As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 21, 2004
1933 Act File No. 333-120421 1940 Act File No. 811-21670 U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM N-2 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 [ ] PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 [X] POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. [ ] AND/OR REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 [ ] AMENDMENT NO. 1 [X] (CHECK APPROPRIATE BOX OR BOXES) |
COPIES OF COMMUNICATIONS TO:
MARK P. GOSHKO, ESQ. THOMAS A. HALE, ESQ. KIRKPATRICK & LOCKHART LLP SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, MEAGHER & FLOM LLP 75 STATE STREET 333 WEST WACKER DRIVE, SUITE 2100 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02109 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60606 |
APPROXIMATE DATE OF PROPOSED PUBLIC OFFERING: As soon as practicable after
the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, other than securities offered in connection with a dividend reinvestment plan, check the following box. [ ]
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
[ ] when declared effective pursuant to Section 8(c)
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
PROPOSED PROPOSED AMOUNT BEING MAXIMUM MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF REGISTERED OFFERING AGGREGATE REGISTRATION FEES TITLE OF SECURITIES BEING REGISTERED (1) PRICE PER UNIT(1) OFFERING PRICE(1) (1)(2)(3) ------------------------------------ ------------ ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, $0.01 par value 50,000 $20.00 $1,000,000 $126.70 ------ ------ ---------- ------- |
(1) Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee, pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933.
(2) Includes Shares that may be offered to the Underwriters pursuant to an option to cover over-allotments.
(3) A Registration fee of $126.70 was previously paid in connection with the initial filing filed on November 12, 2004.
THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL
BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATES AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID
SECTION 8(A), MAY DETERMINE.
THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS INCOMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. WE MAY NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES, AND WE ARE NOT SOLICITING OFFERS TO BUY THESE SECURITIES, IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.
SHARES
EATON VANCE ENHANCED EQUITY INCOME FUND II
COMMON SHARES
[EATON VANCE LOGO]
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES. Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund II (the "Fund") is a newly organized, diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund's primary investment objective is to provide current income, with a secondary objective of capital appreciation. The Fund will pursue its investment objectives by investing primarily in a portfolio of mid- and large-capitalization common stocks, seeking to invest primarily in companies with above-average growth and financial strength. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will seek to generate current earnings from option premiums by selling covered call options on a substantial portion of its portfolio securities. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives.
INVESTMENT ADVISER AND SUB-ADVISER. The Fund's investment adviser is Eaton Vance Management ("Eaton Vance" or the "Adviser"). As of October 31, 2004, Eaton Vance and its subsidiaries managed approximately $94.5 billion on behalf of funds, institutional clients and individuals, including approximately $55.8 billion in equity assets. Eaton Vance has engaged Rampart Investment Management Company, Inc. ("Rampart" or the "Sub-Adviser") as a sub-adviser to provide advice on and execution of the Fund's options strategy. Rampart, founded in 1983, specializes in options management and trading for institutional and high net worth investors. Rampart managed approximately $1.8 billion in assets as of November 30, 2004.
PORTFOLIO CONTENTS. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its total assets in common stocks. Normally, the Fund will invest primarily in common stocks of mid- and large-capitalization issuers that meet the Fund's selection criteria of above-average growth and financial strength. Initially, the Fund expects to invest between 55% and 65% of its total assets in mid-capitalization stocks and between 35% and 45% of its total assets in large-capitalization stocks. Under normal market conditions, the Fund expects to invest in at least 75 securities, seeking to reduce the Fund's exposure to individual stock risks. The Fund generally will invest in common stocks on which exchange traded call options are currently available. The Fund will invest primarily in common stocks of U.S. issuers, although the Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in securities of foreign issuers. (continued on inside front cover)
BECAUSE THE FUND IS NEWLY ORGANIZED, ITS COMMON SHARES HAVE NO HISTORY OF PUBLIC TRADING.
INVESTING IN SHARES INVOLVES CERTAIN RISKS. SEE "INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND RISKS" BEGINNING AT PAGE 13.
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
PRICE TO PUBLIC SALES LOAD(1) PROCEEDS TO FUND ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Per share $20.00 $0.90 $19.10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total $ $ $ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total assuming full exercise of the over-allotment option $ $ $ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
(1) Eaton Vance (not the Fund) will pay certain additional compensation to qualifying underwriters. See "Underwriting." Eaton Vance (not the Fund) will pay UBS Securities LLC for services provided pursuant to a shareholder servicing agreement between UBS Securities LLC and Eaton Vance. See "Underwriting."
In addition to the sales load, the Fund will pay offering expenses of up to $0.04 per share, estimated to total $ , which will reduce the "Proceeds to Fund" (above). Eaton Vance or an affiliate has agreed to pay the amount by which the aggregate of all of the Fund's offering costs (other than sales loads) exceeds $0.04 per share. Eaton Vance or an affiliate has agreed to reimburse all Fund organizational costs.
UBS INVESTMENT BANK MERRILL LYNCH & CO. WACHOVIA SECURITIES A.G. EDWARDS H&R BLOCK FINANCIAL ADVISORS, J.J.B. HILLIARD, W.L. LYONS, INC. INC. OPPENHEIMER & CO. RAYMOND JAMES RBC CAPITAL MARKETS WELLS FARGO SECURITIES |
Under normal market conditions, the Fund intends to pursue its primary investment objective principally by employing an options strategy of writing (selling) covered call options on a substantial portion of its portfolio securities.
The extent of option writing activity will depend upon market conditions and the Adviser's ongoing assessment of the attractiveness of writing call options on the Fund's stock holdings. Writing covered call options involves a tradeoff between the option premiums received and reduced participation in potential future stock price appreciation. Depending on the Adviser's evaluation, the Fund may write covered call options on varying percentages of the Fund's common stock holdings. The Fund seeks to generate current earnings from option writing premiums and, to a lesser extent, from dividends on stocks held. The Fund's call option-writing program will seek to achieve a high level of net option premiums, while maintaining the potential for capital appreciation in each stock on which options are written up to a defined target price for that stock determined by the Adviser. The Adviser and Sub-Adviser believe that by coordinating their activities they will be able to achieve the Fund's investment objectives. In particular, the Adviser believes its active management style, which incorporates a research-driven fundamental investment approach, complements the Sub-Adviser's systematic option methodology, which utilizes a proprietary options analysis and management system.
The Fund may in certain circumstances purchase put options on the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index, the S&P MidCap 400 Index, any other broad-based securities index deemed suitable for this purpose, and/or on individual stocks held in its portfolio or use other derivative instruments in order to help protect against a decline in the value of its portfolio securities.
EXCHANGE LISTING. The Fund intends to apply for listing of its common shares on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "EOS." Because the Fund is newly organized, its common shares have no history of public trading. The shares of closed-end management investment companies frequently trade at a discount from their net asset value. The returns earned by holders of the Fund's common shares ("Common Shareholders") who purchase their shares in this offering and sell their shares below net asset value will be reduced.
The Fund's net asset value and distribution rate will vary and may be affected by numerous factors, including changes in stock prices, option premiums, market interest rates, dividend rates and other factors. An investment in the Fund may not be appropriate for all investors. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives.
This Prospectus sets forth concisely information you should know before investing in the shares of the Fund. Please read and retain this Prospectus for future reference. A Statement of Additional Information dated , 2005, has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and can be obtained without charge by calling 1-800-225-6265 or by writing to the Fund. A table of contents to the Statement of Additional Information is located at page 49 of this Prospectus. This Prospectus incorporates by reference the entire Statement of Additional Information. The Statement of Additional Information is available along with other Fund-related materials: at the SEC's public reference room in Washington, DC (call 1-202-942-8090 for information on the operation of the reference room); from the EDGAR database on the SEC's internet site (http://www.sec.gov); upon payment of copying fees by writing to the SEC's public reference section, Washington, DC 20549-0102; or by electronic mail at publicinfo@sec.gov. The Fund's address is The Eaton Vance Building, 255 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109 and its telephone number is 1-800-225-6265.
The Fund's shares do not represent a deposit or obligation of, and are not guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank or other insured depository institution, and are not federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other government agency.
The underwriters named in the Prospectus may purchase up to additional shares from the Fund under certain circumstances.
The underwriters expect to deliver the shares to purchasers on or about , 2005.
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus. The Fund has not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. The Fund is not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted.
Until , 2005 (25 days after the date of this Prospectus), all dealers that buy, sell or trade the shares, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a Prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers' obligation to deliver a Prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.
Prospectus summary.................... 1 Summary of Fund expenses.............. 12 The Fund.............................. 13 Use of proceeds....................... 13 Investment objectives, policies and risks............................... 13 Management of the Fund................ 30 Distributions......................... 33 Dividend reinvestment plan............ 38 Description of capital structure...... 39 Underwriting.......................... 45 Shareholder Servicing Agent, custodian and transfer agent.................. 48 Legal opinions........................ 48 Reports to shareholders............... 48 Independent registered public accounting firm..................... 48 Additional information................ 48 Table of contents for the Statement of Additional Information.............. 49 The Fund's privacy policy............. 49 |
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This is only a summary. This summary may not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in the Fund's common shares. You should review the more detailed information contained in this Prospectus and in the Statement of Additional Information, especially the information set forth under the heading "Investment objectives, policies and risks."
THE FUND
Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund II (the "Fund") is a newly organized, diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund's primary investment objective is to provide current income, with a secondary objective of capital appreciation. Investments are based on Eaton Vance Management's ("Eaton Vance" or the "Adviser") internal research and ongoing company analysis, which is generally not available to individual investors. Rampart Investment Management Company, Inc. ("Rampart" or the "Sub-Adviser") has been engaged as a sub-adviser to provide Eaton Vance with advice on and execution of the Fund's option writing strategy. An investment in the Fund may not be appropriate for all investors. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives.
THE OFFERING
The Fund is offering common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share, through a group of underwriters (the "Underwriters") led by UBS Securities LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC. The common shares of beneficial interest are called "Common Shares." The Underwriters have been granted an option by the Fund to purchase up to additional Common Shares solely to cover orders in excess of Common Shares. The initial public offering price is $20.00 per share. The minimum purchase in this offering is 100 Shares ($2,000). See "Underwriting." Eaton Vance or an affiliate has agreed to (i) reimburse all organizational costs and (ii) pay all offering costs (other than sales loads) that exceed $0.04 per Common Share.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
The Fund's primary investment objective is to provide current income, with a secondary objective of capital appreciation. The Fund will pursue its investment objectives by investing primarily in a portfolio of mid- and large-capitalization common stocks, seeking to invest primarily in companies with above-average growth and financial strength. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will seek to generate current earnings from option premiums by selling covered call options on a substantial portion of its portfolio securities. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its total assets in common stocks. Normally, the Fund will invest primarily in common stocks of mid- and large-capitalization issuers that meet the Fund's selection criteria of above-average growth and financial strength. Initially, the Fund expects to invest between 55% and 65% of its total assets in mid-capitalization stocks and between 35% and 45% of its total assets in large-capitalization stocks. Under normal market conditions, the Fund expects to invest in at least 75 securities, seeking to reduce the Fund's exposure to individual stock risks. The Fund generally will invest in common stocks on which exchange traded call options are currently available. The Fund will invest primarily in common stocks of U.S. issuers, although the Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in securities of foreign issuers, including American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"), Global Depositary Receipts ("GDRs") and European Depositary Receipts ("EDRs").
Eaton Vance generally considers mid-capitalization companies to be those companies having market capitalizations within the range of capitalizations for the S&P MidCap 400 Index ("S&P MidCap 400"). As of November 30, 2004, the median market capitalization of companies in the S&P
MidCap 400 was approximately $2.2 billion. Eaton Vance generally considers large-capitalization companies to be those companies having market capitalizations equal to or greater than the median market capitalization of the companies included in the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index ("S&P 500"). As of October 31, 2004, the median capitalization of companies in the S&P 500 was approximately $10.1 billion.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund intends to pursue its primary investment objective principally by employing an options strategy of writing (selling) covered call options on a substantial portion of its portfolio securities. The extent of option writing activity will depend upon market conditions and the Adviser's ongoing assessment of the attractiveness of writing call options on the Fund's stock holdings. Writing covered call options involves a tradeoff between the option premiums received and reduced participation in potential future stock price appreciation. Depending on the Adviser's evaluation, the Fund may write covered call options on varying percentages of the Fund's common stock holdings. The Fund seeks to generate current earnings from option writing premiums and, to a lesser extent, from dividends on stocks held. The Fund may in certain circumstances purchase put options on the S&P 500, the S&P MidCap 400, any other broad-based securities index deemed suitable for this purpose, and/or on individual stocks held in its portfolio or use other derivative instruments in order to help protect against a decline in the value of its portfolio securities.
The Fund normally expects that its investments will be invested across a broad range of industries and market sectors. The Fund may not invest 25% or more of its total assets in the securities of issuers in any single industry or group of industries.
INVESTMENT STRATEGY
A team of Eaton Vance investment professionals with extensive experience in equity research and management is responsible for the overall management of the Fund's investments. Rampart Investment Management Company, Inc. ("Rampart" or the "Sub-Adviser") has been engaged as a sub-adviser to provide Eaton Vance with advice on and execution of the Fund's option writing strategy. The Fund's investments are actively managed, and securities and other investments may be bought or sold on a daily basis.
The Adviser believes that a strategy combining active equity portfolio management with a systematic program of covered call option writing can provide potentially attractive long-term returns. The Adviser further believes that a strategy of owning common stocks in conjunction with writing covered call options on a substantial portion of the stocks held should generally provide returns that are superior to simply owning the same stocks under three different stock market scenarios: (1) down-trending equity markets; (2) flat market conditions; and (3) moderately rising equity markets. In the Adviser's opinion, only in more strongly rising equity markets would the stock-plus-covered calls strategy generally be expected to underperform the stocks held. For these purposes, the Adviser considers more strongly rising equity market conditions to exist whenever the current annual rate of return for U.S. stocks materially exceeds the long-term historical average of stock market returns. The Adviser considers moderately rising equity market conditions to exist whenever current annual returns on U.S. common stocks are positive, but not materially higher than the long-term historical average of stock market returns.
The Adviser will employ its signature "growth at a reasonable price" investment style. Investment decisions for the Fund will be made primarily on the basis of fundamental research. The Eaton Vance portfolio managers will utilize information provided by, and the expertise of, the Adviser's research staff in making investment decisions. The Adviser believes that investments in companies with above average growth and financial strength should provide attractive opportunities for investment appreciation. The Adviser seeks to identify such stocks by focusing, without limitation, on issuers with the following characteristics: (1) sustainable competitive advantages, (2) predictable and dependable cash flows, (3) high quality management teams and (4) solid balance sheets. Many of these considerations are subjective. In addition to its careful research based analysis in selecting investments
for the Fund, the Adviser will also place a strong emphasis on the ongoing evaluation of portfolio holdings and the appropriate time and circumstances to sell or reduce a holding. In this regard, the Adviser may sell a stock when it believes it is fully valued, the fundamentals of the company deteriorate, the stock's price falls below its acquisition cost, management fails to execute its strategy or to pursue other more attractive investment opportunities, among other reasons.
The Adviser and Sub-Adviser believe that by coordinating their activities, they will be able to achieve the Fund's investment objectives. In particular, the Adviser believes its active management style complements the Sub-Adviser's systematic option methodology. The Fund's call option-writing program will seek to achieve a high level of net option premiums, while maintaining the potential for capital appreciation in each stock on which options are written up to a defined target price for that stock determined by the Adviser. To achieve this goal, Rampart utilizes proprietary options management and options trading analytical tools (Rampart Options Management System (ROMS)). Eaton Vance believes that a long-term investment approach and low core turnover of the underlying portfolio can support an efficient options program. Transaction costs associated with the Fund's options strategy will vary depending on market circumstances and other factors. Although it is not possible to accurately predict such costs because of this variability, the Adviser estimates that such costs on an annualized basis may range from between 0.20% and 0.30% of the Fund's total assets assuming the same offering size assumed for purposes of presenting the information set forth under "Summary of Fund expenses." There can be no certainty that upon changing market conditions such costs will fall within this range.
The Fund expects initially to write primarily exchange-listed call options on individual stocks held in the Fund's portfolio (rather than S&P 500, S&P MidCap 400, or other index options), primarily with shorter maturities (typically two to six months until expiration) and primarily at exercise prices approximately equal to or slightly above the current stock price when written. When an option-writing program is established for a particular stock, options will typically be written on a portion of the total stock position, which may allow for upside potential. If the stock price increases, the Fund will normally look to buy back the call options written and to sell new call options at higher exercise prices (up to the target price determined by the Adviser) on a greater number of shares. When a stock's price moves to or above its target price, the Adviser will evaluate the stock and option-writing program and determine whether to raise its target price and continue to hold the stock and write covered call options or, alternatively, whether to deliver the stock in settlement of the option position or otherwise exit the position by buying back the options written and selling the stock. If the stock price declines, the Fund will normally seek to buy back the call options written and to sell new call options at lower exercise prices on fewer shares. The Fund will seek to execute option rolls (as described above) such that the premium received from writing new options generally exceeds the amounts paid to close the positions being replaced. The Fund may also write covered call options with different characteristics and managed differently than described in this paragraph.
In addition to the intended strategy of selling covered call options, the Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in other derivative instruments acquired for hedging, risk management and investment purposes (to gain exposure to securities, securities markets, markets indices and/or currencies consistent with its investment objectives and policies), provided that no more than 10% of the Fund's total assets may be invested in such derivative instruments acquired for non-hedging purposes. Among other derivative strategies, the Fund may purchase put options on the S&P 500, the S&P MidCap 400, any other broad-based securities index deemed suitable for this purpose, and/or on individual stocks held in its portfolio or use other derivative instruments in order to help protect against a decline in the value of its portfolio securities. Derivative instruments may be used by the Fund to enhance returns or as a substitute for the purchase or sale of securities.
The foregoing policies relating to investment in common stocks and options writing are the Fund's primary investment policies. In addition to its primary investment policies, the Fund may invest to a limited extent in other types of securities and engage in certain other investment practices.
LISTING
The Fund intends to apply for listing of its Common Shares on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "EOS."
INVESTMENT ADVISER, ADMINISTRATOR AND SUB-ADVISER
Eaton Vance, a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Eaton Vance Corp., is the Fund's investment adviser and administrator. The Adviser and its subsidiaries managed approximately $94.5 billion on behalf of funds, institutional clients and individuals as of October 31, 2004, including approximately $55.8 billion in equity assets. Twenty-nine of the funds managed by Eaton Vance are closed-end funds. Eaton Vance has engaged Rampart as a sub-adviser to provide advice on and execution of the Fund's options strategy. Rampart, founded in 1983, specializes in option management and trading for institutional and high net worth investors. Rampart managed approximately $1.8 billion in assets as of November 30, 2004. See "Management of the Fund."
DISTRIBUTIONS
Commencing with the Fund's first distribution, the Fund intends to make regular monthly distributions to Common Shareholders based upon the Fund's projected annual cash available from option premiums and dividends. For distribution purposes, "cash available from option premiums and dividends" will consist of the total proceeds of options sales plus dividends and interest received, less amounts paid to purchase options and Fund expenses. The Fund's distribution rate may be adjusted from time-to-time. The Board may modify this distribution policy at any time without obtaining the approval of Common Shareholders. The initial distribution is expected to be declared approximately 45-60 days and paid approximately 60-90 days after the completion of this offering, depending on market conditions.
The Fund's annual cash available from options premiums and dividends will likely differ from annual net investment income. The investment income of the Fund will consist of all dividend and interest income accrued on portfolio investments, short-term capital gain (including short-term gains on terminated option positions and gains on the sale of portfolio investments held for one year or less) in excess of long-term capital loss and income from certain hedging transactions, less all expenses of the Fund. Expenses of the Fund will be accrued each day. The Fund expects that over time it will distribute all of its investment company taxable income. In addition, at least annually, the Fund intends to distribute any net capital gain (which is the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss). To the extent that that Fund's net investment income and net capital gain for any taxable year exceed the total monthly distributions paid during the year, the Fund will make a special distribution at or near year-end of such excess amount as may be required to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company or to avoid income and excise taxes. If the Fund's total monthly distributions in any taxable year exceed the amount of its current and accumulated earnings and profits for the year, any such excess would be characterized as a return of capital. Under the 1940 Act, for any distribution that includes amounts from sources other than net income, the Fund is required to provide Common Shareholders a written statement regarding the components of such distribution.
To permit the Fund to maintain more stable distributions, distribution rates will be based on projected annual cash available from options premiums and dividends. As a result, the distributions paid by the Fund for any particular month may be more or less than the amount of cash available from options premiums and dividends for that month. In such circumstances, the Fund may have to sell a portion of its investment portfolio to make a distribution at a time when independent investment judgment might not dictate such action. Undistributed net investment income is included in the Common Shares' net asset value, and, correspondingly, distributions from net investment income will reduce the Common Shares' net asset value.
Common Shareholders may elect automatically to reinvest some or all of their distributions in additional Common Shares under the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan. See "Distributions" and "Dividend reinvestment plan."
DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN
The Fund has established a dividend reinvestment plan (the "Plan"). Under the Plan, a Common Shareholder may elect to have all distributions automatically reinvested in additional Common Shares either purchased in the open market or newly issued by the Fund if the Common Shares are trading at or above their net asset value. Common Shareholders may elect to participate in the Plan by completing the dividend reinvestment plan application form. Common Shareholders who do not elect to participate in the Plan will receive all distributions in cash paid by check mailed directly to them by PFPC Inc., as dividend paying agent. Common Shareholders who intend to hold their Common Shares through a broker or nominee should contact such broker or nominee to determine whether or how they may participate in the Plan. See "Dividend reinvestment plan."
CLOSED-END STRUCTURE
Closed-end funds differ from open-end management investment companies (commonly referred to as mutual funds) in that closed-end funds generally list their shares for trading on a securities exchange and do not redeem their shares at the option of the shareholder. By comparison, mutual funds issue securities that are redeemable at net asset value at the option of the shareholder and typically engage in a continuous offering of their shares. Mutual funds are subject to continuous asset in-flows and out-flows that can complicate portfolio management, whereas closed-end funds generally can stay more fully invested in securities consistent with the closed-end fund's investment objectives and policies.
In addition, in comparison to open-end funds, closed-end funds have greater flexibility in the employment of financial leverage, and in the ability to make certain types of investments. Shares of closed-end funds listed on an exchange may be purchased and sold throughout each trading day, whereas purchases and sales of mutual funds are generally effected as of the close of market trading. However, shares of closed-end funds frequently trade at a discount from their net asset value.
In recognition of the possibility that the Common Shares might trade at a discount to net asset value and that any such discount may not be in the interest of Common Shareholders, the Fund's Board of Trustees (the "Board"), in consultation with Eaton Vance, from time to time may review possible actions to reduce any such discount. The Board might consider open market repurchases or tender offers for Common Shares at net asset value. There can be no assurance that the Board will decide to undertake any of these actions or that, if undertaken, such actions would result in the Common Shares trading at a price equal to or close to net asset value per Common Share. The Board might also consider the conversion of the Fund to an open-end mutual fund. The Board believes, however, that the closed-end structure is desirable, given the Fund's investment objectives and policies. Investors should assume, therefore, that it is highly unlikely that the Board would vote to convert the Fund to an open-end investment company.
Although the Fund has no current intention to issue preferred shares, investors should note that any possible future issuance of preferred shares to provide investment leverage could make a conversion to open-end form more difficult because of the voting rights of preferred shareholders, the costs of redeeming preferred shares and other factors. See "Description of capital structure."
SPECIAL RISK CONSIDERATIONS
NO OPERATING HISTORY
The Fund is a closed-end investment company with no history of operations and is
designed for long-term investors and not as a trading vehicle.
INVESTMENT AND MARKET RISK
An investment in Common Shares is subject to investment risk, including the
possible loss of the entire principal amount invested. An investment in Common
Shares represents an indirect investment in the securities owned by the Fund,
which are generally traded on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter
markets. The value of these securities, like other market investments, may move
up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. In addition, by writing
(selling) call options on the equity securities held in the Fund's portfolio,
the capital appreciation potential of such securities will be limited to the
difference between the exercise price of the call options written and the
purchase price of the equity security underlying such options. The Common Shares
at any point in time may be worth less than the original investment, even after
taking into account any reinvestment of distributions.
ISSUER RISK
The value of securities held by the Fund may decline for a number of reasons
that directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial
leverage and reduced demand for the issuer's goods and services.
EQUITY RISK
At least 80% of the Fund's total assets will be invested in common stocks and
therefore a principal risk of investing in the Fund is equity risk. Equity risk
is the risk that securities held by the Fund will fall due to general market or
economic conditions, perceptions regarding the industries in which the issuers
of securities held by the Fund participate, and the particular circumstances and
performance of particular companies whose securities the Fund holds. Although
common stocks have historically generated higher average returns than
fixed-income securities over the long term, common stocks also have experienced
significantly more volatility in returns. An adverse event, such as an
unfavorable earnings report, may depress the value of equity securities of an
issuer held by the Fund; the price of common stock of an issuer may be
particularly sensitive to general movements in the stock market; or a drop in
the stock market may depress the price of most or all of the common stocks and
other equity securities held by the Fund. In addition, common stock of an issuer
in the Fund's portfolio may decline in price if the issuer fails to make
anticipated dividend payments because, among other reasons, the issuer of the
security experiences a decline in its financial condition. Common equity
securities in which the Fund will invest are structurally subordinated to
preferred stocks, bonds and other debt instruments in a company's capital
structure, in terms of priority to corporate income, and therefore will be
subject to greater dividend risk than preferred stocks or debt instruments of
such issuers. Finally, common stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest
rates, as the costs of capital rise and borrowing costs increase.
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH OPTIONS ON SECURITIES
There are numerous risks associated with transactions in options on securities.
A decision as to whether, when and how to use options involves the exercise of
skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived transaction may be unsuccessful to
some degree because of market behavior or unexpected events. As the writer of a
covered call option, the Fund forgoes, during the option's life, the opportunity
to profit from increases in the market value of the security covering the call
option above the sum of the option premium received and the exercise price of
the call, but has retained the risk of loss, minus the option premium received,
should the price of the underlying security decline. The writer of an option has
no control over when during the exercise period of the option it may be required
to fulfill its obligation as a writer of 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 security at the exercise price. Thus, the use of options may require
the Fund to sell portfolio securities at inopportune times or for prices other
than current market values, will limit the amount of appreciation the Fund can
realize above the exercise price of an option on a common stock, or may cause
the Fund to hold a security that it might otherwise sell.
The value of options may also be adversely affected if the market for such
options becomes less liquid or smaller. There can be no assurance that a liquid
market will exist when the Fund seeks to close out an option position either, in
the case of a call option written, by buying the option, or, in the case of a
purchased put option, by selling the option. Reasons for the absence of a liquid
secondary market on an exchange include the following: (i) there may be
insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions may be
imposed by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both;
(iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with
respect to particular classes or series of options; (iv) unusual or unforeseen
circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (v) the facilities
of an exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation (the "OCC") may not at all
times be adequate to handle current trading volume; or (vi) one or more
exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled to
discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options)
at some future date. If trading were discontinued, the secondary market on that
exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist. However,
outstanding options on that exchange that had been issued by the OCC as a result
of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with
their terms. The Fund's ability to terminate over-the-counter options will be
more limited than with exchange-traded options and may involve the risk that
broker-dealers participating in such transactions will not fulfill their
obligations. If the Fund were unable to close out a covered call option that it
had written on a security, it would not be able to sell the underlying security
unless the option expired without exercise.
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. Call options are marked to market daily and their value will be affected by changes in the value of and dividend rates of the underlying common stocks, changes in interest rates, changes in the actual or perceived volatility of the stock market and the underlying common stocks and the remaining time to the options' expiration. Additionally, the exercise price of an option may be adjusted downward before the option's expiration as a result of the occurrence of certain corporate events affecting the underlying equity security, such as extraordinary dividends, stock splits, merger or other extraordinary distributions or events. A reduction in the exercise price of an option would reduce the Fund's capital appreciation potential on the underlying security.
The number of call options the Fund can write is limited by the number of shares of common stock the Fund holds, and further limited by the fact that listed call options on individual common stocks generally trade in units representing 100 shares of the underlying stock. Furthermore, the Fund's options transactions will be subject to limitations established by each of the exchanges, boards of trade or other trading facilities on which such options are traded. These limitations govern the maximum number of options in each class which may be written or purchased by a single investor or group of investors acting in concert, regardless of whether the options are written or purchased on the same or different exchanges, boards of trade or other trading facilities or are held or written in one or more accounts or through one or more brokers. Thus, the number of options which the Fund may write or purchase may be affected by options written or purchased by other investment advisory clients of the Adviser or Sub-Adviser. An exchange, board of trade or other trading facility may order the liquidation of positions found to be in excess of these limits, and may impose certain other sanctions. The Fund will not write "naked" or uncovered call options.
If the Fund purchases put options for hedging or risk management purposes, the Fund will be subject to the following additional risks. A put option acquired by the Fund and not sold prior to expiration will expire worthless if the price of the stock or index at expiration exceeds the exercise price of the option, thereby causing the Fund to lose its entire investment in the option. If restrictions on exercise were imposed, the Fund might be unable to exercise an option it had purchased. If the Fund were unable to close out an option that it had purchased, it would have to exercise the option in order to realize any profit or the option may expire worthless. Stock market indices on which the Fund may
purchase options positions likely will not mirror the Fund's actual portfolio holdings. The effectiveness of index put options as hedges against declines in the Fund's stock portfolio will be limited to the extent that the performance of the underlying index does not correlate with that of the Fund's holdings.
RISKS OF MID-CAP COMPANIES
The Fund may invest substantially in companies whose market capitalization is
considered middle sized or "mid-cap." Mid-cap companies often are newer or less
established companies than larger companies. Investments in mid-cap companies
carry additional risks because earnings of these companies tend to be less
predictable; they often have limited product lines, markets, distribution
channels or financial resources; and the management of such companies may be
dependent upon one or a few key people. The market movements of equity
securities of mid-cap companies may be more abrupt or erratic than the market
movements of equity securities of larger, more established companies or the
stock market in general. Historically, mid-cap companies have sometimes gone
through extended periods when they did not perform as well as larger companies.
In addition, equity securities of mid-cap companies generally are less liquid
than those of larger companies. This means that the Fund could have greater
difficulty selling such securities at the time and price that the Fund would
like.
RISKS OF GROWTH STOCK INVESTING
The Fund expects to invest substantially in stocks with "growth"
characteristics. Growth stocks can react differently to issuer, political,
market, and economic developments than the market as a whole and other types of
stocks. Growth stocks tend to be more expensive relative to their earnings or
assets compared to other types of stocks. As a result, growth stocks tend to be
sensitive to changes in their earnings and more volatile than other types of
stocks.
DISTRIBUTION RISK
The monthly distributions Common Shareholders receive from the Fund will be
based primarily on the level of net option premiums and the dividends received
by the Fund. Net option premiums and dividend payments the Fund receives in
respect of its portfolio securities can vary widely over the short- and
long-term. If stock prices or stock price volatility declines, the level of
premiums from options writing and the amounts available for distribution from
options activity will likely decrease as well. Payments to purchase put options
and to close written call options will reduce amounts available for distribution
from call option premiums received and proceeds of closing put options.
Dividends on common stocks are not fixed but are declared at the discretion of
the issuer's board of directors. There is no guarantee that the issuers of
common stocks in which the Fund invests will declare dividends in the future or
that if declared they will remain at current levels or increase over time.
Dividends on any preferred stocks in which the Fund may invest are not
guaranteed and certain issues of preferred stock held by the Fund may be called
by the issuer.
FOREIGN SECURITY RISK
The Fund may have substantial exposure to foreign securities. The value of
foreign securities is affected by changes in currency rates, foreign tax laws
(including withholding tax), government policies (in this country or abroad),
relations between nations and trading, settlement, custodial and other
operational risks. In addition, the costs of investing abroad are generally
higher than in the United States, and foreign securities markets may be less
liquid, more volatile and less subject to governmental supervision than markets
in the United States. Foreign investments also could be affected by other
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. As an alternative to holding
foreign-traded securities, the Fund may invest in dollar-denominated securities
of foreign companies that trade on U.S. exchanges or in the U.S.
over-the-counter market (including depositary receipts, which evidence ownership
in underlying foreign securities). Since the Fund may invest in securities
denominated or quoted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, the Fund will be affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates (and exchange control regulations) which affect the value of investments in the Fund and the accrued income and appreciation or depreciation of the investments in U.S. dollars. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar will affect the U.S. dollar value of the Fund's assets denominated in that currency and the Fund's return on such assets as well as any temporary uninvested reserves in bank deposits in foreign currencies. In addition, the Fund will incur costs in connection with conversions between various currencies.
Because foreign companies are not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements 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 are 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. Mail service between the United States and foreign countries may be slower or less reliable than within the United States, thus increasing the risk of delayed settlements of portfolio transactions for, or loss of certificates of, portfolio securities. Payment for securities before delivery may be required. In addition, with respect to certain foreign countries, there is the possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation, political or social instability, or diplomatic developments, which could affect investments in those countries. Moreover, individual foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments position. Foreign securities markets, while growing in volume and sophistication, are generally not as developed as those in the United States, and securities of some foreign issuers (particularly those located in developing countries) may be less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. companies.
INTEREST RATE RISK
The level of premiums from call options writing and the amounts available for
distribution from the Fund's options activity may decrease in declining interest
rate environments. Any preferred stocks paying fixed dividend rates in which the
Fund invests, will likely change in value as market interest rates change. When
interest rates rise, the market value of such securities generally will fall. To
the extent that the Fund invests in preferred stocks, the net asset value and
price of the Common Shares may decline if market interest rates rise. Interest
rates are currently low relative to historic levels. During periods of declining
interest rates, an issuer of preferred stock may exercise its option to redeem
securities prior to maturity, forcing the Fund to reinvest in lower yielding
securities. This is known as call risk. During periods of rising interest rates,
the average life of certain types of securities may be extended because of
slower than expected payments. This may lock in a below market yield, increase
the security's duration, and reduce the value of the security. This is known as
extension risk. The value of the Fund's common stock investments may also be
influenced by changes in interest rates.
SECTOR RISK
The Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in securities of issuers
in any single industry or sector of the economy (a broad based economic segment
that may include many distinct industries) if companies in that industry or
sector meet the Fund's investment criteria. If the Fund is focused in an
industry or sector, it may present more risks than if it were broadly
diversified over numerous industries or sectors of the economy. This may make
the Fund more susceptible to adverse economic, political, or regulatory
occurrences affecting these sectors. A "sector" is a broader economic segment
that may include many different industries. As the percentage of the Fund's
assets invested in a particular sector increases, so does the potential for
fluctuation in the net asset value of Common Shares. The Fund may not invest 25%
or more of its total assets in the securities of issuers in any single industry
or group of industries.
DERIVATIVES RISK
In addition to writing covered call options, the risks of which are described
above, the Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in other derivative
investments acquired for hedging, risk management and investment purposes.
Derivative transactions including options on securities and securities indices
and other transactions in which the Fund may engage (such as futures contracts
and options thereon, swaps and short sales) may subject the Fund to increased
risk of principal loss due to unexpected movements in stock prices, changes in
stock volatility levels and interest rates, and imperfect correlations between
the Fund's securities holdings and indices upon which derivative transactions
are based. The Fund also will be subject to credit risk with respect to the
counterparties to any over-the-counter derivatives contracts purchased by the
Fund. If a counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its
obligations under a derivative contract due to financial difficulties, the Fund
may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery under the derivative
contract in a bankruptcy or other reorganization proceeding. The Fund may obtain
only a limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in such circumstances.
LIQUIDITY RISK
The Fund may invest up to 15% of its total assets in securities for which there
is no readily available trading market or which are otherwise illiquid. The Fund
may not be able readily to dispose of such securities at prices that approximate
those at which the Fund could sell such securities if they were more widely
traded and, as a result of such illiquidity, the Fund may have to sell other
investments or engage in borrowing transactions if necessary to raise cash to
meet its obligations. In addition, the limited liquidity could affect the market
price of the securities, thereby adversely affecting the Fund's net asset value.
INFLATION RISK
Inflation risk is the risk that the purchasing power of assets or income from
investment will be worth less in the future as inflation decreases the value of
money. As inflation increases, the real value of the Common Shares and
distributions thereon can decline.
MARKET PRICE OF COMMON SHARES
The shares of closed-end management investment companies often trade at a
discount from their net asset value, and the Fund's Common Shares may likewise
trade at a discount from net asset value. The trading price of the Fund's Common
Shares may be less than the public offering price. The returns earned by Common
Shareholders who purchased their Common Shares in this offering and sell their
Common Shares below net asset value will be reduced.
FINANCIAL LEVERAGE
Although the Fund has no current intention to do so, the Fund is authorized to
utilize leverage through the issuance of preferred shares and/or borrowings,
including the issuance of debt securities. In the event that the Fund determines
in the future to utilize investment leverage, there can be no assurance that
such a leveraging strategy will be successful during any period in which it is
employed. Leverage creates risks for Common Shareholders, including the
likelihood of greater volatility of net asset value and market price of the
Common Shares and the risk that fluctuations in distribution rates on any
preferred shares or fluctuations in borrowing costs may affect the return to
Common Shareholders. To the extent the income derived from securities purchased
with proceeds received from leverage exceeds the cost of leverage, the Fund's
distributions will be greater than if leverage had not been used. Conversely, if
the income from the securities purchased with such proceeds is not sufficient to
cover the cost of leverage, the amount available for distribution to Common
Shareholders will be less than if leverage had not been used. In the latter
case, Eaton Vance, in its best judgment, may nevertheless determine to maintain
the Fund's leveraged position if it deems such action to be appropriate. The
costs of an offering of preferred shares and/or a borrowing program would be
borne by Common Shareholders and consequently would result in a reduction of the
net asset value of Common Shares. In addition, the fee paid to Eaton Vance will
be calculated on the basis of the Fund's
average daily gross assets, including proceeds from the issuance of preferred shares and/or borrowings, so the fees will be higher when leverage is utilized. In this regard, holders of preferred shares do not bear the investment advisory fee. Rather, Common Shareholders bear the portion of the investment advisory fee attributable to the assets purchased with the proceeds of the preferred shares offering.
MANAGEMENT RISK
The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed
portfolio. Eaton Vance, Rampart and the individual portfolio managers will apply
investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the
Fund, but there can be no guarantee that these will produce the desired results.
The Fund may be subject to additional management risk because the Fund's options
program will require effective coordination between the Adviser and the
Sub-Adviser.
MARKET DISRUPTION
The terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001 had a
disruptive effect on the securities markets. These terrorist attacks and related
events, including the war in Iraq, its aftermath, and continuing occupation of
Iraq by coalition forces, have raised short-term market risk and may have
adverse long-term effects on U.S. and world economies and markets. A similar
disruption of the financial markets could impact trading in common stocks and
stock options, interest rates, credit risk, inflation and other factors relating
to the Common Shares. The Fund cannot predict the effects of similar events in
the future on the U.S. economy and securities markets.
ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS
The Fund's Agreement and Declaration of Trust includes provisions that could
have the effect of limiting the ability of other persons or entities to acquire
control of the Fund or to change the composition of its Board. See "Description
of capital structure--Anti-takeover provisions in the Declaration of Trust."
Summary of Fund expenses
The purpose of the table below is to help you understand all fees and expenses that you, as a Common Shareholder, would bear directly or indirectly.
Shareholder transaction expenses Sales load paid by you (as a percentage of offering price)................................................. 4.50% Expenses borne by the Fund................................ 0.20%(1) Dividend reinvestment plan fees........................... None(2) |
PERCENTAGE OF NET ASSETS ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON SHARES --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Annual expenses Management fees........................................... 1.00% Other expenses............................................ 0.20%(3) ---- Total annual expenses..................................... 1.20% ==== |
(2) You will be charged a $5.00 service charge and pay brokerage charges if you direct the plan agent to sell your Common Shares held in a dividend reinvestment account.
(3) Estimated expenses based on the current fiscal year.
The expenses shown in the table are based on estimated amounts for the Fund's first year of operations and assume that the Fund issues approximately 12,500,000 Common Shares. See "Management of the Fund" and "Dividend reinvestment plan."
EXAMPLE
The following example illustrates the expenses that you would pay on a $1,000 investment in Common Shares (including the sales load of $45, estimated offering expenses of this offering of $2), assuming (1) total annual expenses of 1.20% of net assets attributable to Common Shares and (2) a 5% annual return(1):
1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS ------------------------------------- $59 $83 $110 $186 |
The Fund
Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund II (the "Fund") is a newly organized, diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act" or the "Investment Company Act"). The Fund was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on November 8, 2004 pursuant to a Declaration of Trust governed by the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and has no operating history. The Fund's principal office is located at The Eaton Vance Building, 255 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, and its telephone number is 1-800-225-6265.
This Prospectus relates to the initial public offering of the Fund's common shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value (the "Common Shares"). See "Underwriting."
Use of proceeds
The net proceeds of this offering of Common Shares will be approximately $ (or $ assuming exercise of the Underwriters' over-allotment option in full), which, after payment of the estimated offering expenses, will be invested in accordance with the Fund's investment objectives and policies as soon as practicable, but, in no event, under normal market conditions, later than three months after the receipt thereof. Pending such investment, the proceeds may be invested in high-quality, short-term debt securities, cash and/or cash equivalents. Eaton Vance or an affiliate has agreed to (i) reimburse all organizational costs and (ii) pay all offering costs of the Fund (other than sales loads) that exceed $0.04 per Common Share.
Investment objectives, policies and risks
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES
The Fund's primary investment objective is to provide current income, with a secondary objective of capital appreciation. The Fund will pursue its investment objectives by investing primarily in a portfolio of mid- and large-capitalization common stocks, seeking to invest primarily in companies with above-average growth and financial strength. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will seek to generate current earnings from option premiums by selling covered call options on a substantial portion of its portfolio securities. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives.
PRIMARY INVESTMENT POLICIES
GENERAL COMPOSITION OF THE FUND
Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its total
assets in common stocks. Normally, the Fund will invest primarily in common
stocks of mid- and large-capitalization issuers that meet the Fund's selection
criteria of above-average growth and financial strength. Initially, the Fund
expects to invest between 55% and 65% of its total assets in mid-capitalization
stocks and between 35% and 45% of its total assets in large-capitalization
stocks. Under normal market conditions, the Fund expects to invest in at least
75 securities, seeking to reduce the Fund's exposure to individual stock risks.
The Fund generally will invest in common stocks on which exchange traded call
options are currently available. The Fund will invest primarily in common stocks
of U.S. issuers, although the Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in
securities of foreign issuers, including
American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"), Global Depositary Receipts ("GDRs") and European Depositary Receipts ("EDRs").
Eaton Vance generally considers mid-capitalization companies to be those companies having market capitalizations within the range of capitalizations for the S&P MidCap 400 Index ("S&P MidCap 400"). As of November 30, 2004, the median market capitalization of companies in the S&P MidCap 400 was approximately $2.2 billion. Eaton Vance generally considers large-capitalization companies to be those companies having market capitalizations equal to or greater than the median capitalization of the companies included in the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index ("S&P 500"). As of October 31, 2004, the median market capitalization of companies in the S&P 500 was approximately $10.1 billion.
The Fund's policy of investing, under normal market circumstances, at least 80% of its total assets in common stocks is not considered to be fundamental by the Fund and can be changed without a vote of the Fund's shareholders. However, this policy may only be changed by the Fund's Board of Trustees (the "Board") following the provision of 60 days prior written notice to the Fund's shareholders.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund intends to pursue its primary investment objective principally by employing an options strategy of writing (selling) covered call options on a substantial portion of its portfolio securities. The extent of option writing activity will depend upon market conditions and the Adviser's ongoing assessment of the attractiveness of writing call options on the Fund's stock holdings. Writing covered call options involves a tradeoff between the option premiums received and reduced participation in potential future stock price appreciation. Depending on the Adviser's evaluation, the Fund may write covered call options on varying percentages of the Fund's common stock holdings. The Fund seeks to generate current earnings from option writing premiums and, to a lesser extent, from dividends on stocks held.
The Fund may in certain circumstances purchase put options on the S&P 500, S&P MidCap 400, any other broad-based securities index deemed suitable for this purpose, and/or on individual stocks held in its portfolio or use other derivative instruments in order to help protect against a decline in the value of its portfolio securities. The premiums paid to acquire any such put options will reduce the amounts available for distribution to Common Shareholders from options activities.
The Fund normally expects that its investments will be invested across a broad range of industries and market sectors. The Fund may, however, invest up to any amount less than 25% of its total assets in the securities of issuers in any single industry or group of industries. See "Risk considerations--Sector risk."
INVESTMENT STRATEGY
A team of Eaton Vance investment professionals with extensive experience in
equity research and management is responsible for the overall management of the
Fund's investments. Rampart Investment Management Company, Inc. ("Rampart" or
the "Sub-Adviser") has been engaged as a sub-adviser to provide the Fund with
advice on and execution of its option writing strategy. The Fund's investments
are actively managed, and securities and other investments may be bought or sold
on a daily basis.
The Adviser believes that a strategy combining active equity portfolio management with a systematic program of covered call option writing can provide potentially attractive long-term returns. The Adviser further believes that a strategy of owning common stocks in conjunction with writing covered call options on a substantial portion of the stocks held should generally provide returns that are superior to simply owning the same stocks under three different stock market scenarios: (1) Down-trending equity markets; (2) flat market conditions; and (3) moderately rising equity markets. In the Adviser's opinion, only in more strongly rising equity markets would the stock-plus-covered calls strategy generally be expected to underperform the stocks held. For these purposes, the Adviser
considers more strongly rising equity market conditions to exist whenever the current annual rate of return for U.S. stocks materially exceeds the long-term historical average of stock market returns. The Adviser considers moderately rising equity market conditions to exist whenever current annual returns on U.S. common stocks are positive, but not materially higher than the long-term historical average of stock market returns.
The Adviser will employ its signature "growth at a reasonable price" investment style. Investment decisions for the Fund will be made primarily on the basis of fundamental research. The Eaton Vance portfolio managers will utilize information provided by, and the expertise of, the Adviser's research staff in making investment decisions. The Adviser believes that investments in companies with above average growth and financial strength should provide attractive opportunities for investment appreciation. The Adviser seeks to identify such stocks by focusing, without limitation, on issuers with the following characteristics: (1) sustainable competitive advantages, (2) predictable and dependable cash flows, (3) high quality management teams and (4) solid balance sheets. Many of these considerations are subjective. In addition to its careful research based analysis in selecting investments for the Fund, the Adviser also places a strong emphasis on the ongoing evaluation of portfolio holdings and the appropriate time and circumstances to sell or reduce a holding. In this regard, the Adviser may sell a stock when it believes it is fully valued, the fundamentals of a company deteriorate, a stock's price falls below its acquisition cost, management fails to execute its strategy or to pursue other more attractive investment opportunities, among other reasons.
The Adviser and Sub-Adviser believe that by coordinating their activities, they will be able to achieve the Fund's investment objectives. In particular, the Adviser believes its active management style complements the Sub-Adviser's systematic option methodology. The Fund's call option-writing program will seek to achieve a high level of net option premiums, while maintaining the potential for capital appreciation in each stock on which options are written up to a defined target price for that stock determined by the Adviser. To achieve this goal, Rampart utilizes proprietary options management and options trading analytical tools (Rampart Options Management System (ROMS)). Eaton Vance believes that a long-term investment approach and low core turnover of the underlying portfolio can support an efficient options program. Transaction costs associated with the Fund's options strategy will vary depending on market circumstances and other factors. Although it is not possible to accurately predict such costs because of this variability, the Adviser estimates that such costs on an annualized basis may range from between 0.20% and 0.30% of the Fund's total assets assuming the same offering size assumed for purposes of presenting the information set forth under "Summary of Fund expenses." There can be no certainty that upon changing market conditions such costs will fall within this range.
The Fund expects initially to write primarily exchange-listed call options on individual stocks held in the Fund's portfolio (rather than S&P 500, S&P MidCap 400 or other index options), primarily with shorter maturities (typically two to six months until expiration) and primarily at exercise prices approximately equal to or slightly above the current stock price when written. When an option-writing program is established for a particular stock, options will typically be written on a portion of the total stock position, which may allow for upside potential. If the stock price increases, the Fund will normally look to buy back the call options written and to sell new call options at higher exercise prices (up to the target price determined by the Adviser) on a greater number of shares. When a stock's price moves to or above its target price, the Adviser will evaluate the stock and option-writing program and determine whether to raise its target price and continue to hold the stock and write covered call options or, alternatively, whether to deliver the stock in settlement of the option position or otherwise exit the position by buying back the options written and selling the stock. If the stock price declines, the Fund will normally seek to buy back the call options written and to sell new call options at lower exercise prices on fewer shares. The Fund will seek to execute option rolls (as
described above) such that the premium received from writing new options generally exceeds the amounts paid to close the positions being replaced. The Fund may also write covered call options with different characteristics and managed differently than described in this paragraph.
In addition to the intended strategy of selling covered call options, the Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in other derivative instruments acquired for hedging, risk management and investment purposes (to gain exposure to securities, securities markets, markets indices and/or currencies consistent with its investment objectives and policies), provided that no more than 10% of the Fund's total assets may be invested in such derivative instruments acquired for non-hedging purposes. Among other derivative strategies, the Fund may purchase put options on the S&P 500, the S&P MidCap 400, any other broad-based securities index deemed suitable for this purpose, and/or on individual stocks held in its portfolio in order to help protect against a decline in the value of its portfolio securities. Derivative instruments may be used by the Fund to enhance returns or as a substitute for the purchase or sale of securities.
COMMON STOCKS
Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its total
assets in 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. The Fund will have
substantial exposure to common stocks.
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 held by the Fund. 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 to which the Fund has exposure. 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 issuers occur. In addition, common stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the costs of capital rise and borrowing costs increase.
FOREIGN SECURITIES
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in securities of issuers
located in countries other than the United States. The value of foreign
securities is affected by changes in currency rates, foreign tax laws (including
withholding tax), government policies (in this country or abroad), relations
between nations and trading, settlement, custodial and other operational risks.
In addition, the costs of investing abroad are generally higher than in the
United States, and foreign securities markets may be less liquid, more volatile
and less subject to governmental supervision than markets in the United States.
Foreign investments also could be affected by other 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. As an alternative to holding foreign-traded securities,
the Fund may invest in dollar-denominated securities of foreign companies that
trade on U.S. exchanges or in the U.S. over-the-counter market (including
depositary receipts, which evidence ownership in underlying foreign securities).
Because foreign companies are not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements 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 are 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. Mail service between the United States and foreign countries may be slower or less reliable than within the United States, thus increasing the risk of delayed settlements of portfolio transactions or loss of certificates for portfolio securities. Payment for securities before delivery may be required. In addition, with respect to certain foreign countries, there is the possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation, political or social instability, or diplomatic developments, which could affect investments in those countries. Moreover, individual foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments position. Foreign securities markets, while growing in volume and sophistication, are generally not as developed as those in the United States, and securities of some foreign issuers (particularly those located in developing countries) may be less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. companies.
Since the Fund will invest in securities denominated or quoted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, the Fund will be affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates (and exchange control regulations) which affect the value of investments in the Fund and the accrued income and appreciation or depreciation of the investments in U.S. dollars. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar will affect the U.S. dollar value of the Fund's assets denominated in that currency and the Fund's return on such assets as well as any temporary uninvested reserves in bank deposits in foreign currencies. In addition, the Fund will incur costs in connection with conversions between various currencies.
The Fund may invest in ADRs, EDRs and GDRs. ADRs, EDRs and GDRs are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of foreign issuers and are alternatives to purchasing directly 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 foreign exchange risk as well as the political and economic risks of the underlying issuer's country. ADRs, EDRs and GDRs may be sponsored or unsponsored. Unsponsored receipts are established without the participation of the issuer. Unsponsored receipts may involve higher expenses, they may not pass- through voting or other shareholder rights, and they may be less liquid.
OPTIONS--GENERALLY
The Fund's principal options activity will consist of writing (selling) covered
call options on common stocks held. Among other potential options strategies,
the Fund may purchase put options on the S&P 500, the S&P MidCap 400, any other
broad-based securities index deemed suitable for this purpose, and/or on
individual stocks held in its portfolio to help protect against a decline in the
value of its portfolio securities. An option on a security 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 security underlying the option at a specified exercise or "strike"
price. The writer of an option on a security has the obligation upon exercise of
the option to deliver the underlying security upon payment of the exercise price
or to pay the exercise price upon delivery of the underlying security. Certain
options, known as "American style" options may be exercised at any time during
the term of the option. Other options, known as "European style" options, may be
exercised only on the expiration date of the option. Since listed options on
individual stocks in the United States are generally American style options, the
Adviser believes that substantially all of the
single-stock options written or acquired by the Fund will be American style options. Exchange-traded options on stock indices are generally European style options.
The Fund will write call options only if they are "covered." A call option on a common stock or other security is covered if the Fund owns the security underlying the call or has an absolute and immediate right to acquire that security without additional cash consideration (or, if additional cash consideration is required, cash or other assets determined to be liquid by the Adviser (in accordance with procedures established by the Board) in such amount are segregated by the Fund's custodian) upon conversion or exchange of other securities held by the Fund. A call option is also covered if the Fund holds a call on the same security as the call written where the exercise price of the call held is (i) equal to or less than the exercise price of the call written, or (ii) greater than the exercise price of the call written, provided the difference is maintained by the Fund in segregated assets determined to be liquid by the Adviser as described above.
If an option written by the Fund expires unexercised, the Fund realizes on the expiration date a capital gain equal to the premium received by the Fund at the time the option was written. If an option purchased by the Fund 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, underlying security, exercise price, and expiration). There can be no assurance, however, that a closing purchase or sale transaction can be effected when the Fund desires. The Fund may sell put or call options it has previously purchased, which could result in a net gain or loss depending on whether the amount realized on the sale is more or less than the premium and other transaction costs paid on the put or call option when purchased. The Fund will realize a capital gain 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, the Fund will realize a capital loss. 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. In most cases, net gains from the Fund's option strategy will be short-term capital gains which, for federal income tax purposes, will constitute net investment company taxable income. See "Distributions--Federal income tax matters."
The principal factors affecting the market value of an option include supply and demand, interest rates, the current market price of the underlying security in relation to the exercise price of the option, the actual or perceived volatility of the underlying security, and the time remaining until the expiration date. The premium paid for an option purchased by the Fund is an asset of the Fund. The premium received for an option written by the Fund is recorded as an asset and equivalent liability. The Fund then adjusts over time the liability to the market value of the option. The value of an option purchased or written is marked to market daily and is valued at the closing price on the exchange on which it is traded or, if not traded on an exchange or no closing price is available, at the mean between the last bid and asked prices or otherwise at fair value as determined by the Board of the Fund.
The transaction costs of buying and selling options consist primarily of commissions (which are imposed in opening, closing, exercise and assignment transactions), but may also include margin and interest costs in particular transactions. The impact of transaction costs on the profitability of a transaction may often be greater for options transactions than for transactions in the underlying securities because these costs are often greater in relation to options premiums than in relation to the prices of underlying securities. Transaction costs may be especially significant in option strategies calling for multiple purchases and sales of options, such as spreads or straddles. Transaction costs may be different for transactions effected in foreign markets than for transactions effected in U.S. markets.
