction requests from an account beneficiary when an account owner is deceased. 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. |
By Telephone |
Certain shareholders can redeem by calling 1-800-262-1122 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 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. |
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. |
For Additional Information |
Please call 1-800-262-1122 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Eastern Time). |
Through a Financial Intermediary |
Your financial intermediary is responsible for transmitting the order promptly. A financial intermediary may charge a fee for this service. |
A redemption may be requested by sending a Medallion signature guaranteed letter of instruction to the transfer agent (see back cover for address) or, for telephone redemptions as described above, by calling 1-800-262-1122. 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. The Fund's transfer agent or your financial intermediary must receive your redemption in proper form (meaning that it is complete and contains all necessary information) no later than the close of regular trading on the Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) for your redemption to be effected at that day’s net asset value. Redemption proceeds are reduced by the amount of any federal income and state tax required to be withheld.
Redemption proceeds typically are paid to the redeeming shareholder in cash up to two business days after the redemption, but payment could take up to seven days, as permitted by the 1940 Act for the reasons discussed below. The actual number of days following receipt of a redemption request in which the Fund typically expects to pay redemption proceeds generally will depend on how you hold your shares with the Fund.
If your shares are held in a “street name” account with a financial intermediary (see “Shareholder Account Features – ‘Street Name’ Accounts”), your intermediary will elect through National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”) to settle redemptions either one business day or two business days after the redemption date and redemption proceeds normally will be wired to your financial intermediary on the settlement date pursuant to that election.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund19Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
If your shares are held directly with the Fund's transfer agent, redemptions normally will be settled in one business day after the redemption date and redemption proceeds will be sent by regular mail on such date. However, if you have given proper written authorization in advance, you may request that redemption proceeds be wired on the settlement date directly to your bank account in any bank in the United States. While not currently charged by the Fund, you may be required to pay a wire transfer fee by your bank. If you request expedited mail delivery of your redemption proceeds and the Fund is able to accommodate your request, charges may apply. You may redeem all or a portion of the shares from your account on any day the Fund is open for business. When you purchase by check or with ACH funds transfer, the purchase will be on hold for up to 10 days from the date of receipt. During the hold period, redemption proceeds will not be sent until the transfer agent is reasonably satisfied that the purchase payment has been collected.
The Fund typically expects to meet redemption requests by (i) distributing any cash holdings, (ii) selling portfolio investments and/or (iii) borrowing from a bank under a line of credit. In addition to the foregoing, the Fund also may distribute securities as payment (a so-called “redemption in-kind”), in which case the redeeming shareholder may pay fees and commissions to convert the securities to cash. Unless requested by a shareholder, the Fund generally expects to limit use of redemption in-kind to stressed market conditions, but is permitted to do so in other circumstances. A shareholder who wishes to receive redemption proceeds in-kind must notify the Fund on or before submitting the redemption request by calling 1-800-262-1122. Securities distributed in a redemption in-kind would be valued pursuant to the Fund’s valuation procedures and selected by the investment adviser. If a shareholder receives securities in a redemption in-kind, the shareholder could incur brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash and the value of such securities would be subject to price fluctuations until sold. There can be no assurance that the Fund will manage liquidity successfully in all market environments. As a result, the Fund may not be able to pay redemption proceeds in a timely fashion because of unusual market conditions, an unusually high volume of redemption requests or other factors. Additional information about redemptions in-kind, including the procedures for submitting such redemption requests, is contained in the Fund’s SAI.
If your account value falls below $750, 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 at net asset value and the proceeds sent to you.
Shareholder Account Features
Distributions. You may have your Fund distributions paid in one of the following ways:
• Full Reinvest Option |
Distributions are reinvested in additional shares. This option will be assigned if you do not specify an option. |
• Partial Reinvest Option |
Dividends are paid in cash* and capital gains are reinvested in additional shares. |
• Cash Option |
Distributions are paid in cash.* |
• 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. |
*If any distribution check remains uncashed for six months, Eaton Vance reserves the right to invest the amount represented by the check in Fund shares at the then-current net asset value of the Fund and all future distributions will be reinvested.
Information about the Fund. From time to time, you may receive the following:
·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.
·Periodic account statements, showing recent activity and total share balance.
·Tax information needed to prepare your income tax returns.
·Proxy materials, in the event a shareholder vote is required.
·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
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund20Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
additionally in the SAI. 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 information regarding its portfolio holdings with the SEC on its Form N-PORT. The Fund’s annual and semiannual reports (as filed on Form N-CSR) and certain information filed on Form N-PORT 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 and the Fund may also post performance attribution as of a month end or more frequently if deemed appropriate.
Withdrawal Plan. You may redeem shares on a regular periodic basis by establishing a systematic withdrawal plan.
Exchange Privilege. You may exchange your Fund shares for shares of the same Class of another Eaton Vance fund. For purposes of exchanges among Eaton Vance funds, Class A and Class I shares are deemed to be the same as Investor Class and Institutional Class shares, respectively, of other Eaton Vance funds. Exchanges are made at net asset value. If your shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (“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. Any class of shares of a fund may be exchanged for any other class of shares of that fund, provided that the shares being exchanged are no longer subject to a CDSC and the conditions for investing in the other class of shares described in the applicable prospectus are satisfied.
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.” Ordinarily exchanges between different funds are taxable transactions for federal tax purposes, while permitted exchanges of one class for shares of another class of the same fund are not. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the applicability of federal, state, local and other taxes to transactions in Fund shares.
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. You should verify the accuracy of your confirmation statements immediately upon receipt and notify Eaton Vance Shareholder Services of any inaccuracies.
“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 does not maintain an account for you, you should contact your financial intermediary to make transactions in shares, make changes in your account, or 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 and certain features may be subject to different requirements. 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. If you fail to provide your full account history to your new financial intermediary following a transfer, you may be ineligible for certain features of the Fund.
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 an account with the Fund 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.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund21Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
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.
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, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Eastern Time), or write to the transfer agent (see back cover for address).
Additional Tax Information
The Fund intends to declare and pay distributions annually. Distributions may not be paid if Fund expenses exceed Fund income for the period. The Fund makes distributions of net realized capital gains (if any) annually. It also may be necessary, in order to qualify for favorable tax treatment and to avoid any Fund-level tax, for the Fund to make a special income and/or capital gains distribution at the end of the calendar year.
Distributions of the Fund’s investment income (other than qualified dividend income, as described below) and net realized short-term capital gains generally will be taxed as ordinary income. Distributions of net long-term capital gains (net gains from investments held for more than one year) generally will be taxed as long-term capital gains. Taxes on distributions of capital gains are determined by how long the Fund owned (or is treated as having owned) the investments that generated them, rather than how long a shareholder has owned his or her shares in the Fund. Distributions of investment income properly reported by the Fund as derived from “qualified dividend income” (as further described in the SAI) will be taxed in the hands of individuals at rates applicable to long-term capital gain provided holding period and other requirements are met at both the shareholder and Fund level. Over time, distributions by the Fund can generally be expected to include ordinary income, qualified dividend income and capital gain distributions taxable as long-term capital gains. A portion of the Fund’s income distributions may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporations. The Fund’s distributions will be taxable as described above whether they are paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares.
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 generally a taxable transaction.
The net investment income of certain U.S. individuals, estates and trusts is subject to a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax. 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, among other things, 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.
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 may decrease the Fund’s yield on such securities. These taxes may be reduced or eliminated under the terms of an applicable tax treaty. Under certain circumstances, shareholders may be entitled to claim a credit or deduction with respect to foreign taxes paid by the Fund. If eligible, the Fund may elect to allow Fund shareholders to include in gross income their pro rata share of qualified foreign income taxes paid by the Fund (even though such amounts are not received by the shareholders) and could allow Fund shareholders, provided certain requirements are met, to use their pro rata portion of such foreign income taxes as a foreign tax credit against their federal income taxes or, alternatively, for shareholders who itemize their tax deductions, to deduct their portion of the Fund’s foreign taxes paid in computing their taxable federal income. However, even if the Fund qualifies to make such election for any year, it may determine not to do so. 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.
The Fund may be required to withhold, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a portion of the dividends, distributions and redemption proceeds payable to shareholders who fail to provide the Fund with their correct taxpayer identification number or make required certifications, or who have been notified by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) that they are subject to backup withholding. Certain shareholders are exempt from backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amount withheld may be credited against a shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund22Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
Certain foreign entities may be subject to a 30% withholding tax on ordinary dividend income paid under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”). To avoid withholding, foreign financial institutions subject to FATCA must agree to disclose to the relevant revenue authorities certain information regarding their direct and indirect U.S. owners and other foreign entities must certify certain information regarding their direct and indirect U.S. owners to the Fund. In addition, the IRS and Department of Treasury have issued proposed regulations providing that these withholding rules will not be applicable to the gross proceeds of share redemptions or capital gain dividends the Fund pays. For more detailed information regarding FATCA withholding and compliance, please refer to the SAI.
Shareholders should consult with their tax advisors concerning the applicability of federal, state, local and other taxes to an investment.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund23Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
Financial Highlights
The financial highlights are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the period(s) indicated. Certain information in the table reflects the financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all distributions at net asset value). This information has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm. The report of Deloitte & Touche LLP and the Fund’s financial statements are incorporated herein by reference and included in the Fund’s annual report, which is available upon request.
|
Class I |
||||
|
Year Ended November 30, |
Period Ended November 30, |
|||
|
2020 |
2019 |
2018 |
2017 |
2016(1) |
Net asset value - Beginning of period |
$12.420 |
$11.530 |
$11.830 |
$9.790 |
$10.000 |
Income (Loss) From Operations |
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income(2) |
$0.068 |
$0.103 |
$0.142 |
$0.106 |
$0.082 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
1.419 |
1.648 |
(0.015) |
2.016 |
(0.292) |
Total income (loss) from operations |
$1.487 |
$1.751 |
$0.127 |
$2.122 |
$(0.210) |
Less Distributions |
|
|
|
|
|
From net investment income |
$(0.127) |
$(0.120) |
$(0.120) |
$(0.082) |
$–– |
From net realized gain |
— |
(0.741) |
(0.307) |
–– |
–– |
Total distributions |
$(0.127) |
$(0.861) |
$(0.427) |
$(0.082) |
$–– |
Net asset value - End of period |
$13.780 |
$12.420 |
$11.530 |
$11.830 |
$9.790 |
Total Return(3)(4) |
12.06% |
17.28% |
1.06% |
21.83% |
(2.10)%(5) |
Ratios/Supplemental Data |
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) |
$5,801 |
$5,186 |
$4,350 |
$4,242 |
$3,459 |
Ratios (as a percentage of average daily net assets): |
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses(4) |
0.95% |
0.96%(6) |
0.95% |
0.95% |
0.95%(7) |
Net investment income |
0.55% |
0.92% |
1.20% |
0.98% |
0.89%(7) |
Portfolio Turnover |
54% |
46% |
82% |
74% |
78%(5) |
(1)For the period from the start of business, December 17, 2015, to November 30, 2016.
(2)Computed using average shares outstanding.
(3)Returns are historical and are calculated by determining the percentage change in net asset value with all distributions reinvested.
(4)The investment adviser and administrator and sub-adviser reimbursed certain operating expenses (equal to 1.95%, 2.07%, 2.32%, 2.47% and 3.51% of average daily net assets for the years ended November 30, 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017 and the period from the start of business, December 17, 2015, to November 30, 2016, respectively). Absent this reimbursement, total return would be lower.
(5)Not annualized.
(6)Includes interest expense of 0.01%.
(7)Annualized.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund24Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
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 is available in the annual and semiannual reports (collectively, the “reports”). 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 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
Information about the Fund (including the Statement of Additional Information and reports) is available on the EDGAR database on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, and copies of this information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following email address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Fund’s annual and semi-annual shareholder reports are no longer being sent by mail unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports are being made available on the Funds’ website (http://www.eatonvance.com/funddocuments), and you will be notified each time a report is posted and provided with a website address to access the report. You may elect to receive all future Fund shareholder reports in paper free of charge at any time. If you are a direct investor, you can inform the Fund that you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports by calling 1-800- 262-1122. If you own these shares through a financial intermediary, you must contact your financial intermediary to elect to continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports. If you are a direct investor, you may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the Fund electronically by signing up for e-Delivery at eatonvance.com/edelivery. If you own your shares through a financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank), you must contact your financial intermediary to sign up.
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 from or change your account, please write or call below:
Regular Mailing Address:
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Overnight Mailing Address:
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Phone Number:
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The Fund's Investment Company Act No. is 811-01241. |
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20319 4.1.21 |
© 2021 Eaton Vance Management |
Printed on recycled paper.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund
Class A Shares - EILAX Class I Shares - EILIX
Prospectus Dated
April 1, 2021
The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has not approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this Prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Information in this Prospectus
|
Page |
|
Page |
Fund Summary |
2 |
Investment Objective & Principal Policies and Risks |
6 |
Investment Objective |
2 |
Management and Organization |
13 |
Fees and Expenses of the Fund |
2 |
Valuing Shares |
14 |
Portfolio Turnover |
2 |
Purchasing Shares |
15 |
Principal Investment Strategies |
2 |
Sales Charges |
18 |
Principal Risks |
3 |
Redeeming Shares |
20 |
Performance |
5 |
Shareholder Account Features |
21 |
Management |
5 |
Additional Tax Information |
23 |
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares |
5 |
Financial Highlights |
25 |
Tax Information |
5 |
Appendix A – Financial Intermediary Sales Charge Variations |
26 |
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries |
5 |
|
|
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 appreciation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. Investors may also pay commissions or other fees to their financial intermediary, which are not reflected below. You may qualify for a reduced sales charge on purchases of Class A shares if you invest, or agree to invest over a 13-month period, at least $50,000 in Eaton Vance Funds. Certain financial intermediaries also may offer variations in Fund sales charges to their customers as described in Appendix A – Financial Intermediary Sales Charge Variations in this Prospectus. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial intermediary and in Sales Charges beginning on page 18 of this Prospectus and page 21 of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) |
Class A |
Class I |
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (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 time of 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 |
Management Fees |
0.90% |
0.90% |
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees |
0.25% |
None |
Other Expenses |
0.41% |
0.41% |
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses |
0.02% |
0.02% |
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses |
1.58% |
1.33% |
Expense Reimbursement(1) |
(0.16)% |
(0.16)% |
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Expense Reimbursement |
1.42% |
1.17% |
(1)The investment adviser and administrator and sub-adviser have agreed to reimburse the Fund’s expenses to the extent that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses exceed 1.40% for Class A shares and 1.15% for Class I shares. This expense reimbursement will continue through March 31, 2022. Any amendment to or termination of this reimbursement would require 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 of unaffiliated funds, borrowing costs (including borrowing costs of any acquired funds), taxes or litigation expenses. Amounts reimbursed may be recouped by the investment adviser and administrator and sub-adviser during the same 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, that the operating expenses remain the same and that any expense reimbursement arrangement remains in place for the contractual period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 Year |
3 Years |
5 Years |
10 Years |
|
Class A shares |
$711 |
$1,030 |
$1,372 |
$2,333 |
Class I shares |
$119 |
$406 |
$713 |
$1,588 |
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. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 61% of the average value of its portfolio.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund2Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of foreign small-cap companies (the “80% Policy”). The portfolio manager generally considers foreign small-cap companies to be companies domiciled in and tied economically to one or more countries represented in the MSCI World ex USA Small Cap Index (the “MSCI Index”)(which may include stocks of companies trading in the form of depositary receipts) and having market capitalizations within the range of the MSCI Index. The MSCI Index is an unmanaged index, consisting, as of February 28, 2021 of 2,542 companies located in 22 developed-market countries and having a market capitalization range of $96 million to $12.2 billion. The Fund intends to invest in not less than five different countries (primarily developed-marked countries but may include emerging market countries) and more than 25% of the Fund’s total assets may be denominated in any single currency. The Fund may invest in exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), a type of pooled investment vehicle, in order to manage cash positions or seek exposure to certain markets or market sectors. The Fund may also invest in publicly traded real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).
In managing the Fund, the portfolio manager seeks to exploit inefficiencies in the small-cap market through fundamental bottom-up research conducted by the investment adviser’s and sub-adviser’s research staff. The portfolio manager looks for companies that, in his opinion, are high in quality or improving in quality. The portfolio manager takes a long-term perspective when selecting companies and the quality focus typically leads him to companies benefitting from structural growth or structural change. Sought after company characteristics may include: a business model with identifiable competitive advantage(s)/barrier(s) to entry, a scalable market opportunity, a solid balance sheet, and a strong management team with a history of good capital allocation. Such companies typically exhibit high or improving returns on capital, strong free cash-flow generation, and positive or inflecting earnings. The portfolio manager also employs a disciplined valuation framework in pursuit of attractive risk adjusted returns. The portfolio manager seeks to manage investment risk by maintaining broad issuer and industry diversification among the Fund’s holdings, and by utilizing fundamental analysis of risk/return characteristics in securities selection. The portfolio manager may also consider financially material environmental, social and governance factors in evaluating an issuer. These considerations may be taken into account alongside other fundamental research in the securities selection process. Securities may be sold if, in the opinion of the portfolio manager, the price moves above a fair level of valuation, the company’s fundamentals deteriorate, or to pursue more attractive investment opportunities.
Principal Risks
Market Risk. The value of investments held by the Fund may increase or decrease in response to economic, political, financial, public health crises (such as epidemics or pandemics) or other disruptive events (whether real, expected or perceived) in the U.S. and global markets. The frequency and magnitude of such changes in value cannot be predicted. Certain securities and other investments held by the Fund may experience increased volatility, illiquidity, or other potentially adverse effects in reaction to changing market conditions. Monetary and/or fiscal actions taken by U.S. or foreign governments to stimulate or stabilize the global economy may not be effective and could lead to high market volatility.
Equity Securities Risk. The value of equity securities and related instruments may decline in response to adverse changes in the economy or the economic outlook; deterioration in investor sentiment; interest rate, currency, and commodity price fluctuations; adverse geopolitical, social or environmental developments; issuer and sector-specific considerations; or other factors. Market conditions may affect certain types of stocks to a greater extent than other types of stocks. If the stock market declines in value, the value of the Fund’s equity securities will also likely decline. Although prices can rebound, there is no assurance that values will return to previous levels.
Foreign Investment Risk. Foreign investments can be adversely affected by political, economic and market developments abroad, including the imposition of economic and other sanctions by the United States or another country. There may be less publicly available information about foreign issuers because they may not be subject to reporting practices, requirements or regulations comparable to those to which United States companies are subject. Foreign markets may be smaller, less liquid and more volatile than the major markets in the United States and, as a result, Fund share values may be more volatile. Trading in foreign 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. Depositary receipts are subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign instruments.
Emerging Markets Investment Risk. Investment markets within emerging market countries are typically smaller, less liquid, less developed and more volatile than those in more developed markets like the United States, and may be focused in certain economic sectors. Emerging market securities often involve greater risks than developed market securities. The information available about an emerging market issuer may be less reliable than for comparable issuers in more developed capital markets.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund3Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
Currency Risk. Exchange rates for currencies fluctuate daily. The value of foreign investments may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency exchange rates in relation to the U.S. dollar. Currency markets generally are not as regulated as securities markets and currency transactions are subject to settlement, custodial and other operational risks.
Smaller Company Risk. The stocks of smaller, less seasoned companies are generally subject to greater price fluctuations, limited liquidity, higher transaction costs and higher investment risk than the stocks of larger, more established companies. Such 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. Stocks of these companies frequently have lower trading volumes making them more volatile and potentially more difficult to value.
ETF Risk. ETFs are subject to the risks of investing in the underlying securities or other investments. ETF shares may trade at a premium or discount to net asset value and are subject to secondary market trading risks. In addition, the Fund will bear a pro rata portion of the operating expenses of an ETF in which it invests. Other pooled investment vehicles generally are subject to risks similar to those of ETFs.
Real Estate Risk. Real estate investments are subject to risks associated with owning real estate, including declines in real estate values, increases in property taxes, fluctuations in interest rates, limited availability of mortgage financing, decreases in revenues from underlying real estate assets, declines in occupancy rates, changes in government regulations affecting zoning, land use, and rents, environmental liabilities, and risks related to 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. REITs must satisfy specific requirements for favorable tax treatment and can involve unique risks in addition to the risks generally affecting the real estate industry. Changes in underlying real estate values may have an exaggerated effect to the extent that investments are concentrated in particular geographic regions or property types.
Liquidity Risk. The Fund is exposed to liquidity risk when trading volume, lack of a market maker or trading partner, large position size, market conditions, or legal restrictions impair its ability to sell particular investments or to sell them at advantageous market prices. Consequently, the Fund may have to accept a lower price to sell an investment or continue to hold it or keep the position open, sell other investments to raise cash or abandon an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on the Fund’s performance. These effects may be exacerbated during times of financial or political stress.
Risks Associated with Active Management. The success of the Fund’s investment strategy depends on portfolio management’s successful application of analytical skills and investment judgment. Active management involves subjective decisions.
General Fund Investing Risks. The Fund is not a complete investment program and there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. It is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. The Fund is designed to be a long-term investment vehicle and is not suited for short-term trading. Investors in the Fund should have a long-term investment perspective and be able to tolerate potentially sharp declines in value. Purchase and redemption activities by Fund shareholders may impact the management of the Fund and its ability to achieve its investment objective(s). In addition, the redemption by one or more large shareholders or groups of shareholders of their holdings in the Fund could have an adverse impact on the remaining shareholders in the Fund. The Fund relies on various service providers, including the investment adviser, in its operations and is susceptible to operational, information security and related events (such as public health crises, cyber or hacking attacks) that may affect the service providers or the services that they provide to the Fund. 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.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund4Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
Performance
The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and how the Fund’s average annual returns over time compare with those of a broad-based securities market index. The returns in the bar chart are for Class A shares and do not reflect a sales charge. If the sales charge was reflected, the returns would be lower. Past performance (both before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. The Fund’s performance reflects the effects of expense reductions. Absent these reductions, performance would have been lower. Updated Fund performance information can be obtained by visiting www.eatonvance.com.
Calendar year-by-year total return (Class A)
Year |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
Year Total Return |
0.74% |
36.86% |
-15.47% |
24.31% |
12.99% |
During the period from December 31, 2015 through December 31, 2020, the highest quarterly total return for Class A was 22.15% for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, and the lowest quarterly return was -26.03% for the quarter ended March 31, 2020.
Average Annual Total Return as of December 31, 2020 |
One Year |
Five Years |
Life of Fund |
Class A Return Before Taxes |
6.47% |
9.05% |
9.26% |
Class A Return After Taxes on Distributions |
6.42% |
8.54% |
8.75% |
Class A Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Class A Shares |
4.13% |
7.39% |
7.57% |
Class I Return Before Taxes |
13.31% |
10.63% |
10.83% |
MSCI World ex USA Small Cap Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) |
12.78% |
9.62% |
9.97% |
These returns reflect the maximum sales charge for Class A (5.75%). Class A and Class I commenced operations on December 16, 2015 . (Source for the MSCI World ex USA Small Cap Index: MSCI.) MSCI data may not be reproduced or used for any other purpose. MSCI provides no warranties, has not prepared or approved this report, and has no liability hereunder. Investors cannot invest directly in an Index.
After-tax returns are calculated using the highest historical individual federal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on a shareholder’s tax situation and the actual characterization of distributions, and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to shareholders who hold shares in tax-deferred accounts or to shares held by non-taxable entities. After-tax returns for other Classes of shares will vary from the after-tax returns presented for Class A shares. Return After Taxes on Distributions for a period may be the same as Return Before Taxes for that period because no taxable distributions were made during that period. Also, Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares for a period may be greater than or equal to Return Before Taxes and/or Return After Taxes on Distributions for the same period because of losses realized on the sale of Fund shares.
Management
Investment Adviser. Eaton Vance Management (“Eaton Vance”).
Investment Sub-Adviser. Eaton Vance Advisers International Ltd. (“EVAIL”).
Portfolio Manager. The Fund is managed by Aidan Farrell, Vice President of Eaton Vance Global Advisors Limited (“EVGA”), who has managed the Fund since its inception in December 2015.
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 the Fund, 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.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund5Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
Tax Information
If your shares are held in a taxable account, the Fund’s distributions will be taxed to you as ordinary income and/or capital gains, unless you are exempt from taxation. If your shares are held in a tax-advantaged account, you will generally be taxed only upon withdrawals from the account.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase the Fund’s 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 International Small-Cap Fund6Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
Investment Objective & Principal Policies and Risks
The investment objective and principal investment policies and risks of the Fund are described in its Fund Summary. Set forth below is additional information about such policies and risks, as well as information about other types of investments and practices in which the Fund may engage from time to time. See also “Strategies and Risks” in the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).
Definitions. As used herein, the following terms have the indicated meaning: “1940 Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; “1933 Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; “ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended; and “investment adviser” means the Fund’s investment adviser but if the Fund is sub-advised, it refers to the sub-adviser(s) providing day-to-day management with respect to the investments or strategies discussed.
Equity Securities. Equity securities include: common stocks; preferred stocks, including convertible and contingent convertible preferred stocks; equity interests in trusts, partnerships, joint ventures and other unincorporated entities or enterprises; depositary receipts, rights and warrants in underlying equity interests; and other securities that are treated as equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The Fund cannot predict the income it might receive from equity securities because issuers generally have discretion as to the payment of any dividends or distributions.
The value of equity securities and related instruments may decline in response to adverse changes in the economy or the economic outlook; deterioration in investor sentiment; interest rate, currency, and commodity price fluctuations; adverse geopolitical, social or environmental developments; issuer- and sector-specific considerations; and other factors. 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. Although stock prices can rebound, there is no assurance that values will return to previous levels.
Foreign 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. Evidence of ownership of certain foreign investments may be held outside the United States, and the Fund may be subject to the risks associated with the holding of such property overseas.
Foreign issuers may become subject to sanctions imposed by the United States or another country, which could result in the immediate freeze of the foreign issuers’ assets or securities. The imposition of such sanctions could impair the market value of the securities of such foreign issuers and limit the Fund’s ability to buy, sell, receive or deliver the securities. Trading in certain foreign markets is also subject to liquidity risk.
Political events in foreign countries may cause market disruptions. In June 2016, the United Kingdom (“UK”) voted in a referendum to leave the European Union (“EU”) (“Brexit”). Effective January 31, 2020, the UK ceased to be a member of the EU and, following a transition period during which the EU and the UK Government engaged in a series of negotiations regarding the terms of the UK’s future relationship with the EU, the EU and the UK Government signed an agreement on December 30, 2020 regarding the economic relationship between the UK and the EU. This agreement became effective on a provisional basis on January 1, 2021. There remains significant market uncertainty regarding Brexit’s ramifications, and the range and potential implications of the possible political, regulatory, economic, and market outcomes in the UK, EU and beyond are difficult to predict. The end of the Brexit transition period may cause greater market volatility and illiquidity, currency fluctuations, deterioration in economic activity, a decrease in business confidence, and an increased likelihood of a recession in the UK. If one or more additional countries leave the EU or the EU dissolves, the world’s securities markets likely will be significantly disrupted.
As an alternative to holding foreign-traded investments, the Fund may invest in U.S. dollar-denominated investments of foreign companies that trade on U.S. exchanges or in the U.S. over-the-counter market including depositary receipts, such as American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), which evidence 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, currency risk. Depositary receipts may be sponsored or unsponsored. Unsponsored depositary receipts are established without the participation of the issuer. As a result, available information concerning the issuer of an unsponsored depository receipt may not be as current as for sponsored depositary receipts, and the prices of unsponsored depositary receipts may be more volatile than if such instruments were
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund7Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
sponsored by the issuer. Unsponsored depositary receipts may involve higher expenses, may not pass through voting or other shareholder rights and may be less liquid.
Emerging Markets Investments. The risks of foreign investments can be more significant in emerging markets. Emerging markets 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. Securities markets within emerging market countries may experience low or non-existent trading volume, resulting in a lack of liquidity and increased volatility in prices for such securities, as compared to securities of comparable issuers in more developed capital markets. 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. In particular, trade disputes may result in governmental actions that could have an adverse effect on investments in emerging market countries, including but not limited to restrictions on investments in, or required divestment of, particular issuers or industries. There may be less publicly available information about issuers in emerging markets than would be available about issuers in more developed capital markets, and such issuers may not be subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements comparable to those to which U.S. companies are subject . 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 developed than or different from such laws in the United States. It may be more difficult to make a claim or obtain a judgment in the courts of these countries than it is in the United States. The possibility of fraud, negligence, undue influence being exerted by an issuer or refusal to recognize ownership exists in some emerging markets. The prices at which investments may be acquired may be affected by trading by persons with information that is not publicly available and by securities transactions by brokers in anticipation of transactions in particular securities. 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, or the failure to intervene, by U.S. or foreign governments or central banks or by currency controls or political developments in the United States or abroad. If the U.S. dollar rises in value relative to a foreign currency, a security denominated in that foreign currency will be worth less in U.S. dollars. If the U.S. dollar decreases in value relative to a foreign currency, a security denominated in that foreign currency will be worth more in U.S. dollars. A devaluation of a currency by a country’s government or banking authority will have a significant impact on the value of any investments denominated in that currency. 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.
Smaller Companies. Securities of smaller companies, which may include legally restricted securities, are generally subject to greater price fluctuations, limited liquidity, higher transaction costs and higher investment risk than the securities of larger, more established companies. Because of the absence of any public trading market for some of these investments (such as those which are legally restricted) it may be more difficult to value these investments and may take longer to liquidate these positions at fair value than would be the case for publicly traded securities.
Derivatives. Generally, derivatives can be characterized as financial instruments whose performance is derived at least in part from the performance of an underlying reference instrument. Derivative instruments may be acquired in the United States or abroad consistent with the Fund’s investment strategy and may include the various types of exchange-traded and over-the-counter (“OTC”) instruments described herein and other instruments with substantially similar characteristics and risks. Fund obligations created pursuant to derivative instruments may give rise to leverage, which would subject the Fund to the requirements described under “Asset Coverage” in the Fund’s SAI. The Fund may invest in a derivative transaction if it is permitted to own, invest in, or otherwise have economic exposure to the reference instrument. Depending on the type of derivative instrument and the Fund’s investment strategy, a reference instrument could be a security, instrument, index, currency, commodity, economic indicator or event (“reference instruments”). The Fund may engage in derivative transactions to seek return, to hedge against fluctuations in securities prices or currency exchange
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund8Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
rates, or as a substitute for the purchase or sale of securities or currencies. The Fund may trade in the specific type(s) and/or combinations of derivative transactions listed below.
Derivative instruments are subject to a number of risks, including adverse or unexpected movements in the price of the reference instrument, and counterparty, liquidity, market, tax and leverage risks. Certain derivatives may also be subject to credit risk and interest rate risk. In addition, derivatives also involve the risk that changes in their value may not correlate perfectly with the assets, rates, indices or instruments they are designed to hedge or closely track. 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.
OTC derivative instruments involve an additional risk in that the issuer or counterparty may 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, an option or commodity exchange or swap execution facility or clearinghouse 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 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.
The U.S. and non-U.S. derivatives markets have undergone substantial changes in recent years as a result of changes under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) in the United States and regulatory changes in Europe, Asia and other non-U.S. jurisdictions. In particular, the Dodd-Frank Act and related regulations require many derivatives to be cleared and traded on an exchange, expand entity registration requirements, impose business conduct requirements on counterparties, and impose other regulatory requirements that will continue to change derivatives markets as regulations are implemented. As of October 28, 2020, the SEC has adopted new regulations that may significantly alter a Fund’s regulatory obligations with regard to its derivatives usage. In particular, the new regulations will, upon implementation, eliminate the current asset segregation framework for covering derivatives and certain other financial instruments, impose new responsibilities on the Board and establish new reporting and recordkeeping requirements for a Fund and may, depending on the extent to which a Fund uses derivatives, impose value at risk limitations on a Fund’s use of derivatives, and require the Fund’s Board to adopt a derivative risk management program. The implementation of these requirements may limit the ability of a Fund to use derivative instruments as part of its investment strategy, increase the costs of using these instruments or make them less effective. Additional future regulation of the derivatives markets may make the use of derivatives more costly, may limit the availability or reduce the liquidity of derivatives, and may impose limits or restrictions on the counterparties with which the Fund engages in derivative transactions. Fund management cannot predict the effects of any new governmental regulation that may be implemented, and there can be no assurance that any new government regulation will not adversely affect the Fund’s performance or ability to achieve its investment objectives.
Options. Options may be traded on an exchange and OTC. By buying a put option on a particular instrument, the Fund acquires a right to sell the underlying instrument at the exercise price. By buying a put option on an index, the Fund acquires a right to receive the cash difference between the strike price of the option and the index price at expiration. A purchased put position also typically can be sold at any time by selling at prevailing market prices. Purchased put options generally are expected to limit the Fund's risk of loss through a decline in the market value of the underlying security or index until the put option expires. When buying a put option, the Fund pays a premium to the seller of the option. If the price of the underlying security or index 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 on securities, meaning it will not own the securities underlying the option.
The Fund may also write (i.e., sell) put options. The Fund will receive a premium for selling a put option, which may increase the Fund's return. In selling a put option on a security, the Fund has the obligation to buy the security at an agreed upon price if the price of such instrument decreases below the exercise price. By selling a put option on an index, the Fund has an obligation to make a payment to the buyer to the extent that the value of the index decreases
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund9Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
below the exercise price as of the option valuation date. If the value of the underlying security or index on the option’s 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.
The Fund may purchase call options. By purchasing a call option on a security, the Fund has the right to buy the security at the option’s exercise price. By buying a call option on an index, the Fund acquires the right to receive the cash difference between the market price of the index and strike price at expiration. Call options typically can be exercised any time prior to option maturity or, sold at the prevailing market price.
The Fund may also write (i.e., sell) a call option on a security or index in return for a premium. A call written on a security obligates the Fund to deliver the underlying security at the option exercise price. Written index call options obligate the Fund to make a cash payment to the buyer at expiration if the market price of the index is above the option strike price. Calls typically can also be bought back by the Fund at prevailing market prices and the Fund also may enter into closing purchase transactions with respect to written call options. The Fund may write call options on securities that it owns (so-called covered calls) and also may write uncovered call options. With respect to written covered calls, the Fund may sell the underlying security prior to entering into a closing purchase transaction on up to 5% of its net assets within three days of such transaction. The Fund may also engage in various types of option strategies using put and/or call options.
The Fund’s options positions are marked to market daily. The value of options is affected by changes in the value and dividend rates of their underlying instruments, changes in interest rates, changes in the actual or perceived volatility of the relevant index or market and the remaining time to the options’ expiration, as well as trading conditions in the options market. The hours of trading for options may not conform to the hours during which the underlying instruments are traded. To the extent that the options markets close before markets for the underlying instruments, significant price and rate movements can take place in the markets that would not be reflected concurrently in the options markets.
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 call options have speculative characteristics and are riskier than covered call options because there is no underlying instrument held by the Fund that can act as a partial hedge. As the seller of a covered call option or an index call option, the Fund may forego, during the option’s life, the opportunity to profit from increases in the market value of the underlying instrument covering the call option above the sum of the premium received by the Fund and the exercise price of the call. The Fund also retains the risk of loss, minus the option premium received, should the price of the underlying instrument decline.
Participants in OTC markets are typically not subject to the same credit evaluation and regulatory oversight as are members of “exchange-based” markets. OTC option contracts generally carry greater liquidity risk than exchange-traded contracts. This risk may be increased in times of financial stress, if the trading market for OTC options becomes restricted. The ability of the Fund to transact business with any one or a number of counterparties may increase the potential for losses to the Fund, due to the lack of any independent evaluation of the counterparties or their financial capabilities, and the absence of a regulated market to facilitate settlement of the options.
Swaptions. Swaptions are options giving the option owner the right (but not the obligation) to enter into a swap agreement as buyer or seller, or to extend, shorten, cancel or otherwise modify an existing swap agreement at a future date on specified terms.
Depending on the terms of the particular swaption, the Fund generally will 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. When the Fund writes a swaption, upon exercise of the option, the Fund will become obligated according to the terms of the underlying swap agreement.
Futures Contracts. Futures are standardized, exchange-traded contracts. Futures contracts on securities obligate a purchaser to take delivery, and a seller to make delivery, of a specific amount of the financial instrument called for in the contract at a specified future date at a specified price. An index futures contract obligates the purchaser to take, and a seller to deliver, an amount of cash equal to a specific dollar amount times the difference between the value of a specific index at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the agreement is made. No physical delivery of the underlying securities in the index is made. It is the practice of holders of futures contracts to close out their positions on or before the expiration date by use of offsetting contract positions, and physical delivery of financial instruments or delivery of cash, as applicable, is thereby avoided. An option on a futures contract gives the holder the right to enter into a specified futures contract.
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts. A forward foreign currency exchange contract (“currency forward”) 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.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund10Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
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.
Certain currency forwards may be individually negotiated and privately traded, exposing them to credit and counterparty risks. The precise matching of the currency forward 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. Currency forwards 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 currency forwards. As a result, available information may not be complete.
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.
Counterparty Risk. A financial institution or other counterparty with whom the Fund does business (such as trading or as a derivatives counterparty), or that underwrites, distributes or guarantees any instruments that the Fund owns or is otherwise exposed to, may decline in financial condition and become unable to honor its commitments. This could cause the value of Fund shares to decline or could delay the return or delivery of collateral or other assets to the Fund. Counterparty risk is increased for contracts with longer maturities.
Leverage. Certain types of Fund transactions may give rise to economic leverage, which represents a non-cash exposure to the underlying reference instrument. Leverage can increase both the risk and return potential of the Fund.
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’s share price 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 leveraged investments may substantially exceed the initial investment.
Short Sales. The Fund may engage in short sales on securities or a basket or index of securities. 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. When making a short sale, the Fund must segregate liquid assets with a broker or the custodian equal to (or otherwise cover) its obligations under the short sale. Generally, securities held in a segregated account cannot be sold unless they are replaced with other liquid assets. This may limit the Fund’s investment flexibility, as well as its ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations. The seller of a short position generally realizes a profit from the transaction if the proceeds it receives on the short sale exceed the cost of purchasing the securities sold short in the market, but will generally realize a loss if the cost of closing the short position exceeds the proceeds from the short sale. The Fund pays interest or dividend expense with respect to securities sold short.
If the Fund does not own the securities sold short, the short sale exposes the Fund to the risk that it will be required to purchase 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. There is no assurance that a security sold short will decline in value or make a profit for the Fund. In addition, there is no guarantee that any security needed to cover the short position will be available for purchase. Short selling carries a risk that the counterparty to the short sale may fail to honor its contract terms, causing a loss to the Fund. If the Fund invests the proceeds received for selling securities short in other investments, the Fund is employing a form of leverage.
Real Estate Investments. Companies primarily engaged in the real estate industry and other real estate-related investments may include publicly traded real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) or real estate operating companies that either own properties or make construction or mortgage loans, real estate developers, companies with substantial real estate holdings and other companies whose products and services are related to the real estate industry, such as lodging operators, brokers, property management companies, building supply manufacturers, mortgage lenders, or mortgage servicing companies. REITs tend to be small to medium-sized companies, and may include equity REITs and mortgage REITs. The value of a REIT can depend on the structure of and cash flow generated by the REIT. REITs are pooled investment vehicles that have expenses of their own, so the Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of those expenses. The Fund will not own real estate directly.
Real estate investments are subject to special risks including 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 investments concentrate in particular geographic regions or property types.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund11Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the REIT, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. Further, equity and mortgage REITs are dependent upon management skills and generally may not be diversified. Equity and mortgage REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers, and self-liquidations. In addition, equity and mortgage REITs could possibly fail to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income or to maintain their exemptions from registration under the 1940 Act. The above factors may also adversely affect a borrower’s or a lessee’s ability to meet its obligations to a REIT. In the event of a default by a borrower or lessee, a REIT may experience delays in enforcing its rights as a mortgagee or lessor and may incur substantial costs associated with protecting its investments.
Shares of REITs may trade less frequently and, therefore, are subject to more erratic price movements than securities of larger issuers. REITs are also subject to credit, market, liquidity and interest rate risks.
REITs may issue debt securities to fund their activities. The value of these debt securities may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the REIT, the creditworthiness of the REIT, interest rates, and tax and regulatory requirements, among other things.
Pooled Investment Vehicles. The Fund may invest in pooled investment vehicles. Pooled investment vehicles are open- and closed-end investment companies unaffiliated with the investment adviser, open-end investment companies affiliated with the investment adviser and exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”). Pooled investment vehicles are subject to the risks of investing in the underlying securities or other instruments that they own. The market for common shares of closed-end investment companies and ETFs, which are generally traded on an exchange and may be traded at a premium or discount to net asset value, is affected by the demand for those securities, regardless of the value of such fund’s underlying securities. Additionally, natural or environmental disasters, widespread disease or other public health issues, war, acts of terrorism or other events could result in increased premiums or discounts to such fund’s net asset value. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management fees and other operating expenses paid by unaffiliated and certain affiliated pooled investment vehicles in which it invests. If such fees exceed 0.01%, the costs associated with such investments will be reflected under Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses in the Fund’s Annual Fund Operating Expenses table(s) in its Fund Summary. Requirements of the 1940 Act may limit the Fund’s ability to invest in other investment companies, including ETFs, unless the investment company has received an exemptive order from the SEC on which the Fund may rely. Investments in a pooled investment vehicle will be included in satisfying a Fund’s 80% Policy if the vehicle invests at least 80% of its net assets in the type of securities included in the Fund’s 80% Policy.
Restricted Securities. Securities held by the Fund may be legally restricted as to resale (such as those issued in private placements), including commercial paper issued pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the 1933 Act, securities eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A thereunder, and securities of U.S. and non-U.S. issuers initially offered and sold outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S thereunder. Restricted securities may not be listed on an exchange and may have no active trading market. The Fund may incur additional expense when disposing of restricted 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. In addition, if the sub-adviser receives non-public information about the issuer, the Fund may as a result be unable to sell the securities.
Restricted securities may be difficult to value properly and may involve greater risks than securities that are not subject to restrictions on resale. It may be difficult to sell restricted securities at a price representing fair value until such time as the securities may be sold publicly. 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 sub-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. Holdings of restricted securities may increase the level of Fund illiquidity if eligible buyers become uninterested in purchasing them. Restricted securities may involve a high degree of business and financial risk, which may result in substantial losses.
Liquidity Risk. The Fund is exposed to liquidity risk when trading volume, lack of a market maker, or legal restrictions impair the Fund’s ability to sell particular investments or close derivative positions at an advantageous market price. Trading opportunities are also more limited for securities and other instruments that are not widely held or are traded in less developed markets. These factors may make it more difficult to sell or buy a security at a favorable price or time. Consequently, the Fund may have to accept a lower price to sell an investment or continue to hold it or keep the position open, sell other investments to raise cash or abandon an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on the Fund’s performance. It also may be more difficult to value less liquid investments. These effects may be exacerbated during times of financial or political stress. Increased Fund redemption activity also may increase liquidity risk due to the need of the Fund to sell portfolio investments and may negatively impact Fund performance.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund12Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
The Fund will not acquire any illiquid investment if, immediately after the acquisition, the Fund will have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments. Illiquid investments mean any investments that the Fund’s sub-adviser reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in seven calendar days or less under then-current market conditions without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment.
Borrowing. The Fund is permitted to borrow for temporary purposes (such as to satisfy redemption requests, to remain fully invested in anticipation of expected cash inflows and to settle transactions). Any borrowings by the Fund are subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act. Borrowings are also subject to the terms of any credit agreement between the Fund and lender(s). Fund borrowings may be equal to as much as 331/3% of the value of the Fund’s total assets (including such borrowings) less the Fund’s liabilities (other than borrowings). The Fund will not purchase additional investments while outstanding borrowings exceed 5% of the value of its total assets.
In addition, the Fund will be required to maintain a specified level of asset coverage with respect to all borrowings and may be required to sell some of its holdings to reduce debt and restore coverage at times when it may not be advantageous to do so. The rights of the lender to receive payments of interest and repayments of principal of any borrowings made by the Fund under a credit facility are senior to the rights of holders of shares with respect to the payment of dividends or upon liquidation. In the event of a default under a credit arrangement, the lenders may have the right to cause a liquidation of the collateral (i.e., sell Fund assets) and, if any such default is not cured, the lenders may be able to control the liquidation as well.
Cash and Money Market Instruments. The Fund may invest in cash or money market instruments, including high quality short-term instruments or an affiliated investment company that invests in such instruments. During unusual market conditions, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in cash or money market instruments temporarily, which may be inconsistent with its investment objective(s) and other policies.
Money market instruments 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 instruments; adverse economic, political or other developments affecting issuers of money market instruments; changes in the credit quality of issuers; and default by a counterparty.
Securities Lending. The Fund may lend its portfolio securities to broker-dealers and other institutional borrowers. During the existence of a loan, the Fund will continue to receive the equivalent of the interest paid by the issuer on the securities loaned, or all or a portion of the interest on investment of the collateral, if any. The Fund may pay lending fees to such borrowers. 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 firms while such loans are outstanding. Securities loans will only be made when the investment adviser believes that the expected returns, net of expenses, justify the attendant risks. 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 engage in securities lending to generate income. Upon return of the loaned securities, the Fund would be required to return the related collateral to the borrower and may be required to liquidate portfolio securities in order to do so. The Fund may lend up to one-third of the value of its total assets or such other amount as may be permitted by law.
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. To the extent that the portfolio securities acquired with such collateral have decreased in value, it may result in the Fund realizing a loss at a time when it would not otherwise do so. As such, securities lending may introduce leverage into the Fund. The Fund also may incur losses if the returns on securities that it acquires with cash collateral are less than the applicable rebate rates paid to borrowers and related administrative costs.
Converting to Master-Feeder Structure. The Fund may invest all of its investable assets in an open-end management investment company (“master fund”) with substantially the same investment objective, policies and restrictions as the Fund. Any such master fund 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 a master fund at any time without shareholder approval.
Cybersecurity Risk. With the increased use of technologies by Fund service providers to conduct business, such as the Internet, the Fund is susceptible to operational, information security and related risks. The Fund relies on communications technology, systems, and networks to engage with clients, employees, accounts, shareholders, and service providers, and a cyber incident may inhibit the Fund’s ability to use these technologies. In general, cyber incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. Cyber attacks include, but are not limited to, gaining unauthorized access to digital systems (e.g., through “hacking” or malicious software coding) for purposes of misappropriating assets or sensitive information, corrupting data, or causing operational disruption. Cyber attacks may also be carried out in a manner that does not require gaining unauthorized access, such as causing denial-of-service attacks on websites. A denial-of-service attack is an effort to make network services unavailable to intended users, which could cause shareholders to lose access
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund13Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
to their electronic accounts, potentially indefinitely. Employees and service providers also may not be able to access electronic systems to perform critical duties for the Fund, such as trading and NAV calculation, during a denial-of-service attack. There is also the possibility for systems failures due to malfunctions, user error and misconduct by employees and agents, natural disasters, or other foreseeable and unforeseeable events.
Because technology is consistently changing, new ways to carry out cyber attacks are always developing. Therefore, there is a chance that some risks have not been identified or prepared for, or that an attack may not be detected, which puts limitations on the Fund's ability to plan for or respond to a cyber attack. Like other funds and business enterprises, the Fund and its service providers have experienced, and will continue to experience, cyber incidents consistently. In addition to deliberate cyber attacks, unintentional cyber incidents can occur, such as the inadvertent release of confidential information by the Fund or its service providers.
The Fund uses third party service providers who are also heavily dependent on computers and technology for their operations. Cybersecurity failures by or breaches of the Fund’s investment adviser or administrator and other service providers (including, but not limited to, the custodian or transfer agent), and the issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, may disrupt and otherwise adversely affect their business operations. This may result in financial losses to the Fund, impede Fund trading, interfere with the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, limit a shareholder’s ability to purchase or redeem shares of the Fund or cause violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, litigation costs, or additional compliance costs. While many of the Fund’s service providers have established business continuity plans and risk management systems intended to identify and mitigate cyber attacks, there are inherent limitations in such plans and systems, including the possibility that certain risks have not been identified. The Fund cannot control the cybersecurity plans and systems put in place by service providers to the Fund and issuers in which the Fund invests. The Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result.
Research Process. The Fund’s portfolio management utilizes information provided by, and the expertise of, the research staff of the investment adviser, sub-adviser and/or certain of their affiliates in making investment decisions. As part of the research process, portfolio management may consider financially material environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) factors. Such factors, alongside other relevant factors, may be taken into account in the Fund’s securities selection process.
Recent Market Conditions. An outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus was first detected in China in late 2019 and subsequently spread internationally. This coronavirus has resulted in closing borders, enhanced health screenings, changes to healthcare service preparation and delivery, quarantines, cancellations, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The impact of this coronavirus has resulted in a substantial economic downturn, which may continue for an extended period of time. Health crises caused by outbreaks of disease, such as the coronavirus outbreak, may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks and disrupt normal market conditions and operations. The impact of this outbreak has negatively affected the worldwide economy, as well as the economies of individual countries and industries, and could continue to affect the market in significant and unforeseen ways. Other epidemics and pandemics that may arise in the future may have similar effects. For example, a global pandemic or other widespread health crisis could cause substantial market volatility and exchange trading suspensions and closures. In addition, the increasing interconnectedness of markets around the world may result in many markets being affected by events or conditions in a single country or region or events affecting a single or small number of issuers. The coronavirus outbreak and public and private sector responses thereto have led to large portions of the populations of many countries working from home for indefinite periods of time, temporary or permanent layoffs, disruptions in supply chains, and lack of availability of certain goods. The impact of such responses could adversely affect the information technology and operational systems upon which the Fund and the Fund’s service providers rely, and could otherwise disrupt the ability of the employees of the Fund’s service providers to perform critical tasks relating to the Fund. Any such impact could adversely affect the Fund’s performance, or the performance of the securities in which the Fund invests and may lead to losses on your investment in the Fund.
General. The Fund's 80% Policy will not be changed unless shareholders are given at least 60 days’ advance written notice of the change. Unless otherwise stated, the Fund's investment objective and certain other policies may be changed without shareholder approval. Shareholders will receive 60 days' advance written notice of any material change in the investment objective. 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 SAI. 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 annual operating expenses are expressed as a percentage of the Fund’s average daily net assets and may change as Fund assets increase and decrease over time. Purchase and redemption activities by Fund shareholders may impact the management of the Fund and its ability to achieve its investment objective. In addition, the redemption by one or more large shareholders or groups of shareholders of their holdings in the Fund could have an adverse impact on the remaining shareholders in the Fund. Mutual funds, investment advisers, other market participants and many securities
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund14Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
markets are subject to rules and regulations and the jurisdiction of one or more regulators. Changes to applicable rules and regulations or to widely accepted market conventions or standards could have an adverse effect on securities markets and market participants, as well as on the Fund’s ability to execute its investment strategy. With the increased use of technologies by Fund service providers, such as the Internet, to conduct business, the Fund is susceptible to operational, information security and related risks. See “Additional Information about Investment Strategies and Risks” in the Fund’s SAI.
Management and Organization
Management. The Fund’s investment adviser is Eaton Vance Management (“Eaton Vance”). Eaton Vance has offices at Two International Place, Boston, MA 02110. Eaton Vance and its predecessor organizations have been managing assets since 1924 and managing mutual funds since 1931. Prior to March 1, 2021, Eaton Vance was a wholly owned subsidiary of Eaton Vance Corp. (“EVC”).
On March 1, 2021, Morgan Stanley acquired EVC (the “Transaction”) and Eaton Vance became an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley. In connection with the Transaction, the Fund entered into a new investment advisory and administrative agreement with its investment adviser and the investment adviser entered into a new investment sub-advisory agreement with its sub-adviser. Each such agreement was approved by Fund shareholders prior to the consummation of the Transaction and was effective upon its closing.
Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), whose principal offices are at 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036, is a preeminent global financial services firm engaged in securities trading and brokerage activities, as well as providing investment banking, research and analysis, financing and financial advisory services. As of December 31, 2020, after giving effect to the Transaction as described above, Morgan Stanley’s asset management operations had aggregate assets under management of approximately $1.4 trillion.
Pursuant to an investment sub-advisory agreement, Eaton Vance has delegated the investment management of the Fund to Eaton Vance Advisers International Ltd. (“EVAIL”), 125 Old Broad Street, London, EC2N 1AR, United Kingdom, a registered investment adviser. Eaton Vance pays EVAIL a portion of its fee for sub-advisory services provided to the Fund. Pursuant to a participating affiliate arrangement, EVAIL uses the portfolio management, research and other resources of its affiliate, Eaton Vance Global Advisors Limited (“EVGA”), to render investment advisory services to the Fund. On March 1, 2021, upon the closing of the Transaction, each of EVAIL and EVGA became indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of Morgan Stanley. Prior to March 1, 2021, each of EVAIL and EVGA were indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of EVC.
The Fund’s semi-annual report covering the fiscal period ended May 31 provides information regarding the basis for the Trustees’ approval of the Fund’s investment advisory and administrative agreement and the Fund’s investment sub-advisory agreement.
Eaton Vance manages the investments of the Fund and provides administrative services and related office facilities. Under its investment advisory and administrative agreement with the Fund, Eaton Vance receives a monthly fee as follows:
For the year ended November 30, 2020, the effective annual rate of the Fund’s advisory and administrative fee paid to Eaton Vance, based on the Fund’s average daily net assets, was 0.90%.
The portfolio manager of the Fund is Aidan Farrell. Mr. Farrell has managed the Fund since it commenced operations in December 2015. Mr. Farrell manages other Eaton Vance portfolios. Prior to joining EVGA, as a Vice President, in 2019, Mr. Farrell held similar positions at EVAIL and Eaton Vance Management (International) Limited (“EVMI”) (2015-2017).
The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, and the portfolio manager’s ownership of Fund shares.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund15Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
Eaton Vance provides sub-transfer agency and related services to Eaton Vance mutual funds pursuant to a Sub-Transfer Agency Support Services Agreement. For its services under the agreement, Eaton Vance receives an aggregate fee from such funds equal to its actual expenses incurred in performing such services.
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).
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). If trading on the Exchange is halted for the day before the scheduled close of regular trading, the Fund’s net asset value per share generally will still be calculated as of the scheduled close of regular trading on the Exchange. The purchase price of Fund shares is their net asset value (plus any applicable sales charge), 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 regular trading on 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 Board has adopted procedures for valuing investments (the “Procedures”) and has delegated to the investment adviser(s) the daily valuation of such investments. Pursuant to the Procedures, securities and other investments held by the Fund are generally valued at market value. Exchange-listed investments (including certain derivatives) are normally valued at last sale or closing prices. Exchange-traded options are valued at the mean of the bid and asked prices at valuation time as reported by the Options Price Reporting Authority for U.S. listed options, or by the relevant exchange or board of trade for non-U.S. listed options. Non-exchange traded derivatives are normally valued on the basis of quotes obtained from brokers and dealers or independent pricing services. Most loans and other debt obligations are valued using prices supplied by one or more pricing services.
An instrument’s “fair value” is the amount that the owner might reasonably expect to receive for the instrument upon its current sale in the ordinary course of business. Under certain limited circumstances, the Fund may use fair value pricing if, for example, market prices or a pricing service's prices (as applicable) are unavailable or deemed unreliable, or if events occur after the close of a securities market (usually a foreign market) and before portfolio assets are valued that cause or are likely to cause a market quotation to be unavailable or unreliable, such as corporate actions, regulatory news, or natural disasters or governmental actions that may affect investments in a particular sector, country or region. In addition, for foreign equity securities and total return swaps and futures contracts on foreign indices that meet certain criteria, the Board has approved the use of a fair value service that values such investments to reflect market trading that occurs after the close of the applicable foreign markets of comparable securities or other investments that have a strong correlation to the fair valued investments. An investment that is fair valued may be valued at a price higher or lower than (i) actual market quotations, (ii) the value determined by other funds using their own fair valuation procedures, or (iii) the price at which the investment could have been sold during the period in which fair valuation was used with respect to such investment to calculate the Fund’s NAV. Because foreign investments held by the Fund, if any, may trade on days when Fund shares are not priced, the value of such investments, and thus the net asset value of the Fund’s shares, can change on days when Fund shares cannot be redeemed or purchased. Eaton Vance has established a Valuation Committee that oversees the valuation of investments.
Purchasing Shares
Set forth below is information about the manner in which the Fund offers shares. A financial intermediary may offer Fund shares subject to variations in or elimination of the Fund sales charges (“variations”), provided such variations are described in this Prospectus. All variations described in Appendix A are applied by, and the responsibility of, the identified financial intermediary. Sales charge variations may apply to purchases, sales, exchanges and reinvestments of Fund shares and a shareholder transacting in Fund shares through an intermediary identified on Appendix A should read the terms and conditions of Appendix A carefully. See also “Shareholder Account Features – ‘Street Name’ Accounts.” For the variations applicable to shares offered through certain financial intermediaries, please see Appendix A – Financial Intermediary Sales Charge Variations. A variation that is specific to a particular financial intermediary is not applicable to shares held directly with the Fund or through another intermediary.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund16Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
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 the order is complete and contains 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 U.S. registered funds sponsored by the Eaton Vance organization (the “Eaton Vance funds”) generally do not accept investments from residents of the European Union, the United Kingdom or Switzerland. The funds also do not accept investments from other non-U.S. residents, provided that a fund may accept investments from certain non-U.S. investors at the discretion of the principal underwriter. The Fund does not issue share certificates.
As used throughout this Prospectus, the term “employer sponsored retirement plan” includes the following: an employer sponsored pension or profit sharing plan that qualifies under section 401(a) of the Code (such as a 401(k) plan, money purchase pension, profit sharing and defined benefit plan); ERISA covered 403(b) plan; Taft-Hartley multi-employer plan; and non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements that operate in a similar manner to a qualified retirement plan (including 457 plans and executive deferred compensation arrangements). Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”) are not employer sponsored retirement plans for purposes of this definition.
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.
The minimum initial investment amount and Fund policy of redeeming accounts with low account balances are waived for bank automated investing accounts, certain group purchase plans (including employer sponsored retirement 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 SAI).
Class I Shares
Your initial investment must be at least $250,000, except as noted below. 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 employer sponsored retirement plans. Class I shares may also be available through brokerage platforms of broker-dealer firms that have agreements with the Fund’s principal underwriter to offer Class I shares solely when acting as an agent for the investor. An investor acquiring Class I shares through such platforms may be required to pay a commission and/or other forms of compensation to the broker. The Fund offers another share class that has different fees and expenses. Class I shares also are offered to investment and institutional clients of Eaton Vance and its affiliates and certain persons affiliated with Eaton Vance.
The Class I minimum initial investment is waived for persons affiliated with Eaton Vance, its affiliates and certain Fund service providers (as described in the SAI). The minimum initial investment also is waived for: (i) permitted exchanges; (ii) employer sponsored retirement plans; (iii) corporations, endowments and foundations with assets of at least $100 million; (iv) Class I shares purchased through the brokerage platforms described above; and (v) accounts of clients of financial intermediaries who (a) charge an ongoing fee for advisory, investment, consulting or similar services, or (b) have entered into an agreement with the principal underwriter to offer Class I shares through a no-load network or platform (in each case, as described above).
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 Eaton Vance Shareholder Services 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, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Eastern Time). Shareholder Services must be advised by telephone of each additional investment by wire.
Subsequent Investments. 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 provided such investments equal a minimum of $200 per year. You can establish bank automated investing on the account application or by providing written instructions to the Fund’s
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund17Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
transfer agent. Please call 1-800-262-1122 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) for further information.
You also may make additional investments by accessing your account via the Eaton Vance website at www.eatonvance.com. The trade date of purchases made through the Internet from a pre-designated bank account will be the day the purchase is requested through the Eaton Vance website (provided the request is on a business day and submitted no later than the close of regular trading on the Exchange). For more information about purchasing shares through the Internet, please call 1-800-262-1122 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Eastern Time).
Inactive Accounts. In accordance with state “unclaimed property” (also known as “escheatment”) laws, your Fund shares may legally be considered abandoned and required to be transferred to the relevant state if no account activity or contact with the Fund or your financial intermediary occurs within a specified period of time. Please initiate contact a least once per calendar year and maintain a current and valid mailing address on record for your account. For more information, please see https://funds.eatonvance.com/mutual-funds-and-abandoned-property.php or please contact us at 1-800-262-1122.
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 (including exchanges, if permitted) of a fund’s shares may dilute the value of shares held by long-term shareholders. Volatility resulting from excessive purchases and sales of fund shares, especially involving large dollar amounts, may disrupt efficient portfolio management. In particular, excessive purchases and sales 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 illiquid, 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(s) and sub-adviser(s) 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 the Eaton Vance funds have adopted policies to discourage short-term trading and market timing and to seek to minimize their potentially detrimental effects (the “Policy”). Under the Policy, the Board has delegated to Eaton Vance the responsibility to reject or cancel a purchase order, suspend or terminate an exchange privilege or terminate the ability of a shareholder to invest in the Eaton Vance funds if Eaton Vance determines that a proposed transaction involves market timing or excessive trading that it believes is likely to be detrimental to the Fund.
Pursuant to the Policy, two “round-trips” completed by a Fund shareholder within 90 days through one or more accounts (the “Limitation”) generally will be deemed to be indicative of market timing or trading excessively in fund shares. A “round trip” is defined as a purchase or exchange into a Fund followed or preceded by a redemption or exchange out of the Fund. Purchases and redemptions subject to the Limitation include those made by exchanging to or from another fund. Eaton Vance will evaluate transactions in Fund shares that violate the Limitation to determine whether they are likely to be detrimental to the Fund. In making such a determination, Eaton Vance may consider various factors, such as the amount, frequency and nature of trading activity. If such a determination is made, the Fund shareholder may be subject to restrictions on trading Fund shares, as described above. Eaton Vance uses reasonable efforts to detect market timing and excessive trading activity that is likely to be detrimental to the Fund, but it cannot ensure that it will be able to identify all such cases. Eaton Vance may also reject or cancel any purchase order (including an exchange) from a shareholder or group of shareholders for any other reason. In applying the Policy, and in particular when determining whether a transaction is likely to be detrimental to a Fund, Eaton Vance will be required to make judgments that are inherently subjective and will depend on the specific facts and circumstances. Such determinations will be made in a manner believed to be in the best interest of the Fund’s shareholders. No Eaton Vance fund has any arrangement to permit market timing.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund18Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
The following fund share transactions generally are exempt from the Policy because they generally do not raise market timing or excessive trading concerns:
·transactions (i) made pursuant to the Fund’s systematic purchase, exchange or redemption plan, (ii) made as the result of automatic reinvestment of dividends or distributions, or (iii) initiated by the Fund (e.g., for transactions due to a failure to meet applicable account minimums);
·transactions made by participants in employer sponsored retirement plans involving (i) participant payroll or employer contributions or loan repayments, (ii) redemptions as part of plan terminations or at the direction of the plan, mandatory retirement distributions, or (iii) rollovers; or
·investments in a fund by ReFlow in connection with the ReFlow liquidity program (if applicable to the Fund, the ReFlow liquidity program is described under “Investment Objectives & Principal Policies and Risks” above).
The following Fund share transactions generally are exempt from the Limitation; however, these transactions are subject to monitoring by Eaton Vance and may be subject to restrictions if deemed likely to be detrimental to the Fund:
·transactions made by model-based discretionary advisory accounts; or
·transactions made by funds that invest in the Fund as part of an asset reallocation in accordance with their investment policies or in response to Fund inflows and outflows.
It may be difficult for Eaton Vance to identify market timing or excessive trading in omnibus accounts traded through financial intermediaries. Eaton Vance has provided guidance to financial intermediaries (such as banks, broker-dealers, insurance companies and retirement administrators) concerning the application of the Policy 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. Eaton Vance 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 Policy. Although Eaton Vance reviews trading activity at the omnibus account level for activity that indicates potential market timing or excessive trading activity, Eaton Vance typically will not request or receive individual account data unless suspicious trading activity is identified. Eaton Vance generally relies on financial intermediaries to monitor trading activity in omnibus accounts in good faith in accordance with their own policies or the Policy. Eaton Vance cannot ensure that these financial intermediaries will in all cases apply the Policy 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 expenses and privileges, and will likely have different share prices due to differences in class expenses. A share class also may be subject to a sales charge. In choosing the class of shares that suits your investment needs, you should consider:
·how long you expect to own your shares;
·how much you intend to invest; and
·the total operating expenses associated with owning each class.
Each investor’s considerations are different. You should speak with your financial intermediary to help you decide which class of shares to purchase. 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 employer sponsored retirement plans. Class I shares may also be available through brokerage platforms of broker-dealer firms that have agreements with the Fund’s principal underwriter to offer Class I shares solely when acting as an agent for the investor. An investor acquiring Class I shares through such platforms may be required to pay a commission and/or other forms of compensation to the broker. Class I shares are also offered to investment and institutional clients of Eaton Vance and its affiliates, and certain persons affiliated with Eaton Vance (including employees, officers and directors of Eaton Vance’s affiliates). Class I shares do not pay distribution or service fees.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund19Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
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 (which may include affiliates of the principal underwriter and investment adviser) 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. 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:
Amount of Purchase |
Sales Charge*
|
Sales Charge*
|
Dealer Commission
|
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 but less than $3,000,000 |
0.00** |
0.00** |
TIERED** |
$3,000,000 or more |
0.00** |
0.00** |
TIERED** |
*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. The principal underwriter will pay a commission to financial intermediaries on sales of $1 million or more as follows: 1.00% on amounts of $1 million or more but less than $3 million; plus 0.75% on amounts of $3 million or more. A contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% will be imposed on such investments (as described below) in the event of redemptions within 18 months of purchase.
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. 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 employer sponsored retirement plans and IRAs) may be combined for purposes of the right of accumulation. Shares purchased and/or owned in a SEP, SARSEP and SIMPLE IRA plan 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
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund20Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
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. If during the 13-month period you redeem any of the shares that you purchased pursuant to the statement of intention, the value of the redeemed shares will not be included for purposes of satisfying your statement of intention. For additional information about statements of intention, see “Sales Charges” in the SAI.
Class A shares are offered at net asset value (without a sales charge) to accounts of 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, or self-directed brokerage accounts that may or may not charge transaction fees to customers; or (iii) employer sponsored retirement 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; direct purchases of shares by accounts where no financial intermediary is specified; and to certain fund service providers as described in the SAI. Class A shares are also offered at net asset value to shareholders who make a permitted direct transfer or roll-over to an Eaton Vance prototype IRA from an employer-sponsored retirement plan previously invested in Eaton Vance funds (applicable only to the portion previously invested in Eaton Vance funds), provided that sufficient documentation is provided to the transfer agent of such transfer or roll-over at the time of the account opening. Class A shares may also be purchased at net asset value pursuant to the exchange privilege and when distributions are reinvested. A financial intermediary may not, in accordance with its policies and procedures, offer one or more of the waiver categories described above and shareholders should consult their financial intermediary for more information. The Fund may eliminate, modify or add to the terms of these sales charge waivers at any time without providing notice to shareholders.
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 or “CDSC” if redeemed within 18 months of purchase. The CDSC is generally paid to the principal underwriter. 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 that are not subject to a CDSC.
CDSC Waivers. CDSCs are waived for certain redemptions pursuant to a Withdrawal Plan (see “Shareholder Account Features”) and in connection with certain redemptions from employer sponsored retirement plans or IRAs to satisfy required minimum distributions or to return excess contributions made to IRAs, if applicable. The CDSC is also waived following the death of a beneficial owner of shares (a death certificate and other applicable documents may be required).
Conversion Feature. In some circumstances, the Board may determine to cease to offer and subsequently close an existing class of Fund shares. In such circumstances, the Fund may automatically convert the shares for such class into another share class, subject to prior notice to shareholders of the impacted class. Any such conversion will occur at the respective net asset value of each class as of the conversion date without the imposition of any fee or other charges by the Fund.
Distribution and Service Fees. Class A shares have in effect a Plan under Rule 12b-1 that allow(s) the Fund to pay distribution fees for the sale and distribution of shares and service fees for personal and/or shareholder account services (so-called “12b-1 fees”) . 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 generally receives the distribution and service fees for one year. Thereafter financial intermediaries generally receive from the principal underwriter 0.25% annually of average daily net assets based on the value of shares sold by such financial intermediaries for shareholder servicing performed by such intermediaries. With respect to purchases of Class A shares by certain employer sponsored retirement plans, the financial intermediary receives the above described distribution and service fees from the principal underwriter immediately after the sale. Distribution and service fees are subject to the limitations contained in the sales charge rule of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
More information about Fund sales charges is available free of charge on the Eaton Vance website at www.eatonvance.com and in the SAI. Please consult the Eaton Vance website for any updates to Fund sales charge information before making a purchase of Fund shares. Please consult your financial intermediary with respect to any sales charge variations listed on Appendix A.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund21Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
Redeeming Shares
You can redeem shares in any of the following ways:
By Mail |
Send your request to the transfer agent (see back cover for address). 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. Circumstances that may require a Medallion signature guarantee include, but are not limited to, requests to distribute redemption proceeds to a party other than the registered account owner(s); requests to mail redemption proceeds to an address other than the address of record; requests to distribute proceeds to a bank account not on file; requests to re-issue uncashed checks representing redemption proceeds; or transaction requests from an account beneficiary when an account owner is deceased. 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. |
By Telephone |
Certain shareholders can redeem by calling 1-800-262-1122 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 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. |
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. |
For Additional Information |
Please call 1-800-262-1122 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Eastern Time). |
Through a Financial Intermediary |
Your financial intermediary is responsible for transmitting the order promptly. A financial intermediary may charge a fee for this service. |
A redemption may be requested by sending a Medallion signature guaranteed letter of instruction to the transfer agent (see back cover for address) or, for telephone redemptions as described above, by calling 1-800-262-1122. 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. The Fund's transfer agent or your financial intermediary must receive your redemption in proper form (meaning that it is complete and contains all necessary information) no later than the close of regular trading on the Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) for your redemption to be effected at that day’s net asset value. Redemption proceeds are reduced by the amount of any applicable CDSC and any federal income and state tax required to be withheld.
Redemption proceeds typically are paid to the redeeming shareholder in cash up to two business days after the redemption, but payment could take up to seven days, as permitted by the 1940 Act for the reasons discussed below. The actual number of days following receipt of a redemption request in which the Fund typically expects to pay redemption proceeds generally will depend on how you hold your shares with the Fund.
If your shares are held in a “street name” account with a financial intermediary (see “Shareholder Account Features – ‘Street Name’ Accounts”), your intermediary will elect through National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”) to settle redemptions either one business day or two business days after the redemption date and redemption proceeds normally will be wired to your financial intermediary on the settlement date pursuant to that election.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund22Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
If your shares are held directly with the Fund's transfer agent, redemptions normally will be settled in one business day after the redemption date and redemption proceeds will be sent by regular mail on such date. However, if you have given proper written authorization in advance, you may request that redemption proceeds be wired on the settlement date directly to your bank account in any bank in the United States. While not currently charged by the Fund, you may be required to pay a wire transfer fee by your bank. If you request expedited mail delivery of your redemption proceeds and the Fund is able to accommodate your request, charges may apply. You may redeem all or a portion of the shares from your account on any day the Fund is open for business, provided the amount requested is not on hold or held in escrow pursuant to a statement of intention. When you purchase by check or with ACH funds transfer, the purchase will be on hold for up to 10 days from the date of receipt. During the hold period, redemption proceeds will not be sent until the transfer agent is reasonably satisfied that the purchase payment has been collected.
The Fund typically expects to meet redemption requests by (i) distributing any cash holdings, (ii) selling portfolio investments and/or (iii) borrowing from a bank under a line of credit. In addition to the foregoing, the Fund also may distribute securities as payment (a so-called “redemption in-kind”), in which case the redeeming shareholder may pay fees and commissions to convert the securities to cash. Unless requested by a shareholder, the Fund generally expects to limit use of redemption in-kind to stressed market conditions, but is permitted to do so in other circumstances. A shareholder who wishes to receive redemption proceeds in-kind must notify the Fund on or before submitting the redemption request by calling 1-800-262-1122. Securities distributed in a redemption in-kind would be valued pursuant to the Fund’s valuation procedures and selected by the investment adviser. If a shareholder receives securities in a redemption in-kind, the shareholder could incur brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash and the value of such securities would be subject to price fluctuations until sold. There can be no assurance that the Fund will manage liquidity successfully in all market environments. As a result, the Fund may not be able to pay redemption proceeds in a timely fashion because of unusual market conditions, an unusually high volume of redemption requests or other factors. Additional information about redemptions in-kind, including the procedures for submitting such redemption requests, is contained in the Fund’s SAI.
If your account value falls below $750, 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 at net asset value and the proceeds sent to you.
Shareholder Account Features
Distributions. You may have your Fund distributions paid in one of the following ways:
• Full Reinvest Option |
Distributions are reinvested in additional shares. This option will be assigned if you do not specify an option. |
• Partial Reinvest Option |
Dividends are paid in cash* and capital gains are reinvested in additional shares. |
• Cash Option |
Distributions are paid in cash.* |
• 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. |
*If any distribution check remains uncashed for six months, Eaton Vance reserves the right to invest the amount represented by the check in Fund shares at the then-current net asset value of the Fund and all future distributions will be reinvested.
Information about the Fund. From time to time, you may receive the following:
·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.
·Periodic account statements, showing recent activity and total share balance.
·Tax information needed to prepare your income tax returns.
·Proxy materials, in the event a shareholder vote is required.
·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.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund23Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
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 SAI. 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 information regarding its portfolio holdings with the SEC on its Form N-PORT. The Fund’s annual and semiannual reports (as filed on Form N-CSR) and certain information filed on Form N-PORT 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 and the Fund may also post performance attribution as of a month end or more frequently if deemed appropriate.
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.
Exchange Privilege. Each class of Fund shares may be exchanged for shares of the same Class of another Eaton Vance fund. For purposes of exchanges among Eaton Vance funds, Class A and Class I shares are deemed to be the same as Investor Class and Institutional Class shares, respectively, of other Eaton Vance funds. 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. Except as described below, any class of shares of a fund may be exchanged for any other class of shares of that fund, provided that the shares being exchanged are no longer subject to a CDSC and the conditions for investing in the other class of shares described in the applicable prospectus are satisfied. Class C shares are not permitted to be exchanged for Class A shares unless the CDSC has expired and the exchange is made to facilitate the shareholders participation in a fee-based advisory program. See also Appendix A to this Prospectus.
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.” Ordinarily exchanges between different funds are taxable transactions for federal tax purposes, while permitted exchanges of one class for shares of another class of the same fund are not. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the applicability of federal, state, local and other taxes to transactions in Fund 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 account and in the same class of shares of the Fund you redeemed from or another Fund, provided that the reinvestment occurs within 90 days of the redemption, the privilege has not been used more than once in the prior 12 months, the redeemed shares were subject to a front-end sales charge or CDSC and that you are otherwise eligible to invest in that class. 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. For requests for reinvestment sent to the Fund's transfer agent, the request 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. You should verify the accuracy of your confirmation statements immediately upon receipt and notify Eaton Vance Shareholder Services of any inaccuracies.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund24Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
“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 does not maintain an account for you, you should contact your financial intermediary to make transactions in shares, make changes in your account, or 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 and certain features may be subject to different requirements. 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. If you fail to provide your full account history to your new financial intermediary following a transfer, you may be ineligible for certain features of the Fund.
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 an account with the Fund 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.
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, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Eastern Time), or write to the transfer agent (see back cover for address).
Additional Tax Information
The Fund intends to declare and pay distributions annually. Distributions may not be paid if Fund (and/or Class) expenses exceed Fund income for the period. Different Classes of the Fund will generally distribute different dividend amounts. The Fund makes distributions of net realized capital gains (if any) annually. It also may be necessary, in order to qualify for favorable tax treatment and to avoid any Fund-level tax, for the Fund to make a special income and/or capital gains distribution at the end of the calendar year.
Distributions of the Fund’s investment income (other than qualified dividend income, as described below) and net realized short-term capital gains generally will be taxed as ordinary income. Distributions of net long-term capital gains (net gains from investments held for more than one year) generally will be taxed as long-term capital gains. Taxes on distributions of capital gains are determined by how long the Fund owned (or is treated as having owned) the investments that generated them, rather than how long a shareholder has owned his or her shares in the Fund. Distributions of investment income properly reported by the Fund as derived from “qualified dividend income” (as further described in the SAI) will be taxed in the hands of individuals at rates applicable to long-term capital gain provided holding period and other requirements are met at both the shareholder and Fund level. Over time, distributions by the Fund can generally be expected to include ordinary income, qualified dividend income, and capital gain distributions taxable as long-term capital gains. A portion of the Fund’s income distributions may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporations. The Fund’s distributions will be taxable as described above whether they are paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares.
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 generally a taxable transaction.
The net investment income of certain U.S. individuals, estates and trusts is subject to a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax. 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, among other things, interest,
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund25Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
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.
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 may decrease the Fund’s yield on such securities. These taxes may be reduced or eliminated under the terms of an applicable tax treaty. Under certain circumstances, shareholders may be entitled to claim a credit or deduction with respect to foreign taxes paid by the Fund. If eligible, the Fund may elect to allow Fund shareholders to include in gross income their pro rata share of qualified foreign income taxes paid by the Fund (even though such amounts are not received by the shareholders) and could allow Fund shareholders, provided certain requirements are met, to use their pro rata portion of such foreign income taxes as a foreign tax credit against their federal income taxes or, alternatively, for shareholders who itemize their tax deductions, to deduct their portion of the Fund’s foreign taxes paid in computing their taxable federal income. However, even if the Fund qualifies to make such election for any year, it may determine not to do so. 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.
The Fund may be required to withhold, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a portion of the dividends, distributions and redemption proceeds payable to shareholders who fail to provide the Fund with their correct taxpayer identification number or make required certifications, or who have been notified by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) that they are subject to backup withholding. Certain shareholders are exempt from backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amount withheld may be credited against a shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability.
Certain foreign entities may be subject to a 30% withholding tax on ordinary dividend income paid under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”). To avoid withholding, foreign financial institutions subject to FATCA must agree to disclose to the relevant revenue authorities certain information regarding their direct and indirect U.S. owners and other foreign entities must certify certain information regarding their direct and indirect U.S. owners to the Fund. In addition, the IRS and Department of Treasury have issued proposed regulations providing that these withholding rules will not be applicable to the gross proceeds of share redemptions or capital gain dividends the Fund pays. For more detailed information regarding FATCA withholding and compliance, please refer to the SAI.
Shareholders should consult with their tax advisors concerning the applicability of federal, state, local and other taxes to an investment.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund26Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
Financial Highlights
The financial highlights are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the period(s) indicated. Certain information in the table reflects the financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all distributions at net asset value). This information has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm. The report of Deloitte & Touche LLP and the Fund’s financial statements are incorporated herein by reference and included in the Fund’s annual report, which is available upon request.
|
Year Ended November 30, |
Period Ended November 30, |
||||||||
|
2020 |
2019 |
2018 |
2017 |
2016(1) |
|||||
|
Class A |
Class I |
Class A |
Class I |
Class A |
Class I |
Class A |
Class I |
Class A |
Class I |
Net asset value - Beginning of period |
$12.670 |
$12.720 |
$11.790 |
$11.840 |
$13.440 |
$13.470 |
$9.990 |
$10.010 |
$10.000 |
$10.000 |
Income (Loss) From Operations |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income(2) |
$0.037 |
$0.074 |
$0.131 |
$0.161 |
$0.138 |
$0.143 |
$0.004 |
$0.087 |
$0.169 |
$0.194 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
1.287 |
1.289 |
1.233 |
1.242 |
(1.329) |
(1.311) |
3.670 |
3.622 |
(0.176) |
(0.180) |
Total income (loss) from operations |
$1.324 |
$1.363 |
$1.364 |
$1.403 |
$(1.191) |
$(1.168) |
$3.674 |
$3.709 |
$(0.007) |
$0.014 |
Less Distributions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
From net investment income |
$(0.204) |
$(0.233) |
$(0.096) |
$(0.135) |
$(0.202) |
$(0.205) |
$(0.224) |
$(0.249) |
$(0.003) |
$(0.004) |
From net realized gain |
— |
— |
(0.388) |
(0.388) |
(0.257) |
(0.257) |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Total distributions |
$(0.204) |
$(0.233) |
$(0.484) |
$(0.523) |
$(0.459) |
$(0.462) |
$(0.224) |
$(0.249) |
$(0.003) |
$(0.004) |
Net asset value - End of period |
$13.790 |
$13.850 |
$12.670 |
$12.720 |
$11.790 |
$11.840 |
$13.440 |
$13.470 |
$9.990 |
$10.010 |
Total Return(3)(4) |
10.54% |
10.82% |
12.37% |
12.73% |
(9.22)% |
(9.03)% |
37.57% |
37.94% |
(0.07)%(5) |
0.14%(5) |
Ratios/Supplemental Data |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) |
$1,417 |
$49,028 |
$1,717 |
$42,132 |
$1,511 |
$31,389 |
$349 |
$15,483 |
$10 |
$10,003 |
Ratios (as a percentage of average daily net assets): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses(4) |
1.40% |
1.15% |
1.40% |
1.15% |
1.40% |
1.15% |
1.40% |
1.15% |
1.40%(6) |
1.15%(6) |
Net investment income |
0.30% |
0.61% |
1.12% |
1.37% |
1.05% |
1.08% |
0.03% |
0.75% |
1.76%(6) |
2.01%(6) |
Portfolio Turnover |
61% |
61% |
70% |
70% |
65% |
65% |
65% |
65% |
78%(5) |
78%(5) |
(1)For the period from the start of business, December 16, 2015, to November 30, 2016.
(2)Computed using average shares outstanding.
(3)Returns are historical and are calculated by determining the percentage change in net asset value with all distributions reinvested and do not reflect the effect of sales charges, if applicable.
(4)The investment adviser and administrator and sub-adviser reimbursed certain operating expenses (equal to 0.16%, 0.21%, 0.26%, 0.97% and 1.59% of average daily net assets for the years ended November 30, 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017 and the period from the start of business, December 16, 2015, to November 30, 2016, respectively). Absent this reimbursement, total return would be lower.
(5)Not annualized.
(6)Annualized.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund27Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
Appendix A
Financial Intermediary Sales Charge Variations
As noted under “Purchasing Shares,” a financial intermediary may offer Fund shares subject to variations in or elimination of the Fund sales charges (“variations”), provided such variations are described in this Prospectus. Set forth below are the variations in sales charges applicable to shares purchased through the noted financial intermediary. All variations described below are applied by, and the responsibility of, the identified financial intermediary. Variations may apply to purchases, sales, exchanges and reinvestments of Fund shares and a shareholder transacting in Fund shares through the intermediary identified below should read the terms and conditions of the variations carefully. A variation that is specific to a particular financial intermediary is not applicable to shares held directly with the Fund or through another intermediary.
Fund Purchases through Merrill Lynch
Shareholders purchasing Fund shares through a Merrill Lynch platform or account are eligible only for the following sales charge waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Prospectus or SAI.
Front-end Sales Load Waivers on Class A Shares available at Merrill Lynch
·Employer-sponsored retirement, deferred compensation and employee benefit plans (including health savings accounts) and trusts used to fund those plans, provided that the shares are not held in a commission-based brokerage account and shares are held for the benefit of the plan
·Shares purchased by a 529 Plan (does not include 529 Plan units or 529-specific share classes or equivalents)
·Shares purchased through a Merrill Lynch affiliated investment advisory program
·Shares exchanged due to the holdings moving from a Merrill Lynch affiliated investment advisory program to a Merrill Lynch brokerage (non-advisory) account pursuant to Merrill Lynch’s policies relating to sales load discounts and waivers
·Shares purchased by third party investment advisors on behalf of their advisory clients through Merrill Lynch’s platform
·Shares of funds purchased through the Merrill Edge Self-Directed platform (if applicable)
·Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family)
·Shares exchanged from Class C (i.e. level-load) shares of the same fund pursuant to Merrill Lynch’s policies relating to sales load discounts and waivers
·Employees and registered representatives of Merrill Lynch or its affiliates and their family members
·Directors or Trustees of the Fund, and employees of the Fund’s investment adviser or any of its affiliates, as described in the this prospectus
·Eligible shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Reinstatement). Automated transactions (i.e. systematic purchases and withdrawals) and purchases made after shares are automatically sold to pay Merrill Lynch’s account maintenance fees are not eligible for reinstatement
CDSC Waivers on Class A and Class C Shares available at Merrill Lynch
·Death or disability of the shareholder
·Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the Fund’s prospectus
·Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account
·Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code
·Shares sold to pay Merrill Lynch fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Merrill Lynch
·Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement
·Shares held in retirement brokerage accounts, that are exchanged for a lower cost share class due to transfer to certain fee based accounts or platforms (applicable to Class A and C shares only)
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund28Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
·Shares received through an exchange due to the holdings moving from a Merrill Lynch affiliated investment advisory program to a Merrill Lynch brokerage (non-advisory) account pursuant to Merrill Lynch’s policies relating to sales load discounts and waivers
Front-end load Discounts Available at Merrill Lynch: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation & Letters of Intent
·Breakpoints as described in this prospectus
·Rights of Accumulation (ROA) which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts as described in the Fund’s prospectus will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts (including 529 program holdings, where applicable) within the purchaser’s household at Merrill Lynch. Eligible fund family assets not held at Merrill Lynch may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets
·Letters of Intent (LOI) which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within a fund family, through Merrill Lynch, over a 13-month period of time (if applicable)
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund29Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
Fund Purchases through Ameriprise Financial (Class A Sales Charge Waivers)
The following information applies to Class A share purchases if you have an account with or otherwise purchase Fund shares through Ameriprise Financial:
Effective January 15, 2021, shareholders purchasing Fund shares through an Ameriprise Financial retail brokerage account are eligible for the following front-end sales charge waivers, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Prospectus or in the SAI.
·Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs or SAR-SEPs.
·
·
·Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same Fund (but not any other fund within the same fund family).
·Shares exchanged from Class C shares of the same fund in the month of or following the 7-year anniversary of the purchase date. To the extent that this Prospectus elsewhere provides for a waiver with respect to exchanges of Class C shares or conversion of Class C shares following a shorter holding period, that waiver will apply.
·Employees and registered representatives of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates and their immediate family members.
·Shares purchased by or through qualified accounts (including IRAs, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, 401(k)s, 403(b) TSCAs subject to ERISA and defined benefit plans) that are held by a covered family member, defined as an Ameriprise financial advisor and/or the advisor’s spouse, advisor’s lineal ascendant (mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, great grandmother, great grandfather), advisor’s lineal descendant (son, step-son, daughter, step-daughter, grandson, granddaughter, great grandson, great granddaughter) or any spouse of a covered family member who is a lineal descendant.
·Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (i.e. Rights of Reinstatement).
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund30Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
Fund Purchases through Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Effective July 1, 2018, shareholders purchasing Fund shares through a Morgan Stanley Wealth Management transactional brokerage account will be eligible only for the following front-end sales charge waivers with respect to Class A shares, which may differ from and may be more limited than those disclosed elsewhere in this Prospectus or SAI.
Front-end Sales Charge Waivers on Class A Shares available at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
·Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans
·Morgan Stanley employee and employee-related accounts according to Morgan Stanley’s account linking rules
·Shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions when purchasing shares of the same fund
·Shares purchased through a Morgan Stanley self-directed brokerage account
·Class C (i.e., level-load) shares that are no longer subject to a contingent deferred sales charge and are converted to Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to Morgan Stanley Wealth Management’s share class conversion program
·Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (i) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (ii) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (iii) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales charge.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund31Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
Fund Purchases through Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. and each entity’s affiliates (“Raymond James”)
Effective March 1, 2019, shareholders purchasing fund shares through a Raymond James platform or account, or through an introducing broker-dealer or independent registered investment adviser for which Raymond James provides trade execution, clearance, and/or custody services, will be eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this fund’s prospectus or SAI.
Front-end sales load waivers on Class A shares available at Raymond James
·Shares purchased in an investment advisory program.
·Shares purchased within the same fund family through a systematic reinvestment of capital gains and dividend distributions.
·Employees and registered representatives of Raymond James or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Raymond James.
·Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Reinstatement).
·A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Class A shares (or the appropriate share class) of the Fund if the shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of Raymond James.
CDSC Waivers on Classes A and C shares available at Raymond James
·Death or disability of the shareholder.
·Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the fund’s prospectus.
·Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account.
·Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations as described in the fund’s prospectus.
·Shares sold to pay Raymond James fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Raymond James.
·Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement.
Front-end load discounts available at Raymond James: breakpoints, rights of accumulation, and/or letters of intent
·Breakpoints as described in this prospectus.
·Rights of accumulation which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Raymond James. Eligible fund family assets not held at Raymond James may be included in the calculation of rights of accumulation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.
·Letters of intent which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within a fund family, over a 13-month time period. Eligible fund family assets not held at Raymond James may be included in the calculation of letters of intent only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund32Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
Fund Purchases through Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (“Janney”)
Effective May 1, 2020, if you purchase fund shares through a Janney brokerage account, you will be eligible for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”), or back-end sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this fund’s Prospectus or SAI.
Front-end sales charge* waivers on Class A shares available at Janney
·Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family).
·Shares purchased by employees and registered representatives of Janney or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Janney.
·Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within ninety (90) days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (i.e., right of reinstatement).
·Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans.
·Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement.
·Class C shares that are no longer subject to a contingent deferred sales charge and are converted to Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to Janney’s policies and procedures.
CDSC waivers on Class A and C shares available at Janney
·Shares sold upon the death or disability of the shareholder.
·Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the fund’s Prospectus.
·Shares purchased in connection with a return of excess contributions from an IRA account.
·Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and other retirement accounts if the redemption is taken in or after the year the shareholder reaches qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations.
·Shares sold to pay Janney fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Janney.
·Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement.
·Shares exchanged into the same share class of a different fund.
Front-end sales charge* discounts available at Janney: breakpoints, rights of accumulation and/or letters of intent
·Breakpoints as described in the fund’s Prospectus.
·Rights of accumulation (“ROA”), which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts, will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Janney. Eligible fund family assets not held at Janney may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.
·Letters of intent which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within a fund family, over a 13-month time period. Eligible fund family assets not held at Janney Montgomery Scott may be included in the calculation of letters of intent only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.
* Also referred to as an “initial sales charge.”
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund33Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
Fund Purchases through Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. (“Oppenheimer”)
Effective May 1, 2020, shareholders purchasing Fund shares through an Oppenheimer platform or account are eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund’s prospectus or SAI.
Front-end Sales Load Waivers on Class A Shares available at Oppenheimer
·Employer-sponsored retirement, deferred compensation and employee benefit plans (including health savings accounts) and trusts used to fund those plans, provided that the shares are not held in a commission-based brokerage account and shares are held for the benefit of the plan.
·Shares purchased by or through a 529 Plan.
·Shares purchased through a Oppenheimer affiliated investment advisory program.
·Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family).
·Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Restatement).
·A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Class A shares (or the appropriate share class) of the Fund if the shares are no longer subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of Oppenheimer.
·Employees and registered representatives of Oppenheimer or its affiliates and their family members.
·Directors or Trustees of the Fund, and employees of the Fund’s investment adviser or any of its affiliates, as described in this prospectus.
CDSC Waivers on A and C Shares available at Oppenheimer
·Death or disability of the shareholder.
·Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the Fund’s prospectus.
·Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account.
·Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching the qualified age based on IRS regulations as described in the prospectus.
·Shares sold to pay Oppenheimer fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Oppenheimer.
·Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement.
Front-end load Discounts Available at Oppenheimer: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation & Letters of Intent
·Breakpoints as described in this prospectus.
·Rights of Accumulation (ROA) which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Oppenheimer. Eligible fund family assets not held at Oppenheimer may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund34Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
Policies Regarding Transactions Through Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. (“Edward Jones”)
The following information has been provided by Edward Jones:
Effective on or after March 1, 2021, the following information supersedes prior information with respect to transactions and positions held in fund shares through an Edward Jones system. Clients of Edward Jones (also referred to as “shareholders”) purchasing fund shares on the Edward Jones commission and fee-based platforms are eligible only for the following sales charge discounts (also referred to as “breakpoints”) and waivers, which can differ from discounts and waivers described elsewhere in the mutual fund prospectus or statement of additional information (“SAI”) or through another broker-dealer. In all instances, it is the shareholder's responsibility to inform Edward Jones at the time of purchase of any relationship, holdings of fund family or other facts qualifying the purchaser for discounts or waivers. Edward Jones can ask for documentation from the shareholder of such circumstance. Shareholders should contact Edward Jones if they have questions regarding their eligibility for these discounts and waivers.
Breakpoints
·Breakpoint pricing, otherwise known as volume pricing, at dollar thresholds as described in the prospectus.
Rights of Accumulation (“ROA”)
·The applicable sales charge on a purchase of Class A shares is determined by taking into account all share classes (except certain money market funds and any assets held in group retirement plans) of the mutual fund family held by the shareholder or in an account grouped by Edward Jones with other accounts for the purpose of providing certain pricing considerations (“pricing groups”). If grouping assets as a shareholder, this includes all share classes held on the Edward Jones platform and/or held on another platform. The inclusion of eligible fund family assets in the ROA calculation is dependent on the shareholder notifying Edward Jones of such assets at the time of calculation. Money market funds are included only if such shares were sold with a sales charge at the time of purchase or acquired in exchange for shares purchased with a sales charge.
·The employer maintaining a SEP IRA plan and/or SIMPLE IRA plan may elect to establish or change ROA for the IRA accounts associated with the plan to a plan-level grouping as opposed to including all share classes at a shareholder or pricing group level.
·ROA is determined by calculating the higher of cost minus redemptions or market value (current shares x NAV).
Letter of Intent (“LOI”)
·Through a LOI, shareholders can receive the sales charge and breakpoint discounts for purchases shareholders intend to make over a 13-month period from the date Edward Jones receives the LOI. The LOI is determined by calculating the higher of cost or market value of qualifying holdings at LOI initiation in combination with the value that the shareholder intends to buy over a 13-month period to calculate the front-end sales charge and any breakpoint discounts. Each purchase the shareholder makes during that 13-month period will receive the sales charge and breakpoint discount that applies to the total amount. If during the 13-month period the shareholder redeems any of the shares purchased pursuant to a LOI, the value of the redeemed shares will not be included for purposes of satisfying the LOI. The inclusion of eligible fund family assets in the LOI calculation is dependent on the shareholder notifying Edward Jones of such assets at the time of calculation. Purchases made before the LOI is received by Edward Jones are not adjusted under the LOI and will not reduce the sales charge previously paid. Sales charges will be adjusted if LOI is not met.
·If the employer maintaining a SEP IRA plan and/or SIMPLE IRA plan has elected to establish or change ROA for the IRA accounts associated with the plan to a plan-level grouping, LOIs will also be at the plan-level and may only be established by the employer.
Front-end Sales Charge Waivers
Sales charges are waived for the following shareholders and in the following situations:
·Associates of Edward Jones and its affiliates and their family members who are in the same pricing group (as determined by Edward Jones under its policies and procedures) as the associate. This waiver will continue for the remainder of the associate's life if the associate retires from Edward Jones in good-standing and remains in good standing pursuant to Edward Jones' policies and procedures.
·Shares purchased in an Edward Jones fee-based program.
·Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund35Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
·Shares purchased from the proceeds of redeemed shares of the same fund family so long as the following conditions are met: 1) the proceeds are from the sale of shares within 60 days of the purchase, and 2) the sale and purchase are made in the same share class and the same account or the purchase is made in an individual retirement account with proceeds from liquidations in a non-retirement account.
·Shares exchanged into Class A shares from another share class so long as the exchange is into the same fund and was initiated at the discretion of Edward Jones. Edward Jones is responsible for any remaining Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (“CDSC”) due to the fund company or its affiliate, if applicable. Any future purchases are subject to the applicable sales charge as disclosed in the prospectus.
·Exchanges from Class C shares to Class A shares of the same fund, generally, in the 84th month following the anniversary of the purchase date or earlier at the discretion of Edward Jones.
CDSC Waivers
If the shareholder purchases shares that are subject to a CDSC and those shares are redeemed before the CDSC is expired, the shareholder is responsible to pay the CDSC except in the following conditions:
·The death or disability of the shareholder.
·Systematic withdrawals with up to 10% per year of the account value.
·Return of excess contributions from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA).
·Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts if the redemption is taken in or after the year the shareholder reaches qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations.
·Shares sold to pay Edward Jones fees or costs in such cases where the transaction is initiated by Edward Jones. Edward Jones is responsible for any remaining CDSC due to the fund company or its affiliate, if applicable.
·Shares exchanged in an Edward Jones fee-based program. Edward Jones is responsible for any remaining CDSC due to the fund company or its affiliate, if applicable.
·Shares acquired through NAV reinstatement.
·Shares redeemed at the discretion of Edward Jones for Minimum Balances as described below.
******************************************************************************
Other Important Information Regarding Transactions Through Edward Jones
Minimum Purchase Amounts
·Initial purchase minimum: $250
·Subsequent purchase minimum: none
Minimum Balances
·Edward Jones has the right to redeem at its discretion fund holdings with a balance of $250 or less. The following are examples of accounts that are not included in this policy:
·A fee-based account held on an Edward Jones platform
·A 529 account held on an Edward Jones platform
·An account with an active systematic investment plan or LOI
Exchanging Share Classes
·At any time it deems necessary, Edward Jones has the authority to exchange at NAV a shareholder's holdings in a fund to Class A shares of the same fund. Edward Jones is responsible for any remaining CDSC due to the fund company or its affiliate, if applicable. Any future purchases are subject to the applicable sales charge as disclosed in the prospectus.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund36Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
Fund Purchases through D.A. Davidson & Co. (“D.A. Davidson”)
Effective 5/1/2020, shareholders purchasing fund shares including existing fund shareholders through a D.A. Davidson platform or account, or through an introducing broker-dealer or independent registered investment advisor for which D.A. Davidson provides trade execution, clearance, and/or custody services, will be eligible for the following sales charge waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or SAI.
Front-End Sales Charge Waivers on Class A Shares available at D.A. Davidson
·Shares purchased within the same fund family through a systematic reinvestment of capital gains and dividend distributions.
·Employees and registered representatives of D.A. Davidson or its affiliates and their family members as designated by D.A. Davidson.
·Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales charge (known as Rights of Reinstatement).
·A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Class A shares (or the appropriate share class) of the Fund if the shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and the conversion is consistent with D.A. Davidson’s policies and procedures.
CDSC Waivers on Classes A and C shares available at D.A. Davidson
·Death or disability of the shareholder.
·Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the fund’s prospectus.
·Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account.
·Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA or other qualifying retirement accounts as described in the fund’s prospectus beginning in the calendar year the shareholder turns age 72.
·Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement.
Front-end sales charge discounts available at D.A. Davidson: breakpoints, rights of accumulation and/or letters of intent CDSC Waivers on Classes A and C shares available at D.A. Davidson
·Breakpoints as described in this prospectus.
·Rights of accumulation which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at D.A. Davidson. Eligible fund family assets not held at D.A. Davidson may be included in the calculation of rights of accumulation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.
·Letters of intent which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within a fund family, over a 13-month time period. Eligible fund family assets not held at D.A. Davidson may be included in the calculation of letters of intent only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund37Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
Fund Purchases through Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated (“Baird”)
Effective June 15, 2020, shareholders purchasing fund shares through a Baird platform or account will only be eligible for the following sales charge waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and CDSC waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the SAI
Front-End Sales Charge Waivers on Class A-shares Available at Baird
·Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing share of the same fund
·Share purchase by employees and registers representatives of Baird or its affiliate and their family members as designated by Baird
·Shares purchase from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same accounts, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales charge (known as rights of reinstatement)
·A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C Shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Class A shares of the Fund if the shares are no longer subject to CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of Baird
·Employer-sponsored retirement plans or charitable accounts in a transactional brokerage account at Baird, including 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans. For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs or SAR-SEPs
CDSC Waivers on Class A and C shares Available at Baird
·Shares sold due to death or disability of the shareholder
·Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the Fund’s Prospectus
·Shares sold due to returns of excess contributions from an IRA Account
·Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts
·Shares sold to pay Baird fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Baird
·Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement
Front-End Sales Charge Discounts Available at Baird: Breakpoints and/or Rights of Accumulations
·Breakpoints as described in this prospectus
·Rights of accumulations which entitles shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Baird. Eligible fund family assets not held at Baird may be included in the rights of accumulations calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets
·Letters of Intent (LOI) allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases of fund family assets through Baird, over a 13-month period of time
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund38Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
Waivers Specific to Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated (“Stifel”)
Effective July 1, 2020, shareholders purchasing Fund shares through a Stifel platform or account or who own shares for which Stifel or an affiliate is the broker-dealer of record are eligible for the following additional sales charge waiver:
Front-End Sales Load Waiver on Class A-shares
·Class C shares that have been held for more than seven (7) years will be converted to Class A shares of the same Fund at net asset value pursuant to Stifel’s policies and procedures.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund39Prospectus dated April 1, 2021
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 is available in the annual and semiannual reports (collectively, the “reports”). 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 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
Information about the Fund (including the Statement of Additional Information and reports) is available on the EDGAR database on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, and copies of this information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following email address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Fund’s annual and semi-annual shareholder reports are no longer being sent by mail unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports are being made available on the Funds’ website (http://www.eatonvance.com/funddocuments), and you will be notified each time a report is posted and provided with a website address to access the report. You may elect to receive all future Fund shareholder reports in paper free of charge at any time. If you are a direct investor, you can inform the Fund that you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports by calling 1-800- 262-1122. If you own these shares through a financial intermediary, you must contact your financial intermediary to elect to continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports. If you are a direct investor, you may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the Fund electronically by signing up for e-Delivery at eatonvance.com/edelivery. If you own your shares through a financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank), you must contact your financial intermediary to sign up.
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 from or change your account, please write or call below:
Regular Mailing Address:
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Overnight Mailing Address:
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Phone Number:
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The Fund's Investment Company Act No. is 811-01241. |
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20323 4.1.21 |
© 2021 Eaton Vance Management |
Printed on recycled paper.
STATEMENT OF
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
April 1, 2021
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund
Class I Shares - EFGIX
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 diversified, open-end management investment company. The Fund is a series of Eaton Vance Growth 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:
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Page |
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Page |
Strategies and Risks |
2 |
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Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings and Related Information |
21 |
Investment Restrictions |
4 |
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Taxes |
22 |
Management and Organization |
5 |
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Portfolio Securities Transactions |
32 |
Investment Advisory and Administrative Services |
15 |
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Potential Conflicts of Interest |
35 |
Other Service Providers |
18 |
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Financial Statements |
41 |
Calculation of Net Asset Value |
19 |
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Additional Information About Investment Strategies and Risks |
41 |
Purchasing and Redeeming Shares |
20 |
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Appendix A: Class I Ownership |
74 |
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Appendix C: Adviser Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures |
77 |
Appendix B: Eaton Vance Funds Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures |
75 |
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This SAI is NOT a prospectus and is authorized for distribution to prospective investors only if preceded or accompanied by the Fund Prospectus dated April 1, 2021, 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.
© 2021 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;
“Board” means Board of Trustees or Board of Directors, as applicable;
“CEA” means Commodity Exchange Act;
“CFTC” means the Commodity Futures Trading Commission;
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;
“Eaton Vance family of funds” means all registered investment companies advised or administered by Eaton Vance Management (“Eaton Vance”) or Boston Management and Research (“BMR”);
“Eaton Vance funds” means the mutual funds advised by Eaton Vance or BMR;
“Exchange” means the New York Stock Exchange;
“FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.;
“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 to the extent that the sub-adviser has discretion to perform the particular duties;
“IRS” means the Internal Revenue Service;
“Portfolio” means a registered investment company (other than the Fund) 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 as described in the prospectus, if applicable;
“Subsidiary” means a wholly-owned subsidiary that certain funds may have established to pursue their investment objective. The Fund described in this SAI has not established a Subsidiary;
“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 in which the Fund will principally invest in seeking its investment objective(s) 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 and the investment practices the Fund (either directly or through one or more Portfolios as may be described in the prospectus) is permitted to engage in. To the extent that an investment type or practice listed below is not identified in the Fund prospectus as a principal investment strategy, the Fund generally expects to invest less than 5% of its total assets in such investment type. The Fund may hold a security or other instrument that is not otherwise identified as permissible if it is received through a corporate action. If a particular investment type or practice 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 type or practice. Information about the various investment types and practices and the associated risks checked below is included in alphabetical order in this SAI under “Additional Information about Investment Strategies and Risks.”
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund2SAI dated April 1, 2021
Investment Type |
Permitted for or Relevant to the Fund |
Asset-Backed Securities (“ABS”) |
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Auction Rate Securities |
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Build America Bonds |
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Call and Put Features on Securities |
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Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (“CMOs”) |
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Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (“CMBS”) |
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Commodity-Related Investments |
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Common Stocks |
√ |
Contingent Convertible Securities |
√ |
Convertible Securities |
√ |
Credit Linked Securities |
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Derivative Instruments and Related Risks |
√ |
Derivative-Linked and Commodity-Linked Hybrid Instruments |
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Direct Investments |
√ |
Emerging Market Investments |
√ |
Equity Investments |
√ |
Equity-Linked Securities |
√ |
Event-Linked Instruments |
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Exchange-Traded Funds (“ETFs”) |
√ |
Exchange-Traded Notes (“ETNs”) |
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Fixed-Income Securities |
√ |
Foreign Currency Transactions |
√ |
Foreign Investments |
√ |
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts |
√ |
Forward Rate Agreements |
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Futures Contracts |
√(1) |
Hybrid Securities |
√ |
Illiquid Investments |
√ |
Indexed Securities |
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Inflation-Indexed (or Inflation-Linked) Bonds |
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Junior Loans |
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Liquidity or Protective Put Agreements |
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Loans |
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Lower Rated Investments |
√ |
Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”) |
√ |
Money Market Instruments |
√ |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund3SAI dated April 1, 2021
Investment Type |
Permitted for or Relevant to the Fund |
Mortgage-Backed Securities (“MBS”) |
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Mortgage Dollar Rolls |
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Municipal Lease Obligations (“MLOs”) |
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Municipal Obligations |
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Option Contracts |
√ |
Pooled Investment Vehicles |
√ |
Preferred Stock |
√ |
Real Estate Investments |
√ |
Repurchase Agreements |
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Residual Interest Bonds |
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Reverse Repurchase Agreements |
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Rights and Warrants |
√ |
Royalty Bonds |
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Senior Loans |
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Short Sales |
√ |
Stripped Securities |
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Structured Notes |
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Swap Agreements |
√ |
Swaptions |
√ |
Trust Certificates |
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U.S. Government Securities |
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Unlisted Securities |
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Variable Rate Instruments |
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When-Issued Securities, Delayed Delivery and Forward Commitments |
√ |
Zero Coupon Bonds, Deep Discount Bonds and Payment In-Kind (“PIK”) Securities |
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Other Disclosures Regarding Investment Practices |
Permitted for or Relevant to the Fund |
Asset Coverage |
√ |
Average Effective Maturity |
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Borrowing for Investment Purposes |
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Borrowing for Temporary Purposes |
√ |
Cybersecurity Risk |
√ |
Diversified Status |
√ |
Dividend Capture Trading |
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Duration |
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Investing in a Portfolio |
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Investments in the Subsidiary |
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Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund4SAI dated April 1, 2021
Other Disclosures Regarding Investment Practices |
Permitted for or Relevant to the Fund |
LIBOR Transition and Associated Risk |
√ |
Operational Risk |
√ |
Option Strategy |
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Participation in the ReFlow Liquidity Program |
√ |
Portfolio Turnover |
√ |
Restricted Securities |
√ |
Securities Lending |
√ |
Short-Term Trading |
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Significant Exposure to Health Sciences Companies |
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Significant Exposure to Smaller Companies |
√ |
Significant Exposure to Utilities and Financial Services Sectors |
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Tax-Managed Investing |
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1Although futures contracts are not identified as a principal investment strategy, futures contracts may be used to equitize cash and, from time to time, the notional value of such futures contracts may exceed 5% of the Fund’s total assets.
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 any 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 Securities Act of 1933;
(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;
(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)With respect to 75% of its total assets, invest more than 5% of its total assets (taken at current value) in the securities of any one issuer, or invest in more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer, except obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities and except securities of other investment companies; or
(7)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:
(8)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
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund5SAI dated April 1, 2021
circumstances that make the third party’s classification inappropriate. In such a case, the investment adviser will assign an industry classification to the issuer.
The Fund’s borrowing policy is consistent with the 1940 Act and guidance of the SEC or its staff, and will comply with any applicable SEC exemptive order.
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 fund in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(G) under the 1940 Act, such acquired fund shall not acquire any securities of a registered open-end investment company in reliance on Sections 12(d)(1)(F) or 12(d)(1)(G) under the 1940 Act.
The following nonfundamental investment policy has been adopted by the Fund. A nonfundamental investment policy may be changed by the Board 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.
Whenever an investment policy or investment restriction set forth in the Prospectus or this SAI states a requirement with respect to the 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, unless otherwise noted, 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 set forth above.
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 Board members 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. Board members hold indefinite terms of office. Each Trustee holds office until his or her successor is elected and qualified, subject to a prior death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal. Under the terms of the Fund’s current Trustee retirement policy, an Independent Trustee must retire and resign as a Trustee on the earlier of: (i) the first day of July following his or her 74th birthday; or (ii), with limited exception, December 31st of the 20th year in which he or she has served as a Trustee. However, if such retirement and resignation would cause the Fund to be out of compliance with Section 16 of the 1940 Act or any other regulations or guidance of the SEC, then such retirement and resignation will not become effective until such time as action has been taken for the Fund to be in compliance therewith. 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 Board member 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 EV LLC, “Eaton Vance” refers to Eaton Vance Management and “EVD” refers to Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. (see “Principal Underwriter” under “Other Service Providers”). EV is the trustee of each of Eaton Vance and BMR. Effective March 1, 2021, each of Eaton Vance, BMR, EVD and EV are indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of Morgan Stanley. 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 Focused Global Opportunities Fund6SAI dated April 1, 2021
Name and Year of Birth |
|
Trust Position(s) |
|
Length of Service |
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years
|
|
Number of Portfolios
|
|
Other Directorships Held
|
Interested Trustee |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
THOMAS E. FAUST JR.
|
|
Trustee |
|
Since 2007 |
|
Chairman of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc. (MSIM), member of the Board of Managers and President of EV, Chief Executive Officer and President of Eaton Vance and BMR, and Director of EVD. Formerly, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of EVC. Trustee and/or officer of 138 registered investment companies. Mr. Faust is an interested person because of his positions with MSIM, BMR, Eaton Vance, EVD and EV, which are affiliates of the Trust, and his former position with EVC, which was an affiliate of the Trust prior to March 1, 2021. |
|
138 |
|
Formerly, Director of EVC (2007-2021) and Hexavest Inc. (investment management firm) (2012-2021). |
Noninterested Trustees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MARK R. FETTING
|
|
Trustee |
|
Since 2016 |
|
Private investor. Formerly held various positions at Legg Mason, Inc. (investment management firm) (2000-2012), including President, Chief Executive Officer, Director and Chairman (2008-2012), Senior Executive Vice President (2004-2008) and Executive Vice President (2001-2004). Formerly, President of Legg Mason family of funds (2001-2008). Formerly, Division President and Senior Officer of Prudential Financial Group, Inc. and related companies (investment management firm) (1991-2000). |
|
139 |
|
None |
CYNTHIA E. FROST
|
|
Trustee |
|
Since 2014 |
|
Private investor. Formerly, Chief Investment Officer of Brown University (university endowment) (2000-2012). Formerly, Portfolio Strategist for Duke Management Company (university endowment manager) (1995-2000). Formerly, Managing Director, Cambridge Associates (investment consulting company) (1989-1995). Formerly, Consultant, Bain and Company (management consulting firm) (1987-1989). Formerly, Senior Equity Analyst, BA Investment Management Company (1983-1985). |
|
138 |
|
None |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund7SAI dated April 1, 2021
Name and Year of Birth |
|
Trust Position(s) |
|
Length of Service |
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years
|
|
Number of Portfolios
|
|
Other Directorships Held
|
GEORGE J. GORMAN
|
|
Vice-Chairperson of the Board and Trustee |
|
Vice-Chairperson of the Board since 2021 and Trustee since 2014 |
|
Principal at George J. Gorman LLC (consulting firm). Formerly, Senior Partner at Ernst & Young LLP (a registered public accounting firm) (1974-2009). |
|
139 |
|
None |
VALERIE A. MOSLEY
|
|
Trustee |
|
Since 2014 |
|
Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer of Valmo Ventures (a consulting and investment firm). Founder of Upward Wealth, Inc., dba BrightUP, a fintech platform. Formerly, Partner and Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager and Investment Strategist at Wellington Management Company, LLP (investment management firm) (1992-2012). Formerly, Chief Investment Officer, PG Corbin Asset Management (1990-1992). Formerly worked in institutional corporate bond sales at Kidder Peabody (1986-1990). |
|
139 |
|
Director of DraftKings, Inc. (digital sports entertainment and gaming company) (since September 2020). Director of Groupon, Inc. (e-commerce provider) (since April 2020). Director of Envestnet, Inc. (provider of intelligent systems for wealth management and financial wellness) (since 2018). Formerly, Director of Dynex Capital, Inc. (mortgage REIT) (2013-2020). |
WILLIAM H. PARK
|
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Chairperson of the Board and Trustee |
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Chairperson of the Board since 2016 and Trustee since 2003 |
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Private investor. Formerly, Consultant (management and transactional) (2012-2014). Formerly, Chief Financial 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) (a registered public accounting firm) (1972-1981). |
|
139 |
|
None |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund8SAI dated April 1, 2021
Name and Year of Birth |
|
Trust Position(s) |
|
Length of Service |
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years
|
|
Number of Portfolios
|
|
Other Directorships Held
|
HELEN FRAME PETERS
|
|
Trustee |
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Since 2008 |
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Professor of Finance, Carroll School of Management, Boston College. Formerly, Dean, Carroll School of Management, Boston College (2000-2002). Formerly, Chief Investment Officer, Fixed Income, Scudder Kemper Investments (investment management firm) (1998-1999). Formerly, Chief Investment Officer, Equity and Fixed Income, Colonial Management Associates (investment management firm) (1991-1998). |
|
139 |
|
None |
KEITH QUINTON
|
|
Trustee |
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Since 2018 |
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Private investor, researcher and lecturer. Independent Investment Committee Member at New Hampshire Retirement System (since 2017). Formerly, Portfolio Manager and Senior Quantitative Analyst at Fidelity Investments (investment management firm) (2001-2014). |
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139 |
|
Director (since 2016) and Chairman (since 2019) of New Hampshire Municipal Bond Bank. |
MARCUS L. SMITH
|
|
Trustee |
|
Since 2018 |
|
Private investor. Member of Posse Boston Advisory Board (foundation) (since 2015). Formerly, Portfolio Manager at MFS Investment Management (investment management firm) (1994-2017). |
|
139 |
|
Director of First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc. (an industrial REIT) (since 2021). Director of MSCI Inc. (global provider of investment decision support tools) (since 2017). Formerly, Director of DCT Industrial Trust Inc. (logistics real estate company) (2017-2018). |
SUSAN J. SUTHERLAND
|
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Trustee |
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Since 2015 |
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Private investor. Director of Ascot Group Limited and certain of its subsidiaries (insurance and reinsurance) (since 2017). Formerly, Director of Hagerty Holding Corp. (insurance and reinsurance) (2015-2018). Formerly, Associate, Counsel and Partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (law firm) (1982-2013). |
|
139 |
|
Director of Kairos Acquisition Corp. (insurance/InsurTech acquisition company) (since 2021). |
SCOTT E. WENNERHOLM
|
|
Trustee |
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Since 2016 |
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Private investor. Formerly, Trustee at Wheelock College (postsecondary institution) (2012-2018). Formerly, Consultant at GF Parish Group (executive recruiting firm) (2016-2017). Formerly, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President at BNY Mellon Asset Management (investment management firm) (2005-2011). Formerly, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at Natixis Global Asset Management (investment management firm) (1997-2004). Formerly, Vice President at Fidelity Investments Institutional Services (investment management firm) (1994-1997). |
|
138 |
|
None |
(1)Includes both master and feeder funds in a master-feeder structure.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund9SAI dated April 1, 2021
Principal Officers who are not Trustees |
||||||
Name and Year of Birth |
|
Trust Position(s) |
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Length of Service |
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Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years |
ERIC A. STEIN
|
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President |
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Since 2020 |
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Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, Fixed Income of Eaton Vance and BMR. Prior to November 1, 2020, Mr. Stein was a co-Director of Eaton Vance’s Global Income Investments. Officer of 117 registered investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR. Also Vice President of Calvert Research and Management (“CRM”) since 2020. |
DEIDRE E. WALSH
|
|
Vice President |
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Since 2021 |
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Vice President of Eaton Vance and BMR. Officer of 139 registered investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR. |
MAUREEN A. GEMMA
|
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Secretary and Chief Legal Officer |
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Secretary since 2007 and Chief Legal Officer since 2008 |
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Vice President of Eaton Vance and BMR. Officer of 139 registered investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR. Also Vice President of CRM and officer of 39 registered investment companies advised or administered by CRM since 2016. |
JAMES F. KIRCHNER
|
|
Treasurer |
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Since 2013 |
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Vice President of Eaton Vance and BMR. Officer of 139 registered investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR. Also Vice President of CRM and officer of 39 registered investment companies advised or administered by CRM since 2016. |
RICHARD F. FROIO
|
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Chief Compliance Officer |
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Since 2017 |
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Vice President of Eaton Vance and BMR since 2017. Officer of 139 registered investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR. Formerly, Deputy Chief Compliance Officer (Adviser/Funds) and Chief Compliance Officer (Distribution) at PIMCO (2012-2017) and Managing Director at BlackRock/Barclays Global Investors (2009-2012). |
The Board 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(s) (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 eleven Trustees, including ten Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (each a “noninterested Trustee”). In addition to six 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 a noninterested Trustee to serve in the role of Chairperson. The Chairperson’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 Chairperson also presides at all meetings of the Board and acts as a liaison with service providers, officers, attorneys, and other Board members generally between meetings. The Chairperson may perform such other functions as may be requested by the Board from time to time. In addition, the Board may appoint a noninterested Trustee to serve in the role of Vice-Chairperson. The Vice-Chairperson has the power and authority to perform any or all of the duties and responsibilities of the Chairperson in the absence of the Chairperson and/or as requested by the Chairperson. Except for any duties specified herein or pursuant to the Trust’s Declaration of Trust or By-laws, the designation of Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson does not impose on such noninterested 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 and its Committees. As part of its oversight of the Fund and the 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 or should 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
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund10SAI dated April 1, 2021
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 CCO 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 to the Audit Committee of the Board and the Board regarding these and related matters. In addition, the Audit Committee of the Board or 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 noninterested 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 members’ existing mix of skills, core competencies and qualifications; (vi) perceived ability to contribute to the ongoing functions of the Board, including the ability and commitment to attend meetings regularly and work collaboratively with other members of the Board; (vii) the ability to qualify as a noninterested 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.
