497 1 d497.htm EATON VANCE NATIONAL MUNICIPAL OPPORTUNITIES TRUST Eaton Vance National Municipal Opportunities Trust
Table of Contents

 

PROSPECTUS     MAY 26, 2009

 

 

 

LOGO

 

13,750,000 Shares

 

Eaton Vance National Municipal

Opportunities Trust

 

Common Shares

 

 

Investment objectives and policies.    Eaton Vance National Municipal Opportunities Trust (the “Trust”) is a newly organized, diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Trust’s primary investment objective is to provide current income exempt from federal income tax. The Trust will, as a secondary investment objective, seek to achieve capital appreciation. The Trust will invest primarily in municipal obligations that, at the time of investment, are investment grade quality. The Trust also may invest a portion of its assets in municipal obligations rated below investment grade quality or unrated securities that the Trust’s investment adviser considers to be of comparable quality. The Trust’s net asset value and distribution rate will vary and may be affected by several factors, including changes in interest rates and the credit quality of municipal issuers. An investment in the Trust may not be appropriate for all investors, particularly those that are not subject to federal income tax. There is no assurance that the Trust will achieve its investment objectives.

Portfolio contents.    During normal market conditions, the Trust will invest at least 80% of its gross assets in debt obligations issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States, including the District of Columbia, and their political subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities, the interest on which is exempt from regular federal income tax (“municipal obligations”), including investments in residual interest bonds whose interest is exempt from regular federal income tax. During normal market conditions, at least 70% of the Trust’s investments in municipal obligations will be investment grade quality at the time of investment. Up to 30% of the Trust’s investments in municipal obligations may be below investment grade quality at the time of investment. Up to 20% of the Trust’s investments in municipal obligations may be subject to the alternative minimum tax. (continued on inside front cover)

Because the Trust is newly organized, its common shares (the “Common Shares”) have no history of public trading. The shares of closed-end investment companies often trade at a discount from their net asset value, which may increase investors’ risk of loss. The returns earned by holders of the Trust’s Common Shares (“Common Shareholders”) who purchase their shares in this offering and sell their shares below net asset value will be reduced. This risk may be greater for investors who intend to sell their shares in a relatively short period after completion of the initial public offering.

Investing in the Trust’s Common Shares involves certain risks. See “Investment objectives, policies and risks” beginning on page 18 of this prospectus.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

      Price to public    Sales load(1)    Proceeds to Trust(2)
Per share    $20.00    $0.90    $19.10
Total    $275,000,000    $12,375,000    $262,625,000
Total assuming full exercise of the over-allotment option    $316,250,000    $14,231,250    $302,018,750

(see notes on inside front cover page)

The underwriters expect to deliver the Common Shares to purchasers on or about May 29, 2009.

UBS Investment Bank

Citi

Merrill Lynch & Co.

Morgan Stanley

Wachovia Securities

 

RBC Capital Markets   Ameriprise Advisor Services, Inc.   Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
Oppenheimer & Co.   Stifel Nicolaus   J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, LLC
Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.   Maxim Group LLC   Southwest Securities, Inc.


Table of Contents

  

 

 

(notes continued from previous page)

 

(1)   Eaton Vance (not the Trust) will pay a shareholder servicing fee to UBS Securities LLC pursuant to a shareholder servicing agreement. Eaton Vance (not the Trust) has agreed to pay a structuring fee to Citigroup Global Markets Inc., additional compensation to Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, a marketing and structuring fee to Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and a structuring fee to Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC. The total compensation received by the Underwriters will not exceed 9.0% of the aggregate initial offering price of the Common Shares offered hereby. See “Underwriting.”
(2)   In addition to the sales load, the Trust will pay offering costs of up to $0.04 per share, estimated to total approximately $550,000, which will reduce the “Proceeds to the Trust” (above). Eaton Vance or an affiliate has agreed to pay the amount by which the aggregate of all of the Trust’s offering costs (other than sales loads) exceed $0.04 per share. Eaton Vance or an affiliate has agreed to reimburse all organizational costs of the Trust.

(continued from previous page)

A municipal obligation is considered investment grade quality if it is either (i) rated within the four highest ratings categories by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (a “Rating Agency”), which are those rated Baa or higher by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or BBB or higher by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (“S&P”) or Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”), or (ii) an unrated municipal obligation that the Trust’s investment adviser considers to be of investment grade quality. If a municipal obligation is rated differently by two or more Rating Agencies, the Trust will use the higher of such ratings (the “Municipal Obligation Rating”). If a municipal obligation is insured, the Trust will use the higher of the Municipal Obligation Rating or the insurance issuer’s rating. Securities rated in the fourth highest category (i.e., Baa by Moody’s or BBB by S&P or Fitch) are considered investment grade quality, but may have speculative characteristics. A municipal obligation is considered below investment grade quality if it is either (i) rated below investment grade by a Rating Agency, or (ii) an unrated municipal obligation that the Trust’s investment adviser considers to be of comparable quality. Municipal obligations of below investment grade quality (commonly referred to as “junk” bonds) involve special risks as compared to municipal obligations of investment grade quality. These risks include greater sensitivity to a general economic downturn, greater market price volatility and less secondary market trading. The Trust may invest in below investment grade municipal obligations of any quality. The Trust has no current intention, however, for more than 5% of its municipal obligation investments to consist of securities that, at the time of investment, are rated below B- by S&P or Fitch, rated below B3 by Moody’s or that are unrated but that the Adviser considers to be of comparable quality. This means that up to 5% of the Trust’s investments in municipal obligations may be in securities of issuers that are having financial difficulties, which may include being in default on obligations to pay principal or interest thereon when due or involved in bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings (such securities are commonly referred to as “distressed securities”).

Leverage.    The Trust anticipates using leverage to seek to enhance returns, initially by investing in residual interest bonds. The Trust will not utilize leverage in excess of 15% of its gross assets. Residual interest bonds are securities that pay interest at rates that vary inversely with changes in prevailing short-term tax-exempt interest rates and provide the economic effect of leverage. Although the Trust has no current intention to do so, the Trust is authorized also to utilize leverage through the issuance of preferred shares and/or borrowings, including the issuance of debt securities. The Trust may borrow for temporary, emergency or other purposes as permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).

The Adviser.    The Trust’s investment adviser is Eaton Vance Management (“Eaton Vance” or the “Adviser”). As of March 31, 2009, Eaton Vance and its affiliates managed approximately $119.3 billion of assets, including 61 municipal bond funds with combined assets of about $23.6 billion.

 

 

ii


Table of Contents

  

 

 

Exchange Listing.    The Trust has been approved for listing its Common Shares on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to notice of issuance, under the ticker symbol “EOT.”