Transaction costs associated with the Fund's options strategy will vary depending on market circumstances and other factors. Although it is not possible to accurately predict such costs because of
this variability, the Adviser estimates that such costs on an annualized basis may range from between 0.20% and 0.30% of the Fund's total assets assuming the same offering size assumed for purposes of presenting the information set forth under "Summary of Fund expenses." There can be no certainty that upon changing market conditions such costs will fall within this range.
CALL OPTIONS AND COVERED CALL WRITING
The Fund does not intend to purchase call options as an investment. It will
follow a principal options strategy known as "covered call option writing,"
which is a strategy designed to generate earnings and offset a portion of a
market decline in the underlying common stock. The Fund will only write (sell)
options on common stocks held in the Fund's portfolio. It may not sell "naked"
call options, i.e., options representing more shares of the stock than are held
in the portfolio.
The standard contract size for an exchange-listed single-stock option is 100 shares of the common stock. There are four items needed to identify a particular option contract: (1) the underlying security, (2) the expiration month, (3) the exercise (or strike) price and (4) the type (call or put). For example, 20 ABC Corp. January 40 call options provide the right to purchase 2,000 shares of ABC Corp. common stock on or before January 22, 2005 at $40 per share. A call option whose strike price is above the current price of the underlying stock is called "out-of-the-money," a call option whose strike price is equal to the current price of the underlying stock is called "at-the-money" and a call option whose strike price is below the current price of the underlying stock is called "in-the-money."
The following is a conceptual example of the returns that may be achieved from a stock-plus-covered-call position, making the following assumptions: ABC common stock trades at $36.36 per share and ABC January 40 call options (10% out-of-the-money) trade at $1.82 per underlying share (5% option premium). This example is not meant to represent the performance of any actual common stock, option contract or the Fund itself.
The return over the period until option expiration earned by a holder of ABC stock who writes ABC January 40 call options and maintains the position until expiration will be as follows: (1) if the stock price declines 5%, the option will expire worthless and the holder will have a net return of zero (option premium offsets loss in stock); (2) if the stock price is flat, the option will again expire worthless and the holder will have a net return of 5% (option premium plus no gain or loss on stock); (3) if the stock price rises 10% (to the $40 strike price), the option will again expire with no value and the holder will have a net return of 15% (option premium plus 10% stock return); and (4) if the stock rises 20%, the exercise of the option would limit stock gain to 10% and total net return to 15%. If the stock price at exercise exceeds the strike price, returns from the position are capped at 15%.
As demonstrated in the example, writing covered call options on common stocks lowers the variability of potential returns and can enhance returns in three of four stock price performance scenarios (down, flat or moderately up). Only when the stock price at expiration exceeds the sum of the premium received and the option exercise price would the stock-plus-covered-call strategy be expected to provide lower returns than the underlying stock. The amount of downside protection afforded by the strategy in declining stock scenarios is limited, however, to the amount of option premium received. If the stock price declines in an amount greater than the option premium, the Fund will incur a net loss.
For conventional listed call options, the option's expiration date can be up to nine months from the date the call options are first listed for trading. Longer-term call options can have expiration dates up to three years from the date of listing. It is anticipated that many options that are written by the Fund against its stock holdings will be repurchased prior to the option's expiration date, generating a gain or loss in the options. Options that are not repurchased prior to expiration are subject to exercise by the option holder if the stock price at expiration is above the strike price.
Exchange listed options contracts are originated and standardized by an independent entity called the Options Clearing Corporation (the "OCC"). Currently, listed options are available on over 2,300 stocks with new listings added periodically. The Fund will write (sell) call options that are generally issued, guaranteed and cleared by the OCC. Listed call options are traded on the American Stock Exchange, Chicago Board Options Exchange International Securities Exchange, New York Stock Exchange, Pacific Stock Exchange and Philadelphia Stock Exchange. With multiple exercise prices and expiration dates for options on different stocks, the Adviser and Sub-Adviser believe that there exist sufficient opportunities in the options market to meet the needs of the Fund's investment program.
PUT OPTIONS
Put options are contracts that give the holder of the option, in return for a
premium, the right to sell to the writer of the option the security/index
underlying the option at a specified exercise price at any time during the term
of the option. As discussed above, the Fund may in certain circumstances
purchase put options on the S&P 500, S&P MidCap 400, any other broad-based
securities index deemed suitable for this purpose, and/or on individual stocks
held in the portfolio to help protect against a decline in the value of the
Fund's portfolio securities. The premiums paid to acquire put options will
reduce amounts available for distribution from the Fund's options activity.
ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT PRACTICES
In addition to its primary investment policies, the Fund may engage in the following investment practices to a limited extent. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its total assets in common stocks, including stocks of foreign issuers. The Fund may invest in the aggregate up to 20% of its total assets in all investments described below.
PREFERRED STOCKS
Preferred stock, like common stock, represents an equity ownership in an issuer.
Generally, preferred stock has a priority of claim over common stock in dividend
payments and upon liquidation of the issuer. Unlike common stock, preferred
stock does not usually have voting rights. Preferred stock in some instances is
convertible into common stock. Although they are equity securities, preferred
stocks have certain characteristics of both debt and common stock. They are
debt-like in that their promised income is contractually fixed. They are common
stock-like in that they do not have rights to precipitate bankruptcy proceedings
or collection activities in the event of missed payments. Furthermore, they have
many of the key characteristics of equity due to their subordinated position in
an issuer's capital structure and because their quality and value are heavily
dependent on the profitability of the issuer rather than on any legal claims to
specific assets or cash flows. The Fund will only invest in preferred stocks
that are rated investment grade at the time of investment or, if unrated,
determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality. Standard & Poor's Ratings
Group and Fitch Ratings consider securities rated BBB -- and above to be
investment grade and Moody's Investors Service, Inc. considers securities rated
Baa3 and above to be investment grade.
WARRANTS
The Fund may invest in equity and index warrants of domestic and international
issuers. Equity warrants are securities that give the holder the right, but not
the obligation, to subscribe for equity issues of the issuing company or a
related company at a fixed price either on a certain date or during a set
period. Changes in the value of a warrant do not necessarily correspond to
changes in the value of its underlying security. The price of a warrant may be
more volatile than the price of its underlying security, and a warrant may offer
greater potential for capital appreciation as well as capital loss. Warrants do
not entitle a holder to dividends or voting rights with respect to the
underlying security and do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuing
company. A warrant ceases to have value if it is not exercised prior to its
expiration date. These factors can make warrants more speculative than
other types of investments. The sale of a warrant results in a long- or short-term capital gain or loss depending on the period for which a warrant is held.
CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES AND BONDS WITH WARRANTS ATTACHED
The Fund may invest in preferred stocks and fixed-income obligations that are
convertible into common stocks of domestic and foreign issuers, and bonds issued
as a unit with warrants. Convertible securities in which the Fund may invest,
comprised of both convertible debt and convertible preferred stock, may be
converted at either a stated price or at a stated rate into underlying shares of
common stock. Because of this feature, convertible securities generally enable
an investor to benefit from increases in the market price of the underlying
common stock. Convertible securities often provide higher yields than the
underlying equity securities, but generally offer lower yields than
non-convertible securities of similar quality. The value of convertible
securities fluctuates in relation to changes in interest rates like bonds, and,
in addition, fluctuates in relation to the underlying common stock.
SHORT SALES
The Fund may sell a security short if it owns at least an equal amount of the
security sold short or another security convertible or exchangeable for an equal
amount of the security sold short without payment of further compensation (a
short sale against-the-box). In a short sale against-the-box, the short seller
is exposed to the risk of being forced to deliver stock that it holds to close
the position if the borrowed stock is called in by the lender, which would cause
gain or loss to be recognized on the delivered stock. The Fund expects normally
to close its short sales against-the-box by delivering newly acquired stock.
The ability to use short sales against-the-box, certain equity swaps and certain equity collar strategies as a tax-efficient management technique with respect to holdings of appreciated securities is limited to circumstances in which the hedging transaction is closed out not later than thirty days after the end of the Fund's 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. Not meeting these requirements would trigger the recognition of gain on the underlying appreciated securities position under the federal tax laws applicable to constructive sales.
TEMPORARY INVESTMENTS
Cash equivalents are highly liquid, short-term securities such as commercial
paper, time deposits, certificates of deposit, short-term notes and short-term
U.S. government obligations. During unusual market circumstances, the Fund may
temporarily invest a substantial portion of its assets in cash or cash
equivalents, which may be inconsistent with the Fund's investment objectives. In
moving to a substantial temporary investments position and in transitioning from
such a position back into full conformity with the Fund's normal investment
objectives and policies, the Fund may incur transaction costs that would not be
incurred if the Fund had remained fully invested in accordance with such normal
policies. The transition to and back from a substantial temporary investments
position may also result in the Fund having to sell common stocks and/or close
out options positions and then later purchase common stocks and open new options
positions in circumstances that might not otherwise be optimal.
WHEN-ISSUED SECURITIES AND FORWARD COMMITMENTS
Securities may be purchased on a "forward commitment" or "when-issued" basis
(meaning securities are purchased or sold with payment and delivery taking place
in the future) in order to secure what is considered to be an advantageous price
and yield at the time of entering into the transaction. However, the return on a
comparable security when the transaction is consummated may vary from the return
on the security at the time that the forward commitment or when-issued
transaction was made. 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 or when-issued 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. Forward commitment or when-issued transactions may occur a month or more before delivery is due. However, no payment or delivery is made until payment is received or delivery is made from the other party to the transaction. Forward commitment or when-issued transactions will not be entered into for the purpose of investment leverage.
ILLIQUID SECURITIES
The Fund may invest up to 15% of its total assets in securities for which there
is no readily available trading market or are otherwise illiquid. Illiquid
securities include securities legally restricted as to resale, such as
commercial paper issued pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, and securities eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A thereunder.
Section 4(2) and Rule 144A securities may, however, be treated as liquid by the
Adviser pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board, which require consideration
of factors such as trading activity, availability of market quotations and
number of dealers willing to purchase the security. If the Fund invests in Rule
144A securities, the level of portfolio illiquidity may be increased to the
extent that eligible buyers become uninterested in purchasing such securities.
It may be difficult to sell illiquid securities at a price representing their fair value until such time as such securities may be sold publicly. Where registration is required, a considerable period may elapse between a decision to sell the securities and the time when it would be permitted to sell. Thus, the Fund may not be able to obtain as favorable a price as that prevailing at the time of the decision to sell. The Fund may also acquire securities through private placements under which it may agree to contractual restrictions on the resale of such securities. Such restrictions might prevent their sale at a time when such sale would otherwise be desirable.
OTHER DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
In addition to the intended strategy of selling covered call options, the Fund
may invest up to 20% of its total assets in derivative instruments (which are
instruments that derive their value from another instrument, security or index)
acquired for hedging, risk management and investment purposes (to gain exposure
to securities, securities markets, markets indices and/or currencies consistent
with its investment objectives and policies), provided that no more than 10% of
the Fund's total assets may be invested in such derivative instruments acquired
for non-hedging purposes. These strategies may be executed through the use of
derivative contracts in the United States or abroad. In the course of pursuing
these investment strategies, the Fund may purchase and sell equity and
fixed-income indices and other instruments, purchase and sell futures contracts
and options thereon, and enter into various transactions such as swaps, caps,
floors or collars. In addition, derivatives may also include new techniques,
instruments or strategies that are permitted as regulatory changes occur.
Derivative instruments may be used by the Fund to enhance returns or as a
substitute for the purchase or sale of securities.
SWAPS
Swap contracts may be purchased or sold to hedge against fluctuations in
securities prices, interest rates or market conditions, to mitigate non-payment
or default risk, or to gain exposure to particular securities, baskets of
securities, indices or currencies. In a standard "swap" transaction, two parties
agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) to be
exchanged or "swapped" between the parties, which returns are 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
particular security, "basket" of securities or index. The Fund will enter into
swaps only 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. If the other party to a swap defaults, the Fund's risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. The net amount of the excess, if any, of the Fund's obligations over its entitlements will be maintained in a segregated account by the Fund's custodian. The Fund will not enter into any swap unless the claims-paying ability of the other party thereto is considered to be investment grade by the Adviser. If there is a default by the other party to such a transaction, the Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction. Swaps are traded in the over-the-counter market. The use of swaps is a highly specialized activity, which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If the Adviser is incorrect in its forecasts of market values, interest rates and other applicable factors, the investment performance of the Fund would be unfavorably affected.
Total return swaps. Total return swaps are contracts in which one party agrees to make payments of the total return from the underlying asset(s), which may include securities, baskets of securities, or securities indices during the specified period, in return for payments equal to a fixed or floating rate of interest or the total return from other underlying asset(s).
Interest rate swaps. Interest rate 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).
FUTURES AND OPTIONS ON FUTURES
The Fund may purchase and sell various kinds of financial futures contracts and
options thereon to seek to hedge against changes in stock prices or interest
rates, for other risk management purposes or to gain exposure to certain
securities, indices and currencies. Futures contracts may be based on various
securities indices and securities. Such transactions involve a risk of loss or
depreciation due to adverse changes in securities prices, which may exceed the
Fund's initial investment in these contracts. The Fund will only purchase or
sell futures contracts or related options in compliance with the rules of the
Commodity Futures Trading Commission. These transactions involve transaction
costs. Sales of futures contracts and related options generally result in
realization of short-term or long-term capital gain depending on the period for
which the investment is held. To the extent that any futures contract or options
on futures contract held by the Fund is a "Section 1256 contract" under the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), the contract will be
marked-to-market annually and any gain or loss will be treated as 60% long-term
and 40% short-term, regardless of the holding period for such contract.
SECURITIES LENDING
The Fund may seek to earn income by lending portfolio securities to
broker-dealers or other institutional borrowers. As with other extensions of
credit, there are risks of delay in recovery or even loss of rights in the
securities loaned if the borrower of the securities fails financially. Loans
will be made only to organizations whose credit quality or claims paying ability
is considered by the Adviser to be at least investment grade and when the
expected returns, net of administrative expenses and any finders' fees,
justifies the attendant risk. Securities loans currently are required to be
secured continuously by collateral in cash, cash equivalents (such as money
market instruments) or other liquid securities held by the custodian and
maintained in an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities
loaned. The financial condition of the borrower will be monitored by the Adviser
on an ongoing basis. The Fund will not lend portfolio securities subject to a
written covered call contract.
BORROWINGS
The Fund may borrow money to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act as
interpreted, modified or otherwise permitted by the regulatory authority having
jurisdiction. Although there is no current
intention to do so, the Fund may in the future from time to time borrow money to add leverage to the portfolio. The Fund may also borrow money for temporary administrative purposes.
REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements. Under a reverse
repurchase agreement, the Fund temporarily transfers possession of a portfolio
instrument to another party, such as a bank or broker-dealer, in return for
cash. At the same time, the Fund agrees to repurchase the instrument at an
agreed upon time (normally within seven days) and price, which reflects an
interest payment. The Fund may enter into such agreements when it is able to
invest the cash acquired at a rate higher than the cost of the agreement, which
would increase earned income. Income realized on reverse repurchase agreements
will be taxable as ordinary income.
When the Fund enters into 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 market value of the Fund's assets. While there is a risk that large fluctuations in the market value of the Fund's assets could affect net asset value, this risk is not significantly increased by entering into reverse repurchase agreements, in the opinion of the Adviser. Because reverse repurchase agreements may be considered to be the practical equivalent of borrowing funds, they constitute a form of leverage and may be subject to leverage risks. 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.
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
The Fund will buy and sell securities to seek to accomplish it investment
objectives. Portfolio turnover generally involves some expense to the Fund,
including brokerage commissions and other transaction costs on the sale of
securities and reinvestment in other securities. Higher portfolio turnover may
decrease the after-tax return to Common Shareholders to the extent it results in
a decrease of the long-term capital gains portion of distributions to Common
Shareholders. Although the Fund cannot accurately predict its portfolio turnover
rate, under normal market conditions it expects to maintain relatively low core
turnover of its stock portfolio, not considering purchases and sales of stock
and options in connection with the Fund's options program. On an overall basis,
the Fund's annual turnover rate may exceed 100%. A high turnover rate (100% or
more) necessarily involves greater trading costs to the Fund and may result in
greater realization of taxable capital gains.
RISK CONSIDERATIONS
NO OPERATING HISTORY
The Fund is a closed-end investment company with no history of operations and is
designed for long-term investors and not as a trading vehicle.
INVESTMENT AND MARKET RISK
An investment in Common Shares is subject to investment risk, including the
possible loss of the entire principal amount invested. An investment in Common
Shares represents an indirect investment in the securities owned by the Fund,
which are generally traded on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter
markets. The value of these securities, like other market investments, may move
up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. In addition, by writing
(selling) call options on the equity securities held in the Fund's portfolio,
the capital appreciation potential of such securities will be limited to the
difference between the exercise price of the call options written and the
purchase price of the equity security underlying such options. The Common Shares
at any point in time may be worth less than the original investment, even after
taking into account any reinvestment of distributions.
ISSUER RISK
The value of securities held by the Fund may decline for a number of reasons
that directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial
leverage and reduced demand for the issuer's goods and services.
EQUITY RISK
At least 80% of the Fund's total assets will be invested in common stocks and
therefore a principal risk of investing in the Fund is equity risk. Equity risk
is the risk that securities held by the Fund will fall due to general market or
economic conditions, perceptions regarding the industries in which the issuers
of securities held by the Fund participate, and the particular circumstances and
performance of particular companies whose securities the Fund holds. Although
common stocks have historically generated higher average returns than
fixed-income securities over the long term, common stocks also have experienced
significantly more volatility in returns. An adverse event, such as an
unfavorable earnings report, may depress the value of equity securities of an
issuer held by the Fund; the price of common stock of an issuer may be
particularly sensitive to general movements in the stock market; or a drop in
the stock market may depress the price of most or all of the common stocks and
other equity securities held by the Fund. In addition, common stock of an issuer
in the Fund's portfolio may decline in price if the issuer fails to make
anticipated dividend payments because, among other reasons, the issuer of the
security experiences a decline in its financial condition. Common equity
securities in which the Fund will invest are structurally subordinated to
preferred stocks, bonds and other debt instruments in a company's capital
structure, in terms of priority to corporate income, and therefore will be
subject to greater dividend risk than preferred stocks or debt instruments of
such issuers. Finally, common stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest
rates, as the costs of capital rise and borrowing costs increase.
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH OPTIONS ON SECURITIES
There are numerous risks associated with transactions in options on securities.
A decision as to whether, when and how to use options involves the exercise of
skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived transaction may be unsuccessful to
some degree because of market behavior or unexpected events. As the writer of a
covered call option, the Fund forgoes, during the option's life, the opportunity
to profit from increases in the market value of the security covering the call
option above the sum of the option premium received and the exercise price of
the call, but has retained the risk of loss, minus the option premium received,
should the price of the underlying security decline. The writer of an option has
no control over when during the exercise period of the option it may be required
to fulfill its obligation as a writer of 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 security at the exercise price. Thus, the use of options may require
the Fund to sell portfolio securities at inopportune times or for prices other
than current market values, will limit the amount of appreciation the Fund can
realize above the exercise price of an option on a common stock, or may cause
the Fund to hold a security that it might otherwise sell.
The value of options may be adversely affected if the market for such options
becomes less liquid or smaller. There can be no assurance that a liquid market
will exist when the Fund seeks to close out an option position either, in the
case of a call option written, by buying the option, or, in the case of a
purchased put option, by selling the option. Reasons for the absence of a liquid
secondary market on an exchange include the following: (i) there may be
insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions may be
imposed by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both;
(iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with
respect to particular classes or series of options; (iv) unusual or unforeseen
circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (v) the facilities
of an exchange or the OCC may not at all times be adequate to
handle current trading volume; or (vi) one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options) at some future date. If trading were discontinued, the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist. However, outstanding options on that exchange that had been issued by the OCC as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms. The Fund's ability to terminate over-the-counter options will be more limited than with exchange-traded options and may involve the risk that broker-dealers participating in such transactions will not fulfill their obligations. If the Fund were unable to close out a covered call option that it had written on a security, it would not be able to sell the underlying security unless the option expired without exercise.
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. Call options are marked to market daily and their value will be affected by changes in the value of and dividend rates of the underlying common stocks, changes in interest rates, changes in the actual or perceived volatility of the stock market and the underlying common stocks and the remaining time to the options' expiration. Additionally, the exercise price of an option may be adjusted downward before the option's expiration as a result of the occurrence of certain corporate events affecting the underlying equity security, such as extraordinary dividends, stock splits, merger or other extraordinary distributions or events. A reduction in the exercise price of an option would reduce the Fund's capital appreciation potential on the underlying security.
The number of call options the Fund can write is limited by the number of shares of common stock the Fund holds, and further limited by the fact that listed call options on individual common stocks generally trade in units representing 100 shares of the underlying stock. Furthermore, the Fund's options transactions will be subject to limitations established by each of the exchanges, boards of trade or other trading facilities on which such options are traded. These limitations govern the maximum number of options in each class which may be written or purchased by a single investor or group of investors acting in concert, regardless of whether the options are written or purchased on the same or different exchanges, boards of trade or other trading facilities or are held or written in one or more accounts or through one or more brokers. Thus, the number of options which the Fund may write or purchase may be affected by options written or purchased by other investment advisory clients of the Adviser or Sub-Adviser. An exchange, board of trade or other trading facility may order the liquidation of positions found to be in excess of these limits, and may impose certain other sanctions. The Fund will not write "naked" or uncovered call options.
If the Fund purchases put options for hedging or risk management purposes, the Fund will be subject to the following additional risks. A put option acquired by the Fund and not sold prior to expiration will expire worthless if the price of the stock or index at expiration exceeds the exercise price of the option, thereby causing the Fund to lose its entire investment in the option. If restrictions on exercise were imposed, the Fund might be unable to exercise an option it had purchased. If the Fund were unable to close out an option that it had purchased, it would have to exercise the option in order to realize any profit or the option may expire worthless. Stock market indices on which the Fund may purchase options positions likely will not mirror the Fund's actual portfolio holdings. The effectiveness of index put options as hedges against declines in the Fund's stock portfolio will be limited to the extent that the performance of the underlying index does not correlate with that of the Fund's holdings.
RISKS OF MID-CAP COMPANIES
The Fund may invest substantially in companies whose market capitalization is
considered middle sized or "mid-cap." Mid-cap companies often are newer or less
established companies than larger companies. Investments in mid-cap companies
carry additional risks because earnings of these companies tend to be less
predictable; they often have limited product lines, markets, distribution
channels or financial resources; and the management of such companies may be
dependent upon one or a few key people. The market movements of equity
securities of mid-cap companies may be more abrupt or erratic than the market
movements of equity securities of larger, more established companies or the
stock market in general. Historically, mid-cap companies have sometimes gone
through extended periods when they did not perform as well as larger companies.
In addition, equity securities of mid-cap companies generally are less liquid
than those of larger companies. This means that the Fund could have greater
difficulty selling such securities at the time and price that the Fund would
like.
RISKS OF GROWTH STOCK INVESTING
The Fund expects to invest substantially in stocks with "growth"
characteristics. Growth stocks can react differently to issuer, political,
market, and economic developments than the market as a whole and other types of
stocks. Growth stocks tend to be more expensive relative to their earnings or
assets compared to other types of stocks. As a result, growth stocks tend to be
sensitive to changes in their earnings and more volatile than other types of
stocks.
DISTRIBUTION RISK
The monthly distributions Common Shareholders receive from the Fund will be
based primarily on the level of net option premiums and the dividends received
by the Fund. Net option premiums and dividend payments the Fund receives in
respect of its portfolio securities can vary widely over the short- and
long-term. If stock prices or stock price volatility declines, the level of
premiums from options writing and the amounts available for distribution from
options activity will likely decrease as well. Payments to purchase put options
and to close written call options will reduce amounts available for distribution
from call option premiums received and proceeds of closing put options.
Dividends on common stocks are not fixed but are declared at the discretion of
the issuer's board of directors. There is no guarantee that the issuers of
common stocks in which the Fund invests will declare dividends in the future or
that if declared they will remain at current levels or increase over time.
Dividends on any preferred stocks in which the Fund may invest are not
guaranteed and certain issues of preferred stock held by the Fund may be called
by the issuer.
FOREIGN SECURITY RISK
The Fund may have substantial exposure to foreign securities. The value of
foreign securities is affected by changes in currency rates, foreign tax laws
(including withholding tax), government policies (in this country or abroad),
relations between nations and trading, settlement, custodial and other
operational risks. In addition, the costs of investing abroad are generally
higher than in the United States, and foreign securities markets may be less
liquid, more volatile and less subject to governmental supervision than markets
in the United States. Foreign investments also could be affected by other
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. As an alternative to holding
foreign-traded securities, the Fund may invest in dollar-denominated securities
of foreign companies that trade on U.S. exchanges or in the U.S.
over-the-counter market (including depositary receipts, which evidence ownership
in underlying foreign securities). Since the Fund may invest in securities
denominated or quoted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, the Fund will be
affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates (and exchange control
regulations) which affect the value of
investments in the Fund and the accrued income and appreciation or depreciation of the investments in U.S. dollars. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar will affect the U.S. dollar value of the Fund's assets denominated in that currency and the Fund's return on such assets as well as any temporary uninvested reserves in bank deposits in foreign currencies. In addition, the Fund will incur costs in connection with conversions between various currencies.
Because foreign companies are not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements 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 are 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. Mail service between the United States and foreign countries may be slower or less reliable than within the United States, thus increasing the risk of delayed settlements of portfolio transactions for, or loss of certificates of, portfolio securities. Payment for securities before delivery may be required. In addition, with respect to certain foreign countries, there is the possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation, political or social instability, or diplomatic developments, which could affect investments in those countries. Moreover, individual foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments position. Foreign securities markets, while growing in volume and sophistication, are generally not as developed as those in the United States, and securities of some foreign issuers (particularly those located in developing countries) may be less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. companies.
INTEREST RATE RISK
The level of premiums from call options writing and the amounts available for
distribution from the Fund's options activity may decrease in declining interest
rate environments. Any preferred stocks paying fixed dividend rates in which the
Fund invests, will likely change in value as market interest rates change. When
interest rates rise, the market value of such securities generally will fall. To
the extent that the Fund invests in preferred stocks, the net asset value and
price of the Common Shares may decline if market interest rates rise. Interest
rates are currently low relative to historic levels. During periods of declining
interest rates, an issuer of preferred stock may exercise its option to redeem
securities prior to maturity, forcing the Fund to reinvest in lower yielding
securities. This is known as call risk. During periods of rising interest rates,
the average life of certain types of securities may be extended because of
slower than expected payments. This may lock in a below market yield, increase
the security's duration, and reduce the value of the security. This is known as
extension risk. The value of the Fund's common stock investments may also be
influenced by changes in interest rates.
SECTOR RISK
The Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in securities of issuers
in any single industry or sector of the economy (a broad based economic segment
that may include many distinct industries) if companies in that industry or
sector meet the Fund's investment criteria. If the Fund is focused in an
industry or sector, it may present more risks than if it were broadly
diversified over numerous industries or sectors of the economy. This may make
the Fund more susceptible to adverse economic, political, or regulatory
occurrences affecting these sectors. A "sector" is a broader economic segment
that may include many different industries. As the percentage of the Fund's
assets invested in a particular sector increases, so does the potential for
fluctuation in the net asset value of Common Shares. The Fund may not invest 25%
or more of its total assets in the securities of issuers in any single industry
or group of industries.
DERIVATIVES RISK
In addition to writing covered call options, the risks of which are described
above, the Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in other derivative
investments acquired for hedging, risk management and investment purposes.
Derivative transactions including options on securities and securities indices
and other transactions in which the Fund may engage (such as futures contracts
and options thereon, swaps and short sales) may subject the Fund to increased
risk of principal loss due to unexpected movements in stock prices, changes in
stock volatility levels and interest rates, and imperfect correlations between
the Fund's securities holdings and indices upon which derivative transactions
are based. The Fund also will be subject to credit risk with respect to the
counterparties to any over-the-counter derivatives contracts purchased by the
Fund. If a counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its
obligations under a derivative contract due to financial difficulties, the Fund
may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery under the derivative
contract in a bankruptcy or other reorganization proceeding. The Fund may obtain
only a limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in such circumstances.
LIQUIDITY RISK
The Fund may invest up to 15% of its total assets in securities for which there
is no readily available trading market or which are otherwise illiquid. The Fund
may not be able readily to dispose of such securities at prices that approximate
those at which the Fund could sell such securities if they were more widely
traded and, as a result of such illiquidity, the Fund may have to sell other
investments or engage in borrowing transactions if necessary to raise cash to
meet its obligations. In addition, the limited liquidity could affect the market
price of the securities, thereby adversely affecting the Fund's net asset value.
INFLATION RISK
Inflation risk is the risk that the purchasing power of assets or income from
investment will be worth less in the future as inflation decreases the value of
money. As inflation increases, the real value of the Common Shares and
distributions thereon can decline.
MARKET PRICE OF COMMON SHARES
The shares of closed-end management investment companies often trade at a
discount from their net asset value, and the Fund's Common Shares may likewise
trade at a discount from net asset value. The trading price of the Fund's Common
Shares may be less than the public offering price. The returns earned by Common
Shareholders who purchased their Common Shares in this offering and sell their
Common Shares below net asset value will be reduced.
FINANCIAL LEVERAGE
Although the Fund has no current intention to do so, the Fund is authorized to
utilize leverage through the issuance of preferred shares and/or borrowings,
including the issuance of debt securities. In the event that the Fund determines
in the future to utilize investment leverage, there can be no assurance that
such a leveraging strategy will be successful during any period in which it is
employed. Leverage creates risks for Common Shareholders, including the
likelihood of greater volatility of net asset value and market price of the
Common Shares and the risk that fluctuations in distribution rates on any
preferred shares or fluctuations in borrowing costs may affect the return to
Common Shareholders. To the extent the income derived from securities purchased
with proceeds received from leverage exceeds the cost of leverage, the Fund's
distributions will be greater than if leverage had not been used. Conversely, if
the income from the securities purchased with such proceeds is not sufficient to
cover the cost of leverage, the amount available for distribution to Common
Shareholders will be less than if leverage had not been used. In the latter
case, Eaton Vance, in its best judgment, may nevertheless determine to maintain
the Fund's leveraged position if it deems such action to be
appropriate. The costs of an offering of preferred shares and/or a borrowing program would be borne by Common Shareholders and consequently would result in a reduction of the net asset value of Common Shares. In addition, the fee paid to Eaton Vance will be calculated on the basis of the Fund's average daily gross assets, including proceeds from the issuance of preferred shares and/or borrowings, so the fees will be higher when leverage is utilized. In this regard, holders of preferred shares do not bear the investment advisory fee. Rather, Common Shareholders bear the portion of the investment advisory fee attributable to the assets purchased with the proceeds of the preferred shares offering.
MANAGEMENT RISK
The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed
portfolio. Eaton Vance, Rampart and the individual portfolio managers will apply
investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the
Fund, but there can be no guarantee that these will produce the desired results.
The Fund may be subject to additional management risk because the Fund's options
program will require effective coordination between the Adviser and the
Sub-Adviser.
MARKET DISRUPTION
The terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001 had a
disruptive effect on the securities markets. These terrorist attacks and related
events, including the war in Iraq, its aftermath, and continuing occupation of
Iraq by coalition forces, have raised short-term market risk and may have
adverse long-term effects on U.S. and world economies and markets. A similar
disruption of the financial markets could impact trading in common stocks and
stock options, interest rates, credit risk, inflation and other factors relating
to the Common Shares. The Fund cannot predict the effects of similar events in
the future on the U.S. economy and securities markets.
ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS
The Fund's Agreement and Declaration of Trust includes provisions that could
have the effect of limiting the ability of other persons or entities to acquire
control of the Fund or to change the composition of its Board. See "Description
of capital structure--Anti-takeover provisions in the Declaration of Trust."
Management of the Fund
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The management of the Fund, including general supervision of the duties performed by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement (as defined below) and the Sub-Adviser under the Sub-Advisory Agreement (as defined below), is the responsibility of the Fund's Board under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the 1940 Act.
THE ADVISER
Eaton Vance acts as the Fund's investment adviser under an Investment Advisory Agreement (the "Advisory Agreement"). The Adviser's principal office is located at The Eaton Vance Building, 255 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109. Eaton Vance, its affiliates and predecessor companies have been managing assets of individuals and institutions since 1924 and of investment funds since 1931. Eaton Vance (or its affiliates) currently serves as the investment adviser to investment funds and various individual and institutional clients with combined assets under management of approximately $94.5 billion as of October 31, 2004, including approximately $55.8 billion in equity assets. Eaton Vance is a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Eaton Vance Corp., a publicly-held holding company, which through its subsidiaries and affiliates engages primarily in investment management, administration and marketing activities.
Under the general supervision of the Fund's Board, the Adviser will carry out the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Fund, will furnish continuously an investment program with respect to the Fund, will determine which securities should be purchased, sold or exchanged, and will implement such determinations. The Adviser will furnish to the Fund investment advice and office facilities, equipment and personnel for servicing the investments of the Fund. The Adviser will compensate all Trustees and officers of the Fund who are members of the Adviser's organization and who render investment services to the Fund, and will also compensate all other Adviser personnel who provide research and investment services to the Fund. In return for these services, facilities and payments, the Fund has agreed to pay the Adviser as compensation under the Advisory Agreement an annual fee in the amount of 1.00% of the average daily gross assets of the Fund. Gross assets of the Fund means total assets of the Fund, including any form of investment leverage that the Fund may in the future determine to utilize, minus all accrued expenses incurred in the normal course of operations, but not excluding any liabilities or obligations attributable to any future investment leverage obtained through (i) indebtedness of any type (including, without limitation, borrowing through a credit facility/commercial paper program or the issuance debt securities), (ii) the issuance of preferred shares or other similar preference securities, (iii) the reinvestment of collateral received for securities loaned in accordance with the Fund's investment objectives and policies, and/or (iv) any other means. During any future periods in which the Fund is using leverage, the fees paid to Eaton Vance for investment advisory services will be higher than if the Fund did not use leverage because the fees paid will be calculated on the basis of the Fund's gross assets, including proceeds from any borrowings and from the issuance of preferred shares.
Walter A. Row, Lewis R. Piantedosi and other Eaton Vance investment professionals comprise the investment team responsible for the overall management of the Fund's investments. Mr. Row and Mr. Piantedosi are the portfolio managers responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund's investment portfolio.
Mr. Row is a Vice President and the Director of Equity Research at Eaton Vance. He is a member of Eaton Vance's Equity Strategy Committee, manages another Eaton Vance registered investment company and has been an equity analyst and member of Eaton's Vance's equity research team since 1996.
Mr. Piantedosi is a Vice President of Eaton Vance. He is a member of Eaton Vance's Equity Strategy Committee and co-manager of another Eaton Vance registered investment company. He first joined Eaton Vance's equity group in 1996.
THE SUB-ADVISER
Eaton Vance has engaged Rampart Investment Management Company, Inc. to serve as a sub-adviser to the Fund to provide advice on and execution of the Fund's options strategy. The Sub-Adviser's principal office is located at One International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110. Rampart Investment Management Company, Inc. was founded in 1983 by its current principals Ronald M. Egalka and David R. Fraley. The Sub-Adviser provides customized investment management services within its core competency in options program management to a spectrum of institutional and high net worth clients. Since its inception, the Sub-Adviser has continuously expanded its computer modeling and analytical capabilities and created tools to identify and capitalize on opportunities in the options markets. Rampart managed approximately $1.8 billion in assets as of November 30, 2004.
Mr. Egalka and Mr. Fraley are responsible for the development and implementation of Rampart's options strategy utilized in managing the Fund.
Mr. Egalka is President and CEO of Rampart. He is also President of Rampart Securities, Inc., an affiliate of the Sub-Adviser and a NASD member broker/dealer. Mr. Egalka oversees the development
and implementation of investment strategies and tactics for Rampart. He has created a variety of analytical and management tools including the Rampart Time Premium Index, published each week in Barron's, the Rampart Volatility Indexes and the Rampart Options Management System (ROMS), the technological platform from which Rampart's portfolio managers deliver the company's equity options management expertise.
As one of the early pioneers in personal computers and quantitative hedging, Mr. Egalka was a founding director of the Boston Computer Society, charter member of the National Options and Futures Society, a founder of the Boston Options Society and a guest lecturer on derivatives at Boston College. From 1973 to 1981, he was a portfolio manager and senior research officer at The Boston Company, specializing in hedged equity strategies. In 1981, Mr. Egalka joined Colonial Management Associates where he developed and managed a corporate cash management mutual fund and many of the company's portfolio hedging capabilities.
A long time proponent of hedged equities as an asset class, Mr. Egalka has focused on helping create an industry benchmark for options programs. The creation and subsequent launch of the CBOE/ S&P 500 BuyWrite Index (BXM) in 2002 was the realization of that objective. In 2003, the CBOE announced that it had licensed the BXM to Rampart as the strategic basis for new options investment vehicles.
Mr. Fraley is Managing Director/Manager of Marketing and Client Service at Rampart. He manages Rampart's new product development and customization of existing investment strategies for specific client needs. Prior to joining Rampart, Mr. Fraley served in a number of management roles with Merrill Lynch Capital Markets in Boston from 1975 through 1983.
Under the terms of the Sub-Advisory Agreement (the "Sub-Advisory Agreement") between Eaton Vance and the Sub-Adviser, Eaton Vance (and not the Fund) will pay the Sub-Adviser a fee at a annual rate equal to 0.235% of the average daily gross assets of the Fund. Pursuant to the terms of the Advisory Agreement, Eaton Vance, upon approval by the Board, may terminate the Sub-Advisory Agreement and Eaton Vance may assume full responsibility for the services provided by the Sub-Adviser without the need for approval by shareholders of the Fund. Rampart has agreed to reimburse Eaton Vance in certain circumstances for a portion of the payments that Eaton Vance makes to UBS Securities LLC under a shareholder servicing agreement. See "Underwriting."
The Fund, the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser have adopted codes of ethics relating to personal securities transactions (the "Codes of Ethics"). The Codes of Ethics permit Adviser and Sub-Adviser personnel to invest in securities (including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund) for their own accounts, subject to certain pre-clearance, reporting and other restrictions and procedures contained in such Codes of Ethics.
THE ADMINISTRATOR
Eaton Vance serves as administrator of the Fund, but currently receives no compensation for providing administrative services to the Fund. Under an Administration Agreement with the Fund (the "Administration Agreement"), Eaton Vance is responsible for managing the business affairs of the Fund, subject to the supervision of the Fund's Board. Eaton Vance will furnish to the Fund all office facilities, equipment and personnel for administering the affairs of the Fund. Eaton Vance's administrative services include recordkeeping, preparation and filing of documents required to comply with federal and state securities laws, supervising the activities of the Fund's custodian and transfer agent, providing assistance in connection with the Board and shareholders' meetings, providing service in connection with any repurchase offers and other administrative services necessary to conduct the Fund's business.
Distributions
Commencing with the Fund's first distribution, the Fund intends to make regular monthly distributions to Common Shareholders based upon the Fund's projected annual cash available from option premiums and dividends. For distribution purposes, "cash available from option premiums and dividends" will consist of the total proceeds of options sales plus dividends and interest received, less amounts paid to purchase options and Fund expenses. The Fund's distribution rate may be adjusted from time-to-time. The Board may modify this distribution policy at any time without obtaining the approval of Common Shareholders. The initial distribution is expected to be declared approximately 45-60 days and paid approximately 60-90 days after the completion of this offering, depending on market conditions.
The Fund's annual cash available from options premiums and dividends will likely differ from annual net investment income. The investment income of the Fund will consist of all dividend and interest income accrued on portfolio investments, short-term capital gain (including, short-term gains on terminated option positions and gains on the sale of portfolio investments held for one year or less) in excess of long-term capital loss and income from certain hedging transactions, less all expenses of the Fund. Expenses of the Fund will be accrued each day. The Fund expects that over time it will distribute all of its investment company taxable income. In addition, at least annually, the Fund intends to distribute any net capital gain (which is the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss).
To the extent that that Fund's net investment income and net capital gain (which is the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-capital loss) for any taxable year exceed the total monthly income distributions paid during the year, the Fund will make a special distribution at or near year-end of such excess amount as may be required to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company or to avoid income and excise taxes. If the Fund's total monthly distributions in any taxable year exceed the amount of its net investment income and net capital gain for the year, any such excess would be characterized as a return of capital. Under the 1940 Act, for any distribution that includes amounts from sources other than net income, the Fund is required to provide Common Shareholders a written statement regarding the components of such distribution.
If, for any taxable year, as discussed above, the total distributions made under the Fund's policy exceed the Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits, the excess will be treated as a tax-free return of capital to each Common Shareholder (up to the amount of the Common Shareholder's basis in his or her Common Shares) and thereafter as gain from the sale of Common Shares. The amount treated as a tax-free return of capital will reduce the Common Shareholder's adjusted basis in his or her Common Shares, thereby increasing his or her potential gain or reducing his or her potential loss on the subsequent sale of his or her Common Shares. To the extent the Fund's distribution policy results in distributions in excess of its net investment taxable income and net capital gain, such distributions will decrease its total assets and increase its expense ratio to a greater extent than would have been the case if distributions were limited to these amounts. Distributions in any year may or may not include a substantial return of capital component.
To permit the Fund to maintain more stable distributions, distribution rates will be based on projected annual cash available from options premiums and dividends. As a result, the distributions paid by the Fund for any particular month may be more or less than the amount of cash available from options premiums and dividends for that month. In such circumstances, the Fund may have to sell a portion of its investment portfolio to make a distribution at a time when independent investment judgment might not dictate such action. Undistributed net investment income is included in the Common Shares' net asset value, and, correspondingly, distributions from net investment income will reduce the Common Shares' net asset value.
Common Shareholders may elect automatically to reinvest some or all of their distributions in additional Common Shares under the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan. See "Dividend reinvestment plan."
The Fund has applied for an order from the SEC granting exemption from Section 19(b) of the Investment Company Act, and Rule 19b-1 thereunder to permit the Fund to include realized long-term capital gains as a part of its regular distributions to Common Shareholders more frequently than would otherwise be permitted by the Investment Company Act. The Fund will not pursue this distribution policy until it receives such an exemptive order. There is no guarantee that the SEC will grant such exemptive relief. However, if the Fund fails to receive the requested relief and the Fund is unable to include realized capital gains in regular distributions more frequently than would otherwise be permitted by the Investment Company Act, the Adviser does not believe that the distribution policy, as set forth above, will otherwise be adversely affected.
FEDERAL INCOME TAX MATTERS
The following discussion of federal income tax matters is based on the advice of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP, counsel to the Fund. The Fund intends to elect to be treated and to qualify each year as a regulated investment company under 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 income 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 regulated investment company status and to avoid paying any federal income or excise tax. To the extent it qualifies for treatment as a regulated investment company and satisfies the above-mentioned distribution requirements, the Fund will not be subject to federal income tax on income paid to its shareholders in the form of dividends or capital gains distributions.
The Fund's transactions in options are subject to special and complex federal
income tax provisions that may, among other things, (i) convert dividends that
would otherwise constitute qualified dividend income into higher taxed
short-term capital gain or ordinary income, (ii) treat dividends that would
otherwise be eligible for the corporate dividends received deduction as
ineligible for such treatment, (iii) disallow, suspend or otherwise limit the
allowance of certain losses or deductions, (iv) convert long-term capital gain
into short-term capital gain or ordinary income, (v) convert an ordinary loss or
deduction into a capital loss (the deductibility of which is more limited) and
(vi) cause the Fund to recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt
of cash.
The taxation of equity options such as the Fund expects to write and purchase is governed by Code Section 1234. Pursuant to Code Section 1234, the premium received by the Fund for writing a call option is not included in income at the time of receipt. If the option expires, the premium is short-term capital gain to the Fund. If the Fund enters into a closing transaction, the difference between the amount paid to close out its position and the premium received for writing the option is short-term capital gain or loss. If a call option written by the Fund is exercised, thereby requiring the Fund to sell the underlying security, the premium will increase the amount realized upon the sale of the security and any resulting gain or loss will be long-term or short-term, depending upon the Fund's holding period of the security. With respect to a put on a stock that is purchased by the Fund, if the option is sold, any resulting gain or loss will be a capital gain or loss, and will be short-term or long-term, depending upon the Fund's 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 Fund's holding period for the option. If the option is exercised, the amount paid to acquire the put option reduces the amount realized on the underlying security in determining gain or loss. Because the Fund does not have control over the exercise of the call options it writes, such exercise or other required sales of the underlying securities may cause the Fund to realize capital gains or losses at inopportune times.
In the case of Fund transactions in so-called "Section 1256 Contracts," such as many listed index options and any listed non-equity options, Code Section 1256 generally will require any gain or loss arising from the lapse, closing out or exercise of such positions to be treated as 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gain or loss, although foreign currency gains or losses arising from certain of these positions may be treated as ordinary income or loss. In addition, the Fund generally will be required to "mark to market" (i.e., treat as sold for fair market value) each such position which it holds at the close of each taxable year. If a Section 1256 Contract held by the Fund at the end of a taxable year is sold in the following year, the amount of any gain or loss realized on such sale will be adjusted to reflect the gain or loss previously taken into account under the "mark to market" rules. Section 1256 Contracts include certain options contracts, certain regulated futures contracts, and certain other financial contracts.
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, 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 are interests (including options and forward contracts and short sales) in stock and certain other instruments. Constructive sale treatment does not apply to certain transactions closed in the 90-day period ending with the 30th day after the close of the taxable year, if certain conditions are met.
The Code contains special rules that apply to "straddles," defined generally as the holding of "offsetting positions with respect to personal property." For example, the straddle rules normally apply when a taxpayer holds stock and an offsetting option with respect to such stock or substantially identical stock or securities. In general, investment positions will be offsetting if there is a substantial diminution in the risk of loss from holding one position by reason of holding one or more other positions. The Fund expects that the call options it writes on portfolio securities will generally be "qualified covered calls" that are exempt from the straddle rules. To meet the qualified covered call option exemption, a stock-plus-covered-call position cannot be part of a larger straddle and must meet a number of other conditions, including that the option is written more than 30 days prior to expiration and is not "deep-in-the-money" as defined in the Code. The Fund may enter into certain investments that may constitute positions in a straddle. If two or more positions constitute a straddle, recognition of a realized loss from one position must be deferred to the extent of unrecognized gain in an offsetting position. In addition, long-term capital gain may be recharacterized as short-term capital gain, or short-term capital loss as long-term capital loss. Interest and other carrying charges allocable to personal property that is part of a straddle are not currently deductible but must instead be capitalized. Similarly, "wash sale" rules apply to prevent the recognition of loss by the Fund from the disposition of stock or securities at a loss in a case in which identical or substantially identical stock or securities (or an option to acquire such property) is or has been acquired within a prescribed period.
The Code allows a taxpayer to elect to offset gains and losses from positions that are part of a "mixed straddle." A "mixed straddle" is any straddle in which one or more but not all positions are Section 1256 Contracts. The Fund may be eligible to elect to establish one or more mixed straddle accounts for certain of its mixed straddle trading positions. The mixed straddle account rules require a daily "marking to market" of all open positions in the account and a daily netting of gains and losses from positions in the account. At the end of a taxable year, the annual net gains or losses from the mixed straddle account are recognized for tax purposes. The application of the mixed straddle account rules is not entirely clear. Therefore, there is no assurance that a mixed straddle account election by the Fund will be accepted by the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS").
Gain or loss from a short sale of property is generally considered as capital gain or loss to the extent 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 the short sale is entered into, gains on short sales generally are short-term capital gains. 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 addition, these rules may also terminate the running of the holding period of "substantially identical property" held by the Fund.
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 that would result in gain if it were closed, 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.
The Fund intends to make regular monthly distributions to Common Shareholders based upon its projected annual cash available from option premiums and dividends. The Fund expects that over time it will distribute all of its investment company taxable income. The Fund intends to distribute annually any net capital gain (which is the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss). Distributions of the Fund's net capital gain ("capital gain distributions"), if any, are taxable to Common Shareholders as long-term capital gain, regardless of the length of time Common Shares have been held by Common Shareholders. All other distributions paid by the Fund (including dividends from short-term capital gains) from its current or accumulated earnings and profits are generally subject to tax as ordinary income. If, for any taxable year, the total distributions exceed the Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits, the excess will be treated as a tax-free return of capital to each Common Shareholder (up to the amount of the Common Shareholder's basis in his or her Common Shares) and thereafter as gain from the sale of Shares (assuming the Common Shares are held as a capital asset). The amount treated as a tax-free return of capital will reduce the Common Shareholder's adjusted basis in his or her Shares, thereby increasing his or her potential gain or reducing his or her potential loss on the subsequent sale or other disposition of his or her Common Shares. See below for a summary of the maximum tax rates applicable to capital gain (including capital gain distributions). A corporation that owns Fund shares generally will not be entitled to the dividends received deduction with respect to all (or any prescribed percentage) of the distributions it receives from the Fund.
Under the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 (the "Tax Act"), certain dividend distributions paid by the Fund (whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional Fund shares) to individual taxpayers are taxed at rates applicable to net long-term capital gains (15%, or 5% for individuals in the 10% or 15% tax brackets). This tax treatment applies only if certain holding period and other requirements are satisfied by the Common Shareholder with respect to his or her Common Shares and the dividends are attributable to qualified dividend income received by the Fund itself. For this purpose, "qualified dividend income" means dividends received by the Fund from United States corporations and "qualified foreign corporations," provided that the Fund satisfies certain holding period and other requirements in respect of the stock of such corporations. Dividends received on shares of stock that are subject to a covered call option that is not a qualified covered call option, will not constitute qualified dividend income. Gains on option positions and other short-term gains, interest income and non-qualified dividends are not eligible for the lower tax rate. The special rules relating to
the taxation of ordinary income dividends paid by the Fund generally apply to taxable years beginning before January 1, 2009. Thereafter, the Fund's distributions that are characterized as dividends, other than capital gain distributions, will be fully taxable at ordinary income tax rates unless further Congressional action is taken. There can be no assurance as to what portion of the Fund's dividend distributions will qualify for favorable treatment under the Tax Act.
Common Shareholders receiving dividends or distributions in the form of additional Common Shares pursuant to the Plan will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as receiving a distribution in an amount equal to the amount of money that the shareholders receiving cash dividends or distributions will receive, and will have a cost basis in the Common Shares received equal to such amount. The Fund will inform Common Shareholders of the source and tax status of all distributions promptly after the close of each calendar year.
Selling Common Shareholders will generally recognize gain or loss in an amount
equal to the difference between the Common Shareholder's adjusted tax basis in
the Common Shares sold and the amount received. If the Common Shares are held as
a capital asset, the gain or loss will be a capital gain or loss. The maximum
tax rate applicable to net capital gains recognized by individuals and other
non-corporate taxpayers is (i) the same as the maximum ordinary income tax rate
for gains recognized on the sale of capital assets held for one year or less, or
(ii) 15% for gains recognized on the sale of capital assets held for more than
one year (as well as certain capital gain distributions) (5% for individuals in
the 10% or 15% tax brackets). Any loss on a disposition of Common Shares held
for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent
of any capital gain distributions received with respect to those Common Shares.
For purposes of determining whether Common Shares have been held for six months
or less, the holding period is suspended for any periods during which the Common
Shareholder's risk of loss is diminished as a result of holding one or more
other positions in substantially similar or related property, or through certain
options or short sales. Any loss realized on a sale or exchange of Common Shares
will be disallowed to the extent those Common Shares are replaced by other
Common Shares within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30
days after the date of disposition of the Common Shares (whether through the
reinvestment of distributions, which could occur, for example, if the Common
Shareholder is a participant in the Plan (as defined below) or otherwise). In
that event, the basis of the replacement Common Shares will be adjusted to
reflect the disallowed loss.
An investor should be aware that, if Common Shares are purchased shortly before the record date for any taxable distribution (including a capital gain distribution), the purchase price likely will reflect the value of the distribution and the investor then would receive a taxable distribution likely to reduce the trading value of such Common Shares, in effect resulting in a taxable return of some of the purchase price.
The Fund may be required to withhold, for U.S. federal backup withholding tax purposes, a portion of the dividends, distributions and redemption proceeds payable to Common Shareholders who fail to provide the Fund (or its agent) with their correct taxpayer identification number or to make required certifications, or who have been notified by the IRS that they are subject to backup withholding. Certain Common Shareholders are exempt from backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amount withheld may be credited against a Common Shareholder's U.S. federal income tax liability.
An investor should also be aware that the benefits of the reduced tax rate applicable to long-term capital gains and qualified dividend income may be impacted by the application of the alternative minimum tax to individual shareholders.
The foregoing briefly summarizes some of the important federal income tax consequences to Common Shareholders of investing in Common Shares, reflects the federal tax law as of the date of this Prospectus, and does not address special tax rules applicable to certain types of investors, such as corporate and foreign investors. Unless otherwise noted, this discussion assumes that an investor is a U.S. person and holds Common Shares as a capital asset. This discussion is based upon current provisions of the Code, the regulations promulgated thereunder, and judicial and administrative ruling authorities, all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations by the courts or the IRS retroactively or prospectively. Investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the federal, state or local tax considerations that may be applicable in their particular circumstances.
Dividend reinvestment plan
Pursuant to the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan (the "Plan"), a Common Shareholder may elect to have all distributions (including all capital gain dividends) automatically reinvested in Common Shares. Common Shareholders may elect to participate in the Plan by completing the dividend reinvestment plan application form. Common Shareholders electing not to participate in the Plan will receive all distributions in cash paid by check mailed directly to them by PFPC Inc., as dividend paying agent.
PFPC Inc. (the "Plan Agent") serves as agent for the Common Shareholders in administering the Plan. Common Shareholders who elect not to participate in the Plan will receive all Fund distributions in cash paid by check mailed directly to the Common Shareholder of record (or if the Common Shares are held in street or other nominee name, then to the nominee) by PFPC Inc., as disbursing agent. Participation in the Plan is completely voluntary and may be terminated or resumed at any time without penalty by written notice if received by the Plan Agent prior to any distribution record date.
Common Shares will be acquired by the Plan Agent or an independent broker-dealer for the participants' accounts, depending upon the circumstances described below, either (i) through receipt of additional previously authorized but unissued Common Shares from the Fund ("newly issued Common Shares") or (ii) by purchase of outstanding Common Shares on the open market ("open-market purchases") on the New York Stock Exchange or elsewhere. If, on the payment date for the distribution, the net asset value per Common Share is equal to or less than the market price per Common Share plus estimated brokerage commissions (such condition being referred to herein as "market premium"), the Plan Agent will invest the distribution amount in newly issued Common Shares on behalf of the participants. The number of newly issued Common Shares to be credited to each participant's account will be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the distribution by the net asset value per Common Share on the date the Common Shares are issued, provided that the maximum discount from the then current market price per Common Share on the date of issuance may not exceed 5%. If on the distribution payment date the net asset value per Common Share is greater than the market value plus estimated brokerage commissions (such condition being referred to herein as "market discount"), the Plan Agent will invest the distribution amount in Common Shares acquired on behalf of the participants in open-market purchases.
In the event of a market discount on the distribution payment date, the Plan Agent will have up to 30 days after the distribution payment date to invest the distribution amount in Common Shares acquired in open-market purchases. If, before the Plan Agent has completed its open-market purchases, the market price of a Common Share exceeds the net asset value per Common Share, the average per Common Share purchase price paid by the Plan Agent may exceed the net asset value of the Fund's Common Shares, resulting in the acquisition of fewer Common Shares than if the distribution had been paid in newly issued Common Shares on the distribution payment date. Therefore, the Plan provides that if the Plan Agent is unable to invest the full distribution amount in open-market purchases during the purchase period or if the market discount shifts to a market premium during the
purchase period, the Plan Agent will cease making open-market purchases and will invest the uninvested portion of the distribution amount in newly issued Common Shares.