Among the attributes or skills common to all Board members are their ability to review critically, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them, to interact effectively with the other members of the Board, 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 members of the Board. Each Board member’s ability to perform his or her duties effectively has been attained through the Board member’s business, consulting, public service and/or academic positions and through experience from service as a member of the Boards of the Eaton Vance family of funds (“Eaton Vance Fund Boards”) (and/or in other capacities, including for any predecessor funds), public companies, or non-profit entities or other organizations as set forth below. Each Board member’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 member of the Board, the individual’s substantial professional accomplishments and experience, including in fields related to the operations of registered investment companies, were a significant factor in the determination that the individual should serve as a member of the Board. The following is a summary of each Board member’s particular professional experience and additional considerations that contributed to the Board’s conclusion that he or she should serve as a member of the Board:
Thomas E. Faust Jr. Mr. Faust has served as a member of the Eaton Vance Fund Boards since 2007. Effective March 1, 2021, he is Chairman of MSIM. He is also a member of the Board of Managers and President of EV, Chief Executive Officer and President of Eaton Vance and BMR, and Director of EVD. Mr. Faust previously served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of EVC from 2007 through March 1, 2021 and as President of EVC from 2006 through March 1, 2021. Mr. Faust served as a Director of Hexavest Inc. from 2012-2021. From 2016 through 2019, Mr. Faust served as a Director of SigFig Wealth Management LLC. Mr. Faust previously served as an equity analyst, portfolio manager, Director of Equity Research and Management and Chief Investment Officer of Eaton Vance from 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. He is a trustee and member of the executive committee of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Inc. and trustee emeritus of Wellesley College.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund11SAI dated April 1, 2021
Mark R. Fetting. Mr. Fetting has served as a member of the Eaton Vance Fund Boards since 2016. He has over 30 years of experience in the investment management industry as an executive and in various leadership roles. From 2000 through 2012, Mr. Fetting served in several capacities at Legg Mason, Inc., including most recently serving as President, Chief Executive Officer, Director and Chairman from 2008 to his retirement in 2012. He also served as a Director/Trustee and Chairman of the Legg Mason family of funds from 2008-2012 and Director/Trustee of the Royce family of funds from 2001-2012. From 2001 through 2008, Mr. Fetting also served as President of the Legg Mason family of funds. From 1991 through 2000, Mr. Fetting served as Division President and Senior Officer of Prudential Financial Group, Inc. and related companies. Early in his professional career, Mr. Fetting was a Vice President at T. Rowe Price and served in leadership roles within the firm’s mutual fund division from 1981-1987.
Cynthia E. Frost. Ms. Frost has served as a member of the Eaton Vance Fund Boards since 2014 and is the Chairperson of the Portfolio Management Committee. From 2000 through 2012, Ms. Frost was the Chief Investment Officer of Brown University, where she oversaw the evaluation, selection and monitoring of the third party investment managers who managed the university’s endowment. From 1995 through 2000, Ms. Frost was a Portfolio Strategist for Duke Management Company, which oversaw Duke University’s endowment. Ms. Frost also served in various investment and consulting roles at Cambridge Associates from 1989-1995, Bain and Company from 1987-1989 and BA Investment Management Company from 1983-1985. She serves as a member of the investment committee of The MCNC Endowment.
George J. Gorman. Mr. Gorman has served as a member of the Eaton Vance Fund Boards since 2014, is the Independent Vice-Chairperson of the Board and is the Chairperson of the Audit Committee. From 1974 through 2009, Mr. Gorman served in various capacities at Ernst & Young LLP, including as a Senior Partner in the Asset Management Group (from 1988) specializing in managing engagement teams responsible for auditing mutual funds registered with the SEC, hedge funds and private equity funds. Mr. Gorman also has experience serving as an independent trustee of other mutual fund complexes, including the Bank of America Money Market Funds Series Trust from 2011-2014 and the Ashmore Funds from 2010-2014.
Valerie A. Mosley. Ms. Mosley has served as a member of the Eaton Vance Fund Boards since 2014 and is the Chairperson of the Governance Committee. She currently owns and manages a consulting and investment firm, Valmo Ventures, and in 2020 founded Upward Wealth, Inc., doing business as BrightUP, a fintech platform focused on helping everyday workers grow their net worth and reinforce their self-worth. From 1992 through 2012, Ms. Mosley served in several capacities at Wellington Management Company, LLP, an investment management firm, including as a Partner, Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager and Investment Strategist. Ms. Mosley also served as Chief Investment Officer at PG Corbin Asset Management from 1990-1992 and worked in institutional corporate bond sales at Kidder Peabody from 1986-1990. She was also a Director of Progress Investment Management Company, a manager of emerging managers until 2020. She is a Director of Groupon, Inc., an ecommerce provider, and a Director of Envestnet, Inc., a provider of intelligent systems for wealth management and financial wellness. She is also a Director of DraftKings, Inc., a digital sports entertainment and gaming company. Ms. Mosley previously served as a Director of Dynex Capital, Inc., a mortgage REIT, from 2013-2020. She serves as a trustee or board member of several major non-profit organizations and endowments, including New Profit, a social venture firm that identifies, invests in and helps scale social entrepreneurs. She is a member of the Risk Audit Committee of the United Auto Workers Retiree Medical Benefits Trust and a member of the Investment Advisory Committee of New York State Common Retirement Fund. Ms. Mosley serves on the Institutional Investors Advisory Council of MiDA, a U.S. Agency for International Development partner focused on investment opportunities in Africa and also advises Impact X and Zeal Capital, venture funds focused predominately on underrepresented entrepreneurs.
William H. Park. Mr. Park has served as a member of the Eaton Vance Fund Boards since 2003 and is the Independent Chairperson of the Board. Mr. Park was formerly a consultant from 2012-2014 and 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.
Helen Frame Peters. Dr. Peters has served as a member of the Eaton Vance Fund Boards since 2008. Dr. Peters 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. Dr. Peters was previously a Director of BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc. from 2004-2011. In addition, Dr. 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. Dr. 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.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund12SAI dated April 1, 2021
Keith Quinton. Mr. Quinton has served as a member of the Eaton Vance Fund Boards since October 1, 2018. He had over thirty years of experience in the investment industry before retiring from Fidelity Investments in 2014. Prior to joining Fidelity, Mr. Quinton was a vice president and quantitative analyst at MFS Investment Management from 2000-2001. From 1997 through 2000, he was a senior quantitative analyst at Santander Global Advisors and, from 1995 through 1997, Mr. Quinton was senior vice president in the quantitative equity research department at Putnam Investments. Prior to joining Putnam Investments, Mr. Quinton served in various investment roles at Eberstadt Fleming, Falconwood Securities Corporation and Drexel Burnham Lambert, where he began his career in the investment industry as a senior quantitative analyst in 1983. Mr. Quinton currently serves as an Independent Investment Committee Member of the New Hampshire Retirement System, a five member committee that manages investments based on the investment policy and asset allocation approved by the board of trustees, and as a Director, since 2016 and Chairman, since 2019 of the New Hampshire Municipal Bond Bank.
Marcus L. Smith. Mr. Smith has served as a member of the Eaton Vance Fund Boards since October 1, 2018. Mr. Smith has been a Director of First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc., a fully integrated owner, operator and developer of industrial real estate, since 2021, where he serves on the Investment and Nominating/Corporate Governance Committees. Since 2017, Mr. Smith has been a Director of MSCI Inc., a leading provider of investment decision support tools worldwide, where he serves on the Audit and Strategy & Finance Committees. From 2017 through 2018, he served as a Director of DCT Industrial Trust Inc., a leading logistics real estate company, where he served as a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance and Audit Committees. From 1994 through 2017, Mr. Smith served in several capacities at MFS Investment Management, an investment management firm, where he managed the MFS Institutional International Fund for 17 years and the MFS Concentrated International Fund for 10 years. In addition to his portfolio management duties, Mr. Smith served as Director of Equity, Canada from 2012-2017, Director of Equity, Asia from 2010-2012, and Director of Asian Equity Research from 2005-2010. Prior to joining MFS, Mr. Smith was a senior consultant at Andersen Consulting (now known as Accenture) from 1988-1992. Mr. Smith served as a United States Army Reserve Officer from 1987-1992. He was also a trustee of the University of Mount Union from 2008-2020 and served as the chairman of the Finance Committee from 2015-2019. Mr. Smith currently sits on the Boston advisory board of the Posse Foundation and the Harvard Medical School Advisory Council on Education.
Susan J. Sutherland. Ms. Sutherland has served as a member of the Eaton Vance Fund Boards since 2015 and is the Chairperson of the Compliance Reports and Regulatory Matters Committee. She is also a Director of Ascot Group Limited and certain of its subsidiaries. Ascot Group Limited, through its related businesses including Syndicate 1414 at Lloyd’s of London, is a leading global underwriter of specialty property and casualty insurance and reinsurance. In addition, Ms. Sutherland is a Director of Kairos Acquisition Corp., which is concentrating on acquisition and business combination efforts within the insurance and insurance technology (also known as, “InsurTech”) sectors. Ms. Sutherland was a Director of Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd., a global provider of customized reinsurance and insurance products, from 2013 until its sale in 2015 and of Hagerty Holding Corp., a leading provider of specialized automobile and marine insurance from 2015-2018. From 1982 through 2013, Ms. Sutherland was an associate, counsel and then a partner in the Financial Institutions Group of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, where she primarily represented U.S. and international insurance and reinsurance companies, investment banks and private equity firms in insurance-related corporate transactions. In addition, Ms. Sutherland is qualified as a Governance Fellow of the National Association of Corporate Directors and has also served as a board member of prominent non-profit organizations.
Scott E. Wennerholm. Mr. Wennerholm has served as a member of the Eaton Vance Fund Boards since 2016 and is the Chairperson of the Contract Review Committee. He has over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry in various leadership and executive roles. Mr. Wennerholm served as Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President at BNY Mellon Asset Management from 2005-2011. He also served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at Natixis Global Asset Management from 1997-2004 and was a Vice President at Fidelity Investments Institutional Services from 1994-1997. In addition, Mr. Wennerholm served as a Trustee at Wheelock College, a postsecondary institution from 2012-2018.
The Board(s) of the Trust has 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. Mosley (Chairperson), Frost, Peters and Sutherland, and Messrs. Fetting, Gorman, Park, Quinton, Smith and Wennerholm are members of the Governance Committee. The purpose of the Governance Committee is to consider, evaluate and make recommendations to the Board with respect to the structure, membership and operation of the Board and the Committees thereof, including the nomination and selection of noninterested Trustees and a Chairperson of the Board and the compensation of such persons. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2020, the Governance Committee convened eight times.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund13SAI dated April 1, 2021
The Governance Committee will, when a vacancy exists, consider a nominee for Trustee recommended by a shareholder, provided that such recommendation is submitted in writing to the Trust’s Secretary at the principal executive office of the Trust. Such recommendations must be accompanied by biographical and occupational data on the candidate (including whether the candidate would be an “interested person” of the Trust), a written consent by the candidate to be named as a nominee and to serve as Trustee if elected, record and ownership information for the recommending shareholder with respect to the Trust, and a description of any arrangements or understandings regarding recommendation of the candidate for consideration.
Messrs. Gorman (Chairperson), Park and Wennerholm and Ms. Peters are members of the Audit Committee. The Board has designated Messrs. Gorman and Park, each a noninterested Trustee, as audit committee financial experts. 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. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2020, the Audit Committee convened thirteen times.
Messrs. Wennerholm (Chairperson), Fetting, Gorman, Park, Quinton and Smith, and Mmes. Frost, Mosley, Peters and Sutherland are members of the Contract Review Committee. The purposes of the Contract Review Committee are to consider, evaluate and make recommendations to the Board 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. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2020, the Contract Review Committee convened eleven times.
Mmes. Frost (Chairperson), Mosley and Peters and Messrs. Smith and Wennerholm are members of the Portfolio Management Committee. The purposes of the Portfolio Management Committee are to: (i) assist the Board 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 in its oversight of the trading policies and procedures and risk management techniques applicable to the Fund; and (iii) assist the Board 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 identifies from time to time. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2020, the Portfolio Management Committee convened six times.
Ms. Sutherland (Chairperson) and Messrs. Fetting, Gorman and Quinton are 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 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 and the Fund’s CCO; and (iii) serve as a “qualified legal compliance committee” within the rules promulgated by the SEC. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2020, the Compliance Reports and Regulatory Matters Committee convened seven times.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund14SAI dated April 1, 2021
Share Ownership. The following table shows the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each Trustee in the Fund and in the Eaton Vance family of funds overseen by the Trustee as of December 31, 2020.
Name of Trustee |
Dollar Range of Equity Securities
|
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity
|
Interested Trustee |
|
|
Thomas E. Faust Jr. |
None |
Over $100,000 |
Noninterested Trustees |
|
|
Mark R. Fetting |
None |
Over $100,000 |
Cynthia E. Frost |
None |
Over $100,000 |
George J. Gorman |
None |
Over $100,000 |
Valerie A. Mosley |
None |
Over $100,000 |
William H. Park |
None |
Over $100,000 |
Helen Frame Peters |
None |
Over $100,000 |
Keith Quinton |
None |
Over $100,000 |
Marcus L. Smith |
None |
Over $100,000 |
Susan J. Sutherland |
None |
Over $100,000(1) |
Scott E. Wennerholm |
None |
Over $100,000(1) |
(1) Includes shares which may be deemed to be beneficially owned through the Trustee Deferred Compensation Plan. |
As of December 31, 2020, no noninterested Trustee or any of their immediate family members owned beneficially or of record any class of securities of EVC, EVD, any sub-adviser, if applicable, or any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC or EVD or any sub-adviser, if applicable, collectively (“Affiliated Entity”).
During the calendar years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020, no noninterested Trustee (or their immediate family members) had:
(1)Any direct or indirect interest in any Affiliated Entity;
(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 or distributed by any Affiliated Entity; (iii) any Affiliated Entity; or (iv) 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 or distributed by any Affiliated Entity; (iii) any Affiliated Entity; or (iv) an officer of any of the above.
During the calendar years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020, no officer of any Affiliated Entity 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 “Deferred Compensation Plan”). Under the Deferred Compensation Plan, an eligible Board member may elect to have all or a portion of 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 Board members under the Deferred Compensation Plan will be determined based upon the performance of such investments. Deferral of Board members’ fees in accordance with the Deferred Compensation 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 Board member be retained. There is no retirement plan for Board members.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund15SAI dated April 1, 2021
The fees and expenses of the Trustees of the Trust are paid by the Fund (and other series of the Trust). A Board member who is a member of the Eaton Vance organization receives no compensation from the Trust. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2020, the Trustees of the Trust earned the following compensation in their capacities as Board members from the Trust. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Board members earned the following compensation in their capacities as members of the Eaton Vance Fund Boards(1):
Source of Compensation |
Cynthia E.
|
George J.
|
Valerie A.
|
William H.
|
Helen Frame
|
Keith
|
Marcus L.
|
Susan J.
|
Scott E.
|
|
Trust(2) |
$28,629 |
$30,683 |
$31,825 |
$31,073 |
$38,719 |
$28,920 |
$27,807 |
$27,807 |
$30,683 |
$31,825 |
Trust and Fund Complex(1) |
$348,306 |
$373,305 |
$387,056 |
$378,709(3) |
$470,806 |
$351,652 |
$338,306 |
$338,306 |
$373,305(4) |
$387,056 |
(1)As of April 1, 2021, the Eaton Vance fund complex consists of 139 registered investment companies or series thereof.
(2)The Trust consisted of 13 Funds as of November 30, 2020.
(3)Includes $20,000 of deferred compensation.
(4)Includes $370,208 of deferred compensation.
Fund Organization
Trust. The Fund is a series of the Trust, which was organized under Massachusetts law on May 25, 1989 as a trust with transferable shares, commonly referred to as a “Massachusetts business trust” 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). When issued and outstanding, shares are fully paid and nonassessable by the Trust. Shareholders of the Trust are entitled to one vote for each full share held. Fractional shares may be voted proportionately. Shares of all Funds in the Trust will be voted together with respect to the election or removal of Trustees and on other matters affecting all Funds similarly. On matters affecting only a particular Fund, all shareholders of the affected Fund will vote together as a single class, 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 any Trustee may be removed with or without cause, by (i) the affirmative vote of holders of two-thirds of the shares or, (ii) the affirmative vote of, or written instrument, signed by at least two-thirds of the remaining Trustees, provided however, that the removal of any noninterested Trustee shall additionally require the affirmative vote of, or a written instrument executed by, at least two-thirds of the remaining noninterested Trustees. No person shall serve as a Trustee if shareholders 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, if they deem it necessary to conform it to applicable federal or state laws or regulations, or to make such other changes (such as reclassifying series or classes of shares or restructuring the Trust) provided such changes do not have a materially adverse effect on the financial interests of shareholders. 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 is required to 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’s Declaration of Trust provides that any legal proceeding brought by or on behalf of a shareholder seeking to enforce any provision of, or based upon any matter arising out of, related to or in connection with, the Declaration of Trust, the Trust, any Fund or Class or the shares of any Fund must be brought exclusively in the United States District Court for Massachusetts or, if such court does not have jurisdiction for the matter, then in the Superior Court of Suffolk County for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. If a shareholder brings a claim in another venue and the venue is subsequently
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund16SAI dated April 1, 2021
changed through legal process to the foregoing Federal or state court, then the shareholder will be required to reimburse the Trust and other persons for the expenses incurred in effecting the change in venue.
The Trust’s Declaration of Trust also provides that, except to the extent explicitly permitted by Federal law, a shareholder may not bring or maintain a court action on behalf of the Trust or any Fund or class of shares (commonly referred to as a derivative claim) without first making demand on the Trustees requesting the Trustees to bring the action. Within 90 days of receipt of the demand, the Trustees will consider the merits of the claim and determine whether commencing or maintaining an action would be in the best interests of the Trust or the affected Fund or Class. Any decision by the Trustees to bring, maintain or settle, or to not bring, maintain or settle the action, will be final and binding upon shareholders and therefore no action may be brought or maintained after a decision is made to reject a demand. In addition, the Trust’s Declaration of Trust provides that, to the maximum extent permitted by law, each shareholder acknowledges and agrees that any alleged injury to the Trust’s property, any diminution in the value of a shareholder’s shares and any other claim arising out of or relating to an allegation regarding the actions, inaction or omissions of or by the Trustees, the officers of the Trust or the investment adviser of the Fund is a legal claim belonging only to the Trust and not to the shareholders individually and, therefore, that any such claim is subject to the demand requirement for derivative claims referenced above.
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, upon request by the shareholder, 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 liabilities exceeding its assets, and therefore the shareholder’s risk of personal liability, is remote.
Proxy Voting Policy. The Board adopted a proxy voting policy and procedures (the “Fund Policy”), pursuant to which the Board has delegated proxy voting responsibility to the investment sub-adviser and adopted the proxy voting policies and procedures of the investment sub-adviser (the “Adviser 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 members of the Board will review a Fund's proxy voting records from time to time and will review annually the Adviser Policies. For a copy of the Fund Policy and Adviser Policies, see Appendix B and Appendix C, respectively. Pursuant to certain provisions of the 1940 Act and certain exemptive orders relating to funds investing in other funds, a Fund 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 a 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. As described in the Prospectus, upon the closing of the transaction by which Morgan Stanley acquired EVC (the “Transaction”) the Fund entered into a new Investment Advisory and Administrative Agreement with Eaton Vance and Eaton Vance entered a new Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement with Eaton Vance Advisers International Ltd. (“EVAIL”) The investment adviser manages the investments and affairs of the Fund and provides related office facilities and personnel subject to the supervision of the Trust’s Board. 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-Advisory Agreement require the investment adviser or sub-adviser, as the case may be, to pay the compensation and expenses of all officers
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund17SAI dated April 1, 2021
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.
For a description of the compensation that the Fund pays the investment adviser, see the Prospectus. The following table sets forth the net assets of the Fund at November 30, 2020 and the investment advisory and administrative fee paid by the Fund for the last three fiscal years:
|
Advisory and Administrative Fee for Fiscal Years Ended |
||
Net Assets at 11/30/20 |
11/30/20 |
11/30/19 |
11/30/18 |
$5,800,735 |
$41,485 |
$37,502 |
$35,540 |
Pursuant to an expense reimbursement agreement described in the prospectus, Eaton Vance was allocated $66,973, $64,188 and $68,196 in total of the Fund’s operating expenses for the fiscal years ended November 30, 2020, November 30, 2019 and November 30, 2018, respectively.
Pursuant to an investment sub-advisory agreement between Eaton Vance and Eaton Vance Advisers International Ltd. (“EVAIL”), Eaton Vance pays compensation to EVAIL for providing sub-advisory services to the Fund. The following table sets forth the sub-advisory fees paid to EVAIL for the fiscal years ended November 30, 2020, November 30, 2019 and November 30, 2018.
Sub-Advisory Fee for Fiscal Years Ended |
||
11/30/20 |
11/30/19 |
11/30/18 |
$14,053 |
$12,704 |
$12,039 |
Pursuant to an expense reimbursement agreement described in the prospectus, EVAIL was allocated $34,310, $32,883 and $34,936 in total of the Fund’s operating expenses for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2020, November 30, 2019 and November 30, 2018, respectively.
The Investment Advisory and Administrative Agreement and Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement with the investment adviser or sub-adviser continues in effect through and including the second anniversary of its execution 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 vote of a majority of the noninterested Trustees of the Trust cast at a meeting specifically called for the purpose of voting on such approval pursuant to the requirements of the 1940 Act and (ii) by the Board 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 either party, or by 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. Each Agreement is not intended to, and does not, confer upon any person not a party to it any right, benefit or remedy of any nature.
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. As described in the Prospectus, following the closing of the Transaction on March 1, 2021, EV, Eaton Vance and BMR became indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), a preeminent global financial services firm engaged in securities trading and brokerage activities, as well as providing investment banking, research and analysis, financing and financial advisory services.
Prior to March 1, 2021, EV and Eaton Vance were wholly-owned subsidiaries of EVC, a Maryland corporation and publicly-held holding company and BMR was an indirect subsidiary of EVC. EVC through its subsidiaries and affiliates engaged primarily in investment management, administration and marketing activities. The Directors of EVC were Thomas E. Faust Jr., Ann E. Berman, Leo I. Higdon, Jr., Paula A. Johnson, Brian D. Langstraat, Dorothy E. Puhy, Winthrop H. Smith, Jr. and Richard A. Spillane, Jr. All shares of the outstanding Voting Common Stock of EVC were deposited in a Voting Trust, the Voting Trustees of which were Mr. Faust, Paul W. Bouchey, Craig R. Brandon, Daniel C. Cataldo, Michael A. Cirami, Cynthia J. Clemson, James H. Evans, Maureen A. Gemma, Laurie G. Hylton, Mr. Langstraat, Thomas Lee, Frederick S. Marius, David C. McCabe, Edward J. Perkin, Lewis R. Piantedosi, Charles B. Reed, Craig P. Russ, Thomas C. Seto, John L. Shea, Eric A. Stein, John H. Streur, Andrew N. Sveen, Payson F. Swaffield, R. Kelly Williams and Matthew J. Witkos (all of whom are or were officers of Eaton Vance or its affiliates). The Voting Trustees had unrestricted voting rights for the election of Directors of EVC. Prior to March 1, 2021, all of the outstanding voting
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund18SAI dated April 1, 2021
trust receipts issued under said Voting Trust were owned by certain of the officers of Eaton Vance who may also have been 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) are employees of Eaton Vance and/or BMR.
Information About EVAIL. EVAIL provides investment advice to institutional clients and pooled investment vehicles. As described in the Prospectus, following the close of the Transaction on March 1, 2021, EVAIL became an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley. Prior to March 1, 2021, EVAIL was an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of EVC. EVAIL was originally organized in 2015.
Code of Ethics. The investment adviser, sub-adviser, principal underwriter, and the Fund have adopted Codes of Ethics governing personal securities transactions pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. 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/or other procedures.
Portfolio Manager. The portfolio manager of the Fund is listed below. The following table shows, as of the Fund’s most recent fiscal year end, the number of accounts the 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 also shows 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
|
Christopher Dyer |
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies |
9 |
$7,122.1 |
0 |
$0 |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
0 |
$0 |
0 |
$0 |
Other Accounts |
2 |
$6.1 |
0 |
$0 |
The portfolio manager did not beneficially own any equity securities in the Fund as of November 30, 2020. Mr. Dyer’s aggregate dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned in the Eaton Vance Family of Funds as of December 31, 2020 was $1-$10,000.
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 a 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, the 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 and sub-adviser have adopted several policies and procedures designed to address these potential conflicts including a code of ethics and policies that govern the investment adviser's and sub-adviser's trading practices, including among other things the aggregation and allocation of trades among clients, brokerage allocations, cross trades and best execution.
Compensation Structure for EVAIL. Compensation of the sub-adviser's portfolio managers and other investment professionals has the following primary components: (1) a base salary, (2) an annual cash bonus, and (3) annual non-cash compensation consisting of restricted shares of Morgan Stanley stock that are subject to a fixed vesting and distribution schedule. The sub-adviser’s investment professionals also receive certain retirement, insurance and other benefits that are broadly available to the sub-adviser’s employees. Compensation of the sub-adviser’s 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 December 31st fiscal year end of Morgan Stanley.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund19SAI dated April 1, 2021
Method to Determine Compensation. The sub-adviser compensates its portfolio managers based primarily on the scale and complexity of their portfolio responsibilities and the total return performance of managed funds and accounts versus the benchmark(s) stated in the prospectus, as well as an appropriate peer group (as described below). In addition to rankings within peer groups of funds on the basis of absolute performance, consideration may also be given to relative risk-adjusted performance. Risk-adjusted performance measures include, but are not limited to, the Sharpe ratio, which uses standard deviation and excess return to determine reward per unit of risk. Performance is normally based on periods ending on the September 30th preceding fiscal year end. Fund performance is normally evaluated primarily versus peer groups of funds as determined by Lipper Inc. and/or Morningstar, Inc. When a fund’s peer group as determined by Lipper or Morningstar is deemed by the sub-adviser’s management not to provide a fair comparison, performance may instead be evaluated primarily against a custom peer group or market index. In evaluating the performance of a fund and its manager, primary emphasis is normally placed on three-year performance, with secondary consideration of performance over longer and shorter periods. For funds that are tax-managed or otherwise have an objective of after-tax returns, performance is measured net of taxes. For other funds, performance is evaluated on a pre-tax basis. For funds with an investment objective other than total return (such as current income), consideration will also be given to the fund’s success in achieving its objective. For managers responsible for multiple funds and accounts, investment performance is evaluated on an aggregate basis, based on averages or weighted averages among managed funds and accounts. Funds and accounts that have performance-based advisory fees are not accorded disproportionate weightings in measuring aggregate portfolio manager performance.
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.
The sub-adviser seeks to compensate portfolio managers commensurate with their responsibilities and performance, and competitive with other firms within the investment management industry. The sub-adviser participates in investment-industry compensation surveys and utilizes 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 the sub-adviser and Morgan Stanley. The overall annual cash bonus pool is generally based on a substantially fixed percentage of pre-bonus adjusted operating income. While the salaries of the sub-adviser’s portfolio managers are comparatively fixed, cash bonuses and stock-based compensation may fluctuate significantly from year to year, based on changes in manager performance and other factors as described herein. For a high performing portfolio manager, cash bonuses and stock-based compensation may represent a substantial portion of total compensation.
Commodity Futures Trading Commission Registration. The CFTC has adopted certain regulations that subject registered investment companies and advisers to regulation by the CFTC if a fund invests more than a prescribed level of its assets in certain CFTC-regulated instruments (including futures, certain options and swaps agreements) or markets itself as providing investment exposure to such instruments. The investment adviser has claimed an exclusion from the definition of “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act with respect to its management of the Fund. Accordingly, neither the Fund nor the investment adviser or sub-adviser with respect to the operation of the Fund is subject to CFTC regulation. Because of their management of other strategies, Eaton Vance and BMR are registered with the CFTC as commodity pool operators. Eaton Vance and BMR are also registered as commodity trading advisors. The CFTC has neither reviewed nor approved the Fund's investment strategies or this SAI.
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 Fund’s affairs, subject to the supervision of the Board, and shall furnish office space and all necessary office facilities, equipment and personnel for administering the affairs of the Fund.
Sub-Transfer Agency Support Services. Eaton Vance provides sub-transfer agency and related services to Eaton Vance mutual funds pursuant to a Sub-Transfer Agency Support Services Agreement. Under the agreement, Eaton Vance provides: (1) specified sub-transfer agency services; (2) compliance monitoring services; and (3) intermediary oversight services. For the services it provides, Eaton Vance receives an aggregate annual fee equal to the actual expenses incurred by Eaton Vance in the performance of such services. The Fund pays a pro rata share of such fee. For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2020 Eaton Vance earned $222 from the Fund pursuant to the agreement.
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 and administrator, the sub-adviser or the principal underwriter). In the case of expenses incurred by the Trust, the Fund is responsible for its pro rata share of those expenses.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund20SAI dated April 1, 2021
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 members of the Board (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. Effective March 1, 2021, EVD is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley. Prior to March 1, 2021, EVD was a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of EVC. Mr. Faust is also a Director of EVD.
Custodian. State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”), State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111, 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 also provides services in connection with the preparation of shareholder reports and the electronic filing of such reports with the SEC.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. Deloitte & Touche LLP, 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116, independent registered public accounting firm, audits the Fund's financial statements and provides other audit, tax and related services.
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 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. The Fund’s net asset value per share is readily accessible on the Eaton Vance website (www.eatonvance.com).
The Board 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.
·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.
·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.
·Short-term instruments with remaining maturities of less than 397 days are valued on the basis of market valuations furnished by a pricing service or based on dealer quotations.
·Foreign securities and currencies are valued in U.S. dollars based on foreign currency exchange quotations supplied by a pricing service.
·Senior and Junior Loans (as defined in the “Additional Information About Investment Strategies and Risks” section of this SAI) 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.
·Futures contracts are valued at the settlement or closing price on the primary exchange or board of trade on which they are traded.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund21SAI dated April 1, 2021
·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).
·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) or, for total return swaps, based on market index data.
·Precious metals are valued at the New York Composite mean quotation.
·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.
·Valuations of foreign equity securities and total return swaps and exchange-traded futures contracts on non-North American equity indices are generally based on fair valuation 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 members of the Board. Such methods may include consideration of relevant factors, including but not limited to (i) the type of security and 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 statements; (vi) an evaluation of the forces that influence the issuer and the market(s) in which the security is purchased and sold; (vii) any transaction involving the issuer of such securities; and (viii) any other factors deemed relevant by the investment adviser. For purposes of fair valuation, 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. The U.S. registered Eaton Vance funds generally do not accept investments from residents of the European Union, the United Kingdom or Switzerland, although may do so to the extent that the Eaton Vance funds may be lawfully offered in a relevant jurisdiction (including at the initiative of the investor). Fund shares are continuously offered through financial intermediaries which have entered into agreements with the principal underwriter. Fund shares are sold at the public offering price, which is the net asset value next computed after receipt of an order.
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 employer sponsored retirement plans. Class I shares may also be available through brokerage platforms of broker-dealer firms that have agreements with a Fund’s principal underwriter to offer Class I shares solely when acting as an agent for the investor. An investor acquiring Class I shares through such platforms may be required to pay a commission and/or other forms of compensation to the broker. Class I shares also are offered to investment and institutional clients of Eaton Vance and its affiliates; certain persons affiliated with Eaton Vance and its affiliates; current and retired members of Eaton Vance Fund Boards; employees of Eaton Vance and its affiliates and such persons’ spouses, parents, siblings and lineal descendants and their beneficial accounts.
Waiver of Investment Minimums. In addition to waivers described in the Prospectus, minimum investment amounts are waived for individual plan participants in an employer sponsored retirement plan; current and retired members of Eaton Vance Fund Boards; 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 to the Eaton Vance family of 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 and 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). Investments in a Fund by ReFlow in connection with the ReFlow liquidity program are also not subject to the minimum investment amount.
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 and the volume of sales and redemptions of shares. Suspension of the offering of shares would not, of course, affect a shareholder’s ability to redeem shares.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund22SAI dated April 1, 2021
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. No CDSC or redemption fees, if applicable, will be imposed with respect to such involuntary redemptions.
As disclosed in the Prospectus, the Fund typically expects to meet redemption requests by (i) distributing any cash holdings, (ii) selling portfolio investments and/or (iii) borrowing from a bank under a line of credit. In addition to the foregoing, the Fund also may distribute securities as payment (a so-called “redemption in-kind”), in which case the redeeming shareholder may pay fees and commissions to convert the securities to cash. Unless requested by a shareholder, the Fund expects to limit use of redemption in-kind to stressed market conditions, but is permitted to do so in other circumstances. Any redemption in-kind would be made in accordance with policies adopted by the Fund, which allow the Fund to distribute securities pro rata or as selected by the investment adviser or sub-adviser.
The Fund participates with other funds managed by EVM and its affiliates, including CRM, in an $800 million unsecured line of credit agreement and may borrow amounts available thereunder for temporary purposes, such as meeting redemptions. See “Additional Information about Investment Strategies and Risks - Borrowing for Temporary Purposes” herein. The Fund also has exemptive relief to participate in an interfund lending program with other Eaton Vance funds. Such program is not operational as of the date of this SAI.
In connection with requests to re-issue uncashed checks representing redemption proceeds, the Fund reserves the right to require the redeeming shareholder to provide Medallion signature guaranteed wire instructions for delivery of redemption proceeds. Redemption proceeds represented by an uncashed check will not earn interest or other return during such time.
As noted above, the Fund may pay the redemption price of shares of the Fund, either totally or partially, by a distribution in-kind of securities. All requests for redemptions in-kind must be in good order. Provided the redemption request is received by the Fund not later than 12:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the day of the redemption, the Fund may in its discretion, if requested by a redeeming shareholder, provide the redeeming shareholders with an estimate of the securities to be distributed. Any difference between the redemption value of the distributed securities and the value of the Fund shares redeemed will be settled in cash. Securities distributed in a redemption in-kind would be valued pursuant to the Fund’s valuation procedures and selected by the investment adviser or sub-adviser. If a shareholder receives securities in a redemption in-kind, the shareholder could incur brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash and the value of such securities would be subject to price fluctuations until sold.
Pursuant to its Distribution Agreement with the Trust, the principal underwriter is authorized to repurchase shares offered for redemption to the Fund from time to time and the Fund is authorized to pay to the principal underwriter the purchase price for such repurchased shares, which shall be the net asset value next determined after the repurchase order, subject to any applicable CDSC payable to the principal underwriter.
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 ex-dividend 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.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund23SAI dated April 1, 2021
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS AND RELATED INFORMATION
The Board 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 (www.eatonvance.com) and disclosure of certain portfolio characteristics. Pursuant to the Policies, information about portfolio holdings of the Fund may also be disclosed as follows:
·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 S&P Global Ratings), analytical service providers engaged by the investment adviser (SS&C Advent, Bloomberg L.P., Evare, FactSet, McMunn Associates, Inc., MSCI/Barra and The Yield Book, Inc.), proxy evaluation vendors (Institutional Shareholder Services Inc.), pricing services (Refinitiv Evaluated Pricing Service, WM/Reuters Information Services and Non-Deliverable Forward Rates Service, IHS Markit, FT Interactive Data Corp., Securities Evaluations, Inc., SuperDerivatives and StatPro.), which receive information as needed to price a particular holding, translation services, third-party reconciliation 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. In addition to the foregoing, disclosure of portfolio holdings may be made to the Fund’s investment adviser as a seed investor in a fund, in order for the adviser or its parent to satisfy certain reporting obligations and reduce its exposure to market risk factors associated with any such seed investment. Also, in connection with a redemption in-kind, the redeeming shareholders 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.
·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.
The Policies may not be waived, or exception made, without the consent of the 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, sub-adviser, principal underwriter or other affiliated person. The CCO will report all waivers of or exceptions to the Policies to the Board at their next meeting. The Board may impose additional restrictions on the disclosure of portfolio holdings information at any time.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund24SAI dated April 1, 2021
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. As used below, “the Fund” refers to the Fund(s) listed on the cover of this SAI, except as otherwise noted. The summary does not address all of the special tax rules applicable to certain classes of investors, such as individual retirement accounts and employer sponsored 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. Based on advice of counsel, the Fund generally will not recognize gain or loss on its distribution of appreciated securities in shareholder-initiated redemptions of its shares. 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 qualified as a RIC for its most recent taxable year.
The Fund also seeks to avoid the imposition of a federal excise tax on its ordinary income and capital gain net income. 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 (or November 30 or December 31, if the Fund makes the election referred to above), 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 were not distributed 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 a partnership for Massachusetts and federal tax purposes), the Fund should not be liable for any applicable state income, corporate excise or franchise tax.
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) 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, provided, in both cases, the shareholder meets certain holding period and other requirements in respect of the Fund's shares. 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 net capital losses (or if there is no net capital loss, then any net long-term or short-term capital loss) realized after October and its late-year ordinary losses (generally, the sum of its (i) net ordinary loss from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of property, attributable to the portion of the taxable year after October 31, and its (ii) other net ordinary loss attributable to the portion of the taxable year after December 31) realized 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 (or December) may affect the tax character of shareholder distributions.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund25SAI dated April 1, 2021
Taxation of the Portfolio. If the Fund invests its assets in the Portfolio, the Portfolio normally must satisfy the applicable source of income and asset diversification requirements under Subchapter M of the Code 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 allocable 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 losses, 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 a partnership 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. See the definition of “Subsidiary” under “Definitions” at the front of this SAI for information about whether any Fund and/or Portfolio (if applicable) described herein has established a Subsidiary. The Subsidiary is classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The Fund intends to take the position that income from its investments in the Subsidiary will constitute qualifying income for purposes of qualifying as a RIC. Under Treasury regulations, “subpart F income” (as defined below) included in the Fund’s annual income for U.S. federal income purposes will constitute qualifying income to the extent it is either (i) timely and currently repatriated or (ii) derived with respect to the Fund’s business of investing in stock, securities or currencies. If the Fund were to earn non-qualifying income from any source including the Subsidiary in excess of 10% of its gross income for any taxable year, it would fail to qualify as a RIC for that year, unless the Fund were eligible to cure and cured such failure by paying a Fund-level tax equal to the full amount of such excess.
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, and would 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. Distributions 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 below to “the Fund” are to any Fund or Portfolio that can engage in the particular practice as described in the prospectus or SAI.
Securities Acquired at Market Discount or with Original Issue Discount. Investment in securities acquired 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. Subject to the discussion below regarding Section 451 of the Code, (i) generally any gain recognized on the disposition of, and any partial payment of principal on, a debt security having market discount is treated as ordinary income to the extent the gain, or principal payment, does not exceed the “accrued market discount” on such debt security, (ii) alternatively, the Fund may elect to accrue market discount currently, in which case the Fund will be required to include the accrued market discount in the Fund's income (as ordinary income) and thus distribute it over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt security, and (iii) the rate at which the market discount accrues, and thus is included in the Fund's income, will depend upon which of the permitted accrual methods the Fund elects. Notwithstanding the foregoing, effective for taxable years beginning after 2017, Section 451 of the Code generally requires any accrual method taxpayer to take into account items of gross income no later than the time at which such items are taken into
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account as revenue in the taxpayer's financial statements. The Treasury Department and IRS have issued final regulations providing that Section 451 does not apply to accrued market discount. If Section 451 were to apply to the accrual of market discount, the Fund would be required to include in income any market discount as it takes the same into account on its financial statements.
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 on the obligations 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.
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 on the cover page of this SAI).
Tax Credit Bonds. If the Fund holds, directly or indirectly, one or more tax credit bonds issued on or before December 31, 2017 (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 investments 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. Unless an election is made, net section 1256 gain or loss on forward currency contracts will be treated as ordinary income or loss.
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 by the Fund 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-
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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.
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 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 has 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 the Fund level, shareholder level and, if applicable, Portfolio 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 or Portfolio, if applicable, must own a dividend-paying stock for more than 15 days during the 31-day period beginning 15 days prior to the ex-dividend date in order to pass through to shareholders a credit or deduction for any foreign withholding tax on a dividend paid with respect to such stock. 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.
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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 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.
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. 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.
Distributions by the Fund to its shareholders that the Fund properly reports as “section 199A dividends,” as defined and subject to certain conditions described below, are treated as qualified REIT dividends in the hands of non-corporate shareholders. Non-corporate shareholders are permitted a federal income tax deduction equal to 20% of qualified REIT dividends received by them, subject to certain limitations. Very generally, a “section 199A dividend” is any dividend or portion thereof that is attributable to certain dividends received by a RIC from REITs, to the extent such dividends are properly reported as such by the RIC in a written notice to its shareholders. A section 199A dividend is treated as a qualified REIT dividend only if the shareholder receiving such dividend holds the dividend-paying RIC shares for at least 46 days of the 91-day period beginning 45 days before the shares become ex-dividend, and is not under an obligation to make related payments with respect to a position in substantially similar or related property. The Fund is permitted to report such part of its dividends as section 199A dividends as are eligible, but is not required to do so.
Subject to any future regulatory guidance to the contrary, any distribution of income attributable to qualified publicly traded partnership income from a Fund’s investment in a qualified publicly traded partnership will not qualify for the deduction that would be available to a non-corporate shareholder were the shareholder to own such qualified publicly traded partnership interest directly.
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 deflation, 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 net gains from investments held for more than one year and that are properly reported by the Fund as capital gain dividends are generally taxable as long-term capital gains. The IRS and the Department of
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Treasury have issued regulations that impose special rules in respect of capital gain dividends received through partnership interests constituting “applicable partnership interests” under Section 1061 of the Code. Taxes on distributions of capital gains are determined by how long the Fund or, if applicable, the Portfolio owned (or is treated as having 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. 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. A shareholder’s tax basis cannot go below zero and any return of capital in excess of a shareholder’s tax basis will be treated as capital gain.
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 distributions annually to facilitate shareholder tax reporting.
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 regular corporate tax rates. 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. The Fund is not required to, and there can be no assurance the Fund will, make this designation if it retains all or a portion of its net capital gain in a taxable year.
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.
Tax-Exempt Income. Distributions by the Fund of net tax-exempt interest income that are properly reported 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 for non-corporate taxpayers and for state and local purposes. Fund shareholders are required to report tax-exempt interest on their federal income tax returns.
Exempt-interest dividends 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 in proportion to the percentage that the Fund’s distributions of exempt-interest dividends bears to all of the Fund’s distributions, excluding properly reported capital gain dividends. 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 exempt-interest dividends and distributions may affect a foreign corporate shareholder’s
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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 AMT, the federal “branch profits” tax, or the federal “excess net passive income” tax.
Qualified Dividend Income. “Qualified dividend income” received by an individual is generally taxed at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain. In order for a dividend received by Fund shareholders to be qualified dividend income, the Fund or, if applicable, the Portfolio must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to the dividend-paying stock 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 (at either the Fund or shareholder level) (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 income for purposes of the limitation on deductibility of 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 PFIC. Payments in lieu of dividends, such as payments pursuant to securities lending arrangements, also do not qualify to be treated as qualified dividend income. In general, distributions of investment income properly 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 (excluding net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), 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 (more than 90 days in the case of certain preferred stock) during the 91-day period beginning 45 days before the ex-dividend date (during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date in the case of certain preferred stock) 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. Payments in lieu of dividends, such as payments pursuant to securities lending arrangements, also do not qualify for the DRD.
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 income taxable as UBTI for those shareholders who would otherwise be tax-exempt such as individual retirement accounts, employer sponsored retirement 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 certain tax treaty countries; and (4) cause the Fund to be subject to tax if certain “disqualified organizations” as defined by the Code are Fund shareholders.
Sale, Redemption or Exchange of Fund Shares. Generally, upon the sale, redemption or (if permitted) exchange of Fund shares, a shareholder will realize a taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized and the shareholder’s basis in the 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 generally 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 other disposition 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 Fund distributions treated as long-term capital gain with respect to such shares. In addition, all or a portion of a loss realized on a sale 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
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reinvestment of distributions or otherwise) within the period beginning 30 days before the date of sale or other disposition 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. See the prospectus for information regarding any permitted exchange of Fund shares.
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 net investment 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, among other things, 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.
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). 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, interest-related 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 an IRS 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 an 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, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, 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, capital gain dividends, interest-related dividends, exempt-interest dividends and amounts retained by the Fund that are reported as undistributed capital gains.
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 net 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 would need to comply with applicable certification requirements relating to its non-U.S. status (including, in general, furnishing an IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, or substitute Form). In the case of shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary could withhold even if the Fund designates 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.
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 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% (or lower applicable treaty rate) 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
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund32SAI dated April 1, 2021
subject to 21% withholding tax and could subject the foreign shareholder to U.S. filing requirements. The rules described in this paragraph, other than the withholding rules, will apply notwithstanding the Fund’s participation or a foreign shareholder’s participation in a wash sale transaction or the payment of a substitute dividend.
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 could be subject to the 21% withholding tax and U.S. filing requirements unless the foreign person had not held more than 5% of the Fund’s outstanding shares at any time during the one year period ending on the date of the redemption.
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.
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), 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 be equal to the fair market value of such interests over the Fund’s adjusted basis 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.
Shares of the Fund held by a non-U.S. shareholder at death will be considered situated within the United States and subject to the U.S. estate tax.
Compliance with FATCA. A 30% withholding tax is imposed on U.S.-source dividends, interest and other income items, including those paid by the Fund, paid to (i) foreign financial institutions including non-U.S. investment funds unless they agree to collect and disclose to the IRS information regarding their direct and indirect U.S. account holders and (ii) certain other foreign entities, unless they certify certain information regarding their direct and indirect U.S. owners. If a payment by the Fund is subject to withholding under FATCA, the Fund is required to withhold even if such payment would otherwise be exempt from withholding under the rules applicable to foreign shareholders described above (e.g., dividends attributable to qualified net interest income and dividends attributable to tax-exempt interest income). The IRS and the Department of Treasury have issued proposed regulations providing that these withholding rules will not be applicable to the gross proceeds of share redemptions or capital gain dividends the Funds pays. To avoid withholding, foreign financial institutions will need to either enter into agreements with the IRS that state that they will provide the IRS information, including the names, addresses and taxpayer identification numbers of direct and indirect U.S. account holders, comply with due diligence procedures with respect to the identification of U.S. accounts, report to the IRS certain information with respect to U.S. accounts maintained, agree to withhold tax on certain payments made to non-compliant foreign financial institutions or to account holders who fail to provide the required information, and determine certain other information as to their account holders or, in the event that an applicable intergovernmental agreement and implementing legislation are adopted, agree to provide certain information to other revenue authorities for transmittal to the IRS. Other foreign entities will need to either provide the name, address, and taxpayer identification number of each substantial U.S. owner or certifications of no substantial U.S. ownership unless certain exceptions apply or agree to provide certain information to other revenue authorities for transmittal to the IRS. 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 at least $2 million in any single taxable year or $4 million in any combination of taxable years for an individual shareholder or at least $10 million in any single taxable year or $20 million in any combination of taxable years 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.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund33SAI dated April 1, 2021
Tax Treatment of Variable Annuity/Variable Life Insurance Funding Vehicles. Special rules apply to insurance company separate accounts and the Funds (the “Variable Funds”) in which such insurance company separate accounts invest. For federal income tax purposes, the insurance company separate accounts that invest in a Variable Fund will be treated as receiving the income from the Variable Fund’s distributions to such accounts, and holders of variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies (together, “Variable Contracts”) generally will not be taxed currently on income or gains realized with respect to such contracts, provided that certain diversification and “investor control” requirements are met. In order for owners of Variable Contracts to receive such favorable tax treatment, diversification requirements in Section 817(h) of the Code (“Section 817(h)”) must be satisfied. To determine whether such diversification requirements are satisfied, an insurance company that offers Variable Contracts generally may “look through” to the assets of a RIC in which it owns shares (the “Underlying Fund”) if, among other requirements, (1) all the shares of the Underlying Fund are held by segregated asset accounts of insurance companies and (2) public access to such shares is only available through the purchase of a variable contract, in each case subject to certain limited exceptions. This provision permits a segregated asset account to invest all of its assets in shares of a single Underlying Fund without being considered nondiversified, provided that the Underlying Fund meets the Section 817(h) diversification requirements. This “look through” treatment typically increases the diversification of the account, because a portion of each of the assets of the Underlying Fund is considered to be held by the segregated asset account. Because each Variable Fund expects that this look-through rule will apply in determining whether the Section 817(h) diversification requirements are satisfied with respect to the variable contracts invested in the insurance company separate accounts that own shares in the Underlying Fund, each Variable Fund intends to comply with the Section 817(h) diversification requirements. If a Variable Fund failed to qualify as a RIC, the insurance company separate accounts investing in the Variable Fund would no longer be permitted to look through to the Variable Fund’s investments and, thus, would likely fail to satisfy the Section 817(h) diversification requirements.
A Variable Fund can generally satisfy the Section 817(h) diversification requirements in one of two ways. First, the requirements will be satisfied if each Variable Fund invests not more than 55 percent of the total value of its assets in the securities of a single issuer; not more than 70 percent of the value of its total assets in the securities of any two issuers; not more than 80 percent of the value of its total assets in the securities of any three issuers; and not more than 90 percent of the value of its total assets in the securities of any four issuers. Alternatively, the diversification requirements will be satisfied with respect to Variable Fund shares owned by insurance companies as investments for variable contracts if (i) no more than 55 percent of the value of the Variable Fund’s total assets consists of cash, cash items (including receivables), U.S. Government securities, and securities of other RICs, and (ii) the Variable Fund satisfies the additional diversification requirements for qualification as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code discussed above. For purposes of the Section 817(h) diversification rule, all securities of the same issuer are considered a single investment. In the case of government securities, each United States government agency or instrumentality is generally treated as a separate issuer. In addition, to the extent any security is guaranteed or insured by the U.S. or an instrumentality of the U.S., it will be treated as having been issued by the U.S. or the instrumentality, as applicable.
A Variable Fund will be considered to be in compliance with the Section 817(h) diversification requirements if it is adequately diversified on the last day of each calendar quarter. A Variable Fund that meets the diversification requirements as of the close of a calendar quarter will not be considered nondiversified in a subsequent quarter because of a discrepancy between the value of its assets and the diversification requirements unless the discrepancy exists immediately after the acquisition of any asset and is attributable, in whole or in part, to such acquisition.
If the segregated asset account investing in the Variable Fund is not adequately diversified at the required time and the correction procedure described below is not available, a Variable Contract based on the account during the specified time will not be treated as an annuity or life insurance contract within the meaning of the Code and all income accrued on the Variable Contract for the current and all prior taxable years will be subject to current federal taxation at ordinary income rates to the holders of such contracts. The Variable Contract will also remain subject to current taxation for all subsequent tax periods regardless of whether the Fund or separate account becomes adequately diversified in future periods.
In certain circumstances, an inadvertent failure to satisfy the Section 817(h) diversification requirements can be corrected, but generally will require the payment of a penalty to the IRS. The amount of such penalty will be based on the tax the contract holders would have incurred if they were treated as receiving the income on the contract for the period during which the diversification requirements were not satisfied. Any such failure also could result in adverse tax consequences for the insurance company issuing the contracts.
In addition to the Section 817(h) diversification requirements, “investor control” limitations also are imposed on owners of Variable Contracts. The IRS has issued rulings addressing the circumstances in which a Variable Contract holder’s control of the investments of the insurance company separate account may cause the holder, rather than the insurance company, to be treated as the owner of the assets held by the separate account. If the holder is considered the owner of the securities underlying the separate account, income, and gains produced by those securities would be included currently in the holder’s gross income. In determining whether an impermissible level of investor control is present, one
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund34SAI dated April 1, 2021
factor the IRS considers is whether a Variable Fund’s investment strategies are sufficiently broad to prevent a Variable Contract holder from being deemed to be making particular investment decisions through its investment in the separate account. For this purpose, current IRS guidance indicates that typical fund investment strategies, even those with a specific sector or geographical focus, are generally considered sufficiently broad. Most, although not necessarily all, of the Variable Funds have objectives and strategies that are not materially narrower than the investment strategies held not to constitute an impermissible level of investor control in recent IRS rulings (such as large company stocks, international stocks, small company stocks, mortgage-backed securities, money market securities, telecommunications stocks, and financial services stocks).
The above discussion addresses only one of several factors that the IRS considers in determining whether a Variable Contract holder has an impermissible level of investor control over a separate account. Variable Contract holders should consult with their own tax advisors, as well as the prospectus relating to their particular Variable Contract, for more information concerning this investor control issue.
In the event that there is a legislative change or the IRS or Treasury Department issues rulings, regulations, or other guidance, there can be no assurance that a Variable Fund will be able to operate as currently described, or that a Variable Fund will not have to change its investment objective or investment policies. While a Variable Fund’s investment objective is fundamental and may be changed only by a vote of a majority of its outstanding shares, the investment policies of the Variable Funds may be modified as necessary to prevent any prospective rulings, regulations, or legislative change from causing Variable Contract owners to be considered the owners of the shares of a Variable Fund.
For a discussion of the tax consequences to owners of Variable Contracts of Variable Fund distributions to insurance company separate accounts, please see the prospectus provided by the insurance company for your Variable Contract. Because of the unique tax status of Variable Contracts, you also should consult your tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of owning Variable Contracts under the federal, state, and local tax rules that apply to you.
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.
PORTFOLIO SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS
Decisions concerning the execution of portfolio security transactions, including the selection of the market and the broker-dealer firm, or other financial intermediary (each an “intermediary”), 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 intermediaries. The investment adviser uses its best efforts to obtain execution of portfolio security transactions at prices that 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, which may include, without limitation, the full range and quality of the intermediary’s services, responsiveness of the intermediary 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 intermediary, the reputation, reliability, experience and financial condition of the intermediary, the value and quality of the services rendered by the intermediary 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 and is otherwise in compliance with applicable law. The investment adviser may engage in portfolio transactions with an intermediary that sells shares of Eaton Vance funds, provided such transactions are not directed to that intermediary as compensation for the promotion or sale of such shares.
As described in the Prospectus, following the closing of the Transaction on March 1, 2021, the investment adviser became an “affiliated person,” as defined in the 1940 Act, of Morgan Stanley and its affiliates, including certain intermediaries (as previously defined). As a result, the investment adviser is subject to certain restrictions regarding transactions with Morgan Stanley-affiliated intermediaries, as set forth in the 1940 Act. Under certain circumstances, such restrictions may limit the investment adviser’s ability to place portfolio transactions on behalf of the Fund at the desired time or price. Any transaction the investment adviser enters into with a Morgan Stanley-affiliated intermediary on behalf of the Fund will be done in compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations; will be subject to any restrictions contained in the Fund’s investment advisory agreement; will be subject to the investment adviser’s duty to seek best execution; and, will comply with any applicable policies and procedures of the investment adviser, as described below.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund35SAI dated April 1, 2021
Subject to the overriding objective of obtaining the best execution of orders and applicable rules and regulations, as described above, the Fund may use an affiliated intermediary, including a Morgan Stanley-affiliated intermediary, to effect Fund portfolio transactions, including transactions in futures contracts and options on futures contracts, under procedures adopted by the Board. In order to use such affiliated intermediaries, the Fund’s Board must approve and periodically review procedures reasonably designed to ensure that commission rates and other remuneration paid to the affiliated intermediaries are fair and reasonable in comparison to those of other intermediaries for comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold during a comparable time period.
Pursuant to an order issued by the SEC, the Fund is permitted to engage in principal transactions in money market instruments, subject to certain conditions, with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, a broker-dealer affiliated with Morgan Stanley. Since March 1, 2021, the Fund did not effect any principal transactions with any broker-dealer affiliated with Morgan Stanley.
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 intermediaries and banks acting for their own account rather than as brokers. Such intermediaries 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 transacted 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 intermediaries 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 as permitted by applicable law.
Pursuant to the safe harbor provided in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Section 28(e)”) and to the extent permitted by other applicable law, 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) and other applicable law. 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, to the extent permitted by applicable law. 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, to the extent permitted by applicable law, 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, when permitted under applicable law.
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.” Except for trades executed in jurisdictions where such consideration is not permissible, the investment adviser may and does consider the receipt of Proprietary Research
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund36SAI dated April 1, 2021
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. In jurisdictions where permissible, 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 may enter into CCA arrangements with a number of broker-dealers and other firms, including certain affiliates of the investment adviser. The investment adviser will only enter into and utilize CCAs to the extent permitted by Section 28(e) and other applicable law.
Fund trades executed by an affiliate of the investment adviser licensed in the United Kingdom may implicate laws of the United Kingdom, including rules of the UK Financial Conduct Authority, which govern client trading commissions and Research Services (“UK Law”). Broadly speaking, under UK Law the investment adviser may not accept any good or service when executing an order unless that good or service either is directly related to the execution of trades on behalf of its clients/customers or amounts to the provision of substantive research (as defined under UK Law). These requirements may also apply with respect to orders in connection with which the investment adviser receives goods and services under a CCA or other bundled brokerage arrangement. Fund trades may also implicate UK Law requiring the investment adviser to direct any research portion of a brokerage commission to an account controlled by the investment adviser.
The investment companies sponsored by the investment adviser or certain of 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 members of the Board 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 certain of 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 members of the Board that the benefits from the investment adviser organization outweigh any disadvantage that may arise from exposure to simultaneous transactions.
The following table shows brokerage commissions paid during the fiscal years ended November 30, 2020, November 30, 2019 and November 30, 2018, as well as the amount of Fund security transactions for the most recent fiscal year (if any) that were directed to firms that provided some Research Services to the investment adviser or its affiliates (see above), and the commissions paid in connection therewith. The Fund did not pay any brokerage commissions to affiliated brokers during the past three fiscal years.
Brokerage Commissions Paid for the Fiscal Year Ended |
Amount of Transactions
|
Commissions Paid on
|
||
11/30/20 |
11/30/19 |
11/30/18 |
11/30/20 |
11/30/20 |
$3,370 |
$2,143 |
$3,132 |
$4,114,907 |
$2,239 |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund37SAI dated April 1, 2021
The following table shows brokerage commissions paid to broker-dealers affiliated with Morgan Stanley (“Morgan Stanley affiliated broker-dealers”) during the fiscal years ended November 30, 2020, November 30, 2019 and November 30, 2018, as well as the percentage of aggregate brokerage commissions paid to Morgan Stanley affiliated broker-dealers and the percentage of total brokered transactions effected through Morgan Stanley affiliated broker-dealers for the most recent fiscal year.
Fiscal Year End |
Brokerage Commissions
|
Percentage of Aggregate
|
Percentage of Total Brokered
|
November 30, 2020 |
$66 |
2% |
4% |
November 30, 2019 |
$27 |
|
|
November 30, 2018 |
$131 |
|
|
During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2020, the Fund held no securities of its “regular brokers or dealers,” as that term is defined in Rule 10b-1 of the 1940 Act.
POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
As a diversified global financial services firm, Morgan Stanley engages in a broad spectrum of activities, including financial advisory services, investment management activities, lending, commercial banking, sponsoring and managing private investment funds, engaging in broker-dealer transactions and principal securities, commodities and foreign exchange transactions, research publication and other activities. In the ordinary course of its business, Morgan Stanley is a full-service investment banking and financial services firm and therefore engages in activities where Morgan Stanley’s interests or the interests of its clients may conflict with the interests of a Fund or Portfolio, if applicable, (collectively for the purposes of this section, “Fund” or “Funds”). Morgan Stanley advises clients and sponsors, manages or advises other investment funds and investment programs, accounts and businesses (collectively, together with the Funds, any new or successor funds, programs, accounts or businesses, the ‘‘Affiliated Investment Accounts’’) with a wide variety of investment objectives that in some instances may overlap or conflict with a Fund’s investment objectives and present conflicts of interest. In addition, Morgan Stanley may also from time to time create new or successor Affiliated Investment Accounts that may compete with a Fund and present similar conflicts of interest. The discussion below enumerates certain actual, apparent and potential conflicts of interest. There is no assurance that conflicts of interest will be resolved in favor of Fund shareholders and, in fact, they may not be. Conflicts of interest not described below may also exist.
Material Non-public and Other Information. It is expected that confidential or material non-public information regarding an investment or potential investment opportunity may become available to the investment adviser. If such information becomes available, the investment adviser may be precluded (including by applicable law or internal policies or procedures) from pursuing an investment or disposition opportunity with respect to such investment or investment opportunity.
The investment adviser may also from time to time be subject to contractual ‘‘stand-still’’ obligations and/or confidentiality obligations that may restrict its ability to trade in certain investments on a Fund’s behalf. In addition, the investment adviser may be precluded from disclosing such information to an investment team, even in circumstances in which the information would be beneficial if disclosed. Therefore, the investment team may not be provided access to material non-public information in the possession of Morgan Stanley that might be relevant to an investment decision to be made on behalf of a Fund, and the investment team may initiate a transaction or sell an investment that, if such information had been known to it, may not have been undertaken. In addition, certain members of the investment team may be recused from certain investment-related discussions so that such members do not receive information that would limit their ability to perform functions of their employment with the investment adviser or its affiliates unrelated to that of a Fund. Furthermore, access to certain parts of Morgan Stanley may be subject to third party confidentiality obligations and to information barriers established by Morgan Stanley in order to manage potential conflicts of interest and regulatory restrictions, including without limitation joint transaction restrictions pursuant to the 1940 Act. Accordingly, the investment adviser’s ability to source investments from other business units within Morgan Stanley may be limited and there can be no assurance that the investment adviser will be able to source any investments from any one or more parts of the Morgan Stanley network.
The investment adviser may restrict its investment decisions and activities on behalf of the Funds in various circumstances, including because of applicable regulatory requirements or information held by the investment adviser or Morgan Stanley. The investment adviser might not engage in transactions or other activities for, or enforce certain rights in favor of, a Fund due to Morgan Stanley’s activities outside the Funds. In instances where trading of an investment is restricted, the investment adviser may not be able to purchase or sell such investment on behalf of a Fund, resulting in the
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund38SAI dated April 1, 2021
Fund’s inability to participate in certain desirable transactions. This inability to buy or sell an investment could have an adverse effect on a Fund’s portfolio due to, among other things, changes in an investment’s value during the period its trading is restricted. Also, in situations where the investment adviser is required to aggregate its positions with those of other Morgan Stanley business units for position limit calculations, the investment adviser may have to refrain from making investments due to the positions held by other Morgan Stanley business units or their clients. There may be other situations where the investment adviser refrains from making an investment due to additional disclosure obligations, regulatory requirements, policies, and reputational risk, or the investment adviser may limit purchases or sales of securities in respect of which Morgan Stanley is engaged in an underwriting or other distribution capacity.
Morgan Stanley has established certain information barriers and other policies to address the sharing of information between different businesses within Morgan Stanley. As a result of information barriers, the investment adviser generally will not have access, or will have limited access, to certain information and personnel in other areas of Morgan Stanley relating to business transactions for clients (including transactions in investing, banking, prime brokerage and certain other areas), and generally will not manage the Funds with the benefit of the information held by such other areas. Morgan Stanley, due to its access to and knowledge of funds, markets and securities based on its prime brokerage and other businesses, may make decisions based on information or take (or refrain from taking) actions with respect to interests in investments of the kind held (directly or indirectly) by the Funds in a manner that may be adverse to the Funds, and will not have any obligation or other duty to share information with the investment adviser.
In limited circumstances, however, including for purposes of managing business and reputational risk, and subject to policies and procedures, Morgan Stanley personnel, including personnel of the investment adviser, on one side of an information barrier may have access to information and personnel on the other side of the information barrier through “wall crossings.” The investment adviser faces conflicts of interest in determining whether to engage in such wall crossings. Information obtained in connection with such wall crossings may limit or restrict the ability of the investment adviser to engage in or otherwise effect transactions on behalf of the Funds (including purchasing or selling securities that the investment adviser may otherwise have purchased or sold for a Fund in the absence of a wall crossing). In managing conflicts of interest that arise because of the foregoing, the investment adviser generally will be subject to fiduciary requirements. The investment adviser may also implement internal information barriers or ethical walls, and the conflicts described herein with respect to information barriers and otherwise with respect to Morgan Stanley and the investment adviser will also apply internally within the investment adviser. As a result, a Fund may not be permitted to transact in (e.g., dispose of a security in whole or in part) during periods when it otherwise would have been able to do so, which could adversely affect a Fund. Other investors in the security that are not subject to such restrictions may be able to transact in the security during such periods. There may also be circumstances in which, as a result of information held by certain portfolio management teams in the investment adviser, the investment adviser limits an activity or transaction for a Fund, including if the Fund is managed by a portfolio management team other than the team holding such information.
Investments by Morgan Stanley and its Affiliated Investment Accounts. In serving in multiple capacities to Affiliated Investment Accounts, Morgan Stanley, including the investment adviser and its investment teams, may have obligations to other clients or investors in Affiliated Investment Accounts, the fulfillment of which may not be in the best interests of a Fund or its shareholders. A Fund’s investment objectives may overlap with the investment objectives of certain Affiliated Investment Accounts. As a result, the members of an investment team may face conflicts in the allocation of suitable investment opportunities among a Fund and other investment funds, programs, accounts and businesses advised by or affiliated with the investment adviser. Certain Affiliated Investment Accounts may provide for higher management or incentive fees or greater expense reimbursements or overhead allocations, all of which may contribute to this conflict of interest and create an incentive for the investment adviser to favor such other accounts.
Morgan Stanley currently invests and plans to continue to invest on its own behalf and on behalf of its Affiliated Investment Accounts in a wide variety of investment opportunities globally. Morgan Stanley and its Affiliated Investment Accounts, to the extent consistent with applicable law and policies and procedures, will be permitted to invest in investment opportunities without making such opportunities available to a Fund beforehand. Subject to the foregoing, Morgan Stanley may offer investments that fall into the investment objectives of an Affiliated Investment Account to such account or make such investment on its own behalf, even though such investment also falls within a Fund’s investment objectives. A Fund may invest in opportunities that Morgan Stanley and/or one or more Affiliated Investment Accounts has declined, and vice versa. All of the foregoing may reduce the number of investment opportunities available to a Fund and may create conflicts of interest in allocating investment opportunities. Investors should note that the conflicts inherent in making such allocation decisions may not always be resolved to a Fund’s advantage. There can be no assurance that a Fund will have an opportunity to participate in certain opportunities that fall within their investment objectives.
To seek to reduce potential conflicts of interest and to attempt to allocate such investment opportunities in a fair and equitable manner, the investment adviser has implemented allocation policies and procedures. These policies and procedures are intended to give all clients of the investment adviser, including the Funds, fair access to investment opportunities consistent with the requirements of organizational documents, investment strategies, applicable laws and
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund39SAI dated April 1, 2021
regulations, and the fiduciary duties of the investment adviser. Each client of the investment adviser that is subject to the allocation policies and procedures, including each Fund, is assigned an investment team and portfolio manager(s) by the investment adviser. The investment team and portfolio managers review investment opportunities and will decide with respect to the allocation of each opportunity considering various factors and in accordance with the allocation policies and procedures. The allocation policies and procedures are subject to change. Investors should note that the conflicts inherent in making such allocation decisions may not always be resolved to the advantage of a Fund.
It is possible that Morgan Stanley or an Affiliated Investment Account, including another Eaton Vance fund, will invest in or advise a company that is or becomes a competitor of a company of which a Fund holds an investment. Such investment could create a conflict between the Fund, on the one hand, and Morgan Stanley or the Affiliated Investment Account, on the other hand. In such a situation, Morgan Stanley may also have a conflict in the allocation of its own resources to the portfolio investment. Furthermore, certain Affiliated Investment Accounts will be focused primarily on investing in other funds which may have strategies that overlap and/or directly conflict and compete with a Fund.
In addition, certain investment professionals who are involved in a Fund’s activities remain responsible for the investment activities of other Affiliated Investment Accounts managed by the investment adviser and its affiliates, and they will devote time to the management of such investments and other newly created Affiliated Investment Accounts (whether in the form of funds, separate accounts or other vehicles), as well as their own investments. In addition, in connection with the management of investments for other Affiliated Investment Accounts, members of Morgan Stanley and its affiliates may serve on the boards of directors of or advise companies which may compete with a Fund’s portfolio investments. Moreover, these Affiliated Investment Accounts managed by Morgan Stanley and its affiliates may pursue investment opportunities that may also be suitable for a Fund.
It should be noted that Morgan Stanley may, directly or indirectly, make large investments in certain of its Affiliated Investment Accounts, and accordingly Morgan Stanley’s investment in a Fund may not be a determining factor in the outcome of any of the foregoing conflicts. Nothing herein restricts or in any way limits the activities of Morgan Stanley, including its ability to buy or sell interests in, or provide financing to, equity and/or debt instruments, funds or portfolio companies, for its own accounts or for the accounts of Affiliated Investment Accounts or other investment funds or clients in accordance with applicable law.
Different clients of the investment adviser, including a Fund, may invest in different classes of securities of the same issuer, depending on the respective clients’ investment objectives and policies. As a result, the investment adviser and its affiliates, at times, will seek to satisfy fiduciary obligations to certain clients owning one class of securities of a particular issuer by pursuing or enforcing rights on behalf of those clients with respect to such class of securities, and those activities may have an adverse effect on another client which owns a different class of securities of such issuer. For example, if one client holds debt securities of an issuer and another client holds equity securities of the same issuer, if the issuer experiences financial or operational challenges, the investment adviser and its affiliates may seek a liquidation of the issuer on behalf of the client that holds the debt securities, whereas the client holding the equity securities may benefit from a reorganization of the issuer. Thus, in such situations, the actions taken by the investment adviser or its affiliates on behalf of one client can negatively impact securities held by another client. These conflicts also exist as between the investment adviser’s clients, including the Funds, and the Affiliated Investment Accounts managed by Morgan Stanley.
The investment adviser and its affiliates may give advice and recommend securities to other clients which may differ from advice given to, or securities recommended or bought for, a Fund even though such other clients’ investment objectives may be similar to those of the Fund.
The investment adviser and its affiliates manage long and short portfolios. The simultaneous management of long and short portfolios creates conflicts of interest in portfolio management and trading in that opposite directional positions may be taken in client accounts managed by the same investment team, and creates risks such as: (i) the risk that short sale activity could adversely affect the market value of long positions in one or more portfolios (and vice versa) and (ii) the risks associated with the trading desk receiving opposing orders in the same security simultaneously. The investment adviser and its affiliates have adopted policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to mitigate these conflicts. In certain circumstances, the investment adviser invest on behalf of itself in securities and other instruments that would be appropriate for, held by, or may fall within the investment guidelines of its clients, including a Fund. At times, the investment adviser will give advice or take action for its own accounts that differs from, conflicts with, or is adverse to advice given or action taken for any client.
From time to time, conflicts also arise due to the fact that certain securities or instruments maybe held in some client accounts, including a Fund, but not in others, or the client accounts may have different levels of holdings in certain securities or instruments, and because the accounts pay different levels of fees to the investment adviser. In addition, at times an investment adviser investment team will give advice or take action with respect to the investments of one or more clients that is not given or taken with respect to other clients with similar investment programs, objectives, and strategies. Accordingly, clients with similar strategies will not always hold the same securities or instruments or achieve
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund40SAI dated April 1, 2021
the same performance. The investment adviser’s investment teams also advise clients with conflicting programs, objectives or strategies. These conflicts also exist as between the investment adviser’s clients, including the Funds, and the Affiliated Investment Accounts managed by Morgan Stanley.
The investment adviser maintains separate trading desks by investment team and generally based on asset class, including two trading desks trading equity securities. These trading desks operate independently of one another. The two equity trading desks do not share information. The separate equity trading desks may result in one desk competing against the other desk when implementing buy and sell transactions, possibly causing certain accounts to pay more or receive less for a security than other accounts. In addition, Morgan Stanley and its affiliates maintain separate trading desks that operate independently of each other and do not share information with the investment adviser. The Morgan Stanley and affiliate trading desks may compete against the investment adviser trading desks when implementing buy and sell transactions, possibly causing certain Affiliated Investment Accounts to pay more or receive less for a security than other Affiliated Investment Accounts.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries. The investment adviser and/or EVD may pay compensation, out of their own funds and not as an expense of the Funds, to certain financial intermediaries (which may include affiliates of the investment adviser and EVD), including recordkeepers and administrators of various deferred compensation plans, in connection with the sale, distribution, marketing and retention of shares of the Funds and/or shareholder servicing. For example, the investment adviser or EVD may pay additional compensation to a financial intermediary for, among other things, promoting the sale and distribution of Fund shares, providing access to various programs, mutual fund platforms or preferred or recommended mutual fund lists that may be offered by a financial intermediary, granting EVD access to a financial intermediary’s financial advisors and consultants, providing assistance in the ongoing education and training of a financial intermediary’s financial personnel, furnishing marketing support, maintaining share balances and/or for sub-accounting, recordkeeping, administrative, shareholder or transaction processing services. Such payments are in addition to any distribution fees, shareholder servicing fees and/or transfer agency fees that may be payable by the Funds. The additional payments may be based on various factors, including level of sales (based on gross or net sales or some specified minimum sales or some other similar criteria related to sales of the Funds and/or some or all other Eaton Vance funds), amount of assets invested by the financial intermediary’s customers (which could include current or aged assets of the Funds and/or some or all other Eaton Vance funds), a Fund’s advisory fee, some other agreed upon amount or other measures as determined from time to time by the investment adviser and/or EVD. The amount of these payments may be different for different financial intermediaries.
The prospect of receiving, or the receipt of, additional compensation, as described above, by financial intermediaries may provide such financial intermediaries and their financial advisors and other salespersons with an incentive to favor sales of shares of the Funds over other investment options with respect to which these financial intermediaries do not receive additional compensation (or receives lower levels of additional compensation). These payment arrangements, however, will not change the price that an investor pays for shares of the Funds or the amount that the Funds receive to invest on behalf of an investor. Investors may wish to take such payment arrangements into account when considering and evaluating any recommendations relating to Fund shares and should review carefully any disclosures provided by financial intermediaries as to their compensation.
Morgan Stanley Trading and Principal Investing Activities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Morgan Stanley will generally conduct its sales and trading businesses, publish research and analysis, and render investment advice without regard for a Fund’s holdings, although these activities could have an adverse impact on the value of one or more of the Fund’s investments, or could cause Morgan Stanley to have an interest in one or more portfolio investments that is different from, and potentially adverse to that of a Fund. Furthermore, from time to time, the investment adviser or its affiliates may invest “seed” capital in a Fund, typically to enable the Fund to commence investment operations and/or achieve sufficient scale. The investment adviser and its affiliates may hedge such seed capital exposure by investing in derivatives or other instruments expected to produce offsetting exposure. Such hedging transactions, if any, would occur outside of a Fund.
Morgan Stanley’s sales and trading, financing and principal investing businesses (whether or not specifically identified as such, and including Morgan Stanley’s trading and principal investing businesses) will not be required to offer any investment opportunities to a Fund. These businesses may encompass, among other things, principal trading activities as well as principal investing.
Morgan Stanley’s sales and trading, financing and principal investing businesses have acquired or invested in, and in the future may acquire or invest in, minority and/or majority control positions in equity or debt instruments of diverse public and/or private companies. Such activities may put Morgan Stanley in a position to exercise contractual, voting or creditor rights, or management or other control with respect to securities or loans of portfolio investments or other issuers, and in these instances Morgan Stanley may, in its discretion and subject to applicable law, act to protect its own interests or interests of clients, and not a Fund’s interests.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund41SAI dated April 1, 2021
Subject to the limitations of applicable law, a Fund may purchase from or sell assets to, or make investments in, companies in which Morgan Stanley has or may acquire an interest, including as an owner, creditor or counterparty.
Morgan Stanley’s Investment Banking Activities. Morgan Stanley advises clients on a variety of mergers, acquisitions, restructuring, bankruptcy and financing transactions. Morgan Stanley may act as an advisor to clients, including other investment funds that may compete with a Fund and with respect to investments that a Fund may hold. Morgan Stanley may give advice and take action with respect to any of its clients or proprietary accounts that may differ from the advice given, or may involve an action of a different timing or nature than the action taken, by a Fund. Morgan Stanley may give advice and provide recommendations to persons competing with a Fund and/or any of a Fund’s investments that are contrary to the Fund’s best interests and/or the best interests of any of its investments.
Morgan Stanley could be engaged in financial advising, whether on the buy-side or sell-side, or in financing or lending assignments that could result in Morgan Stanley’s determining in its discretion or being required to act exclusively on behalf of one or more third parties, which could limit a Fund’s ability to transact with respect to one or more existing or potential investments. Morgan Stanley may have relationships with third-party funds, companies or investors who may have invested in or may look to invest in portfolio companies, and there could be conflicts between a Fund’s best interests, on the one hand, and the interests of a Morgan Stanley client or counterparty, on the other hand.
To the extent that Morgan Stanley advises creditor or debtor companies in the financial restructuring of companies either prior to or after filing for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or similar laws in other jurisdictions, the investment adviser’s flexibility in making investments in such restructurings on a Fund’s behalf may be limited. Morgan Stanley could provide investment banking services to competitors of portfolio companies, as well as to private equity and/or private credit funds; such activities may present Morgan Stanley with a conflict of interest vis-a-vis a Fund’s investment and may also result in a conflict in respect of the allocation of investment banking resources to portfolio companies.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, Morgan Stanley may provide a broad range of financial services to companies in which a Fund invests, including strategic and financial advisory services, interim acquisition financing and other lending and underwriting or placement of securities, and Morgan Stanley generally will be paid fees (that may include warrants or other securities) for such services. Morgan Stanley will not share any of the foregoing interest, fees and other compensation received by it (including, for the avoidance of doubt, amounts received by the investment adviser) with a Fund, and any advisory fees payable will not be reduced thereby.
Morgan Stanley may be engaged to act as a financial advisor to a company in connection with the sale of such company, or subsidiaries or divisions thereof, may represent potential buyers of businesses through its mergers and acquisition activities and may provide lending and other related financing services in connection with such transactions. Morgan Stanley’s compensation for such activities is usually based upon realized consideration and is usually contingent, in substantial part, upon the closing of the transaction. Under these circumstances, a Fund may be precluded from participating in a transaction with or relating to the company being sold or participating in any financing activity related to merger or acquisition.
To meet applicable regulatory requirements, there are periods when the investment adviser will not engage in certain types of transactions in the securities of companies for which a broker-dealer affiliated with Morgan Stanley is performing investment banking services. Fund shareholders will not receive notice of such instances. In particular, when a broker-dealer affiliated with Morgan Stanley is engaged in an underwriting or other distribution of securities of a company, the investment adviser may be prohibited from purchasing such securities on behalf of a Fund. In addition, under certain circumstances, the investment adviser generally will not initiate transactions in the securities of companies with respect to which affiliates of the investment adviser may have controlling interests or are affiliated.
The investment adviser believes that the nature and range of clients to whom Morgan Stanley and its subsidiaries render investment banking and other services is such that it would be inadvisable to exclude these companies from the Fund’s portfolio.
Morgan Stanley’s Marketing Activities. Morgan Stanley is engaged in the business of underwriting, syndicating, brokering, administering, servicing, arranging and advising on the distribution of a wide variety of securities and other investments in which a Fund may invest. Subject to the restrictions of the 1940 Act, including Sections 10(f) and 17(e) thereof, a Fund may invest in transactions in which Morgan Stanley acts as underwriter, placement agent, syndicator, broker, administrative agent, servicer, advisor, arranger or structuring agent and receives fees or other compensation from the sponsors of such products or securities. Any fees earned by Morgan Stanley in such capacity will not be shared with the investment adviser or the Funds. Certain conflicts of interest, in addition to the receipt of fees or other compensation, would be inherent in these transactions. Moreover, the interests of one of Morgan Stanley’s clients with respect to an issuer of securities in which a Fund has an investment may be adverse to the investment adviser’s or a
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund42SAI dated April 1, 2021
Fund’s best interests. In conducting the foregoing activities, Morgan Stanley will be acting for its other clients and will have no obligation to act in the investment adviser’s or a Fund’s best interests.
Client Relationships. Morgan Stanley has existing and potential relationships with a significant number of corporations, institutions and individuals. In providing services to its clients, Morgan Stanley may face conflicts of interest with respect to activities recommended to or performed for such clients, on the one hand, and a Fund, its shareholders or the entities in which the Fund invests, on the other hand. In addition, these client relationships may present conflicts of interest in determining whether to offer certain investment opportunities to a Fund.
In acting as principal or in providing advisory and other services to its other clients, Morgan Stanley may engage in or recommend activities with respect to a particular matter that conflict with or are different from activities engaged in or recommended by the investment adviser on a Fund’s behalf.
Principal Investments. To the extent permitted by applicable law, there may be situations in which a Funds’ interests may conflict with the interests of one or more general accounts of Morgan Stanley and its affiliates or accounts managed by Morgan Stanley or its affiliates. This may occur because these accounts hold public and private debt and equity securities of many issuers which may be or become portfolio companies, or from whom portfolio companies may be acquired.
Transactions with Portfolio Companies of Affiliated Investment Accounts. The companies in which a Fund may invest may be counterparties to or participants in agreements, transactions or other arrangements with portfolio companies or other entities of portfolio investments of Affiliated Investment Accounts (for example, a company in which a Fund invests may retain a company in which an Affiliated Investment Account invests to provide services or may acquire an asset from such company or vice versa). Certain of these agreements, transactions and arrangements involve fees, servicing payments, rebates and/or other benefits to Morgan Stanley or its affiliates. For example, portfolio entities may, including at the encouragement of Morgan Stanley, enter into agreements regarding group procurement and/or vendor discounts. Morgan Stanley and its affiliates may also participate in these agreements and may realize better pricing or discounts as a result of the participation of portfolio entities. To the extent permitted by applicable law, certain of these agreements may provide for commissions or similar payments and/or discounts or rebates to be paid to a portfolio entity of an Affiliated Investment Account, and such payments or discounts or rebates may also be made directly to Morgan Stanley or its affiliates. Under these arrangements, a particular portfolio company or other entity may benefit to a greater degree than the other participants, and the funds, investment vehicles and accounts (which may or may not include a Fund) that own an interest in such entity will receive a greater relative benefit from the arrangements than the Eaton Vance funds, investment vehicles or accounts that do not own an interest therein. Fees and compensation received by portfolio companies of Affiliated Investment Accounts in relation to the foregoing will not be shared with a Fund or offset advisory fees payable.
Investments in Portfolio Investments of Other Funds. To the extent permitted by applicable law, when a Fund invests in certain companies or other entities, other funds affiliated with the investment adviser may have made or may be making an investment in such companies or other entities. Other funds that have been or may be managed by the investment adviser may invest in the companies or other entities in which a Fund has made an investment. Under such circumstances, a Fund and such other funds may have conflicts of interest (e.g., over the terms, exit strategies and related matters, including the exercise of remedies of their respective investments). If the interests held by a Fund are different from (or take priority over) those held by such other funds, the investment adviser may be required to make a selection at the time of conflicts between the interests held by such other funds and the interests held by a Fund.
Allocation of Expenses. Expenses may be incurred that are attributable to a Fund and one or more other Affiliated Investment Accounts (including in connection with issuers in which a Fund and such other Affiliated Investment Accounts have overlapping investments). The allocation of such expenses among such entities raises potential conflicts of interest. The investment adviser and its affiliates intend to allocate such common expenses among a Fund and any such other Affiliated Investment Accounts on a pro rata basis or in such other manner as the investment adviser deems to be fair and equitable or in such other manner as may be required by applicable law.
Temporary Investments. To more efficiently invest short-term cash balances held by a Fund, the investment adviser may invest such balances on an overnight “sweep” basis in shares of one or more money market funds or other short-term vehicles. It is anticipated that the investment adviser to these money market funds or other short-term vehicles may be the investment adviser (or an affiliate) to the extent permitted by applicable law, including Rule 12d1-1 under the 1940 Act. The Funds currently invests in Eaton Vance Cash Reserves Fund, LLC (Cash Reserves Fund), an affiliated investment company managed by Eaton Vance, for this purpose. Eaton Vance does not currently receive a fee for advisory services provided to Cash Reserves Fund.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund43SAI dated April 1, 2021
Transactions with Affiliates. The investment adviser and any investment sub-adviser might purchase securities from underwriters or placement agents in which a Morgan Stanley affiliate is a member of a syndicate or selling group, as a result of which an affiliate might benefit from the purchase through receipt of a fee or otherwise. Neither the investment adviser nor any investment sub-adviser will purchase securities on behalf of a Fund from an affiliate that is acting as a manager of a syndicate or selling group. Purchases by the investment adviser on behalf of a Fund from an affiliate acting as a placement agent must meet the requirements of applicable law. Furthermore, Morgan Stanley may face conflicts of interest when the Funds use service providers affiliated with Morgan Stanley because Morgan Stanley receives greater overall fees when they are used.
General Process for Potential Conflicts. All of the transactions described above involve the potential for conflicts of interest between the investment adviser, related persons of the investment adviser and/or their clients. The Advisers Act, the 1940 Act and ERISA impose certain requirements designed to decrease the possibility of conflicts of interest between an investment adviser and its clients. In some cases, transactions may be permitted subject to fulfillment of certain conditions. Certain other transactions may be prohibited. In addition, the investment adviser has instituted policies and procedures designed to prevent conflicts of interest from arising and, when they do arise, to ensure that it effects transactions for clients in a manner that is consistent with its fiduciary duty to its clients and in accordance with applicable law. The investment adviser seeks to ensure that potential or actual conflicts of interest are appropriately resolved taking into consideration the overriding best interests of the client.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The audited financial statements of, and the report of the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund appear in its annual report to shareholders and are incorporated by reference into this SAI. A copy of the annual report accompanies this SAI.
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.
The Trust incorporates by reference the audited financial information and the report of the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2020, as previously filed electronically with the SEC on January 26, 2021 (Accession No. 0001193125-21-017344).