This prospectus sets forth concisely information you should know before investing in the Common Shares. Please read and retain this prospectus for future reference. A Statement of Additional Information dated May 26, 2009, has been filed with the SEC. The Statement of Additional Information, annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders when available and other information about the Trust can be obtained without charge by calling 1-800-225-6265, by writing to the Trust at the address below or from the Trust’s website (http://www.eatonvance.com). A table of contents to the Statement of Additional Information is located at page 51 of this prospectus. This prospectus incorporates by reference the entire Statement of Additional Information. The Statement of Additional Information is available along with other Trust-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 Trust’s address is Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 and its telephone number is 1-800-225-6265.

The Trust’s Common 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 governmental agency.

The underwriters named in the prospectus may purchase up to 2,062,500 additional Common Shares from the Trust under certain circumstances.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. The Trust has not, and the underwriters have not, authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. The Trust is not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. The Trust will notify Common Shareholders promptly of any material change to this prospectus during the period the Trust is required to deliver the prospectus. The Trust’s business, financial condition and results of operations may have changed since the date of this prospectus.

Until June 21, 2009 (25 days after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that buy, sell or trade the Common 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.

 

 

iii


Table of Contents

 

 

[THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

 

 

 

iv


Table of Contents

  

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Prospectus summary

   1

Summary of Trust expenses

   16

The Trust

   18

Use of proceeds

   18

Investment objectives, policies and risks

   18

Management of the Trust

   36

Determination of net asset value

   37

Distributions

   38

Federal income tax matters

   38

Dividend reinvestment plan

   40

Description of capital structure

   42

Underwriting

   46

Shareholder servicing fee, structuring fees, additional compensation and other relationships

   48

Custodian and transfer agent

   49

Legal matters

   49

Reports to shareholders

   50

Independent registered public accounting firm

   50

Additional information

   50

Table of contents of the Statement of Additional Information

   51

The Trust’s privacy policy

   52

 

 

v


Table of Contents

Prospectus summary

The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the more detailed information included elsewhere in this prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information.

THE TRUST

Eaton Vance National Municipal Opportunities Trust (the “Trust”) is a newly organized, diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Trust offers investors the opportunity to receive current income exempt from federal income tax through a professionally managed portfolio of municipal obligations. Investments are based on the municipal securities research, trading and portfolio management of the Trust’s investment adviser, Eaton Vance Management (“Eaton Vance” or the “Adviser”), which generally are not available to individual investors. The Trust’s net asset value and distribution rate will vary and may be affected by several factors, including changes in interest rates and the credit quality of municipal issuers. An investment in the Trust may not be appropriate for all investors, particularly those that are not subject to federal income tax. There is no assurance that the Trust will achieve its investment objectives.

THE OFFERING

The Trust is offering 13,750,000 common shares of beneficial interest (the “Common Shares”), par value $0.01 per Share, through a group of underwriters (the “Underwriters”) led by UBS Securities, LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC. The Underwriters have been granted an option by the Trust to purchase up to 2,062,500 additional Common Shares solely to cover over-allotments, if any. The initial public offering price is $20.00 per Share. The minimum purchase in this offering is 100 Common Shares ($2,000). See “Underwriting.” Eaton Vance or an affiliate has agreed to pay the amount by which the aggregate of all of the Trust’s offering costs (other than the sales load) exceed $0.04 per Share. Eaton Vance or an affiliate has agreed to reimburse all organizational costs of the Trust.

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

Investment objectives

The Trust’s primary investment objective is to provide current income exempt from federal income tax. The Trust will, as a secondary investment objective, seek to achieve capital appreciation. The Trust will seek achieve its investment objectives by investing primarily in municipal obligations (as defined below) that, at the time of investment, are investment grade quality. The Trust also may invest a portion of its gross assets in municipal obligations rated below investment grade or unrated securities that the Adviser considers to be of comparable quality. Securities will be purchased and sold in an effort to maintain a competitive yield and to enhance return based upon the relative value of the securities available in the marketplace. There is no assurance that the Trust will achieve its investment objectives.

Portfolio parameters

During normal market conditions, the Trust will invest at least 80% of its gross assets in debt obligations issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States, including the District of Columbia, and their political subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities, the interest on which is exempt from regular federal income tax (“municipal obligations”). For purposes of this 80% policy, municipal obligations will include investments in residual interest bonds whose interest is exempt from regular federal income tax.

 

 

1


Table of Contents

The Trust’s investment objectives are considered a non-fundamental policy that may be changed by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) without approval of the holders of the Trust’s common shares (“Common Shareholder”). The Trust’s policy of investing at least 80% of its gross assets in municipal obligations is considered fundamental and may only be changed upon Common Shareholder approval.

Municipal obligations include bonds, notes and commercial paper issued for a wide variety of both public and private purposes, the interest on which is exempt from regular federal income tax. Public purpose municipal bonds include general obligation and revenue bonds. General obligation bonds are backed by the taxing power of the issuing municipality. Revenue bonds are backed by the revenues of a project or facility, or from the proceeds of a specific revenue source. Some revenue bonds are payable solely or partly from funds that are subject to annual appropriations by a state’s legislature. Municipal notes include bond anticipation, tax anticipation and revenue anticipation notes. Bond, tax and revenue anticipation notes are short-term obligations that will be retired with the proceeds of an anticipated bond issue, tax revenue or facility revenue, respectively.

Municipal obligations are often issued by state and local governmental entities to finance or refinance public projects, such as roads, schools and water supply systems. Municipal obligations also may be issued on behalf of private entities or for private activities, such as housing, medical and educational facility construction, or for privately owned transportation, electric utility and pollution control projects. Municipal obligations may be issued on a long-term basis to provide long-term financing. The repayment of such debt may be secured generally by a pledge of the full faith and credit taxing power of the issuer, a limited or special tax, or any other revenue source, including project revenues, which may include tolls, fees and other user charges, lease payments, and mortgage payments. Municipal obligations also may be issued to finance projects on a short-term interim basis, anticipating repayment with the proceeds of the later issuance of long-term debt. The Trust may purchase municipal obligations in the form of bonds, notes, leases or certificates of participation; structured as callable or non-callable; with payment forms that include fixed coupon, variable rate, zero-coupon, capital appreciation bonds, residual interest bonds and short-term floating-rate securities. Such municipal obligations may be acquired through investments in pooled vehicles, partnerships, or other investment companies. No established resale market exists for certain of the municipal obligations in which the Trust may invest. The Trust has no limitation on the amount of its assets that may be invested in securities that are not readily marketable or are subject to restrictions on resale.

During normal market conditions, at least 70% of the Trust’s investments in municipal obligations will be investment grade quality at the time of investment. A municipal obligation is considered investment grade quality if it is either (i) rated within the four highest ratings categories by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (a “Rating Agency”), which are those rated Baa or higher by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or BBB or higher by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (“S&P”) or Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”), or (ii) an unrated municipal obligation that the Trust’s investment adviser considers to be of investment grade quality. If a municipal obligation is rated differently by two or more Rating Agencies, the Trust will use the higher of such ratings (the “Municipal Obligation Rating”). If a municipal obligation is insured, the Trust will use the higher of the Municipal Obligation Rating or the insurance issuer’s rating. Securities rated in the fourth highest category (i.e., Baa by Moody’s or BBB by S&P or Fitch) are considered investment grade quality, but may have speculative characteristics.