The Plan Agent maintains all Common Shareholders' accounts in the Plan and furnishes written confirmation of all transactions in the accounts, including information needed by Common Shareholders for tax records. Common Shares in the account of each Plan participant will be held by the Plan Agent on behalf of the Plan participant, and each Common Shareholder proxy will include those Common Shares purchased or received pursuant to the Plan. The Plan Agent will forward all proxy solicitation materials to participants and vote proxies for Common Shares held pursuant to the Plan in accordance with the instructions of the participants. In the case of Common Shareholders such as banks, brokers or nominees that hold Common Shares for others who are the beneficial owners, the Plan Agent will administer the Plan on the basis of the number of Common Shares certified from time to time by the record Common Shareholder's name and held for the account of beneficial owners who participate in the Plan.
There will be no brokerage charges with respect to Common Shares issued directly by the Fund as a result of distributions payable either in Common Shares or in cash. However, each participant will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred with respect to the Plan Agent's open-market purchases in connection with the reinvestment of distributions.
Common Shareholders participating in the Plan may receive benefits not available to Common Shareholders not participating in the Plan. If the market price (plus commissions) of the Fund's Common Shares is above their net asset value, participants in the Plan will receive Common Shares of the Fund at less than they could otherwise purchase them and will have Common Shares with a cash value greater than the value of any cash distribution they would have received on their Common Shares. If the market price plus commissions is below the net asset value, participants will receive distributions in Common Shares with a net asset value greater than the per Common Share value of any cash distribution they would have received on their Common Shares. However, there may be insufficient Common Shares available in the market to make distributions in Common Shares at prices below the net asset value. Also, since the Fund does not redeem its Common Shares, the price on resale may be more or less than the net asset value.
Experience under the Plan may indicate that changes are desirable. Accordingly, upon 30 days' notice to Plan participants, the Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan. A Plan participant will be charged a $5.00 service charge and pay brokerage charges whenever he or she directs the Plan Agent to sell Common Shares held in a dividend reinvestment account.
All correspondence concerning the Plan should be directed to the Plan Agent at PFPC Inc., P.O. Box 43027, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3027. Please call 1-800-331-1710 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time if you have questions regarding the Plan.
Description of capital structure
The Fund is an unincorporated business trust established under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts by an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated November 8, 2004 and filed with the Secretary of The Commonwealth on November 9, 2004 (the "Declaration of Trust"). The Declaration of Trust provides that the Board may authorize separate classes of shares of beneficial interest. The Board has authorized an unlimited number of Common Shares. The Fund intends to hold annual meetings of Common Shareholders in compliance with the requirements of the New York Stock Exchange.
COMMON SHARES
The Declaration of Trust permits the Fund to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional common shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share. Each Common Share represents an equal proportionate interest in the assets of the Fund with each other Common Share in the Fund. Holders of Common Shares will be entitled to the payment of distributions when, as and if declared by the Board. The 1940 Act or the terms of any future borrowings or issuance of preferred shares may limit the payment of distributions to the holders of Common Shares. Each whole Common Share shall be entitled to one vote as to matters on which it is entitled to vote pursuant to the terms of the Declaration of Trust on file with the SEC. Upon liquidation of the Fund, after paying or adequately providing for the payment of all liabilities of the Fund and the liquidation preference with respect to any outstanding preferred shares, and upon receipt of such releases, indemnities and refunding agreements as they deem necessary for their protection, the Board may distribute the remaining assets of the Fund among the holders of the Common Shares. The Declaration of Trust provides that Common Shareholders are not liable for any liabilities of the Fund, and permits inclusion of a clause to that effect in agreements entered into by the Fund and in coordination with the Fund's By-laws indemnifies shareholders against any such liability. Although shareholders of an unincorporated business trust established under Massachusetts law, in certain limited circumstances, may be held personally liable for the obligations of the business trust as though they were general partners, the provisions of the Fund's Declaration of Trust and By-laws described in the foregoing sentence make the likelihood of such personal liability remote.
The Fund has no current intention to issue preferred shares or to borrow money. However, if at some future time, there are any borrowings or preferred shares outstanding, the Fund may not be permitted to declare any cash distribution on its Common Shares, unless at the time of such declaration, (i) all accrued distributions on preferred shares or accrued interest on borrowings have been paid and (ii) the value of the Fund's total assets (determined after deducting the amount of such distribution), less all liabilities and indebtedness of the Fund not represented by senior securities, is at least 300% of the aggregate amount of such securities representing indebtedness and at least 200% of the aggregate amount of securities representing indebtedness plus the aggregate liquidation value of the outstanding preferred shares (expected to equal the aggregate original purchase price of the outstanding preferred shares plus redemption premium, if any, together with any accrued and unpaid distributions thereon, whether or not earned or declared and on a cumulative basis). In addition to the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Fund may be required to comply with other asset coverage requirements as a condition of the Fund obtaining a rating of preferred shares from a nationally recognized statistical rating agency (a "Rating Agency"). These requirements may include an asset coverage test more stringent than under the 1940 Act. This limitation on the Fund's ability to make distributions on its Common Shares could in certain circumstances impair the ability of the Fund to maintain its qualification for taxation as a regulated investment company for federal income tax purposes. If the Fund were in the future to issue preferred shares or borrow money, it would intend, however, to the extent possible to purchase or redeem preferred shares or reduce borrowings from time to time to maintain compliance with such asset coverage requirements and may pay special distributions to the holders of the preferred shares in certain circumstances in connection with any potential impairment of the Fund's status as a regulated investment company. See "Distributions-Federal income tax matters." Depending on the timing of any such redemption or repayment, the Fund may be required to pay a premium in addition to the liquidation preference of the preferred shares to the holders thereof.
The Fund has no present intention of offering additional Common Shares, except as described herein. Other offerings of its Common Shares, if made, will require approval of the Board. Any additional offering will not be sold at a price per Common Share below the then current net asset value (exclusive of underwriting discounts and commissions) except in connection with an offering to
existing Common Shareholders or with the consent of a majority of the Fund's outstanding Common Shares. The Common Shares have no preemptive rights.
The Fund generally will not issue Common Share certificates. However, upon written request to the Fund's transfer agent, a share certificate will be issued for any or all of the full Common Shares credited to an investor's account. Common Share certificates that have been issued to an investor may be returned at any time.
REPURCHASE OF COMMON SHARES AND OTHER DISCOUNT MEASURES
Because shares of closed-end management investment companies frequently trade at a discount to their net asset values, the Board has determined that from time to time it may be in the interest of Common Shareholders for the Fund to take corrective actions. The Board, in consultation with Eaton Vance, will review at least annually the possibility of open market repurchases and/or tender offers for the Common Shares and will consider such factors as the market price of the Common Shares, the net asset value of the Common Shares, the liquidity of the assets of the Fund, the effect on the Fund's expenses, whether such transactions would impair the Fund's status as a regulated investment company or result in a failure to comply with applicable asset coverage requirements, general economic conditions and such other events or conditions, which may have a material effect on the Fund's ability to consummate such transactions. There are no assurances that the Board will, in fact, decide to undertake either of these actions or, if undertaken, that such actions will result in the Common Shares trading at a price equal to or approximates their net asset value. In recognition of the possibility that the Common Shares might trade at a discount to net asset value and that any such discount may not be in the interest of Common Shareholders, the Board, in consultation with Eaton Vance, from time to time may review possible actions to reduce any such discount.
PREFERRED SHARES
The Fund has no current intention of issuing any shares other than the Common Shares. However, the Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest with preference rights (the "preferred shares") in one or more series, with rights as determined by the Board, by action of the Board without the approval of the Common Shareholders.
Under the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Fund must, immediately after the issuance of any preferred shares, have an "asset coverage" of at least 200%. Asset coverage means the ratio which the value of the total assets of the Fund, less all liability and indebtedness not represented by senior securities (as defined in the 1940 Act), bears to the aggregate amount of senior securities representing indebtedness of the Fund, if any, plus the aggregate liquidation preference of the preferred shares. If the Fund seeks a rating of preferred shares, asset coverage requirements, in addition to those set forth in the 1940 Act, may be imposed. The liquidation value of any preferred shares would be expected to equal their aggregate original purchase price plus redemption premium, if any, together with any accrued and unpaid distributions thereon (on a cumulative basis), whether or not earned or declared. The terms of any preferred shares, including their distribution rate, voting rights, liquidation preference and redemption provisions, will be determined by the Board (subject to applicable law and the Fund's Declaration of Trust) if and when it authorizes preferred shares. The Fund may issue preferred shares that provide for the periodic redetermination of the dividend rate at relatively short intervals through an auction or remarketing procedure, although the terms of such preferred shares may also enable the Fund to lengthen such intervals. At times, the distribution rate as redetermined on any preferred shares could approach or exceed the Fund's return after expenses on the investment of proceeds from the preferred shares and the Fund's leveraged capital structure would result in a lower rate of return to Common Shareholders than if the Fund were not so structured.
In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Fund, the terms of any preferred shares may entitle the holders of preferred shares to receive a preferential liquidating distribution (expected to equal the original purchase price per share plus redemption premium, if any, together with accrued and unpaid dividends, whether or not earned or declared and on a cumulative basis) before any distribution of assets is made to holders of Common Shares. After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distribution to which they are entitled, the preferred shareholders would not be entitled to any further participation in any distribution of assets by the Fund. Holders of preferred shares, voting as a class, shall be entitled to elect two of the Fund's Trustees, if any preferred shares are issued. Under the 1940 Act, if at any time dividends on the preferred shares are unpaid in an amount equal to two full years' dividends thereon, the holders of all outstanding preferred shares, voting as a class, will be allowed to elect a majority of the Board until all dividends in default have been paid or declared and set apart for payment. In addition, if required by a Rating Agency rating the preferred shares or if the Board determines it to be in the best interests of the Common Shareholders, issuance of the preferred shares may result in more restrictive provisions than required by the 1940 Act being imposed. In this regard, holders of the preferred shares may be entitled to elect a majority of the Fund's Board in other circumstances, for example, if one payment on the preferred shares is in arrears.
In the event of any future issuance of preferred shares, the Fund likely would seek a credit rating for such preferred shares from a Rating Agency. In such event, as long as preferred shares are outstanding, the composition of its portfolio will reflect guidelines established by such Rating Agency. Based on previous guidelines established by such Rating Agencies for the securities of other issuers, the Fund anticipates that the guidelines with respect to any preferred shares would establish a set of tests for portfolio composition and asset coverage that supplement (and in some cases are more restrictive than) the applicable requirements under the 1940 Act. Although, at this time, no assurance can be given as to the nature or extent of the guidelines, which may be imposed in connection with obtaining a rating of any preferred shares, the Fund anticipates that such guidelines would include asset coverage requirements that are more restrictive than those under the 1940 Act, restrictions on certain portfolio investments and investment practices, requirements that the Fund maintain a portion of its assets in short-term, high-quality, fixed-income securities and certain mandatory redemption requirements relating to any preferred shares. No assurance can be given that the guidelines actually imposed with respect to any preferred shares by such Rating Agency would be more or less restrictive than as described in this Prospectus.
CREDIT FACILITY/COMMERCIAL PAPER PROGRAM
The Fund has no current intention to borrow money for the purpose of obtaining investment leverage. In the event the Fund in the future determines to engage in investment leverage, in whole or in part, through borrowings, the Fund may enter into definitive agreements with respect to a credit facility/ commercial paper program or other borrowing program. The Fund may negotiate with commercial banks to arrange a credit facility/commercial paper program pursuant to which the Fund would expect to be entitled to borrow up to a specified amount. Any such borrowings would constitute financial leverage. Such a facility/commercial paper program would not be expected to be convertible into any other securities of the Fund, outstanding amounts would be expected to be prepayable by the Fund prior to final maturity without significant penalty and there are not expected to be any sinking fund or mandatory retirement provisions. Outstanding amounts would be payable at maturity or such earlier times as required by the agreement. The Fund may be required to prepay outstanding amounts under the facility/program or incur a penalty rate of interest in the event of the occurrence of certain events of default. The Fund would be expected to indemnify the lenders under the facility/program against liabilities they may incur in connection with the facility/program.
In addition, the Fund expects that any such credit facility/program would contain covenants that, among other things, likely would limit the Fund's ability to pay distributions in certain circumstances, incur additional debt, change its fundamental investment policies and engage in certain transactions, including mergers and consolidations, and may require asset coverage ratios in addition to those required by the 1940 Act. The Fund may be required to pledge its assets and to maintain a portion of its assets in cash or high-grade securities as a reserve against interest or principal payments and expenses. The Fund expects that any credit facility/program would have customary covenant, negative covenant and default provisions. There can be no assurance that the Fund will enter into an agreement for a credit facility/program on terms and conditions representative of the foregoing, or that additional material terms will not apply. In addition, if entered into, any such credit facility/program may in the future be replaced or refinanced by one or more credit facilities having substantially different terms or by the issuance of preferred shares or debt securities.
EFFECTS OF POSSIBLE FUTURE LEVERAGE
As discussed above, the Fund has no current intention to issue preferred shares or to borrow money for the purpose of obtaining investment leverage. In the event that the Fund determines in the future to utilize investment leverage, there can be no assurance that such a leveraging strategy would be successful during any period in which it is employed. Leverage creates risks for Common Shareholders, including the likelihood of greater volatility of net asset value and market price of the Common Shares and the risk that fluctuations in distribution rates on any preferred shares or fluctuations in borrowing costs may affect the return to Common Shareholders. To the extent the amounts available for distribution derived from securities purchased with proceeds received from leverage exceed the cost of leverage, the Fund's distributions would be greater than if leverage had not been used. Conversely, if the amounts available for distribution derived from securities purchased with such proceeds are not sufficient to cover the cost of leverage, distributions to Common Shareholders would be less than if leverage had not been used. In the latter case, Eaton Vance, in its best judgment, may nevertheless determine to maintain the Fund's leveraged position if it deems such action to be appropriate. The costs of an offering of preferred shares and/or a borrowing program would be borne by Common Shareholders and consequently would result in a reduction of the net asset value of Common Shares.
In addition, the fee paid to Eaton Vance will be calculated on the basis of the Fund's average daily gross assets, including proceeds from the issuance of preferred shares and/or borrowings, so the fees would be higher if leverage is utilized. In this regard, holders of preferred shares would not bear the investment advisory fee. Rather, Common Shareholders would bear the portion of the investment advisory fee attributable to the assets purchased with the proceeds of the preferred shares offering.
ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS IN THE DECLARATION OF TRUST
The Declaration of Trust includes provisions that could have the effect of limiting the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund or to change the composition of its Board and could have the effect of depriving Common Shareholders of an opportunity to sell their Common Shares at a premium over prevailing market prices by discouraging a third party from seeking to obtain control of the Fund. These provisions may have the effect of discouraging attempts to acquire control of the Fund, which attempts could have the effect of increasing the expenses of the Fund and interfering with the normal operation of the Fund. The Board is divided into three classes, with the term of one class expiring at each annual meeting of Common Shareholders. At each annual meeting, one class of Trustees is elected to a three-year term. This provision could delay for up to two years the replacement of a majority of the Board. A Trustee may be removed from office only for cause by a written instrument signed by the remaining Trustees or by a vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the class of shares of the Fund that elected such Trustee and are entitled to vote on the matter.
In addition, the Declaration of Trust requires the favorable vote of the holders of at least 75% of the outstanding shares of each class of the Fund, voting as a class, then entitled to vote to approve, adopt or authorize certain transactions with 5%-or-greater holders of a class of shares and their associates, unless the Board shall by resolution have approved a memorandum of understanding with such holders, in which case normal voting requirements would be in effect. For purposes of these provisions, a 5%-or-greater holder of a class of shares (a "Principal Shareholder") refers to any person who, whether directly or indirectly and whether alone or together with its affiliates and associates, beneficially owns 5% or more of the outstanding shares of any class of beneficial interest of the Fund. The transactions subject to these special approval requirements are: (i) the merger or consolidation of the Fund or any subsidiary of the Fund with or into any Principal Shareholder; (ii) the issuance of any securities of the Fund to any Principal Shareholder for cash; (iii) the sale, lease or exchange of all or any substantial part of the assets of the Fund to any Principal Shareholder (except assets having an aggregate fair market value of less than $1,000,000, aggregating for the purpose of such computation all assets sold, leased or exchanged in any series of similar transactions within a twelve-month period); or (iv) the sale, lease or exchange to the Fund or any subsidiary thereof, in exchange for securities of the Fund, of any assets of any Principal Shareholder (except assets having an aggregate fair market value of less than $1,000,000, aggregating for the purposes of such computation all assets sold, leased or exchanged in any series of similar transactions within a twelve-month period).
The Board has determined that provisions with respect to the Board and the 75% voting requirements described above, which voting requirements are greater than the minimum requirements under Massachusetts law or the 1940 Act, are in the best interest of Common Shareholders generally. Reference should be made to the Declaration of Trust on file with the SEC for the full text of these provisions.
CONVERSION TO OPEN-END FUND
The Fund may be converted to an open-end management investment company at any time if approved by the lesser of (i) two-thirds or more of the Fund's then outstanding Common Shares and preferred shares (if any), each voting separately as a class, or (ii) more than 50% of the then outstanding Common Shares and preferred shares (if any), voting separately as a class if such conversion is recommended by at least 75% of the Trustees then in office. If approved in the foregoing manner, conversion of the Fund could not occur until 90 days after the shareholders' meeting at which such conversion was approved and would also require at least 30 days' prior notice to all shareholders. Conversion of the Fund to an open-end management investment company also would require the redemption of any outstanding preferred shares and could require the repayment of borrowings, which would eliminate any future leveraged capital structure of the Fund with respect to the Common Shares. In the event of conversion, the Common Shares would cease to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange or other national securities exchange or market system. The Board believes that the closed-end structure is desirable, given the Fund's investment objectives and policies. Investors should assume, therefore, that it is unlikely that the Board would vote to convert the Fund to an open-end management investment company. Shareholders of an open-end management investment company may require the company to redeem their shares at any time (except in certain circumstances as authorized by or under the 1940 Act) at their net asset value, less such redemption charge, if any, as might be in effect at the time of a redemption. If the Fund were to convert to an open-end investment company, the Fund expects it would pay all such redemption requests in cash, but would likely reserve the right to pay redemption requests in a combination of cash or securities. If such partial payment in securities were made, investors may incur brokerage costs in converting such securities to cash. If the Fund were converted to an open-end fund, it is likely that new Common Shares would be sold at net asset value plus a sales load.
Underwriting
The underwriters named below (the "Underwriters"), acting through UBS Securities LLC, 299 Park Avenue, New York, New York, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, 4 World Financial Center, New York, New York, and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, 7 St. Paul Street, 1st Floor, Baltimore, Maryland, as lead managers and A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., H&R Block Financial Advisors, Inc., J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, Inc., Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., Raymond James & Associates, Inc., RBC Capital Markets Corporation and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as their representatives (together with the lead managers, the "Representatives"), have severally agreed, subject to the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement with the Fund, Eaton Vance and Rampart (the "Underwriting Agreement"), to purchase from the Fund the number of Common Shares set forth opposite their respective names. The Underwriters are committed to purchase and pay for all of such Common Shares (other than those covered by the over-allotment option described below) if any are purchased.
NUMBER OF UNDERWRITERS COMMON SHARES --------------------------------------------------------------------------- UBS Securities LLC.......................................... Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated................................... Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC............................... A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. .................................. H&R Block Financial Advisors, Inc. ......................... J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, Inc. .......................... Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. ..................................... Raymond James & Associates, Inc. ........................... RBC Capital Markets Corporation............................. Wells Fargo Securities, LLC................................. ------------- Total..................................................... ============= |
The Fund has granted to the Underwriters an option, exercisable for 45 days from the date of this Prospectus, to purchase up to an additional Common Shares to cover over-allotments, if any, at the initial offering price. The Underwriters may exercise such option solely for the purpose of covering underwriting over-allotments incurred in the sale of the Common Shares offered hereby. To the extent that the Underwriters exercise this option, each of the Underwriters will have a firm commitment, subject to certain conditions, to purchase an additional number of Common Shares proportionate to such Underwriter's initial commitment.
The Fund has agreed to pay a commission to the Underwriters in the amount of $0.90 per Common Share (4.50% of the public offering price per Common Share). The Representatives have advised the Fund that the Underwriters may pay up to $ per Common Share from such commission to selected dealers who sell the Common Shares and that such dealers may reallow a concession of up to $ per Common Share to certain other dealers who sell Common Shares. Eaton Vance or an affiliate has agreed to (i) reimburse all organizational costs and (ii) pay all offering costs of the Fund (other than sales loads) that exceed $0.04 per Common Share. Investors must pay for any Common Shares purchased on or before , 2005.
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the Common Shares or any other securities of the Fund. Consequently, the offering price for the Common Shares was determined by negotiation
among the Fund and the Representatives. There can be no assurance, however, that the price at which Common Shares sell after this offering will not be lower than the price at which they are sold by the Underwriters or that an active trading market in the Common Shares will develop and continue after this offering. The minimum investment requirement is 100 Common Shares ($2,000).
The Fund, Eaton Vance and Rampart have each agreed to indemnify the several Underwriters for or to contribute to the losses arising out of certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
The Fund has agreed not to offer, sell or register with the Securities and Exchange Commission any additional equity securities of the Fund, other than issuances of Common Shares, including pursuant to the Fund's Plan, and issuances in connection with any preferred shares, each as contemplated in this Prospectus, for a period of 180 days after the date of the Underwriting Agreement without the prior written consent of the Representatives.
The Representatives have informed the Fund that the Underwriters do not intend to confirm sales to any accounts over which they exercise discretionary authority.
In connection with this offering, the Underwriters may purchase and sell Common Shares in the open market. These transactions may include over-allotment and stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover syndicate short positions created in connection with this offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the Common Shares and syndicate short positions involve the sale by the Underwriters of a greater number of Common Shares than they are required to purchase from the Fund in this offering. The Underwriters also may impose a penalty bid, whereby selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers in respect of the Common Shares sold in this offering for their account may be reclaimed by the syndicate if such Common Shares are repurchased by the syndicate in stabilizing or covering transactions. These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the Common Shares, which may be higher than the price that might otherwise prevail in the open market; and these activities, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time without notice. These transactions may be effected on the New York Stock Exchange or otherwise.
The Fund anticipates that the Representatives and certain other Underwriters may from time to time act as brokers or dealers in connection with the execution of its portfolio transactions after they have ceased to be Underwriters and, subject to certain restrictions, may act as such brokers while they are Underwriters.
In connection with the offering, certain of the Underwriters or selected dealers may distribute prospectuses electronically.
Eaton Vance (and not the Fund) has agreed pursuant to an additional compensation agreement (the "Additional Compensation Agreement") to pay to certain qualifying Underwriters who meet specified sales targets ("Qualifying Underwriters"), quarterly in arrears, an annual fee of up to 0.15% of the Fund's average daily gross assets attributable to Common Shares sold by such Qualifying Underwriters (including a proportionate share of assets that may in the future be acquired using leverage). Such sales targets may be waived or lowered with respect to any Underwriter in the sole discretion of Eaton Vance. These fee payments will remain in effect only so long as the Advisory Agreement remains in effect between the Fund and Eaton Vance or any successor in interest or affiliate of Eaton Vance, as and to the extent that such Advisory Agreement is renewed periodically in accordance with the 1940 Act. The sum of the additional compensation payable to the Qualifying Underwriters will not exceed % of the aggregate initial offering price of the Common Shares offered hereby. will receive additional compensation which will not exceed % of the aggregate initial offering price of the Common Shares offered hereby.
Pursuant to a shareholder servicing agreement (the "Shareholder Servicing Agreement") between UBS Securities LLC (the "Shareholder Servicing Agent") and Eaton Vance, the Shareholder Servicing Agent will (i) at the request of and as specified by Eaton Vance, undertake to make available public information pertaining to the Fund on an ongoing basis and to communicate to investors and prospective investors the Fund's features and benefits (including arranging periodic seminars or conference calls for Eaton Vance to communicate to investors, responding to questions from current or prospective shareholders and contacting specific shareholders, where appropriate), provided that services shall not include customary market research information provided by the Shareholder Servicing Agent or its registered broker-dealer affiliates in the ordinary course of their business; (ii) at the request of and as specified by Eaton Vance, make available to investors and prospective investors market price, net asset value, yield and other information regarding the Fund (provided that services shall not include customary market research information provided by the Shareholder Servicing Agent or its registered broker-dealer affiliates in the ordinary course of their business), if reasonably obtainable, for the purpose of maintaining the visibility of the Fund in the investor community; (iii) at the request of Eaton Vance or the Fund, provide certain economic research and statistical information and reports, if reasonably obtainable, to Eaton Vance or the Fund and consult with representatives of Eaton Vance and/or the Board in connection therewith, which information and reports shall include: (a) statistical and financial market information with respect to the Fund's market performance; and (b) comparative information regarding the Fund and other closed-end management investment companies with respect to (1) the net asset value of their respective shares, (2) the respective market performance of the Fund and such other companies, and (3) other relevant performance indicators. Except as legally required, such information and reports may not be quoted or referred to, orally or in writing, reproduced or disseminated by the Fund or any of its affiliates or any of their agents, without the prior written consent of the Shareholder Servicing Agent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld; and (iv) at the request of Eaton Vance or the Fund, provide information to and consult with Eaton Vance and/or the Board with respect to applicable strategies designed to address market value discounts, which may include share repurchases, tender offers, modifications to dividend policies or capital structure, repositioning or restructuring of the Fund, conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company, liquidation or merger; including providing information concerning the use and impact of the above strategic alternatives by other market participants; provided, however, that under the terms of the Shareholder Servicing Agreement, the Shareholder Servicing Agent is not obligated to render any opinions, valuations or recommendations of any kind or to perform any such similar services. For these services, Eaton Vance will pay the Shareholder Servicing Agent a fee computed daily and payable quarterly equal, on an annual basis, to 0.10% of the Fund's average daily gross assets. The total of all of the payments payable to the Shareholder Servicing Agent under the Shareholder Servicing Agreement will not exceed % of the aggregate initial offering price of the Common Shares offered hereby. Under the terms of the Shareholder Servicing Agreement, the Shareholder Servicing Agent is relieved from liability to Eaton Vance, or the Fund for any act or omission to act in the course of its performance under the Shareholder Servicing Agreement in the absence of bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Shareholder Servicing Agent. The Shareholder Servicing Agreement will continue so long as the Advisory Agreement remains in effect between the Fund and the Adviser or any successor in interest or affiliate of the Adviser, as and to the extent that such Advisory Agreement is renewed periodically in accordance with the 1940 Act.
The total compensation received by the Underwriters will not exceed 9.00% of the aggregate initial offering price of the Common Shares offered hereby.
Shareholder Servicing Agent, custodian and transfer agent
As described above under "Underwriting," UBS Securities LLC will provide shareholder services to the Fund pursuant to the Shareholder Servicing Agreement with Eaton Vance.
Investors Bank & Trust Company ("IBT"), 200 Clarendon Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116 is the custodian of the Fund and will maintain custody of the securities and cash of the Fund. IBT maintains the Fund's general ledger and computes net asset value per share daily. IBT also attends to details in connection with the sale, exchange, substitution, transfer and other dealings with the Fund's investments and receives and disburses all funds. IBT also assists in preparation of shareholder reports and the electronic filing of such reports with the SEC.
PFPC Inc., P.O. Box 43027, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3027 is the transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent of the Fund.
Legal opinions
Certain legal matters in connection with the Common Shares will be passed upon for the Fund by Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP, Boston, Massachusetts, and for the Underwriters by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Chicago, Illinois.
Reports to shareholders
The Fund will send to Common Shareholders unaudited semi-annual and audited annual reports, including a list of investments held.
Independent registered public accounting firm
Deloitte & Touche, LLP, Boston, Massachusetts are the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund and will audit the Fund's financial statements.
Additional information
The Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information do not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement that the Fund has filed with the SEC. The complete Registration Statement may be obtained from the SEC upon payment of the fee prescribed by its rules and regulations. The Statement of Additional Information can be obtained without charge by calling 1-800- 225-6265.
Statements contained in this Prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other documents referred to are not necessarily complete, and, in each instance, reference is made to the copy of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part, each such statement being qualified in all respects by such reference.
Table of contents for the
Statement of Additional Information
Additional investment information and restrictions.......... 2 Trustees and officers....................................... 7 Investment advisory and other services...................... 15 Determination of net asset value............................ 18 Portfolio trading........................................... 20 Taxes....................................................... 22 Other information........................................... 27 Independent registered public accounting firm............... 27 Statement of assets and liabilities......................... 29 Notes to financial statements............................... 30 |
The Fund's privacy policy
The Fund is committed to ensuring your financial privacy. This notice is being sent to comply with privacy regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Fund has in effect the following policy with respect to nonpublic personal information about its customers:
- Only such information received from you, through application forms or otherwise, and information about your Fund transactions will be collected.
- None of such information about you (or former customers) will be disclosed to anyone, except as permitted by law (which includes disclosure to employees necessary to service your account).
- Policies and procedures (including physical, electronic and procedural safeguards) are in place that are designed to protect the confidentiality of such information.
For more information about the Fund's privacy policies call 1-800-262-1122.
[EATON VANCE LOGO]
CE-EEIFIIRH
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
, 2004
EATON VANCE ENHANCED EQUITY INCOME FUND II
THE EATON VANCE BUILDING
255 STATE STREET
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02109
(800) 225-6265
PAGE ---- Additional investment information and restrictions.......... 2 Trustees and officers....................................... 7 Investment advisory and other services...................... 15 Determination of net asset value............................ 18 Portfolio trading........................................... 20 Taxes....................................................... 22 Other information........................................... 27 Independent registered public accounting firm............... 27 Statement of assets and liabilities......................... 29 Notes to financial statements............................... 30 |
THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ("SAI") IS NOT A PROSPECTUS AND IS AUTHORIZED FOR DISTRIBUTION TO PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ONLY IF PRECEDED OR ACCOMPANIED BY THE PROSPECTUS OF EATON VANCE ENHANCED EQUITY INCOME FUND II (THE "FUND") DATED [ ], 2004 (THE "PROSPECTUS"), AS SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME, WHICH IS INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE. THIS SAI SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH SUCH PROSPECTUS, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED WITHOUT CHARGE BY CONTACTING YOUR FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY OR CALLING THE FUND AT 1-800-225-6265.
THE INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, WHICH IS NOT A PROSPECTUS, IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.
Capitalized terms used in this SAI and not otherwise defined have the meanings given them in the Fund's Prospectus.
Additional investment information and restrictions
Primary investment strategies are described in the Prospectus. The following is a description of the various investment policies that may be engaged in, whether as a primary or secondary strategy, and a summary of certain attendant risks. Eaton Vance may not buy any of the following instruments or use any of the following techniques unless it believes that doing so will help to achieve the Fund's investment objectives.
Equity investments. As described in the Prospectus, the Fund invests primarily in common stocks.
Emerging Markets. The Fund may invest up to 5% of its total assets in securities of issuers located in emerging markets. The risks of foreign investments described above apply to an even greater extent to investments in emerging markets. The securities markets of emerging countries are generally smaller, less developed, less liquid, and more volatile than the securities markets of the U.S. and developed foreign markets. Disclosure and regulatory standards in many respects are less stringent than in the U.S. and developed foreign markets. There also may be a lower level of monitoring and regulation of securities markets in emerging market countries and the activities of investors in such markets and enforcement of existing regulations has been extremely limited. Many emerging countries have experienced substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation for many years. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had and may continue to have very negative effects on the economies and securities markets of certain emerging countries. Economies in emerging markets generally are heavily dependent upon international trade and, accordingly, have been and may continue to be affected adversely by trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values, and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade. The economies of these countries also have been and may continue to be adversely affected by economic conditions in the countries in which they trade. The economies of countries with emerging markets may also be predominantly based on only a few industries or dependent on revenues from particular commodities. In addition, custodial services and other costs relating to investment in foreign markets may be more expensive in emerging markets than in many developed foreign markets, which could reduce the Fund's income from such securities.
In many cases, governments of emerging countries continue to exercise significant control over their economies, and government actions relative to the economy, as well as economic developments generally, may affect the Fund's investments in those countries. In addition, there is a heightened possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation, imposition of withholding taxes on interest payments, or other similar developments that could affect investments in those countries. There can be no assurance that adverse political changes will not cause the Fund to suffer a loss of any or all of its investments.
Preferred Stocks. The Fund may invest in preferred stocks of both domestic and foreign issuers. Under normal market conditions, the Fund expects, with respect to that portion of its total assets invested in preferred stocks, to invest only in preferred stocks of investment grade quality as determined by S&P, Fitch or Moody's or, if unrated, determined to be of comparable quality by Eaton Vance. The foregoing credit quality policies apply only at the time a security is purchased, and the Fund is not required to dispose of a security in the event of a downgrade of an assessment of credit quality or the withdrawal of a rating. Preferred stocks involve 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. In addition to credit risk, investment in preferred stocks involves certain other risks as more fully described in the Prospectus.
Derivative instruments. Derivative instruments (which are instruments that derive their value from another instrument, security or index) may be purchased or sold to enhance return (which may be
considered speculative), to hedge against fluctuations in securities prices or
market conditions, or as a substitute for the purchase or sale of securities or
currencies. These strategies may be executed through the use of derivative
contracts in the United States. or abroad. In the course of pursuing these
investment strategies, the Fund may purchase and sell exchange-listed and
over-the-counter put and call options on securities, equity and fixed-income
indices and other instruments, purchase and sell futures contracts and options
thereon, and enter into various transactions such as swaps, caps, floors or
collars. In addition, derivatives may also include new techniques, instruments
or strategies that are permitted as regulatory changes occur. Transactions in
derivative instruments involve a risk of loss or depreciation due to:
unanticipated adverse changes in securities prices, interest rates, indices, or
the other financial instruments' prices; the inability to close out a position;
default by the counterparty; imperfect correlation between a position and the
desired hedge; tax constraints on closing out positions; and portfolio
management constraints on securities subject to such transactions. The loss on
derivative instruments (other than purchased options) may substantially exceed
an investment in these instruments. In addition, the entire premium paid for
purchased options may be lost before they can be profitably exercised.
Transaction costs are incurred in opening and closing positions. Derivative
instruments may sometimes increase or leverage exposure to a particular market
risk, thereby increasing price volatility. Over-the-counter ("OTC") derivative
instruments, equity swaps and forward sales of stocks involve an enhanced risk
that the issuer or counterparty will fail to perform its contractual
obligations. Some derivative instruments are not readily marketable or may
become illiquid under adverse market conditions. In addition, during periods of
market volatility, a commodity exchange may suspend or limit trading in an
exchange-traded derivative instrument, which may make the contract temporarily
illiquid and difficult to price. Commodity exchanges may also establish daily
limits on the amount that the price of a futures contract or futures option can
vary from the previous day's settlement price. Once the daily limit is reached,
no trades may be made that day at a price beyond the limit. This may prevent the
closing out of positions to limit losses. The staff of the SEC takes the
position that certain purchased OTC options, and assets used as cover for
written OTC options, are illiquid. The ability to terminate OTC derivative
instruments may depend on the cooperation of the counterparties to such
contracts. For thinly traded derivative instruments, the only source of price
quotations may be the selling dealer or counterparty. In addition, certain
provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") limit
the use of derivative instruments. The Fund has claimed an exclusion from the
definition of a Commodity Pool Operator ("CPO") under the Commodity Exchange Act
and therefor is not subject to registration or regulation as a CPO. There can be
no assurance that the use of derivative instruments will be advantageous.
Foreign exchange traded futures contracts and options thereon may be used only if the Adviser determines that trading on such foreign exchange does not entail risks, including credit and liquidity risks, that are materially greater than the risks associated with trading on CFTC-regulated exchanges.
SHORT SALES
The Fund may sell a security short if it owns at least an equal amount of the
security sold short or another security convertible or exchangeable for an equal
amount of the security sold short without payment of further compensation (a
short sale against-the-box).
Purchasing securities to close out the short position can itself cause the price of the securities to rise further, thereby exacerbating the loss. Short-selling exposes the Fund to unlimited risk with respect to that security due to the lack of an upper limit on the price to which an instrument can rise. Although the Fund reserves the right to utilize short sales, the Adviser is under no obligation to utilize short sales at all.
SECURITIES LENDING
As described in the Prospectus, the Fund may lend a portion of its portfolio
securities to broker-dealers or other institutional borrowers. Loans will be
made only to organizations whose credit quality or
claims paying ability is considered by the Adviser to be at least investment grade. All securities loans will be collateralized on a continuous basis by cash or U.S. government securities having a value, marked to market daily, of at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities. The Fund may receive loan fees in connection with loans that are collateralized by securities or on loans of securities for which there is special demand. The Fund may also seek to earn income on securities loans by reinvesting cash collateral in securities consistent with its investment objectives and policies, seeking to invest at rates that are higher than the "rebate" rate that it normally will pay to the borrower with respect to such cash collateral. Any such reinvestment will be subject to the investment policies, restrictions and risk considerations described in the Prospectus and in this SAI.
Securities loans may result in delays in recovering, or a failure of the borrower to return, the loaned securities. The defaulting borrower ordinarily would be liable to the Fund for any losses resulting from such delays or failures, and the collateral provided in connection with the loan normally would also be available for that purpose. Securities loans normally may be terminated by either the Fund or the borrower at any time. Upon termination and the return of the loaned securities, the Fund would be required to return the related cash or securities collateral to the borrower and it may be required to liquidate longer term portfolio securities in order to do so. To the extent that such securities have decreased in value, this may result in the Fund realizing a loss at a time when it would not otherwise do so. The Fund also may incur losses if it is unable to reinvest cash collateral at rates higher than applicable rebate rates paid to borrowers and related administrative costs. These risks are substantially the same as those incurred through investment leverage, and will be subject to the investment policies, restrictions and risk considerations described in the Prospectus and in this SAI.
The Fund will receive amounts equivalent to any interest or other distributions paid on securities while they are on loan, and the Fund will not be entitled to exercise voting or other beneficial rights on loaned securities. The Fund will exercise its right to terminate loans and thereby regain these rights whenever the Adviser considers it to be in the Fund's interest to do so, taking into account the related loss of reinvestment income and other factors.
TEMPORARY INVESTMENTS
The Fund may invest temporarily in cash or cash equivalents. Cash equivalents
are highly liquid, short-term securities such as commercial paper, time
deposits, certificates of deposit, short-term notes and short-term U.S.
government obligations.
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 outstanding shares
of the Fund. As a matter of fundamental policy the Fund may not:
(1) Borrow money, except as permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). The 1940 Act currently requires that any indebtedness incurred by a closed-end investment company have an asset coverage of at least 300%;
(2) Issue senior securities, as defined in the 1940 Act, other than (a) preferred shares which immediately after issuance will have asset coverage of at least 200%, (b) indebtedness which immediately after issuance will have asset coverage of at least 300%, or (c) the borrowings permitted by investment restriction (1) above. The 1940 Act currently defines "senior security" as any bond, debenture, note or similar obligation or instrument constituting a security and evidencing indebtedness and any stock of a class having priority over any other class as to distribution of assets or payment of dividends. Debt and equity securities issued by a closed-end
investment company meeting the foregoing asset coverage provisions are excluded from the general 1940 Act prohibition on the issuance of senior securities;
(3) 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 purchase of investment assets with the proceeds of a permitted borrowing or securities offering will not be deemed to be the purchase of securities on margin;
(4) Underwrite securities issued by other persons, except insofar as it may technically be deemed to be an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in selling or disposing of a portfolio investment;
(5) Make loans to other persons, except by (a) the acquisition of loan interests, debt securities and other obligations in which the Fund is authorized to invest in accordance with its investment objectives and policies, (b) entering into repurchase agreements, and (c) lending its portfolio securities;
(6) Purchase or sell real estate, although it may purchase and sell securities which are secured by interests in real estate and securities of issuers which invest or deal in real estate. The Fund reserves the freedom of action to hold and to sell real estate acquired as a result of the ownership of securities;
(7) Purchase or sell physical commodities or contracts for the purchase or sale of physical commodities. Physical commodities do not include futures contracts with respect to securities, securities indices, currencies, interest or other financial instruments;
(8) With respect to 75% of its total assets, invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of a single issuer or purchase more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of a single issuer, except obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities and except securities of other investment companies; and
(9) Invest 25% or more of its total assets in any single industry or group of industries (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities).
The Fund may borrow money as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes, including the payment of dividends and the settlement of securities transactions which otherwise might require untimely dispositions of Fund securities. The 1940 Act currently requires that the Fund have 300% asset coverage with respect to all borrowings other than temporary borrowings.
For purposes of construing restriction (9), a large economic or market sector shall not be construed as a group of industries.
The Fund has adopted the following nonfundamental investment policy which may be changed by the Board without approval of the Fund's shareholders. As a matter of nonfundamental policy, the Fund may not make short sales of securities or maintain a short position, unless at all times when a short position is open it either owns an equal amount of such securities or owns 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.
Upon the Board's approval, the Fund may invest more than 10% of its total assets in one or more other management investment companies (or may invest in affiliated investment companies) to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and rules thereunder.
Whenever an investment policy or investment restriction set forth in the Prospectus or this SAI states a maximum percentage of assets that may be invested in any security or other assets or describes a policy regarding quality standards, such percentage limitation or standard shall be determined immediately after and as a result of the Fund's acquisition of such security or asset. Accordingly, any
later increase or decrease resulting from a change in values, assets or other circumstances or any subsequent rating change made by a rating service (or as determined by the Adviser if the security is not rated by a rating agency) will not compel the Fund to dispose of such security or other asset. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund must always be in compliance with the borrowing policies set forth above.
Trustees and officers
The Trustees of the Fund are responsible for the overall management and supervision of the affairs of the Fund. The Trustees and officers of the Fund 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. The "noninterested Trustees" consist of those Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Fund, as that term is defined under the 1940 Act. The business address of each Trustee and officer is The Eaton Vance Building, 255 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109. As used in this SAI, "EVC" refers to Eaton Vance Corp., "EV" refers to Eaton Vance, Inc., "BMR" refers to Boston Management and Research, and "EVD" refers to Eaton Vance Distributors Inc. EVC and EV are the corporate parent and trustee, respectively, of Eaton Vance and BMR. Eaton Vance has engaged Rampart Investment Management Company, Inc. ("Rampart" or the "Sub-Adviser") to serve as sub-adviser to the Fund to provide advice on and execution of the construction of the Fund's equity portfolio and options strategy, pursuant to an investment sub-advisory agreement (the "Sub-Advisory Agreement") among the Fund, the Adviser and Rampart.
NUMBER OF PORTFOLIOS IN TERM OF OFFICE FUND COMPLEX OTHER NAME AND POSITION(S) AND LENGTH PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) OVERSEEN BY DIRECTORSHIPS DATE OF BIRTH WITH THE FUND OF SERVICE DURING PAST FIVE YEARS TRUSTEE(1) HELD ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTERESTED TRUSTEES James B. Hawkes Trustee(2) and Since 12/20/04 Chairman, President and 197 Director of EVC 11/9/41 Vice President Three Years Chief Executive Officer of BMR, Eaton Vance, EVC and EV; Director of EV; Vice President and Director of EVD. Trustee and/or officer of 197 registered investment companies in the Eaton Vance Fund Complex. Mr. Hawkes is an interested person because of his positions with BMR, Eaton Vance, EVC and EV, which are affiliates of the Fund. NON-INTERESTED TRUSTEES Samuel L. Hayes, III Trustee(2) Since 12/20/04 Jacob H. Schiff 197 Director of 2/23/35 Three Years Professor of Investment Tiffany & Co. Banking Emeritus, (specialty Harvard University retailer) and Graduate School of Telect, Inc. Business (telecommunication Administration. services company) William H. Park Trustee(3) Since 12/20/04 President and Chief 194 None 9/19/47 Three Years Executive Officer, Prizm Capital Management, LLC (investment management firm) (since 2002). Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, United Asset Management Corporation (a holding company owning institutional investment management firms) (1982-2001). |
NUMBER OF PORTFOLIOS IN TERM OF OFFICE FUND COMPLEX OTHER NAME AND POSITION(S) AND LENGTH PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) OVERSEEN BY DIRECTORSHIPS DATE OF BIRTH WITH THE FUND OF SERVICE DURING PAST FIVE YEARS TRUSTEE(1) HELD ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ronald A. Pearlman Trustee(3) Since 12/20/04 Professor of Law, 194 None 7/10/40 Three Years Georgetown University Law Center (since 1999). Tax Partner, Covington & Burling, Washington, DC (1991- 2000). Norton H. Reamer Trustee(4) Since 12/20/04 President, Chief 197 None 9/21/35 Three Years Executive Officer and a Director of Asset Management Finance Corp. (a specialty finance company serving the investment management industry) (since October 2003). President, Unicorn Corporation (an investment and financial advisory services company) (since September 2000). Formerly, Chairman, Hellman, Jordan Management Co., Inc. (an investment management company) (2000-2003). Formerly, Advisory Director of Berkshire Capital Corporation (investment banking firm) (2002- 2003). Formerly, Chairman of the Board, United Asset Management Corporation (a holding company owning institutional investment management firms) and Chairman, President and Director, UAM Funds (mutual funds) (1980-2000). Lynn A. Stout Trustee(4) Since 12/20/04 Professor of Law, 197 None Three Years University of California at Los Angeles School of Law (since July 2001). Formerly, Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center. |
PRINCIPAL OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT TRUSTEES
TERM OF OFFICE POSITION(S) AND LENGTH NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH WITH THE FUND OF SERVICE PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) DURING PAST FIVE YEARS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Duncan W. Richardson President and Since 11/8/04 Senior Vice President and Chief Equity 10/26/57 Chief Executive Investment Officer of Eaton Vance and BMR. Officer Officer of 43 registered investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR. Thomas E. Faust Jr. Vice President Since 11/8/04 Executive Vice President of Eaton Vance, BMR, 5/31/58 EVC and EV; Chief Investment Officer of Eaton Vance and BMR and Director of EVC. Chief Executive Officer of Belair Capital Fund LLC, Belcrest Capital Fund LLC, Belmar Capital Fund LLC; Belport Capital Fund LLC and Belrose Capital Fund LLC (private investment companies sponsored by Eaton Vance). Officer of 57 registered investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR. Lewis R. Piantedosi Vice President Since 11/8/04 Vice President of Eaton Vance and BMR. Equity 8/10/65 Analyst at Eaton Vance since May 1999. Previously, Partner, Portfolio Manager and Equity Analyst for Freedom Capital Management (1996-1999). Officer of 2 registered investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR. James L. O'Connor Treasurer and Since 11/8/04 Vice President of BMR, Eaton Vance and EVD. 4/1/45 Principal Officer of 118 registered investment companies Financial and managed by Eaton Vance or BMR. Accounting Officer Alan R. Dynner Secretary Since 11/8/04 Vice President, Secretary And Chief Legal 10/10/40 Officer of BMR, Eaton Vance, EVD, EV and EVC. Officer of 197 registered investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR. Bryan Doddy Assistant Since 11/8/04 Treasurer Janet E. Sanders Assistant Since 11/8/04 Treasurer and Assistant Secretary A. John Murphy Assistant Since 11/8/04 Secretary Frederick S. Marius Assistant Since 11/8/04 Secretary |
The Board of Trustees of the Fund has several standing Committees, including the Governance Committee, the Audit Committee, and the Special Committee. Each such Committee is comprised of only noninterested Trustees.
The Governance Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Fund is comprised of the non-interested Trustees. Ms. Stout currently serves as chairperson of the Governance Committee. The purpose of the Governance Committee is to consider, evaluate and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees with respect to the structure, membership and operation of the Board of Trustees and the Committees
thereof, including the nomination and selection of non-interested Trustees and the compensation of non-interested Trustees.
The Governance Committee will, when a vacancy exists or is anticipated, consider any nominee for noninterested Trustee recommended by a shareholder if such recommendation is submitted to the Governance Committee, contains sufficient background information concerning the candidate and is received in a sufficiently timely manner.
Messrs. Reamer (Chairman), Hayes and Park and Ms. Stout are members of the Audit
Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Fund. The Board of Trustees has
designated Messrs. Hayes, Park and Reamer, each a non-interested 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 Rule 306 of Regulation S-K for inclusion in the proxy
statement of the Fund.
Messrs. Hayes (Chairman), Park, Pearlman, Reamer and Ms. Stout are currently members of the Special Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Fund. The purposes of the Special Committee are to consider, evaluate and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees concerning the following matters: (i) contractual arrangements with each service provider to the Fund, including advisory, sub-advisory, transfer agency, custodial and fund accounting, distribution services and administrative services; (ii) any and all other matters in which any of the Fund service providers (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 non-interested Trustees, unless the matter is within the responsibilities of the Audit Committee or the Governance Committee of the Fund.
As of the date of this SAI, the Governance Committee has times, the Audit Committee and Special Committee have met times.
When considering approval of the Advisory Agreement between the Fund and the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and Rampart, the Special Committee considered, among other things, the following:
+ A report comparing the fees and expenses of the Fund and certain profitability analyses prepared by Eaton Vance and Rampart;
+ Information on the relevant peer group(s) of funds;
+ The economic outlook and the general investment outlook in the relevant investment markets;
+ Eaton Vance's and Rampart's results and financial condition and the overall organization of the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser;
+ Arrangements regarding the distribution of Fund shares;
+ The procedures used to determine the fair value of the Fund's assets;
+ The allocation of brokerage and the benefits received by the Adviser as the result of brokerage allocation; including allocations to soft dollar brokerage and allocations to firms that sell Eaton Vance fund shares;
+ Eaton Vance's management of the relationship with the custodian, subcustodians and fund accountants;
+ The resources devoted to Eaton Vance's compliance efforts undertaken on behalf of the funds it manages and the record of compliance with the investment policies and restrictions and with policies on personal securities transactions;
+ Rampart's compliance efforts with respect to the accounts it manages;
+ The quality, nature, cost and character of the administrative and other non-investment management services provided by Eaton Vance and its affiliates and of Rampart;
+ The terms of the Advisory Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement, and the reasonableness and appropriateness of the particular fee paid by the Fund for the services described therein;
+ Operating expenses (including transfer agency expenses) to be paid to third parties; and
+ Information to be provided to investors, including the Fund's shareholders.
In evaluating the Advisory Agreement between the Fund and Eaton Vance, and the Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and Rampart, the Special Committee reviewed material furnished by Eaton Vance and Rampart at the initial Board meeting held on December 20, 2004, including the above referenced considerations and information relating to the education, experience and number of investment professionals and other personnel who would provide services under the Advisory Agreement and under the Sub-Advisory Agreement. The Special Committee also took into account the time and attention to be devoted by senior management to the Fund and the other funds in the complex. The Special Committee evaluated the level of skill required to manage the Fund and concluded that the human resources available at Eaton Vance were appropriate to fulfill effectively the duties of the Adviser on behalf of the Fund. The Special Committee also considered the business reputation of the Adviser, its financial resources and professional liability insurance coverage and concluded that Eaton Vance would be able to meet any reasonably foreseeable obligations under the Advisory Agreement. The Special Committee also considered the business reputation of Rampart and its options strategy and its past experience in implementing this strategy.
The Special Committee received information concerning the investment philosophy and investment process to be applied by Eaton Vance and Rampart in managing the Fund. In this regard, the Special Committee considered Eaton Vance's in-house research capabilities as well as other resources available to Eaton Vance personnel, including research services that may be available to Eaton Vance as a result of securities transactions effected for the Fund and other investment advisory clients. The Special Committee concluded that Eaton Vance's and Rampart's investment process, research capabilities and philosophy were well suited to the Fund, given the Fund's investment objectives and policies.
In addition to the factors mentioned above, the Special Committee also reviewed the level of the Adviser's profits in respect of the management of the Eaton Vance funds, including the Fund. The Special Committee considered the other profits realized by Eaton Vance and its affiliates in connection with the operation of the Fund. The Special Committee also considered profit margins of Eaton Vance in comparison with available industry data. In addition, the Special Committee considered the fiduciary duty assumed by the Adviser in connection with the service rendered to the Fund and the business reputation of the Adviser, its financial resources and its professional liability insurance coverage. In
evaluating the fees to be paid to Rampart, the Special Committee considered and discussed fees paid to other investment sub-advisers in similar circumstances, as well as fees charged by Rampart to other clients.
The Special Committee did not consider any single factor as controlling in determining whether or not to approve the Advisory Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement. Nor are the items described herein all encompassing of the matters considered by the Special Committee. In assessing the information provided by Eaton Vance and its affiliates and Rampart, the Special Committee also took into consideration the benefits to shareholders of investing in a fund that is part of a large family of funds which provides a large variety of shareholder services.
Based on its consideration of all factors that it deemed material and assisted by the advice of its independent counsel, the Special Committee concluded that the approval of the Advisory Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement, including the fee structure (described herein) is in the interests of shareholders. The Special Committee also considered that the Adviser would enter into a Shareholder Services Agreement with UBS Securities LLC, whereby the Adviser (and not the Fund) would pay UBS Securities LLC to provide upon request certain market data and reports to support shareholder services pursuant to the agreement.
SHARE OWNERSHIP
The following table shows the dollar range of equity securities beneficially
owned by each Trustee in the Fund and all Eaton Vance Funds overseen by the
Trustee as of December 31, 2003.
AGGREGATE DOLLAR RANGE OF EQUITY DOLLAR RANGE OF SECURITIES OWNED IN ALL REGISTERED EQUITY SECURITIES FUNDS OVERSEEN BY TRUSTEE IN THE NAME OF TRUSTEE OWNED IN THE FUND EATON VANCE FUND COMPLEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTERESTED TRUSTEE James B. Hawkes....................... None Over $100,000 NON-INTERESTED TRUSTEES Samuel L. Hayes, III.................. None Over $100,000 William H. Park....................... None Over $100,000 Ronald A. Pearlman.................... None Over $100,000 Norton H. Reamer...................... None Over $100,000 |
As of December 31, 200[ ], no noninterested Trustee or any of their immediate family members owned beneficially or of record any class of securities of EVC, EVD, Rampart or any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC, EVD or Rampart.
During the calendar years ended December 31, 200 and December 31, 200 , no noninterested Trustee (or their immediate family members) had:
1. Any direct or indirect interest in Eaton Vance, EVC, EVD, Rampart or any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC, EVD or Rampart;
2. Any direct or indirect material interest in any transaction or series of similar transactions with (i) the Fund; (ii) another fund managed by EVC or Rampart, distributed by EVD or a person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC, EVD or Rampart; (iii) EVC, EVD or Rampart; (iv) a person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC, EVD or Rampart; or (v) an officer of any of the above; or
3. Any direct or indirect relationship with (i) the Fund; (ii) another fund managed by EVC or Rampart, distributed by EVD or a person controlling, controlled by or under common control
with EVC, EVD or Rampart; (iii) EVC, EVD or Rampart; (iv) a person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC, EVD or Rampart; or (v) an officer of any of the above.
During the calendar years ended December 31, 200 and December 31, 200 , no officer of EVC, EVD, Rampart or any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC, EVD or Rampart served on the Board of Directors of a company where a noninterested Trustee of the Fund or any of their immediate family members served as an officer.