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS
Asset Coverage |
To the extent required by SEC guidance, if a transaction creates a future obligation of the Fund to another party the Fund will: (1) cover the obligation by entering into an offsetting position or transaction; and/or (2) segregate cash and/or liquid securities with a value (together with any collateral posted with respect to the obligation) at least equal to the marked-to-market value of the obligation. Assets used as cover or segregated cannot be sold while the position(s) requiring coverage is open unless replaced with other appropriate assets. 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, certain options, forward commitments, futures contracts, when-issued securities, swap agreements and residual interest bonds. |
Asset-Backed Securities (“ABS”) |
ABS are collateralized by pools of automobile loans, educational loans, home equity loans, credit card receivables, equipment or automobile leases, commercial mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”), utilities receivables, secured or unsecured bonds issued by corporate or sovereign obligors, unsecured loans made to a variety of corporate commercial and industrial loan customers of one or more lending banks, or a combination of these bonds and loans. ABS are “pass through” securities, meaning that principal and interest payments made by the borrower on the underlying assets are passed through to the ABS holder. ABS are issued through special purpose vehicles that are bankruptcy remote from the issuer of the collateral. ABS are subject to interest rate risk and prepayment risk. Some ABS may receive prepayments that can change their effective maturities. Issuers of ABS may have limited ability to enforce the security interest in the underlying assets or may have no security in the underlying assets, and credit enhancements provided to support the securities, if any, may be inadequate to protect investors in the event of default. In addition, ABS may experience losses on the underlying assets as a result of certain rights provided to consumer debtors under federal and state law. The value of ABS may be affected by the factors described above and other factors, such as the availability of information concerning the pool and its structure, the creditworthiness of the servicing agent for the pool, the originator of the underlying assets or the entities providing credit enhancements and the ability of the servicer to service the underlying collateral. The value of ABS representing interests in a pool of utilities receivables may be adversely affected by changes in government regulations. While certain ABS may be insured as to the payment of principal and interest, this insurance does not protect the market value of such obligations or the Fund’s net asset value. The value of an insured security will be affected by the credit standing of its insurer. Collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”) and collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”) are types of ABS that are backed solely by a pool of other debt securities. CDOs and CLOs are typically issued in various classes with varying priorities. The risks of an investment in a CDO or CLO depend largely on the type of the collateral securities and the class of the CDO or CLO in which the Fund invests. In addition to interest rate, prepayment, default and other risks of ABS and fixed income securities, in general, CDOs and CLOs are subject to additional risks, including the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will not be adequate to make interest or other payments, the quality of the collateral may decline in value or default, the Fund may invest in CDOs or CLOs that are subordinate to other classes, and the complex structure may produce disputes with the issuer or unexpected investment results. The Fund's investment in CDOs and CLOs may decrease in market value if they experience loan defaults or credit impairment, the disappearance of a subordinate tranche or class of debt, or due to market anticipation of defaults and investor aversion to the securities as a class. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund45SAI dated April 1, 2021
Auction Rate Securities |
Auction rate securities, such as auction preferred shares of closed-end investment companies, are preferred securities and debt securities with dividends/coupons based on a rate set at auction. The auction is usually held weekly for each series of a security, but may be held less frequently. The auction sets the rate, and securities may be bought and sold at the auction. Provided that the auction mechanism is successful, auction rate securities normally permit the holder to sell the securities in an auction at par value at specified intervals. The dividend is reset by a “Dutch” auction in which bids are made by broker-dealers and other institutions for a certain amount of securities at a specified minimum yield. The dividend rate set by the auction is the lowest interest or dividend rate that covers all securities offered for sale. While this process is designed to permit auction rate securities to be traded at par value, there is the risk that an auction will fail due to insufficient demand for the securities. Security holders that submit sell orders in a failed auction may not be able to sell any or all of the shares for which they have submitted sell orders. Security holders may sell their shares at the next scheduled auction, subject to the same risk that the subsequent auction will not attract sufficient demand for a successful auction to occur. Broker-dealers may also try to facilitate secondary trading in the auction rate securities, although such secondary trading may be limited and may only be available for shareholders willing to sell at a discount. Since mid-February 2008, existing markets for certain auction rate securities have become generally illiquid and investors have not been able to sell their securities through the regular auction process. It is uncertain when or whether there will be a revival of investor interest in purchasing securities sold through auctions. There may be limited or no active secondary markets for many auction rate securities. Auction rate securities that do trade in a secondary market may trade at a significant discount from their liquidation preference. There have been a number of governmental investigations and regulatory settlements involving certain broker-dealers with respect to their prior activities involving auction rate securities. |
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Valuations of such securities is highly speculative, however, dividends on auction rate preferred securities issued by a closed-end fund may be reported, generally on Form 1099, as exempt from federal income tax to the extent they are attributable to tax-exempt interest income earned by the Fund on the securities and distributed to holders of the preferred securities, provided that the preferred securities are treated as equity securities for federal income tax purposes, and the closed-end fund complies with certain requirements under the Code. Investments in auction rate preferred securities of closed-end funds are subject to limitations on investments in other U.S. registered investment companies, which limitations are prescribed by the 1940 Act. |
Average Effective Maturity |
Average effective maturity is a weighted average of all the maturities of bonds owned by the Fund. Average effective maturity takes into consideration all mortgage payments, puts and adjustable coupons. In the event the Fund invests in multiple Portfolios, its average weighted maturity is the sum of its allocable share of the average weighted maturity of each of the Portfolios in which it invests, which is determined by multiplying the Portfolio’s average weighted maturity by the Fund’s percentage ownership of that Portfolio. |
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 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 magnify 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 1940 Act 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. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund46SAI dated April 1, 2021
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 to settle transactions). The Fund’s ability to borrow is subject to its terms and conditions of its credit arrangements, which in some cases may limit the Fund’s ability to borrow under the arrangement. The Fund will be required to maintain a specified level of asset coverage with respect to all borrowings and may be required to sell some of its holdings to reduce debt and restore coverage at times when it may not be advantageous to do so. The rights of the lender to receive payments of interest and repayments of principal of any borrowings made by the Fund under a credit arrangement are senior to the rights of holders of shares with respect to the payment of dividends or upon liquidation. In the event of a default under a credit arrangement, the lenders may have the right to cause a liquidation of the collateral (i.e., sell Fund assets) and, if any such default is not cured, the lenders may be able to control the liquidation as well. Credit arrangements are subject to 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. Because the Fund is a party to a joint credit arrangement, it may be unable to borrow some or all of its requested amounts at any particular time. Borrowings involve additional expense to the Fund. |
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. |
Call and Put Features on Securities |
Issuers of securities may reserve the right to call (redeem) the securities. If an issuer redeems a security with a call right during a time of declining interest rates, the holder of the security may not be able to reinvest the proceeds in securities providing the same investment return as provided by the securities redeemed. Some securities may have “put” or “demand” features that allow early redemption by the holder. Longer term fixed-rate securities 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 a security’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 security would be subject to the longer maturity of the security, which could experience substantially more volatility. Securities with a “put” or “demand” feature are more defensive than conventional long term securities (protecting to some degree against a rise in interest rates) while providing greater opportunity than comparable intermediate term securities, because they can be retained if interest rates decline. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund47SAI dated April 1, 2021
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 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 CMOs 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 as 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. |
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. |
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 Focused Global Opportunities Fund48SAI dated April 1, 2021
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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 that 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. |
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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. |
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. |
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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. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund49SAI dated April 1, 2021
Contingent Convertible Securities |
Contingent convertible securities (sometimes referred to as “CoCos”) are convertible securities with loss absorption characteristics. These securities provide for mandatory conversion into common stock of the issuer under certain circumstances. The mandatory conversion may be automatically triggered, for instance, if a company fails to meet the capital minimum with respect to the security, the company’s regulator makes a determination that the security should convert or the company receives specified levels of extraordinary public support. Since the common stock of the issuer may not pay a dividend, investors in these instruments could experience a reduced income rate, potentially to zero; and conversion would deepen the subordination of the investor, hence worsening standing in a bankruptcy. In addition, some such instruments have a set stock conversion rate that would cause an automatic write-down of capital if the price of the stock is below the conversion price on the conversion date. Under similar circumstances, the liquidation value of certain types of contingent convertible securities may be adjusted downward to below the original par value. The write down of the par value would occur automatically and would not entitle the holders to seek bankruptcy of the company. In certain circumstances, contingent convertible securities may write down to zero and investors could lose the entire value of the investment, even as the issuer remains in business. CoCos may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a predetermined price. See also “Hybrid Securities.” |
Convertible Securities |
A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, preferred security, 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 or the dividend paid on such security 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 convertible security ranks senior to common stock in a corporation’s capital structure but is 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 convertible security may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in the convertible security’s governing instrument. |
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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 securities are issued, which may increase the effects of currency risk. |
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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 securities to be redeemed by the issuer at a premium over the stated principal amount of the debt securities under certain circumstances. Certain convertible securities may include loss absorption characteristics that make the securities more equity-like. This is particularly true of convertible securities issued by companies in the financial services sector. See “Contingent Convertible Securities.” |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund50SAI dated April 1, 2021
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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. Manufactured 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. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund51SAI dated April 1, 2021
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 reference instrument (in this case a 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 reference instrument. 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. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund52SAI dated April 1, 2021
Cybersecurity Risk |
With the increased use of technologies by Fund service providers to conduct business, such as the Internet, the Fund is susceptible to operational, information security and related risks. The Fund relies on communications technology, systems, and networks to engage with clients, employees, accounts, shareholders, and service providers, and a cyber incident may inhibit the Fund’s ability to use these technologies. In general, cyber incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. Cyber attacks include, but are not limited to, gaining unauthorized access to digital systems (e.g., through “hacking” or malicious software coding) for purposes of misappropriating assets or sensitive information, corrupting data, or causing operational disruption. Cyber attacks may also be carried out in a manner that does not require gaining unauthorized access, such as causing denial-of-service attacks on websites. A denial-of-service attack is an effort to make network services unavailable to intended users, which could cause shareholders to lose access to their electronic accounts, potentially indefinitely. Employees and service providers also may not be able to access electronic systems to perform critical duties for the Fund, such as trading and NAV calculation, during a denial-of-service attack. There is also the possibility for systems failures due to malfunctions, user error and misconduct by employees and agents, natural disasters, or other foreseeable and unforeseeable events. Because technology is consistently changing, new ways to carry out cyber attacks are always developing. Therefore, there is a chance that some risks have not been identified or prepared for, or that an attack may not be detected, which puts limitations on the Fund's ability to plan for or respond to a cyber attack. Like other funds and business enterprises, the Fund and its service providers have experienced, and will continue to experience, cyber incidents consistently. In addition to deliberate cyber attacks, unintentional cyber incidents can occur, such as the inadvertent release of confidential information by the Fund or its service providers. The Fund uses third party service providers who are also heavily dependent on computers and technology for their operations. Cybersecurity failures or breaches by the Fund’s investment adviser or administrator and other service providers (including, but not limited to, the custodian or transfer agent), and the issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, may disrupt and otherwise adversely affect their business operations. This may result in financial losses to the Fund, impede Fund trading, interfere with the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, limit a shareholder’s ability to purchase or redeem shares of the Fund or cause violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, litigation costs or additional compliance costs. In addition, substantial costs may be incurred in order to prevent any cyber incidents in the future. While many of the Fund’s service providers have established business continuity plans and risk management systems intended to identify and mitigate cyber attacks, there are inherent limitations in such plans and systems including the possibility that certain risks have not been identified. The Fund cannot control the cybersecurity plans and systems put in place by service providers to the Fund and issuers in which the Fund invests. The Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result. |
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. 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. Depending on the type of derivative instrument and the Fund’s investment strategy, a derivative instrument may be based on a security, instrument, index, currency, commodity, economic indicator or event (referred to as “reference instruments”). Fund obligations created pursuant to derivative instruments may be subject to the requirements described under “Asset Coverage” herein. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund53SAI dated April 1, 2021
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Derivative instruments are subject to a number of risks, including adverse or unexpected movements in the price of the reference instrument, and counterparty, credit, interest rate, leverage, liquidity, market and tax 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. Derivatives also involve the risk that changes in their value may not correlate perfectly with the assets, rates or indices they are designed to hedge or closely track. 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. |
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OTC derivative instruments involve an additional risk in that the issuer or counterparty may 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, an option or commodity exchange or swap execution facility or clearinghouse 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 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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The regulation of derivatives has undergone substantial change in recent years. In particular, although many provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) have yet to be fully implemented or are subject to phase-in periods, it is possible that upon implementation these provisions, or any future regulatory or legislative activity, could limit or restrict the ability of a Fund to use derivative instruments, including futures, options on futures and swap agreements as a part of its investment strategy, increase the costs of using these instruments or make them less effective. New position limits imposed on a Fund or its counterparty may also impact the Fund’s ability to efficiently utilize futures, options, and swaps. |
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As of October 28, 2020, the SEC has adopted new regulations that may significantly alter a Fund’s regulatory obligations with regard to its derivatives usage. In particular, the new regulations will, upon implementation, eliminate the current asset segregation framework for covering derivatives and certain other financial instruments, impose new responsibilities on the Board and establish new reporting and recordkeeping requirements for a Fund and may, depending on the extent to which a Fund uses derivatives, impose value at risk limitations on a Fund’s use of derivatives, and require the Fund’s Board to adopt a derivative risk management program. The implementation of these requirements may limit the ability of a Fund to use derivative instruments as part of its investment strategy, increase the costs of using these instruments or make them less effective. Limits or restrictions applicable to the counterparties with which a Fund engages in derivative transactions also could prevent the Fund from using these instruments or affect the pricing or other factors relating to these instruments, or may change the availability of certain investments. |
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Legislation may be enacted that could negatively affect the assets of the Fund. Legislation or regulation may also change the way in which the Fund itself is regulated. The effects of any new governmental regulation cannot be predicted and there can be no assurance that any new governmental regulation will not adversely affect the Fund’s performance or ability to achieve its investment objective(s). |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund54SAI dated April 1, 2021
Derivative-Linked and Commodity-Linked Hybrid Instruments |
A derivative-linked or commodity-linked hybrid instrument (referred to herein as a “hybrid instrument”) is a type of potentially high-risk derivative that combines a traditional stock, bond, or commodity with an option or forward contract. Generally, the principal amount, amount payable upon maturity or redemption, or interest rate of a hybrid instrument is tied (positively or negatively) to the price of some commodity, currency or securities index or another interest rate or some other economic factor (each a “benchmark”). The interest rate or (unlike most fixed-income securities) the principal amount payable at maturity of a hybrid instrument may be increased or decreased, depending on changes in the value of the benchmark. An example of a hybrid instrument is a bond issued by an oil company that pays a small base level of interest with additional interest that accrues in correlation to the extent to which oil prices exceed a certain predetermined level. Such a hybrid instrument would be a combination of a bond and a call option on oil. |
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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. |
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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 gain). 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. |
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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. |
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Hybrid instruments 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 instrument 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 instrument. Under certain conditions, the redemption value of a hybrid instrument could be zero. The purchase of hybrid instruments 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. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund55SAI dated April 1, 2021
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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 invest only 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. |
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. |
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. |
Dividend Capture Trading |
In a typical dividend capture trade, the Fund would buy a stock prior to its ex-dividend date and sell the stock at a point either on or after the ex-dividend date. 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. |
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 underlying funds is the sum of its allocable share of the duration of each of the underlying funds in which it invests, which is determined by multiplying the underlying fund’s duration by the Fund’s percentage ownership of that underlying fund. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund56SAI dated April 1, 2021
Emerging Market Investments |
The risks described under “Foreign Investments” herein generally are heightened in connection with investments in emerging markets. Also, investments in securities of issuers domiciled in countries with emerging capital markets may involve certain additional risks that do not generally apply to investments in securities of issuers in more developed capital markets, such as (i) low or non-existent trading volume, resulting in a lack of liquidity and increased volatility in prices for such securities, as compared to securities of comparable issuers in more developed capital markets; (ii) uncertain national policies and social, political and economic instability, increasing the potential for expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxation, high rates of inflation or unfavorable diplomatic developments; (iii) possible fluctuations in exchange rates, differing legal systems and the existence or possible imposition of exchange controls, custodial restrictions or other foreign or U.S. governmental laws or restrictions applicable to such investments; (iv) governmental actions or policies that may limit investment opportunities, such as restrictions on investment in, or required divestment of, certain issuers or industries; and (v) the lack or relatively early development of legal structures governing private and foreign investments and private property. Trading practices in emerging markets also may be less developed, resulting in inefficiencies relative to trading in more developed markets, which may result in increased transaction costs. |
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Repatriation of investment income, capital and proceeds of sales by foreign investors may require governmental registration and/or approval in emerging market countries. There can be no assurance that repatriation of income, gain or initial capital from these countries will occur. In addition to withholding taxes on investment income, some countries with emerging markets may impose differential capital gains taxes on foreign investors. |
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Political and economic structures in emerging market countries may undergo significant evolution and rapid development, and these countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries. In such a dynamic environment, there can be no assurance that any or all of these capital markets will continue to present viable investment opportunities. In the past, governments of such nations have expropriated substantial amounts of private property, and most claims of the property owners have never been fully settled. There is no assurance that such expropriations will not reoccur. In such an event, it is possible that the entire value of an investment in the affected market could be lost. In addition, unanticipated political or social developments may affect the value of investments in these countries and the availability of additional investments. The small size and inexperience of the securities markets in certain of these countries and the limited volume of trading in securities in these countries may make investments in the countries illiquid and more volatile than investments in developed markets. |
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Also, there may be less publicly available information about issuers in emerging markets than would be available about issuers in more developed capital markets, and such issuers may not be subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements comparable to those to which U.S. companies are subject. In certain countries with emerging capital markets, reporting standards vary widely. As a result, traditional investment measurements used in the United States, such as price/earnings ratios, may not be applicable. Certain emerging market securities may be held by a limited number of persons. This may adversely affect the timing and pricing of the acquisition or disposal of securities. The prices at which investments may be acquired may be affected by trading by persons with material non-public information and by securities transactions by brokers in anticipation of transactions in particular securities. |
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Practices in relation to settlement of securities transactions in emerging markets involve higher risks than those in developed markets, in part because brokers and counterparties in such markets may be less well capitalized, and custody and registration of assets in some countries may be unreliable. The possibility of fraud, negligence, undue influence being exerted by the issuer or refusal to recognize ownership exists in some emerging markets. As an alternative to investing directly in emerging markets, exposure may be obtained through derivative investments. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund57SAI dated April 1, 2021
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Additionally, there may be difficulties in obtaining and/or enforcing legal judgements against non-U.S. companies and non-U.S. persons, including company directors or officers, in foreign jurisdictions. Shareholders of emerging market issuers often have limited rights and few practical remedies in jurisdictions located in emerging markets. Such risks vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and company to company. |
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Investments in China may involve a high risk of currency fluctuations, currency non-convertibility, interest rate fluctuations and higher rates of inflation as a result of internal social unrest or conflicts with other countries. Increasing trade tensions, particularly regarding trading arrangements between the U.S. and China, may result in additional tariffs or other actions that could have an adverse impact on an investment in the China region, including but not limited to restrictions on investments in certain Chinese companies. Accounting, auditing, financial, and other reporting standards, practices and disclosure requirements in China are different, sometimes in fundamental ways, from those in the United States and certain western European countries. For example, there is less regulatory oversite of financial reporting by companies domiciled in China than for companies in the United States. |
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The foregoing risks may be even greater in frontier markets. Frontier markets are countries with investable stock markets that are less established than those in the emerging markets. The economies of frontier market countries generally are smaller than those of traditional emerging market countries, and frontier capital markets and legal systems are typically less developed. |
Equity Investments |
Equity investments include common stocks; preferred stocks; depositary receipts; equity interests in trusts, partnerships, joint ventures and other unincorporated entities or enterprises; convertible and contingent convertible preferred stocks; rights and warrants and other securities that are treated as equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (see “Preferred Stock” and “Hybrid Securities”). Market conditions may affect certain types of stocks to a greater extent than other types of stocks. |
Equity-Linked Securities |
See also “Derivative Instruments and Related Risks” herein. Equity-linked securities are privately issued securities whose investment results are designed to correspond generally to the performance of a specified stock index or “basket” of securities, or sometimes a single stock. These securities are used for many of the same purposes as derivative instruments and share many of the same risks. Equity-linked securities may be considered illiquid and thus subject to the Fund’s restrictions on investments in illiquid securities. |
Event-Linked Instruments |
The Fund may obtain event-linked exposure by investing in “event-linked bonds”, “event-linked swaps” or other “event-linked instruments”. Event-linked instruments are obligations for which the return of capital and dividend/interest payments are contingent on, or formulaically related to, the non-occurrence of a pre-defined “trigger” event. For some event-linked instruments, the trigger event’s magnitude may be based on losses to a company or industry, industry indexes or readings of scientific instruments rather than specified actual losses. Examples of trigger events include hurricanes, earthquakes, weather-related phenomena, or statistics relating to such events. |
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Some event-linked instruments are referred to as “catastrophe bonds.” Catastrophe bonds entitle a Fund to receive principal and interest payments so long as no trigger event occurs of the description and magnitude specified by the instrument. If a trigger event occurs, the Fund may lose a portion of its entire principal invested in the bond. |
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Event-linked instruments may be sponsored by government agencies, insurance companies or reinsurers and issued by special purpose corporations or other off-shore or on-shore entities (such special purpose entities are created to accomplish a narrow and well-defined objective, such as the issuance of a note in connection with a specific reinsurance transaction). Typically, event-linked instruments are issued by off-shore entities and may be non-dollar denominated. As a result, the Fund may be subject to currency risk. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund58SAI dated April 1, 2021
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Often, event-linked instruments provide for extensions of maturity that are mandatory or optional at the discretion of the issuer or sponsor, in order to process and audit loss claims in those cases where a trigger event has, or possibly has, occurred. An extension of maturity may increase the instrument’s volatility and potentially make it more difficult to value. In addition, pricing of event-linked instruments is subject to the added uncertainty caused by the inability to generally predict whether, when or where a natural disaster or other triggering event will occur. If a trigger event occurs, the Fund may lose all or a portion of its investment in an event-linked instrument or the notional amount of an event-linked swap. Such losses may be substantial. Event-linked instruments carry large uncertainties and major risk exposures to adverse conditions. In addition to the specified trigger events, event-linked instruments also may expose the Fund to issuer, credit, counterparty, restricted securities, liquidity, and valuation risks as well as exposures to specific geographic areas, adverse regulatory or jurisdictional interpretations, and adverse tax consequences. Event-linked instruments are generally rated below investment grade or the unrated equivalent and have the same or similar risks as high yield debt securities (also known as junk bonds) and are subject to the risk that the Fund may lose some or all of its investment in such instruments if the particular trigger occurs. Event-linked instruments may be rated by a nationally recognized statistical rating agency, but are often unrated. Frequently, the issuer of an event-linked instrument will use an independent risk model to calculate the probability and economic consequences of a trigger event. |
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The Fund may invest in event-linked instruments in one or more of three ways: may purchase event-linked instruments when initially offered; may purchase event-linked instruments in the secondary, over-the-counter market; or may gain indirect exposure to event-linked instruments using derivatives. As the market for event-linked instruments evolves, the Fund may invest in new types of event-linked instruments. However, there can be no assurance that a liquid market in these instruments will develop. Lack of a liquid market may impose the risk of higher transaction costs and the possibility that the Fund may be forced to liquidate positions when it would not be advantageous to do so. |
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Event-linked instruments typically are restricted to qualified institutional buyers and, therefore, are not subject to registration with the SEC or any state securities commission and are not always listed on any national securities exchange. The amount of public information available with respect to event-linked instruments is generally less extensive than that which is available for issuers of registered or exchange listed securities. There can be no assurance that future regulatory determinations will not adversely affect the overall market for event-linked instruments. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund59SAI dated April 1, 2021
Exchange-Traded Funds (“ETFs”) |
ETFs are pooled investment vehicles that trade their shares on stock exchanges at market prices (rather than net asset value) and are only redeemable from the ETF itself in large increments or in exchange for baskets of securities. As an exchange traded security, an ETF’s shares are priced continuously and trade throughout the day. ETFs may track a securities index, a particular market sector, a particular segment of a securities index or market sector (“Passive ETFs”), or they may be actively managed (“Active ETFs”). An investment in an ETF generally involves the same primary risks as an investment in a fund that is not exchange-traded that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies of the ETF, such as liquidity risk, sector risk and foreign and emerging market risk, as well as risks associated with equity securities, fixed income securities, real estate investments and commodities, as applicable. In addition, a Passive ETF may fail to accurately track the market segment or index that underlies its investment objective or may fail to fully replicate its underlying index, in which case the Passive ETF’s investment strategy may not produce the intended results. The way in which shares of ETFs are traded, purchased and redeemed involves certain risks. An ETF may trade at a price that is lower than its net asset value. Secondary market trading of an ETF may result in frequent price fluctuations, which in turn may result in a loss to a Fund. Additionally, there is no guarantee that an active market for the ETF’s shares will develop or be maintained. An ETF may fail to meet the listing requirements of any applicable exchanges on which it is listed. Further, trading in an ETF may be halted if the trading in one or more of the securities held by an ETF is halted. The existence of extreme market volatility or potential lack of an active trading market for an ETF’s shares could result in such shares trading at a significant premium or discount to their NAV. A Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management fees and other operating expenses of an ETF in which it invests. A Fund may pay brokerage commissions in connection with the purchase and sale of shares of ETFs. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund60SAI dated April 1, 2021
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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund61SAI dated April 1, 2021
Fixed-Income Securities |
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). Preferred stock and certain other hybrid securities may pay a fixed-dividend rate, but may be considered equity securities for purposes of a Fund’s investment restrictions (see “Preferred Stock” and “Hybrid Securities”). |
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The fixed-income securities market has been and may continue to be negatively affected by the novel coronavirus pandemic. As with other serious economic disruptions, governmental authorities and regulators are responding to this crisis with significant fiscal and monetary policy changes, including considerably lowering interest rates, which, in some cases could result in negative interest rates. These actions, including their possible unexpected or sudden reversal or potential ineffectiveness, could further increase volatility in securities and other financial markets and reduce market liquidity. To the extent the Fund has a bank deposit or holds a debt instrument with a negative interest rate to maturity, the Fund would generate a negative return on that investment. Similarly, negative rates on investments by money market funds and similar cash management products could lead to losses on investments, including on investments of the Fund’s uninvested cash. |
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. If the U.S. dollar rises in value relative to a foreign currency, a security denominated in that foreign currency will be worth less in U.S. dollars. If the U.S. dollar decreases in value relative to a foreign currency, a security denominated in that foreign currency will be worth more in U.S. dollars. A devaluation of a currency by a country’s government or banking authority will have a significant impact on the value of any investments denominated in that currency. 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 Foreign 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. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund62SAI dated April 1, 2021
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. |
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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 countries, 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. The U.S. is also renegotiating many of its global trade relationships and has imposed or threatened to impose significant import tariffs. These actions could lead to price volatility and overall declines in U.S. and global investment markets. |
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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 Fund’s risk of loss. The Fund generally holds its foreign securities and related 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. |
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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. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund63SAI dated April 1, 2021
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Depositary 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. Depositary receipts may be sponsored or unsponsored. Unsponsored depositary receipts are established without the participation of the issuer. As a result, available information concerning the issuer of an unsponsored depository receipt may not be as current as for sponsored depositary receipts, and the prices of unsponsored depositary receipts may be more volatile than if such instruments were sponsored by the issuer. Unsponsored depositary receipts may involve higher expenses, may not pass through voting or other shareholder rights and they may be less liquid. |
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Unless otherwise provided in the 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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In June 2016, the United Kingdom (“UK”) voted in a referendum to leave the European Union (“EU”) (“Brexit”). Effective January 31, 2020, the UK ceased to be a member of the EU and following a transition period, during which the EU and the UK Government engaged in a series of negotiations regarding the terms of the UK’s future relationship with the EU, the EU and the UK Government signed an agreement on December 30, 2020 regarding the economic relationship between the UK and the EU. This agreement became effective on a provisional basis on January 1, 2021. There remains significant market uncertainty regarding Brexit’s ramifications, and the range and potential implications of possible political, regulatory, economic, and market outcomes are difficult to predict. Moreover, the uncertainty about the ramifications of Brexit may cause significant volatility and/or declines in the value of the Euro and the British pound. The end of the Brexit transition period may cause greater market volatility and illiquidity, currency fluctuations, deterioration in economic activity, a decrease in business confidence, and an increased likelihood of a recession in the UK. Brexit may create additional substantial economic stresses for the UK, including price volatility in UK stocks, capital outflows, wider corporate bond spreads due to uncertainty and declines in business and consumer spending as well as foreign direct investment. Brexit may also adversely affect UK-based financial firms that have counterparties in the EU or participate in market infrastructure (trading venues, clearing houses, settlement facilities) based in the EU. These consequences may be exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Political events, including nationalist unrest in Europe, uncertainties surrounding the sovereign debt of a number of EU countries and the viability of the EU (or the euro) itself, also may cause market disruptions. If one or more countries leave the EU or the EU dissolves, the world’s securities markets likely will be significantly disrupted. |
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange 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 non-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. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund64SAI dated April 1, 2021
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When a currency is difficult to hedge or to hedge against the U.S. 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. |
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Some of the forward foreign currency exchange 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. |
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. |
Futures Contracts |
See also “Derivative Instruments and Related Risks” herein. Futures contracts are standardized contracts that obligate a purchaser to take delivery, and a seller to make delivery, of a specific amount of the underlying reference instrument at a specified future date at a specified price. These contracts are traded on exchanges, so that, in most cases, either party can close out its position on the exchange for cash, without delivering the underlying asset. Upon purchasing or selling a futures contract, a purchaser or seller is required to deposit collateral (initial margin). Each day thereafter until the futures position is closed, the purchaser or seller will pay additional margin (variation margin) representing any loss experienced as a result of the futures position the prior day or be entitled to a payment representing any profit experienced as a result of the futures position the prior day. A public market exists in futures contracts covering a number of indexes as well as financial instruments and foreign currencies. It is expected that other futures contracts will be developed and traded in the future. In computing daily net asset value, the Fund will mark to market its open futures positions. The Fund is also required to deposit and maintain margin with respect to put and call options on futures contracts written by it. Futures contracts are traded on exchanges or boards of trade that are licensed by the CFTC and must be executed through a futures commission merchant or brokerage firm that is a member of the relevant exchange or board. |
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Although some futures contracts call for making or taking delivery of the underlying reference instrument, generally these obligations are closed out prior to delivery by offsetting purchases or sales of matching futures contracts (same exchange, underlying security or index, and delivery month). Closing a futures contract sale is effected by purchasing a futures contract for the same aggregate amount of the specific type of financial instrument or commodity with the same delivery date. If an offsetting purchase price is less than the original sale price, the Fund realizes a capital gain, or if it is more, the Fund realizes a capital loss. Conversely, if an offsetting sale price is more than the original purchase price, the Fund realizes a capital gain, or if it is less, the Fund realizes a capital loss. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund65SAI dated April 1, 2021
Hybrid Securities |
Hybrid securities generally possess certain characteristics of both equity and debt securities. These securities may at times behave more like equity than debt, or vice versa. Preferred stocks, convertible securities, trust preferred securities and certain debt obligations are types of hybrid securities. The investment adviser has sole discretion to determine whether an investment has hybrid characteristics and generally will consider the instrument’s preference over the issuer’s common shares, the term of the instrument at the time of issuance and/or the tax character of the instrument’s distributions. Debt instruments with a preference over common shares and a perpetual term or a term at issuance of thirty years or more generally are considered by the investment adviser to be hybrid securities. Hybrid securities generally do not have voting rights or have limited voting rights. Because hybrid securities have both debt and equity characteristics, their values vary in response to many factors, including general market and economic conditions, issuer-specific events, changes in interest rates, credit spreads and the credit quality of the issuer, and, for convertible securities, factors affecting the securities into which they convert. Hybrid securities may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a predetermined price. Hybrid securities may pay a fixed or variable rate of interest or dividends. The prices and yields of nonconvertible hybrid securities generally move with changes in interest rates and the issuer’s credit quality, similar to the factors affecting debt securities. If the issuer of a hybrid security experiences financial difficulties, the value of such security may be adversely affected similar to the issuer’s outstanding common stock or subordinated debt instruments. Trust preferred securities are issued by a special purpose trust that holds the subordinated debt of a company and, as such, are subject to the risks associated with such debt obligation. See also “Preferred Stock,” “Convertible Securities” and “Contingent Convertible Securities.” |
Illiquid Investments |
Certain investments are considered illiquid or restricted due to a limited trading market or legal or contractual restrictions on resale or transfer, or are otherwise illiquid because they cannot be sold or disposed of in seven calendar days or less under then-current market conditions without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. Such illiquid investments may include commercial paper issued pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the 1933 Act and securities eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A thereunder. Rule 144A securities may increase the level of portfolio illiquidity if eligible buyers become uninterested in purchasing such securities. |
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It may be difficult to sell illiquid investments at a price representing fair value until such time as the investments may be sold publicly. It also may be more difficult to determine the fair value of such investments for purposes of computing the Fund’s net asset value. Where registration is required, a considerable period of time may elapse between a decision to sell the investments and the time when the Fund 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 investments, including all or a portion of the cost to register the investments. The Fund also may acquire investments through private placements under which it may agree to contractual restrictions on the resale of such investments that are in addition to applicable legal restrictions. Such restrictions might prevent the sale of such investments at a time when such sale would otherwise be desirable. |
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At times, a portion of the Fund’s assets may be invested in investments 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 investments. 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 investments when the investment adviser believes it advisable to do so or may be able to sell such investments only at prices lower than if such investments were more widely held. It may also be more difficult to determine the fair value of such investments for purposes of computing the Fund’s net asset value. See also “Restricted Securities.” |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund66SAI dated April 1, 2021
Indexed Securities |
See also “Derivative Instruments and Related Risks” herein. Indexed 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. |
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 Consumer Price Index. |
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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. |
Investing in a Portfolio |
The Board may discontinue the Fund’s investment in one or more Portfolios if it determines that it is in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders to do so. In such an event, the Board would consider what action might be taken, including investing Fund assets in another pooled investment entity, instructing the investment adviser to invest Fund assets directly or retaining an investment adviser to manage Fund assets in accordance with its investment objective(s). The Fund’s investment performance and expense ratio may be affected if its investment structure is changed or if another Portfolio investor withdraws all or a portion of its investment in the Portfolio. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund67SAI dated April 1, 2021
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. |
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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. |
Junior Loans |
Due to their lower place in the borrower’s capital structure and possible unsecured status, certain loans (“Junior Loans”) involve a higher degree of overall risk than Senior Loans (described below) of the same borrower. Junior Loans may be direct loans or purchased either in the form of an assignment or a loan participation. Junior Loans are subject to the same general risks inherent in any loan investment (see “Loans” below). Junior Loans include secured and unsecured subordinated loans, as well as second lien loans and subordinated bridge loans. A second lien loan is generally second in line in terms of repayment priority and 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. |
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Bridge loans or bridge facilities are short-term loan arrangements (e.g., 12 to 18 months) typically made by a borrower 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 borrower 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 borrower with an outstanding bridge loan may be unable to locate permanent financing to replace the bridge loan, which may impair the borrower’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. |
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For additional disclosure relating to investing in loans (including Junior Loans), see “Loans” below. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund68SAI dated April 1, 2021
LIBOR Transition and Associated Risk |
The London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) is the average offered rate for various maturities of short-term loans between major international banks who are members of the British Bankers Association. LIBOR is the most common benchmark interest rate index used to make adjustments to variable-rate loans. It is used throughout global banking and financial industries to determine interest rates for a variety of financial instruments (such as debt instruments and derivatives) and borrowing arrangements. In July 2017, the Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”), the United Kingdom financial regulatory body, announced a desire to phase out the use of LIBOR. It is currently anticipated that this phase-out will occur beginning at the end of 2021. In June 2017, the Alternative Reference Rates Committee, a group of large U.S. banks working with the Federal Reserve, announced its selection of a new Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), which is intended to be a broad measure of secured overnight U.S. Treasury repo rates, as an appropriate replacement for LIBOR. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York began publishing the SOFR in 2018, with the expectation that it could be used on a voluntary basis in new instruments and transactions. Bank working groups and regulators in other countries have suggested other alternatives for their markets, including the Sterling Overnight Interbank Average Rate (“SONIA”) in England. Various financial industry groups are planning for the transition, but there are obstacles to converting certain longer term securities and transactions to a new benchmark. Although the transition process away from LIBOR is expected to be well-defined in advance of the anticipated discontinuation date, there remains uncertainty regarding the future utilization of LIBOR and the nature of any replacement rate or rates. The transition process may involve, among other things, increased volatility or illiquidity in markets for instruments that currently rely on LIBOR. The transition may also result in a change in (i) the value of certain instruments held by the Fund, (ii) the cost of temporary or other borrowing for the Fund (if applicable), or (iii) the effectiveness of related Fund transactions such as hedges, as applicable. When LIBOR is discontinued, the LIBOR replacement rate may be lower than market expectations, which could have an adverse impact on the value of preferred and debt-securities with floating or fixed-to-floating rate coupons. Additionally, while some existing LIBOR-based instruments may contemplate a scenario where LIBOR is no longer available by providing for an alternative or “fallback” rate-setting methodology, there may be significant uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of any such alternative methodologies to replicate LIBOR. Not all existing LIBOR-based instruments have such fallback provisions, and many that do, do not contemplate the permanent cessation of LIBOR. While it is expected that market participants will amend legacy financial instruments referencing LIBOR to include fallback provisions to alternative reference rates, there remains uncertainty regarding the willingness and ability of parties to add or amend such fallback provisions in legacy instruments maturing after the end of 2021, particularly with respect to legacy cash products. Liquid markets for newly-issued instruments that use an alternative reference rate are still developing. Consequently, there may be challenges for a Fund to enter into hedging transactions against instruments tied to alternative reference rates until a market for such hedging transactions develops. Any such effects of the transition away from LIBOR, as well as other unforeseen effects, could result in losses to the Fund. Since the usefulness of LIBOR as a benchmark could deteriorate during the transition period, these effects may occur prior to the discontinuation date. |
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. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund69SAI dated April 1, 2021
Loans |
Loans may be primary, direct investments or investments in loan assignments or participation interests. A loan assignment represents a portion or the entirety of a loan and a portion of the entirety of a position previously attributable to a different lender. The purchaser of an assignment typically succeeds to all the rights and obligations under the loan agreement and has the same rights and obligations as the assigning investor. However, assignments through private negotiations may cause the purchaser of an assignment to have different and more limited rights than those held by the assigning investor. Loan participation interests are interests issued by a lender or other entity and represent a fractional interest in a loan. The Fund typically will have a contractual relationship only with the financial institution that issued the participation interest. As a result, the Fund may have the right to receive payments of principal, interest and any fees to which it is entitled only from the financial institution and only upon receipt by such entity of such payments from the borrower. In connection with purchasing a participation interest, the Fund generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement, nor any rights with respect to any funds acquired by other investors through set-off against the borrower and the Fund may not directly benefit from the collateral supporting the loan in which it has purchased the participation interest. As a result, the Fund may assume the credit risk of both the borrower and the financial institution issuing the participation interest. In the event of the insolvency of the entity issuing a participation interest, the Fund may be treated as a general creditor of such entity. |
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Loans may be originated by a lending agent, such as a financial institution or other entity, on behalf of a group or “syndicate” of loan investors (the “Loan Investors”). In such a case, the agent administers the terms of the loan agreement and is responsible for the collection of principal, and interest payments from the borrower 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 borrower, the Fund must rely on the Agent and the other Loan Investors to pursue appropriate remedies against the borrower. |
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Loan investments may be made at par or at a discount or premium to par. The interest payable on a loan may be fixed or floating rate, and paid in cash or in-kind. In connection with transactions in loans, the Fund may be subject to facility or other fees. Loans may be secured by specific collateral or other assets of the borrower, guaranteed by a third party, unsecured or subordinated. During the term of a loan, the value of any 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 borrower’s obligations under the loan. In addition, if a 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. |
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A lender’s repayment and other rights primarily are determined by governing loan, assignment or participation documents, which (among other things) typically establish the priority of payment on the loan relative to other indebtedness and obligations of the borrower. A borrower typically is required to comply with certain covenants contained in a loan agreement between the borrower and the holders of the loan. The types of covenants included in loan agreements generally vary depending on market conditions, the creditworthiness of the issuer, and the nature of the collateral securing the loan. Loans with fewer covenants that restrict activities of the borrower may provide the borrower with more flexibility to take actions that may be detrimental to the loan holders and provide fewer investor protections in the event covenants are breached. The Fund may experience relatively greater realized or unrealized losses or delays and expense in enforcing its rights with respect to loans with fewer restrictive covenants. Loans to entities located outside of the U.S. (including to sovereign entities) may have substantially different lender protections and covenants as compared to loans to U.S. entities and may involve greater risks. In the event of bankruptcy, applicable law may impact a lender’s ability to enforce its rights. The Fund may have difficulties and incur expense enforcing its rights with respect to non-U.S. loans and such loans could be subject to bankruptcy laws that are materially different than in the U.S. Sovereign entities may be unable or unwilling to meet their obligations under a loan due to budgetary limitations or economic or political changes within the country. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund70SAI dated April 1, 2021
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Investing in loans involves the risk of default by the borrower or other party obligated to repay the loan. In the event of insolvency of the borrower or other obligated party, the Fund may be treated as a general creditor of such entity unless it has rights that are senior to that of other creditors or secured by specific collateral or assets of the borrower. Fixed-rate loans are also subject to the risk that their value will decline in a rising interest rate environment. This risk is mitigated for floating-rate loans, where the interest rate payable on the loan resets periodically by reference to a base lending rate. The base lending rate usually is the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), the Federal Reserve federal funds rate, the prime rate or other base lending rates used by commercial lenders. LIBOR usually is an average of the interest rates quoted by several designated banks as the rates at which they pay interest to major depositors in the London interbank market on U.S. dollar-denominated deposits. |
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Many financial instruments use or may use a floating rate based on LIBOR, which is the offered rate for short-term Eurodollar deposits between major international banks. On July 27, 2017, the head of the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority announced a desire to phase out the use of LIBOR beginning at the end of 2021. Due to this announcement, there remains uncertainty regarding the future utilization of LIBOR and the nature of any replacement rate. As such, the potential effect of a transition away from LIBOR on the Fund or the financial instruments in which the Fund invests cannot yet be determined. See “LIBOR Transition and Associated Risk” herein. |
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The Fund will take whatever action it considers appropriate in the event of anticipated financial difficulties, default or bankruptcy of the borrower or other entity obligated to repay a loan. 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 the 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 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 borrower to settle the loan or may acquire an equity interest in the borrower. Representatives of the Fund also may join creditor or similar committees relating to loans. |
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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 borrower becomes involved in bankruptcy proceedings, a court may invalidate the Fund’s security interest in any loan collateral or subordinate the Fund’s rights under the loan agreement to the interests of the borrower’s unsecured creditors or cause interest previously paid to be refunded to the borrower. 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. |
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Interests in loans generally are not listed on any national securities exchange or automated quotation system and no active market may exist for many loans, making them illiquid. As described below, a secondary market exists for many Senior Loans, but it may be subject to irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods. |
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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 loans to or acquire them from the Fund or may be intermediate participants with respect to loans in which the Fund owns interests. Such banks may also act as agents for loans held by the Fund. |
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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 loans for investment may be adversely affected. Further, such legislation or regulation could depress the market value of loans. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund71SAI dated April 1, 2021
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For additional disclosures relating to Junior and Senior Loans, see “Junior Loans” and “Senior Loans” herein. |
Lower Rated Investments |
Lower rated investments (commonly referred to as “junk”) are of below investment grade quality and generally provide greater income potential and/or increased opportunity for capital appreciation than higher quality investments but they also typically entail greater potential price volatility and principal and income risk. Lower rated investments are regarded as predominantly speculative with respect to the entity’s continuing ability to make timely principal and interest payments. Also, their yields and market values may fluctuate more than higher rated investments. Fluctuations in value do not affect the cash income from lower rated investments, but are reflected in the Fund’s net asset value. The greater risks and fluctuations in yield and value occur, in part, because investors generally perceive issuers of lower rated and unrated investments to be less creditworthy. The secondary market for lower rated investments may be less liquid than the market for higher grade investments. |
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. Effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act generally allows individuals and certain other non-corporate entities, such as partnerships, a deduction for 20% of “qualified publicly traded partnership income” such as income from MLPs. However, the law does not include any provision for a regulated investment company to pass the character of its qualified publicly traded partnership income through to its shareholders. As a result, an investor who invests directly in MLPs will be able to receive the benefit of that deduction, while a shareholder of the Fund will not. |
Money Market Instruments |
Money market instruments 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, including those issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies and instrumentalities. See “U.S. Government Securities” below. Certificates of deposit or time deposits 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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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. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund72SAI dated April 1, 2021
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Money market instruments 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. Money market instruments 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 money market instruments directly, the Fund may invest in an affiliated or unaffiliated money market fund. Recent actions by governmental authorities in response to the economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have included dramatic reductions in interest rates, which in some cases could result in negative rates on investments in money market funds and similar cash management products. 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. |
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 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 and that any guarantee or other structural feature, if present, is insufficient to enable the timely payment of interest and principal on the MBS. Although certain MBS are guaranteed as to timely payment of interest and principal by a government-sponsored enterprise, the market price for such securities is not guaranteed and will fluctuate. Certain MBS may be purchased on a when-issued basis subject to certain limitations and requirements. |
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There are currently four 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; (3) those issued by the U.S. Government or one of its agencies or instrumentalities without a government guarantee, such as credit risk transfer bonds; and (4) 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 of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including depositary institutions, mortgage banks and special purpose subsidiaries of the foregoing. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund73SAI dated April 1, 2021
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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. |
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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. |
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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 are 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 are purchased at a premium above their 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 have been purchased at a discount from their 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. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund74SAI dated April 1, 2021
Mortgage Dollar Rolls |
In a mortgage dollar roll, the 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. Cash proceeds may be invested in instruments that are permissible investments for the Fund. The use of mortgage dollar rolls is a speculative technique involving leverage. A “covered roll” is a specific type of dollar roll for which there is an offsetting cash position or permissible liquid assets earmarked or in a segregated account to secure the obligation for the forward commitment to buy MBS, or a cash equivalent security position that 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. |
Municipal Lease Obligations (“MLOs”) |
An MLO is a bond that is secured by lease payments made by the party, typically a state or municipality, leasing the facilities (e.g., schools or office buildings) that were financed by the bond. Such lease payments may be subject to annual appropriation or may be made only from revenues associated with the facility financed. In other cases, the leasing state or municipality is obligated to appropriate funds from its general tax revenues to make lease payments as long as it utilizes the leased property. 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. A certificate of participation (also referred to as a “participation”) in a municipal lease is an instrument evidencing a pro rata share in a specific pledged revenue stream, usually lease payments by the issuer that are typically subject to annual appropriation. The certificate generally entitles the holder to receive a share, or participation, in the payments from a particular project. |
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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 investments. |
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The ability of issuers of MLOs 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 rights, 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. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund75SAI dated April 1, 2021
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 also include trust certificates representing interests in municipal securities held by a trustee. The trust certificates may evidence ownership of future interest payments, principal payments or both on the underlying securities. |
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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 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. |
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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 that could subject the recipient to or increase the recipient’s liability for the AMT. |
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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. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund76SAI dated April 1, 2021
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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 lower rated bonds 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 that 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. The Fund may on occasion acquire revenue bonds that carry warrants or similar rights covering equity securities. Such warrants or rights may be held indefinitely, but if exercised, the Fund anticipates that it would, under normal circumstances, dispose of any equity securities so acquired within a reasonable period of time. Investing in revenue bonds may involve (without limitation) the following risks. |
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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. |
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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 that may be supported by reserves or other forms of credit enhancement. 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. |
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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. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund77SAI dated April 1, 2021
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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. 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. 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. |
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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 that 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. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund78SAI dated April 1, 2021
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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 Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and its related issuers continue to experience financial difficulties, including persistent government budget deficits, underfunded public pension benefit obligations, underfunded government retirement systems, sizable debt service obligations and a high unemployment rate. Several rating agencies have downgraded a number of securities issued in Puerto Rico to below investment-grade, and numerous issuers have entered Title III of the Puerto Rico Oversite, Management and Economic Stability Act (“PROMESA”), which is similar to bankruptcy protection, through which the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico can restructure its debt. However, Puerto Rico's case is the first ever heard under PROMESA and there is no existing case precedent to guide the proceedings. Accordingly, Puerto Rico's debt restructuring process could take significantly longer than traditional municipal bankruptcy proceedings. Further, it is not clear whether a debt restructuring process will ultimately be approved or, if so, the extent to which it will apply to Puerto Rico municipal securities sold by an issuer other than the territory. A debt restructuring could reduce the principal amount due, the interest rate, the maturity, and other terms of Puerto Rico municipal securities, which could adversely affect the value of Puerto Rican municipal securities. Puerto Rico’s short-term financial difficulties continue to be further impacted by the 2017 hurricane, and Puerto Rico has faced significant out-migration relating to its economic difficulties, eroding its population, economic base and ultimate ability to support its current debt burden, creating further long-term uncertainty. |
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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. The yields on municipal obligations depend on a variety of factors, including purposes of the issue and source of funds for repayment, general money market conditions, general conditions of the municipal bond market, size of a particular offering, maturity of the obligation and rating of the issue. The ratings of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch represent their opinions as to the quality of the municipal obligations which they undertake to rate, and in the case of insurers, other factors including the claims-paying ability of such insurer. It should be emphasized, however, that ratings are based on judgment and are not absolute standards of quality. Consequently, municipal obligations with the same maturity, coupon and rating may have different yields while obligations of the same maturity and coupon with different ratings may have the same yield. In addition, the market price of such obligations will normally fluctuate with changes in interest rates, and therefore the net asset value of the Fund will be affected by such changes. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund79SAI dated April 1, 2021
Operational Risk |
The Fund’s service providers, including the investment adviser, may experience disruptions or operating errors that could negatively impact the Fund. Disruptive events, including (but not limited to) natural disasters and public health crises, may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to conduct business, in particular if the Fund’s employees or the employees of its service providers are unable or unwilling to perform their responsibilities as a result of any such event. While service providers are expected to have appropriate operational risk management policies and procedures, their methods of operational risk management may differ from the Fund's in the setting of priorities, the personnel and resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls. It also is not possible for Fund service providers to identify all of the operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. |
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 the 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 counterparty risk. The ability of the Fund to transact business with any one or any number of counterparties, the lack of any independent evaluation of the counterparties or their financial capabilities, and the absence of a regulated market to facilitate settlement, may increase the potential for losses to the Fund. OTC options also involve greater liquidity risk. This risk may be increased in times of financial stress, if the trading market for OTC derivative contracts becomes limited. 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.” |
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If a written option expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a capital gain equal to the premium received at the time the option was written. If a purchased option expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a capital loss equal to the premium paid. Prior to the earlier of exercise or expiration, an exchange traded option may be closed out by an offsetting purchase or sale of an option of the same series (type, exchange, reference instrument, exercise price, and expiration). A capital gain will be realized from a closing purchase transaction if the cost of the closing option is less than the premium received from writing the option, or, if it is more, a capital loss will be realized. If the premium received from a closing sale transaction is more than the premium paid to purchase the option, the Fund will realize a capital gain or, if it is less, the Fund will realize a capital loss. The principal factors affecting the market value of a put or a call option include supply and demand, the current market price of the reference instrument in relation to the exercise price of the option, the volatility of the reference instrument, and the time remaining until the expiration date. There can be no assurance that a closing purchase or sale transaction can be consummated when desired. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund80SAI dated April 1, 2021
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Straddles are a combination of a call and a put written on the same reference instrument. A straddle is deemed to be covered when sufficient assets are deposited to meet the Fund’s immediate obligations. The same liquid assets may be used to cover both the call and put options where the exercise price of the call and put are the same, or the exercise price of the call is higher than that of the put. The Fund may also buy and write call options on the same reference instrument to cover its obligations. Because such combined options positions involve multiple trades, they result in higher transaction costs and may be more difficult to open or close. In an equity collar, the Fund simultaneously writes a call option and purchases a put option on the same instrument. |
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To the extent that the Fund writes a call option on an instrument it holds and intends to use such instrument as the sole means of “covering” its obligation under the call option, the Fund has, in return for the premium on the option, given up the opportunity to profit from a price increase in the instrument above the exercise price during the option period, but, as long as its obligation under such call option continues, has retained the risk of loss should the value of the reference instrument decline. If the Fund were unable to close out such a call option, it would not be able to sell the instrument unless the option expired without exercise. Uncovered calls have speculative characteristics and are riskier than covered calls because there is no instrument or cover held by the Fund that can act as a partial hedge. |
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The writer of an option has no control over the time when it may be required to fulfill its obligation under the option. Once an option writer has received an exercise notice, it cannot effect a closing purchase transaction in order to terminate its obligation under the option and must deliver the underlying reference instrument at the exercise price. If a put or call option purchased by the Fund is not sold when it has remaining value, and if the market price of the underlying security remains equal to or greater than the exercise price (in the case of a put), or remains less than or equal to the exercise price (in the case of a call), the Fund will lose the premium it paid for the option. Furthermore, if trading restrictions or suspensions are imposed on options markets, the Fund may be unable to close out a position. |
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Options positions are marked to market daily. The value of options is affected by changes in the value and dividend rates of the securities underlying the option or represented in the index underlying the option, changes in interest rates, changes in the actual or perceived volatility of the relevant index or market and the remaining time to the options’ expiration, as well as trading conditions in the options market. The hours of trading for options may not conform to the hours during which the underlying securities are traded. To the extent that the options markets close before the markets for the underlying securities, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that would not be reflected concurrently in the options markets. |
Option Strategy |
The Fund implements the Option Strategy or Enhancement Strategy, as further described under “Investment Objective & Principal Policies and Risks” in the Prospectus, whereby it writes a series of call and put option spread combinations on the S&P 500® Composite Stock Price Index (S&P 500® Index) and/or a proxy for the S&P 500® Index (such as SPDR Trust Series I units (SPDRs)). |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund81SAI dated April 1, 2021
Participation in the ReFlow Liquidity Program |
The Fund may participate in the ReFlow liquidity program, which is designed to provide an alternative liquidity source for mutual funds experiencing net redemptions of their shares. Pursuant to the program, ReFlow Fund, LLC (“ReFlow”) provides participating mutual funds with a source of cash to meet net shareholder redemptions by standing ready each business day to purchase fund shares up to the value of the net shares redeemed by other shareholders that are to settle the next business day. Following purchases of fund shares, ReFlow then generally redeems those shares when the fund experiences net sales, at the end of a maximum holding period determined by ReFlow (currently 14 days) or at other times at ReFlow’s discretion. While ReFlow holds fund shares, it will have the same rights and privileges with respect to those shares as any other shareholder. For use of the ReFlow service, a fund pays a fee to ReFlow each time it purchases fund shares, calculated by applying to the purchase amount a fee rate determined through an automated daily auction among participating mutual funds. Such fee is allocated among a fund’s share classes based on relative net assets. ReFlow’s purchases of fund shares through the liquidity program are made on an investment-blind basis without regard to the fund’s investment objective, policies or anticipated performance. In accordance with federal securities laws, ReFlow is prohibited from acquiring more than 3% of the outstanding voting securities of a fund. ReFlow will purchase Class I or Institutional Class shares (or, if applicable Class A or Investor Class shares) at net asset value and will not be subject to any sales charge (in the case of Class A shares), investment minimum or redemption fee applicable to such shares. ReFlow will periodically redeem its entire share position in the Fund and request that such redemption be met in kind in accordance with the Fund’s redemption-in-kind policies described under “Redeeming Shares” in the Prospectus. Investments in a fund by ReFlow in connection with the ReFlow liquidity program are not subject to the two round-trips within 90 days limitation described in “Restrictions on Excessive Trading and Market Timing” under “Purchasing Shares” in the Prospectus. The investment adviser believes that the program assists in stabilizing the Fund’s net assets to the benefit of the Fund and its shareholders. To the extent the Fund’s net assets do not decline, the investment adviser may also benefit. |
Pooled Investment Vehicles |
The Fund may invest in pooled investment vehicles including other open-end or closed-end investment companies affiliated or unaffiliated with the investment adviser, exchange-traded funds (described herein) and other collective investment pools in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act. Closed-end investment company securities are usually traded on an exchange. The demand for a closed-end fund’s securities is independent of the demand for the underlying portfolio assets, and accordingly, such securities can trade at a discount from, or a premium over, their net asset value. The Fund generally will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management fees paid by a pooled investment vehicle in which it invests in addition to the investment advisory fee paid by the Fund. |
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. The Fund’s 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. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund82SAI dated April 1, 2021
Preferred Stock |
Preferred stock represents an equity interest in a corporation, company or trust that has a higher claim on the assets and earnings than common stock. Preferred stock usually has limited voting rights. Preferred stock involves credit risk, which is the risk that a preferred stock will decline in price, or fail to pay dividends when expected, because the issuer experiences a decline in its financial status. A company’s preferred stock generally pays dividends after the company makes the required payments to holders of its bonds and other debt instruments but before dividend payments are made to common stockholders. However, preferred stock may not pay scheduled dividends or dividends payments may be in arrears. The value of preferred stock may react more strongly than bonds and other debt instruments to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Certain preferred stocks may be convertible to common stock. See “Convertible Securities” and “Contingent Convertible Securities.” Preferred stock may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a predetermined price. Because they may make regular income payments, preferred stocks may be considered fixed-income securities for purposes of a Fund’s investment restrictions. |
Real Estate Investments |
Real estate investments, including real estate investment trusts (“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 a magnified effect to the extent that investments concentrate 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 indirectly will bear REIT expenses in addition to its own expenses. Private REITs are unlisted, which may make them difficult to value and less liquid. Moreover, private REITs are generally exempt from 1933 Act registration and, as such, the amount of public information available with respect to private REITs may be less extensive than that available for publicly traded REITs. Shares of REITs may trade less frequently and, therefore, are subject to more erratic price movements than securities of larger issuers. REITs are also subject to credit, market, liquidity and interest rate risks. Effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act generally allows individuals and certain other non-corporate entities, such as partnerships, a deduction for 20% of qualified REIT dividends. Proposed regulations on which the Fund may rely allow a regulated investment company to pass the character of its qualified REIT dividends through to its shareholders provided certain holding period requirements are met. See “Taxes” for additional information. REITs may issue debt securities to fund their activities. The value of these debt securities may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the REIT, the creditworthiness of the REIT, interest rates, and tax and regulatory requirements, among other things. |
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 maturing in more than seven days that the investment adviser believes may not be terminated within seven days at approximately the amount at which the Fund has valued the agreements are considered illiquid securities. 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. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund83SAI dated April 1, 2021
Residual Interest Bonds |
The Fund may invest in residual interest bonds in a trust that holds municipal securities. The interest rate payable on a residual interest bond bears an inverse relationship to the interest rate on another security issued by the trust. Because changes in the interest rate on the other security inversely affect the interest paid on the residual interest bond, the value and income of a residual interest bond is generally more volatile than that of a fixed rate bond. Residual interest bonds have interest rate adjustment formulas that generally reduce or, in the extreme, eliminate the interest paid to the Fund when short-term interest rates rise, and increase the interest paid to the Fund 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. Although volatile, residual interest bonds typically offer the potential for yields exceeding the yields available on fixed rate bonds with comparable credit quality and maturity. These securities usually permit the investor 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. 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 relating to a residual interest bond held by the Fund. Such agreements commit the Fund to reimburse the difference between the liquidation value of the underlying security (which is the basis of the residual interest bond) and the principal amount due to the holders of the floating rate security issued in conjunction with the residual interest bond upon the termination of the trust issuing 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. The Fund’s investments in residual interest bonds and similar securities described in the Prospectus and this SAI will not be considered borrowing for purposes of the Fund’s restrictions on borrowing described herein and in the Prospectus. On December 10, 2013, five U.S. federal agencies published final rules implementing section 619 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Volcker Rule”). The Volcker Rule prohibits banking entities from engaging in proprietary trading of certain instruments and limits such entities’ investments in, and relationships with, covered funds, as defined in the rules. The Volcker Rule precludes banking entities and their affiliates from (i) sponsoring residual interest bond programs as presently structured and (ii) continuing relationships with or services for existing residual interest bond programs. The effects of the Volcker Rule may make it more difficult for the Fund to maintain current or desired levels of income. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund84SAI dated April 1, 2021
Restricted Securities |
Restricted securities cannot be sold to the public without registration under the 1933 Act. Unless registered for sale, restricted securities can be sold only in privately negotiated transactions or pursuant to an exemption from registration. Restricted securities may be considered illiquid and subject to the Fund’s limitation on illiquid securities. Restricted securities may involve a high degree of business and financial risk which may result in substantial losses. The securities may be less liquid than publicly traded securities. Although these securities may be resold in privately negotiated transactions, the prices realized from these sales could be less than those originally paid by the Fund. The Fund may invest in restricted securities, including securities initially offered and sold without registration pursuant to Rule 144A (“Rule 144A Securities”) and securities of U.S. and non-U.S. issuers initially offered and sold outside the United States without registration with the SEC pursuant to Regulation S (“Regulation S Securities”) under the 1933 Act. Rule 144A Securities and Regulation S Securities generally may be traded freely among certain qualified institutional investors, such as the Fund, and non-U.S. persons, but resale to a broader base of investors in the United States may be permitted only in much more limited circumstances. The Fund also may purchase restricted securities that are not eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A or Regulation S. The Fund may acquire such securities through private placement transactions, directly from the issuer or from security holders, generally at higher yields or on terms more favorable to investors than comparable publicly traded securities. However, the restrictions on resale of such securities may make it difficult for the Fund to dispose of them at the time considered most advantageous and/or may involve expenses that would not be incurred in the sale of securities that were freely marketable. Risks associated with restricted securities include the potential obligation to pay all or part of the registration expenses in order to sell certain restricted securities. A considerable period of time may elapse between the time of the decision to sell a security and the time the Fund may be permitted to sell it under an effective registration statement and/or after an applicable waiting period. If adverse conditions were to develop during this period, the Fund might obtain a price that is less favorable than the price that was prevailing at the time it decided to sell. See also “Illiquid Investments.” |
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 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. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund85SAI dated April 1, 2021
Rights and Warrants |
See also “Derivative Instruments and Related Risks” herein. A right is a privilege granted to existing shareholders of a corporation to subscribe for shares of a new issue of common stock before it is issued. Rights normally have a short life, usually two to four weeks, are freely transferable and entitle the holder to buy the new common stock at a lower price than the public offering price. Warrants are securities that are typically issued together with a debt security or preferred stock and that give the holder the right to buy a proportionate amount of common stock at a specified price. Warrants are freely transferable and are often traded on major exchanges. Unlike rights, warrants normally have a life that is measured in years and entitle the holder to buy common stock of a company at a price that is usually higher than the market price at the time the warrant is issued. Corporations often issue warrants to make the accompanying debt security more attractive. Warrants and rights may entail greater risks than certain other types of investments. Generally, rights and warrants do not carry the right to receive dividends or exercise voting rights with respect to the underlying securities, and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. In addition, their value does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities, and they cease to have value if they are not exercised on or before their expiration date. If the market price of the underlying stock does not exceed the exercise price during the life of the warrant or right, the warrant or right will expire worthless. (Canadian special warrants issued in private placements prior to a public offering are not considered warrants.) |
Royalty Bonds |
Royalty bonds include debt securities collateralized by pharmaceutical royalty interests (“Royalty Bonds”). Pharmaceutical royalty streams are created when the owner of a patent on a pharmaceutical product licenses the discovery to a larger commercial entity for further development, while maintaining a royalty interest on future sales of the product. Royalty Bonds are created when the royalty owner borrows against the royalty stream by issuing debt collateralized by the royalty. Royalty Bond investors receive interest and principal payments collateralized and funded by the stream of royalty payments. Royalty Bonds are typically offered in a private placement pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the 1933 Act and are restricted as to resale. Because Royalty Bonds are restricted securities and because of the proprietary nature of the underlying pharmaceutical product licenses, it may take longer to liquidate Royalty Bond positions than would be the case for other securities. Royalty Bonds are also subject to the industry risks associated with health sciences companies. |
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 into the loan. The Fund invests cash collateral in an unaffiliated money market fund that operates in compliance with the requirements of Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act and seeks to maintain a stable $1.00 net asset value per share. 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 borrower 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 will use its reasonable efforts to 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. See “Taxes” for information on the tax treatment of payments in lieu of dividends received pursuant to securities lending arrangements. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund86SAI dated April 1, 2021
Senior Loans |
Senior Loans are loans that are senior in repayment priority to other debt of the borrower. Senior Loans generally pay interest that floats, adjusts or varies 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. 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. |
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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 borrower’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 borrower’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. |
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Fees. The Fund may receive a facility fee when it buys a Senior Loan, and pay a facility fee 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. |
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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 borrower 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 borrower, the Fund must rely on the Agent and the other Loan Investors to use appropriate remedies against the borrower. The Agent is typically responsible for monitoring compliance with covenants contained in the loan agreement based upon reports prepared by the borrower. The typical practice of an Agent or a Loan Investor in relying exclusively or primarily on reports from the borrower may involve the risk of fraud by the borrower. It is unclear whether an investment in a Senior Loan offers the securities law protections against fraud and misrepresentation. |
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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 (as defined below), similar risks may arise. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund87SAI dated April 1, 2021
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Additional Information. The Fund may purchase and retain in its portfolio a Senior Loan where the borrower 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 in ad-hoc committees formed by creditors to negotiate with the management of financially troubled borrowers. 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 in 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. |
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In some instances, other accounts managed by the investment adviser may hold other securities issued by borrowers 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 borrower deteriorates, the interests of holders of these other securities may conflict with the interests of the holders of the borrower’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. See “Potential Conflicts of Interest.” |
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The Fund may acquire warrants and other equity securities as part of a unit combining a Senior Loan and equity securities of a borrower 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 borrower, 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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The Fund will generally acquire participations only 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 S&P or Baa or P- 3 or higher by Moody’s or comparably rated by another nationally recognized statistical ratings organization) or determined by the investment adviser to be of comparable quality. |
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For additional disclosure relating to investing in loans (including Senior Loans), see “Loans” above. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund88SAI dated April 1, 2021
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. |
Short-Term Trading |
Fixed-income securities 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. |
Significant Exposure to Health Sciences Companies |
Because the Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences, and health care equipment and services companies, the value of Fund shares may be affected by developments that adversely affect such companies and may fluctuate more than that of a fund that invests more broadly. Many health sciences companies are subject to substantial governmental regulations that can affect their prospects. Changes in governmental policies, such as reductions in the funding of third-party payment programs, may have a material effect on the demand for particular health care products and services. Regulatory approvals (often entailing lengthy application and testing procedures) are also generally required before new drugs and certain medical devices and procedures may be introduced. Many of the products and services of companies engaged in medical research and health care are also subject to relatively high risks of rapid obsolescence caused by progressive scientific and technological advances. Additionally, such products are subject to risks such as the appearance of toxic effects following commercial introduction and manufacturing difficulties. The enforcement of patent, trademark and other intellectual property laws will affect the value of many such companies. Health sciences companies include companies that offer limited products or services or that are at the research and developmental stage with no marketable or approved products or technologies. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund89SAI dated April 1, 2021
Significant Exposure to 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, may be more difficult and may take longer to liquidate at fair value than would be the case for the publicly traded securities of a large company. |
Significant Exposure to Utilities and Financial Services Sectors |
Because the Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in the utilities and financial services sectors, the value of Fund shares may be affected by events that adversely affect those sectors and may fluctuate more than that of a fund with broader exposure. The utilities sector includes companies engaged in the manufacture, production, generation, transmission, sale and distribution of water, gas and electric energy. Companies in the financial services sector include, for example, commercial banks, savings and loan associations, brokerage and investment companies, insurance companies, and consumer and industrial finance companies. Companies in the utilities sector may be sensitive to changes in interest rates and other economic conditions, governmental regulation, uncertainties created by deregulation, power shortages and surpluses, the price and availability of fuel, environmental protection or energy conservation practices, the level and demand for services, and the cost and potential business disruption of technological developments. Companies in the financial services sector are also subject to extensive government regulation and can be significantly affected by the availability and cost of capital funds, changes in interest rates, the rate of corporate and consumer debt defaults, and price competition. |
Stripped Securities |
Stripped Securities (“Strips”) may be issued by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities, and may also be issued by private originators or investors, including depository institutions, banks, investment banks and special purpose subsidiaries of these entities. Strips are usually structured with classes that receive different proportions of the interest and principal distributions from an underlying asset or pool of underlying assets. Strips are particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates, which may impact the frequency of principal payments (including prepayments) on the underlying assets or pool of underlying assets. Some structures may have a class that receives only interest from the underlying assets, an interest-only (“IO”) class, while another class may receive only principal, a principal-only (“PO”) class. IO and PO Strips may be purchased for their return and/or hedging characteristics. Because of their structure, IO Strips may move differently than typical fixed-income securities in relation to changes in interest rates. IO Strips tend to decrease in value if prepayments are greater than anticipated and increase in value if prepayments are less than anticipated. Conversely, PO Strips tend to increase in value if prepayments are greater than anticipated and decline if prepayments are less than anticipated. While the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities may guarantee the full repayment of principal on Strips they issue, repayment of interest is guaranteed only while the underlying assets or pools of assets are outstanding. To the extent the Fund invests in Strips, rapid changes in the rate of prepayments may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s performance. In addition, the secondary market for Strips may be less liquid than that for other securities. Certain Strips may also present certain operational and/or valuation risks. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund90SAI dated April 1, 2021
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. |
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”). |
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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 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. To limit the counterparty risk involved in swap agreements, the Fund will only enter into swap agreements with counterparties that meet certain criteria. Although there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to do so, the Fund may be able to reduce or eliminate its exposure under a swap agreement either by assignment or other disposition, or by entering into an offsetting swap agreement with the same party or another creditworthy party. The Fund may have limited ability to eliminate its exposure under a credit default swap if the credit of the reference instrument has declined. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund91SAI dated April 1, 2021
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The swaps market was largely unregulated prior to the enactment of the Dodd-Frank Act, which was enacted in 2010 in response to turmoil in the financial markets and other market events. Among other things, the Dodd-Frank Act sets forth a new regulatory framework for certain OTC derivatives, such as swaps, in which the Fund may invest. The Dodd-Frank Act requires many swap transactions to be executed on registered exchanges or through swap execution facilities, cleared through a regulated clearinghouse, and publicly reported. In addition, many market participants are now regulated as swap dealers or major swap participants and are subject to certain minimum capital and margin requirements and business conduct standards. The statutory requirements of the Dodd-Frank Act are being implemented primarily through rules and regulations adopted by the SEC and/or the CFTC. There is a prescribed phase-in period during which most of the mandated rulemaking and regulations are being implemented, and temporary exemptions from certain rules and regulations have been granted so that current trading practices will not be unduly disrupted during the transition period. |
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Currently, central clearing is only required for certain market participants trading certain instruments, although central clearing for additional instruments is expected to be implemented by the CFTC until the majority of the swaps market is ultimately subject to central clearing. In addition, uncleared OTC swaps are subject to regulatory collateral requirements that may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to enter into swaps in the OTC market. These developments may cause the Fund to terminate new or existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such instruments at an inopportune time. Until the mandated rulemaking and regulations are implemented completely, it will not be possible to determine the complete impact of the Dodd-Frank Act and related regulations on the Fund, and the establishment of a centralized exchange or market for swap transactions may not result in swaps being easier to value or trade. However, it is expected that swap dealers, major market participants, and swap counterparties will experience other new and/or additional regulations, requirements, compliance burdens, and associated costs. The Dodd-Frank Act and rules promulgated thereunder may exert a negative effect on the Fund’s ability to meet its investment objective, either through limits or requirements imposed on the Fund or its counterparties. The swap market could be disrupted or limited as a result of this legislation, and the new requirements may increase the cost of the Fund’s investments and of doing business, which could adversely affect the ability of the Fund to buy or sell OTC derivatives. |
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Regulatory bodies outside the U.S. have also passed, proposed, or may propose in the future, legislation similar to Dodd-Frank Act or other legislation that could increase the costs of participating in, or otherwise adversely impact the liquidity of, participating in the commodities markets. Global prudential regulators issued final rules that will require banks subject to their supervision to exchange variation and initial margin in respect of their obligations arising under uncleared swap agreements. The CFTC adopted similar rules that apply to CFTC-registered swap dealers that are not banks. Such rules generally require a Fund to segregate additional assets in order to meet the new variation and initial margin requirements when they enter into uncleared swap agreements. The variation margin requirements are now effective and the initial margin requirements are being phased-in based on average daily aggregate notional amount of covered swaps between swap dealers and swap entities. In addition, regulations adopted by global prudential regulators that are now in effect require certain prudentially regulated entities and certain of their affiliates and subsidiaries (including swap dealers) to include in their derivatives contracts, terms that delay or restrict the rights of counterparties (such as the Fund) to terminate such contracts, foreclose upon collateral, exercise other default rights or restrict transfers of credit support in the event that the prudentially regulated entity and/or its affiliates are subject to certain types of resolution or insolvency proceedings. Similar regulations and laws have been adopted in non-U.S. jurisdictions that may apply to the Fund’s counterparties located in those jurisdictions. It is possible that these requirements, as well as potential additional related government regulation, could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to terminate existing derivatives contracts, exercise default rights or satisfy obligations owed to it with collateral received under such contracts. |
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Swap agreements include (but are not limited to): |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund92SAI dated April 1, 2021
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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. |
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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. |
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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). |
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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. |
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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. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund93SAI dated April 1, 2021
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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 federal income tax requirements may limit the Fund’s ability to engage in certain interest rate transactions. |
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Commodity Index-Linked Swaps. Commodity index-linked swap agreements involve the exchange by the Fund with another party of payments dependent upon the price of the underlying commodity index. Commodity index-linked swaps may be used to obtain exposure to a particular commodity or commodity index without owning or taking physical custody of such commodity. |
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. |
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 that are treated differently for federal income tax purposes: price appreciation, distributions of qualified dividend income, distributions of other investment income, and distributions of realized short-term and long-term capital gains. 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. 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 20%. 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. 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. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund94SAI dated April 1, 2021
Trust Certificates |
Trust certificates are investments in a limited purpose trust or other vehicle formed under state law. Trust certificates in turn invest in instruments, such as credit default swaps, interest rate swaps, preferred securities and other securities, in order to customize the risk/return profile of a particular security. Like an investment in a bond, investments in trust certificates 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 certificate. However, these payments are conditioned on the trust’s receipt of payments from, and the trust’s potential obligations to, the counterparties to the derivative instruments and other securities in which the trust invests. Investments in these instruments are indirectly subject to the risks associated with derivative instruments, including, among others, credit risk, default or similar event risk, counterparty risk, interest rate risk, leverage risk and management risk. It is expected that the trusts that issue credit-linked trust certificates will constitute “private” investment companies, exempt from registration under the 1940 Act. Although the trusts are typically private investment companies, they are generally not actively managed. It is also expected that the certificates will be exempt from registration under the 1933 Act. Accordingly, there may be no established trading market for the certificates and they may constitute illiquid investments. |
U.S. Government Securities |
U.S. Government securities include: (1) U.S. Treasury obligations, which differ in their interest rates, maturities and times of issuance, including: U.S. Treasury bills (maturities of one year or less); U.S. Treasury notes (maturities of one year to ten years); and U.S. Treasury bonds (generally maturities of greater than ten years); and (2) obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies and instrumentalities, which are supported by any of the following: (a) the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury; (b) the right of the issuer to borrow an amount limited to a specific line of credit from the U.S. Treasury; (c) discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase certain obligations of the U.S. Government agency or instrumentality; or (d) the credit of the agency or instrumentality. U.S. Government securities also include any other security or agreement collateralized or otherwise secured by U.S. Government securities. Agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. Government include but are not limited to: Farmers Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Federal Housing Administration, Federal Land Banks, Federal Financing Bank, Central Bank for Cooperatives, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, Farm Credit Bank System, Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Federal National Mortgage Association, General Services Administration, Government National Mortgage Association, Student Loan Marketing Association, United States Postal Service, Maritime Administration, Small Business Administration, Tennessee Valley Authority, Washington D.C. Armory Board and any other enterprise established or sponsored by the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government generally is not obligated to provide support to its instrumentalities. The principal of and/or interest on certain U.S. Government securities could be: (a) payable in foreign currencies rather than U.S. dollars; or (b) increased or diminished as a result of changes in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to the value of foreign currencies. The value of such portfolio securities denominated in foreign currencies may be affected favorably by changes in the exchange rate between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar. |
Unlisted Securities |
Unlisted securities are neither listed on a stock exchange nor traded over-the-counter. Unlisted securities may include investments in new and early stage companies, which may involve a high degree of business and financial risk that can result in substantial losses and may be considered speculative. Such securities may be deemed to be illiquid. Because of the absence of any public trading market for these investments, it may take longer to liquidate these positions than would be the case for publicly traded securities. Although these securities may be resold in privately negotiated transactions, the prices realized from these sales could be less than those originally paid or less than what may be considered the fair value of such securities. Furthermore, issuers whose securities are not publicly traded may not be subject to public disclosure and other investor protection requirements applicable to publicly traded securities. If such securities are required to be registered under the securities laws of one or more jurisdictions before being resold, the Fund may be required to bear the expenses of registration. In addition, in foreign jurisdictions any capital gains realized on the sale of such securities may be subject to higher rates of foreign taxation than taxes payable on the sale of listed securities. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund95SAI dated April 1, 2021
Variable Rate Instruments |
Variable rate instruments provide for adjustments in the interest or dividend rate payable on the instrument at specified intervals (daily, weekly, monthly, semiannually, etc.) based on market conditions, credit ratings or interest rates and the investor may have the right to “put” the security back to the issuer or its agent. Variable rate instruments normally provide that the holder can demand payment of the instrument on short notice at par with accrued interest. These instruments may be secured by letters of credit or other support arrangements provided by banks. To the extent that such letters of credit or other arrangements constitute an unconditional guarantee of the issuer’s obligations, a bank may be treated as the issuer of a security for the purposes of complying with the diversification requirements set forth in Section 5(b) of the 1940 Act and Rule 5b-2 thereunder. The Fund may use these instruments as cash equivalents pending longer term investment of its funds. The rate adjustment features may limit the extent to which the market value of the instruments will fluctuate. |
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 beyond normal settlement times) 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. |
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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. |
Zero Coupon Bonds, Deep Discount Bonds and Payment-In-Kind (“PIK”) Securities |
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. 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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Bonds and preferred stocks that make “in-kind” payments and other securities that do not pay regular income distributions may experience greater volatility in response to interest rate changes and issuer developments. PIK securities generally carry higher interest rates compared to bonds that make cash payments of interest to reflect their payment deferral and increased credit risk. PIK securities generally involve significantly greater credit risk than coupon loans because the Fund receives no cash payments until the maturity date or a specified cash payment date. Even if accounting conditions are met for accruing income payable at a future date under a PIK bond, the issuer could still default when the collection date occurs at the maturity of or payment date for the PIK bond. PIK bonds may be difficult to value accurately because they involve ongoing judgments as to the collectability of the deferred payments and the value of any associated collateral. If the issuer of a PIK security defaults, the Fund may lose its entire investment. PIK interest has the effect of generating investment income and increasing the incentive fees, if any, payable at a compounding rate. Generally, the deferral of PIK interest increases the loan to value ratio. |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund96SAI dated April 1, 2021
APPENDIX A
Class I Ownership
Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities. At March 1, 2021, the Trustees and officers of the Trust, as a group, owned in the aggregate less than 1% of the outstanding shares of this Class of the Fund. In addition, as of the same date, the following person(s) held the share percentage indicated below, which was owned either (i) beneficially by such person(s) or (ii) of record by such person(s) on behalf of customers who are the beneficial owners of such shares and as to which such record owner(s) may exercise voting rights under certain limited circumstances:
Eaton Vance Management |
Boston, MA |
95.19% |
Beneficial owners of 25% or more of this Fund are presumed to be in control of the Fund for purposes of voting on certain matters submitted to shareholders.
To the knowledge of the Trust, no other person owned of record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of this Class of the Fund as of such date.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund97SAI dated April 1, 2021
APPENDIX B
Eaton Vance Funds
Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures
I. Overview
The Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Eaton Vance Funds1 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:
·“Fund” means each registered investment company sponsored by the Eaton Vance organization; and
·“Adviser” means the adviser or sub-adviser responsible for the day-to-day management of all or a portion of the Fund’s assets.
II. Delegation of Proxy Voting Responsibilities
The Board hereby delegates to the Adviser responsibility for voting the Fund’s proxies as described in this Policy. In this connection, the Adviser is required to provide the Board with a copy of its proxy voting policies and procedures (“Adviser Procedures”) and all Fund proxies will be voted in accordance with the Adviser Procedures, provided that in the event a material conflict of interest arises with respect to a proxy to be voted for the Fund (as described in Section IV below) the Adviser shall follow the process for voting such proxy as described in Section IV below.
The Adviser is required to report any material change to the Adviser Procedures to the Board in the manner set forth in Section V below. In addition, the Board will review the Adviser Procedures annually.
III. Delegation of Proxy Voting Disclosure Responsibilities
Pursuant to Rule 30b1-4 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), the Fund is required to file Form N-PX no later than August 31st of each year. On Form N-PX, the Fund is 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 on the matter and whether it voted for or against management.
To facilitate the filing of Form N-PX for the Fund:
·The Adviser is required to record, compile and transmit in a timely manner all data required to be filed on Form N-PX for the Fund that it manages. Such data shall be transmitted to Eaton Vance Management, which acts as administrator to the Fund (the “Administrator”) or the third party service provider designated by the Administrator; and
·the Administrator is required to file Form N-PX on behalf of the Fund with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) as required by the 1940 Act. The Administrator may delegate the filing to a third party service party provided each such filing is reviewed and approved by the Administrator.
IV. Conflicts of Interest
The Board expects the Adviser, as a fiduciary to the Fund it manages, to put the interests of the Fund and its shareholders above those of the Adviser. When required to vote a proxy for the Fund, the Adviser may have material business relationships with the issuer soliciting the proxy that could give rise to a potential material conflict of interest for the Adviser.2 In the event such a material conflict of interest arises, 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, or any committee, sub-committee or group of Independent Trustees identified by the Board (as long as such committee, sub-committee or group contains at least two or more Independent Trustees) (the “Board Members”), concerning the material conflict.3 For ease of communicating with the Board Members, the Adviser is required to provide the foregoing notice to the Fund’s Chief Legal Officer who will then notify and facilitate a consultation with the Board Members.
Once the Board Members have been notified of the material conflict:
·They shall convene a meeting to review and consider all relevant materials related to the proxies involved. This meeting shall be convened within 3 business days, provided that it an effort will be made to convene the meeting sooner if the proxy must be voted in less than 3 business days;
·In considering such proxies, the Adviser shall make available all materials requested by the Board Members and make reasonably available appropriate personnel to discuss the matter upon request.
·The Board Members will then instruct the Adviser on the appropriate course of action with respect to the proxy at issue.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund98SAI dated April 1, 2021
If the Board Members are unable to meet and the failure to vote a proxy would have a material adverse impact on the Fund(s) involved, the Adviser will have the right to vote such proxy, provided that it discloses the existence of the material conflict to the Chairperson of the Board as soon as practicable and to the Board at its next meeting. Any determination regarding the voting of proxies of the Fund that is made by the Board Members shall be deemed to be a good faith determination regarding the voting of proxies by the full Board.
V. Reports and Review
The Administrator shall make copies of each Form N-PX filed on behalf of the Fund available for the Boards’ review upon the Boards’ request. The Administrator (with input from the Adviser for the Fund) shall also provide any reports reasonably requested by the Board regarding the proxy voting records of the Fund.
The Adviser shall report any material changes to the Adviser Procedures to the Board as soon as practicable and the Boards will review the Adviser Procedures annually.
The Adviser also shall report any material changes to the Adviser Procedures to the Fund Chief Legal Officer prior to implementing such changes in order to enable the Administrator to effectively coordinate the Fund’s disclosure relating to the Adviser Procedures.
To the extent requested by the Commission, the Policy and the Adviser Procedures shall be appended to the Fund’s statement of additional information included in its registration statement.
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1The Eaton Vance Funds may be organized as trusts or corporations. For ease of reference, the Funds may be referred to herein as Trusts and the Funds’ Board of Trustees or Board of Directors may be referred to collectively herein as the Board.
2An Adviser is expected to maintain a process for identifying a potential material conflict of interest. As an example only, such potential conflicts may arise when the issuer is a client of the Adviser and generates a significant amount of fees to the Adviser or the issuer is a distributor of the Adviser’s products.
3If a material conflict of interest exists with respect to a particular proxy and the proxy voting procedures of the relevant Adviser require that proxies are to be voted in accordance with the recommendation of a third party proxy voting vendor, the requirements of this Section IV shall only apply if the Adviser intends to vote such proxy in a manner inconsistent with such third party recommendation.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund99SAI dated April 1, 2021
APPENDIX C
EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT
BOSTON MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH
EATON VANCE WATEROAK ADVISORS
EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT (INTERNATIONAL) LIMITED
EATON VANCE GLOBAL ADVISORS LIMITED
EATON VANCE ADVISERS INTERNATIONAL LTD.
PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
I. Introduction
Eaton Vance Management, Boston Management and Research, Eaton Vance WaterOak Advisors, Eaton Vance Management (International) Limited, Eaton Vance Global Advisors Limited and Eaton Vance Advisers International Ltd. (each an “Adviser” and collectively the “Advisers”) have each adopted and implemented policies and procedures that each Adviser believes are reasonably designed to ensure that proxies are voted in the best interest of clients, in accordance with its fiduciary duties and, to the extent applicable, Rule 206(4)-6 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The Advisers’ authority to vote the proxies of their clients is established by their advisory contracts or similar documentation. These proxy policies and procedures are intended to reflect current requirements applicable to investment advisers registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). These procedures may change from time to time.
II. Overview
Each Adviser 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, each Adviser 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 done 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). Each Adviser has established guidelines (“Guidelines”) as described below and generally will utilize such Guidelines in voting proxies on behalf of its clients. The Guidelines are largely based on those developed by the Agent (defined below) but also reflect input from the Global Proxy Group (defined below) and other Adviser investment professionals and are believed to be consistent with the views of the Adviser on the various types of proxy proposals. 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. The Guidelines provide a framework for analysis and decision making but do not address all potential issues.
Except as noted below, each Adviser will vote any proxies received by a client for which it has sole investment discretion through a third-party proxy voting service (“Agent”) in accordance with the Guidelines in a manner that is reasonably designed to eliminate any potential conflicts of interest, as described more fully below. The Agent is currently Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. Where applicable, proxies will be voted in accordance with client-specific guidelines or, in the case of an Eaton Vance Fund that is sub-advised, pursuant to the sub-adviser’s proxy voting policies and procedures. Although an Adviser retains the services of the Agent for research and voting recommendations, the Adviser remains responsible for proxy voting decisions.
III. Roles and Responsibilities
A. Proxy Administrator
The Proxy Administrator and/or her designee coordinate the consideration of proxies referred back to the Adviser by the Agent, and otherwise administers these Procedures. In the Proxy Administrator’s absence, another employee of the Adviser may perform the Proxy Administrator’s responsibilities as deemed appropriate by the Global Proxy Group. The Proxy Administrator also may designate another employee to perform certain of the Proxy Administrator’s duties hereunder, subject to the oversight of the Proxy Administrator.
B. Agent
The Agent is responsible for coordinating with the clients’ custodians and the Advisers to ensure that all proxy materials received by the custodians relating to the portfolio securities are processed in a timely fashion. Each Adviser shall instruct the custodian for its clients to deliver proxy ballots and related materials to the Agent. The Agent shall vote and/or refer all proxies in accordance with the Guidelines. The Agent shall retain a record of all proxy votes handled by the Agent. With respect to each Eaton Vance Fund memorialized therein, such record must reflect all of the information required to be disclosed in the Fund’s Form N-PX pursuant to Rule 30b1-4 under the Investment
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund100SAI dated April 1, 2021
Company Act of 1940, to the extent applicable. In addition, the Agent is responsible for maintaining copies of all proxy statements received by issuers and to promptly provide such materials to an Adviser upon request.
Subject to the oversight of the Advisers, the Agent shall establish and maintain adequate internal controls and policies in connection with the provision of proxy voting services to the Advisers, including methods to reasonably ensure that its analysis and recommendations are not influenced by a conflict of interest, and shall disclose such controls and policies to the Advisers when and as provided for herein. Unless otherwise specified, references herein to recommendations of the Agent shall refer to those in which no conflict of interest has been identified. The Advisers are responsible for the ongoing oversight of the Agent as contemplated by SEC Staff Legal Bulletin No. 20 (June 30, 2014) and interpretive guidance issued by the SEC in August 2019 regarding proxy voting responsibilities of investment advisers (Release Nos. IA-5325 and IC-33605). Such oversight currently may include one or more of the following and may change from time to time:
·periodic review of Agent’s proxy voting platform and reporting capabilities (including recordkeeping);
·periodic review of a sample of ballots for accuracy and correct application of the Guidelines;
·periodic meetings with Agent’s client services team;
·periodic in-person and/or web-based due diligence meetings;
·receipt and review of annual certifications received from the Agent;
·annual review of due diligence materials provided by the Agent, including review of procedures and practices regarding potential conflicts of interests;
·periodic review of relevant changes to Agent’s business; and/or
·periodic review of the following to the extent not included in due diligence materials provided by the Agent: (i) Agent’s staffing, personnel and/or technology; (ii) Agent’s process for seeking timely input from issuers (e.g., with respect to proxy voting policies, methodologies and peer group construction); (iii) Agent’s process for use of third-party information; (iv) the Agent’s policies and procedures for obtaining current and accurate information relevant to matters in its research and on which it makes voting recommendations; and (v) Agent’s business continuity program (“BCP”) and any service/operational issues experienced due to the enacting of Agent’s BCP.
C. Global Proxy Group
The Adviser shall establish a Global Proxy Group which is responsible for establishing the Guidelines (described below) and reviewing such Guidelines at least annually. The Global Proxy Group shall also review recommendations to vote proxies in a manner that is contrary to the Guidelines and when the proxy relates to a conflicted company of the Adviser or the Agent as described below.
The members of the Global Proxy Group shall include the Chief Equity Investment Officer of Eaton Vance Management (“EVM”) and selected members of the Equity Departments of EVM and Eaton Vance Advisers International Ltd. (“EVAIL”) and EVM’s Global Income Department. The Proxy Administrator is not a voting member of the Global Proxy Group. Members of the Global Proxy Group may be changed from time to time at the Advisers’ discretion. Matters that require the approval of the Global Proxy Group may be acted upon by its member(s) available to consider the matter.
IV. Proxy Voting
A. The Guidelines
The Global Proxy Group shall establish recommendations for the manner in which proxy proposals shall be voted (the “Guidelines”). The Guidelines shall identify when ballots for specific types of proxy proposals shall be voted(1) or referred to the Adviser. The Guidelines shall address a wide variety of individual topics, including, among other matters, shareholder voting rights, anti-takeover defenses, board structures, the election of directors, executive and director compensation, reorganizations, mergers, issues of corporate social responsibility and other proposals affecting shareholder rights. In determining the Guidelines, the Global Proxy Group considers the recommendations of the Agent as well as input from the Advisers’ portfolio managers and analysts and/or other internally developed or third party research.
The Global Proxy Group shall review the Guidelines at least annually and, in connection with proxies to be voted on behalf of the Eaton Vance Funds, the Adviser will submit amendments to the Guidelines to the Fund Boards each year for approval.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund101SAI dated April 1, 2021
With respect to the types of proxy proposals listed below, the Guidelines will generally provide as follows:
1. Proposals Regarding Mergers and Corporate Restructurings/Disposition of Assets/Termination/Liquidation and Mergers
The Agent shall be directed to refer proxy proposals accompanied by its written analysis and voting recommendation to the Proxy Administrator and/or her designee for all proposals relating to Mergers and Corporate Restructurings.
2. Corporate Structure Matters/Anti-Takeover Defenses
As a general matter, the Advisers will normally vote against anti-takeover measures and other proposals designed to limit the ability of shareholders to act on possible transactions (except in the case of closed-end management investment companies).
3. Proposals Regarding Proxy Contests
The Agent shall be directed to refer contested proxy proposals accompanied by its written analysis and voting recommendation to the Proxy Administrator and/or her designee.
4. Social and Environmental Issues
The Advisers will vote social and environmental proposals on a “case-by-case” basis taking into consideration industry best practices and existing management policies and practices.
Interpretation and application of the Guidelines is not intended to supersede any law, regulation, binding agreement or other legal requirement to which an issuer or the Adviser may be or become subject. The Guidelines generally relate to the types of proposals that are most frequently presented in proxy statements to shareholders. In certain circumstances, an Adviser may determine to vote contrary to the Guidelines subject to the voting procedures set forth below.
B. Voting Procedures
Except as noted in Section V below, the Proxy Administrator and/or her designee shall instruct the Agent to vote proxies as follows:
1. Vote in Accordance with Guidelines
If the Guidelines prescribe the manner in which the proxy is to be voted, the Agent shall vote in accordance with the Guidelines, which for certain types of proposals, are recommendations of the Agent made on a case-by-case basis.
2. Seek Guidance for a Referred Item or a Proposal for which there is No Guideline
If (i) the Guidelines state that the proxy shall be referred to the Adviser to determine the manner in which it should be voted or (ii) a proxy is received for a proposal for which there is no Guideline, the Proxy Administrator and/or her designee shall consult with the analyst(s) covering the company subject to the proxy proposal and shall instruct the Agent to vote in accordance with the determination of the analyst. The Proxy Administrator and/or her designee will maintain a record of all proxy proposals that are referred by the Agent, as well as all applicable recommendations, analysis and research received and the resolution of the matter. Where more than one analyst covers a particular company and the recommendations of such analysts for voting a proposal subject to this Section IV.B.2 conflict, the Global Proxy Group shall review such recommendations and any other available information related to the proposal and determine the manner in which it should be voted, which may result in different recommendations for clients (including Funds).
3. Votes Contrary to the Guidelines or Where Agent is Conflicted
In the event an analyst with respect to companies within his or her coverage area may recommend a vote contrary to the Guidelines, the Proxy Administrator and/or her designee will provide the Global Proxy Group with the Agent’s recommendation for the proposal along with any other relevant materials, including a description of the basis for the analyst’s recommendation via email and the Proxy Administrator and/or designee will then instruct the Agent to vote the proxy in the manner determined by the Global Proxy Group. Should the vote by the Global Proxy Group concerning one or more recommendations result in a tie, EVM’s Chief Equity Investment Officer will determine the manner in which the proxy will be voted. The Adviser will provide a report to the Boards of Trustees of the Eaton Vance Funds reflecting any votes cast on behalf of the Eaton Vance Funds contrary to the Guidelines, and shall do so quarterly. A similar process will be followed if the Agent has a conflict of interest with respect to a proxy as described in Section VI.B.
4. Do Not Cast a Vote
It shall generally be the policy of the Advisers to take no action on a proxy for which no client holds a position or otherwise maintains an economic interest in the relevant security at the time the vote is to be cast. In addition, the Advisers may determine not to vote (i) if the economic effect on shareholders' interests or the value of the portfolio holding is indeterminable or insignificant (e.g., proxies in connection with securities no longer held in the portfolio of a client or proxies being considered on behalf of a client that is no longer in existence); (ii) if the cost of voting a proxy
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund102SAI dated April 1, 2021
outweighs the benefits (e.g., certain international proxies, particularly in cases in which share blocking practices may impose trading restrictions on the relevant portfolio security); or (iii) in markets in which shareholders' rights are limited; and (iv) the Adviser is unable to access or access timely ballots or other proxy information. Non-Votes may also result in certain cases in which the Agent's recommendation has been deemed to be conflicted, as provided for herein.
C. Securities on Loan
When a fund client participates in the lending of its securities and the securities are on loan at the record date for a shareholder meeting, proxies related to such securities generally will not be forwarded to the relevant Adviser by the fund’s custodian and therefore will not be voted. In the event that the Adviser determines that the matters involved would have a material effect on the applicable fund’s investment in the loaned securities, the Adviser will make reasonable efforts to terminate the loan in time to be able to cast such vote or exercise such consent. The Adviser shall instruct the fund’s security lending agent to refrain from lending the full position of any security held by a fund to ensure that the Adviser receives notice of proxy proposals impacting the loaned security.
V. Recordkeeping
The Advisers will maintain records relating to the proxies they vote on behalf of their clients in accordance with Section 204-2 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. Those records will include:
·A copy of the Advisers’ proxy voting policies and procedures;
·Proxy statements received regarding client securities. Such proxy statements received from issuers are either in the SEC’s EDGAR database or are kept by the Agent and are available upon request;
·A record of each vote cast;
·A copy of any document created by the Advisers that was material to making a decision on how to vote a proxy for a client or that memorializes the basis for such a decision; and
·Each written client request for proxy voting records and the Advisers’ 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 five years and will be maintained in the offices of the Advisers or their Agent for two years after they are created.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section V, Eaton Vance Trust Company shall maintain records relating to the proxies it votes on behalf of its clients in accordance with laws and regulations applicable to it and its activities. In addition, EVAIL shall maintain records relating to the proxies it votes on behalf of its clients in accordance with UK law.
VI. Assessment of Agent and Identification and Resolution of Conflicts with Clients
A. Assessment of Agent
The Advisers shall establish that the Agent (i) is independent from the Advisers, (ii) has resources that indicate it can competently provide analysis of proxy issues, and (iii) can make recommendations in an impartial manner and in the best interests of the clients and, where applicable, their beneficial owners. The Advisers shall utilize, and the Agent shall comply with, such methods for establishing the foregoing as the Advisers may deem reasonably appropriate and shall do so not less than annually as well as prior to engaging the services of any new proxy voting service. The Agent shall also notify the Advisers in writing within fifteen (15) calendar days of any material change to information previously provided to an Adviser in connection with establishing the Agent’s independence, competence or impartiality.
B. Conflicts of Interest
As fiduciaries to their clients, each Adviser puts the interests of its clients ahead of its own. In order to ensure that relevant personnel of the Advisers are able to identify potential material conflicts of interest, each Adviser will take the following steps:
·Quarterly, the Eaton Vance Legal and Compliance Department will seek information from the department heads of each department of the Advisers and of Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. (“EVD”) (an affiliate of the Advisers and principal underwriter of certain Eaton Vance Funds). Each department head will be asked to provide a list of significant clients or prospective clients of the Advisers or EVD.
·A representative of the Legal and Compliance Department 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 or she has been referred a proxy statement (the “Proxy Companies”). If a Conflicted Company is also a Proxy Company, the Proxy Administrator will report that fact to the Global Proxy Group.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund103SAI dated April 1, 2021
·If the Proxy Administrator expects to instruct the Agent to vote the proxy of the Conflicted Company strictly according to the Guidelines contained in these Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (the “Policies”) or the recommendation of the Agent, as applicable, he or she will (i) inform the Global Proxy Group of that fact, (ii) instruct the Agent to vote the proxies and (iii) record the existence of the material conflict and the resolution of the matter.
·If the Proxy Administrator intends to instruct the Agent to vote in a manner inconsistent with the Guidelines, the Global Proxy Group will then determine if a material conflict of interest exists between the relevant Adviser and its clients (in consultation with the Legal and Compliance Department if needed). If the Global Proxy Group determines that a material conflict exists, prior to instructing the Agent to vote any proxies relating to these Conflicted Companies the Adviser will seek instruction on how the proxy should be voted from:
·The client, in the case of an individual, corporate, institutional or benefit plan client;
·In the case of a Fund, its board of directors, any committee, sub-committee or group of Independent Trustees (as long as such committee, sub-committee or group contains at least two or more Independent Trustees); or
·The adviser, in situations where the Adviser acts as a sub-adviser to such adviser.
The Adviser will provide all reasonable assistance to each party to enable such party to make an informed decision.
If the client, Fund board or adviser, as the case may be, fails to instruct the Adviser on how to vote the proxy, the Adviser will generally instruct the Agent, through the Proxy Administrator, to abstain from voting in order to avoid the appearance of impropriety. If however, the failure of the Adviser to vote its clients’ proxies would have a material adverse economic impact on the Advisers’ clients’ securities holdings in the Conflicted Company, the Adviser may instruct the Agent, through the Proxy Administrator, to vote such proxies in order to protect its clients’ interests. In either case, the Proxy Administrator will record the existence of the material conflict and the resolution of the matter.
The Advisers shall also identify and address conflicts that may arise from time to time concerning the Agent. Upon the Advisers’ request, which shall be not less than annually, and within fifteen (15) calendar days of any material change to such information previously provided to an Adviser, the Agent shall provide the Advisers with such information as the Advisers deem reasonable and appropriate for use in determining material relationships of the Agent that may pose a conflict of interest with respect to the Agent’s proxy analysis or recommendations. Such information shall include, but is not limited to, a monthly report from the Agent detailing the Agent’s Corporate Securities Division clients and related revenue data. The Advisers shall review such information on a monthly basis. The Proxy Administrator shall instruct the Agent to refer any proxies for which a material conflict of the Agent is deemed to be present to the Proxy Administrator. Any such proxy referred by the Agent shall be referred to the Global Proxy Group for consideration accompanied by the Agent’s written analysis and voting recommendation. The Proxy Administrator will instruct the Agent to vote the proxy as recommended by the Global Proxy Group.
(1)The Guidelines will prescribe how a proposal shall be voted or provide factors to be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Agent in recommending a vote pursuant to the Guidelines.
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund104SAI dated April 1, 2021
STATEMENT OF
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
April 1, 2021
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund
Class A Shares - EILAX Class I Shares - EILIX
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 diversified, open-end management investment company. The Fund is a series of Eaton Vance Growth 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:
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Page |
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Page |
Strategies and Risks |
2 |
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Sales Charges |
21 |
Investment Restrictions |
4 |
|
Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings and Related Information |
23 |
Management and Organization |
5 |
|
Taxes |
24 |
Investment Advisory and Administrative Services |
15 |
|
Portfolio Securities Transactions |
34 |
Other Service Providers |
18 |
|
Potential Conflicts of Interest |
37 |
Calculation of Net Asset Value |
19 |
|
Financial Statements |
42 |
Purchasing and Redeeming Shares |
20 |
|
Additional Information About Investment Strategies and Risks |
42 |
|
|
|
|
|
Appendix A: Class A Fees and Ownership |
76 |
|
Appendix C: Eaton Vance Funds Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures |
78 |
Appendix B: Class I Ownership |
77 |
|
Appendix D: Adviser Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures |
80 |
This SAI is NOT a prospectus and is authorized for distribution to prospective investors only if preceded or accompanied by the Fund Prospectus dated April 1, 2021, 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.
© 2021 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;
“Board” means Board of Trustees or Board of Directors, as applicable;
“CEA” means Commodity Exchange Act;
“CFTC” means the Commodity Futures Trading Commission;
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;
“Eaton Vance family of funds” means all registered investment companies advised or administered by Eaton Vance Management (“Eaton Vance”) or Boston Management and Research (“BMR”);
“Eaton Vance funds” means the mutual funds advised by Eaton Vance or BMR;
“Exchange” means the New York Stock Exchange;
“FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.;
“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 to the extent that the sub-adviser has discretion to perform the particular duties;
“IRS” means the Internal Revenue Service;
“Portfolio” means a registered investment company (other than the Fund) 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 as described in the prospectus, if applicable;
“Subsidiary” means a wholly-owned subsidiary that certain funds may have established to pursue their investment objective. The Fund described in this SAI has not established a subsidiary;
“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 in which the Fund will principally invest in seeking its investment objective(s) 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 and the investment practices the Fund (either directly or through one or more Portfolios as may be described in the prospectus) is permitted to engage in. To the extent that an investment type or practice listed below is not identified in the Fund prospectus as a principal investment strategy, the Fund generally expects to invest less than 5% of its total assets in such investment type. The Fund may hold a security or other instrument that is not otherwise identified as permissible if it is received through a corporate action. If a particular investment type or practice 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 type or practice. Information about the various investment types and practices and the associated risks checked below is included in alphabetical order in this SAI under “Additional Information about Investment Strategies and Risks.”
Investment Type |
Permitted for or Relevant to the Fund |
Asset-Backed Securities (“ABS”) |
|
Auction Rate Securities |
|
Build America Bonds |
|
Call and Put Features on Securities |
|
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (“CMOs”) |
|
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (“CMBS”) |
|
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund2SAI dated April 1, 2021
Investment Type |
Permitted for or Relevant to the Fund |
Commodity-Related Investments |
|
Common Stocks |
√ |
Contingent Convertible Securities |
√ |
Convertible Securities |
√ |
Credit Linked Securities |
|
Derivative Instruments and Related Risks |
√ |
Direct Investments |
√ |
Derivatives-Linked and Commodity-Linked Hybrid Instruments |
|
Emerging Market Investments |
√ |
Equity Investments |
√ |
Equity-Linked Securities |
√ |
Event-Linked Instruments |
|
Exchange-Traded Funds (“ETFs”) |
√ |
Exchange-Traded Notes (“ETNs”) |
|
Fixed-Income Securities |
√ |
Foreign Currency Transactions |
√ |
Foreign Investments |
√ |
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts |
√ |
Forward Rate Agreements |
|
Futures Contracts |
√(1) |
Hybrid Securities |
√ |
Illiquid Investments |
√ |
Indexed Securities |
|
Inflation-Indexed (or Inflation-Linked) Bonds |
|
Junior Loans |
|
Liquidity or Protective Put Agreements |
|
Loans |
|
Lower Rated Investments |
√ |
Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”) |
√ |
Money Market Instruments |
√ |
Mortgage-Backed Securities (“MBS”) |
|
Mortgage Dollar Rolls |
|
Municipal Lease Obligations (“MLOs”) |
|
Municipal Obligations |
|
Option Contracts |
√ |
Pooled Investment Vehicles |
√ |
Preferred Stock |
√ |
Real Estate Investments |
√ |
Repurchase Agreements |
|
Residual Interest Bonds |
|
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund3SAI dated April 1, 2021
Investment Type |
Permitted for or Relevant to the Fund |
Reverse Repurchase Agreements |
|
Rights and Warrants |
√ |
Royalty Bonds |
|
Senior Loans |
|
Short Sales |
√ |
Stripped Securities |
|
Structured Notes |
|
Swap Agreements |
√ |
Swaptions |
√ |
Trust Certificates |
|
U.S. Government Securities |
|
Unlisted Securities |
√ |
Variable Rate Instruments |
|
When-Issued Securities, Delayed Delivery and Forward Commitments |
√ |
Zero Coupon Bonds, Deep Discount Bonds and Payment-In-Kind (“PIK”) Securities |
|
Other Disclosures Regarding Investment Practices |
Permitted for or Relevant to the Fund |
Asset Coverage |
√ |
Average Effective Maturity |
|
Borrowing for Investment Purposes |
|
Borrowing for Temporary Purposes |
√ |
Cybersecurity Risk |
√ |
Diversified Status |
√ |
Dividend Capture Trading |
|
Duration |
|
Investing in a Portfolio |
|
Investments in the Subsidiary |
|
LIBOR Transition and Associated Risk |
√ |
Operational Risk |
√ |
Option Strategy |
|
Participation in the ReFlow Liquidity Program |
√ |
Portfolio Turnover |
√ |
Restricted Securities |
√ |
Securities Lending |
√ |
Short-Term Trading |
|
Significant Exposure to Health Sciences Companies |
|
Significant Exposure to Smaller Companies |
√ |
Significant Exposure to Utilities and Financial Services Sectors |
|
Tax-Managed Investing |
|
1 Although futures contracts are not identified as a principal investment strategy, futures contracts may be used to equitize cash and, from time to time, the notional value of such futures contracts may exceed 5% of the Fund’s total assets.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund4SAI dated April 1, 2021
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 Securities Act of 1933;
(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;
(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)With respect to 75% of its total assets, invest more than 5% of its total assets (taken at current value) in the securities of any one issuer, or invest in more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer, except obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities and except securities of other investment companies; or
(7)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:
(8)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.
The Fund’s borrowing policy is consistent with the 1940 Act and guidance of the SEC or its staff, and will comply with any applicable SEC exemptive order.
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 fund in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(G) under the 1940 Act, such acquired fund shall not acquire any securities of a registered open-end investment company in reliance on Sections 12(d)(1)(F) or 12(d)(1)(G) under the 1940 Act.
The following nonfundamental investment policy has been adopted by the Fund. A nonfundamental investment policy may be changed by the Board 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.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund5SAI dated April 1, 2021
Whenever an investment policy or investment restriction set forth in the Prospectus or this SAI states a requirement with respect to the 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, unless otherwise noted, 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 set forth above.
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 Board members 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. Board members hold indefinite terms of office. Each Trustee holds office until his or her successor is elected and qualified, subject to a prior death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal. Under the terms of the Fund’s current Trustee retirement policy, an Independent Trustee must retire and resign as a Trustee on the earlier of: (i) the first day of July following his or her 74th birthday; or (ii), with limited exception, December 31st of the 20th year in which he or she has served as a Trustee. However, if such retirement and resignation would cause the Fund to be out of compliance with Section 16 of the 1940 Act or any other regulations or guidance of the SEC, then such retirement and resignation will not become effective until such time as action has been taken for the Fund to be in compliance therewith. 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 Board member 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 EV LLC, “Eaton Vance” refers to Eaton Vance Management and “EVD” refers to Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. (see “Principal Underwriter” under “Other Service Providers”). EV is the trustee of each of Eaton Vance and BMR. Effective March 1, 2021, each of Eaton Vance, BMR, EVD and EV are indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of Morgan Stanley. 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.
Name and Year of Birth |
|
Trust Position(s) |
|
Length of Service |
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years
|
|
Number of Portfolios
|
|
Other Directorships Held
|
Interested Trustee |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
THOMAS E. FAUST JR.
|
|
Trustee |
|
Since 2007 |
|
Chairman of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc. (MSIM), member of the Board of Managers and President of EV, Chief Executive Officer and President of Eaton Vance and BMR, and Director of EVD. Formerly, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of EVC. Trustee and/or officer of 138 registered investment companies. Mr. Faust is an interested person because of his positions with MSIM, BMR, Eaton Vance, EVD and EV, which are affiliates of the Trust, and his former position with EVC, which was an affiliate of the Trust prior to March 1, 2021. |
|
138 |
|
Formerly, Director of EVC (2007-2021) and Hexavest Inc. (investment management firm) (2012-2021). |
Name and Year of Birth |
|
Trust Position(s) |
|
Length of Service |
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years
|
|
Number of Portfolios
|
|
Other Directorships Held
|
Noninterested Trustees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MARK R. FETTING
|
|
Trustee |
|
Since 2016 |
|
Private investor. Formerly held various positions at Legg Mason, Inc. (investment management firm) (2000-2012), including President, Chief Executive Officer, Director and Chairman (2008-2012), Senior Executive Vice President (2004-2008) and Executive Vice President (2001-2004). Formerly, President of Legg Mason family of funds (2001-2008). Formerly, Division President and Senior Officer of Prudential Financial Group, Inc. and related companies (investment management firm) (1991-2000). |
|
139 |
|
None |
CYNTHIA E. FROST
|
|
Trustee |
|
Since 2014 |
|
Private investor. Formerly, Chief Investment Officer of Brown University (university endowment) (2000-2012). Formerly, Portfolio Strategist for Duke Management Company (university endowment manager) (1995-2000). Formerly, Managing Director, Cambridge Associates (investment consulting company) (1989-1995). Formerly, Consultant, Bain and Company (management consulting firm) (1987-1989). Formerly, Senior Equity Analyst, BA Investment Management Company (1983-1985). |
|
138 |
|
None |
GEORGE J. GORMAN
|
|
Vice-Chairperson of the Board and Trustee |
|
Vice-Chairperson of the Board since 2021 and Trustee since 2014 |
|
Principal at George J. Gorman LLC (consulting firm). Formerly, Senior Partner at Ernst & Young LLP (a registered public accounting firm) (1974-2009). |
|
139 |
|
None |
VALERIE A. MOSLEY
|
|
Trustee |
|
Since 2014 |
|
Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer of Valmo Ventures (a consulting and investment firm). Founder of Upward Wealth, Inc., dba BrightUP, a fintech platform. Formerly, Partner and Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager and Investment Strategist at Wellington Management Company, LLP (investment management firm) (1992-2012). Formerly, Chief Investment Officer, PG Corbin Asset Management (1990-1992). Formerly worked in institutional corporate bond sales at Kidder Peabody (1986-1990). |
|
139 |
|
Director of DraftKings, Inc. (digital sports entertainment and gaming company) (since September 2020). Director of Groupon, Inc. (e-commerce provider) (since April 2020). Director of Envestnet, Inc. (provider of intelligent systems for wealth management and financial wellness) (since 2018). Formerly, Director of Dynex Capital, Inc. (mortgage REIT) (2013-2020). |
Name and Year of Birth |
|
Trust Position(s) |
|
Length of Service |
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years
|
|
Number of Portfolios
|
|
Other Directorships Held
|
WILLIAM H. PARK
|
|
Chairperson of the Board and Trustee |
|
Chairperson of the Board since 2016 and Trustee since 2003 |
|
Private investor. Formerly, Consultant (management and transactional) (2012-2014). Formerly, Chief Financial 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) (a registered public accounting firm) (1972-1981). |
|
139 |
|
None |
HELEN FRAME PETERS
|
|
Trustee |
|
Since 2008 |
|
Professor of Finance, Carroll School of Management, Boston College. Formerly, Dean, Carroll School of Management, Boston College (2000-2002). Formerly, Chief Investment Officer, Fixed Income, Scudder Kemper Investments (investment management firm) (1998-1999). Formerly, Chief Investment Officer, Equity and Fixed Income, Colonial Management Associates (investment management firm) (1991-1998). |
|
139 |
|
None |
KEITH QUINTON
|
|
Trustee |
|
Since 2018 |
|
Private investor, researcher and lecturer. Independent Investment Committee Member at New Hampshire Retirement System (since 2017). Formerly, Portfolio Manager and Senior Quantitative Analyst at Fidelity Investments (investment management firm) (2001-2014). |
|
139 |
|
Director (since 2016) and Chairman (since 2019) of New Hampshire Municipal Bond Bank. |
MARCUS L. SMITH
|
|
Trustee |
|
Since 2018 |
|
Private investor. Member of Posse Boston Advisory Board (foundation) (since 2015). Formerly, Portfolio Manager at MFS Investment Management (investment management firm) (1994-2017). |
|
139 |
|
Director of First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc. (an industrial REIT) (since 2021). Director of MSCI Inc. (global provider of investment decision support tools) (since 2017). Formerly, Director of DCT Industrial Trust Inc. (logistics real estate company) (2017-2018). |
SUSAN J. SUTHERLAND
|
|
Trustee |
|
Since 2015 |
|
Private investor. Director of Ascot Group Limited and certain of its subsidiaries (insurance and reinsurance) (since 2017). Formerly, Director of Hagerty Holding Corp. (insurance and reinsurance) (2015-2018). Formerly, Associate, Counsel and Partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (law firm) (1982-2013). |
|
139 |
|
Director of Kairos Acquisition Corp. (insurance/InsurTech acquisition company) (since 2021). |
Name and Year of Birth |
|
Trust Position(s) |
|
Length of Service |
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years
|
|
Number of Portfolios
|
|
Other Directorships Held
|
SCOTT E. WENNERHOLM
|
|
Trustee |
|
Since 2016 |
|
Private investor. Formerly, Trustee at Wheelock College (postsecondary institution) (2012-2018). Formerly, Consultant at GF Parish Group (executive recruiting firm) (2016-2017). Formerly, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President at BNY Mellon Asset Management (investment management firm) (2005-2011). Formerly, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at Natixis Global Asset Management (investment management firm) (1997-2004). Formerly, Vice President at Fidelity Investments Institutional Services (investment management firm) (1994-1997). |
|
138 |
|
None |
(1)Includes both master and feeder funds in a master-feeder structure.
The Board 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(s) (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 eleven Trustees, including ten Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (each a “noninterested Trustee”). In addition to six 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 a noninterested Trustee to serve in the role of Chairperson. The Chairperson’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 Chairperson also presides at all meetings of the
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund9SAI dated April 1, 2021
Board and acts as a liaison with service providers, officers, attorneys, and other Board members generally between meetings. The Chairperson may perform such other functions as may be requested by the Board from time to time. In addition, the Board may appoint a noninterested Trustee to serve in the role of Vice-Chairperson. The Vice-Chairperson has the power and authority to perform any or all of the duties and responsibilities of the Chairperson in the absence of the Chairperson and/or as requested by the Chairperson. Except for any duties specified herein or pursuant to the Trust’s Declaration of Trust or By-laws, the designation of Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson does not impose on such noninterested 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 and its Committees. As part of its oversight of the Fund and the 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 or should 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 CCO 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 to the Audit Committee of the Board and the Board regarding these and related matters. In addition, the Audit Committee of the Board or 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 noninterested 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 members’ existing mix of skills, core competencies and qualifications; (vi) perceived ability to contribute to the ongoing functions of the Board, including the ability and commitment to attend meetings regularly and work collaboratively with other members of the Board; (vii) the ability to qualify as a noninterested 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.
Among the attributes or skills common to all Board members are their ability to review critically, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them, to interact effectively with the other members of the Board, 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 members of the Board. Each Board member’s ability to perform his or her duties effectively has been attained through the Board member’s business, consulting, public service and/or academic positions and through experience from service as a member of the Boards of the Eaton Vance family of funds (“Eaton Vance Fund Boards”) (and/or in other capacities, including for any predecessor funds), public companies, or non-profit entities or other organizations as set forth below. Each Board member’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.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund10SAI dated April 1, 2021
In respect of each current member of the Board, the individual’s substantial professional accomplishments and experience, including in fields related to the operations of registered investment companies, were a significant factor in the determination that the individual should serve as a member of the Board. The following is a summary of each Board member’s particular professional experience and additional considerations that contributed to the Board’s conclusion that he or she should serve as a member of the Board:
Thomas E. Faust Jr. Mr. Faust has served as a member of the Eaton Vance Fund Boards since 2007. Effective March 1, 2021, he is Chairman of MSIM. He is also a member of the Board of Managers and President of EV, Chief Executive Officer and President of Eaton Vance and BMR, and Director of EVD. Mr. Faust previously served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of EVC from 2007 through March 1, 2021 and as President of EVC from 2006 through March 1, 2021. Mr. Faust served as a Director of Hexavest Inc. from 2012-2021. From 2016 through 2019, Mr. Faust served as a Director of SigFig Wealth Management LLC. Mr. Faust previously served as an equity analyst, portfolio manager, Director of Equity Research and Management and Chief Investment Officer of Eaton Vance from 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. He is a trustee and member of the executive committee of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Inc. and trustee emeritus of Wellesley College.
Mark R. Fetting. Mr. Fetting has served as a member of the Eaton Vance Fund Boards since 2016. He has over 30 years of experience in the investment management industry as an executive and in various leadership roles. From 2000 through 2012, Mr. Fetting served in several capacities at Legg Mason, Inc., including most recently serving as President, Chief Executive Officer, Director and Chairman from 2008 to his retirement in 2012. He also served as a Director/Trustee and Chairman of the Legg Mason family of funds from 2008-2012 and Director/Trustee of the Royce family of funds from 2001-2012. From 2001 through 2008, Mr. Fetting also served as President of the Legg Mason family of funds. From 1991 through 2000, Mr. Fetting served as Division President and Senior Officer of Prudential Financial Group, Inc. and related companies. Early in his professional career, Mr. Fetting was a Vice President at T. Rowe Price and served in leadership roles within the firm’s mutual fund division from 1981-1987.
Cynthia E. Frost. Ms. Frost has served as a member of the Eaton Vance Fund Boards since 2014 and is the Chairperson of the Portfolio Management Committee. From 2000 through 2012, Ms. Frost was the Chief Investment Officer of Brown University, where she oversaw the evaluation, selection and monitoring of the third party investment managers who managed the university’s endowment. From 1995 through 2000, Ms. Frost was a Portfolio Strategist for Duke Management Company, which oversaw Duke University’s endowment. Ms. Frost also served in various investment and consulting roles at Cambridge Associates from 1989-1995, Bain and Company from 1987-1989 and BA Investment Management Company from 1983-1985. She serves as a member of the investment committee of The MCNC Endowment.
George J. Gorman. Mr. Gorman has served as a member of the Eaton Vance Fund Boards since 2014, is the Independent Vice-Chairperson of the Board and is the Chairperson of the Audit Committee. From 1974 through 2009, Mr. Gorman served in various capacities at Ernst & Young LLP, including as a Senior Partner in the Asset Management Group (from 1988) specializing in managing engagement teams responsible for auditing mutual funds registered with the SEC, hedge funds and private equity funds. Mr. Gorman also has experience serving as an independent trustee of other mutual fund complexes, including the Bank of America Money Market Funds Series Trust from 2011-2014 and the Ashmore Funds from 2010-2014.
Valerie A. Mosley. Ms. Mosley has served as a member of the Eaton Vance Fund Boards since 2014 and is the Chairperson of the Governance Committee. She currently owns and manages a consulting and investment firm, Valmo Ventures, and in 2020 founded Upward Wealth, Inc., doing business as BrightUP, a fintech platform focused on helping everyday workers grow their net worth and reinforce their self-worth. From 1992 through 2012, Ms. Mosley served in several capacities at Wellington Management Company, LLP, an investment management firm, including as a Partner, Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager and Investment Strategist. Ms. Mosley also served as Chief Investment Officer at PG Corbin Asset Management from 1990-1992 and worked in institutional corporate bond sales at Kidder Peabody from 1986-1990. She was also a Director of Progress Investment Management Company, a manager of emerging managers until 2020. She is a Director of Groupon, Inc., an ecommerce provider, and a Director of Envestnet, Inc., a provider of intelligent systems for wealth management and financial wellness. She is also a Director of DraftKings, Inc., a digital sports entertainment and gaming company. Ms. Mosley previously served as a Director of Dynex Capital, Inc., a mortgage REIT, from 2013-2020. She serves as a trustee or board member of several major non-profit organizations and endowments, including New Profit, a social venture firm that identifies, invests in and helps scale social entrepreneurs. She is a member of the Risk Audit Committee of the United Auto Workers Retiree Medical Benefits Trust and a member of the Investment Advisory Committee of New York State Common Retirement Fund. Ms. Mosley serves on the Institutional Investors Advisory Council of MiDA, a U.S. Agency for International Development partner focused on investment opportunities in Africa and also advises Impact X and Zeal Capital, venture funds focused predominately on underrepresented entrepreneurs.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund11SAI dated April 1, 2021
William H. Park. Mr. Park has served as a member of the Eaton Vance Fund Boards since 2003 and is the Independent Chairperson of the Board. Mr. Park was formerly a consultant from 2012-2014 and 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.
Helen Frame Peters. Dr. Peters has served as a member of the Eaton Vance Fund Boards since 2008. Dr. Peters 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. Dr. Peters was previously a Director of BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc. from 2004-2011. In addition, Dr. 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. Dr. 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.
Keith Quinton. Mr. Quinton has served as a member of the Eaton Vance Fund Boards since October 1, 2018. He had over thirty years of experience in the investment industry before retiring from Fidelity Investments in 2014. Prior to joining Fidelity, Mr. Quinton was a vice president and quantitative analyst at MFS Investment Management from 2000-2001. From 1997 through 2000, he was a senior quantitative analyst at Santander Global Advisors and, from 1995 through 1997, Mr. Quinton was senior vice president in the quantitative equity research department at Putnam Investments. Prior to joining Putnam Investments, Mr. Quinton served in various investment roles at Eberstadt Fleming, Falconwood Securities Corporation and Drexel Burnham Lambert, where he began his career in the investment industry as a senior quantitative analyst in 1983. Mr. Quinton currently serves as an Independent Investment Committee Member of the New Hampshire Retirement System, a five member committee that manages investments based on the investment policy and asset allocation approved by the board of trustees, and as a Director, since 2016 and Chairman, since 2019 of the New Hampshire Municipal Bond Bank.
Marcus L. Smith. Mr. Smith has served as a member of the Eaton Vance Fund Boards since October 1, 2018. Mr. Smith has been a Director of First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc., a fully integrated owner, operator and developer of industrial real estate since 2021, where he serves on the Investment and Nominating/Corporate Governance Committees. Since 2017, Mr. Smith has been a Director of MSCI Inc., a leading provider of investment decision support tools worldwide, where he serves on the Audit and Strategy & Finance Committees. From 2017 through 2018, he served as a Director of DCT Industrial Trust Inc., a leading logistics real estate company, where he served as a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance and Audit Committees. From 1994 through 2017, Mr. Smith served in several capacities at MFS Investment Management, an investment management firm, where he managed the MFS Institutional International Fund for 17 years and the MFS Concentrated International Fund for 10 years. In addition to his portfolio management duties, Mr. Smith served as Director of Equity, Canada from 2012-2017, Director of Equity, Asia from 2010-2012, and Director of Asian Equity Research from 2005-2010. Prior to joining MFS, Mr. Smith was a senior consultant at Andersen Consulting (now known as Accenture) from 1988-1992. Mr. Smith served as a United States Army Reserve Officer from 1987-1992. He was also a trustee of the University of Mount Union from 2008-2020 and served as the chairman of the Finance Committee from 2015-2019. Mr. Smith currently sits on the Boston advisory board of the Posse Foundation and the Harvard Medical School Advisory Council on Education.
Susan J. Sutherland. Ms. Sutherland has served as a member of the Eaton Vance Fund Boards since 2015 and is the Chairperson of the Compliance Reports and Regulatory Matters Committee. She is also a Director of Ascot Group Limited and certain of its subsidiaries. Ascot Group Limited, through its related businesses including Syndicate 1414 at Lloyd’s of London, is a leading global underwriter of specialty property and casualty insurance and reinsurance. In addition, Ms. Sutherland is a Director of Kairos Acquisition Corp., which is concentrating on acquisition and business combination efforts within the insurance and insurance technology (also known as, “InsurTech”) sectors. Ms. Sutherland was a Director of Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd., a global provider of customized reinsurance and insurance products, from 2013 until its sale in 2015 and of Hagerty Holding Corp., a leading provider of specialized automobile and marine insurance from 2015-2018. From 1982 through 2013, Ms. Sutherland was an associate, counsel and then a partner in the Financial Institutions Group of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, where she primarily represented U.S. and international insurance and reinsurance companies, investment banks and private equity firms in insurance-related corporate transactions. In addition, Ms. Sutherland is qualified as a Governance Fellow of the National Association of Corporate Directors and has also served as a board member of prominent non-profit organizations.
Scott E. Wennerholm. Mr. Wennerholm has served as a member of the Eaton Vance Fund Boards since 2016 and is the Chairperson of the Contract Review Committee. He has over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry in various leadership and executive roles. Mr. Wennerholm served as Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President at BNY Mellon Asset Management from 2005-2011. He also served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at Natixis Global Asset Management from 1997-2004 and was a Vice President at Fidelity Investments Institutional
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund12SAI dated April 1, 2021
Services from 1994-1997. In addition, Mr. Wennerholm served as a Trustee at Wheelock College, a postsecondary institution from 2012-2018.
The Board(s) of the Trust has 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. Mosley (Chairperson), Frost, Peters and Sutherland, and Messrs. Fetting, Gorman, Park, Quinton, Smith and Wennerholm are members of the Governance Committee. The purpose of the Governance Committee is to consider, evaluate and make recommendations to the Board with respect to the structure, membership and operation of the Board and the Committees thereof, including the nomination and selection of noninterested Trustees and a Chairperson of the Board and the compensation of such persons. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2020, the Governance Committee convened eight times.
The Governance Committee will, when a vacancy exists, consider a nominee for Trustee recommended by a shareholder, provided that such recommendation is submitted in writing to the Trust’s Secretary at the principal executive office of the Trust. Such recommendations must be accompanied by biographical and occupational data on the candidate (including whether the candidate would be an “interested person” of the Trust), a written consent by the candidate to be named as a nominee and to serve as Trustee if elected, record and ownership information for the recommending shareholder with respect to the Trust, and a description of any arrangements or understandings regarding recommendation of the candidate for consideration.
Messrs. Gorman (Chairperson), Park and Wennerholm and Ms. Peters are members of the Audit Committee. The Board has designated Messrs. Gorman and Park, each a noninterested Trustee, as audit committee financial experts. 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. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2020, the Audit Committee convened thirteen times.
Messrs. Wennerholm (Chairperson), Fetting, Gorman, Park, Quinton and Smith, and Mmes. Frost, Mosley, Peters and Sutherland are members of the Contract Review Committee. The purposes of the Contract Review Committee are to consider, evaluate and make recommendations to the Board 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. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2020, the Contract Review Committee convened eleven times.
Mmes. Frost (Chairperson), Mosley and Peters and Messrs. Smith and Wennerholm are members of the Portfolio Management Committee. The purposes of the Portfolio Management Committee are to: (i) assist the Board 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 in its oversight of the trading policies and procedures and risk management techniques applicable to the Fund; and (iii) assist the Board 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 identifies from time to time. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2020, the Portfolio Management Committee convened six times.
Ms. Sutherland (Chairperson) and Messrs. Fetting, Gorman and Quinton are 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 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 and the Fund’s CCO; and (iii) serve as a “qualified legal compliance committee” within the rules promulgated by the SEC. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2020, the Compliance Reports and Regulatory Matters Committee convened seven times.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund13SAI dated April 1, 2021
Share Ownership. The following table shows the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each Trustee in the Fund and in the Eaton Vance family of funds overseen by the Trustee as of December 31, 2020.
Name of Trustee |
Dollar Range of Equity Securities
|
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity
|
Interested Trustee |
|
|
Thomas E. Faust Jr. |
Over $100,000 |
Over $100,000 |
Noninterested Trustees |
|
|
Mark R. Fetting |
None |
Over $100,000 |
Cynthia E. Frost |
Over $100,000(1) |
Over $100,000 |
George J. Gorman |
None |
Over $100,000 |
Valerie A. Mosley |
None |
Over $100,000 |
William H. Park |
None |
Over $100,000 |
Helen Frame Peters |
None |
Over $100,000 |
Keith Quinton |
None |
Over $100,000 |
Marcus L. Smith |
None |
Over $100,000 |
Susan J. Sutherland |
None |
Over $100,000(1) |
Scott E. Wennerholm |
None |
Over $100,000(1) |
(1) Includes shares which may be deemed to be beneficially owned through the Trustee Deferred Compensation Plan. |
As of December 31, 2020, no noninterested Trustee or any of their immediate family members owned beneficially or of record any class of securities of EVC, EVD, any sub-adviser, if applicable, or any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC or EVD or any sub-adviser, if applicable, collectively (“Affiliated Entity”).
During the calendar years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020, no noninterested Trustee (or their immediate family members) had:
(1)Any direct or indirect interest in any Affiliated Entity;
(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 or distributed by any Affiliated Entity; (iii) any Affiliated Entity; or (iv) 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 or distributed by any Affiliated Entity; (iii) any Affiliated Entity; or (iv) an officer of any of the above.
During the calendar years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020, no officer of any Affiliated Entity 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 “Deferred Compensation Plan”). Under the Deferred Compensation Plan, an eligible Board member may elect to have all or a portion of 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 Board members under the Deferred Compensation Plan will be determined based upon the performance of such investments. Deferral of Board members’ fees in accordance with the Deferred Compensation 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 Board member be retained. There is no retirement plan for Board members.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund14SAI dated April 1, 2021
The fees and expenses of the Trustees of the Trust are paid by the Fund (and other series of the Trust). A Board member who is a member of the Eaton Vance organization receives no compensation from the Trust. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2020, the Trustees of the Trust earned the following compensation in their capacities as Board members from the Trust. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Board members earned the following compensation in their capacities as members of the Eaton Vance Fund Boards(1):
Source of Compensation |
Mark R.
|
Cynthia E.
|
George J.
|
Valerie A.
|
William H.
|
Helen Frame
|
Keith
|
Marcus L. Smith |
Susan J. Sutherland |
Scott E. Wennerholm |
Trust(2) |
$28,629 |
$30,683 |
$31,825 |
$31,073 |
$38,719 |
$28,920 |
$27,807 |
$27,807 |
$30,683 |
$31,825 |
Trust and Fund Complex(1) |
$348,306 |
$373,305 |
$387,056 |
$378,709(3) |
$470,806 |
$351,652 |
$338,306 |
$338,306 |
$373,305(4) |
$387,056 |
(1)As of April 1, 2021, the Eaton Vance fund complex consists of 139 registered investment companies or series thereof.
(2)The Trust consisted of 13 Funds as of November 30, 2020.
(3)Includes $20,000 of deferred compensation.
(4)Includes $370,208 of deferred compensation.
Fund Organization
Trust. The Fund is a series of the Trust, which was organized under Massachusetts law on May 25, 1989 as a trust with transferable shares, commonly referred to as a “Massachusetts business trust” 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 of the Trust are entitled to one vote for each full share held. Fractional shares may be voted proportionately. Shares of all Funds in the Trust will be voted together with respect to the election or removal of Trustees and on other matters affecting all Funds similarly. On matters affecting only a particular Fund, all shareholders of the affected Fund will vote together as a single class, 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 any Trustee may be removed with or without cause, by (i) the affirmative vote of holders of two-thirds of the shares or, (ii) the affirmative vote of, or written instrument, signed by at least two-thirds of the remaining Trustees, provided however, that the removal of any noninterested Trustee shall additionally require the affirmative vote of, or a written instrument executed by, at least two-thirds of the remaining noninterested Trustees. No person shall serve as a Trustee if shareholders 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, if they deem it necessary to conform it to applicable federal or state laws or regulations, or to make such other changes (such as reclassifying series or classes of shares or restructuring the Trust) provided such changes do not have a materially adverse effect on the financial interests of shareholders. 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 is required to 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’s Declaration of Trust provides that any legal proceeding brought by or on behalf of a shareholder seeking to enforce any provision of, or based upon any matter arising out of, related to or in connection with, the Declaration of Trust, the Trust, any Fund or Class or the shares of any Fund must be brought exclusively in the United States District Court for Massachusetts or, if such court does not have jurisdiction for the matter, then in the Superior Court of Suffolk County for
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund15SAI dated April 1, 2021
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. If a shareholder brings a claim in another venue and the venue is subsequently changed through legal process to the foregoing Federal or state court, then the shareholder will be required to reimburse the Trust and other persons for the expenses incurred in effecting the change in venue.
The Trust’s Declaration of Trust also provides that, except to the extent explicitly permitted by Federal law, a shareholder may not bring or maintain a court action on behalf of the Trust or any Fund or class of shares (commonly referred to as a derivative claim) without first making demand on the Trustees requesting the Trustees to bring the action. Within 90 days of receipt of the demand, the Trustees will consider the merits of the claim and determine whether commencing or maintaining an action would be in the best interests of the Trust or the affected Fund or Class. Any decision by the Trustees to bring, maintain or settle, or to not bring, maintain or settle the action, will be final and binding upon shareholders and therefore no action may be brought or maintained after a decision is made to reject a demand. In addition, the Trust’s Declaration of Trust provides that, to the maximum extent permitted by law, each shareholder acknowledges and agrees that any alleged injury to the Trust’s property, any diminution in the value of a shareholder’s shares and any other claim arising out of or relating to an allegation regarding the actions, inaction or omissions of or by the Trustees, the officers of the Trust or the investment adviser of the Fund is a legal claim belonging only to the Trust and not to the shareholders individually and, therefore, that any such claim is subject to the demand requirement for derivative claims referenced above.
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, upon request by the shareholder, 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 liabilities exceeding its assets, and therefore the shareholder’s risk of personal liability, is remote.
Proxy Voting Policy. The Board adopted a proxy voting policy and procedures (the “Fund Policy”), pursuant to which the Board has delegated proxy voting responsibility to the investment sub-adviser and adopted the proxy voting policies and procedures of the investment sub-adviser (the “Adviser 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 members of the Board will review a Fund's proxy voting records from time to time and will review annually the Adviser Policies. For a copy of the Fund Policy and Adviser Policies, see Appendix C and Appendix D, respectively. Pursuant to certain provisions of the 1940 Act and certain exemptive orders relating to funds investing in other funds, a Fund 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 a 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. As described in the Prospectus, upon the closing of the transaction by which Morgan Stanley acquired EVC (the “Transaction”) the Fund entered into a new Investment Advisory and Administrative Agreement with Eaton Vance and Eaton Vance entered a new Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement with Eaton Vance Advisers International Ltd. (“EVAIL”). The investment adviser manages the investments and affairs of the Fund and provides related office facilities and personnel subject to the supervision of the Trust’s Board. 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-Advisory Agreement require the investment adviser or sub-adviser, as the case may be, to pay the compensation and expenses of all officers
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund16SAI dated April 1, 2021
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.
For a description of the compensation that the Fund pays the investment adviser, see the Prospectus. The following table sets forth the net assets of the Fund at November 30, 2020 and the investment advisory and administrative fee paid by the Fund for the last three fiscal years:
|
Advisory and Administrative Fee for Fiscal Years Ended |
|||
Net Assets at 11/30/20 |
11/30/20 |
11/30/19 |
11/30/18 |
|
$50,445,532 |
$396,448 |
$362,642 |
$324,875 |
Pursuant to an expense reimbursement agreement described in the prospectus, Eaton Vance was allocated $38,879, $47,533 and $51,568 in total of the Fund’s operating expenses for the fiscal years ended November 30, 2020, November 30, 2019 and November 30, 2018, respectively.
Pursuant to an investment sub-advisory agreement between Eaton Vance and Eaton Vance Advisers International Ltd. (“EVAIL”), Eaton Vance pays compensation to EVAIL for providing sub-advisory services to the Fund. The following table sets forth the sub-advisory fees paid to EVAIL for the fiscal years ended November 30, 2020, November 30, 2019 and November 30, 2018.
|
Sub-Advisory Fee for Fiscal Years Ended |
||
|
11/30/20 |
11/30/19 |
11/30/18 |
|
$178,401 |
$163,189 |
$146,193 |
Pursuant to an expense reimbursement agreement described in the prospectus, EVAIL was allocated $31,810, $38,890 and $42,191 in total of the Fund’s operating expenses for the fiscal years ended November 30, 2020, November 30, 2019, and November 30, 2018, respectively.
The Investment Advisory and Administrative Agreement and Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement with the investment adviser or sub-adviser continues in effect through and including the second anniversary of its execution 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 vote of a majority of the noninterested Trustees of the Trust cast at a meeting specifically called for the purpose of voting on such approval pursuant to the requirements of the 1940 Act and (ii) by the Board 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 either party, or by 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. Each Agreement is not intended to, and does not, confer upon any person not a party to it any right, benefit or remedy of any nature.
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. As described in the Prospectus, following the closing of the Transaction on March 1, 2021, EV, Eaton Vance and BMR became indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), a preeminent global financial services firm engaged in securities trading and brokerage activities, as well as providing investment banking, research and analysis, financing and financial advisory services.
Prior to March 1, 2021, EV and Eaton Vance were wholly-owned subsidiaries of EVC, a Maryland corporation and publicly-held holding company and BMR was an indirect subsidiary of EVC. EVC through its subsidiaries and affiliates engaged primarily in investment management, administration and marketing activities. The Directors of EVC were Thomas E. Faust Jr., Ann E. Berman, Leo I. Higdon, Jr., Paula A. Johnson, Brian D. Langstraat, Dorothy E. Puhy, Winthrop H. Smith, Jr. and Richard A. Spillane, Jr. All shares of the outstanding Voting Common Stock of EVC were deposited in a Voting Trust, the Voting Trustees of which were Mr. Faust, Paul W. Bouchey, Craig R. Brandon, Daniel C. Cataldo, Michael A. Cirami, Cynthia J. Clemson, James H. Evans, Maureen A. Gemma, Laurie G. Hylton, Mr. Langstraat, Thomas Lee, Frederick S. Marius, David C. McCabe, Edward J. Perkin, Lewis R. Piantedosi, Charles B. Reed, Craig P. Russ, Thomas C. Seto, John L. Shea, Eric A. Stein, John H. Streur, Andrew N. Sveen, Payson F. Swaffield, R. Kelly Williams and Matthew J. Witkos (all of whom are or were officers of Eaton Vance or its affiliates). The Voting Trustees had unrestricted voting rights for the election of Directors of EVC. Prior to March 1, 2021, all of the outstanding voting trust receipts issued under said Voting Trust were owned by certain of the officers of Eaton Vance who may also have
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund17SAI dated April 1, 2021
been 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) are employees of Eaton Vance and/or BMR.
Information About EVAIL. EVAIL provides investment advice to institutional clients and pooled investment vehicles. As described in the Prospectus, following the close of the Transaction on March 1, 2021, EVAIL became an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley. Prior to March 1, 2021, EVAIL was an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of EVC. EVAIL was originally organized in 2015.
EVAIL uses the portfolio management, research and other resources of its affiliate, Eaton Vance Global Advisors Limited (“EVGA”), in rendering investment advisory services to the Fund. Prior to March 1, 2021, each of EVGA and EVAIL were indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of EVC. On March 1, 2021, upon the closing of the Transaction, each of EVAIL and EVGA became indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of Morgan Stanley. EVGA is not registered with the SEC as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. EVGA has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with EVAIL pursuant to which EVGA is considered a participating affiliate of the sub-adviser as that term is used in relief granted by the staff of the SEC allowing U.S. registered investment advisers to use portfolio management or research resources of unregistered advisory affiliates subject to the supervision of a U.S. registered adviser. Investment professionals from EVGA may render portfolio management, research and other services to the Fund subject to supervision by EVAIL.
Code of Ethics. The investment adviser, sub-adviser, principal underwriter, and the Fund have adopted Codes of Ethics governing personal securities transactions pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. 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/or other procedures.
Portfolio Manager. The portfolio manager of the Fund is listed below. The following table shows, as of the Fund’s most recent fiscal year end, the number of accounts the 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 also shows 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
|
Aidan Farrell |
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies |
3 |
$489.3 |
0 |
$0 |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
0 |
$0 |
0 |
$0 |
Other Accounts |
1 |
$1.7 |
0 |
$0 |
The portfolio manager did not beneficially own any equity securities in the Fund as of November 30, 2020, or in the Eaton Vance family of funds as of December 31, 2020.
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 a 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, the 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 and sub-adviser have adopted several policies and procedures designed to address these potential conflicts including a code of ethics and policies that govern the investment adviser's and sub-adviser's trading practices, including among other things the aggregation and allocation of trades among clients, brokerage allocations, cross trades and best execution.
Compensation Structure for EVAIL. Compensation of the sub-adviser's portfolio managers and other investment professionals has the following primary components: (1) a base salary, (2) an annual cash bonus, and (3) annual non-cash compensation consisting of restricted shares of Morgan Stanley stock that are subject to a fixed vesting and
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund18SAI dated April 1, 2021
distribution schedule. The sub-adviser’s investment professionals also receive certain retirement, insurance and other benefits that are broadly available to the sub-adviser’s employees. Compensation of the sub-adviser’s 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 December 31st fiscal year end of Morgan Stanley.
Method to Determine Compensation. The sub-adviser compensates its portfolio managers based primarily on the scale and complexity of their portfolio responsibilities and the total return performance of managed funds and accounts versus the benchmark(s) stated in the prospectus, as well as an appropriate peer group (as described below). In addition to rankings within peer groups of funds on the basis of absolute performance, consideration may also be given to relative risk-adjusted performance. Risk-adjusted performance measures include, but are not limited to, the Sharpe ratio, which uses standard deviation and excess return to determine reward per unit of risk. Performance is normally based on periods ending on the September 30th preceding fiscal year end. Fund performance is normally evaluated primarily versus peer groups of funds as determined by Lipper Inc. and/or Morningstar, Inc. When a fund’s peer group as determined by Lipper or Morningstar is deemed by the sub-adviser’s management not to provide a fair comparison, performance may instead be evaluated primarily against a custom peer group or market index. In evaluating the performance of a fund and its manager, primary emphasis is normally placed on three-year performance, with secondary consideration of performance over longer and shorter periods. For funds that are tax-managed or otherwise have an objective of after-tax returns, performance is measured net of taxes. For other funds, performance is evaluated on a pre-tax basis. For funds with an investment objective other than total return (such as current income), consideration will also be given to the fund’s success in achieving its objective. For managers responsible for multiple funds and accounts, investment performance is evaluated on an aggregate basis, based on averages or weighted averages among managed funds and accounts. Funds and accounts that have performance-based advisory fees are not accorded disproportionate weightings in measuring aggregate portfolio manager performance.
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.
The sub-adviser seeks to compensate portfolio managers commensurate with their responsibilities and performance, and competitive with other firms within the investment management industry. The sub-adviser participates in investment-industry compensation surveys and utilizes 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 the sub-adviser and Morgan Stanley. The overall annual cash bonus pool is generally based on a substantially fixed percentage of pre-bonus adjusted operating income. While the salaries of the sub-adviser’s portfolio managers are comparatively fixed, cash bonuses and stock-based compensation may fluctuate significantly from year to year, based on changes in manager performance and other factors as described herein. For a high performing portfolio manager, cash bonuses and stock-based compensation may represent a substantial portion of total compensation.
Commodity Futures Trading Commission Registration. The CFTC has adopted certain regulations that subject registered investment companies and advisers to regulation by the CFTC if a fund invests more than a prescribed level of its assets in certain CFTC-regulated instruments (including futures, certain options and swaps agreements) or markets itself as providing investment exposure to such instruments. The investment adviser has claimed an exclusion from the definition of “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act with respect to its management of the Fund. Accordingly neither the Fund nor the investment adviser or sub-adviser with respect to the operation of the Fund is subject to CFTC regulation. Because of their management of other strategies, Eaton Vance and BMR are registered with the CFTC as commodity pool operators. Eaton Vance and BMR are also registered as commodity trading advisors. The CFTC has neither reviewed nor approved the Fund's investment strategies or this SAI.
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 Fund’s affairs, subject to the supervision of the Board, and shall furnish office space and all necessary office facilities, equipment and personnel for administering the affairs of the Fund.
Sub-Transfer Agency Support Services. Eaton Vance provides sub-transfer agency and related services to Eaton Vance mutual funds pursuant to a Sub-Transfer Agency Support Services Agreement. Under the agreement, Eaton Vance provides: (1) specified sub-transfer agency services; (2) compliance monitoring services; and (3) intermediary oversight services. For the services it provides, Eaton Vance receives an aggregate annual fee equal to the actual expenses incurred by Eaton Vance in the performance of such services. The Fund pays a pro rata share of such fee. For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2020, Eaton Vance earned $1,974 from the Fund pursuant to the agreement.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund19SAI dated April 1, 2021
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 and administrator, the sub-adviser or the principal underwriter). In the case of expenses incurred by the Trust, the Fund is responsible for its pro rata share of those expenses. Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Multiple Class Plan for Eaton Vance Funds, Fund expenses are allocated to each class on a pro rata basis, except that distribution and service fees are allocated exclusively to the class that incurs them.
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 members of the Board (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. Effective March 1, 2021, EVD is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley. Prior to March 1, 2021, EVD was a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of EVC. Mr. Faust is also a Director of EVD.
Custodian. State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”), State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111, 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 also provides services in connection with the preparation of shareholder reports and the electronic filing of such reports with the SEC.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. Deloitte & Touche LLP, 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116, independent registered public accounting firm, audits the Fund's financial statements and provides other audit, tax and related services.
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 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. The Fund’s net asset value per share is readily accessible on the Eaton Vance website (www.eatonvance.com).
The Board 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.
·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.
·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.
·Short-term instruments with remaining maturities of less than 397 days are valued on the basis of market valuations furnished by a pricing service or based on dealer quotations.
·Foreign securities and currencies are valued in U.S. dollars based on foreign currency exchange quotations supplied by a pricing service.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund20SAI dated April 1, 2021
·Senior and Junior Loans (as defined in the “Additional Information About Investment Strategies and Risks” section of this SAI) 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.
·Futures contracts are valued at the settlement or closing price on the primary exchange or board of trade on which they are traded.
·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).
·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) or, for total return swaps, based on market index data.
·Precious metals are valued at the New York Composite mean quotation.
·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.
·Valuations of foreign equity securities and total return swaps and exchange-traded futures contracts on non-North American equity indices are generally based on fair valuation 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 members of the Board. Such methods may include consideration of relevant factors, including but not limited to (i) the type of security and 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 statements; (vi) an evaluation of the forces that influence the issuer and the market(s) in which the security is purchased and sold; (vii) any transaction involving the issuer of such securities; and (viii) any other factors deemed relevant by the investment adviser. For purposes of fair valuation, 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. The U.S. registered Eaton Vance funds generally do not accept investments from residents of the European Union, the United Kingdom or Switzerland, although may do so to the extent that the Eaton Vance funds may be lawfully offered in a relevant jurisdiction (including at the initiative of the investor). Fund shares are continuously offered through financial intermediaries which have entered into agreements with the principal underwriter. Fund shares are sold at the public offering price, which is the net asset value next computed after receipt of an order 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 for Class A shares in the Prospectus is applicable to purchases of Class A shares 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 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.”
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 employer sponsored retirement plans. Class I shares may also be available through brokerage platforms of broker-dealer firms that have agreements with a Fund’s principal underwriter to offer Class I shares solely when acting as an agent for the investor. An investor acquiring Class I shares through such platforms may be required to pay a commission and/or other forms of compensation to the broker. Class I shares also are offered to investment and institutional clients of Eaton Vance and its affiliates; certain persons affiliated with Eaton Vance and its affiliates; current and retired members of Eaton Vance Fund Boards; employees of Eaton Vance and its affiliates and such persons’ spouses, parents, siblings and lineal descendants and their beneficial accounts.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund21SAI dated April 1, 2021
Waiver of Investment Minimums. In addition to waivers described in the Prospectus, minimum investment amounts are waived for individual plan participants in an employer sponsored retirement plan; current and retired members of Eaton Vance Fund Boards; 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 to the Eaton Vance family of 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 and 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). Investments in a Fund by ReFlow in connection with the ReFlow liquidity program are also not subject to the minimum investment amount.
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 and 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 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. No CDSC or redemption fees, if applicable, will be imposed with respect to such involuntary redemptions.
As disclosed in the Prospectus, the Fund typically expects to meet redemption requests by (i) distributing any cash holdings, (ii) selling portfolio investments and/or (iii) borrowing from a bank under a line of credit. In addition to the foregoing, the Fund also may distribute securities as payment (a so-called “redemption in-kind”), in which case the redeeming shareholder may pay fees and commissions to convert the securities to cash. Unless requested by a shareholder, the Fund expects to limit use of redemption in-kind to stressed market conditions, but is permitted to do so in other circumstances. Any redemption in-kind would be made in accordance with policies adopted by the Fund, which allow the Fund to distribute securities pro rata or as selected by the investment adviser or sub-adviser.
The Fund participates with other funds managed by EVM and its affiliates, including CRM, in an $800 million unsecured line of credit agreement and may borrow amounts available thereunder for temporary purposes, such as meeting redemptions. See “Additional Information about Investment Strategies and Risks - Borrowing for Temporary Purposes” herein. The Fund also has exemptive relief to participate in an interfund lending program with other Eaton Vance funds. Such program is not operational as of the date of this SAI.
In connection with requests to re-issue uncashed checks representing redemption proceeds, the Fund reserves the right to require the redeeming shareholder to provide Medallion signature guaranteed wire instructions for delivery of redemption proceeds. Redemption proceeds represented by an uncashed check will not earn interest or other return during such time.