Up to 30% of the Trust’s investments in municipal obligations may be below investment grade quality at the time of investment. A municipal obligation is considered below investment grade quality if it is either (i) rated below investment grade by a Rating Agency, or (ii) an unrated municipal obligation that the Trust’s investment adviser considers to be of comparable quality. Municipal obligations of below

 

 

2


Table of Contents

investment grade quality (commonly referred to as “junk” bonds) involve special risks as compared to municipal obligations of investment grade quality. These risks include greater sensitivity to a general economic downturn, greater market price volatility and less secondary market trading. The Trust may invest in below investment grade municipal obligations of any quality. The Trust has no current intention, however, for more than 5% of its municipal obligation investments to consist of securities that, at the time of investment, are rated below B- by S&P or Fitch, rated below B3 by Moody’s or that are unrated but that the Adviser considers to be of comparable quality. This means that up to 5% of the Trust’s investments in municipal obligations may be in securities of issuers that are having financial difficulties, which may include being in default on obligations to pay principal or interest thereon when due or involved in bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings (such securities are commonly referred to as “distressed securities”).

The Trust anticipates that its initial portfolio will be approximately 80% investment grade. Under normal market conditions, the Trust will seek to maintain an average credit quality of investment grade. A portfolio, such as the Trust, that achieves a dollar-weighted average investment grade credit quality by investing primarily in investment grade securities, but that may also invest significantly in below investment grade securities, involves certain risk characteristics that differ from individual fixed income securities with credit ratings equivalent to the portfolio average or from a portfolio consisting mostly of securities of a quality near this average. Most notably, the Trust’s portfolio may contain a higher percentage of assets of lower quality that each individually involve a higher degree of credit risk and may be considered to be speculative in nature. As indicated above, the Trust may invest in unrated obligations for which Eaton Vance will make a credit quality determination for purposes of the Trust’s credit quality policy. To the extent that the Trust invests in such unrated obligations, the Trust’s credit quality will be more dependent on Eaton Vance’s credit analysis than if the Trust invested in only rated obligations. Investment in unrated obligations also involves a potential conflict of interest. In general, investment quality involves a trade-off between potential enhanced return and assumption of additional credit risk. In making credit quality determinations for unrated obligations, there is a possibility of an investment adviser being influenced by the goal of seeking to maximize investment performance. For a description of the risks of investing in below investment grade securities, see “Investment objectives, policies and risks—Risk considerations—Below investment grade securities risks.”

Up to 20% of the Trust’s investments in municipal obligations may be subject to the alternative minimum tax.

Up to 5% of the Trust’s investments in municipal obligations may be collateralized by the proceeds from class action or other litigation against the tobacco industry. Such municipal obligations are backed solely by expected revenues to be derived from lawsuits involving tobacco-related deaths and illnesses which were settled between certain states and American tobacco companies.

Although the Trust has no policy governing the maturities or durations of its investments, the Trust expects that initially it will invest in a portfolio of longer-term securities, generally with maturities of 10 years or greater.

The Trust anticipates initially investing in residual interest bonds, also known as inverse floating rate securities, which have the economic effect of leverage. A residual interest bond is a type of inverse floating-rate security created by dividing the income from a municipal bond into two portions. Typically, a third-party sponsor will create a trust (commonly referred to as a tender option bond trust) consisting of one or more municipal bonds and then create two new securities: a short-term floating-rate security and a residual interest inverse floating-rate bond. The short-term floating rate security will be linked to a reference interest rate (such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), or the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (“SIFMA”) Municipal Bond Swap Index), and the tender option bond trust’s income

 

 

3


Table of Contents

will be used to pay the coupon on the short-term floating rate security, with any remaining income going toward the residual interest bond. Because the residual interest bond is an inverse floating rate security and only pays a residual income, compared to fixed rate municipal bonds, the value of residual interest bonds will fluctuate to a greater extent in response to changes in prevailing long-term interest rates. As market interest rates increase, the value of a residual interest bond will decrease. Moreover, the income earned on such bonds will fluctuate in response to changes in prevailing short-term interest rates. When residual interest bonds are held by the Trust, an increase in short- or long-term market interest rates may adversely affect the income received from such bonds or the net asset value of Common Shares.

The Adviser may determine to invest in residual interest bonds rather than investing directly in municipal bonds because the embedded leverage provides an opportunity to earn enhanced income. The residual interest payments to which the Trust is entitled consists of all of the interest paid on all of the bonds held in the tender option bond trust less the interest payable to floating rate interest holders and the expenses of the trust. Accordingly, if the short-term rates payable to the floating rate interest holder are lower than the long-term rates on the municipal bonds held in the trust, the Trust as the residual interest holder will receive (i) the difference between these amounts on the portion of the tender option bond trust attributable to floating rate interests; plus (ii) the interest on such municipal bonds on the portion of the tender option bond trust attributable to residual interests; minus trust expenses.

The Trust will invest in residual interest bonds primarily for investment purposes.

The Trust has no current intention to invest 25% or more of its gross assets (but may invest up to such amount) in municipal obligations of issuers located in the same state (or U.S. territory), but reserves the flexibility to do so in the future. If the Trust invests 25% or more of its gross assets in any one state (or U.S. territory) the Trust may be more susceptible to adverse economic, political or regulatory occurrences affecting a particular state (or territory).

The Trust generally will not invest more than 2% of its gross assets in any security of below investment grade quality.

“Gross assets” of the Trust shall mean total assets of the Trust, including assets attributable to any form of leverage, minus all accrued expenses incurred in the normal course of operations, but not excluding any liabilities or obligations attributable to leverage obtained through (i) indebtedness of any type (including, without limitation, borrowing through a credit facility or the issuance of debt securities or through the purchase of residual interest bonds), (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; all as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principals.

In addition to investing in residual interest bonds, the Trust may invest without limitation in other derivative instruments (which are instruments that derive their value from another instrument, security or index) acquired for hedging purposes. The Trust may purchase and sell various kinds of financial futures contracts and related options, including futures contracts and related options based on various debt securities and securities indices. The Trust also may enter into interest rate, total return and other swaps and forward rate contracts to seek to hedge against changes in interest rates or for other risk management purposes. See “Investment objectives, policies and risks—Additional investment practices—Derivative instruments.”

The foregoing credit quality policies apply only at the time a security is purchased, and the Trust is not required to dispose of a security in the event that a Rating Agency downgrades its assessment of the credit characteristics of a particular issue or withdraws its assessment. In determining whether to retain

 

 

4


Table of Contents

or sell such a security, Eaton Vance may consider such factors as Eaton Vance’s assessment of the credit quality of the issuer of such security, the price at which such security could be sold and the rating, if any, assigned to such security by other Rating Agencies.