Trustees of the Fund who are not affiliated with the Adviser may elect to defer receipt of all or a percentage of their annual fees in accordance with the terms of a Trustees Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Trustees' Plan"). Under the Trustees' Plan, an eligible Trustee may elect to have his deferred fees invested by the Fund in the shares of one or more funds in the Eaton Vance Family of Funds, and the amount paid to the Trustees under the Trustees' Plan will be determined based upon the performance of such investments. Deferral of Trustees' fees in accordance with the Trustees' Plan will have a negligible effect on the Fund's assets, liabilities, and net income per share, and will not obligate the Fund to retain the services of any Trustee or obligate the Fund to pay any particular level of compensation to the Trustee. The Fund does not have a retirement plan for its Trustees.
The fees and expenses of the Trustees of the Fund are paid by the Fund. (A Trustee of the Fund who is a member of the Eaton Vance organization receives no compensation from the Fund.) For the Fund's fiscal year ending December 31, 2006, it is anticipated that the Trustees of the Fund will earn the following compensation in their capacities as Trustees. For the year ended December 31, 2004, the Trustees earned the compensation set forth below in their capacities as Trustees from the funds in the Eaton Vance fund complex(1).
SOURCE OF COMPENSATION --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fund*.............................. Fund Complex....................... |
* Estimated
(1) As of , 2004, the Eaton Vance fund complex consisted of registered investment companies or series thereof.
(2) Includes $ of deferred compensation.
(3) Includes $ of deferred compensation.
PROXY VOTING POLICY. The Fund is subject to the Eaton Vance Funds Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures (the "Fund Policy"), pursuant to which the Trustees have delegated proxy voting responsibility to the Adviser and adopted the Adviser's proxy voting policies and procedures (the "Policies") which are described below. The Trustees will review the Fund's proxy voting records from time to time and will annually consider approving the Policies for the upcoming year. In the event that a conflict of interest arises between the Fund's shareholders and the Adviser or any of its affiliates or any affiliate of the Fund, the Adviser will generally refrain from voting the proxies related to the companies giving rise to such conflict until it consults with the Board of the Fund, except as contemplated under the Fund Policy. The Board's Special Committee will instruct the Adviser on the appropriate course of action.
The Policies are designed to promote accountability of a company's management to its shareholders and to align the interests of management with those shareholders. The Adviser will generally support company management on proposals relating to environmental and social policy issues, on matters regarding the state of organization of the company and routine matters related to corporate administration which are not expected to have a significant economic impact on the company or its shareholders. On all other matters, the Adviser will review each matter on a case-by-case basis and reserves the right to deviate from the Policies' guidelines when it believes the situation warrants such a
deviation. The Policies include voting guidelines for matters relating to, among other things, the election of directors, approval of independent auditors, executive compensation, corporate structure and anti-takeover defenses. The Adviser may abstain from voting from time to time where it determines that the costs associated with voting a proxy outweigh the benefits derived from exercising the right to vote.
In addition, the Adviser will monitor situations that may result in a conflict of interest between the Fund's shareholders and the Adviser or any of its affiliates or any affiliate of the Fund by maintaining a list of significant existing and prospective corporate clients. The Adviser's personnel responsible for reviewing and voting proxies on behalf of the Fund will report any proxy received or expected to be received from a company included on that list to members of senior management of the Adviser identified in the Policies. Such members of senior management will determine if a conflict exists. If a conflict does exist, the proxy will either be voted strictly in accordance with the Policies or the Adviser will seek instruction on how to vote from the Special Committee. Information on how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the 12 month period ended June 30, 2005 will be available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-262-1122, and (2) on the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov.
Investment advisory and other services
The Investment Adviser. Eaton Vance, its affiliates and its predecessor companies have been managing assets of individuals and institutions since 1924 and of investment companies since 1931. They maintain a large staff of experienced fixed-income, senior loan and equity investment professionals to service the needs of their clients. The equity group covers stocks ranging from blue chip to emerging growth companies. Eaton Vance and its affiliates act as adviser to a family of mutual funds, and individual and various institutional accounts. The fixed-income group focuses on all kinds of taxable investment-grade and high-yield securities, tax-exempt investment-grade and high-yield securities, and U.S. government securities. The senior loan group focuses on senior floating rate loans, unsecured loans and other floating rate debt securities such as notes, bonds and asset backed securities, including corporations, hospitals, retirement plans, universities, foundations and trusts.
The Fund will be responsible for all of its costs and expenses not expressly stated to be payable by Eaton Vance under the Advisory Agreement or Administration Agreement. Such costs and expenses to be borne by the Fund include, without limitation: custody and transfer agency fees and expenses, including those incurred for determining net asset value and keeping accounting books and records; expenses of pricing and valuation services; the cost of share certificates; membership dues in investment company organizations; expenses of acquiring, holding and disposing of securities and other investments; fees and expenses of registering under the securities laws, stock exchange listing fees and governmental fees; rating agency fees and preferred share remarketing expenses; expenses of reports to shareholders, proxy statements and other expenses of shareholders' meetings; insurance premiums; printing and mailing expenses; interest, taxes and corporate fees; legal and accounting expenses; compensation and expenses of Trustees not affiliated with Eaton Vance; expenses of conducting repurchase offers for the purpose of repurchasing Fund shares; and investment advisory and administration fees. The Fund will also bear expenses incurred in connection with any litigation in which the Fund is a party and any legal obligation to indemnify its officers and Trustees with respect thereto, to the extent not covered by insurance.
The Advisory Agreement with the Adviser continues in effect to December 20, 2006
and from year to year so long as such continuance is approved at least annually
(i) by the vote of a majority of the noninterested Trustees of the Fund or of
the Adviser cast in person at a meeting specifically called for the purpose of
voting on such approval and (ii) by the Board of Trustees of the Fund or by vote
of a majority of the outstanding Shares of the Fund. The Fund's Administration
Agreement continues in effect from year to year so long as such continuance is
approved at least annually by the vote of a majority of the Fund's Trustees.
Each agreement may be terminated at any time without penalty on sixty (60) days'
written notice by the Trustees of the Fund or Eaton Vance, as applicable, or by
vote of the majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund. Each agreement will
terminate automatically in the event of its assignment. Each agreement provides
that, in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or
reckless disregard of its obligations or duties to the Fund under such
agreements on the part of Eaton Vance, Eaton Vance shall not be liable to the
Fund for any loss incurred, to the extent not covered by insurance.
The Advisory Agreement provides that Eaton Vance may engage one or more investment sub-advisers to assist with some or all aspects of the management of the Fund's investments subject to such approvals as are required under the 1940 Act. Pursuant to these provisions, Eaton Vance has engaged Rampart as a sub-adviser to provide assistance with the development, implementation and execution of the Fund's options strategy. The Advisory Agreement provides that Eaton Vance may terminate any sub-advisory agreement entered into and directly assume any functions performed by the sub-adviser, upon approval of the Board of Trustees, without the need for approval of the shareholders of the Fund.
Eaton Vance is a business trust organized under Massachusetts law. EV serves as trustee of Eaton Vance. Eaton Vance and EV are subsidiaries of EVC, a Maryland corporation and publicly-held
holding company. EVC through its subsidiaries and affiliates engages primarily in investment management, administration and marketing activities. The Directors of EVC are James B. Hawkes, John G. L. Cabot, Thomas E. Faust Jr., Leo I. Higdon, Jr., John M. Nelson, Vincent M. O'Reilly, Winthrop H. Smith, Jr., and Ralph Z. Sorenson. All shares of the outstanding Voting Common Stock of EVC are deposited in a voting trust, the voting trustees of which are Messrs. Hawkes, Faust, Jeffrey P. Beale, Alan R. Dynner, Thomas J. Fetter, Scott H. Page, Duncan W. Richardson, William M. Steul, Payson F. Swaffield, Michael W. Weilheimer and Wharton P. Whitaker (all of whom are officers of Eaton Vance). The voting trustees have unrestricted voting rights for the election of Directors of EVC. All of the outstanding voting trust receipts issued under said voting trust are owned by certain of the officers of BMR and Eaton Vance who are also officers, or officers and Directors of EVC and EV. As indicated under "Trustees and officers", all of the officers of the Fund (as well as Mr. Hawkes who is also a Trustee) hold positions in the Eaton Vance organization.
EVC and its affiliates and their officers and employees from time to time have transactions with various banks, including the custodian of the Fund, IBT. It is Eaton Vance's opinion that the terms and conditions of such transactions were not and will not be influenced by existing or potential custodial or other relationships between the Fund and such banks.
The Sub-Adviser. Rampart acts as the Fund's investment sub-adviser and provides
advice and assistance in pursuing the Fund's options strategy pursuant to a
sub-advisory agreement between the Adviser and Rampart (the "Sub-Advisory
Agreement"). Rampart, a Massachusetts corporation, was founded in 1983 by its
current owners Ronald M. Egalka and David R. Fraley. The Sub-Adviser provides
customized investment management services within a core competency in options to
a spectrum of institutional clients. Since its inception, the Sub-Adviser has
continuously expanded its computer modeling and analytical capabilities and
created tools to capitalize on opportunities in the capital markets. Rampart's
principal office is located at One International Place, Boston, MA 02110. As of
[ ], 2004 Rampart had approximately $[ ] billion of assets under
management.
Under the terms of the Sub-Advisory Agreement, Rampart provides advice and assistance with the development, implementation and execution of the Fund's options strategy, all subject to the supervision and direction of the Fund's Board of Trustees and the Adviser. For services rendered by Rampart under the Sub-Advisory Agreement, Eaton Vance pays Rampart a fee, payable monthly, in an annual amount equal to 0.20% of the average daily gross assets of the Fund.
The Sub-Advisory Agreement continues until December 20, 2006 and from year to year thereafter if approved annually (i) by the Fund's Board of Trustees or by the holders of a majority of its outstanding voting securities and (ii) by a majority of the Trustees who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any party to the Sub-Advisory Agreement, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Sub-Advisory Agreement terminates automatically on its assignment and may be terminated without penalty on 60 days written notice at the option of either the Adviser, by the Fund's Board of Trustees or by a vote of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund's outstanding shares or by Rampart upon 3 months notice. As discussed above, Eaton Vance may terminate the Sub-Advisory Agreement and directly assume responsibility for the services provided by Rampart upon approval by the Board of Trustees without the need for approval of the shareholders of the Fund.
The Sub-Advisory Agreement provides that in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard for its obligations and duties thereunder, the Rampart is not liable for any error or judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund.
CODES OF ETHICS
The Adviser, Rampart and the Fund have adopted Codes of Ethics governing personal securities transactions. Under the Codes of Ethics, Eaton Vance and Rampart employees may purchase and sell securities (including securities held or eligible for purchase by the Fund) subject to the provisions of the Codes of Ethics and certain employees are also subject to pre-clearance, reporting requirements and other procedures.
The Codes of Ethics can be reviewed and copied at the Securities and Exchange Commission's public reference room in Washington, DC (call 1-202-942-8090 for information on the operation of the public reference room); on the EDGAR Database on the SEC's Internet site (http://www.sec.gov); or, upon payment of copying fees, by writing the SEC's public reference section, Washington, DC 20549-0102, or by electronic mail at publicinfo@sec.gov.
INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES
Under the general supervision of the Fund's Board of Trustees, Eaton Vance will carry out the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Fund, will furnish continuously an investment program with respect to the Fund, will determine which securities should be purchased, sold or exchanged, and will implement such determinations. Eaton Vance will furnish to the Fund investment advice and provide related office facilities and personnel for servicing the investments of the Fund. Eaton Vance will compensate all Trustees and officers of the Fund who are members of the Eaton Vance organization and who render investment services to the Fund, and will also compensate all other Eaton Vance personnel who provide research and investment services to the Fund.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
Under the Administration Agreement, Eaton Vance is responsible for managing the business affairs of the Fund, subject to the supervision of the Fund's Board of Trustees. Eaton Vance will furnish to the Fund all office facilities, equipment and personnel for administering the affairs of the Fund. Eaton Vance will compensate all Trustees and officers of the Fund who are members of the Eaton Vance organization and who render executive and administrative services to the Fund, and will also compensate all other Eaton Vance personnel who perform management and administrative services for the Fund. Eaton Vance's administrative services include recordkeeping, preparation and filing of documents required to comply with federal and state securities laws, supervising the activities of the Fund's custodian and transfer agent, providing assistance in connection with the Trustees' and shareholders' meetings, providing services in connection with repurchase offers, if any, and other administrative services necessary to conduct the Fund's business.
Determination of net asset value
The net asset value per share of the Fund is determined no less frequently than daily, on each day that the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") is open for trading, as of the close of regular trading on the Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m. New York time). The Fund's net asset value per share is determined by IBT, in the manner authorized by the Trustees of the Fund. Net asset value is computed by dividing the value of the Fund's total assets, less its liabilities by the number of shares outstanding.
The Trustees of the Fund have established the following procedures for fair valuation of the Fund's assets under normal market conditions. Marketable securities listed on foreign or U.S. securities exchanges generally are valued at closing sale prices or, if there were no sales, at the mean between the closing bid and asked prices therefor on the exchange where such securities are principally traded (such prices may not be used, however, where an active over-the-counter market in an exchange listed security better reflects current market value). Marketable securities listed in the NASDAQ National Market System are valued at the NASDAQ official closing price. Unlisted or listed securities for which closing sale prices are not available are valued at the mean between the latest bid and asked prices. An option is valued at the last sale price as quoted on the principal exchange or board of trade on which such option or contract is traded, or in the absence of a sale, at the mean between the last bid and asked prices. When the Fund writes a call option it records the premium as an asset and equivalent liability and thereafter adjusts the liability to the market value of the option determined in accordance with the preceding sentence.
The Adviser and the Valuation Committee may implement new pricing methodologies
or expand mark-to-market valuation of debt securities whose market prices are
not readily available in the future, which may result in a change in the Fund's
net asset value per share. The Fund's net asset value per share will also be
affected by fair value pricing decisions and by changes in the market for such
debt securities. In determining the fair value of a debt security, the Adviser
will consider relevant factors, data, and information, including: (i) the
characteristics of and fundamental analytical data relating to the debt
security, including the cost, size, current interest rate, period until next
interest rate reset, maturity and base lending rate of the debt security, the
terms and conditions of the debt security and any related agreements, and the
position of the debt security in the borrower's debt structure; (ii) the nature,
adequacy and value of the collateral, including the Fund's rights, remedies and
interests with respect to the collateral; (iii) the creditworthiness of the
borrower, based on an evaluation of its financial condition, financial
statements and information about the borrower's business, cash flows, capital
structure and future prospects; (iv) information relating to the market for the
debt security, including price quotations for and trading in the debt security
and interests in similar debt securities and the market environment and investor
attitudes towards the debt security and interests in similar debt securities;
(v) the experience, reputation, stability and financial condition of the agent
and any intermediate participants in the debt security; and (vi) general
economic and market conditions affecting the fair value of the debt security.
The fair value of each debt security is reviewed and approved by the Adviser's
Valuation Committee and the Fund's Trustees.
Debt securities for which the over-the-counter market is the primary market are normally valued on the basis of prices furnished by one or more pricing services at the mean between the latest available bid and asked prices. OTC options are valued at the mean between the bid and asked prices provided by dealers. Financial futures contracts listed on commodity exchanges and exchange-traded options are valued at closing settlement prices. Short-term obligations having remaining maturities of less than 60 days are valued at amortized cost, which approximates value, unless the Trustees determine that under particular circumstances such method does not result in fair value. As authorized by the Trustees, debt securities (other than short-term obligations) may be valued on the basis of valuations furnished by a pricing service which determines valuations based upon market transactions for normal,
institutional-size trading units of such securities. Securities for which there is no such quotation or valuation and all other assets are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by or at the direction of the Fund's Trustees considering relevant factors, data and information, including the market value of freely tradable securities of the same class in the principal market on which such securities are normally traded.
All other securities are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by or at the direction of the Trustees.
The daily valuation of foreign equity securities held by the Fund generally is determined as of the close of trading on the principal exchange on which such securities trade. Events occurring after the close of trading on foreign exchanges may result in adjustments to the valuation of foreign securities to more accurately reflect their fair value as of the close of regular trading on the Exchange. The Fund may rely on an independent fair valuation service in making any such adjustment. Foreign securities held by the Fund will be valued in U.S. dollars; such values will be computed by the custodian based on foreign currency exchange rate quotations supplied by an independent quotation service.
Portfolio trading
Decisions concerning the execution of portfolio security transactions, including the selection of the market and the executing firm, are made by Eaton Vance, the Fund's Adviser or, Rampart as the Sub-Adviser. As used below, "Adviser" refers to Eaton Vance and Rampart, as applicable. The Adviser is also responsible for the execution of transactions for all other accounts managed by it. The Adviser places the portfolio security transactions for execution with many firms. The Adviser uses its best efforts to obtain execution of portfolio security transactions at prices which are advantageous to the Fund and at reasonably competitive spreads or (when a disclosed commission is being charged) at reasonably competitive commission rates. In seeking such execution, the Adviser will use its best judgment in evaluating the terms of a transaction, and will give consideration to various relevant factors, including without limitation the full range and quality of the executing firm's services, the value of the brokerage and research services provided, the responsiveness of the firm to the 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 executing firm, the reputation, reliability, experience and financial condition of the firm, the value and quality of the services rendered by the firm in this and other transactions, and the reasonableness of the spread or commission, if any.
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, but the price paid or received usually includes an undisclosed dealer markup or markdown. 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 Adviser, be reasonable in relation to the value of the services provided, commissions exceeding those which another firm might charge may be paid to broker-dealers who were selected to execute transactions on behalf of the Adviser's clients in part for providing brokerage and research services to the Adviser.
As authorized in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, a broker or dealer who executes a portfolio transaction on behalf of the Fund may receive a commission 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 compensation was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided. This determination may be made on the basis of that particular transaction or on the basis of overall responsibilities which the Adviser and its affiliates have for accounts over which they exercise investment discretion. Brokerage and research services may include advice as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing, or selling securities, and the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy and the performance of accounts; effecting securities transactions and performing functions incidental thereto (such as clearance and settlement); and the "Research Services" referred to in the next paragraph.
It is a common practice of the investment advisory industry and of the advisers of investment companies, institutions and other investors to receive research, analytical, statistical and quotation
services, data, information and other services, products and materials which assist such advisers in the performance of their investment responsibilities ("Research Services") from broker-dealer firms which execute portfolio transactions for the clients of such advisers and from affiliates of executing broker-dealers. Advisers also commonly receive Research Services from research providers that are not affiliated with an executing broker-dealer, but which have entered into payment arrangements involving an executing broker-dealer ("Third Party Research Services"). Under a typical Third Party Research Services payment arrangement, the research provider agrees to provide services to an Adviser in exchange for specified payments to the research provider by a broker-dealer that executes portfolio transactions for clients of the Adviser. The Adviser and the executing broker-dealer enter into a related agreement specifying the amount of brokerage business the Adviser will direct to the executing broker-dealer to offset payments made by the executing broker-dealer for Third Party Research Services received by the Adviser. For example, the Adviser may agree to direct brokerage business generating $45,000 in commissions on portfolio transactions to a broker-dealer firm as consideration for the executing broker-dealer making payments of $30,000 to a provider of Third Party Research Services. The ratio of the commissions to be paid to an executing broker-dealer as consideration for Third Party Research Services over the cost borne by the executing broker-dealer in connection with providing such services to the Adviser is referred to herein as the "Third Party Research Services Payment Ratio."
Consistent with the foregoing practices, the Adviser receives Research Services from many broker-dealer firms with which the Adviser places the Fund's transactions and from third parties with which these broker-dealers have arrangements. The Fund and the Adviser may also receive Research Services from underwriters and dealers in fixed-price offerings, which Research Services are reviewed and evaluated by the Adviser in connection with its investment responsibilities.
These Research Services include such matters as general economic, political, business and market information, industry and company reviews, evaluations of securities and portfolio strategies and transactions, proxy voting data and analysis services, technical analysis of various aspects of the securities market, recommendations as to the purchase and sale of securities and other portfolio transactions, financial, industry and trade publications, news and information services, pricing and quotation equipment and services, and research oriented computer hardware, software, databases and services. Any particular Research Service obtained through a broker-dealer may be used by the Adviser in connection with client accounts other than those accounts which pay commissions to such broker-dealer. Any such Research Service may be broadly useful and of value to the 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 advisory fee paid by the Fund is not reduced because the Adviser receives such Research Services. The Adviser evaluates the nature and quality of the various Research Services obtained through broker-dealer firms and attempts to allocate sufficient portfolio security transactions to such firms to ensure the continued receipt of Research Services which the Adviser believes are useful or of value to it in rendering investment advisory services to its clients.
In the event that the Adviser executes Fund securities transactions with a broker-dealer and the associated commission is consideration for Third Party Research Services (as described above), the Adviser has agreed to reduce the advisory fee payable by the Fund by an amount equal to the commission payment associated with the transaction divided by the applicable Third Party Research Services Payment Ratio.
Some executing broker-dealers develop and make available directly to their brokerage customers proprietary Research Services ("Proprietary Research Services"). As a general matter, broker-dealers bundle the cost of Proprietary Research Services with trade execution services rather than charging separately for each. In such circumstances, the cost or other value of the Proprietary Research Services
cannot be determined. The advisory fee paid by the Fund will not be reduced in connection with the receipt of Proprietary Research Services by the Adviser.
The investment companies sponsored by the Adviser or its affiliates may allocate brokerage commissions to acquire information relating to the performance, fees and expenses of such companies and other mutual funds, which information is used by the Trustees of such companies to fulfill their responsibility to oversee the quality of the services provided by various entities, including the Adviser. Such companies may also pay cash for such information.
Subject to the requirement that the Adviser shall use its best efforts to seek and execute Fund security transactions at advantageous prices and at reasonably competitive spreads or commission rates, the Adviser is authorized to consider as a factor in the selection of any broker-dealer firm with whom Fund orders may be placed the fact that such firm has sold or is selling Fund shares or shares of other investment companies sponsored by the Adviser or its affiliates. This policy is not inconsistent with a rule of the NASD, which rule provides that no firm which is a member of the NASD shall favor or disfavor the distribution of shares of any particular investment company or group of investment companies on the basis of brokerage commissions received or expected by such firm from any source.
The Fund and the Adviser may also receive Research Services from underwriters and dealers in fixed-price offerings, which Research Services are reviewed and evaluated by the Adviser in connection with its investment responsibilities. The investment companies sponsored by the Adviser or its affiliates may allocate trades in such offerings to acquire information relating to the performance, fees and expenses of such companies and other mutual funds, which information is used by the Trustees of such companies to fulfill their responsibility to oversee the quality of the services provided by various entities, including the 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 Adviser or its affiliates. Whenever decisions are made to buy or sell securities by the Fund and one or more of such other accounts simultaneously, the Adviser will allocate the security transactions (including "hot" 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 Adviser reasonably determines that departure from a pro rata allocation is advisable. While these aggregation and allocation policies could have a detrimental effect on the price or amount of the securities available to the Fund from time to time, it is the opinion of the Trustees of the Fund that the benefits from the Adviser's organization outweigh any disadvantage that may arise from exposure to simultaneous transactions.
Taxes
The following discussion of federal income tax matters is based on the advice of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP, counsel to the Fund. The Fund intends to elect to be treated and to qualify each year as a regulated investment company ("RIC") under 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 income 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 or excise tax. To the
extent it qualifies for treatment as a RIC and satisfies the above-mentioned distribution requirements, the Fund will not be subject to federal income tax on income paid to its shareholders in the form of dividends or capital gain distributions.
In order to avoid incurring a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax obligation, the Code requires that the Fund distribute (or be deemed to have distributed) by December 31 of each calendar year an amount at least equal to the sum of (i) 98% of its ordinary income for such year, (ii) 98% of its capital gain net income (which is the excess of its realized net long-term capital gain over its realized net short-term capital loss), generally computed on the basis of the one-year period ending on October 31 of such year, after reduction by any available capital loss carryforwards, and (iii) 100% of any ordinary income and capital gain net income from the prior year (as previously computed) that were not paid out during such year and on which the Fund paid no federal income tax. Under current law, provided that the Fund qualifies as a RIC for federal income tax purposes, the Fund should not be liable for any income, corporate excise or franchise tax in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
If the Fund does not qualify as a RIC for any taxable year, the Fund's taxable income will be subject to corporate income taxes, and all distributions from earnings and profits, including distributions of net capital gain (if any), will be taxable to the shareholder as ordinary income. In addition, in order to requalify for taxation as a RIC, the Fund may be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make certain distributions.
The taxation of equity options that the Fund expects to write is governed by Code Section 1234. Pursuant to Code Section 1234, the premium received by the Fund for selling a call option is not included in income at the time of receipt. If the option expires, the premium is short-term capital gain to the Fund. If the Fund enters into a closing transaction, the difference between the amount paid to close out its position and the premium received is short-term capital gain or loss. If a call option written by the Fund is exercised, thereby requiring the Fund to sell the underlying security, the premium will increase the amount realized upon the sale of the security and any resulting gain or loss will be long-term or short-term, depending upon the holding period of the security. With respect to a put or call option that is purchased by the Fund, if the option is sold, any resulting gain or loss 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 the option is exercised, the cost of the option, in the case of a call option, is added to the basis of the purchased security and, in the case of a put option, reduces the amount realized on the underlying security in determining gain or loss. Because the Fund does not have control over the exercise of the call options it writes, such exercise or other required sales of the underlying securities may cause the Fund to realize capital gains or losses at inopportune times.
Under the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 (the "Tax Act"), certain income distributions paid by the Fund (whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional Fund Shares) to individual taxpayers are taxed at rates applicable to net long-term capital gains (15%, or 5% for individuals in the 10% or 15% tax brackets). This tax treatment applies only if certain holding period requirements and other requirements are satisfied by the Common Shareholder with respect to his or her Common Shares and the dividends are attributable to qualified dividend income received by the Fund itself. For this purpose, "qualified dividend income" means dividends received by the Fund from U.S. corporations and "qualified foreign corporations," provided that the Fund satisfies certain holding period and other requirements in respect of the stock of such corporations. These special rules relating to the taxation of ordinary income dividends paid by RICs generally applies to taxable years beginning before January 1, 2009. Thereafter, the Fund's dividends, other than capital gain dividends, will be fully taxable at ordinary income tax rates unless further Congressional action is taken. There can be no assurance as to what portion of the Fund's dividend distributions will qualify for favorable treatment under the Tax Act.
Common Shareholders receiving dividends or distributions in the form of additional Common Shares pursuant to the Plan will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as receiving a distribution in an amount equal to the amount of money that the shareholders receiving cash dividends or distributions will receive, and will have a cost basis in the Common Shares received equal to such amount. The Fund will inform shareholders of the source and tax status of all distributions promptly after the close of each calendar year.
The benefits of the reduced tax rates applicable to long-term capital gains and qualified dividend income may be impacted by the application of the alternative minimum tax to individual shareholders.
The Fund's investment in zero coupon, payment in kind and certain other securities will cause it 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.
Investments in lower rated or unrated securities may present special tax issues for the Fund to the extent that the issuers of these securities default on their obligations pertaining thereto. The Code is not entirely clear regarding the federal income tax consequences of the Fund's taking certain positions in connection with ownership of such distressed securities.
Any recognized gain or income attributable to market discount on long-term debt obligations (i.e., obligations with a term of more than one year except to the extent of a portion of the discount attributable to original issue discount) purchased by the Fund 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.
The Fund's transactions in futures contracts and options will be subject to special provisions of the Code that, among other things, may affect the character of gains and losses realized by the Fund (i.e., may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital, or short-term or long-term), may accelerate recognition of income to the Fund and may defer Fund losses. These rules could, therefore, affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders. These provisions also (a) will require the Fund to mark-to-market certain types of the positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out), and (b) may cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement for qualifying to be taxed as a regulated investment company and the 98% distribution requirement for avoiding excise taxes. The Fund will monitor its transactions, will make the appropriate tax elections and will make the appropriate entries in its books and records when it acquires any futures contract, option or hedged investment in order to mitigate the effect of these rules and prevent disqualification of the Fund from being taxed as a regulated investment company.
In particular, the Fund expects to write call options with respect to certain securities held by the Fund. Depending on whether such options are exercised or lapse, or whether the securities or options are sold, the existence of these options will affect the amount and timing of the recognition of income and whether the income qualifies as long-term capital gain.
Further, the Fund's transactions in options are subject to special and complex federal income tax provisions that may, among other things, (i) convert dividends that would otherwise constitute qualified dividend income into short-term capital gain or ordinary income taxed at the higher rate applicable to ordinary income, (ii) treat dividends that would otherwise be eligible for the corporate
dividends received deduction as ineligible for such treatment, (iii) disallow,
suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions, (iv)
convert long-term capital gain into short-term capital gain or ordinary income,
(v) convert an ordinary loss or deduction into a capital loss (the deductibility
of which is more limited) and (vi) cause the Fund to recognize income or gain
without a corresponding receipt of cash.
Any loss realized upon the sale or exchange of Fund shares with a holding period of six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain distributions received 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 acquires other shares of the same Fund (whether through the reinvestment of distributions or otherwise) within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date of disposition of the Common Shares. Any disallowed loss will result in an adjustment to the shareholder's tax basis in some or all of the other shares acquired.
Sales charges paid upon a purchase of shares cannot be taken into account for purposes of determining gain or loss on a sale 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 shares of the Fund (or of another fund) 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.
Dividends and distributions on the Fund's shares are generally subject to federal income tax as described herein to the extent they do not exceed the Fund's realized income and gains, 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. Certain distributions declared in October, November or December and paid in the following January will be taxed to shareholders as if received on December 31 of the year in which they were declared. In addition, certain other distributions made after the close of a taxable year of the Fund may be "spilled back" and treated as paid by the Fund (except for purposes of the non- deductible 4% federal excise tax) during such taxable year. In such case, shareholders will be treated as having received such dividends in the taxable year in which the distributions were actually made.
Dividends and interest received, and gains realized, by the Fund on foreign securities may be subject to income, withholding or other taxes imposed by foreign countries and U.S. possessions (collectively "foreign taxes") that would reduce the return on its securities. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States, however, may reduce or eliminate foreign taxes, and many foreign countries do not impose taxes on capital gains in respect of investments by foreign investors. If more than 50% of the value of the Fund's total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of securities of foreign issuers, the Fund will be eligible to, and may, file an election with the Internal Revenue Service (the "Service") that will enable its shareholders, in effect, to receive the benefit of the foreign tax credit with respect to any foreign taxes paid by it. Pursuant to the election, the Fund would treat those taxes as dividends paid to its shareholders and each shareholder (1) would be required to include in gross income, and treat as paid by such shareholder, a proportionate share of those taxes, (2) would be required to treat such share of those taxes and of any dividend paid by the Fund that represents income from foreign or U.S. possessions sources as such shareholder's own income from those sources, and (3) could either deduct the foreign taxes deemed paid in computing taxable income or, alternatively, use the foregoing information in calculating the foreign tax credit against federal income tax. The Fund will report to its shareholders shortly after each taxable year their respective shares of foreign taxes paid and the income from sources within, and taxes paid to, foreign countries and U.S. possessions if it makes this election. An individual who has no more than $300 ($600 for married
persons filing jointly) of creditable foreign taxes included on Forms 1099 and all of whose foreign source income is "qualified passive income" may elect each year to be exempt from the complicated foreign tax credit limitation, in which event such individual would be able to claim a foreign tax credit without needing to file the detailed Form 1116 that otherwise is required.
The Fund may invest in the stock of "passive foreign investment companies" ("PFICs"). A PFIC is any foreign corporation (with certain exceptions) that, in general, meets either of the following tests: (1) at least 75% of its gross income is passive or (2) an average of at least 50% of its assets produce, or are held for the production of, passive income. Under certain circumstances, the Fund will be subject to federal income tax on a portion of any "excess distribution" received on the stock of a PFIC or of any gain from disposition of that stock (collectively "PFIC income"), plus interest thereon, even if the Fund distributes the PFIC income as a taxable dividend to its shareholders. The balance of the PFIC income will be included in the Fund's investment company taxable income and, accordingly, will not be taxable to it to the extent it distributes that income to its shareholders.
If the Fund invests in a PFIC and elects to treat the PFIC as a "qualified electing fund" ("QEF"), then in lieu of the foregoing tax and interest obligation, the Fund will be required to include in income each year its pro rata share of the QEF's annual ordinary earnings and net capital gain--which it may have to distribute to satisfy the distribution requirement and avoid imposition of the excise tax--even if the QEF does not distribute those earnings and gain to the Fund. In most instances it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to make this election because of certain of its requirements.
The Fund may elect to "mark to market" its stock in any PFIC.
"Marking-to-market," in this context, means including in ordinary income each
taxable year the excess, if any, of the fair market value of a PFIC's stock over
the Fund's adjusted basis therein as of the end of that year. Pursuant to the
election, the Fund also would be allowed to deduct (as an ordinary, not capital,
loss) the excess, if any, of its adjusted basis in PFIC stock over the fair
market value thereof as of the taxable year-end, but only to the extent of any
net mark-to-market gains (reduced by any prior deductions) with respect to that
stock included by the Fund for prior taxable years under the election. The
Fund's adjusted basis in each PFIC's stock with respect to which it has made
this election will be adjusted to reflect the amounts of income included and
deductions taken thereunder.
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 Service as well as shareholders with respect to whom the Fund has received certain information from the Service 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 gross proceeds of sales of shares, at a rate of 28% for amounts paid during 2004. An individual's TIN is generally his or her social security number. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from payments made to a shareholder may be refunded or credited against such shareholder's federal income tax liability, if any, provided that the required information is furnished to the Service.
The foregoing briefly summarizes some of the important federal income tax consequences to Common Shareholders of investing in Common Shares, reflects the federal tax law as of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, and does not address special tax rules applicable to certain types of investors, such as corporate and foreign investors. Unless otherwise noted, this discussion assumes that an investor is a U.S. shareholder and holds Common Shares as a capital asset. This discussion is based upon current provisions of the Code, the regulations promulgated thereunder, and judicial and administrative ruling authorities, all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations by the courts or the Service retroactively or prospectively. Investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the federal, state or local tax considerations that may be applicable to their particular circumstances.
Other information
The Fund is an organization of the type commonly known as a "Massachusetts business trust." Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of such a trust may, in certain circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for the obligations of the trust. The Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability in connection with the Fund property or the acts, obligations or affairs of the Fund. The Declaration of Trust in coordination with the Fund's By-laws also provides for indemnification out of the Fund property of any shareholder held personally liable for the claims and liabilities to which a shareholder may become subject by reason of being or having been a shareholder. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which the Fund itself is unable to meet its obligations. The Fund has been advised by its counsel that the risk of any shareholder incurring any liability for the obligations of the Fund is remote.
The Declaration of Trust provides that the Trustees will not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law; but nothing in the Declaration of Trust protects a Trustee against any liability to the Fund or its shareholders to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office. Voting rights are not cumulative, which means that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voting for the election of Trustees can elect 100% of the Trustees and, in such event, the holders of the remaining less than 50% of the shares voting on the matter will not be able to elect any Trustees.
The Declaration of Trust provides that no person shall serve as a Trustee if shareholders holding two-thirds of the outstanding shares have removed him from that office either by a written declaration filed with the Fund's custodian or by votes cast at a meeting called for that purpose. The Declaration of Trust further provides that the Trustees of the Fund shall promptly call a meeting of the shareholders for the purpose of voting upon a question of removal of any such Trustee or Trustees when requested in writing to do so by the record holders of not less than 10 per centum of the outstanding shares.
The Fund's Prospectus and this SAI do not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement that the Fund has filed with the SEC. The complete Registration Statement may be obtained from the SEC upon payment of the fee prescribed by its Rules and Regulations.
Independent registered public accounting firm
Deloitte & Touche LLP, Boston, Massachusetts are the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund, providing audit services, tax return preparation, and assistance and consultation with respect to the preparation of filings with the SEC.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM REPORT
[TO BE ADDED BY AMENDMENT]
Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund II
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
[ ], 2004
ASSETS Cash...................................................... $ Offering costs............................................ Receivable from Adviser................................... -------- Total assets.............................................. $ ======== LIABILITIES Accrued offering costs.................................... $ Accrued organizational costs.............................. Total liabilities......................................... $ ======== Net assets applicable to [ ] common shares of beneficial interest issued and outstanding........................... $ ======== NET ASSET VALUE AND OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE................ $ ======== |
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
PERIOD FROM [ ], 2004 (DATE OF ORGANIZATION) THROUGH [ ], 2004
INVESTMENT INCOME........................................... $ -- -------- EXPENSES Organization costs........................................ $ Expense reimbursement..................................... ( ) -------- Net expenses........................................... $ -- -------- NET INVESTMENT INCOME....................................... $ -- ======== |
See notes to financial statements.
Notes to financial statements
NOTE 1: ORGANIZATION
The Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund II (the "Fund") was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on [ ], 2004, and has been inactive since that date except for matters relating to its organization and registration as a diversified, closed-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the sale of [ ] common shares to Eaton Vance Management, the Fund's Investment Adviser.
Eaton Vance Management, or an affiliate, has agreed to reimburse all organizational costs, estimated at approximately $[ ].
Eaton Vance Management, or an affiliate, has agreed to pay all offering costs (other than sales loads) that exceed $0.04 per common share. Based on an offering size of $[ ] the Fund has estimated the cost of the offering to be approximately $[ ] all of which would be paid by the Fund. Any amount in excess of $[ ] would be paid by Eaton Vance Management.
The Fund's primary investment objective is to provide current income, with a secondary objective of capital appreciation. The Fund will pursue its investment objectives by investing primarily in a portfolio of mid- and large-capitalization common stocks, seeking to invest primarily in components with above-average growth and financial strength . Under normal market conditions, the Fund will seek to generate current earnings from option premiums by selling covered call options on a substantial portion of its portfolio securities. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives.
NOTE 2: ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The Fund's financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America which require the use of management estimates. Actual results may differ from those estimates.
The Fund's share of offering costs will be recorded within paid in capital as a
reduction of the proceeds from the sale of common shares upon the commencement
of Fund operations. The offering costs reflected above assume the sale of
[ ] common shares.
NOTE 3: INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement between the Adviser and the Fund, the Fund has agreed to pay an investment advisory fee, payable on a monthly basis, at an annual rate of [ ]% of the average daily gross assets of the Fund. Gross assets of the Fund shall be calculated by deducting accrued liabilities of the Fund not including the amount of any preferred shares outstanding or the principal amount of any indebtedness for money borrowed.
Pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement among the Fund, the Adviser and Rampart Investment Management Company, Inc., the Adviser has agreed to pay a sub-advisory fee, in an annual amount equal to [ ]% of the average daily gross assets of the Fund.
NOTE 4: FEDERAL INCOME TAXES
The Fund intends to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income, including any net realized gain on investments.
EATON VANCE ENHANCED EQUITY INCOME FUND II
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
[ ], 200[ ]
INVESTMENT ADVISER AND ADMINISTRATOR
Eaton Vance Management
255 State Street
Boston, MA 02109
SUB-ADVISER
Rampart Investment Management Company, Inc. One International Place Boston, MA 02110
CUSTODIAN
Investors Bank & Trust Company
200 Clarendon Street
Boston, MA 02116
TRANSFER AGENT
PFPC Inc.
P.O. Box 43027
Providence, RI 02940-3027
(800) 331-1710
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Deloitte & Touche LLP
PART C
OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 24. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
(1) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:
Included in Part A:
Not applicable.
Included in Part B:
Independent Auditor's Report*
Statement of Assets and Liabilities*
Notes to Financial Statement*
(2) EXHIBITS:
(a) Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated November 8, 2004 is incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant's initial Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-120421 and 811-21670) as to the Registrant's common shares of beneficial interest ("Common Shares") filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 12, 2004 (Accession No. 0000898432-04-000944) ("Initial Common Shares Registration Statement").
(b) By-Laws are incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant's Initial Common Shares Registration Statement.
(c) Not applicable.
(d) Form of Specimen Certificate for Common Shares of Beneficial Interest filed herein.
(e) Dividend Reinvestment Plan filed herein.
(f) Not applicable.
(g) (1) Investment Advisory Agreement dated December 20, 2004, filed herein.
(2) Sub-Advisory Agreement dated December 20, 2004, filed herein.
(h) (1) Form of Underwriting Agreement filed herein.
(2) Form of Master Agreement Among Underwriters filed herein.
(3) Form of Master Selected Dealers Agreement filed herein.
(i) 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).
(j) (1) Master Custodian Agreement with Investors Bank & Trust Company dated December 20, 2004 filed herein.
(2) Extension Agreement dated August 31, 2000 to Master Custodian
Agreement with Investors Bank & Trust Company filed as Exhibit
(g)(4) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 of Eaton Vance
Municipals Trust (File Nos. 33-572, 811-4409) filed with the
Commission on January 23, 2001 (Accession No.
0000940394-01-500027) and incorporated herein by reference.
(3) Delegation Agreement dated December 11, 2000, with Investors Bank & Trust Company filed as Exhibit (j)(e) to the Eaton Vance Prime Rate Reserves N-2, Amendment No. 5 (File Nos. 333-32267, 811-05808) filed April 3, 2002 (Accession No. 0000940394-01-500126) and incorporated herein by reference.
(k) (1) Supplement to the Transfer Agency and Services Agreement dated December 20, 2004 filed herein.
(2) Transfer Agency and Services Agreement as amended and restated on June 16, 2003, filed as Exhibit (k)(2) to the Registration Statement of Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund (File Nos. 333- 107050 and 811-21400) filed July 15, 2003 (Accession No. 0000898432- 03- 000638) and incorporated herein by reference.
(3) Administration Agreement dated December 20, 2004 filed herein.
(4) Form of Shareholder Servicing Agreement filed herein.
(5) Form of Additional Compensation Agreement filed herein.
(l) Opinion and Consent of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP as to Registrant's Common Shares to be filed by amendment.
(m) Not applicable.
(n) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm filed herein.
(o) Not applicable.
(p) Letter Agreement with Eaton Vance Management to be filed by amendment.
(q) Not applicable.
(r) (1) Code of Ethics adopted by Eaton Vance Corp., Eaton Vance
Management, Boston Management and Research, Eaton Vance
Distributors, Inc. and the Eaton Vance Funds effective
September 1, 2000, as revised June 4, 2002, filed as Exhibit
(p) to Post- Effective Amendment No. 45 of Eaton Vance
Investment Trust (File Nos. 33-1121, 811-4443) filed July 24,
2002 (Accession No. 0000940394-02-000462) and incorporated
herein by reference.
(2) Code of Ethics adopted by Rampart Investment Management Company, Inc. Code of Ethics adopted by Rampart Investment Management Company, Inc. effective September 1, 2004 filed as Exhibit (r)(2) to Pre-Effective Amendment No.1 of Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund (File Nos. 333-118180 and 811-21614) filed September 24, 2004 (Accession No. 0000950135-04-004565 and incorporated herein by reference.
(s) Power of Attorney dated December 20, 2004 filed herein.
ITEM 25. MARKETING ARRANGEMENTS
See Form of Underwriting Agreement filed herein.
ITEM 26. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
The approximate expenses in connection with the offering are as follows:
Registration and Filing Fees $_________________ National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Fees New York Stock Exchange Fees Costs of Printing and Engraving Accounting Fees and Expenses Legal Fees and Expenses 250,000.00 ================== Total $_________________ |
ITEM 27 PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL
None.
ITEM 28. NUMBER OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
Set forth below is the number of record holders as of [ ], 2004, of each class of securities of the Registrant:
Title of Class Number of Record Holders ----------------------------------------------- ------------------------ Common Shares of Beneficial interest, par value 0 $0.01 per share |
ITEM 29. INDEMNIFICATION
The Registrant's By-Laws filed in the Registrant's Initial Common Shares Registration Statement contain and the form of Underwriting Agreement filed herein contains provisions limiting the liability, and providing for indemnification, of the Trustees and officers under certain circumstances.
Registrant's Trustees and officers are insured under a standard investment company errors and omissions insurance policy covering loss incurred by reason of negligent errors and omissions committed in their official capacities as such. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the provisions described in this Item 29, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
ITEM 30. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISER
Reference is made to: (i) the information set forth under the caption Investment advisory and other services" in the Statement of Additional Information; (ii) the Eaton Vance Corp. 10-K filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (File No. 001-8100); (iii) the Form ADV of Eaton Vance Management (File No. 801-15930); and (iv) the Form ADV of Rampart Investment Management Company, Inc. (File No. 801-20657) filed with the Commission, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 31. 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, Investors Bank & Trust Company, 200 Clarendon Street, 16th Floor, Boston, MA 02116, and its transfer agent, PFPC 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 Eaton Vance Management, The Eaton Vance Building, 255 State Street, Boston, MA 02109. 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.
ITEM 32. MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Not applicable.
ITEM 33. UNDERTAKINGS
1. The Registrant undertakes to suspend offering of Common Shares until
the prospectus is amended if (1) subsequent to the effective date of this
Registration Statement, the net asset value declines more than 10 percent from
its net asset value as of the effective date of this Registration Statement or
(2) the net asset value increases to an amount greater than its net proceeds as
stated in the prospectus.
2. Not applicable.
3. Not applicable.
4. Not applicable.
5. The Registrant undertakes that:
a. for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of the Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective; and
b. for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post- effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
6. The Registrant undertakes to send by first class mail or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery, within two business days of receipt of an oral or written request, its Statement of Additional Information.
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NOTICE
A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund II is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and notice is hereby given that this instrument is executed on behalf of the Registrant by an officer of the Registrant as an officer and not individually and that the obligations of or arising out of this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders individually, but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Registrant.
[Remainder of page left intentionally blank]
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended the Registrant has duly caused this Pre-Effective Amendment to the 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 the 21st day of December 2004.
EATON VANCE ENHANCED
EQUITY INCOME FUND II
By: /s/ Duncan W. Richardson ------------------------------------------- Duncan W. Richardson President and Chief Executive Officer |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended this Pre-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature Title Date ------------------------- ------------------------------------- ----------------- /s/ Duncan W. Richardson President and Chief Executive Officer December 21, 2004 ------------------------ Duncan W. Richardson /s/ James L. O'Connor Treasurer and Principal Financial and December 21, 2004 --------------------- Accounting Officer James L. O'Connor /s/ James B. Hawkes Trustee December 21, 2004 ------------------- James B. Hawkes Samuel L. Hayes III* Trustee December 21, 2004 -------------------- Samuel L. Hayes William H. Park* Trustee December 21, 2004 ---------------- William H. Park Ronald A. Pearlman* Trustee December 21, 2004 ------------------- Ronald A. Pearlman Norton H. Reamer* Trustee December 21, 2004 ----------------- Norton H. Reamer Lynn A. Stout* Trustee December 21, 2004 -------------- Lynn A. Stout |
*By: /s/Alan R. Dynner. ------------------------ Alan R. Dynner (As Attorney-in-Fact) |
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
(d) Form of Specimen Certificate
(e) Dividend Reinvestment Plan
(g)(1) Investment Advisory Agreement
(g)(2) Sub-Advisory Agreement
(h)(1) Form of Underwriting Agreement
(h)(2) Form of Master Agreement Among Underwriters
(h)(3) Form of Master Selected Dealers Agreement
(j)(1) Master Custodian Agreement
(k)(1) Supplement to the Transfer Agency and Services Agreement
(k)(3) Administration Agreement
(k)(4) Form of Shareholder Servicing Agreement
(k)(5) Form of Additional Compensation Agreement
(n) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
(s) Power of Attorney dated December 20, 2004
Exhibit (d)
SPECIMEN CERTIFICATE ONLY
CERTIFICATE NUMBER OF
NUMBER SHARES
EATON VANCE ENHANCED EQUITY INCOME FUND II
Organized Under the Laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Common Shares $.01 Par Value Per Share
A statement in full, of all the designations, preferences, qualifications, limitations, restrictions and special or relative rights of the shares of each class authorized to be issued, will be furnished by the Fund to any shareholders upon request and without charge.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Fund has caused this Certificate to be signed by its duly authorized officers and its Seal to be hereunto affixed this
day of A.D. 2005. ------- ------------------------- INVESTORS BANK & TRUST COMPANY EATON VANCE ENHANCED EQUITY INCOME FUNDII As Transfer Agent and Registrar By: By: -------------------------- --------------------------------- Authorized Signature President Attest: --------------------------------- Secretary |
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, hereby sells, ------------------------------------ assigns and transfers unto Shares represented by ----------------------------- |
Dated , ------------------------- ---------- In presence of ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ Shares of Common Shares evidenced by this Certificate may be sold, transferred, or otherwise disposed of only pursuant to the provisions of the Fund's Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended, a copy of which may be at the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Fund will furnish to any shareholder, upon request and without charge, a full statement of the designations, preferences, limitations and relative rights of the shares of each class of series of capital stock of the Fund authorized to be issued, so far as they have been determined, and the authority of the Board of Trustees to determine the relative rights and preferences of subsequent classes or series. Any such request should be addressed to the Secretary of the Fund. |
EXHIBIT (e)
EATON VANCE ENHANCED EQUITY INCOME FUND II
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN
Holders of common shares (the "Shares") of Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund II (the "Fund") who participate (the "Participants") in the Fund's Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the "Plan") are advised as follows:
1. THE PLAN AGENT. PFPC Inc. (the "Agent") will act as Agent for each Participant. The Agent will open an account for each Participant under the Plan in the same name as his or her outstanding Shares are registered.
2. ELECTION TO PARTICIPATE. A Shareholder may elect to receive all distributions ("Distributions") payable with respect to his or her Shares in additional Shares. To participate in the Plan and receive all Distributions in Shares, a Shareholder must indicate his or her election to do so by completing and returning to the Plan Agent a Dividend Reinvestment Plan Application Form. Shareholders who do not elect to participate in the Plan by completing and returning such Form will receive Distributions in cash paid directly by the Plan Agent as dividend disbursing agent for the applicable Fund.
3. MARKET PREMIUM ISSUANCES. If on the payment date for a Distribution, the net asset value per Share is equal to or less than the market price per Share plus estimated brokerage commissions, the Agent shall receive newly issued Shares, including fractions, from the Fund for each Participant's account. The number of additional Shares to be credited shall be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the Distribution by the greater of the net asset value per Share on the payment date, or 95% of the then current market price per Share.
4. MARKET DISCOUNT PURCHASES. If the net asset value per Share exceeds the market price plus estimated brokerage commissions on the payment date for a Distribution, the Agent (or a broker-dealer selected by the Agent) shall endeavor, for a purchase period of 30 days, to apply the amount of such Distribution on each Participant's Shares (less their pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred) to purchase Shares on the open market. The weighted average price (including brokerage commissions) of all Shares purchased by the Agent as Agent shall be the price per Share allocable to each Participant. If, at the close of business on any day during the purchase period on which net asset value per Share is calculated such net asset value equals or is less than the market price per Share plus estimated brokerage commissions, the Agent will cease open-market purchases, and the uninvested portion of such Distribution shall be filled through the issuance of new Shares from the Fund at the price set forth in Paragraph 3 above. Open-market purchases may be made on any securities exchange where Shares are traded, in the over-the-counter market or in negotiated transactions, and may be on such terms as to price, delivery and otherwise as the Agent shall determine.
5. VALUATION. The market price of Shares on a particular date shall be the last sales price on the Exchange where the Shares are listed on that date, or, if there is no sale on such Exchange on that date, then the mean between the closing bid and asked quotations on such Exchange on such date. The net asset value per Share on a particular date shall be the amount most recently calculated by or on behalf of the Fund as required by law.
6. LIABILITY OF AGENT. The Agent shall at all times act in good faith and agree to use its best efforts within reasonable limits to ensure the accuracy of all services performed under this Agreement and to comply with applicable law, but assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable for loss or damage due to errors unless such error is caused by the Agent's negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct or that of its employees. Each Participant's uninvested funds held by the Agent will not bear interest. The Agent shall have no liability in connection with any inability to purchase Shares within the time provided, or
with the timing of any purchases effected. The Agent shall have no responsibility for the value of Shares acquired. For the purpose of cash investments, the Agent may commingle Participants' funds (of the same Fund).
7. RECORDKEEPING. The Agent may hold each Participant's Shares acquired pursuant to the Plan together with the Shares of other shareholders of the Fund acquired pursuant to the Plan in noncertificated form in the Agent's name or that of the Agent's nominee. Upon a Participant's written request, the Agent will deliver to the Participant, without charge, a certificate or certificates for the full shares. Each Participant will be sent a confirmation by the Agent of each acquisition made for their account as soon as practicable, but not later than 60 days after the date thereof. Although each Participant may from time to time have an undivided fractional interest in a share of the Fund, no certificates for a fractional share will be issued. Distributions on fractional shares will be credited to each Participant's account. In the event of termination of a Participant's account under the Plan, the Agent will adjust for any such undivided fractional interest in cash at the market value of Shares at the time of termination.
Any share dividends or split shares distributed by the Fund on Shares held by the Agent for Participants will be credited to their accounts. In the event that the Fund makes available to its shareholders rights to purchase additional shares of other securities, the Shares held for each Participant under the Plan will be added to other shares held by the Participant in calculating the number of rights to be issued to each Participant.
8. PROXY MATERIALS. The Agent will forward to each Participant any proxy solicitation material and will vote any shares so held for each Participant first in accordance with the instructions set forth on proxies returned by the Participant to the Fund, and then with respect to any proxies not returned by the Participant to the Fund in the same portion as the Agent votes proxies returned by the Participants to the Fund.
9. FEES. The Agent's service fee for handling Distributions will be paid by the Fund. Each Participant will be charged their pro rata share of brokerage commissions on all open-market purchases. If a Participant elects by notice to the Agent to have the Agent sell part or all of his or her Shares and remit the proceeds, the Agent is authorized to deduct a $5.00 fee plus brokerage commissions from the proceeds.
10. TERMINATION IN THE PLAN. Each registered Participant may terminate his or her account under the Plan by notifying the Agent in writing at P.O. Box 43027, Providence, RI 02940-3027, or by telephone at 800-331-1710. Such termination will be effective with respect to a Distribution if the Participant's notice is received by the Agent prior to the Distribution record date. The Plan may be terminated by the Agent or the Fund upon notice in writing mailed to each Participant at least 30 days prior to any record date for the payment of any Distribution. Upon any termination, the Agent will cause a certificate or certificates to be issued for the full shares held for each Participant under the Plan and cash adjustment for any fraction to be delivered to them without charge.
11. AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN. These terms and conditions may be amended by the Agent, or the Fund at any time or times but, except when necessary or appropriate to comply with applicable law or the rules or policies of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other regulatory authority, only by mailing to each Participant appropriate written notice at least 30 days prior to the effective date thereof. The amendment shall be deemed to be accepted by each Participant unless, prior to the effective date thereof, the Agent receives notice of the termination of the Participant's account under the Plan. Any such amendment may include an appointment by the Agent of a successor Agent.
12. APPLICABLE LAW. These terms and conditions shall be governed by the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
EXHIBIT (g)(1)
EATON VANCE ENHANCED EQUITY INCOME FUND II
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made this 20th day of December, 2004, between Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund II, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust"), 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 Trust 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.
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 Trust and to furnish for the use of the Trust office space and all necessary office facilities, equipment and personnel for servicing the investments of the Trust 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.
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 Trust. 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 Trust'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. Should the Trustees of the Trust at any time, however, make any specific determination as to investment policy for the Trust 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.
The Adviser shall place all orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities for the account of the Trust either directly with the issuer or with brokers or dealers selected by the Adviser, and, to that end, the Adviser is authorized, as the agent of the Trust, to give instructions to the custodian of the Trust as to deliveries of securities and payments of cash for the account of the Trust. In connection with the selection of such brokers or dealers and the placing of such orders, the Adviser shall adhere to procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Trust.