As noted above, the Fund may pay the redemption price of shares of the Fund, either totally or partially, by a distribution in-kind of securities. All requests for redemptions in-kind must be in good order. Provided the redemption request is received by the Fund not later than 12:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the day of the redemption, the Fund may in its discretion, if requested by a redeeming shareholder, provide the redeeming shareholders with an estimate of the securities to be distributed. Any difference between the redemption value of the distributed securities and the value of the Fund shares redeemed will be settled in cash. Securities distributed in a redemption in-kind would be valued pursuant to the Fund’s valuation procedures and selected by the investment adviser or sub-adviser. If a shareholder receives securities in a redemption in-kind, the shareholder could incur brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash and the value of such securities would be subject to price fluctuations until sold.
Pursuant to its Distribution Agreement with the Trust, the principal underwriter is authorized to repurchase shares offered for redemption to the Fund from time to time and the Fund is authorized to pay to the principal underwriter the purchase price for such repurchased shares, which shall be the net asset value next determined after the repurchase order, subject to any applicable CDSC payable to the principal underwriter.
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
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gains distributions in connection with withdrawal plan accounts will be credited at net asset value as of the ex-dividend 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 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 (without a sales charge) 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 A shares through a no-load network or platform; current and retired members of Eaton Vance Fund Boards; to clients (including custodial, agency, advisory and trust accounts) and current and former Directors, 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 HSAs (Health Savings Accounts) and to employer sponsored retirement plans and trusts used to fund those plans, (3) to officers and employees of the Fund’s custodian and transfer agent, (4) in connection with the ReFlow liquidity program and (5) direct purchases of shares by accounts where no financial intermediary is specified. Class A shares may also be sold at net asset value to registered representatives and employees of financial intermediaries. Class A shares are also offered at net asset value to shareholders who make a permitted direct transfer or roll-over to an Eaton Vance prototype individual retirement account (“IRA”) from an employer-sponsored retirement plan previously invested in Eaton Vance funds (applicable only to the portion previously invested in Eaton Vance funds), provided that sufficient documentation is provided to the transfer agent of such transfer or roll-over at the time of the account opening. 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. A financial intermediary may not, in accordance with its policies and procedures, offer one or more of the waiver categories described above and shareholders should consult their financial intermediary for more information.
CDSC Waiver. CDSCs will be waived in connection with redemptions from employer sponsored retirement plans or IRAs to satisfy required minimum distributions by applying the rate required to be withdrawn under the applicable rules and regulations of the IRS to the balance of shares in your account. CDSCs will also be waived in connection with returning excess contributions made to IRAs.
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
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shares will be redeemed in order to realize such difference. Shareholders will not receive a lower sales charge if 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. 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 Fund shares owned by the shareholder. The sales charge on the Fund 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 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.
Distribution Plans
The Trust has in effect a compensation-type Distribution Plan for Class A shares (the “Class A Plan”) adopted 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 Board believes 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. For sales commissions and CDSCs, 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 Board member 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 Board. 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 November 16, 2015. Any Board member 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.
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS AND RELATED INFORMATION
The Board 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 (www.eatonvance.com) and disclosure of certain portfolio characteristics. Pursuant to the Policies, information about portfolio holdings of the Fund may also be disclosed as follows:
·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
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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 S&P Global Ratings), analytical service providers engaged by the investment adviser (SS&C Advent, Bloomberg L.P., Evare, FactSet, McMunn Associates, Inc., MSCI/Barra and The Yield Book, Inc.), proxy evaluation vendors (Institutional Shareholder Services Inc.), pricing services (Refinitiv Evaluated Pricing Service, WM/Reuters Information Services and Non-Deliverable Forward Rates Service, IHS Markit, FT Interactive Data Corp., Securities Evaluations, Inc., SuperDerivatives and StatPro.), which receive information as needed to price a particular holding, translation services, third-party reconciliation 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. In addition to the foregoing, disclosure of portfolio holdings may be made to the Fund’s investment adviser as a seed investor in a fund, in order for the adviser or its parent to satisfy certain reporting obligations and reduce its exposure to market risk factors associated with any such seed investment. Also, in connection with a redemption in-kind, the redeeming shareholders 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.
·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.
The Policies may not be waived, or exception made, without the consent of the 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, sub-adviser, principal underwriter or other affiliated person. The CCO will report all waivers of or exceptions to the Policies to the Board at their next meeting. The Board 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. As used below, “the Fund” refers to the Fund(s) listed on the cover of this SAI, except as otherwise noted. The summary does not address all of the special tax rules applicable to certain classes of investors, such as individual retirement accounts and employer sponsored 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
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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. Based on advice of counsel, the Fund generally will not recognize gain or loss on its distribution of appreciated securities in shareholder-initiated redemptions of its shares. 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 qualified as a RIC for its most recent taxable year.
The Fund also seeks to avoid the imposition of a federal excise tax on its ordinary income and capital gain net income. 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 (or November 30 or December 31, if the Fund makes the election referred to above), 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 were not distributed 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 a partnership for Massachusetts and federal tax purposes), the Fund should not be liable for any applicable state income, corporate excise or franchise tax.
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) 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, provided, in both cases, the shareholder meets certain holding period and other requirements in respect of the Fund's shares. 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 net capital losses (or if there is no net capital loss, then any net long-term or short-term capital loss) realized after October and its late-year ordinary losses (generally, the sum of its (i) net ordinary loss from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of property, attributable to the portion of the taxable year after October 31, and its (ii) other net ordinary loss attributable to the portion of the taxable year after December 31) realized 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 (or December) may affect the tax character of shareholder distributions.
Taxation of the Portfolio. If the Fund invests its assets in the Portfolio, the Portfolio normally must satisfy the applicable source of income and asset diversification requirements under Subchapter M of the Code 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 allocable 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 losses, 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 a partnership 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. See the definition of “Subsidiary” under “Definitions” at the front of this SAI for information about whether any Fund and/or Portfolio (if applicable) described herein has established a Subsidiary. The Subsidiary is classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The Fund intends to take the position that income from its investments in the Subsidiary will constitute qualifying income for purposes of qualifying as a RIC. Under Treasury regulations, “subpart F income” (as defined below) included in the Fund’s annual income for U.S. federal income purposes will constitute qualifying income to the extent it is either (i) timely and currently repatriated or (ii) derived with respect to the Fund’s business of investing in stock, securities or currencies. If the Fund were to earn non-qualifying income from any source including the Subsidiary in excess of 10% of its gross income for any taxable year, it would fail to qualify as a RIC
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for that year, unless the Fund were eligible to cure and cured such failure by paying a Fund-level tax equal to the full amount of such excess.
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, and would 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. Distributions 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 below to “the Fund” are to any Fund or Portfolio that can engage in the particular practice as described in the prospectus or SAI.
Securities Acquired at Market Discount or with Original Issue Discount. Investment in securities acquired 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. Subject to the discussion below regarding Section 451 of the Code, (i) generally any gain recognized on the disposition of, and any partial payment of principal on, a debt security having market discount is treated as ordinary income to the extent the gain, or principal payment, does not exceed the “accrued market discount” on such debt security, (ii) alternatively, the Fund may elect to accrue market discount currently, in which case the Fund will be required to include the accrued market discount in the Fund's income (as ordinary income) and thus distribute it over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt security, and (iii) the rate at which the market discount accrues, and thus is included in the Fund's income, will depend upon which of the permitted accrual methods the Fund elects. Notwithstanding the foregoing, effective for taxable years beginning after 2017, Section 451 of the Code generally requires any accrual method taxpayer to take into account items of gross income no later than the time at which such items are taken into account as revenue in the taxpayer's financial statements. The Treasury Department and IRS have issued final regulations providing that Section 451 does not apply to accrued market discount. If Section 451 were to apply to the accrual of market discount, the Fund would be required to include in income any market discount as it takes the same into account on its financial statements.
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 on the obligations 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.
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.
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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 on the cover page of this SAI).
Tax Credit Bonds. If the Fund holds, directly or indirectly, one or more tax credit bonds issued on or before December 31, 2017 (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 investments 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. Unless an election is made, net section 1256 gain or loss on forward currency contracts will be treated as ordinary income or loss.
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 by the Fund 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.
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 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.
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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 has 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 the Fund level, shareholder level and, if applicable, Portfolio 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 or Portfolio, if applicable, must own a dividend-paying stock for more than 15 days during the 31-day period beginning 15 days prior to the ex-dividend date in order to pass through to shareholders a credit or deduction for any foreign withholding tax on a dividend paid with respect to such stock. 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 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. 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.
Distributions by the Fund to its shareholders that the Fund properly reports as “section 199A dividends,” as defined and subject to certain conditions described below, are treated as qualified REIT dividends in the hands of non-corporate shareholders. Non-corporate shareholders are permitted a federal income tax deduction equal to 20% of qualified REIT dividends received by them, subject to certain limitations. Very generally, a “section 199A dividend” is any dividend or portion thereof that is attributable to certain dividends received by a RIC from REITs, to the extent such dividends are properly reported as such by the RIC in a written notice to its shareholders. A section 199A dividend is treated as a qualified REIT dividend only if the shareholder receiving such dividend holds the dividend-paying RIC shares for at least 46 days of the 91-day period beginning 45 days before the shares become ex-dividend, and is not under an obligation to make related payments with respect to a position in substantially similar or related property. The Fund is permitted to report such part of its dividends as section 199A dividends as are eligible, but is not required to do so.
Subject to any future regulatory guidance to the contrary, any distribution of income attributable to qualified publicly traded partnership income from a Fund’s investment in a qualified publicly traded partnership will not qualify for the deduction that would be available to a non-corporate shareholder were the shareholder to own such qualified publicly traded partnership interest directly.
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 deflation, 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 net gains from investments held for more than one year and that are properly reported by the Fund as capital gain dividends are generally taxable as long-term capital gains. The IRS and the Department of Treasury have issued regulations that impose special rules in respect of capital gain dividends received through partnership interests constituting “applicable partnership interests” under Section 1061 of the Code. Taxes on distributions of capital gains are determined by how long the Fund or, if applicable, the Portfolio owned (or is treated as having 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. 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. A shareholder’s tax basis cannot go below zero and any return of capital in excess of a shareholder’s tax basis will be treated as capital gain.
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.
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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 distributions annually to facilitate shareholder tax reporting.
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 regular corporate tax rates. 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. The Fund is not required to, and there can be no assurance the Fund will, make this designation if it retains all or a portion of its net capital gain in a taxable year.
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.
Tax-Exempt Income. Distributions by the Fund of net tax-exempt interest income that are properly reported 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 for non-corporate taxpayers and for state and local purposes. Fund shareholders are required to report tax-exempt interest on their federal income tax returns.
Exempt-interest dividends 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 in proportion to the percentage that the Fund’s distributions of exempt-interest dividends bears to all of the Fund’s distributions, excluding properly reported capital gain dividends. 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 exempt-interest dividends and distributions 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 AMT, the federal “branch profits” tax, or the federal “excess net passive income” tax.
Qualified Dividend Income. “Qualified dividend income” received by an individual is generally taxed at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain. In order for a dividend received by Fund shareholders to be qualified dividend income, the Fund or, if applicable, the Portfolio must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to the dividend-paying stock 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 (at either the Fund or shareholder level) (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 income for purposes of the limitation on deductibility of 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 PFIC. Payments in lieu of dividends, such as payments pursuant to securities lending arrangements, also do not qualify to be treated as qualified dividend income. In general, distributions of investment income properly 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 (excluding net long-term
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capital gain over net short-term capital loss), 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 (more than 90 days in the case of certain preferred stock) during the 91-day period beginning 45 days before the ex-dividend date (during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date in the case of certain preferred stock) 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. Payments in lieu of dividends, such as payments pursuant to securities lending arrangements, also do not qualify for the DRD.
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 income taxable as UBTI for those shareholders who would otherwise be tax-exempt such as individual retirement accounts, employer sponsored retirement 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 certain tax treaty countries; and (4) cause the Fund to be subject to tax if certain “disqualified organizations” as defined by the Code are Fund shareholders.
Sale, Redemption or Exchange of Fund Shares. Generally, upon the sale, redemption or (if permitted) exchange of Fund shares, a shareholder will realize a taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized and the shareholder’s basis in the 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 generally 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 other disposition 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 Fund distributions treated as long-term capital gain with respect to such shares. In addition, all or a portion of a loss realized on a sale 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 date of sale or other disposition 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. See the prospectus for information regarding any permitted exchange of Fund shares.
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 net investment 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, among other things, 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.
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). 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.
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Taxation of Foreign Shareholders. In general, dividends (other than capital gain dividends, interest-related 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 an IRS 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 an 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, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, 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, capital gain dividends, interest-related dividends, exempt-interest dividends and amounts retained by the Fund that are reported as undistributed capital gains.
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 net 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 would need to comply with applicable certification requirements relating to its non-U.S. status (including, in general, furnishing an IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, or substitute Form). In the case of shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary could withhold even if the Fund designates 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.
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 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% (or lower applicable treaty rate) 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 21% withholding tax and could subject the foreign shareholder to U.S. filing requirements. The rules described in this paragraph, other than the withholding rules, will apply notwithstanding the Fund’s participation or a foreign shareholder’s participation in a wash sale transaction or the payment of a substitute dividend.
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 could be subject to the 21% withholding tax and U.S. filing requirements unless the foreign person had not held more than 5% of the Fund’s outstanding shares at any time during the one year period ending on the date of the redemption.
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.
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), 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 be equal to the fair market value of such interests over the Fund’s adjusted basis 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.
Shares of the Fund held by a non-U.S. shareholder at death will be considered situated within the United States and subject to the U.S. estate tax.
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Compliance with FATCA. A 30% withholding tax is imposed on U.S.-source dividends, interest and other income items, including those paid by the Fund, paid to (i) foreign financial institutions including non-U.S. investment funds unless they agree to collect and disclose to the IRS information regarding their direct and indirect U.S. account holders and (ii) certain other foreign entities, unless they certify certain information regarding their direct and indirect U.S. owners. If a payment by the Fund is subject to withholding under FATCA, the Fund is required to withhold even if such payment would otherwise be exempt from withholding under the rules applicable to foreign shareholders described above (e.g., dividends attributable to qualified net interest income and dividends attributable to tax-exempt interest income). The IRS and the Department of Treasury have issued proposed regulations providing that these withholding rules will not be applicable to the gross proceeds of share redemptions or capital gain dividends the Funds pays. To avoid withholding, foreign financial institutions will need to either enter into agreements with the IRS that state that they will provide the IRS information, including the names, addresses and taxpayer identification numbers of direct and indirect U.S. account holders, comply with due diligence procedures with respect to the identification of U.S. accounts, report to the IRS certain information with respect to U.S. accounts maintained, agree to withhold tax on certain payments made to non-compliant foreign financial institutions or to account holders who fail to provide the required information, and determine certain other information as to their account holders or, in the event that an applicable intergovernmental agreement and implementing legislation are adopted, agree to provide certain information to other revenue authorities for transmittal to the IRS. Other foreign entities will need to either provide the name, address, and taxpayer identification number of each substantial U.S. owner or certifications of no substantial U.S. ownership unless certain exceptions apply or agree to provide certain information to other revenue authorities for transmittal to the IRS. 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 at least $2 million in any single taxable year or $4 million in any combination of taxable years for an individual shareholder or at least $10 million in any single taxable year or $20 million in any combination of taxable years 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.
Tax Treatment of Variable Annuity/Variable Life Insurance Funding Vehicles. Special rules apply to insurance company separate accounts and the Funds (the “Variable Funds”) in which such insurance company separate accounts invest. For federal income tax purposes, the insurance company separate accounts that invest in a Variable Fund will be treated as receiving the income from the Variable Fund’s distributions to such accounts, and holders of variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies (together, “Variable Contracts”) generally will not be taxed currently on income or gains realized with respect to such contracts, provided that certain diversification and “investor control” requirements are met. In order for owners of Variable Contracts to receive such favorable tax treatment, diversification requirements in Section 817(h) of the Code (“Section 817(h)”) must be satisfied. To determine whether such diversification requirements are satisfied, an insurance company that offers Variable Contracts generally may “look through” to the assets of a RIC in which it owns shares (the “Underlying Fund”) if, among other requirements, (1) all the shares of the Underlying Fund are held by segregated asset accounts of insurance companies and (2) public access to such shares is only available through the purchase of a variable contract, in each case subject to certain limited exceptions. This provision permits a segregated asset account to invest all of its assets in shares of a single Underlying Fund without being considered nondiversified, provided that the Underlying Fund meets the Section 817(h) diversification requirements. This “look through” treatment typically increases the diversification of the account, because a portion of each of the assets of the Underlying Fund is considered to be held by the segregated asset account. Because each Variable Fund expects that this look-through rule will apply in determining whether the Section 817(h) diversification requirements are satisfied with respect to the variable contracts invested in the insurance company separate accounts that own shares in the Underlying Fund, each Variable Fund intends to comply with the Section 817(h) diversification requirements. If a Variable Fund failed to qualify as a RIC, the insurance company separate accounts investing in the Variable Fund would no longer be permitted to look through to the Variable Fund’s investments and, thus, would likely fail to satisfy the Section 817(h) diversification requirements.
A Variable Fund can generally satisfy the Section 817(h) diversification requirements in one of two ways. First, the requirements will be satisfied if each Variable Fund invests not more than 55 percent of the total value of its assets in the securities of a single issuer; not more than 70 percent of the value of its total assets in the securities of any two issuers; not more than 80 percent of the value of its total assets in the securities of any three issuers; and not more than 90 percent of the value of its total assets in the securities of any four issuers. Alternatively, the diversification requirements will be satisfied with respect to Variable Fund shares owned by insurance companies as investments for variable contracts if (i) no more than 55 percent of the value of the Variable Fund’s total assets consists of cash, cash items (including receivables), U.S. Government securities, and securities of other RICs, and (ii) the Variable Fund satisfies the
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additional diversification requirements for qualification as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code discussed above. For purposes of the Section 817(h) diversification rule, all securities of the same issuer are considered a single investment. In the case of government securities, each United States government agency or instrumentality is generally treated as a separate issuer. In addition, to the extent any security is guaranteed or insured by the U.S. or an instrumentality of the U.S., it will be treated as having been issued by the U.S. or the instrumentality, as applicable.
A Variable Fund will be considered to be in compliance with the Section 817(h) diversification requirements if it is adequately diversified on the last day of each calendar quarter. A Variable Fund that meets the diversification requirements as of the close of a calendar quarter will not be considered nondiversified in a subsequent quarter because of a discrepancy between the value of its assets and the diversification requirements unless the discrepancy exists immediately after the acquisition of any asset and is attributable, in whole or in part, to such acquisition.
If the segregated asset account investing in the Variable Fund is not adequately diversified at the required time and the correction procedure described below is not available, a Variable Contract based on the account during the specified time will not be treated as an annuity or life insurance contract within the meaning of the Code and all income accrued on the Variable Contract for the current and all prior taxable years will be subject to current federal taxation at ordinary income rates to the holders of such contracts. The Variable Contract will also remain subject to current taxation for all subsequent tax periods regardless of whether the Fund or separate account becomes adequately diversified in future periods.
In certain circumstances, an inadvertent failure to satisfy the Section 817(h) diversification requirements can be corrected, but generally will require the payment of a penalty to the IRS. The amount of such penalty will be based on the tax the contract holders would have incurred if they were treated as receiving the income on the contract for the period during which the diversification requirements were not satisfied. Any such failure also could result in adverse tax consequences for the insurance company issuing the contracts.
In addition to the Section 817(h) diversification requirements, “investor control” limitations also are imposed on owners of Variable Contracts. The IRS has issued rulings addressing the circumstances in which a Variable Contract holder’s control of the investments of the insurance company separate account may cause the holder, rather than the insurance company, to be treated as the owner of the assets held by the separate account. If the holder is considered the owner of the securities underlying the separate account, income, and gains produced by those securities would be included currently in the holder’s gross income. In determining whether an impermissible level of investor control is present, one factor the IRS considers is whether a Variable Fund’s investment strategies are sufficiently broad to prevent a Variable Contract holder from being deemed to be making particular investment decisions through its investment in the separate account. For this purpose, current IRS guidance indicates that typical fund investment strategies, even those with a specific sector or geographical focus, are generally considered sufficiently broad. Most, although not necessarily all, of the Variable Funds have objectives and strategies that are not materially narrower than the investment strategies held not to constitute an impermissible level of investor control in recent IRS rulings (such as large company stocks, international stocks, small company stocks, mortgage-backed securities, money market securities, telecommunications stocks, and financial services stocks).
The above discussion addresses only one of several factors that the IRS considers in determining whether a Variable Contract holder has an impermissible level of investor control over a separate account. Variable Contract holders should consult with their own tax advisors, as well as the prospectus relating to their particular Variable Contract, for more information concerning this investor control issue.
In the event that there is a legislative change or the IRS or Treasury Department issues rulings, regulations, or other guidance, there can be no assurance that a Variable Fund will be able to operate as currently described, or that a Variable Fund will not have to change its investment objective or investment policies. While a Variable Fund’s investment objective is fundamental and may be changed only by a vote of a majority of its outstanding shares, the investment policies of the Variable Funds may be modified as necessary to prevent any prospective rulings, regulations, or legislative change from causing Variable Contract owners to be considered the owners of the shares of a Variable Fund.
For a discussion of the tax consequences to owners of Variable Contracts of Variable Fund distributions to insurance company separate accounts, please see the prospectus provided by the insurance company for your Variable Contract. Because of the unique tax status of Variable Contracts, you also should consult your tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of owning Variable Contracts under the federal, state, and local tax rules that apply to you.
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 International Small-Cap Fund35SAI dated April 1, 2021
PORTFOLIO SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS
Decisions concerning the execution of portfolio security transactions, including the selection of the market and the broker-dealer firm, or other financial intermediary (each an “intermediary”), 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 intermediaries. The investment adviser uses its best efforts to obtain execution of portfolio security transactions at prices that 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, which may include, without limitation, the full range and quality of the intermediary’s services, responsiveness of the intermediary 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 intermediary, the reputation, reliability, experience and financial condition of the intermediary, the value and quality of the services rendered by the intermediary 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 and is otherwise in compliance with applicable law. The investment adviser may engage in portfolio transactions with an intermediary that sells shares of Eaton Vance funds, provided such transactions are not directed to that intermediary as compensation for the promotion or sale of such shares.
As described in the Prospectus, following the closing of the Transaction on March 1, 2021, the investment adviser became an “affiliated person,” as defined in the 1940 Act, of Morgan Stanley and its affiliates, including certain intermediaries (as previously defined). As a result, the investment adviser is subject to certain restrictions regarding transactions with Morgan Stanley-affiliated intermediaries, as set forth in the 1940 Act. Under certain circumstances, such restrictions may limit the investment adviser’s ability to place portfolio transactions on behalf of the Fund at the desired time or price. Any transaction the investment adviser enters into with a Morgan Stanley-affiliated intermediary on behalf of the Fund will be done in compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations; will be subject to any restrictions contained in the Fund’s investment advisory agreement; will be subject to the investment adviser’s duty to seek best execution; and, will comply with any applicable policies and procedures of the investment adviser, as described below.
Subject to the overriding objective of obtaining the best execution of orders and applicable rules and regulations, as described above, the Fund may use an affiliated intermediary, including a Morgan Stanley-affiliated intermediary, to effect Fund portfolio transactions, including transactions in futures contracts and options on futures contracts, under procedures adopted by the Board. In order to use such affiliated intermediaries, the Fund’s Board must approve and periodically review procedures reasonably designed to ensure that commission rates and other remuneration paid to the affiliated intermediaries are fair and reasonable in comparison to those of other intermediaries for comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold during a comparable time period.
Pursuant to an order issued by the SEC, the Fund is permitted to engage in principal transactions in money market instruments, subject to certain conditions, with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, a broker-dealer affiliated with Morgan Stanley. Since March 1, 2021, the Fund did not effect any principal transactions with any broker-dealer affiliated with Morgan Stanley.
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 intermediaries and banks acting for their own account rather than as brokers. Such intermediaries 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 transacted 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 intermediaries 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 as permitted by applicable law.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund36SAI dated April 1, 2021
Pursuant to the safe harbor provided in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Section 28(e)”) and to the extent permitted by other applicable law, 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) and other applicable law. 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, to the extent permitted by applicable law. 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, to the extent permitted by applicable law, 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, when permitted under applicable law.
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.” Except for trades executed in jurisdictions where such consideration is not permissible, 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. In jurisdictions where permissible, 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 may enter into CCA arrangements with a number of broker-dealers and other firms, including certain affiliates of the investment adviser. The investment adviser will only enter into and utilize CCAs to the extent permitted by Section 28(e) and other applicable law.
Fund trades executed by an affiliate of the investment adviser licensed in the United Kingdom may implicate laws of the United Kingdom, including rules of the UK Financial Conduct Authority, which govern client trading commissions and Research Services (“UK Law”). Broadly speaking, under UK Law the investment adviser may not accept any good or service when executing an order unless that good or service either is directly related to the execution of trades on behalf of its clients/customers or amounts to the provision of substantive research (as defined under UK Law). These requirements may also apply with respect to orders in connection with which the investment adviser receives goods and services under a CCA or other bundled brokerage arrangement. Fund trades may also implicate UK Law requiring the investment adviser to direct any research portion of a brokerage commission to an account controlled by the investment adviser.
The investment companies sponsored by the investment adviser or certain of 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 members of the Board of such companies to fulfill their
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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 certain of 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 members of the Board that the benefits from the investment adviser organization outweigh any disadvantage that may arise from exposure to simultaneous transactions.
The following table shows brokerage commissions paid during the fiscal years ended November 30, 2020, November 30, 2019 and November 30, 2018, as well as the amount of Fund security transactions for the most recent fiscal year (if any) that were directed to firms that provided some Research Services to the investment adviser or its affiliates (see above), and the commissions paid in connection therewith. The Fund did not pay any brokerage commissions to affiliated brokers during the past three fiscal years.
The following table shows brokerage commissions paid to broker-dealers affiliated with Morgan Stanley (“Morgan Stanley affiliated broker-dealers”) during the fiscal years ended November 30, 2020, November 30, 2019 and November 30, 2018, as well as the percentage of aggregate brokerage commissions paid to Morgan Stanley affiliated broker-dealers and the percentage of total brokered transactions effected through Morgan Stanley affiliated broker-dealers for the most recent fiscal year.
Fiscal Year End |
Brokerage Commissions
|
Percentage of Aggregate
|
Percentage of Total
|
November 30, 2020 |
$958 |
2% |
1% |
November 30, 2019 |
$1,432 |
|
|
November 30, 2018 |
$529 |
|
|
During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2020, the Fund held no securities of its “regular brokers or dealers,” as that term is defined in Rule 10b-1 of the 1940 Act.
POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
As a diversified global financial services firm, Morgan Stanley engages in a broad spectrum of activities, including financial advisory services, investment management activities, lending, commercial banking, sponsoring and managing private investment funds, engaging in broker-dealer transactions and principal securities, commodities and foreign exchange transactions, research publication and other activities. In the ordinary course of its business, Morgan Stanley is a full-service investment banking and financial services firm and therefore engages in activities where Morgan Stanley’s interests or the interests of its clients may conflict with the interests of a Fund or Portfolio, if applicable, (collectively for the purposes of this section, “Fund” or “Funds”). Morgan Stanley advises clients and sponsors, manages or advises other investment funds and investment programs, accounts and businesses (collectively, together with the Funds, any new or successor funds, programs, accounts or businesses, the ‘‘Affiliated Investment Accounts’’) with a wide variety of investment objectives that in some instances may overlap or conflict with a Fund’s investment objectives and present conflicts of interest. In addition, Morgan Stanley may also from time to time create new or successor Affiliated Investment Accounts that may compete with a Fund and present similar conflicts of interest. The discussion below enumerates
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund38SAI dated April 1, 2021
certain actual, apparent and potential conflicts of interest. There is no assurance that conflicts of interest will be resolved in favor of Fund shareholders and, in fact, they may not be. Conflicts of interest not described below may also exist.
Material Non-public and Other Information. It is expected that confidential or material non-public information regarding an investment or potential investment opportunity may become available to the investment adviser. If such information becomes available, the investment adviser may be precluded (including by applicable law or internal policies or procedures) from pursuing an investment or disposition opportunity with respect to such investment or investment opportunity.
The investment adviser may also from time to time be subject to contractual ‘‘stand-still’’ obligations and/or confidentiality obligations that may restrict its ability to trade in certain investments on a Fund’s behalf. In addition, the investment adviser may be precluded from disclosing such information to an investment team, even in circumstances in which the information would be beneficial if disclosed. Therefore, the investment team may not be provided access to material non-public information in the possession of Morgan Stanley that might be relevant to an investment decision to be made on behalf of a Fund, and the investment team may initiate a transaction or sell an investment that, if such information had been known to it, may not have been undertaken. In addition, certain members of the investment team may be recused from certain investment-related discussions so that such members do not receive information that would limit their ability to perform functions of their employment with the investment adviser or its affiliates unrelated to that of a Fund. Furthermore, access to certain parts of Morgan Stanley may be subject to third party confidentiality obligations and to information barriers established by Morgan Stanley in order to manage potential conflicts of interest and regulatory restrictions, including without limitation joint transaction restrictions pursuant to the 1940 Act. Accordingly, the investment adviser’s ability to source investments from other business units within Morgan Stanley may be limited and there can be no assurance that the investment adviser will be able to source any investments from any one or more parts of the Morgan Stanley network.
The investment adviser may restrict its investment decisions and activities on behalf of the Funds in various circumstances, including because of applicable regulatory requirements or information held by the investment adviser or Morgan Stanley. The investment adviser might not engage in transactions or other activities for, or enforce certain rights in favor of, a Fund due to Morgan Stanley’s activities outside the Funds. In instances where trading of an investment is restricted, the investment adviser may not be able to purchase or sell such investment on behalf of a Fund, resulting in the Fund’s inability to participate in certain desirable transactions. This inability to buy or sell an investment could have an adverse effect on a Fund’s portfolio due to, among other things, changes in an investment’s value during the period its trading is restricted. Also, in situations where the investment adviser is required to aggregate its positions with those of other Morgan Stanley business units for position limit calculations, the investment adviser may have to refrain from making investments due to the positions held by other Morgan Stanley business units or their clients. There may be other situations where the investment adviser refrains from making an investment due to additional disclosure obligations, regulatory requirements, policies, and reputational risk, or the investment adviser may limit purchases or sales of securities in respect of which Morgan Stanley is engaged in an underwriting or other distribution capacity.
Morgan Stanley has established certain information barriers and other policies to address the sharing of information between different businesses within Morgan Stanley. As a result of information barriers, the investment adviser generally will not have access, or will have limited access, to certain information and personnel in other areas of Morgan Stanley relating to business transactions for clients (including transactions in investing, banking, prime brokerage and certain other areas), and generally will not manage the Funds with the benefit of the information held by such other areas. Morgan Stanley, due to its access to and knowledge of funds, markets and securities based on its prime brokerage and other businesses, may make decisions based on information or take (or refrain from taking) actions with respect to interests in investments of the kind held (directly or indirectly) by the Funds in a manner that may be adverse to the Funds, and will not have any obligation or other duty to share information with the investment adviser.
In limited circumstances, however, including for purposes of managing business and reputational risk, and subject to policies and procedures, Morgan Stanley personnel, including personnel of the investment adviser, on one side of an information barrier may have access to information and personnel on the other side of the information barrier through “wall crossings.” The investment adviser faces conflicts of interest in determining whether to engage in such wall crossings. Information obtained in connection with such wall crossings may limit or restrict the ability of the investment adviser to engage in or otherwise effect transactions on behalf of the Funds (including purchasing or selling securities that the investment adviser may otherwise have purchased or sold for a Fund in the absence of a wall crossing). In managing conflicts of interest that arise because of the foregoing, the investment adviser generally will be subject to fiduciary requirements. The investment adviser may also implement internal information barriers or ethical walls, and the conflicts described herein with respect to information barriers and otherwise with respect to Morgan Stanley and the investment adviser will also apply internally within the investment adviser. As a result, a Fund may not be permitted to transact in (e.g., dispose of a security in whole or in part) during periods when it otherwise would have been able to do so, which could adversely affect a Fund. Other investors in the security that are not subject to such restrictions may be able to transact in the security during such periods. There may also be circumstances in which, as a result of information held by
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund39SAI dated April 1, 2021
certain portfolio management teams in the investment adviser, the investment adviser limits an activity or transaction for a Fund, including if the Fund is managed by a portfolio management team other than the team holding such information.
Investments by Morgan Stanley and its Affiliated Investment Accounts. In serving in multiple capacities to Affiliated Investment Accounts, Morgan Stanley, including the investment adviser and its investment teams, may have obligations to other clients or investors in Affiliated Investment Accounts, the fulfillment of which may not be in the best interests of a Fund or its shareholders. A Fund’s investment objectives may overlap with the investment objectives of certain Affiliated Investment Accounts. As a result, the members of an investment team may face conflicts in the allocation of suitable investment opportunities among a Fund and other investment funds, programs, accounts and businesses advised by or affiliated with the investment adviser. Certain Affiliated Investment Accounts may provide for higher management or incentive fees or greater expense reimbursements or overhead allocations, all of which may contribute to this conflict of interest and create an incentive for the investment adviser to favor such other accounts.
Morgan Stanley currently invests and plans to continue to invest on its own behalf and on behalf of its Affiliated Investment Accounts in a wide variety of investment opportunities globally. Morgan Stanley and its Affiliated Investment Accounts, to the extent consistent with applicable law and policies and procedures, will be permitted to invest in investment opportunities without making such opportunities available to a Fund beforehand. Subject to the foregoing, Morgan Stanley may offer investments that fall into the investment objectives of an Affiliated Investment Account to such account or make such investment on its own behalf, even though such investment also falls within a Fund’s investment objectives. A Fund may invest in opportunities that Morgan Stanley and/or one or more Affiliated Investment Accounts has declined, and vice versa. All of the foregoing may reduce the number of investment opportunities available to a Fund and may create conflicts of interest in allocating investment opportunities. Investors should note that the conflicts inherent in making such allocation decisions may not always be resolved to a Fund’s advantage. There can be no assurance that a Fund will have an opportunity to participate in certain opportunities that fall within their investment objectives.
To seek to reduce potential conflicts of interest and to attempt to allocate such investment opportunities in a fair and equitable manner, the investment adviser has implemented allocation policies and procedures. These policies and procedures are intended to give all clients of the investment adviser, including the Funds, fair access to investment opportunities consistent with the requirements of organizational documents, investment strategies, applicable laws and regulations, and the fiduciary duties of the investment adviser. Each client of the investment adviser that is subject to the allocation policies and procedures, including each Fund, is assigned an investment team and portfolio manager(s) by the investment adviser. The investment team and portfolio managers review investment opportunities and will decide with respect to the allocation of each opportunity considering various factors and in accordance with the allocation policies and procedures. The allocation policies and procedures are subject to change. Investors should note that the conflicts inherent in making such allocation decisions may not always be resolved to the advantage of a Fund.
It is possible that Morgan Stanley or an Affiliated Investment Account, including another Eaton Vance fund, will invest in or advise a company that is or becomes a competitor of a company of which a Fund holds an investment. Such investment could create a conflict between the Fund, on the one hand, and Morgan Stanley or the Affiliated Investment Account, on the other hand. In such a situation, Morgan Stanley may also have a conflict in the allocation of its own resources to the portfolio investment. Furthermore, certain Affiliated Investment Accounts will be focused primarily on investing in other funds which may have strategies that overlap and/or directly conflict and compete with a Fund.
In addition, certain investment professionals who are involved in a Fund’s activities remain responsible for the investment activities of other Affiliated Investment Accounts managed by the investment adviser and its affiliates, and they will devote time to the management of such investments and other newly created Affiliated Investment Accounts (whether in the form of funds, separate accounts or other vehicles), as well as their own investments. In addition, in connection with the management of investments for other Affiliated Investment Accounts, members of Morgan Stanley and its affiliates may serve on the boards of directors of or advise companies which may compete with a Fund’s portfolio investments. Moreover, these Affiliated Investment Accounts managed by Morgan Stanley and its affiliates may pursue investment opportunities that may also be suitable for a Fund.
It should be noted that Morgan Stanley may, directly or indirectly, make large investments in certain of its Affiliated Investment Accounts, and accordingly Morgan Stanley’s investment in a Fund may not be a determining factor in the outcome of any of the foregoing conflicts. Nothing herein restricts or in any way limits the activities of Morgan Stanley, including its ability to buy or sell interests in, or provide financing to, equity and/or debt instruments, funds or portfolio companies, for its own accounts or for the accounts of Affiliated Investment Accounts or other investment funds or clients in accordance with applicable law.
Different clients of the investment adviser, including a Fund, may invest in different classes of securities of the same issuer, depending on the respective clients’ investment objectives and policies. As a result, the investment adviser and its affiliates, at times, will seek to satisfy fiduciary obligations to certain clients owning one class of securities of a particular issuer by pursuing or enforcing rights on behalf of those clients with respect to such class of securities, and those activities may have an adverse effect on another client which owns a different class of securities of such issuer. For
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund40SAI dated April 1, 2021
example, if one client holds debt securities of an issuer and another client holds equity securities of the same issuer, if the issuer experiences financial or operational challenges, the investment adviser and its affiliates may seek a liquidation of the issuer on behalf of the client that holds the debt securities, whereas the client holding the equity securities may benefit from a reorganization of the issuer. Thus, in such situations, the actions taken by the investment adviser or its affiliates on behalf of one client can negatively impact securities held by another client. These conflicts also exist as between the investment adviser’s clients, including the Funds, and the Affiliated Investment Accounts managed by Morgan Stanley.
The investment adviser and its affiliates may give advice and recommend securities to other clients which may differ from advice given to, or securities recommended or bought for, a Fund even though such other clients’ investment objectives may be similar to those of the Fund.
The investment adviser and its affiliates manage long and short portfolios. The simultaneous management of long and short portfolios creates conflicts of interest in portfolio management and trading in that opposite directional positions may be taken in client accounts managed by the same investment team, and creates risks such as: (i) the risk that short sale activity could adversely affect the market value of long positions in one or more portfolios (and vice versa) and (ii) the risks associated with the trading desk receiving opposing orders in the same security simultaneously. The investment adviser and its affiliates have adopted policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to mitigate these conflicts. In certain circumstances, the investment adviser invest on behalf of itself in securities and other instruments that would be appropriate for, held by, or may fall within the investment guidelines of its clients, including a Fund. At times, the investment adviser will give advice or take action for its own accounts that differs from, conflicts with, or is adverse to advice given or action taken for any client.
From time to time, conflicts also arise due to the fact that certain securities or instruments maybe held in some client accounts, including a Fund, but not in others, or the client accounts may have different levels of holdings in certain securities or instruments, and because the accounts pay different levels of fees to the investment adviser. In addition, at times an investment adviser investment team will give advice or take action with respect to the investments of one or more clients that is not given or taken with respect to other clients with similar investment programs, objectives, and strategies. Accordingly, clients with similar strategies will not always hold the same securities or instruments or achieve the same performance. The investment adviser’s investment teams also advise clients with conflicting programs, objectives or strategies. These conflicts also exist as between the investment adviser’s clients, including the Funds, and the Affiliated Investment Accounts managed by Morgan Stanley.
The investment adviser maintains separate trading desks by investment team and generally based on asset class, including two trading desks trading equity securities. These trading desks operate independently of one another. The two equity trading desks do not share information. The separate equity trading desks may result in one desk competing against the other desk when implementing buy and sell transactions, possibly causing certain accounts to pay more or receive less for a security than other accounts. In addition, Morgan Stanley and its affiliates maintain separate trading desks that operate independently of each other and do not share information with the investment adviser. The Morgan Stanley and affiliate trading desks may compete against the investment adviser trading desks when implementing buy and sell transactions, possibly causing certain Affiliated Investment Accounts to pay more or receive less for a security than other Affiliated Investment Accounts.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries. The investment adviser and/or EVD may pay compensation, out of their own funds and not as an expense of the Funds, to certain financial intermediaries (which may include affiliates of the investment adviser and EVD), including recordkeepers and administrators of various deferred compensation plans, in connection with the sale, distribution, marketing and retention of shares of the Funds and/or shareholder servicing. For example, the investment adviser or EVD may pay additional compensation to a financial intermediary for, among other things, promoting the sale and distribution of Fund shares, providing access to various programs, mutual fund platforms or preferred or recommended mutual fund lists that may be offered by a financial intermediary, granting EVD access to a financial intermediary’s financial advisors and consultants, providing assistance in the ongoing education and training of a financial intermediary’s financial personnel, furnishing marketing support, maintaining share balances and/or for sub-accounting, recordkeeping, administrative, shareholder or transaction processing services. Such payments are in addition to any distribution fees, shareholder servicing fees and/or transfer agency fees that may be payable by the Funds. The additional payments may be based on various factors, including level of sales (based on gross or net sales or some specified minimum sales or some other similar criteria related to sales of the Funds and/or some or all other Eaton Vance funds), amount of assets invested by the financial intermediary’s customers (which could include current or aged assets of the Funds and/or some or all other Eaton Vance funds), a Fund’s advisory fee, some other agreed upon amount or other measures as determined from time to time by the investment adviser and/or EVD. The amount of these payments may be different for different financial intermediaries.
The prospect of receiving, or the receipt of, additional compensation, as described above, by financial intermediaries may provide such financial intermediaries and their financial advisors and other salespersons with an incentive to favor sales of shares of the Funds over other investment options with respect to which these financial intermediaries do not receive
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund41SAI dated April 1, 2021
additional compensation (or receives lower levels of additional compensation). These payment arrangements, however, will not change the price that an investor pays for shares of the Funds or the amount that the Funds receive to invest on behalf of an investor. Investors may wish to take such payment arrangements into account when considering and evaluating any recommendations relating to Fund shares and should review carefully any disclosures provided by financial intermediaries as to their compensation.
Morgan Stanley Trading and Principal Investing Activities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Morgan Stanley will generally conduct its sales and trading businesses, publish research and analysis, and render investment advice without regard for a Fund’s holdings, although these activities could have an adverse impact on the value of one or more of the Fund’s investments, or could cause Morgan Stanley to have an interest in one or more portfolio investments that is different from, and potentially adverse to that of a Fund. Furthermore, from time to time, the investment adviser or its affiliates may invest “seed” capital in a Fund, typically to enable the Fund to commence investment operations and/or achieve sufficient scale. The investment adviser and its affiliates may hedge such seed capital exposure by investing in derivatives or other instruments expected to produce offsetting exposure. Such hedging transactions, if any, would occur outside of a Fund.
Morgan Stanley’s sales and trading, financing and principal investing businesses (whether or not specifically identified as such, and including Morgan Stanley’s trading and principal investing businesses) will not be required to offer any investment opportunities to a Fund. These businesses may encompass, among other things, principal trading activities as well as principal investing.
Morgan Stanley’s sales and trading, financing and principal investing businesses have acquired or invested in, and in the future may acquire or invest in, minority and/or majority control positions in equity or debt instruments of diverse public and/or private companies. Such activities may put Morgan Stanley in a position to exercise contractual, voting or creditor rights, or management or other control with respect to securities or loans of portfolio investments or other issuers, and in these instances Morgan Stanley may, in its discretion and subject to applicable law, act to protect its own interests or interests of clients, and not a Fund’s interests.
Subject to the limitations of applicable law, a Fund may purchase from or sell assets to, or make investments in, companies in which Morgan Stanley has or may acquire an interest, including as an owner, creditor or counterparty.
Morgan Stanley’s Investment Banking Activities. Morgan Stanley advises clients on a variety of mergers, acquisitions, restructuring, bankruptcy and financing transactions. Morgan Stanley may act as an advisor to clients, including other investment funds that may compete with a Fund and with respect to investments that a Fund may hold. Morgan Stanley may give advice and take action with respect to any of its clients or proprietary accounts that may differ from the advice given, or may involve an action of a different timing or nature than the action taken, by a Fund. Morgan Stanley may give advice and provide recommendations to persons competing with a Fund and/or any of a Fund’s investments that are contrary to the Fund’s best interests and/or the best interests of any of its investments.
Morgan Stanley could be engaged in financial advising, whether on the buy-side or sell-side, or in financing or lending assignments that could result in Morgan Stanley’s determining in its discretion or being required to act exclusively on behalf of one or more third parties, which could limit a Fund’s ability to transact with respect to one or more existing or potential investments. Morgan Stanley may have relationships with third-party funds, companies or investors who may have invested in or may look to invest in portfolio companies, and there could be conflicts between a Fund’s best interests, on the one hand, and the interests of a Morgan Stanley client or counterparty, on the other hand.
To the extent that Morgan Stanley advises creditor or debtor companies in the financial restructuring of companies either prior to or after filing for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or similar laws in other jurisdictions, the investment adviser’s flexibility in making investments in such restructurings on a Fund’s behalf may be limited. Morgan Stanley could provide investment banking services to competitors of portfolio companies, as well as to private equity and/or private credit funds; such activities may present Morgan Stanley with a conflict of interest vis-a-vis a Fund’s investment and may also result in a conflict in respect of the allocation of investment banking resources to portfolio companies.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, Morgan Stanley may provide a broad range of financial services to companies in which a Fund invests, including strategic and financial advisory services, interim acquisition financing and other lending and underwriting or placement of securities, and Morgan Stanley generally will be paid fees (that may include warrants or other securities) for such services. Morgan Stanley will not share any of the foregoing interest, fees and other compensation received by it (including, for the avoidance of doubt, amounts received by the investment adviser) with a Fund, and any advisory fees payable will not be reduced thereby.
Morgan Stanley may be engaged to act as a financial advisor to a company in connection with the sale of such company, or subsidiaries or divisions thereof, may represent potential buyers of businesses through its mergers and acquisition activities and may provide lending and other related financing services in connection with such transactions. Morgan Stanley’s compensation for such activities is usually based upon realized consideration and is usually contingent, in
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund42SAI dated April 1, 2021
substantial part, upon the closing of the transaction. Under these circumstances, a Fund may be precluded from participating in a transaction with or relating to the company being sold or participating in any financing activity related to merger or acquisition.
To meet applicable regulatory requirements, there are periods when the investment adviser will not engage in certain types of transactions in the securities of companies for which a broker-dealer affiliated with Morgan Stanley is performing investment banking services. Fund shareholders will not receive notice of such instances. In particular, when a broker-dealer affiliated with Morgan Stanley is engaged in an underwriting or other distribution of securities of a company, the investment adviser may be prohibited from purchasing such securities on behalf of a Fund. In addition, under certain circumstances, the investment adviser generally will not initiate transactions in the securities of companies with respect to which affiliates of the investment adviser may have controlling interests or are affiliated.
The investment adviser believes that the nature and range of clients to whom Morgan Stanley and its subsidiaries render investment banking and other services is such that it would be inadvisable to exclude these companies from the Fund’s portfolio.
Morgan Stanley’s Marketing Activities. Morgan Stanley is engaged in the business of underwriting, syndicating, brokering, administering, servicing, arranging and advising on the distribution of a wide variety of securities and other investments in which a Fund may invest. Subject to the restrictions of the 1940 Act, including Sections 10(f) and 17(e) thereof, a Fund may invest in transactions in which Morgan Stanley acts as underwriter, placement agent, syndicator, broker, administrative agent, servicer, advisor, arranger or structuring agent and receives fees or other compensation from the sponsors of such products or securities. Any fees earned by Morgan Stanley in such capacity will not be shared with the investment adviser or the Funds. Certain conflicts of interest, in addition to the receipt of fees or other compensation, would be inherent in these transactions. Moreover, the interests of one of Morgan Stanley’s clients with respect to an issuer of securities in which a Fund has an investment may be adverse to the investment adviser’s or a Fund’s best interests. In conducting the foregoing activities, Morgan Stanley will be acting for its other clients and will have no obligation to act in the investment adviser’s or a Fund’s best interests.
Client Relationships. Morgan Stanley has existing and potential relationships with a significant number of corporations, institutions and individuals. In providing services to its clients, Morgan Stanley may face conflicts of interest with respect to activities recommended to or performed for such clients, on the one hand, and a Fund, its shareholders or the entities in which the Fund invests, on the other hand. In addition, these client relationships may present conflicts of interest in determining whether to offer certain investment opportunities to a Fund.
In acting as principal or in providing advisory and other services to its other clients, Morgan Stanley may engage in or recommend activities with respect to a particular matter that conflict with or are different from activities engaged in or recommended by the investment adviser on a Fund’s behalf.
Principal Investments. To the extent permitted by applicable law, there may be situations in which a Funds’ interests may conflict with the interests of one or more general accounts of Morgan Stanley and its affiliates or accounts managed by Morgan Stanley or its affiliates. This may occur because these accounts hold public and private debt and equity securities of many issuers which may be or become portfolio companies, or from whom portfolio companies may be acquired.
Transactions with Portfolio Companies of Affiliated Investment Accounts. The companies in which a Fund may invest may be counterparties to or participants in agreements, transactions or other arrangements with portfolio companies or other entities of portfolio investments of Affiliated Investment Accounts (for example, a company in which a Fund invests may retain a company in which an Affiliated Investment Account invests to provide services or may acquire an asset from such company or vice versa). Certain of these agreements, transactions and arrangements involve fees, servicing payments, rebates and/or other benefits to Morgan Stanley or its affiliates. For example, portfolio entities may, including at the encouragement of Morgan Stanley, enter into agreements regarding group procurement and/or vendor discounts. Morgan Stanley and its affiliates may also participate in these agreements and may realize better pricing or discounts as a result of the participation of portfolio entities. To the extent permitted by applicable law, certain of these agreements may provide for commissions or similar payments and/or discounts or rebates to be paid to a portfolio entity of an Affiliated Investment Account, and such payments or discounts or rebates may also be made directly to Morgan Stanley or its affiliates. Under these arrangements, a particular portfolio company or other entity may benefit to a greater degree than the other participants, and the funds, investment vehicles and accounts (which may or may not include a Fund) that own an interest in such entity will receive a greater relative benefit from the arrangements than the Eaton Vance funds, investment vehicles or accounts that do not own an interest therein. Fees and compensation received by portfolio companies of Affiliated Investment Accounts in relation to the foregoing will not be shared with a Fund or offset advisory fees payable.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund43SAI dated April 1, 2021
Investments in Portfolio Investments of Other Funds. To the extent permitted by applicable law, when a Fund invests in certain companies or other entities, other funds affiliated with the investment adviser may have made or may be making an investment in such companies or other entities. Other funds that have been or may be managed by the investment adviser may invest in the companies or other entities in which a Fund has made an investment. Under such circumstances, a Fund and such other funds may have conflicts of interest (e.g., over the terms, exit strategies and related matters, including the exercise of remedies of their respective investments). If the interests held by a Fund are different from (or take priority over) those held by such other funds, the investment adviser may be required to make a selection at the time of conflicts between the interests held by such other funds and the interests held by a Fund.
Allocation of Expenses. Expenses may be incurred that are attributable to a Fund and one or more other Affiliated Investment Accounts (including in connection with issuers in which a Fund and such other Affiliated Investment Accounts have overlapping investments). The allocation of such expenses among such entities raises potential conflicts of interest. The investment adviser and its affiliates intend to allocate such common expenses among a Fund and any such other Affiliated Investment Accounts on a pro rata basis or in such other manner as the investment adviser deems to be fair and equitable or in such other manner as may be required by applicable law.
Temporary Investments. To more efficiently invest short-term cash balances held by a Fund, the investment adviser may invest such balances on an overnight “sweep” basis in shares of one or more money market funds or other short-term vehicles. It is anticipated that the investment adviser to these money market funds or other short-term vehicles may be the investment adviser (or an affiliate) to the extent permitted by applicable law, including Rule 12d1-1 under the 1940 Act. The Funds currently invests in Eaton Vance Cash Reserves Fund, LLC (Cash Reserves Fund), an affiliated investment company managed by Eaton Vance, for this purpose. Eaton Vance does not currently receive a fee for advisory services provided to Cash Reserves Fund.
Transactions with Affiliates. The investment adviser and any investment sub-adviser might purchase securities from underwriters or placement agents in which a Morgan Stanley affiliate is a member of a syndicate or selling group, as a result of which an affiliate might benefit from the purchase through receipt of a fee or otherwise. Neither the investment adviser nor any investment sub-adviser will purchase securities on behalf of a Fund from an affiliate that is acting as a manager of a syndicate or selling group. Purchases by the investment adviser on behalf of a Fund from an affiliate acting as a placement agent must meet the requirements of applicable law. Furthermore, Morgan Stanley may face conflicts of interest when the Funds use service providers affiliated with Morgan Stanley because Morgan Stanley receives greater overall fees when they are used.
General Process for Potential Conflicts. All of the transactions described above involve the potential for conflicts of interest between the investment adviser, related persons of the investment adviser and/or their clients. The Advisers Act, the 1940 Act and ERISA impose certain requirements designed to decrease the possibility of conflicts of interest between an investment adviser and its clients. In some cases, transactions may be permitted subject to fulfillment of certain conditions. Certain other transactions may be prohibited. In addition, the investment adviser has instituted policies and procedures designed to prevent conflicts of interest from arising and, when they do arise, to ensure that it effects transactions for clients in a manner that is consistent with its fiduciary duty to its clients and in accordance with applicable law. The investment adviser seeks to ensure that potential or actual conflicts of interest are appropriately resolved taking into consideration the overriding best interests of the client.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The audited financial statements of, and the report of the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund appear in its annual report to shareholders and are incorporated by reference into this SAI. A copy of the annual report accompanies this SAI.
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.
The Trust incorporates by reference the audited financial information and the report of the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2020, as previously filed electronically with the SEC on January 26, 2021 (Accession No. 0001193125-21-017344 ).
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund44SAI dated April 1, 2021
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS
Asset Coverage |
To the extent required by SEC guidance, if a transaction creates a future obligation of the Fund to another party the Fund will: (1) cover the obligation by entering into an offsetting position or transaction; and/or (2) segregate cash and/or liquid securities with a value (together with any collateral posted with respect to the obligation) at least equal to the marked-to-market value of the obligation. Assets used as cover or segregated cannot be sold while the position(s) requiring coverage is open unless replaced with other appropriate assets. 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, certain options, forward commitments, futures contracts, when-issued securities, swap agreements and residual interest bonds. |
Asset-Backed Securities (“ABS”) |
ABS are collateralized by pools of automobile loans, educational loans, home equity loans, credit card receivables, equipment or automobile leases, commercial mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”), utilities receivables, secured or unsecured bonds issued by corporate or sovereign obligors, unsecured loans made to a variety of corporate commercial and industrial loan customers of one or more lending banks, or a combination of these bonds and loans. ABS are “pass through” securities, meaning that principal and interest payments made by the borrower on the underlying assets are passed through to the ABS holder. ABS are issued through special purpose vehicles that are bankruptcy remote from the issuer of the collateral. ABS are subject to interest rate risk and prepayment risk. Some ABS may receive prepayments that can change their effective maturities. Issuers of ABS may have limited ability to enforce the security interest in the underlying assets or may have no security in the underlying assets, and credit enhancements provided to support the securities, if any, may be inadequate to protect investors in the event of default. In addition, ABS may experience losses on the underlying assets as a result of certain rights provided to consumer debtors under federal and state law. The value of ABS may be affected by the factors described above and other factors, such as the availability of information concerning the pool and its structure, the creditworthiness of the servicing agent for the pool, the originator of the underlying assets or the entities providing credit enhancements and the ability of the servicer to service the underlying collateral. The value of ABS representing interests in a pool of utilities receivables may be adversely affected by changes in government regulations. While certain ABS may be insured as to the payment of principal and interest, this insurance does not protect the market value of such obligations or the Fund’s net asset value. The value of an insured security will be affected by the credit standing of its insurer. Collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”) and collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”) are types of ABS that are backed solely by a pool of other debt securities. CDOs and CLOs are typically issued in various classes with varying priorities. The risks of an investment in a CDO or CLO depend largely on the type of the collateral securities and the class of the CDO or CLO in which the Fund invests. In addition to interest rate, prepayment, default and other risks of ABS and fixed income securities, in general, CDOs and CLOs are subject to additional risks, including the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will not be adequate to make interest or other payments, the quality of the collateral may decline in value or default, the Fund may invest in CDOs or CLOs that are subordinate to other classes, and the complex structure may produce disputes with the issuer or unexpected investment results. The Fund's investment in CDOs and CLOs may decrease in market value if they experience loan defaults or credit impairment, the disappearance of a subordinate tranche or class of debt, or due to market anticipation of defaults and investor aversion to the securities as a class. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund45SAI dated April 1, 2021
Auction Rate Securities |
Auction rate securities, such as auction preferred shares of closed-end investment companies, are preferred securities and debt securities with dividends/coupons based on a rate set at auction. The auction is usually held weekly for each series of a security, but may be held less frequently. The auction sets the rate, and securities may be bought and sold at the auction. Provided that the auction mechanism is successful, auction rate securities normally permit the holder to sell the securities in an auction at par value at specified intervals. The dividend is reset by a “Dutch” auction in which bids are made by broker-dealers and other institutions for a certain amount of securities at a specified minimum yield. The dividend rate set by the auction is the lowest interest or dividend rate that covers all securities offered for sale. While this process is designed to permit auction rate securities to be traded at par value, there is the risk that an auction will fail due to insufficient demand for the securities. Security holders that submit sell orders in a failed auction may not be able to sell any or all of the shares for which they have submitted sell orders. Security holders may sell their shares at the next scheduled auction, subject to the same risk that the subsequent auction will not attract sufficient demand for a successful auction to occur. Broker-dealers may also try to facilitate secondary trading in the auction rate securities, although such secondary trading may be limited and may only be available for shareholders willing to sell at a discount. Since mid-February 2008, existing markets for certain auction rate securities have become generally illiquid and investors have not been able to sell their securities through the regular auction process. It is uncertain when or whether there will be a revival of investor interest in purchasing securities sold through auctions. There may be limited or no active secondary markets for many auction rate securities. Auction rate securities that do trade in a secondary market may trade at a significant discount from their liquidation preference. There have been a number of governmental investigations and regulatory settlements involving certain broker-dealers with respect to their prior activities involving auction rate securities. |
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Valuations of such securities is highly speculative, however, dividends on auction rate preferred securities issued by a closed-end fund may be reported, generally on Form 1099, as exempt from federal income tax to the extent they are attributable to tax-exempt interest income earned by the Fund on the securities and distributed to holders of the preferred securities, provided that the preferred securities are treated as equity securities for federal income tax purposes, and the closed-end fund complies with certain requirements under the Code. Investments in auction rate preferred securities of closed-end funds are subject to limitations on investments in other U.S. registered investment companies, which limitations are prescribed by the 1940 Act. |
Average Effective Maturity |
Average effective maturity is a weighted average of all the maturities of bonds owned by the Fund. Average effective maturity takes into consideration all mortgage payments, puts and adjustable coupons. In the event the Fund invests in multiple Portfolios, its average weighted maturity is the sum of its allocable share of the average weighted maturity of each of the Portfolios in which it invests, which is determined by multiplying the Portfolio’s average weighted maturity by the Fund’s percentage ownership of that Portfolio. |
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 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 magnify 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 1940 Act 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. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund46SAI dated April 1, 2021
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 to settle transactions). The Fund’s ability to borrow is subject to its terms and conditions of its credit arrangements, which in some cases may limit the Fund’s ability to borrow under the arrangement. The Fund will be required to maintain a specified level of asset coverage with respect to all borrowings and may be required to sell some of its holdings to reduce debt and restore coverage at times when it may not be advantageous to do so. The rights of the lender to receive payments of interest and repayments of principal of any borrowings made by the Fund under a credit arrangement are senior to the rights of holders of shares with respect to the payment of dividends or upon liquidation. In the event of a default under a credit arrangement, the lenders may have the right to cause a liquidation of the collateral (i.e., sell Fund assets) and, if any such default is not cured, the lenders may be able to control the liquidation as well. Credit arrangements are subject to 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. Because the Fund is a party to a joint credit arrangement, it may be unable to borrow some or all of its requested amounts at any particular time. Borrowings involve additional expense to the Fund. |
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. |
Call and Put Features on Securities |
Issuers of securities may reserve the right to call (redeem) the securities. If an issuer redeems a security with a call right during a time of declining interest rates, the holder of the security may not be able to reinvest the proceeds in securities providing the same investment return as provided by the securities redeemed. Some securities may have “put” or “demand” features that allow early redemption by the holder. Longer term fixed-rate securities 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 a security’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 security would be subject to the longer maturity of the security, which could experience substantially more volatility. Securities with a “put” or “demand” feature are more defensive than conventional long term securities (protecting to some degree against a rise in interest rates) while providing greater opportunity than comparable intermediate term securities, because they can be retained if interest rates decline. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund47SAI dated April 1, 2021
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 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 CMOs 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 as 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. |
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. |
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 International Small-Cap Fund48SAI dated April 1, 2021
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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 that 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. |
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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. |
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. |
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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. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund49SAI dated April 1, 2021
Contingent Convertible Securities |
Contingent convertible securities (sometimes referred to as “CoCos”) are convertible securities with loss absorption characteristics. These securities provide for mandatory conversion into common stock of the issuer under certain circumstances. The mandatory conversion may be automatically triggered, for instance, if a company fails to meet the capital minimum with respect to the security, the company’s regulator makes a determination that the security should convert or the company receives specified levels of extraordinary public support. Since the common stock of the issuer may not pay a dividend, investors in these instruments could experience a reduced income rate, potentially to zero; and conversion would deepen the subordination of the investor, hence worsening standing in a bankruptcy. In addition, some such instruments have a set stock conversion rate that would cause an automatic write-down of capital if the price of the stock is below the conversion price on the conversion date. Under similar circumstances, the liquidation value of certain types of contingent convertible securities may be adjusted downward to below the original par value. The write down of the par value would occur automatically and would not entitle the holders to seek bankruptcy of the company. In certain circumstances, contingent convertible securities may write down to zero and investors could lose the entire value of the investment, even as the issuer remains in business. CoCos may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a predetermined price. See also “Hybrid Securities.” |
Convertible Securities |
A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, preferred security, 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 or the dividend paid on such security 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 convertible security ranks senior to common stock in a corporation’s capital structure but is 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 convertible security may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in the convertible security’s governing instrument. |
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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 securities are issued, which may increase the effects of currency risk. |
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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 securities to be redeemed by the issuer at a premium over the stated principal amount of the debt securities under certain circumstances. Certain convertible securities may include loss absorption characteristics that make the securities more equity-like. This is particularly true of convertible securities issued by companies in the financial services sector. See “Contingent Convertible Securities.” |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund50SAI dated April 1, 2021
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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. Manufactured 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. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund51SAI dated April 1, 2021
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 reference instrument (in this case a 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 reference instrument. 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. |
Cybersecurity Risk |
With the increased use of technologies by Fund service providers to conduct business, such as the Internet, the Fund is susceptible to operational, information security and related risks. The Fund relies on communications technology, systems, and networks to engage with clients, employees, accounts, shareholders, and service providers, and a cyber incident may inhibit the Fund’s ability to use these technologies. In general, cyber incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. Cyber attacks include, but are not limited to, gaining unauthorized access to digital systems (e.g., through “hacking” or malicious software coding) for purposes of misappropriating assets or sensitive information, corrupting data, or causing operational disruption. Cyber attacks may also be carried out in a manner that does not require gaining unauthorized access, such as causing denial-of-service attacks on websites. A denial-of-service attack is an effort to make network services unavailable to intended users, which could cause shareholders to lose access to their electronic accounts, potentially indefinitely. Employees and service providers also may not be able to access electronic systems to perform critical duties for the Fund, such as trading and NAV calculation, during a denial-of-service attack. There is also the possibility for systems failures due to malfunctions, user error and misconduct by employees and agents, natural disasters, or other foreseeable and unforeseeable events. Because technology is consistently changing, new ways to carry out cyber attacks are always developing. Therefore, there is a chance that some risks have not been identified or prepared for, or that an attack may not be detected, which puts limitations on the Fund's ability to plan for or respond to a cyber attack. Like other funds and business enterprises, the Fund and its service providers have experienced, and will continue to experience, cyber incidents consistently. In addition to deliberate cyber attacks, unintentional cyber incidents can occur, such as the inadvertent release of confidential information by the Fund or its service providers. The Fund uses third party service providers who are also heavily dependent on computers and technology for their operations. Cybersecurity failures or breaches by the Fund’s investment adviser or administrator and other service providers (including, but not limited to, the custodian or transfer agent), and the issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, may disrupt and otherwise adversely affect their business operations. This may result in financial losses to the Fund, impede Fund trading, interfere with the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, limit a shareholder’s ability to purchase or redeem shares of the Fund or cause violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, litigation costs or additional compliance costs. In addition, substantial costs may be incurred in order to prevent any cyber incidents in the future. While many of the Fund’s service providers have established business continuity plans and risk management systems intended to identify and mitigate cyber attacks, there are inherent limitations in such plans and systems including the possibility that certain risks have not been identified. The Fund cannot control the cybersecurity plans and systems put in place by service providers to the Fund and issuers in which the Fund invests. The Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund52SAI dated April 1, 2021
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. 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. Depending on the type of derivative instrument and the Fund’s investment strategy, a derivative instrument may be based on a security, instrument, index, currency, commodity, economic indicator or event (referred to as “reference instruments”). Fund obligations created pursuant to derivative instruments may be subject to the requirements described under “Asset Coverage” herein. |
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Derivative instruments are subject to a number of risks, including adverse or unexpected movements in the price of the reference instrument, and counterparty, credit, interest rate, leverage, liquidity, market and tax 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. Derivatives also involve the risk that changes in their value may not correlate perfectly with the assets, rates or indices they are designed to hedge or closely track. 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. |
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OTC derivative instruments involve an additional risk in that the issuer or counterparty may 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, an option or commodity exchange or swap execution facility or clearinghouse 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 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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The regulation of derivatives has undergone substantial change in recent years. In particular, although many provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) have yet to be fully implemented or are subject to phase-in periods, it is possible that upon implementation these provisions, or any future regulatory or legislative activity, could limit or restrict the ability of a Fund to use derivative instruments, including futures, options on futures and swap agreements as a part of its investment strategy, increase the costs of using these instruments or make them less effective. New position limits imposed on a Fund or its counterparty may also impact the Fund’s ability to efficiently utilize futures, options, and swaps. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund53SAI dated April 1, 2021
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As of October 28, 2020, the SEC has adopted new regulations that may significantly alter a Fund’s regulatory obligations with regard to its derivatives usage. In particular, the new regulations will, upon implementation, eliminate the current asset segregation framework for covering derivatives and certain other financial instruments, impose new responsibilities on the Board and establish new reporting and recordkeeping requirements for a Fund and may, depending on the extent to which a Fund uses derivatives, impose value at risk limitations on a Fund’s use of derivatives, and require the Fund’s Board to adopt a derivative risk management program. The implementation of these requirements may limit the ability of a Fund to use derivative instruments as part of its investment strategy, increase the costs of using these instruments or make them less effective. Limits or restrictions applicable to the counterparties with which a Fund engages in derivative transactions also could prevent the Fund from using these instruments or affect the pricing or other factors relating to these instruments, or may change the availability of certain investments. |
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Legislation may be enacted that could negatively affect the assets of the Fund. Legislation or regulation may also change the way in which the Fund itself is regulated. The effects of any new governmental regulation cannot be predicted and there can be no assurance that any new governmental regulation will not adversely affect the Fund’s performance or ability to achieve its investment objective(s). |
Derivative-Linked and Commodity-Linked Hybrid Instruments |
A derivative-linked or commodity-linked hybrid instrument (referred to herein as a “hybrid instrument”) is a type of potentially high-risk derivative that combines a traditional stock, bond, or commodity with an option or forward contract. Generally, the principal amount, amount payable upon maturity or redemption, or interest rate of a hybrid instrument is tied (positively or negatively) to the price of some commodity, currency or securities index or another interest rate or some other economic factor (each a “benchmark”). The interest rate or (unlike most fixed-income securities) the principal amount payable at maturity of a hybrid instrument may be increased or decreased, depending on changes in the value of the benchmark. An example of a hybrid instrument is a bond issued by an oil company that pays a small base level of interest with additional interest that accrues in correlation to the extent to which oil prices exceed a certain predetermined level. Such a hybrid instrument would be a combination of a bond and a call option on oil. |
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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. |
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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 gain). 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. |
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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. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund54SAI dated April 1, 2021
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Hybrid instruments 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 instrument 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 instrument. Under certain conditions, the redemption value of a hybrid instrument could be zero. The purchase of hybrid instruments 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. |
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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 invest only 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. |
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. |
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. |
Dividend Capture Trading |
In a typical dividend capture trade, the Fund would buy a stock prior to its ex-dividend date and sell the stock at a point either on or after the ex-dividend date. 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. |
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 underlying funds is the sum of its allocable share of the duration of each of the underlying funds in which it invests, which is determined by multiplying the underlying fund’s duration by the Fund’s percentage ownership of that underlying fund. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund55SAI dated April 1, 2021
Emerging Market Investments |
The risks described under “Foreign Investments” herein generally are heightened in connection with investments in emerging markets. Also, investments in securities of issuers domiciled in countries with emerging capital markets may involve certain additional risks that do not generally apply to investments in securities of issuers in more developed capital markets, such as (i) low or non-existent trading volume, resulting in a lack of liquidity and increased volatility in prices for such securities, as compared to securities of comparable issuers in more developed capital markets; (ii) uncertain national policies and social, political and economic instability, increasing the potential for expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxation, high rates of inflation or unfavorable diplomatic developments; (iii) possible fluctuations in exchange rates, differing legal systems and the existence or possible imposition of exchange controls, custodial restrictions or other foreign or U.S. governmental laws or restrictions applicable to such investments; (iv) governmental actions or policies that may limit investment opportunities, such as restrictions on investment in, or required divestment of, certain issuers or industries; and (v) the lack or relatively early development of legal structures governing private and foreign investments and private property. Trading practices in emerging markets also may be less developed, resulting in inefficiencies relative to trading in more developed markets, which may result in increased transaction costs. |
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Repatriation of investment income, capital and proceeds of sales by foreign investors may require governmental registration and/or approval in emerging market countries. There can be no assurance that repatriation of income, gain or initial capital from these countries will occur. In addition to withholding taxes on investment income, some countries with emerging markets may impose differential capital gains taxes on foreign investors. |
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Political and economic structures in emerging market countries may undergo significant evolution and rapid development, and these countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries. In such a dynamic environment, there can be no assurance that any or all of these capital markets will continue to present viable investment opportunities. In the past, governments of such nations have expropriated substantial amounts of private property, and most claims of the property owners have never been fully settled. There is no assurance that such expropriations will not reoccur. In such an event, it is possible that the entire value of an investment in the affected market could be lost. In addition, unanticipated political or social developments may affect the value of investments in these countries and the availability of additional investments. The small size and inexperience of the securities markets in certain of these countries and the limited volume of trading in securities in these countries may make investments in the countries illiquid and more volatile than investments in developed markets. |
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Also, there may be less publicly available information about issuers in emerging markets than would be available about issuers in more developed capital markets, and such issuers may not be subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements comparable to those to which U.S. companies are subject. In certain countries with emerging capital markets, reporting standards vary widely. As a result, traditional investment measurements used in the United States, such as price/earnings ratios, may not be applicable. Certain emerging market securities may be held by a limited number of persons. This may adversely affect the timing and pricing of the acquisition or disposal of securities. The prices at which investments may be acquired may be affected by trading by persons with material non-public information and by securities transactions by brokers in anticipation of transactions in particular securities. |
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Practices in relation to settlement of securities transactions in emerging markets involve higher risks than those in developed markets, in part because brokers and counterparties in such markets may be less well capitalized, and custody and registration of assets in some countries may be unreliable. The possibility of fraud, negligence, undue influence being exerted by the issuer or refusal to recognize ownership exists in some emerging markets. As an alternative to investing directly in emerging markets, exposure may be obtained through derivative investments. |
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Additionally, there may be difficulties in obtaining and/or enforcing legal judgements against non-U.S. companies and non-U.S. persons, including company directors or officers, in foreign jurisdictions. Shareholders of emerging market issuers often have limited rights and few practical remedies in jurisdictions located in emerging markets. Such risks vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and company to company. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund56SAI dated April 1, 2021
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Investments in China may involve a high risk of currency fluctuations, currency non-convertibility, interest rate fluctuations and higher rates of inflation as a result of internal social unrest or conflicts with other countries. Increasing trade tensions, particularly regarding trading arrangements between the U.S. and China, may result in additional tariffs or other actions that could have an adverse impact on an investment in the China region, including but not limited to restrictions on investments in certain Chinese companies. Accounting, auditing, financial, and other reporting standards, practices and disclosure requirements in China are different, sometimes in fundamental ways, from those in the United States and certain western European countries. For example, there is less regulatory oversite of financial reporting by companies domiciled in China than for companies in the United States. |
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The foregoing risks may be even greater in frontier markets. Frontier markets are countries with investable stock markets that are less established than those in the emerging markets. The economies of frontier market countries generally are smaller than those of traditional emerging market countries, and frontier capital markets and legal systems are typically less developed. |
Equity Investments |
Equity investments include common stocks; preferred stocks; depositary receipts; equity interests in trusts, partnerships, joint ventures and other unincorporated entities or enterprises; convertible and contingent convertible preferred stocks; rights and warrants and other securities that are treated as equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (see “Preferred Stock” and “Hybrid Securities”). Market conditions may affect certain types of stocks to a greater extent than other types of stocks. |
Equity-Linked Securities |
See also “Derivative Instruments and Related Risks” herein. Equity-linked securities are privately issued securities whose investment results are designed to correspond generally to the performance of a specified stock index or “basket” of securities, or sometimes a single stock. These securities are used for many of the same purposes as derivative instruments and share many of the same risks. Equity-linked securities may be considered illiquid and thus subject to the Fund’s restrictions on investments in illiquid securities. |
Event-Linked Instruments |
The Fund may obtain event-linked exposure by investing in “event-linked bonds”, “event-linked swaps” or other “event-linked instruments”. Event-linked instruments are obligations for which the return of capital and dividend/interest payments are contingent on, or formulaically related to, the non-occurrence of a pre-defined “trigger” event. For some event-linked instruments, the trigger event’s magnitude may be based on losses to a company or industry, industry indexes or readings of scientific instruments rather than specified actual losses. Examples of trigger events include hurricanes, earthquakes, weather-related phenomena, or statistics relating to such events. |
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Some event-linked instruments are referred to as “catastrophe bonds.” Catastrophe bonds entitle a Fund to receive principal and interest payments so long as no trigger event occurs of the description and magnitude specified by the instrument. If a trigger event occurs, the Fund may lose a portion of its entire principal invested in the bond. |
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Event-linked instruments may be sponsored by government agencies, insurance companies or reinsurers and issued by special purpose corporations or other off-shore or on-shore entities (such special purpose entities are created to accomplish a narrow and well-defined objective, such as the issuance of a note in connection with a specific reinsurance transaction). Typically, event-linked instruments are issued by off-shore entities and may be non-dollar denominated. As a result, the Fund may be subject to currency risk. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund57SAI dated April 1, 2021
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Often, event-linked instruments provide for extensions of maturity that are mandatory or optional at the discretion of the issuer or sponsor, in order to process and audit loss claims in those cases where a trigger event has, or possibly has, occurred. An extension of maturity may increase the instrument’s volatility and potentially make it more difficult to value. In addition, pricing of event-linked instruments is subject to the added uncertainty caused by the inability to generally predict whether, when or where a natural disaster or other triggering event will occur. If a trigger event occurs, the Fund may lose all or a portion of its investment in an event-linked instrument or the notional amount of an event-linked swap. Such losses may be substantial. Event-linked instruments carry large uncertainties and major risk exposures to adverse conditions. In addition to the specified trigger events, event-linked instruments also may expose the Fund to issuer, credit, counterparty, restricted securities, liquidity, and valuation risks as well as exposures to specific geographic areas, adverse regulatory or jurisdictional interpretations, and adverse tax consequences. Event-linked instruments are generally rated below investment grade or the unrated equivalent and have the same or similar risks as high yield debt securities (also known as junk bonds) and are subject to the risk that the Fund may lose some or all of its investment in such instruments if the particular trigger occurs. Event-linked instruments may be rated by a nationally recognized statistical rating agency, but are often unrated. Frequently, the issuer of an event-linked instrument will use an independent risk model to calculate the probability and economic consequences of a trigger event. |
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The Fund may invest in event-linked instruments in one or more of three ways: may purchase event-linked instruments when initially offered; may purchase event-linked instruments in the secondary, over-the-counter market; or may gain indirect exposure to event-linked instruments using derivatives. As the market for event-linked instruments evolves, the Fund may invest in new types of event-linked instruments. However, there can be no assurance that a liquid market in these instruments will develop. Lack of a liquid market may impose the risk of higher transaction costs and the possibility that the Fund may be forced to liquidate positions when it would not be advantageous to do so. |
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Event-linked instruments typically are restricted to qualified institutional buyers and, therefore, are not subject to registration with the SEC or any state securities commission and are not always listed on any national securities exchange. The amount of public information available with respect to event-linked instruments is generally less extensive than that which is available for issuers of registered or exchange listed securities. There can be no assurance that future regulatory determinations will not adversely affect the overall market for event-linked instruments. |
Exchange-Traded Funds (“ETFs”) |
ETFs are pooled investment vehicles that trade their shares on stock exchanges at market prices (rather than net asset value) and are only redeemable from the ETF itself in large increments or in exchange for baskets of securities. As an exchange traded security, an ETF’s shares are priced continuously and trade throughout the day. ETFs may track a securities index, a particular market sector, a particular segment of a securities index or market sector (“Passive ETFs”), or they may be actively managed (“Active ETFs”). An investment in an ETF generally involves the same primary risks as an investment in a fund that is not exchange-traded that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies of the ETF, such as liquidity risk, sector risk and foreign and emerging market risk, as well as risks associated with equity securities, fixed income securities, real estate investments and commodities, as applicable. In addition, a Passive ETF may fail to accurately track the market segment or index that underlies its investment objective or may fail to fully replicate its underlying index, in which case the Passive ETF’s investment strategy may not produce the intended results. The way in which shares of ETFs are traded, purchased and redeemed involves certain risks. An ETF may trade at a price that is lower than its net asset value. Secondary market trading of an ETF may result in frequent price fluctuations, which in turn may result in a loss to a Fund. Additionally, there is no guarantee that an active market for the ETF’s shares will develop or be maintained. An ETF may fail to meet the listing requirements of any applicable exchanges on which it is listed. Further, trading in an ETF may be halted if the trading in one or more of the securities held by an ETF is halted. The existence of extreme market volatility or potential lack of an active trading market for an ETF’s shares could result in such shares trading at a significant premium or discount to their NAV. A Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management fees and other operating expenses of an ETF in which it invests. A Fund may pay brokerage commissions in connection with the purchase and sale of shares of ETFs. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund58SAI dated April 1, 2021
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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund59SAI dated April 1, 2021
Fixed-Income Securities |
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). Preferred stock and certain other hybrid securities may pay a fixed-dividend rate, but may be considered equity securities for purposes of a Fund’s investment restrictions (see “Preferred Stock” and “Hybrid Securities”). |
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The fixed-income securities market has been and may continue to be negatively affected by the novel coronavirus pandemic. As with other serious economic disruptions, governmental authorities and regulators are responding to this crisis with significant fiscal and monetary policy changes, including considerably lowering interest rates, which, in some cases could result in negative interest rates. These actions, including their possible unexpected or sudden reversal or potential ineffectiveness, could further increase volatility in securities and other financial markets and reduce market liquidity. To the extent the Fund has a bank deposit or holds a debt instrument with a negative interest rate to maturity, the Fund would generate a negative return on that investment. Similarly, negative rates on investments by money market funds and similar cash management products could lead to losses on investments, including on investments of the Fund’s uninvested cash. |
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. If the U.S. dollar rises in value relative to a foreign currency, a security denominated in that foreign currency will be worth less in U.S. dollars. If the U.S. dollar decreases in value relative to a foreign currency, a security denominated in that foreign currency will be worth more in U.S. dollars. A devaluation of a currency by a country’s government or banking authority will have a significant impact on the value of any investments denominated in that currency. 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 Foreign 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. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund60SAI dated April 1, 2021
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. |
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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 countries, 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. The U.S. is also renegotiating many of its global trade relationships and has imposed or threatened to impose significant import tariffs. These actions could lead to price volatility and overall declines in U.S. and global investment markets. |
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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 Fund’s risk of loss. The Fund generally holds its foreign securities and related 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. |
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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. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund61SAI dated April 1, 2021
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Depositary 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. Depositary receipts may be sponsored or unsponsored. Unsponsored depositary receipts are established without the participation of the issuer. As a result, available information concerning the issuer of an unsponsored depository receipt may not be as current as for sponsored depositary receipts, and the prices of unsponsored depositary receipts may be more volatile than if such instruments were sponsored by the issuer. Unsponsored depositary receipts may involve higher expenses, may not pass through voting or other shareholder rights and they may be less liquid. |
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Unless otherwise provided in the 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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In June 2016, the United Kingdom (“UK”) voted in a referendum to leave the European Union (“EU”) (“Brexit”). Effective January 31, 2020, the UK ceased to be a member of the EU and following a transition period, during which the EU and the UK Government engaged in a series of negotiations regarding the terms of the UK’s future relationship with the EU, the EU and the UK Government signed an agreement on December 30, 2020 regarding the economic relationship between the UK and the EU. This agreement became effective on a provisional basis on January 1, 2021. There remains significant market uncertainty regarding Brexit’s ramifications, and the range and potential implications of possible political, regulatory, economic, and market outcomes are difficult to predict. Moreover, the uncertainty about the ramifications of Brexit may cause significant volatility and/or declines in the value of the Euro and the British pound. The end of the Brexit transition period may cause greater market volatility and illiquidity, currency fluctuations, deterioration in economic activity, a decrease in business confidence, and an increased likelihood of a recession in the UK. Brexit may create additional substantial economic stresses for the UK, including price volatility in UK stocks, capital outflows, wider corporate bond spreads due to uncertainty and declines in business and consumer spending as well as foreign direct investment. Brexit may also adversely affect UK-based financial firms that have counterparties in the EU or participate in market infrastructure (trading venues, clearing houses, settlement facilities) based in the EU. These consequences may be exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Political events, including nationalist unrest in Europe, uncertainties surrounding the sovereign debt of a number of EU countries and the viability of the EU (or the euro) itself, also may cause market disruptions. If one or more countries leave the EU or the EU dissolves, the world’s securities markets likely will be significantly disrupted. |
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange 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 non-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. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund62SAI dated April 1, 2021
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When a currency is difficult to hedge or to hedge against the U.S. 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. |
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Some of the forward foreign currency exchange 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. |
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. |
Futures Contracts |
See also “Derivative Instruments and Related Risks” herein. Futures contracts are standardized contracts that obligate a purchaser to take delivery, and a seller to make delivery, of a specific amount of the underlying reference instrument at a specified future date at a specified price. These contracts are traded on exchanges, so that, in most cases, either party can close out its position on the exchange for cash, without delivering the underlying asset. Upon purchasing or selling a futures contract, a purchaser or seller is required to deposit collateral (initial margin). Each day thereafter until the futures position is closed, the purchaser or seller will pay additional margin (variation margin) representing any loss experienced as a result of the futures position the prior day or be entitled to a payment representing any profit experienced as a result of the futures position the prior day. A public market exists in futures contracts covering a number of indexes as well as financial instruments and foreign currencies. It is expected that other futures contracts will be developed and traded in the future. In computing daily net asset value, the Fund will mark to market its open futures positions. The Fund is also required to deposit and maintain margin with respect to put and call options on futures contracts written by it. Futures contracts are traded on exchanges or boards of trade that are licensed by the CFTC and must be executed through a futures commission merchant or brokerage firm that is a member of the relevant exchange or board. |
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Although some futures contracts call for making or taking delivery of the underlying reference instrument, generally these obligations are closed out prior to delivery by offsetting purchases or sales of matching futures contracts (same exchange, underlying security or index, and delivery month). Closing a futures contract sale is effected by purchasing a futures contract for the same aggregate amount of the specific type of financial instrument or commodity with the same delivery date. If an offsetting purchase price is less than the original sale price, the Fund realizes a capital gain, or if it is more, the Fund realizes a capital loss. Conversely, if an offsetting sale price is more than the original purchase price, the Fund realizes a capital gain, or if it is less, the Fund realizes a capital loss. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund63SAI dated April 1, 2021
Hybrid Securities |
Hybrid securities generally possess certain characteristics of both equity and debt securities. These securities may at times behave more like equity than debt, or vice versa. Preferred stocks, convertible securities, trust preferred securities and certain debt obligations are types of hybrid securities. The investment adviser has sole discretion to determine whether an investment has hybrid characteristics and generally will consider the instrument’s preference over the issuer’s common shares, the term of the instrument at the time of issuance and/or the tax character of the instrument’s distributions. Debt instruments with a preference over common shares and a perpetual term or a term at issuance of thirty years or more generally are considered by the investment adviser to be hybrid securities. Hybrid securities generally do not have voting rights or have limited voting rights. Because hybrid securities have both debt and equity characteristics, their values vary in response to many factors, including general market and economic conditions, issuer-specific events, changes in interest rates, credit spreads and the credit quality of the issuer, and, for convertible securities, factors affecting the securities into which they convert. Hybrid securities may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a predetermined price. Hybrid securities may pay a fixed or variable rate of interest or dividends. The prices and yields of nonconvertible hybrid securities generally move with changes in interest rates and the issuer’s credit quality, similar to the factors affecting debt securities. If the issuer of a hybrid security experiences financial difficulties, the value of such security may be adversely affected similar to the issuer’s outstanding common stock or subordinated debt instruments. Trust preferred securities are issued by a special purpose trust that holds the subordinated debt of a company and, as such, are subject to the risks associated with such debt obligation. See also “Preferred Stock,” “Convertible Securities” and “Contingent Convertible Securities.” |
Illiquid Investments |
Certain investments are considered illiquid or restricted due to a limited trading market or legal or contractual restrictions on resale or transfer, or are otherwise illiquid because they cannot be sold or disposed of in seven calendar days or less under then-current market conditions without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. Such illiquid investments may include commercial paper issued pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the 1933 Act and securities eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A thereunder. Rule 144A securities may increase the level of portfolio illiquidity if eligible buyers become uninterested in purchasing such securities. |
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It may be difficult to sell illiquid investments at a price representing fair value until such time as the investments may be sold publicly. It also may be more difficult to determine the fair value of such investments for purposes of computing the Fund’s net asset value. Where registration is required, a considerable period of time may elapse between a decision to sell the investments and the time when the Fund 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 investments, including all or a portion of the cost to register the investments. The Fund also may acquire investments through private placements under which it may agree to contractual restrictions on the resale of such investments that are in addition to applicable legal restrictions. Such restrictions might prevent the sale of such investments at a time when such sale would otherwise be desirable. |
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At times, a portion of the Fund’s assets may be invested in investments 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 investments. 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 investments when the investment adviser believes it advisable to do so or may be able to sell such investments only at prices lower than if such investments were more widely held. It may also be more difficult to determine the fair value of such investments for purposes of computing the Fund’s net asset value. See also “Restricted Securities.” |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund64SAI dated April 1, 2021
Indexed Securities |
See also “Derivative Instruments and Related Risks” herein. Indexed 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. |
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 Consumer Price Index. |
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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. |
Investing in a Portfolio |
The Board may discontinue the Fund’s investment in one or more Portfolios if it determines that it is in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders to do so. In such an event, the Board would consider what action might be taken, including investing Fund assets in another pooled investment entity, instructing the investment adviser to invest Fund assets directly or retaining an investment adviser to manage Fund assets in accordance with its investment objective(s). The Fund’s investment performance and expense ratio may be affected if its investment structure is changed or if another Portfolio investor withdraws all or a portion of its investment in the Portfolio. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund65SAI dated April 1, 2021
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. |
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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. |
Junior Loans |
Due to their lower place in the borrower’s capital structure and possible unsecured status, certain loans (“Junior Loans”) involve a higher degree of overall risk than Senior Loans (described below) of the same borrower. Junior Loans may be direct loans or purchased either in the form of an assignment or a loan participation. Junior Loans are subject to the same general risks inherent in any loan investment (see “Loans” below). Junior Loans include secured and unsecured subordinated loans, as well as second lien loans and subordinated bridge loans. A second lien loan is generally second in line in terms of repayment priority and 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. |
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Bridge loans or bridge facilities are short-term loan arrangements (e.g., 12 to 18 months) typically made by a borrower 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 borrower 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 borrower with an outstanding bridge loan may be unable to locate permanent financing to replace the bridge loan, which may impair the borrower’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. |
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For additional disclosure relating to investing in loans (including Junior Loans), see “Loans” below. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund66SAI dated April 1, 2021
LIBOR Transition and Associated Risk |
The London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) is the average offered rate for various maturities of short-term loans between major international banks who are members of the British Bankers Association. LIBOR is the most common benchmark interest rate index used to make adjustments to variable-rate loans. It is used throughout global banking and financial industries to determine interest rates for a variety of financial instruments (such as debt instruments and derivatives) and borrowing arrangements. In July 2017, the Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”), the United Kingdom financial regulatory body, announced a desire to phase out the use of LIBOR. It is currently anticipated that this phase-out will occur beginning at the end of 2021. In June 2017, the Alternative Reference Rates Committee, a group of large U.S. banks working with the Federal Reserve, announced its selection of a new Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), which is intended to be a broad measure of secured overnight U.S. Treasury repo rates, as an appropriate replacement for LIBOR. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York began publishing the SOFR in 2018, with the expectation that it could be used on a voluntary basis in new instruments and transactions. Bank working groups and regulators in other countries have suggested other alternatives for their markets, including the Sterling Overnight Interbank Average Rate (“SONIA”) in England. Various financial industry groups are planning for the transition, but there are obstacles to converting certain longer term securities and transactions to a new benchmark. Although the transition process away from LIBOR is expected to be well-defined in advance of the anticipated discontinuation date, there remains uncertainty regarding the future utilization of LIBOR and the nature of any replacement rate or rates. The transition process may involve, among other things, increased volatility or illiquidity in markets for instruments that currently rely on LIBOR. The transition may also result in a change in (i) the value of certain instruments held by the Fund, (ii) the cost of temporary or other borrowing for the Fund (if applicable), or (iii) the effectiveness of related Fund transactions such as hedges, as applicable. When LIBOR is discontinued, the LIBOR replacement rate may be lower than market expectations, which could have an adverse impact on the value of preferred and debt-securities with floating or fixed-to-floating rate coupons. Additionally, while some existing LIBOR-based instruments may contemplate a scenario where LIBOR is no longer available by providing for an alternative or “fallback” rate-setting methodology, there may be significant uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of any such alternative methodologies to replicate LIBOR. Not all existing LIBOR-based instruments have such fallback provisions, and many that do, do not contemplate the permanent cessation of LIBOR. While it is expected that market participants will amend legacy financial instruments referencing LIBOR to include fallback provisions to alternative reference rates, there remains uncertainty regarding the willingness and ability of parties to add or amend such fallback provisions in legacy instruments maturing after the end of 2021, particularly with respect to legacy cash products. Liquid markets for newly-issued instruments that use an alternative reference rate are still developing. Consequently, there may be challenges for a Fund to enter into hedging transactions against instruments tied to alternative reference rates until a market for such hedging transactions develops. Any such effects of the transition away from LIBOR, as well as other unforeseen effects, could result in losses to the Fund. Since the usefulness of LIBOR as a benchmark could deteriorate during the transition period, these effects may occur prior to the discontinuation date. |
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. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund67SAI dated April 1, 2021
Loans |
Loans may be primary, direct investments or investments in loan assignments or participation interests. A loan assignment represents a portion or the entirety of a loan and a portion of the entirety of a position previously attributable to a different lender. The purchaser of an assignment typically succeeds to all the rights and obligations under the loan agreement and has the same rights and obligations as the assigning investor. However, assignments through private negotiations may cause the purchaser of an assignment to have different and more limited rights than those held by the assigning investor. Loan participation interests are interests issued by a lender or other entity and represent a fractional interest in a loan. The Fund typically will have a contractual relationship only with the financial institution that issued the participation interest. As a result, the Fund may have the right to receive payments of principal, interest and any fees to which it is entitled only from the financial institution and only upon receipt by such entity of such payments from the borrower. In connection with purchasing a participation interest, the Fund generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement, nor any rights with respect to any funds acquired by other investors through set-off against the borrower and the Fund may not directly benefit from the collateral supporting the loan in which it has purchased the participation interest. As a result, the Fund may assume the credit risk of both the borrower and the financial institution issuing the participation interest. In the event of the insolvency of the entity issuing a participation interest, the Fund may be treated as a general creditor of such entity. |
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Loans may be originated by a lending agent, such as a financial institution or other entity, on behalf of a group or “syndicate” of loan investors (the “Loan Investors”). In such a case, the agent administers the terms of the loan agreement and is responsible for the collection of principal, and interest payments from the borrower 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 borrower, the Fund must rely on the Agent and the other Loan Investors to pursue appropriate remedies against the borrower. |
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Loan investments may be made at par or at a discount or premium to par. The interest payable on a loan may be fixed or floating rate, and paid in cash or in-kind. In connection with transactions in loans, the Fund may be subject to facility or other fees. Loans may be secured by specific collateral or other assets of the borrower, guaranteed by a third party, unsecured or subordinated. During the term of a loan, the value of any 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 borrower’s obligations under the loan. In addition, if a 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. |
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A lender’s repayment and other rights primarily are determined by governing loan, assignment or participation documents, which (among other things) typically establish the priority of payment on the loan relative to other indebtedness and obligations of the borrower. A borrower typically is required to comply with certain covenants contained in a loan agreement between the borrower and the holders of the loan. The types of covenants included in loan agreements generally vary depending on market conditions, the creditworthiness of the issuer, and the nature of the collateral securing the loan. Loans with fewer covenants that restrict activities of the borrower may provide the borrower with more flexibility to take actions that may be detrimental to the loan holders and provide fewer investor protections in the event covenants are breached. The Fund may experience relatively greater realized or unrealized losses or delays and expense in enforcing its rights with respect to loans with fewer restrictive covenants. Loans to entities located outside of the U.S. (including to sovereign entities) may have substantially different lender protections and covenants as compared to loans to U.S. entities and may involve greater risks. In the event of bankruptcy, applicable law may impact a lender’s ability to enforce its rights. The Fund may have difficulties and incur expense enforcing its rights with respect to non-U.S. loans and such loans could be subject to bankruptcy laws that are materially different than in the U.S. Sovereign entities may be unable or unwilling to meet their obligations under a loan due to budgetary limitations or economic or political changes within the country. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund68SAI dated April 1, 2021
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Investing in loans involves the risk of default by the borrower or other party obligated to repay the loan. In the event of insolvency of the borrower or other obligated party, the Fund may be treated as a general creditor of such entity unless it has rights that are senior to that of other creditors or secured by specific collateral or assets of the borrower. Fixed-rate loans are also subject to the risk that their value will decline in a rising interest rate environment. This risk is mitigated for floating-rate loans, where the interest rate payable on the loan resets periodically by reference to a base lending rate. The base lending rate usually is the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), the Federal Reserve federal funds rate, the prime rate or other base lending rates used by commercial lenders. LIBOR usually is an average of the interest rates quoted by several designated banks as the rates at which they pay interest to major depositors in the London interbank market on U.S. dollar-denominated deposits. |
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Many financial instruments use or may use a floating rate based on LIBOR, which is the offered rate for short-term Eurodollar deposits between major international banks. On July 27, 2017, the head of the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority announced a desire to phase out the use of LIBOR beginning at the end of 2021. Due to this announcement, there remains uncertainty regarding the future utilization of LIBOR and the nature of any replacement rate. As such, the potential effect of a transition away from LIBOR on the Fund or the financial instruments in which the Fund invests cannot yet be determined. See “LIBOR Transition and Associated Risk” herein. |
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The Fund will take whatever action it considers appropriate in the event of anticipated financial difficulties, default or bankruptcy of the borrower or other entity obligated to repay a loan. 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 the 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 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 borrower to settle the loan or may acquire an equity interest in the borrower. Representatives of the Fund also may join creditor or similar committees relating to loans. |
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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 borrower becomes involved in bankruptcy proceedings, a court may invalidate the Fund’s security interest in any loan collateral or subordinate the Fund’s rights under the loan agreement to the interests of the borrower’s unsecured creditors or cause interest previously paid to be refunded to the borrower. 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. |
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Interests in loans generally are not listed on any national securities exchange or automated quotation system and no active market may exist for many loans, making them illiquid. As described below, a secondary market exists for many Senior Loans, but it may be subject to irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods. |
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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 loans to or acquire them from the Fund or may be intermediate participants with respect to loans in which the Fund owns interests. Such banks may also act as agents for loans held by the Fund. |
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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 loans for investment may be adversely affected. Further, such legislation or regulation could depress the market value of loans. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund69SAI dated April 1, 2021
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For additional disclosures relating to Junior and Senior Loans, see “Junior Loans” and “Senior Loans” herein. |
Lower Rated Investments |
Lower rated investments (commonly referred to as “junk”) are of below investment grade quality and generally provide greater income potential and/or increased opportunity for capital appreciation than higher quality investments but they also typically entail greater potential price volatility and principal and income risk. Lower rated investments are regarded as predominantly speculative with respect to the entity’s continuing ability to make timely principal and interest payments. Also, their yields and market values may fluctuate more than higher rated investments. Fluctuations in value do not affect the cash income from lower rated investments, but are reflected in the Fund’s net asset value. The greater risks and fluctuations in yield and value occur, in part, because investors generally perceive issuers of lower rated and unrated investments to be less creditworthy. The secondary market for lower rated investments may be less liquid than the market for higher grade investments. |
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. Effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act generally allows individuals and certain other non-corporate entities, such as partnerships, a deduction for 20% of “qualified publicly traded partnership income” such as income from MLPs. However, the law does not include any provision for a regulated investment company to pass the character of its qualified publicly traded partnership income through to its shareholders. As a result, an investor who invests directly in MLPs will be able to receive the benefit of that deduction, while a shareholder of the Fund will not. |
Money Market Instruments |
Money market instruments 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, including those issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies and instrumentalities. See “U.S. Government Securities” below. Certificates of deposit or time deposits 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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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. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund70SAI dated April 1, 2021
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Money market instruments 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. Money market instruments 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 money market instruments directly, the Fund may invest in an affiliated or unaffiliated money market fund. Recent actions by governmental authorities in response to the economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have included dramatic reductions in interest rates, which in some cases could result in negative rates on investments in money market funds and similar cash management products. 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. |
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 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 and that any guarantee or other structural feature, if present, is insufficient to enable the timely payment of interest and principal on the MBS. Although certain MBS are guaranteed as to timely payment of interest and principal by a government-sponsored enterprise, the market price for such securities is not guaranteed and will fluctuate. Certain MBS may be purchased on a when-issued basis subject to certain limitations and requirements. |
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There are currently four 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; (3) those issued by the U.S. Government or one of its agencies or instrumentalities without a government guarantee, such as credit risk transfer bonds; and (4) 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 of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including depositary institutions, mortgage banks and special purpose subsidiaries of the foregoing. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund71SAI dated April 1, 2021
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund72SAI dated April 1, 2021
Municipal Lease Obligations (“MLOs”) |
An MLO is a bond that is secured by lease payments made by the party, typically a state or municipality, leasing the facilities (e.g., schools or office buildings) that were financed by the bond. Such lease payments may be subject to annual appropriation or may be made only from revenues associated with the facility financed. In other cases, the leasing state or municipality is obligated to appropriate funds from its general tax revenues to make lease payments as long as it utilizes the leased property. 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. A certificate of participation (also referred to as a “participation”) in a municipal lease is an instrument evidencing a pro rata share in a specific pledged revenue stream, usually lease payments by the issuer that are typically subject to annual appropriation. The certificate generally entitles the holder to receive a share, or participation, in the payments from a particular project. |
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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 investments. |
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The ability of issuers of MLOs 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 rights, 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. |
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 also include trust certificates representing interests in municipal securities held by a trustee. The trust certificates may evidence ownership of future interest payments, principal payments or both on the underlying securities. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund73SAI dated April 1, 2021
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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 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. |
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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 that could subject the recipient to or increase the recipient’s liability for the AMT. |
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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. |
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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 lower rated bonds 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 that 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. The Fund may on occasion acquire revenue bonds that carry warrants or similar rights covering equity securities. Such warrants or rights may be held indefinitely, but if exercised, the Fund anticipates that it would, under normal circumstances, dispose of any equity securities so acquired within a reasonable period of time. Investing in revenue bonds may involve (without limitation) the following risks. |
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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 International Small-Cap Fund74SAI dated April 1, 2021
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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 that may be supported by reserves or other forms of credit enhancement. 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. |
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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. |
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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. 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. 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 International Small-Cap Fund75SAI dated April 1, 2021
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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 that 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. |
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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 Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and its related issuers continue to experience financial difficulties, including persistent government budget deficits, underfunded public pension benefit obligations, underfunded government retirement systems, sizable debt service obligations and a high unemployment rate. Several rating agencies have downgraded a number of securities issued in Puerto Rico to below investment-grade, and numerous issuers have entered Title III of the Puerto Rico Oversite, Management and Economic Stability Act (“PROMESA”), which is similar to bankruptcy protection, through which the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico can restructure its debt. However, Puerto Rico's case is the first ever heard under PROMESA and there is no existing case precedent to guide the proceedings. Accordingly, Puerto Rico's debt restructuring process could take significantly longer than traditional municipal bankruptcy proceedings. Further, it is not clear whether a debt restructuring process will ultimately be approved or, if so, the extent to which it will apply to Puerto Rico municipal securities sold by an issuer other than the territory. A debt restructuring could reduce the principal amount due, the interest rate, the maturity, and other terms of Puerto Rico municipal securities, which could adversely affect the value of Puerto Rican municipal securities. Puerto Rico’s short-term financial difficulties continue to be further impacted by the 2017 hurricane, and Puerto Rico has faced significant out-migration relating to its economic difficulties, eroding its population, economic base and ultimate ability to support its current debt burden, creating further long-term uncertainty. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund76SAI dated April 1, 2021
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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. The yields on municipal obligations depend on a variety of factors, including purposes of the issue and source of funds for repayment, general money market conditions, general conditions of the municipal bond market, size of a particular offering, maturity of the obligation and rating of the issue. The ratings of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch represent their opinions as to the quality of the municipal obligations which they undertake to rate, and in the case of insurers, other factors including the claims-paying ability of such insurer. It should be emphasized, however, that ratings are based on judgment and are not absolute standards of quality. Consequently, municipal obligations with the same maturity, coupon and rating may have different yields while obligations of the same maturity and coupon with different ratings may have the same yield. In addition, the market price of such obligations will normally fluctuate with changes in interest rates, and therefore the net asset value of the Fund will be affected by such changes. |
Operational Risk |
The Fund’s service providers, including the investment adviser, may experience disruptions or operating errors that could negatively impact the Fund. Disruptive events, including (but not limited to) natural disasters and public health crises, may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to conduct business, in particular if the Fund’s employees or the employees of its service providers are unable or unwilling to perform their responsibilities as a result of any such event. While service providers are expected to have appropriate operational risk management policies and procedures, their methods of operational risk management may differ from the Fund's in the setting of priorities, the personnel and resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls. It also is not possible for Fund service providers to identify all of the operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund77SAI dated April 1, 2021
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 the 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 counterparty risk. The ability of the Fund to transact business with any one or any number of counterparties, the lack of any independent evaluation of the counterparties or their financial capabilities, and the absence of a regulated market to facilitate settlement, may increase the potential for losses to the Fund. OTC options also involve greater liquidity risk. This risk may be increased in times of financial stress, if the trading market for OTC derivative contracts becomes limited. 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.” |
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If a written option expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a capital gain equal to the premium received at the time the option was written. If a purchased option expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a capital loss equal to the premium paid. Prior to the earlier of exercise or expiration, an exchange traded option may be closed out by an offsetting purchase or sale of an option of the same series (type, exchange, reference instrument, exercise price, and expiration). A capital gain will be realized from a closing purchase transaction if the cost of the closing option is less than the premium received from writing the option, or, if it is more, a capital loss will be realized. If the premium received from a closing sale transaction is more than the premium paid to purchase the option, the Fund will realize a capital gain or, if it is less, the Fund will realize a capital loss. The principal factors affecting the market value of a put or a call option include supply and demand, the current market price of the reference instrument in relation to the exercise price of the option, the volatility of the reference instrument, and the time remaining until the expiration date. There can be no assurance that a closing purchase or sale transaction can be consummated when desired. |
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Straddles are a combination of a call and a put written on the same reference instrument. A straddle is deemed to be covered when sufficient assets are deposited to meet the Fund’s immediate obligations. The same liquid assets may be used to cover both the call and put options where the exercise price of the call and put are the same, or the exercise price of the call is higher than that of the put. The Fund may also buy and write call options on the same reference instrument to cover its obligations. Because such combined options positions involve multiple trades, they result in higher transaction costs and may be more difficult to open or close. In an equity collar, the Fund simultaneously writes a call option and purchases a put option on the same instrument. |
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To the extent that the Fund writes a call option on an instrument it holds and intends to use such instrument as the sole means of “covering” its obligation under the call option, the Fund has, in return for the premium on the option, given up the opportunity to profit from a price increase in the instrument above the exercise price during the option period, but, as long as its obligation under such call option continues, has retained the risk of loss should the value of the reference instrument decline. If the Fund were unable to close out such a call option, it would not be able to sell the instrument unless the option expired without exercise. Uncovered calls have speculative characteristics and are riskier than covered calls because there is no instrument or cover held by the Fund that can act as a partial hedge. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund78SAI dated April 1, 2021
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The writer of an option has no control over the time when it may be required to fulfill its obligation under the option. Once an option writer has received an exercise notice, it cannot effect a closing purchase transaction in order to terminate its obligation under the option and must deliver the underlying reference instrument at the exercise price. If a put or call option purchased by the Fund is not sold when it has remaining value, and if the market price of the underlying security remains equal to or greater than the exercise price (in the case of a put), or remains less than or equal to the exercise price (in the case of a call), the Fund will lose the premium it paid for the option. Furthermore, if trading restrictions or suspensions are imposed on options markets, the Fund may be unable to close out a position. |
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Options positions are marked to market daily. The value of options is affected by changes in the value and dividend rates of the securities underlying the option or represented in the index underlying the option, changes in interest rates, changes in the actual or perceived volatility of the relevant index or market and the remaining time to the options’ expiration, as well as trading conditions in the options market. The hours of trading for options may not conform to the hours during which the underlying securities are traded. To the extent that the options markets close before the markets for the underlying securities, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that would not be reflected concurrently in the options markets. |
Option Strategy |
The Fund implements the Option Strategy or Enhancement Strategy, as further described under “Investment Objective & Principal Policies and Risks” in the Prospectus, whereby it writes a series of call and put option spread combinations on the S&P 500® Composite Stock Price Index (S&P 500® Index) and/or a proxy for the S&P 500® Index (such as SPDR Trust Series I units (SPDRs)). |
Participation in the ReFlow Liquidity Program |
The Fund may participate in the ReFlow liquidity program, which is designed to provide an alternative liquidity source for mutual funds experiencing net redemptions of their shares. Pursuant to the program, ReFlow Fund, LLC (“ReFlow”) provides participating mutual funds with a source of cash to meet net shareholder redemptions by standing ready each business day to purchase fund shares up to the value of the net shares redeemed by other shareholders that are to settle the next business day. Following purchases of fund shares, ReFlow then generally redeems those shares when the fund experiences net sales, at the end of a maximum holding period determined by ReFlow (currently 14 days) or at other times at ReFlow’s discretion. While ReFlow holds fund shares, it will have the same rights and privileges with respect to those shares as any other shareholder. For use of the ReFlow service, a fund pays a fee to ReFlow each time it purchases fund shares, calculated by applying to the purchase amount a fee rate determined through an automated daily auction among participating mutual funds. Such fee is allocated among a fund’s share classes based on relative net assets. ReFlow’s purchases of fund shares through the liquidity program are made on an investment-blind basis without regard to the fund’s investment objective, policies or anticipated performance. In accordance with federal securities laws, ReFlow is prohibited from acquiring more than 3% of the outstanding voting securities of a fund. ReFlow will purchase Class I or Institutional Class shares (or, if applicable Class A or Investor Class shares) at net asset value and will not be subject to any sales charge (in the case of Class A shares), investment minimum or redemption fee applicable to such shares. ReFlow will periodically redeem its entire share position in the Fund and request that such redemption be met in kind in accordance with the Fund’s redemption-in-kind policies described under “Redeeming Shares” in the Prospectus. Investments in a fund by ReFlow in connection with the ReFlow liquidity program are not subject to the two round-trips within 90 days limitation described in “Restrictions on Excessive Trading and Market Timing” under “Purchasing Shares” in the Prospectus. The investment adviser believes that the program assists in stabilizing the Fund’s net assets to the benefit of the Fund and its shareholders. To the extent the Fund’s net assets do not decline, the investment adviser may also benefit. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund79SAI dated April 1, 2021
Pooled Investment Vehicles |
The Fund may invest in pooled investment vehicles including other open-end or closed-end investment companies affiliated or unaffiliated with the investment adviser, exchange-traded funds (described herein) and other collective investment pools in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act. Closed-end investment company securities are usually traded on an exchange. The demand for a closed-end fund’s securities is independent of the demand for the underlying portfolio assets, and accordingly, such securities can trade at a discount from, or a premium over, their net asset value. The Fund generally will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management fees paid by a pooled investment vehicle in which it invests in addition to the investment advisory fee paid by the Fund. |
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. The Fund’s 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. |
Preferred Stock |
Preferred stock represents an equity interest in a corporation, company or trust that has a higher claim on the assets and earnings than common stock. Preferred stock usually has limited voting rights. Preferred stock involves credit risk, which is the risk that a preferred stock will decline in price, or fail to pay dividends when expected, because the issuer experiences a decline in its financial status. A company’s preferred stock generally pays dividends after the company makes the required payments to holders of its bonds and other debt instruments but before dividend payments are made to common stockholders. However, preferred stock may not pay scheduled dividends or dividends payments may be in arrears. The value of preferred stock may react more strongly than bonds and other debt instruments to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Certain preferred stocks may be convertible to common stock. See “Convertible Securities” and “Contingent Convertible Securities.” Preferred stock may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a predetermined price. Because they may make regular income payments, preferred stocks may be considered fixed-income securities for purposes of a Fund’s investment restrictions. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund80SAI dated April 1, 2021
Real Estate Investments |
Real estate investments, including real estate investment trusts (“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 a magnified effect to the extent that investments concentrate 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 indirectly will bear REIT expenses in addition to its own expenses. Private REITs are unlisted, which may make them difficult to value and less liquid. Moreover, private REITs are generally exempt from 1933 Act registration and, as such, the amount of public information available with respect to private REITs may be less extensive than that available for publicly traded REITs. Shares of REITs may trade less frequently and, therefore, are subject to more erratic price movements than securities of larger issuers. REITs are also subject to credit, market, liquidity and interest rate risks. Effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act generally allows individuals and certain other non-corporate entities, such as partnerships, a deduction for 20% of qualified REIT dividends. Proposed regulations on which the Fund may rely allow a regulated investment company to pass the character of its qualified REIT dividends through to its shareholders provided certain holding period requirements are met. See “Taxes” for additional information. REITs may issue debt securities to fund their activities. The value of these debt securities may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the REIT, the creditworthiness of the REIT, interest rates, and tax and regulatory requirements, among other things. |
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 maturing in more than seven days that the investment adviser believes may not be terminated within seven days at approximately the amount at which the Fund has valued the agreements are considered illiquid securities. 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. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund81SAI dated April 1, 2021
Residual Interest Bonds |
The Fund may invest in residual interest bonds in a trust that holds municipal securities. The interest rate payable on a residual interest bond bears an inverse relationship to the interest rate on another security issued by the trust. Because changes in the interest rate on the other security inversely affect the interest paid on the residual interest bond, the value and income of a residual interest bond is generally more volatile than that of a fixed rate bond. Residual interest bonds have interest rate adjustment formulas that generally reduce or, in the extreme, eliminate the interest paid to the Fund when short-term interest rates rise, and increase the interest paid to the Fund 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. Although volatile, residual interest bonds typically offer the potential for yields exceeding the yields available on fixed rate bonds with comparable credit quality and maturity. These securities usually permit the investor 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. 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 relating to a residual interest bond held by the Fund. Such agreements commit the Fund to reimburse the difference between the liquidation value of the underlying security (which is the basis of the residual interest bond) and the principal amount due to the holders of the floating rate security issued in conjunction with the residual interest bond upon the termination of the trust issuing 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. The Fund’s investments in residual interest bonds and similar securities described in the Prospectus and this SAI will not be considered borrowing for purposes of the Fund’s restrictions on borrowing described herein and in the Prospectus. On December 10, 2013, five U.S. federal agencies published final rules implementing section 619 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Volcker Rule”). The Volcker Rule prohibits banking entities from engaging in proprietary trading of certain instruments and limits such entities’ investments in, and relationships with, covered funds, as defined in the rules. The Volcker Rule precludes banking entities and their affiliates from (i) sponsoring residual interest bond programs as presently structured and (ii) continuing relationships with or services for existing residual interest bond programs. The effects of the Volcker Rule may make it more difficult for the Fund to maintain current or desired levels of income. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund82SAI dated April 1, 2021
Restricted Securities |
Restricted securities cannot be sold to the public without registration under the 1933 Act. Unless registered for sale, restricted securities can be sold only in privately negotiated transactions or pursuant to an exemption from registration. Restricted securities may be considered illiquid and subject to the Fund’s limitation on illiquid securities. Restricted securities may involve a high degree of business and financial risk which may result in substantial losses. The securities may be less liquid than publicly traded securities. Although these securities may be resold in privately negotiated transactions, the prices realized from these sales could be less than those originally paid by the Fund. The Fund may invest in restricted securities, including securities initially offered and sold without registration pursuant to Rule 144A (“Rule 144A Securities”) and securities of U.S. and non-U.S. issuers initially offered and sold outside the United States without registration with the SEC pursuant to Regulation S (“Regulation S Securities”) under the 1933 Act. Rule 144A Securities and Regulation S Securities generally may be traded freely among certain qualified institutional investors, such as the Fund, and non-U.S. persons, but resale to a broader base of investors in the United States may be permitted only in much more limited circumstances. The Fund also may purchase restricted securities that are not eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A or Regulation S. The Fund may acquire such securities through private placement transactions, directly from the issuer or from security holders, generally at higher yields or on terms more favorable to investors than comparable publicly traded securities. However, the restrictions on resale of such securities may make it difficult for the Fund to dispose of them at the time considered most advantageous and/or may involve expenses that would not be incurred in the sale of securities that were freely marketable. Risks associated with restricted securities include the potential obligation to pay all or part of the registration expenses in order to sell certain restricted securities. A considerable period of time may elapse between the time of the decision to sell a security and the time the Fund may be permitted to sell it under an effective registration statement and/or after an applicable waiting period. If adverse conditions were to develop during this period, the Fund might obtain a price that is less favorable than the price that was prevailing at the time it decided to sell. See also “Illiquid Investments.” |
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 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. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund83SAI dated April 1, 2021
Rights and Warrants |
See also “Derivative Instruments and Related Risks” herein. A right is a privilege granted to existing shareholders of a corporation to subscribe for shares of a new issue of common stock before it is issued. Rights normally have a short life, usually two to four weeks, are freely transferable and entitle the holder to buy the new common stock at a lower price than the public offering price. Warrants are securities that are typically issued together with a debt security or preferred stock and that give the holder the right to buy a proportionate amount of common stock at a specified price. Warrants are freely transferable and are often traded on major exchanges. Unlike rights, warrants normally have a life that is measured in years and entitle the holder to buy common stock of a company at a price that is usually higher than the market price at the time the warrant is issued. Corporations often issue warrants to make the accompanying debt security more attractive. Warrants and rights may entail greater risks than certain other types of investments. Generally, rights and warrants do not carry the right to receive dividends or exercise voting rights with respect to the underlying securities, and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. In addition, their value does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities, and they cease to have value if they are not exercised on or before their expiration date. If the market price of the underlying stock does not exceed the exercise price during the life of the warrant or right, the warrant or right will expire worthless. (Canadian special warrants issued in private placements prior to a public offering are not considered warrants.) |
Royalty Bonds |
Royalty bonds include debt securities collateralized by pharmaceutical royalty interests (“Royalty Bonds”). Pharmaceutical royalty streams are created when the owner of a patent on a pharmaceutical product licenses the discovery to a larger commercial entity for further development, while maintaining a royalty interest on future sales of the product. Royalty Bonds are created when the royalty owner borrows against the royalty stream by issuing debt collateralized by the royalty. Royalty Bond investors receive interest and principal payments collateralized and funded by the stream of royalty payments. Royalty Bonds are typically offered in a private placement pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the 1933 Act and are restricted as to resale. Because Royalty Bonds are restricted securities and because of the proprietary nature of the underlying pharmaceutical product licenses, it may take longer to liquidate Royalty Bond positions than would be the case for other securities. Royalty Bonds are also subject to the industry risks associated with health sciences companies. |
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 into the loan. The Fund invests cash collateral in an unaffiliated money market fund that operates in compliance with the requirements of Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act and seeks to maintain a stable $1.00 net asset value per share. 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 borrower 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 will use its reasonable efforts to 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. See “Taxes” for information on the tax treatment of payments in lieu of dividends received pursuant to securities lending arrangements. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund84SAI dated April 1, 2021
Senior Loans |
Senior Loans are loans that are senior in repayment priority to other debt of the borrower. Senior Loans generally pay interest that floats, adjusts or varies 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. 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. |
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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 borrower’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 borrower’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. |
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Fees. The Fund may receive a facility fee when it buys a Senior Loan, and pay a facility fee 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. |
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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 borrower 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 borrower, the Fund must rely on the Agent and the other Loan Investors to use appropriate remedies against the borrower. The Agent is typically responsible for monitoring compliance with covenants contained in the loan agreement based upon reports prepared by the borrower. The typical practice of an Agent or a Loan Investor in relying exclusively or primarily on reports from the borrower may involve the risk of fraud by the borrower. It is unclear whether an investment in a Senior Loan offers the securities law protections against fraud and misrepresentation. |
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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 (as defined below), similar risks may arise. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund85SAI dated April 1, 2021
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Additional Information. The Fund may purchase and retain in its portfolio a Senior Loan where the borrower 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 in ad-hoc committees formed by creditors to negotiate with the management of financially troubled borrowers. 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 in 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. |
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In some instances, other accounts managed by the investment adviser may hold other securities issued by borrowers 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 borrower deteriorates, the interests of holders of these other securities may conflict with the interests of the holders of the borrower’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. See “Potential Conflicts of Interest.” |
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The Fund may acquire warrants and other equity securities as part of a unit combining a Senior Loan and equity securities of a borrower 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 borrower, 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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The Fund will generally acquire participations only 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 S&P or Baa or P- 3 or higher by Moody’s or comparably rated by another nationally recognized statistical ratings organization) or determined by the investment adviser to be of comparable quality. |
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For additional disclosure relating to investing in loans (including Senior Loans), see “Loans” above. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund86SAI dated April 1, 2021
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. |
Short-Term Trading |
Fixed-income securities 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. |
Significant Exposure to Health Sciences Companies |
Because the Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences, and health care equipment and services companies, the value of Fund shares may be affected by developments that adversely affect such companies and may fluctuate more than that of a fund that invests more broadly. Many health sciences companies are subject to substantial governmental regulations that can affect their prospects. Changes in governmental policies, such as reductions in the funding of third-party payment programs, may have a material effect on the demand for particular health care products and services. Regulatory approvals (often entailing lengthy application and testing procedures) are also generally required before new drugs and certain medical devices and procedures may be introduced. Many of the products and services of companies engaged in medical research and health care are also subject to relatively high risks of rapid obsolescence caused by progressive scientific and technological advances. Additionally, such products are subject to risks such as the appearance of toxic effects following commercial introduction and manufacturing difficulties. The enforcement of patent, trademark and other intellectual property laws will affect the value of many such companies. Health sciences companies include companies that offer limited products or services or that are at the research and developmental stage with no marketable or approved products or technologies. |
Significant Exposure to 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, may be more difficult and may take longer to liquidate at fair value than would be the case for the publicly traded securities of a large company. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund87SAI dated April 1, 2021
Significant Exposure to Utilities and Financial Services Sectors |
Because the Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in the utilities and financial services sectors, the value of Fund shares may be affected by events that adversely affect those sectors and may fluctuate more than that of a fund with broader exposure. The utilities sector includes companies engaged in the manufacture, production, generation, transmission, sale and distribution of water, gas and electric energy. Companies in the financial services sector include, for example, commercial banks, savings and loan associations, brokerage and investment companies, insurance companies, and consumer and industrial finance companies. Companies in the utilities sector may be sensitive to changes in interest rates and other economic conditions, governmental regulation, uncertainties created by deregulation, power shortages and surpluses, the price and availability of fuel, environmental protection or energy conservation practices, the level and demand for services, and the cost and potential business disruption of technological developments. Companies in the financial services sector are also subject to extensive government regulation and can be significantly affected by the availability and cost of capital funds, changes in interest rates, the rate of corporate and consumer debt defaults, and price competition. |
Stripped Securities |
Stripped Securities (“Strips”) may be issued by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities, and may also be issued by private originators or investors, including depository institutions, banks, investment banks and special purpose subsidiaries of these entities. Strips are usually structured with classes that receive different proportions of the interest and principal distributions from an underlying asset or pool of underlying assets. Strips are particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates, which may impact the frequency of principal payments (including prepayments) on the underlying assets or pool of underlying assets. Some structures may have a class that receives only interest from the underlying assets, an interest-only (“IO”) class, while another class may receive only principal, a principal-only (“PO”) class. IO and PO Strips may be purchased for their return and/or hedging characteristics. Because of their structure, IO Strips may move differently than typical fixed-income securities in relation to changes in interest rates. IO Strips tend to decrease in value if prepayments are greater than anticipated and increase in value if prepayments are less than anticipated. Conversely, PO Strips tend to increase in value if prepayments are greater than anticipated and decline if prepayments are less than anticipated. While the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities may guarantee the full repayment of principal on Strips they issue, repayment of interest is guaranteed only while the underlying assets or pools of assets are outstanding. To the extent the Fund invests in Strips, rapid changes in the rate of prepayments may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s performance. In addition, the secondary market for Strips may be less liquid than that for other securities. Certain Strips may also present certain operational and/or valuation risks. |
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. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund88SAI dated April 1, 2021
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”). |
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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 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. To limit the counterparty risk involved in swap agreements, the Fund will only enter into swap agreements with counterparties that meet certain criteria. Although there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to do so, the Fund may be able to reduce or eliminate its exposure under a swap agreement either by assignment or other disposition, or by entering into an offsetting swap agreement with the same party or another creditworthy party. The Fund may have limited ability to eliminate its exposure under a credit default swap if the credit of the reference instrument has declined. |
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The swaps market was largely unregulated prior to the enactment of the Dodd-Frank Act, which was enacted in 2010 in response to turmoil in the financial markets and other market events. Among other things, the Dodd-Frank Act sets forth a new regulatory framework for certain OTC derivatives, such as swaps, in which the Fund may invest. The Dodd-Frank Act requires many swap transactions to be executed on registered exchanges or through swap execution facilities, cleared through a regulated clearinghouse, and publicly reported. In addition, many market participants are now regulated as swap dealers or major swap participants and are subject to certain minimum capital and margin requirements and business conduct standards. The statutory requirements of the Dodd-Frank Act are being implemented primarily through rules and regulations adopted by the SEC and/or the CFTC. There is a prescribed phase-in period during which most of the mandated rulemaking and regulations are being implemented, and temporary exemptions from certain rules and regulations have been granted so that current trading practices will not be unduly disrupted during the transition period. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund89SAI dated April 1, 2021
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Currently, central clearing is only required for certain market participants trading certain instruments, although central clearing for additional instruments is expected to be implemented by the CFTC until the majority of the swaps market is ultimately subject to central clearing. In addition, uncleared OTC swaps are subject to regulatory collateral requirements that may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to enter into swaps in the OTC market. These developments may cause the Fund to terminate new or existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such instruments at an inopportune time. Until the mandated rulemaking and regulations are implemented completely, it will not be possible to determine the complete impact of the Dodd-Frank Act and related regulations on the Fund, and the establishment of a centralized exchange or market for swap transactions may not result in swaps being easier to value or trade. However, it is expected that swap dealers, major market participants, and swap counterparties will experience other new and/or additional regulations, requirements, compliance burdens, and associated costs. The Dodd-Frank Act and rules promulgated thereunder may exert a negative effect on the Fund’s ability to meet its investment objective, either through limits or requirements imposed on the Fund or its counterparties. The swap market could be disrupted or limited as a result of this legislation, and the new requirements may increase the cost of the Fund’s investments and of doing business, which could adversely affect the ability of the Fund to buy or sell OTC derivatives. |
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Regulatory bodies outside the U.S. have also passed, proposed, or may propose in the future, legislation similar to Dodd-Frank Act or other legislation that could increase the costs of participating in, or otherwise adversely impact the liquidity of, participating in the commodities markets. Global prudential regulators issued final rules that will require banks subject to their supervision to exchange variation and initial margin in respect of their obligations arising under uncleared swap agreements. The CFTC adopted similar rules that apply to CFTC-registered swap dealers that are not banks. Such rules generally require a Fund to segregate additional assets in order to meet the new variation and initial margin requirements when they enter into uncleared swap agreements. The variation margin requirements are now effective and the initial margin requirements are being phased-in based on average daily aggregate notional amount of covered swaps between swap dealers and swap entities. In addition, regulations adopted by global prudential regulators that are now in effect require certain prudentially regulated entities and certain of their affiliates and subsidiaries (including swap dealers) to include in their derivatives contracts, terms that delay or restrict the rights of counterparties (such as the Fund) to terminate such contracts, foreclose upon collateral, exercise other default rights or restrict transfers of credit support in the event that the prudentially regulated entity and/or its affiliates are subject to certain types of resolution or insolvency proceedings. Similar regulations and laws have been adopted in non-U.S. jurisdictions that may apply to the Fund’s counterparties located in those jurisdictions. It is possible that these requirements, as well as potential additional related government regulation, could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to terminate existing derivatives contracts, exercise default rights or satisfy obligations owed to it with collateral received under such contracts. |
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Swap agreements include (but are not limited to): |
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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. |
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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. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund90SAI dated April 1, 2021
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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). |
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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. |
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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. |
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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 federal income tax requirements may limit the Fund’s ability to engage in certain interest rate transactions. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund91SAI dated April 1, 2021
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Commodity Index-Linked Swaps. Commodity index-linked swap agreements involve the exchange by the Fund with another party of payments dependent upon the price of the underlying commodity index. Commodity index-linked swaps may be used to obtain exposure to a particular commodity or commodity index without owning or taking physical custody of such commodity. |
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. |
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 that are treated differently for federal income tax purposes: price appreciation, distributions of qualified dividend income, distributions of other investment income, and distributions of realized short-term and long-term capital gains. 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. 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 20%. 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. 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. |
Trust Certificates |
Trust certificates are investments in a limited purpose trust or other vehicle formed under state law. Trust certificates in turn invest in instruments, such as credit default swaps, interest rate swaps, preferred securities and other securities, in order to customize the risk/return profile of a particular security. Like an investment in a bond, investments in trust certificates 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 certificate. However, these payments are conditioned on the trust’s receipt of payments from, and the trust’s potential obligations to, the counterparties to the derivative instruments and other securities in which the trust invests. Investments in these instruments are indirectly subject to the risks associated with derivative instruments, including, among others, credit risk, default or similar event risk, counterparty risk, interest rate risk, leverage risk and management risk. It is expected that the trusts that issue credit-linked trust certificates will constitute “private” investment companies, exempt from registration under the 1940 Act. Although the trusts are typically private investment companies, they are generally not actively managed. It is also expected that the certificates will be exempt from registration under the 1933 Act. Accordingly, there may be no established trading market for the certificates and they may constitute illiquid investments. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund92SAI dated April 1, 2021
U.S. Government Securities |
U.S. Government securities include: (1) U.S. Treasury obligations, which differ in their interest rates, maturities and times of issuance, including: U.S. Treasury bills (maturities of one year or less); U.S. Treasury notes (maturities of one year to ten years); and U.S. Treasury bonds (generally maturities of greater than ten years); and (2) obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies and instrumentalities, which are supported by any of the following: (a) the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury; (b) the right of the issuer to borrow an amount limited to a specific line of credit from the U.S. Treasury; (c) discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase certain obligations of the U.S. Government agency or instrumentality; or (d) the credit of the agency or instrumentality. U.S. Government securities also include any other security or agreement collateralized or otherwise secured by U.S. Government securities. Agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. Government include but are not limited to: Farmers Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Federal Housing Administration, Federal Land Banks, Federal Financing Bank, Central Bank for Cooperatives, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, Farm Credit Bank System, Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Federal National Mortgage Association, General Services Administration, Government National Mortgage Association, Student Loan Marketing Association, United States Postal Service, Maritime Administration, Small Business Administration, Tennessee Valley Authority, Washington D.C. Armory Board and any other enterprise established or sponsored by the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government generally is not obligated to provide support to its instrumentalities. The principal of and/or interest on certain U.S. Government securities could be: (a) payable in foreign currencies rather than U.S. dollars; or (b) increased or diminished as a result of changes in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to the value of foreign currencies. The value of such portfolio securities denominated in foreign currencies may be affected favorably by changes in the exchange rate between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar. |
Unlisted Securities |
Unlisted securities are neither listed on a stock exchange nor traded over-the-counter. Unlisted securities may include investments in new and early stage companies, which may involve a high degree of business and financial risk that can result in substantial losses and may be considered speculative. Such securities may be deemed to be illiquid. Because of the absence of any public trading market for these investments, it may take longer to liquidate these positions than would be the case for publicly traded securities. Although these securities may be resold in privately negotiated transactions, the prices realized from these sales could be less than those originally paid or less than what may be considered the fair value of such securities. Furthermore, issuers whose securities are not publicly traded may not be subject to public disclosure and other investor protection requirements applicable to publicly traded securities. If such securities are required to be registered under the securities laws of one or more jurisdictions before being resold, the Fund may be required to bear the expenses of registration. In addition, in foreign jurisdictions any capital gains realized on the sale of such securities may be subject to higher rates of foreign taxation than taxes payable on the sale of listed securities. |
Variable Rate Instruments |
Variable rate instruments provide for adjustments in the interest or dividend rate payable on the instrument at specified intervals (daily, weekly, monthly, semiannually, etc.) based on market conditions, credit ratings or interest rates and the investor may have the right to “put” the security back to the issuer or its agent. Variable rate instruments normally provide that the holder can demand payment of the instrument on short notice at par with accrued interest. These instruments may be secured by letters of credit or other support arrangements provided by banks. To the extent that such letters of credit or other arrangements constitute an unconditional guarantee of the issuer’s obligations, a bank may be treated as the issuer of a security for the purposes of complying with the diversification requirements set forth in Section 5(b) of the 1940 Act and Rule 5b-2 thereunder. The Fund may use these instruments as cash equivalents pending longer term investment of its funds. The rate adjustment features may limit the extent to which the market value of the instruments will fluctuate. |
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 beyond normal settlement times) 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. |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund93SAI dated April 1, 2021
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund94SAI dated April 1, 2021
APPENDIX A
Class A Fees and Ownership
Sales Charges and Distribution and Service Fees. For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2020, the following table shows (1) total sales charges paid by Class A, (2) sales charges paid to financial intermediaries, (3) sales charges paid to the principal underwriter, (4) approximate CDSC payments to the principal underwriter, (5) total distribution and service fees paid by Class A, and (6) distribution and service fees paid to financial intermediaries. Distribution and service fees that were not paid to financial intermediaries were retained by the principal underwriter.