The Trust is a “diversified” investment company which means that with respect to 75% of its total assets (1) it may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of any one issuer and (2) it may not own more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer. Therefore, with respect to no more than 25% of its total assets, the Trust may invest more than 5% of the value of its total assets in the obligations of any single issuer. To the extent the Trust invests a relatively high percentage of its assets in obligations of a limited number of issuers, the Trust will be more susceptible to any single corporate, economic, political or regulatory occurrence.

LISTING

The Trust has been approved for listing its Common Shares on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to notice of issuance, under the symbol “EOT.”

LEVERAGE

The Trust anticipates using leverage to seek to enhance returns, initially by investing in residual interest bonds. The Trust will not utilize leverage in excess of 15% of its gross assets. Residual interest bonds are securities that pay interest at rates that vary inversely with changes in prevailing short-term tax-exempt interest rates and provide the economic effect of leverage. Although the Trust has no current intention to do so, the Trust is authorized also to utilize leverage through the issuance of preferred shares and/or borrowings, including the issuance of debt securities. The Trust may borrow for temporary, emergency or other purposes as permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).

INVESTMENT ADVISER AND ADMINISTRATOR

Eaton Vance, a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Eaton Vance Corp., is the Trust’s investment adviser and administrator. As of March 31, 2009, Eaton Vance and its affiliates managed approximately $119.3 billion of assets, including 61 municipal bond funds with combined assets of about $23.6 billion. See “Management of the Trust.”

DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN

The Trust has established a dividend reinvestment plan (the “Plan”). Under the Plan, unless a Common Shareholder elects to receive distributions in cash, all distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional Common Shares, either purchased in the open market or newly issued by the Trust if the Common Shares are trading at or above their net asset value. Common Shareholders who intend to hold their Common Shares through a broker or nominee should contact such broker or nominee regarding the Plan. See “Dividend reinvestment plan.”

DISTRIBUTIONS

The Trust intends to make monthly distributions of net investment income. The Trust will distribute annually any net short-term capital gain and any net capital gain (which is the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss). Distributions to Common Shareholders cannot be assured,

 

 

5


Table of Contents

and the amount of each monthly distribution is likely to vary. Initial distributions to Common Shareholders are expected to be declared approximately 45 days and are expected to be paid approximately 60 days after the completion of this offering.

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 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 inflows and outflows that can complicate their 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 their ability to make certain types of investments, including investments in illiquid securities, and to utilize leverage. 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 Trust’s 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 Share. The Board might also consider the conversion of the Trust to an open-end management investment company. The Board believes, however, that the closed-end structure is desirable, given the Trust’s investment objectives and policies. Investors should assume, therefore, that it is highly unlikely that the Board would vote to convert the Trust to an open-end management investment company. Although the Trust has no current intention to issue preferred shares, investors should note that any possible future issuance of preferred shares to provide leverage could make a conversion to open-end form more difficult due to 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 Trust is a closed-end management 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 Trust, which will generally trade in the over-the-counter markets. 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. If the current national economic downturn deteriorates into a prolonged recession, the ability of municipalities to collect revenue and service their obligations could be materially and adversely affected.

Interest rate and income risk

The prices of municipal obligations tend to fall as interest rates rise. When interest rates decline, the value of municipal obligations held by the Trust can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates

 

 

6


Table of Contents

rise, the value of municipal obligations held by the Trust can be expected to decline. Interest rate risk is the risk that the municipal securities in the Trust’s portfolio will decline in value because of increases in market interest rates. In typical market interest rate environments, the prices of longer-term municipal securities tend to fluctuate more in price in response to changes in market interest rates than prices of shorter-term municipal securities. A decline in the prices of the municipal obligations owned by the Trust would cause a decline in the net asset value of the Trust, which could adversely affect the trading price of the Trust’s Common Shares. This risk is usually greater among municipal obligations with longer maturities or durations. Although the Trust has no policy governing the maturities or durations of its investments, the Trust expects that initially it will invest in a portfolio of longer-term securities, generally with maturities of 10 years or greater. This means that the Trust’s Common Share net asset value and market price per share will fluctuate more in response to changes in market interest rates than if the Trust invested primarily in shorter-term municipal securities. The Trust may utilize certain strategies, including taking positions in futures or interest rate swaps and forward rate contracts, for the purpose of reducing the interest rate sensitivity of the portfolio and decreasing the Trust’s exposure to interest rate risk, although there can be no assurance that it will do so or that such strategies will be successful.

The income investors receive from the Trust is based primarily on the interest it earns from its investments, which can vary widely over the short- and long-term. If long-term interest rates drop, investors’ income from the Trust over time could drop as well if the Trust purchases securities with lower interest coupons.

The Trust anticipates initially incurring economic leverage by investing in residual interest bonds. Compared to similar fixed-rate municipal bonds, the value of these bonds will fluctuate to a greater extent in response to changes in prevailing long-term interest rates. Moreover, the income earned on residual interest municipal bonds will fluctuate in response to changes in prevailing short-term interest rates. Thus, when such bonds are held by the Trust, an increase in short- or long-term market interest rates may adversely affect the income received from such bonds or the net asset value of Trust shares.

Call and other reinvestment risks

If interest rates fall, it is possible that issuers of callable bonds with high interest coupons will “call” (or prepay) their bonds before their maturity date. If a call were exercised by the issuer during a period of declining interest rates, the Trust is likely to replace such called security with a lower yielding security. If that were to happen, it could decrease the Trust’s dividends and possibly could affect the market price of Common Shares. Similar risks exist when the Trust invests the proceeds from matured or traded municipal obligations at market interest rates that are below the Trust’s current earnings rate.

Credit risk

Credit risk is the risk that one or more municipal bonds in the Trust’s portfolio will decline in price, or fail to pay interest or principal when due, because the issuer of the bond experiences a decline in its financial status. In general, lower rated municipal bonds carry a greater degree of risk that the issuer will lose its ability to make interest and principal payments, which could have a negative impact on the Trust’s net asset value or dividends. Securities rated in the fourth highest category (i.e., Baa by Moody’s or BBB by S&P or Fitch) are considered investment grade quality, but may have speculative characteristics.

Changes in the credit quality of the issuers of municipal obligations held by the Trust will affect the principal value of (and possibly the income earned on) such obligations. In addition, the value of such securities is affected by changes in general economic conditions and business conditions affecting the relevant economic sectors. Changes by Rating Agencies in their ratings of a security and in the ability of the issuer to make payments of principal and interest may also affect the value of the Trust’s investments.

 

 

7


Table of Contents

The amount of information about the financial condition of an issuer of municipal obligations may not be as extensive as that made available by corporations whose securities are publicly traded. The Trust may invest in unrated obligations for which Eaton Vance will make a credit quality determination for purposes of the Trust’s credit quality policy. To the extent that the Trust invests in such unrated obligations, the Trust’s credit quality will be more dependent on Eaton Vance’s credit analysis than if the Trust invested in only rated obligations.