The Adviser shall not be responsible for providing certain special administrative services to the Trust under this Agreement. Eaton Vance Management, in its capacity as Administrator of the Trust, shall be responsible for providing such services to the Trust under the Trust's separate Administration Agreement.
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 compensation in an amount equal to 1.00% annually of the average daily gross assets of the Trust. (For purposes of this calculation, "gross assets" of the Trust shall mean total assets of the Trust, including any form of investment leverage, minus all accrued expenses incurred in the normal course of operations, but not excluding any liabilities or obligations attributable to investment leverage obtained through (i) indebtedness of any type (including, without limitation, borrowing through a credit facility or the issuance debt securities), (ii) the issuance of preferred stock or other similar preference securities, (iii) the reinvestment of collateral received for securities loaned in accordance with the Trust's investment objectives and policies, and/or (iv) any other means.)
Such compensation shall be paid monthly in arrears on the last business day of each month. The Trust's net assets shall be computed in accordance with the Declaration of Trust of the Trust and any applicable votes and determinations of the Trustees of the Trust.
In case of initiation or termination of the Agreement during any month, 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 and the fee shall be computed upon the basis of the average gross assets for the business days the Agreement is so in effect for that month.
The Adviser may, from time to time, waive all or a part of the above compensation.
3. ALLOCATION OF CHARGES AND EXPENSES. It is understood that the Trust will
pay all expenses other than those expressly stated to be payable by the Adviser
hereunder, which expenses payable by the Trust shall include, without implied
limitation (i) expenses of maintaining the Trust and continuing its existence;
(ii) registration of the Trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940; (iii)
commissions, spreads, fees and other expenses connected with the acquisition,
holding and disposition of securities and other investments; (iv) auditing,
accounting and legal expenses; (v) taxes and interest; (vi) governmental fees;
(vii) expenses of listing shares of the Trust with a stock exchange, and
expenses of issue, sale, repurchase and redemption (if any) of interests in the
Trust, including expenses of conducting tender offers for the purpose of
repurchasing Trust interests; (viii) expenses of registering and qualifying the
Trust and its shares under federal and state securities laws and of preparing
and filing registration statements and amendments for such purposes; (ix)
expenses of reports and notices to shareholders and of meetings of shareholders
and proxy solicitations therefore; (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 Trust (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 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) pricing and valuation
services employed by the Trust; (xix) all expenses incurred in connection with
leveraging of Trust's assets through a line of credit, or issuing and
maintaining preferred shares; and (xx) 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 Trust are or may be or become interested in the Adviser as trustees, officers, employees, shareholders or otherwise and that trustees, officers and shareholders of the Adviser are or may be or become similarly interested in the Trust, and that the Adviser may be or become interested in the Trust 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. The services of the Adviser to the Trust are not to be deemed to be exclusive, the 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 Adviser, the Adviser shall not be subject to liability to the Trust or to any shareholder of the Trust 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 interest in a Loan or of any security, investment or other asset.
6. SUB-INVESTMENT ADVISERS. The Adviser may employ one or more sub-investment advisers from time to time to perform such of the acts and services of the Adviser provided for by this Agreement, including the selection of brokers or dealers to execute the Trust's portfolio security transactions, and 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 Investment Company Act of 1940. This provision does not limit the Adviser's ability, pursuant to this Agreement, to provide the services contemplated without the assistance of a sub-investment adviser. Moreover, subject to approval of the Trust's Board of Trustees, the Adviser retains complete authority at any time immediately to assume direct responsibility for any function delegated to a sub-investment adviser pursuant to this Section 6 without the need for any approval by the holders of the voting securities of the Trust.
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 December 20, 2006 and shall continue in full force and effect indefinitely thereafter, but only so long as such continuance after December 20, 2006 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 Trust 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 Trust. 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 (i) 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, and (ii) by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, except for any such amendment as may be effected in the absence of such approval without violating the Investment Company Act of 1940.
9. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. The Adviser expressly acknowledges the provision in the Declaration of Trust of the Trust limiting the personal liability of the Trustees, officers and shareholders of the Trust, and the Adviser hereby agrees that it shall have recourse to the Trust for payment of claims or obligations as between the Trust and the Adviser arising out of this Agreement and shall not seek satisfaction from any Trustee, officer or shareholders of the Trust.
10. USE OF THE NAME "EATON VANCE". The Adviser hereby consents to the use by the Trust of the name "Eaton Vance" as part of the Trust'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 Trust. 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 Trust to cease using the name "Eaton Vance" as part of the Trust's name if the Trust ceases, for any reason, to employ the Adviser or one of its affiliates as the Trust's investment adviser. Future names adopted by the Trust 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. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. The terms "assignment" and "interested persons" when used herein shall have the respective meanings specified in the Investment Company Act of 1940 as now in effect or as hereafter amended subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission by any rule, regulation or order. The term "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities" shall mean the vote, at a meeting of shareholders, of the lesser of (a) 67 per centum or more of the shares of the Trust present or represented by proxy at the meeting if the shareholders of more than 50 per centum of the shares of the Trust are present or represented by proxy at the meeting, or (b) more than 50 per centum of the shares of the Trust.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed on the day and year first above written.
EATON VANCE ENHANCED EQUITY INCOME FUND II
By: /s/ Duncan W. Richardson ------------------------------------- President, and not Individually |
EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT
By: /s/ Alan R. Dynner ------------------------------------- Vice President, and not Individually |
EXHIBIT (g)(2)
EATON VANCE ENHANCED EQUITY INCOME FUND II
INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT effective this 20th day of December, 2004 between Eaton Vance Management, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Adviser"), and Rampart Investment Management Company, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation (the "Sub-Adviser").
WHEREAS, Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund II (the "Trust") is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), as a closed-end, management investment company; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement, dated December 20, 2004 (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 with regard to the Trust's options strategy; 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 Trust related to the Trust's options strategy, and the Sub-Adviser is willing to furnish such services to the Trust and the Adviser.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and 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 the assets of the Trust related to the Trust's option strategy on the terms set forth in this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish the services herein set forth herein for the compensation herein provided. The Sub-Adviser shall not be responsible for aspects of the Trust's investment program other than its option strategy, including without limitation purchases and sales of securities other than options, selection of brokers to conduct such purchases and sales of securities other than options, compliance with investment policies and restrictions other than those concerning options, or proxy voting.
2. SUB-ADVISER DUTIES. Subject to the supervision of the Trust's Board of Trustees (the "Board") and the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser will provide a continuous investment program relating to the Trust's purchase or sale of options for the Trust's portfolio. 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. Subject to the foregoing, the Sub-Adviser will provide options investment research and conduct a continuous program of options evaluation, investment, sales, and reinvestment of the Trust's assets by determining the options strategy that the Trust shall pursue, including which options shall be purchased, entered into, sold, closed, or exchanged for the Trust, when these transactions should be executed, and what portion of the assets of the Trust shall have options written against. The Sub-Adviser will provide the services under this Agreement in accordance with the Trust's investment objective or objectives, policies, and restrictions as stated in the Trust's Registration Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("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. The Adviser and the Sub-Adviser further agree as follows:
a. Each of the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser will conform with the 1940 Act and all rules and regulations thereunder, all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations, with any applicable procedures adopted by the
Trust's Board of which the Sub-Adviser has been sent a copy, and the provisions of the Registration Statement, of which the Sub-Adviser has received a copy and with the Sub-Adviser's portfolio manager operating policies and procedures as are approved by the Adviser. Each of the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser shall exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties under the Agreement.
b. In connection with any purchase and sale of securities for the Trust related to the implementation of the options strategy developed by the Sub-Adviser, 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 options to be purchased or sold on behalf of the Trust, as may be reasonably necessary to enable the Custodian to perform its administrative and recordkeeping responsibilities with respect to the Trust. With respect to options to be settled through the Trust's Custodian, the Sub-Adviser will arrange for the prompt transmission of the confirmation of such options trades to the Trust's Custodian.
c. 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 options or other assets of the Trust for which the Sub-Adviser is responsible and for which the Custodian seeks assistance from or identifies for review by the Sub-Adviser; provided that the Sub-Adviser shall be responsible for determining in good faith, consistent with the procedures and policies stated in the Registration Statement or adopted by the Board, the fair value of the Trust's portfolio of options for which the Sub-Adviser is responsible and shall obtain at its own expense pricing services for the Trust's portfolio of options from Interactive Data ("IDS"), Bloomberg, or another pricing service to be mutually agreed. 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.
d. Following the end of the Trust's semi-annual period and fiscal year, the Sub-Adviser will assist the Adviser in preparing a letter to shareholders containing a discussion of relevant investment factors in respect of both the prior quarter and the fiscal year to date.
e. 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 relating to the performances of the Sub-Adviser under this Agreement.
f. The Sub-Adviser will make available to the Trust and the Adviser, promptly upon request, any of the Trust'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 Trust which may be requested by such authorities in order to ascertain whether the operations of the Trust are being conducted in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
g. The Sub-Adviser will provide reports to the Board for consideration at meetings of the Board on the options portion of the investment program for the Trust and the options purchased and sold for the Trust's portfolio, and will furnish the Board with such periodic and special reports as the Board and the Adviser may reasonably request.
h. The Adviser shall assure that the Trust complies with its investment policies and restrictions as set forth in the Registration Statement, except for policies and restrictions concerning implementation of the Trust's options strategy, and the Adviser acknowledges that the Sub-Adviser shall not be responsible for the Trust's compliance with its investment policies and restrictions other than those concerning implementation of the Trust's option strategy.
i. The Adviser acknowledges that the Sub-Adviser shall not be responsible for meeting or monitoring compliance with the income and asset diversification requirements of Section 851 of the Internal Revenue Code, and the Adviser acknowledges that the Adviser is responsible for the same.
3. BROKER-DEALER SELECTION. The Sub-Adviser is authorized to make decisions to buy and sell options for the Trust's portfolio, and to select broker-dealers and to negotiate brokerage commission rates in effecting an option transaction. The Sub-Adviser's primary consideration in effecting an option transaction will be to obtain the best execution for the Trust, taking into account the factors specified in the prospectus and/or statement of additional information for the Trust, and determined in consultation with the Adviser, which include price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dollar spread), the size of the order, the nature of the market for the option, the timing of the transaction, the reputation, experience and financial stability of the broker-dealer involved, the quality of the service, the difficulty of execution, and the execution capabilities and operational facilities of the firm involved, and the firm's risk in positioning a block of options. Accordingly, the price to the Trust in any transaction may be less favorable than that available from another broker-dealer if the difference is reasonably justified, in the judgment of the Sub-Adviser in the exercise of its fiduciary obligations to the Trust, by other aspects of the portfolio execution services offered. The Sub-Adviser shall not receive any research service from any broker-dealer or from any third party that is paid by such broker-dealer in return for placing trades through such broker-dealer on behalf of the Trust. The Sub-Adviser will consult with the Adviser to ensure that portfolio transactions on behalf of the Trust are directed to broker-dealers on the basis of criteria reasonably considered appropriate by the Adviser. To the extent consistent with these standards, the Sub-Adviser is further authorized to allocate the orders placed by it on behalf of the Trust to an affiliated broker-dealer. Such allocation shall be in such amounts and proportions as the Sub-Adviser shall determine consistent with the above standards, and the Sub-Adviser will report on said allocation regularly to the Trust's Board indicating the broker-dealers to which such allocations have been made and the basis therefore.
4. DISCLOSURE ABOUT SUB-ADVISER. The Sub-Adviser has reviewed the most recent Amendment to the Registration Statement for the Trust filed with the SEC (the "Registration Statement") that contain disclosure about the Sub-Adviser, and represents and warrants that, with respect only to the disclosure expressly concerning the Sub-Adviser, its business, operations, or employees, such Registration Statement contains, as of the date hereof, no untrue statement of any material fact and do not omit any statement of a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary 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 II 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, pricing services in accordance with Section 2, insurance of the Sub-Adviser and its personnel, research services, and taxes of the Sub-Adviser. The Adviser or the Trust shall be responsible for all other expenses of the Trust's or the Adviser's operations, including without limitation costs of marketing or distributing
shares of the Trust, brokerage expenses and commissions, 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 Trust, 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 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 prospectuses, proxy statements, and reports to shareholders prepared for distribution to shareholders of the Trust, all sales literature or advertisements for the Trust, and all other communications with the public of the Trust, or the Adviser that refer to the Sub-Adviser in any way, prior to the use thereof, and the Adviser shall not use any such materials 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 materials is limited to reasonable objections related to the portions of such materials that expressly relate to the Sub-Adviser, its services and its clients. The Adviser agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to ensure that materials prepared by its employees or agents or its affiliates that refer to the Sub-Adviser or its clients in any way are consistent with those materials previously approved by the Sub-Adviser as referenced in the first sentence of this paragraph.
8. COMPLIANCE.
a. As required by Rule 206(4)-2 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 other or additional compliance techniques as the Adviser or the Board may reasonably adopt or approve, including written compliance procedures.
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; commenced proceedings or an investigation (formally or informally) that may result in any of these actions; or corresponded with the Sub-Adviser on a non-routine basis concerning either the Sub-Adviser's performances under this Agreement or any other matter that might materially affect the ability of the Sub-Adviser to perform its duties under this Agreement, 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 investigation, examination, inquiry, audit or subpoena of the Sub-Adviser or any of its officers or employees by any federal, state, municipal or other governmental department, commission, bureau, board, agency or instrumentality. If legally permitted, the Sub-Adviser will furnish the Adviser, upon request, copies of any and all documents relating to the foregoing. The Sub-Adviser further agrees to notify the Adviser and the Trust promptly of any material fact known to the Sub-Adviser respecting or relating to the Sub-Adviser that is not contained in the Registration
Statement or prospectus for the Trust, or any amendment or supplement thereto that is required to be so contained, or if any statement contained therein concerning the Sub-Adviser that 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; placed limitations upon either of their activities, functions, or operations; suspended or revoked the Adviser's registration as an investment adviser; suspended or revoked the Trust's registration under the 1940 Act, issued any stop order concerning any offering of the Trust's securities, or has commenced proceedings or an investigation that may result in any of these actions, or corresponded with the Adviser or the Trust on a non-routine basis concerning the management or operations of the Trust or the advisory services provided by the Adviser to the Trust that would have a material adverse impact on the Sub-Adviser or (2) upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the Trust has ceased to qualify or might not qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. If legally permitted, the Adviser will furnish the Sub-Adviser, upon request, copies of any and all documents relating to the foregoing.
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 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-Advisers duties hereunder. The Adviser and the Trust shall provide the Sub-Adviser with such reports as the Sub-Adviser may from time to time reasonably request concerning their compliance with applicable federal, state and local law and regulations.
9. BOOKS AND RECORDS. The Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that all records which 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 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-l under the 1940 Act.
10. COOPERATION; CONFIDENTIALITY; PROPRIETARY RIGHTS. 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 or the Trust. Subject to the foregoing, the Sub-Adviser shall treat as confidential and use only in connection with the Trust in accordance with this Agreement all information pertaining to the Trust, actions of the Trust or the Adviser, and the Adviser shall treat as confidential and use only in connection with the Trust in accordance with this Agreement all information furnished to the Trust or the Adviser by the Sub-Adviser (and all derivative works produced therefrom), in connection with its duties under this Agreement except that the aforesaid information need not be treated as confidential if required to be disclosed under applicable law, if generally available to the public through means that do not involve a breach of this section by the Sub-Adviser or the Adviser, or if available from a source other than the Adviser, Sub-Adviser or the Trust. The parties acknowledge that any breach of the undertaking in the immediately preceding sentence might result in immediate, irreparable injury to another party and that, accordingly, equitable remedies, including ex parte remedies, are appropriate in the event of any actual, apparent, or threatened breach of such undertaking.
The Adviser acknowledges that the Sub-Adviser is the sole owner of the names "Rampart Investment Management" and "ROMS", and all related names, marks, and trade dress (the "Rampart Marks") and all associated goodwill. The Adviser shall not take any action inconsistent with such ownership, including, without
limitation, contesting the Sub-Adviser's ownership of or validity of the Rampart Marks. The Adviser agrees that all use of the Rampart Marks under this Agreement inures to the benefit of the Sub-Adviser. Apart from the license granted in the next paragraph, the Adviser shall acquire no right, title or interest of any kind or nature whatsoever in the Rampart Marks and the goodwill associated therewith by virtue of this Agreement. The Adviser shall upon request execute and deliver such documents as the Sub-Adviser may reasonably require to further evidence, assure, and confirm the rights of the Sub-Adviser in the Rampart Marks.
The Sub-Adviser hereby grants to the Adviser and the Trust a non-exclusive worldwide license to use, publish, reproduce, modify, and distribute the Rampart Marks solely in connection with the conduct of the business of the Trust and in accordance with this Agreement (the "License"). The Adviser and the Trust shall not use, publish, reproduce, modify or distribute any Rampart Marks for any other purpose. The Adviser and the Trust shall comply with the reasonable written instructions of the Sub-Adviser concerning the use of the Rampart Marks under the License, including instructions concerning trademark notices and updates of the Rampart Marks. The Sub-Adviser shall have the right to monitor and observe the Adviser's and the Trust's use of the Rampart Marks pursuant to the License for the purpose of protecting and maintaining its control over the nature and quality of the Rampart Marks, and the Adviser shall upon request supply Rampart with a written accounting of such use.
The Adviser acknowledges that the Sub-Adviser is the sole owner of the
Rampart Options Management System ("ROMS"). The Adviser shall not take any
action inconsistent with such ownership, including, without limitation,
contesting the Sub-Adviser's ownership of ROMS. The Adviser shall acquire no
right, title or interest of any kind or nature whatsoever in ROMS under this
Agreement. This section does not prohibit the Advisor, for the Trust or other
clients, or the Trust from either (1) contesting what constitutes part of ROMS;
(2) from using any systems, methods or processes for selecting or trading
options that are not proprietary to the Sub-Adviser; or (3)without the use of
any proprietary processes, methods, or systems of the Sub-Adviser, managing the
options strategy of the Trust where a portion of the stocks in the portfolio
have options written on them with the intention of generating income.
11. CONTROL. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Agreement, it is understood and agreed that the Trust shall at all times retain the ultimate responsibility for and control of all functions performed pursuant to this Agreement and has reserved the right to reasonably direct any action hereunder taken on its behalf by the Sub-Adviser.
12. LIABILITY.
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 shall not be liable for, or subject to, any damages, expenses, or losses 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 the performance of the Sub-Adviser's duties, or any breach by the Sub-Adviser of its obligations or duties under this Agreement.
b. Except as may otherwise be required by the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder or other applicable law, the Sub-Adviser agrees that 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 shall not be liable for, or subject to, any damages, expenses, or losses 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 the performance of the Adviser's duties, or any breach by the Adviser of its obligations or duties under this Agreement.
13. INDEMNIFICATION.
a. 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 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, claims, damages, liabilities, or litigation (including 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 by reason of the Adviser's disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement and to the Trust, 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 shares of 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 upon and conformity with information furnished by the Sub-Adviser to the Adviser or the Trust expressly for inclusion in such Registration Statements, prospectuses, amendments, or supplements either in writing or orally with a subsequent confirmation by the Sub-Adviser of the information as it appears in the Registration Statement or prospectus; 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.
b. Notwithstanding Section 12 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 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 Trust 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 shares of 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 or omission was made in reliance upon and conformity with information furnished by the Sub-Adviser to the Adviser or the Trust expressly for inclusion in such Registration Statements, prospectuses, amendments, or supplements either in writing or orally with a subsequent confirmation by the Sub-Adviser of the information as it appears in the Registration Statement or prospectus; 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.
c. The Adviser shall not be liable under Paragraph (a) of this Section 13 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 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; provided however, the Adviser shall be responsible for the additional counsel of Sub-Adviser in the event the Adviser is determined to have made the fraudulent representations, by the final decision of a court of competent jurisdiction (that is not subject to appeal or as to which the time for appeal has elapsed), and such representations are the basis for which Sub-Adviser's liability is based. 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 13 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.
14. DURATION AND TERMINATION.
a. This Agreement shall become effective on the date first indicated above, subject to the condition that the Trust's 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, and the Holders of Interests in the Trust, 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 September 24, 2006 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 in person 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 Trust's 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, or (c) by the Sub-Adviser upon 3 months' prior written notice unless the Trust or the Adviser requests additional time to find a replacement for the Sub-Adviser, in which case the Sub-Adviser shall allow the additional time requested by the Trust or Adviser not to exceed 3 additional months beyond the initial three-month notice period; provided, however, that the Sub-Adviser may terminate this Agreement at any time without penalty, effective upon written notice to the Adviser and the Trust, in the event either the Sub-Adviser (acting in good faith) 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.
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 (as such term is described 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, 12, and 13 of this Agreement
shall remain in effect, as well as any applicable provision of this Section
14 and, to the extent that only amounts are owed to the Sub-Adviser as
compensation for services rendered while the agreement was in effect,
Section 6.
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:
Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund II
The Eaton Vance Building
255 State Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
Attn: Chief Legal Officer
If to the Adviser:
Eaton Vance Management
The Eaton Vance Building
255 State Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
Attn: Chief Legal Officer
If to the Sub-Adviser:
Rampart Investment Management, Inc.
One International Place, 14th Floor Boston, Massachusetts 02110 Attn: Ronald M. Egalka
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 amendment of this Agreement shall be effective until approved as required by applicable law.
17. MISCELLANEOUS.
a. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, provided that nothing herein shall be construed in a manner inconsistent with the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act or rules or orders of the SEC thereunder, and without regard for the conflicts of laws principles thereof. The term "affiliate" or "affiliated person" as used in this Agreement shall mean "affiliated person" as defined in Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act.
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.
c. The Sub-Adviser expressly acknowledges the provision in the Declaration of Trust of the Adviser limiting the personal liability of the Trustee 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 Trustee 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 14 of this Agreement, this Agreement may only be assigned by any party with the prior written consent of the other party. This Agreement shall terminate upon its assignment, and for purposes of this section the term "assignment" shall have the meaning assigned to it in the 1940 Act.
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.
i. The Sub-Adviser shall not be responsible for any failure to perform its duties under this Agreement as a result of war, acts of terrorism, natural disasters, failures of electricity, telephone lines, and other utility services, closures of securities and options markets, and other events beyond the reasonable control of the Sub-Adviser provided the Sub-Adviser has maintained contingency procedures reasonably designed, where possible, to prevent and mitigate the effect of such events.
[Signature page follows.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed as of the day and year first above written.
Eaton Vance Management
RAMPART INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY, INC.
SCHEDULE A
Annual Investment Sub-Advisory Fee
0.235% of Assets under Management
The Trust'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 Board of the Trust.
EXHIBIT (H)(1)
Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund II
[ ] Common Shares of Beneficial Interest
Par Value $0.01 Per Share
FORM
OF
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
January [ ], 2005
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
January [ ], 2005
UBS Securities LLC
[Co-Managers]
as Representatives
c/o UBS Securities LLC
299 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10171-0026
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund II, a voluntary association with transferable shares organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts (commonly referred to as a Massachusetts business trust) (the "Fund"), proposes to issue and sell to the underwriters named in Schedule A annexed hereto (the "Underwriters") an aggregate of [ ] common shares of beneficial interest (the "Firm Shares"), par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Shares"), of the Fund. In addition, solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments, the Fund proposes to grant to the Underwriters the option to purchase from the Fund up to an additional [ ] Common Shares (the "Additional Shares"). The Firm Shares and the Additional Shares are hereinafter collectively sometimes referred to as the "Shares." The Shares are described in the Prospectus which is defined below.
The Fund has filed, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively called the "Securities Act"), and with the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively called the "Investment Company Act"), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-120421 and 811-21670), including a prospectus and a statement of additional information, relating to the Shares. The Fund has furnished to the Representatives, for use by the Underwriters and by dealers, copies of one or more preliminary prospectuses (including a preliminary statement of additional information) (each thereof, including such preliminary statement of additional information, being herein called a "Preliminary Prospectus") relating to the Shares. Except where the context otherwise requires, the registration statement, as amended when it becomes effective (the "Effective Date"), including all documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated by reference therein, and including any information contained in a prospectus subsequently filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 497
under the Securities Act and deemed to be part of the registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act is herein called the "Registration Statement," and the prospectus (including the statement of additional information), in the form filed by the Fund with the Commission pursuant to Rule 497 under the Securities Act or, if no such filing is required, the form of final prospectus (including the form of final statement of additional information) included in the Registration Statement at the time it became effective, is herein called the "Prospectus." In addition, the Fund has filed a Notification of Registration on Form N-8A (the "Notification") pursuant to Section 8 of the Investment Company Act. UBS Securities LLC ("UBS Securities" or the "Managing Representative") will act as managing representative for the Underwriters.
Eaton Vance Management, a Massachusetts business trust ("Eaton Vance" or the
"Investment Adviser") will act as the Fund's investment adviser pursuant to an
Investment Advisory Agreement by and between the Fund and the Investment
Adviser, dated as of [ ], 2005 (the "Investment Advisory Agreement"). Rampart
Investment Management Company, Inc. (the "Sub-Adviser" and together with the
Investment Adviser the "Advisers") will act as the Fund's investment sub-adviser
pursuant to an Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement among the Fund, the Investment
Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, dated as of [ ], 2005 (the "Sub-Advisory
Agreement"). Investors Bank & Trust Company will act as the custodian (the
"Custodian") of the Fund's cash and portfolio assets pursuant to a Custodian
Agreement, dated as of [ ], 2005 (the "Custodian Agreement"). PFPC Inc. will act
as the Fund's transfer agent, registrar, and dividend disbursing agent (the
"Transfer Agent") pursuant to a Transfer Agency Services Agreement, dated as of
[ ], 2005 (the "Transfer Agency Agreement"). Eaton Vance will act as the
administrator of the Fund pursuant to an Administration Agreement, dated as of [
], 2005 (the "Administration Agreement"). The Investment Adviser and UBS
Securities LLC have entered into a Shareholder Servicing Agreement dated [ ],
2005 (the "Shareholder Servicing Agreement"). The Investment Adviser has also
entered into an Additional Compensation Agreement with [ ] and [ ], dated [ ],
2005 (the "Additional Compensation Agreement"). In addition, the Fund has
adopted a dividend reinvestment plan (the "Dividend Reinvestment Plan") pursuant
to which holders of Shares may have their dividends automatically reinvested in
additional Common Shares of the Fund if so elected.
The Fund, the Investment Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and the Underwriters agree as follows:
1. SALE AND PURCHASE. Upon the basis of the warranties and representations
and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Fund agrees
to sell to the respective Underwriters and each of the Underwriters,
severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Fund the aggregate
number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in
Schedule A attached hereto in each case at a purchase price of $19.10 per
Share. The Fund is advised that the Underwriters intend (i) to make a
public offering of their respective portions of the Firm Shares as soon
after the effective date of the Registration Statement as is advisable and
(ii) initially to offer the Firm Shares upon the terms set forth in the
Prospectus. The Underwriters may from time to time increase or decrease
the public offering price after the initial public offering to such extent
as they may determine.
In addition, the Fund hereby grants to the several Underwriters the option to purchase, and upon the basis of the warranties and representations and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Underwriters shall have the right to purchase, severally and not jointly, from the Fund, ratably in accordance with the number of Firm Shares to be purchased by each of them, all or a portion of the Additional Shares as may be necessary to cover over-allotments made in connection with the offering of the Firm Shares, at the same purchase price per Share to be paid by the Underwriters to the Fund for the Firm Shares. This option may be exercised by the Representatives on behalf of the several Underwriters at any time and from time to time on or before the forty-fifth day following the date hereof, by written notice to the Fund. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Additional Shares as to which the option is being exercised, and the date and time when the Additional Shares are to be delivered (such date and time being herein referred to as the "Additional Time of Purchase"); provided, however, that the Additional Time of Purchase shall not be earlier than the Time of Purchase (as defined below) nor earlier than the second business day after the date on which the option shall have been exercised. The number of Additional Shares to be sold to each Underwriter shall be the number which bears the same proportion to the aggregate number of Additional Shares being purchased as the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter on Schedule A hereto bears to the total number of Firm Shares (subject, in each case, to such adjustment as the Representatives may determine to eliminate fractional shares).
2. PAYMENT AND DELIVERY. Payment of the purchase price for the Firm Shares shall be made by the Underwriters to the Fund by Federal Funds wire transfer, against delivery of the certificates for the Firm Shares to the Representatives through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company for the respective accounts of the Underwriters. Such payment and delivery shall be made at a time mutually agreed upon by the parties on the third business day following the date of this Underwriting Agreement (unless another date shall be agreed to by the Representatives and the Fund). The time at which such payment and delivery are actually made is hereinafter sometimes called the Time of Purchase. Certificates for the Firm Shares shall be delivered to the Representatives in definitive form in such names and in such denominations as the Representatives shall specify on the second business day preceding the Time of Purchase. For the purpose of expediting the checking of the certificates for the Firm Shares by the Representatives, the Fund agrees to make such certificates available to the Representatives for such purpose at least one full business day preceding the Time of Purchase.
Payment of the purchase price for the Additional Shares shall be made at the Additional Time of Purchase in the same manner and at the same office as the payment for the Firm Shares. Certificates for the Additional Shares shall be delivered to the Representatives in definitive form in such names and in such denominations as the Representatives shall specify no later than the second business day preceding the Additional Time of Purchase. For the purpose of
expediting the checking of the certificates for the Additional Shares by the Representatives, the Fund agrees to make such certificates available to the Representatives for such purpose at least one full business day preceding the Additional Time of Purchase. The Time of Purchase and the Additional Time of Purchase are sometimes referred to herein as the Closing Dates.
3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE FUND, THE INVESTMENT ADVISER AND THE SUB-ADVISER. Each of the Fund, the Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser jointly and severally represents and warrants to each Underwriter as follows:
(a) On (i) the Effective Date and the date on which the Prospectus is
first filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 497(b), (h) or (j)
under the Securities Act, as the case may be, (ii) the date on which
any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement (except
any post-effective amendment which is filed with the Commission
after the later of (x) one year from the date of this Underwriting
Agreement or (y) the date on which the distribution of the Shares is
completed) became or becomes effective or any amendment or
supplement to the Prospectus was or is filed with the Commission and
(iii) the Closing Dates, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus
and any such amendment or supplement thereto and the Notification
complied or will comply in all material respects with the
requirements of the Securities Act and the Investment Company Act,
as the case may be. On the Effective Date and on the date that any
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement (except any
post-effective amendment which is filed with the Commission after
the later of (x) one year from the date of this Underwriting
Agreement or (y) the date on which the distribution of the Shares is
completed) became or becomes effective, neither the Registration
Statement nor any such amendment did or will contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated in it or necessary to make the statements in
it not misleading. Except as permitted under Rule 430 under the
Securities Act (and other applicable rules under Regulation C under
the Securities Act), the Preliminary Prospectus dated December [ ],
2004 did not, as of such date, contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
in it or necessary to make the statements in it, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. At the
Effective Date and, if applicable, the date the Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement to the Prospectus was or is filed with the
Commission and at the Closing Dates, the Prospectus did not or will
not, as the case may be, contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated in it or
necessary to make the statements in it, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The
foregoing representations in this Section 3(a) do not apply to
statements or omissions relating to the Underwriters made in
reliance on and in conformity with information furnished in writing
to the Fund by the Underwriters expressly for use in
the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto, as described in Section 9(f) hereof.
(b) The Fund has been duly formed, is validly existing a business trust under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with full power and authority to conduct all the activities conducted by it, to own or lease all assets owned or leased by it and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, and the Fund is duly licensed and qualified to do business and in good standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or leasing of property or its conducting of business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Fund, and the Fund owns, possesses or has obtained and currently maintains all governmental licenses, permits, consents, orders, approvals and other authorizations, whether foreign or domestic, necessary to carry on its business as contemplated in the Prospectus. The Fund has no subsidiaries.
(c) The capitalization of the Fund is as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The Common Shares conform in all material respects to the description of them in the Prospectus. All the outstanding Common Shares have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable (except as described in the Registration Statement). The Shares to be issued and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with this Underwriting Agreement against payment therefor as provided by this Underwriting Agreement have been duly authorized and when issued and delivered to the Underwriters will have been validly issued and will be fully paid and nonassessable (except as described in the Registration Statement). No person is entitled to any preemptive or other similar rights with respect to the Shares.
(d) The Fund is duly registered with the Commission under the Investment Company Act as a diversified, closed-end management investment company, and, subject to the filing of any final amendment to the Registration Statement (a "Final Amendment"), if not already filed, all action under the Securities Act and the Investment Company Act, as the case may be, necessary to make the public offering and consummate the sale of the Shares as provided in this Underwriting Agreement has or will have been taken by the Fund.
(e) The Fund has full power and authority to enter into each of this Underwriting Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Custodian Agreement, the Transfer Agency Agreement, the Administration Agreement, and the Dividend Reinvestment Plan (collectively, the "Fund Agreements") and to perform all of the terms and provisions hereof and thereof to be carried out by it and (i) each Fund Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Fund, (ii) each Fund
Agreement does not violate in any material respect any of the applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act or the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively called the "Advisers Act"), as the case may be, and (iii) assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties thereto, each Fund Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Fund enforceable in accordance with its terms, (A) subject, as to enforcement, to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to general equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (B) except as rights to indemnity thereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws.
(f) None of (i) the execution and delivery by the Fund of the Fund Agreements, (ii) the issue and sale by the Fund of the Shares as contemplated by this Underwriting Agreement and (iii) the performance by the Fund of its obligations under any of the Fund Agreements or consummation by the Fund of the other transactions contemplated by the Fund Agreements conflicts with or will conflict with, or results or will result in a breach of, the Declaration of Trust or the By-laws of the Fund or any agreement or instrument to which the Fund is a party or by which the Fund is bound, or any law, rule or regulation, or order of any court, governmental instrumentality, securities exchange or association or arbitrator, whether foreign or domestic, applicable to the Fund, other than state securities or "blue sky" laws applicable in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters pursuant to this Underwriting Agreement.
(g) The Fund is not currently in breach of, or in default under, any written agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or its property is bound or affected.
(h) No person has any right to the registration of any securities of the Fund because of the filing of the registration statement.
(i) No consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental agency or body or securities exchange or association, whether foreign or domestic, is required by the Fund for the consummation by the Fund of the transactions to be performed by the Fund or the performance by the Fund of all the terms and provisions to be performed by or on behalf of it in each case as contemplated in the Fund Agreements, except such as (i) have been obtained under the Securities Act, the Investment Company Act, or the Advisers Act, and (ii) may be required by the New York Stock Exchange or under state securities or "blue sky" laws, in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters pursuant to this Underwriting Agreement.
(j) The Shares are duly authorized for listing, subject to official notice of issuance, on the New York Stock Exchange and the Fund's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively called the "Exchange Act"), has become effective.
(k) Deloitte & Touche LLP, whose report appears in the Prospectus, are independent public auditors with respect to the Fund as required by the Securities Act and the Investment Company Act.
(l) The statement of assets and liabilities included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus presents fairly in all material respects, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis, the financial position of the Fund as of the date indicated.
(m) The Fund will maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management's general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets through an asset reconciliation procedure or otherwise at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
(n) Since the date as of which information is given in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein,
(i) there has been no material adverse change in the condition,
financial or otherwise, business affairs or business of the Fund,
whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, (ii)
there have been no transactions entered into by the Fund other than
those in the ordinary course of its business and (iii) there has
been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made
on any class of its capital shares.
(o) There is no action, suit or proceeding before or by any court, commission, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental agency or body, foreign or domestic, now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Fund, threatened against or affecting the Fund, which (i) might result in any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, business affairs or business prospects of the Fund or might materially adversely affect the properties or assets of the Fund or (ii) is of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus; and there are no contracts, franchises or other documents that are of a character required to be described in, or that are required to be filed as exhibits to,
the Registration Statement that have not been described or filed as required.
(p) Except for stabilization transactions conducted by the Underwriters, and except for tender offers, Share repurchases and the issuance or purchase of Shares pursuant to the Fund's Dividend Reinvestment Plan effected following the date on which the distribution of the Shares is completed in accordance with the policies of the Fund as set forth in the Prospectus, the Fund has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed or which might be reasonably expected to cause or result in, or which will constitute, stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Common Shares in violation of applicable federal securities laws.
(q) The Fund intends to direct the investment of the proceeds of the offering of the Shares in such a manner as to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
(r) To the knowledge of the Fund after due inquiry, no advertising, sales literature or other promotional materials (excluding road show slides or road show tapes) were authorized or prepared by or on behalf of the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser or any representative thereof for use in connection with the public offering or sale of the Shares other than the definitive client brochure and the broker selling memo which were filed with the NASD on December [ ], 2004, a draft prospecting letter which was filed with the NASD on December [ ], 2004, a draft of a prospecting letter made available on a password-protected Internet web site maintained by the Investment Adviser and a road show tape made available for broker use on an Intranet web site maintained by the Investment Adviser (collectively, the "sales materials"); the sales materials and any road show slides or road show tapes complied and comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and interpretations of the NASD; and no broker kits, road show slides, road show tapes or sales materials authorized or prepared by the Fund or authorized or prepared on behalf of the Fund by the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser or any representative thereof for use in connection with the public offering or sale of the Shares contained or contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading.
In addition, any certificate signed by any officer of the Fund and delivered to the Underwriters or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Share shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Fund as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter
4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISER AND THE SUB-ADVISER. Each of the Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser represents to each Underwriter as follows:
(a) Such Adviser has been duly formed, is validly existing as a business trust under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in the case of the Investment Adviser, or as a corporation under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in the case of the Sub-Adviser, with full power and authority to conduct all of the activities conducted by it, to own or lease all of the assets owned or leased by it and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, and such Adviser is duly licensed and qualified to do business and in good standing in each jurisdiction in which it is required to be so qualified, except to the extent that failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a material adverse affect on the such Adviser's ability to provide services to the Fund; and such Adviser owns, possesses or has obtained and currently maintains all governmental licenses, permits, consents, orders, approvals and other authorizations, whether foreign or domestic, necessary to carry on its business as contemplated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(b) Such Adviser is (i) duly registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and (ii) not prohibited by the Advisers Act or the Investment Company Act from acting as the investment adviser for the Fund as contemplated by the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(c) Such Adviser has full power and authority to enter into each of this Underwriting Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Administration Agreement, the Shareholder Servicing Agreement, and the Additional Compensation Agreement, to which such Adviser is a party (collectively, the "Adviser Agreements"), and to carry out all the terms and provisions hereof and thereof to be carried out by it; and each Adviser Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by such Adviser; none of the Adviser Agreements violate in any material respect any of the applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act or the Advisers Act; and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties thereto, each Adviser Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Adviser, enforceable in accordance with its terms, (i) subject, as to enforcement, to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to general equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (ii) except as rights to indemnity thereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws.
(d) Neither (i) the execution and delivery by such Adviser of any Adviser Agreement nor (ii) the consummation by such Adviser of the transactions contemplated by, or the performance of its obligations under any Adviser Agreement conflicts or will conflict with, or results or will result in a breach of, the Declaration of Trust, in the case of the Investment Adviser, or Articles of Incorporation, in the case of the Sub-Adviser, or By-Laws of such Adviser or any agreement or instrument to which such Adviser is a party or by which such Adviser is bound, or any law, rule or regulation, or order of any court, governmental instrumentality, securities exchange or association or arbitrator, whether foreign or domestic, applicable to such Adviser.
(e) No consent, approval, authorization or order of any court, governmental agency or body or securities exchange or association, whether foreign or domestic, is required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated in, or the performance by such Adviser of its obligations under, any Adviser Agreement, as the case may be, except such as (i) have been obtained under the Securities Act, the Investment Company Act, or the Advisers Act, and (ii) may be required by the New York Stock Exchange or under state securities or "blue sky" laws, in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters pursuant to this Underwriting Agreement.
(f) The description of such Adviser and its business and the statements attributable to such Adviser in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Investment Company Act and do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading.
(g) Except as disclosed, there is no action, suit or proceeding before or by any court, commission, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental agency or body, foreign or domestic, now pending or, to the knowledge of such Adviser, threatened against or affecting such Adviser of a nature required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or that might reasonably be expected to result in any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, business affairs or business prospects of such Adviser or the ability of such Adviser to fulfill its respective obligations under any Adviser Agreement.
(h) Except for stabilization activities conducted by the Underwriters and except for tender offers, Share repurchases and the issuance or purchase of Shares pursuant to the Fund's Dividend Reinvestment Plan effected following the date on which the distribution of the Shares is completed in accordance with the policies of the Fund as set forth in the Prospectus, such Adviser has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed, or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result
in, or which will constitute, stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Common Shares in violation of applicable federal securities laws.
In the event that the Fund or such Adviser makes available any promotional materials (other than the sales materials) intended for use only by qualified broker-dealers and registered representatives thereof by means of an Internet web site or similar electronic means, such Adviser will install and maintain pre-qualification and password-protection or similar procedures which will effectively prohibit access to such promotional materials by persons other than qualified broker-dealers and registered representatives thereof.
In addition, any certificate signed by any officer of the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser and delivered to the Underwriters or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser, as applicable, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.
5. AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES.
(a) If the registration statement relating to the Shares has not yet become effective, the Fund will promptly file a Final Amendment, if not previously filed, with the Commission, and will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective and, as soon as the Fund is advised, will advise the Managing Representative when the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto has become effective. If the Registration Statement has become effective and the Prospectus contained therein omits certain information at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act, the Fund will file a 430A Prospectus pursuant to Rule 497(h) under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable, but no later than the second business day following the earlier of the date of the determination of the offering price of the Shares or the date the Prospectus is first used after the Effective Date. If the Registration Statement has become effective and the Prospectus contained therein does not so omit such information, the Fund will file a Prospectus pursuant to Rule 497(b) or a certification pursuant to Rule 497(j) under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable, but no later than the fifth business day following the date of the later of the Effective Date or the commencement of the public offering of the Shares after the Effective Date. In either case, the Fund will provide the Managing Representative satisfactory evidence of the filing. The Fund will not file with the Commission any Prospectus or any other amendment (except any post-effective amendment which is filed with the Commission after the later of (x) one year from the date of this Underwriting Agreement or (y) the date on which distribution of the Shares is completed) or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus unless a copy has first been submitted to the Managing Representative a reasonable time before its
filing and the Managing Representative has not objected to it in writing within a reasonable time after receiving the copy.
(b) For the period of three years from the date hereof, the Fund will advise the Managing Representative promptly (i) of the issuance by the Commission of any order in respect of the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser, which relates to the Fund, or which relates to any material arrangements or proposed material arrangements involving the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser, (ii) of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for, or receipt by the Fund of any notice with respect to, any suspension of the qualification of the Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the issuance of any order by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (iii) of receipt by the Fund, or any representative or attorney of the Fund, of any other communication from the Commission relating in any material way to the Fund, the Registration Statement, the Notification, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or to the transactions contemplated by this Underwriting Agreement and (iv) the issuance by any court, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental agency or body, whether foreign or domestic, of any order, ruling or decree, or the threat to initiate any proceedings with respect thereto, regarding the Fund, which relates in any material way to the Fund or any material arrangements or proposed material arrangements involving the Fund. The Fund will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and, if any such order is issued, to obtain its lifting as soon as possible.
(c) If not delivered prior to the date of this Underwriting Agreement, the Fund will deliver to the Managing Representative, without charge, a signed copy of the Registration Statement and the Notification and of any amendments (except any post-effective amendment which is filed with the Commission after the later of (x) one year from the date of this Underwriting Agreement or (y) the date on which the distribution of the Shares is completed) to either the Registration Statement or the Notification (including all exhibits filed with any such document) and as many conformed copies of the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto (except any post-effective amendment which is filed with the Commission after the later of (x) one year from the date of this Underwriting Agreement or (y) the date on which the distribution of the Shares is completed) (excluding exhibits) as the Managing Representative may reasonably request.
(d) During such period as a prospectus is required by law to be delivered by an underwriter or a dealer, the Fund will deliver, without charge, to the Representatives, the Underwriters and any dealers, at such office or offices as the Representatives may designate, as many copies of the Prospectus as the Representatives may reasonably request, and, if any event occurs
during such period as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus, in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading in any material respect, or if during such period it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Securities Act or the Investment Company Act, the Fund promptly will prepare, submit to the Managing Representative, file with the Commission and deliver, without charge, to the Underwriters and to dealers (whose names and addresses the Managing Representative will furnish to the Fund) to whom Shares may have been sold by the Underwriters, and to other dealers on request, amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in such Prospectus, as so amended or supplemented, will not, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, be misleading in any material respect and will comply with the Securities Act and the Investment Company Act. Delivery by the Underwriters of any such amendments or supplements to the Prospectus will not constitute a waiver of any of the conditions in Section 6 hereof.
(e) The Fund will make generally available to holders of the Fund's
securities, as soon as practicable but in no event later than the
last day of the 18th full calendar month following the calendar
quarter in which the Effective Date falls, an earnings statement, if
applicable, satisfying the provisions of the last paragraph of
Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and, at the option of the Fund,
Rule 158 under the Securities Act.
(f) If the transactions contemplated by this Underwriting Agreement are
consummated, the Fund shall pay all costs and expenses incident to
the performance of the obligations of the Fund under this
Underwriting Agreement (to the extent such expenses do not, in the
aggregate, exceed $0.04 per Share), including but not limited to
costs and expenses of or relating to (i) the preparation, printing
and filing of the Registration Statement and exhibits to it, each
Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and all amendments and
supplements thereto, (ii) the issuance of the Shares and the
preparation and delivery of certificates for the Shares, (iii) the
registration or qualification of the Shares for offer and sale under
the securities or "blue sky" laws of the jurisdictions referred to
in the foregoing paragraph, including the fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Underwriters in that connection, and the preparation
and printing of any preliminary and supplemental "blue sky"
memoranda, (iv) the furnishing (including costs of design,
production, shipping and mailing) to the Underwriters and dealers of
copies of each Preliminary Prospectus relating to the Shares, the
sales materials, the Prospectus, and all amendments or supplements
to the Prospectus, and of the other documents required by this
Section to be so furnished, (v) the filing requirements of the NASD,
in connection with its review of the financing, including filing
fees paid by counsel for the Underwriters in that connection, (vi)
all transfer taxes, if any, with respect to the sale and delivery of
the Shares to
the Underwriters, (vii) the listing of the Shares on the New York Stock Exchange and (viii) the transfer agent for the Shares. To the extent the foregoing costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Fund under this Underwriting Agreement exceed, in the aggregate, $0.04 per Share, Eaton Vance or an affiliate will pay all such excess costs and expenses. The Fund, the Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser may otherwise agree among themselves as to the payment of the foregoing expenses, whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Underwriting Agreement are consummated, provided, however, that in no event shall the Underwriters be obligated to pay any of the foregoing expenses.
(g) If the transactions contemplated by this Underwriting Agreement are not consummated, except as otherwise provided herein, no party will be under any liability to any other party, except that (i) if this Underwriting Agreement is terminated by (x) the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser pursuant to any of the provisions hereof or (y) by the Representatives or the Underwriters because of any inability, failure or refusal on the part of the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser to comply with any material terms or because any of the conditions in Section 6 are not satisfied, the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser or such Adviser's affiliates and the Fund, jointly and severally, will reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of their counsel) reasonably incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Shares and (ii) no Underwriter who has failed or refused to purchase the Shares agreed to be purchased by it under this Underwriting Agreement, in breach of its obligations pursuant to this Underwriting Agreement, will be relieved of liability to the Fund, the Investment Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and the other Underwriters for damages occasioned by its default.
(h) Without the prior written consent of the Managing Representative, the Fund will not offer, sell or register with the Commission, or announce an offering of, any equity securities of the Fund, within 180 days after the Effective Date, except for the Shares as described in the Prospectus and any issuances of Common Shares pursuant to the Dividend Reinvestment Plan and except in connection with any offering of preferred shares of beneficial interest as contemplated by the Prospectus.
(i) The Fund will use its best efforts to list the Shares on the New York Stock Exchange prior to the date the Shares are issued and comply with the rules and regulations of such exchange.
(j) The Fund will direct the investment of the net proceeds of the offering of the Shares in such a manner as to comply with the investment objective and policies of the Fund as described in the Prospectus.
6. CONDITIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS' OBLIGATIONS. The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Shares are subject to the accuracy on the date of this Underwriting Agreement, and on each of the Closing Dates, of the representations of the Fund, the Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser in this Underwriting Agreement, to the accuracy and completeness of all material statements made by the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser or any of their respective officers in any certificate delivered to the Managing Representative or its counsel pursuant to this Underwriting Agreement, to performance by the Fund, the Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser of their respective obligations under this Underwriting Agreement and to each of the following additional conditions:
(a) The Registration Statement must have become effective by 5:30 p.m., New York City time, on the date of this Underwriting Agreement or such later date and time as the Managing Representative consents to in writing. The Prospectus must have been filed in accordance with Rule 497(b) or (h) or a certificate must have been filed in accordance with Rule 497(j), as the case may be, under the Securities Act.
(b) No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement may be in effect and no proceedings for such purpose may be pending before or, to the knowledge of counsel to the Underwriters, threatened by the Commission, and any requests for additional information on the part of the Commission (to be included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise) must be complied with or waived to the reasonable satisfaction of the Managing Representative.
(c) Since the dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (i) there must not have been any material change in the Common Shares or liabilities of the Fund except as set forth in or contemplated by the Prospectus; (ii) there must not have been any material adverse change in the general affairs, prospects, management, business, financial condition or results of operations of the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business as set forth in or contemplated by the Prospectus which in the judgment of the Managing Representative would materially adversely affect the market for the Shares; (iii) the Fund must not have sustained any material loss or interference with its business from any court or from legislative or other governmental action, order or decree, whether foreign or domestic, or from any other occurrence not described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus; and (iv) there must not have occurred any event that makes untrue or incorrect in any material respect any statement or information contained in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or that is not reflected in the Registration Statement or Prospectus but should be reflected therein in order to make the statements or information therein (in the case of the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances in which they were made) not misleading in any material respect; if, in the judgment of
the Managing Representative, any such development referred to in clause (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of this paragraph (c) makes it impracticable or inadvisable to consummate the sale and delivery of the Shares pursuant to this Underwriting Agreement by the Underwriters, at the initial public offering price of the Shares.
(d) The Managing Representative must have received on each Closing Date a certificate, dated such date, of the President or a Vice-President and the chief financial or accounting officer of each of the Fund, the Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser certifying (in their capacity as such officers and, with respect to clauses (ii), (iii) and (vi) below, on behalf of the Fund and such Adviser, as the case may be) that (i) the signers have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and this Underwriting Agreement, (ii) the representations of the Fund (with respect to the certificates from such Fund officers), the representations of the Investment Adviser (with respect to the certificates from such officers of the Investment Adviser) and the representations of the Sub-Adviser (with respect to the certificates from such officers of the Sub-Adviser) in this Underwriting Agreement are accurate on and as of the date of the certificate, (iii) there has not been any material adverse change in the general affairs, prospects, management, business, financial condition or results of operations of the Fund (with respect to the certificates from such Fund officers), the Investment Adviser (with respect to the certificates from such officers of the Investment Adviser) or the Sub-Adviser (with respect to the certificates from such officers of the Sub-Adviser), which change would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser, as the case may be, to fulfill its obligations under this Underwriting Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement (with respect to the certificates from such officers of the Investment Adviser) or the Sub-Advisory Agreement, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, (iv) with respect to the Fund only, to the knowledge of such officers after reasonable investigation, no order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, prohibiting the sale of any of the Shares or otherwise having a material adverse effect on the Fund has been issued and no proceedings for any such purpose are pending before or threatened by the Commission or any other regulatory body, whether foreign or domestic, (v) to the knowledge of the officers of each of the Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, after reasonable investigation, no order having a material adverse effect on the ability of such Adviser to fulfill its obligations under this Underwriting Agreement, the Shareholder Servicing Agreement, the Additional Compensation Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement or the Sub-Advisory Agreement (with respect to the certificates from such officers of the Investment Adviser) and this Underwriting Agreement or the Sub-Advisory Agreement, (with respect to the certificates from such officers of the Sub-Adviser), as the case may be, has been issued and no proceedings for any such purpose are pending
before or threatened by the Commission or any other regulatory body, whether foreign or domestic, and (vi) each of the Fund (with respect to the certificates from such Fund officers), the Investment Adviser (with respect to the certificates from such officers of the Investment Adviser) and the Sub-Adviser (with respect to the certificates from such officers of the Sub-Adviser) has performed all of its respective agreements that this Underwriting Agreement requires it to perform by such Closing Date (to the extent not waived in writing by the Managing Representative). (e) The Managing Representative must have received on each Closing Date the opinions dated such Closing Date substantially in the form of Schedules B, C, and D to this Underwriting Agreement from the counsel identified in each such Schedules.
(f) The Managing Representative must have received on each Closing Date from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and its affiliated entities an opinion dated such Closing Date with respect to the Fund, the Shares, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, this Underwriting Agreement and the form and sufficiency of all proceedings taken in connection with the sale and delivery of the Shares. Such opinion and proceedings shall fulfill the requirements of this Section 6(f) only if such opinion and proceedings are satisfactory in all respects to the Managing Representative. The Fund, the Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser must have furnished to such counsel such documents as counsel may reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to render such opinion.
(g) The Managing Representative must have received on the date this Underwriting Agreement is signed and delivered by you a signed letter, dated such date, substantially in the form of Schedule E to this Underwriting Agreement from the firm of accountants designated in such Schedule. The Managing Representative also must have received on each Closing Date a signed letter from such accountants, dated as of such Closing Date, confirming on the basis of a review in accordance with the procedures set forth in their earlier letter that nothing has come to their attention during the period from a date not more than five business days before the date of this Underwriting Agreement, specified in the letter, to a date not more than five business days before such Closing Date, that would require any change in their letter referred to in the foregoing sentence.
All opinions, letters, evidence and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Underwriting Agreement will comply only if they are in form and scope reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, provided that any such documents, forms of which are annexed hereto, shall be deemed satisfactory to such counsel if substantially in such form.
7. TERMINATION. This Underwriting Agreement may be terminated by the Managing Representative by notifying the Fund at any time:
(a) before the later of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and the time when any of the Shares are first generally offered pursuant to this Underwriting Agreement by the Managing Representative to dealers by letter or telegram;
(b) at or before any Closing Date if, in the sole judgment of the Managing Representative, payment for and delivery of any Shares is rendered impracticable or inadvisable because (i) trading in the equity securities of the Fund is suspended by the Commission or by the principal exchange that lists the Shares, (ii) trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market shall have been suspended or limited or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established on such exchange or over-the-counter market, (iii) additional material governmental restrictions, not in force on the date of this Underwriting Agreement, have been imposed upon trading in securities or trading has been suspended on any U.S. securities exchange, (iv) a general banking moratorium has been established by U.S. federal or New York authorities or (v) any material adverse change in the financial or securities markets in the United States or in political, financial or economic conditions in the United States or any outbreak or material escalation of hostilities or declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war or other calamity, terrorist activity or crisis shall have occurred the effect of any of which is such as to make it, in the sole judgment of the Managing Representative, impracticable or inadvisable to market the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the Prospectus; or
(c) at or before any Closing Date, if any of the conditions specified in
Section 6 have not been fulfilled when and as required by this
Underwriting Agreement.