Total Sales
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Sales Charges to
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Sales Charges to
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CDSC Paid to
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Total Distribution
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Distribution and Service Fees
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$250 |
$206 |
$44 |
$0 |
$3,412 |
$3,286 |
For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2019 and fiscal period ended November 30, 2018, the following total sales charges were paid on sales of Class A, of which the principal underwriter received the following amounts. The balance of such amounts was paid to financial intermediaries.
November 30, 2019
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November 30, 2019
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November 30, 2018
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November 30, 2018
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$725 |
$102 |
$4,971 |
$792 |
Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities. At March 1, 2021, the Trustees and officers of the Trust, as a group, owned in the aggregate less than 1% of the outstanding shares of this Class of the Fund. In addition, as of the same date, the following person(s) held the share percentage indicated below, which was owned either (i) beneficially by such person(s) or (ii) of record by such person(s) on behalf of customers who are the beneficial owners of such shares and as to which such record owner(s) may exercise voting rights under certain limited circumstances:
National Financial Services LLC |
Jersey City, NJ |
65.12% |
Pershing LLC |
Jersey City, NJ |
12.70% |
TD Ameritrade |
Omaha, NE |
8.97% |
Beneficial owners of 25% or more of this Class are presumed to be in control of this Class of the Fund for purposes of voting on certain matters submitted to shareholders.
To the knowledge of the Trust, no other person owned of record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of this Class of the Fund as of such date.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund95SAI dated April 1, 2021
APPENDIX B
Class I Ownership
Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities. At March 1, 2021, the Trustees and officers of the Trust, as a group, owned in the aggregate less than 1% of the outstanding shares of this Class of the Fund. In addition, as of the same date, the following person(s) held the share percentage indicated below, which was owned either (i) beneficially by such person(s) or (ii) of record by such person(s) on behalf of customers who are the beneficial owners of such shares and as to which such record owner(s) may exercise voting rights under certain limited circumstances:
Beneficial owners of 25% or more of this Class are presumed to be in control of this Class of the Fund for purposes of voting on certain matters submitted to shareholders.
To the knowledge of the Trust, no other person owned of record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of this Class of the Fund as of such date.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund96SAI dated April 1, 2021
APPENDIX C
Eaton Vance Funds
Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures
I. Overview
The Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Eaton Vance Funds1 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:
·“Fund” means each registered investment company sponsored by the Eaton Vance organization; and
·“Adviser” means the adviser or sub-adviser responsible for the day-to-day management of all or a portion of the Fund’s assets.
II. Delegation of Proxy Voting Responsibilities
The Board hereby delegates to the Adviser responsibility for voting the Fund’s proxies as described in this Policy. In this connection, the Adviser is required to provide the Board with a copy of its proxy voting policies and procedures (“Adviser Procedures”) and all Fund proxies will be voted in accordance with the Adviser Procedures, provided that in the event a material conflict of interest arises with respect to a proxy to be voted for the Fund (as described in Section IV below) the Adviser shall follow the process for voting such proxy as described in Section IV below.
The Adviser is required to report any material change to the Adviser Procedures to the Board in the manner set forth in Section V below. In addition, the Board will review the Adviser Procedures annually.
III. Delegation of Proxy Voting Disclosure Responsibilities
Pursuant to Rule 30b1-4 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), the Fund is required to file Form N-PX no later than August 31st of each year. On Form N-PX, the Fund is 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 on the matter and whether it voted for or against management.
To facilitate the filing of Form N-PX for the Fund:
·The Adviser is required to record, compile and transmit in a timely manner all data required to be filed on Form N-PX for the Fund that it manages. Such data shall be transmitted to Eaton Vance Management, which acts as administrator to the Fund (the “Administrator”) or the third party service provider designated by the Administrator; and
·the Administrator is required to file Form N-PX on behalf of the Fund with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) as required by the 1940 Act. The Administrator may delegate the filing to a third party service party provided each such filing is reviewed and approved by the Administrator.
IV. Conflicts of Interest
The Board expects the Adviser, as a fiduciary to the Fund it manages, to put the interests of the Fund and its shareholders above those of the Adviser. When required to vote a proxy for the Fund, the Adviser may have material business relationships with the issuer soliciting the proxy that could give rise to a potential material conflict of interest for the Adviser.2 In the event such a material conflict of interest arises, 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, or any committee, sub-committee or group of Independent Trustees identified by the Board (as long as such committee, sub-committee or group contains at least two or more Independent Trustees) (the “Board Members”), concerning the material conflict.3 For ease of communicating with the Board Members, the Adviser is required to provide the foregoing notice to the Fund’s Chief Legal Officer who will then notify and facilitate a consultation with the Board Members.
Once the Board Members have been notified of the material conflict:
·They shall convene a meeting to review and consider all relevant materials related to the proxies involved. This meeting shall be convened within 3 business days, provided that it an effort will be made to convene the meeting sooner if the proxy must be voted in less than 3 business days;
·In considering such proxies, the Adviser shall make available all materials requested by the Board Members and make reasonably available appropriate personnel to discuss the matter upon request.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund97SAI dated April 1, 2021
·The Board Members will then instruct the Adviser on the appropriate course of action with respect to the proxy at issue.
If the Board Members are unable to meet and the failure to vote a proxy would have a material adverse impact on the Fund(s) involved, the Adviser will have the right to vote such proxy, provided that it discloses the existence of the material conflict to the Chairperson of the Board as soon as practicable and to the Board at its next meeting. Any determination regarding the voting of proxies of the Fund that is made by the Board Members shall be deemed to be a good faith determination regarding the voting of proxies by the full Board.
V. Reports and Review
The Administrator shall make copies of each Form N-PX filed on behalf of the Fund available for the Boards’ review upon the Boards’ request. The Administrator (with input from the Adviser for the Fund) shall also provide any reports reasonably requested by the Board regarding the proxy voting records of the Fund.
The Adviser shall report any material changes to the Adviser Procedures to the Board as soon as practicable and the Boards will review the Adviser Procedures annually.
The Adviser also shall report any material changes to the Adviser Procedures to the Fund Chief Legal Officer prior to implementing such changes in order to enable the Administrator to effectively coordinate the Fund’s disclosure relating to the Adviser Procedures.
To the extent requested by the Commission, the Policy and the Adviser Procedures shall be appended to the Fund’s statement of additional information included in its registration statement.
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1The Eaton Vance Funds may be organized as trusts or corporations. For ease of reference, the Funds may be referred to herein as Trusts and the Funds’ Board of Trustees or Board of Directors may be referred to collectively herein as the Board.
2An Adviser is expected to maintain a process for identifying a potential material conflict of interest. As an example only, such potential conflicts may arise when the issuer is a client of the Adviser and generates a significant amount of fees to the Adviser or the issuer is a distributor of the Adviser’s products.
3If a material conflict of interest exists with respect to a particular proxy and the proxy voting procedures of the relevant Adviser require that proxies are to be voted in accordance with the recommendation of a third party proxy voting vendor, the requirements of this Section IV shall only apply if the Adviser intends to vote such proxy in a manner inconsistent with such third party recommendation.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund98SAI dated April 1, 2021
APPENDIX D
EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT
BOSTON MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH
EATON VANCE WATEROAK ADVISORS
EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT (INTERNATIONAL) LIMITED
EATON VANCE GLOBAL ADVISORS LIMITED
EATON VANCE ADVISERS INTERNATIONAL LTD.
PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
I. Introduction
Eaton Vance Management, Boston Management and Research, Eaton Vance WaterOak Advisors, Eaton Vance Management (International) Limited, Eaton Vance Global Advisors Limited and Eaton Vance Advisers International Ltd. (each an “Adviser” and collectively the “Advisers”) have each adopted and implemented policies and procedures that each Adviser believes are reasonably designed to ensure that proxies are voted in the best interest of clients, in accordance with its fiduciary duties and, to the extent applicable, Rule 206(4)-6 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The Advisers’ authority to vote the proxies of their clients is established by their advisory contracts or similar documentation. These proxy policies and procedures are intended to reflect current requirements applicable to investment advisers registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). These procedures may change from time to time.
II. Overview
Each Adviser 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, each Adviser 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 done 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). Each Adviser has established guidelines (“Guidelines”) as described below and generally will utilize such Guidelines in voting proxies on behalf of its clients. The Guidelines are largely based on those developed by the Agent (defined below) but also reflect input from the Global Proxy Group (defined below) and other Adviser investment professionals and are believed to be consistent with the views of the Adviser on the various types of proxy proposals. 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. The Guidelines provide a framework for analysis and decision making but do not address all potential issues.
Except as noted below, each Adviser will vote any proxies received by a client for which it has sole investment discretion through a third-party proxy voting service (“Agent”) in accordance with the Guidelines in a manner that is reasonably designed to eliminate any potential conflicts of interest, as described more fully below. The Agent is currently Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. Where applicable, proxies will be voted in accordance with client-specific guidelines or, in the case of an Eaton Vance Fund that is sub-advised, pursuant to the sub-adviser’s proxy voting policies and procedures. Although an Adviser retains the services of the Agent for research and voting recommendations, the Adviser remains responsible for proxy voting decisions.
III. Roles and Responsibilities
A. Proxy Administrator
The Proxy Administrator and/or her designee coordinate the consideration of proxies referred back to the Adviser by the Agent, and otherwise administers these Procedures. In the Proxy Administrator’s absence, another employee of the Adviser may perform the Proxy Administrator’s responsibilities as deemed appropriate by the Global Proxy Group. The Proxy Administrator also may designate another employee to perform certain of the Proxy Administrator’s duties hereunder, subject to the oversight of the Proxy Administrator.
B. Agent
The Agent is responsible for coordinating with the clients’ custodians and the Advisers to ensure that all proxy materials received by the custodians relating to the portfolio securities are processed in a timely fashion. Each Adviser shall instruct the custodian for its clients to deliver proxy ballots and related materials to the Agent. The Agent shall vote and/or refer all proxies in accordance with the Guidelines. The Agent shall retain a record of all proxy votes handled by the Agent. With respect to each Eaton Vance Fund memorialized therein, such record must reflect all of the information required to be disclosed in the Fund’s Form N-PX pursuant to Rule 30b1-4 under the Investment
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund99SAI dated April 1, 2021
Company Act of 1940, to the extent applicable. In addition, the Agent is responsible for maintaining copies of all proxy statements received by issuers and to promptly provide such materials to an Adviser upon request.
Subject to the oversight of the Advisers, the Agent shall establish and maintain adequate internal controls and policies in connection with the provision of proxy voting services to the Advisers, including methods to reasonably ensure that its analysis and recommendations are not influenced by a conflict of interest, and shall disclose such controls and policies to the Advisers when and as provided for herein. Unless otherwise specified, references herein to recommendations of the Agent shall refer to those in which no conflict of interest has been identified. The Advisers are responsible for the ongoing oversight of the Agent as contemplated by SEC Staff Legal Bulletin No. 20 (June 30, 2014) and interpretive guidance issued by the SEC in August 2019 regarding proxy voting responsibilities of investment advisers (Release Nos. IA-5325 and IC-33605). Such oversight currently may include one or more of the following and may change from time to time:
·periodic review of Agent’s proxy voting platform and reporting capabilities (including recordkeeping);
·periodic review of a sample of ballots for accuracy and correct application of the Guidelines;
·periodic meetings with Agent’s client services team;
·periodic in-person and/or web-based due diligence meetings;
·receipt and review of annual certifications received from the Agent;
·annual review of due diligence materials provided by the Agent, including review of procedures and practices regarding potential conflicts of interests;
·periodic review of relevant changes to Agent’s business; and/or
·periodic review of the following to the extent not included in due diligence materials provided by the Agent: (i) Agent’s staffing, personnel and/or technology; (ii) Agent’s process for seeking timely input from issuers (e.g., with respect to proxy voting policies, methodologies and peer group construction); (iii) Agent’s process for use of third-party information; (iv) the Agent’s policies and procedures for obtaining current and accurate information relevant to matters in its research and on which it makes voting recommendations; and (v) Agent’s business continuity program (“BCP”) and any service/operational issues experienced due to the enacting of Agent’s BCP.
C. Global Proxy Group
The Adviser shall establish a Global Proxy Group which is responsible for establishing the Guidelines (described below) and reviewing such Guidelines at least annually. The Global Proxy Group shall also review recommendations to vote proxies in a manner that is contrary to the Guidelines and when the proxy relates to a conflicted company of the Adviser or the Agent as described below.
The members of the Global Proxy Group shall include the Chief Equity Investment Officer of Eaton Vance Management (“EVM”) and selected members of the Equity Departments of EVM and Eaton Vance Advisers International Ltd. (“EVAIL”) and EVM’s Global Income Department. The Proxy Administrator is not a voting member of the Global Proxy Group. Members of the Global Proxy Group may be changed from time to time at the Advisers’ discretion. Matters that require the approval of the Global Proxy Group may be acted upon by its member(s) available to consider the matter.
IV. Proxy Voting
A. The Guidelines
The Global Proxy Group shall establish recommendations for the manner in which proxy proposals shall be voted (the “Guidelines”). The Guidelines shall identify when ballots for specific types of proxy proposals shall be voted(1) or referred to the Adviser. The Guidelines shall address a wide variety of individual topics, including, among other matters, shareholder voting rights, anti-takeover defenses, board structures, the election of directors, executive and director compensation, reorganizations, mergers, issues of corporate social responsibility and other proposals affecting shareholder rights. In determining the Guidelines, the Global Proxy Group considers the recommendations of the Agent as well as input from the Advisers’ portfolio managers and analysts and/or other internally developed or third party research.
The Global Proxy Group shall review the Guidelines at least annually and, in connection with proxies to be voted on behalf of the Eaton Vance Funds, the Adviser will submit amendments to the Guidelines to the Fund Boards each year for approval.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund100SAI dated April 1, 2021
With respect to the types of proxy proposals listed below, the Guidelines will generally provide as follows:
1. Proposals Regarding Mergers and Corporate Restructurings/Disposition of Assets/Termination/Liquidation and Mergers
The Agent shall be directed to refer proxy proposals accompanied by its written analysis and voting recommendation to the Proxy Administrator and/or her designee for all proposals relating to Mergers and Corporate Restructurings.
2. Corporate Structure Matters/Anti-Takeover Defenses
As a general matter, the Advisers will normally vote against anti-takeover measures and other proposals designed to limit the ability of shareholders to act on possible transactions (except in the case of closed-end management investment companies).
3. Proposals Regarding Proxy Contests
The Agent shall be directed to refer contested proxy proposals accompanied by its written analysis and voting recommendation to the Proxy Administrator and/or her designee.
4. Social and Environmental Issues
The Advisers will vote social and environmental proposals on a “case-by-case” basis taking into consideration industry best practices and existing management policies and practices.
Interpretation and application of the Guidelines is not intended to supersede any law, regulation, binding agreement or other legal requirement to which an issuer or the Adviser may be or become subject. The Guidelines generally relate to the types of proposals that are most frequently presented in proxy statements to shareholders. In certain circumstances, an Adviser may determine to vote contrary to the Guidelines subject to the voting procedures set forth below.
B. Voting Procedures
Except as noted in Section V below, the Proxy Administrator and/or her designee shall instruct the Agent to vote proxies as follows:
1. Vote in Accordance with Guidelines
If the Guidelines prescribe the manner in which the proxy is to be voted, the Agent shall vote in accordance with the Guidelines, which for certain types of proposals, are recommendations of the Agent made on a case-by-case basis.
2. Seek Guidance for a Referred Item or a Proposal for which there is No Guideline
If (i) the Guidelines state that the proxy shall be referred to the Adviser to determine the manner in which it should be voted or (ii) a proxy is received for a proposal for which there is no Guideline, the Proxy Administrator and/or her designee shall consult with the analyst(s) covering the company subject to the proxy proposal and shall instruct the Agent to vote in accordance with the determination of the analyst. The Proxy Administrator and/or her designee will maintain a record of all proxy proposals that are referred by the Agent, as well as all applicable recommendations, analysis and research received and the resolution of the matter. Where more than one analyst covers a particular company and the recommendations of such analysts for voting a proposal subject to this Section IV.B.2 conflict, the Global Proxy Group shall review such recommendations and any other available information related to the proposal and determine the manner in which it should be voted, which may result in different recommendations for clients (including Funds).
3. Votes Contrary to the Guidelines or Where Agent is Conflicted
In the event an analyst with respect to companies within his or her coverage area may recommend a vote contrary to the Guidelines, the Proxy Administrator and/or her designee will provide the Global Proxy Group with the Agent’s recommendation for the proposal along with any other relevant materials, including a description of the basis for the analyst’s recommendation via email and the Proxy Administrator and/or designee will then instruct the Agent to vote the proxy in the manner determined by the Global Proxy Group. Should the vote by the Global Proxy Group concerning one or more recommendations result in a tie, EVM’s Chief Equity Investment Officer will determine the manner in which the proxy will be voted. The Adviser will provide a report to the Boards of Trustees of the Eaton Vance Funds reflecting any votes cast on behalf of the Eaton Vance Funds contrary to the Guidelines, and shall do so quarterly. A similar process will be followed if the Agent has a conflict of interest with respect to a proxy as described in Section VI.B.
4. Do Not Cast a Vote
It shall generally be the policy of the Advisers to take no action on a proxy for which no client holds a position or otherwise maintains an economic interest in the relevant security at the time the vote is to be cast. In addition, the Advisers may determine not to vote (i) if the economic effect on shareholders' interests or the value of the portfolio holding is indeterminable or insignificant (e.g., proxies in connection with securities no longer held in the portfolio of a client or proxies being considered on behalf of a client that is no longer in existence); (ii) if the cost of voting a proxy outweighs the benefits (e.g., certain international proxies, particularly in cases in which share blocking practices may
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund101SAI dated April 1, 2021
impose trading restrictions on the relevant portfolio security); or (iii) in markets in which shareholders' rights are limited; and (iv) the Adviser is unable to access or access timely ballots or other proxy information. Non-Votes may also result in certain cases in which the Agent's recommendation has been deemed to be conflicted, as provided for herein.
C. Securities on Loan
When a fund client participates in the lending of its securities and the securities are on loan at the record date for a shareholder meeting, proxies related to such securities generally will not be forwarded to the relevant Adviser by the fund’s custodian and therefore will not be voted. In the event that the Adviser determines that the matters involved would have a material effect on the applicable fund’s investment in the loaned securities, the Adviser will make reasonable efforts to terminate the loan in time to be able to cast such vote or exercise such consent. The Adviser shall instruct the fund’s security lending agent to refrain from lending the full position of any security held by a fund to ensure that the Adviser receives notice of proxy proposals impacting the loaned security.
V. Recordkeeping
The Advisers will maintain records relating to the proxies they vote on behalf of their clients in accordance with Section 204-2 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. Those records will include:
·A copy of the Advisers’ proxy voting policies and procedures;
·Proxy statements received regarding client securities. Such proxy statements received from issuers are either in the SEC’s EDGAR database or are kept by the Agent and are available upon request;
·A record of each vote cast;
·A copy of any document created by the Advisers that was material to making a decision on how to vote a proxy for a client or that memorializes the basis for such a decision; and
·Each written client request for proxy voting records and the Advisers’ 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 five years and will be maintained in the offices of the Advisers or their Agent for two years after they are created.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section V, Eaton Vance Trust Company shall maintain records relating to the proxies it votes on behalf of its clients in accordance with laws and regulations applicable to it and its activities. In addition, EVAIL shall maintain records relating to the proxies it votes on behalf of its clients in accordance with UK law.
VI. Assessment of Agent and Identification and Resolution of Conflicts with Clients
A. Assessment of Agent
The Advisers shall establish that the Agent (i) is independent from the Advisers, (ii) has resources that indicate it can competently provide analysis of proxy issues, and (iii) can make recommendations in an impartial manner and in the best interests of the clients and, where applicable, their beneficial owners. The Advisers shall utilize, and the Agent shall comply with, such methods for establishing the foregoing as the Advisers may deem reasonably appropriate and shall do so not less than annually as well as prior to engaging the services of any new proxy voting service. The Agent shall also notify the Advisers in writing within fifteen (15) calendar days of any material change to information previously provided to an Adviser in connection with establishing the Agent’s independence, competence or impartiality.
B. Conflicts of Interest
As fiduciaries to their clients, each Adviser puts the interests of its clients ahead of its own. In order to ensure that relevant personnel of the Advisers are able to identify potential material conflicts of interest, each Adviser will take the following steps:
·Quarterly, the Eaton Vance Legal and Compliance Department will seek information from the department heads of each department of the Advisers and of Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. (“EVD”) (an affiliate of the Advisers and principal underwriter of certain Eaton Vance Funds). Each department head will be asked to provide a list of significant clients or prospective clients of the Advisers or EVD.
·A representative of the Legal and Compliance Department 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 or she has been referred a proxy statement (the “Proxy Companies”). If a Conflicted Company is also a Proxy Company, the Proxy Administrator will report that fact to the Global Proxy Group.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund102SAI dated April 1, 2021
·If the Proxy Administrator expects to instruct the Agent to vote the proxy of the Conflicted Company strictly according to the Guidelines contained in these Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (the “Policies”) or the recommendation of the Agent, as applicable, he or she will (i) inform the Global Proxy Group of that fact, (ii) instruct the Agent to vote the proxies and (iii) record the existence of the material conflict and the resolution of the matter.
·If the Proxy Administrator intends to instruct the Agent to vote in a manner inconsistent with the Guidelines, the Global Proxy Group will then determine if a material conflict of interest exists between the relevant Adviser and its clients (in consultation with the Legal and Compliance Department if needed). If the Global Proxy Group determines that a material conflict exists, prior to instructing the Agent to vote any proxies relating to these Conflicted Companies the Adviser will seek instruction on how the proxy should be voted from:
·The client, in the case of an individual, corporate, institutional or benefit plan client;
·In the case of a Fund, its board of directors, any committee, sub-committee or group of Independent Trustees (as long as such committee, sub-committee or group contains at least two or more Independent Trustees); or
·The adviser, in situations where the Adviser acts as a sub-adviser to such adviser.
The Adviser will provide all reasonable assistance to each party to enable such party to make an informed decision.
If the client, Fund board or adviser, as the case may be, fails to instruct the Adviser on how to vote the proxy, the Adviser will generally instruct the Agent, through the Proxy Administrator, to abstain from voting in order to avoid the appearance of impropriety. If however, the failure of the Adviser to vote its clients’ proxies would have a material adverse economic impact on the Advisers’ clients’ securities holdings in the Conflicted Company, the Adviser may instruct the Agent, through the Proxy Administrator, to vote such proxies in order to protect its clients’ interests. In either case, the Proxy Administrator will record the existence of the material conflict and the resolution of the matter.
The Advisers shall also identify and address conflicts that may arise from time to time concerning the Agent. Upon the Advisers’ request, which shall be not less than annually, and within fifteen (15) calendar days of any material change to such information previously provided to an Adviser, the Agent shall provide the Advisers with such information as the Advisers deem reasonable and appropriate for use in determining material relationships of the Agent that may pose a conflict of interest with respect to the Agent’s proxy analysis or recommendations. Such information shall include, but is not limited to, a monthly report from the Agent detailing the Agent’s Corporate Securities Division clients and related revenue data. The Advisers shall review such information on a monthly basis. The Proxy Administrator shall instruct the Agent to refer any proxies for which a material conflict of the Agent is deemed to be present to the Proxy Administrator. Any such proxy referred by the Agent shall be referred to the Global Proxy Group for consideration accompanied by the Agent’s written analysis and voting recommendation. The Proxy Administrator will instruct the Agent to vote the proxy as recommended by the Global Proxy Group.
(1)The Guidelines will prescribe how a proposal shall be voted or provide factors to be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Agent in recommending a vote pursuant to the Guidelines.
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund103SAI dated April 1, 2021
PART C - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 28. Exhibits (with inapplicable items omitted)
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Reference is made to Item 28(a) and 28(b) above. |
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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). |
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Consent of Internal Counsel dated March 29, 2021 filed herewith. |
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Item 29. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control
Not applicable
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 most recent 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), Atlanta Capital Management Company, LLC (File No. 801-52179), BMO Global Asset Management (Asia) Limited (File No. 801-40890), Eaton Vance Advisers International Ltd. (File No. 801-111772), Richard Bernstein Advisors LLC (File No. 801-71501) and Parametric Portfolio Associates LLC (File No. 801-60485) filed with the Commission, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
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Item 32. Principal Underwriters
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Registrant’s principal underwriter, Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. Prior to March 1, 2021, the Distributor was a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Eaton Vance Corp. (“EVC”). On March 1, 2021, Morgan Stanley acquired EVC (the “Transaction”) and the Distributor became an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley. The principal underwriter for each of the registered investment companies named below: |
Calvert Impact Fund, Inc. Calvert Management Series The Calvert Fund Calvert Responsible Index Series, Inc. Calvert Social Investment Fund Calvert World Values Fund, Inc. Calvert Variable Series, Inc. Calvert Variable Products, Inc.
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Eaton Vance Growth Trust Eaton Vance Investment Trust Eaton Vance Municipals Trust Eaton Vance Municipals Trust II Eaton Vance Mutual Funds Trust Eaton Vance Series Fund, Inc. Eaton Vance Series Trust II Eaton Vance Special Investment Trust Eaton Vance Variable Trust |
C-6
Jin Chung |
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Randy Clark |
Vice President |
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Daniel Clayton |
Vice President |
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Tyler Cortelezzi |
Vice President |
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Patrick Cosgrove |
Vice President |
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John Cullen |
Vice President |
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Rob Curtis |
Vice President |
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Brian Dailey |
Vice President |
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Kevin Darrow |
Vice President |
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Simone Devenny |
Vice President |
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Holly DiCostanzo |
Vice President |
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Andrew Dillon |
Vice President |
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Arthur Driscoll |
Vice President |
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Patrick Duffy |
Vice President |
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Brian Dunkley |
Vice President |
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Anthony Eames |
Vice President |
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Margaret Egan |
Vice President |
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Robert Ellerbeck |
Vice President |
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Maureen Emmerso |
Vice President |
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Daniel J. Ethier |
Vice President |
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Lawrence L. Fahey |
Vice President |
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Bridget Fangueiro |
Vice President |
None |
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John Farley |
Vice President |
None |
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Thomas E. Faust Jr. |
Director |
Trustee |
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Kelly Finneran |
Vice President |
None |
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Scott Firth |
Vice President |
None |
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James Foley |
Vice President |
None |
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Laura Foster |
Vice President |
None |
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Brandon Fritz |
Vice President |
None |
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Kathleen Fryer |
Vice President |
None |
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Jonathan Futterman |
Vice President |
None |
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Anne Marie Gallagher |
Vice President |
None |
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Ryan Gallagher |
Vice President |
None |
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Anthony Gigante |
Vice President |
None |
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Bradford Godfrey |
Vice President |
None |
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Seth Goldzweig |
Vice President |
None |
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Andrew Goodale |
Vice President |
None |
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David Gordon |
Vice President |
None |
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Jacob Greene |
Vice President |
None |
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Daniel Grzywacz |
Vice President |
None |
C-7
Diane Hallett |
Vice President |
None |
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Andrew Haycock |
Vice President |
None |
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Steven Heck |
Vice President |
None |
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Richard Hein |
Vice President |
None |
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Joseph Hernandez |
Vice President |
None |
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Dori Hetrick |
Vice President |
None |
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Toebe Hinckle |
Vice President |
None |
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Suzanne Hingel |
Vice President |
None |
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Robert Holmes |
Vice President |
None |
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Michael Horvath |
Vice President |
None |
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Ted Hovivian |
Vice President |
None |
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Christian Howe |
Vice President |
None |
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Jonathan Isaac |
Vice President |
None |
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Adrian Jackson |
Vice President |
None |
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Michael Jaso |
Vice President |
None |
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Brian Johnson |
Vice President |
None |
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Janice Johnston |
Vice President |
None |
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Dottie Jones |
Vice President |
None |
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Jason Jung |
Vice President |
None |
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Erin Kace |
Vice President |
None |
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Erin Kandamar |
Vice President |
None |
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Doug Keagle |
Vice President |
None |
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Sean Kelly |
Senior Vice President |
None |
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William Kennedy |
Vice President |
None |
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Joseph Kosciuszek |
Vice President |
None |
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Kathleen Krivelow |
Vice President |
None |
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Robert Kuberski |
Vice President |
None |
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Ryan Landers |
Vice President |
None |
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Colleen Lavery |
Vice President |
None |
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Benjamin LeFevre |
Vice President |
None |
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Andrew (A.J.) Leimenstoll |
Vice President |
None |
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Paul Leonardo |
Vice President |
None |
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George Lin |
Vice President |
None |
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Brandon Lindley |
Vice President |
None |
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Scott Lindsay |
Vice President |
None |
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Erick Lopez |
Vice President |
None |
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John Loy |
Vice President |
None |
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Coleen Lynch |
Vice President |
None |
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John Macejka |
Vice President |
None |
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Scott Mackey |
Vice President |
None |
C-8
Anne Mahoney |
Vice President |
None |
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James Maki |
Vice President |
None |
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Tim Mamis |
Vice President |
None |
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Frederick S. Marius |
Vice President, Secretary, Clerk and Chief Legal Officer |
None |
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Geoff Marshall |
Vice President |
None |
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Daniel J. McCarthy |
Vice President |
None |
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Jamie McCourt |
Vice President |
None |
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James McCuddy |
Vice President |
None |
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Tim McEwen |
Vice President |
None |
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Ian McGinn |
Vice President |
None |
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Cory McGrath |
Vice President |
None |
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Bruce McIntosh |
Vice President |
None |
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Christine McLean |
Vice President |
None |
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David Michaud |
Vice President |
None |
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Mark Milan |
Vice President |
None |
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John Moninger |
Senior Vice President |
None |
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Chris Morahan |
Vice President |
None |
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Meghan Moses |
Vice President |
None |
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A. John Murphy |
Vice President, Assistant Secretary and Assistant Clerk |
None |
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Matthew Navins |
Vice President |
None |
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Christopher Nebons |
Vice President |
None |
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Paul Nicely |
Vice President |
None |
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Jeffrey Nizzardo |
Vice President |
None |
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Andrew Olig |
Vice President |
None |
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David Oliveri |
Vice President |
None |
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Philip Pace |
Vice President |
None |
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Pamela Parker |
Vice President |
None |
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Steve Pietricola |
Vice President |
None |
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Benjamin Pomeroy |
Vice President |
None |
||
James Putman |
Vice President |
None |
||
Ronald Randall |
Vice President |
None |
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Henry Rehberg |
Vice President |
None |
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Lenore Reiner |
Vice President |
None |
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Christopher Remington |
Vice President |
None |
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David Richman |
Vice President |
None |
||
William Rockett |
Vice President |
None |
||
Christopher Rohan |
Vice President |
None |
||
Colleen Rooney |
Vice President |
None |
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Tatyana V. Ryabchenko |
Vice President |
None |
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John Santoro |
Vice President |
None |
C-9
C-10
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, State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111, 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, Eaton Vance Advisers International Ltd. located at 125 Old Broad Street, London, EC2N 1AR, BMO Global Asset Management (Asia) Limited located at Suite 3808, One Exchange Square, Central, Hong Kong, Atlanta Capital Management Company, LLC located at 1075 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 2100, Atlanta, GA 30309, Richard Bernstein Advisors LLC located at Tower 45, 120 West 45th Street, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10036 and Parametric Portfolio Associates LLC located at 800 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2800, Seattle, WA 98104 and 518 Riverside Avenue, Westport, CT 06880.
Item 34. Management Services
Not applicable
Item 35. Undertakings
None.
C-11
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and has duly caused this Post-Effective 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 March 29, 2021.
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EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST |
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By: |
Eric A. Stein* |
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Eric A. Stein, President |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on March 29, 2021.
Signature |
Title |
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Eric A. Stein* |
President (Chief Executive Officer) |
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Eric A. Stein |
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James F. Kirchner* |
Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
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James F. Kirchner |
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Signature |
Title |
Signature |
Title |
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Thomas E. Faust Jr.* |
Trustee |
Helen Frame Peters* |
Trustee |
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Thomas E. Faust Jr. |
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Helen Frame Peters |
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Mark R. Fetting* |
Trustee |
Keith Quinton* |
Trustee |
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Mark R. Fetting |
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Keith Quinton |
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Cynthia E. Frost* |
Trustee |
Marcus L. Smith* |
Trustee |
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Cynthia E. Frost |
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Marcus L. Smith |
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George J. Gorman* |
Trustee |
Susan J. Sutherland* |
Trustee |
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George J. Gorman |
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Susan J. Sutherland |
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Valerie A. Mosley* |
Trustee |
Scott E. Wennerholm* |
Trustee |
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Valerie A. Mosley |
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Scott E. Wennerholm |
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William H. Park* |
Trustee |
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William H. Park |
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*By: |
/s/ Maureen A. Gemma |
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Maureen A. Gemma (As attorney-in-fact) |
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C-12
EXHIBIT INDEX
The following exhibits are filed as part of this Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 483 of Regulation C.
Exhibit No. |
Description |
(d) |
(1) |
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Investment Advisory Agreement between Eaton Vance Growth Trust, on behalf of Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Focused Growth Fund, and Boston Management and Research dated March 1, 2021 |
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(2) |
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Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Boston Management and Research and Atlanta Capital Management Company, LLC for Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Focused Growth Fund dated March 1, 2021 |
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(3) |
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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 March 1, 2021 |
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(4) |
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Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Eaton Vance Management and Atlanta Capital Management Company, LLC for Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund dated March 1, 2021 |
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(5) |
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Investment Advisory Agreement between Eaton Vance Growth Trust, on behalf of Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital SMID-Cap Fund, and Boston Management and Research dated March 1, 2021 |
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(6) |
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Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Boston Management and Research and Atlanta Capital Management Company, LLC. for Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital SMID-Cap Fund dated March 1, 2021 |
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(7) |
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Investment Advisory and Administrative Agreement between Eaton Vance Growth Trust, on behalf of Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund, and Eaton Vance Management dated March 1, 2021 |
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(8) |
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Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Eaton Vance Management and Eaton Vance Advisers International Ltd. for Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund dated March 1, 2021 |
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(9) |
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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 1, 2021 |
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(10) |
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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 1, 2021 |
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(11) |
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Investment Advisory Agreement between Eaton Vance Growth Trust, on behalf of Eaton Vance Greater China Growth Fund, and Boston Management and Research dated March 1, 2021 |
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(12) |
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Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Boston Management and Research and BMO Global Asset Management (Asia) Limited for Eaton Vance Greater China Growth Fund dated March 1, 2021 |
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(13) |
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Investment Advisory and Administrative Agreement between Eaton Vance Growth Trust, on behalf of Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund, and Eaton Vance Management dated March 1, 2021 |
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(14) |
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Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Eaton Vance Management and Eaton Vance Advisers International Ltd. for Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund dated March 1, 2021 |
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(15) |
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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 March 1, 2021 |
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(16) |
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Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Eaton Vance Management and Richard Bernstein Advisors LLC for Eaton Vance Richard Bernstein All Asset Strategy Fund dated March 1, 2021 |
C-13
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(17) |
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Investment Advisory and Administrative Agreement between Eaton Vance Growth Trust, on behalf of Eaton Vance Richard Bernstein Equity Strategy Fund, and Eaton Vance Management dated March 1, 2021 |
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(18) |
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Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Eaton Vance Management and Richard Bernstein Advisors LLC for Eaton Vance Richard Bernstein Equity Strategy Fund dated March 1, 2021 |
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(19) |
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Investment Advisory Agreement between Eaton Vance Growth Trust, on behalf of Eaton Vance Worldwide Health Sciences Fund, and Eaton Vance Management dated March 1, 2021 |
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(20) |
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Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Eaton Vance Management and Eaton Vance Advisers International Ltd. for Eaton Vance Worldwide Health Sciences Fund dated March 1, 2021 |
(e) |
(1) |
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Master Distribution Agreement effective as of March 1, 2021 between each Trust identified on Schedule A on behalf of each of its series listed on Schedule A, and Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. |
(h) |
(2) |
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Administrative Services Agreement between Eaton Vance Growth Trust on behalf of its series listed on Appendix A and Eaton Vance Management dated March 1, 2021 |
(h) |
(5) |
(b) |
Amended Schedule A dated April 1, 2021 to the Expense Waivers/Reimbursements Agreement dated July 31, 2016 as amended and effective May 1, 2019 |
(i) |
(2) |
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Consent of Internal Counsel dated March 29, 2021 |
(j) |
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Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund and Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund dated March 29, 2021 |
(p) |
(2) |
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Code of Ethics adopted by BMO Global Asset Management (Asia) Limited dated November 2020 |
C-14
EXHIBIT (d)(1)
EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
ON BEHALF OF
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL FOCUSED GROWTH FUND
AGREEMENT made as of this 1st day of March, 2021, between Eaton Vance Growth Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Focused Growth Fund (the “Fund”), and Boston Management and Research, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Adviser”).
1.Duties of the Adviser. The Trust hereby employs the 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 Trustees of the Trust, for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement.
(a) The Adviser hereby accepts such employment, and undertakes to afford to the Trust the advice and assistance of the 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 investment affairs and to pay the salaries and fees of all officers and Trustees of the Trust who are members of the Adviser’s organization and all personnel of the Adviser performing services relating to research and investment activities. The 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 Trust in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Trust.
(b)The Adviser 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’s investments. As investment adviser to the Trust, the 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 Declaration of Trust, By-Laws and registration statement of the Trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Adviser 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,
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL FOCUSED GROWTH FUND
commodities, 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 the Adviser thereof in writing, the 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 Adviser shall take, on behalf of the Trust, all actions that it deems necessary or desirable to implement the investment policies of the Trust and of the Fund.
(c)The Adviser shall place all orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio investments for the account of the Fund either directly with the issuer or with brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants selected by the Adviser, and to that end, the Adviser is authorized as the agent of the Fund to give instructions to the custodian of the Fund as to deliveries of investments and payments of cash for the account of the Fund. In connection with the selection of such brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants and the placing of such orders, the 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 commission rates that are reasonable in relation to the benefits received. Subject to the policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, in selecting brokers or dealers qualified to execute a particular transaction, brokers or dealers may be selected who also provide brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) to the Adviser and the Adviser is expressly authorized to cause the Trust to pay any broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission for executing a security transaction which is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if the Adviser determines in good faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall responsibilities which the Adviser and its affiliates have with respect to the Fund and to other accounts over which they exercise investment discretion.
(d)Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Adviser shall not be deemed to have assumed any duties with respect to, and shall not be responsible for, the distribution of shares of the Fund, nor shall the Adviser be deemed to have assumed or have any responsibility with respect to functions specifically assumed by any transfer agent, administration, custodian or shareholder servicing agent of the Trust or the Fund.
2.Compensation of the Adviser. For the services, payments and facilities to be furnished hereunder by the Adviser, the Adviser shall be entitled to receive from the Trust the compensation described on Appendix A hereto.
3.Allocation of Charges and Expenses. The Adviser shall pay the entire salaries and fees of all of the Trust’s Trustees and officers employed by the Adviser and who devote part or all of their time to the affairs of the Adviser, 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 the Adviser hereunder, which expenses payable
2
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL FOCUSED GROWTH FUND
by the Fund shall include, without implied limitation, (i) expenses of maintaining the Fund and continuing its existence, (ii) registration of the Trust under the 1940 Act, (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) fees and expenses of registering, qualifying and maintaining the Trust, the Fund and its shares under applicable federal and state securities laws and of preparing and filing registration statements, other offering statements or memoranda, and other reports, forms, and documents required to be filed by the Trust on behalf of the Fund with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or any other regulatory body, and for printing and distributing the same to shareholders; (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 the Fund or 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 organization; (xviii) all payments to be made and expenses to be assumed by the Fund in connection with the distribution of Fund shares, (xix) any pricing or valuation services employed by the Fund to value its investments including primary and comparative valuation services; (xx) any investment advisory, sub-investment advisory, or similar management fee payable by the Fund, (xxi) all expenses incurred in connection with the Fund’s use of a line of credit, and (xxii) 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 Adviser as trustees, officers, employees, shareholders or otherwise and that trustees, officers, employees and shareholders of the Adviser are or may be or become similarly interested in the Fund, and that the 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 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 Adviser 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 the 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 Adviser. In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of obligations or duties hereunder on the part of the Adviser, the Adviser 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
3
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL FOCUSED GROWTH FUND
hereunder or for any losses that may be sustained in the acquisition, holding or disposition of any security or other investment.
A copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Adviser is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of the Adviser by an officer in his or her capacity as an officer and not individually. The Trust expressly acknowledges the provisions in the Declaration of Trust of the Adviser limiting the personal liability of the trustees, officers, and shareholders of the Adviser, and the Trust hereby agrees that it shall have recourse to the Adviser for payment of claims or obligations as between the Adviser and the Trust arising out of this Agreement and shall not seek satisfaction from the trustees, officers, or shareholders of the Adviser.
6.Sub-Investment Advisers. The Adviser may employ one or more sub-investment advisers from time to time to perform any of the Adviser’s duties under this Agreement, upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the Adviser and such sub-investment adviser and approved by the Trustees of the Trust, all as permitted by the 1940 Act. The performance of each such sub-investment adviser of its obligation under any such agreement shall be supervised by the Adviser. Further, the Adviser may, with the approval of the Trustees of the Trust and without the vote of any shareholders of the Fund, terminate any agreement with any sub-investment adviser and/or enter into an agreement with one or more other sub-investment advisers, all as permitted by the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. In the event a sub-investment adviser is employed, the Adviser retains the authority to immediately assume responsibility for any functions delegated to a sub-investment adviser, subject to approval by the Board and notice to the sub-investment adviser.
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 the Adviser 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 the Adviser, as the case may be, and the Trust may, at any time upon such written notice to the Adviser, 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.
4
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL FOCUSED GROWTH FUND
8.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 in a manner consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
9.Limitation of Liability of Trustees and Officers of the Trust. A copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of the Trust by an officer in his or her capacity as an officer and not individually. The Adviser expressly acknowledges the provisions in the Declaration of Trust of the Trust limiting the personal liability of the Trustees and officers of the Trust and the shareholders of the Fund, and the Adviser 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 the Adviser arising out of this Agreement and shall not seek satisfaction from the Trustees, officers, or shareholders or any Trustee or officer of the Trust or shareholder of the Fund.
10.Use of the Name “Eaton Vance”. The Adviser 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 the Adviser or one of its affiliates as the investment adviser 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 the Adviser and its affiliates and other investment companies that have obtained consent to the use of the name “Eaton Vance.” The Adviser 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 the Adviser or one of its affiliates as the Fund’s investment adviser. Future names adopted by the Fund for itself, insofar as such names include identifying words requiring the consent of the Adviser, shall be the property of the Adviser and shall be subject to the same terms and conditions.
11. No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any person not a party hereto any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
12.Non-Exclusive Services. The services of the Adviser to the Fund are not to be deemed to be exclusive, the Adviser being free to render services to others and engage in other business activities. It is understood that the Adviser and its affiliates perform investment services, including rendering investment advice, to varied clients. It is understood that the
Adviser or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action for other accounts that may differ from, conflict with or be adverse to advice given or taken for the Fund. It is understood that certain securities or instruments may be held in some accounts but not in others, or the accounts may have different levels of holdings in certain securities or instruments and the accounts may remit different levels of fees to the Adviser. In addition, it is understood that the
Adviser or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action with respect to the investments of the Fund that may not be given or taken with respect to one or more accounts with similar investment programs, objectives, and strategies. The Fund acknowledges that the Adviser, its affiliates and their respective officers, directors, and/or employees may from time to time have positions in or transact in securities and other investments recommended to clients, including
5
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL FOCUSED GROWTH FUND
the Fund. Such transactions may differ from or be inconsistent with the advice given, or the timing or nature of the Adviser’s action or actions with respect to the Fund. The Adviser may aggregate the Fund’s orders with orders of its proprietary accounts and/or orders of other clients.
13.Certain Definitions. The terms “assignment” and “interested persons” when used herein shall have the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act as now in effect or as hereafter amended subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by any rule, regulation or order by the SEC. 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 shareholders 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. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is modified or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the SEC, any rules or regulations adopted by, or interpretative releases of, the SEC, or any applicable guidance issued by the staff of the SEC, such provision will be deemed to incorporate the effect of such order, rule, regulation, interpretative release, or guidance.
14.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.
[Signature page follows]
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EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL FOCUSED GROWTH FUND
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first above written.
EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST on behalf of
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL FOCUSED GROWTH FUND
By: |
/s/ Deidre E. Walsh |
|
Deidre E. Walsh |
|
Vice President and not individually |
BOSTON MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH
By: |
/s/ Maureen A. Gemma |
|
Maureen A. Gemma |
|
Vice President and not individually |
7
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL FOCUSED GROWTH FUND
APPENDIX A
For the services, payments and facilities furnished by the Adviser under this Agreement, the Adviser is entitled to receive from the Fund compensation as set forth below:
Average Daily Net Assets for the Month |
Annual Fee Rate |
Up to $500 million |
0.650% |
$500 million but less than $1 billion |
0.625% |
$1 billion but less than $2.5 billion |
0.600% |
$2.5 billion and over |
0.575% |
In case of initiation or termination of the Agreement during any month with respect to the Fund, the fee for that month shall be reduced proportionately on the basis of the number of calendar days during which the Agreement is in effect.
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. Such compensation shall be paid monthly in arrears. The Adviser may, from time to time, waive all or a part of the above compensation.
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL FOCUSED GROWTH FUND
EXHIBIT (d)(2)
INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
between
BOSTON MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH
and
ATLANTA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LLC
for
EATON VANCE ALTANTA CAPITAL FOCUSED GROWTH FUND
AGREEMENT made this as of 1st day of March, 2021, between Boston Management and Research, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Adviser”), and Atlanta Capital Management Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability corporation (the “Sub-Adviser”).
WHEREAS, the Adviser has entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with Eaton Vance Growth Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Trust”) on behalf of Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Focused Growth 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 Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement (the “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. Subject to approval of the Trust’s Board and notice to the Sub-Adviser, the Adviser retains complete
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL FOCUSED GROWTH FUND
authority immediately to assume direct responsibility for any function delegated to the Sub-Adviser under 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 investment 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 Adviser may, from time to time, consider necessary for the proper supervision of the Fund’s investments. The services to be provided by the Sub-Adviser hereunder will apply to the portion of the Fund’s assets that Adviser or the Trustees of the Trust shall from time to time designate, which may consist of all or a portion of the Fund’s assets. As investment sub-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, as amended (the “1940 Act”). 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, commodities, derivatives, and investment instruments on behalf of the Fund. Should the Trustees of the Trust or the Adviser 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 Trust and of the Fund.
(c)The Sub-Adviser shall place all orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio investments for the account of the Fund either directly with the issuer or with brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants 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 investments and payments of cash for the account of the Fund. In connection with the selection of such brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants 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 commission rates that are reasonable in relation to the benefits received. Subject to the policies and procedures adopted
2
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL FOCUSED GROWTH FUND
by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, in selecting brokers or dealers qualified to execute a particular transaction, brokers or dealers may be selected who also provide brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) to the Sub-Adviser and the Sub-Adviser is expressly authorized to cause the Trust to pay any broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission for executing a security transaction which is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if the Sub-Adviser determines in good faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall responsibilities which the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates have with respect to the Fund and to other accounts over which they exercise investment discretion.
(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.
(e)The Sub-Adviser shall exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties under the Agreement and will conduct its activities hereunder in compliance with the applicable requirements of the 1940 Act and all rules and regulations thereunder, all other applicable federal and state laws, any applicable procedures adopted by the Trust’s Board that have been provided to the Sub-Adviser, and the provisions of the Trust’s registration statement, each as may be amended. The Sub-Adviser will furnish to regulatory authorities having the requisite authority any information or reports in connection with its services in respect to the Fund which may be requested by such authorities in order to ascertain whether the operations of the Fund are being conducted in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
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 the compensation specified in Appendix A hereto. The Adviser is solely responsible for the payment of the compensation to the Sub-Adviser, and the Sub-Adviser agrees to seek payment of its compensation solely from the Adviser. The Fund shall have no liability for Sub-Adviser's compensation hereunder.
3.Allocation of Charges and Expenses. It is understood that 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 implied limitation, (i) expenses of maintaining the Fund and continuing its existence; (ii) registration of the Fund and Trust under the 1940 Act; (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) fees and
3
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL FOCUSED GROWTH FUND
expenses of registering, qualifying, and maintaining the Trust, the Fund, and its shares under applicable federal and state securities laws and of preparing and filing registration statements, other offering statements or memoranda, and other reports, forms and documents required to be filed by the Trust or Fund with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and any other applicable regulatory body, and for printing and distributing the same to shareholders; (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 the Trust or 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; (xviii) all payments to be made and expenses to be assumed by the Fund in connection with the distribution of Fund shares; (xix) any pricing or valuation services employed by the Fund to value its investments including primary and comparative valuations services; (xx) any investment advisory, sub-investment advisory, or similar management fee payable by the Fund; (xxi) all expenses incurred in connection with the Fund’s use of a line of credit; and (xxii) 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.
The services of the Sub-Adviser to the Adviser for the benefit of the Fund are not to be deemed to be exclusive and the Sub-Adviser is free to render services to others and engage in other business activities. It is understood that the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates perform investment services, including rendering investment advice, to varied clients. It is understood that the Sub-Adviser or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action for other accounts that may differ from, conflict with, or be adverse to advice given or taken for the Fund. It is understood that certain securities or instruments may be held in some accounts but not in others, or the accounts may have different levels of holdings in certain securities or instruments
4
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL FOCUSED GROWTH FUND
and the accounts may remit different levels of fees to the Sub-Adviser. In addition, it is understood that the Sub-Adviser or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action with respect to the investments of the Fund that may not be given or taken with respect to one or more accounts with similar investment programs, objectives, and strategies. The Fund acknowledges that the Sub-Adviser, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, and/or employees may from time to time have positions in or transact in securities and other investments recommended to clients, including the Fund. Such transactions may differ from or be inconsistent with the advice given, or the timing or nature of the Sub-Adviser’s action or actions with respect to the Fund. The Sub-Adviser may aggregate the Fund’s orders with orders of its proprietary accounts and/or orders of other clients.
5.Limitation of Liability of the Sub-Adviser. 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 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 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.
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. In the event of termination for any reason, all records of the Fund shall promptly be returned to the Adviser or the Fund, free from any claim or retention of rights in such record by the SubAdviser, although the Sub-Adviser may, at its own expense, make and retain a copy of such records.
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 in a manner consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
5
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL FOCUSED GROWTH FUND
8.Limitation of Liability. A copy of the Declaration of Trust for each the Trust and the Adviser is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of each the Adviser and the Trust by an officer of each respective organization, in his or her capacity as an officer and not individually. The Sub-Adviser expressly acknowledges the provisions in the Declarations of Trust of the Trust and of the Adviser limiting the personal liability of Trustees, officers, and the 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 or officers of the Trust or the Adviser or the shareholders of the Fund or the Adviser.
9.Third Party Beneficiaries. The Fund is a third party beneficiary to this Agreement. Aside from the Fund, nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any person not a party hereto (including, but not limited to, shareholders of the Fund) any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
10. Books and Records. The Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that all records that it maintains for the Fund are the property of the Fund and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Fund any of such records upon the Fund’s or the Adviser's request in compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, although the Sub-Adviser may, at its own expense, make and retain a copy of such records. The Sub-Adviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act the records required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act.
11.Certain Definitions. The terms “assignment” and “interested persons” when used herein shall have the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act, as now in effect or as hereafter amended subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by any rule, regulation or order by the SEC. 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 shareholders 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. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is modified or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the SEC, any rules or regulations adopted by, or interpretative releases of, the SEC, or any applicable guidance issued by the staff of the SEC, such provision will be deemed to incorporate the effect of such order, rule, regulation, interpretative release, or guidance.
6
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL FOCUSED GROWTH FUND
12.Use of the Name “Atlanta Capital.” The Sub-Adviser hereby consents to the use of the name “Atlanta Capital” as part of the Fund’s name; provided, however, that such consent shall be conditioned upon the employment of the Sub-Adviser or one of its affiliates as the investment Sub-Advisor of the Fund. The name “Atlanta Capital” or any variation thereof may be used, from time to time, in other connections and for other purposes by the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates and other investment companies that have obtained consent to the use of the name “Atlanta Capital.” The Sub-Adviser shall have the right to require the Fund to cease using the name “Atlanta Capital” as part of the Fund’s name if the Adviser ceases, for any reason, to employ the Sub-Adviser or one of its affiliates as the Fund’s investment sub-adviser. Future names adopted by the Fund for itself, insofar as such names include identifying words requiring the consent of the Sub-Adviser, shall be the property of the Sub-Adviser and shall be subject to the same terms and conditions.
13.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.
[Signature page follows.]
7
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL FOCUSED GROWTH FUND
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first above written.
BOSTON MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH
By: |
/s/ Maureen A. Gemma |
Name: |
Maureen A. Gemma |
Title: |
Vice President and not individually |
ATLANTA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LLC
By: |
/s/ Frederick S. Marius |
Name: |
Frederick S. Marius |
Title: |
Vice President 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 FOCUSED GROWTH FUND)
By: |
/s/ Deidre E. Walsh |
Name: |
Deidre E. Walsh |
Title: |
Vice President and not individually |
8
EXHIBIT (d)(3)
EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND ADMINISTRATIVE AGREEMENT
ON BEHALF OF
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SELECT EQUITY FUND
AGREEMENT made as of this 1st day of March, 2021, 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 its affairs, subject to the supervision of the Trustees of the Trust, for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement.
(a)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 and 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.
In connection with its responsibilities as administrator of the Fund, Eaton Vance will:
·assist in preparing all annual, semi-annual and other reports required to be sent to Fund shareholders and/or filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and arrange for such filing and printing and dissemination of such reports to shareholders;
·review the provision of services by the Fund’s independent public accounting firm, including, but not limited to, the preparation by such firm of audited financial statements of the Fund and the Fund’s federal, state and local tax returns; and make such reports and
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SELECT EQUITY FUND
recommendations to the Trustees of the Trust concerning the performance of the independent accountants as the Trustees deem appropriate;
·arrange for the filing with the appropriate authorities all required federal, state and local tax returns;
·arrange for the dissemination to shareholders of the Fund’s proxy materials, and oversee the tabulation of proxies by the Fund’s transfer agent or other duly authorized proxy tabulator;
·review and supervise the provision of custodian services to the Fund; and make such reports and recommendations to the Trustees concerning the provision of such services as the Trustees deem appropriate;
·oversee the valuation of all such portfolio investments and other assets of the Fund as may be designated by the Trustees (subject to any guidelines, directions and instructions of the Trustees), and review and supervise the calculation of the net asset value of the Fund’s shares by the custodian;
·negotiate the terms and conditions under which transfer agency and dividend disbursing services will be provided to the Fund, and the fees to be paid by the Fund in connection therewith; review and supervise the provision of transfer agency and dividend disbursing services to the Fund; and make such reports and recommendations to the Trustees concerning the performance of the Fund’s transfer and dividend disbursing agent as the Trustees deem appropriate;
·establish the accounting policies of the Fund; reconcile accounting issues that may arise with respect to the Fund’s operations; and consult with the Fund’s independent accountants, legal counsel, custodian, accounting and bookkeeping agents and transfer and dividend disbursing agent as necessary in connection therewith;
·determine the amount of all distributions (if any) to be paid by the Fund to its shareholders; prepare and arrange for the publishing of notices to shareholders regarding such distributions (if required) and provide the Fund’s transfer and dividend disbursing agent and custodian with such information as is required for such parties to effect the payment of distributions;
·review the Fund’s bills and authorize payments of such bills by the Fund’s custodian;
·oversee services provided to the Fund by external counsel;
·arrange for the preparation and filing of all other reports, forms, registration statements, and documents required to be filed by the Trust on behalf of the Fund with the SEC and any other regulatory body; and
·provide other internal legal, auditing, accounting and administrative services as ordinarily required in conducting the Fund’s business affairs.
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EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SELECT EQUITY FUND
(b)Eaton Vance shall provide the Trust with such investment management, administration and supervision as the Trust may from time to time consider necessary for the proper supervision of the Fund’s investment and administrative affairs. 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, as amended (the “1940 Act”). 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, commodities, 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 that it deems necessary or desirable to implement the investment policies of the Trust and of the Fund.
(c)Eaton Vance shall place all orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio investments for the account of the Fund either directly with the issuer or with brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants 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 investments and payments of cash for the account of the Fund. In connection with the selection of such brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants and the placing of such orders, Eaton Vance 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 commission rates, that are reasonable in relation to the benefits received. Subject to the policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, in selecting brokers or dealers qualified to execute a particular transaction, brokers or dealers may be selected who also provide brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) to Eaton Vance and Eaton Vance is expressly authorized to cause the Trust to pay any broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission for executing a security transaction which is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if Eaton Vance determines in good faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall responsibilities which Eaton Vance and its affiliates have with respect to the Fund and to other accounts over which they exercise investment discretion.
(d)Notwithstanding the foregoing, Eaton Vance shall not be deemed to have assumed any duties with respect to, and shall not be responsible for, the distribution of shares of the Fund, nor shall Eaton Vance be deemed to have assumed or have any responsibility with respect to functions specifically assumed by any transfer agent, custodian or shareholder servicing agent of the Trust or the Fund.
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EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SELECT EQUITY FUND
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 Trust the compensation described on Appendix A hereto.
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 maintaining the Fund and continuing its existence; (ii) registration of the Trust under the 1940 Act; (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) fees and expenses of registering, qualifying, and maintaining the Trust, the Fund, and its shares under applicable federal and state securities laws and of preparing and filing registration statements, other offering statements or memoranda, and other reports, forms, and documents required to be filed by the Trust on behalf of the Fund with the SEC or any other regulatory body, and for printing and distributing the same to shareholders; (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 the Fund or 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 expenses to be assumed by the Fund in connection with the distribution of Fund shares; (xix) any pricing or valuation services employed by the Fund to value its investments including primary and comparative valuation services; (xx) any investment advisory, sub-investment advisory, or similar management fee payable by the Fund; (xxi) all expenses incurred in connection with the Fund’s use of a line of credit; and (xxii) 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
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EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SELECT EQUITY FUND
other companies or entities (including, without limitation, other investment companies) that Eaton Vance may organize, sponsor or acquire, or with which it may merge or consolidate, and which may include the words “Eaton Vance” 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. 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 that may be sustained in the acquisition, holding or disposition of any security or other investment.
A copy of the Declaration of Trust of Eaton Vance is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of Eaton Vance by an officer in his or her capacity as an officer and not individually. The Trust expressly acknowledges the provisions in the Declaration of Trust of Eaton Vance limiting the personal liability of the trustees, officers, and 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, officers or shareholders of Eaton Vance.
6.Sub-Investment Advisers and Sub-Administrators. Eaton Vance may employ one or more sub-investment advisers or sub-administrators from time to time to perform any of Eaton Vance’s duties under this Agreement, upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between Eaton Vance and such sub-investment adviser or sub-administrator and approved by the Trustees of the Trust, all as permitted by the 1940 Act. 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 shareholders of the Fund, 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 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. 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.
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
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EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SELECT EQUITY FUND
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 amendment to this Agreement shall be effective until approved in a manner consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
9.Limitation of Liability of Trustees and Officers of the Trust. A copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of the Trust by an officer in his or her capacity as an officer and not individually. Eaton Vance expressly acknowledges the provisions in the Declaration of Trust of the Trust limiting the personal liability of the Trustees and officers 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, officers, or shareholders or any Trustee or officer 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. No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any person not a party hereto any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
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EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SELECT EQUITY FUND
12.Non-Exclusive Services. The services of Eaton Vance to 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. It is understood that Eaton Vance and its affiliates perform investment services, including rendering investment advice, to varied clients. It is understood that Eaton Vance or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action for other accounts that may differ from, conflict with, or be adverse to advice given or taken for the Fund. It is understood that certain securities or instruments may be held in some accounts but not in others, or the accounts may have different levels of holdings in certain securities or instruments and the accounts may remit different levels of fees to Eaton Vance. In addition, it is understood that Eaton Vance or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action with respect to the investments of the Fund that may not be given or taken with respect to one or more accounts with similar investment programs, objectives, and strategies. The Fund acknowledges that Eaton Vance, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, and/or employees may from time to time have positions in or transact in securities and other investments recommended to clients, including the Fund. Such transactions may differ from or be inconsistent with the advice given, or the timing or nature of Eaton Vance’s action or actions with respect to the Fund. Eaton Vance may aggregate the Fund’s orders with orders of its proprietary accounts and/or orders of other clients.
13.Certain Definitions. The terms “assignment” and “interested persons” when used herein shall have the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act as now in effect or as hereafter amended subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by any rule, regulation or order by the SEC. 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 shareholders 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. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is modified or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the SEC or any rules or regulations adopted by, or interpretative releases of, the SEC, or any applicable guidance issued by the staff of the SEC, such provision will be deemed to incorporate the effect of such order, rule, regulation, interpretative release, or guidance.
14.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.
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EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SELECT EQUITY FUND
(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.
[Signature page follows.]
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EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SELECT EQUITY FUND
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed 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/ Deidre E. Walsh |
|
Deidre E. Walsh |
|
Vice President and not individually |
EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT
By: |
/s/ Maureen A. Gemma |
|
Maureen A. Gemma |
|
Vice President and not individually |
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EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SELECT EQUITY FUND
APPENDIX A
For the services, payments and facilities furnished by Eaton Vance under this Agreement, Eaton Vance is entitled to receive from the Fund compensation as set forth below:
In case of initiation or termination of the Agreement during any month with respect to the Fund, the fee for that month shall be reduced proportionately on the basis of the number of calendar days during which the Agreement is in effect.
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. Such compensation shall be paid monthly in arrears. Eaton Vance may, from time to time, waive all or a part of the above compensation.
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SELECT EQUITY FUND
EXHIBIT (d)(4)
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 as of 1st day of March, 2021, between Eaton Vance Management, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Adviser”), and Atlanta Capital Management Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability corporation (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 Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement (the “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. Subject to approval of the Trust’s Board and notice to the Sub-Adviser, the Adviser retains complete
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SELECT EQUITY FUND
authority immediately to assume direct responsibility for any function delegated to the Sub-Adviser under 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 investment 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 Adviser may, from time to time, consider necessary for the proper supervision of the Fund’s investments. The services to be provided by the Sub-Adviser hereunder will apply to the portion of the Fund’s assets that Adviser or the Trustees of the Trust shall from time to time designate, which may consist of all or a portion of the Fund’s assets. As investment sub-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, as amended (the “1940 Act”). 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, commodities, derivatives, and investment instruments on behalf of the Fund. Should the Trustees of the Trust or the Adviser 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 Trust and of the Fund.
(c)The Sub-Adviser shall place all orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio investments for the account of the Fund either directly with the issuer or with brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants 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 investments and payments of cash for the account of the Fund. In connection with the selection of such brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants 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 commission rates that are reasonable in relation to the benefits received. Subject to the policies and procedures adopted
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EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SELECT EQUITY FUND
by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, in selecting brokers or dealers qualified to execute a particular transaction, brokers or dealers may be selected who also provide brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) to the Sub-Adviser and the Sub-Adviser is expressly authorized to cause the Trust to pay any broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission for executing a security transaction which is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if the Sub-Adviser determines in good faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall responsibilities which the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates have with respect to the Fund and to other accounts over which they exercise investment discretion.
(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.
(e)The Sub-Adviser shall exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties under the Agreement and will conduct its activities hereunder in compliance with the applicable requirements of the 1940 Act and all rules and regulations thereunder, all other applicable federal and state laws, any applicable procedures adopted by the Trust’s Board that have been provided to the Sub-Adviser, and the provisions of the Trust’s registration statement, each as may be amended. The Sub-Adviser will furnish to regulatory authorities having the requisite authority any information or reports in connection with its services in respect to the Fund which may be requested by such authorities in order to ascertain whether the operations of the Fund are being conducted in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
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 the compensation specified in Appendix A hereto. The Adviser is solely responsible for the payment of the compensation to the Sub-Adviser, and the Sub-Adviser agrees to seek payment of its compensation solely from the Adviser. The Fund shall have no liability for Sub-Adviser's compensation hereunder.
3.Allocation of Charges and Expenses. It is understood that 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 implied limitation, (i) expenses of maintaining the Fund and continuing its existence; (ii) registration of the Fund and Trust under the 1940 Act; (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) fees and
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EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SELECT EQUITY FUND
expenses of registering, qualifying, and maintaining the Trust, the Fund, and its shares under applicable federal and state securities laws and of preparing and filing registration statements, other offering statements or memoranda, and other reports, forms and documents required to be filed by the Trust or Fund with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and any other applicable regulatory body, and for printing and distributing the same to shareholders; (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 the Trust or 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; (xviii) all payments to be made and expenses to be assumed by the Fund in connection with the distribution of Fund shares; (xix) any pricing or valuation services employed by the Fund to value its investments including primary and comparative valuations services; (xx) any investment advisory, sub-investment advisory, or similar management fee payable by the Fund; (xxi) all expenses incurred in connection with the Fund’s use of a line of credit; and (xxii) 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.
The services of the Sub-Adviser to the Adviser for the benefit of the Fund are not to be deemed to be exclusive and the Sub-Adviser is free to render services to others and engage in other business activities. It is understood that the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates perform investment services, including rendering investment advice, to varied clients. It is understood that the Sub-Adviser or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action for other accounts that may differ from, conflict with, or be adverse to advice given or taken for the Fund. It is understood that certain securities or instruments may be held in some accounts but not in others, or the accounts may have different levels of holdings in certain securities or instruments
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EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SELECT EQUITY FUND
and the accounts may remit different levels of fees to the Sub-Adviser. In addition, it is understood that the Sub-Adviser or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action with respect to the investments of the Fund that may not be given or taken with respect to one or more accounts with similar investment programs, objectives, and strategies. The Fund acknowledges that the Sub-Adviser, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, and/or employees may from time to time have positions in or transact in securities and other investments recommended to clients, including the Fund. Such transactions may differ from or be inconsistent with the advice given, or the timing or nature of the Sub-Adviser’s action or actions with respect to the Fund. The Sub-Adviser may aggregate the Fund’s orders with orders of its proprietary accounts and/or orders of other clients.
5.Limitation of Liability of the Sub-Adviser. 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 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 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.
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. In the event of termination for any reason, all records of the Fund shall promptly be returned to the Adviser or the Fund, free from any claim or retention of rights in such record by the SubAdviser, although the Sub-Adviser may, at its own expense, make and retain a copy of such records.
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 in a manner consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
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EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SELECT EQUITY FUND
8.Limitation of Liability. A copy of the Declaration of Trust for each the Trust and the Adviser is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of each the Adviser and the Trust by an officer of each respective organization, in his or her capacity as an officer and not individually. The Sub-Adviser expressly acknowledges the provisions in the Declarations of Trust of the Trust and of the Adviser limiting the personal liability of Trustees, officers, and the 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 or officers of the Trust or the Adviser or the shareholders of the Fund or the Adviser.
9.Third Party Beneficiaries. The Fund is a third party beneficiary to this Agreement. Aside from the Fund, nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any person not a party hereto (including, but not limited to, shareholders of the Fund) any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
10. Books and Records. The Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that all records that it maintains for the Fund are the property of the Fund and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Fund any of such records upon the Fund’s or the Adviser's request in compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, although the Sub-Adviser may, at its own expense, make and retain a copy of such records. The Sub-Adviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act the records required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act.
11.Certain Definitions. The terms “assignment” and “interested persons” when used herein shall have the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act, as now in effect or as hereafter amended subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by any rule, regulation or order by the SEC. 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 shareholders 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. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is modified or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the SEC, any rules or regulations adopted by, or interpretative releases of, the SEC, or any applicable guidance issued by the staff of the SEC, such provision will be deemed to incorporate the effect of such order, rule, regulation, interpretative release, or guidance.
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EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SELECT EQUITY FUND
12.Use of the Name “Atlanta Capital.” The Sub-Adviser hereby consents to the use of the name “Atlanta Capital” as part of the Fund’s name; provided, however, that such consent shall be conditioned upon the employment of the Sub-Adviser or one of its affiliates as the investment Sub-Advisor of the Fund. The name “Atlanta Capital” or any variation thereof may be used, from time to time, in other connections and for other purposes by the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates and other investment companies that have obtained consent to the use of the name “Atlanta Capital.” The Sub-Adviser shall have the right to require the Fund to cease using the name “Atlanta Capital” as part of the Fund’s name if the Adviser ceases, for any reason, to employ the Sub-Adviser or one of its affiliates as the Fund’s investment sub-adviser. Future names adopted by the Fund for itself, insofar as such names include identifying words requiring the consent of the Sub-Adviser, shall be the property of the Sub-Adviser and shall be subject to the same terms and conditions.
13.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.
[Signature page follows.]
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EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SELECT EQUITY FUND
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/ Frederick S. Marius |
Name: |
Frederick S. Marius |
Title: |
Vice President 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/ Deidre E. Walsh |
Name: |
Deidre E. Walsh |
Title: |
Vice President and not individually |
8
EXHIBIT (d)(5)
EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
ON BEHALF OF
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SMID-CAP FUND
AGREEMENT made as of this 1st day of March, 2021, between Eaton Vance Growth Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital SMID-Cap Fund (the “Fund”), and Boston Management and Research, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Adviser”).
1.Duties of the Adviser. The Trust hereby employs the 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 Trustees of the Trust, for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement.
(a) The Adviser hereby accepts such employment, and undertakes to afford to the Trust the advice and assistance of the 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 investment affairs and to pay the salaries and fees of all officers and Trustees of the Trust who are members of the Adviser’s organization and all personnel of the Adviser performing services relating to research and investment activities. The 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 Trust in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Trust.
(b)The Adviser 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’s investments. As investment adviser to the Trust, the 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 Declaration of Trust, By-Laws and registration statement of the Trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Adviser 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, commodities, 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
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SMID-CAP FUND
Fund and notify the Adviser thereof in writing, the 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 Adviser shall take, on behalf of the Trust, all actions that it deems necessary or desirable to implement the investment policies of the Trust and of the Fund.
(c)The Adviser shall place all orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio investments for the account of the Fund either directly with the issuer or with brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants selected by the Adviser, and to that end, the Adviser is authorized as the agent of the Fund to give instructions to the custodian of the Fund as to deliveries of investments and payments of cash for the account of the Fund. In connection with the selection of such brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants and the placing of such orders, the 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 commission rates that are reasonable in relation to the benefits received. Subject to the policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, in selecting brokers or dealers qualified to execute a particular transaction, brokers or dealers may be selected who also provide brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) to the Adviser and the Adviser is expressly authorized to cause the Trust to pay any broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission for executing a security transaction which is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if the Adviser determines in good faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall responsibilities which the Adviser and its affiliates have with respect to the Fund and to other accounts over which they exercise investment discretion.
(d)Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Adviser shall not be deemed to have assumed any duties with respect to, and shall not be responsible for, the distribution of shares of the Fund, nor shall the Adviser be deemed to have assumed or have any responsibility with respect to functions specifically assumed by any transfer agent, administration, custodian or shareholder servicing agent of the Trust or the Fund.
2.Compensation of the Adviser. For the services, payments and facilities to be furnished hereunder by the Adviser, the Adviser shall be entitled to receive from the Trust the compensation described on Appendix A hereto.
3.Allocation of Charges and Expenses. The Adviser shall pay the entire salaries and fees of all of the Trust’s Trustees and officers employed by the Adviser and who devote part or all of their time to the affairs of the Adviser, 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 the Adviser hereunder, which expenses payable
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EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SMID-CAP FUND
by the Fund shall include, without implied limitation, (i) expenses of maintaining the Fund and continuing its existence, (ii) registration of the Trust under the 1940 Act, (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) fees and expenses of registering, qualifying and maintaining the Trust, the Fund and its shares under applicable federal and state securities laws and of preparing and filing registration statements, other offering statements or memoranda, and other reports, forms, and documents required to be filed by the Trust on behalf of the Fund with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or any other regulatory body, and for printing and distributing the same to shareholders; (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 the Fund or 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 organization; (xviii) all payments to be made and expenses to be assumed by the Fund in connection with the distribution of Fund shares, (xix) any pricing or valuation services employed by the Fund to value its investments including primary and comparative valuation services; (xx) any investment advisory, sub-investment advisory, or similar management fee payable by the Fund, (xxi) all expenses incurred in connection with the Fund’s use of a line of credit, and (xxii) 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 Adviser as trustees, officers, employees, shareholders or otherwise and that trustees, officers, employees and shareholders of the Adviser are or may be or become similarly interested in the Fund, and that the 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 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 Adviser 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 the 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 Adviser. In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of obligations or duties hereunder on the part of the
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EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SMID-CAP FUND
Adviser, the Adviser 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 that may be sustained in the acquisition, holding or disposition of any security or other investment.
A copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Adviser is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of the Adviser by an officer in his or her capacity as an officer and not individually. The Trust expressly acknowledges the provisions in the Declaration of Trust of the Adviser limiting the personal liability of the trustees, officers, and shareholders of the Adviser, and the Trust hereby agrees that it shall have recourse to the Adviser for payment of claims or obligations as between the Adviser and the Trust arising out of this Agreement and shall not seek satisfaction from the trustees, officers, or shareholders of the Adviser.
6.Sub-Investment Advisers. The Adviser may employ one or more sub-investment advisers from time to time to perform any of the Adviser’s duties under this Agreement, upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the Adviser and such sub-investment adviser and approved by the Trustees of the Trust, all as permitted by the 1940 Act. The performance of each such sub-investment adviser of its obligation under any such agreement shall be supervised by the Adviser. Further, the Adviser may, with the approval of the Trustees of the Trust and without the vote of any shareholders of the Fund, terminate any agreement with any sub-investment adviser and/or enter into an agreement with one or more other sub-investment advisers, all as permitted by the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. In the event a sub-investment adviser is employed, the Adviser retains the authority to immediately assume responsibility for any functions delegated to a sub-investment adviser, subject to approval by the Board and notice to the sub-investment adviser.
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 the Adviser 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 the Adviser, as the case may be, and the Trust may, at any time upon such written notice to the Adviser, 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.
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EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SMID-CAP FUND
8.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 in a manner consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
9.Limitation of Liability of Trustees and Officers of the Trust. A copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of the Trust by an officer in his or her capacity as an officer and not individually. The Adviser expressly acknowledges the provisions in the Declaration of Trust of the Trust limiting the personal liability of the Trustees and officers of the Trust and the shareholders of the Fund, and the Adviser 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 the Adviser arising out of this Agreement and shall not seek satisfaction from the Trustees, officers, or shareholders or any Trustee or officer of the Trust or shareholder of the Fund.
10.Use of the Name “Eaton Vance”. The Adviser 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 the Adviser or one of its affiliates as the investment adviser 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 the Adviser and its affiliates and other investment companies that have obtained consent to the use of the name “Eaton Vance.” The Adviser 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 the Adviser or one of its affiliates as the Fund’s investment adviser. Future names adopted by the Fund for itself, insofar as such names include identifying words requiring the consent of the Adviser, shall be the property of the Adviser and shall be subject to the same terms and conditions.
11. No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any person not a party hereto any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
12.Non-Exclusive Services. The services of the Adviser to the Fund are not to be deemed to be exclusive, the Adviser being free to render services to others and engage in other business activities. It is understood that the Adviser and its affiliates perform investment services, including rendering investment advice, to varied clients. It is understood that the
Adviser or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action for other accounts that may differ from, conflict with or be adverse to advice given or taken for the Fund. It is understood that certain securities or instruments may be held in some accounts but not in others, or the accounts may have different levels of holdings in certain securities or instruments and the accounts may remit different levels of fees to the Adviser. In addition, it is understood that the
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EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SMID-CAP FUND
Adviser or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action with respect to the investments of the Fund that may not be given or taken with respect to one or more accounts with similar investment programs, objectives, and strategies. The Fund acknowledges that the Adviser, its affiliates and their respective officers, directors, and/or employees may from time to time have positions in or transact in securities and other investments recommended to clients, including the Fund. Such transactions may differ from or be inconsistent with the advice given, or the timing or nature of the Adviser’s action or actions with respect to the Fund. The Adviser may aggregate the Fund’s orders with orders of its proprietary accounts and/or orders of other clients.
13.Certain Definitions. The terms “assignment” and “interested persons” when used herein shall have the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act as now in effect or as hereafter amended subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by any rule, regulation or order by the SEC. 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 shareholders 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. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is modified or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the SEC, any rules or regulations adopted by, or interpretative releases of, the SEC, or any applicable guidance issued by the staff of the SEC, such provision will be deemed to incorporate the effect of such order, rule, regulation, interpretative release, or guidance.
14.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.
[Signature page follows]
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EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SMID-CAP FUND
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first above written.
EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST on behalf of
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SMID-CAP FUND
By: |
/s/ Deidre E. Walsh |
|
Deidre E. Walsh |
|
Vice President and not individually |
BOSTON MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH
By: |
/s/ Maureen A. Gemma |
|
Maureen A. Gemma |
|
Vice President and not individually |
7
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SMID-CAP FUND
APPENDIX A
For the services, payments and facilities furnished by the Adviser under this Agreement, the Adviser is entitled to receive from the Fund compensation as set forth below:
In case of initiation or termination of the Agreement during any month with respect to the Fund, the fee for that month shall be reduced proportionately on the basis of the number of calendar days during which the Agreement is in effect.
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. Such compensation shall be paid monthly in arrears. The Adviser may, from time to time, waive all or a part of the above compensation.
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SMID-CAP FUND
EXHIBIT (d)(6)
INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
between
BOSTON MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH
and
ATLANTA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LLC
for
EATON VANCE ALTANTA CAPITAL SMID-CAP FUND
AGREEMENT made this as of 1st day of March, 2021, between Boston Management and Research, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Adviser”), and Atlanta Capital Management Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability corporation (the “Sub-Adviser”).
WHEREAS, the Adviser has entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with Eaton Vance Growth Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Trust”) on behalf of Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital SMID-Cap 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 Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement (the “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. Subject to approval of the Trust’s Board and notice to the Sub-Adviser, the Adviser retains complete authority immediately to assume direct responsibility for any function delegated to the Sub-Adviser under this Agreement.
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SMID-CAP FUND
(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 investment 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 Adviser may, from time to time, consider necessary for the proper supervision of the Fund’s investments. The services to be provided by the Sub-Adviser hereunder will apply to the portion of the Fund’s assets that Adviser or the Trustees of the Trust shall from time to time designate, which may consist of all or a portion of the Fund’s assets. As investment sub-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, as amended (the “1940 Act”). 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, commodities, derivatives, and investment instruments on behalf of the Fund. Should the Trustees of the Trust or the Adviser 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 Trust and of the Fund.
(c)The Sub-Adviser shall place all orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio investments for the account of the Fund either directly with the issuer or with brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants 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 investments and payments of cash for the account of the Fund. In connection with the selection of such brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants 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 commission rates that are reasonable in relation to the benefits received. Subject to the policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, in selecting brokers or dealers qualified to execute a particular transaction, brokers or dealers may be selected who also provide brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) to the Sub-Adviser and the Sub-Adviser is expressly authorized to cause the Trust to
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EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SMID-CAP FUND
pay any broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission for executing a security transaction which is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if the Sub-Adviser determines in good faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall responsibilities which the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates have with respect to the Fund and to other accounts over which they exercise investment discretion.
(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.
(e)The Sub-Adviser shall exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties under the Agreement and will conduct its activities hereunder in compliance with the applicable requirements of the 1940 Act and all rules and regulations thereunder, all other applicable federal and state laws, any applicable procedures adopted by the Trust’s Board that have been provided to the Sub-Adviser, and the provisions of the Trust’s registration statement, each as may be amended. The Sub-Adviser will furnish to regulatory authorities having the requisite authority any information or reports in connection with its services in respect to the Fund which may be requested by such authorities in order to ascertain whether the operations of the Fund are being conducted in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
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 the compensation specified in Appendix A hereto. The Adviser is solely responsible for the payment of the compensation to the Sub-Adviser, and the Sub-Adviser agrees to seek payment of its compensation solely from the Adviser. The Fund shall have no liability for Sub-Adviser's compensation hereunder.
3.Allocation of Charges and Expenses. It is understood that 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 implied limitation, (i) expenses of maintaining the Fund and continuing its existence; (ii) registration of the Fund and Trust under the 1940 Act; (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) fees and expenses of registering, qualifying, and maintaining the Trust, the Fund, and its shares under applicable federal and state securities laws and of preparing and filing registration statements, other offering statements or memoranda, and other reports, forms and documents required to be filed by the Trust or Fund with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and any
3
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SMID-CAP FUND
other applicable regulatory body, and for printing and distributing the same to shareholders; (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 the Trust or 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; (xviii) all payments to be made and expenses to be assumed by the Fund in connection with the distribution of Fund shares; (xix) any pricing or valuation services employed by the Fund to value its investments including primary and comparative valuations services; (xx) any investment advisory, sub-investment advisory, or similar management fee payable by the Fund; (xxi) all expenses incurred in connection with the Fund’s use of a line of credit; and (xxii) 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.
The services of the Sub-Adviser to the Adviser for the benefit of the Fund are not to be deemed to be exclusive and the Sub-Adviser is free to render services to others and engage in other business activities. It is understood that the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates perform investment services, including rendering investment advice, to varied clients. It is understood that the Sub-Adviser or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action for other accounts that may differ from, conflict with, or be adverse to advice given or taken for the Fund. It is understood that certain securities or instruments may be held in some accounts but not in others, or the accounts may have different levels of holdings in certain securities or instruments and the accounts may remit different levels of fees to the Sub-Adviser. In addition, it is understood that the Sub-Adviser or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action with respect to the investments of the Fund that may not be given or taken with respect to one or more accounts with similar investment programs, objectives, and strategies. The Fund
4
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SMID-CAP FUND
acknowledges that the Sub-Adviser, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, and/or employees may from time to time have positions in or transact in securities and other investments recommended to clients, including the Fund. Such transactions may differ from or be inconsistent with the advice given, or the timing or nature of the Sub-Adviser’s action or actions with respect to the Fund. The Sub-Adviser may aggregate the Fund’s orders with orders of its proprietary accounts and/or orders of other clients.
5.Limitation of Liability of the Sub-Adviser. 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 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 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.
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. In the event of termination for any reason, all records of the Fund shall promptly be returned to the Adviser or the Fund, free from any claim or retention of rights in such record by the SubAdviser, although the Sub-Adviser may, at its own expense, make and retain a copy of such records.
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 in a manner consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
8.Limitation of Liability. A copy of the Declaration of Trust for each the Trust and the Adviser is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of each the Adviser and the Trust by an officer of each respective organization, in his or her capacity as an officer and not individually.
5
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SMID-CAP FUND
The Sub-Adviser expressly acknowledges the provisions in the Declarations of Trust of the Trust and of the Adviser limiting the personal liability of Trustees, officers, and the 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 or officers of the Trust or the Adviser or the shareholders of the Fund or the Adviser.
9.Third Party Beneficiaries. The Fund is a third party beneficiary to this Agreement. Aside from the Fund, nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any person not a party hereto (including, but not limited to, shareholders of the Fund) any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
10. Books and Records. The Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that all records that it maintains for the Fund are the property of the Fund and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Fund any of such records upon the Fund’s or the Adviser's request in compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, although the Sub-Adviser may, at its own expense, make and retain a copy of such records. The Sub-Adviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act the records required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act.
11.Certain Definitions. The terms “assignment” and “interested persons” when used herein shall have the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act, as now in effect or as hereafter amended subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by any rule, regulation or order by the SEC. 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 shareholders 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. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is modified or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the SEC, any rules or regulations adopted by, or interpretative releases of, the SEC, or any applicable guidance issued by the staff of the SEC, such provision will be deemed to incorporate the effect of such order, rule, regulation, interpretative release, or guidance.
12.Use of the Name “Atlanta Capital.” The Sub-Adviser hereby consents to the use of the name “Atlanta Capital” as part of the Fund’s name; provided, however, that such consent shall be conditioned upon the employment of the Sub-Adviser or one of its affiliates as the investment Sub-Advisor of the Fund. The name “Atlanta Capital” or any variation thereof may be used, from time to time, in other connections and for other purposes by the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates and other investment companies that have obtained consent to the use of the name “Atlanta Capital.” The Sub-Adviser shall have the right to require the Fund to cease using the
6
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SMID-CAP FUND
name “Atlanta Capital” as part of the Fund’s name if the Adviser ceases, for any reason, to employ the Sub-Adviser or one of its affiliates as the Fund’s investment sub-adviser. Future names adopted by the Fund for itself, insofar as such names include identifying words requiring the consent of the Sub-Adviser, shall be the property of the Sub-Adviser and shall be subject to the same terms and conditions.
13.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.
[Signature page follows.]
7
EATON VANCE ATLANTA CAPITAL SMID-CAP FUND
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first above written.
BOSTON MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH
By: |
/s/ Maureen A. Gemma |
Name: |
Maureen A. Gemma |
Title: |
Vice President and not individually |
ATLANTA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LLC
By: |
/s/ Frederick S. Marius |
Name: |
Frederick S. Marius |
Title: |
Vice President 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 SMID-CAP FUND)
By: |
/s/ Deidre E. Walsh |
Name: |
Deidre E. Walsh |
Title: |
Vice President and not individually |
8
EXHIBIT (d)(7)
EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND ADMINISTRATIVE AGREEMENT
ON BEHALF OF
EATON VANCE FOCUSED GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
AGREEMENT made as of this 1st day of March, 2021, between Eaton Vance Growth Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities 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 its affairs, subject to the supervision of the Trustees of the Trust, for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement.
(a)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 and 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.
In connection with its responsibilities as administrator of the Fund, Eaton Vance will:
·assist in preparing all annual, semi-annual and other reports required to be sent to Fund shareholders and/or filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and arrange for such filing and printing and dissemination of such reports to shareholders;
·review the provision of services by the Fund’s independent public accounting firm, including, but not limited to, the preparation by such firm of audited financial statements of the Fund and the Fund’s federal, state and local tax returns; and make such reports and
EATON VANCE FOCUSED GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
recommendations to the Trustees of the Trust concerning the performance of the independent accountants as the Trustees deem appropriate;
·arrange for the filing with the appropriate authorities all required federal, state and local tax returns;
·arrange for the dissemination to shareholders of the Fund’s proxy materials, and oversee the tabulation of proxies by the Fund’s transfer agent or other duly authorized proxy tabulator;
·review and supervise the provision of custodian services to the Fund; and make such reports and recommendations to the Trustees concerning the provision of such services as the Trustees deem appropriate;
·oversee the valuation of all such portfolio investments and other assets of the Fund as may be designated by the Trustees (subject to any guidelines, directions and instructions of the Trustees), and review and supervise the calculation of the net asset value of the Fund’s shares by the custodian;
·negotiate the terms and conditions under which transfer agency and dividend disbursing services will be provided to the Fund, and the fees to be paid by the Fund in connection therewith; review and supervise the provision of transfer agency and dividend disbursing services to the Fund; and make such reports and recommendations to the Trustees concerning the performance of the Fund’s transfer and dividend disbursing agent as the Trustees deem appropriate;
·establish the accounting policies of the Fund; reconcile accounting issues that may arise with respect to the Fund’s operations; and consult with the Fund’s independent accountants, legal counsel, custodian, accounting and bookkeeping agents and transfer and dividend disbursing agent as necessary in connection therewith;
·determine the amount of all distributions (if any) to be paid by the Fund to its shareholders; prepare and arrange for the publishing of notices to shareholders regarding such distributions (if required) and provide the Fund’s transfer and dividend disbursing agent and custodian with such information as is required for such parties to effect the payment of distributions;
·review the Fund’s bills and authorize payments of such bills by the Fund’s custodian;
·oversee services provided to the Fund by external counsel;
·arrange for the preparation and filing of all other reports, forms, registration statements, and documents required to be filed by the Trust on behalf of the Fund with the SEC and any other regulatory body; and
·provide other internal legal, auditing, accounting and administrative services as ordinarily required in conducting the Fund’s business affairs.
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EATON VANCE FOCUSED GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
(b)Eaton Vance shall provide the Trust with such investment management, administration and supervision as the Trust may from time to time consider necessary for the proper supervision of the Fund’s investment and administrative affairs. 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, as amended (the “1940 Act”). 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, commodities, 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 that it deems necessary or desirable to implement the investment policies of the Trust and of the Fund.
(c)Eaton Vance shall place all orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio investments for the account of the Fund either directly with the issuer or with brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants 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 investments and payments of cash for the account of the Fund. In connection with the selection of such brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants and the placing of such orders, Eaton Vance 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 commission rates, that are reasonable in relation to the benefits received. Subject to the policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, in selecting brokers or dealers qualified to execute a particular transaction, brokers or dealers may be selected who also provide brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) to Eaton Vance and Eaton Vance is expressly authorized to cause the Trust to pay any broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission for executing a security transaction which is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if Eaton Vance determines in good faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall responsibilities which Eaton Vance and its affiliates have with respect to the Fund and to other accounts over which they exercise investment discretion.
(d)Notwithstanding the foregoing, Eaton Vance shall not be deemed to have assumed any duties with respect to, and shall not be responsible for, the distribution of shares of the Fund, nor shall Eaton Vance be deemed to have assumed or have any responsibility with respect to functions specifically assumed by any transfer agent, custodian or shareholder servicing agent of the Trust or the Fund.
3
EATON VANCE FOCUSED GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
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 Trust the compensation described on Appendix A hereto.
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 maintaining the Fund and continuing its existence; (ii) registration of the Trust under the 1940 Act; (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) fees and expenses of registering, qualifying, and maintaining the Trust, the Fund, and its shares under applicable federal and state securities laws and of preparing and filing registration statements, other offering statements or memoranda, and other reports, forms, and documents required to be filed by the Trust on behalf of the Fund with the SEC or any other regulatory body, and for printing and distributing the same to shareholders; (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 the Fund or 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 expenses to be assumed by the Fund in connection with the distribution of Fund shares; (xix) any pricing or valuation services employed by the Fund to value its investments including primary and comparative valuation services; (xx) any investment advisory, sub-investment advisory, or similar management fee payable by the Fund; (xxi) all expenses incurred in connection with the Fund’s use of a line of credit; and (xxii) 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
4
EATON VANCE FOCUSED GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
become interested (as directors, trustees, officers, employees, shareholders or otherwise) in other companies or entities (including, without limitation, other investment companies) that Eaton Vance may organize, sponsor or acquire, or with which it may merge or consolidate, and which may include the words “Eaton Vance” 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. 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 that may be sustained in the acquisition, holding or disposition of any security or other investment.
A copy of the Declaration of Trust of Eaton Vance is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of Eaton Vance by an officer in his or her capacity as an officer and not individually. The Trust expressly acknowledges the provisions in the Declaration of Trust of Eaton Vance limiting the personal liability of the trustees, officers, and 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, officers or shareholders of Eaton Vance.
6.Sub-Investment Advisers and Sub-Administrators. Eaton Vance may employ one or more sub-investment advisers or sub-administrators from time to time to perform any of Eaton Vance’s duties under this Agreement, upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between Eaton Vance and such sub-investment adviser or sub-administrator and approved by the Trustees of the Trust, all as permitted by the 1940 Act. 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 shareholders of the Fund, 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 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. 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.
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
5
EATON VANCE FOCUSED GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
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 amendment to this Agreement shall be effective until approved in a manner consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
9.Limitation of Liability of Trustees and Officers of the Trust. A copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of the Trust by an officer in his or her capacity as an officer and not individually. Eaton Vance expressly acknowledges the provisions in the Declaration of Trust of the Trust limiting the personal liability of the Trustees and officers 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, officers, or shareholders or any Trustee or officer 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.
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EATON VANCE FOCUSED GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
11. No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any person not a party hereto any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
12.Non-Exclusive Services. The services of Eaton Vance to 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. It is understood that Eaton Vance and its affiliates perform investment services, including rendering investment advice, to varied clients. It is understood that Eaton Vance or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action for other accounts that may differ from, conflict with, or be adverse to advice given or taken for the Fund. It is understood that certain securities or instruments may be held in some accounts but not in others, or the accounts may have different levels of holdings in certain securities or instruments and the accounts may remit different levels of fees to Eaton Vance. In addition, it is understood that Eaton Vance or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action with respect to the investments of the Fund that may not be given or taken with respect to one or more accounts with similar investment programs, objectives, and strategies. The Fund acknowledges that Eaton Vance, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, and/or employees may from time to time have positions in or transact in securities and other investments recommended to clients, including the Fund. Such transactions may differ from or be inconsistent with the advice given, or the timing or nature of Eaton Vance’s action or actions with respect to the Fund. Eaton Vance may aggregate the Fund’s orders with orders of its proprietary accounts and/or orders of other clients.
13.Certain Definitions. The terms “assignment” and “interested persons” when used herein shall have the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act as now in effect or as hereafter amended subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by any rule, regulation or order by the SEC. 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 shareholders 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. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is modified or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the SEC or any rules or regulations adopted by, or interpretative releases of, the SEC, or any applicable guidance issued by the staff of the SEC, such provision will be deemed to incorporate the effect of such order, rule, regulation, interpretative release, or guidance.
14.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.
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EATON VANCE FOCUSED GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
(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.
[Signature page follows.]
8
EATON VANCE FOCUSED GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first above written.
EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST on behalf of
EATON VANCE FOCUSED GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
By: |
/s/ Deidre E. Walsh |
|
Deidre E. Walsh |
|
Vice President and not individually |
EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT
By: |
/s/ Maureen A. Gemma |
|
Maureen A. Gemma |
|
Vice President and not individually |
9
EATON VANCE FOCUSED GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
APPENDIX A
For the services, payments and facilities furnished by Eaton Vance under this Agreement, Eaton Vance is entitled to receive from the Fund compensation as set forth below:
In case of initiation or termination of the Agreement during any month with respect to the Fund, the fee for that month shall be reduced proportionately on the basis of the number of calendar days during which the Agreement is in effect.
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. Such compensation shall be paid monthly in arrears. Eaton Vance may, from time to time, waive all or a part of the above compensation.
EATON VANCE FOCUSED GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
EXHIBIT (d)(8)
INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
between
EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT
and
EATON VANCE ADVISERS INTERNATIONAL LTD.
for
EATON VANCE FOCUSED GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
AGREEMENT made this as of 1st day of March, 2021, between Eaton Vance Management, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Adviser”), and Eaton Vance Advisers International Ltd., a private limited company incorporated in England and Wales (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 Focused Global Opportunities 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 Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement (the “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. Subject to approval of the Trust’s Board and notice to the Sub-Adviser, the Adviser retains complete authority immediately to assume direct responsibility for any function delegated to the Sub-Adviser under this Agreement.
EATON VANCE FOCUSED GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
(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 investment 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 Adviser may, from time to time, consider necessary for the proper supervision of the Fund’s investments. The services to be provided by the Sub-Adviser hereunder will apply to the portion of the Fund’s assets that Adviser or the Trustees of the Trust shall from time to time designate, which may consist of all or a portion of the Fund’s assets. As investment sub-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, as amended (the “1940 Act”). 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, commodities, derivatives, and investment instruments on behalf of the Fund. Should the Trustees of the Trust or the Adviser 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 Trust and of the Fund.
(c)The Sub-Adviser shall place all orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio investments for the account of the Fund either directly with the issuer or with brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants 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 investments and payments of cash for the account of the Fund. In connection with the selection of such brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants 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 commission rates that are reasonable in relation to the benefits received. Subject to the policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, in selecting brokers or dealers qualified to execute a particular transaction, brokers or dealers may be selected who also provide brokerage and
2
EATON VANCE FOCUSED GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) to the Sub-Adviser and the Sub-Adviser is expressly authorized to cause the Trust to pay any broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission for executing a security transaction which is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if the Sub-Adviser determines in good faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall responsibilities which the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates have with respect to the Fund and to other accounts over which they exercise investment discretion.
(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.
(e)The Sub-Adviser shall exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties under the Agreement and will conduct its activities hereunder in compliance with the applicable requirements of the 1940 Act and all rules and regulations thereunder, all other applicable federal and state laws, any applicable procedures adopted by the Trust’s Board that have been provided to the Sub-Adviser, and the provisions of the Trust’s registration statement, each as may be amended. The Sub-Adviser will furnish to regulatory authorities having the requisite authority any information or reports in connection with its services in respect to the Fund which may be requested by such authorities in order to ascertain whether the operations of the Fund are being conducted in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
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 the compensation specified in Appendix A hereto. The Adviser is solely responsible for the payment of the compensation to the Sub-Adviser, and the Sub-Adviser agrees to seek payment of its compensation solely from the Adviser. The Fund shall have no liability for Sub-Adviser's compensation hereunder.
3.Allocation of Charges and Expenses. It is understood that 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 implied limitation, (i) expenses of maintaining the Fund and continuing its existence; (ii) registration of the Fund and Trust under the 1940 Act; (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) fees and expenses of registering, qualifying, and maintaining the Trust, the Fund, and its shares under applicable federal and state securities laws and of preparing and filing registration statements, other offering statements or memoranda, and other reports, forms and documents required to
3
EATON VANCE FOCUSED GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
be filed by the Trust or Fund with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and any other applicable regulatory body, and for printing and distributing the same to shareholders; (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 the Trust or 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; (xviii) all payments to be made and expenses to be assumed by the Fund in connection with the distribution of Fund shares; (xix) any pricing or valuation services employed by the Fund to value its investments including primary and comparative valuations services; (xx) any investment advisory, sub-investment advisory, or similar management fee payable by the Fund; (xxi) all expenses incurred in connection with the Fund’s use of a line of credit; and (xxii) 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 “Eaton Vance Advisers International Ltd.” 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.
The services of the Sub-Adviser to the Adviser for the benefit of the Fund are not to be deemed to be exclusive and the Sub-Adviser is free to render services to others and engage in other business activities. It is understood that the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates perform investment services, including rendering investment advice, to varied clients. It is understood that the Sub-Adviser or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action for other accounts that may differ from, conflict with, or be adverse to advice given or taken for the Fund. It is understood that certain securities or instruments may be held in some accounts but not in others, or the accounts may have different levels of holdings in certain securities or instruments and the accounts may remit different levels of fees to the Sub-Adviser. In addition, it is understood that the Sub-Adviser or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action with respect to the investments of the Fund that may not be given or taken with respect to one or
4
EATON VANCE FOCUSED GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
more accounts with similar investment programs, objectives, and strategies. The Fund acknowledges that the Sub-Adviser, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, and/or employees may from time to time have positions in or transact in securities and other investments recommended to clients, including the Fund. Such transactions may differ from or be inconsistent with the advice given, or the timing or nature of the Sub-Adviser’s action or actions with respect to the Fund. The Sub-Adviser may aggregate the Fund’s orders with orders of its proprietary accounts and/or orders of other clients.
5.Limitation of Liability of the Sub-Adviser. 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 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 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.
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. In the event of termination for any reason, all records of the Fund shall promptly be returned to the Adviser or the Fund, free from any claim or retention of rights in such record by the SubAdviser, although the Sub-Adviser may, at its own expense, make and retain a copy of such records.
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 in a manner consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
5
EATON VANCE FOCUSED GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
8.Limitation of Liability. A copy of the Declaration of Trust for each the Trust and the Adviser is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of each the Adviser and the Trust by an officer of each respective organization, in his or her capacity as an officer and not individually. The Sub-Adviser expressly acknowledges the provisions in the Declarations of Trust of the Trust and of the Adviser limiting the personal liability of Trustees, officers, and the 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 or officers of the Trust or the Adviser or the shareholders of the Fund or the Adviser.
9.Third Party Beneficiaries. The Fund is a third party beneficiary to this Agreement. Aside from the Fund, nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any person not a party hereto (including, but not limited to, shareholders of the Fund) any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
10. Books and Records. The Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that all records that it maintains for the Fund are the property of the Fund and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Fund any of such records upon the Fund’s or the Adviser's request in compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, although the Sub-Adviser may, at its own expense, make and retain a copy of such records. The Sub-Adviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act the records required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act.
11.Certain Definitions. The terms “assignment” and “interested persons” when used herein shall have the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act, as now in effect or as hereafter amended subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by any rule, regulation or order by the SEC. 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 shareholders 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. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is modified or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the SEC, any rules or regulations adopted by, or interpretative releases of, the SEC, or any applicable guidance issued by the staff of the SEC, such provision will be deemed to incorporate the effect of such order, rule, regulation, interpretative release, or guidance.
6
EATON VANCE FOCUSED GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
12.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.
[Signature page follows.]
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EATON VANCE FOCUSED GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
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 |
EATON VANCE ADVISERS INTERNATIONAL LTD.
A private limited company incorporated in England and Wales, authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority of the United Kingdom
By: |
/s/ Christopher Dyer |
Name: |
Christopher Dyer |
Title: |
Director, Vice President 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 FOCUSED GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND)
By: |
/s/ Deidre E. Walsh |
Name: |
Deidre E. Walsh |
Title: |
Vice President and not individually |
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EATON VANCE FOCUSED GROWTH OPPORTUNITES FUND
EXHIBIT (d)(9)
EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND ADMINISTRATIVE AGREEMENT
ON BEHALF OF
EATON VANCE FOCUSED GROWTH OPPORTUNITES FUND
AGREEMENT made as of this 1st day of March, 2021, between Eaton Vance Growth Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of Eaton Vance Focused Growth Opportunities 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 its affairs, subject to the supervision of the Trustees of the Trust, for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement.
(a)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 and 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.
In connection with its responsibilities as administrator of the Fund, Eaton Vance will:
·assist in preparing all annual, semi-annual and other reports required to be sent to Fund shareholders and/or filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and arrange for such filing and printing and dissemination of such reports to shareholders;
EATON VANCE FOCUSED GROWTH OPPORTUNITES FUND
·review the provision of services by the Fund’s independent public accounting firm, including, but not limited to, the preparation by such firm of audited financial statements of the Fund and the Fund’s federal, state and local tax returns; and make such reports and recommendations to the Trustees of the Trust concerning the performance of the independent accountants as the Trustees deem appropriate;
·arrange for the filing with the appropriate authorities all required federal, state and local tax returns;
·arrange for the dissemination to shareholders of the Fund’s proxy materials, and oversee the tabulation of proxies by the Fund’s transfer agent or other duly authorized proxy tabulator;
·review and supervise the provision of custodian services to the Fund; and make such reports and recommendations to the Trustees concerning the provision of such services as the Trustees deem appropriate;
·oversee the valuation of all such portfolio investments and other assets of the Fund as may be designated by the Trustees (subject to any guidelines, directions and instructions of the Trustees), and review and supervise the calculation of the net asset value of the Fund’s shares by the custodian;
·negotiate the terms and conditions under which transfer agency and dividend disbursing services will be provided to the Fund, and the fees to be paid by the Fund in connection therewith; review and supervise the provision of transfer agency and dividend disbursing services to the Fund; and make such reports and recommendations to the Trustees concerning the performance of the Fund’s transfer and dividend disbursing agent as the Trustees deem appropriate;
·establish the accounting policies of the Fund; reconcile accounting issues that may arise with respect to the Fund’s operations; and consult with the Fund’s independent accountants, legal counsel, custodian, accounting and bookkeeping agents and transfer and dividend disbursing agent as necessary in connection therewith;
·determine the amount of all distributions (if any) to be paid by the Fund to its shareholders; prepare and arrange for the publishing of notices to shareholders regarding such distributions (if required) and provide the Fund’s transfer and dividend disbursing agent and custodian with such information as is required for such parties to effect the payment of distributions;
·review the Fund’s bills and authorize payments of such bills by the Fund’s custodian;
·oversee services provided to the Fund by external counsel;
·arrange for the preparation and filing of all other reports, forms, registration statements, and documents required to be filed by the Trust on behalf of the Fund with the SEC and any other regulatory body; and
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EATON VANCE FOCUSED GROWTH OPPORTUNITES FUND
·provide other internal legal, auditing, accounting and administrative services as ordinarily required in conducting the Fund’s business affairs.
(b)Eaton Vance shall provide the Trust with such investment management, administration and supervision as the Trust may from time to time consider necessary for the proper supervision of the Fund’s investment and administrative affairs. 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, as amended (the “1940 Act”). 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, commodities, 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 that it deems necessary or desirable to implement the investment policies of the Trust and of the Fund.
(c)Eaton Vance shall place all orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio investments for the account of the Fund either directly with the issuer or with brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants 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 investments and payments of cash for the account of the Fund. In connection with the selection of such brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants and the placing of such orders, Eaton Vance 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 commission rates, that are reasonable in relation to the benefits received. Subject to the policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, in selecting brokers or dealers qualified to execute a particular transaction, brokers or dealers may be selected who also provide brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) to Eaton Vance and Eaton Vance is expressly authorized to cause the Trust to pay any broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission for executing a security transaction which is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if Eaton Vance determines in good faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall responsibilities which Eaton Vance and its affiliates have with respect to the Fund and to other accounts over which they exercise investment discretion.
3
EATON VANCE FOCUSED GROWTH OPPORTUNITES FUND
(d)Notwithstanding the foregoing, Eaton Vance shall not be deemed to have assumed any duties with respect to, and shall not be responsible for, the distribution of shares of the Fund, nor shall Eaton Vance be deemed to have assumed or have any responsibility with respect to functions specifically assumed by any transfer agent, custodian or shareholder servicing agent of the Trust or the Fund.
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 Trust the compensation described on Appendix A hereto.