The Trust may invest in municipal leases and participations in municipal leases. The obligation of the issuer to meet its obligations under such leases is often subject to the ongoing appropriation by a legislative body, on an annual or other basis, of funds for the payment of the obligations. Investments in municipal leases are thus subject to the risk that the legislative body will not make the necessary appropriation and the issuer will not otherwise be willing or able to meet its obligation.

Liquidity risk

The secondary market for some municipal obligations is less liquid than that for widely traded taxable debt obligations or widely traded municipal obligations. No established resale market exists for certain of the municipal obligations in which the Trust may invest. The Trust has no limitation on the amount of its assets that may be invested in securities that are not readily marketable or are subject to restrictions on resale. In certain situations, the Trust could find it more difficult to sell such securities at desirable times and/or prices. The Trust may not be able to readily dispose of such securities at prices that approximate those at which the Trust could sell such securities if they were more widely traded and, as a result of such illiquidity, the Trust 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 Trust’s net asset value and ability to make distributions. At times, a portion of the Trust’s assets may be invested in securities as to which the Trust, by itself or together with other accounts managed by Eaton Vance and its affiliates, holds a major portion or all of such securities.

Municipal bond market risk

Investing in the municipal bond market involves certain risks. Certain securities in which the Trust will invest will not be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or any state securities commission and will not be listed on any national securities exchange. The amount of public information available about the municipal obligations in the Trust’s portfolio is generally less than for corporate equities or bonds, and the investment performance of the Trust may therefore be more dependent on the analytical abilities of Eaton Vance than if the Trust were a stock fund or taxable bond fund.

The ability of municipal issuers to make timely payments of interest and principal may be diminished during general economic downturns and as governmental cost burdens are reallocated among federal, state and local governments. In addition, laws enacted in the future by Congress or state legislatures or referenda could extend the time for payment of principal and/or interest, or impose other constraints on enforcement of such obligations, or on the ability of municipalities to levy taxes. Issuers of municipal obligations might seek protection under the bankruptcy laws. In the event of bankruptcy of an issuer, the Trust could experience delays in collecting principal and interest to which it is entitled, and may obtain only a limited recovery or no recovery in such circumstances. To enforce its rights in the event of default in the payment of interest or repayment of principal, or both, the Trust may take possession of and manage the assets securing the issuer’s obligations on such securities, which may increase the Trust’s operating expenses. Any income derived from the Trust’s ownership or operation of such assets may not be tax-exempt.

 

 

8


Table of Contents

Current economic conditions may increase the likelihood that a municipal issuer will be unable to make timely payments of interest and principal or will default or seek protection under the bankruptcy laws and may increase the likelihood of legislation that will adversely effect the Trust’s investments in municipal obligations. See “Investment objectives, policies and risks—Risk considerations—Current economic conditions—credit crisis liquidity and volatility risk.”

Below investment grade securities risk

Up to 30% of the Trust’s investments in municipal obligations may be, at the time of investment, rated below investment grade or, if unrated, deemed by the Adviser to be below investment grade. Such obligations are commonly called “junk bonds” and will have speculative characteristics in varying degrees. While such obligations may have some quality and protective characteristics, these characteristics can be expected to be offset or outweighed by uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions. Below investment grade municipal obligations involve a greater degree of credit, interest rate and market risk than investment grade municipal obligations. Below investment grade municipal obligations are subject to a greater risk of an issuer’s inability to meet principal and interest payments on the obligations and may also be subject to greater price volatility due to such factors as interest rate sensitivity, market perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and general market liquidity. Below investment grade municipal obligations are considered predominantly speculative because of the credit risk of their issuers. While offering a greater potential opportunity for capital appreciation and higher yields, below investment grade municipal obligations typically entail greater potential price volatility and may be less liquid than investment grade municipal obligations. Issuers of below investment grade municipal obligations are more likely to default on their payments of interest and principal owed to the Trust, and such defaults will reduce the Trust’s net asset value and income distributions. The prices of these below investment grade obligations are more sensitive to negative developments than higher rated securities. Adverse economic conditions generally lead to a higher non-payment rate. In addition, below investment grade municipal obligations may lose significant value before a default occurs as the market adjusts to expected higher non-payment rates.

Increases in interest rates and changes in the economy may adversely affect the ability of issuers of lower grade municipal obligations to pay interest and to repay principal, to meet projected financial goals and to obtain additional financing. Issuers of below investment grade municipal obligations may be more adversely affected by a prolonged recession or continued deterioration of economic conditions. In the event that an issuer of securities held by the Trust experiences difficulties in the timely payment of principal or interest and such issuer seeks to restructure the terms of its borrowings, the Trust may incur additional expenses and may determine to invest additional assets with respect to such issuer or the project or projects to which the Trust’s portfolio securities relate. Further, the Trust may incur additional expenses to the extent that it is required to seek recovery upon a default in the payment of interest or the repayment of principal on its portfolio holdings, and the Trust may be unable to obtain full recovery thereof.

The Adviser seeks to minimize the risks of investing in below investment grade obligations through professional investment analysis, attention to current developments in interest rates and economic conditions, and industry and geographic diversification (if practicable). When the Trust invests in lower rated or unrated municipal obligations, the achievement of the Trust’s investment objectives is more dependent on the Adviser’s credit analysis than would be the case if the Trust were investing in municipal obligations rated investment grade. In evaluating the credit quality of a particular issue, whether rated or unrated, the Adviser will normally take into consideration, among other things, the financial resources of the issuer (or, as appropriate, of the guarantor or underlying source of funds for debt service), its sensitivity to economic conditions and trends, any operating history of and the community support for the facility financed by the issue, the ability of the issuer’s management and regulatory matters. The

 

 

9


Table of Contents

Adviser will attempt to reduce the risks of investing in the lowest investment grade quality, below investment grade quality and comparable unrated obligations through active portfolio management, credit analysis and attention to current developments and trends in the economy and the financial markets.

To the extent that there is no established market for some of the lower grade municipal obligations in which the Trust may invest, trading in such securities may be relatively inactive. The Adviser is responsible for determining the net asset value of the Trust, subject to the supervision of the Trust’s Board. During periods of reduced market liquidity and in the absence of readily available market quotations for lower grade municipal obligations held in the Trust’s portfolio, the ability of the Adviser to value the Trust’s securities becomes more difficult and the Adviser’s use of judgment may play a greater role in the valuation of the Trust’s securities due to the reduced availability of reliable objective data. The effects of adverse publicity and investor perceptions may be more pronounced for securities for which no established market exists as compared with the effects on securities for which a regular market does exist. Further, the Trust may have more difficulty selling such securities in a timely manner and at their stated value than would be the case for securities for which an established market does exist.