8. SUBSTITUTION OF UNDERWRITERS. If one or more of the Underwriters fails (other than for a reason sufficient to justify the termination of this Underwriting Agreement) to purchase on any Closing Date the Shares agreed to be purchased on such Closing Date by such Underwriter or Underwriters, the Managing Representative may find one or more substitute underwriters to purchase such Shares or make such other arrangements as the Managing Representative deems advisable, or one or more of the remaining Underwriters may agree to purchase such Shares in such proportions as may be approved by the Managing Representative, in each case upon the terms set forth in this Underwriting Agreement. If no such arrangements have been made within 36 hours after such Closing Date, and
(a) the number of Shares to be purchased by the defaulting Underwriters on such Closing Date does not exceed 10% of the Shares that the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on such Closing Date, each of the nondefaulting Underwriters will be obligated to purchase such Shares on the terms set forth in this Underwriting Agreement in proportion to their respective obligations under this Underwriting Agreement, or
(b) the number of Shares to be purchased by the defaulting Underwriters on such Closing Date exceeds 10% of the Shares to be purchased by all the Underwriters on such Closing Date, the Fund will be entitled to an additional period of 24 hours within which to find one or more substitute underwriters reasonably satisfactory to the Managing Representative to purchase such Shares on the terms set forth in this Underwriting Agreement.
Upon the occurrence of the circumstances described in the foregoing paragraph (b), either the Managing Representative or the Fund will have the right to postpone the applicable Closing Date for not more than five business days in order that necessary changes and arrangements (including any necessary amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus) may be effected by the Managing Representative and the Fund. If the number of Shares to be purchased on such Closing Date by such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters exceeds 10% of the Shares that the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on such Closing Date, and none of the nondefaulting Underwriters or the Fund makes arrangements pursuant to this Section within the period stated for the purchase of the Shares that the defaulting Underwriters agreed to purchase, this Underwriting Agreement will terminate without liability on the part of any nondefaulting Underwriter, the Fund, the Investment Adviser, or the Sub-Adviser except as provided in Sections 5(g) and 9 hereof. Any action taken under this Section will not affect the liability of any defaulting Underwriter to the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser or to any nondefaulting Underwriters arising out of such default. A substitute underwriter will become an Underwriter for all purposes of this Underwriting Agreement.
9. INDEMNITY AND CONTRIBUTION.
(a) Each of the Fund, the Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, jointly and severally, agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Underwriter, its partners, directors and officers, and any person who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and their successors and assigns of all of the foregoing persons from and against any loss, damage, expense, liability or claim (including the reasonable cost of investigation) which, jointly or severally, any such Underwriter or any such person may incur under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the Investment
Company Act, the Advisers Act, the common law or otherwise, insofar as such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or in the Registration Statement as amended by any post-effective amendment thereof by the Fund) or in a Prospectus (the term "Prospectus" for the purpose of this Section 9 being deemed to include any Preliminary Prospectus, the sales materials, the Prospectus and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented by the Fund), or arises out of or is based upon any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated in either such Registration Statement or Prospectus or necessary to make the statements made therein (with respect to the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except insofar as any such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in and in conformity with information furnished in writing by or on behalf of any Underwriter to the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser expressly for use with reference to any Underwriter in such Registration Statement or such Prospectus or arises out of or is based upon any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact in connection with such information required to be stated in such Registration Statement or such Prospectus or necessary to make such information (with respect to the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this subsection (a) with respect to any Preliminary Prospectus or amended Preliminary Prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter (or to the benefit of any person controlling such Underwriter) from whom the person asserting any such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim purchased the Shares which is the subject thereof if the Prospectus corrected any such alleged untrue statement or omission and if such Underwriter failed to send or give a copy of the Prospectus to such person at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such Shares to such person, unless the failure is the result of noncompliance by the Fund with Section 5(d) hereof.
If any action, suit or proceeding (together, a "Proceeding") is brought against an Underwriter or any such person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser pursuant to the foregoing paragraph, such Underwriter or such person shall promptly notify the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser in writing of the institution of such Proceeding and the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser shall assume the defense of such Proceeding, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party and payment of all fees and expenses; provided, however, that the omission to so notify the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser shall not relieve the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser from any liability which the Fund,
the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser may have to any Underwriter or any such person or otherwise. Such Underwriter or such person shall have the right to employ its or their own counsel in any such case, but the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Underwriter or of such person unless the employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser, as the case may be, in connection with the defense of such Proceeding or the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser shall not have, within a reasonable period of time in light of the circumstances, employed counsel to have charge of the defense of such Proceeding or such indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to it or them, which are different from, additional to or in conflict with those available to the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser (in which case the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser shall not have the right to direct the defense of such Proceeding on behalf of the indemnified party or parties), in any of which events such reasonable fees and expenses shall be borne by the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser and paid as incurred (it being understood, however, that the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (in addition to any local counsel) in any one Proceeding or series of related Proceedings in the same jurisdiction representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such Proceeding). Neither the Fund, the Investment Adviser nor the Sub-Adviser shall be liable for any settlement of any Proceeding effected without its written consent but if settled with the written consent of the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser, the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser, as the case may be, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any Underwriter and any such person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for reasonable fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second sentence of this paragraph, then the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any Proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 60 business days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement and (iii) such indemnified party shall have given the indemnifying party at least 30 days' prior notice of its intention to settle. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened Proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims
that are the subject matter of such Proceeding and does not include an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of such indemnified party.
(b) Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Fund, the Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, and each of their respective shareholders, partners, managers, members, trustees, directors and officers, and any person who controls the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and the successors and assigns of all of the foregoing persons from and against any loss, damage, expense, liability or claim (including the reasonable cost of investigation), which, jointly or severally, the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser or any such person may incur under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the Investment Company Act, the Advisers Act, the common law or otherwise, insofar as such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in and in conformity with information furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Underwriter to the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser expressly for use with reference to such Underwriter in the Registration Statement (or in the Registration Statement as amended by any post-effective amendment thereof by the Fund) or in a Prospectus, or arises out of or is based upon any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact in connection with such information required to be stated in such Registration Statement or such Prospectus or necessary to make such information not misleading (with respect to the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made).
If any Proceeding is brought against the Fund, the Investment Adviser, the Sub-Adviser or any such person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against any Underwriter pursuant to the foregoing paragraph, the Fund, the Investment Adviser, the Sub-Adviser or such person shall promptly notify such Underwriter in writing of the institution of such Proceeding and such Underwriter shall assume the defense of such Proceeding, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party and payment of all fees and expenses; provided, however, that the omission to so notify such Underwriter shall not relieve such Underwriter from any liability which such Underwriter may have to the Fund, the Investment Adviser, the Sub-Adviser or any such person or otherwise. The Fund, the Investment Adviser, the Sub-Adviser or such person shall have the right to employ its own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the Fund, the Investment Adviser, the Sub-Adviser or such person, as the case may be, unless the employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by such Underwriter in connection with the defense of such Proceeding or such Underwriter shall
not have, within a reasonable period of time in light of the circumstances, employed counsel to have charge of the defense of such Proceeding or such indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to it or them, which are different from or additional to or in conflict with those available to such Underwriter (in which case such Underwriter shall not have the right to direct the defense of such Proceeding on behalf of the indemnified party or parties, but such Underwriter may employ counsel and participate in the defense thereof but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Underwriter), in any of which events such fees and expenses shall be borne by such Underwriter and paid as incurred (it being understood, however, that such Underwriter shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (in addition to any local counsel) in any one Proceeding or series of related Proceedings in the same jurisdiction representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such Proceeding). No Underwriter shall be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding effected without the written consent of such Underwriter but if settled with the written consent of such Underwriter, such Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund, the Investment Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and any such person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second sentence of this paragraph, then the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any Proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 60 business days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement and (iii) such indemnified party shall have given the indemnifying party at least 30 days' prior notice of its intention to settle. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened Proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding and does not include an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of such indemnified party.
(c) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 9 is unavailable
to an indemnified party under subsections (a) and (b) of this
Section 9 in respect of any losses, damages, expenses, liabilities
or claims referred to therein, then each applicable indemnifying
party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party
as a result of such losses, damages, expenses, liabilities
or claims (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Fund, the Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Fund, the Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions, which resulted in such losses, damages, expenses, liabilities or claims, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Fund, the Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total proceeds from the offering (net of underwriting discounts and commissions but before deducting expenses) received by the Fund and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, bear to the aggregate public offering price of the Shares. The relative fault of the Fund, the Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission relates to information supplied by the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser or by the Underwriters and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, damages, expenses, liabilities and claims referred to in this subsection shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating, preparing to defend or defending any Proceeding.
(d) The Fund, the Investment Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and the
Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 9 were determined by pro rata
allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for
such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not
take account of the equitable considerations referred to in
subsection (c) above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section
9, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in
excess of the fees and commissions received by such Underwriter. No
person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of
Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations to contribute
pursuant to this Section 9 are several in proportion to their
respective underwriting commitments and not joint.
(e) The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 9 and the covenants, warranties and representations of the Fund contained in this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, its partners, directors or officers or any person (including each partner, officer or director of such person) who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, or by or on behalf of the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser, its shareholders, partners, advisers, members, trustees, directors or officers or any person who controls the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and shall survive any termination of this Agreement or the issuance and delivery of the Shares. The Fund, the Investment Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and each Underwriter agree promptly to notify each other of the commencement of any Proceeding against it and, in the case of the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser, against any of the Fund's, the Adviser's or the Sub-Adviser's shareholders, partners, managers, members, trustees, directors or officers in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares, or in connection with the Registration Statement or Prospectus.
(f) The Fund, the Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser each acknowledge that the statements with respect to (1) the public offering of the Shares as set forth on the cover page of and (2) stabilization and selling concessions and reallowances of selling concessions and payment of fees to Underwriters that meet certain minimum sales thresholds under the caption "Underwriting" in the Prospectus constitute the only information furnished in writing to the Fund by the Underwriters expressly for use in such document. The Underwriters severally confirm that these statements are correct in all material respects and were so furnished by or on behalf of the Underwriters severally for use in the Prospectus.
(g) Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Section 9, no party shall be entitled to indemnification or contribution under this Underwriting Agreement against any loss, claim, liability, expense or damage arising by reason of such person's willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its duties in the performance of its duties hereunder. The parties hereto acknowledge that the foregoing provision shall be applicable solely as to matters arising under Section 17(i) of the Investment Company Act, and shall not be construed to impose any duties or obligations upon any such parties under this Agreement other than as specifically set forth herein (it being understood that the Underwriters have no duty hereunder to the Fund to perform any due diligence investigation).
10. NOTICES. Except as otherwise herein provided, all statements, requests, notices and agreements shall be in writing or by telegram and, if to the Underwriters,
shall be sufficient in all respects if delivered or sent to UBS Securities LLC, 299 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10171-0026, Attention: Syndicate Department, if to the Fund or the Investment Adviser, shall be sufficient in all respects if delivered or sent to the Fund or the Investment Adviser, as the case may be, at the offices of the Fund and the Investment Adviser at Eaton Vance Management, 255 State Street, Boston, MA 02109, and, if to the Sub-Adviser, shall be sufficient in all respects if delivered or sent to Rampart Investment Management Company Inc., One International Place, Boston, MA 02110.
11. GOVERNING LAW; CONSTRUCTION. This Agreement and any claim, counterclaim or dispute of any kind or nature whatsoever arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement ("Claim"), directly or indirectly, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. The Section headings in this Agreement have been inserted as a matter of convenience of reference and are not a part of this Agreement.
12. SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. Except as set forth below, no Claim may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in any court other than the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which courts shall have jurisdiction over the adjudication of such matters, and the Fund and UBS Securities each consent to the jurisdiction of such courts and personal service with respect thereto. The Fund and UBS Securities hereby consent to personal jurisdiction, service and venue in any court in which any Claim arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement is brought by any third party against UBS Securities or any indemnified party. Each of UBS Securities, the Fund (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates), the Investment Adviser (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its unitholders and affiliates) and the Sub-Adviser (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its shareholders and affiliates) waives all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether based upon contract, tort or otherwise) in any way arising out of or relating to this Agreement. Each of the Fund, the Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser agrees that a final judgment in any such action, proceeding or counterclaim brought in any such court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Fund, the Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, as the case may be, and may be enforced in any other courts in the jurisdiction of which the Fund, the Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, as the case may be, is or may be subject, by suit upon such judgment.
13. PARTIES AT INTEREST. The Agreement herein set forth has been and is made solely for the benefit of the Underwriters, the Fund, the Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser and to the extent provided in Section 9 hereof the controlling persons, shareholders, partners, members, trustees, managers, directors and officers referred to in such section, and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, personal representatives and executors and administrators. No other person, partnership, association or corporation (including a purchaser, as such purchaser, from any of
the Underwriters) shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement.
14. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be signed by the parties in one or more counterparts which together shall constitute one and the same agreement among the parties.
15. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Underwriters, the Fund, the Investment Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and any successor or assign of any substantial portion of the Fund's, the Investment Adviser's, the Sub-Adviser's, or any of the Underwriters' respective businesses and/or assets.
16. DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY OF TRUSTEES AND BENEFICIARIES. A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of each of the Fund and Eaton Vance is on file with the Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice hereby is given that this Underwriting Agreement is executed on behalf of the Fund and Eaton Vance, respectively, by an officer or Trustee of the Fund or Eaton Vance, as the case may be, in his or her capacity as an officer or Trustee of the Fund or Eaton Vance, as the case may be, and not individually and that the obligations under or arising out of this Underwriting Agreement are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and properties of the Fund or Eaton Vance, as the case may be.
If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding among the Fund, the Investment Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and the Underwriters, please so indicate in the space provided below, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall constitute a binding agreement among the Fund, the Investment Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and the Underwriters, severally.
Very truly yours,
EATON VANCE ENHANCED EQUITY INCOME
FUND II
Title:
EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT
Title:
RAMPART INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY,
INC.
Title:
Accepted and agreed to as of the
date first above written, on behalf
of themselves and the other several
Underwriters named in Schedule A
UBS SECURITIES LLC
SCHEDULE A
Underwriters Number of Shares ------------ ---------------- UBS Securities LLC.......................................... [ ] [Other Underwriters] [ ] Total..................................................... [ ] ====== |
Schedule A-1
SCHEDULE B
FORM OF OPINION OF
KIRKPATRICK & LOCKHART LLP REGARDING THE FUND
1. The Registration Statement and all post-effective amendments, if any, are effective under the Securities Act and no stop order with respect thereto has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been instituted or, to the best of our knowledge, is threatened by the Commission. Any filing of the Prospectus or any supplements thereto required under Rule 497 of the Securities Act Rules prior to the date hereof have been made in the manner and within the time required by such rule.
2. The Fund has been duly formed and is validly existing as a Massachusetts business trust under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with full power and authority to conduct all the activities conducted by it, to own or lease all assets owned (or to be owned) or leased (or to be leased) by it and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, and the Fund is duly licensed and qualified to do business and in good standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or leasing of property or its conducting of business requires such qualification, and the Fund owns, possesses or has obtained and currently maintains all governmental licenses, permits, consents, orders, approvals and other authorizations, whether foreign or domestic, necessary to carry on its business as contemplated in the Prospectus. The Fund has no subsidiaries.
3. The capitalization of the Fund is as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The Shares of Beneficial Interest of the Fund conform in all respects to the description of them in the Prospectus. All the outstanding Shares of Beneficial Interest have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable (except as described in the Registration Statement). The Shares to be issued and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement against payment therefor as provided by the Underwriting Agreement have been duly authorized and when issued and delivered to the Underwriters will have been validly issued and will be fully paid and nonassessable (except as described in the Registration Statement). No person is entitled to any preemptive or other similar rights with respect to the Shares.
4. The Fund is duly registered with the Commission under the Investment Company Act as a diversified, closed-end management investment company and all action under the Securities Act, the Investment Company Act, the Securities Act Rules and the Investment Company Act Rules, as the case may be, necessary to make the public offering and consummate the sale of the Shares as provided in the Underwriting Agreement has or will have been taken by the Fund.
5. The Fund has full power and authority to enter into each of the Underwriting Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Custodian Agreement, the Administration Agreement, and the Transfer Agency Agreement (collectively, the "Fund Agreements") and to perform all of the terms
Schedule B-1
and provisions thereof to be carried out by it and (A) each Fund Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Fund, (B) each Fund Agreement complies in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act, the Advisers Act , the Investment Company Act Rules and the Advisers Act Rules, as the case may be, and (C) assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties thereto, each Fund Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Fund enforceable in accordance with its terms, (1) subject, as to enforcement, to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to general equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (2) as rights to indemnity thereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws.
6. None of (A) the execution and delivery by the Fund of the Fund Agreements, (B) the issue and sale by the Fund of the Shares as contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement and (C) the performance by the Fund of its obligations under the Fund Agreements or consummation by the Fund of the other transactions contemplated by the Fund Agreements conflicts with or will conflict with, or results or will result in a breach of, the Declaration of Trust or the By-laws of the Fund or any agreement or instrument to which the Fund is a party or by which the Fund is bound, or any law, rule or regulation, or order of any court, governmental instrumentality, securities exchange or association or arbitrator, whether foreign or domestic, applicable to the Fund, except that we express no opinion as to the securities or "blue sky" laws applicable in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.
7. The Fund is not currently in breach of, or in default under, any written agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or its property is bound or affected.
8. No consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental agency or body or securities exchange or association, whether foreign or domestic, is required by the Fund for the consummation by the Fund of the transactions to be performed by the Fund or the performance by the Fund of all the terms and provisions to be performed by or on behalf of it in each case as contemplated in the Fund Agreements, except such as (A) have been obtained under the Securities Act, the Investment Company Act, the Advisers Act, the Securities Act Rules, the Investment Company Act Rules and the Advisers Act Rules and (B) may be required by the New York Stock Exchange or under state securities or "blue sky" laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.
9. The Shares have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance, and the Fund's Registration Statement on Form 8-A under the 1934 Act is effective.
Schedule B-2
10. There is no action, suit or proceeding before or by any court, commission, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental agency or body, foreign or domestic, now pending or, to our knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Fund, which is required to be disclosed in the Prospectus that is not disclosed in the Prospectus, and there are no contracts, franchises or other documents that are of a character required to be described in, or that are required to be filed as exhibits to, the Registration Statement that have not been described or filed as required.
11. The Fund does not require any tax or other rulings to enable it to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code.
12. Each of the section in the Prospectus entitled "Distributions -- Federal Income Tax Matters" and the section in the Statement of Additional Information entitled "Taxes" is a fair summary of the principal United States federal income tax rules currently in effect applicable to the Fund and to the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Shares.
13. The Registration Statement (except the financial statements and schedules and other financial data included therein as to which we express no view), at the time it became effective, and the Prospectus (except as aforesaid), as of the date thereof, complied as to form in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Investment Company Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
In rendering our opinion, we have relied, as to factual matters, upon the attached written certificates and statements of officers of the Fund.
In connection with the registration of the Shares, we have advised the Fund as to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Investment Company Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and have rendered other legal advice and assistance to the Fund in the course of its preparation of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. Rendering such assistance involved, among other things, discussions and inquiries concerning various legal and related subjects and reviews of certain corporate records, documents and proceedings. We also participated in conferences with representatives of the Fund and its accountants at which the contents of the Registration Statement and Prospectus and related matters were discussed. With your permission, we have not undertaken, except as otherwise indicated herein, to determine independently, and do not assume any responsibility for, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements in the Registration Statement or Prospectus. On the basis of the information which was developed in the course of the performance of the services referred to above, no information has come to our attention that would lead us to believe that the Registration Statement, at the time it became effective, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or that the Prospectus, as of its date and as of the date hereof, contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
Schedule B-3
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or that any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus, as of its respective date, and as of the date hereof, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements in the Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (except the financial statements, schedules and other financial data included therein, as to which we express no view).
Schedule B-4
SCHEDULE C
FORM OF OPINION OF INTERNAL COUNSEL
REGARDING EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT
1. Eaton Vance has been duly formed and is validly existing as a Massachusetts business trust under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation with full power and authority to conduct all of the activities conducted by it, to own or lease all of the assets owned or leased by it and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, and Eaton Vance is duly licensed and qualified and in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which it is required to be so qualified and Eaton Vance owns, possesses or has obtained and currently maintains all governmental licenses, permits, consents, orders, approvals and other authorizations, whether foreign or domestic, necessary for Eaton Vance to carry on its business as contemplated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
2. Eaton Vance is duly registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and is not prohibited by the Advisers Act, the Investment Company Act, the Advisers Act Rules or the Investment Company Act Rules from acting as investment adviser for the Fund as contemplated by the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
3. Eaton Vance has full power and authority to enter into each of the Underwriting Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Administration Agreement, the Additional Compensation Agreement, and the Shareholder Servicing Agreement (collectively, the "Eaton Vance Agreements") and to carry out all the terms and provisions thereof to be carried out by it, and each such agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by Eaton Vance; each Eaton Vance Agreement complies in all material respects with all provisions of the Investment Company Act, the Advisers Act, the Investment Company Act Rules and the Advisers Act Rules; and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties thereto, each Eaton Vance Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Eaton Vance, enforceable in accordance with its terms, (1) subject, as to enforcement, to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to general equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (2) as rights to indemnity thereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws.
4. Neither (A) the execution and delivery by Eaton Vance of any Eaton Vance Agreement nor (B) the consummation by Eaton Vance of the transactions contemplated by, or the performance of its obligations under any Eaton Vance Agreement conflicts or will conflict with, or results or will result in a breach of, the Agreement and Declaration of Trust or By-Laws of Eaton Vance or any agreement or instrument to which Eaton Vance is a party or by which Eaton Vance is bound, or any law, rule or regulation, or order of any court, governmental instrumentality, securities
Schedule C-1
exchange or association or arbitrator, whether foreign or domestic, applicable to Eaton Vance.
5. No consent, approval, authorization or order of any court, governmental agency or body or securities exchange or association, whether foreign or domestic, is required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated in, or the performance by Eaton Vance of its obligations under, any Eaton Vance Agreement, except such as have been obtained under the Investment Company Act, the Advisers Act, the Securities Act, the Investment Company Act Rules, the Advisers Act Rules and the Securities Act Rules.
6. The description of Eaton Vance and its business, and the statements attributable to Eaton Vance, in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus complies with the requirements of the Securities Act, the Investment Company Act, the Securities Act Rules and the Investment Company Act Rules and do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading.
7. There is no action, suit or proceeding before or by any court, commission, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental agency or body, foreign or domestic, now pending or, to our knowledge, threatened against or affecting Eaton Vance of a nature required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or that might reasonably result in any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, business affairs or business prospects of Eaton Vance or the ability of Eaton Vance to fulfill its respective obligations under any Eaton Vance Agreement.
8. The Registration Statement (except the financial statements and schedules and other financial data included therein as to which we express no view), at the time it became effective, and the Prospectus (except as aforesaid), as of the date thereof, appeared on their face to be appropriately responsive in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Investment Company Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
In rendering our opinion, we have relied, as to factual matters, upon the attached written certificates and statements of officers of Eaton Vance.
In connection with the registration of the Shares, we have advised Eaton Vance as to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Investment Company Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and have rendered other legal advice and assistance to Eaton Vance in the course of the preparation of the registration Statement and the Prospectus. Rendering such assistance involved, among other things, discussions and inquiries concerning various legal and related subjects and reviews of certain corporate records, documents and proceedings. We also participated in conferences with representatives of the Fund and its accountants and Eaton Vance at which the contents of the registration and Prospectus and related matters were discussed.
Schedule C-2
With your permission, we have not undertaken, except as otherwise indicated herein, to determine independently, and do not assume any responsibility for, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements in the Registration Statement or Prospectus. On the basis of the information which was developed in the course of the performance of the services referred to above, no information has come to our attention that would lead us to believe that the Registration Statement, at the time it became effective, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or that the Prospectus, as of its date and as of the date hereof, contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or that any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus, as of its respective date, and as of the date hereof, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements in the Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (except the financial statements, schedules and other financial data included therein, as to which we express no view).
Schedule C-3
SCHEDULE D
FORM OF OPINION OF KIRKPATRICK & LOCKHART LLP
REGARDING RAMPART INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY, INC.
1. Rampart Investment Management Company, Inc. (the "Sub-Adviser") has been duly formed and is validly existing as a Massachusetts corporation under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation with full power and authority to conduct all of the activities conducted by it, to own or lease all of the assets owned or leased by it and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, and the Sub-Adviser is duly licensed and qualified and in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which it is required to be so qualified and the Sub-Adviser owns, possesses or has obtained and currently maintains all governmental licenses, permits, consents, orders, approvals and other authorizations, whether foreign or domestic, necessary for the Sub-Adviser to carry on its business as contemplated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
2. The Sub-Adviser is duly registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and is not prohibited by the Advisers Act, the Investment Company Act, the Advisers Act Rules or the Investment Company Act Rules from acting as investment adviser for the Fund as contemplated by the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
3. The Sub-Adviser has full power and authority to enter into each of the Underwriting Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement (collectively, the "Sub-Adviser Agreements") and to carry out all the terms and provisions thereof to be carried out by it, and each such agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Sub-Adviser; each Sub-Adviser Agreement complies in all material respects with all provisions of the Investment Company Act, the Advisers Act, the Investment Company Act Rules and the Advisers Act Rules; and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties thereto, each Sub-Adviser Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Sub-Adviser, enforceable in accordance with its terms, (1) subject, as to enforcement, to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to general equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (2) as rights to indemnity thereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws.
4. Neither (A) the execution and delivery by the Sub-Adviser of any Sub-Adviser Agreement nor (B) the consummation by the Sub-Adviser of the transactions contemplated by, or the performance of its obligations under any Sub-Adviser Agreement conflicts or will conflict with, or results or will result in a breach of, the Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws of the Sub-Adviser or any agreement or instrument to which the Sub-Adviser is a party or by which the Sub-Adviser is bound, or any law, rule or regulation, or order of any court, governmental instrumentality, securities exchange or association or arbitrator, whether foreign or domestic, applicable to the Sub-Adviser.
Schedule D-1
5. No consent, approval, authorization or order of any court, governmental agency or body or securities exchange or association, whether foreign or domestic, is required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated in, or the performance by the Sub-Adviser of its obligations under, any Sub-Adviser Agreement, except such as have been obtained under the Investment Company Act, the Advisers Act, the Securities Act, the Investment Company Act Rules, the Advisers Act Rules and the Securities Act Rules.
6. The description of the Sub-Adviser and its business, and the statements attributable to the Sub-Adviser, in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus complies with the requirements of the Securities Act, the Investment Company Act, the Securities Act Rules and the Investment Company Act Rules and do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading.
7. There is no action, suit or proceeding before or by any court, commission, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental agency or body, foreign or domestic, now pending or, to our knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Sub-Adviser of a nature required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or that might reasonably result in any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, business affairs or business prospects of the Sub-Adviser or the ability of the Sub-Adviser to fulfill its respective obligations under any Sub-Adviser Agreement.
8. The Registration Statement (except the financial statements and schedules and other financial data included therein as to which we express no view), at the time it became effective, and the Prospectus (except as aforesaid), as of the date thereof, appeared on their face to be appropriately responsive in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Investment Company Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
In rendering our opinion, we have relied, as to factual matters, upon the attached written certificates and statements of officers of the Sub-Adviser.
In connection with the registration of the Shares, we have advised the Sub-Adviser as to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Investment Company Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and have rendered other legal advice and assistance to the Sub-Adviser in the course of the preparation of the registration Statement and the Prospectus. Rendering such assistance involved, among other things, discussions and inquiries concerning various legal and related subjects and reviews of certain corporate records, documents and proceedings. We also participated in conferences with representatives of the Fund and its accountants and the Sub-Adviser at which the contents of the registration and Prospectus and related matters were discussed. With your permission, we have not undertaken, except as otherwise indicated herein, to determine independently, and do not assume any responsibility for, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements in the Registration Statement or
Schedule D-2
Prospectus. On the basis of the information which was developed in the course of the performance of the services referred to above, no information has come to our attention that would lead us to believe that the Registration Statement, at the time it became effective, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or that the Prospectus, as of its date and as of the date hereof, contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or that any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus, as of its respective date, and as of the date hereof, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements in the Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (except the financial statements, schedules and other financial data included therein, as to which we express no view).
Schedule D-3
SCHEDULE E
FORM OF ACCOUNTANT'S LETTER
, 2005
The Board of Trustees of
Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund II
The Eaton Vance Building
255 State Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
UBS Securities LLC
299 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10171
as Managing Representative of the Underwriters
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have audited the statement of assets and liabilities of Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund II (the "Fund") as of [ ], 2005 included in the Registration Statement on Form N-2 filed by the Fund under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") (File No. 333-[ ]) and under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Investment Company Act") (File No. 811-[ ]); such statement and our report with respect to such statement are included in the Registration Statement.
In connection with the Registration Statement:
1. We are independent public accountants with respect to the Fund within the meaning of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder.
2. In our opinion, the statement of assets and liabilities included in the Registration Statement and audited by us complies as to form in all respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act, the Investment Company Act and the respective rules and regulations thereunder.
3. For purposes of this letter we have read the minutes of all meetings of the Shareholders, the Board of Trustees and all Committees of the Board of Trustees of the Fund as set forth in the minute books at the offices of the Fund, officials of the Fund having advised us that the minutes of all such meetings through [ ], 2005, were set forth therein.
4. Fund officials have advised us that no financial statements as of any date subsequent to [ ], 2005, are available. We have made inquiries of certain officials of the Fund who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters
Schedule E-1
regarding whether there was any change at [ ], 2005, in the capital shares or net assets of the Fund as compared with amounts shown in the [ ], 2005, statement of assets and liabilities included in the Registration Statement, except for changes that the Registration Statement discloses have occurred or may occur. On the basis of our inquiries and our reading of the minutes as described in Paragraph 3, nothing came to our attention that caused us to believe that there were any such changes.
The foregoing procedures do not constitute an audit made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Accordingly, we make no representations as to the sufficiency of the foregoing procedures for your purposes.
This letter is solely for the information of the addressees and to assist the underwriters in conducting and documenting their investigation of the affairs of the Fund in connection with the offering of the securities covered by the Registration Statement, and is not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise referred to within or without the underwriting group for any other purpose, including but not limited to the registration, purchase or sale of securities, nor is it to be filed with or referred to in whole or in part in the Registration Statement or any other document, except that reference may be made to it in the underwriting agreement or in any list of closing documents pertaining to the offering of the securities covered by the Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
Schedule E-2
Exhibit (h)(2)
Master Agreement Among Underwriters
UBS Securities LLC
299 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10171-0026
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We hereby agree that this Master Agreement Among Underwriters (this "Agreement") will apply to our participation in offerings of securities where you act as Manager or one of the Managers of the underwriting syndicate (including offerings subject to competitive bidding where you act as Representative of a group of bidders or purchasers). The issuer of the securities is referred to as the "Company", the seller of any such securities other than the Company is referred to as the "Seller" and such securities are referred to as the "Securities".
1. Applicability
This Agreement as amended or supplemented by the Terms Communication (as defined below) will apply to any offering of Securities, pursuant to a registration statement filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the "Securities Act"), or exempt from such registration, where you have informed us that this Agreement applies. Any such offering in which we participate as an Underwriter is referred to as an "Offering".
You may, from time to time, invite us to participate in an Offering by sending a wire, telex, facsimile or other means of invitation relating to that Offering (an "Invitation"). As to any such Offering, you will promptly advise us of the following as applicable: the amount of Securities to be underwritten by us, the expected offering and closing dates, the offering price and the purchase price, the interest or dividend rate (or the method by which such rate is to be determined), the conversion price, the underwriting discount, the management fee, the concession and the reallowance. If the offering price is to be determined by a formula based upon the market price of certain securities ("Formula Pricing"), you will so indicate and specify the maximum underwriting discount, management fee and concession. You will also advise us if the Offering includes Delayed Delivery Contracts or if the Underwriting Agreement (as defined below) grants the Underwriters an option to purchase additional Securities (the "Option Securities"). The foregoing information may be conveyed in the Invitation or in a Terms Wire substantially in the forms of Exhibits A and B hereto, respectively (collectively, the "Terms Communication"). The Terms Communication may also supplement or amend the terms of this Agreement applicable to an Offering.
Receipt of our acceptance substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A without receipt of our written revocation before the time specified in the Terms Communication constitutes our "Final Acceptance". By our Final Acceptance, we agree that this Agreement will be incorporated by reference in such Terms Communication as though set forth in its entirety and will govern our participation in such Offering.
2. Underwriting Agreement and Master Underwriters' Questionnaire
For each Offering, the Company, any Seller and/or any guarantor of such Securities will enter into an underwriting or purchase agreement or similar agreement (the "Underwriting Agreement"), which will be sent to us, available for review in your office or in publicly available form with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). By our Final Acceptance, we authorize you to purchase on our behalf the amount of the Securities set forth in the Terms Communication (our "Initial Commitment") plus our share of any Option Securities less any amount of our Securities to be sold pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts under Section 7 below. The Securities we are obligated to purchase after any such adjustment are referred to as "Our Securities." If the Securities are debt obligations maturing serially, our allocation of the maturities will be proportionate to our underwriting obligation.
Our Final Acceptance will also constitute (i) our representation that our
commitment with respect to the Offering will not violate any applicable capital
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules
and regulations thereunder (collectively, the "Exchange Act"), the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") or any securities exchange and
(ii) our confirmation that the information given or deemed given in response to
the Master Underwriters' Questionnaire attached as Exhibit C is correct. We will
notify you immediately whenever such information becomes inaccurate or
incomplete during an Offering.
3. Offering Documents
Registered Offerings. For an Offering of Securities registered under the Securities Act ("Registered Offering"), you will provide the file number(s) of the Registration Statement (as defined below) filed with the Commission or, to the extent made available by the Company, send us or make available for our review in your office a copy of such Registration Statement except for any exhibits and documents incorporated therein by reference. As soon as practicable after sufficient quantities of the final prospectus (excluding documents incorporated by reference therein) are made available to you by the Company to be used in connection with the Offering of the Securities, you will furnish to us sufficient copies thereof or arrange to have such copies furnished to us. We understand that we are not authorized to give any information or make any representation not contained in the Prospectus (including documents incorporated by reference therein), as amended or supplemented, in connection with the Offering.
Our Final Acceptance will constitute (i) our acknowledgment that we are familiar with such Registration Statement, as amended to the date of the Offering, including any exhibits or
documents incorporated therein by reference (the "Registration Statement"), and with any preliminary prospectus, final prospectus, or prospectus supplement filed with the Commission (collectively, the "Prospectus") and the forms of Underwriting Agreement and indenture or other document describing the terms of the Securities filed as exhibits thereto or otherwise made available to us, (ii) our representation that the information relating to us in such Registration Statement and Prospectus is correct and not misleading, (iii) our consent to be named as an Underwriter therein, and (iv) our representation that we will furnish a Prospectus to each person to whom we sell Securities or to whom we furnished a previous Prospectus as required by applicable regulation or as requested by you. We will maintain accurate records of our distribution of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
Where specified in the Terms Communication, we will not without your consent sell any of the Securities to an account over which we have investment discretion.
Offerings Pursuant to Offering Circular. For other than a Registered Offering, you will provide or make available to us for our review in your office, to the extent made available by the Company, copies of any preliminary and final offering circulars or other offering materials and any amendments thereto (the "Offering Circular"). As soon as practicable after sufficient quantities of the final offering circular (excluding documents incorporated by reference therein) are made available to you by the Company to be used in connection with the Offering of the Securities, you will furnish to us sufficient copies thereof or arrange to have such copies furnished to us. We understand that we are not authorized to give any information or make any representation not contained in the Offering Circular (including documents incorporated by reference therein), as amended or supplemented, in connection with the Offering.
Our Final Acceptance will also constitute (i) our acknowledgment that we are familiar with the Offering Circular, and the forms of Underwriting Agreement and indenture or other document describing the terms of the Securities made available to us (ii) our representation that the information relating to us in the Offering Circular is correct and not misleading, (iii) our consent to being named as an Underwriter therein, and (iv) our representation that we will furnish an Offering Circular to each person to whom we sell Securities or to whom we furnish a previous Offering Circular as required by any regulation or as requested by you. We will maintain accurate records of our distribution of the Offering Circular.
4. Manager's Authority
We authorize you, acting as Manager, to (i) negotiate, execute and deliver the Underwriting Agreement, (ii) exercise all authority and discretion granted by the Underwriting Agreement and take all action you deem desirable in connection with this Agreement and the Underwriting Agreement including, but not limited to, waiving performance or satisfaction by the Company, any selling security holder or any other party to the Underwriting Agreement of its or their obligations or conditions included in the Underwriting Agreement or the Terms Communication (including this Agreement), if in your judgment such waiver will not have a material adverse effect upon the interests of the Underwriters and exercising any right of cancellation or
termination, (iii) modify, vary or waive any provision in the Underwriting Agreement except the amount of Our Securities or the purchase price (except you may determine the price by Formula Pricing where applicable), (iv) determine the timing and the terms of the Offering (including varying the offering terms and the concessions and discounts to dealers), (v) exercise any option relating to the purchase of Option Securities, and (vi) take all action you deem desirable in connection with the Offering and the purchase, carrying, sale and distribution of the Securities. If there are other Managers with respect to an Offering, you may take any action hereunder alone on behalf of the Managers, and our representations, agreements and authorizations given herein shall also be for the benefit of such other Manager to whom you may grant any of your authority to act hereunder.
You may arrange for the purchase by others, who may include your or other Underwriters, of any Securities not taken up by an Underwriter in respect of its obligations hereunder who defaults under this Agreement and/or the Underwriting Agreement. We will assume our proportionate share of all defaulted obligations not assumed by others and any Securities so assumed shall be included in Our Securities. However, nothing in this paragraph will affect our liability or obligations in the event of a default by us or any other Underwriter(s).
You may advertise the Offering as you determine and determine all matters relating to communications with dealers or others. We will not advertise the Offering without your consent, and we assume all expense and risk with respect to any advertising by us.
Notwithstanding any information you furnish as to jurisdictions where you believe the Securities may be sold, you have no obligation for qualification of the Securities for sale under the laws of any jurisdiction. You may file a New York Further State Notice. You have no liability to us except for your own lack of good faith in meeting obligations expressly assumed by you hereunder.
5. Management Fee
We will pay and authorize you to charge our account with our share of the Management Fee set forth in the Terms Communication and calculated without deduction in respect of any Delayed Delivery Securities. Such compensation may be divided among the Managers as you decide.
6. Offering
We will comply with any applicable requirement of the Securities Act, the
Exchange Act and any other applicable Federal or state statute and the rules and
regulations thereunder. We will make no sales of Securities until you release us
to do so. Any Securities released to us for public offering will be promptly
offered in conformity with the Prospectus or Offering Circular and we will not
allow any discount except as permitted by this Agreement. If we offer Securities
outside the United States, its territories or possessions, we will take all
action necessary to comply with all applicable laws at our own expense and risk.
You may reserve for sale, sell and deliver for our account any of Our Securities
(i) to customers, (ii) to dealers (including Underwriters) who
are members of the NASD and agree to comply with the terms of Section 16 below and (iii) to foreign dealers or other institutions (including Underwriters) not eligible for NASD membership who agree to comply with the terms of Section 16 below. Sales of Securities to customers for the account of Underwriters will be as nearly as practicable in proportion to their respective Initial Commitments, and sales of Securities to dealers for the account of Underwriters will be as nearly as practicable in proportion to each Underwriter's pro rata share of Securities reserved for such sales. You will advise us of the amount of Our Securities which we will retain for direct sale. Any Securities reserved by you for sale for our account but not sold may be released by you to us for direct sale, in which event the amount of Securities so reserved shall be correspondingly reduced. We will obtain an agreement containing the representations in Section 16 below from dealers to whom we sell Securities.
In connection with any Offering of Securities that are registered under the Act
and issued by a company that was not, immediately prior to the filing of the
Registration Statement, subject to the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of
the Exchange Act, we agree that unless otherwise advised by you and disclosed in
the Prospectus we will not make sales to any account over which we exercise
discretionary authority with respect to that sale (discretionary accounts). We
will advise you on request of the unsold amount of Our Securities. You may at
any time (i) reserve such Securities for sale by you for our account, (ii)
purchase any such Securities to make deliveries for the Underwriters (at the
public offering price or at such price less all or part of the concession) or
(iii) reserve such Securities for sale by the Company pursuant to Delayed
Delivery Contracts. If the total of the unsold Securities does not exceed 15% of
all Securities, you may sell the unsold Securities for the Underwriters as you
determine.
If prior to the termination of this Agreement with respect to the offering of the Securities, you shall purchase or contract to purchase any of Our Securities sold or loaned directly by us, in your discretion you may (i) sell for our account the Securities so purchased and debit or credit our account for the loss or profit resulting from such sale, (ii) charge our account with an amount not in excess of the concession to dealers with respect thereto and credit such amount against the cost thereof or (iii) require us to purchase such Securities at a price equal to the total cost of such purchase, including commissions, accrued interest, amortization of original issue discount or dividends and transfer taxes on redelivery.
7. Arrangements for Delayed Delivery
Arrangements for Delayed Delivery Securities will be made only through you directly, or through dealers (which may be Underwriters) to whom you may pay a commission. Our Initial Commitment will be reduced by the Delayed Delivery Securities attributed to us. Delayed Delivery Securities will be attributed in the same manner and proportions as provided in Section 6 above.
The fee payable to us will be credited to our account based on the amount by which our Initial Commitment is reduced in accordance with the above paragraph, less the commission paid on Delayed Delivery Securities that are sold through dealers and attributed to us. We will be treated
as only a dealer and receive only the concession with respect to the Securities, if any, by which the aggregate of the Delayed Delivery Securities attributable to us exceeds our Initial Commitment.
8. Stabilization and Over-Allotment
During an Offering, and longer if necessary to cover any short position, you may
buy and sell for either long or short account in the open market or otherwise
(i) the Securities, (ii) if the Securities are common stock or a security
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for common stock (including any
option on common stock), the common stock of the Company and any security
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for common stock including any
option on such common stock (referred to as "Equivalent Securities"), and (iii)
any other securities that you may designate in the Terms Communication. In
arranging for sales of Securities, you may also over-allot and cover such
over-allotment on such terms as you deem advisable. At no time (except for
over-allotments which may be covered by an over-allotment option and except as a
result of a default by an Underwriter) shall our net commitment pursuant to this
Section exceed 20% of our Initial Commitment. All transactions pursuant to this
Section shall be made for the respective accounts of the Underwriters as nearly
as practicable in proportion to their Initial Commitments. Any securities
purchased by you for stabilizing purposes prior to our Final Acceptance will
also be subject to this Section. On demand, we will (x) pay for any Securities
purchased, deliver any Securities sold or over-allotted, or pay any losses or
expenses incurred for our account pursuant to this Section and (y) advise you of
the Securities retained by us and unsold and will sell to you for the account of
one or more of the Underwriters such of our unsold Securities at such price, not
less than the net price to selected dealers nor more than the public offering
price, as you determine.
You will notify us promptly of any transaction which in your judgment may be a "stabilizing purchase" within the meaning of the applicable rules of the Commission and will also notify us of the date and time when any such stabilizing was terminated. If stabilization is effected we will provide you not later than the fifth full business day following the termination of stabilization, with such information and reports as are required in relation to such stabilization pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Exchange Act.
9. Open Market Transactions
Until notified by you to the contrary, we will not buy, sell, deal or trade in Securities, any Equivalent Securities, or any other securities designated in the Terms Communication. However, such restrictions will not apply to unsolicited brokerage orders received in the ordinary course of business. We may, with your prior consent, make purchases of the Securities from and sales to other Underwriters at the public offering price, less all or any part of the concession to dealers. We will also comply with the provisions of Regulation M under the Exchange Act if applicable to us.
10. Payment, Delivery and Settlement
In payment for the Securities we are obligated to purchase, we will deliver a federal funds wire transfer to your order in accordance with your instructions as to time and place of delivery and amount of funds. As our agent you may pay the Company and any Seller the amount due against delivery of the Securities. Unless we promptly provide contrary instructions, transactions may be settled through The Depository Trust Company if we or our correspondent is a member. If you do not receive our payment as instructed, you may make payment for our account without relieving us of our obligations under this Agreement and, we will repay promptly on demand the amount advanced plus interest at current rates.
You may deliver to us from time to time against payment, for carrying purposes only, the unsold amount of Our Securities except that if the aggregate amount of reserved but unsold Securities upon termination in accordance with the second paragraph of Section 13 below does not exceed 10% of the total amount of Securities, you may in your discretion sell such Securities for the accounts of the Underwriters, at such prices and in such manner as you determine. On demand, we will redeliver against payment any Securities so delivered.
As soon as practicable after any Offering, the net credit or debit balance in our account shall be paid to or collected from us; provided, however, that you may reserve any amount for possible additional expenses chargeable to the Underwriters. No statement by you regarding a balance in our account or the establishment of any reserve shall constitute a representation as to the existence or nonexistence of amounts chargeable to us. Notwithstanding any distribution to us, we will remain liable for and pay on demand (i) any transfer taxes paid after settlement of our account, and (ii) our proportionate share based on our Initial Commitment of all expenses and liability incurred for the Underwriters, including any liability based on the claim that the Underwriters constitute an association, unincorporated business, partnership or any separate entity. You may at any time make partial distribution of credit balances or require partial payment of debit balances.
11. Authority to Borrow
In carrying out this Agreement, you may arrange loans from yourself or others for our account. In connection with any such loan, you may hold or pledge the Securities or any other securities and execute and deliver any notes, agreements or other instruments you deem appropriate. Any lender is authorized to accept your instructions as Manager in all matters relating to such loans. Any Securities or such other securities held by you for our account may be delivered to us for carrying purposes, and if so delivered will be redelivered to you upon demand.
12. Expenses
All expenses incurred by you in connection with an Offering and with this Agreement are to be charged to the Underwriters' accounts in proportion to their respective Initial Commitments except that any transfer taxes on sales made by you to dealers are to be charged to the Underwriter for whose account such sales were made. Any of our funds may be held with your general funds without interest. Your determination, apportionment and distribution of profits, losses and expenses will be final and conclusive.
13. Termination
This Agreement may be terminated by either party on five business days' prior written notice except that our notice is not effective as to any Offering where such notice is received by you after our Final Acceptance. Further, the third paragraph of Section 10 and Sections 12, 14, 15, and 17 and your representations hereunder will in all circumstances survive as to all Offerings.
Except as otherwise provided in the foregoing paragraph, with respect to any Offering this Agreement will terminate at the close of business on the thirtieth day after the Securities are released for public sale, unless you either terminate this Agreement earlier or extend it for up to thirty additional days.
This Agreement will continue in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of any Underwriting Agreement, (ii) any investigation relating to any Securities or any Offering and (iii) the delivery of and payment for any Securities. No termination pursuant to this Section will affect your authority or our obligations under Sections 8 and 10. No termination will relieve any defaulting Underwriter.
14. Underwriters' Status
Nothing herein is to constitute any of the Underwriters a partnership, association, unincorporated business or other separate entity or is to render you or us liable (except as provided herein or in the Underwriting Agreement) for any obligation of any other Underwriters; and the obligations and liabilities of each of the Underwriters are several and not joint. In no event will the Underwriters elect to be treated as a partnership for Federal income tax purposes, and will not take any position inconsistent with this sentence. If for Federal income tax purposes the Underwriters should be deemed to constitute a partnership, then each Underwriter elects to be excluded from the application of Subchapter K, Chapter 1, Subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code and authorizes UBS Securities LLC, in its discretion, on behalf of such Underwriter, to execute such evidence of such election as may be required by the Internal Revenue Services.
15. Default by Underwriters
Default by one or more Underwriters hereunder or under the Underwriting Agreement will not release the other Underwriters from their respective obligations or affect the liability of any defaulting Underwriters to the other Underwriters for damages resulting from such default.
16. Indemnity and Contribution
We will indemnify, hold harmless and reimburse you and each other Underwriter (and your respective controlling persons within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act) and the successors and assigns of all of the foregoing persons to the extent and on the terms that each Underwriter agrees to indemnify any person in the Underwriting Agreement.
If any inquiry or investigation is initiated or if any claim is asserted against you as Manager or otherwise involves the Underwriters generally, or relates to any Prospectus, Registration Statement, Offering Circular, the offering of the Securities, or any transaction contemplated by this Agreement or any Underwriting Agreement, you may make such investigation, retain such counsel and take any other action you deem desirable, including settlement of any claim if recommended by counsel retained by you. Upon your request, we will pay our proportionate share of all expenses incurred by you or with your consent (including, but not limited to, fees and disbursements of counsel) in investigating and defending against such inquiry, investigation, claim or otherwise, and, as contributions, our proportionate share of any related liability incurred whether such liability results from a judgment, settlement or otherwise. A claim against or liability incurred by a person who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or Exchange Act shall be deemed incurred by such Underwriter. You may consent to being named as the representative of a defendant class of Underwriters. If any Underwriter or Underwriters default in their obligation to make any payments under Section 15, each nondefaulting Underwriter shall be obligated to pay its proportionate share of all defaulted payments, based upon such Underwriter's underwriting obligation as related to the underwriting obligations of all nondefaulting Underwriters, without relieving the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters of liability therefor. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
17. NASD
We understand that you are a member in good standing of the NASD. We represent that (i) we are a member in good standing of the NASD and will comply with all applicable rules of the NASD, including the NASD's Interpretation with respect to Free Riding and Withholding and Rule 2740 of the Conduct Rules, or (ii) we are a foreign bank, broker, dealer or other institutions not eligible for such membership and will not make sales within the United States, its territories or possessions or to persons who are citizens or residents thereof except through you (except that we may participate in group sales pursuant to Section 6 above) and that in making sales outside the United States, we will comply with the requirements of the NASD's Interpretation with respect to Free Riding and Withholding and comply as though a member with Rules 2420, 2730, 2740 and 2750 of the Conduct Rules of the NASD.
18. Miscellaneous
This Agreement and any claim, counterclaim or dispute of any kind or nature whatsoever arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement ("Claim"), directly or indirectly, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without regard to the conflicts of law provisions thereof. Except as set forth below, no Claim may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in any court other than the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which courts shall have jurisdiction over the adjudication of such matters, and we and you consent to the jurisdiction of such courts and personal service with respect thereto. We and you waive all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether based upon contract, tort or otherwise) in any way arising out of or relating to this Agreement. We agree that a final judgment in any such action, proceeding or counterclaim brought in any such court shall be conclusive and binding upon us and may be enforced in any other courts to the jurisdiction of which we are, or may be subject, by suit upon such judgment. The Section headings in this Agreement have been inserted as a matter of convenience of reference and are not a part of this Agreement. This Agreement may be supplemented or amended by you by written notice to us and, except for supplements or amendments set forth in a Terms Communication, any such supplement or amendment to this Agreement shall be effective with respect to any Offering to which this Agreement applies after the date of such supplement or amendment. Each reference to "Agreement" herein shall, as appropriate, be to this Agreement as so amended and supplemented. This Agreement may be signed by the parties in one or more counterparts which together shall constitute one and the same agreement among the parties.
19. Notices
Any notice hereunder is duly given if sent from you by registered mail, telegram or telex, to us as set forth below or if sent to you at UBS Securities LLC, 299 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10171-0026, Attention: Corporate Syndicate Department.
Very truly yours,
By:____________________________
(Signature)
Facsimile No.:____________
Confirmed as of the date first above written.
UBS Securities LLC
By: ______________________________
Executive Director
UBS Securities LLC
By: ______________________________
Managing Director
FORM OF INVITATION TO BE USED WITH MASTER AGREEMENT AMONG UNDERWRITERS
(The following form of Invitation, adapted as appropriate for debt securities, convertible securities, stock or units, is designed for use in all offerings to which UBS Securities LLC Master Agreement Among Underwriters (the "Master AAU") will apply. In certain cases, all or a part of the following form will be combined with the form of Terms Wire.)
(Date)
(Name and address of prospective Underwriter)
Attention: Corporate Syndicate Department Invitation Wire (Name of Issuer) |
(Title of Securities) (principal amount or number shares)
(Name of Guarantor, if any)
Registration form or application filed with (name of regulatory authority)
Seller(s): (Insert if other than or in addition to Company)
The anticipated terms are as follows:
Call Protection: (insert if applicable) Sinking Fund: (insert if applicable) Starts in and retires $ per annum through Optional Redemption Schedule: Redeemable at %, beginning declining (straight-line) to 100%, beginning Over-allotment Option: (insert amount, if applicable) Ratings: (expected-confirmed) Listing: (insert if applicable) Application has been made to list (insert name(s) of exchange(s)) Delayed Delivery: (insert if applicable) Name of Trustee: (insert if applicable) Name of Parent of Trustee: (insert if applicable) Name of Parent of Company: (insert if applicable) Equivalent Securities and other securities subject to stabilization pursuant to Section 8 of Master AAU and restricted pursuant to Section 9 of Master AAU: (insert if applicable) Other terms of the Offering or the Securities: (insert if applicable) |
[The issuer is not subject to the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. We call your attention to the final paragraph of Section 3(a) of our Master Agreement Among Underwriters and advise you that, without our consent, Securities should not be sold to an account over which you have investment discretion.] (insert if applicable)
You are hereby invited to participate as one of the several Underwriters in the above-referenced Offering for (amount). Your participation as an Underwriter shall be subject to the provisions of the Master Agreement Among Underwriters between you and UBS Securities LLC, as amended.
If you wish to accept this Invitation and thereby agree to its terms, the
Corporate Syndicate Department of UBS Securities LLC : must receive a telegram,
telex or Graphic Scanning communication from you not later than _____________
M., New York City time, on ____________, ___, in substantially the following
form:
"We accept the Invitation dated _____________, ____, to participate as an Underwriter in the Offering of Securities of (insert name of issuer). We confirm that we agree to be bound by the Master Agreement Among Underwriters as it relates to this Offering and that there are no exceptions to your Master Underwriters' Questionnaire (or state exceptions)."
(Signature of firm)
UBS Securities LLC
[Name of Co-Manager(s), if any]
FORM OF TERMS WIRE TO BE USED WITH UBS SECURITIES LLC MASTER AGREEMENT AMONG UNDERWRITERS
(The following form, adapted as appropriate for debt securities, convertible securities, stock or units, will be used in connection with offerings to which the UBS Securities LLC Master Agreement Among Underwriters will apply. In certain cases all or part of the following form will be combined with the form of Invitation.)
(Date)
(Name and address of prospective Underwriter)
Attention: Corporate Syndicate Department Terms Wire (Name of Issuer) |
(Title of Securities) (principal amount or number of shares)
(Name of Guarantor, if any)
Your underwriting commitment shall be ____________________
Coupon [dividend rate] (insert if applicable) Initial offering price[s] (1) (or specify formula pricing is being used) Yield to Maturity: Conversion price and other terms: (insert if applicable) Expected Offering Date: Expected Closing Date: Delivery of Securities: Type of Funds: Gross spread: (unless formula pricing is being used) Management fee: (or maximum amount thereof) Underwriting: (unless formula pricing is being used) Selling concession: (unless formula pricing is being used) Reallowance: (unless formula pricing is being used) Other terms of the Offering or the Securities: (insert if applicable) |
NOTE: Plus accrued interest/dividends from (insert date for fixed income securities).
Unless a telex from you revoking your previous Acceptance of our Invitation with respect to this offering is received by the UBS Securities LLC Corporate Syndicate Department, prior to New York City time on ___________, your Acceptance will become final and our Master Agreement Among Underwriters will become effective as to you with respect to this Offering.