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 maintaining the Fund and continuing its existence; (ii) registration of the Trust under the 1940 Act; (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) fees and expenses of registering, qualifying, and maintaining the Trust, the Fund, and its shares under applicable federal and state securities laws and of preparing and filing registration statements, other offering statements or memoranda, and other reports, forms, and documents required to be filed by the Trust on behalf of the Fund with the SEC or any other regulatory body, and for printing and distributing the same to shareholders; (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 the Fund or 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 expenses to be assumed by the Fund in connection with the distribution of Fund shares; (xix) any pricing or valuation services employed by the Fund to value its investments including primary and comparative valuation services; (xx) any investment advisory, sub-investment advisory, or similar management fee payable by the Fund; (xxi) all expenses incurred in connection with the Fund’s use of a line of credit; and (xxii) 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
EATON VANCE FOCUSED GROWTH OPPORTUNITES FUND
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) that Eaton Vance may organize, sponsor or acquire, or with which it may merge or consolidate, and which may include the words “Eaton Vance” 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. 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 that may be sustained in the acquisition, holding or disposition of any security or other investment.
A copy of the Declaration of Trust of Eaton Vance is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of Eaton Vance by an officer in his or her capacity as an officer and not individually. The Trust expressly acknowledges the provisions in the Declaration of Trust of Eaton Vance limiting the personal liability of the trustees, officers, and 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, officers or shareholders of Eaton Vance.
6.Sub-Investment Advisers and Sub-Administrators. Eaton Vance may employ one or more sub-investment advisers or sub-administrators from time to time to perform any of Eaton Vance’s duties under this Agreement, upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between Eaton Vance and such sub-investment adviser or sub-administrator and approved by the Trustees of the Trust, all as permitted by the 1940 Act. 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 shareholders of the Fund, 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 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. 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.
5
EATON VANCE FOCUSED GROWTH OPPORTUNITES FUND
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 amendment to this Agreement shall be effective until approved in a manner consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
9.Limitation of Liability of Trustees and Officers of the Trust. A copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of the Trust by an officer in his or her capacity as an officer and not individually. Eaton Vance expressly acknowledges the provisions in the Declaration of Trust of the Trust limiting the personal liability of the Trustees and officers 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, officers, or shareholders or any Trustee or officer 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.
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EATON VANCE FOCUSED GROWTH OPPORTUNITES FUND
11. No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any person not a party hereto any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
12.Non-Exclusive Services. The services of Eaton Vance to 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. It is understood that Eaton Vance and its affiliates perform investment services, including rendering investment advice, to varied clients. It is understood that Eaton Vance or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action for other accounts that may differ from, conflict with, or be adverse to advice given or taken for the Fund. It is understood that certain securities or instruments may be held in some accounts but not in others, or the accounts may have different levels of holdings in certain securities or instruments and the accounts may remit different levels of fees to Eaton Vance. In addition, it is understood that Eaton Vance or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action with respect to the investments of the Fund that may not be given or taken with respect to one or more accounts with similar investment programs, objectives, and strategies. The Fund acknowledges that Eaton Vance, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, and/or employees may from time to time have positions in or transact in securities and other investments recommended to clients, including the Fund. Such transactions may differ from or be inconsistent with the advice given, or the timing or nature of Eaton Vance’s action or actions with respect to the Fund. Eaton Vance may aggregate the Fund’s orders with orders of its proprietary accounts and/or orders of other clients.
13.Certain Definitions. The terms “assignment” and “interested persons” when used herein shall have the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act as now in effect or as hereafter amended subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by any rule, regulation or order by the SEC. 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 shareholders 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. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is modified or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the SEC or any rules or regulations adopted by, or interpretative releases of, the SEC, or any applicable guidance issued by the staff of the SEC, such provision will be deemed to incorporate the effect of such order, rule, regulation, interpretative release, or guidance.
14.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.
7
EATON VANCE FOCUSED GROWTH OPPORTUNITES FUND
(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.
[Signature page follows.]
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EATON VANCE FOCUSED GROWTH OPPORTUNITES FUND
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first above written.
EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST on behalf of
EATON VANCE FOCUSED GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES FUND
By: |
/s/ Deidre E. Walsh |
|
Deidre E. Walsh |
|
Vice President and not individually |
EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT
By: |
/s/ Maureen A. Gemma |
|
Maureen A. Gemma |
|
Vice President and not individually |
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EATON VANCE FOCUSED GROWTH OPPORTUNITES FUND
APPENDIX A
For the services, payments and facilities furnished by Eaton Vance under this Agreement, Eaton Vance is entitled to receive from the Fund compensation as set forth below:
In case of initiation or termination of the Agreement during any month with respect to the Fund, the fee for that month shall be reduced proportionately on the basis of the number of calendar days during which the Agreement is in effect.
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. Such compensation shall be paid monthly in arrears. Eaton Vance may, from time to time, waive all or a part of the above compensation.
EXHIBIT (d)(10)
EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND ADMINISTRATIVE AGREEMENT
ON BEHALF OF
EATON VANCE FOCUSED VALUE OPPORTUNITIES FUND
AGREEMENT made as of this 1st day of March, 2021, between Eaton Vance Growth Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of Eaton Vance Focused Value Opportunities 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 its affairs, subject to the supervision of the Trustees of the Trust, for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement.
(a)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 and 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.
In connection with its responsibilities as administrator of the Fund, Eaton Vance will:
·assist in preparing all annual, semi-annual and other reports required to be sent to Fund shareholders and/or filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and arrange for such filing and printing and dissemination of such reports to shareholders;
·review the provision of services by the Fund’s independent public accounting firm, including, but not limited to, the preparation by such firm of audited financial statements of the Fund and the Fund’s federal, state and local tax returns; and make such reports and
EATON VANCE FOCUSED VALUE OPPORTUNITIES FUND
recommendations to the Trustees of the Trust concerning the performance of the independent accountants as the Trustees deem appropriate;
·arrange for the filing with the appropriate authorities all required federal, state and local tax returns;
·arrange for the dissemination to shareholders of the Fund’s proxy materials, and oversee the tabulation of proxies by the Fund’s transfer agent or other duly authorized proxy tabulator;
·review and supervise the provision of custodian services to the Fund; and make such reports and recommendations to the Trustees concerning the provision of such services as the Trustees deem appropriate;
·oversee the valuation of all such portfolio investments and other assets of the Fund as may be designated by the Trustees (subject to any guidelines, directions and instructions of the Trustees), and review and supervise the calculation of the net asset value of the Fund’s shares by the custodian;
·negotiate the terms and conditions under which transfer agency and dividend disbursing services will be provided to the Fund, and the fees to be paid by the Fund in connection therewith; review and supervise the provision of transfer agency and dividend disbursing services to the Fund; and make such reports and recommendations to the Trustees concerning the performance of the Fund’s transfer and dividend disbursing agent as the Trustees deem appropriate;
·establish the accounting policies of the Fund; reconcile accounting issues that may arise with respect to the Fund’s operations; and consult with the Fund’s independent accountants, legal counsel, custodian, accounting and bookkeeping agents and transfer and dividend disbursing agent as necessary in connection therewith;
·determine the amount of all distributions (if any) to be paid by the Fund to its shareholders; prepare and arrange for the publishing of notices to shareholders regarding such distributions (if required) and provide the Fund’s transfer and dividend disbursing agent and custodian with such information as is required for such parties to effect the payment of distributions;
·review the Fund’s bills and authorize payments of such bills by the Fund’s custodian;
·oversee services provided to the Fund by external counsel;
·arrange for the preparation and filing of all other reports, forms, registration statements, and documents required to be filed by the Trust on behalf of the Fund with the SEC and any other regulatory body; and
·provide other internal legal, auditing, accounting and administrative services as ordinarily required in conducting the Fund’s business affairs.
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EATON VANCE FOCUSED VALUE OPPORTUNITIES FUND
(b)Eaton Vance shall provide the Trust with such investment management, administration and supervision as the Trust may from time to time consider necessary for the proper supervision of the Fund’s investment and administrative affairs. 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, as amended (the “1940 Act”). 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, commodities, 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 that it deems necessary or desirable to implement the investment policies of the Trust and of the Fund.
(c)Eaton Vance shall place all orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio investments for the account of the Fund either directly with the issuer or with brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants 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 investments and payments of cash for the account of the Fund. In connection with the selection of such brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants and the placing of such orders, Eaton Vance 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 commission rates, that are reasonable in relation to the benefits received. Subject to the policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, in selecting brokers or dealers qualified to execute a particular transaction, brokers or dealers may be selected who also provide brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) to Eaton Vance and Eaton Vance is expressly authorized to cause the Trust to pay any broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission for executing a security transaction which is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if Eaton Vance determines in good faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall responsibilities which Eaton Vance and its affiliates have with respect to the Fund and to other accounts over which they exercise investment discretion.
(d)Notwithstanding the foregoing, Eaton Vance shall not be deemed to have assumed any duties with respect to, and shall not be responsible for, the distribution of shares of the Fund, nor shall Eaton Vance be deemed to have assumed or have any responsibility with respect to functions specifically assumed by any transfer agent, custodian or shareholder servicing agent of the Trust or the Fund.
3
EATON VANCE FOCUSED VALUE OPPORTUNITIES FUND
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 Trust the compensation described on Appendix A hereto.
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 maintaining the Fund and continuing its existence; (ii) registration of the Trust under the 1940 Act; (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) fees and expenses of registering, qualifying, and maintaining the Trust, the Fund, and its shares under applicable federal and state securities laws and of preparing and filing registration statements, other offering statements or memoranda, and other reports, forms, and documents required to be filed by the Trust on behalf of the Fund with the SEC or any other regulatory body, and for printing and distributing the same to shareholders; (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 the Fund or 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 expenses to be assumed by the Fund in connection with the distribution of Fund shares; (xix) any pricing or valuation services employed by the Fund to value its investments including primary and comparative valuation services; (xx) any investment advisory, sub-investment advisory, or similar management fee payable by the Fund; (xxi) all expenses incurred in connection with the Fund’s use of a line of credit; and (xxii) 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
4
EATON VANCE FOCUSED VALUE OPPORTUNITIES FUND
become interested (as directors, trustees, officers, employees, shareholders or otherwise) in other companies or entities (including, without limitation, other investment companies) that Eaton Vance may organize, sponsor or acquire, or with which it may merge or consolidate, and which may include the words “Eaton Vance” 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. 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 that may be sustained in the acquisition, holding or disposition of any security or other investment.
A copy of the Declaration of Trust of Eaton Vance is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of Eaton Vance by an officer in his or her capacity as an officer and not individually. The Trust expressly acknowledges the provisions in the Declaration of Trust of Eaton Vance limiting the personal liability of the trustees, officers, and 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, officers or shareholders of Eaton Vance.
6.Sub-Investment Advisers and Sub-Administrators. Eaton Vance may employ one or more sub-investment advisers or sub-administrators from time to time to perform any of Eaton Vance’s duties under this Agreement, upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between Eaton Vance and such sub-investment adviser or sub-administrator and approved by the Trustees of the Trust, all as permitted by the 1940 Act. 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 shareholders of the Fund, 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 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. 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.
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
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EATON VANCE FOCUSED VALUE OPPORTUNITIES FUND
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 amendment to this Agreement shall be effective until approved in a manner consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
9.Limitation of Liability of Trustees and Officers of the Trust. A copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of the Trust by an officer in his or her capacity as an officer and not individually. Eaton Vance expressly acknowledges the provisions in the Declaration of Trust of the Trust limiting the personal liability of the Trustees and officers 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, officers, or shareholders or any Trustee or officer 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.
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EATON VANCE FOCUSED VALUE OPPORTUNITIES FUND
11. No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any person not a party hereto any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
12.Non-Exclusive Services. The services of Eaton Vance to 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. It is understood that Eaton Vance and its affiliates perform investment services, including rendering investment advice, to varied clients. It is understood that Eaton Vance or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action for other accounts that may differ from, conflict with, or be adverse to advice given or taken for the Fund. It is understood that certain securities or instruments may be held in some accounts but not in others, or the accounts may have different levels of holdings in certain securities or instruments and the accounts may remit different levels of fees to Eaton Vance. In addition, it is understood that Eaton Vance or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action with respect to the investments of the Fund that may not be given or taken with respect to one or more accounts with similar investment programs, objectives, and strategies. The Fund acknowledges that Eaton Vance, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, and/or employees may from time to time have positions in or transact in securities and other investments recommended to clients, including the Fund. Such transactions may differ from or be inconsistent with the advice given, or the timing or nature of Eaton Vance’s action or actions with respect to the Fund. Eaton Vance may aggregate the Fund’s orders with orders of its proprietary accounts and/or orders of other clients.
13.Certain Definitions. The terms “assignment” and “interested persons” when used herein shall have the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act as now in effect or as hereafter amended subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by any rule, regulation or order by the SEC. 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 shareholders 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. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is modified or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the SEC or any rules or regulations adopted by, or interpretative releases of, the SEC, or any applicable guidance issued by the staff of the SEC, such provision will be deemed to incorporate the effect of such order, rule, regulation, interpretative release, or guidance.
14.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.
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EATON VANCE FOCUSED VALUE OPPORTUNITIES FUND
(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.
[Signature page follows.]
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EATON VANCE FOCUSED VALUE OPPORTUNITIES FUND
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first above written.
EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST on behalf of
EATON VANCE FOCUSED VALUE OPPORTUNITIES FUND
By: |
/s/ Deidre E. Walsh |
|
Deidre E. Walsh |
|
Vice President and not individually |
EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT
By: |
/s/ Maureen A. Gemma |
|
Maureen A. Gemma |
|
Vice President and not individually |
9
EATON VANCE FOCUSED VALUE OPPORTUNITIES FUND
APPENDIX A
For the services, payments and facilities furnished by Eaton Vance under this Agreement, Eaton Vance is entitled to receive from the Fund compensation as set forth below:
In case of initiation or termination of the Agreement during any month with respect to the Fund, the fee for that month shall be reduced proportionately on the basis of the number of calendar days during which the Agreement is in effect.
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. Such compensation shall be paid monthly in arrears. Eaton Vance may, from time to time, waive all or a part of the above compensation.
EXHIBIT (d)(11)
EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
ON BEHALF OF
EATON VANCE GREATER CHINA GROWTH FUND
AGREEMENT made as of this 1st day of March, 2021, between Eaton Vance Growth Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of Eaton Vance Greater China Growth Fund (the “Fund”), and Boston Management and Research, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Adviser”).
1.Duties of the Adviser. The Trust hereby employs the 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 Trustees of the Trust, for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement.
(a) The Adviser hereby accepts such employment, and undertakes to afford to the Trust the advice and assistance of the 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 investment affairs and to pay the salaries and fees of all officers and Trustees of the Trust who are members of the Adviser’s organization and all personnel of the Adviser performing services relating to research and investment activities. The 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 Trust in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Trust.
(b)The Adviser 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’s investments. As investment adviser to the Trust, the 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 Declaration of Trust, By-Laws and registration statement of the Trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Adviser 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, commodities, 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
EATON VANCE GREATER CHINA GROWTH FUND
Fund and notify the Adviser thereof in writing, the 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 Adviser shall take, on behalf of the Trust, all actions that it deems necessary or desirable to implement the investment policies of the Trust and of the Fund.
(c)The Adviser shall place all orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio investments for the account of the Fund either directly with the issuer or with brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants selected by the Adviser, and to that end, the Adviser is authorized as the agent of the Fund to give instructions to the custodian of the Fund as to deliveries of investments and payments of cash for the account of the Fund. In connection with the selection of such brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants and the placing of such orders, the 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 commission rates that are reasonable in relation to the benefits received. Subject to the policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, in selecting brokers or dealers qualified to execute a particular transaction, brokers or dealers may be selected who also provide brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) to the Adviser and the Adviser is expressly authorized to cause the Trust to pay any broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission for executing a security transaction which is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if the Adviser determines in good faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall responsibilities which the Adviser and its affiliates have with respect to the Fund and to other accounts over which they exercise investment discretion.
(d)Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Adviser shall not be deemed to have assumed any duties with respect to, and shall not be responsible for, the distribution of shares of the Fund, nor shall the Adviser be deemed to have assumed or have any responsibility with respect to functions specifically assumed by any transfer agent, administration, custodian or shareholder servicing agent of the Trust or the Fund.
2.Compensation of the Adviser. For the services, payments and facilities to be furnished hereunder by the Adviser, the Adviser shall be entitled to receive from the Trust the compensation described on Appendix A hereto.
3.Allocation of Charges and Expenses. The Adviser shall pay the entire salaries and fees of all of the Trust’s Trustees and officers employed by the Adviser and who devote part or all of their time to the affairs of the Adviser, 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 the Adviser hereunder, which expenses payable by the Fund shall include, without implied limitation, (i) expenses of maintaining the Fund and continuing its existence, (ii) registration of the Trust under the 1940 Act, (iii) commissions,
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EATON VANCE GREATER CHINA GROWTH FUND
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) fees and expenses of registering, qualifying and maintaining the Trust, the Fund and its shares under applicable federal and state securities laws and of preparing and filing registration statements, other offering statements or memoranda, and other reports, forms, and documents required to be filed by the Trust on behalf of the Fund with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or any other regulatory body, and for printing and distributing the same to shareholders; (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 the Fund or 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 organization; (xviii) all payments to be made and expenses to be assumed by the Fund in connection with the distribution of Fund shares, (xix) any pricing or valuation services employed by the Fund to value its investments including primary and comparative valuation services; (xx) any investment advisory, sub-investment advisory, or similar management fee payable by the Fund, (xxi) all expenses incurred in connection with the Fund’s use of a line of credit, and (xxii) 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 Adviser as trustees, officers, employees, shareholders or otherwise and that trustees, officers, employees and shareholders of the Adviser are or may be or become similarly interested in the Fund, and that the 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 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 Adviser 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 the 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 Adviser. In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of obligations or duties hereunder on the part of the Adviser, the Adviser 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 that may be sustained in the acquisition, holding or disposition of any security or other investment.
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EATON VANCE GREATER CHINA GROWTH FUND
A copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Adviser is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of the Adviser by an officer in his or her capacity as an officer and not individually. The Trust expressly acknowledges the provisions in the Declaration of Trust of the Adviser limiting the personal liability of the trustees, officers, and shareholders of the Adviser, and the Trust hereby agrees that it shall have recourse to the Adviser for payment of claims or obligations as between the Adviser and the Trust arising out of this Agreement and shall not seek satisfaction from the trustees, officers, or shareholders of the Adviser.
6.Sub-Investment Advisers. The Adviser may employ one or more sub-investment advisers from time to time to perform any of the Adviser’s duties under this Agreement, upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the Adviser and such sub-investment adviser and approved by the Trustees of the Trust, all as permitted by the 1940 Act. The performance of each such sub-investment adviser of its obligation under any such agreement shall be supervised by the Adviser. Further, the Adviser may, with the approval of the Trustees of the Trust and without the vote of any shareholders of the Fund, terminate any agreement with any sub-investment adviser and/or enter into an agreement with one or more other sub-investment advisers, all as permitted by the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. In the event a sub-investment adviser is employed, the Adviser retains the authority to immediately assume responsibility for any functions delegated to a sub-investment adviser, subject to approval by the Board and notice to the sub-investment adviser.
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 the Adviser 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 the Adviser, as the case may be, and the Trust may, at any time upon such written notice to the Adviser, 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 amendment to this Agreement shall be effective until approved in a manner consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
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EATON VANCE GREATER CHINA GROWTH FUND
9.Limitation of Liability of Trustees and Officers of the Trust. A copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of the Trust by an officer in his or her capacity as an officer and not individually. The Adviser expressly acknowledges the provisions in the Declaration of Trust of the Trust limiting the personal liability of the Trustees and officers of the Trust and the shareholders of the Fund, and the Adviser 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 the Adviser arising out of this Agreement and shall not seek satisfaction from the Trustees, officers, or shareholders or any Trustee or officer of the Trust or shareholder of the Fund.
10.Use of the Name “Eaton Vance”. The Adviser 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 the Adviser or one of its affiliates as the investment adviser 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 the Adviser and its affiliates and other investment companies that have obtained consent to the use of the name “Eaton Vance.” The Adviser 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 the Adviser or one of its affiliates as the Fund’s investment adviser. Future names adopted by the Fund for itself, insofar as such names include identifying words requiring the consent of the Adviser, shall be the property of the Adviser and shall be subject to the same terms and conditions.
11. No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any person not a party hereto any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
12.Non-Exclusive Services. The services of the Adviser to the Fund are not to be deemed to be exclusive, the Adviser being free to render services to others and engage in other business activities. It is understood that the Adviser and its affiliates perform investment services, including rendering investment advice, to varied clients. It is understood that the
Adviser or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action for other accounts that may differ from, conflict with or be adverse to advice given or taken for the Fund. It is understood that certain securities or instruments may be held in some accounts but not in others, or the accounts may have different levels of holdings in certain securities or instruments and the accounts may remit different levels of fees to the Adviser. In addition, it is understood that the
Adviser or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action with respect to the investments of the Fund that may not be given or taken with respect to one or more accounts with similar investment programs, objectives, and strategies. The Fund acknowledges that the Adviser, its affiliates and their respective officers, directors, and/or employees may from time to time have positions in or transact in securities and other investments recommended to clients, including the Fund. Such transactions may differ from or be inconsistent with the advice given, or the timing or nature of the Adviser’s action or actions with respect to the Fund. The Adviser may
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EATON VANCE GREATER CHINA GROWTH FUND
aggregate the Fund’s orders with orders of its proprietary accounts and/or orders of other clients.
13.Certain Definitions. The terms “assignment” and “interested persons” when used herein shall have the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act as now in effect or as hereafter amended subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by any rule, regulation or order by the SEC. 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 shareholders 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. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is modified or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the SEC, any rules or regulations adopted by, or interpretative releases of, the SEC, or any applicable guidance issued by the staff of the SEC, such provision will be deemed to incorporate the effect of such order, rule, regulation, interpretative release, or guidance.
14.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.
[Signature page follows]
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EATON VANCE GREATER CHINA GROWTH FUND
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first above written.
EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST on behalf of
EATON VANCE GREATER CHINA GROWTH FUND
By: |
/s/ Deidre E. Walsh |
|
Deidre E. Walsh |
|
Vice President and not individually |
BOSTON MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH
By: |
/s/ Maureen A. Gemma |
|
Maureen A. Gemma |
|
Vice President and not individually |
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EATON VANCE GREATER CHINA GROWTH FUND
APPENDIX A
For the services, payments and facilities furnished by the Adviser under this Agreement, the Adviser is entitled to receive from the Fund compensation as set forth below:
In case of initiation or termination of the Agreement during any month with respect to the Fund, the fee for that month shall be reduced proportionately on the basis of the number of calendar days during which the Agreement is in effect.
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. Such compensation shall be paid monthly in arrears. The Adviser may, from time to time, waive all or a part of the above compensation.
EXHIBIT (d)(12)
INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
between
BOSTON MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH
and
BMO GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT (ASIA) LIMITED
for
EATON VANCE GREATER CHINA GROWTH FUND
AGREEMENT made this 1st day of March, 2021, between Boston Management and Research, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Adviser”), and BMO Global Asset Management (Asia) Limited, a company organized in Hong Kong (the “Sub-Adviser”).
WHEREAS, the Adviser has entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement dated March 1, 2021 (the “Advisory Agreement”) with Eaton Vance Growth Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Trust”) on behalf of Eaton Vance Greater China Growth Fund (the “Fund”), relating to the provision of portfolio management services to the Fund; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to authority granted to the Adviser in the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser wishes to retain the Sub-Adviser to furnish investment advisory services to the Fund, and the Sub-Adviser is willing to furnish such services to the Fund and the Adviser.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser agree as follows:
1.Appointment of the Sub-Adviser. The Adviser hereby appoints the Sub-Adviser to act as investment adviser for and to manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Fund, 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. The Sub-Adviser hereby accepts such appointment 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 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 Fund in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Fund.
EATON VANCE GREATER CHINA GROWTH FUND
2.Duties of the Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser shall provide the Fund with such investment management and supervision as the Adviser and the Fund may from time to time consider necessary for the proper supervision of the Fund’s investments. As investment adviser to the Fund and 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 (the “1940 Act”), all as from time to time amended, the Sub-Adviser (i) 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 and (ii) 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 which they deem necessary or desirable to implement the investment policies of the Fund.
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 adhere to procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, copies of which shall be provided to the Sub-Adviser.
3.Compensation of the Sub-Adviser. For the services, payments and facilities to be furnished hereunder by the Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Adviser shall be entitled to receive from the Adviser the fee set forth on Appendix A hereto. Such fee shall be paid monthly in arrears on the last business day of each month. In case of initiation or termination of the Agreement during any month, 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 to which it is entitled hereunder.
4.Allocation of Charges and Expenses. It is understood that the Fund will pay all expenses other than those expressly stated to be payable by the Sub-Adviser hereunder, which expenses payable by the Fund shall include, without implied limitation, (i) expenses of maintaining the Fund and continuing its existence, (ii) registration of the Trust under the 1940 Act, (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)
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EATON VANCE GREATER CHINA GROWTH FUND
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 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 balanced 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 the accounts of shareholders, (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 one of the Adviser’s or 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.
5.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, shareholders or otherwise and that trustees, officers 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) which the Sub-Adviser or the Adviser and its affiliates may organize, sponsor or acquire, or with which it may merge or consolidate, 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.
6.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 Fund or to any shareholder of the Fund or to the Adviser 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.
7.Indemnification.
The Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Sub-Adviser, any affiliated person of the Sub-Adviser, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 Act, as amended, (the “1933 Act”) controls (“controlling person”) the Sub-Adviser (all of such persons being referred to as “Sub-Adviser Indemnified Persons”) against any and all losses,
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EATON VANCE GREATER CHINA GROWTH FUND
claims, damages, liabilities, or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses) to which a Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person may become subject under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), under any other statute, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Adviser’s responsibilities to the Sub-Adviser or the Trust which (1) may be based upon the Adviser’s gross negligence, willful misfeasance, or bad faith in the performance of its duties, or by reason of the Adviser’s disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement and to the Fund, or (2) may be based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or prospectus covering the Fund, or any amendment thereof or any supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Adviser or the Fund or to any affiliated person of the Adviser by a Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person; provided however, that in no case shall the indemnity in favor of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person be deemed to protect such person against any liability to which such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of its breach or reckless disregard of its obligations or duties under this Agreement.
Notwithstanding Section 6 of this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Adviser, any affiliated person of the Adviser, and any controlling person of the Adviser (all of such persons being referred to as “Adviser Indemnified Persons”) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses) to which an Adviser Indemnified Person may become subject under the 1933 Act, 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, under any other statute, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Sub-Adviser’s responsibilities as Sub-Adviser of the Fund which (1) may be based upon the Sub-Adviser’s gross negligence, willful misfeasance, or bad faith in the performance of its duties, or by reason of the Sub-Adviser’s disregard of its obligations or duties under this Agreement, or (2) may be based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or prospectus covering the Fund, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact known or which should have been known to the Sub-Adviser and was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Adviser, the Fund, or any affiliated person of the Adviser or Fund by the Sub-Adviser or any affiliated person of the Sub-Adviser; provided, however, that in no case shall the indemnity in favor of an Adviser Indemnified Person be deemed to protect such person against any liability to which such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of its breach or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
The Adviser shall not be liable under Paragraph (a) of this Section 7 with respect to any claim made against a Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person unless such Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person shall have notified the Adviser in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person (or after such Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Adviser of any such claim shall not relieve the Adviser from any liability which it may have to the Sub-Adviser
4
EATON VANCE GREATER CHINA GROWTH FUND
Indemnified Person against whom such action is brought except to the extent the Adviser is prejudiced by the failure or delay in giving such notice. In case any such action is brought against the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, the Adviser will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof or, after notice to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person. If the Adviser assumes the defense of any such action and the selection of counsel by the Adviser to represent the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person would result in a conflict of interests and therefore, would not, in the reasonable judgment of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, adequately represent the interests of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, the Adviser will, at its own expense, assume the defense with counsel to the Adviser and, also at its own expense, with separate counsel to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, which counsel shall be satisfactory to the Adviser and to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person. The Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Adviser shall not be liable to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. The Adviser shall not have the right to compromise on or settle the litigation without the prior written consent of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person if the compromise or settlement results, or may result in a finding of wrongdoing on the part of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person.
The Sub-Adviser shall not be liable under Paragraph (b) of this Section 7 with respect to any claim made against an Adviser Indemnified Person unless such Adviser Indemnified Person shall have notified the Sub-Adviser in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Adviser Indemnified Person (or after such Adviser Indemnified Person shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Sub-Adviser of any such claim shall not relieve the Sub-Adviser from any liability which it may have to the Adviser Indemnified Person against whom such action is brought except to the extent the Sub-Adviser is prejudiced by the failure or delay in giving such notice. In case any such action is brought against the Adviser Indemnified Person, the Sub-Adviser will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof or, after notice to the Adviser Indemnified Person, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the Adviser Indemnified Person. If the Sub-Adviser assumes the defense of any such action and the selection of counsel by the Sub-Adviser to represent both the Sub-Adviser and the Adviser Indemnified Person would result in a conflict of interests and therefore, would not, in the reasonable judgment of the Adviser Indemnified Person, adequately represent the interests of the Adviser Indemnified Person, the Sub-Adviser will, at its own expense, assume the defense with counsel to the Sub-Adviser and, also at its own expense, with separate counsel to the Adviser Indemnified Person, which counsel shall be satisfactory to the Sub-Adviser and to the Adviser Indemnified Person. The Adviser Indemnified Person shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Sub-Adviser shall not be liable to the Adviser Indemnified Person under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Adviser Indemnified Person independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. The Sub-Adviser shall not have the right to compromise on or settle the litigation without the prior written consent of the Adviser Indemnified Person if the compromise or settlement results, or may result in a finding of wrongdoing on the part of the Adviser Indemnified Person.
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EATON VANCE GREATER CHINA GROWTH FUND
8.Duration and Termination of this Agreement.
a. 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 at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
b. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Sub-Adviser may at any time on sixty (60) days' prior written notice to the Adviser terminate its obligations hereunder without the payment of any penalty; (ii) the Adviser may at any time on sixty (60) days' notice to the Sub-Adviser terminate this Agreement without the payment of any penalty, and (iii) this Agreement may be terminated by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. 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. In the event of termination for any reason, all records of the Fund shall promptly be returned to the Adviser or the Fund, free from any claim or retention of rights in such record by the SubAdviser, although the Sub-Adviser may, at its own expense, make and retain a copy of such records.
9.Amendments of the Agreement. This Agreement may be amended by a writing signed by all parties hereto, provided that no amendment to this Agreement shall be effective until approved in a manner consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
10.Limitation of Liability of the Adviser. The Sub-Adviser expressly acknowledges the provision in the Declaration of Trust of the Trust of the Adviser limiting the personal liability of the trustees and officers of the Fund and the Adviser, and the Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that it shall have recourse to the Adviser or the Fund for payment of claims or obligations as between the Adviser or the Fund and the Sub-Adviser arising out of this Agreement and shall not seek satisfaction from any trustee or officer of the Fund or the Adviser.
11. Books and Records. The Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that all records that it maintains for the Fund are the property of the Fund and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Fund any of such records upon the Fund’s or the Adviser's request in compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, although the Sub-Adviser may, at its own expense, make and retain a copy of such records. The Sub-Adviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act the records required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act.
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EATON VANCE GREATER CHINA GROWTH FUND
12.Certain Definitions. The terms “assignment” and “interested persons” when used herein shall have the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act 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. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is modified or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the SEC, any rules or regulations adopted by, or interpretative releases of, the SEC, or any applicable guidance issued by the staff of the SEC, such provision will be deemed to incorporate the effect of such order, rule, regulation, interpretative release, or guidance.
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EATON VANCE GREATER CHINA GROWTH FUND
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed on the day and year first above written.
BOSTON MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH
By: |
/s/ Maureen A. Gemma |
Name: |
Maureen A. Gemma |
Title: |
Vice President and not individually |
BMO GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT (ASIA) LIMITED
By: |
/s/ Ying LUI (June) |
Name: |
Ying LUI (June) |
Title: |
Head of GMA Asia and not individually |
By: |
/s/ Cilla Sea-Won LUKE |
Name: |
Cilla Sea-Won LUKE |
Title: |
Head of Business Management and Operations APAC 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 Greater China Growth Fund)
By: |
/s/ Deidre E. Walsh |
Name: |
Deidre E. Walsh |
Title: |
Vice President and not individually |
8
EXHIBIT (d)(13)
EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND ADMINISTRATIVE AGREEMENT
ON BEHALF OF
EATON VANCE INTERNATIONAL SMALL-CAP FUND
AGREEMENT made as of this 1st day of March, 2021, between Eaton Vance Growth Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of Eaton Vance International Small-Cap 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 its affairs, subject to the supervision of the Trustees of the Trust, for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement.
(a)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 and 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.
In connection with its responsibilities as administrator of the Fund, Eaton Vance will:
·assist in preparing all annual, semi-annual and other reports required to be sent to Fund shareholders and/or filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and arrange for such filing and printing and dissemination of such reports to shareholders;
·review the provision of services by the Fund’s independent public accounting firm, including, but not limited to, the preparation by such firm of audited financial statements of the Fund and the Fund’s federal, state and local tax returns; and make such reports and
EATON VANCE INTERNATIONAL SMALL-CAP FUND
recommendations to the Trustees of the Trust concerning the performance of the independent accountants as the Trustees deem appropriate;
·arrange for the filing with the appropriate authorities all required federal, state and local tax returns;
·arrange for the dissemination to shareholders of the Fund’s proxy materials, and oversee the tabulation of proxies by the Fund’s transfer agent or other duly authorized proxy tabulator;
·review and supervise the provision of custodian services to the Fund; and make such reports and recommendations to the Trustees concerning the provision of such services as the Trustees deem appropriate;
·oversee the valuation of all such portfolio investments and other assets of the Fund as may be designated by the Trustees (subject to any guidelines, directions and instructions of the Trustees), and review and supervise the calculation of the net asset value of the Fund’s shares by the custodian;
·negotiate the terms and conditions under which transfer agency and dividend disbursing services will be provided to the Fund, and the fees to be paid by the Fund in connection therewith; review and supervise the provision of transfer agency and dividend disbursing services to the Fund; and make such reports and recommendations to the Trustees concerning the performance of the Fund’s transfer and dividend disbursing agent as the Trustees deem appropriate;
·establish the accounting policies of the Fund; reconcile accounting issues that may arise with respect to the Fund’s operations; and consult with the Fund’s independent accountants, legal counsel, custodian, accounting and bookkeeping agents and transfer and dividend disbursing agent as necessary in connection therewith;
·determine the amount of all distributions (if any) to be paid by the Fund to its shareholders; prepare and arrange for the publishing of notices to shareholders regarding such distributions (if required) and provide the Fund’s transfer and dividend disbursing agent and custodian with such information as is required for such parties to effect the payment of distributions;
·review the Fund’s bills and authorize payments of such bills by the Fund’s custodian;
·oversee services provided to the Fund by external counsel;
·arrange for the preparation and filing of all other reports, forms, registration statements, and documents required to be filed by the Trust on behalf of the Fund with the SEC and any other regulatory body; and
·provide other internal legal, auditing, accounting and administrative services as ordinarily required in conducting the Fund’s business affairs.
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EATON VANCE INTERNATIONAL SMALL-CAP FUND
(b)Eaton Vance shall provide the Trust with such investment management, administration and supervision as the Trust may from time to time consider necessary for the proper supervision of the Fund’s investment and administrative affairs. 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, as amended (the “1940 Act”). 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, commodities, 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 that it deems necessary or desirable to implement the investment policies of the Trust and of the Fund.
(c)Eaton Vance shall place all orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio investments for the account of the Fund either directly with the issuer or with brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants 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 investments and payments of cash for the account of the Fund. In connection with the selection of such brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants and the placing of such orders, Eaton Vance 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 commission rates, that are reasonable in relation to the benefits received. Subject to the policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, in selecting brokers or dealers qualified to execute a particular transaction, brokers or dealers may be selected who also provide brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) to Eaton Vance and Eaton Vance is expressly authorized to cause the Trust to pay any broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission for executing a security transaction which is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if Eaton Vance determines in good faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall responsibilities which Eaton Vance and its affiliates have with respect to the Fund and to other accounts over which they exercise investment discretion.
(d)Notwithstanding the foregoing, Eaton Vance shall not be deemed to have assumed any duties with respect to, and shall not be responsible for, the distribution of shares of the Fund, nor shall Eaton Vance be deemed to have assumed or have any responsibility with respect to functions specifically assumed by any transfer agent, custodian or shareholder servicing agent of the Trust or the Fund.
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EATON VANCE INTERNATIONAL SMALL-CAP FUND
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 Trust the compensation described on Appendix A hereto.
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 maintaining the Fund and continuing its existence; (ii) registration of the Trust under the 1940 Act; (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) fees and expenses of registering, qualifying, and maintaining the Trust, the Fund, and its shares under applicable federal and state securities laws and of preparing and filing registration statements, other offering statements or memoranda, and other reports, forms, and documents required to be filed by the Trust on behalf of the Fund with the SEC or any other regulatory body, and for printing and distributing the same to shareholders; (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 the Fund or 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 expenses to be assumed by the Fund in connection with the distribution of Fund shares; (xix) any pricing or valuation services employed by the Fund to value its investments including primary and comparative valuation services; (xx) any investment advisory, sub-investment advisory, or similar management fee payable by the Fund; (xxi) all expenses incurred in connection with the Fund’s use of a line of credit; and (xxii) 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
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EATON VANCE INTERNATIONAL SMALL-CAP FUND
become interested (as directors, trustees, officers, employees, shareholders or otherwise) in other companies or entities (including, without limitation, other investment companies) that Eaton Vance may organize, sponsor or acquire, or with which it may merge or consolidate, and which may include the words “Eaton Vance” 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. 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 that may be sustained in the acquisition, holding or disposition of any security or other investment.
A copy of the Declaration of Trust of Eaton Vance is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of Eaton Vance by an officer in his or her capacity as an officer and not individually. The Trust expressly acknowledges the provisions in the Declaration of Trust of Eaton Vance limiting the personal liability of the trustees, officers, and 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, officers or shareholders of Eaton Vance.
6.Sub-Investment Advisers and Sub-Administrators. Eaton Vance may employ one or more sub-investment advisers or sub-administrators from time to time to perform any of Eaton Vance’s duties under this Agreement, upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between Eaton Vance and such sub-investment adviser or sub-administrator and approved by the Trustees of the Trust, all as permitted by the 1940 Act. 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 shareholders of the Fund, 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 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. 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.
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
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EATON VANCE INTERNATIONAL SMALL-CAP FUND
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 amendment to this Agreement shall be effective until approved in a manner consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
9.Limitation of Liability of Trustees and Officers of the Trust. A copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of the Trust by an officer in his or her capacity as an officer and not individually. Eaton Vance expressly acknowledges the provisions in the Declaration of Trust of the Trust limiting the personal liability of the Trustees and officers 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, officers, or shareholders or any Trustee or officer 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.
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EATON VANCE INTERNATIONAL SMALL-CAP FUND
11. No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any person not a party hereto any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
12.Non-Exclusive Services. The services of Eaton Vance to 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. It is understood that Eaton Vance and its affiliates perform investment services, including rendering investment advice, to varied clients. It is understood that Eaton Vance or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action for other accounts that may differ from, conflict with, or be adverse to advice given or taken for the Fund. It is understood that certain securities or instruments may be held in some accounts but not in others, or the accounts may have different levels of holdings in certain securities or instruments and the accounts may remit different levels of fees to Eaton Vance. In addition, it is understood that Eaton Vance or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action with respect to the investments of the Fund that may not be given or taken with respect to one or more accounts with similar investment programs, objectives, and strategies. The Fund acknowledges that Eaton Vance, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, and/or employees may from time to time have positions in or transact in securities and other investments recommended to clients, including the Fund. Such transactions may differ from or be inconsistent with the advice given, or the timing or nature of Eaton Vance’s action or actions with respect to the Fund. Eaton Vance may aggregate the Fund’s orders with orders of its proprietary accounts and/or orders of other clients.
13.Certain Definitions. The terms “assignment” and “interested persons” when used herein shall have the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act as now in effect or as hereafter amended subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by any rule, regulation or order by the SEC. 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 shareholders 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. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is modified or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the SEC or any rules or regulations adopted by, or interpretative releases of, the SEC, or any applicable guidance issued by the staff of the SEC, such provision will be deemed to incorporate the effect of such order, rule, regulation, interpretative release, or guidance.
14.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.
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EATON VANCE INTERNATIONAL SMALL-CAP FUND
(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.
[Signature page follows.]
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EATON VANCE INTERNATIONAL SMALL-CAP FUND
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first above written.
EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST on behalf of
EATON VANCE INTERNATIONAL SMALL-CAP FUND
By: |
/s/ Deidre E. Walsh |
|
Deidre E. Walsh |
|
Vice President and not individually |
EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT
By: |
/s/ Maureen A. Gemma |
|
Maureen A. Gemma |
|
Vice President and not individually |
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EATON VANCE INTERNATIONAL SMALL-CAP FUND
APPENDIX A
For the services, payments and facilities furnished by Eaton Vance under this Agreement, Eaton Vance is entitled to receive from the Fund compensation as set forth below:
In case of initiation or termination of the Agreement during any month with respect to the Fund, the fee for that month shall be reduced proportionately on the basis of the number of calendar days during which the Agreement is in effect.
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. Such compensation shall be paid monthly in arrears. Eaton Vance may, from time to time, waive all or a part of the above compensation.
EATON VANCE INTERNATIONAL SMALL-CAP FUND
EXHIBIT (d)(14)
INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
between
EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT
and
EATON VANCE ADVISERS INTERNATIONAL LTD.
for
EATON VANCE INTERNATIONAL SMALL-CAP FUND
AGREEMENT made this as of 1st day of March, 2021, between Eaton Vance Management, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Adviser”), and Eaton Vance Advisers International Ltd., a private limited company incorporated in England and Wales (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 International Small-Cap 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 Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement (the “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. Subject to approval of the Trust’s Board and notice to the Sub-Adviser, the Adviser retains complete authority immediately to assume direct responsibility for any function delegated to the Sub-Adviser under this Agreement.
EATON VANCE INTERNATIONAL SMALL-CAP FUND
(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 investment 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 Adviser may, from time to time, consider necessary for the proper supervision of the Fund’s investments. The services to be provided by the Sub-Adviser hereunder will apply to the portion of the Fund’s assets that Adviser or the Trustees of the Trust shall from time to time designate, which may consist of all or a portion of the Fund’s assets. As investment sub-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, as amended (the “1940 Act”). 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, commodities, derivatives, and investment instruments on behalf of the Fund. Should the Trustees of the Trust or the Adviser 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 Trust and of the Fund.
(c)The Sub-Adviser shall place all orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio investments for the account of the Fund either directly with the issuer or with brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants 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 investments and payments of cash for the account of the Fund. In connection with the selection of such brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants 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 commission rates that are reasonable in relation to the benefits received. Subject to the policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, in selecting brokers or dealers qualified to execute a particular transaction, brokers or dealers may be selected who also provide brokerage and
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EATON VANCE INTERNATIONAL SMALL-CAP FUND
research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) to the Sub-Adviser and the Sub-Adviser is expressly authorized to cause the Trust to pay any broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission for executing a security transaction which is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if the Sub-Adviser determines in good faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall responsibilities which the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates have with respect to the Fund and to other accounts over which they exercise investment discretion.
(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.
(e)The Sub-Adviser shall exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties under the Agreement and will conduct its activities hereunder in compliance with the applicable requirements of the 1940 Act and all rules and regulations thereunder, all other applicable federal and state laws, any applicable procedures adopted by the Trust’s Board that have been provided to the Sub-Adviser, and the provisions of the Trust’s registration statement, each as may be amended. The Sub-Adviser will furnish to regulatory authorities having the requisite authority any information or reports in connection with its services in respect to the Fund which may be requested by such authorities in order to ascertain whether the operations of the Fund are being conducted in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
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 the compensation specified in Appendix A hereto. The Adviser is solely responsible for the payment of the compensation to the Sub-Adviser, and the Sub-Adviser agrees to seek payment of its compensation solely from the Adviser. The Fund shall have no liability for Sub-Adviser's compensation hereunder.
3.Allocation of Charges and Expenses. It is understood that 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 implied limitation, (i) expenses of maintaining the Fund and continuing its existence; (ii) registration of the Fund and Trust under the 1940 Act; (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) fees and expenses of registering, qualifying, and maintaining the Trust, the Fund, and its shares under applicable federal and state securities laws and of preparing and filing registration statements, other offering statements or memoranda, and other reports, forms and documents required to
3
EATON VANCE INTERNATIONAL SMALL-CAP FUND
be filed by the Trust or Fund with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and any other applicable regulatory body, and for printing and distributing the same to shareholders; (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 the Trust or 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; (xviii) all payments to be made and expenses to be assumed by the Fund in connection with the distribution of Fund shares; (xix) any pricing or valuation services employed by the Fund to value its investments including primary and comparative valuations services; (xx) any investment advisory, sub-investment advisory, or similar management fee payable by the Fund; (xxi) all expenses incurred in connection with the Fund’s use of a line of credit; and (xxii) 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 “Eaton Vance Advisers International Ltd.” 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.
The services of the Sub-Adviser to the Adviser for the benefit of the Fund are not to be deemed to be exclusive and the Sub-Adviser is free to render services to others and engage in other business activities. It is understood that the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates perform investment services, including rendering investment advice, to varied clients. It is understood that the Sub-Adviser or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action for other accounts that may differ from, conflict with, or be adverse to advice given or taken for the Fund. It is understood that certain securities or instruments may be held in some accounts but not in others, or the accounts may have different levels of holdings in certain securities or instruments and the accounts may remit different levels of fees to the Sub-Adviser. In addition, it is understood that the Sub-Adviser or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action with respect to the investments of the Fund that may not be given or taken with respect to one or
4
EATON VANCE INTERNATIONAL SMALL-CAP FUND
more accounts with similar investment programs, objectives, and strategies. The Fund acknowledges that the Sub-Adviser, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, and/or employees may from time to time have positions in or transact in securities and other investments recommended to clients, including the Fund. Such transactions may differ from or be inconsistent with the advice given, or the timing or nature of the Sub-Adviser’s action or actions with respect to the Fund. The Sub-Adviser may aggregate the Fund’s orders with orders of its proprietary accounts and/or orders of other clients.
5.Limitation of Liability of the Sub-Adviser. 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 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 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.
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. In the event of termination for any reason, all records of the Fund shall promptly be returned to the Adviser or the Fund, free from any claim or retention of rights in such record by the SubAdviser, although the Sub-Adviser may, at its own expense, make and retain a copy of such records.
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 in a manner consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
8.Limitation of Liability. A copy of the Declaration of Trust for each the Trust and the Adviser is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of each the Adviser and the Trust by an
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EATON VANCE INTERNATIONAL SMALL-CAP FUND
officer of each respective organization, in his or her capacity as an officer and not individually. The Sub-Adviser expressly acknowledges the provisions in the Declarations of Trust of the Trust and of the Adviser limiting the personal liability of Trustees, officers, and the 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 or officers of the Trust or the Adviser or the shareholders of the Fund or the Adviser.
9.Third Party Beneficiaries. The Fund is a third party beneficiary to this Agreement. Aside from the Fund, nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any person not a party hereto (including, but not limited to, shareholders of the Fund) any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
10. Books and Records. The Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that all records that it maintains for the Fund are the property of the Fund and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Fund any of such records upon the Fund’s or the Adviser's request in compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, although the Sub-Adviser may, at its own expense, make and retain a copy of such records. The Sub-Adviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act the records required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act.
11.Certain Definitions. The terms “assignment” and “interested persons” when used herein shall have the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act, as now in effect or as hereafter amended subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by any rule, regulation or order by the SEC. 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 shareholders 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. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is modified or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the SEC, any rules or regulations adopted by, or interpretative releases of, the SEC, or any applicable guidance issued by the staff of the SEC, such provision will be deemed to incorporate the effect of such order, rule, regulation, interpretative release, or guidance.
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EATON VANCE INTERNATIONAL SMALL-CAP FUND
12.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.
[Signature page follows.]
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EATON VANCE INTERNATIONAL SMALL-CAP FUND
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 |
EATON VANCE ADVISERS INTERNATIONAL LTD.
A private limited company incorporated in England and Wales, authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority of the United Kingdom
By: |
/s/ Christopher Dyer |
Name: |
Christopher Dyer |
Title: |
Director, Vice President 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 INTERNATIONAL SMALL-CAP FUND)
By: |
/s/ Deidre E. Walsh |
Name: |
Deidre E. Walsh |
Title: |
Vice President and not individually |
8
EXHIBIT (d)(15)
EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND ADMINISTRATIVE AGREEMENT
ON BEHALF OF
EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN ALL ASSET STRATEGY FUND
AGREEMENT made as of this 1st day of March, 2021, between Eaton Vance Growth Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of Eaton Vance Richard Bernstein All Asset Strategy 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 its affairs, subject to the supervision of the Trustees of the Trust, for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement.
(a)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 and 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.
In connection with its responsibilities as administrator of the Fund, Eaton Vance will:
·assist in preparing all annual, semi-annual and other reports required to be sent to Fund shareholders and/or filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and arrange for such filing and printing and dissemination of such reports to shareholders;
·review the provision of services by the Fund’s independent public accounting firm, including, but not limited to, the preparation by such firm of audited financial statements of the Fund and the Fund’s federal, state and local tax returns; and make such reports and
EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN ALL ASSET STRATEGY FUND
recommendations to the Trustees of the Trust concerning the performance of the independent accountants as the Trustees deem appropriate;
·arrange for the filing with the appropriate authorities all required federal, state and local tax returns;
·arrange for the dissemination to shareholders of the Fund’s proxy materials, and oversee the tabulation of proxies by the Fund’s transfer agent or other duly authorized proxy tabulator;
·review and supervise the provision of custodian services to the Fund; and make such reports and recommendations to the Trustees concerning the provision of such services as the Trustees deem appropriate;
·oversee the valuation of all such portfolio investments and other assets of the Fund as may be designated by the Trustees (subject to any guidelines, directions and instructions of the Trustees), and review and supervise the calculation of the net asset value of the Fund’s shares by the custodian;
·negotiate the terms and conditions under which transfer agency and dividend disbursing services will be provided to the Fund, and the fees to be paid by the Fund in connection therewith; review and supervise the provision of transfer agency and dividend disbursing services to the Fund; and make such reports and recommendations to the Trustees concerning the performance of the Fund’s transfer and dividend disbursing agent as the Trustees deem appropriate;
·establish the accounting policies of the Fund; reconcile accounting issues that may arise with respect to the Fund’s operations; and consult with the Fund’s independent accountants, legal counsel, custodian, accounting and bookkeeping agents and transfer and dividend disbursing agent as necessary in connection therewith;
·determine the amount of all distributions (if any) to be paid by the Fund to its shareholders; prepare and arrange for the publishing of notices to shareholders regarding such distributions (if required) and provide the Fund’s transfer and dividend disbursing agent and custodian with such information as is required for such parties to effect the payment of distributions;
·review the Fund’s bills and authorize payments of such bills by the Fund’s custodian;
·oversee services provided to the Fund by external counsel;
·arrange for the preparation and filing of all other reports, forms, registration statements, and documents required to be filed by the Trust on behalf of the Fund with the SEC and any other regulatory body; and
·provide other internal legal, auditing, accounting and administrative services as ordinarily required in conducting the Fund’s business affairs.
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EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN ALL ASSET STRATEGY FUND
(b)Eaton Vance shall provide the Trust with such investment management, administration and supervision as the Trust may from time to time consider necessary for the proper supervision of the Fund’s investment and administrative affairs. 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, as amended (the “1940 Act”). 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, commodities, 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 that it deems necessary or desirable to implement the investment policies of the Trust and of the Fund.
(c)Eaton Vance shall place all orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio investments for the account of the Fund either directly with the issuer or with brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants 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 investments and payments of cash for the account of the Fund. In connection with the selection of such brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants and the placing of such orders, Eaton Vance 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 commission rates, that are reasonable in relation to the benefits received. Subject to the policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, in selecting brokers or dealers qualified to execute a particular transaction, brokers or dealers may be selected who also provide brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) to Eaton Vance and Eaton Vance is expressly authorized to cause the Trust to pay any broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission for executing a security transaction which is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if Eaton Vance determines in good faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall responsibilities which Eaton Vance and its affiliates have with respect to the Fund and to other accounts over which they exercise investment discretion.
(d)Notwithstanding the foregoing, Eaton Vance shall not be deemed to have assumed any duties with respect to, and shall not be responsible for, the distribution of shares of the Fund, nor shall Eaton Vance be deemed to have assumed or have any responsibility with respect to functions specifically assumed by any transfer agent, custodian or shareholder servicing agent of the Trust or the Fund.
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EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN ALL ASSET STRATEGY FUND
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 Trust the compensation described on Appendix A hereto.
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 maintaining the Fund and continuing its existence; (ii) registration of the Trust under the 1940 Act; (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) fees and expenses of registering, qualifying, and maintaining the Trust, the Fund, and its shares under applicable federal and state securities laws and of preparing and filing registration statements, other offering statements or memoranda, and other reports, forms, and documents required to be filed by the Trust on behalf of the Fund with the SEC or any other regulatory body, and for printing and distributing the same to shareholders; (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 the Fund or 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 expenses to be assumed by the Fund in connection with the distribution of Fund shares; (xix) any pricing or valuation services employed by the Fund to value its investments including primary and comparative valuation services; (xx) any investment advisory, sub-investment advisory, or similar management fee payable by the Fund; (xxi) all expenses incurred in connection with the Fund’s use of a line of credit; and (xxii) 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
4
EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN ALL ASSET STRATEGY FUND
become interested (as directors, trustees, officers, employees, shareholders or otherwise) in other companies or entities (including, without limitation, other investment companies) that Eaton Vance may organize, sponsor or acquire, or with which it may merge or consolidate, and which may include the words “Eaton Vance” 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. 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 that may be sustained in the acquisition, holding or disposition of any security or other investment.
A copy of the Declaration of Trust of Eaton Vance is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of Eaton Vance by an officer in his or her capacity as an officer and not individually. The Trust expressly acknowledges the provisions in the Declaration of Trust of Eaton Vance limiting the personal liability of the trustees, officers, and 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, officers or shareholders of Eaton Vance.
6.Sub-Investment Advisers and Sub-Administrators. Eaton Vance may employ one or more sub-investment advisers or sub-administrators from time to time to perform any of Eaton Vance’s duties under this Agreement, upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between Eaton Vance and such sub-investment adviser or sub-administrator and approved by the Trustees of the Trust, all as permitted by the 1940 Act. 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 shareholders of the Fund, 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 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. 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.
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
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EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN ALL ASSET STRATEGY FUND
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 amendment to this Agreement shall be effective until approved in a manner consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
9.Limitation of Liability of Trustees and Officers of the Trust. A copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of the Trust by an officer in his or her capacity as an officer and not individually. Eaton Vance expressly acknowledges the provisions in the Declaration of Trust of the Trust limiting the personal liability of the Trustees and officers 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, officers, or shareholders or any Trustee or officer 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.
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EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN ALL ASSET STRATEGY FUND
11. No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any person not a party hereto any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
12.Non-Exclusive Services. The services of Eaton Vance to 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. It is understood that Eaton Vance and its affiliates perform investment services, including rendering investment advice, to varied clients. It is understood that Eaton Vance or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action for other accounts that may differ from, conflict with, or be adverse to advice given or taken for the Fund. It is understood that certain securities or instruments may be held in some accounts but not in others, or the accounts may have different levels of holdings in certain securities or instruments and the accounts may remit different levels of fees to Eaton Vance. In addition, it is understood that Eaton Vance or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action with respect to the investments of the Fund that may not be given or taken with respect to one or more accounts with similar investment programs, objectives, and strategies. The Fund acknowledges that Eaton Vance, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, and/or employees may from time to time have positions in or transact in securities and other investments recommended to clients, including the Fund. Such transactions may differ from or be inconsistent with the advice given, or the timing or nature of Eaton Vance’s action or actions with respect to the Fund. Eaton Vance may aggregate the Fund’s orders with orders of its proprietary accounts and/or orders of other clients.
13.Certain Definitions. The terms “assignment” and “interested persons” when used herein shall have the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act as now in effect or as hereafter amended subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by any rule, regulation or order by the SEC. 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 shareholders 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. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is modified or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the SEC or any rules or regulations adopted by, or interpretative releases of, the SEC, or any applicable guidance issued by the staff of the SEC, such provision will be deemed to incorporate the effect of such order, rule, regulation, interpretative release, or guidance.
14.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.
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EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN ALL ASSET STRATEGY FUND
(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.
[Signature page follows.]
8
EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN ALL ASSET STRATEGY FUND
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first above written.
EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST on behalf of
EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN ALL ASSET STRATEGY FUND
By: |
/s/ Deidre E. Walsh |
|
Deidre E. Walsh |
|
Vice President and not individually |
EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT
By: |
/s/ Maureen A. Gemma |
|
Maureen A. Gemma |
|
Vice President and not individually |
9
EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN ALL ASSET STRATEGY FUND
APPENDIX A
For the services, payments and facilities furnished by Eaton Vance under this Agreement, Eaton Vance is entitled to receive from the Fund compensation as set forth below:
In case of initiation or termination of the Agreement during any month with respect to the Fund, the fee for that month shall be reduced proportionately on the basis of the number of calendar days during which the Agreement is in effect.
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. Such compensation shall be paid monthly in arrears. Eaton Vance may, from time to time, waive all or a part of the above compensation.
EXHIBIT (d)(16)
INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN ALL ASSET STRATEGY FUND
THIS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is effective as of the 1st day of March, 2021 between Eaton Vance Management, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Adviser”), and Richard Bernstein Advisors LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sub-Adviser”).
WHEREAS, Eaton Vance Richard Bernstein All Asset Strategy Fund (the “Fund”), a series of Eaton Vance Growth Trust (the “Trust”), is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end, management investment company; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Investment Advisory and Administrative Agreement dated March 1, 2021 (the “Advisory Agreement”), a copy of which has been provided to the Sub-Adviser the Trust has retained the Adviser to render advisory and management services to the Fund; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to authority granted to the Adviser in the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser wishes to retain the Sub-Adviser to furnish investment advisory services to the Fund, and the Sub-Adviser is willing to furnish such services to the Fund and the Adviser.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants herein contained, it is agreed between the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser as follows:
1. Appointment. The Adviser hereby appoints the Sub-Adviser to act as the investment adviser for and to manage the investment and reinvestment of that portion of the Fund’s assets that shall be allocated to the Sub-Adviser, subject to the supervision of the Adviser, for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish the services set forth herein for the compensation herein provided. Subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Adviser has the authority in its discretion to alter the allocation of the Fund’s assets among the Sub-Adviser, the Adviser and any other appointed sub-adviser. The Adviser undertakes to provide the Sub-Adviser with reasonable advance written notice of any action (including, without limitation, actions with respect to the policies and procedures and/or to the Registration Statement (as defined below) by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”)) relating to the Fund which action is likely to have any impact on the Sub-Adviser’s ability to provide services under this Agreement. The Adviser agrees that, provided it is within its ability, it will allow for a reasonable implementation period for any such action and Sub-Adviser agrees it will make a reasonable effort to implement any such action within such implementation period.
2. Sub-Adviser Duties. Subject to the supervision of the Board and the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser will provide a continuous investment program for the Fund’s portfolio and determine in its discretion the composition of the assets of the Fund’s portfolio, including with respect to the purchase, retention, and sale of the securities, cash, and other investments in the portfolio. The Sub-Adviser will provide investment research and conduct an ongoing program of evaluation, investment, sales and reinvestment of the Fund’s assets and determine the securities and other investments that shall be purchased, sold, closed, or exchanged for the Fund, when these transactions should be executed, and what portion of the assets of the Fund should be held in such securities and investments. Subject to all other terms of this Agreement, including, without limitation, Section 2(a), the Sub-Adviser will provide the services under this
EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN ALL ASSET STRATEGY FUND
Agreement in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective or objectives, policies, and restrictions as stated in the Trust’s Registration Statement as it relates to the Fund filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as amended (the “Registration Statement”), copies of which shall be sent to the Sub-Adviser by the Adviser prior to the commencement of this Agreement and promptly following any such amendment, as well as with investment parameters for the Fund (including portfolio risk limits) to be agreed upon in writing from time to time by the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser further agrees (in all cases subject to the other terms of this Agreement, including, without limitation Section 1) as follows:
a. The Sub-Adviser will abide by: (i) the 1940 Act and all rules and regulations thereunder, and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations; (ii) any applicable procedures adopted by the Board; (iii) the provisions of the Registration Statement applicable to the Fund; and (iv) with the Sub-Adviser’s compliance policies and procedures as are approved by the Adviser.
b. The Sub-Adviser will manage the Fund so that it meets the income and asset diversification requirements of Section 851 of the U.S Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).
c. The Sub-Adviser shall exercise voting authority with respect to proxies that the Fund is entitled to vote with regard to securities in the Fund’s portfolio, provided that such authority may be revoked in whole or in part by the Adviser at any time upon written notice to the Sub-Adviser and provided further that the proxies that have been voted by the Sub-Adviser for the Fund shall be subject to review by the Adviser and the Board upon request. The Sub-Adviser shall exercise its proxy voting authority hereunder in accordance with such proxy voting policies and procedures of the Sub-Adviser as are approved by the Adviser and the Board. The Sub-Adviser shall provide such information relating to its exercise of proxy voting authority hereunder (including the manner in which it has voted proxies and its resolution of conflicts of interest) as reasonably requested by the Adviser from time to time. The Sub-Adviser shall provide the proxy voting history for the Fund to the Adviser, or any third party agent designated by the Adviser (currently Broadridge), in a timely manner for inclusion in the Fund’s requisite Form N-PX.
d. In connection with the purchase and sale of securities for the Fund, the Sub-Adviser will arrange for the transmission to the custodian for the Trust (the “Custodian”) on a daily basis such confirmation, trade tickets, and other documents and information, including, but not limited to, Cusip, Cedel, or other numbers that identify securities purchased or sold on behalf of the Fund, as may be reasonably necessary to enable the Custodian to perform its administrative and recordkeeping responsibilities with respect to the Trust.
e. The Sub-Adviser will assist the Custodian in determining or confirming, consistent with the procedures and policies stated in the Registration Statement or adopted by the Board, the value of any portfolio securities or other assets of the Fund for which the Custodian seeks assistance from or identifies for review by the Sub-Adviser, and will otherwise perform the activities of a Fund sub-adviser as described in the Fund’s valuation procedures. The parties acknowledge that the Sub-Adviser is not a custodian of the Trust’s assets and will not take possession or custody of such assets.
f. Following the end of each of the Fund’s fiscal periods, the Sub-Adviser will assist the Adviser in preparing any reports required by applicable rules and regulations, such as Form N-CSR, Form N-CEN and Form N-PORT, as well as the letter to shareholders containing a discussion of those factors referred to in Item 27 of Form N-1A. The Sub-Adviser will also
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EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN ALL ASSET STRATEGY FUND
provide periodic commentaries regarding the Fund as reasonably requested by the Adviser (to be subject to review and editing by the Adviser and further subject to the terms of Section 7 hereof). The Sub-Adviser also will provide to the Trust any certifications relating to the content of any such report, letter or commentary as is reasonably requested by the Trust, a current form of which has been provided to the Sub-Adviser.
g. The Sub-Adviser will complete and deliver to the Adviser for each quarter by the 5th business day of the following quarter a written compliance checklist in a form provided by the Adviser, risk management and related analytic reports and such other reports as mutually agreed upon by the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser. For purposes of this Agreement, “business day” means any day other than (a) Saturday and Sunday, and (b) any other day on which the New York Stock Exchange is closed.
h. The Sub-Adviser will make available to the Trust and the Adviser, promptly upon request, any of the Fund’s investment records and ledgers maintained by the Sub-Adviser (which shall not include the records and ledgers maintained by the Custodian or portfolio accounting agent for the Trust) as are necessary to assist the Trust and the Adviser to comply with requirements of the 1940 Act and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), and the rules under each, as well as other applicable laws. The Sub-Adviser will furnish to regulatory authorities having the requisite authority any information or reports in connection with such services in respect to the Fund which may be requested in order to ascertain whether the operations of the Fund are being conducted in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
i. The Sub-Adviser will provide for consideration at meetings of the Board on the investment program for the Fund and the issuers and securities represented in the Fund’s portfolio, and will furnish the Board or the Adviser with such periodic and special reports as the Board or the Adviser may reasonably request.
j. The Sub-Adviser will maintain insurance for its directors and officer and errors and omissions insurance in an adequate amount. The Sub-Adviser will not be responsible for filing claims in class action settlements related to securities currently or previously held by that portion of the Fund allocated to it by the Adviser, but agrees to deliver to the Custodian any notices it received relating to such claims.
k. The Sub-Adviser shall conduct its business at all times consistent with its status as a fiduciary to the Fund and its shareholders.
3. Broker-Dealer Selection. The Sub-Adviser is authorized to make decisions to buy and sell securities and other investments for the Fund’s portfolio, and to select broker-dealers and to negotiate brokerage commission rates in effecting investment transactions, provided the Sub-Adviser shall adhere to the Fund’s procedures relating to brokerage allocation. The Sub-Adviser will report on brokerage allocation to the Adviser and the Board indicating the broker-dealers to which such allocations have been made and the basis therefore as the Adviser or the Board reasonably requests.
4. Disclosure about the Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser has reviewed the amendment to the Registration Statement for the Trust relating to the initial offering of the Fund that contains disclosure about the Sub-Adviser, and represents and warrants that, with respect to the disclosure about the Sub-Adviser or its investment process or information relating directly to the Sub-Adviser, such Registration Statement contains, as of the date hereof, no untrue statement of any material fact and does not omit any statement of a material fact which was required to be stated therein in order to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances
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EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN ALL ASSET STRATEGY FUND
under which they were made, not misleading. The Sub-Adviser further represents and warrants that it is a duly registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act and will maintain such registration so long as this Agreement remains in effect. The Adviser hereby acknowledges that it has received a copy of the Sub-Adviser’s Form ADV, Part 2 at least 48 hours prior to entering into this Agreement.
5. Expenses. During the term of this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser will pay all expenses incurred by it and its staff and for their activities in connection with its duties under this Agreement, including, but not limited to, rental and overhead expenses, expenses of the Sub-Adviser’s personnel, insurance of the Sub-Adviser and its personnel, research services (except as may be permitted under the Fund’s policies and procedures) and taxes of the Sub-Adviser. The Adviser or the Trust shall be responsible for all the expenses of the Fund’s or the Adviser’s operations, including, without limitation, costs of marketing or distributing shares of the Fund, brokerage expenses and commissions (which includes mark-ups and mark-downs), custody and banking expenses, administration expenses, legal, audit and other professional expenses, governmental filing fees, and costs of communications with shareholders.
6. Compensation. For the services provided to the Fund, the Adviser will pay the Sub-Adviser an annual fee equal to the amount specified in Schedule A hereto, payable monthly in arrears on the last business day of each month. The fee will be appropriately prorated to reflect any portion of a calendar month that this Agreement is not in effect among the parties. The Adviser is solely responsible for the payment of fees to the Sub-Adviser, and the Sub-Adviser agrees to seek payment of its fees solely from the Adviser. The Trust shall have no liability for the Sub-Adviser’s fee hereunder.
7. Materials. During the term of this Agreement, the Adviser agrees to furnish the Sub-Adviser at its principal office all disclosure relating to the Sub-Adviser, its services and clients, and the Fund’s investment policies and strategies to be contained in materials prepared by the Adviser or its affiliates (including prospectuses, proxy statements, reports to shareholders, sales literature, or other materials prepared for distribution to financial intermediaries, shareholders of the Fund or the public) prior to the first use thereof, and the Adviser shall not use any such disclosure if the Sub-Adviser reasonably objects in writing within 2 business days (or such other period as may be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof. The Sub-Adviser’s right to object to such disclosure is limited to reasonable objections only on the grounds of the accuracy or completeness of the aforesaid disclosure.
a. As required by Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act, the Sub-Adviser has adopted written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation by it, or any of its supervised persons, of the Advisers Act and the rules under the Advisers Act and all other laws and regulations relevant to the performance of its duties under this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser has designated a chief compliance officer responsible for administering these compliance policies and procedures. The chief compliance officer at the Sub-Adviser’s expense shall provide such written compliance reports relating to the operations and compliance procedures of the Sub-Adviser to the Adviser and/or the Trust and their respective chief compliance officers as may be required by law or regulation or as are otherwise reasonably requested. Moreover, the Sub-Adviser agrees to use such additional compliance techniques as the Adviser or the Board may reasonably adopt or approve, including additional written compliance procedures. In addition, the Sub-Adviser shall retain at its own expense the services of the Custodian or any other third party as requested by the Board to monitor the compliance of the Fund’s portfolio with the investment objective, policies and restrictions set forth in the Registration Statement.
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b. The Sub-Adviser agrees that it shall promptly notify, if legally permitted, the Adviser and the Trust (1) in the event that the SEC has censured the Sub-Adviser; placed limitations upon its activities, functions or operations; suspended or revoked its registration as an investment adviser; or has commenced proceedings or an investigation (formal or informal) that is likely to reasonably result in any of these actions; or corresponded with the Sub-Adviser, including sending a deficiency letter or raising issues about the business, operations, or practices of the Sub-Adviser; (2) in the event of any notice of an investigation, examination, inquiry audit or subpoena of the Sub-Adviser or any of its officers or employees by any federal, state or other governmental agency or body, (3) upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the Fund has ceased to qualify or is likely not to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code, (4) upon detection of any breach of any of the Fund’s policies, guidelines or procedures and of any violation of any applicable law or regulation, including the 1940 Act and Subchapter M of the Code, relating to that portion of the Fund’s assets allocated to the Sub-Adviser, or (5) upon detection of any material violations of the Sub-Adviser’s compliance policies and procedures that relate to the Fund or the Sub-Adviser’s activities generally, such as when the violation could be considered material to the Sub-Adviser’s advisory clients. If legally permitted, the Sub-Adviser will furnish to the Adviser upon request copies of any and all documents relating to the foregoing. The Sub-Adviser further agrees to promptly notify the Adviser and the Trust of any fact material to the Trust, the Adviser, the Board or shareholders of the Fund known to the Sub-Adviser respecting or relating to the Sub-Adviser that is not contained in the Registration Statement or prospectus for the Fund, or any amendment or supplement thereto received by the Sub-Adviser, or if any statement contained therein relating to the Sub-Adviser becomes untrue in any material respect.
c. The Adviser agrees that it shall promptly notify, if legally permitted, the Sub-Adviser (1) in the event that the SEC has censured the Adviser or the Trust with respect to the Fund; placed limitations upon either of their activities, functions, or operations; suspended or revoked the Adviser’s registration as an investment adviser; or has commenced proceedings or a formal investigation that is reasonably likely to result in any of these actions, (2) in the event of any notice of a formal investigation of the Adviser or any of its officers by any federal or state agency, provided that such investigation directly relates to the services provided by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement; (3) upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the Fund has ceased to qualify or is likely not to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code; or (4) upon detection of any material breach of any of the Fund’s policies, guidelines or procedures and of any violation of any applicable law or regulation, including the1940 Act and Subchapter M of the Code.
d. The Sub-Adviser will provide the Adviser with such reports, presentations, certifications and other information as the Adviser may reasonably request from time to time, in a format mutually agreed upon, concerning the business and operations of the Sub-Adviser in performing services hereunder or generally concerning the Sub-Adviser’s investment advisory services, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance with applicable federal, state and local law and regulations, and changes in the Sub-Adviser’s key personnel, investment strategies, policies and procedures, and other matters that are likely to have a material impact on the Sub-Adviser’s duties hereunder.
9. Books and Records. The Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that all records which it maintains for the Fund are the property of the Trust and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the Trust’s or the Adviser’s reasonable request in compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, although the Sub-Adviser may, at its own expense, make and retain a copy of such records. The Sub-Adviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act the records required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act.
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10. Cooperation; Confidentiality. Each party to this Agreement agrees to cooperate with the other party and with all appropriate governmental authorities having the requisite jurisdiction (including, but not limited to, the SEC) in connection with any investigation or inquiry relating to this Agreement, the Fund or the Trust. Subject to the foregoing, the Sub-Adviser shall treat as confidential all information pertaining to the Fund, the Trust, the Adviser and their respective actions, and shall use such information only in connection with the services performed under this Agreement. The Adviser shall treat as confidential all information provided by the Sub-Adviser that is identified by the Sub-Adviser as confidential. Notwithstanding the foregoing, information subject to this Section 10 need not be treated by the receiving party as confidential (i) if the receiving party is required to disclose such information under applicable law, (ii) if such information is generally available to the public through means other than by disclosure by the receiving party, or (iii) if available from a source other than the receiving party provided that such source is not known (or should have been known) to the receiving party to be bound by confidentiality obligations pertaining to such information. The Sub-Adviser acknowledges that the Adviser will have continuous access through the Custodian to any information related to the Fund’s portfolio.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or to any policies and procedures, the Sub-Adviser may not disclose Fund portfolio holdings information, except in accordance with the Fund’s Policies and Procedures on Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings (the “Disclosure Policy”). To the extent the Sub-Adviser has delegated any duties or services to an affiliate or a third–party, the Sub-Adviser shall require that any such affiliate or third-party agree in writing to maintain the confidentiality of Fund portfolio holdings information as and to the extent required by the Disclosure Policy. For purposes of the Disclosure Policy, information provided to a broker-dealer relating to orders or potential orders for the purchase or sale of Fund holdings will not be deemed to be portfolio holdings information, provided that the Sub-Adviser determines that the disclosure does not provide the recipient with an advantage over Fund shareholders.
a. Except as may otherwise be required by the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder or other applicable law, the Adviser agrees that the Sub-Adviser, any affiliated person of the Sub-Adviser, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“the 1933 Act”) controls the Sub-Adviser (each a “Sub- Adviser Controlling Person,” and collectively, “Sub-Adviser Controlling Persons”) shall not be liable for, or subject to any losses, claims, damages, expenses, liabilities or litigation in connection with, any act or omission connected with or arising out of any services rendered under this Agreement, except by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence, in each such case, in the performance of the Sub-Adviser’s duties, or any material breach by the Sub-Adviser of its obligations or duties under this Agreement (the “Sub-Adviser Standard of Care”). In no case shall the Sub-Adviser, its affiliated persons or any of the Sub-Adviser Controlling Persons be liable for actions taken or non-actions with respect to the performance of services under this Agreement if the Sub-Adviser is instructed in writing by the Adviser or the Trust to take such action or non-action. The Adviser understands and acknowledges that the Sub-Adviser does not warrant that the portion of the assets of the Fund managed by the Sub-Adviser will achieve any particular rate of return or that its performance will match any benchmark index or other standard or objective. In no case shall the Sub-Adviser, its affiliated persons or any of the Sub-Adviser Controlling Persons be liable for any portion of the assets of the Fund not managed by the Sub-Adviser (if any).
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b. The Sub-Adviser agrees that neither the Trust nor the Fund shall bear any responsibility or shall be subject to any liability for any losses, claims, damages, expenses, liabilities or litigation of the Sub-Adviser connected with or arising out of its services under this Agreement.
a. The Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Sub-Adviser, any affiliated person of the Sub-Adviser, and Sub-Adviser Controlling Persons (the Sub-Adviser and all of such persons being referred to as “Sub-Adviser Indemnified Persons”) against any and all losses, claims, damages, expenses, liabilities, or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses) to which a Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person may become subject under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, under any other statute, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Adviser’s responsibilities to the Sub-Adviser which (1) may be based upon the Adviser’s gross negligence, willful misfeasance, or bad faith in the performance of its duties, or any material breach by the Adviser of its obligations or duties under this Agreement, or (2) may be based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or prospectus covering the Trust, or any amendment thereof or any supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading unless such statement or omission was made in reliance on disclosure reviewed by the Sub-Adviser in accordance with Section 7 of this Agreement; provided however, that in no case shall the indemnity in favor of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person be deemed to protect such person against any liability to which such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or any material breach of its obligations or duties under this Agreement.
b. Notwithstanding Section 11 of this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Adviser, any affiliated person of the Adviser, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act controls the Adviser (the Adviser and all of such persons being referred to as “Adviser Indemnified Persons”) against any and all losses, claims, damages, expenses, liabilities, or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses) to which (1) an Adviser Indemnified Person may become subject under the 1933 Act, 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, under any other statute, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Sub-Adviser’s responsibilities as sub-adviser of the Trust which may be based upon the Sub-Adviser’s breach of the Sub-Adviser Standard of Care; or (2) may be based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or prospectus covering the Trust, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact known or which should have been known to the Sub-Adviser and was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such a statement was made in reliance upon disclosure reviewed by the Sub-Adviser in accordance with Section 7 of this Agreement or was omitted from a disclosure reviewed by the Sub-Adviser in accordance with such Section 7; provided, however, that in no case shall the indemnity in favor of an Adviser Indemnified Person be deemed to protect such person against any liability to which such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of its material breach of its obligations or duties under this Agreement.
c. The Adviser shall not be liable under Paragraph (a) of this Section 12 with respect to any claim made against a Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person unless such Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person shall have notified the Adviser in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have
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been served upon such Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person (or after such Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Adviser of any such claim shall not relieve the Adviser from any liability which it may have to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person against whom such action is brought except to the extent the Adviser is prejudiced by the failure or delay in giving such notice. In case any such action is brought against the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, the Adviser will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof or, after notice to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person. If the Adviser assumes the defense of any such action and the selection of counsel by the Adviser to represent both the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person would result in a conflict of interests and therefore, would not, in the reasonable judgment of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, adequately represent the interests of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, the Adviser will, at its own expense, assume the defense with counsel to the Adviser and, also at its own expense, with separate counsel to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Adviser and to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person. The Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Adviser shall not be liable to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. The Adviser shall not have the right to compromise on or settle the litigation without the prior written consent of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person if the compromise or settlement results, or may result in a finding of wrongdoing on the part of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person.
d. The Sub-Adviser shall not be liable under Paragraph (b) of this Section 12 with respect to any claim made against an Adviser Indemnified Person unless such Adviser Indemnified Person shall have notified the Sub-Adviser in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Adviser Indemnified Person (or after such Adviser Indemnified Person shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Sub-Adviser of any such claim shall not relieve the Sub-Adviser from any liability which it may have to the Adviser Indemnified Person against whom such action is brought except to the extent the Sub-Adviser is prejudiced by the failure or delay in giving such notice. In case any such action is brought against the Adviser Indemnified Person, the Sub-Adviser will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof or, after notice to the Adviser Indemnified Person, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Adviser Indemnified Person. If the Sub-Adviser assumes the defense of any such action and the selection of counsel by the Sub-Adviser to represent both the Sub-Adviser and the Adviser Indemnified Person would result in a conflict of interests and therefore, would not, in the reasonable judgment of the Adviser Indemnified Person, adequately represent the interests of the Adviser Indemnified Person, the Sub-Adviser will, at its own expense, assume the defense with counsel to the Sub-Adviser and, also at its own expense, with separate counsel to the Adviser Indemnified Person, which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Sub-Adviser and to the Adviser Indemnified Person. The Adviser Indemnified Person shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Sub-Adviser shall not be liable to the Adviser Indemnified Person under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Adviser Indemnified Person independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. The Sub-Adviser shall not have the right to compromise on or settle the litigation without the prior written consent of the Adviser Indemnified Person if the compromise or settlement results, or may result in a finding of wrongdoing on the part of the Adviser Indemnified Person.
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a. This Agreement shall become effective subject to the condition that the Board, including a majority of those Trustees who are not interested persons (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser, shall have approved this Agreement in the manner required by the 1940 Act. Unless terminated as provided herein, this Agreement 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 affect indefinitely thereafter, but only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (a) the Board, or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust, and (b) the vote of a majority of those Trustees who are not interested persons (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of any such party to this Agreement cast at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
b. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated: (a) by the Adviser at any time without payment of any penalty, upon 60 days’ prior written notice to the Sub-Adviser and the Trust; (b) at any time without payment of any penalty by the Trust, by the Board or a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, upon 60 days’ prior written notice to the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, (c) at any time without payment of any penalty by the Sub-Adviser upon 60 days’ prior written notice by the Sub-Adviser to the Adviser and the Trust, (d) by the Sub-Adviser upon not less than 20 business days’ prior written notice to the Adviser if the Sub-Adviser is unable to implement any action by the Board that impacts the Sub-Adviser’s ability to provide the services under this Agreement as described in Section 1 hereof, provided such notice is given to the Adviser within 5 business days of the Sub-Adviser’s receipt of notice of the Board taking such action; (e) immediately in the event the Sub-Adviser or the Adviser ceases to be registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act or otherwise becomes legally incapable of providing investment management services pursuant to its respective contract with the Trust, or (f) in the event the Advisory Agreement is terminated.
c. In the event of termination for any reason, all records of the Trust shall promptly be returned to the Adviser or the Trust, free from any claim or retention of rights in such record by the Sub-Adviser, although the Sub-Adviser may, at its own expense, make and retain a copy of such records. This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (within the meaning of such term in the 1940 Act). In the event this Agreement is terminated or is not approved in the manner described above, the Sections or Paragraphs numbered 9, 10, 11, and 12 of this Agreement shall remain in effect, as well as any applicable provision of this Section 13 and, to the extent that only amounts are owed to the Sub-Adviser or owed to the Adviser for subsidy reimbursement as compensation for services rendered while the agreement was in effect as provided in Section 6.
14. Exclusivity. The Sub-Adviser agrees that, for so long as it serves as the investment adviser or sub-adviser to the Fund or any successor entity, it will not accept an offer to serve as investment adviser or sub-adviser to any Competing Product (as defined below) without the prior written approval of the Adviser. The Adviser shall respond to a written request of the Sub-Adviser to advise or sub-advise a Competing Product within 30 days of receiving such request. A "Competing Product" means another unlisted, long-only (or substantially long-only), open-end, SEC-registered investment company or an actively-managed exchange-traded-fund (“ETF”, but excluding an ETF-of-ETFs), in each case utilizing a macroeconomic investment strategy and distributed in the United States. If and to the extent the restriction herein set forth is unenforceable, then such restriction shall (without any further action by the Adviser or Sub-Adviser) be deemed to have been replaced with an enforceable restriction reflecting as closely as possible the parties’ intent as expressed herein.
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15. Notices. Any notice must be in writing and shall be sufficiently given (1) when delivered in person, (2) when dispatched by electronic mail or electronic facsimile transfer (confirmed in writing by postage prepaid first class air mail simultaneously dispatched), (3) when sent by internationally recognized overnight courier service (with receipt confirmed by such overnight courier service), or (4) when sent by registered or certified mail, to the other party at the address of such party set forth below or at such other address as such party may from time to time specify in writing to the other party.
If to the Trust:
Boston, MA 02110
Richard Bernstein Advisors LLC
Attn: Michael Meyer, Chief Compliance Officer
And copy to:
Chicago, Illinois 60601
16. Amendments. No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought, and no material amendment of this Agreement shall be effective until approved as required by applicable law. The Sub-Adviser shall furnish to the Board such information as may be reasonably necessary in order for the Board to evaluate this Agreement or any proposed amendments thereto for the purposes of casting a vote pursuant to Section 13 or this Section 16.
17. Governing Law. Notwithstanding the place where this Agreement may be executed by either party, the parties expressly agree that all terms and provisions hereof shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts applicable to contracts made between residents of Massachusetts, entered into and wholly performed, and to transactions wholly consummated, within Massachusetts. In the event of an action brought by the Adviser against the Sub-Adviser, the parties hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and any New York State court sitting in New York City (Borough of Manhattan) for purposes of any legal or equitable actions or proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the matters contemplated hereby. In the event of an action brought by the Sub-Adviser against the Adviser, the parties hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court
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for the District of Massachusetts and any Massachusetts court sitting in the city of Boston for purposes of any legal or equitable actions or proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the matters contemplated hereby. The parties hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection that they may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue in any such action or proceeding brought in such a court, and any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
18.Interpretation of Certain Terms.Where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is amended hereafter, or is modified or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the SEC, any rules or regulations adopted by, or interpretative releases of, the SEC, or any applicable guidance issued by the staff of the SEC, such provision will be deemed to incorporate the effect of such amendment, order, rule, regulation, interpretative release, or guidance.
19. Miscellaneous.
a. The Sub-Adviser hereby grants to the Adviser during the term of this Agreement, a non-exclusive, non-assignable, non-sublicensable royalty-free right to use the Sub-Adviser's name and registered and unregistered trademarks, service marks and logos in the name of the Fund, on the Adviser's website(s) and in other materials solely for purposes of disclosing and promoting the relationship between the parties as described herein. In the event that this Agreement shall be terminated for any reason, and in the event a new or successor Agreement with the Sub-Adviser is not concluded, the Adviser understands that it must immediately take all steps necessary to amend materials (including the Adviser's website) produced by the Adviser or its affiliates to delete any reference in all materials to the Sub-Adviser and to delete the words “Richard Bernstein” from the name of the Fund, provided that references to the former name of the Fund shall be permitted to the extent necessary.
b. The Adviser and the Sub-Adviser acknowledge that the Trust enjoys the rights of a third-party beneficiary under this Agreement, and the Adviser acknowledges that the Sub-Adviser enjoys the rights of a third party beneficiary under the Advisory Agreement. Nothing herein shall be construed as constituting the Sub-Adviser as an agent or co-partner of the Adviser, or constituting the Adviser as an agent or co-partner of the Sub-Adviser.
c. The Sub-Adviser expressly acknowledges the provision in the Declaration of Trust of the Adviser limiting the personal liability of the trustees and officers of the Adviser, and the Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that it shall have recourse to the Adviser for payment of claims or obligations as between the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser arising out of this Agreement and shall not seek satisfaction from the trustees or any officer of the Adviser.
d. The captions of this Agreement are included for convenience only and in no way define or limit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
e. To the extent permitted under Section 13 of this Agreement, this Agreement may only be assigned by any party with the prior written consent of the other party.
f. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby, and to this extent, the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be severable.
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EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN ALL ASSET STRATEGY FUND
g. Nothing herein shall be construed as constituting the Sub-Adviser as an agent or co-partner of the Adviser, or constituting the Adviser as an agent or co-partner of the Sub-Adviser.
h. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts.
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EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN ALL ASSET STRATEGY FUND
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed as of the day and year first above written.
/s/ Maureen A. Gemma |
|
Name: |
Maureen A. Gemma |
Title: |
Vice President and not individually |
RICHARD BERNSTEIN ADVISORS LLC
/s/ Richard Bernstein |
|
Name: |
Richard Bernstein |
Title: |
CEO |
13
EXHIBIT (d)(17)
EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND ADMINISTRATIVE AGREEMENT
ON BEHALF OF
EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN EQUITY STRATEGY FUND
AGREEMENT made as of this 1st day of March, 2021, between Eaton Vance Growth Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of Eaton Vance Richard Bernstein Equity Strategy 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 its affairs, subject to the supervision of the Trustees of the Trust, for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement.
(a)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 and 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.
In connection with its responsibilities as administrator of the Fund, Eaton Vance will:
·assist in preparing all annual, semi-annual and other reports required to be sent to Fund shareholders and/or filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and arrange for such filing and printing and dissemination of such reports to shareholders;
·review the provision of services by the Fund’s independent public accounting firm, including, but not limited to, the preparation by such firm of audited financial statements of the Fund and the Fund’s federal, state and local tax returns; and make such reports and
EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN EQUITY STRATEGY FUND
recommendations to the Trustees of the Trust concerning the performance of the independent accountants as the Trustees deem appropriate;
·arrange for the filing with the appropriate authorities all required federal, state and local tax returns;
·arrange for the dissemination to shareholders of the Fund’s proxy materials, and oversee the tabulation of proxies by the Fund’s transfer agent or other duly authorized proxy tabulator;
·review and supervise the provision of custodian services to the Fund; and make such reports and recommendations to the Trustees concerning the provision of such services as the Trustees deem appropriate;
·oversee the valuation of all such portfolio investments and other assets of the Fund as may be designated by the Trustees (subject to any guidelines, directions and instructions of the Trustees), and review and supervise the calculation of the net asset value of the Fund’s shares by the custodian;
·negotiate the terms and conditions under which transfer agency and dividend disbursing services will be provided to the Fund, and the fees to be paid by the Fund in connection therewith; review and supervise the provision of transfer agency and dividend disbursing services to the Fund; and make such reports and recommendations to the Trustees concerning the performance of the Fund’s transfer and dividend disbursing agent as the Trustees deem appropriate;
·establish the accounting policies of the Fund; reconcile accounting issues that may arise with respect to the Fund’s operations; and consult with the Fund’s independent accountants, legal counsel, custodian, accounting and bookkeeping agents and transfer and dividend disbursing agent as necessary in connection therewith;
·determine the amount of all distributions (if any) to be paid by the Fund to its shareholders; prepare and arrange for the publishing of notices to shareholders regarding such distributions (if required) and provide the Fund’s transfer and dividend disbursing agent and custodian with such information as is required for such parties to effect the payment of distributions;
·review the Fund’s bills and authorize payments of such bills by the Fund’s custodian;
·oversee services provided to the Fund by external counsel;
·arrange for the preparation and filing of all other reports, forms, registration statements, and documents required to be filed by the Trust on behalf of the Fund with the SEC and any other regulatory body; and
·provide other internal legal, auditing, accounting and administrative services as ordinarily required in conducting the Fund’s business affairs.
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EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN EQUITY STRATEGY FUND
(b)Eaton Vance shall provide the Trust with such investment management, administration and supervision as the Trust may from time to time consider necessary for the proper supervision of the Fund’s investment and administrative affairs. 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, as amended (the “1940 Act”). 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, commodities, 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 that it deems necessary or desirable to implement the investment policies of the Trust and of the Fund.
(c)Eaton Vance shall place all orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio investments for the account of the Fund either directly with the issuer or with brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants 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 investments and payments of cash for the account of the Fund. In connection with the selection of such brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants and the placing of such orders, Eaton Vance 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 commission rates, that are reasonable in relation to the benefits received. Subject to the policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, in selecting brokers or dealers qualified to execute a particular transaction, brokers or dealers may be selected who also provide brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) to Eaton Vance and Eaton Vance is expressly authorized to cause the Trust to pay any broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission for executing a security transaction which is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if Eaton Vance determines in good faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall responsibilities which Eaton Vance and its affiliates have with respect to the Fund and to other accounts over which they exercise investment discretion.
(d)Notwithstanding the foregoing, Eaton Vance shall not be deemed to have assumed any duties with respect to, and shall not be responsible for, the distribution of shares of the Fund, nor shall Eaton Vance be deemed to have assumed or have any responsibility with respect to functions specifically assumed by any transfer agent, custodian or shareholder servicing agent of the Trust or the Fund.
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EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN EQUITY STRATEGY FUND
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 Trust the compensation described on Appendix A hereto.
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 maintaining the Fund and continuing its existence; (ii) registration of the Trust under the 1940 Act; (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) fees and expenses of registering, qualifying, and maintaining the Trust, the Fund, and its shares under applicable federal and state securities laws and of preparing and filing registration statements, other offering statements or memoranda, and other reports, forms, and documents required to be filed by the Trust on behalf of the Fund with the SEC or any other regulatory body, and for printing and distributing the same to shareholders; (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 the Fund or 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 expenses to be assumed by the Fund in connection with the distribution of Fund shares; (xix) any pricing or valuation services employed by the Fund to value its investments including primary and comparative valuation services; (xx) any investment advisory, sub-investment advisory, or similar management fee payable by the Fund; (xxi) all expenses incurred in connection with the Fund’s use of a line of credit; and (xxii) 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
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EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN EQUITY STRATEGY FUND
become interested (as directors, trustees, officers, employees, shareholders or otherwise) in other companies or entities (including, without limitation, other investment companies) that Eaton Vance may organize, sponsor or acquire, or with which it may merge or consolidate, and which may include the words “Eaton Vance” 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. 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 that may be sustained in the acquisition, holding or disposition of any security or other investment.
A copy of the Declaration of Trust of Eaton Vance is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of Eaton Vance by an officer in his or her capacity as an officer and not individually. The Trust expressly acknowledges the provisions in the Declaration of Trust of Eaton Vance limiting the personal liability of the trustees, officers, and 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, officers or shareholders of Eaton Vance.
6.Sub-Investment Advisers and Sub-Administrators. Eaton Vance may employ one or more sub-investment advisers or sub-administrators from time to time to perform any of Eaton Vance’s duties under this Agreement, upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between Eaton Vance and such sub-investment adviser or sub-administrator and approved by the Trustees of the Trust, all as permitted by the 1940 Act. 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 shareholders of the Fund, 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 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. 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.
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
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EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN EQUITY STRATEGY FUND
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 amendment to this Agreement shall be effective until approved in a manner consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
9.Limitation of Liability of Trustees and Officers of the Trust. A copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of the Trust by an officer in his or her capacity as an officer and not individually. Eaton Vance expressly acknowledges the provisions in the Declaration of Trust of the Trust limiting the personal liability of the Trustees and officers 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, officers, or shareholders or any Trustee or officer 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.
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EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN EQUITY STRATEGY FUND
11. No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any person not a party hereto any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
12.Non-Exclusive Services. The services of Eaton Vance to 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. It is understood that Eaton Vance and its affiliates perform investment services, including rendering investment advice, to varied clients. It is understood that Eaton Vance or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action for other accounts that may differ from, conflict with, or be adverse to advice given or taken for the Fund. It is understood that certain securities or instruments may be held in some accounts but not in others, or the accounts may have different levels of holdings in certain securities or instruments and the accounts may remit different levels of fees to Eaton Vance. In addition, it is understood that Eaton Vance or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action with respect to the investments of the Fund that may not be given or taken with respect to one or more accounts with similar investment programs, objectives, and strategies. The Fund acknowledges that Eaton Vance, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, and/or employees may from time to time have positions in or transact in securities and other investments recommended to clients, including the Fund. Such transactions may differ from or be inconsistent with the advice given, or the timing or nature of Eaton Vance’s action or actions with respect to the Fund. Eaton Vance may aggregate the Fund’s orders with orders of its proprietary accounts and/or orders of other clients.
13.Certain Definitions. The terms “assignment” and “interested persons” when used herein shall have the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act as now in effect or as hereafter amended subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by any rule, regulation or order by the SEC. 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 shareholders 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. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is modified or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the SEC or any rules or regulations adopted by, or interpretative releases of, the SEC, or any applicable guidance issued by the staff of the SEC, such provision will be deemed to incorporate the effect of such order, rule, regulation, interpretative release, or guidance.
14.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.
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EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN EQUITY STRATEGY FUND
(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.
[Signature page follows.]
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EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN EQUITY STRATEGY FUND
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first above written.
EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST on behalf of
EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN EQUITY STRATEGY FUND
By: |
/s/ Deidre E. Walsh |
|
Deidre E. Walsh |
|
Vice President and not individually |
EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT
By: |
/s/ Maureen A. Gemma |
|
Maureen A. Gemma |
|
Vice President and not individually |
9
EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN EQUITY STRATEGY FUND
APPENDIX A
For the services, payments and facilities furnished by Eaton Vance under this Agreement, Eaton Vance is entitled to receive from the Fund compensation as set forth below:
In case of initiation or termination of the Agreement during any month with respect to the Fund, the fee for that month shall be reduced proportionately on the basis of the number of calendar days during which the Agreement is in effect.
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. Such compensation shall be paid monthly in arrears. Eaton Vance may, from time to time, waive all or a part of the above compensation.
EXHIBIT (d)(18)
INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN EQUITY STRATEGY FUND
THIS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is effective as of the 1st day of March, 2021 between Eaton Vance Management, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Adviser”), and Richard Bernstein Advisors LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sub-Adviser”).
WHEREAS, Eaton Vance Richard Bernstein Equity Strategy Fund (the “Fund”), a series of Eaton Vance Growth Trust (the “Trust”), is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end, management investment company; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Investment Advisory and Administrative Agreement dated March 1, 2021 (the “Advisory Agreement”), a copy of which has been provided to the Sub-Adviser the Trust has retained the Adviser to render advisory and management services to the Fund; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to authority granted to the Adviser in the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser wishes to retain the Sub-Adviser to furnish investment advisory services to the Fund, and the Sub-Adviser is willing to furnish such services to the Fund and the Adviser.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants herein contained, it is agreed between the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser as follows:
1. Appointment. The Adviser hereby appoints the Sub-Adviser to act as the investment adviser for and to manage the investment and reinvestment of that portion of the Fund’s assets that shall be allocated to the Sub-Adviser, subject to the supervision of the Adviser, for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish the services set forth herein for the compensation herein provided. Subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Adviser has the authority in its discretion to alter the allocation of the Fund’s assets among the Sub-Adviser, the Adviser and any other appointed sub-adviser. The Adviser undertakes to provide the Sub-Adviser with reasonable advance written notice of any action (including, without limitation, actions with respect to the policies and procedures and/or to the Registration Statement (as defined below) by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”)) relating to the Fund which action is likely to have any impact on the Sub-Adviser’s ability to provide services under this Agreement. The Adviser agrees that, provided it is within its ability, it will allow for a reasonable implementation period for any such action and Sub-Adviser agrees it will make a reasonable effort to implement any such action within such implementation period.
2. Sub-Adviser Duties. Subject to the supervision of the Board and the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser will provide a continuous investment program for the Fund’s portfolio and determine in its discretion the composition of the assets of the Fund’s portfolio, including with respect to the purchase, retention, and sale of the securities, cash, and other investments in the portfolio. The Sub-Adviser will provide investment research and conduct an ongoing program of evaluation, investment, sales and reinvestment of the Fund’s assets and determine the securities and other investments that shall be purchased, sold, closed, or exchanged for the Fund, when these transactions should be executed, and what portion of the assets of the Fund
EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN EQUITY STRATEGY FUND
should be held in such securities and investments. Subject to all other terms of this Agreement, including, without limitation, Section 2(a), the Sub-Adviser will provide the services under this Agreement in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective or objectives, policies, and restrictions as stated in the Trust’s Registration Statement as it relates to the Fund filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as amended (the “Registration Statement”), copies of which shall be sent to the Sub-Adviser by the Adviser prior to the commencement of this Agreement and promptly following any such amendment, as well as with investment parameters for the Fund (including portfolio risk limits) to be agreed upon in writing from time to time by the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser further agrees (in all cases subject to the other terms of this Agreement, including, without limitation Section 1) as follows:
a. The Sub-Adviser will abide by: (i) the 1940 Act and all rules and regulations thereunder, and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations; (ii) any applicable procedures adopted by the Board; (iii) the provisions of the Registration Statement applicable to the Fund; and (iv) with the Sub-Adviser’s compliance policies and procedures as are approved by the Adviser.
b. The Sub-Adviser will manage the Fund so that it meets the income and asset diversification requirements of Section 851 of the U.S Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).
c. The Sub-Adviser shall exercise voting authority with respect to proxies that the Fund is entitled to vote with regard to securities in the Fund’s portfolio, provided that such authority may be revoked in whole or in part by the Adviser at any time upon written notice to the Sub-Adviser and provided further that the proxies that have been voted by the Sub-Adviser for the Fund shall be subject to review by the Adviser and the Board upon request. The Sub-Adviser shall exercise its proxy voting authority hereunder in accordance with such proxy voting policies and procedures of the Sub-Adviser as are approved by the Adviser and the Board. The Sub-Adviser shall provide such information relating to its exercise of proxy voting authority hereunder (including the manner in which it has voted proxies and its resolution of conflicts of interest) as reasonably requested by the Adviser from time to time. The Sub-Adviser shall provide the proxy voting history for the Fund to the Adviser, or any third party agent designated by the Adviser (currently Broadridge), in a timely manner for inclusion in the Fund’s requisite Form N-PX.
d. In connection with the purchase and sale of securities for the Fund, the Sub-Adviser will arrange for the transmission to the custodian for the Trust (the “Custodian”) on a daily basis such confirmation, trade tickets, and other documents and information, including, but not limited to, Cusip, Cedel, or other numbers that identify securities purchased or sold on behalf of the Fund, as may be reasonably necessary to enable the Custodian to perform its administrative and recordkeeping responsibilities with respect to the Trust.
e. The Sub-Adviser will assist the Custodian in determining or confirming, consistent with the procedures and policies stated in the Registration Statement or adopted by the Board, the value of any portfolio securities or other assets of the Fund for which the Custodian seeks assistance from or identifies for review by the Sub-Adviser, and will otherwise perform the activities of a Fund sub-adviser as described in the Fund’s valuation procedures. The parties acknowledge that the Sub-Adviser is not a custodian of the Trust’s assets and will not take possession or custody of such assets.
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EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN EQUITY STRATEGY FUND
f. Following the end of each of the Fund’s fiscal periods, the Sub-Adviser will assist the Adviser in preparing any reports required by applicable rules and regulations, such as Form N-CSR, Form N-CEN and Form N-PORT, as well as the letter to shareholders containing a discussion of those factors referred to in Item 27 of Form N-1A. The Sub-Adviser will also provide periodic commentaries regarding the Fund as reasonably requested by the Adviser (to be subject to review and editing by the Adviser and further subject to the terms of Section 7 hereof). The Sub-Adviser also will provide to the Trust any certifications relating to the content of any such report, letter or commentary as is reasonably requested by the Trust, a current form of which has been provided to the Sub-Adviser.
g. The Sub-Adviser will complete and deliver to the Adviser for each quarter by the 5th business day of the following quarter a written compliance checklist in a form provided by the Adviser, risk management and related analytic reports and such other reports as mutually agreed upon by the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser. For purposes of this Agreement, “business day” means any day other than (a) Saturday and Sunday, and (b) any other day on which the New York Stock Exchange is closed.
h. The Sub-Adviser will make available to the Trust and the Adviser, promptly upon request, any of the Fund’s investment records and ledgers maintained by the Sub-Adviser (which shall not include the records and ledgers maintained by the Custodian or portfolio accounting agent for the Trust) as are necessary to assist the Trust and the Adviser to comply with requirements of the 1940 Act and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), and the rules under each, as well as other applicable laws. The Sub-Adviser will furnish to regulatory authorities having the requisite authority any information or reports in connection with such services in respect to the Fund which may be requested in order to ascertain whether the operations of the Fund are being conducted in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
i. The Sub-Adviser will provide for consideration at meetings of the Board on the investment program for the Fund and the issuers and securities represented in the Fund’s portfolio, and will furnish the Board or the Adviser with such periodic and special reports as the Board or the Adviser may reasonably request.
j. The Sub-Adviser will maintain insurance for its directors and officer and errors and omissions insurance in an adequate amount. The Sub-Adviser will not be responsible for filing claims in class action settlements related to securities currently or previously held by that portion of the Fund allocated to it by the Adviser, but agrees to deliver to the Custodian any notices it received relating to such claims.
k. The Sub-Adviser shall conduct its business at all times consistent with its status as a fiduciary to the Fund and its shareholders.
3. Broker-Dealer Selection. The Sub-Adviser is authorized to make decisions to buy and sell securities and other investments for the Fund’s portfolio, and to select broker-dealers and to negotiate brokerage commission rates in effecting investment transactions, provided the Sub-Adviser shall adhere to the Fund’s procedures relating to brokerage allocation. The Sub-Adviser will report on brokerage allocation to the Adviser and the Board indicating the broker-dealers to which such allocations have been made and the basis therefore as the Adviser or the Board reasonably requests.
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EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN EQUITY STRATEGY FUND
4. Disclosure about the Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser has reviewed the amendment to the Registration Statement for the Trust relating to the initial offering of the Fund that contains disclosure about the Sub-Adviser, and represents and warrants that, with respect to the disclosure about the Sub-Adviser or its investment process or information relating directly to the Sub-Adviser, such Registration Statement contains, as of the date hereof, no untrue statement of any material fact and does not omit any statement of a material fact which was required to be stated therein in order to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Sub-Adviser further represents and warrants that it is a duly registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act and will maintain such registration so long as this Agreement remains in effect. The Adviser hereby acknowledges that it has received a copy of the Sub-Adviser’s Form ADV, Part 2 at least 48 hours prior to entering into this Agreement.
5. Expenses. During the term of this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser will pay all expenses incurred by it and its staff and for their activities in connection with its duties under this Agreement, including, but not limited to, rental and overhead expenses, expenses of the Sub-Adviser’s personnel, insurance of the Sub-Adviser and its personnel, research services (except as may be permitted under the Fund’s policies and procedures) and taxes of the Sub-Adviser. The Adviser or the Trust shall be responsible for all the expenses of the Fund’s or the Adviser’s operations, including, without limitation, costs of marketing or distributing shares of the Fund, brokerage expenses and commissions (which includes mark-ups and mark-downs), custody and banking expenses, administration expenses, legal, audit and other professional expenses, governmental filing fees, and costs of communications with shareholders.
6. Compensation. For the services provided to the Fund, the Adviser will pay the Sub-Adviser an annual fee equal to the amount specified in Schedule A hereto, payable monthly in arrears on the last business day of each month. The fee will be appropriately prorated to reflect any portion of a calendar month that this Agreement is not in effect among the parties. The Adviser is solely responsible for the payment of fees to the Sub-Adviser, and the Sub-Adviser agrees to seek payment of its fees solely from the Adviser. The Trust shall have no liability for the Sub-Adviser’s fee hereunder.
7. Materials. During the term of this Agreement, the Adviser agrees to furnish the Sub-Adviser at its principal office all disclosure relating to the Sub-Adviser, its services and clients, and the Fund’s investment policies and strategies to be contained in materials prepared by the Adviser or its affiliates (including prospectuses, proxy statements, reports to shareholders, sales literature, or other materials prepared for distribution to financial intermediaries, shareholders of the Fund or the public) prior to the first use thereof, and the Adviser shall not use any such disclosure if the Sub-Adviser reasonably objects in writing within 2 business days (or such other period as may be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof. The Sub-Adviser’s right to object to such disclosure is limited to reasonable objections only on the grounds of the accuracy or completeness of the aforesaid disclosure.
a. As required by Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act, the Sub-Adviser has adopted written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation by it, or any of its supervised persons, of the Advisers Act and the rules under the Advisers Act and all other laws and regulations relevant to the performance of its duties under this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser has designated a chief compliance officer responsible for administering these compliance policies and procedures. The chief compliance officer at the Sub-Adviser’s expense
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EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN EQUITY STRATEGY FUND
shall provide such written compliance reports relating to the operations and compliance procedures of the Sub-Adviser to the Adviser and/or the Trust and their respective chief compliance officers as may be required by law or regulation or as are otherwise reasonably requested. Moreover, the Sub-Adviser agrees to use such additional compliance techniques as the Adviser or the Board may reasonably adopt or approve, including additional written compliance procedures. In addition, the Sub-Adviser shall retain at its own expense the services of the Custodian or any other third party as requested by the Board to monitor the compliance of the Fund’s portfolio with the investment objective, policies and restrictions set forth in the Registration Statement.
b. The Sub-Adviser agrees that it shall promptly notify, if legally permitted, the Adviser and the Trust (1) in the event that the SEC has censured the Sub-Adviser; placed limitations upon its activities, functions or operations; suspended or revoked its registration as an investment adviser; or has commenced proceedings or an investigation (formal or informal) that is likely to reasonably result in any of these actions; or corresponded with the Sub-Adviser, including sending a deficiency letter or raising issues about the business, operations, or practices of the Sub-Adviser; (2) in the event of any notice of an investigation, examination, inquiry audit or subpoena of the Sub-Adviser or any of its officers or employees by any federal, state or other governmental agency or body, (3) upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the Fund has ceased to qualify or is likely not to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code, (4) upon detection of any breach of any of the Fund’s policies, guidelines or procedures and of any violation of any applicable law or regulation, including the 1940 Act and Subchapter M of the Code, relating to that portion of the Fund’s assets allocated to the Sub-Adviser, or (5) upon detection of any material violations of the Sub-Adviser’s compliance policies and procedures that relate to the Fund or the Sub-Adviser’s activities generally, such as when the violation could be considered material to the Sub-Adviser’s advisory clients. If legally permitted, the Sub-Adviser will furnish to the Adviser upon request copies of any and all documents relating to the foregoing. The Sub-Adviser further agrees to promptly notify the Adviser and the Trust of any fact material to the Trust, the Adviser, the Board or shareholders of the Fund known to the Sub-Adviser respecting or relating to the Sub-Adviser that is not contained in the Registration Statement or prospectus for the Fund, or any amendment or supplement thereto received by the Sub-Adviser, or if any statement contained therein relating to the Sub-Adviser becomes untrue in any material respect.
c. The Adviser agrees that it shall promptly notify, if legally permitted, the Sub-Adviser (1) in the event that the SEC has censured the Adviser or the Trust with respect to the Fund; placed limitations upon either of their activities, functions, or operations; suspended or revoked the Adviser’s registration as an investment adviser; or has commenced proceedings or a formal investigation that is reasonably likely to result in any of these actions, (2) in the event of any notice of a formal investigation of the Adviser or any of its officers by any federal or state agency, provided that such investigation directly relates to the services provided by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement; (3) upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the Fund has ceased to qualify or is likely not to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code; or (4) upon detection of any material breach of any of the Fund’s policies, guidelines or procedures and of any violation of any applicable law or regulation, including the1940 Act and Subchapter M of the Code.
d. The Sub-Adviser will provide the Adviser with such reports, presentations, certifications and other information as the Adviser may reasonably request from time to time, in a format mutually agreed upon, concerning the business and operations of the Sub-Adviser in performing services hereunder or generally concerning the Sub-Adviser’s investment advisory
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EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN EQUITY STRATEGY FUND
services, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance with applicable federal, state and local law and regulations, and changes in the Sub-Adviser’s key personnel, investment strategies, policies and procedures, and other matters that are likely to have a material impact on the Sub-Adviser’s duties hereunder.
9. Books and Records. The Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that all records which it maintains for the Fund are the property of the Trust and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the Trust’s or the Adviser’s reasonable request in compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, although the Sub-Adviser may, at its own expense, make and retain a copy of such records. The Sub-Adviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act the records required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act.
10. Cooperation; Confidentiality. Each party to this Agreement agrees to cooperate with the other party and with all appropriate governmental authorities having the requisite jurisdiction (including, but not limited to, the SEC) in connection with any investigation or inquiry relating to this Agreement, the Fund or the Trust. Subject to the foregoing, the Sub-Adviser shall treat as confidential all information pertaining to the Fund, the Trust, the Adviser and their respective actions, and shall use such information only in connection with the services performed under this Agreement. The Adviser shall treat as confidential all information provided by the Sub-Adviser that is identified by the Sub-Adviser as confidential. Notwithstanding the foregoing, information subject to this Section 10 need not be treated by the receiving party as confidential (i) if the receiving party is required to disclose such information under applicable law, (ii) if such information is generally available to the public through means other than by disclosure by the receiving party, or (iii) if available from a source other than the receiving party provided that such source is not known (or should have been known) to the receiving party to be bound by confidentiality obligations pertaining to such information. The Sub-Adviser acknowledges that the Adviser will have continuous access through the Custodian to any information related to the Fund’s portfolio.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or to any policies and procedures, the Sub-Adviser may not disclose Fund portfolio holdings information, except in accordance with the Fund’s Policies and Procedures on Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings (the “Disclosure Policy”). To the extent the Sub-Adviser has delegated any duties or services to an affiliate or a third–party, the Sub-Adviser shall require that any such affiliate or third-party agree in writing to maintain the confidentiality of Fund portfolio holdings information as and to the extent required by the Disclosure Policy. For purposes of the Disclosure Policy, information provided to a broker-dealer relating to orders or potential orders for the purchase or sale of Fund holdings will not be deemed to be portfolio holdings information, provided that the Sub-Adviser determines that the disclosure does not provide the recipient with an advantage over Fund shareholders.
a. Except as may otherwise be required by the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder or other applicable law, the Adviser agrees that the Sub-Adviser, any affiliated person of the Sub-Adviser, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“the 1933 Act”) controls the Sub-Adviser (each a “Sub- Adviser Controlling Person,” and collectively, “Sub-Adviser Controlling Persons”) shall not be liable for, or subject to any losses, claims, damages, expenses, liabilities or litigation in connection with, any act or omission connected with or arising out of any services rendered under this Agreement, except by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence, in each
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EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN EQUITY STRATEGY FUND
such case, in the performance of the Sub-Adviser’s duties, or any material breach by the Sub-Adviser of its obligations or duties under this Agreement (the “Sub-Adviser Standard of Care”). In no case shall the Sub-Adviser, its affiliated persons or any of the Sub-Adviser Controlling Persons be liable for actions taken or non-actions with respect to the performance of services under this Agreement if the Sub-Adviser is instructed in writing by the Adviser or the Trust to take such action or non-action. The Adviser understands and acknowledges that the Sub-Adviser does not warrant that the portion of the assets of the Fund managed by the Sub-Adviser will achieve any particular rate of return or that its performance will match any benchmark index or other standard or objective. In no case shall the Sub-Adviser, its affiliated persons or any of the Sub-Adviser Controlling Persons be liable for any portion of the assets of the Fund not managed by the Sub-Adviser (if any).
b. The Sub-Adviser agrees that neither the Trust nor the Fund shall bear any responsibility or shall be subject to any liability for any losses, claims, damages, expenses, liabilities or litigation of the Sub-Adviser connected with or arising out of its services under this Agreement.
a. The Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Sub-Adviser, any affiliated person of the Sub-Adviser, and Sub-Adviser Controlling Persons (the Sub-Adviser and all of such persons being referred to as “Sub-Adviser Indemnified Persons”) against any and all losses, claims, damages, expenses, liabilities, or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses) to which a Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person may become subject under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, under any other statute, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Adviser’s responsibilities to the Sub-Adviser which (1) may be based upon the Adviser’s gross negligence, willful misfeasance, or bad faith in the performance of its duties, or any material breach by the Adviser of its obligations or duties under this Agreement, or (2) may be based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or prospectus covering the Trust, or any amendment thereof or any supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading unless such statement or omission was made in reliance on disclosure reviewed by the Sub-Adviser in accordance with Section 7 of this Agreement; provided however, that in no case shall the indemnity in favor of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person be deemed to protect such person against any liability to which such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or any material breach of its obligations or duties under this Agreement.
b. Notwithstanding Section 11 of this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Adviser, any affiliated person of the Adviser, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act controls the Adviser (the Adviser and all of such persons being referred to as “Adviser Indemnified Persons”) against any and all losses, claims, damages, expenses, liabilities, or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses) to which (1) an Adviser Indemnified Person may become subject under the 1933 Act, 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, under any other statute, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Sub-Adviser’s responsibilities as sub-adviser of the Trust which may be based upon the Sub-Adviser’s breach of the Sub-Adviser Standard of Care; or (2) may be based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or prospectus covering the Trust, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact known or which should have been
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EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN EQUITY STRATEGY FUND
known to the Sub-Adviser and was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such a statement was made in reliance upon disclosure reviewed by the Sub-Adviser in accordance with Section 7 of this Agreement or was omitted from a disclosure reviewed by the Sub-Adviser in accordance with such Section 7; provided, however, that in no case shall the indemnity in favor of an Adviser Indemnified Person be deemed to protect such person against any liability to which such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of its material breach of its obligations or duties under this Agreement.
c. The Adviser shall not be liable under Paragraph (a) of this Section 12 with respect to any claim made against a Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person unless such Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person shall have notified the Adviser in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person (or after such Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Adviser of any such claim shall not relieve the Adviser from any liability which it may have to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person against whom such action is brought except to the extent the Adviser is prejudiced by the failure or delay in giving such notice. In case any such action is brought against the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, the Adviser will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof or, after notice to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person. If the Adviser assumes the defense of any such action and the selection of counsel by the Adviser to represent both the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person would result in a conflict of interests and therefore, would not, in the reasonable judgment of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, adequately represent the interests of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, the Adviser will, at its own expense, assume the defense with counsel to the Adviser and, also at its own expense, with separate counsel to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Adviser and to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person. The Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Adviser shall not be liable to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. The Adviser shall not have the right to compromise on or settle the litigation without the prior written consent of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person if the compromise or settlement results, or may result in a finding of wrongdoing on the part of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person.
d. The Sub-Adviser shall not be liable under Paragraph (b) of this Section 12 with respect to any claim made against an Adviser Indemnified Person unless such Adviser Indemnified Person shall have notified the Sub-Adviser in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Adviser Indemnified Person (or after such Adviser Indemnified Person shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Sub-Adviser of any such claim shall not relieve the Sub-Adviser from any liability which it may have to the Adviser Indemnified Person against whom such action is brought except to the extent the Sub-Adviser is prejudiced by the failure or delay in giving such notice. In case any such action is brought against the Adviser Indemnified Person, the Sub-Adviser will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof or, after notice to the Adviser Indemnified Person, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Adviser Indemnified Person. If the Sub-Adviser assumes the defense of any such action and the selection of counsel by the Sub-Adviser to represent both the Sub-Adviser and the Adviser
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EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN EQUITY STRATEGY FUND
Indemnified Person would result in a conflict of interests and therefore, would not, in the reasonable judgment of the Adviser Indemnified Person, adequately represent the interests of the Adviser Indemnified Person, the Sub-Adviser will, at its own expense, assume the defense with counsel to the Sub-Adviser and, also at its own expense, with separate counsel to the Adviser Indemnified Person, which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Sub-Adviser and to the Adviser Indemnified Person. The Adviser Indemnified Person shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Sub-Adviser shall not be liable to the Adviser Indemnified Person under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Adviser Indemnified Person independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. The Sub-Adviser shall not have the right to compromise on or settle the litigation without the prior written consent of the Adviser Indemnified Person if the compromise or settlement results, or may result in a finding of wrongdoing on the part of the Adviser Indemnified Person.
a. This Agreement shall become effective subject to the condition that the Board, including a majority of those Trustees who are not interested persons (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser, shall have approved this Agreement in the manner required by the 1940 Act. Unless terminated as provided herein, this Agreement 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 affect indefinitely thereafter, but only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (a) the Board, or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust, and (b) the vote of a majority of those Trustees who are not interested persons (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of any such party to this Agreement cast at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
b. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated: (a) by the Adviser at any time without payment of any penalty, upon 60 days’ prior written notice to the Sub-Adviser and the Trust; (b) at any time without payment of any penalty by the Trust, by the Board or a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, upon 60 days’ prior written notice to the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, (c) at any time without payment of any penalty by the Sub-Adviser upon 60 days’ prior written notice by the Sub-Adviser to the Adviser and the Trust, (d) by the Sub-Adviser upon not less than 20 business days’ prior written notice to the Adviser if the Sub-Adviser is unable to implement any action by the Board that impacts the Sub-Adviser’s ability to provide the services under this Agreement as described in Section 1 hereof, provided such notice is given to the Adviser within 5 business days of the Sub-Adviser’s receipt of notice of the Board taking such action; (e) immediately in the event the Sub-Adviser or the Adviser ceases to be registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act or otherwise becomes legally incapable of providing investment management services pursuant to its respective contract with the Trust, or (f) in the event the Advisory Agreement is terminated.
c. In the event of termination for any reason, all records of the Trust shall promptly be returned to the Adviser or the Trust, free from any claim or retention of rights in such record by the Sub-Adviser, although the Sub-Adviser may, at its own expense, make and retain a copy of such records. This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (within the meaning of such term in the 1940 Act). In the event this Agreement is terminated or is not approved in the manner described above, the Sections or Paragraphs numbered 9, 10, 11, and 12 of this Agreement shall remain in effect, as well as any applicable provision of this Section 13 and, to the extent that only amounts are owed to the Sub-Adviser or
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EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN EQUITY STRATEGY FUND
owed to the Adviser for subsidy reimbursement as compensation for services rendered while the agreement was in effect as provided in Section 6.