Municipal obligations held by the Trust that are initially rated below investment grade may subsequently be determined by the Adviser to be of investment grade quality for purposes of the Trust’s investment policies if the securities subsequently are backed by escrow accounts containing U.S. Government obligations. The Trust may retain in its portfolio an obligation that declines in quality, including defaulted obligations, if such retention is considered desirable by the Adviser. In the case of a defaulted obligation, the Trust may incur additional expense seeking recovery of its investment.

Insurance risk

The Trust may purchase municipal securities that are secured by insurance, bank credit agreements or escrow accounts. The credit quality of the companies that provide such credit enhancements will generally affect the value of those securities. Certain significant providers of insurance for municipal securities have recently incurred significant losses as a result of exposure to sub-prime mortgages and other lower credit quality investments that have experienced defaults or otherwise suffered credit deterioration. Such losses have reduced the insurers’ capital and may have called into question their continued ability to perform their obligations under such insurance if called upon in the future. While an insured municipal security will typically be deemed to have the rating of its insurer, if the insurer of a municipal security suffers a downgrade in its credit rating or the market discounts the value of the insurance provided, the rating of the underlying municipal security will generally be more relevant and the value of the municipal security would more closely, if not entirely, reflect such rating. In such a case, the value of insurance associated with a municipal security would decline and may not add any value. The insurance feature of a municipal security does not guarantee the full payment of principal and interest through the life of an insured obligation, the market value of the insured obligation or the net asset value of the Common Shares represented by such insured obligation.

Current economic conditions—credit crisis liquidity and volatility risk

The markets for many credit instruments, including municipal obligations, have experienced periods of illiquidity and extreme volatility since the latter half of 2007. The debt and equity capital markets in the United States have been negatively affected by significant write-offs in the financial services sector relating to subprime mortgages and the repricing of credit risk in the broader market, among other things. These events, along with the deterioration of the housing market, the failure of major financial institutions and the concerns that other financial institutions as well as the global financial system are experiencing severe economic distress have materially and adversely affected the broader financial and credit markets. General market uncertainty and consequent repricing risk have led to market imbalances

 

 

10


Table of Contents

of sellers and buyers, which in turn have resulted in significant valuation uncertainties in a variety of debt securities, including municipal obligations. In addition, during 2008, several major dealers of municipal bonds exited the market via acquisition or bankruptcy. These conditions resulted, and in many cases continue to result in, greater volatility, less liquidity, widening credit spreads and a lack of price transparency, with many debt securities remaining illiquid and of uncertain value. These market conditions may make valuation of some of the Trust’s municipal obligations uncertain and/or result in sudden and significant valuation increases or declines in its holdings. During times of reduced market liquidity, such as experienced recently, the Trust may not be able to sell securities readily at prices reflecting the underlying values of such securities or where carried on the Trust’s books. Sales of large blocks of securities by market participants that are seeking liquidity can further reduce security prices in an illiquid market. In addition, illiquidity and volatility in the credit markets may directly and adversely affect dividends on the Common Shares.

In response to the global economic downturn, governmental cost burdens may be reallocated among federal, state and local governments. The Federal Government, Federal Reserve and other governmental and regulatory bodies have taken and are considering additional actions to address the financial crisis. There can be no assurance as to what impact such actions will have on the markets for municipal obligations. Laws enacted in the future by Congress or state legislatures or referenda could extend the time for payment of principal and/or interest, or impose other constraints on enforcement of such obligations, or on the ability of municipalities to levy taxes. Issuers of municipal obligations might seek protection under the bankruptcy laws.

The current economic and financial market conditions may continue to contribute to increased market volatility, may have long-term effects on the U.S. and worldwide financial markets; and may cause further economic uncertainties or deterioration in the United States and worldwide. The prolonged continuation or further deterioration of the current U.S. and global economic downturn could adversely affect the Trust’s investments. The Adviser does not know how long the financial markets will continue to be affected by these events and cannot predict the effects of these or similar events in the future on the U.S. economy, markets and securities in the Trust’s portfolio. The Adviser intends to monitor developments and seek to manage the Trust’s portfolio in a manner consistent with achieving the Trust’s investment objectives, but there can be no assurance that it will be successful in doing so.

State specific risk

The Trust has no current intention to invest 25% or more of its gross assets (but may invest up to such amounts) in municipal obligations of issuers located in the same state (or U.S. territory), but reserves the flexibility to do so in the future. If the Trust invests 25% or more of its gross assets in any one state (or U.S. territory) the Trust may be more susceptible to adverse economic, political or regulatory occurrences affecting a particular state (or territory).

Up to 5% of the Trust’s investments in municipal obligations may be collateralized by the proceeds from class action or other litigation against the tobacco industry. Such municipal obligations are backed solely by expected revenues to be derived from lawsuits involving tobacco-related deaths and illnesses which were settled between certain states and American tobacco companies. Tobacco settlement bonds are secured by an issuing state’s proportionate share in the Master Settlement Agreement (“MSA”). The MSA is an agreement, reached out of court in November 1998 between 46 states and nearly all of the major U.S. tobacco manufacturers. Under the terms of the MSA, the actual amount of future settlement payments by tobacco manufacturers is dependent on many factors, including, but not limited to, annual domestic cigarette shipments, reduced cigarette consumption, increased taxes on cigarettes, inflation, financial capability of tobacco companies, continuing litigation and the possibility of tobacco manufacturer bankruptcy. Payments made by tobacco manufacturers could be negatively impacted if the

 

 

11


Table of Contents

decrease in tobacco consumption is significantly greater than the forecasted decline. See “Additional investment information and restrictions—State specific investments” in the Statement of Additional Information for additional information about tobacco settlement bonds and the MSA.

Residual interest bond risk

The Trust anticipates initially incurring economic leverage by investing in residual interest bonds. Residual interest bonds are securities that pay interest at rates that vary inversely with changes in prevailing short-term tax-exempt interest rates and provide the economic effect of leverage. Typically, such securities represent beneficial interests in a special purpose trust (sometimes called a “tender option bond trust”) formed by a third party sponsor for the purpose of holding municipal bonds. In general, income on residual interest bonds will decrease when short-term interest rates increase and increase when short-term interest rates decrease. Investments in residual interest bonds may subject the Trust to the risks of reduced or eliminated interest payments and losses of principal. In addition, residual interest bonds may increase or decrease in value at a greater rate than the underlying securities, which effectively leverages the Trust’s investment. The market value of such securities generally will be more volatile than that of conventional fixed rate securities.