UBS Securities LLC
[Name of Co-Manager(s), if any]
By: UBS Securities LLC
UBS Securities LLC
MASTER UNDERWRITERS' QUESTIONNAIRE
Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used herein shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Master Agreement Among Underwriters between UBS Securities LLC and us (such agreement as amended or supplemented from time to time being hereinafter referred to as the "Agreement"). Reference will be made to this Master Underwriters' Questionnaire in the Terms Communication described in Section 1 of the Agreement received by us in connection with the offerings of securities in which UBS Securities LLC is acting as manager of the several underwriters. Our acceptance of any Terms Communication should respond to this Master Underwriters' Questionnaire, and state that there are "no exceptions" or, if there are exceptions, provide details thereof. We authorize you to furnish such information and make such representations to appropriate authorities based on the information provided by us pursuant to this Questionnaire.
In connection with the Offering, we advise you and the Company that, except as indicated in our acceptance of the Terms Communication:
neither we nor any of our directors, officers or partners has, nor have we or they had within the last three years, a "material" relationship (as the term "material" is defined in Regulation C promulgated under the Securities Act) with the Company, its parent, if any, any Seller or Guarantor;
neither we nor any of our officers, directors or partners, separately or as a "group" (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), owns of record or beneficially (determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) more than 5% of any class of voting securities of the Company, its parent or any Seller or Guarantor or is affiliated (as that term is defined in the Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act) with any person who owns of record or beneficially more than 5% of any such class of securities or has knowledge that more than 5% of any such class is or is to be held subject to any voting trust or similar arrangement;
other than as may be stated in the Agreement, the Terms Communication or the Underwriting Agreement relating to the proposed offering or the UBS Securities LLC Master Dealer Agreement, we do not know of, or have any reason to believe that there are, any arrangements (i) for any discounts or commissions to be allowed or paid to underwriters or any other items that would be deemed by the NASD to constitute underwriting compensation for purposes of Rule 2710 of the NASD's Conduct Rules; (ii) for any discounts or commissions to be allowed or paid to dealers or any cash, securities, contracts or other consideration to be received by any dealer in connection with the sale of the Securities; (iii) for limiting or restricting the sale of any securities of the Company or the Guarantor for the period of distribution; (iv) for stabilizing the market for any securities of the Company or the Guarantor; or (v) for withholding commissions or otherwise holding each underwriter or dealer responsible for the distribution of his participation;
neither we nor any of our directors, officers, partners or "persons associated with" us (as defined in the By-laws of the NASD) within the last 12 months have purchased (or intends within six months after the commencement of the offering of the Securities to purchase) in private transactions any securities of the Company or the Guarantor or any parent or subsidiary thereof or have had any dealings with the Company or the Guarantor or any parent or controlling stockholder thereof (other than relating to the proposed Underwriting Agreement), as to which documents or information are required to be filed with the NASD pursuant to its Conduct Rules;
no report or memorandum has been prepared by or for us for external use in connection with the Offering, and if the Registration Statement is on Form S-1, no engineering, management or similar report or memorandum relating to broad aspects of the business, operations or products of the Company, the Guarantor or any parent thereof has been prepared for or by you within the past twelve months (except for reports solely comprised of recommendations to buy, sell or hold the securities of the Company, the Guarantor or any parent thereof, unless such recommendations have changed within the last six months).
If the Securities are to be issued under an Indenture qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939:
we (if a corporation) do not have outstanding nor have we assumed or guaranteed any securities issued otherwise than in our present corporate name and neither the Trustee nor its parent is a holder of any of our securities;
neither we nor any of our directors, officers or partners is an "affiliate," as defined in Rule 0-2 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, of the Trustee or its parent, and neither the Trustee nor its parent, nor any of their directors or executive officers is a director, officer, partner, employee, appointee or representative of us as those terms are defined in said Act or in the relevant instructions to the Trustee's Statement of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1; and
In the event of an exception to the type of materials referred to, three complies of each item of such material, together with a statement describing the actual or proposed use, the distribution thereof, and identifying the classes of recipients, the number of copies of such materials distributed to each such class and the period of distribution must be sent to UBS Securities LLC, 299 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10171-0026, Attention: Corporate Syndicate Department.
neither we nor any of our directors, executive officers, partners or parents, separately or as a group, owns beneficially 1% or more of any class of voting securities of the Trustee or its parent; and
if the issuer is a public utility, we are not a "holding company" or a "subsidiary company" or an "affiliate" of a "holding company" or of a "public utility company," each as defined in the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935.
Exhibit (h)(3)
MASTER SELECTED DEALERS AGREEMENT
, 2004
UBS Securities LLC
299 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10171
Gentlemen:
1. General. We understand that UBS Securities LLC ("UBS Securities") is entering into this Agreement with us and other firms who may be offered the right to purchase as principal a portion of securities being distributed to the public. The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall be applicable to any public offering of securities ("Securities") wherein UBS Securities (acting for its own account or for the account of any underwriting or similar group or syndicate) is responsible for managing or other wise implementing the sale of the Securities to selected dealers ("Selected Dealers") and has expressly informed us that such terms and conditions shall be applicable. Any such offering of Securities to us as a Selected Dealer is hereinafter called an "Offering." In the case of any Offering in which you are acting for the account of any underwriting or similar group or syndicate ("Underwriters"), the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of, and binding upon such Underwriters, including, in the case of any Offering in which you are acting with others as representatives of Underwriters, such other representatives. The term "preliminary prospectus" means, in the case of an Offering registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"), any preliminary prospectus relating to an Offering of Securities or any preliminary prospectus supplement together with a prospectus relating to an Offering of Securities and, in the case of an Offering not registered under the Securities Act, any preliminary offering circular relating to an Offering of Securities or any preliminary offering circular supplement together with an offering circular relating to an Offering of Securities; the term "Prospectus" means, in the case of an Offering registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"), the prospectus, together with the final prospectus supplement, if any, relating to such Offering of Securities, filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) or Rule 424(c) under the Securities Act and, in the case of an Offering not registered under the Securities Act, the final offering circular, including any supplements, relating to such Offering of Securities.
2. Conditions of Offering; Acceptance and Purchase. Any Offering will be subject to delivery of the Securities and their acceptance by you and any other Underwriters, may be subject to the approval of all legal matters by counsel and the satisfaction of other conditions, and may be made on the basis of reservation of Securities or an allotment against subscription. You will advise us by telegram, telex or other form of writ ten communication ("Written Communication") of the particular method and supplementary terms and conditions (including, without limitation, the information as to prices and offering date referred to in Section 3(b)) of any Offering in which we are invited to participate. To the extent such supplementary terms and conditions are inconsistent with any provision herein, such terms and conditions shall supersede any such provision. Unless otherwise indicated in any such Written Communication, acceptances and other communications by us with respect to any Offering should be sent to UBS Securities LLC, 299 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10171. You reserve the right to reject any acceptance in whole or in part. Payment for Securities purchased by us is to be made at such office as you may designate, at the public offering price, or, if you shall so advise us, at such price less the concession to dealers or at the price set forth or indicated in a Written Communication, on such date as you shall determine, on one day's prior notice to us, by certified or official bank check in New York Clearing House funds payable to the order of PaineWebber Incorporated, against delivery of certificates evidencing such Securities. If payment is made for Securities purchased by us at the public offering price, the concession to which we shall be entitled will be paid to us upon termination of the provisions of Section 3(b) with respect to such Securities.
Unless we promptly give you written instructions otherwise, if transactions in the Securities may be settled through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company, payment for and delivery of Securities purchased by us will be made through such facilities if we are a member, or if we are not a member, settlement may be made through our ordinary correspondent who is a member.
3. Representations, Warranties and Agreements. (a) Prospectuses. You shall provide us with such number of copies of each preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and any supplement thereto relating to each Offering as we may reasonably request. If the Securities will be registered under the Securities Act, we represent that we are familiar with Rule 15c2-8 under the Exchange Act relating to the distribution of preliminary and final prospectuses and agree that we will comply therewith; we agree to keep an accurate record of our distribution (including dates, number of copies and persons to whom sent) of copies of the Prospectus or any preliminary prospectus (or any amendment or supplement to any thereof), and
promptly upon request by you, to bring all subsequent changes to the attention of anyone to whom such material shall have been furnished, and we agree to furnish to persons who receive a confirmation of sale a copy of the Prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) or Rule 424(c) under the Securities Act. If the Securities will not be registered under the Securities Act, we agree that we will deliver all preliminary and final offering circulars required for compliance with the applicable laws and regulations governing the use and distribution of offering circulars by underwriters, and, to the extent consistent with such laws and regulations, we confirm that we have delivered and agree that we will deliver all preliminary and final offering circulars which would be required if the provisions of Rule 15c2-8 under the Exchange Act applied to this offering. We agree that in purchasing Securities in an Offering we will rely upon no statements whatsoever, written or oral, other than the statements in the Prospectus delivered to us by you. We will not be authorized by the issuer or other seller of Securities offered pursuant to a Prospectus or by any Underwriters to give any information or to make any representation not contained in the Prospectus in connection with the sale of such Securities.
(b) Offer and Sale to the Public. With respect to any Offering of Securities, you will inform us by a Written Communication of the public offering price, the selling concession, the relaunch (if any) to dealers and the time when we may commence selling Securities to the public. After such public offering has commenced, you may change the public offering price, the selling concession and the relaunch to dealers. With respect to each Offering of Securities, until the provisions of this Section 3(b) shall be terminated pursuant to Section 4, we agree to offer Securities to the public only at the public offering price, except that if a relaunch is in effect, a relaunch from the public offering price not in excess of such relaunch may be allowed as consideration for services rendered in distribution to dealers who are actually engaged in the investment banking or securities business, who execute the written agreement prescribed by Section 24(c) of Article III of the Rules of Fair Practice of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD"), and who are either members in good standing of the NASD or foreign brokers or dealers not eligible for membership in the NASD who represent to us that they will promptly rafter such Securities at the public offering price and will abide by the conditions with respect to foreign brokers and dealers set forth in Section 3(e).
(c) Stabilization and Over-Allotment. You may, with respect to any Offering, be authorized to over-allot in arranging sales to Selected Dealers, to purchase and sell Securities, any other securities of the issuer of the Securities of the same class and series and any other securities of such issuer that you may designate for long or short account and to stabilize or maintain the market price of the
Securities. We agree to advise you from time to time upon request, prior to the termination of the provisions of Section 3(b) with respect to any Offering, of the amount of Securities purchased by us hereunder remaining unsold and we will, upon your request, sell to you, for the accounts of the Underwriters, such amount of Securities as you may designate, at the public offering price thereof less an amount to be deter mined by you not in excess of the concession to dealers. In the event that prior to the later of (i) the termination of the provisions of Section 3(b) with respect to any Offering, or (ii) the covering by you of any short position created by you in connection with such Offering for your account or the account of one or more Underwriters, you purchase or contract to purchase for the account of any of the Underwriters, in the open market or other wise, any Securities theretofore delivered to us, you reserve the right to withhold the above-mentioned concession to dealers on such Securities if sold to us at the public offering price, or if such concession has been allowed to us through our purchase at a net price, we agree to repay such concession upon your demand, plus in each case any taxes on redeliver, commissions, accrued interest and dividends paid in connection with such purchase or contract to purchase.
(d) Open Market Transactions. We agree not to bid for, purchase, attempt to purchase, or sell, directly or indirectly, any Securities, any other securities of the issuer of the Securities of the same class and series or any other securities of such issuer as you may designate, except as brokers pursuant to unsolicited orders and as otherwise provided in this Agreement. If the Securities are common stock or securities convertible into common stock, we agree not to effect, or attempt to induce others to effect, directly or indirectly, any transactions in or relating to put or call options on any stock of such issuer, except to the extent permitted by Rule 10b-6 under the Exchange Act as interpreted by the Securities and Exchange Commission. An opening uncovered writing transaction in options to acquire Securities for our account or for the account of any customer shall be deemed, for purposes of the preceding sentence, to be a transaction effected by us in or relating to put or call options on stock of the Company not permitted by Rule 10b-6. The term "opening uncovered writing transaction" means an opening sale transaction where the seller in tends to become a writer of an option to purchase stock which it does not own or have the right to acquire upon exercise of conversion or option rights.
(e) NASD. We represent that we are actually engaged in the investment banking or securities business and we are either a member in good standing of the NASD, or, if not such a member, a foreign dealer not eligible for membership. If we are such a member we agreed that in making sales of the Securities we will comply with all applicable rules of the NASD, including, without limitation, the NASD's
Interpretation with Respect to Free-Riding and Withholding and Section 24 of Article III of the Rules of Fair Practice. If we are such a foreign dealer, we agree not to offer or sell any Securities in the United States of America except through you and in making sales of Securities outside the United States of America, we agree to comply, as though we were a member with such Interpretation and Sections 8, 24 and 36 of Article III of the NASD's Rules of Fair Practice and to comply with Section 23 of such Article III as it applies to a nonmember broker or dealer in a foreign country.
(f) Relationship among Underwriters and Selected Dealers. You may buy Securities from or sell Securities to any Underwriter or Selected Dealer and, with your consent, the Underwriters (if any) and the Selected Dealers may purchase Securities from and sell Securities to each other at the public offering price less all or any part of the concession. We are not authorized to act as agent for you or any Underwriter or the issuer or other seller of any Securities in offering Securities to the public or otherwise. Nothing contained herein or in any Written Communication from you shall constitute the Selected Dealers partners with you or any Underwriter or with one another. Neither you nor any Underwriter shall be under any obligation to us except for obligations assumed hereby or in any Written Communication from you in connection with any Offering. In connection with any Offering, we agree to pay our proportionate share of any claim, demand or liability asserted against us, and the other Selected Dealers or any of them, or against you or the Underwriters, if any, based on any claim that such Selected Dealers or any of them constitute an association, unincorporated business or other separate entity, including in each case our proportionate share of any expense incurred in defending against any such claim, demand or liability.
(g) Blue Sky Laws. Upon application to you, you will inform us as to the jurisdictions in which you believe the Securities have been qualified for sale under the respective securities of "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions. We understand and agree that compliance with the securities or "blue sky" laws in each jurisdiction in which we shall offer or sell any of the Securities shall be our sole responsibility and that you assume no responsibility or obligations as to the eligibility of the Securities for sale or our right to sell the Securities in any jurisdiction.
(h) Compliance with Law. We agree that in selling Securities pursuant to any Offering (which agreement shall also be for the benefit of the issuer or other seller of such Securities) we will comply with the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, the applicable rules and
regulations of the NASD and the applicable rules and regulations of any securities exchange having jurisdiction over the Offering. You shall have full authority to take such action as you may deem advisable in respect of all matters pertaining to any Offering. Neither you nor any Underwriter shall be under any liability to us, except for lack of good faith and for obligations expressly assumed by you in this Agreement; provided, however, that nothing in this sentence shall be deemed to relieve you from any liability imposed by the Securities Act.
4. Termination; Supplements and Amendments. This agreement may be terminated by either party herein upon five business days' written notice to the other party; provided that with respect to any Offering for which a Written Communication was sent and accepted prior to such notice, this Agreement as it applies to such Offering shall remain in full force and effect and shall terminate with respect to such Offering in accordance with the last sentence of this Section. This Agreement may be supplemented or amended by you by written notice thereof to us, and any such supplement or amendment to this Agreement shall be effective with respect to any Offering to which this Agreement applies after the date of such supplement or amendment. Each reference to "this Agreement" herein shall, as appropriate, be to this Agreement as so amended and supplemented. The terms and conditions set forth in Sections 3(b) and (d) with regard to any Offering will terminate at the close of business on the thirtieth day after the date of the initial public offering of the Securities to which such Offering relates, but such terms and conditions, upon notice to us, may be terminated by you at any time.
5. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding on, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and other persons specified or indicated in Section 1, and the respective successors and assigns of each of them.
6. Governing Law. This Agreement and the terms and conditions set forth herein with respect to any Offering together with such supplementary terms and conditions with respect to such Offering as may be contained in any Written Communication from you to us in connection therewith shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
By signing this Agreement we confirm that our subscription to, or our acceptance of any reservation of, any Securities pursuant to an Offering shall constitute (i) acceptance of and agreement to other terms and conditions of this Agreement (as supplemented and amended pursuant to Section 4) together with the subject to any supplementary terms and conditions contained in any Written Communication from you in connection with such Offering, all of which shall
constitute a binding agreement between us and you, individually or as
representative of any Underwriters, (ii) confirmation that our representations
and warranties set forth in Section 3 are true and correct at that time and
(iii) confirmation that our agreements set forth in Sections 2 and 3 have been
and will be fully performed by us to the extent and at the times required
thereby.
Very truly yours,
By_________________________
Title______________________
Confirmed, as of the date
first above written.
UBS Securities LLC
By_______________________
Title:
EXHIBIT (j)(1)
EATON VANCE ENHANCED EQUITY INCOME FUND II
December 20, 2004
Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund II hereby adopts and agrees to become a party to the attached Custodian Agreement as amended and extended with Investors Bank & Trust Company.
EATON VANCE ENHANCED EQUITY INCOME FUND II
By: /s/ Duncan W. Richardson ------------------------------------ Duncan W. Richardson President, and not Individually |
Accepted and agreed to:
INVESTORS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
By: /s/ Andrew M. Nesvet ---------------------------------- Andrew M. Nesvet Managing Director |
MASTER CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
between
EATON VANCE GROUP OF FUNDS
and
INVESTORS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Definitions............................................................1-2 2. Employment of Custodian and Property to be held by it..................2-3 3. Duties of the Custodian with Respect to Property of the Fund.............3 A. Safekeeping and Holding of Property..................................3 B. Delivery of Securities.............................................3-6 C. Registration of Securities...........................................6 D. Bank Accounts........................................................6 E. Payments for Shares of the Fund....................................6-7 F. Investment and Availability of Federal Funds.........................7 G. Collections........................................................7-8 H. Payment of Fund Moneys.............................................8-9 I. Liability for Payment in Advance of Receipt of Securities Purchased.................................................9 J. Payments for Repurchases of Redemptions of Shares of the Fund.......................................................9-10 K. Appointment of Agents by the Custodian..............................10 L. Deposit of Fund Portfolio Securities in Securities Systems.......10-12 M. Deposit of Fund Commercial Paper in an Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper....................................12-13 N. Segregated Account..................................................14 O. Ownership Certificates for Tax Purposes.............................14 P. Proxies.............................................................14 Q. Communications Relating to Fund Portfolio Securities................14 R. Exercise of Rights; Tender Offers..................................15 |
S. Depository Receipts.................................................15 T. Interest Bearing Call or Time Deposits...........................15-16 U. Options, Futures Contracts and Foreign Currency Transactions.....16-17 V. Actions Permitted Without Express Authority.........................17 W. Advances by the Bank................................................18 4. Duties of Bank with Respect to Books of Account and Calucations of Net Asset Value......................................................18 5. Records and Miscellaneous Duties.....................................18-19 6. Opinion of Fund's Independent Public Accountants........................19 7. Compensation and Expenses of Bank.......................................19 8. Responsibility of Bank...............................................19-20 9. Persons Having Access to Assets of the Fund.............................20 10. Effective Period, Termination and Amendment; Successor Custodian.....20-21 11. Interpretive and Additional Provisions..................................21 12. Notices.................................................................21 13. Massachusetts Law to Apply..............................................22 14. Adoption of the Agreement by the Fund...................................22 |
MASTER CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
This Agreement is made between each investment company advised by Eaton Vance Management which has adopted this Agreement in the manner provided herein and Investors Bank & Trust Company (hereinafter called "Bank", "Custodian" and "Agent"), a trust company established under the laws of Massachusetts with a principal place of business in Boston, Massachusetts.
Whereas, each such investment company is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and has appointed the Bank to act as Custodian of its property and to perform certain duties as its Agent, as more fully hereinafter set forth; and
Whereas, the Bank is willing and able to act as each such investment company's Custodian and Agent, subject to and in accordance with the provisions hereof;
Now, therefore, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, each such investment company and the Bank agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS
Whenever used in this Agreement, the following words and phrases, unless the context otherwise requires, shall have the following meanings:
(a) "Fund" shall mean the investment company which has adopted this Agreement. If the Fund is a Massachusetts business trust, it may in the future establish and designate other separate and distinct series of shares, each of which may be called a "portfolio"; in such case, the term "Fund" shall also refer to each such separate series or portfolio.
(b) "Board" shall mean the board of directors/trustees/managing general partners/director general partners of the Fund, as the case may be.
(c) "The Depository Trust Company", a clearing agency registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 which acts as a securities depository and which has been specifically approved as a securities depository for the Fund by the Board.
(d) "Participants Trust Company", a clearing agency registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 which acts as a securities depository and which has been specifically approved as a securities depository for the Fund by the Board.
(e) "Approved Clearing Agency" shall mean any other domestic clearing agency registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 which acts as a securities depository BUT ONLY if the Custodian has received a certified copy of a vote of the Board approving such clearing agency as a securities depository for the Fund.
(f) "Federal Book-Entry System" shall mean the book-entry system referred to in Rule 17f-4(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 for United States and federal agency securities (i.e., as provided in Subpart O of Treasury Circular No. 300, 31 CFR 306, Subpart B of 31 CFR Part 350, and the book-entry regulations of federal agencies substantially in the form of Subpart O).
(g) "Approved Foreign Securities Depository" shall mean a foreign securities depository or clearing agency referred to in Rule 17f-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 for foreign securities BUT ONLY if the Custodian has received a certified copy of a vote of the Board approving such depository or clearing agency as a foreign securities depository for the Fund.
(h) "Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper" shall mean a system maintained by the Custodian or by a subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof for the holding of commercial paper in book-entry form BUT ONLY if the Custodian has received a certified copy of a vote of the Board approving the participation by the Fund in such system.
(i) The Custodian shall be deemed to have received "proper instructions" in respect of any of the matters referred to in this Agreement upon receipt of written or facsimile instructions signed by such one or more person or persons as the Board shall have from time to time authorized to give the particular class of instructions in question. Electronic instructions for the purchase and sale of securities which are transmitted by Eaton Vance Management to the Custodian through the Eaton Vance equity trading system and the Eaton Vance fixed income trading system shall be deemed to be proper instructions; the Fund shall cause all such instructions to be confirmed in writing. Different persons may be authorized to give instructions for different purposes. A certified copy of a vote of the Board may be received and accepted by the Custodian as conclusive evidence of the authority of any such person to act and may be considered as in full force and effect until receipt of written notice to the contrary. Such instructions may be general or specific in terms and, where appropriate, may be standing instructions. Unless the vote delegating authority to any person or persons to give a particular class of instructions specifically requires that the approval of any person, persons or committee shall first have been obtained before the Custodian may act on instructions of that class, the Custodian shall be under no obligation to question the right of the person or persons giving such instructions in so doing. Oral instructions will be considered proper instructions if the Custodian reasonably believes them to have been given by a person authorized to give such instructions with respect to the transaction involved. The Fund shall cause all oral instructions to be confirmed in writing. The Fund authorizes the Custodian to tape record any and all telephonic or other oral instructions given to the Custodian. Upon receipt of a certificate signed by two officers of the Fund as to the authorization by the President and the Treasurer of the Fund accompanied by a detailed description of the communication procedures approved by the President and the Treasurer of the Fund, "proper instructions" may also include communications effected directly between electromechanical or electronic devices provided that the President and Treasurer of the Fund and the Custodian are satisfied that such procedures afford adequate safeguards for the Fund's assets. In performing its duties generally, and more particularly in connection with the purchase, sale and exchange of securities made by or for the Fund, the Custodian may take cognizance of the provisions of the governing documents and registration statement of the Fund as the same may from time to time be in effect (and votes, resolutions or proceedings of the shareholders or the Board), but, nevertheless, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Custodian may assume unless and until notified in writing to the contrary that so-called proper instructions received by it are not in conflict with or in any way contrary to any provisions of such governing documents and registration statement, or votes, resolutions or proceedings of the shareholders or the Board.
2. EMPLOYMENT OF CUSTODIAN AND PROPERTY TO BE HELD BY IT
The Fund hereby appoints and employs the Bank as its Custodian and Agent in accordance with and subject to the provisions hereof, and the Bank hereby accepts such appointment and employment. The Fund agrees to deliver to the Custodian all securities, participation interests, cash and other assets owned
by it, and all payments of income, payments of principal and capital distributions and adjustments received by it with respect to all securities and participation interests owned by the Fund from time to time, and the cash consideration received by it for such new or treasury shares ("Shares") of the Fund as may be issued or sold from time to time. The Custodian shall not be responsible for any property of the Fund held by the Fund and not delivered by the Fund to the Custodian. The Fund will also deliver to the Bank from time to time copies of its currently effective charter (or declaration of trust or partnership agreement, as the case may be), by-laws, prospectus, statement of additional information and distribution agreement with its principal underwriter, together with such resolutions, votes and other proceedings of the Fund as may be necessary for or convenient to the Bank in the performance of its duties hereunder.
The Custodian may from time to time employ one or more subcustodians to perform such acts and services upon such terms and conditions as shall be approved from time to time by the Board of Directors. Any such subcustodian so employed by the Custodian shall be deemed to be the agent of the Custodian, and the Custodian shall remain primarily responsible for the securities, participation interests, moneys and other property of the Fund held by such subcustodian. Any foreign subcustodian shall be a bank or trust company which is an eligible foreign custodian within the meaning of Rule 17f-5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and the foreign custody arrangements shall be approved by the Board of Directors and shall be in accordance with and subject to the provisions of said Rule. For the purposes of this Agreement, any property of the Fund held by any such subcustodian (domestic or foreign) shall be deemed to be held by the Custodian under the terms of this Agreement.
3. DUTIES OF THE CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTY OF THE FUND
A. FEKEEPING AND HOLDING OF PROPERTY. The Custodian shall keep safely all
property of the Fund and on behalf of the Fund shall from time to time
receive delivery of Fund property for safekeeping. The Custodian shall
hold, earmark and segregate on its books and records for the account
of the Fund all property of the Fund, including all securities,
participation interests and other assets of the Fund (1) physically
held by the Custodian, (2) held by any subcustodian referred to in
Section 2 hereof or by any agent referred to in Paragraph K hereof,
(3) held by or maintained in The Depository Trust Company or in
Participants Trust Company or in an Approved Clearing Agency or in the
Federal Book-Entry System or in an Approved Foreign Securities
Depository, each of which from time to time is referred to herein as a
"Securities System", and (4) held by the Custodian or by any
subcustodian referred to in Section 2 hereof and maintained in any
Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper.
B. DELIVERY OF SECURITIES. The Custodian shall release and deliver securities or participation interests owned by the Fund held (or deemed to be held) by the Custodian or maintained in a Securities System account or in an Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper account only upon receipt of proper instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, and only in the following cases:
1) Upon sale of such securities or participation interests for the account of the Fund, BUT ONLY against receipt of payment therefor; if delivery is made in Boston or New York City, payment therefor shall be made in accordance with generally accepted clearing house procedures or by use of Federal
Reserve Wire System procedures; if delivery is made elsewhere payment therefor shall be in accordance with the then current "street delivery" custom or in accordance with such procedures agreed to in writing from time to time by the parties hereto; if the sale is effected through a Securities System, delivery and payment therefor shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph L hereof; if the sale of commercial paper is to be effected through an Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper, delivery and payment therefor shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph M hereof; if the securities are to be sold outside the United States, delivery may be made in accordance with procedures agreed to in writing from time to time by the parties hereto; for the purposes of this subparagraph, the term "sale" shall include the disposition of a portfolio security (i) upon the exercise of an option written by the Fund and (ii) upon the failure by the Fund to make a successful bid with respect to a portfolio security, the continued holding of which is contingent upon the making of such a bid;
2) Upon the receipt of payment in connection with any repurchase agreement or reverse repurchase agreement relating to such securities and entered into by the Fund;
3) To the depository agent in connection with tender or other similar offers for portfolio securities of the Fund;
4) To the issuer thereof or its agent when such securities or participation interests are called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable; PROVIDED that, in any such case, the cash or other consideration is to be delivered to the Custodian or any subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof;
5) To the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the
name of the Fund or into the name of any nominee of the
Custodian or into the name or nominee name of any agent
appointed pursuant to Paragraph K hereof or into the name or
nominee name of any subcustodian employed pursuant to
Section 2 hereof; or for exchange for a different number of
bonds, certificates or other evidence representing the same
aggregate face amount or number of units; PROVIDED that, in
any such case, the new securities or participation interests
are to be delivered to the Custodian or any subcustodian
employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof;
6) To the broker selling the same for examination in accordance with the "street delivery" custom; PROVIDED that the Custodian shall adopt such procedures as the Fund from time to time shall approve to ensure their prompt return to the Custodian by the broker in the event the broker elects not to accept them;
7) For exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment of the securities of the Issuer of such securities, or pursuant to provisions for conversion of such securities, or pursuant to any deposit agreement; provided
that, in any such case, the new securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian or any subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof;
8) In the case of warrants, rights or similar securities, the surrender thereof in connection with the exercise of such warrants, rights or similar securities, or the surrender of interim receipts or temporary securities for definitive securities; PROVIDED that, in any such case, the new securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian or any subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof;
9) For delivery in connection with any loans of securities made by the Fund (such loans to be made pursuant to the terms of the Fund's current registration statement), BUT ONLY against receipt of adequate collateral as agreed upon from time to time by the Custodian and the Fund, which may be in the form of cash or obligations issued by the United States government, its agencies or instrumentalities; except that in connection with any securities loans for which collateral is to be credited to the Custodian's account in the book-entry system authorized by the U.S. Department of Treasury, the Custodian will not be held liable or responsible for the delivery of securities loaned by the Fund prior to the receipt of such collateral;
10) For delivery as security in connection with any borrowings by the Fund requiring a pledge or hypothecation of assets by the Fund (if then permitted under circumstances described in the current registration statement of the Fund), provided, that the securities shall be released only upon payment to the Custodian of the monies borrowed, except that in cases where additional collateral is required to secure a borrowing already made, further securities may be released for that purpose; upon receipt of proper instructions, the Custodian may pay any such loan upon redelivery to it of the securities pledged or hypothecated therefor and upon surrender of the note or notes evidencing the loan;
11) When required for delivery in connection with any redemption or repurchase of Shares of the Fund in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph J hereof;
12) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement between the Custodian (or a subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof) and a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and, if necessary, the Fund, relating to compliance with the rules of The Options Clearing Corporation or of any registered national securities exchange, or of any similar organization or organizations, regarding deposit or escrow or other arrangements in connection with options transactions by the Fund;
13) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Fund, the Custodian (or a subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof), and a futures commissions merchant, relating to compliance with the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or of any contract market or commodities exchange or similar organization, regarding futures margin account deposits or payments in connection with futures transactions by the Fund;
14) For any other proper corporate purpose, BUT ONLY upon receipt of, in addition to proper instructions, a certified copy of a vote of the Board specifying the securities to be delivered, setting forth the purpose for which such delivery is to be made, declaring such purpose to be proper corporate purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom delivery of such securities shall be made.
C. REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES. Securities held by the Custodian (other than bearer securities) for the account of the Fund shall be registered in the name of the Fund or in the name of any nominee of the Fund or of any nominee of the Custodian, or in the name or nominee name of any agent appointed pursuant to Paragraph K hereof, or in the name or nominee name of any subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof, or in the name or nominee name of The Depository Trust Company or Participants Trust Company or Approved Clearing Agency or Federal Book-Entry System or Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper; provided, that securities are held in an account of the Custodian or of such agent or of such subcustodian containing only assets of the Fund or only assets held by the Custodian or such agent or such subcustodian as a custodian or subcustodian or in a fiduciary capacity for customers. All certificates for securities accepted by the Custodian or any such agent or subcustodian on behalf of the Fund shall be in "street" or other good delivery form or shall be returned to the selling broker or dealer who shall be advised of the reason thereof.
D. BANK ACCOUNTS. The Custodian shall open and maintain a separate bank account or accounts in the name of the Fund, subject only to draft or order by the Custodian acting in pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall hold in such account or accounts, subject to the provisions hereof, all cash received by it from or for the account of the Fund other than cash maintained by the Fund in a bank account established and used in accordance with Rule 17f-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Funds held by the Custodian for the Fund may be deposited by it to its credit as Custodian in the Banking Department of the Custodian or in such other banks or trust companies as the Custodian may in its discretion deem necessary or desirable; provided, however, that every such bank or trust company shall be qualified to act as a custodian under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and that each such bank or trust company and the funds to be deposited with each such bank or trust company shall be approved in writing by two officers of the Fund. Such funds shall be deposited by the Custodian in its capacity as Custodian and shall be subject to withdrawal only by the Custodian in that capacity.
E. PAYMENT FOR SHARES OF THE FUND. The Custodian shall make appropriate arrangements with the Transfer Agent and the principal underwriter of the Fund to enable the Custodian to make certain it promptly receives the cash or other consideration due to the Fund for such new or treasury Shares as may be issued or sold from time to time by the
Fund, in accordance with the governing documents and offering prospectus and statement of additional information of the Fund. The Custodian will provide prompt notification to the Fund of any receipt by it of payments for Shares of the Fund.
F. INVESTMENT AND AVAILABILITY OF FEDERAL FUNDS. Upon agreement between the Fund and the Custodian, the Custodian shall, upon the receipt of proper instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties,
1) invest in such securities and instruments as may be set forth in such instructions on the same day as received all federal funds received after a time agreed upon between the Custodian and the Fund; and
2) make federal funds available to the Fund as of specified times agreed upon from time to time by the Fund and the Custodian in the amount of checks received in payment for Shares of the Fund which are deposited into the Fund's account.
G. COLLECTIONS. The Custodian shall promptly collect all income and other payments with respect to registered securities held hereunder to which the Fund shall be entitled either by law or pursuant to custom in the securities business, and shall promptly collect all income and other payments with respect to bearer securities if, on the date of payment by the issuer, such securities are held by the Custodian or agent thereof and shall credit such income, as collected, to the Fund's custodian account.
The Custodian shall do all things necessary and proper in connection with such prompt collections and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Custodian shall
1) Present for payment all coupons and other income items requiring presentations;
2) Present for payment all securities which may mature or be called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable;
3) Endorse and deposit for collection, in the name of the Fund, checks, drafts or other negotiable instruments;
4) Credit income from securities maintained in a Securities System or in an Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper at the time funds become available to the Custodian; in the case of securities maintained in The Depository Trust Company funds shall be deemed available to the Fund not later than the opening of business on the first business day after receipt of such funds by the Custodian.
The Custodian shall notify the Fund as soon as reasonably practicable whenever income due on any security is not promptly collected. In any case in which the Custodian does not receive any due and unpaid income after it has made demand for the same, it shall immediately so notify the Fund in writing, enclosing copies of any demand letter, any
written response thereto, and memoranda of all oral responses thereto and to telephonic demands, and await instructions from the Fund; the Custodian shall in no case have any liability for any nonpayment of such income provided the Custodian meets the standard of care set forth in Section 8 hereof. The Custodian shall not be obligated to take legal action for collection unless and until reasonably indemnified to its satisfaction.
The Custodian shall also receive and collect all stock dividends, rights and other items of like nature, and deal with the same pursuant to proper instructions relative thereto.
H. PAYMENT OF FUND MONEYS. Upon receipt of proper instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, the Custodian shall pay out moneys of the Fund in the following cases only:
1) Upon the purchase of securities, participation interests, options, futures contracts, forward contracts and options on futures contracts purchased for the account of the Fund but only (a) against the receipt of
(i) such securities registered as provided in Paragraph C hereof or in proper form for transfer or
(ii) detailed instructions signed by an officer of the Fund regarding the participation interests to be purchased or
(iii) written confirmation of the purchase by the Fund of the options, futures contracts, forward contracts or options on futures contracts
by the Custodian (or by a subcustodian employed pursuant to
Section 2 hereof or by a clearing corporation of a national
securities exchange of which the Custodian is a member or by
any bank, banking institution or trust company doing
business in the United States or abroad which is qualified
under the Investment Company Act of 1940 to act as a
custodian and which has been designated by the Custodian as
its agent for this purpose or by the agent specifically
designated in such instructions as representing the
purchasers of a new issue of privately placed securities);
(b) in the case of a purchase effected through a Securities
System, upon receipt of the securities by the Securities
System in accordance with the conditions set forth in
Paragraph L hereof; (c) in the case of a purchase of
commercial paper effected through an Approved Book-Entry
System for Commercial Paper, upon receipt of the paper by
the Custodian or subcustodian in accordance with the
conditions set forth in Paragraph M hereof; (d) in the case
of repurchase agreements entered into between the Fund and
another bank or a broker-dealer, against receipt by the
Custodian of the securities underlying the repurchase
agreement either in certificate form or through an entry
crediting the Custodian's segregated, non-proprietary
account at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston with such
securities along with written evidence of the agreement by
the bank or broker-dealer to repurchase such securities from the Fund; or (e) with respect to securities purchased outside of the United States, in accordance with written procedures agreed to from time to time in writing by the parties hereto;
2) When required in connection with the conversion, exchange or surrender of securities owned by the Fund as set forth in Paragraph B hereof;
3) When required for the redemption or repurchase of Shares of the Fund in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph J hereof;
4) For the payment of any expense or liability incurred by the Fund, including but not limited to the following payments for the account of the Fund: advisory fees, distribution plan payments, interest, taxes, management compensation and expenses, accounting, transfer agent and legal fees, and other operating expenses of the Fund whether or not such expenses are to be in whole or part capitalized or treated as deferred expenses;
5) For the payment of any dividends or other distributions to holders of Shares declared or authorized by the Board; and
6) For any other proper corporate purpose, BUT ONLY upon receipt of, in addition to proper instructions, a certified copy of a vote of the Board, specifying the amount of such payment, setting forth the purpose for which such payment is to be made, declaring such purpose to be a proper corporate purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom such payment is to be made.
I. LIABILITY FOR PAYMENT IN ADVANCE OF RECEIPT OF SECURITIES PURCHASED.
In any and every case where payment for purchase of securities for the
account of the Fund is made by the Custodian in advance of receipt of
the securities purchased in the absence of specific written
instructions signed by two officers of the Fund to so pay in advance,
the Custodian shall be absolutely liable to the Fund for such
securities to the same extent as if the securities had been received
by the Custodian; EXCEPT that in the case of a repurchase agreement
entered into by the Fund with a bank which is a member of the Federal
Reserve System, the Custodian may transfer funds to the account of
such bank prior to the receipt of (i) the securities in certificate
form subject to such repurchase agreement or (ii) written evidence
that the securities subject to such repurchase agreement have been
transferred by book-entry into a segregated non-proprietary account of
the Custodian maintained with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston or
(iii) the safekeeping receipt, PROVIDED that such securities have in
fact been so transferred by book-entry and the written repurchase
agreement is received by the Custodian in due course; AND EXCEPT that
if the securities are to be purchased outside the United States,
payment may be made in accordance with procedures agreed to in writing
from time to time by the parties hereto.
J. PAYMENTS FOR REPURCHASES OR REDEMPTIONS OF SHARES OF THE FUND. From such funds as may be available for the purpose, but subject to any applicable votes of the Board and the current redemption and repurchase procedures of the Fund, the Custodian shall, upon receipt of written instructions from the Fund or from the Fund's transfer agent or from the principal underwriter, make funds and/or portfolio
securities available for payment to holders of Shares who have caused their Shares to be redeemed or repurchased by the Fund or for the Fund's account by its transfer agent or principal underwriter.
The Custodian may maintain a special checking account upon which special checks may be drawn by shareholders of the Fund holding Shares for which certificates have not been issued. Such checking account and such special checks shall be subject to such rules and regulations as the Custodian and the Fund may from time to time adopt. The Custodian or the Fund may suspend or terminate use of such checking account or such special checks (either generally or for one or more shareholders) at any time. The Custodian and the Fund shall notify the other immediately of any such suspension or termination.
K. APPOINTMENT OF AGENTS BY THE CUSTODIAN. The Custodian may at any time or times in its discretion appoint (and may at any time remove) any other bank or trust company (provided such bank or trust company is itself qualified under the Investment Company Act of 1940 to act as a custodian or is itself an eligible foreign custodian within the meaning of Rule 17f-5 under said Act) as the agent of the Custodian to carry out such of the duties and functions of the Custodian described in this Section 3 as the Custodian may from time to time direct; providED, however, that the appointment of any such agent shall not relieve the Custodian of any of its responsibilities or liabilities hereunder, and as between the Fund and the Custodian the Custodian shall be fully responsible for the acts and omissions of any such agent. For the purposes of this Agreement, any property of the Fund held by any such agent shall be deemed to be held by the Custodian hereunder.
L. DEPOSIT OF FUND PORTFOLIO SECURITIES IN SECURITIES SYSTEMS The Custodian may deposit and/or maintain securities owned by the Fund
(1) in The Depository Trust Company;
(2) in Participants Trust Company;
(3) in any other Approved Clearing Agency;
(4) in the Federal Book-Entry System; or
(5) in an Approved Foreign Securities Depository
in each case only in accordance with applicable Federal Reserve Board and Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations, and at all times subject to the following provisions:
(a) The Custodian may (either directly or through one or more subcustodians employed pursuant to Section 2 keep securities of the Fund in a Securities System provided that such securities are maintained in a non-proprietary account ("Account") of the Custodian
or such subcustodian in the Securities System which shall not include any assets of the Custodian or such subcustodian or any other person other than assets held by the Custodian or such subcustodian as a fiduciary, custodian, or otherwise for its customers.
(b) The records of the Custodian with respect to securities of the Fund which are maintained in a Securities System shall identify by book-entry those securities belonging to the Fund, and the Custodian shall be fully and completely responsible for maintaining a recordkeeping system capable of accurately and currently stating the Fund's holdings maintained in each such Securities System.
(c) The Custodian shall pay for securities purchased in book-entry form for the account of the Fund only upon (i) receipt of notice or advice from the Securities System that such securities have been transferred to the Account, and (ii) the making of any entry on the records of the Custodian to reflect such payment and transfer for the account of the Fund. The Custodian shall transfer securities sold for the account of the Fund only upon (i) receipt of notice or advice from the Securities System that payment for such securities has been transferred to the Account, and (ii) the making of an entry on the records of the Custodian to reflect such transfer and payment for the account of the Fund. Copies of all notices or advices from the Securities System of transfers of securities for the account of the Fund shall identify the Fund, be maintained for the Fund by the Custodian and be promptly provided to the Fund at its request. The Custodian shall promptly send to the Fund confirmation of each transfer to or from the account of the Fund in the form of a written advice or notice of each such transaction, and shall furnish to the Fund copies of daily transaction sheets reflecting each day's transactions in the Securities System for the account of the Fund on the next business day.
(d) The Custodian shall promptly send to the Fund any report or other communication received or obtained by the Custodian relating to the Securities System's accounting system, system of internal accounting controls or procedures for safeguarding securities deposited in the Securities System; the Custodian shall promptly send to the Fund any report or other communication relating to the Custodian's internal accounting controls and procedures for safeguarding securities deposited in any Securities System; and the Custodian shall ensure that any agent appointed pursuant to Paragraph K hereof or any subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof shall promptly send to the Fund and to the Custodian any report or other communication relating to such agent's or sub custodian's internal accounting controls and procedures for safeguarding securities deposited in any Securities System. The Custodian's books and records relating to the Fund's participation in each Securities System will at all times during regular business hours be open to the inspection of the Fund's authorized officers, employees or agents.
(e) The Custodian shall not act under this Paragraph L in the absence of receipt of a certificate of an officer of the Fund that the Board has approved the use of a particular Securities System; the Custodian shall also obtain appropriate assurance from the officers of the Fund that the Board has annually reviewed the continued use by the Fund of each Securities System, and the Fund shall promptly notify the Custodian if the use of a Securities System is to be discontinued; at the request of the Fund, the Custodian will terminate the use of any such Securities System as promptly as practicable.
(f) Anything to the contrary in this Agreement notwithstanding, the Custodian shall be liable to the Fund for any loss or damage to the Fund resulting from use of the Securities System by reason of any negligence, misfeasance or misconduct of the Custodian or any of its agents or subcustodians or of any of its or their employees or from any failure of the Custodian or any such agent or subcustodian to enforce effectively such rights as it may have against the Securities System or any other person; at the election of the Fund, it shall be entitled to be subrogated to the rights of the Custodian with respect to any claim against the Securities System or any other person which the Custodian may have as a consequence of any such loss or damage if and to the extent that the Fund has not been made whole for any such loss or damage.
M. DEPOSIT OF FUND COMMERCIAL PAPER IN AN APPROVED BOOK-ENTRY SYSTEM FOR COMMERCIAL PAPER. Upon receipt of proper instructions with respect to each issue of direct issue commercial paper purchased by the Fund, the Custodian may deposit and/or maintain direct issue commercial paper owned by the Fund in any Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper, in each case only in accordance with applicable Securities and Exchange Commission rules, regulations, and no-action correspondence, and at all times subject to the following provisions:
(a) The Custodian may (either directly or through one or more subcustodians employed pursuant to Section 2) keep commercial paper of the Fund in an Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper, provided that such paper is issued in book entry form by the Custodian or subcustodian on behalf of an issuer with which the Custodian or subcustodian has entered into a book-entry agreement and provided further that such paper is maintained in a non-proprietary account ("Account") of the Custodian or such subcustodian in an Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper which shall not include any assets of the Custodian or such subcustodian or any other person other than assets held by the Custodian or such subcustodian as a fiduciary, custodian, or otherwise for its customers.
(b) The records of the Custodian with respect to commercial paper of the Fund which is maintained in an Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper shall identify by book-entry each specific issue of commercial paper purchased by the Fund which is included in the System and shall at all times during regular business hours be open for inspection by authorized officers, employees or agents of the Fund. The Custodian shall be fully and completely responsible for maintaining a recordkeeping system capable of accurately and currently stating the Fund's holdings of commercial paper maintained in each such System.
(c) The Custodian shall pay for commercial paper purchased in
book-entry form for the account of the Fund only upon contemporaneous
(i) receipt of notice or advice from the issuer that such paper has
been issued, sold and transferred to the Account, and (ii) the making
of an entry on the records of the Custodian to reflect such purchase,
payment and transfer for the account of the Fund. The Custodian shall
transfer such commercial paper which is sold or cancel such commercial
paper which is redeemed for the account of the Fund only upon
contemporaneous (i) receipt of notice or advice that payment for such
paper has been transferred to the Account, and (ii) the making of an
entry on the records of the Custodian to reflect such transfer or
redemption and payment for the account of the Fund. Copies of all
notices, advices and confirmations of transfers of commercial paper for the account of the Fund shall identify the Fund, be maintained for the Fund by the Custodian and be promptly provided to the Fund at its request. The Custodian shall promptly send to the Fund confirmation of each transfer to or from the account of the Fund in the form of a written advice or notice of each such transaction, and shall furnish to the Fund copies of daily transaction sheets reflecting each day's transactions in the System for the account of the Fund on the next business day.
(d) The Custodian shall promptly send to the Fund any report or other communication received or obtained by the Custodian relating to each System's accounting system, system of internal accounting controls or procedures for safeguarding commercial paper deposited in the System; the Custodian shall promptly send to the Fund any report or other communication relating to the Custodian's internal accounting controls and procedures for safeguarding commercial paper deposited in any Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper; and the Custodian shall ensure that any agent appointed pursuant to Paragraph K hereof or any subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof shall promptly send to the Fund and to the Custodian any report or other communication relating to such agent's or sub custodian's internal accounting controls and procedures for safeguarding securities deposited in any Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper.
(e) The Custodian shall not act under this Paragraph M in the absence of receipt of a certificate of an officer of the Fund that the Board has approved the use of a particular Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper; the Custodian shall also obtain appropriate assurance from the officers of the Fund that the Board has annually reviewed the continued use by the Fund of each Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper, and the Fund shall promptly notify the Custodian if the use of an Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper is to be discontinued; at the request of the Fund, the Custodian will terminate the use of any such System as promptly as practicable.
(f) The Custodian (or subcustodian, if the Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper is maintained by the subcustodian) shall issue physical commercial paper or promissory notes whenever requested to do so by the Fund or in the event of an electronic system failure which impedes issuance, transfer or custody of direct issue commercial paper by book-entry.
(g) Anything to the contrary in this Agreement notwithstanding, the Custodian shall be liable to the Fund for any loss or damage to the Fund resulting from use of any Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper by reason of any negligence, misfeasance or misconduct of the Custodian or any of its agents or subcustodians or of any of its or their employees or from any failure of the Custodian or any such agent or subcustodian to enforce effectively such rights as it may have against the System, the issuer of the commercial paper or any other person; at the election of the Fund, it shall be entitled to be subrogated to the rights of the Custodian with respect to any claim against the System, the issuer of the commercial paper or any other person which the Custodian may have as a consequence of any such loss or damage if and to the extent that the Fund has not been made whole for any such loss or damage.
N. SEGREGATED ACCOUNT. The Custodian shall upon receipt of proper instructions establish and maintain a segregated account or accounts for and on behalf of the Fund, into which account or accounts may be transferred cash and/or securities, including securities maintained in an account by the Custodian pursuant to Paragraph L hereof, (i) in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Fund, the Custodian and any registered broker-dealer (or any futures commission merchant), relating to compliance with the rules of the Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange (or of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission or of any contract market or commodities exchange), or of any similar organization or organizations, regarding escrow or deposit or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Fund, (ii) for purposes of segregating cash or U.S. Government securities in connection with options purchased, sold or written by the Fund or futures contracts or options thereon purchased or sold by the Fund, (iii) for the purposes of compliance by the Fund with the procedures required by Investment Company Act Release No. 10666, or any subsequent release or releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the maintenance of segregated accounts by registered investment companies and (iv) for other proper purposes, BUT ONLY, in the case of clause (iv), upon receipt of, in addition to proper instructions, a certificate signed by two officers of the Fund, setting forth the purpose such segregated account and declaring such purpose to be a proper purpose.
O. OWNERSHIP CERTIFICATES FOR TAX PURPOSES. The Custodian shall execute ownership and other certificates and affidavits for all federal and state tax purposes in connection with receipt of income or other payments with respect to securities of the Fund held by it and in connection with transfers of securities.
P. PROXIES. The Custodian shall, with respect to the securities held by it hereunder, cause to be promptly delivered to the Fund all forms of proxies and all notices of meetings and any other notices or announcements or other written information affecting or relating to the securities, and upon receipt of proper instructions shall execute and deliver or cause its nominee to execute and deliver such proxies or other authorizations as may be required. Neither the Custodian nor its nominee shall vote upon any of the securities or execute any proxy to vote thereon or give any consent or take any other action with respect thereto (except as otherwise herein provided) unless ordered to do so by proper instructions.
Q. COMMUNICATIONS RELATING TO FUND PORTFOLIO SECURITIES. The Custodian shall deliver promptly to the Fund all written information (including, without limitation, pendency of call and maturities of securities and participation interests and expirations of rights in connection therewith and notices of exercise of call and put options written by the Fund and the maturity of futures contracts purchased or sold by the Fund) received by the Custodian from issuers and other persons relating to the securities and participation interests being held for the Fund. With respect to tender or exchange offers, the Custodian shall deliver promptly to the Fund all written information received by the Custodian from issuers and other persons relating to the securities and participation interests whose tender or exchange is sought and from the party (or his agents) making the tender or exchange offer.
R. EXERCISE OF RIGHTS; TENDER OFFERS. In the case of tender offers, similar offers to purchase or exercise rights (including, without limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of securities and participation interests and expirations of rights in connection therewith and notices of exercise of call and put options and the maturity of futures contracts) affecting or relating to securities and participation interests held by the Custodian under this Agreement, the Custodian shall have responsibility for promptly notifying the Fund of all such offers in accordance with the standard of reasonable care set forth in Section 8 hereof. For all such offers for which the Custodian is responsible as provided in this Paragraph R, the Fund shall have responsibility for providing the Custodian with all necessary instructions in timely fashion. Upon receipt of proper instructions, the Custodian shall timely deliver to the issuer or trustee thereof, or to the agent of either, warrants, puts, calls, rights or similar securities for the purpose of being exercised or sold upon proper receipt therefor and upon receipt of assurances satisfactory to the Custodian that the new securities and cash, if any, acquired by such action are to be delivered to the Custodian or any subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof. Upon receipt of proper instructions, the Custodian shall timely deposit securities upon invitations for tenders of securities upon proper receipt therefor and upon receipt of assurances satisfactory to the Custodian that the consideration to be paid or delivered or the tendered securities are to be returned to the Custodian or subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Custodian shall take all necessary action, unless otherwise directed to the contrary by proper instructions, to comply with the terms of all mandatory or compulsory exchanges, calls, tenders, redemptions, or similar rights of security ownership, and shall thereafter promptly notify the Fund in writing of such action.
S. DEPOSITORY RECEIPTS. The Custodian shall, upon receipt of proper instructions, surrender or cause to be surrendered foreign securities to the depository used by an issuer of American Depository Receipts or International Depository Receipts (hereinafter collectively referred to as "ADRs") for such securities, against a written receipt therefor adequately describing such securities and written evidence satisfactory to the Custodian that the depository has acknowledged receipt of instructions to issue with respect to such securities ADRs in the name of a nominee of the Custodian or in the name or nominee name of any subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof, for delivery to the Custodian or such subcustodian at such place as the Custodian or such subcustodian may from time to time designate. The Custodian shall, upon receipt of proper instructions, surrender ADRs to the issuer thereof against a written receipt therefor adequately describing the ADRs surrendered and written evidence satisfactory to the Custodian that the issuer of the ADRs has acknowledged receipt of instructions to cause its depository to deliver the securities underlying such ADRs to the Custodian or to a subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof.
T. INTEREST BEARING CALL OR TIME DEPOSITS. The Custodian shall, upon receipt of proper instructions, place interest bearing fixed term and call deposits with the banking department of such banking institution (other than the Custodian) and in such amounts as the Fund may designate. Deposits may be denominated in U.S. Dollars or other currencies. The Custodian shall include in its records with respect to the assets of the Fund appropriate notation as to the amount and currency of each such deposit, the accepting banking institution and other appropriate details and shall retain such forms of advice or
receipt evidencing the deposit, if any, as may be forwarded to the Custodian by the banking institution. Such deposits shall be deemed portfolio securities of the applicable Fund for the purposes of this Agreement, and the Custodian shall be responsible for the collection of income from such accounts and the transmission of cash to and from such accounts.
U. OPTIONS, FUTURES CONTRACTS AND FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS.
1. OPTIONS. The Custodians shall, upon receipt of proper instructions and in accordance with the provisions of any agreement between the Custodian, any registered broker-dealer and, if necessary, the Fund, relating to compliance with the rules of the Options Clearing Corporation or of any registered national securities exchange or similar organization or organizations, receive and retain confirmations or other documents, if any, evidencing the purchase or writing of an option on a security or securities index or other financial instrument or index by the Fund; deposit and maintain in a segregated account for each Fund separately, either physically or by book-entry in a Securities System, securities subject to a covered call option written by the Fund; and release and/or transfer such securities or other assets only in accordance with a notice or other communication evidencing the expiration, termination or exercise of such covered option furnished by the Options Clearing Corporation, the securities or options exchange on which such covered option is traded or such other organization as may be responsible for handling such options transactions. The Custodian and the broker-dealer shall be responsible for the sufficiency of assets held in each Fund's segregated account in compliance with applicable margin maintenance requirements.