14. Exclusivity. The Sub-Adviser agrees that, for so long as it serves as the investment adviser or sub-adviser to the Fund or any successor entity, it will not accept an offer to serve as investment adviser or sub-adviser to any Competing Product (as defined below) without the prior written approval of the Adviser. The Adviser shall respond to a written request of the Sub-Adviser to advise or sub-advise a Competing Product within 30 days of receiving such request. A "Competing Product" means another unlisted, long-only (or substantially long-only), open-end, SEC-registered investment company or an actively-managed exchange-traded-fund (“ETF”, but excluding an ETF-of-ETFs), in each case utilizing a macroeconomic investment strategy and distributed in the United States. If and to the extent the restriction herein set forth is unenforceable, then such restriction shall (without any further action by the Adviser or Sub-Adviser) be deemed to have been replaced with an enforceable restriction reflecting as closely as possible the parties’ intent as expressed herein.
15. Notices. Any notice must be in writing and shall be sufficiently given (1) when delivered in person, (2) when dispatched by electronic mail or electronic facsimile transfer (confirmed in writing by postage prepaid first class air mail simultaneously dispatched), (3) when sent by internationally recognized overnight courier service (with receipt confirmed by such overnight courier service), or (4) when sent by registered or certified mail, to the other party at the address of such party set forth below or at such other address as such party may from time to time specify in writing to the other party.
Boston, MA 02110
Richard Bernstein Advisors LLC
Attn: Michael Meyer, Chief Compliance Officer
Chicago, Illinois 60601
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EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN EQUITY STRATEGY FUND
16. Amendments. No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought, and no material amendment of this Agreement shall be effective until approved as required by applicable law. The Sub-Adviser shall furnish to the Board such information as may be reasonably necessary in order for the Board to evaluate this Agreement or any proposed amendments thereto for the purposes of casting a vote pursuant to Section 13 or this Section 16.
17. Governing Law. Notwithstanding the place where this Agreement may be executed by either party, the parties expressly agree that all terms and provisions hereof shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts applicable to contracts made between residents of Massachusetts, entered into and wholly performed, and to transactions wholly consummated, within Massachusetts. In the event of an action brought by the Adviser against the Sub-Adviser, the parties hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and any New York State court sitting in New York City (Borough of Manhattan) for purposes of any legal or equitable actions or proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the matters contemplated hereby. In the event of an action brought by the Sub-Adviser against the Adviser, the parties hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts and any Massachusetts court sitting in the city of Boston for purposes of any legal or equitable actions or proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the matters contemplated hereby. The parties hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection that they may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue in any such action or proceeding brought in such a court, and any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
18.Interpretation of Certain Terms. Where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is amended hereafter, or is modified or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the SEC, any rules or regulations adopted by, or interpretative releases of, the SEC, or any applicable guidance issued by the staff of the SEC, such provision will be deemed to incorporate the effect of such amendment, order, rule, regulation, interpretative release, or guidance.
19. Miscellaneous.
a. The Sub-Adviser hereby grants to the Adviser during the term of this Agreement, a non-exclusive, non-assignable, non-sublicensable royalty-free right to use the Sub-Adviser's name and registered and unregistered trademarks, service marks and logos in the name of the Fund, on the Adviser's website(s) and in other materials solely for purposes of disclosing and promoting the relationship between the parties as described herein. In the event that this Agreement shall be terminated for any reason, and in the event a new or successor Agreement with the Sub-Adviser is not concluded, the Adviser understands that it must immediately take all steps necessary to amend materials (including the Adviser's website) produced by the Adviser or its affiliates to delete any reference in all materials to the Sub-Adviser and to delete the words “Richard Bernstein” from the name of the Fund, provided that references to the former name of the Fund shall be permitted to the extent necessary.
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EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN EQUITY STRATEGY FUND
b. The Adviser and the Sub-Adviser acknowledge that the Trust enjoys the rights of a third-party beneficiary under this Agreement, and the Adviser acknowledges that the Sub-Adviser enjoys the rights of a third party beneficiary under the Advisory Agreement. Nothing herein shall be construed as constituting the Sub-Adviser as an agent or co-partner of the Adviser, or constituting the Adviser as an agent or co-partner of the Sub-Adviser.
c. The Sub-Adviser expressly acknowledges the provision in the Declaration of Trust of the Adviser limiting the personal liability of the trustees and officers of the Adviser, and the Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that it shall have recourse to the Adviser for payment of claims or obligations as between the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser arising out of this Agreement and shall not seek satisfaction from the trustees or any officer of the Adviser.
d. The captions of this Agreement are included for convenience only and in no way define or limit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
e. To the extent permitted under Section 13 of this Agreement, this Agreement may only be assigned by any party with the prior written consent of the other party.
f. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby, and to this extent, the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be severable.
g. Nothing herein shall be construed as constituting the Sub-Adviser as an agent or co-partner of the Adviser, or constituting the Adviser as an agent or co-partner of the Sub-Adviser.
h. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts.
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EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN EQUITY STRATEGY FUND
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed as of the day and year first above written.
/s/ Maureen A. Gemma |
|
Name: |
Maureen A. Gemma |
Title: |
Vice President and not individually |
RICHARD BERNSTEIN ADVISORS LLC
/s/ Richard Bernstein |
|
Name: |
Richard Bernstein |
Title: |
CEO |
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EXHIBIT (d)(19)
EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
ON BEHALF OF
EATON VANCE WORLDWIDE HEALTH SCIENCES FUND
AGREEMENT made as of this 1st day of March, 2021, between Eaton Vance Growth Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of Eaton Vance Worldwide Health Sciences Fund (the “Fund”), and Eaton Vance Management, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Adviser”).
1.Duties of the Adviser. The Trust hereby employs the 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 Trustees of the Trust, for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement.
(a) The Adviser hereby accepts such employment, and undertakes to afford to the Trust the advice and assistance of the 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 investment affairs and to pay the salaries and fees of all officers and Trustees of the Trust who are members of the Adviser’s organization and all personnel of the Adviser performing services relating to research and investment activities. The 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 Trust in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Trust.
(b)The Adviser 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’s investments. As investment adviser to the Trust, the 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 Declaration of Trust, By-Laws and registration statement of the Trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Adviser 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, commodities, 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
EATON VANCE WORLDWIDE HEALTH SCIENCES FUND
Fund and notify the Adviser thereof in writing, the 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 Adviser shall take, on behalf of the Trust, all actions that it deems necessary or desirable to implement the investment policies of the Trust and of the Fund.
(c)The Adviser shall place all orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio investments for the account of the Fund either directly with the issuer or with brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants selected by the Adviser, and to that end, the Adviser is authorized as the agent of the Fund to give instructions to the custodian of the Fund as to deliveries of investments and payments of cash for the account of the Fund. In connection with the selection of such brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants and the placing of such orders, the 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 commission rates that are reasonable in relation to the benefits received. Subject to the policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, in selecting brokers or dealers qualified to execute a particular transaction, brokers or dealers may be selected who also provide brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) to the Adviser and the Adviser is expressly authorized to cause the Trust to pay any broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission for executing a security transaction which is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if the Adviser determines in good faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall responsibilities which the Adviser and its affiliates have with respect to the Fund and to other accounts over which they exercise investment discretion.
(d)Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Adviser shall not be deemed to have assumed any duties with respect to, and shall not be responsible for, the distribution of shares of the Fund, nor shall the Adviser be deemed to have assumed or have any responsibility with respect to functions specifically assumed by any transfer agent, administration, custodian or shareholder servicing agent of the Trust or the Fund.
2.Compensation of the Adviser. For the services, payments and facilities to be furnished hereunder by the Adviser, the Adviser shall be entitled to receive from the Trust the compensation described on Appendix A hereto.
3.Allocation of Charges and Expenses. The Adviser shall pay the entire salaries and fees of all of the Trust’s Trustees and officers employed by the Adviser and who devote part or all of their time to the affairs of the Adviser, 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 the Adviser hereunder, which expenses payable
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by the Fund shall include, without implied limitation, (i) expenses of maintaining the Fund and continuing its existence, (ii) registration of the Trust under the 1940 Act, (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) fees and expenses of registering, qualifying and maintaining the Trust, the Fund and its shares under applicable federal and state securities laws and of preparing and filing registration statements, other offering statements or memoranda, and other reports, forms, and documents required to be filed by the Trust on behalf of the Fund with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or any other regulatory body, and for printing and distributing the same to shareholders; (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 the Fund or 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 organization; (xviii) all payments to be made and expenses to be assumed by the Fund in connection with the distribution of Fund shares, (xix) any pricing or valuation services employed by the Fund to value its investments including primary and comparative valuation services; (xx) any investment advisory, sub-investment advisory, or similar management fee payable by the Fund, (xxi) all expenses incurred in connection with the Fund’s use of a line of credit, and (xxii) 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 Adviser as trustees, officers, employees, shareholders or otherwise and that trustees, officers, employees and shareholders of the Adviser are or may be or become similarly interested in the Fund, and that the 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 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 Adviser may organize, sponsor or acquire, or with which it may merge or consolidate, and which may include the words “Eaton Vance” or any combination thereof as part of their name, and that the 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 Adviser. In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of obligations or duties hereunder on the part of the Adviser, the Adviser 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
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hereunder or for any losses that may be sustained in the acquisition, holding or disposition of any security or other investment.
A copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Adviser is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of the Adviser by an officer in his or her capacity as an officer and not individually. The Trust expressly acknowledges the provisions in the Declaration of Trust of the Adviser limiting the personal liability of the trustees, officers, and shareholders of the Adviser, and the Trust hereby agrees that it shall have recourse to the Adviser for payment of claims or obligations as between the Adviser and the Trust arising out of this Agreement and shall not seek satisfaction from the trustees, officers, or shareholders of the Adviser.
6.Sub-Investment Advisers. The Adviser may employ one or more sub-investment advisers from time to time to perform any of the Adviser’s duties under this Agreement, upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the Adviser and such sub-investment adviser and approved by the Trustees of the Trust, all as permitted by the 1940 Act. The performance of each such sub-investment adviser of its obligation under any such agreement shall be supervised by the Adviser. Further, the Adviser may, with the approval of the Trustees of the Trust and without the vote of any shareholders of the Fund, terminate any agreement with any sub-investment adviser and/or enter into an agreement with one or more other sub-investment advisers, all as permitted by the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. In the event a sub-investment adviser is employed, the Adviser retains the authority to immediately assume responsibility for any functions delegated to a sub-investment adviser, subject to approval by the Board and notice to the sub-investment adviser.
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 the Adviser 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 the Adviser, as the case may be, and the Trust may, at any time upon such written notice to the Adviser, 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.
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8.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 in a manner consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
9.Limitation of Liability of Trustees and Officers of the Trust. A copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of the Trust by an officer in his or her capacity as an officer and not individually. The Adviser expressly acknowledges the provisions in the Declaration of Trust of the Trust limiting the personal liability of the Trustees and officers of the Trust and the shareholders of the Fund, and the Adviser 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 the Adviser arising out of this Agreement and shall not seek satisfaction from the Trustees, officers, or shareholders or any Trustee or officer of the Trust or shareholder of the Fund.
10.Use of the Name “Eaton Vance”. The Adviser 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 the Adviser or one of its affiliates as the investment adviser 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 the Adviser and its affiliates and other investment companies that have obtained consent to the use of the name “Eaton Vance.” The Adviser 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 the Adviser or one of its affiliates as the Fund’s investment adviser. Future names adopted by the Fund for itself, insofar as such names include identifying words requiring the consent of the Adviser, shall be the property of the Adviser and shall be subject to the same terms and conditions.
11. No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any person not a party hereto any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
12.Non-Exclusive Services. The services of the Adviser to the Fund are not to be deemed to be exclusive, the Adviser being free to render services to others and engage in other business activities. It is understood that the Adviser and its affiliates perform investment services, including rendering investment advice, to varied clients. It is understood that the
Adviser or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action for other accounts that may differ from, conflict with or be adverse to advice given or taken for the Fund. It is understood that certain securities or instruments may be held in some accounts but not in others, or the accounts may have different levels of holdings in certain securities or instruments and the accounts may remit different levels of fees to the Adviser. In addition, it is understood that the
Adviser or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action with respect to the investments of the Fund that may not be given or taken with respect to one or more accounts with similar investment programs, objectives, and strategies. The Fund acknowledges that the Adviser, its
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affiliates and their respective officers, directors, and/or employees may from time to time have positions in or transact in securities and other investments recommended to clients, including the Fund. Such transactions may differ from or be inconsistent with the advice given, or the timing or nature of the Adviser’s action or actions with respect to the Fund. The Adviser may aggregate the Fund’s orders with orders of its proprietary accounts and/or orders of other clients.
13.Certain Definitions. The terms “assignment” and “interested persons” when used herein shall have the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act as now in effect or as hereafter amended subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by any rule, regulation or order by the SEC. 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 shareholders 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. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is modified or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the SEC, any rules or regulations adopted by, or interpretative releases of, the SEC, or any applicable guidance issued by the staff of the SEC, such provision will be deemed to incorporate the effect of such order, rule, regulation, interpretative release, or guidance.
14.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.
[Signature page follows]
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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 GROWTH TRUST on behalf of
EATON VANCE WORLDWIDE HEALTH SCIENCES FUND
By: |
/s/ Deidre E. Walsh |
|
Deidre E. Walsh |
|
Vice President and not individually |
EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT
By: |
/s/ Maureen A. Gemma |
|
Maureen A. Gemma |
|
Vice President and not individually |
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APPENDIX A
For the services, payments and facilities furnished by the Adviser under this Agreement, the Adviser is entitled to receive from the Fund compensation as set forth below:
Asset-based fee:
In case of initiation or termination of the Agreement during any month with respect to the Fund, the fee for that month shall be reduced proportionately on the basis of the number of calendar days during which the Agreement is in effect.
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. Such compensation shall be paid monthly in arrears.
Performance-based adjustment:
The asset-based fee is subject to upward or downward adjustment depending upon whether, and to what extent, the investment performance of the Fund differs by at least one percentage point from the record of the MSCI World Health Care Index (“Index Return”) over the same period. Each percentage point difference is multiplied by a performance adjustment rate of 0.015%. The maximum adjustment plus/minus is 0.15%. One twelfth (1/12) of this adjustment is applied each month to the average daily net assets of the Fund over the entire performance period. This adjustment shall be based on a rolling period of up to and including the most recent 36 months (“Performance Adjustment Period”) or such shorter period as may be required by the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder or applicable guidance of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Fund performance shall be total return as computed under Rule 482 under the Securities Act of 1933.
The Adviser may, from time to time, waive all or a part of the above compensation.
EATON VANCE WORLDWIDE HEALTH SCIENCES FUND
EXHIBIT (d)(20)
INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
between
EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT
and
EATON VANCE ADVISERS INTERNATIONAL LTD.
for
EATON VANCE WORLDWIDE HEALTH SCIENCES FUND
AGREEMENT made this as of 1st day of March, 2021, between Eaton Vance Management, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Adviser”), and Eaton Vance Advisers International Ltd., a private limited company incorporated in England and Wales (the “Sub-Adviser”).
WHEREAS, the Adviser has entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with Eaton Vance Growth Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Trust”) on behalf of Eaton Vance Worldwide Health Sciences 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 Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement (the “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. Subject to approval of the Trust’s Board and notice to the Sub-Adviser, the Adviser retains complete authority immediately to assume direct responsibility for any function delegated to the Sub-Adviser under this Agreement.
EATON VANCE WORLDWIDE HEALTH SCIENCES FUND
(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 investment 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 Adviser may, from time to time, consider necessary for the proper supervision of the Fund’s investments. The services to be provided by the Sub-Adviser hereunder will apply to the portion of the Fund’s assets that Adviser or the Trustees of the Trust shall from time to time designate, which may consist of all or a portion of the Fund’s assets. As investment sub-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, as amended (the “1940 Act”). 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, commodities, derivatives, and investment instruments on behalf of the Fund. Should the Trustees of the Trust or the Adviser 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 Trust and of the Fund.
(c)The Sub-Adviser shall place all orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio investments for the account of the Fund either directly with the issuer or with brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants 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 investments and payments of cash for the account of the Fund. In connection with the selection of such brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, or other market participants 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 commission rates that are reasonable in relation to the benefits received. Subject to the policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, in selecting brokers or dealers qualified to execute a particular transaction, brokers or dealers may be selected who also provide brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) to the Sub-Adviser and the Sub-Adviser is expressly authorized to cause the Trust to
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pay any broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission for executing a security transaction which is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if the Sub-Adviser determines in good faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall responsibilities which the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates have with respect to the Fund and to other accounts over which they exercise investment discretion.
(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.
(e)The Sub-Adviser shall exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties under the Agreement and will conduct its activities hereunder in compliance with the applicable requirements of the 1940 Act and all rules and regulations thereunder, all other applicable federal and state laws, any applicable procedures adopted by the Trust’s Board that have been provided to the Sub-Adviser, and the provisions of the Trust’s registration statement, each as may be amended. The Sub-Adviser will furnish to regulatory authorities having the requisite authority any information or reports in connection with its services in respect to the Fund which may be requested by such authorities in order to ascertain whether the operations of the Fund are being conducted in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
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 the compensation specified in Appendix A hereto. The Adviser is solely responsible for the payment of the compensation to the Sub-Adviser, and the Sub-Adviser agrees to seek payment of its compensation solely from the Adviser. The Fund shall have no liability for Sub-Adviser's compensation hereunder.
3.Allocation of Charges and Expenses. It is understood that 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 implied limitation, (i) expenses of maintaining the Fund and continuing its existence; (ii) registration of the Fund and Trust under the 1940 Act; (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) fees and expenses of registering, qualifying, and maintaining the Trust, the Fund, and its shares under applicable federal and state securities laws and of preparing and filing registration statements, other offering statements or memoranda, and other reports, forms and documents required to be filed by the Trust or Fund with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and any other applicable regulatory body, and for printing and distributing the same to shareholders; (ix)
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EATON VANCE WORLDWIDE HEALTH SCIENCES FUND
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 the Trust or 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; (xviii) all payments to be made and expenses to be assumed by the Fund in connection with the distribution of Fund shares; (xix) any pricing or valuation services employed by the Fund to value its investments including primary and comparative valuations services; (xx) any investment advisory, sub-investment advisory, or similar management fee payable by the Fund; (xxi) all expenses incurred in connection with the Fund’s use of a line of credit; and (xxii) 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 “Eaton Vance Advisers International Ltd.” 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.
The services of the Sub-Adviser to the Adviser for the benefit of the Fund are not to be deemed to be exclusive and the Sub-Adviser is free to render services to others and engage in other business activities. It is understood that the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates perform investment services, including rendering investment advice, to varied clients. It is understood that the Sub-Adviser or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action for other accounts that may differ from, conflict with, or be adverse to advice given or taken for the Fund. It is understood that certain securities or instruments may be held in some accounts but not in others, or the accounts may have different levels of holdings in certain securities or instruments and the accounts may remit different levels of fees to the Sub-Adviser. In addition, it is understood that the Sub-Adviser or any of its affiliates may give advice or take action with respect to the investments of the Fund that may not be given or taken with respect to one or more accounts with similar investment programs, objectives, and strategies. The Fund acknowledges that the Sub-Adviser, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, and/or
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employees may from time to time have positions in or transact in securities and other investments recommended to clients, including the Fund. Such transactions may differ from or be inconsistent with the advice given, or the timing or nature of the Sub-Adviser’s action or actions with respect to the Fund. The Sub-Adviser may aggregate the Fund’s orders with orders of its proprietary accounts and/or orders of other clients.
5.Limitation of Liability of the Sub-Adviser. 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 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 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.
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. In the event of termination for any reason, all records of the Fund shall promptly be returned to the Adviser or the Fund, free from any claim or retention of rights in such record by the SubAdviser, although the Sub-Adviser may, at its own expense, make and retain a copy of such records.
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 in a manner consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
8.Limitation of Liability. A copy of the Declaration of Trust for each the Trust and the Adviser is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of each the Adviser and the Trust by an officer of each respective organization, in his or her capacity as an officer and not individually. The Sub-Adviser expressly acknowledges the provisions in the Declarations of Trust of the
5
EATON VANCE WORLDWIDE HEALTH SCIENCES FUND
Trust and of the Adviser limiting the personal liability of Trustees, officers, and the 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 or officers of the Trust or the Adviser or the shareholders of the Fund or the Adviser.
9.Third Party Beneficiaries. The Fund is a third party beneficiary to this Agreement. Aside from the Fund, nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any person not a party hereto (including, but not limited to, shareholders of the Fund) any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
10. Books and Records. The Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that all records that it maintains for the Fund are the property of the Fund and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Fund any of such records upon the Fund’s or the Adviser's request in compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, although the Sub-Adviser may, at its own expense, make and retain a copy of such records. The Sub-Adviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act the records required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act.
11.Certain Definitions. The terms “assignment” and “interested persons” when used herein shall have the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act, as now in effect or as hereafter amended subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by any rule, regulation or order by the SEC. 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 shareholders 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. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is modified or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the SEC, any rules or regulations adopted by, or interpretative releases of, the SEC, or any applicable guidance issued by the staff of the SEC, such provision will be deemed to incorporate the effect of such order, rule, regulation, interpretative release, or guidance.
12.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.
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EATON VANCE WORLDWIDE HEALTH SCIENCES FUND
(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.
[Signature page follows.]
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EATON VANCE WORLDWIDE HEALTH SCIENCES FUND
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 |
EATON VANCE ADVISERS INTERNATIONAL LTD.
A private limited company incorporated in England and Wales, authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority of the United Kingdom
By: |
/s/ Christopher Dyer |
Name: |
Christopher Dyer |
Title: |
Director, Vice President 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 WORLDWIDE HEALTH SCIENCES FUND)
By: |
/s/ Deidre E. Walsh |
Name: |
Deidre E. Walsh |
Title: |
Vice President and not individually |
8
EXHIBIT (e)(1)
AMENDED AND RESTATED
MASTER DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
AMENDED and RESTATED DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT effective as of March 1, 2021 between each Trust or company identified on Schedule A (each referred to herein as the “Trust”) on behalf of each of its series listed on Schedule A (each referred to herein as the “Fund”), and Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation (the “Principal Underwriter”). The Fund may offer multiple classes of shares as indicated on Schedule A (the “Classes”).
IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual promises and undertakings herein contained, the parties hereto agree with respect to the Fund:
1.(a)The Trust grants to the Principal Underwriter the right to purchase all Classes of shares of the Fund upon the terms herein below set forth during the term of this Agreement.
While this Agreement is in force, the Principal Underwriter agrees to use its best efforts to obtain unconditional orders for Fund shares, provided that it may refuse to accept any such orders in its discretion as described herein and provided further that when requested by a Fund at any time because of market or other economic considerations or abnormal circumstances of any kind, or when agreed to by mutual consent between the Principal Underwriter and the Fund, the Principal Underwriter will suspend its efforts (including as to any classes of investors or any specific jurisdictions or otherwise).
(b)In carrying out its duties and responsibilities hereunder, the Principal Underwriter may, pursuant to separate written contracts, appoint various financial intermediaries to find purchasers for, and to otherwise provide distribution services with respect to, Fund shares. Such intermediaries shall at all times be deemed to be independent contractors retained by the Principal Underwriter and not by the Trust.
(c)The Principal Underwriter shall have the right to buy from the Fund the shares needed, but not more than the shares needed (except for clerical errors and errors of transmission), to fill unconditional orders for shares of the Fund placed with the Principal Underwriter by financial intermediaries or investors in the manner set forth in the current Summary Prospectus, Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information (together, “Prospectus”) relating to shares of the Fund. The Principal Underwriter shall notify the Fund custodian (“Custodian”) and transfer agent (“Transfer Agent”), at the end of each business day, or as soon thereafter as the orders placed with it have been compiled, of the number of shares and the prices thereof which the Principal Underwriter is to purchase as principal for resale. The Principal Underwriter shall take down and pay for shares ordered from the Fund before the fourth business day after the shares have been so ordered.
(d)The right granted to the Principal Underwriter to buy shares from the Fund shall be exclusive, except that said exclusive right shall not apply to: (i) shares issued in connection with the merger or consolidation of any other investment company or personal holding company with the Fund; (ii) the acquisition by purchase or otherwise of all (or substantially all) the assets or the outstanding shares of any such company by the Fund; or (iii) shares, if any, issued by the Fund in connection with the reinvestment of Fund distributions at the option of Fund shareholders.
(e)The Principal Underwriter covenants and agrees that, in selling the shares of the Fund, it will use its best efforts in all respects to conform with the requirements of all state and federal laws relating to the sale of such shares and with applicable rules and regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), of which it is a member.
2.Fund shares may be resold by the Principal Underwriter to or through financial intermediaries and to investors, upon the following terms and conditions:
(a) The public offering price of Fund shares (the "offering price") shall be the net asset value per share plus a sales charge, if any. Any such sales charge shall be established by the Principal Underwriter and disclosed in the Prospectus. The Principal Underwriter may establish a schedule of contingent deferred sales charges to be imposed at the time of redemption of certain shares and such schedule of contingent deferred sales charges shall be disclosed in the Prospectus. The sales charges and schedule of contingent deferred sales charges applicable to a Class may reflect scheduled variations in, the elimination of, or waivers of sales charges on sales of or redemptions of Shares in accordance with applicable rules and regulations, exemptive relief granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and other relevant guidance.
(b) The Principal Underwriter may pay to financial intermediaries through whom shares are sold such commissions or other payments as the Principal Underwriter may specify from time to time. Payment of any such sales charge or other payments shall be the sole obligation of the Principal Underwriter unless otherwise agreed to by the Trust.
(c) The net asset value of shares of each Class of the Fund shall be determined by the Custodian as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”) on each business day on which said Exchange is open, or as of such other time on each such business day as may be determined by the Trustees or Directors of the Trust (referred to herein as the “Trustees”), in accordance with the methodology and procedures for calculating such net asset value authorized by the Trustees. The Trust may also cause the net asset value to be determined in substantially the same manner or estimated in such manner and as of such other time or times as may from time to time be agreed upon by the Trust and Principal Underwriter. The Trust will notify the Principal Underwriter each time the net asset value of a Class of shares is determined and when such value is so determined it shall be applicable to transactions as set forth in the current Prospectus relating to Fund shares.
(d)No Class of shares of the Fund shall be sold by the Fund during any period when the determination of that Class’s net asset value is suspended, except to the Principal Underwriter in the manner and upon the terms above set forth to cover shares sold by the Principal Underwriter prior to any such suspension. The Trust shall also have the right to suspend the sale of any Class of shares if in the judgment of the Trust conditions obtaining at any time render such action advisable. The Principal Underwriter shall have the right to suspend sales at any time, to refuse to accept or confirm any order from an investor or financial intermediary, or to accept or confirm any such order in part only if, in the judgment of the Principal Underwriter, such action is in the best interests of the Fund.
3.The Trust covenants and agrees that it will, from time to time, but subject to any required approval of the Fund’s shareholders, take such steps as may be necessary to register the Fund’s shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time (the “1933 Act”), in order that there will be available for sale such number of shares as the Principal Underwriter may reasonably be expected to sell. The Trust also represents that all Fund shares, when issued, will be fully paid and non-assessable by the Trust.
4.(a)The Trust covenants and agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Principal Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls the Principal Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act ( the “EVD Control Persons”) against any loss, liability, claim, damages or expense (including the reasonable cost of investigating or defending any alleged loss, liability, claim, damages or expense and reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith), arising
by reason of any person acquiring any shares of the Fund, which may be based upon the 1933 Act or on any other statute or at common law, on the ground that the Registration Statement or Prospectus, as from time to time amended and supplemented, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information furnished to the Trust in connection therewith by or on behalf of the Principal Underwriter or its affiliate, Eaton Vance Management (“EVM”).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no case (i) is the indemnity of the Trust in favor of the Principal Underwriter and any EVD Control Person to be deemed to protect such Principal Underwriter or any such EVD Control Person against any liability to the Trust or the Fund or its shareholders to which such Principal Underwriter or any such EVD Control Person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, or (ii) is the Trust or the Fund to be liable under the indemnity contained in this paragraph with respect to any claim made against the Principal Underwriter or any EVD Control Person unless the Principal Underwriter or any EVD Control Person, as the case may be, shall have notified the Trust in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon the Principal Underwriter or such EVD Control Person (or after such Principal Underwriter or such EVD Control Person shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Trust of any such claim shall not relieve it from any liability which the Fund may have to the person against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of its indemnity contained in this paragraph.
The Trust shall be entitled to participate, at the expense of the Fund, in the defense, or, if the Trust so elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any such liability, but if the Trust elects to assume the defense, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it and satisfactory to the Principal Underwriter or EVD Control Persons, defendant or defendants in the suit. In the event the Trust elects to assume the defense of any such suit and retains such counsel, the Principal Underwriter or any EVD Control Person, defendant or defendants in the suit, shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by them, but, in case the Trust does not elect to assume the defense of any such suit, the Fund shall reimburse the Principal Underwriter or the EVD Control Person, defendant or defendants in the suit, for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them. The Trust agrees promptly to notify the Principal Underwriter of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers or Trustees in connection with the issuance or sale of any of the Fund’s shares.
(b)The Principal Underwriter covenants and agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trust and each of its Trustees and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Trust within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (“Trust Control Persons”), against any loss, liability, damages, claim or expense (including the reasonable cost of investigating or defending any alleged loss, liability, damages, claim or expense and reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith), arising by reason of any person acquiring any shares of the Fund, which may be based upon the 1933 Act or any other statute or at common law, on account of any wrongful act of the Principal Underwriter or any of its employees (including any failure to conform with any requirement of any state or federal law relating to the sale of such shares) or on the ground that the Registration Statement or Prospectus, as from time to time amended and supplemented, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, insofar as any such statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in conformity with information furnished to the Trust in connection therewith by or on behalf of the Principal Underwriter or EVM.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no case (i) is the indemnity of the Principal Underwriter in favor of the Trust and any Trust Control Person indemnified to be deemed to protect the Fund or any such Trust Control Person against any liability to which the Fund or any such Trust Control Person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its or his duties or by reason of its or his reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, or (ii) is the Principal Underwriter to be liable under the indemnity contained in this paragraph with respect to any claim made against the Fund or any Trust Control Person indemnified unless the Trust or such Trust Control Person, as the case may be, shall have notified the Principal Underwriter in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon the Trust, the Fund or upon such Trust Control Person (or after the Trust, the Fund or such Trust Control Person shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Principal Underwriter of any such claim shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to the Fund or any person against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of its indemnity contained in this paragraph.
The Principal Underwriter shall be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense, or, if it so elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any such liability, but if the Principal Underwriter elects to assume the defense, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it and satisfactory to the Trust, or to Trust Control Persons, defendant or defendants in the suit. In the event that the Principal Underwriter elects to assume the defense of any such suit and retains such counsel, the Fund or such Trust Control Persons, defendant or defendants in the suit, shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by them or the Trust, but, in case the Principal Underwriter does not elect to assume the defense of any such suit, it shall reimburse the Fund, any such Trust Control Person, defendant or defendants in such suit, for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them or the Trust. The Principal Underwriter agrees promptly to notify the Trust of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it in connection with the issue and sale of any of the Fund’s shares.
(c) The Principal Underwriter is not authorized by the Trust to give any information or to make any representations or to authorize any financial intermediary to give or make representations, other than those contained in or drawn from (i) the Registration Statement or Prospectus filed with the SEC under the 1933 Act (as said Registration Statement and Prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time) covering the shares of the Fund or (ii) other materials developed in accordance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements containing information relating to the Fund, including but not limited to materials prepared in accordance with Rule 482 under the 1933 Act and other marketing materials, such as Fund fact sheets and Fund commentaries.
(d)All sales of Fund shares made by the Principal Underwriter shall be made by it as principal, for its own account. The Principal Underwriter is not authorized to act as agent for the Trust or the Fund in connection with the offering or sale of shares of the Fund to the public or otherwise except in connection with the repurchase of shares as provided in paragraph 6 below, or in connection with “exchanges” between investment companies for which the Principal Underwriter (or an affiliate thereof) acts as principal underwriter.
5.(a)The Fund will pay, or cause to be paid (by one or more classes):
(i)all the costs and expenses of the Fund, including fees and disbursements of its counsel, in connection with the preparation and filing of any required Registration Statement and/or Prospectus under the 1933 Act or the Investment Company Act of 1940 Act, as amended (the “1940 Act”) covering its shares and all amendments and supplements thereto, and preparing, printing and mailing Prospectuses and periodic reports to shareholders (including the expense of setting up in type any such Registration Statement, Prospectus or periodic report);
(ii)the cost of preparing temporary and permanent share certificates (if any) for shares of the Fund;
(iii)the cost and expenses of delivering to the Principal Underwriter at its office in Boston, Massachusetts, all shares of the Fund purchased by it as principal hereunder;
(iv)all the federal and state (if any) issue and/or transfer taxes payable upon the issue by or (in the case of treasury shares) transfer from the Fund to the Principal Underwriter of any and all shares of the Fund purchased by the Principal Underwriter hereunder;
(v)the fees, costs and expenses of the registration or qualification of shares for sale in the various states, territories or other jurisdictions (including without limitation registering or qualifying the Fund as a broker or dealer or any officer of the Fund as agent or salesman in any state, territory or other jurisdiction); and
(vi)all payments to be made pursuant to any written plan approved in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, any written service plan or any agreement pursuant to such plan.
(b)The Principal Underwriter agrees that, after the Prospectus and periodic reports have been set in type, it will bear the expense of printing and distributing any copies thereof which are to be used in connection with the offering of shares of the Fund to financial intermediaries or investors. The Principal Underwriter further agrees that it will bear the expenses of preparing, printing and distributing any other literature used by the Principal Underwriter or furnished by it for use by financial intermediaries in connection with the offering of the shares of the Fund for sale to the public and any expenses of advertising in connection with such offering.
(c)In accordance with a Distribution Plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act with respect to a Class (the “Distribution Plan”), a Fund may make payments from Class assets of distribution fees (or fees referred to as “distribution and service fees”) to the Principal Underwriter, financial intermediaries and other persons. The aggregate of such payments during any fiscal year of the Fund with respect to a particular Class shall not exceed the amount stated on Schedule A for such year. No payments will be made to the Principal Underwriter pursuant to the Distribution Plan applicable to a Class which would cause the Fund with respect to such Class to exceed the maximum applicable cap imposed thereon by paragraph (2) of subsection (d) of FINRA Rule 2341 or a lesser maximum cap as set forth on Schedule A (the “Fee Cap”). On any day when the Fee Cap is exceeded with respect to a particular Class, no distribution fee shall be paid to the Principal Underwriter with respect to that Class and any contingent deferred sales charge payable to the Principal Underwriter by shareholders of such Class shall be paid to the Fund.
(d)In addition to the payment of distribution fees, the Fund may make payments from the assets of a Class pursuant to a Distribution Plan or a written service plan of service fees to the
Principal Underwriter, financial intermediaries and other persons. The aggregate of such payments during any fiscal year of the Fund shall not exceed the amount stated on Schedule A for such year.
(e)Except as provided in Paragraph 5(c) above, the Principal Underwriter shall be entitled to receive all contingent deferred sales charges paid or payable in accordance with the Prospectus from a shareholder in connection with the redemption of Fund shares.
(f)The persons authorized to direct the disposition of monies paid or payable by the Fund pursuant to the Distribution Plans, Service Plans or this Agreement shall be the President or any Vice President or the Secretary or Treasurer of the Trust. Such persons shall provide to the Trust’s Trustees and the Trustees shall review, at least quarterly, a written report of the amounts so expended and the purposes for which such expenditures were made.
6.The Trust hereby authorizes the Principal Underwriter, as agent of the Trust and for its account, to repurchase such shares of the Fund as may be offered for sale to the Fund from time to time on the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus. Such repurchases shall be made at the net asset value next determined after receipt of the repurchase order, subject to any applicable redemption fee that may be payable to the Fund or contingent deferred sales charge that may be payable to the Principal Underwriter.
(a)The Trust agrees to authorize and direct the Custodian to pay, for the account of the Fund, the purchase price of any shares so repurchased against delivery of any outstanding certificates representing such shares in proper form for transfer to the Trust or for cancellation by the Trust.
(b)The Principal Underwriter shall receive no commission in respect of any repurchase of shares under the foregoing authorization and appointment as agent, except for any distribution fee or contingent deferred sales charges payable under paragraph 5.
(c)The Trust agrees that the Fund will reimburse the Principal Underwriter, from time to time on demand, for any reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the repurchase of shares of the Fund pursuant to this paragraph 6.
(d)The Trust reserves the right to suspend or revoke the foregoing repurchase authorization at any time; unless otherwise stated, any such suspension or revocation shall be effective forthwith upon receipt of notice thereof by an officer of the Principal Underwriter, by electronic or by written communication from an officer of the Trust duly authorized by its Trustees. In the event that the authorization of the Principal Underwriter is, by the terms of such notice, suspended for more than twenty-four hours or until further notice, the authorization given by this paragraph 6 shall not be revived except by action of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust.
(e)The Principal Underwriter shall have the right to terminate the operation of this paragraph 6 upon giving to the Trust thirty (30) days’ written notice thereof.
7.Any amendment to this Agreement will be in writing signed by both parties hereto, provided that no amendment to this Agreement shall be effective until approved in a manner consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
8.(a)The Principal Underwriter is a corporation in the United States organized under the laws of Massachusetts and holding membership in FINRA, a national securities association registered under Section 15A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and during the life of this Agreement will continue to be so resident in the United States, so
organized and a member in good standing of FINRA. The Principal Underwriter covenants that it and its officers and directors will comply with the Trust’s governing documents, as amended from time to time, and the 1933 Act, 1934 Act and 1940 Act and the rules promulgated thereunder, the regulations of FINRA and all other applicable federal or state laws and regulations, insofar as they are applicable to the Principal Underwriter.
(b)The Principal Underwriter shall maintain in the United States and preserve therein for such period or periods as the SEC shall prescribe by rules and regulations applicable to it as Principal Underwriter of an open-end investment company registered under the 1940 Act such accounts, books and other documents as are necessary or appropriate to record its transactions with the Fund. Such accounts, books and other documents shall be subject at any time and from time to time to such reasonable periodic, special and other examinations by the SEC or any member or representative thereof as the SEC may prescribe. The Principal Underwriter shall furnish to the SEC within such reasonable time as the SEC may prescribe copies of or extracts from such records which may be prepared without effort, expense or delay as the SEC may by order require.
(c) The Principal Underwriter represents that it has implemented an anti-money laundering (“AML”) program and related procedures consistent with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act and all applicable regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Patriot Act”) (the “Program”) and represents that it has taken or shall take appropriate steps to establish and document the identity of a customer when the customer applies to invest in the Fund and to conduct ongoing monitoring of customers that are invested in the Fund. The Trust acknowledges that pursuant to the Program, the Principal Underwriter may delegate AML compliance to financial intermediaries with which it has entered agreements, but shall continue to oversee performance of such delegated responsibilities. The Principal Underwriter further agrees to retain all related documentation in accordance with the Funds’ Records Management Policy and make such documentation available to a court or other administrative or regulatory body with competent jurisdiction if compelled to do so by applicable law, administrative action or regulation. The Principal Underwriter will provide the documentation described above upon reasonable request and shall certify to the Funds that the Principal Underwriter continues to satisfy the Funds’ customer identification and due diligence responsibilities in the manner contemplated by the Patriot Act.
(d) The Principal Underwriter shall not collect, retain, use, sell, or disclose Personal Information (as defined in this sub-section) except as necessary to perform its responsibilities pursuant to the Agreement or as required by law. The Principal Underwriter shall not disclose Personal Information to any third party for monetary or other valuable consideration or retain, use, or disclose Personal information outside of the direct business relationship between the Principal Underwriter and the Trust.
The Principal Underwriter has implemented, and shall maintain throughout the term of the Agreement, reasonable security procedures and practices appropriate to the nature of the Personal Information to protect the Personal Information.
Personal information is defined for purposes of this sub-section as information about California residents (a “consumer”) that identifies, relates to, describes, is capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked, directly or indirectly, with a particular consumer or household (“Personal Information”).
(e)Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Trust and the Principal Underwriter each agree that any Nonpublic Personal Information (“NPI”), as defined under Section 248.3(t) of Regulation S-P (“Regulation S-P”), promulgated under the Gramm-
Leach-Bliley Act (the “GLB Act”) (collectively, the “Privacy Laws”), disclosed hereunder is for the specific purpose of performing the services set forth in this Agreement, and with respect to such information, it will comply with the Privacy Laws. Neither the Trust nor the Principal Underwriter shall disclose any NPI received in connection with this Agreement, to any other party, except as necessary to carry out the services set forth herein or as otherwise permitted by Privacy Laws. Furthermore, NPI shall be safeguarded pursuant to procedures adopted under Section 248.30 of Regulation S-P and any applicable state laws, including Section 17 of Chapter 201 of the Code of Massachusetts Regulations. The foregoing will survive termination or expiration of this Agreement for so long as the Principal Underwriter continues to possess or have access to personal information related to the Fund’s shareholders.
(f) The Principal Underwriter will provide the Trust with its written compliance policies and procedures as required by Rule 38a-1 of the 1940 Act for the approval by the Board of Trustees of the Trust. The Principal Underwriter will cooperate with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) in carrying out the Trust’s obligations under Rule 38a-1 to oversee the compliance program of the Principal Underwriter, including providing the Trust’s CCO access to compliance personnel and copies of such documents the CCO may reasonably request in conjunction with his/her review of the Principal Underwriter’s compliance program.
9.This Agreement shall become effective upon the date of its execution, and, shall remain in full force and effect indefinitely until terminated as provided herein, except that:
(a)this Agreement shall remain in effect through and including the second anniversary of the execution of this Agreement (or, for Funds added to this Agreement after such date, for two years after the date it is added hereto), and shall continue in full force and effect indefinitely after such, but only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (i) by the vote of a majority of those Trustees of the Trust who are not “interested persons” of the Trust (as defined in the 1940 Act) and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of a Distribution Plan or any agreements related to it (the “Qualified Trustees”) cast at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and (ii) by the Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund;
(b)this Agreement may be terminated with respect to a Class with a Distribution Plan at any time by vote of a majority of the Qualified Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Class on not more than sixty (60) days’ notice to the Principal Underwriter. The Principal Underwriter shall be entitled to receive all contingent deferred sales charges paid or payable with respect to shares of such Class on any day subsequent to such termination;
(c)this Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder);
(d)either party shall have the right to terminate this Agreement with respect to any Class on six (6) months’ written notice thereof given in writing to the other;
(e)the Trust shall have the right to terminate this Agreement forthwith in the event that it shall have been established by a court of competent jurisdiction that the Principal Underwriter or any director or officer of the Principal Underwriter has taken any action which results in a breach of the covenants set out in paragraph 8 hereof, or in the event of the Principal Underwriter’s expulsion or suspension by FINRA;
(f)if this Agreement is terminated with respect to any Trust, Class or Fund, it shall not terminate the Agreement with respect to any other Trust, Class or Fund that is a party to this Agreement;
(g)additional Funds or Classes of Funds established under the Trust may be added to this Agreement upon approval by the Trustees of the Trust and amendment of Schedule A.
11.Any notice under this Agreement shall be in writing, addressed and delivered, or mailed postage paid, to the other party, at such address as such other party may designate for the receipt of such notices. Until further notice to the other party, it is agreed that the record address of the Trust and that of the Principal Underwriter, shall be Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110.
12.The services of the Principal Underwriter to the Trust hereunder are not to be deemed to be exclusive, the Principal Underwriter being free to (a) render similar service to, and to act as principal underwriter in connection with the distribution of shares of, other series of the Trust or other investment companies, and (b) engage in other business and activities from time to time.
13.The terms “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities,” “assignment” and “interested persons,” when used herein, shall have the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act as now in effect or as hereafter amended, subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by any rule, regulation or order by the SEC. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is modified or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the SEC, any rules or regulations adopted by, or interpretative releases of, the SEC, or any applicable guidance issued by the staff of the SEC, such provision will be deemed to incorporate the effect of such order, rule, regulation, interpretative release, or guidance.
14.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.
15.Each of the undersigned expressly warrants and represents that he or she has the full power and authority to sign this Agreement on behalf of the party indicated, and that his or her signature will operate to bind the party indicated to the foregoing terms.
16.If the Principal Underwriter is delayed in the performance of its services or prevented entirely or in part from performing services due to causes or events beyond its control, including and without limitation, acts of God, interruption of power or other utility, transportation or communication services, acts of civil or military authority, sabotages, national emergencies, explosion, flood, accident, earthquake or other catastrophe, fire, strike or other labor problems, legal action, present or future law, governmental order, rule or regulation, or shortages of suitable parts, materials, labor or transportation, such delay or non-performance shall be excused for a reasonable time, subject to restrictions and requirements of performance as may be established by federal or state law.
17.This agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
18.This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.
19.A copy of the Declaration of Trust of each Trust that is organized in Massachusetts is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of each Trust by an officer in his or her capacity as an officer and not individually. The Principal Underwriter expressly acknowledges the provision in each such Declaration of Trust limiting the personal liability of the Trustees, officers and shareholders of the Trust, and the Principal Underwriter hereby agrees that it shall have recourse to the Trust for payment of claims or obligations as between the Trust and the Principal Underwriter arising out of this Agreement and shall not seek satisfaction from the Trustees, officers or shareholders of the Trust or any Trustee, officer, or shareholder of the Trust. No Trust, Fund or Class shall be responsible for obligations of any other Trust, Fund or Class that is a party to this Agreement.
20.Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any person not a party hereto any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
21.This Agreement is the successor to separate Distribution Agreements between the Principal Underwriter and each Trust listed on Schedule A. For purposes of calculating the Fee Cap set forth under paragraph 5, the Principal Underwriter shall include amounts payable and shares sold pursuant to such prior agreements.
[Signature page follows.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have entered into this Agreement as of the date first stated above.
EACH TRUST LISTED ON SCHEDULE A,
Severally and not jointly
By: |
/s/ Deidre E. Walsh |
|
Deidre E. Walsh |
|
Vice President and not individually |
EATON VANCE DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
By: |
/s/ Frederick S. Maruis |
|
Frederick S. Marius |
|
Vice President |
Trust and Funds |
Classes(b) |
||||||||
|
A(c) |
Advisers(c) |
Investor(c) |
C |
R(1) |
R6 |
I |
Institutional |
|
Eaton Vance Investment Trust(2) |
Fees |
Fees |
Fees |
Fees |
Fee Cap(d) |
Fees |
Fees |
Fees |
Fees |
Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Municipal Income Fund |
0.25 |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance National Limited Maturity Municipal Income Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance New York Municipal Opportunities Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Short Duration Municipal Opportunities Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eaton Vance Municipals Trust(3) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eaton Vance Arizona Municipal Income Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance California Municipal Opportunities Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Connecticut Municipal Income Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Georgia Municipal Income Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Maryland Municipal Income Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Massachusetts Municipal Income Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Minnesota Municipal Income Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Missouri Municipal Income Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Municipal Opportunities Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance National Municipal Income Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance New Jersey Municipal Income Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance New York Municipal Income Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance North Carolina Municipal Income Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Ohio Municipal Income Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Oregon Municipal Income Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Pennsylvania Municipal Income Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance South Carolina Municipal Income Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Virginia Municipal Income Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Trust and Funds |
Classes(b) |
||||||||
|
A(c) |
Advisers(c) |
Investor(c) |
C |
R(1) |
R6 |
I |
Institutional |
|
Eaton Vance Municipals Trust II (3) |
Fees |
Fees |
Fees |
Fees |
Fee Cap(d) |
Fees |
Fees |
Fees |
Fees |
Eaton Vance High Yield Municipal Income Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Parametric TABS 1-to-10 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Fund (fka Eaton Vance TABS 1-to-10 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Fund) |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
FINRA |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Parametric TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Fund (fka Eaton Vance TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Fund) |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
FINRA |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Parametric TABS 10-to-20 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Fund (fka Eaton Vance TABS 10-to-20 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Fund) |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
FINRA |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Parametric TABS Intermediate-Term Municipal Bond Fund (fka Eaton Vance TABS Intermediate-Term Municipal Bond Fund) |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
FINRA |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Parametric TABS Short-Term Municipal Bond Fund (fka Eaton Vance TABS Short-Term Municipal Bond Fund) |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
FINRA |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eaton Vance Mutual Funds Trust |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eaton Vance AMT-Free Municipal Income Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Core Plus Bond Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Emerging and Frontier Countries Equity Fund
|
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Emerging Markets Debt Fund |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Emerging Markets Local Income Fund |
0.30 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
FINRA |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Advantage Fund |
0.25 |
0.25 |
N/A |
0.60/0.15 |
FINRA |
N/A |
None |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Fund |
0.25 |
0.25 |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
None |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Floating-Rate & High Income Fund |
0.25 |
0.25 |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
None |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Global Bond Fund (fka Eaton Vance Diversified Currency Income Fund) |
0.30 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
FINRA |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Global Income Builder Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
0.50/0.25 |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Global Macro Absolute Return Advantage Fund |
0.30 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
FINRA |
0.50/0.25 |
None |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Global Macro Absolute Return Fund |
0.30 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
0.50/0.25 |
None |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Global Small-Cap Equity Fund
|
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Government Opportunities Fund
|
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
0.50/0.25 |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance High Income Opportunities Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Multi-Asset Credit Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Short Duration Government Income Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.60/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Short Duration High Income Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Trust and Funds |
Classes(b) |
||||||||
|
A(c) |
Advisers(c) |
Investor(c) |
C |
R(1) |
R6 |
I |
Institutional |
|
Eaton Vance Mutual Funds Trust (continued) |
Fees |
Fees |
Fees |
Fees |
Fee Cap(d) |
Fees |
Fees |
Fees |
Fees |
Eaton Vance Short Duration Strategic Income Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
0.50/0.25 |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Stock Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Taxable Municipal Bond Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
None |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Equity Asset Allocation Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Dividend Income Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Growth Fund 1.1 |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Growth Fund 1.2 |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Multi-Cap Growth Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Small-Cap Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Value Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
Parametric Commodity Strategy Fund |
N/A |
N/A |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
Parametric Dividend Income Fund |
N/A |
N/A |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
Parametric Emerging Markets Fund |
N/A |
N/A |
0.25 |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
None |
N/A |
None |
Parametric International Equity Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
0.50/0.25 |
None |
N/A |
None |
Parametric Tax-Managed International Equity Fund |
N/A |
N/A |
0.25 |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
Parametric Volatility Risk Premium – Defensive Fund |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eaton Vance Series Fund, Inc.(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eaton Vance Emerging Markets Debt Opportunities Fund |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
None |
N/A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eaton Vance Series Trust II |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eaton Vance Income Fund of Boston |
0.25 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.75/0.25 |
6.25 |
0.50/0.25 |
None |
None |
N/A |
Parametric Tax-Managed Emerging Markets Fund |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
FOOTNOTES: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a) |
Compliance with the Fee Cap shall be determined in accordance with FINRA Rule 2341(d). |
|||||||||||
(b) |
Distribution or Service Plans have not been adopted for Class R6, Class I and Institutional shares and such Classes do not pay Fees. |
|||||||||||
(c) |
Pursuant to the Master Distribution Plan for Class A, Advisers Class and Investor Class Shares, fees payable pursuant to such Plan are referred to as "distribution and service fees". |
|||||||||||
(d) |
If the Fee Cap is listed as "FINRA", then the Fund is subject to the maximum amount permitted under FINRA Rule 2341(d), which is 6.25% as of the date hereof. |
|||||||||||
(1) |
The Master Distribution Plan for Class R Shares authorizes distribution and service fee payments of up to 0.75% annually. The Board of Trustees has authorized distribution and service fees equal to 0.50% annually. |
|||||||||||
(2) |
The Master Distribution Plans for Class A, Advisers Class and Investor Class Shares and Class C Shares (as applicable) authorize distribution and service fees of up to 0.25% annually. The Board of Trustees has authorized distribution and service fees of 0.15% annually. |
|||||||||||
(3) |
The Master Distribution Plans for Class A, Advisers Class and Investor Class Shares and Class C Shares (as applicable) authorize service fees (or in the case of Class A shares, distribution and service fees) of up to 0.25% annually. In the case of each Fund (except Eaton Vance California and Municipal Opportunities Funds, Eaton Vance National and High Yield Municipal Income Funds, Parametric TABS 1-to-10, 5-to-15 and 10-to-20 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Funds and Parametric TABS Intermediate-Term and Short-Term Municipal Bond Funds), the Board of Trustees has authorized the payment of such fees in the amount of 0.20% annually. |
|||||||||||
(4) |
Although a Maryland corporation, Eaton Vance Series Fund, Inc. (the "Corporation") is referred to herein as "Trust" for convenience. References in the Agreement to Trustees are deemed to refer to the Directors of the Corporation. |
|||||||||||
In addition, each Fund is authorized to offer Class T shares subject to the Class T Distribution Plan. Pursuant to the Class T Distribution Plan, Funds are authorized to pay distribution fees of 0.25% annually.
|
||||||||||||
Last Updated: March 1, 2021 |
EXHIBIT (h)(2)
EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made this 1st day of March, 2021, between Eaton Vance Growth Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of its series listed on Appendix A hereto (each referred to herein as 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 administrator for the Fund and to administer its 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 administer the Fund’s business affairs and, in connection therewith, to furnish for the use of the Fund office space and all necessary office facilities, equipment and personnel for administering the affairs of the Fund 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 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 Fund in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Fund.
In connection with its responsibilities as administrator of the Fund, Eaton Vance will:
·assist in preparing all annual, semi-annual and other reports required to be sent to Fund shareholders and/or filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and arrange for the filing, printing, and dissemination of such reports to shareholders;
·review the provision of services by the Fund’s independent public accounting firm, including, but not limited to, the preparation by such firm of audited financial statements of the Fund and the Fund’s federal, state and local tax returns; and make such reports and recommendations to the Trustees of the Trust concerning the performance of the independent accountants as the Trustees deem appropriate;
·arrange for the filing with the appropriate authorities all required federal, state and local tax returns;
·arrange for the dissemination to shareholders of the Fund’s proxy materials, and oversee the tabulation of proxies by the Fund’s transfer agent or other duly authorized proxy tabulator;
·review and supervise the provision of custodian services to the Fund; and make such reports and recommendations to the Trustees concerning the provision of such services as the Trustees deem appropriate;
·oversee the valuation of all such portfolio investments and other assets of the Fund as may be designated by the Trustees (subject to any guidelines, directions and instructions of the Trustees), and review and supervise the calculation of the net asset value of the Fund’s shares by the custodian;
·negotiate the terms and conditions under which transfer agency and dividend disbursing services will be provided to the Fund, and the fees to be paid by the Fund in connection therewith;
review and supervise the provision of transfer agency and dividend disbursing services to the Fund; and make such reports and recommendations to the Trustees concerning the performance of the Fund’s transfer and dividend disbursing agent as the Trustees deem appropriate;
·establish the accounting policies of the Fund; reconcile accounting issues that may arise with respect to the Fund’s operations; and consult with the Fund’s independent accountants, legal counsel, custodian, accounting and bookkeeping agents and transfer and dividend disbursing agent as necessary in connection therewith;
·determine the amount of all distributions (if any) to be paid by the Fund to its shareholders; prepare and arrange for the publishing of notices to shareholders regarding such distributions (if required) and provide the Fund’s transfer and dividend disbursing agent and custodian with such information as is required for such parties to effect the payment of distributions;
·review the Fund’s bills and authorize payments of such bills by the Fund’s custodian;
·oversee services provided to the Fund by external counsel;
·arrange for the preparation and filing of all other reports, forms, registration statements and documents required to be filed by the Trust on behalf of the Fund with the SEC and any other applicable regulatory body; and
·provide other internal legal, auditing, accounting and administrative services as ordinarily required in conducting the Fund’s business affairs.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Eaton Vance shall not be deemed to have assumed any duties with respect to, and shall not be responsible pursuant to this Agreement for, the management of the Fund’s assets or the rendering of investment advice and supervision with respect thereto or the distribution of shares of the Fund, nor shall Eaton Vance be deemed to have assumed or have any responsibility with respect to functions specifically assumed by any transfer agent, custodian or shareholder servicing agent of the Trust or the Fund.
2.Sub-Administrators. Eaton Vance may employ one or more sub-administrators from time to time to perform any of Eaton Vance’s duties under this Agreement upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between Eaton Vance and such sub-administrators and approved by the Trustees of the Trust, all as permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The performance of each such 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 shareholders of the Fund, terminate any agreement with any sub-administrator and/or enter into an agreement with one or more other sub-administrators, all as permitted by the 1940 Act and the rules hereunder. In the event a sub-administrator is employed, Eaton Vance retains the authority to immediately assume responsibility for any functions delegated to a sub-administrator, subject to approval by the Board and notice to the sub-administrator.
3.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 the compensation (if any) described on Appendix A hereto.
4.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 its 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 maintaining the Fund and continuing its existence; (ii) registration of the Trust
under the 1940 Act; (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) fees and expenses of registering, qualifying, and maintaining the Trust, the Fund, and its shares under applicable federal and state securities laws and of preparing and filing registration statements, other offering statements or memoranda, and other reports, forms, and documents required to be filed by the Trust on behalf of the Fund with the SEC and any other regulatory body, and for printing and distributing the same to shareholders; (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 Trust; (xv) expenses for servicing shareholder accounts; (xvi) any direct charges to the Fund or 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 expenses to be assumed by the Fund in connection with the distribution of Fund shares; (xix) any pricing or valuation services employed by the Fund to value its investments including primary and comparative valuation services; (xx) any investment advisory, sub-investment advisory or similar management fee payable by the Fund; (xxi) all expenses incurred in connection with the Fund’s use of a line of credit; and (xxii) 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.
5.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) that Eaton Vance may organize, sponsor or acquire, or with which it may merge or consolidate, and which may include the words “Eaton Vance” or any combination thereof as part of their name, and that Eaton Vance or its subsidiaries or affiliates may enter into advisory or management or administration agreements or other contracts or relationships with such other companies or entities.
6.Limitation of Liability of Eaton Vance. 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.
A copy of the Declaration of Trust of Eaton Vance is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of Eaton Vance by an officer in his or her capacity as an officer and not individually. The Trust expressly acknowledges the provisions in the Declaration of Trust of Eaton Vance limiting the personal liability of the trustees, officers, and 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, officers, or shareholders of Eaton Vance.
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 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.
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 the 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.
8.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 Eaton Vance or the Trust, and (ii) by vote of the Board of Trustees of the Trust. Additional series of the Trust, however, will become a Fund hereunder upon approval by the Trustees of the Trust and amendment of Appendix A.
9.Limitation of Liability of the Trustees and Officers of the Trust. The Fund shall not be responsible for the obligations or any other series of the Trust. A copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of the Trust by an officer in his or her capacity as an officer and not individually. Eaton Vance expressly acknowledges the provisions in the Declaration of Trust of the Trust limiting the personal liability of the Trustees and officers 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, officers, or shareholders or any Trustee or officer 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 Trust’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.No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any person not a party hereto any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
12.Non-Exclusive Services. The services of Eaton Vance to 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.
13. Certain Definitions. The term “interested persons” when used herein shall have the meaning specified in the 1940 Act as now in effect or as hereafter amended subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by any rule, regulation or order by the SEC. 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 shareholders 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. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is modified or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the SEC or any rules or regulations adopted by, or interpretative releases of, the SEC, or any applicable guidance issued by the staff of the SEC, such provision will be deemed to incorporate the effect of such order, rule, regulation, interpretative release, or guidance.
14. Books and Records. Eaton Vance agrees that all records that it maintains for the Trust are the property of the Trust and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the Trust's request in compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, although Eaton Vance may, at its own expense, make and retain a copy of such records. Eaton Vance further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act the records required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act.
15.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.
[Signature page follows]
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
By: |
/s/ Deidre E. Walsh |
|
Deidre E. Walsh |
|
Vice President and not individually |
EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT
By: |
/s/ Maureen A. Gemma |
|
Maureen A. Gemma |
|
Vice President and not individually |
APPENDIX A
For the services, payments and facilities furnished by Eaton Vance under this Agreement, Eaton Vance is entitled to receive compensation as set forth below:
EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST
Fund |
Fee* |
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Focused Growth Fund |
-- |
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital SMID-Cap Fund |
-- |
Eaton Vance Greater China Growth Fund |
0.15% |
Eaton Vance Worldwide Health Sciences Fund |
0.15% |
*Fee is a percentage of average daily net assets per annum.
Except as set forth above, Eaton Vance receives no compensation from each Fund in respect of the services, payments and facilities furnished by Eaton Vance under this Agreement.
In case of initiation or termination of the Agreement during any month with respect to a Fund, the fee for that month shall be reduced proportionately on the basis of the number of calendar days during which the Agreement is in effect.
A 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. Such compensation shall be paid monthly in arrears. Eaton Vance may, from time to time, waive all or a part of the above compensation.
EXHIBIT (h)(5)(b)
Schedule A
As of April 1, 2021
Trust, Series and Class |
Contractual
|
Effective
|
Termination
|
Eaton Vance Growth Trust |
|
|
|
Atlanta Capital Focused Growth Fund Class A |
1.05% |
2/1/2019 |
1/31/2022 |
Atlanta Capital Focused Growth Fund Class C |
1.80% |
2/1/2019 |
1/31/2022 |
Atlanta Capital Focused Growth Fund Class I |
0.80% |
2/1/2019 |
1/31/2022 |
|
|
|
|
Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund Class A |
1.05% |
2/1/2017 |
1/31/2022 |
Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund Class C |
1.80% |
2/1/2017 |
1/31/2022 |
Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund Class I |
0.80% |
2/1/2017 |
1/31/2022 |
Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund Class R6 |
0.75% |
2/1/2017 |
1/31/2022 |
|
|
|
|
Focused Global Opportunities Fund Class I |
0.95% |
12/15/2015 |
3/31/2022 |
|
|
|
|
Focused Value Opportunities Fund Class A |
1.05% |
6/30/2014 |
6/30/2021 |
Focused Value Opportunities Fund Class C |
1.80% |
6/30/2014 |
6/30/2021 |
Focused Value Opportunities Fund Class I |
0.80% |
6/30/2014 |
6/30/2021 |
|
|
|
|
International Small-Cap Fund Class A |
1.40% |
12/15/2015 |
3/31/2022 |
International Small-Cap Fund Class I |
1.15% |
12/15/2015 |
3/31/2022 |
|
|
|
|
Worldwide Health Sciences Fund Class A |
1.15% |
4/28/2018 |
12/31/2021 |
Worldwide Health Sciences Fund Class C |
1.90% |
4/28/2018 |
12/31/2021 |
Worldwide Health Sciences Fund Class I |
0.90% |
4/28/2018 |
12/31/2021 |
Worldwide Health Sciences Fund Class R |
1.40% |
4/28/2018 |
12/31/2021 |
|
|
|
|
Eaton Vance Municipals Trust II |
|
|
|
Parametric TABS 1-to-10 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Fund Class A |
0.65% |
5/3/2015 |
5/31/2021 |
Parametric TABS 1-to-10 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Fund Class C |
1.40% |
5/3/2015 |
5/31/2021 |
Parametric TABS 1-to-10 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Fund Class I |
0.40% |
5/3/2015 |
5/31/2021 |
|
|
|
|
Parametric TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Fund Class A |
0.65% |
4/15/2015 |
5/31/2021 |
Parametric TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Fund Class C |
1.40% |
4/15/2015 |
5/31/2021 |
Parametric TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Fund Class I |
0.40% |
4/15/2015 |
5/31/2021 |
|
|
|
|
Parametric TABS 10-to-20 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Fund Class A |
0.65% |
5/3/2015 |
5/31/2021 |
Parametric TABS 10-to-20 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Fund Class C |
1.40% |
5/3/2015 |
5/31/2021 |
Parametric TABS 10-to-20 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Fund Class I |
0.40% |
5/3/2015 |
5/31/2021 |
|
|
|
|
Parametric TABS Intermediate-Term Municipal Bond Fund Class A |
0.90% |
6/1/2014 |
5/31/2021 |
Parametric TABS Intermediate-Term Municipal Bond Fund Class C |
1.65% |
6/1/2014 |
5/31/2021 |
Parametric TABS Intermediate-Term Municipal Bond Fund Class I |
0.65% |
6/1/2014 |
5/31/2021 |
|
|
|
|
*Contractual expense cap includes fund fees and expenses from unaffiliated funds. |
Trust, Series and Class |
Contractual
|
Effective
|
Termination
|
Eaton Vance Mutual Funds Trust |
|
|
|
Core Plus Bond Fund Class A |
0.74% |
6/1/2017 |
1/31/2022 |
Core Plus Bond Fund Class C |
1.49% |
6/1/2017 |
1/31/2022 |
Core Plus Bond Fund Class I |
0.49% |
6/1/2017 |
1/31/2022 |
|
|
|
|
Emerging and Frontier Countries Equity Fund Class A |
1.65% |
11/3/2014 |
2/28/2022 |
Emerging and Frontier Countries Equity Fund Class I |
1.40% |
11/3/2014 |
2/28/2022 |
|
|
|
|
Emerging Markets Debt Fund Class I |
0.85% |
5/1/2018 |
5/31/2021 |
|
|
|
|
Emerging Markets Local Income Fund Class A |
1.20% |
1/1/2018 |
2/28/2022 |
Emerging Markets Local Income Fund Class C |
1.90% |
1/1/2018 |
2/28/2022 |
Emerging Markets Local Income Fund Class I |
0.90% |
1/1/2018 |
2/28/2022 |
|
|
|
|
Global Bond Fund Class A |
1.00% |
10/14/2019 |
2/28/2022 |
Global Bond Fund Class C |
1.70% |
10/14/2019 |
2/28/2022 |
Global Bond Fund Class I |
0.70% |
10/14/2019 |
2/28/2022 |
|
|
|
|
Global Income Builder Fund Class A |
1.17% |
5/1/2019 |
2/28/2022 |
Global Income Builder Fund Class C |
1.92% |
5/1/2019 |
2/28/2022 |
Global Income Builder Fund Class I |
0.92% |
5/1/2019 |
2/28/2022 |
Global Income Builder Fund Class R |
1.42% |
5/1/2019 |
2/28/2022 |
|
|
|
|
Global Macro Absolute Return Advantage Fund Class A |
1.35% |
1/1/2018 |
2/28/2022 |
Global Macro Absolute Return Advantage Fund Class C |
2.05% |
1/1/2018 |
2/28/2022 |
Global Macro Absolute Return Advantage Fund Class I |
1.05% |
1/1/2018 |
2/28/2022 |
Global Macro Absolute Return Advantage Fund Class R |
1.55% |
1/1/2018 |
2/28/2022 |
Global Macro Absolute Return Advantage Fund Class R6 |
1.02% |
1/1/2018 |
2/28/2022 |
|
|
|
|
Global Small-Cap Equity Fund Class A |
1.35% |
1/1/2018 |
2/28/2022 |
Global Small-Cap Equity Fund Class C |
2.10% |
1/1/2018 |
2/28/2022 |
Global Small-Cap Equity Fund Class I |
1.10% |
1/1/2018 |
2/28/2022 |
|
|
|
|
Government Opportunities Fund Class A |
1.05% |
3/1/2020 |
2/28/2022 |
Government Opportunities Fund Class C |
1.80% |
3/1/2020 |
2/28/2022 |
Government Opportunities Fund Class I |
0.80% |
3/1/2020 |
2/28/2022 |
Government Opportunities Fund Class R |
1.30% |
3/1/2020 |
2/28/2022 |
|
|
|
|
Multi-Asset Credit Fund Class A |
0.99% |
8/15/2018 |
2/28/2022 |
Multi-Asset Credit Fund Class C |
1.74% |
8/15/2018 |
2/28/2022 |
Multi-Asset Credit Fund Class I |
0.74% |
8/15/2018 |
2/28/2022 |
Multi-Asset Credit Fund Class R6 |
0.69% |
12/16/2019 |
2/28/2022 |
|
|
|
|
Parametric Dividend Income Fund Investor Class |
0.65% |
11/1/2016 |
6/30/2021 |
Parametric Dividend Income Fund Institutional Class |
0.40% |
11/1/2016 |
6/30/2021 |
|
|
|
|
Parametric International Equity Fund Class A |
0.75% |
11/1/2016 |
5/31/2021 |
Parametric International Equity Fund Institutional Class |
0.50% |
11/1/2016 |
5/31/2021 |
Parametric International Equity Fund Class R |
1.00% |
11/1/2016 |
5/31/2021 |
Parametric International Equity Fund Class R6 |
0.47% |
11/1/2016 |
5/31/2021 |
|
|
|
|
Parametric Tax-Managed International Equity Fund Investor Class |
1.05% |
3/1/2017 |
2/28/2022 |
Parametric Tax-Managed International Equity Fund Class C |
1.80% |
3/1/2017 |
2/28/2022 |
Parametric Tax-Managed International Equity Fund Institutional Class |
0.80% |
3/1/2017 |
2/28/2022 |
|
|
|
|
Short Duration High Income Fund Class A |
0.90% |
1/1/2017 |
2/28/2022 |
Short Duration High Income Fund Class I |
0.65% |
1/1/2017 |
2/28/2022 |
Trust, Series and Class |
Contractual
|
Effective
|
Termination
|
Eaton Vance Mutual Funds Trust (continued) |
|
|
|
Stock Fund Class A |
0.98% |
1/1/2016 |
4/30/2021 |
Stock Fund Class C |
1.73% |
1/1/2016 |
4/30/2021 |
Stock Fund Class I |
0.73% |
1/1/2016 |
4/30/2021 |
|
|
|
|
Taxable Municipal Bond Fund Class A |
0.80% |
12/30/2020 |
12/31/2021 |
Taxable Municipal Bond Fund Class C |
1.55% |
12/30/2020 |
12/31/2021 |
Taxable Municipal Bond Fund Class I |
0.55% |
12/30/2020 |
12/31/2021 |
Taxable Municipal Bond Fund Class R6 |
0.55% |
12/30/2020 |
12/31/2021 |
|
|
|
|
Eaton Vance NextShares Trust |
|
|
|
Global Income Builder NextShares |
0.85% |
5/1/2019 |
2/28/2022 |
Stock NextShares |
0.65% |
2/25/2016 |
4/30/2021 |
|
|
|
|
Eaton Vance NextShares Trust II |
|
|
|
TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares |
0.35% |
3/28/2016 |
5/31/2021 |
|
|
|
|
Eaton Vance Series Fund, Inc. |
|
|
|
Emerging Markets Debt Opportunities Fund Class A |
1.15% |
9/3/2015 |
11/30/2021 |
Emerging Markets Debt Opportunities Fund Class I |
0.90% |
9/3/2015 |
11/30/2021 |
Emerging Markets Debt Opportunities Fund Class R6 |
0.85% |
9/3/2015 |
11/30/2021 |
|
|
|
|
Eaton Vance Series Trust II |
|
|
|
Income Fund of Boston Class A |
1.00% |
3/1/2020 |
2/28/2022 |
Income Fund of Boston Class C |
1.75% |
3/1/2020 |
2/28/2022 |
Income Fund of Boston Class I |
0.75% |
3/1/2020 |
2/28/2022 |
Income Fund of Boston Class R |
1.25% |
3/1/2020 |
2/28/2022 |
Income Fund of Boston Class R6 |
0.66% |
3/1/2020 |
2/28/2022 |
|
|
|
|
Eaton Vance Special Investment Trust |
|
|
|
Core Bond Fund Class A |
0.74% |
6/1/2017 |
4/30/2021 |
Core Bond Fund Class I |
0.49% |
6/1/2017 |
4/30/2021 |
|
|
|
|
Growth Fund Class A |
1.05% |
7/10/2014 |
4/30/2021 |
Growth Fund Class C |
1.80% |
7/10/2014 |
4/30/2021 |
Growth Fund Class I |
0.80% |
7/10/2014 |
4/30/2021 |
Growth Fund Class R |
1.30% |
7/10/2014 |
4/30/2021 |
|
|
|
|
Real Estate Fund Class A |
1.25% |
5/1/2007 |
4/30/2021 |
Real Estate Fund Class I |
1.00% |
6/8/2010 |
4/30/2021 |
|
|
|
|
Short Duration Inflation-Protected Income Fund Class A |
0.75% |
1/1/2017 |
2/28/2022 |
Short Duration Inflation-Protected Income Fund Class C |
1.50% |
1/1/2017 |
2/28/2022 |
Short Duration Inflation-Protected Income Fund Class I |
0.50% |
1/1/2017 |
2/28/2022 |
|
|
|
|
Small-Cap Fund Class A |
1.21% |
1/1/2019 |
4/30/2021 |
Small-Cap Fund Class C |
1.96% |
1/1/2019 |
4/30/2021 |
Small-Cap Fund Class I |
0.96% |
1/1/2019 |
4/30/2021 |
Small-Cap Fund Class R |
1.46% |
1/1/2019 |
4/30/2021 |
|
|
|
|
Special Equities Fund Class A |
1.20% |
10/1/2019 |
4/30/2021 |
Special Equities Fund Class C |
1.95% |
10/1/2019 |
4/30/2021 |
Special Equities Fund Class I |
0.95% |
10/1/2019 |
4/30/2021 |
EXHIBIT (i)(2)
CONSENT OF COUNSEL
I consent to the incorporation by reference in this Post-Effective Amendment No. 237 to the Registration Statement of Eaton Vance Growth Trust (1933 Act File No. 002-22019) of my opinion dated November 26, 2018, which was filed as Exhibit (i) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 214.
|
/s/ Jill R. Damon |
|
Jill R. Damon, Esq. |
March 29, 2021
Boston, Massachusetts
EXHIBIT (j)
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Post-Effective Amendment to Registration Statement No. 002-22019 on Form N-1A of our reports dated January 21, 2021, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights of the Funds listed on the attached Schedule A, certain of the funds constituting Eaton Vance Growth Trust (the “Trust”), appearing in the Annual Report on Form N-CSR of the Trust for the year ended November 30, 2020, and to the references to us under the headings “Financial Highlights” in the Prospectuses and “Other Service Providers” in the Statements of Additional Information, which are part of such Registration Statement.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
March 29, 2021
Schedule A
Eaton Vance Growth Trust
Report Date |
Fund Name |
|
|
January 21, 2021 |
Eaton Vance Focused Global Opportunities Fund |
January 21, 2021 |
Eaton Vance International Small-Cap Fund |
|
|
EXHIBIT (p)(2)
BMO Global Asset Management (Asia) Limited
Compliance Manual
Compliance Manual – November 2020
BMO Global Asset Management (Asia) Limited Compliance Manual – November 2020
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I.INTRODUCTION5
II.GENERAL PRINCIPLES10
III.CODE OF ETHICS12
1.GOVERNING PRINCIPLES12
2.DEFINITIONS12
3.CODE OF CONDUCT - CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, GIFTS AND
ENTERTAINMENT, POLITICAL CONTRIBUTION AND OUTSIDE BUSINESS
INTERESTS 12
4.GENERAL PROVISIONS31
5.POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ON PERSONAL SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS33
IV.TRADE MANAGEMENT39
1.BEST ADVICE39
2.BEST EXECUTION39
3.TRADE ALLOCATION39
4. CLIENT’S UNDERSTANDING OF RISK40
5.CHURNING41
6.CROSS TRADE41
7. SOFT DOLLAR41
8.ADHERING AND MONITORING OF INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS42
9.TRADING ERROR CORRECTION POLICY42
V.DEALING WITH CLIENTS43
1.SALES AND MARKETING GUIDELINES43
2.GUIDELINE ON MARKETING MATERIAL45
3.PROFESSIONAL INVESTOR CLASSIFICATION50
4.COMPLAINT HANDLING52
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VI.OTHER POLICES53
1.LICENSING53
2.DISCLOSURE OF SIGNIFICANT EQUITY PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS60
3.OUTSOURCING POLICY61
4.MARKET ABUSE / MANIPULATION63
5.INTERNAL PRODUCT APPROVAL FOR SFC AUTHORIZED FUND70
6.ELECTRONIC TRADING75
7.PROTECTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION76
8.CYBERSECURITY77
9.VALUATION AND FAIR VALUATION OF PORTFOLIO ASSETS77
10.DISCLOSURE OF TRACKING DIFFERENCE, TRACKING ERROR, ONGOING
CHARGES AND PASS PERFORMANCE OF SFC AUTHORIZED FUND78
11.RESPONSIBLE OWNERSHIP POLICY AND PROXY VOTING POLICY79
12.RISK MANAGEMENT POLICY 79
13. COMPETITION AND ANTITRUST 80
VII.US REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS81
1.INTRODUCTION81
2.FORM ADV ANNUAL UPDATING AMENDMENT81
3.REPORTING OF SIGNIFICANT POSITIONS IN US EQUITY SECURITIES82
4.PRIVACY CONCERNS83
5.CUSTODY RULES83
6.‘PAY-TO-PLAY’ RULE84
7.VOLCKER RULE86
8.ENHANCED STANDARD OF CONDUCT FOR BROKER-DEALERS88
VIII.SOUTH KOREA REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS90
1.INTRODUCTION90
2.REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN CB DIM LICENSE90
3.REPORTING AND DISCLOSURE OBLIGATIONS90
4.COMPLIANCE 92
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IX.AUSTRALIA REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS97
1.PURPOSE97
2.RELIEF PURSUANT TO ASIC CLASS ORDER97
3.CORPORATIONS ACT98
4.PRIVACY ACT99
5.PROVIDING FINANCIAL SERVICES FROM AUSTRALIA TO OTHER
JURISDICTIONS100
X.APPENDIX101
1.GAM ASIA PROCEDURES AND REGULATORY OBLIGATION LETTER IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS ISSUED BY EXTERNAL COUNSELS(documents in BMO GAM APAC SharePoint) 101
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This Compliance Manual sets out the internal policies of BMO Global Asset Management (Asia) Limited (“BMO GAM Asia”) as well as highlights certain aspects of rules and regulations to which members of staff must have regard when conducting investment management business.
The Compliance Department is the owner of this localized compliance manual. This Compliance Manual supplements the BMO’s Code of Conduct, and other relevant corporate policies and standards applicable to BMO Financial Group employees from time to time.
This Compliance Manual is updated by the Compliance Officer as and when required and, reviewed and approved by the Chief Compliance Officer annually to maintain current and in compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.
BMO GAM Asia holds the following regulatory registrations. Policies and procedures should be set up to ensure compliance with corresponding ongoing regulatory obligations:
Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC)
BMO GAM Asia is licensed by the SFC to conduct Type 1 dealing in securities, Type 4 advising on securities and Type 9 asset management regulated activities.
US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
BMO GAM Asia is registered as a non-US investment adviser who must comply with the US Investment Advisers Act of 1940 in respect of clients that are US persons.
Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
BMO GAM Asia is allowed by the ASIC to rely on ASIC Class Order [CO 03/1103] to provide certain financial services to Australia wholesale clients without obtaining an Australian Financial Services License. ASIC has rolled out a new licensing regime starting 1 April 2020 with a transitional period of 24 months until 31 March 2022 for financial institutions to submit new license application.
Also, BMO GAM Asia established a sales representative office in Australia and registered with ASIC as a Foreign Company (No: 618067959) under Corporation Act 2001 on 20 March 2017. The sales representative office is mainly responsible for the sale and distribution of funds and strategies of BMO Global Asset Management group to wholesale clients in Australia and South East Asia.
South Korea Financial Services Commission (FSC)
BMO GAM Asia is registered with FSC as a Cross-Border Discretionary Investment Management Company (CB DIMC) to provide discretionary investment management to Korean clients on a cross-border basis.
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3.COMPLIANCE RESPONSIBILITY
Compliance with applicable regulatory requirements is the responsibility of business management who runs and conduct the business. It is thus the goal of the head of the business to achieve the highest level of compliance. All BMO GAM Asia employees are expected to be familiar with corporate compliance requirements and BMO’s Code of Conduct, and more specifically the regulatory requirements applicable to their business.
Compliance is to provide independent oversight of business management’s supervisory activities designed to comply with applicable regulatory requirements, and to assist in reducing and managing regulatory risk. Compliance’s primary focus is on requirements that govern the relationship between BMO and its clients, including, in particular, those relating to client and investor protection, marketing activities, code of ethics and conflicts of interest; as well as other requirements such as regulatory reporting and licensing related matters. Compliance will also provide oversight on other critical business processes as defined from time to time.
BMO has to maintain open and transparent communication with its regulators, while ensuring that all information provided to regulators is accurate, complete, clear and delivered in a timely and controlled manner. Depending on the nature of the communication and correspondence, Compliance is normally the primary contact point to the regulators.
4.ENTERPRISE COMPLIANCE PROGRAM
BMO’s General Counsel and the Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) regularly report to the Board and senior management of BMO on the effectiveness of the Bank’s Enterprise Compliance Program (ECP) which, using a risk-based approach, identifies, assesses and manages compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The ECP directs operating groups such as Capital Markets, Wealth Management, Asset Management and Corporate Support areas to maintain compliance policies, procedures and controls to meet these requirements.
Management, as the first line of defense, is accountable for complying with laws, regulations, and regulatory expectations and managing risk that arises from their activities—this includes understanding applicable regulations, establishing processes, appointing first-line personnel, and complying with regulatory requirements.
The Compliance Group is a second line of defense. It provides independent effective challenge, guidance, and oversight to the first line.
The Corporate Audit Department (CAD), as the third line of defense, independently assesses whether first and second line controls and processes are effective.
5.COMPLIANCE TEAM OF BMO GAM ASIA
Business Unit Compliance Officer (BUCO), being the 1st line of defense, is within Business Compliance and Control Department (BC&C), and is reporting to the Head of BMO GAM Asia. BUCO is responsible for supervising and executing the compliance program within BMO GAM Asia. BUCO assists the Head of BMO GAM Asia to design, implement and operate an appropriate compliance program in accordance with regulatory requirements applicable to BMO GAM Asia.
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The Chief Compliance Officer and the Compliance Department, being the 2nd line of defense, are reporting locally to the Legal & Regulatory Compliance Co-Head & Chief Legal Officer – Asia, and functionally to the Global Head of Compliance, GAM. They are responsible for overseeing the compliance framework of BMO GAM Asia, providing effective challenge on 1st line of defense, and advising BMO GAM Asia to comply with all applicable regulatory requirements.
6.ESCALATION OF ALLEGED REGULATORY BREACH
Employees are required to promptly report any known or suspected violation of the Code of Ethics and the Compliance Manual, and any applicable laws or regulations, including breaches relating to risk posed to firm’s operations and financial position. Escalation should be made to your line manager, the Compliance Department or BC&C.
The Compliance Department or BC&C should make a record of all reported breaches, Compliance Department determines whether a particular regulatory rule has been breached, and monitors the steps taken to investigate and remedy the reported breaches. The SFC notification requirements under paragraph 12.5 of SFC Code of Conduct, as further elaborated in the SFC Circular dated 14 September 2018 “Compliance with notification requirement” should be observed, under which Compliance Department should report to the SFC immediately upon the happening of, among others, any material breach, infringement of or non-compliance with any law, rules and regulations and codes administered by the SFC or any suspected breach, infringement or non-compliance.
The following conduct risk management process should be followed if any misconduct behavior is identified through BC&C and/or Compliance teams’ monitoring and testing activities or other channels. BC&C and/or Compliance team will conduct investigation where applicable and practicable. Compliance team may also seek assistance from Global Investigations Team for complex and labor intensive internal investigation. Where necessary, the investigation result will then be tabled by Compliance team to the BMO GAM Asia Regional Committee for resolution, and the Head of BMO GAM Asia will be responsible for managing conflicts, if necessary, and provide advice for resolution. Where the misconduct behavior is considered significant and warrant to be escalated to senior management, the CCO will report such matter to the Board of Directors. In addition, Compliance team will determine whether reporting obligation to regulator is triggered under the regulatory framework.
In case there is any violation in relation to occurrence of fraud risk, BC&C and/or Compliance team should escalate to risk team for further handling and investigation.
BMO’s reputation is critical to the Firm’s success. Each employee is responsible for protecting and preserving this reputation through management of reputation risk according to our Reputation Risk Corporate Standard, where applicable. For details, please refer to http://cpandp.bmogc.net/en/Pages/002-0701.aspx
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8.LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
All court processes and notices of legal proceedings must be referred immediately to the Legal Department, which will ensure a timely and adequate response. No records or information may be passed to any outside authority or law enforcement agency without the approval of the Legal Department. Outside counsel should not be retained without the prior approval of the Legal Department.
9.ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING
The Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (Financial Institutions) Ordinance imposes obligations on financial institutions including customer due diligence and record-keeping. BMO’s policy on AML should be followed when conducting business. Employees should raise any AML matters to BC&C and BMO HK Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO).
For details, please refer to (i) BMO GAM Asia Anti-Money Laundering Procedure; and (ii) Enterprise Anti-Money Laundering Policy which are saved on the SharePoint and the Intranet respectively.
10.WHISTLEBLOWING PROCEDURES
If employees learn about anything that may conflict with the BMO Code of Conduct, or with any laws, rules, regulations, or BMO policies or procedures, speak up and be candid to raise concerns.
If employees want to report a possible violation on a confidential and anonymous basis, they can report it to Ombudsman Office in accordance with BMO's board-approved Whistleblower Process and the Process for Raising Concerns in addressing reported concerns. BMO will not tolerate retaliation against anyone who reports a concern or participates in an investigation.
For detail of BMO Whistleblowing Process, please refer to the following link (where applicable):
https://intranet.bmogc.net/corporate/portal/lccg/Documents/WhistleblowerProcess.pdf
For detail of BMO Process for Raising Concerns, please refer to the following link (where applicable):
https://intranet.bmogc.net/corporate/portal/lccg/ImportantTools/RaisingConcerns.pdf
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These principles have been developed and recognized by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commissions and are fundamental to the undertaking of a licensed or registered person’s business.
These general principles are in effect a code of ethics for investment business being “a universal statement of the standards expected”. It is important that you read and understand these principles. Where any of the above principles conflict with operating procedures or practices, immediate notification must be made to the Chief Compliance Officer or the BC&C Department for Chief Compliance Officer to determine and resolve the matter.
In conducting its business activities, a licensed or registered person should act honestly, fairly, and in the best interests of its clients and the integrity of the market.
In conducting its business activities, a licensed or registered person should act with due skill, care and diligence, in the best interests of its clients and the integrity of the market.
A licensed or registered person should have and employ effectively the resources and procedures, which are needed for the proper performance of its business activities.
A licensed or registered person should seek from its clients information about their financial situation, investment experience and investment objectives relevant to the services to be provided.
A licensed or registered person should make adequate disclosure of relevant material information in its dealing with its clients.
A licensed or registered person should try to avoid conflicts of interest, and when they cannot be avoided, should ensure that its clients are fairly treated.
A licensed or registered person should comply with all regulatory requirements applicable to the conduct of its business activities so as to promote the best interest of clients and the integrity of the market.
A licensed or registered person should ensure that client assets are promptly and properly accounted for and adequately safeguarded.
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9.Responsibility of senior management
The senior management of a licensed or registered person should bear primary responsibility for ensuring the maintenance of appropriate standards of conduct and adherence to proper procedures by the firm. In determining where responsibility lies, and the degree of responsibility of a particular individual, regard shall be made to that individual’s apparent or actual authority in relation to the particular business operations, their levels of responsibility within the firm, any supervisory duties they may perform, and the levels of control or knowledge they may have concerning any failure by firms or persons under their supervision to follow regulatory requirements.
To emphasize the importance that the scope of each senior manager’s duties is clear
and that each senior manager is fully aware of his or her obligations under Hong Kong’s regulatory regime, the SFC introduced Manager-In-Charge of Core Function(s) (“MIC”) with effective from 18 April 2017. MIC refers to an individual appointed by a licensed corporation to be principally responsible, either alone or with others, for managing any of the following functions of the corporation (referred to as “Core Functions”):
a.Overall Management Oversight (OMO)
b.Key Business Line
c.Operational Control and Review
d.Risk Management
e.Finance and Accounting
f.Information Technology
g.Compliance
h.Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing
Compliance is responsible to maintain the MIC organization chart and submit to the SFC upon notification of any changes made by respective MIC.
For details, please refer to GAM Asia Corporate Governance Framework.
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You have the responsibility at all times to place the interests of Clients first, not to take advantage of Client transactions, and to avoid any conflicts, or the appearance of conflicts, with the interests of Clients. You also have a responsibility to act ethically, legally, and in the best interests of BMO GAM Asia and its Clients at all times. The Code of Ethics sets forth rules regarding these obligations. You are expected not only to follow the specific rules, but also the spirit of the Code of Ethics.
Company, or BMO GAM Asia refers to BMO Global Asset Management (Asia) Limited
Client is any person or entity, including a Fund or any collective investment schemes or a portfolio of assets under discretionary account, for which BMO GAM Asia provides service which constitutes a regulated activities, including investment management and advisory services. Where BMO GAM Asia is a delegate of another fund manager for the management of a fund, a reference to client is a reference to the delegating fund manager.
Immediate Family of any person mean any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, and shall include adoptive relationships.. and sharing the same household with the employee.
Investment Professional includes portfolio managers, investment analysts and dealers.
Securities means shares, notes, stocks, debentures, treasury stocks, exchange traded funds (ETFs), bonds, interests in collective investment schemes, rights, options, derivatives, or, in general, any interests in or in respect of the instruments above or otherwise commonly known as “securities”, but does not include bankers acceptance, bank certificate of deposit or commercial paper.
3.CODE OF CONDUCT - CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, GIFTS AND ENTERTAINMENT, POLICTIAL CONTRIBUTION AND OUTSIDE BUSINESS INTERESTS
This section applies to EVERY EMPLOYEE of the Company, including those persons accredited to BMO GAM Asia for conducting regulated activities. Employee includes temporary staff, and any staff station in BMO GAM Asia office to the extent that he/she has access to BMO GAM Asia trading systems or any material non-public information.
You are required to comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including but not limited to the Securities and Futures Ordinance, SFC Fund Manager Code of Conduct, SFC Code of Conduct, SFC Code on Unit Trusts and Mutual Funds, SFC Internal Control Guideline, SFC Advertising Guideline, SFC Licensing Handbook, all applicable circulars and FAQs as issued and amended by the SFC from time to time, as well as internal policies such as BMO Enterprise Corporate Policies, BMO Code of Conduct, BMO GAM Asia Compliance Manual and this Code of Ethics.
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3.2.1 Introduction
It is BMO GAM Asia’s policy to identify the conflicts of interest that may exist between a) ourselves or anyone linked to the firm and our clients; or b) one client and another. We must ensure that clients are not adversely affected by potential risks. Where the potential risk cannot be effectively managed with reasonable confidence to prevent the risk, we disclose this to our client before providing services. We make disclosure in a durable medium; providing sufficient detail to enable that client to take an informed decision with respect to the service in the context of which the conflicts of interest arises.
This section provides guidance in defining, identifying and dealing with situations in which:
•The personal interests of individual Directors and employees of BMO GAM Asia conflict or might be perceived to conflict with the interests of BMO GAM Asia’s clients or BMO itself (also set out under section III.5 “Policies and Procedures on Personal Securities Transactions”);
•The interests of two or more of BMO GAM Asia’s clients conflict or might be perceived to conflict with each other; and
•BMO GAM Asia’s corporate interests conflict or might be perceived to conflict with the interests of BMO GAM Asia’s clients.
The objectives of the section are to:
•Outline the framework (principles, processes, monitoring and reporting) to support compliance with BMO Code of Conduct;
•Reinforce BMO GAM Asia’s reputation for integrity and honesty – even the perception of a conflict of interest might tarnish this reputation and could have significant business implications; and
•Provide guidance to help protect BMO GAM Asia and its employees from legal liability and regulatory sanction, as well as the penalties and/or civil liability that may occur when conflict situations are not properly identified and managed.
For details, please refer to Operating Directive: Managing Employee Conflicts of Interest, where applicable.
https://intranet.bmogc.net/corporate/portal/lccg/Documents/ConflictInterestOperatingDirective.pdf#search=Managing%20Conflicts%20of%20Interest%20Directive
For detail, please refer to BMO Code of Conduct, where applicable.
https://intranet.bmogc.net/corporate/portal/lccg/Documents/CodeOfConduct_EN.pdf
3.2.2Definitions
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Bank of Montreal
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Chairman of the Board
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of BMO GAM Asia
Chief Compliance Officer of BMO
The Chief Compliance Officer of BMO Financial Group
Chief Compliance Officer (CCO)
The Chief Compliance Officer of BMO GAM Asia
Conflicts of Interest
Conflicts of Interest can take many forms but there are two broad types:
•Personal conflicts of interest; and
•Business conflicts of interest.
Personal conflicts of interest may arise when an employee’s personal activities or interests unrelated to her/his work for BMO GAM Asia/BMO:
•Would be likely to affect or even appear to affect her/his loyalty to or judgment in carrying out her/his duties on behalf of BMO GAM Asia, a prospective or actual client or supplier (e.g. processing transactions for family members);
•Has or may appear to have caused her/him to choose her/his personal interests over the interests of BMO GAM Asia, a prospective or actual client or supplier of BMO GAM Asia (e.g. appropriating customer information for their personal benefit); or
•Causes her/him to take actions or have interests that may make it difficult to perform her/his work at BMO GAM Asia objectively and/or effectively (e.g. being a beneficiary of an estate of a BMO GAM Asia customer who is not a relative of the employee).
Business conflicts of interest may arise as a consequence of BMO GAM Asia’s corporate interests and its relationships with multiple clients, counterparties and suppliers. Examples of where such conflicts may occur include:
•Between different clients;
•Between clients and BMO GAM Asia itself; or
•Where BMO GAM Asia has confidential information about a client or former client that could be used in another part of BMO GAM Asia or BMO or in another client relationship.
Conflicts of Interest include actual, perceived and/or potential conflicts of interest.
Director
A member of the Board of Directors of BMO GAM Asia
Proprietary Information
Non-public information related to or associated with the products, services or activities of BMO GAM Asia/BMO, including but not limited to:
•Financial information;
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•Product research and development;
•Analysis;
•Business plans or strategies;
•Client lists;
•Computer systems, software or programs; and
•Data created or obtained or otherwise owned by the Enterprise for BMO GAM Asia’s or BMO’s business purposes.
3.2.3Background
As a global diversified financial institution, BMO/BMO GAM Asia transact with and offer a wide range of services to clients and counterparties in various jurisdictions. In these circumstances actual, potential or perceived Conflicts of Interest may arise in various forms and circumstances.
BMO GAM Asia is also subject to legal and regulatory requirements, jurisprudence, fiduciary obligations and industry standards dealing with Conflicts of Interest in various jurisdictions.
Although some conflicts must be avoided altogether, many conflicts arise inevitably from the business of asset management and the related services and activities engaged in by BMO. The extent to which BMO may operate in this environment is linked directly to its ability to properly identify and, where appropriate, manage and address conflicts of interest so that client and corporate interests are protected.
To effectively mitigate the associated risks, it is essential that BMO GAM Asia has a robust framework that identifies, assesses and manages conflict situations when or before they occur. Failure to do so may result in legal action, censure from regulatory bodies, loss of revenue and reputation.
3.2.4Principles
Activities carried out for BMO GAM Asia and those performed in connection with our personal affairs must be conducted in a manner that will protect BMO GAM Asia’s and BMO’s reputation, preserve public trust and manage real or perceived Conflicts of Interest.
You are required to avoid conduct that is contrary to the interests of the Company and any Client, or that gives the appearance of such Conflicts of Interest.
BMO GAM Asia’s Directors and employees must make all reasonable efforts to avoid Conflicts of Interest. Activities, interests or associations should be avoided that might interfere or even appear to interfere with the independent exercise of good judgement.
When evaluating a potential conflict situation, the facts and potential outcomes must be viewed objectively to determine whether a reasonable, disinterested observer – a fellow employee, client, supplier, auditor or regulator – would have reason to believe that the interests of clients, suppliers etc. would suffer or an unfair advantage or benefit would be conferred directly or indirectly on BMO GAM Asia/BMO or a Director or employee, or shared with others for personal gain.
For potential conflicts involving BMO GAM Asia/BMO or its individual employees, management is responsible for determining whether a proposed course of action should be taken and if so, how associated conflicts should be managed. All situations involving actual or potential conflicts must be referred to the Compliance Department and BC&C.
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3.2.5Conflict management
General approach on how to address any Conflicts of Interest is as follows:
·Timely identification of any actual or perceived Conflicts of Interests and consider whether BMO GAM Asia can avoid such Conflicts of Interest.
·If BMO GAM Asia cannot avoid the Conflicts of Interest, we should take all reasonable steps to manage or minimize such Conflicts of Interest by appropriate safeguards and measures to ensure fair treatment to its clients / fund investors and any material interest of conflict should be properly disclosed to its clients / fund investors.
·The decision and reasoning for such decision made by BMO GAM Asia and the steps taken to manage and minimize the Conflicts of interests should be properly documented and substantiated in a Conflicts of Interest Assessment Form or other appropriate format so that BMO GAM Asia is able to justify its decision if being questioned by regulator.
It is essential that sufficient details be disclosed to enable management, Compliance, BC&C and/or reporting line manager to assess the potential conflict and make an informed and appropriate decision about how to deal with it. Any identified Conflicts of Interest together with the corresponding mitigation measures are recorded in the Conflicts of Interest Log maintained by BC&C and being reviewed by Compliance Department on a regular basis.
If an individual believes that he/she is already involved in a possible conflict or, in the case of new employees, that a conflict may have been triggered as a result of taking a position with BMO GAM Asia, the situation must be disclosed immediately so that remedial steps can be initiated as soon as possible.
Disclosure alone does not constitute approval or resolution of potential Conflicts of Interest.
Unless otherwise indicated in this manual, employees must disclose any potential conflicts to management. Directors will disclose these matters to the Chairman of the Board or his/her designate. In all other circumstances, the conflict situation must be reported to the Compliance Department and BC&C Department.
Executive director and employees of BMO GAM Asia must declare any potential Conflicts of Interest by completing a quarterly compliance return to Compliance Department. All directors, officers and employees are also required to complete an annual compliance return, including a declaration of compliance with the Code of Ethics and Compliance Manual (“Annual Compliance Return”).
Prompt review and assessment of the facts to determine whether the proposed activity should proceed and, if so, what measures, conditions etc. must be put in place to properly manage and monitor the potential conflict.
Supporting documentation of all decisions or actions taken in response to the potential conflict, including details of any approvals granted to individuals involved in the potential conflict and the underlying rationale, should be retained.
3.2.6 Conflict types and related management processes
This section provides examples or common situations that may give rise to Conflicts of Interest and, where applicable, prescribes conflict management measures. The examples are not intended to be exhaustive.
(i)Transactions for Own, Immediate Family’s or Closely Related Entity’s Benefit
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Any BMO GAM Asia transaction involving a client, supplier or other individual/entity with whom a Director or employee has a business or personal connection could be a Conflict of Interest if the employee or Director is in a position to influence BMO GAM Asia’s decisions in the transaction, or may personally gain either directly or indirectly from the transaction. In all such situations the potential conflict must be disclosed as soon as it is identified.
(ii)Investing in a business or business opportunity of a BMO GAM Asia/BMO Client
Directors and employees must not invest or acquire an interest in a business or business opportunity of a BMO GAM Asia/BMO client unless the investment:
•Is in a publicly traded company – and then only when the Director or employee is not in possession of Material Confidential Information;
•Is made through an investment vehicle such as a mutual fund or managed account where the Director or employee has no influence over investment decisions; or
•In all other circumstances, is made after actual or potential competing interests of BMO GAM Asia or its clients have first been resolved – and then only after the details of the acquisition or investment have been disclosed and approved. All such approvals must be obtained from Compliance and the management.
(iii)Accepting Inappropriate Legacies or Other Designations
Employees must not accept an inheritance from a client or former client (other than a relative).
Directors and employees should also not act as executors, administrators, powers of attorney or trustees of an estate or trust of a client or former client (other than a relative), unless prior approval is obtained. All approvals must be obtained from Compliance and the management.
(iv)Borrowing or Lending Money Inappropriately
Directors and employees must not borrow money from or lend money to any of BMO GAM Asia’s clients.
(v)Fiduciary Relationships
Fiduciary relationships may be imposed by specific statute or regulation or may be created by certain types of well-defined relationships such as when acting as a trustee, agent, executor or administrator. The possible categories of fiduciary relationships are not finite and whether fiduciary duties will apply will depend on the specific facts involved. Key elements of a fiduciary relationship typically include:
§The fiduciary has discretionary power;
§The fiduciary can unilaterally exercise that power so as to effect the interests of the beneficiaries;
§The beneficiaries are vulnerable to the exercise of such power by the fiduciary; and
§The beneficiaries reasonably rely on the fiduciary to exercise the power in the beneficiaries’ best interest.
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Those assuming fiduciary obligations assume a higher standard of care when providing services and must ensure that actions taken are in the best interests of clients and would be reasonably perceived in this way. Many of the types of conflicts outlined in this Section can arise from or be exacerbated by fiduciary relationships.
To avoid or effectively manage Conflicts of Interest in dealings with clients, services and products offered by BMO GAM Asia/BMO are designed and managed to ensure that fiduciary obligations are assumed only when intended. Similar to other situations, prompt identification and disclosure of potential conflicts is essential to the mitigation of fiduciary risk.
(vi)Misuse of Information and Assets
In conducting business activities on behalf of clients, staff may come into possession of potentially sensitive client information.
As a general rule employees must:
·Safeguard client information and share it with others on a strict “need to know” basis;
·Not use this information for their personal benefit or for the benefit of BMO GAM Asia/BMO or other BMO GAM Asia/BMO clients;
·Respect information barriers (e.g. Chinese walls) designed to control the flow of information between BMO lines of business; and
·Adhere to other physical and logical security controls to which they are subject.
Similar restrictions apply to the use and sharing of BMO Proprietary Information and assets. BMO’s premises, materials/supplies, systems, equipment and data are its property.
(vii)Personal, Social and Leisure Activities
Directors, management and employees all share in the responsibility to protect BMO GAM Asia’s/BMO’s brand and reputation. Although we are all free to pursue personal interests, whether they relate to community involvement, political participation or social and leisure activity, we must do so in a way that clearly separates our individual interests from our roles and responsibilities as BMO GAM Asia/BMO employees.
Examples of personal, social and leisure activities that may reflect on both the individual employee and BMO GAM Asia’s/BMO’s corporate interests include the following:
Political Involvement
Employees may participate in politics – either as candidates or as supporters of candidates, political parties or causes. Political involvement (e.g. public office) must not, however, interfere with the employee’s duties at BMO GAM Asia/BMO or put the employee in a Conflict of Interest situation involving BMO GAM Asia/BMO or its clients.
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It is also important for the employee to make it clear that political activities are personal, that BMO GAM Asia/BMO does not offer any opinion regarding the activity and is not a sponsor or in any way involved. Before participating in a political activity employee should consult with his/her reporting line manager and Compliance Department to ensure that their participation would not result in a real, potential or perceived Conflicts of Interest.
Employee is required to obtain approval from his/her reporting line manager and Compliance Department if he/she pursues political participation by completing and submitting the “Declaration of Outside Business Activities” Form to the Compliance Department.
Community Involvement
There is a long, honorable and very active tradition of community involvement by employees of BMO GAM Asia/BMO. If Employee pursues community involvement in religious, educational, cultural, social and charitable entities or other non-profit entities, employees should consult with their managers and Compliance to ensure that their participation in such activities does not result in actual or perceived Conflicts of Interest.
Employee is required to obtain his/her reporting line manager approval if he/she pursues community involvement. If a conflict of interest does not exist, the reporting line manager may approve the employee’s request and the employee is required to notify Compliance Department immediately. Further compliance approval is required if any potential conflicts of interest exist.
Writing, Publication & Speaking Engagements
The use and protection of client information, BMO proprietary information and the BMO brand, including assets such as its name, logo and other trademarked and copyrighted material, is carefully managed by appropriate persons and groups within BMO. Except where prior management approval is granted such information and assets must not be contained in any speech or material written or published by an employee. “Written or published” material includes any form of print or electronic media (e.g. books, articles, information or images posted in the internet via chat rooms, newsgroups, bulletin boards, blogs and social networking sites).
3.2.7Confidential information
You must not discuss any information relating to a client or relating to the Company's business plans or activities with anyone inside the Company unless this is necessary for the proper conduct of your job.
You should not in any event discuss such matters with anyone outside your department or outside the Company without obtaining prior authorization from the Compliance Department.
Breaches of confidentiality will be regarded as a serious disciplinary offence, which may result in your employment being terminated.
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3.3.Gifts and Entertainment
Bribery is the act of giving, promising, offering, soliciting, or receiving, directly or indirectly, a benefit or anything of value in order to:
·improperly influence the judgment or conduct of any person who owes a duty of good faith, impartiality or trust; or
·induce or reward the improper performance of a function or activity.
In general, you must not offer or accept any gift or business entertainment which would compromise or create the perception that your judgment or honest performance of your duties might be compromised.
For details, please refer to the separate Operating Directive: Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption where applicable.
https://intranet.bmogc.net/corporate/portal/lccg/Documents/AntiBriberyAntiCorruptionOperatingDirective.pdf
(a)Gifts
Gifts are anything of value (not including Entertainment) given or received, voluntarily or without charge. Deciding whether a gift is appropriate often depends on the circumstances, the timing and the nature of the gift.
All gifts that we offer or accept to/from our external parties must have a legitimate business purpose and may only be offered/ accepted in the spirit of business courtesy and relationship management. The gift should be reasonable and justifiable and the intention behind the gift must always be considered.
Prohibited Gifts and Benefits
The following gifts and benefits may not be offered or accepted by an employee or persons who accredited to BMO GAM Asia:
·Gifts that exceed the jurisdictional threshold per external party over the calendar year (excluding taxes). The jurisdictional threshold for Hong Kong and Australia are HK$1,500 and AUD250 respectively (“Jurisdictional Threshold”), as amended from time to time;
·Cash, including red envelopes offered/accepted during Chinese New Year. Employees that feel unable to politely decline the offer must promptly register the receipt with their manager. All amounts received must then be donated to a BMO supported charity.
Note: This prohibition applies only to red envelopes offered or received physically, electronically, or digitally to/from external parties. It is acceptable for BMO employees to offer each other and their family members red envelopes in recognition of the tradition.
·Cash equivalents (in any amount), for example:
- gift certificates / gift cards / pre-paid credit card / vouchers redeemable for cash (Note: gift cards that can only be used to buy goods and services (e.g., Starbucks, Tim Horton’s, moon cake certificates, meal vouchers) are acceptable but must not exceed the Jurisdictional Threshold per external party over the calendar year.
- jewellery
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- securities / cheques / money orders
- loans
- lottery tickets
- timeshare (use of vacation property)
·Travel arrangements, meals, refreshments, or accommodations unrelated to business discussion or development or which we would not reimburse as a reasonable business expense,
·Preferential treatment of any kind in a business context,
·Discounts or rebates on merchandise or services not available to the general public or to customers of the offering party,
·Solicited gifts for personal use or benefit or in return for business or service, or
·Unsolicited gifts for personal use or benefit that exceed the Jurisdictional Threshold per external party over a calendar year. This includes payments, rewards, prizes, or other benefits from an external party in return for business referrals.
The above prohibitions apply regardless of whether the employee uses BMO funds or their personal funds to finance the gift or benefit for the external party.
Received gifts that exceed the jurisdictional threshold or that are prohibited must be declined or returned. Please contact the Anti-Corruption Office (“ACO”) for further guidance.
Permissible Gifts and Benefits
The following gifts are acceptable and are not subject to the above prohibited gifts and benefits principles:
·advertising or promotional materials with a token value (e.g., pens, notepads, golf umbrellas, calendars);
·gift cards that can only be used to buy goods and services, provided they do not exceed the Jurisdictional Threshold per external party over the calendar year;
·gifts based upon a family relationship or close personal relationship that exists independently of any BMO business;
·bereavement gifts that are customary and reasonable;
·gifts given for infrequent life events (e.g., a wedding gift or congratulatory gift for the birth of a child) provided they are of reasonable value; and
·gifts of food or beverage (e.g., gift baskets) that are not extravagant, are given on an occasion when gifts are customary (promotion or retirement). These gifts may be shared among members of your business unit if they are above the Jurisdictional Threshold per external party over the calendar year.
(b) Entertainment
Entertainment includes social, hospitality, charitable, sporting, investor or leisure events, conferences, seminars, site visits, or other similar activities, meals, or any transportation or accommodation related to these activities. For an activity to be entertainment, someone representing the providing party must be present at the activity, regardless of whether business is conducted. Otherwise, these activities are gifts.
All entertainment that we offer to or accept from external parties must have a legitimate business purpose, be reasonable and justifiable, and may only be offered/ accepted in the spirit of business courtesy and relationship management, and must be in good taste. Employees should always consider the intention behind the entertainment prior to accepting or offering it.
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All Entertainment must adhere to the following principles:
(i)Entertainment must not:
·be frequent, excessive or extravagant,
·create or appear to create a sense of obligation,
·be intended to improperly influence a business decision or give improper advantage,
·be used as a condition for doing business with BMO, or
·compromise BMO’s reputation.
(ii)Meals and refreshments in the course of a meeting are permitted provided the purpose is business related, your attendance is related to your duties with BMO, and the frequency of such invitation from any one host is not excessive.
(iii)Accommodation and transportation in connection with business engagements (other than local transportation such as taxis) should not typically be provided to or accepted from external parties. Employees must obtain prior approval from the ACO should they wish to provide or accept accommodation or transportation (except local transportation). Accommodation and transportation must not be lavish for the type and venue of the planned event.
(iv)Employees who are invited to speak at a conference or other event in their capacity as an employee, may accept payment or reimbursement for reasonable expenses relating to accommodation and transportation if it is extended to all speaker participants. They may also accept token expressions of gratitude that fall within the provisions of the Operating Directive: Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption related to permissible gifts and benefits. Any additional payment that is received for speaking must be declined.
Employees who are invited to attend a conference or other event in their capacity as an employee, but are not a speaker, must seek prior approval from their reporting line manager before accepting the invitation. Generally, attendance-related expenses should be paid by BMO. Seek prior approval from the ACO for any expenses that the host of the organization offers to pay, including the conference fee, accommodation and transportation (except for local transportation such as taxis).
(c) Public Officials
Public Official is an officer, employee, representative, or other person acting in any capacity on behalf of a:
·government department or agency;
·political party or candidate;
·regulatory, judicial, legislative, or law enforcement body;
·state-owned or controlled enterprise, including Crown corporations, sovereign wealth funds, and export development agencies;
·company or other business entity in which a governmental body has an ownership interest, even if the activities are commercial, rather than governmental;
·government-sponsored pension or retirement plan; or
·public international organizations.
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Interactions with Public Officials require enhanced scrutiny and sensitivity. As such, employees are prohibited from making payments or offering anything of value to a Public Official (whether directly or indirectly through a third party or intermediary, or to anyone associated with the Public Official) under any of the following circumstances:
·if you intend to influence their decision making in their official capacity;
·if your actions could in any way be construed as being intended to do so; or
·if your actions could create the perception that the purpose is to gain or retain business.
Examples include: agreeing to hire an intern who is a relative of the Public Official or offering a trip to visit a BMO location when the actual purpose of the trip is not business-related, in exchange for a business opportunity.
Employees specifically must not:
·give or receive anything of value (e.g. gifts, entertainment, etc) to a Public Official without the prior approval of the ACO. This applies regardless of the intent or value; or
·authorize or provide financial services or products to a Public Official that would not otherwise be offered to the general public.
(d) Gift and Entertainment Reporting and Tracking
Employees are required to log the offering or receipt of gifts and entertainment in BMO GAM Asia’s Gift and Entertainment Tracker in accordance with the following principles:
(i)For gifts and entertainment to/from clients/customer/suppliers who are Public Officials, everything needs to be pre-approved by the ACO and logged, regardless of amount;
(ii)Gifts “offered” >US$50/HK$390/AUD67 (no matter promotional or non-promotional) will need to be pre-approved by the ACO and logged;
(iii)Gifts “accepted” >US$50/HK$390/AUD67 will need to be logged after the fact; or
(iv)Entertainment “offered”/“accepted” >US$50/HK$390/AUD67 will need to be logged after the fact.
For the avoidance of doubt, entertainment offered or accepted is not counted towards the Jurisdiction Threshold.
You may not pay, offer, or commit to pay any amount that might be or appear to be a bribe or kickback in connection with the Company’s business. If you are offered anything, to be on the safe side, check with BC&C Department, Compliance or ACO.
Political contributions can give rise to bribery and corruption risks as they can be bribes in disguise. As such, political contributions must not be made:
·with the intention of influencing an act or decision of a Public Official in their official capacity;
·to induce such Public Official to do or not do an act in violation of their lawful duty; or
·to encourage favourable treatment for BMO or to gain or retain business.
Political contributions made on behalf of BMO must comply with applicable requirements and laws and must not be interpreted as an attempt to encourage favorable treatment for BMO.
Employee may not engage in or make use of BMO assets or personnel to engage in political fundraising or solicitation activities for their own political interests on BMO premises.
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Every employee is required to declare to Compliance Department whether he/she had made any political contribution or donation by way of the completion of the Quarterly Compliance Return. Employee must seek pre-approval from the Anti-Corruption Office (ACO) for making political contribution regardless of the amount. All political contributions are recorded in the Political Contribution Log maintained by Compliance Department for monitoring purpose.
For details, please refer to the Operating Directive: Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption, where applicable.
https://intranet.bmogc.net/corporate/portal/lccg/Documents/AntiBriberyAntiCorruptionOperatingDirective.pdf
3.5.Outside Business Activities (“OBA”)
You may not serve as a director, officer, employee, trustee, or general partner of any corporation or other entity outside the Company, whether or not you are paid, without the prior written approval of the reporting line manager and/or the Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) (or his/her delegate) of BMO GAM Asia (depending on the circumstances).
For details, please refer to Operating Directive: Managing Employee Conflicts of Interest (“MCOI Directive”), where applicable.
https://intranet.bmogc.net/corporate/portal/lccg/Documents/ConflictInterestOperatingDirective.pdf#search=Managing%20Conflicts%20of%20Interest%20Directive
BMO GAM Asia has an interest in ensuring that there is no actual, potential or perceived conflict between an employee’s duties to BMO GAM Asia or its clients and any proposed Outside Business Activity.
When an employee wishes to engage in an Outside Business Activity, the interests of BMO GAM Asia and its clients must continue to come first and her/his responsibilities to BMO GAM Asia must continue to receive their attention and commitment. While not seeking to limit outside activities of employees, BMO/BMO GAM Asia also expects all employees to consider how those activities may reflect on BMO’s / BMO GAM Asia’s public reputation or, in some cases, impact or limit its business.
Employees must not engage in outside activities that:
•Offer products and services that might compete with those of BMO GAM Asia/BMO or, in some situations, clients of BMO/BMO GAM Asia;
•Involve the potential or perceived use of confidential client information or BMO GAM Asia/BMO proprietary information;
•Are prohibited by law or by a regulatory agency;
•Might interfere with their ability to devote their full attention and commitment to their responsibilities with BMO/BMO GAM Asia; or
•Might otherwise conflict with BMO GAM Asia/BMO’s interests or bring BMO GAM Asia/BMO into disrepute.
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General types of Outside Business Activities include the following:
•Outside Employment – where an employee wishes to take a job with an employer other than BMO GAM Asia/BMO where compensation is received;
•Outside Business – where an employee has an interest in a venture that is intended for profit. Types of businesses include owning another business (incorporated or otherwise), serving as an officer or partner in another business, or acquiring a significant interest (5% or more of the total outstanding equity securities) in another business;
•Outside Directorship – where an employee wishes to serve as a director of a corporate entity.
(i)General Approval Process for Outside Business Activities
a)All Outside Business Activities must be promptly disclosed to reporting line manager and the Compliance department prior to commencing the proposed activity. Employees engaged in Outside Business Activities prior to commencing employment with BMO GAM Asia must promptly disclose such activities and go through the approval process as described in this section.
b)Outside Business Activities must also be reported as part of the quarterly compliance return, regardless of whether they have been previously approved by reporting line manager.
c)Depending on the circumstances, reporting line manager and/or the CCO may approve an employee’s Outside Business Activity.
d)If it is determined that the Outside Business Activity may result in an actual, potential for perceived Conflicts of Interest that cannot be effectively managed, the approval request will be refused and the employee must not pursue or continue the activity if the employee wishes to retain employment with BMO/BMO GAM Asia.
e)Employees must also comply with requirements related to Outside Business Activities of any regulator or external organization (e.g. professional association) to which they are subject.
f)A record of the disclosure and approval of an Outside Business Activity must be fully documented and shall be retained by reporting line manager in the employee’s personnel file and Compliance Department Either the Declaration of Outside Business Activity Form or External Directorship Information & Approval Form should be used to document the reporting and approval of any Outside Business Activities.
g)Re-approval of an Outside Business Activity must be obtained in the event of a material change, either to the employee’s position within BMO or in the nature of the Outside Business Activity. Questions regarding whether a material change has occurred should be referred to the Compliance Department.
h)Exceptions from the general criteria used to approve Outside Business Activities will be considered in accordance with the Operating Directive: Managing Employee Conflicts of Interest.
Questions regarding the applicability or interpretation of the approval process should be referred to the Compliance Department.
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(ii)Approval Process for Outside Employment
The general approval process outlined in the (i) above applies to cases of outside employment. If it is determined that the proposed employment does not represent an actual or potential Conflict of Interest, then the reporting line manager may approve the outside employment. However, if the proposed outside employment represents an actual or potential Conflict of Interest, compliance approval is required.
Employee is required to submit the “Declaration of OBA – Excluding external directorship” where the approval is documented.
(iii)Approval Process for Outside Businesses
The general approval process outlined in (i) above applies to proposed outside business ventures. If it is determined that the proposed outside business does not represent an actual or potential Conflict of Interest, then the reporting line manager may approve the outside business. However, if the proposed outside business represents an actual or potential Conflict of Interest, compliance approval is required.
Employee is required to submit the “Declaration of OBA – Excluding external directorship” where the approval is documented.