Tender option bond trusts generally include liquidation triggers to protect the investor in the tender option bond. The trusts do not have recourse to the investors (such as the Trust) in the residual interest securities. However, in certain cases, at the discretion of the Adviser, the Trust may enter into a separate so-called shortfall and forbearance agreement with the sponsor of a tender option bond trust. The Trust generally may enter into such agreements (i) when the liquidity provider to the tender option bond trust requires such an agreement because the level of leverage in the tender option bond trust exceed the level that the liquidity provider is willing support absent such an agreement; and/or (ii) to seek to prevent the liquidity provider from collapsing the tender option bond trust in the event that the municipal obligation held in the trust has declined in value. Such an agreement would require the Trust to reimburse the sponsor upon termination of the trust the difference between the liquidation value of the bonds held in the trust and the principal amount due to the holders of floating rate interests. In such instances, the Trust may be at risk of loss that exceeds its investment in the residual interest securities. The Trust will segregate or earmark liquid assets with its custodian in accordance with 1940 Act Release No. 10666 (Apr. 18, 1979) to cover these obligations.

Any economic effect of leverage through the Trust’s purchase of residual interest bonds will create an opportunity for increased Common Share net income and returns, but will also create the possibility that the Trust’s long-term returns will be diminished if the cost of leverage exceeds the return on the bonds purchased with leverage by the Trust. See “Investment objectives, policies and risks—Risk considerations—Leverage risks.”

Residual interest bonds have varying degrees of liquidity based upon the liquidity of the securities deposited in the associated tender option bond trust and other factors. The market price of residual interest bonds is more volatile than the underlying securities due to leverage. In circumstances where the Trust has a need for cash and the securities in a tender option bond trust are not actively trading, the Trust may be required to sell its residual interest bonds at less than favorable prices, or liquidate other Trust portfolio holdings.

Risks of municipal leases and certificates of participation

The Trust may invest in municipal leases and certificates of participation that involve special risks not normally associated with general obligations or revenue obligations. Municipal leases are obligations in the form of a lease, installment purchase or conditional sales contract (which typically provide for the title to the leased asset to pass to the governmental issuer), issued by state or local governments to

 

 

12


Table of Contents

acquire equipment and facilities. Interest income from such obligations is generally exempt from local and state taxes in the state of issuance. The issuer’s obligations under such leases is often subject to the ongoing appropriation by a legislative body, on an annual or other basis, of funds for the payment thereof. Investments in municipal leases are thus subject to the risk that the legislative body will not make the necessary appropriation and the issuer will not otherwise be willing or able to meet its obligation.

Market price of common shares

The Trust is a closed-end management investment company with no history of operations and is designed primarily for long-term investors and not as a trading vehicle. The shares of closed-end management investment companies often trade at a discount from their net asset value, and the Common Shares may likewise trade at a discount from net asset value. The trading price of the Trust’s Common Shares may be less than the initial public offering price, creating a risk of loss for investors purchasing in the initial public offering of the Common Shares. This market price risk may be greater for investors who sell their Common Shares within a relatively short period after completion of this offering.

Inflation risk/deflation risk

Inflation risk is the risk that the value 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. In addition, during periods of rising inflation, short-term interest rates and the Trust’s cost of leverage would likely increase, reducing returns to Common Shareholders to the extent that such increased cost is not offset by commensurately higher income. Deflation risk is the risk that prices throughout the economy decline over time—the opposite of inflation. Deflation may have an adverse affect on the creditworthiness of issuers and may make issuer defaults more likely, which may result in a decline in the value of the Trust’s investments.

Leverage risk

The Trust anticipates using leverage to seek to enhance returns, initially by investing in residual interest bonds. The Trust will not utilize leverage in excess of 15% of its gross assets. Residual interest bonds are securities that pay interest at rates that vary inversely with changes in prevailing short-term tax-exempt interest rates and provide the economic effect of leverage. Although the Trust has no current intention to do so, the Trust is authorized also to utilize leverage through the issuance of preferred shares and/or borrowings, including the issuance of debt securities. The Trust may borrow for temporary, emergency or other purposes as permitted by the 1940 Act. There can be no assurance 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 leverage costs will affect income and return to Common Shareholders. To the extent the income derived from securities purchased with proceeds received from leverage exceeds the cost of leverage, the Trust’s distributions may be greater than if leverage had not been used. Conversely, if the income from the securities purchased with such proceeds are 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 Trust’s leveraged position if it deems such action to be appropriate. The costs of an offering of preferred shares, borrowings and other forms of leverage 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 Trust’s average daily gross assets, including assets purchased using proceeds from the issuance of preferred shares, borrowings and other forms of leverage, including investments in residual interest bonds, so the fee will be higher when leverage is utilized, which may create an incentive for the Adviser to employ leverage. If the Trust utilizes

 

 

13


Table of Contents

leverage by issuing preferred shares or debt, holders of preferred shares and the holders of any debt issued by the Trust do not bear the investment advisory fee. Therefore, Common Shareholders bear the portion of the investment advisory fee attributable to the assets purchased with the proceeds of leverage.

Derivatives risk

In addition to investing in residual interest bonds, the Trust may invest without limitation in other derivative instruments (which are instruments that derive their value from another instrument, security or index) acquired for hedging purposes. The loss on derivative instruments (other than purchased options) may substantially exceed an investment in these instruments. Derivative transactions, including options on securities and securities indices and other transactions in which the Trust may engage (such as futures contracts and options thereon, swaps and short sales), may subject the Trust to increased risk of principal loss due to unexpected movements in securities prices and interest rates, and imperfect correlations between the Trust’s securities holdings and indices upon which derivative transactions are based. Derivatives can be illiquid, may disproportionately increase losses, and may have a potentially large impact on the Trust’s performance. The Trust also will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties to any over-the-counter derivatives contracts entered into by the Trust. If a counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations under a derivative contract due to financial difficulties, the Trust may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery under the derivative contract in a bankruptcy or other reorganization proceeding. The Trust may obtain only a limited recovery or no recovery in such circumstances. Derivatives may disproportionately increase losses and have a potentially large negative impact on the Trust’s performance.

Counterparty risk

Changes in the credit quality of the companies that serve as the Trust’s counterparties with respect to its derivatives positions and liquidity providers for the Trust’s residual interest bonds or other investments supported by another party’s credit will affect the value of those instruments. Certain entities that have served as counterparties in the municipals markets have recently incurred significant financial hardships including bankruptcy and material loss of credit standing as a result of exposure to sub-prime mortgages and other investments that have experienced defaults or otherwise suffered extreme credit deterioration. As a result, such hardships have reduced these entities’ capital and called into question their continued ability to perform their obligations. By using derivatives or other instruments that expose the Trust to counterparties, the Trust assumes the risk that its counterparties could experience future financial hardship.