2. FUTURES CONTRACTS. The Custodian shall, upon receipt of proper instructions, receive and retain confirmations and other documents, if any, evidencing the purchase or sale of a futures contract or an option on a futures contract by the Fund; deposit and maintain in a segregated account, for the benefit of any futures commission merchant, assets designated by the Fund as initial, maintenance or variation "margin" deposits (including mark-to-market payments) intended to secure the Fund's performance of its obligations under any futures contracts purchased or sold or any options on futures contracts written by Fund, in accordance with the provisions of any agreement or agreements among the Fund, the Custodian and such futures commission merchant, designed to comply with the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or of any contract market or commodities exchange or similar organization regarding such margin deposits or payments; and release and/or transfer assets in such margin accounts only in accordance with any such agreements or rules. The Custodian and the futures commission merchant shall be responsible for the sufficiency of assets held in the segregated account in compliance with the applicable margin maintenance and mark-to-market payment requirements.
3. FOREIGN EXCHANGE TRANSACTIONS. The Custodian shall, pursuant to proper instructions, enter into or cause a subcustodian to enter into foreign exchange contracts or options to purchase and sell foreign currencies for spot and future delivery on behalf and for the account of the Fund. Such transactions may be undertaken by the Custodian or subcustodian with such banking or financial institutions or other currency brokers, as set forth in proper instructions. Foreign exchange contracts and options shall be deemed to be portfolio securities of the Fund; and accordingly, the responsibility of the Custodian therefor shall be the same as and no greater than the Custodian's responsibility in respect of other portfolio securities of the Fund. The Custodian shall be responsible for the transmittal to and receipt of cash from the currency broker or banking or financial institution with which the contract or option is made, the maintenance of proper records with respect to the transaction and the maintenance of any segregated account required in connection with the transaction. The Custodian shall have no duty with respect to the selection of the currency brokers or banking or financial institutions with which the Fund deals or for their failure to comply with the terms of any contract or option. Without limiting the foregoing, it is agreed that upon receipt of proper instructions and insofar as funds are made available to the Custodian for the purpose, the Custodian may (if determined necessary by the Custodian to consummate a particular transaction on behalf and for the account of the Fund) make free outgoing payments of cash in the form of U.S. dollars or foreign currency before receiving confirmation of a foreign exchange contract or confirmation that the counter value currency completing the foreign exchange contact has been delivered or received. The Custodian shall not be responsible for any costs and interest charges which may be incurred by the Fund or the Custodian as a result of the failure or delay of third parties to deliver foreign exchange; provided that the Custodian shall nevertheless be held to the standard of care set forth in, and shall be liable to the Fund in accordance with, the provisions of Section 8.
V. ACTIONS PERMITTED WITHOUT EXPRESS AUTHORITY. The Custodian may in its discretion, without express authority from the Fund:
1) make payments to itself or others for minor expenses of handling securities or other similar items relating to its duties under this Agreement, PROVIDED, that all such payments shall be accounted for by the Custodian to the Treasurer of the Fund;
2) surrender securities in temporary form for securities in definitive form;
3) endorse for collection, in the name of the Fund, checks, drafts and other negotiable instruments; and
4) in general, attend to all nondiscretionary details in connection with the sale, exchange, substitution, purchase, transfer and other dealings with the securities and property of the Fund except as otherwise directed by the Fund.
W. ADVANCES BY THE BANK. The Bank may, in its sole discretion, advance funds on behalf of the Fund to make any payment permitted by this Agreement upon receipt of any proper authorization required by this Agreement for such payments by the Fund. Should such a payment or payments, with advanced funds, result in an overdraft (due to insufficiencies of the Fund's account with the Bank, or for any other reason) this Agreement deems any such overdraft or related indebtedness a loan made by the Bank to the Fund payable on demand. Such overdraft shall bear interest at the current rate charged by the Bank for such secured loans unless the Fund shall provide the Bank with agreed upon compensating balances. The Fund agrees that the Bank shall have a continuing lien and security interest to the extent of any overdraft or indebtedness or the extent required by law, whichever is greater, in and to any property at any time held by it for the Fund's benefit or in which the Fund has an interest and which is then in the Bank's possession or control (or in the possession or control of any third party acting on the Bank's behalf). The Fund authorizes the Bank, in the Bank's sole discretion, at any time to charge any overdraft or indebtedness, together with interest due thereon, against any balance of account standing to the credit of the Fund on the Bank's books.
4. DUTIES OF BANK WITH RESPECT TO BOOKS OF ACCOUNT AND CALCULATIONS OF NET ASSET VALUE
The Bank shall as Agent (or as Custodian, as the case may be) keep such books of account (including records showing the adjusted tax costs of the Fund's portfolio securities) and render as at the close of business on each day a detailed statement of the amounts received or paid out and of securities received or delivered for the account of the Fund during said day and such other statements, including a daily trial balance and inventory of the Fund's portfolio securities; and shall furnish such other financial information and data as from time to time requested by the Treasurer or any executive officer of the Fund; and shall compute and determine, as of the close of business of the New York Stock Exchange, or at such other time or times as the Board may determine, the net asset value of a Share in the Fund, such computation and determination to be made in accordance with the governing documents of the Fund and the votes and instructions of the Board at the time in force and applicable, and promptly notify the Fund and its investment adviser and such other persons as the Fund may request of the result of such computation and determination. In computing the net asset value the Custodian may rely upon security quotations received by telephone or otherwise from sources or pricing services designated by the Fund by proper instructions, and may further rely upon information furnished to it by any authorized officer of the Fund relative (a) to liabilities of the Fund not appearing on its books of account, (b) to the existence, status and proper treatment of any reserve or reserves, (c) to any procedures established by the Board regarding the valuation of portfolio securities, and (d) to the value to be assigned to any bond, note, debenture, Treasury bill, repurchase agreement, subscription right, security, participation interests or other asset or property for which market quotations are not readily available.
5. RECORDS AND MISCELLANEOUS DUTIES
The Bank shall create, maintain and preserve all records relating to its activities and obligations under this Agreement in such manner as will meet the obligations of the Fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940, with particular attention to Section 31 thereof and Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 thereunder, applicable federal and state tax laws and any other law or administrative rules or procedures which may be applicable to the Fund. All books of account and records maintained by the Bank in connection with the performance of its duties under this Agreement shall be the property of the Fund, shall at all times during the regular business hours of the Bank be open for inspection by authorized officers, employees or agents of the Fund, and in the event of
termination of this Agreement shall be delivered to the Fund or to such other person or persons as shall be designated by the Fund. Disposition of any account or record after any required period of preservation shall be only in accordance with specific instructions received from the Fund. The Bank shall assist generally in the preparation of reports to shareholders, to the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Forms N-SAR and N-1Q, to state "blue sky" authorities and to others, audits of accounts, and other ministerial matters of like nature; and, upon request, shall furnish the Fund's auditors with an attested inventory of securities held with appropriate information as to securities in transit or in the process of purchase or sale and with such other information as said auditors may from time to time request. The Custodian shall also maintain records of all receipts, deliveries and locations of such securities, together with a current inventory thereof, and shall conduct periodic verifications (including sampling counts at the Custodian) of certificates representing bonds and other securities for which it is responsible under this Agreement in such manner as the Custodian shall determine from time to time to be advisable in order to verify the accuracy of such inventory. The Bank shall not disclose or use any books or records it has prepared or maintained by reason of this Agreement in any manner except as expressly authorized herein or directed by the Fund, and the Bank shall keep confidential any information obtained by reason of this Agreement.
6. OPINION OF FUND'S INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Custodian shall take all reasonable action, as the Fund may from time to time request, to enable the Fund to obtain from year to year favorable opinions from the Fund's independent public accountants with respect to its activities hereunder in connection with the preparation of the Fund's registration statement and Form N-SAR or other periodic reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission and with respect to any other requirements of such Commission.
7. COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES OF BANK
The Bank shall be entitled to reasonable compensation for its services as Custodian and Agent, as agreed upon from time to time between the Fund and the Bank. The Bank shall be entitled to receive from the Fund on demand reimbursement for its cash disbursements, expenses and charges, including counsel fees, in connection with its duties as Custodian and Agent hereunder, but excluding salaries and usual overhead expenses.
8. RESPONSIBILITY OF BANK
So long as and to the extent that it is in the exercise of reasonable care, the Bank as Custodian and Agent shall be held harmless in acting upon any notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to be signed by the proper party or parties.
The Bank as Custodian and Agent shall be entitled to rely on and may act upon advice of counsel (who may be counsel for the Fund) on all matters, and shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such advice.
The Bank as Custodian and Agent shall be held to the exercise of reasonable
care in carrying out the provisions of this Agreement but shall be liable only
for its own negligent or bad faith acts or failures to act. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, nothing contained in this paragraph is intended to nor shall it be
construed to modify the standards of care and responsibility set forth in
Section 2 hereof with respect to subcustodians and in subparagraph f of
Paragraph L of Section 3 hereof with respect to Securities Systems and in
subparagraph g of Paragraph M of Section 3 hereof with respect to an Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper.
The Custodian shall be liable for the acts or omissions of a foreign banking institution to the same extent as set forth with respect to subcustodians generally in Section 2 hereof, provided that, regardless of whether assets are maintained in the custody of a foreign banking institution, a foreign securities depository or a branch of a U.S. bank, the Custodian shall not be liable for any loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim resulting from, or caused by, the direction of or authorization by the Fund to maintain custody of any securities or cash of the Fund in a foreign county including, but not limited to, losses resulting from nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, acts of war, civil war or terrorism, insurrection, revolution, military or usurped powers, nuclear fission, fusion or radiation, earthquake, storm or other disturbance of nature or acts of God.
If the Fund requires the Bank in any capacity to take any action with respect to securities, which action involves the payment of money or which action may, in the opinion of the Bank, result in the Bank or its nominee assigned to the Fund being liable for the payment of money or incurring liability of some other form, the Fund, as a prerequisite to requiring the Custodian to take such action, shall provide indemnity to the Custodian in an amount and form satisfactory to it.
9. PERSONS HAVING ACCESS TO ASSETS OF THE FUND
(i) No trustee, director, general partner, officer, employee or agent of the Fund shall have physical access to the assets of the Fund held by the Custodian or be authorized or permitted to withdraw any investments of the Fund, nor shall the Custodian deliver any assets of the Fund to any such person. No officer or director, employee or agent of the Custodian who holds any similar position with the Fund or the investment adviser of the Fund shall have access to the assets of the Fund.
(ii) Access to assets of the Fund held hereunder shall only be available to duly authorized officers, employees, representatives or agents of the Custodian or other persons or entities for whose actions the Custodian shall be responsible to the extent permitted hereunder, or to the Fund's independent public accountants in connection with their auditing duties performed on behalf of the Fund.
(iii) Nothing in this Section 9 shall prohibit any officer, employee or
agent of the Fund or of the investment adviser of the Fund from giving
instructions to the Custodian or executing a certificate so long as it does not
result in delivery of or access to assets of the Fund prohibited by paragraph
(i) of this Section 9.
10. EFFECTIVE PERIOD, TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT; SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN
This Agreement shall become effective as of its execution, shall continue in full force and effect until terminated by either party after August 31, 2000 by an instrument in writing delivered or mailed, postage prepaid to the other party, such termination to take effect not sooner than sixty (60) days after the date of such delivery or mailing; PROVIDED, that the Fund may at any time by action of its Board, (i) substitute another bank or trust company for the Custodian by giving notice as described above to the Custodian in the event the Custodian assigns this Agreement to another party without consent of the noninterested Trustees of the Funds, or (ii) immediately terminate this Agreement in the event of the appointment of a conservator or receiver for the Custodian by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or by the Banking Commissioner of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts or upon the happening of a like event at the direction of an appropriate regulatory agency or court of competent jurisdiction. Upon termination of the Agreement, the Fund shall pay to
the Custodian such compensation as may be due as of the date of such termination (and shall likewise reimburse the Custodian for its costs, expenses and disbursements).
This Agreement may be amended at any time by the written agreement of the parties hereto. If a majority of the non-interested trustees of any of the Funds determines that the performance of the Custodian has been unsatisfactory or adverse to the interests of shareholders of any Fund or Funds or that the terms of the Agreement are no longer consistent with publicly available industry standards, then the Fund or Funds shall give written notice to the Custodian of such determination and the Custodian shall have 60 days to (1) correct such performance to the satisfaction of the non-interested trustees or (2) renegotiate terms which are satisfactory to the non-interested trustees of the Funds. If the conditions of the preceding sentence are not met then the Fund or Funds may terminate this Agreement on sixty (60) days written notice.
The Board of the Fund shall, forthwith, upon giving or receiving notice of termination of this Agreement, appoint as successor custodian, a bank or trust company having the qualifications required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules thereunder. The Bank, as Custodian, Agent or otherwise, shall, upon termination of the Agreement, deliver to such successor custodian, all securities then held hereunder and all funds or other properties of the Fund deposited with or held by the Bank hereunder and all books of account and records kept by the Bank pursuant to this Agreement, and all documents held by the Bank relative thereto. In the event that no written order designating a successor custodian shall have been delivered to the Bank on or before the date when such termination shall become effective, then the Bank shall not deliver the securities, funds and other properties of the Fund to the Fund but shall have the right to deliver to a bank or trust company doing business in Boston, Massachusetts of its own selection meeting the above required qualifications, all funds, securities and properties of the Fund held by or deposited with the Bank, and all books of account and records kept by the Bank pursuant to this Agreement, and all documents held by the Bank relative thereto. Thereafter such bank or trust company shall be the successor of the Custodian under this Agreement.
11. INTERPRETIVE AND ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS
In connection with the operation of this Agreement, the Custodian and the Fund may from time to time agree on such provisions interpretive of or in addition to the provisions of this Agreement as may in their joint opinion be consistent with the general tenor of this Agreement. Any such interpretive or additional provisions shall be in a writing signed by both parties and shall be annexed hereto, PROVIDED that no such interpretive or additional provisions shall contravene any applicable federal or state regulations or any provision of the governing instruments of the Fund. No interpretive or additional provisions made as provided in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Agreement.
12. NOTICES
Notices and other writings delivered or mailed postage prepaid to the Fund addressed to 24 Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, or to such other address as the Fund may have designated to the Bank, in writing, or to Investors Bank & Trust Company, 24 Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, shall be deemed to have been properly delivered or given hereunder to the respective addressees.
13. MASSACHUSETTS LAW TO APPLY
This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
If the Fund is a Massachusetts business trust, the Custodian expressly acknowledges the provision in the Fund's declaration of Trust limiting the personal liability of the trustees and shareholders of the Fund; and the Custodian agrees that it shall have recourse only to the assets of the Fund for the payment of claims or obligations as between the Custodian and the Fund arising out of this Agreement, and the Custodian shall not seek satisfaction of any such claim or obligation from the trustees or shareholders of the Fund.
14. ADOPTION OF THE AGREEMENT BY THE FUND
The Fund represents that its Board has approved this Agreement and has duly authorized the Fund to adopt this Agreement, such adoption to be evidenced by a letter agreement between the Fund and the Bank reflecting such adoption, which letter agreement shall be dated and signed by a duly authorized officer of the Fund and duly authorized officer of the Bank. This Agreement shall be deemed to be duly executed and delivered by each of the parties in its name and behalf by its duly authorized officer as of the date of such letter agreement, and this Agreement shall be deemed to supersede and terminate, as of the date of such letter agreement, all prior agreements between the Fund and the Bank relating to the custody of the Fund's assets.
* * * * *
EXHIBIT (k)(1)
December 20, 2004
PFPC Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581-5120
Attn: President
Re: Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund II
Dear Sirs: Please be advised that, pursuant to Trustee action taken on December 20, 2004, your firm was appointed transfer and dividend disbursing agent for Eaton Vance |
Enhanced Equity Income Fund II. Accordingly, pursuant to Sections 10(e) and 12(a) of that certain Amended and Restated Transfer Agency and Services Agreement dated as of June 16, 2003, by and between PFPC Inc. and each of the various Eaton Vance Funds listed on Exhibit 1 thereto (the "Agreement"), you are hereby notified that Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund II has been added as a party to the Agreement and that Exhibit 1 and Schedule B to the Agreement (as attached hereto) are hereby restated in their entirety.
Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund II
By: /s/ Duncan W. Richardson -------------------------------------- President |
Accepted and Acknowledged:
PFPC Inc.
By: /s/ Michael G. McCarthy ---------------------------------- Authorized Officer |
EXHIBIT 1
LIST OF FUNDS
Restated December 20, 2004
Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust
Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust
Eaton Vance Florida Municipal Income Trust
Eaton Vance Massachusetts Municipal Income Trust
Eaton Vance Michigan Municipal Income Trust
Eaton Vance New Jersey Municipal Income Trust
Eaton Vance New York Municipal Income Trust
Eaton Vance Ohio Municipal Income Trust
Eaton Vance Pennsylvania Municipal Income Trust
Eaton Vance Insured Municipal Bond Fund
Eaton Vance Insured California Municipal Bond Fund
Eaton Vance Insured New York Municipal Bond Fund
Eaton Vance Insured Municipal Bond Fund II Eaton Vance Insured California Municipal Bond Fund II Eaton Vance Insured Florida Municipal Bond Fund Eaton Vance Insured Massachusetts Municipal Bond Fund Eaton Vance Insured Michigan Municipal Bond Fund Eaton Vance Insured New Jersey Municipal Bond Fund Eaton Vance Insured New York Municipal Bond Fund II Eaton Vance Insured Ohio Municipal Bond Fund Eaton Vance Pennsylvania Municipal Bond Fund
Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund
Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund
Eaton Vance Senior Floating-Rate Trust
Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund
Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund
Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust
Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund
Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund II
Restated May 21, 2004
FEE SCHEDULE
1. Initial Public Offering Fees ---------------------------- IPO Project Administration Fee: $3,000 per Fund IPO Project Administration Fee covers: Issuance of up to 1,000 certificates - Issuance of certificates in |
excess of 1,000 to be billed at $2.00 per certificate
Administration coordination with IPO client, underwriter and legal representatives
Attendance at closing (out of pocket expenses associated with such attendance will be billed as incurred)
Set-up, testing and implementation of electronic settlement and delivery of shares through The Depository Trust Company
Applies in the event that the underwriters elect to exercise an over-allotment option which requires a second closing
(a) The following standard service fees shall apply with respect to the shares offered by: Eaton Vance Insured Municipal Bond Fund;
Eaton Vance Insured California Municipal Bond Fund; Eaton Vance Insured New York Municipal Bond Fund; Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund; Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund; Eaton Vance Senior Floating-Rate Trust; Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund; Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund; Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust; Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund; and Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund II
Annual Service Fee: $15.00 Per Account Monthly Minimum Fee: $5,000.00 |
(b) The following standard service fees shall apply with respect to the |
shares offered by:
Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust; Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust; Eaton Vance Florida Municipal Income Trust; Eaton Vance Massachusetts Municipal Income Trust; Eaton Vance Michigan Municipal Income Trust; Eaton Vance New Jersey Municipal Income Trust; Eaton Vance New York Municipal Income Trust; Eaton Vance Ohio Municipal Income Trust; and Eaton Vance Pennsylvania Municipal Income Trust.
Each Fund shall pay 9 basis points annually on the average daily net assets, paid monthly, in arrears, with respect to the shares offered by the Fund.
(c) The following standard service fees shall apply with respect to the shares offered by:
Eaton Vance Insured Municipal Bond Fund II; Eaton Vance Insured California Municipal Bond Fund II; Eaton Vance Insured Florida Municipal Bond Fund; Eaton Vance Insured Massachusetts Municipal Bond Fund; Eaton Vance Insured Michigan Municipal Bond Fund; Eaton Vance Insured New Jersey Municipal Bond Fund; Eaton Vance Insured New York Municipal Bond Fund II; Eaton Vance Insured Ohio Municipal Bond Fund; and Eaton Vance Insured Pennsylvania Municipal Bond Fund.
Each Fund shall pay 7.5 basis points annually on the average daily net assets, paid monthly, in arrears, with respect to the shares offered by the Fund.
After the one year anniversary of the effective date of this Agreement, PFPC may adjust the above fees once per calendar year, upon thirty (30) days prior written notice in an amount not to exceed the cumulative percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) U.S. City Average, All items (unadjusted) - (1982-84=100), published by the U.S. Department of Labor since the last such adjustment in the Fund's monthly fees (or the Effective Date absent a prior such adjustment).
EXHIBIT (k)(3)
EATON VANCE ENHANCED EQUITY INCOME FUND II
ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made this 20th day of December, 2004, between Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund II, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Fund"), and Eaton Vance Management, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Administrator").
1. DUTIES OF THE ADMINISTRATOR. The Fund hereby employs the Administrator to act as administrator for and to administer the affairs of the Fund, subject to the supervision of the Trustees of the Fund for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement.
The Administrator hereby accepts such employment, and agrees 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. The Administrator shall also pay the salaries and compensation of all officers and Trustees of the Fund who are members of the Administrator's organization and who render executive and administrative services to the Fund, and the salaries and compensation of all other personnel of the Administrator performing management and administrative services for the Fund. The Administrator 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, the Administrator (i) will assist in preparing all annual, semi-annual and other reports required to be sent to Fund shareholders, and arrange for the printing and dissemination of such reports to shareholders; (ii) will prepare and assemble all reports required to be filed by the Fund with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on Forms N-SAR and N-CSR, or on such other form as the SEC may substitute for Form N-SAR or N-CSR, and file such reports with the SEC; (iii) will review the provision of services by the Fund's independent accountants, including, but not limited to, the preparation by such accountants 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 Fund concerning the performance of the independent accountants as the Trustees deem appropriate; (iv) will arrange for the filing with the appropriate authorities all required federal, state and local tax returns; (v) will arrange for the dissemination to shareholders of the Fund's proxy materials, and will oversee the tabulation of proxies by the Fund's transfer agent or other duly authorized proxy tabulator; (vi) will 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; (vii) will value 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; (viii) will 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; (ix) will establish the accounting policies of the Fund; reconcile accounting issues which 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; (x) will determine the amount of all distributions to be paid by the Fund to its shareholders; prepare and arrange for the printing of notices to shareholders regarding such distributions 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 and to implement the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan; (xi) will review the Fund's
bills and authorize payments of such bills by the Fund's custodian; (xii) will make recommendations to the Trustees as to whether the Fund should make repurchase or tender offers for its own shares; arrange for the preparation and filing of all documents required to be filed by the Fund with the SEC; arrange for the preparation and dissemination of all appropriate repurchase or tender offer documents and papers on behalf of the Fund; and supervise and conduct the Fund's periodic repurchase or tender offers for its own shares; (xiii) monitor any variance between the market value and net asset value per share, and periodically report to the Trustees available actions that may conform such values; (xiv) monitor the activities of any shareholder servicing agent retained by the Administrator and periodically report to the Trustees about such activities; (xv) will arrange for the preparation and filing of all other reports, forms, registration statements and documents required to be filed by the Fund with the SEC, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and any securities exchange where Fund shares are listed; and (xvi) will provide to the Fund such other internal legal, auditing and accounting services and internal executive management and administrative services as the Trustees deem appropriate to conduct the Fund's business affairs.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator shall not be deemed to have assumed any duties with respect to, and shall not be responsible 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 the Administrator 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 Fund.
SUB-ADMINISTRATORS. The Administrator may employ one or more sub-administrators from time to time to perform such of the acts and services of the Administrator and upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the Administrator and such sub-administrators and approved by the Trustees of the Fund.
2. COMPENSATION OF THE ADMINISTRATOR. The Board of Trustees of the Fund have currently determined that, based on the current level of compensation payable to Eaton Vance Management by the Fund under the Fund's present Investment Advisory Agreement with Eaton Vance Management, the Administrator shall receive no compensation from the Fund in respect of the services to be rendered and the facilities to be provided by the Administrator under this Agreement. If the Trustees subsequently determine that the Fund should compensate the Administrator for such services and facilities, such compensation shall be set forth in a new agreement or in an amendment to this Agreement to be entered into by the parties hereto.
3. ALLOCATION OF CHARGES AND EXPENSES. It is understood that the Fund will
pay all its expenses other than those expressly stated to be payable by the
Administrator 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 Fund under the Investment Company Act of
1940; (iii) commissions, fees and other expenses connected with the acquisition,
holding and disposition of securities and other investments; (iv) auditing,
accounting and legal expenses; (v) taxes and interest; (vi) governmental fees;
(vii) expenses of repurchase and redemption (if any) of shares, including all
expenses incurred in conducting repurchase and tender offers for the purpose of
repurchasing Fund shares; (viii) expenses of registering and qualifying the Fund
and its shares under federal and state securities laws and of preparing
registration statements and amendments for such purposes; (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 and
securities, keeping of books and accounts and determination of net asset value);
(xiv) fees, expenses and disbursements of transfer agents, dividend disbursing
agents, shareholder servicing agents and registrars for all services to the
Fund; (xv) expenses of listing shares with a stock exchange; (xvi) any direct
charges to shareholders approved by the Trustees of the Fund; (xvii)
compensation of and any expenses of Trustees of the Fund who are not members of
the Administrator'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 and valuation services employed by the Fund; (xx) any
investment advisory fee payable to an investment adviser; (xxi) all expenses
incurred in connection with leveraging the Fund's assets through a line of
credit, or issuing and maintaining preferred shares; and (xxii) such
non-recurring items as may arise, including expenses incurred in connection with
litigation, proceedings and claims and obligations of the Fund to indemnify its
shareholders, Trustees, officers and employees with respect thereto.
4. OTHER INTERESTS. It is understood that Trustees, officers and shareholders of the Fund are or may be or become interested in the Administrator as trustees, officers, employees, shareholders or otherwise and that trustees, officers, employees and shareholders of the Administrator are or may be or become similarly interested in the Fund, and that the Administrator 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 Administrator may be or become interested (as directors, trustees, officers, employees, stockholders or otherwise) in other companies or entities (including, without limitation, other investment companies) that the Administrator may organize, sponsor or acquire, or with which it may merge or consolidate, and that the Administrator or its subsidiaries or affiliates may enter into advisory, management or administration agreements or other contracts or relationship with such other companies or entities.
5. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF THE ADMINISTRATOR. The services of the Administrator to the Fund are not to be deemed to be exclusive, the Administrator 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 Administrator, the Administrator shall not be subject to liability to the Fund or to any shareholder of the Fund for any act or omission in the course of, or connected with, rendering services hereunder or for any losses which may be sustained in the acquisition, holding or disposition of any security or other investment.
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 December 20, 2006 and shall continue in full force and effect indefinitely thereafter, but only so long as such continuance after December 20, 2006 is specifically approved at least annually (i) by the Board of Trustees of the Fund, and (ii) by the vote of a majority of those Trustees of the Fund who are not interested persons of the Administrator or the Fund.
Either party hereto may, at any time on sixty (60) days' prior written notice to the other, terminate this Agreement by action of the Trustees of the Fund or the trustees of the Administrator, and the Fund may, at any time upon such written notice to the Administrator, terminate the 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.
7. AMENDMENTS OF THE AGREEMENT. This Agreement may be amended by a writing signed by both parties hereto, provided that no amendment to this Agreement shall be effective until approved (i) by the vote of a majority of those Trustees of the Fund who are not interested persons of the Administrator or the Fund, and (ii) by vote of the Board of Trustees of the Fund.
8. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. Each party expressly acknowledges the provision in the other party's Agreement and Declaration of Trust limiting the personal liability of its shareholders officers, and Trustees, and each party hereby agrees that it shall have recourse to the other party for payment of claims or obligations as between the Fund and the Administrator arising out of this Agreement and shall not seek satisfaction from the Trustees, officers or shareholders of the other party.
9. USE OF THE NAME "EATON VANCE." The Administrator 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 Administrator or one of its affiliates as the 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 the Administrator and its affiliates and other investment companies that have obtained consent to the use of the name "Eaton Vance." The Administrator 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 Administrator or one of its affiliates as the Fund's administrator. Future names adopted by the Fund for itself, insofar as such names include identifying words requiring the consent of the Administrator, shall be the property of the Administrator and shall be subject to the same terms and conditions.
10. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. The terms "assignment" and "interested persons" when used herein shall have the respective meanings specified in the Investment Company Act of 1940 as now in effect or as hereafter amended subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission by any rule, regulation or order. The term "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities" shall mean the vote of the lesser of (a) 67 per centum or more of the shares of the Fund present or represented by proxy at the meeting if the holders of more than 50 per centum of the 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.
EATON VANCE ENHANCED EQUITY EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT INCOME FUND II By: /s/ Duncan W. Richardson By: /s/ Jeffrey P. Beale ------------------------------- ----------------------------------- President, and not Individually Vice President, and not Individually |
EXHIBIT (K)(4)
FORM
OF
SHAREHOLDER SERVICING AGREEMENT
SHAREHOLDER SERVICING AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), dated as of
[ ], 2005, between Eaton Vance Management ("Eaton Vance") and UBS Securities LLC
("UBS Securities").
WHEREAS, Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund II (the "Fund") is a closed-end, diversified management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), and its shares of beneficial interest are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; and
WHEREAS, Eaton Vance is the investment adviser and the administrator of the Fund; and
WHEREAS, Eaton Vance desires to retain UBS Securities to provide shareholder servicing and market information with respect to the Fund, and UBS Securities is willing to render such services;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual terms and conditions set forth below, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Eaton Vance hereby employs UBS Securities, for the period and on the terms and conditions set forth herein, to provide the following services (the "Services"):
(a) At the request of and as specified by Eaton Vance, undertake to make available public information pertaining to the Fund on an ongoing basis and to communicate to investors and prospective investors the Fund's features and benefits (including arranging periodic seminars or conference calls for Eaton Vance to communicate to investors, responding to questions from current or prospective shareholders and contacting specific shareholders, where appropriate), provided that Services shall not include customary market research information provided by UBS Securities or its registered broker-dealer affiliates in the ordinary course of their business.
(b) At the request of and as specified by Eaton Vance, make available to investors and prospective investors market price, net asset value, yield and other information regarding the Fund (provided that Services shall not include customary market research information provided by UBS Securities or its registered broker-dealer affiliates in the ordinary course of their business), if reasonably
obtainable, for the purpose of maintaining the visibility of the Fund in the investor community.
(c) At the request of Eaton Vance or the Fund, provide certain economic research and statistical information and reports, if reasonably obtainable, to Eaton Vance or the Fund and consult with representatives of Eaton Vance and/or Trustees of the Fund in connection therewith, which information and reports shall include: (i) statistical and financial market information with respect to the Fund's market performance; and (ii) comparative information regarding the Fund and other closed-end management investment companies with respect to (x) the net asset value of their respective shares, (y) the respective market performance of the Fund and such other companies, and (z) other relevant performance indicators. Except as legally required, such information and reports may not be quoted or referred to, orally or in writing, reproduced or disseminated by the Fund or any of its affiliates or any of their agents, without the prior written consent of UBS Securities, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld.
(d) At the request of Eaton Vance or the Fund, provide information to and consult with Eaton Vance and/or the Board of Trustees of the Fund with respect to applicable strategies designed to address market value discounts, which may include share repurchases, tender offers, modifications to dividend policies or capital structure, repositioning or restructuring of the Fund, conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company, liquidation or merger; including providing information concerning the use and impact of the above strategic alternatives by other market participants.
(e) At the request of Eaton Vance or the Fund, UBS Securities shall limit or cease any action or service provided hereunder to the extent and for the time period requested by Eaton Vance or the Fund; provided, however, that pending termination of this Agreement as provided for in Section 5 hereof, any such limitation or cessation shall not relieve Eaton Vance of its payment obligations pursuant to Section 2 hereof.
(f) UBS Securities will promptly notify Eaton Vance or the Fund, as the case may be, if it learns of any material inaccuracy or misstatement in, or material omission from, any written information provided by UBS Securities to Eaton Vance or the Fund in connection with the performance of Services by UBS Securities under this Agreement. UBS Securities acknowledges that in performing the Services under this Agreement, it will
comply in all material respects with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.
2. Eaton Vance will pay UBS Securities a fee computed daily and payable quarterly at an annualized rate of 0.10% of the average daily gross assets of the Fund; provided, however, that the fee payable hereunder by Eaton Vance to UBS Securities shall be reduced for the duration of any period during which Eaton Vance voluntarily agrees to reduce or limit the management fee payable to it by the Fund under any management contract with the Fund from time-to-time in effect (provided, however, that the fee payable by Eaton Vance shall not be reduced in connection with any contractual fee waiver or expense reimbursement, which is disclosed in the prospectus of the Fund). The reduced fee payable hereunder during any such period shall be the percentage of the usual fee payable hereunder equal to the percentage of the usual management fee received by Eaton Vance after giving effect to the fee waiver or limitation (i.e., if the management fee is effectively reduced by 40% the fee hereunder also shall be reduced by 40%); provided further, that under no circumstances shall the fee hereunder be reduced to less than zero for any period. Fees payable hereunder shall be subject to the sales charge limits of the National Association of Securities Dealer, Inc., and the total of all such fees shall not exceed [ ]% of the aggregate offering price in the initial public offering of the common shares of the Fund (the "Offering") (the "Maximum Fee Amount").
3. Eaton Vance acknowledges that the Services of UBS Securities provided for hereunder do not include any advice as to the value of securities or regarding the advisability of purchasing or selling any securities for the Fund's portfolio. No provision of this Agreement shall be considered as creating, nor shall any provision create, any obligation on the part of UBS Securities, and UBS Securities is not hereby agreeing, to: (i) furnish any advice or make any recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of portfolio securities or (ii) render any opinions, valuations or recommendations of any kind or to perform any such similar services in connection with providing the Services described in Section 1 hereof, it being understood between the parties hereto that any such advice, recommendations or such similar activities if, and to the extent, agreed to be performed by UBS Securities shall be the subject of a separate agreement with Eaton Vance, including, but not limited to, separate agreements with respect to any indemnification of UBS Securities.
Except to the extent legally required (after consultation with UBS Securities and its counsel, if reasonably possible), neither (i) the name of UBS Securities nor (ii) any advice rendered by UBS Securities to Eaton Vance or the Fund in connection with the services performed by UBS Securities pursuant to this Agreement will be quoted or referred to orally or in writing, or in the case of (ii), reproduced or disseminated, by the
Fund or any of its affiliates or any of their agents, without the prior written consent of UBS Securities, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld.
4. Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting UBS Securities or its affiliates from providing similar or other services to any other clients (including other registered investment companies or other investment advisers), so long as Services provided by UBS Securities to Eaton Vance and the Fund are not impaired thereby. In addition, nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting UBS Securities and its affiliates, in the ordinary course of business, from trading the securities of the Fund for its own account and for the accounts of customers or from holding at any time a long or short position in such securities. Neither this Agreement nor the performance of the Services hereunder shall be considered to constitute a partnership, association or joint venture between UBS Securities and Eaton Vance. In addition, nothing herein shall be construed to constitute UBS Securities as the agent or employee of Eaton Vance or Eaton Vance as the agent or employee of UBS Securities, and neither party shall make any representation to the contrary.
5. This Agreement shall continue coterminously with and so long as the Investment Advisory Agreement, dated [ ], 2005, remains in effect between the Fund and Eaton Vance, or any similar investment advisory agreement with a successor in interest or affiliate of Eaton Vance remains in effect, as, and to the extent, that such investment advisory agreement is renewed periodically in accordance with the 1940 Act; provided, however, that this Agreement shall automatically terminate if further payments to UBS Securities would cause the total amount of underwriting compensation in connection with the Offering to exceed the Maximum Fee Amount. This Agreement may not be assigned, except by operation of law or in connection with the sale of all or substantially all of the assets or of the equity securities of one of the parties hereto, without the other party's prior consent.
6. Eaton Vance will furnish UBS Securities with such information
as UBS Securities believes appropriate to its assignment
hereunder (all such information so furnished being the
"Information"). Eaton Vance recognizes and confirms that UBS
Securities (a) will use and rely primarily on the Information
and on information available from generally recognized public
sources in performing the Services contemplated by this
Agreement without having independently verified the same and
(b) does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or
completeness of the Information and such other information.
The Information to be furnished by Eaton Vance when delivered,
will be true and correct in all material respects and will not
contain any material misstatement of fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary to make the statements contained
therein not misleading. Eaton Vance will promptly notify UBS
Securities if it
learns of any material inaccuracy or misstatement in, or material omission from, any Information delivered to UBS Securities. UBS Securities acknowledges that certain of the Information provided by Eaton Vance may be proprietary to Eaton Vance and hereby agrees that it will not disclose (other than as may be required by applicable law or regulatory proceeding) to any third party any Information provided to UBS Securities by Eaton Vance and specifically identified in writing by Eaton Vance, prior to or at the time of its delivery, as confidential or proprietary.
7. It is understood that UBS Securities is being engaged hereunder as an independent contractor solely to provide the Services described above to Eaton Vance and to the Fund and that UBS Securities is not acting as a fiduciary of any person, and shall have no duties or liability to the current or future shareholders of Eaton Vance or any other third party in connection with its engagement hereunder, all of which are hereby expressly waived.
8. Eaton Vance agrees that UBS Securities shall have no liability to Eaton Vance or the Fund for any act or omission to act by UBS Securities in the course of its performance under this Agreement, in the absence of bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of UBS Securities. Eaton Vance agrees to the indemnification and other agreements set forth in the Indemnification Agreement attached hereto, the provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference and shall survive the termination, expiration or supersession of this Agreement.
9. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK FOR CONTRACTS TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY THEREIN AND WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CHOICE OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
10. EACH OF EATON VANCE AND UBS SECURITIES AGREE THAT ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING BASED HEREON, OR ARISING OUT OF UBS SECURITIES' ENGAGEMENT HEREUNDER, SHALL BE BROUGHT AND MAINTAINED EXCLUSIVELY IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK OR IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK. EATON VANCE AND UBS SECURITIES EACH HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING AS SET FORTH ABOVE AND IRREVOCABLY AGREE TO BE BOUND BY ANY JUDGMENT RENDERED
THEREBY IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING. EACH OF EATON VANCE AND UBS SECURITIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY HAVE OR HEREAFTER MAY HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH REFERRED TO ABOVE AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.
11. Eaton Vance and UBS Securities each hereby irrevocably waive any right they may have to a trial by jury in respect of any claim based upon or arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
12. This Agreement (including the attached Indemnification Agreement) embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, such determination will not affect such provision in any other respect or any other provision of this Agreement, which will remain in full force and effect. This Agreement may not be amended or otherwise modified or waived except by an instrument in writing signed by both UBS Securities and Eaton Vance.
13. All notices required or permitted to be sent under this Agreement shall be sent, if to Eaton Vance:
Eaton Vance Corporation 255 State Street Boston, MA 02109
Attention: Chief Legal Officer
or if to UBS Securities:
UBS Securities LLC
299 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10171
Attention: Syndicate Department
or such other name or address as may be given in writing to the other parties. Any notice shall be deemed to be given or received on the third day after deposit in the U.S. mail with certified postage prepaid or when actually received, whether by hand,
express delivery service or facsimile transmission, whichever is earlier.
14. This Agreement may be exercised on separate counterparts, each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken together constitute one and the same agreement.
15. A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of Eaton Vance is on file with the Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice hereby is given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of the Trustees of Eaton Vance as Trustees and not individually and that the obligations or arising out of this Agreement are not binding upon any of the Trustees or beneficiaries individually but are binding only upon the assets and properties of Eaton Vance.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Shareholder Servicing Agreement as of the date first above written.
EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT
By: _____________________________
Name:
Title:
UBS SECURITIES LLC
By: _____________________________
By:
Title:
By: _____________________________
By:
Title:
UBS Securities LLC Indemnification Agreement
[ ], 2005
UBS Securities LLC
299 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10171
In connection with the engagement of UBS Securities LLC ("UBS
Securities") to provide the Services to the undersigned (the "Company") as set
forth in the Shareholder Servicing Agreement dated [ ], 2005, between the
Company and UBS Securities (the "Agreement"), in the event that UBS Securities
becomes involved in any capacity in any claim, suit, action, proceeding,
investigation or inquiry (including, without limitation, any shareholder or
derivative action or arbitration proceeding) (collectively, a "Proceeding") (i)
in connection with or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in information with respect to the Fund
made public by or as authorized by the Fund (and not provided by UBS Securities)
or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary
to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading or (ii) otherwise in connection with or arising out of
the Agreement or the Services to be provided thereunder, the Company agrees to
indemnify, defend and hold UBS Securities harmless to the fullest extent
permitted by law, from and against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and
expenses in connection with or arising out of the Agreement or the Services to
be provided thereunder (a "Covered Claim"), except, in the case of clause (ii)
above only, to the extent that it shall be determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction in a judgment that has become final in that it is no longer subject
to appeal or other review, that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and
expenses resulted solely from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful
misconduct of UBS Securities. In addition, in the event that UBS Securities
becomes involved in any capacity in any Proceeding which relates to a Covered
Claim, the Company will reimburse UBS Securities for its legal and other
expenses (including the reasonable cost of any investigation and preparation) as
such expenses are incurred by UBS Securities in connection therewith. If such
indemnification were not to be available for any reason, the Company agrees to
contribute to the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses involved (i)
in the proportion appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received or
sought to be received by the Company and its stockholders, on the one hand, and
UBS Securities, on the other hand, in the matters contemplated by the Agreement
or (ii) if (but only if and to the extent) the allocation provided for in clause
(i) is for any reason held unenforceable, in such proportion as is appropriate
to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the
relative fault of the Company and its stockholders, on the one hand, and the
party entitled to contribution, on the other hand, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations; provided, that in no event shall the Company
contribute less than the amount necessary to assure that UBS Securities is not
liable for losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in excess of the
amount of fees actually received by UBS Securities pursuant to the Agreement.
Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether
any alleged untrue statement or omission or
any other alleged conduct relates to information provided by the Company or other conduct by the Company (or its employees or other agents), on the one hand, or by UBS Securities, on the other hand. The Company will not settle any Proceeding in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, whether or not UBS Securities is an actual or potential party to such Proceeding, without UBS Securities's prior written consent. For purposes of this Indemnification Agreement, UBS Securities shall include UBS Securities LLC, any of its affiliates, each other person, if any, controlling UBS Securities or any of its affiliates, their respective officers, current and former directors, employees and agents, and the successors and assigns of all of the foregoing persons. The foregoing indemnity and contribution agreement shall be in addition to any rights that any indemnified party may have at common law or otherwise.
If any Proceeding is brought against UBS Securities in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Company pursuant to the foregoing paragraph, UBS Securities shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the institution of such Proceeding and the Company shall assume the defense of such Proceeding, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to UBS Securities and payment of all fees and expenses; provided, however, that the omission to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company from any liability which the Company may have to UBS Securities or otherwise, unless and only to the extent that, such omission results in the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses by the Company. UBS Securities shall have the right to employ its own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of UBS Securities unless the employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by the Company in connection with the defense of such Proceeding or the Company shall not have, within a reasonable period of time in light of the circumstances, employed counsel to have charge of the defense of such Proceeding or UBS Securities shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to it which are different from, additional to or in conflict with those available to the Company (in which case the Company shall not have the right to direct the defense of such Proceeding on behalf of UBS Securities), in any of which events such fees and expenses shall be borne by the Company and paid as incurred (it being understood, however, that the Company shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (in addition to any local counsel) in any one Proceeding or series of related Proceedings in the same jurisdiction). The Company shall not be liable for any settlement of any Proceeding effected without its written consent but if settled with the written consent of the Company, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless UBS Securities from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time UBS Securities shall have requested the Company to reimburse UBS Securities for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second sentence of this paragraph, then the Company agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any Proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 60 business days after receipt by the Company of the aforesaid request, (ii) the Company shall not have reimbursed UBS Securities in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement and (iii) UBS Securities shall have given the Company at least 30 days' prior notice of its intention to settle.
The Company agrees that neither UBS Securities nor any of its affiliates, directors, agents, employees or controlling persons shall have any liability to the Company or any person asserting claims on behalf of or in right of the Company in connection with or as a result of a Covered Claim, except to the extent that it shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a judgment that has become final in that it is no longer subject to appeal or other review that any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses incurred by the Company resulted solely from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of UBS Securities in performing the Services.
THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT AND ANY CLAIM, COUNTERCLAIM OR DISPUTE OF ANY KIND OR NATURE WHATSOEVER ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT ("CLAIM"), DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW, NO CLAIM MAY BE COMMENCED, PROSECUTED OR CONTINUED IN ANY COURT OTHER THAN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK OR IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, WHICH COURTS SHALL HAVE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OVER THE ADJUDICATION OF SUCH MATTERS, AND THE COMPANY AND UBS SECURITIES CONSENT TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS AND PERSONAL SERVICE WITH RESPECT THERETO. THE COMPANY HEREBY CONSENTS TO PERSONAL JURISDICTION, SERVICE AND VENUE IN ANY COURT IN WHICH ANY CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT IS BROUGHT BY AND THIRD PARTY AGAINST UBS SECURITIES OR ANY INDEMNIFIED PARTY. EACH OF UBS SECURITIES AND THE COMPANY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING OR CLAIM (WHETHER BASED UPON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT. THE COMPANY AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY PROCEEDING OR CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND BINDING UPON THE COMPANY AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN ANY OTHER COURTS TO THE JURISDICTION OF WHICH THE COMPANY IS OR MAY BE SUBJECT, BY SUIT UPON SUCH JUDGMENT.
The foregoing Indemnification Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any termination of UBS Securities's engagement. This Indemnification Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement.
Very truly yours,
EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT
By: ___________________________
Name:
Title:
Accepted and agreed to as of the date first above written:
UBS SECURITIES LLC
By: ___________________________
By:
Title:
By: ___________________________
By:
Title:
Exhibit (K)(5)
FORM
OF
ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION AGREEMENT
January [ ], 2005
Eaton Vance Management
255 State Street
Boston, MA 02109
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the Underwriting Agreement dated January [ ],
2005 (the "Underwriting Agreement"), by and among Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity
Income Fund II a closed-end management investment company (the "Fund"), Eaton
Vance Management ("Eaton Vance" or the "Investment Adviser"), Rampart Investment
Management Company, Inc. and each of the respective Underwriters named therein,
with respect to the issue and sale of the Fund's common shares of beneficial
interest, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Shares"), as described therein.
Reference is also made to (i) the Investment Advisory Agreement, dated [ ], 2005
(the "Investment Advisory Agreement") between Eaton Vance and the Fund and (ii)
the registration statement on Form N-2 regarding the Common Shares of the Fund
(the "Registration Statement"). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise
defined shall have the meanings given to them in the Underwriting Agreement.
Eaton Vance hereby confirms its agreement with each Qualifying Underwriter (as defined in Section 1 hereof) with respect to the additional compensation referred to in the "Underwriting" section of the Registration Statement, payable by Eaton Vance to each of the Qualifying Underwriters. Eaton Vance agrees to pay to each Qualifying Underwriter additional compensation (collectively, the "Additional Compensation") as provided for in Section 3 hereof; provided, however, that such Additional Compensation shall not exceed an amount equal to 0.15% per annum of the aggregate average daily gross assets of the Fund (including assets attributable to any preferred shares of the Fund that may be outstanding); and provided, further, that such payments shall not exceed the "Maximum Additional Compensation Amount" (as defined in Section 4 hereof). The Additional Compensation shall be payable as set forth in Section 3 hereof.
SECTION 1. Qualifying Underwriters. For the purposes of this
Additional Compensation Agreement, each Underwriter (other than UBS Securities
LLC), which sells Common Shares of the Fund with an aggregate purchase price to
the public of at least $50,000,000 shall be a "Class I Qualifying Underwriter"
and each Underwriter (other than UBS Securities LLC), which sells Common Shares
of the Fund with an aggregate purchase price to the public of at least
$100,000,000 shall be a "Class II Qualifying Underwriter;" provided, however,
that the amounts required to qualify as a Class I Qualifying Underwriter or a
Class II
Qualifying Underwriter may be reduced with respect to any Underwriter in the sole discretion of Eaton Vance. Class I Qualifying Underwriters and Class II Qualifying Underwriters are referred to collectively herein as "Qualifying Underwriters." A Qualifying Underwriter which qualifies as a Class II Qualifying Underwriter shall not also be a Class I Qualifying Underwriter. Within 60 days following the Closing Date, the Qualifying Underwriters shall prepare or cause to be prepared and provide to Eaton Vance a chart listing each of the Qualifying Underwriters, which chart shall indicate the aggregate purchase price to the public of the Common Shares sold by each Qualifying Underwriter and the Pro Rata Percentage (as defined in Section 2 hereof) of each Qualifying Underwriter and shall be appended as Schedule A to this Additional Compensation Agreement. Such Schedule A shall be prepared in good faith by the Qualifying Underwriters and subject to verification by Eaton Vance.
SECTION 2. Pro Rata Percentage. Each Qualifying Underwriter shall be assigned a "Pro Rata Percentage," the numerator of which shall equal the aggregate purchase price to the public of the Common Shares sold by such Underwriter as set forth on Schedule A hereto and the denominator of which shall equal the aggregate purchase price to the public of all of the Common Shares purchased by the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.
SECTION 3. Payment of Additional Compensation.
(a) Eaton Vance shall pay the Additional Compensation, quarterly in arrears, to each Class I Qualifying Underwriter in an amount equal to the product of such Qualifying Underwriter's Pro Rata Percentage multiplied by 0.0250% of the aggregate average daily gross assets of the Fund for such quarter.
(b) Eaton Vance shall pay the Additional Compensation, quarterly in arrears, to each Class II Qualifying Underwriter in an amount equal to the product of such Qualifying Underwriter's Pro Rata Percentage multiplied by 0.0375% of the aggregate average daily gross assets of the Fund for such quarter.
(c) All fees payable hereunder shall be paid to each Qualifying Underwriter by wire transfer of immediately available funds within 15 days following the end of each calendar quarter to a bank account designated by such Qualifying Underwriter. At the time of each payment of Additional Compensation hereunder, Eaton Vance shall deliver to each Qualifying Underwriter receiving an installment of Additional Compensation a statement indicating the amount of the of the aggregate average daily gross asset value of the Fund for such quarter (including assets attributable to any preferred shares of the Fund that may be outstanding) on which such payment was based.
(d) The initial payments of Additional Compensation hereunder shall be paid with respect to the calendar quarter ending March 31, 2005. In the event that this Additional Compensation Agreement terminates prior to the end of a calendar quarter, the Additional Compensation required to be paid hereunder shall be due and payable within 15 days following the termination hereof and shall be pro-rated in respect of the period prior to such termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any payment hereunder would otherwise fall on a day which is not a business day, it shall be due on the next day which is a business day. All fees payable
hereunder shall be in addition to any fees paid by the Investment Adviser pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.
SECTION 4. Maximum Additional Compensation Amount. The "Maximum Additional Compensation Amount" payable by the Investment Adviser hereunder shall be [ ]% of the aggregate offering price of the Common Shares. [ ] will receive additional compensation which will not exceed [ ]% of the aggregate initial offering price of the Common Shares and [ ] will received additional compensation which will not exceed [ ]% of the aggregate initial offering price of the Common Shares.
SECTION 5. Term. This Additional Compensation Agreement shall continue coterminously with and so long as the Investment Advisory Agreement, dated [ ], 2005, remains in effect between the Fund and Eaton Vance, or any similar investment advisory agreement with a successor in interest or affiliate of Eaton Vance remains in effect, as, and to the extent, that such investment advisory agreement is renewed periodically in accordance with the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. This Additional Compensation Agreement shall terminate on the earliest to occur of (a) with respect to any Qualifying Underwriter, the payment by Eaton Vance to such Qualifying Underwriter of the Maximum Additional Compensation Amount, (b) with respect to the Fund, the dissolution and winding up of the Fund and (c) with respect to the Fund, the date on which the Investment Advisory Agreement or other investment advisory agreement between the Fund and Eaton Vance or any successor in interest to Eaton Vance, including but not limited to an affiliate of Eaton Vance, shall terminate.
SECTION 6. Not an Investment Adviser. Eaton Vance acknowledges that the Underwriters are not providing any advice hereunder as to the value of securities or regarding the advisability of purchasing or selling any securities for the Fund. No provision of this Additional Compensation Agreement shall be considered as creating, nor shall any provision create, any obligation on the part of any Underwriter, and the Underwriters are not hereby agreeing, to: (i) furnish any advice or make any recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of portfolio securities or (ii) render any opinions, valuations or recommendations of any kind or to perform any such similar services.
SECTION 7. Not Exclusive. Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting any Underwriter or its respective affiliates from acting as such for any other clients (including other registered investment companies or other investment advisers).
SECTION 8. No Liability. Eaton Vance agrees that no Underwriter shall have liability to Eaton Vance or the Fund for any act or omission to act by such Underwriter in the course of its performance under this Additional Compensation Agreement, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of such Underwriter. Eaton Vance agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and its respective officers, directors, agents and employees against any loss or expense arising out of or in connection with such Underwriter's performance under this Additional Compensation Agreement. This provision shall survive the termination, expiration or supersession of this Additional Compensation Agreement.
SECTION 9. Assignment. This Additional Compensation Agreement may not be assigned by any party without the prior written consent of each other party.
SECTION 10. Amendment; Waiver. No provision of this Additional Compensation Agreement may be amended or waived except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto.
SECTION 11. Governing Law. This Additional Compensation Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
SECTION 12. Counterparts. This Additional Compensation Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one agreement. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Additional Compensation Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among Eaton Vance and the Qualifying Underwriters in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
[ ]
Title:
[ ]
Title:
CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,
as of the date first above written:
EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT
SCHEDULE A
AGGREGATE PURCHASE PRICE TO PUBLIC PRO RATA NAME OF QUALIFYING UNDERWRITER CLASS OF COMMON SHARES SOLD PERCENTAGE ------------------------------ ----- ------------------------ ---------- [ ] [ ] [ ] % [ ] [ ] [ ] % |
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM'S CONSENT
We consent to the reference to our Firm under the heading "Independent registered public accounting firm" in the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information in this Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement of Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund II on Form N-2 filed by the Fund under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Registration No. 333-120421) and under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (Registration No. 811 -21670).
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP -------------------------- Boston, Massachusetts December 20, 2004 |
EXHIBIT (s)
POWER OF ATTORNEY
We, the undersigned officers and Trustees of Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund II, a Massachusetts business trust, do hereby severally constitute and appoint Alan R. Dynner, Thomas E. Faust Jr., James B. Hawkes or James L. O'Connor, or any of them, to be true, sufficient and lawful attorneys, or attorney for each of us, to sign for each of us, in the name of each of us in the capacities indicated below, Registration Statements and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to such Registration Statements on Form N-2 filed by Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund II with the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect of any class of shares of beneficial interest and other documents and papers relating thereto.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF we have hereunto set our hands on the dates set opposite our respective signatures.
Signature Title Date --------- ----- ---- /s/ Duncan W. Richardson President and Principal December 20, 2004 ----------------------------- Executive Officer Duncan W. Richardson /s/ James L. O'Connor Treasurer and Principal December 20, 2004 ------------------------------ Financial and Accounting James L. O'Connor Officer /s/ James B. Hawkes Trustee December 20, 2004 ------------------------------ James B. Hawkes /s/ Samuel L. Hayes, III Trustee December 20, 2004 ------------------------------ Samuel L. Hayes, III /s/ William H. Park Trustee December 20, 2004 ----------------------------- William H. Park /s/ Ronald A. Pearlman Trustee December 20, 2004 ----------------------------- Ronald A. Pearlman /s/ Norton H. Reamer Trustee December 20, 2004 ----------------------------- Norton H. Reamer /s/ Lynn A. Stout Trustee December 20, 2004 ----------------------------- Lynn A. Stout |