(iv)Approval Process for Outside Directorships
The general approval process outlined in (i) above applies to proposed outside directorships. Reporting line manager and CCO approval is not required when the directorship involves:
•A subsidiary of Bank of Montreal;
•Any other entity if BMO Management directs or requests the appointment.
In these cases, Compliance Department should be informed immediately upon appointment of directorship in order to fulfill regulatory reporting requirements, if applicable. Employees should consider the impact of any significant change in an organization to determine whether approval for their continued involvement should be obtained.
In all other circumstances, both reporting line manager and CCO approvals are required to serve as an outside director. Employee is required to submit the “External Directorship Information & Approval Form” where the approval is documented.
In addition, if an employee requests to serve as a director of a for-profit entity that is public, further approval from the BMO Compliance Control Room is required.
Indemnity
When an employee has been asked by BMO to serve as an outside director, the employee will be indemnified by BMO as long as the employee acts honestly and in good faith and with a view to the best interests of the entity on whose board the individual sits.
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If the employee wishes to serve as an outside director where BMO did not request the appointment, then the employee will not be indemnified by BMO in connection with the responsibilities and liabilities assumed by the employee as a result of serving as an outside director.
Fees and Compensation
Any form of compensation (fees, option grants etc.) to be received by an employee as a result of serving as an outside director must be disclosed and approved by reporting line manager.
Where BMO has requested that an employee serve as an outside director, directors’ compensation arrangements that exceed nominal value are to be remitted to BMO (i.e. employee’s cost centre) unless otherwise explicitly agreed to by BMO Management.
Conduct in Respect of Outside Business Activities
Once an Outside Business Activity has been approved, employees must observe the following guidelines:
•All activities should be conducted away from BMO GAM Asia/BMO premises and outside normal business hours (not including activities in which BMO has asked the employee to participate).
•No BMO GAM Asia/BMO property (stationery, marketing materials, logos, trademarks, images, equipment etc.) are to be used in connection with these activities.
•To mitigate the possibility that the employees’ Outside Business Activities may be misconstrued as being sponsored or endorsed by BMO GAM Asia/BMO, the employee should not solicit BMO GAM Asia’s / BMO’s clients or fellow employees either directly or indirectly.
•No employee may recommend or solicit trades in securities of a company in which he/she is a director or engaged in an Outside Business Activity.
•If the Outside Business Activity involves a company which is privately held and goes public at a later date, the employee must go through the approval process again.
4.1.Review of Securities Reports
The Compliance Department has primary responsibility for enforcing the Company’s Code of Ethics and shall ensure that all Initial and Annual Reports of Securities Holdings and Quarterly Transaction Reports, together with all monthly Securities Statements received will be reviewed in accordance with the section III.5 “Policies and Procedures on Personal Securities Transactions”.
4.2.Provision of the Code of Ethics and Certification by Employees
The Company is required to provide all directors, officers and employees with a copy of the Code of Ethics and any amendments thereto and is available on SharePoint. Each director, officer and employee of the Company must certify annually by way of submission of Annual Compliance Return that he or she has acknowledged receipt, read and understood the Compliance Manual, including the Code of Ethics and any amendments thereto and has complied and will comply with its relevant and applicable provisions.
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4.3.Recordkeeping Requirements
To meet legal and regulatory requirements, as well as business needs, certain types of documents must be retained in accordance with the Enterprise Records Retention Schedule (RRS) and the HK regulatory requirements. If there is any inconsistency, the more stringent approach should be adopted.
Record retention in BMO GAM Asia must be consistent with BMO policy, our accounting practices and tax and other applicable laws and regulations. BC&C reviews periodically to ensure the records of the business are being retained in an appropriate, current and accurate manner in accordance to the relevant jurisdictions’ regulatory requirements or the RRS, whichever is the stricter.
In general, BMO GAM Asia’s business records are kept for not less than 7 years. These records are any physical or electronic information that BMO GAM Asia is obligated to retain to operate its business and comply with laws and regulations, regardless of format or media. No record can be destroyed but may be required to retain for a period longer than 7 years if it is believed to be the subject of any complaint, dispute or litigation. Legal and Compliance Department must be consulted on how to deal with such records.
For details, for record keeping policy, please refer to the applicable provisions under the Records Retention Schedule (RRS):
https://intranet.bmogc.net/tando/gitrm/Documents/Governance/RecordsManagement/RRS-EN.pdf
All reports and other documents and information supplied by any employee of the Company in accordance with the requirements of this Code of Ethics shall be treated as confidential, but are subject to review by senior management of BMO GAM Asia, or otherwise as required by law, regulation, or court order.
If you have any questions regarding the meaning or interpretation of the provisions of this Code of Ethics, please consult with the Compliance department or BC&C.
Violations or non-compliance of the requirements as set out in the Code of Ethics must be reported promptly to the CCO or BC&C. Any employee of the Company who violates any provision of this Code of Ethics shall be subject to sanction, including but not limited to censure, a ban on personal securities trading, disgorgement of any profit or taking of any loss, fines, and suspension or termination of employment. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis, at the discretion of CCO, taking into account of the nature, level of significance of the event and most importantly, any existence of any actual and perceived conflicts of interest.
The Company shall ensure that the provisions of this Code of Ethics are described in Form ADV and upon request will furnish clients with a copy of the Code of Ethics.
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5.POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ON PERSONAL SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS
5.1.Applicability of the policies
5.1.1.Who is Covered. This Policy applies to those who may potentially access sensitive investment information either physically or through system access. This will include all Company’s directors, officers, employees, temporary staff, persons accredited to BMO GAM Asia for conducting regulated activities and staff station in BMO GAM Asia office even though not working for BMO GAM Asia to the extent that he/she has access to BMO GAM Asia trading systems (“Covered Persons”). It covers not only your personal Securities transactions, but also those of your Immediate Family as defined in Section III.2 above. .
What Accounts are Covered. This Policy applies to all Securities transactions in all personal accounts for which you are able to, directly or indirectly, exercise investment and voting control, or in which you or members of your Immediate Family have a direct or indirect beneficial interest. Normally, an account is covered by this Policy (“Covered Accounts”) if it is (a) in your name, (b) in the name of a member of your Immediate Family, (c) of a partnership in which you or a member of your Immediate Family are a partner with direct or indirect investment discretion, (d) of a trust of which you or a member of your Immediate Family are a beneficiary and a trustee with direct or indirect investment discretion, and (e) of a closely held corporation in which you or a member of your Immediate Family hold shares and have direct or indirect investment discretion.
5.2.Pre-Clearance
In general, you must pre-clear all purchases and sales of Securities (see the definition of “Securities” under Section III.2 above) with the CCO (or his delegate), except the following:
·a bona fide gift of Securities that you make or receive;
·an automatic, non-voluntary transaction, such as a stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, and automatic dividend reinvestment;
·a transaction pursuant to a tender offer that is applicable pro rata to all stockholders;
·sovereign bonds issued by government;
a purchase or sale of any open-end investment company/mutual fund/unit trust/investment-linked assurance scheme or any similar form of collective investment schemes which you do not have any investment discretion over and which are NOT managed by either BMO or BMO GAM Asia or BMO affiliated companies;
·the monthly transactions held by your brokers due to your monthly contribution in the Monthly Stocks Savings Plan (“the Plan”) given that you have already obtained pre-clearance on the stocks you selected when you start to join the Plan and there is no subsequent change in the Plan.
CCO has the absolute discretion as to whether which additional security or instrument can be exempted from pre-clearance on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the investment universe of BMO GAM Asia’s collective investment scheme or segregated investment/advisory mandate. The rationale should be documented. Please consult Compliance Department if there are any enquiries.
In addition, if an employee or his/her Immediate Family holds an account of which neither of them has discretionary power in deciding which securities or instruments to invest (“Non-Discretionary Account”), in such case, pre-clearance of underlying investments of such Non-Discretionary Account from Compliance Department is not required, so long as the employee has reported such Non-Discretionary Account to Compliance Department through initial declaration or subsequent declaration (where applicable).
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The exemptions from pre-clearance above do not apply to trading in any Security that is placed on a restricted list (for example, because the Company is in the possession of material non-public information about the issuer).
For the avoidance of doubt, the exemptions listed above are also applicable to other parts under section III.5 “Policies and Procedures on Personal Securities Transactions”, subject to the compliance of other parts of the compliance manual and applicable regulatory requirements.
You will not receive pre-clearance of a transaction for any Security on a day during which there is a pending buy /sell order or trading or recommendation is made for that same Security for a Client, or when other circumstances warrant prohibiting a transaction in a particular Security as stated under Prohibited and Restricted Transactions. Remember that the term “Security” is broadly defined. For example, an option on a Security is itself a Security, and the purchase, sale and exercise of the option is subject to pre-clearance. A pre-clearance approval normally is valid for 1 business day subject to the constraints mentioned in Prohibited and Restricted Transactions below.
5.3.Prohibited and Restricted Transactions
The following transactions are prohibited and restricted
a)BMO GAM Asia Activity. You are prohibited to purchase or sell Securities
i.on a day in which the Company has a pending buy or sell order in the same investment until that order is executed or withdrawn;
ii.within one trading day before or after the Company trading in that investment on behalf of a Client (five trading days for Investment Professionals);
iii.within one trading day before or after a recommendation on that investment is made or proposed by the Company (five trading days for Investment Professionals);
Note: the restrictions in (ii) and (iii) above need not be applied where client orders have been fully executed and any conflicts of interest have been removed and this exception can be handled on a case-by-case basis by the CCO (or his delegate).
iv.representing cross trades between the employees and funds/clients;
v.that short-selling of any securities recommended by the Company for purchase; or
vi.the requested securities are on BMO or BMO GAM Asia restricted stock lists (depending on the role of employee), where applicable.
b)Insider Dealing. You are prohibited from purchasing or selling any security, either personally or for any Client, while you are in possession of material, non-public information concerning the security or its issuer.
c)Initial Public Offerings and Secondary Public Offering. You are prohibited to purchase or otherwise acquire any Security in an Initial Public Offering (IPO) or a Secondary Public Offering available to clients of the Company (including the funds managed by BMO GAM Asia or its connected persons), and should not use their positions to gain access to IPO’s for themselves or any other person. The reason for this rule is that it precludes the appearance that an employee has used our client’s market stature as a means of obtaining for himself or herself “hot” issues which would otherwise not be offered to him or her. Any realization of short-term profits may create at least the appearance that an investment opportunity that should have been available to a Fund or other Client was diverted to the personal benefit of an individual employee of this firm.
d)Short Sales. You are not allowed to short sell any Security.
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e)Derivative Instruments. . Except for option issued and granted by BMO, employees are generally not allowed to invest in derivatives for personal account dealing, unless he/she has a compelling reason to do so, subject to absolute discretion of CCO. Exercise of option issued and granted by BMO is subject to trading windows being set by BMO, and this is subject to the approval by BMO Capital Market compliance team or CCO (or CCO delegate).
f)Margin Accounts. Employees are generally not allowed to hold margin account for personal account dealing, unless he/she has a compelling reason to do so, and this is subject to absolute discretion of CCO.
g)Short-term Trading and Holding Period. You are strongly discouraged from engaging in excessive short-term trading of Securities. CCO has a right to impose a daily cut-off time for request of personal account dealing to prevent staff from excessive trading. Employees are required to hold all personal investments for at least 30 calendar days, unless prior written approval of the CCO or his/her delegate is given for an earlier disposal.
h)Acting for Personal Benefit. You may not cause or recommend a Client to take action for your personal benefit. Thus, for example, you may not trade in or recommend a security for a Client to support or enhance the price of a security in your personal account, or “front run” a Client.
i)Restrictions on BMO Securities. BMO employees are prohibited from directly or indirectly purchasing or writing options on BMO securities or short selling BMO securities. Also, no BMO employee may enter into financial transactions to hedge or monetize economic exposure to BMO shares or other equity compensation based on BMO shares.
j)Delay settlement. BMO employees and his/her immediate family are not permitted to delay settlement of personal transactions beyond the normal settlement time for the relevant market.
k)Transactions of Certain Affiliated Persons. Pursuant to Section 17 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 of the USA, the registration statements of the fund advised/sub-advised by BMO GAM Asia and available for US persons provide that the fund shall not purchase or retain in its portfolio any securities issued by an issuer any of whose officers, directors or security holders is an officer or director of the fund, or is an officer or director of the investment adviser of the fund, if after the purchase of the securities of such issuer by the fund one or more of such persons owns beneficially more than 0.5%of the shares or other securities, or both, of such issuer, and such persons owning more than 0.5% of such shares or other securities together own beneficially more than 5% of such shares or securities, or both. To avoid any possibility of an inadvertent violation of this provision, holdings exceeding 0.5% of the shares or other securities of any publicly owned issuers are restricted and must be reported to the Company.
For more details, please refer to Operating Directive: Personal Trading in Securities and Prevention of Insider Trading, where applicable.
https://intranet.bmogc.net/corporate/portal/lccg/Documents/OpDirectPersTradingSecuritiesPreventionInsiderTradingE.pdf
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5.4.Blackout Period
NO EMPLOYEE shall exercise a securities transaction on a day during which any Fund or other Client of BMO GAM Asia has a pending “buy” or “sell” order in that same security until that order is executed or withdrawn. Priority should always be given to securities transactions for any Fund or clients over personal investments.
NO INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL shall buy or sell a security within five (5) trading days before or after a Client trades in that security, or a recommendation on that investment is made or proposed to a Client. Other non-investment employees are subject to such restrictions for one (1) trading day. Because your responsibility is to put Client’s interests ahead of your own, you may not delay taking appropriate action for a Client in order to benefit or avoid potential adverse consequences in your personal account. The above may not be applied where client orders have been fully executed and any conflicts have been removed and it is subject to CCO (or his delegate) decision on a case-by-case basis.
You are required to provide the following reports within the specific timeline of your Security holdings and transactions to the Compliance Department. For the avoidance of doubt, the reports mentioned below also include those of the members of your Immediate Family and the covered accounts referred to under “Applicability of the Policies” above.
a)Initial Report of Holdings. Within ten (10) calendar days after joining BMO GAM Asia, you must submit to the Compliance Department a report of your holdings of Securities, including the name, stock code and number of shares/principal amount of each Security held upon the time you joined BMO GAM Asia, and the name of any broker, dealer or bank with whom you maintained an account for trading or holding any type of securities, together with the relevant statements as a proof.
b)Annual Report of Holdings Within thirty (30) calendar days after the end of each calendar year, you must submit to the Compliance Department a report of your holdings of Securities as at 31 December of the immediate previous year, including the name, stock code and number of shares/principal amount of each Security, and the name of any broker, dealer or bank with whom you maintained an account for trading or holding any type of securities, together with the relevant statements as a proof.
c)Quarterly Transaction Report. Within thirty (30) calendar days after the end of each calendar quarter, you must submit to the Compliance Department a report of your transactions in Securities which require pre-clearance or a gift of such Securities during that quarter, including the date of the transaction, the name, the ticker, and the number of shares/ principal amount of each Security in the transaction, the nature of the transaction (whether a purchase, sale, or other type of acquisition or disposition, including a gift), the price of the Security at which the transaction was effected, and the name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through the transaction was effected, together with the relevant monthly statements (quarterly statement will suffice if monthly statement is not issued by the broker) as a proof.
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5.6.Approval of Brokers, Statements of accounts and Confirmations of Transactions
You must obtain pre-approval from the CCO (or his delegate) before opening an outside brokerage account for personal account dealing of Securities. You must ensure that each broker, dealer or bank with which you maintain an account send directly to the Compliance Department copies of monthly statements of account of your personal brokerage accounts by signing a consent letter addressing to the broker, dealer or bank, and countersigned by CCO. Alternatively, the employee can directly submit the monthly statements of account to Compliance Department by himself/herself on a quarterly basis.
For those employees execute personal account trading, they are required to either provide statements of account or confirmations of transactions (upon request) for the purpose of regular monitoring purpose. For those employees who do not provide reports of securities holding or statements of accounts timely, the compliance department will send chaser email to these employees and copy to the CCO for escalation purpose. Where necessary, CCO will consider to further escalate to Head of GAM Asia.
5.7.Monthly Stocks Saving Plan (the “Plan”)
You are required to obtain one-off prior approval from the CCO (or his delegate) on the stocks you are going to select before you join the Monthly Stocks Savings Plan. Pre-approval requirement will be waived for the monthly transactions held by your brokers if there is no change in the Plan. However, if there is any change in your Plan afterwards, such as change of stocks or change in timing in placing order, re-approval from CCO (or his delegate) is needed.
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The Company must ensure that the employee does not make any recommendations to its client unless the recommendation is suitable for that client. In deciding whether or not such an advice is suitable, the Company must have regard to the facts disclosed by the client and other relevant facts about the client of which the Company is or should reasonably be aware. When the Company recommends or effects a transaction in an investment, it must have reasonable grounds for believing that the recommendation or transaction is appropriate for that client before the conclusion of the client agreement.
2.BEST EXECUTION
Portfolio Manager / Dealer have a fiduciary duty to ensure clients receive best execution (i.e. the best available terms, taking into account the relevant market at the time for transaction of the size and kind concerned). When achieving best execution, the Portfolio Manager / Dealer may consider various factors in addition to price, including quality of execution, settlement efficiency counterparty risk, the quality of broker research and sales service provided. Training on best execution is provided to dealers by Compliance team (or its designate, where applicable) and it is conducted once every two years.
For details of best execution policy, please refer to the ETF Portfolio Management Procedure Manual or applicable best execution policy.
In addition, BMO GAM Asia has outsourced the dealing support function for its placement of order routing for certain funds/portfolio to a BMO affiliate in EMEA. BMO GAM Asia would rely on its affiliate’s implementation of best execution policy by performing regular oversight, including conducting monitoring and testing activities to ensure their adherence to best execution principles.
When allocating executed trades to accounts, undue preference should not be given to any Portfolio Manager or Client. Allocation must be fair, reasonable and in the best interests of Clients. Orders for the same security may be aggregated on behalf of more than one client account in order to facilitate best execution and to reduce costs. Portfolio Managers must determine and document each account’s allocation basis before the order is submitted to the trading desk. Executed transaction should be allocated promptly in accordance with the stated intention, except where the revised allocation does not disadvantage a client and the reasons for the re-allocation must be clearly documented. However, certain orders for the same security may not be aggregated for practical reasons, such as trades for index-tracking funds.
As soon as reasonably practical after an execution is reported by a broker or upon effecting a cross, the execution(s) must be allocated to accounts by adhering to the rules set out below. At the time of allocation, an execution must be fully allocated to accounts - no portion of the execution can be left unallocated. All executions must be fully allocated to accounts by the close-of-business each day.
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Under normal circumstances, an execution must be pro-rated, based on outstanding quantity, across the accounts defined in the intended basis of allocation for the order(s) concerned. This pro-rata basis also applies to orders which are partially filled.
In cases where an Order is incomplete and a pure pro-rate results in an uneconomically small Client Allocation, the Portfolio Manager / Dealer may at his/her discretion either exclude the Client from the allocation altogether or complete the total order for the Client. The reason must be recorded on the system.
The Executions must be allocated to Clients at the executed price reported by the Broker, without exception.
The 'Allocation' time against the Execution time should be recorded.
Executions should only be de-allocated where a genuine mistake has been made. A reason for re-allocation must be recorded on system.
For details, please refer to the ETF Portfolio Management Procedure Manual.
4.CLIENT'S UNDERSTANDING OF RISK
The Company must take steps to satisfy itself that the client has an understanding of the risks involved with advisory or discretionary transactions. If the Company has been instructed to effect a transaction in any investment on a client's behalf and has reason to believe that the investment is unsuitable for that client, it must first advise the client not to proceed, explaining the reasons for the advice. Only if the client repeats his instruction, despite the advice, should the Company proceed with the transaction. Written evidence must be obtained where this rule is applied.
5.CHURNING
You must not effect transactions with excessive frequency or size, given the client's investment objectives and the agreed portfolio management policy. For advisory clients, you must not make recommendations that would cause transactions to be effected which are in breach of the above prohibition.
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6.CROSS TRADES
A Portfolio Manager should only undertake sale and purchase transactions between client accounts (cross trades) where:
a) the sale and purchase decisions are in the best interests of both clients and
fall within the investment objective, restrictions and policies of both clients;
b)the trades are executed on arm's length terms at current market value;
c)the reasons for such trades are documented prior to execution;
d)such activities are disclosed to both clients; and
e)there is a change of beneficial ownership.
All cross trades will be logged in Cross Trade Log by BC&C. Any cross trade executed in Hong Kong requires approvals by both BC&C and Responsible Officers and the cross trade will be reviewed quarterly at Trade Management Committee.
BMO GAM Asia currently does not enter into any soft dollar arrangement with its brokers, approvals from BC&C and BMO Legal are required if the Company enters into any such arrangement and ALL the following criteria must be met.
BMO GAM Asia act for clients in the exercise of investment discretion, and may receive goods or services (i.e. soft dollars) from a broker in consideration of directing transaction business on behalf of such clients to the broker only if:
a)the goods or services are of demonstrable benefit to BMO GAM Asia’s clients;
b)transaction execution is consistent with best execution standards and brokerage rates are not in excess of customary full-service brokerage rates;
c)the client has consented in writing to the receipt of such goods and services;
d)disclosure is made at least annually of BMO GAM Asia’s practices for receiving such goods and services, including a description of the goods and services received; and
e)if soft dollar is allowed by local regulatory authorities.
Goods and services may include: research and advisory services; economic and political analysis; portfolio analysis, including valuation and performance measurement; market analysis, data and quotation services; computer software incidental to the above goods and services; and investment-related publications
Goods and services may NOT include cash or money rebate, travel, accommodation, entertainment, general administrative goods or services, general office equipment or premises, membership fees, employee salaries, or direct money payments.
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8.Adhering and Monitoring of Investment Restrictions
Portfolio Manager should ensure that he/she understands and is familiar with the client's investment requirements and stated policy before he/she takes on the management of, or provides advice to, the account and any trade execution is carried out on behalf of the account. These investment restrictions should be inputted into investment compliance systems before a mandate commences trading/advising.
Exception reports should be generated from investment compliance system on investment restriction breaches (advertent and inadvertent) daily. The BC&C should follow up with the relevant Portfolio Manager and ensure that investment restriction breaches are promptly and properly rectified and dealt with.
9.Trading Error Correction Policy
GAM Asia maintains a separate policy called “Breach & Error Standard” on the general principles, management framework and process, monitoring and reporting as well as the escalation mechanism in handling breach and error, including trading error.
For details, please refer to the BMO GAM’s Breach & Error Standard.
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1.SALES AND MARKETING GUIDELINES
a)Senior Management is ultimately responsible for the integrity, professionalism and regulatory compliance of the marketing and sales practices
b)Head of Distribution is responsible for the marketing activities of those under his/her supervision:
§Fully understand the products being marketed
§Be aware of the clients to whom those products are being marketed
§Satisfy that the guidelines below are being adhered to
Currently, BMO GAM Asia only targets on institutional and intermediary clients for marketing and distribution purpose.
For guidance of media communication, please refer to BMO GAM Media Spokesperson Standard and Social Media Policy, where applicable.
For BMO GAM Media Spokesperson Standard, please see the link below:
https://intranet.bmogc.net/wealth/portal/globalgam/Documents/GlobalGAM%20Documents/BMO%20GAM%20Standard%20-%20Media%20Spokesperson%20(Dec%202017).pdf
For Social Media Policy, please see the link below:
https://intranet.bmogc.net/wealth/portal/investorline/PoliciesAndProcedures/Social%20Media.pdf#search=Corporate%20Communication%20Policy%20and%20Social%20Media%20Policy
1.1.2.Regulations on sales and marketing
Each aspect of the marketing process is subject to regulatory and market practice requirements. BMO GAM Asia must strictly comply with these requirements.
1.1.3.Cross border marketing
The regulations on sales and marketing will vary between different jurisdictions, and BMO GAM Asia must comply with applicable requirements in the jurisdiction where the marketing activities are taken place. In general, before carrying out cross-border activities that are likely to be regulated under the laws of other jurisdictions (for example, signing of account agreements or mandates; marketing or selling or entering into transactions of investment products; and giving advice), the employee must ensure that he/she understands the applicable regulatory requirements and restrictions for such activities. Legal and Compliance should be consulted before any marketing activities for a new jurisdiction, new client type or new product type. Appropriate disclaimer should be placed in the material to be used for cross-border marketing activities.
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For details of compliance with cross-border marketing activities, please refer to the respective Country Guidelines published by legal team.
Licensees must be competent to advise on and assess the suitability of the investments they are recommending / dealing in and understand and comply with SFC regulations in respect of all their dealing with clients.
1.2.Guidelines on marketing and sales practices
Understand all the major risks of the products being marketed.
1.2.2.Sophistication of the client
Evaluation should consider the nature of the client and the product. Ensure that client is able to understand the major risks of the product. Client should also be provided adequate information to enable them to understand the product and its risks and make an informed decision.
1.2.3.Client investment objectives
Understand clearly clients’ investment objectives and try to match the products with their requirements to ensure the risk profile of the product is suitable for the client depending on the types of client.
1.2.4.Independent professional advice
BMO GAM Asia is not normally the client’s investment adviser, nor will it advise on tax or legal issues. Client should be advised, if necessary, to obtain independent professional advices on all aspects of the investment.
1.2.5.Books and records
Document your discussions and negotiations. This will help to resolve the matter quickly and fairly in the event of a dispute. As general rules:
§Keep copies of all written correspondence, in particular all offering documents
§Establish appropriate records of all discussions or meetings with client during which you discuss the client’s investment needs or the risks of a particular product
1.2.6.Do not mislead or deceive
Any act (words, promises, omitting essential information, actions, displays, advices, statements, etc) which is misleading or deceptive, or is likely to mislead or deceive is prohibited.
1.2.7.No false representations or fraud
Any activity involving a fraud on a client is strictly prohibited. Similarly, false representations about the characteristics of a product or services are also prohibited.
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2.GUIDELINES ON MARKETING MATERIAL
Guidelines on Marketing Material (the “Guidelines”) apply to all marketing materials distributed by BMO GAM Asia.
Marketing materials are those intended to be distributed to third parties outside BMO GAM Asia for marketing, promotional or sales purpose, including but not limited to:
·BMO Website
·product brochures, flyers, presentations
·audio and video communications
·newsletters, updates
·advertisements and promotional materials (whether in print, audio or televised)
·press releases
These marketing materials may be written, oral, transmitted via radio, television or through the Internet.
Generally, all marketing materials must be reviewed and approved by Compliance before distributing to clients. Generally, Compliance requires 3 business days for such review in order to provide the first round of requisition, and the actual timeframe would depend on the content, complexity and length of the materials.
Regarding the procedures in preparing marketing materials, please refer to “Sales & Marketing – Preparing of Marketing Materials for use in APAC” for details.
For details in respect of updating BMO Website, please refer to a separate Website Update Policy and Procedures.
2.1.2.Roles and responsibilities
Sales and Marketing is responsible for ensuring:
·accuracy and completeness of the content
·compliance with guidelines listed out in Paragraphs 1.1 and 1.2 of this Section
·suitability to the intended recipient in terms of client types, client profiles, including investment objective, risk profile and sophistication level
·compliance with cross border selling restriction regulations as stated in the respective Country Guidelines (where applicable)
·the quality of translation (where applicable)
Compliance reviews the English version only of the external communications to ensure that it:
·complies with relevant local rules and regulations
·does not contain obvious misrepresentation
·includes adequate disclosures and disclaimers from local regulatory perspective
Legal is responsible for:
·define required disclaimers
·provide advices to Compliance on interpretation of rules and regulations
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2.1.3.Content of marketing material
a)Marketing material must not be false, biased, misleading or deceptive
b)Descriptions should be clear, fair and present a balanced picture of the product with adequate risk disclosures
c)Statements made should be factual (i.e. supported by verifiable sources), do not use language that is superlative and exaggerating
d)Language should not appear to be promising or guaranteeing anything
e)Information should be timely, and data should be up-to-date. Source (and as of date of source) of all data should be specified
f)Product descriptions must be consistent with offering documents
g)Where performance or returns information and analysis, or expected cash flow information is shown, basis of which should be clearly specified
h)A comparison of performance figures should be fair, accurate and relevant, comparing “like with like”
i)While logos of other companies, pictures, artworks are included, ensure that we have the authority to use the logos, pictures, artworks, etc
j)When providing a synopsis or analysis, e.g. investment economic outlook, state all the relevant facts in order to give a fair view
Marketing material on SFC-authorized fund should comply with the Advertising Guidelines Applicable to Collective Investment Schemes Authorized under the Product Codes available on SFC website.
2.1.4.Translation of marketing material
a)Sales and Marketing is responsible for ensuring the quality of translation, where applicable. Compliance review and approval will be granted on the English version of the material, and will not comment on the translated version.
b)In providing a translated version of marketing materials/presentation to clients or prospects, BMO GAM Asia needs to ensure that care is taken in the preparation of the translation. Where translation is conducted internally, the quality of translation should be reviewed by a competent individual conversant with that language. An email proof sent by reviewer is required to submit to Compliance team as review evidence of translated version. Where third party service provider is engaged, BMO GAM Asia is expected to exercise due care in the selection of such service provider. In general, such duty can be discharged where BMO GAM Asia appoints a professional translator or a law firm since it is reasonable to rely on them to provide accurate translation.
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c)Sales and Marketing team is responsible to ensure the following disclosure or as provided by Legal from time to time should be shown prominently on the cover page of the translated material, and the translated version should be provided together with the English version:
“The translation is provided to the recipient for reference purposes only. In the event of any discrepancies between the information in the translated and English version documents, the English version will take precedence.”
2.2.Marketing materials prepared by BMO GAM affiliates
2.2.1.If the marketing materials to be distributed by BMO GAM Asia are prepared by affiliates of BMO GAM or the context of such information is in relation to fund/portfolio being managed by the BMO affiliates BMO GAM Asia can rely on the reviews and controls by the affiliates and assume that the materials are accurate and complete, up-to-date and not misleading. Sales and marketing team is required to obtain approval number from the respective compliance team of BMO GAM affiliates (if case there is no approval number, an approval email from respective compliance team is required) and then provide such information to HK compliance team.
2.2.2.Marketing team should ensure that the marketing materials are suitable to the clients according to client profile, including investment objective, risk profile and sophistication level.
2.2.3.Compliance should review the marketing materials focusing on Asia specific regulatory requirements.
2.3.Marketing materials review procedures
When submitting marketing material review request to Compliance, please complete the below approval checklist, and note the following:
?Generally 3 business days for Compliance team to review in order to provide the first round of requisition. To speed up the review, (i) if this is a new material, please provide Compliance ONLY the material to be reviewed in the review request email (e.g. not to include your email communications with other GAM affiliates); (ii) if this is an updated version from previous approved deck, please do comparison and advise Compliance team on the new slides / amendments which require Compliance team to review and approve.
For details, please refer to separate procedure called “Sales & Marketing –
Preparation of Marketing Materials for use in APAC” and “Bi-weekly BMO ETF(HK) Update Operating Procedures.
?Please provide Compliance team the final version (and translated final version, if any) incorporated all comments from Compliance team. Should Compliance team has no further comments, an approval reference number will be provided for record.
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1 |
Title/description of the material |
|
2 |
Material type (e.g. Strategy or Fund presentation/Factsheet/ General Market Commentary/Capability deck/Press release) |
|
3 |
If the material is prepared by other BMO GAM affiliates, had local Compliance reviewed and approved the material? (Please provide approval ref number) |
|
4 |
Is the recipient an institutional client or intermediary? (Please name the client type) |
|
5 |
Which countries will this material be distributed to? |
|
6 |
How will the material be delivered to the recipients? (e.g. one-on-one meeting, conference, roundtable) |
|
7 |
Is it provided on reverse-enquiry basis? (Documentary evidence must be available) |
|
8 |
Will the material be translated into other languages? If so, please provide ·Translated version (final version) ·Paragraph containing the translation disclaimer ·Due diligent performed (for external translator) ·Confirmation that the quality of translation had been reviewed internally (for internal translator, except for Japanese which is subject to a separate control process) |
|
9 |
Any other important information |
|
All written contracts, agreements, and other legal documents with external parties that commit BMO GAM Asia (whether itself or on behalf of clients) to obligations, payments or liabilities must be reviewed by Legal and approved by BMO GAM Asia management.
2.4.2.Master distribution agreement
a)Before distributing the funds or services of any BMO GAM affiliates, BMO GAM Asia must enter into a master distribution agreement with the corresponding affiliates.
b)BMO GAM Asia Legal will liaise with the Legal of the affiliates, and provide final draft to managements of both parties for review and approval.
c)The agreement must be duly signed by the authorized signatories of BMO GAM Asia and the affiliates.
2.4.3.Distribution agreement with intermediary
a)Legal will provide a distribution agreement template.
b)Sales and Marketing will prepare the agreement with the intermediary based on the template provided by Legal (with guidance from Legal where necessary).
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c)Any changes proposed by the intermediary in the agreement must be referred to Legal for advice and approved by BMO GAM Asia management.
d)Agreement must be duly signed by the authorized signatories of BMO GAM Asia and the intermediary. Legal should be consulted in case of doubt.
e)Original signed agreements will be kept by the Marketing team.
2.4.4.Investment Management Agreement
a)Where the Company provides to a client (other than an agent acting for an identified principal) investment services, there should be an Investment Management Agreement in place. The Investment Management Agreement should never exclude or restrict any duty or liability to the client which it has under the law or the regulatory system.
b)Client agreement should be reviewed by the Sales & Distribution team, BMO Legal, and BC&C, and approved and signed by the Director(s).
c)The Company shall ensure that it complies with its obligations under a client agreement. If any breach is observed, it must be reported to the BC&C immediately.
2.4.5.Disclosure of the Company’s Charges to Clients
All fees charges and commissions (if any) should be set out in the Investment Management Agreement signed by the client.
3.PROFESSIONAL INVESTOR CLASSIFICATION
BMO GAM Asia is required to define the nature of its relationship with each of its customers and to classify them into different categories following certain factors. This is to determine the need to comply with certain regulatory requirements when transacting investment products with our customers.
Prior to making a call, invitation or offer of any products regulated under the SFO to our customers, BMO GAM Asia is required to ascertain whether the customer is a Professional Investor.
‘Professional Investor’ (“PI”) is defined in section 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the SFO. It includes specified entities set out in paragraphs (a) to (i) of the definition (e.g. banks, insurance companies and licensed corporations), and persons belonging to a class prescribed under the Securities and Futures (Professional Investor) Rules which mainly refer to high net worth corporations and individuals.
PI is also referred to in the SFC Code of Conduct in the following terms:
Institutional Professional Investors – persons falling under paragraphs (a) to (i) of the definition PI under the SFO.
Corporate Professional Investors – trust corporations, corporations or partnerships falling under sections 3(a), (c) and (d) of the Securities and Futures (Professional Investor) Rules.
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Individual Professional Investors – individuals falling under section 3(b) of the Securities and Futures (Professional Investor) Rules.
Notwithstanding that some legal restrictions imposed by the SFO (e.g. the issuance of advertisements, the making of unsolicited calls and the communication of an offer in relation to securities) do not apply to BMO GAM Asia when dealing with PI, all the requirements set out in the SFC Code of Conduct must still be strictly observed subject to exemptions.
Before BMO GAM Asia can rely on certain regulatory exemptions under the SFC Code of Conduct (i.e. suitability requirement, sales related disclosure, investor characterization, client agreement etc.), the customers we are dealing with must either fall within the definition of Institutional Professional Investors, or Corporate Professional Investors who satisfy the three criteria below after undertaking an assessment as set out in the SFC Code of Conduct.
·the Corporate Professional Investor has the appropriate corporate structure and investment process and controls (i.e. how investment decisions are made, including whether the corporation has a specialized treasury or other function responsible for making investment decisions);
·the person(s) responsible for making investment decisions on behalf of the Corporate Professional Investor has (have) sufficient investment background (including the investment experience of such person(s)); and
·the Corporate Professional Investor is aware of the risks involved which is considered in terms of the person(s) responsible for making investment decisions.
The above assessment should be in writing, and a separate assessment should be undertaken for different product types or markets. New assessment is required where a Corporate Professional Investor has ceased to trade in the relevant product or market for more than 2 years.
In addition, before relying on the exemptions, GAM Asia should obtain the written consent from the Corporate Professional Investor agreeing on the PI classification as well as acknowledging the risks and consequences of being a PI. GAM Asia also carry out an annual confirmation exercise to ensure the customer continues to fulfill the requisite requirements for being treated as a PI.
Relevant business should define the types of customers and products they will pursue. Where PI classification is relevant, appropriate PI identification and assessment procedures must be established and strictly followed. Target customers of BMO GAM Asia are Institutional Professional Investors. If the customer is not an Institutional Professional Investor, it is subject to Senior Management approval before BMO GAM Asia can enter into contract with this type of customer.
Complaints received from clients (including funds and fund investors) should be handled properly with appropriate remedial action, and clients should be advised about further steps to be taken if complaints are not promptly remedied. If subject matters relate to other client or raise issue of broader concern, BMO GAM Asia should take steps to investigate notwithstanding other client may not have filed complaints with BMO GAM Asia.
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A complaint means any comment or statement by, or on behalf of, a client (whether written or oral) that criticizes or conveys a sense of grievance or dissatisfaction with any aspect of BMO GAM Asia's services. All complaints must be referred to BC&C and Compliance department immediately.
BMO GAM Asia should comply with the Financial Dispute Resolution Scheme (“FDRS”) for managing and resolving disputes administered by the FDRC in full and be bound by the dispute resolution processes under the FDRS. BMO GAM Asia should also make honest and diligent disclosure before mediators / arbitrators and render all reasonable assistance to the FDRS.
BMO GAM Asia should also report to the SFC for any determination or settlement of a compliant in connection with the FDRS (including details of the determination or settlement), if so requested by the SFC.
For details, please refer to the separate Client Complaints Handling Procedures.
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1.1.1.BMO GAM Asia is licensed by the SFC to conduct Type 1 dealing in securities, Type 4 advising on securities and Type 9 asset management regulated activities. Its licensing conditions are:
oFor Type 9 regulated activity that it shall not provide a service of managing a portfolio of futures contracts for another person unless it is for hedging purpose only;
oFor Type 1 regulated activity, it shall not conduct business other than: (a) communicating offers to effect dealings in securities to other intermediaries, for the persons from whom those offers are received; (b) introducing persons to other intermediaries, in order that such persons may: (i) effect dealings in securities; or (ii) make offers to deal in securities; and (c) dealing in collective investment schemes. The terms "collective investment scheme" and "dealing" are as defined under the Securities and Futures Ordinance.
1.1.2.BMO GAM Asia may hold client assets. The term “hold” and “client assets” are defined in Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the SFO.
Employees must observe the regulatory requirements as set out below if BMO GAM Asia receives or holds client assets in its own name. For the purpose of the following provisions, “client assets” shall include investor assets.
a)All client assets received or held by BMO GAM Asia must be segregated and dealt with in accordance with the Securities and Futures (Client Money) Rules (“CMR”) and the Securities and Futures (Client Securities) Rules (“CSR”), including obtaining the appropriate client authority prior to withdrawal or transfer of client assets. BMO GAM Asia should also segregate the assets under the house account (if any) and client accounts.
b)BMO GAM Asia must handle client assets to ensure client assets are accounted for properly, promptly and adequately safeguarded in accordance with the CMR and CSR. No client assets will be kept in BMO GAM Asia’s premises.
c)BMO GAM Asia has steps in place to ensure the custodian is properly qualified for the performance of its functions on an ongoing basis, including the custodian’s suitability and financial standing.
d)Under the CSR, client securities must be kept in a segregated account maintained with:
·An authorized financial institution;
·A custodian approved by the SFC; or
·Another SFC licensed intermediary dealing in securities
Under the CMR, client money must be kept in segregated account maintained with:
·An authorized financial institution; or
·A custodian approved by the SFC
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e)BMO GAM Asia is required to report to the SFC within one business day if it does not comply with several specific provisions of the CMR and CSR (these requirements are set out in sections 11 and 12 of the CMR and CSR respectively).
f)If the client assets are ever held by group companies, the group company holding client assets in Hong Kong are regarded as an associated entity under the SFO and it is subject to the CMR and CSR and specific requirements although it is not required to be licensed with the SFC.
g)BMO GAM Asia or the “associated entity” (if any) is required to respond promptly to client's requests for information on corporate action in relation to the client assets.
h)If the client assets are ever received or held overseas, additional risk disclosures must be provided to the client, as such assets may not enjoy the same protection as that conferred under the SFO, CMR and CSR.
i)BMO GAM Asia is also required to keep records showing each client assets under the Securities and Futures (Keeping of Records) Rules.
j)In terms of operational internal controls, BMO GAM Asia has in place procedures to protect client assets from theft, fraud and other acts of misappropriation, including:
·defined authority to transfer and withdraw client assets
·maintenance of register of receiving client assets and update of client assets ledger
·proper audit trails to prevent, detect and investigate suspected improprieties
·regular reconciliations of BMO GAM Asia’s internal records and third party documents, e.g. bank statements or custodian statements
·review of reconciliations and significant client assets movements by appropriate senior management
·segregation of asset management function from back office function in relation to client assets
k)BMO GAM Asia is also required to prepare and provide receipts (standardized and sequentially numbered) to clients no later than the end of the second business day after receiving client money or securities pursuant to the Securities and Futures (Contract Notes, Statements of Account and Receipts) Rules. A monthly statement is also required if BMO GAM Asia holds client assets at the end of the month (Note: Where BMO GAM Asia only holds trading accounts in its own name with execution brokers, it is not required to issue receipts because it does not receive any client assets.).
l)Employees are not allowed to deviate from BMO GAM Asia’s current business plan which was submitted to the SFC and are required to report any exceptions to Compliance Department immediately.
m)Employees must consult the BC&C Department if they have any questions in relation to client assets.
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1.2.Staff of BMO GAM Asia
Staff of BMO GAM Asia who performs regulated functions is registered as licensed representative (of Type 1, Type 4 and/or Type 9 activities) accredited to BMO GAM Asia. Please refer to the Guidelines on Competence and the Fit and Proper Guidelines for the SFC’s general expectation of what is necessary to satisfy the licensing or registration requirements that a person is fit and proper (e.g. the minimum academic / industry qualification & regulatory knowledge).
Staff of BMO affiliates temporarily performing Type 1 and/ Type 4 regulated activities in Hong Kong may apply to the SFC to be temporary licensed representative accredited to BMO GAM Asia. Temporary licensed representatives are subject to the same ongoing requirements. Temporary license is not available for Type 9 regulated activity.
1.4.Ongoing regulatory requirements
BMO GAM Asia should appoint not less than 2 responsible officers to directly supervise the conduct of each regulated activity. For each regulated activity, there should have at least one responsible officer available at all times to supervise the business. The same individual may be appointed to be a responsible officer for more than one regulated activity provided that he/she is fit and proper to be so appointed and there is no conflict in the roles assumed.
At least one of the responsible officers must be an executive director (i.e. a director of the corporation who actively participates in, or is responsible for directly supervising the business of a regulated activity for which the corporation is licensed) and all executive directors must seek the SFC’s approval as responsible officer accredited to your corporation.
1.4.2.Manager-In-Charge and Senior Management
BMO GAM Asia is required to appoint Manager-In-Charges (MICs) for core functions defined by SFC:
·Overall Management Oversight
·Key Business Lines
·Operational Control and Review
·Risk Management
·Finance and Accounting
·Information Technology
·Compliance
·Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing
When appointing MIC of a core function, BMO GAM Asia should take into account the apparent or actual authority, and seniority, of that individual in relation to that core function.
Senior management of BMO GAM Asia includes:
·Board of Directors
·ROs
·MICs
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BMO GAM Asia should adopt a formal document, approved by the Board, clearly setting out the management structure of the corporation including the roles, responsibilities, accountability and reporting lines of its senior management personnel. It should submit to SFC the particulars of MICs, and an organizational chart depicting its management and governance structure, business and operational units and key human resources and their respective reporting lines.
Compliance team sends a quarterly reminder including a list of notifiable events to all MICs reminding their ongoing notification obligations.
BMO GAM Asia is required to provide the SFC with contact information of their complaints officers. This information is available in the public register, facilitating investors to lodge their complaints where necessary with the licensee concerned. Currently, it is the CCO who acts as the registered Complaints Officer.
Unless the client is an Institutional Professional Investor or Corporate Professional Investors which passes the CPI assessment criteria as mentioned above, BMO GAM Asia should ensure that a written agreement (Client Agreement) is entered into with a client before any services are provided to or transactions made on behalf of that client. A Client Agreement should be provided in a language understood by the client.
BMO GAM Asia is required to properly supervise their business conduct and remain fit and proper. In particular, BMO GAM Asia should comply with, inter alia, the requirements under the Code of Conduct and the Management, Supervision and Internal Control Guidelines for Persons Licensed by or Registered with the SFC and abide by general principles such as acting with due skill, care and diligence and dealing with their customers in a fair and honest manner.
1.4.6.Notification of certain events and changes
BMO GAM Asia and the licensed representatives are required to notify the SFC (within the specified time limit, and normally within 7 business days) or obtain the prior approval from the SFC of certain events and changes in their particulars. The changes requiring notification are specified in section 135 of the SFO and Parts 1 to 3 of Schedule 3 to the Securities and Futures (Licensing and Registration) (Information) Rules.
Please refer to SFC’s Licensing Handbook for a complete list of notification event.
Compliance team sends a quarterly reminder including a list of notifiable events to all licensed representatives, responsible officer and relevant key stakeholders reminding their ongoing notification obligations.
1.4.7.Submission of audited accounts
BMO GAM Asia is required to submit their audited accounts and other required documents within 4 months after the end of each financial year (section 156(1) of the SFO).
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1.4.8.Submission of FRR return
BMO GAM Asia is required to properly manage their financial risks and maintain at all times financial resources commensurate with the level of risk undertaken for the proper performance of their business including ensuring compliance with certain minimum requirements set out in the Securities and Futures (Financial Resources) Rules (“FRR”). The FRR requires BMO GAM Asia to maintain at all times adequate liquid capital, after making provision for market and counterparty risk, so as to enable it to meet all of its liabilities and this is being monitored by Finance Department. BMO GAM Asia is required to submit monthly FRR to the SFC (section 56 of the Securities and Futures (Financial Resources) Rules) within 21 days which is coordinated by Finance Department.
1.4.9.Submission of annual returns
BMO GAM Asia, responsible officers and the licensed representatives are required to submit annual returns to the SFC within one month after each anniversary date of their licenses, i.e. 31 January.
BMO GAM Asia, responsible officers and the licensed representatives must remain fit and proper at all times.
It is an obligation of every employee to attend compliance training. Compliance training is critical to ensure that all employees are informed of their legal and regulatory obligations. Employees are required to complete an online mandatory BMO ‐ Ethics, Legal & Compliance Training (“Mandatory Compliance Training”) annually. A quiz is set up for Mandatory Compliance Training and a minimum score is required to achieve before the licensed staff is accredited to the CPT hours for that training. Retaking the quiz is compulsory if the licensed staff fails to pass the minimum score threshold. Where applicable, the Mandatory Compliance Training program and materials are evaluated and updated on an annual basis.
For the purpose of maintaining and enhancing licensed staff industry knowledge, technical skill, professional expertise, ethical standards and regulatory knowledge,
Licensed representatives must undertake a minimum of 5 continuous professional training (“CPT”) hours per calendar year for each regulated activities he / she engages. Considering regulated activities can be classified into different groups for the purposes of meeting competence requirements, a similar approach can be applied for counting CPT hours under the CPT requirement regime. You may refer to the below table for the grouping.
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In addition to attending the Mandatory Compliance Training, licensed staff may attend training from external sources in order to meet his/her CPT obligations. The licensed staff should ensure that the contents of the training are appropriately structured and of benefit to the licensed staff in performing
his/her functions. Generally speaking, CPT activities should be of relevance to the functions to be performed by them and of significant intellectual and practical contents with involve interaction with other individuals. If the licensed staff can show that a particular course is relevant to more than one
competence group, the licensed staff may claim it as CPT in respect of all relevant regulated activities. For a non‐exhaustive list of example activities and topics which are relevant for CPT purpose, please refer to sections 6 and 7 of the Guidelines on Continuous Professional Training issued by the SFC.
In general, for individuals who are first licensed or have obtained approval to engage in new regulated activities during the year, you can be applied pro-rata with reference to the license or approval period. Excess CPT hours accumulated in one calendar year cannot be carried forward to the following year.
Individuals are required to retain appropriate records of all CPT activities completed in a calendar year. Documentary evidence sufficient to support attendance or completion of CPT activities including certificate of attendance and examination result should be kept by the licensed staff for a minimum of 3 years. The licensed staff is required to complete a standard CPT record sheet, showing details of CPT activities such as date of attendance, description of training courses and number of CPT hours claimed (“CPT Record Sheet”) and maintain it from time to time. The licensed staff is required to submit the duly completed CPT Record Sheet together with all of the documentary evidence for compliance team’s review on an annual basis. Compliance team is responsible to maintain and summarize all the licensed staff’s CPT activities in a CPT Register and assess whether (i) each of the CPT claimed by the licensed staff is eligible or not; (ii) each licensed staff satisfies the minimum CPT requirements in each calendar year. Separately, licensed staff is required to confirm his/her compliance with the continuous professional training (CPT) requirements for the previous calendar year when they electronically submit their annual returns in the SFC Online Portal.
Disciplinary actions including but not limited to issuing warning notice for those licensed staff who fail to comply with the minimum CPT requirements or keep sufficient record for CPT purpose.
Compliance team sends a quarterly email reminder to all responsible officers and licensed representatives reminding their obligations to fulfill their CPT requirements and keep the CPT attendance evidence.
1.4.11.Internal Investigation Disclosure Obligation of licensed staff
BMO GAM Asia is required to provide the SFC with additional information upon licensed staff cessation. Such ‘additional information’ requires BMO GAM Asia to -
oidentify whether departing licensed representatives and responsible officers has been the subject of an internal investigation in the six months prior to their departure;
oprovide details of the relevant internal investigation if such information have not been previously provided to the SFC; and
onotify the SFC as soon as practicable if any internal investigation involving the individual is commenced subsequent to the initial notification of cessation.
SFC FAQ should be referred for the clarifications on details of i) the scope of reportable investigations; ii) the level of detail required for disclosures; iii) the confidentiality applied to any disclosure made.
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For such obligation, two forms below have been prepared..
-Fitness and Properness Declaration (for new license applicants of BMO GAM Asia) (“F&P Declaration”)
HR department is responsible to pass the F&P Declaration for all new joiners to complete and sign. HR department will then pass the original F&P Declaration to Compliance team following HR’s acknowledgement.
-Departure Compliance Questionnaire (for departure of BMO GAM Asia licensed staff)
HR will pass the Departure Compliance Questionnaire to the Head of BMO GAM Asia Pacific (the “Head”) upon the departure of BMO GAM Asia’s licensed staff. After the Head has completed and signed, he will circle back to HR department and Legal Counsel to acknowledge before HR department passes the Departure Compliance Questionnaire to the Compliance team.
2.DISCLOSURE OF SIGNIFICANT EQUITY PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
Most jurisdictions have securities and exchange rules and laws which require legal notifications to local regulators and/ or stock exchanges if the listed stock’s shareholder (which includes a fund and/or an investment adviser of the fund)’s holding exceeds or subsequently falls below a stated percentage of the issuer’s outstanding common stock issue or an issuer’s entire outstanding equity.
In Hong Kong, the overriding objective of Part XV of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (“SFO”) is to enable those investing in listed corporations to obtain relevant information on a timely basis so they can make informed investment decisions.
The Disclosure of Interest (“DOI”) regime thus formulated under Part XV also enables investors to identify:
•the persons who control, or are in a position to control, interests in shares in listed corporations, and
•those who may benefit from transactions involving associated corporations of listed corporations.
It requires corporate insiders to give notice to both The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Ltd (“SEHK”) and the listed corporation concerned on the occurrence of certain events:
oSubstantial shareholders - individuals and corporations who are interested in 5% or more of any class of voting shares in a listed corporation, must disclose their interests, and short positions, in voting shares of the listed corporation; and
oDirectors and chief executives of a listed corporation must disclose their interests, and short positions, in any shares in a listed corporation (or any of its associated corporations) and their interests in any debentures of the listed corporation (or any of its associated corporations).
Accordingly, an investment manager, like BMO GAM Asia, is taken to have an interest in the shares of an SEHK-listed corporation held in the funds and client portfolios such BMO GAM Asia manages, if it is entitled to exercise any right conferred by the holding of the voting shares or control the exercise of any such right. Where such interests in the shares in the listed corporation reach the notifiable threshold (in general, 5%), or when a relevant notifiable event prescribed under the SFO occurs pertaining to these interests, a duty of disclosure arises by filing disclosure notices in respect of its notifiable interests in Hong Kong listed shares to SEHK and the relevant listed corporation.
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All the BMO GAM Asia’s fund positions have been fed into a global SHARC system for aggregation and this is being monitored by a compliance reporting team In EMEA.
The submission of DI form was filed electronically by EMEA Compliance Reporting team (copy to Hong Kong Compliance team) to the SEHK through the electronic filing system, namely, “Disclosure of Interests Online System” (“DION System”). The disclosure was not sent separately to the listed corporation as the SEHK provides a copy of such DI form to the relevant listed corporation.
Dealing disclosure obligations
Rule 22 of the Code of Takeovers and Mergers (“Takeover Code”) requires parties to an offer and their respective associates to disclose dealings in relevant securities of the offeree and the offeror (where applicable), conducted for themselves or on behalf of discretionary clients during an offer period. An “associate” is defined under the Takeovers Code as, among others, any person who owns or controls 5% or more of any class of relevant securities. Therefore, BMO GAM Asia, being a fund manager, may fall into the definition of associate under the Takeover Code and is required to comply with its dealing disclosure obligations when an offer period commences for relevant securities. Dealing disclosure under Rule 22 under Takeover Code is required to be submitted to the SFC via SFC online submission system by completing a prescribed disclosure form. Identification of 5% dealing disclosure is monitored through the SHARC system as mentioned above.
3.OUTSOURCING POLICY
The outsourcing policy of BMO GAM Asia is governed by the BMO corporate standards on outsourcing. For details, please refer to Outsourcing and Supplier Risk Management Corporate Standard, where applicable.
Outsourcing and Supplier Risk Management Corporate Standard, #002-60
http://cpandp.bmogc.net/en/Pages/002-6001.aspx
This policy applies to all outsourcing functions within BMO GAM Asia.
3.3 Outsourcing obligations in Hong Kong
The SFC has not published any Hong Kong specific guidelines on outsourcing, however, it has endorsed the Principles on Outsourcing of Financial Services for Market Intermediaries ("the Principles") which was published by the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) in February 2005 for creating a framework that will assist regulated entities in determining the steps they should take when considering outsourcing activities.
The Principles stress the importance of proper due diligence in the selection and monitoring of the service provider and recommend certain provisions that should be included in the contract with the outsourcing service provider. They also stress a need to ensure there are mechanisms in place to protect IT security, preserve client confidentiality, maintain business continuity, and grant a right for the regulator and the outsourced entity to retain access to books and records.
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IOSCO recommends the Principles be applied, in whole or in part, according to the degree of materiality of the outsourced activity to the ongoing business of the outsourcing firm and its regulatory obligations. BMO GAM Asia may make reference to the general principles as set out in IOSCO Outsourcing Principle.
The outsourcing firm and its management retain full legal liability and accountability to its clients and regulators for all functions that the firm may outsource to a third party, to the same extent as if these functions were performed in-house.
Outsourcing Principle by IOSCO
http://www.iosco.org/library/pubdocs/pdf/IOSCOPD299.pdf
3.4 Outsourcing to service providers
In addition, BMO GAM Asia is required to exercise due skill, care and diligence in the selection and appointment of delegates by performing initial due diligence on its competence, resources and capability perspectives. Where functions are delegated out, there should be ongoing monitoring of the competence of delegates. All the initial and on-going due diligence processes are required to be properly documented.
For detail, please refer to the Due Diligence Approach for service providers.
4.1.Insider Trading
Material Non-Public Information (MNPI) refers to information about an issuer or its securities that would reasonably be expected to have a significant effect on the market price or value of the issuer’s securities. You should assume that information is material if an investor, considering all the surrounding facts and circumstances, would find such information relevant in deciding whether or when to trade a security. In general, any non-public information that, if announced, could affect the price of the security should be considered to be material information. Sensitive information refers to client or Company confidential information.
You may not disclose to anyone, whether inside or outside the Company, any Company trade secrets, proprietary or confidential information unless you have been authorized to do so. You must keep confidential information regarding Client investment portfolios, actual or proposed securities trading activities of any Client, or investment research developed in the Company. You should take appropriate steps, when communicating the foregoing information internally, to maintain confidentiality, for example, limiting computer access, and speaking in private.
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POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN PREVENTION OF INSIDER TRADING
BMO GAM Asia unequivocally prohibits and forbids any director, officer, or employee from trading, either personally or on behalf of others (including, without limitation, investment companies and private accounts advised by BMO GAM Asia), on MNPI or from communicating MNPI to others in violation of law. This conduct is commonly referred to as “insider trading”. BMO GAM Asia’s policy applies to every director, officer, and employee of BMO GAM Asia and extends to activities within and outside their duties at BMO GAM Asia. Every director, officer and employee must read and retain these policies and procedures. Any questions regarding these Policies and Procedures should be referred to the Compliance Department or BC&C.
The term “insider trading” generally is used to refer to the use of MNPI to trade in securities (whether or not the trader is an “insider”) or the communication of MNPI to others in violation of a duty owed. While each jurisdiction has its own laws concerning insider trading, the laws generally prohibit:
•trading by an insider while in possession of MNPI;
•trading by a non-insider while in possession of MNPI, where the information either was disclosed to the non-insider in violation of an insider’s duty to keep it confidential or where the information was misappropriated; or
•communicating MNPI to others in violation of a duty to keep the information confidential.
BMO GAM Asia staff possessing MNPI may not:
a)Deal in the listed shares of that company or its related companies;
b)Deal in derivatives of the shares of that company or its related companies;
c)Advise or procure another person to deal in such listed securities or derivatives knowing or believing that person will go ahead and deal in them; or
d)Disclose the relevant information to another person knowing or believing that person will go ahead and deal in the listed securities or their derivatives.
Information is generally considered to be “material” where there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable investor would consider the information important in making his or her investment decisions. Material information can include but is not limited to information that is reasonably certain to have an effect (whether favorable or adverse) on the price of a company’s securities. As you are aware from the newspaper headlines, a number of insider trading cases have involved trading in securities which were the subject of actual or impending tender offers, or communicating non-public information regarding a potential tender offer. A tender offer will usually be considered material by the regulators and the courts in most jurisdictions. Other information which might be considered material (depending on the attendant facts and circumstances) includes, but is certainly not limited to: changes in previously released earnings estimates, an important financing development, impending default on debt obligations, the acquisition or loss of a major contract, significant mineral discoveries, merger, acquisition or joint venture negotiations, plans for “going private”, recapitalizations, leveraged buyouts, spinoffs, liquidations, assets dispositions, corporate restructuring, and other events which investors would consider significant.
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Information is “non-public” until has been effectively communicated to the marketplace. One must be able to point to some fact to show that the information is generally public. For example, information that is contained in a report filed with the regulators or that appears on a news service or in a publication such as the Asian Wall Street Journal or the New York Times or other publications of general circulation would generally be considered to have been communicated to the marketplace.
The penalties for trading on or communicating material non-public information in most jurisdictions (for example US, UK and Hong Kong etc) are extremely severe in nature, both for the individuals involved in such unlawful conduct and for any person who at the time of such conduct directly or indirectly controlled the person who engaged in such conduct. A person can be subject to the penalties below even if she/he does not personally benefit from the violation.
In addition, any violation of the law or of these Policies and Procedures may be subject to severe regulatory and criminal penalties including disgorgement of profits, substantial fines and imprisonment.
Employment consequences of such behavior may include:
othe suspension or loss of registration to work in the securities industry, and/or
odisciplinary action by BMO, which may include issuance of a warning letter, reporting to management, reversal of a trade, formal disciplinary action including investigation, monetary damages, and/or termination of employment.
oIn circumstances of a trade violation requiring a reversal of the transaction, the account is responsible for any losses and must forfeit any gains arising from a change in market value of the reversed position. Trades violations are generally resolved as expeditiously as possible. However, an employee maybe exposed to a change in market value over a longer period in the event of a reversal.
The foregoing is a very brief and simple summary of what constitutes insider trading. If you have a question concerning insider trading or concerning the status of specific information in your possession, you should consult the Compliance Department or BC&C.
4.2.Procedures to implement BMO GAM Asia’s Policy against Insider Trading
Compliance team adopts the following steps and procedures in handling MNPI upon notification by employees of BMO GAM Asia:
(a)Following receipt of the notification from such employee, BC&C/ Compliance team take the following actions and controls to prevent from any misuse of MNPI:
·Record in the “Log of Trade Restricted List” documenting details of the incident, including date, person involved and reason why the employee received the MNPI;
·Trading restriction on such security will be set in the order management system (“OMS”) once such security is added to the “Log of Trade Restricted List” to prevent any dealing of such security by any GAM Asia’s clients;
·Any personal account dealing (“PAD”) request of such security for pre-clearance purpose from any GAM Asia employee will be rejected once such security is added to the “Log of Trade Restricted List.”
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(b)Such security can only be removed from the “Log of Trade Restricted List” once the aforesaid information becomes public. Requestor must provide specific evidence of such public information to BC&C / Compliance team in order to uplift the trading restriction from the OMS and PAD request. Reason of such uplift will then be documented in the “Log of Trade Restricted List”.
In addition, the following corporate policies have been established to aid the officers, directors and employees of BMO GAM Asia in avoiding insider trading and to aid BMO GAM Asia in preventing, detecting and imposing sanctions against employees who engage in insider trading. Every officer, director and employee of BMO GAM Asia must follow these procedures or risk serious sanctions, including dismissal, substantial personal liability and criminal penalties.
For details, please refer to BMO Group Operating Directive – Personal Trading in Securities and the Prevention of Insider Trading, where applicable.
https://intranet.bmogc.net/corporate/portal/lccg/Documents/OpDirectPersTradingSecuritiesPreventionInsiderTradingE.pdf
4.2.1.Identifying Insider Information.
Before trading for yourself or others, including accounts that you manage, ask yourself the following questions:
•Is this information material? Is this information that a reasonable investor would consider important in making an investment decision? Would this information affect the market price of the security if generally disclosed?
•Do I have information about this company that is not publicly available? To whom has the information been provided? Has the information been publicly disseminated?
•How did I acquire this information? Did I acquire it in breach of a duty that I owe? Did I acquire the information from someone who had a duty not to disclose the information? Did I acquire the information which the understanding that I would not trade on the information or that I would keep it confidential?
If, after consideration of the above, you believe that the information is material and non-public, or if you have questions as to whether the information is material and non-public, you should take the following steps:
•Consult with the Compliance Department or the BC&C prior to effecting any transactions in the security
•Do not purchase or sell the security on behalf of yourself or others, including client accounts
•Do not recommend the purchase or sale of the security
•Do not communicate the information to another person
•After the matter has been reviewed, you will be instructed whether to continue any prohibition against trading and communication
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4.2.2 Restricting Access to MNPI.
Information in your possession that is material and non-public should not be communicated to anyone, including persons within BMO GAM Asia, except as provided above. In addition, care should be taken to ensure that such information is secure.
4.3 What are market abuse / manipulation?
Simply speaking, market manipulation is the conducting of market activities to interfere with the actual supply and demand of securities or derivatives so as to create a false or misleading appearance of the price or turnover of the securities or derivatives.
This can be done by creating a false or misleading market by driving up, suppressing or stabilizing the price of the securities in question. They may also mislead investors by creating the appearance of active trading of the securities through transactions in which a person buys or sells securities without a change of beneficial ownership in the transaction, i.e. wash sales.
4.4 How can market be manipulated?
Market manipulation tactics include:
·The release of false or misleading information.
·The taking up of wash sales from one another within a certain trading period to increase the turnover of the stock or distort the actual share price.
·The placing of purchase orders at slightly higher prices or sale orders at lower prices to drive up or suppress the price of the securities when the market just opened, i.e. "marking the open".
·The drying up of stocks supply to exert undue upward price pressure on the stocks. This is known as "cornering shares".
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4.5 Examples of Market Abuse / Manipulation?
Type of market abuse / manipulation |
Example |
1) Misuse of information
An insider discloses inside information to another person otherwise than in the proper course of his employment, profession or duties, or deals or attempts to deal in a qualifying investment or related investment on the basis of inside information relating to the investment. |
An individual learns from his friend that the friend’s wife’s company is about to be the subject of a takeover offer from another company. Accordingly, the person buys shares in the wife’s company in anticipation of making a profit on the rise in the share price. Assuming that the information about the takeover was not passed on by the friend/wife in the proper pursuance of his/her profession or duties, the very disclosure itself is market abuse. In addition, the share transaction would also be market abuse if the person knew, or could reasonably be expected to know, it was inside information. |
2) Insider dealing
An insider deals or attempts to deal in a qualifying investment or related investment on the basis of inside information relating to the investment in question. |
In the context of a takeover, an offeror or potential offeror, or an advisor to an offeror entering into a transaction in a qualifying investment, on the basis of inside information concerning the proposed bid. Trading on the basis of inside information obtained in the course of being ‘sounded out’ by external sales persons in respect of potential new debt issuance. Employees should be alert as to whether they have been inadvertently provided with inside information. |
3) Creating a false or misleading impression
Behavior likely to give false or misleading impression as to the supply or demand, price or value of an investment. |
Many people post messages on internet bulletin boards outlining the benefits of investing in a number of companies. Any untrue statement these may contain in relation to a company’s activities or profitability may create a false or misleading impression. |
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Market manipulators will be subject to severe punishment. The parallel civil and criminal regimes under the Securities and Futures Ordinance enable the SFC more effectively to combat market misconduct like market manipulation. A Market Misconduct Tribunal (MMT) has been set up to handle civil cases of all forms of market misconduct including market manipulation, insider dealing and the dissemination of false and misleading information about securities or futures contracts. The MMT will decide cases on the civil standard of proof and can impose a range of civil sanctions such as ordering the disgorgement of profits, "cease and desist" and "cold shoulder" orders, and disqualifying a person from directorship or management of a company.
Any SFC licensee found to have taken part in market manipulation may have their license suspended or revoked.
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5.INTERNAL PRODUCT APPROVAL FOR SFC-AUTHORIZED FUND
The ability to deliver new products to clients in a timely and efficient manner is a key contributor to the business success of BMO GAM Asia. The development and rollout of those new products should follow a process that includes an appropriate level of due diligence review and approval to ensure applicable risks are identified, assessed and managed. The process to follow is called the Internal Product Process (“IPP”).
The IPP gives approval to initiate product development and rollout progression for the new product. Once the IPP is approved, certain business development such as corporate marketing and relationship build may commence, in compliance with Group policy and legal/regulatory requirements during the lifecycle.
Once a formal launch date is determined, stakeholders shall confirm the readiness for launch at that time.
The IPP consists of three main elements:
·Product Committee
·Product Approval Process
oDue Diligence
oExecutive Approval
·Ongoing monitoring of existing approved products
oPost-sale obligation
oModification of contract terms / constitutive documents
oExit management (termination / de-authorisation)
This document is aligned with the SFC’s Guidance on Internal Product Approval Process dated 30th April 2014, which comprises general principles as follows:
1.Accountability
2.Infrastructure
3.Target market identification
4.Product design
5.Risk monitoring and stress testing
6.Termination / de-authorization
7.Modification of contract terms / constitutive documents
8.Fees
9.Distributor selection
10.Investor education
11.Disclosure
12.Conflicts of interest
13.Post-sale obligations
For the purpose of this document, Product is defined as:
·SFC approved funds sponsored and/or managed Note 1 & Note 2 by BMO GAM Asia
At a later date, the scope of the coverage of IPP may be broadened as needed.
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Note 1: Product Providers of existing SFC-authorized products (as of 30 April 2014) will not normally be required to submit a Confirmation to the Commission for any post-authorization applications (e.g. a scheme change application). However, so long as these products remain authorized, the Product Providers are expected to comply with the general principles on their product governance during the product life-cycle. The Commission reserves the power to request for a Confirmation during a post-authorization application should there be any doubt on the Product Provider’s compliance with this set of Guidance. In other words, we need to carry out ongoing performance monitoring and exit management for existing SFC-authorized products.
Note 2: SFC’s Guidance on Internal Product Approval Process dated 30th April 2014 is applicable to Product Providers in respect of SFC-authorized unit trusts and mutual funds, SFC-authorized investment-linked assurance schemes, and SFC-authorized unlisted structured investment products. The definition of “Product Provider” is:
1. Issuer of a structured investment product;
2. Management company of a unit trust / mutual fund;
3. The unit trust / mutual fund itself;
4. The board of directors of the unit trust /mutual fund; and
5. The insurance company issuing an ILAS
Product Committee (“Committee”) of BMO GAM Asia is set up to approve and review product-related matters. All new Products should go through an internal product approval process, with sign-offs from the Committee. Any approval or disapproval of products should be properly documented.
5.3.1.Purpose of the Product Committee
oReview and approval of new products
oCarry out ongoing review of approved product
oMonitor the implementation of the policies and procedures approved by the Committee
oMonitor compliance with established policies, goals, guidelines and applicable regulations regularly
To ensure each new product goes through proper due diligence and approval process, the Committee should comprise senior management and all key relevant functions covering both front-office and back-office functions.
The Chairperson of the Committee is a member of Senior Management member of BMO GAM Asia.
The Committee meets on a semi-annual basis and the Chairperson has the authority to convene additional meetings as circumstances require. Meeting agendas are prepared and distributed to Committee participants. Minutes are prepared and distributed summarizing any resolution, approval or decision of the Committee for each meeting.
A quorum for the Committee is attained when the Chairperson and at least three other members are in attendance and all decisions shall be passed by a majority.
The agenda for the semi-annual meetings shall consist of the following regular headings:
1. IPP of new products
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2. Ongoing monitoring of relevant existing approved products
3. Any other business
5.4.Internal Product Process (“IPP”)
5.4.1.Business Unit Responsibilities
The originating Business Unit should ensure the product being developed fits within its approved strategy during the initial idea and feasibility discussions. Once the appropriate executive sponsorship has been obtained, the originating Business Unit is responsible for completing the necessary documentation and managing the product development, due diligence review, approval steps, ongoing performance monitoring as well as exit management. It is also responsible for maintaining a documented audit trail of such stakeholder input.
The initial due diligence review carried out by the Business Unit itself, may include but not limited to the following areas:
·Market research, competitive analysis and strategy
·Industry research, benchmarking and forecasting
·Client-needs and suitability assessment
·Pricing strategy
·Communication strategy
·Front-line and back-office operations processing procedures
·BMO business conflicts, strategies and risk/reputation culture
·Regulatory requirements
The originating Business Unit should then document on the Product Approval Form template to capture and summarize all relevant product, risk, operations support and compliance guidelines required for stakeholders’ due diligence approval and review steps.
The IPP documents consist of the following elements:
·Target market identification
·Product Description and Product Design
·Risk monitoring and stress testing
·Fees
·Distributor selection
·Investor education
·Disclosure
·Legal and compliance
·Conflicts of interest
5.4.3.Stakeholders’ Due Diligence
The stakeholders that should be involved in the review process include, but are not limited to, Risk Management, Legal, Compliance and Product Operations.
Stakeholders are responsible for ensuring that an appropriate degree of due diligence review is carried out with respect to their subject matter. They should raise any concerns to the Business Unit within the identified timeframe and provide a positive affirmation or concurrence.
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Positive affirmation by stakeholders means that all significant risks and issues within their area of expertise have been identified; and these issues have been communicated to the Business Unit and to other stakeholders, where applicable. Stakeholders are responsible for ensuring their individual due diligence review steps, issues and comments are appropriately documented.
As the level of risk for a product increases, additional stakeholders should be included in the due diligence review step.
a)Approval Formality – The appropriate executive approvals must be obtained and duly documented prior to initiation of any new product action. The number and level of approvals required is intended to be scalable and is aligned with the nature and materiality of the issues and the incremental risks associated with the proposed new product.
The Business Unit Head and all members of the Committee must sign off, thereby confirming that all product and its associated risks are understood and acceptable to it. Appropriate approvals shall be determined based on the magnitude of change, complexity and identified risks.
b)Permitted Interim Activity – To facilitate development of the business, certain interim activity pre-launch such as corporate marketing, relationship build and the like, may commence once the IPP is approved. Business Unit shall consult with relevant parties, in particular Legal and Compliance before such interim activity may commence. This is to ensure Business Unit shall be provided with correct guidance as to relevant policy, legal and regulatory directives which they shall comply during the development cycle.
c)Conditional Approval – Stakeholders may annotate conditional approval subject to compliance with certain requirements. Most often such requirements may be of legal or regulatory nature, although they may be of any nature. Conditional Approval shall not hold up the development and rollout actions, but the conditions must be cleared before the new product can be launched.
All applications for authorization of SFC-authorized products under s104 or s104A of the SFO are required to submit a written confirmation to the SFC that this set of Guidelines has been and will be complied with.
Relevant to the nature of the product, once a new product has been launched in the market place, it’s strategic, financial, and operational and risk performance should be reviewed by the Business Unit and the Committee from time to time.
The nature and extent of the monitoring and reporting activities undertaken will depend upon the type of product, the experience and history with similar offerings, the product risk attributes and the overall level of product risk exposure, at least on a semi-annual basis at the Committee meeting. Developing an exit strategy, if the product does not meet its initial performance or risk expectations, should also be considered during the subsequent performance review.
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5.5.2.Post-sale obligations
The Business Unit should ensure that they will continue to serve the following functions after product issuance, pertinent to the risk nature of the products –
a)establish procedures to monitor product performance and review product viability;
b)review distribution strategy;
c)ensure ongoing disclosure of information relating to the product to keep investors informed; and
d)handle investors’ requests and review complaints
5.5.3.Modification of contract terms/constitutive documents
The Business Unit should ensure that the following will be taken into account when making modification(s) or adjustment(s) to a product or its contract terms/constitutive documents –
a)any reasons or justifications for the modification should be fair and reasonable; and
b)notification period given to investors must meet relevant regulatory and contractual requirements.
5.5.4.Exit management (termination / de-authorization)
The Business Unit should ensure that the termination/de-authorization processes pertinent to relevant products shall be carried out fairly. In particular –
a)any reasons or justifications for the termination/de-authorization should be fair and reasonable;
b)alternatives (if available) to investors should be fair and should not materially prejudice the rights or interests of investors;
c)notice contents and advance notification period given to investors must meet relevant regulatory and contractual requirements; and
d)the amount payable to investors upon any termination/de-authorization should be determined in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner, including appropriate treatment of:
·any accrued but unpaid interest/benefits;
·any market value adjustments; and
·any termination/de-authorization costs (if applicable).
For details, please refer to the separate Internal Product Process for SFC-Authorised Fund.
Electronic trading, for the purpose of the electronic trading requirements, means the trading of securities and futures contracts electronically and includes internet trading, direct market access and algorithmic trading.
BMO GAM Asia is responsible for the settlement and financial obligations of orders sent to the market through its Electronic Trading System (“ETS”) and for implementing policies, procedures and controls to supervise the orders in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.
6.2. Management and supervision
BMO GAM Asia should effectively manage and adequately supervise the design, development, deployment and operation of the ETS it uses.
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6.3.Adequacy of system
BMO GAM Asia should ensure the integrity of the ETS it uses, including the system’s reliability, security, and capacity, and have appropriate contingency measures in place.
Reliability report or alternative report serving similar purpose of existing electronic trading system is obtained and reviewed annually by BC&C and any exception will be reported to the Trade Management Committee.
BMO GAM Asia should keep, or cause to be kept, proper records on the design, development, deployment and operation of the ETS. Such records include:
a)Comprehensive documentation of the design and development, including any testings, reviews and modifications, upgrades or rectification of the ETS;
b)Comprehensive documentation of the risk management controls of the ETS;
c)Audit logs on the activities of the ETS;
d)Incident reports for all material system delays or failures of the ETS.
Record retention in BMO GAM Asia must be consistent with BMO policy, our accounting practices and tax and other applicable laws and regulations. BC&C reviews annually to ensure the records of the business are being retained in an appropriate, current and accurate manner in accordance to the relevant jurisdictions’ regulatory requirements.
For details, please refer to the Electronic Trading Policy.
7.PROTECTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION
BMO GAM Asia maintains personal information, relating both to employees and customers. Personal Information is information about an individual that is provided to or collected by the Enterprise. It includes, name, address, age and gender as well as personal financial records, identification numbers such as HKID/passport numbers, social insurance/security numbers, personal references and employment records. For details, please refer to Privacy Risk Corporate Standard, where applicable
http://cpandp.bmogc.net/en/Pages/002-0101.aspx
Control guidelines
In order to protect the privacy of individuals BMO GAM Asia should implement procedures to ensure that:
·There is lawful and fair collection of personal data and that the data subject is informed of the purpose and their right of, and how to, access the material;
·Personal data is accurate, kept up to date and kept no longer than necessary;
·The use of personal data is restricted to those who need it;
·Personal data is kept secure;
·Information must be generally available to individuals on the kinds of data being held and the purpose for which it is held; and
·Individuals must have rights of access to data held about them.
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8.CYBERSECURITY
BMO GAM Asia should observe the Circular to All License Corporations on Cybersecurity issued by SFC.
Key Areas of Concern
Given the evolving nature of cyber threats, policies and procedures shall be established to ensure:
·Adequate coverage of cybersecurity risk assessment exercises
·Adequate cybersecurity risk assessment of service providers
·Sufficient cybersecurity awareness training
·Adequate cybersecurity incident management arrangements
·Adequate data protection programs
For details, please refer to the cybersecurity policies maintained by GITRM.
9.VALUATION AND FAIR VALUATION OF PORTFOLIO ASSETS
BMO GAM Asia should set up valuation policies and procedures of portfolio/fund assets, particularly where the market value of the asset is unavailable or unreliable or becomes illiquid or hard-to-value as a result of significant market events.
General principles
a)Proper valuation of portfolio/fund assets is critical to ensure investor confidence in funds as a reliable and robust investment vehicle, and for proper investor protection
b)BMO GAM Asia should at all times exercise due care, skill and diligence to ensure that
·all assets of a portfolio/fund are fairly, independently and accurately valued in good faith and in the best interests of investors;
·the net asset value (NAV) of the fund is correctly calculated, in accordance with the constitutive and offering documents of the fund and applicable laws and regulations ;
·incoming, continuing and outgoing investors should be treated fairly such that subscriptions and redemptions of fund units are effected in a non-discriminatory manner;
·the assets of the portfolio/fund are consistently valued according to valuation policies and procedures ; and
·frequency of such valuation should be appropriate to the fund assets and deal frequency of the fund
c)BMO GAM Asia should establish comprehensive, documented policies and procedures to govern the valuation of assets of a portfolio/fund, including the process of handling exceptions. Such policies and procedures should identify appropriate valuation methodologies that will be used for valuing each type of asset of the portfolio/fund, having due regard to the nature of the asset type as well as market and industry best practices (including applicable IOSCO principles). In choosing a valuation method, BMO GAM Asia should where appropriate, consult the trustee or custodian of the portfolio/fund or seek advices from a suitably qualified third party expert. Valuation methodology should be consistently applied to the valuation of similar types of assets.
d)A fund’s valuation policies and procedures, and any material change thereto, should be appropriately disclosed to investors in the fund’s offering documents.
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e)BMO GAM Asia reviews the valuation policy and procedure on an annual basis to ensure its continued appropriateness and effective implementation. In addition, BMO GAM Asia appoints an external auditor to review the valuation policies, procedures and process on an annual basis in accordance with the SFC Fund Manager Code of Conduct.
For details, please refer to Valuation Procedures.
In addition, BMO GAM Asia should arrange to carry out reconciliation of our internal records against those issued by third parties (e.g. banks, custodian, brokers, etc.) in order to identify and rectify any errors, omissions or misplacement of assets. Reconciliation is performed by operation staff on a regular basis.
For details, please refer to Operational Procedure Manual & Workflow.
10.DISCLOSURE OF TRACKING DIFFERENCE, TRACKING ERROR, ONGOING CHARGES AND PASS PERFORMANCE OF SFC AUTHORIZED FUND
BMO GAM Asia should observe the following circulars issued by SFC for disclosure of tracking difference and tracking error of SFC authorized ETFs; and ongoing changes and pass performance of the SFC authorized funds managed by BMO GAM Asia:
·Circular on Disclosure of Tracking Difference and Tracking Error (dated 4 July 2014)
·Circular on Disclosure of the ongoing changes figure and past performance information in the Product Key Facts Statements (dated 3 Mar 2017)
For details, please refer to the Procedures re updating website and Product Key Facts Statements (“KFS”) to comply with SFC’s requirements in respect of (1) disclosure of ongoing charges figures and past performance information; and (2) disclosure of tracking difference and tracking error.
11.RESPONSIBLE OWNERSHIP POLICY / PROXY VOTING POLICY
The SFC has published consultation conclusions on the Principles of Responsible Ownership (the “Principles”), which aim to improve the corporate governance culture in Hong Kong by providing guidance on how investors should fulfill their ownership responsibilities in relation to their investments in Hong Kong listed companies.
To discharge their ownership responsibilities, investors should engage with the companies in which they invest to promote the long-term success of these companies; investors should:
1.establish and report to their stakeholders their policies for discharging their ownership responsibilities;
2.monitor and engage with their investee companies;
3.establish clear policies on when to escalate their engagement activities;
4.have clear policies on voting;
5.be willing to act collectively with other investors when appropriate;
6.report to their stakeholders on how they have discharged their ownership responsibilities; and
7.when investing on behalf of clients, have policies on managing conflicts of interests.
BMO GAM Asia has established policies and procedures to address ownership responsibilities and proxy voting described in the Principles.
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For details, please refer to the Responsible Investment Approach, Corporate Governance Guidance and Conflicts of Interest Policy – Proxy Voting with the respective link below:
BMO GAM Responsible Investment Approach
https://www.bmogam.com/gb-en/intermediary/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/responsible-investment-approach.pdf
BMO GAM CGG
https://www.bmogam.com/gb-en/intermediary/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/corporate-governance-guidelines.pdf
BMO GAM Conflict of Interest Policy – Proxy Voting
https://www.bmogam.com/gb-en/intermediary/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/conflicts-of-interest-policy-%E2%80%93-proxy-voting.pdf
12. RISK MANAGEMENT POLICY
BMO GAM Asia has established and maintained a separate set of policy and procedures as well as a designated risk management team to identify and quantify the risks, including market risk, liquidity risk, credit risk/counterparty risk and operational risk.
For details of market risk, liquidity and credit risk/counterparty risk, please refer to GAM Asia Risk Management Policy maintained by risk team.
For details of operational risk, please refer to Operational Risk Corporate Policy maintained by risk team.
13.COMPETITION AND ANTITRUST
Competition Law, often referred to as Antitrust Law in the United States, aims to maintain a marketplace with competitive prices, service, and quality, and to encourage innovation by prohibiting activities that may reduce or prevent competition or harm consumers.
For details of BMO Competition and Antitrust Guidance, please refer to the link: https://intranet.bmogc.net/corporate/portal/lccg/Documents/CompetitionAntitrustGuidance.pdf
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VII.US REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS
BMO GAM Asia is registered as a non-US investment adviser with the SEC in the US. A registered, non-US adviser must comply with the Advisers act in respect of the firm’s clients that are US persons. The Act does not apply in its entirety to a registered non-US adviser’s management of its non-US clients. As a consequence, the firm may not hold itself out to its non-US clients as being registered under the Advisers Act and communications with non-US clients may not refer to this registration.
The key regulatory obligations for the firm are that:
·It must have policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to prevent violation of the Advisers Act. - The firm’s policies and procedures are detailed in other sections of the Compliance Manual.
Other US specific requirements are summarized below.
·The firm must designate a Chief Compliance Officer to administer the policies and procedures
·The firm reviews annually the adequacy of the policies and procedures and their effectiveness in accordance with Rule 206(4)-7
oThe Compliance Department undertakes a regular review of the Compliance Manual is updated as required
For the compliance of Rule 204A-1, employees are required to provide with Compliance department a written annual acknowledgment or declaration of the receipt of compliance manual, including the code of ethics, as amended from time to time.
2.FORM ADV ANNUAL UPDATING AMENDMENT
Part I of Form ADV
Registered advisers must undertake an annual update of Part 1 of its Form ADV electronically on the SEC’s Investment Adviser Registration Depository (“IARD”) website. Form ADV Part 1 update must be completed within 90 days of the firm’s fiscal year-end.
Part II of Form ADV
Pursuant to the SEC’s July 2010 rules, Part 2 of Form ADV now has two parts. A new narrative Brochure (Part 2A) replaces the ‘Old’ Part II and must be filed electronically on IARD and delivered to all clients and prospective clients. This document will now be publicly available on the SEC’s website. A Brochure Supplement (Part 2B) is also required for each of the firm’s portfolio managers. This Supplement does not require filing but copies must be provided to clients. There is no annual updating requirement for the Supplement , but it must be promptly updated and delivered to clients after it becomes materially inaccurate or updates relates to disciplinary information.
The Compliance Department is responsible for the annual update and review of Parts 1 and 2 of Form ADV in liaison with BMO US Compliance and our BMO affiliates. A review of Part 2 will be undertaken annually after the completion of the Part 1 update. It is BMO GAM Asia’s policy to distribute copies of the updated ADV Part 2 to all its US domiciled clients
All advisers with a fiscal year end on or after 31 December 2010 must file and deliver the initial Brochure to all existing clients within 150 days of the firm’s fiscal year
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In following years, the firm must deliver within 120 days of its fiscal year:
·An updated Brochure with a summary of material changes, OR
·A summary of material changes with offer to provide updated Brochure
3.REPORTING OF SIGNIFICANT POSITIONS IN US EQUITY SECURITIES
Institutional Investment managers that have discretion over or beneficially own more than certain amounts of US equity securities registered under the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“1934 Act”) may have to report these holdings to the SEC. Depending on the circumstances the firm may be required to file forms 13F, Schedule 13D, 13G or a combination of these with the SEC.
Form 13F
Institutional investment managers are investment managers exercising investment discretion with respect to firms holding Section 13 (f) Securities having an aggregate fair market value on the last day of the trading day in any month of any calendar year of at least US $100 million
Section 13 (f) Securities are generally US equity securities traded on a US exchange and certain other securities such as ADRs
Each quarter a complete list of Section 13 (f) Securities is available on the SEC’s website at:
www.sec.gov/divisions/investment/13flists.htm
Form 13 F must be submitted to the SEC within 45 days of each calendar year for which the firm is an institutional investment manager and within 45 days after the last day of each of the first three calendar quarters of the subsequent calendar year.
Submission of Form 13F is performed by BMO centrally.
Schedule 13 D
Submission of this schedule is required by investment managers, funds or other persons that are direct or indirect beneficial owners of more than 5% of a class of a US Equity Security.
Investment managers with the power to vote or sell a US Equity Security held in client accounts will be deemed to be a Beneficial Owner even if they do not receive any economic benefit from those securities.
Initial filing must be made with the SEC within 10 days after becoming a direct or indirect Beneficial Owner of this class of security. Schedule 13D must then be updated promptly when changes occur.
Schedule 13 G
Schedule 13G must be filed with the SEC where an investment manager is a direct or indirect Beneficial Owner of more than 5% of a class of a US Equity Security (provided they hold the securities due to their normal course of business and not to affect change or influence control of the issuer) and qualify as either a Qualified Institutional Investor or Passive Investor.
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Section 13(g) of the 1934 Act is very similar to Section 13(d). Under this section, reporting entities must file Schedule 13G, which is very similar to Schedule 13D but requires less information and, in most cases, must only be updated on an annual basis. Schedule 13G is actually combined with Schedule 13D.
An investment advisor registered with either a state or the SEC could be considered a qualified institutional investor and more likely subject to Section 13(g) as opposed to Section 13(d). A passive investor would be a person or entity that trades for its own account and does not fall within the definition of qualified institutional investor, e.g. broker/dealer, investment advisor, or insurance company.
Initial filing must be made within 45 days after the end of the calendar year in which the Qualified institutional investor becomes the beneficial owner of 5 % or more of a class of a US Equity Security. Going forward, amendments are required on an annual basis. Amendments are also required within 10 days after the end of a month in which beneficial ownership exceeds 10% or more and within 10 days after the end of a month when ownership increases or decreases by at least 5%
BMO GAM Asia’s significant equity portfolio holdings are consolidated at the enterprise level and reviewed by BMO on a daily basis to ensure that filing of Schedule 13D and Schedule 13G will be made promptly.
Regulation S-P imposes on SEC registered advisers an affirmative and continuing obligation to maintain the confidentiality and protect the security of their clients’ non-public personal information. This regulation only protects the privacy of individuals and not institutional investors.
The New Custody Rules under the US investment Advisers Act of 1940(Amendments to Rule 206(4) -2) became effective on 12 March 2010. These amendments extend the definition of “Custody” and impose new requirements for SEC Registered Advisers.
“Custody” means “holding directly or indirectly client funds or securities, or having authority to obtain possession of them.”
Examples of ‘custody’ include the following:
·Possession or control of client funds or securities. (Subject to 3 day rule to return securities received inadvertently.)
·Where the adviser has authority to withdraw funds - e.g. through a power of attorney or where direct billing arrangements are in place.
·The adviser has legal ownership of client funds/securities - e.g. Adviser is a general partner or managing member of a private fund.
·Where an associate or related person acts as the qualified custodian of client assets
Requirements for Investment Advisers
·Delivery of account statements - An adviser with custody must maintain funds with a qualified custodian and have a reasonable basis after due inquiry for believing the custodian sends quarterly account statements to clients
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·Notice to client- An adviser must notify investors when it opens or changes a custodial account. Advisers must now include a legend in the notice urging clients to compare account statements from the adviser with those from the custodian.
·Legend must be repeated in all account statement sent by adviser.
·Audited financial statements of a pooled investment vehicle must be distributed within 120 days of the end of its fiscal year.
Implications for BMO GAM Asia
BMO GAM Asia does not hold or control funds or securities relating to BMO GAM Asia’s US clients.
The SEC confirmed in the adopting release that the “regulation lite” regime remains available to non-US RIA’s with respect to non-US pooled investment vehicles and other non- US clients. Accordingly those RIA’s are not required to comply with certain substantive rules under the Advisers Act, including the Custody Rule, with respect to those non -US clients.”
There are no direct billing arrangements with any custodians. Fee notes are always raised for client’s approval.
BMO GAM Asia does not serve as a general partner or managing member in any US pooled vehicles.
Under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, the SEC has enacted the ‘Pay-to-Play’ rule. (Rule 206 (4)-5).
‘Pay-to-Play’ means seeking to influence government officials award of advisory contracts by making or seeking political contributions to the government officials.
Practices take various forms:
·Direct contributions to government officials
·Use of third parties to make contributions
·Payment to third parties (placement agents, finders) to solicit government business
Pay-to-Play rule:
·Prohibits an adviser from receiving compensation for providing advisory services to a government entity for two years after the adviser or “covered associate” of the adviser makes apolitical contribution to a public official of that government entity (or candidate) who would be in position to influence the award of advisory business.
·Bans advisers from using third parties (including placement agents or consultants) to solicit government entities for advisory business, unless the third party is registered as an adviser or broker-dealer and subject to ‘pay-to-play’ restrictions.
·Unlawful for adviser (or covered associates) to solicit or coordinate contributions to an official or payments to a political party of a state/locality when the adviser seeks to provide advisory services to a government entity.
·Unlawful for an adviser to do indirectly what it cannot do directly.
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Covered associates
Covered associate of an adviser includes the following:
·Any general partners or managing members of the adviser;
·Any executive officer of the adviser or person with similar status
·Any employee who solicits a government entity for the adviser; and
·Any Political Action Committee controlled by the adviser or persons listed above.
This rule is meant to cover persons associated with an investment adviser who have an economic incentive to make contributions to influence the advisory firm’s selection.
Consequences of making an impressible contribution
·Two year ‘time out’ on providing advisory services for compensation to that government entity.
·Adviser could provide services without compensation.
·Sanctions include potential forfeiture of compensation fines and potential SEC enforcement action.
BMO GAM Asia’s Controls
All Investment and marketing staff are treated as ‘Covered associates’ and must disclose any personal political donations made in their quarterly compliance attestations.
BMO GAM Asia’s Conflict of Interest policy and BMO Financial Group Anti- Corruption Corporate Standard prohibits the firm from making political contributions.
With the exception of registered BMO affiliates and Investment consultants who are subject to pay-to-play restrictions, BMO GAM Asia does not utilize the services of third party placement agents to secure US clients. All employees seeking to utilize the service of any other business introducers will require preclearance from the CCO.
BMO GAM Asia will also comply with all applicable state, municipality and various agency requirements in addition to the ‘pay-to-play’ provisions stated above.
Covered Funds – Foreign Public Funds
Introduction
Subject to certain exclusions and exemptions, the Volcker Rule prohibits BMO Financial Group from, directly or indirectly, as principal, buying, selling, holding ownership or certain ownership-like interests in, or sponsoring, Covered Funds (the “Covered Fund Prohibition”).
For details, please refer to Volckers Covered Fund procedures.
General Prohibition
The Business Unit may not sponsor or hold any ownership or ownership-like interests in any Foreign Funds, other than in accordance with the Foreign Funds Exclusion provided under this Operating Procedure and as permitted under the Business Unit Profile.
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Requirements applicable to Foreign Public Funds
The Covered Fund Prohibition excludes the sponsoring and buying, selling or holding of ownership interests, in publically offered Foreign Funds (“Foreign Public Funds”), or seeding vehicles that will become Foreign Public Funds that meet the following conditions:
a.The fund must be organized or established in a jurisdiction other than the United States (including any state, possession, or territory thereof);
b.The fund must be authorized to offer and sell its ownership interests to retail investors in the fund’s home jurisdiction. BMO Financial Group has determined that the following fund types in the associated jurisdictions meet this requirement:
Jurisdiction |
Permitted Retail Regulatory Structure/Fund Type |
Canada |
Prospectus Qualified – 81-101 Mutual Funds |
Ireland |
UCITS |
c.The fund’s ownership interests must be sold predominantly through one or more public offerings outside of the United States. For these purposes, an offering will be viewed as “predominantly” outside the United States if 85% or more of the fund’s ownership interests are sold as part of a distribution to investors that are not residents of the United States. An offering of the fund’s interests will be a “public offering’’ outside the United States if it is a distribution of securities in any jurisdiction outside the United States to investors, including retail investors, provided that:
i. the distribution complies with all applicable requirements in the jurisdiction in which such distribution is being made;
ii. the distribution does not restrict availability to investors having a minimum level of net worth or net investment assets; and
iii. the fund has filed or submitted, with the appropriate regulatory authority, offering disclosure documents that are publicly available.
Requirements with respect to Seeding of Foreign Funds
The Volcker Rule contains additional provisions which may apply where BMO invests seed capital into a Foreign Fund. The application of those provisions could result in a Foreign Fund being treated as a Covered Fund, or could require that a Foreign Fund be treated as a subsidiary of Bank of Montreal and, therefore, subject to the Volcker Rule’s proprietary trading restrictions.
In order to ensure that a Foreign Fund is not subject to any of those additional provisions, the Business Unit must ensure that any seed capital investment is reduced to below 25% of the fund’s total outstanding ownership interests within 3 years of the establishment of the fund.
Required Controls under Foreign Funds Exclusion
The determination of whether any fund or pooled investment vehicle is a Covered Fund, or is a Foreign Public Fund or an Excluded Foreign Private Fund, is complex and requires legal analysis.
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To manage this complexity, Business Units are prohibited from sponsoring a new Foreign Fund without engaging with the Legal Group and first obtaining written confirmation that the new Foreign Fund can rely on the Foreign Funds Exclusion. Prior to affecting any sponsorship or offering the Business Unit must perform the following:
a)Completion of Checklist. In consultation with Legal Group, document in checklist format the manner in which it will meet the requirements of the Foreign Funds Exclusion. In addition to addressing these requirements, the applicable checklist and any supporting documentation must specifically identify the manner in which the Business Unit will comply with the requirements of the Volcker Rule Compliance Program (“VCP”). The applicable checklist and any supporting documentation must be completed and signed-off by the Business Unit Compliance Officer and reviewed by the Legal Group before the fund is organized or offered to any investor. The Business Unit Compliance Officer must retain a copy of the checklist and any supporting documentation in accordance with BMOFG and Volcker Rule Compliance Office (“VCO”) data retention standards.
b)Obtain written confirmation from the Business Unit Legal that the requirements of the Foreign Funds Exclusion have been satisfied for the vehicle.
c)Submit all details on the Covered Fund to the Enterprise Covered Funds Repository (or such other database or recordkeeping infrastructure as is acceptable to the VCO).
Escalation Process
If it is determined that the Business Unit engaged in any activity that is prohibited under the procedure document ; the Business Unit must employ the escalation process described in Section 3.4 of the WM Volcker Manual.
The business needs to establish the following controls:
·Business unit profiles: The profile describes the mandate, compliance procedures and controls for GAM Asia, and includes the specific Volcker Rule exemptions or exclusion BMO GAM Asia is working under.
8. REGULATION FOR CLIENT RELATIONSHIP SUMMARY (CRS)
Form CRS is a disclosure document intended to reduce retail investor confusion regarding brokerage and investment advisory services, and to assist retail investors in determining which type of investment professional they should engage, if any, for their investment needs.
Form CRS is intended to provide clarity and assist investors in comparing firms, by informing investors about:
(i) the types of client and customer relationships and services the firm offers;
(ii) the fees, costs, conflicts of interest, and required standard of conduct associated with those relationships and services;
(iii) whether the firm and its financial professionals currently have reportable legal or disciplinary history; and
(iv) how to obtain additional information about the firm.
Under current business model, BMO GAM Asia is only targeting for intermediaries and institutional clients. Therefore, the sales and distribution team generally would not solicit individual US resident or discuss investment opportunities with an individual who is a U.S. resident. Thus, no Form CRS is required to prepare currently.
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However, if at any time in the future BMO GAM Asia or one of its representatives is contacted by a potential client who is an individual U.S. resident or wants to discuss investment opportunities with an individual who is a U.S. resident, no BMO GAM Asia employee or representative can do anything more than (1) collect information from the client, which may include their investment objectives, and (2) tell that individual in general terms the types of investment advice that BMO GAM Asia can provide, until after BMO GAM Asia completes all of the following steps:
-Drafts a Form CRS that complies with all of the SEC’s requirements;
-Files a text-searchable, machine-readable version of the Form CRS with the SEC (through IARD);
-Posts the Form CRS on the BMO GAM Asia’s website, in an easily accessible format and location
- Delivers the Form CRS, either in paper form or electronically, to any individual that is a potential client of BMO GAM Asia, before or at the earliest of:
oRecommending an account type
oRecommending a securities transaction
oRecommending an investment strategy involving securities
oPlacing an order for the individual
-If delivered electronically (including by email), Form CRS must have a link or website address to facilitate access to any firm information described in the Form CRS.
- There will be additional delivery requirements once any individual U.S. prospect becomes a client.
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VIII.SOUTH KOREA REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS
BMO GAM Asia is a cross-border discretionary investment management company (CB DIM) registered with the Financial Services Commission (FSC). The ongoing obligations and requirements prescribed in the following regulations should be observed:
·Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act (FSCMA)
·Presidential Decree of FSCMA (PD of FSCMA)
·Enforcement Rule of FSCMA
·Sub-regulation of FSCMA (FSC Regulations)
·Regulation on Financial Investment Business
2.REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN CB DIM LICENSE
To maintain the status as a registered CB DIMC under the FSCMA, the CB DIMC must stay in compliance with the initial registration requirements on an ongoing basis after the registration. In this regard, certain initial registration requirements on shareholder’s equity and sanction-related requirements are relaxed for the purpose of maintenance of license.
For details, please refer to a separate letter issued by Korea legal counsel.
3.REPORTING AND DISCLOSURE OBLIGATIONS
3.1Filing of Business Report with FSC
The CB DIMC must prepare on a quarterly basis a business report in the form prescribed by the FSC regulation providing information with regard to its business performance, financial standing, and other prescribed matters in the Korean language and file such business report with the FSC within one month from the end of each quarter.
3.2Report of Certain Changes
If events falling under any of the following subparagraphs occur, the CB DIMC is required to report such matters to the FSC:
Report within seven calendar days from the date of event
i.trade name is changed;
ii.any material matter (as prescribed by the PD of the FSCMA) in its articles of incorporation is changed (which means (a) materials about business object, (b) materials about shareholder’s meeting, board of directors and other items in relation to the corporate governance, and (c) materials about share issued by the CB DIMC);
iii.the largest shareholder is changed;
iv.the portion of stocks held by a principal shareholder or its specially-related persons is changed in excess of 1/100 of the total number of outstanding stocks with voting rights;
v.part of the discretionary investment management services of the CB DIMC is transferred or acquired;
vi.the location of the head office is changed;
vii.capital is increased;
viii.CB DIMC receives a sanction as prescribed under Articles 443 through 449 of the FSCMA;
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ix.CB DIMC becomes a party to a litigation which has a material impact on its business operations;
x.a petition for bankruptcy has been filed or an event has occurred that may lead to the CB DIMC’s dissolution;
xi.a compulsory execution or disposition due to delinquent taxes is commenced against the CB DIMC or it is subject to regulatory sanction due to its violation of tax related laws and decrees;
xii.it dishonors a bill or check it has issued, or if its current transaction with banks are suspended or prohibited;
xiii.the CB DIMC establishes or closes a representative office in Korea; and
xiv.default on the Korea Exchange
Report within 45 calendar days from the date of event
i. the business of the head office, or any other business office is suspended or resumed
3.3FSC Approval on Major Business Events
When the CB DIMC plans to perform any of the following activities, the CB DIMC is required to obtain prior approval from the FSC
i.Merger, spin-off, or split and merger;
ii.Comprehensive exchange or transfer of stocks;
iii.Dissolution;
iv.Transfer or acquisition of all the CB discretionary investment management services (including cases equivalent to such business);
v.Discontinuation of all the CB discretionary investment management services (including cases equivalent to such business); or
vi.Capital decrease
Effective from September 28, 2018, the CB DIMC will no longer be required to obtain prior approval on item (i) to (iv) and (vi) from the FSC and they are allowed for a post-facto reporting within 7 calendar days.
3.4Obligation on Disclosure of Fee Standards
A CB DIMC should establish standards and procedures regarding fees paid by customers, and disclose them through an internet website or other means. Also, a CB DIMC should not, when it establishes the standards on its fees, discriminate against any customer without justifiable cause. A CB DIMC must inform the Korea Financial Investment Association (KOFIA) of the matters relating to the standards and procedures for its fees and any changes thereof by filing electronically on the website of the KOFIA.
3.5Report on Business Delegation by a CB DIMC
A CB DIMC may delegate its business activities to a third party subject to certain conditions. In this connection, a CB DIMC is allowed to delegate (i) the investment management of cross-border discretionary investment management (DIM) assets denominated in foreign currencies among the DIM assets (only to a company which is licensed to manage DIM assets in its home jurisdiction), (ii) the investment management of up to 50% of the CB DIM assets denominated in the Korean currency (only to licensed Korean financial investment companies), (iii) the research and analysis business with respect to the investment management and (iv) the simple trading function of securities, derivatives etc.
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When delegating its business to a third party, the CB DIMC should enter into a delegation agreement containing the below details and file a delegation report to the FSC at least 7 days prior to the date when the delegate starts to perform the delegated business:
i.Scope of the delegated business;
ii.Matters on restrictions on the activity of the delegate;
iii.Matters on the record keeping of the delegated business; and
iv.Other items prescribed by the PD of the FSCMA as necessary for the protection of investors’ interest and sound trade practice
3.6Report on Financial Accident and Material Matters to FSS by a CB DIMC
The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) circulated an official letter to registered CB DIMCs requesting the submission of a report to the FSS with respect to financial accidents and material matters (i.e., pending litigation, etc.) relating to the Korean business.
4.1Prohibited Activities
The prohibited activities of a CB DIMC and its officers and employees are applicable only to the CB DIMC’s business department that will provide cross-border discretionary investment management services to Korean clients.
a)The CB DIMC may not engage in, among others, the following activities:
(i)Accepting custody or deposit of cash, securities, or other properties from its investors (unless allowed by regulations);
(ii)Lending cash, securities or other properties to its investor or to intermediate, arrange or act as an agent in order for a third party to lend cash, securities or other properties to its investors (unless allowed by regulations);
(iii)Allowing a person who is not an investment management expert to engage in its DIM business;
(iv)Receiving additional remuneration in addition to the commissions determined under the agreement; and
(v)In case of providing investment advice or managing DIM assets, purchasing or selling for its own account, or soliciting a third party to purchase or sell financial investment products, etc. after making a decision on the investment advice or the purchase or sale that may materially affect the price of financial investment products but before executing such decision, except
·When the CB DIMC prove that it did not utilize information on management of DIM assets; or
·When it is deemed apparent that a CB DIMC did not intentionally utilize information on DIM assets such as arbitrage, etc
b)CB DIMC may not engage in, when managing its DIM assets, among others, the activities prescribed in Article 98, Paragraph 2 of the FSCMA; Article 99, Paragraph 4 of the PD of the FSCMA and Article 4-77 of the FSC Regulations
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4.2Liabilities of CB DIMCS and its Officers
A CB DIMC shall provide its financial investment services (i.e. DIM services) fairly and in good faith. A CB DIMC shall not, when it provides its financial investment services (namely, CB DIM services) benefit from or have a third party benefit from, at the expense of investors without any justifiable cause.
Where a CB DIMC causes damage to investors by conducting any activity in violation of laws and regulations, or by neglecting its business, the CB DIMC shall be liable for such damages. The officers (which means directors or the statutory auditor) of the CB DIMC shall be jointly and severally liable for the damages caused by the CB DIMC in case that the officers are responsible for such damages.
4.3Prohibition on Lending Trade Name
A CB DIMC shall not lend its trade name and allow other persons to provide CB DIM services on its behalf.
4.4Prohibition on Unfair Solicitation
When a CB DIMC intends to solicit the investor to enter into a contract for DIM service, it shall not:
(i)Provide false information;
(ii)Make a definitive determination with regard to uncertain information or provide otherwise uncertain information which may be misconstrued to be as certain; or
(iii)Continue investment solicitation notwithstanding the rejection from a solicited investor; provided, that the same shall not apply to cases prescribed by the PD of the FSCMA as unlikely to undermine the protection of investors and sound trade practice
4.5Prohibition against Using Information Acquired
A CB DIMC shall not use confidential information acquired in the course of performing its duties for its own interest or the interest of a third party without any justifiable cause
4.6Prohibition against Compensation of Losses
A CB DIMC shall not:
(i)Promising an investor, in advance, to bear all or a part of the loss to be incurred;
(ii)Subsequently compensating all or a part of the loss incurred to an investor;
(iii)Promising an investor, in advance, to guarantee a certain amount of profit; or
(iv)Subsequently providing a certain amount of profit to an investor.
4.7Restrictions on Investment Advertisement
The investment advertisement shall contain the name of the company, the details of the products, the risk of investment, the fees and expenses, the range of expected fees and returns (min to max), the sources of information of the features (i.e. statistics, prospects, performance records, etc.). In addition, the advertisement
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shall not have misleading information regarding loss preservation or guarantee of return. The restrictions on investment advertisements apply to advertising to the general public, such as advertisements in newspapers, periodicals, broadcast media, etc
4.8Obligation of Provision of Agreement and Investment Results
When a CB DIMC enters into a DIM agreement with an investor, the CB DIMC is required to provide the investor with a DIM agreement without delay.
A CB DIMC is required to prepare and provide a report (hereinafter referred to as “discretionary investment management report”) at least on a monthly basis to investors that have entered into the DIM agreement. The discretionary investment management report may be delivered directly, or by way of postal delivery service or via email (in cases where the investor has requested to receive it via email).
4.9Record Keeping Requirements
A CB DIMC is required to record and keep the data for the specified period as prescribed in Article 60, Paragraph 1 of the FSCMA, and Article 62 of the PD of the FSCMA.
(i)Data on business operation:
(a) Data on investment solicitation: 10 years
(b) Data related to investors' trading of financial investment instruments, including records and details of trading orders, other data related to trading, and multilateral-trade contracting services of a multilateral-trade contracting company (referring to the multilateral-trade contracting services under the part other than items of Article 8-2, Paragraph 5 of the FSCMA; hereinafter the same shall apply): 10 years
(c) Data on the management of discretionary investment management assets: 10
years
(d)Data on the contracts entered into with investors: 10 years
(e)Data on the business delegation: 5 years
(f)Date on the ancillary business: 5 years
(g)Other data on the business operation: 5 years
(ii)Data on the financial status: 10 years
(iii)Business Related Data:
(a) Data on resolutions of general meetings of shareholders or the board of directors: 10 years
(b) Data related to matters that shall be stated in a report on material facts under Article 161 of the FSCMA: 5 years
(c) Data related to management of proprietary property: 3 years
(d) Other data on business, including the acquisition and disposal of assets: 3 years
(iv)Data on internal control:
(a) Data on compliance, including internal control standards and risk management,
etc.: 5 years
(b) Data on qualifications of officers, principal shareholders and experts and details
of transactions with any interested person, etc.: 5 years
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(c) Other data on internal control: 3 years
(v)Documents and records required by applicable laws: Such period as determined by applicable laws (if there is no such period, such period as prescribed by the FSC taking into account the record keeping periods set forth in items (i) through (iv) above)
CB DIMC should establish and implement an appropriate system in order to prevent the relevant data from being copied, destroyed, falsified, or altered.
4.10Performance Fee
If a CB DIMC intends to receive performance fee, the factors prescribed in Article 98-2 of the FSCMA, and Article 99-2 of the PD of the FSCMA, shall be stated in the DIM agreement.
(a) Method for performance fee calculation;
(b) Implications of paying performance fee and its limit;
(c) Investment risks (i.e., the investors may be exposed to higher investment risks with
performance fee arrangements compared to no performance fee arrangements);
(d) Disclosure of all the fees charged to investors including performance fee;
(e) Benchmark/standard for performance fee calculation;
(f) Timing of performance fee payment;
(g) Circumstances under which performance fee is not payable; and
(h) Other matters prescribed by the FSC.
4.11Other requirements
a)A CB DIMC must appoint a local agent for purposes of protecting the interest of investors. The eligibility of a local agent is prescribed in Article 11 of the Enforcement Rules of FSCMA
b)The foreign currency denominated securities acquired with DIM assets shall be kept in the custody of a foreign custodian that meet the requirements prescribed in Article 100, Paragraph 7 of the FSCMA, Article 101, Paragraph 3 of the PD of the FSCMA
The CB DIMC should (i) establish procedures and standards to be followed by its officers and employees while performing their duties to monitor compliance with the obligations set forth above and (ii) monitor the status of operations in accordance with the established procedures and standards on a regular basis
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IX.AUSTRALIA REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS
BMO GAM Asia established a Sales Office in Australia. The ongoing obligations and requirements prescribed in the following regulations should be observed:
·ASIC Class Order [CO 03/1103]
·Corporations Act
·Privacy Act
For details, please refer to a letter issued by Australia Legal Counsel.
For the policies and procedures in carrying out distribution / marketing activities in Australia, please refer to Section V “Dealing with clients”.
·RELIEF PURSUANT TO ASIC CLASS ORDER
In order to BMO GAM Asia to rely on the relief from the requirement to hold an Australian financial services licence (AFSL) in accordance with its Letter of Adequacy, it must continue to comply with the requirements set out in ASIC Class Order [CO 03/1103] (Class Order).
The relief is in respect of the following:
·the financial services are provided to wholesale clients only in respect of the following financial products: derivatives, foreign exchange contracts, securities, debentures, stocks or bonds issued by a government, managed investment products
·“financial services” means: providing financial product advice, dealing in a financial product, making a market for a financial product
·Broadly a client will be a “wholesale client” based on:
(i)the client's net asset/gross income (currently at least A$2.5 million/A$250,000);
(ii)price/value of the Financial Product (currently A$500,000);
(iii)use of the Financial Product/Service in connection with a business that is not a small business;
(iv)satisfaction of the professional investor test (e.g. by being a Financial Service licensee);
(v)circumstances of a related body corporate (e.g. Related bodies corporate of a licensee); or
(vi)satisfaction of the sophisticated investor test (involving consideration of the client's previous experience in using Financial Services and investing in Financial Products).
In general, if a client is classified as an Institutional Professional Investor under SFC Code of Conduct, it will be a “wholesale client”.
This relief for BMO GAM Asia of not holding a license with ASIC expired on 31 March 2020. ASIC has rolled out a new licensing regime starting 1 April 2020 with a transitional period of 24 months until 31 March 2022 for financial institutions to submit new license application.
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2.1 Obligations under the Class Order
a)Any financial services provided in Australia must be provided in a manner that complies, as far as possible, with the regulatory requirements in Hong Kong, if the financial service were to be provided in Hong Kong
b)Written disclosure must be provided to all persons before financial services are provided to that person in Australia, which contains prescribed statements. The following disclosure would satisfy the terms of the Class Order:
"In Australia, BMO GAM Asia (ARBN 618067959) is exempt from the requirement to hold an Australian financial services license under the Corporations Act in respect of the financial services it provides to wholesale investors (as defined in the Corporations Act). BMO GAM Asia is incorporated in Hong Kong and authorised and regulated by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission under Hong Kong laws, which differ from Australian laws."
c)BMO GAM Asia must notify ASIC, as soon as practicable, and in any event within 15 business days of becoming aware of (or where BMO GAM Asia should reasonably have become aware of):
(i)any significant change to, including the termination of, BMO GAM Asia's registration or authorization to provide financial services in Hong Kong;
(ii)any significant enforcement action, significant disciplinary action or significant investigation taken by the SFC or other overseas regulatory authority against BMO GAM Asia in a jurisdiction other than Australia in relation to financial services; and
a)BMO GAM Asia, as a foreign company registered in Australia will need to lodge audited annual accounts with ASIC each year. Time between lodgment of audited annual accounts cannot be more than 15 months. BMO GAM Asia is also required to report certain corporate changes to the ASIC. For details, please refer to section headed “Ongoing Obligations of a registered foreign company” via the following hyperlink
https://asic.gov.au/for-business/registering-a-company/steps-to-register-a-company/foreign-companies/
b)BMO GAM Asia must not, in Australia or elsewhere, make a statement or disseminate information that is false in a material particular or materially misleading and likely to:
(i)induce others to deal in a financial product in Australia; or
(ii)that is likely to have the effect of increasing, reducing, maintaining or stabilising the price of a financial product listed in Australia,
when the person knows or ought reasonably to have known that the statement was false or misleading or does not care as to whether or not the information was true or false.
BMO GAM Asia's sales team in Australia may collect name or business cards of the personnel of wholesale clients and may distribute this information within other BMO entities. The Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles, govern the collection, handling, disclosure and use of personal information, which would include the identifying information set out on a business card.
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The principles cover:
1.Open and transparent management of personal information
2.Anonymity and pseudonymity
3.Collection of solicited personal information
4.Dealing with unsolicited personal information
5.Notification of the collection of personal information
6.Use or disclosure of personal information
7.Direct marketing
8.Cross-border disclosure of personal information
9.Adoption, use or disclosure of government related identifiers
10.Quality of person information
11.Security of personal information
12.Access to personal information
13.Correction of personal information
In particular, Australian Privacy Principle 6 requires that where an entity collects personal information about an individual for a particular purpose (the primary purpose), the entity must not use or disclose the information for another purpose (the secondary purpose) unless the individual has consented to that particular use or disclosure of the information or the individual would reasonably expect BMO GAM Asia to use or disclose the information for the secondary purpose and it is related to the primary purpose. For example, where an individual has provided their contact details to BMO GAM Asia through a business card, it may be reasonable for them to expect BMO GAM Asia to provide those details to another BMO entity for the purpose of maintaining records or providing investment management services or reports to that person (particularly, where BMO GAM Asia has delegated certain functions to other BMO entities)
The Australian Privacy Principles also regulate direct marketing activities in Australia. Specifically, Australian Privacy Principle 7 prohibits direct marketing except where the entity in question (BMO GAM Asia) has collected the information from the individual, it is reasonable to expect that BMO GAM Asia will use the information for the purpose of direct marketing and there is a simple means by which the individual may easily request not to receive direct marketing from BMO GAM Asia.
·PROVIDING FINANCIAL SERVICES FROM AUSTRALIA TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS
Whilst BMO GAM Asia or its representatives are providing financial services to clients in other jurisdictions from Australia, it is still carrying on its business in Australia. Essentially, BMO GAM Asia must comply with all Australian regulations as it is considered to be operating within this particular jurisdiction notwithstanding that it providing services to overseas entities. This means that it must act in accordance with the class order, which requires that all financial services provided in reliance on the class order exemption must be provided in a manner which would comply, so far as is possible, with the Hong Kong regulatory requirements if the financial services were provided in Hong Kong in like circumstances.
For details of compliance with cross-border marketing activities, please refer to the respective Country Guidelines published by legal team.
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X.APPENDIX
Below is a list of GAM ASIA PROCEDURES currently saved in BMO GAM APAC SharePoint
|
|
·Anti-Money Laundering Procedures ·BMO GAM Conflicts of Interest Policy – Proxy Voting ·BMO GAM Corporate Governance Guidance ·BMO GAM Responsible Investment Approach ·Breach & Error Standard ·Business Continuity Plan Manual ·Cash Management Policy for SFC-authorised Funds ·Client Complaints Handling Procedures ·Corporate Governance Framework ·Country Guidelines (China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, New Zealand, Thailand, Malaysia) ·Electronic Trading Policy ·ETF Portfolio Management Procedure Manual ·Internal Product Process for SFC-authorised Fund ·Key Operating Procedures: BMO Updates Subscription ·Key Operating Procedures: Chinese & Korean Marketing Translations ·Key Operating Procedures: ETFs Hong Kong Bi-weekly BMO HK Update ·Key Operating Procedures: ETFs Hong Kong - BMO HK ETFs, Unit Trust Fund and ETF Select Factsheet Production ·Key Operating Procedures: Japanese Marketing Translation ·Key Operating Procedures: Sales & Marketing – Preparation of Marketing Materials for use in APAC ·Key Service Providers Ongoing Due Diligence Approach ·LGM Investment Process ·L289 Proxy Voting Procedures ·Model Portfolio Investment Procedure Manual ·Model Portfolio Investment Procedure Manual Appendix - ETF Select Assessment Template ·Operating Memorandum for BMO ETF & BMO Fund |
·Risk Management Policy ·Valuation Procedures |
Below is a list of regulatory obligation letters issued by external legal counsel for other jurisdictions currently saved in BMO GAM APAC SharePoint:
•Letter issued by Australia legal counsel
•Letter issued by Korea legal counsel
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