Tax risk

The value of the Trust’s investments and its net asset value may be adversely affected by changes in tax rates and policies. Because interest income from municipal obligations normally is not subject to regular federal income taxation, the attractiveness of municipal obligations in relation to other investment alternatives is affected by changes in federal income tax rates or changes in the tax-exempt status of interest income from municipal obligations. Any proposed or actual changes in such rates or exempt status, therefore, can significantly affect the demand for and supply, liquidity and marketability of municipal obligations. This could in turn affect the Trust’s net asset value and ability to acquire and dispose of municipal obligations at desirable yield and price levels. To the extent that the Trust receives income from municipal obligations subject to the federal alternative minimum tax, a portion of the dividends paid by the Trust, although otherwise exempt from federal income tax, would be taxable to its Common Shareholders to the extent that their tax liability is determined under the federal alternative minimum tax. The Trust is not a suitable investment for individual retirement accounts, for other tax-exempt or tax-deferred accounts or for investors who are otherwise indifferent to the federal income tax consequences of their investments. See “Federal income tax matters.”

 

 

14


Table of Contents

Management risk

The Trust is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed portfolio. Eaton Vance and the individual portfolio managers invest the assets of the Trust as they deem appropriate in implementing the Trust’s investment strategy. Accordingly, the success of the Trust depends upon the investment skills and analytical abilities of Eaton Vance and the individual portfolio managers to develop and effectively implement strategies that achieve the Trust’s investment objectives. There is no assurance that Eaton Vance and the individual portfolio managers will be successful in developing and implementing the Trust’s investment strategy. Subjective decisions made by Eaton Vance and the individual portfolio managers may cause the Trust to incur losses or to miss profit opportunities on which it could otherwise have capitalized.

Market disruption

The war in Iraq, instability in the Middle East and terrorist attacks around the world may adversely affect the performance of U.S. and worldwide financial markets and may cause economic uncertainties in the U.S. and elsewhere. The Trust cannot predict the future course of world affairs or the effects of significant future events on the U.S. economy and securities markets. Given these risks, an investment in the Common Shares may not be appropriate for all investors. You should carefully consider your ability to assume these risks before making an investment in the Trust.

Anti-takeover provisions

The Trust’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 Trust or to change the composition of the Board. See “Description of capital structure—Anti-takeover provisions in the Declaration of Trust.”

 

 

15


Table of Contents

 

Summary of Trust 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. The following table assumes the Trust incurs maximum allowable leverage of approximately 15% of gross assets through the Trust’s investment in residual interest bonds, and shows Trust expenses as a percentage of net assets attributable to the Common Shares.

 

Shareholder Transaction Expenses

  

Sales load paid by you (as a percentage of offering price)

   4.50 %

Expenses borne by the Trust (as a percentage of offering price)

   0.20 %(1)(2)

Dividend reinvestment plan fees

   None     (3)

 

     

Percentage of
Net Assets

Attributable to
Common Shares

(Assuming Leverage
as Described Above)(4)

 

Annual expenses

  

Investment advisory fee (4)(5)

   0.71 %

Other expenses (6) (total including interest expense (7))

   0.42 %
      

Interest expense (7)

   0.22 %

Other expenses (excluding interest expense) (6)

   0.20 %
      

Total annual expenses

   1.13 %
      

 

(1)   Eaton Vance or an affiliate has agreed to pay the amount by which the aggregate of all of the Trust’s offering costs (other than sales loads) exceed $0.04 per Common Share (0.20% of the offering price). Eaton Vance or an affiliate has agreed to reimburse all organizational costs of the Trust.
(2)   Eaton Vance (not the Trust) will pay a shareholder servicing fee to UBS Securities LLC pursuant to a shareholder servicing agreement. Eaton Vance (not the Trust) has agreed to pay a structuring fee to Citigroup Global Markets Inc., additional compensation to Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, a marketing and structuring fee to Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and a structuring fee to Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC. See “Underwriting.”
(3)   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.
(4)   The Trust anticipates initially incurring economic leverage by investing in residual interest bonds. The fee table assumes in the calculation of the investment advisory fee that the Trust incurs the maximum allowable leverage of 15% of gross assets. Because the fee table is required to be based on net assets and the investment advisory fee paid by the Trust is based on gross assets, including leverage, the investment advisory fee rate effectively borne by Common Shareholders is higher than the contractual investment advisory fee rate. Stated as a percentage of net assets attributable to Common Shares assuming no economic effects of leverage from investment in residual interest bonds, the Trust’s expenses would be as follows:

 

     

Percentage of

Net Assets

Attributable to
Common Shares

(Assuming No Leverage)

 

Annual Expenses

  

Investment Advisory Fee

   0.60 %

Other Expenses

   0.20 %
      

Total Annual Expenses

   0.80 %
      

(footnotes continued on following page)

 

 

16


Table of Contents

 

(5)   The investment advisory fee is 0.60% of the Trust’s average daily gross assets up to $1.5 billion, and 0.59% of the Trust’s average daily gross assets in excess of $1.5 billion.
(6)   The Other Expenses shown in the table are based on estimated amounts for the Trust’s first year of operations and assume that the Trust issues approximately 7,500,000 Common Shares. If the Trust issues fewer Common Shares, these expenses generally would increase. See “Management of the Trust” and “Dividend reinvestment plan.”
(7)   “Interest expense” relates to the Trust’s liability with respect to floating rate notes held by third parties in conjunction with anticipated investments in residual interest bonds and is based on the maximum allowable leverage of 15% of gross assets. The Trust records offsetting interest income in an amount at least equal to this expense relating to the municipal obligations underlying such transactions. Had this expense not been included, total “Other expenses” would have been the amounts described in the table above as “Other expenses (excluding interest expense)” and reflected in annual expenses table assuming no leverage as shown in footnote 4 above.

EXAMPLE

The following example illustrates the expenses that you would pay on a $1,000 investment in Common Shares (including the sales load of $45.00 and estimated offering expenses of this offering of $2.00), assuming (i) total annual expenses of 1.13% of net assets attributable to Common Shares and (ii) a 5% annual return(1)(2):

 

1 Year   3 Years   5 Years   10 Years
$ 58   $ 81   $ 106   $ 178

The example should not be considered a representation of future expenses. Actual expenses may be higher or lower.

 

(1)   The example assumes that the estimated “Other expenses” set forth in the annual expenses table are accurate, and that all distributions are reinvested at net asset value. Actual expenses may be greater or less than those assumed. Moreover, the Trust’s actual rate of return may be greater or less than the hypothetical 5% return shown in the example.
(2)   Based on the assumptions noted above and in footnote 1 but excluding the interest expenses from the economic effects of leverage from investment in residual interest bonds, you would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment in Common Shares:

 

1 Year   3 Years   5 Years   10 Years
$ 55   $ 71   $ 89   $ 141

 

 

17


Table of Contents

  

 

 

The Trust

Eaton Vance National Municipal Opportunities Trust is a newly organized, diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Trust is an unincorporated business trust established under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 26, 2009 and filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth on such date (the “Declaration of Trust”). The Trust has no operating history. The Trust’s principal office is located at Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 and its telephone number is 1-800-225-6265.

This prospectus relates to the initial public offering of the Trust’s common shares of beneficial interest (the “Common Shares”), par value $0.01 per Share). See “Underwriting.”

Use of proceeds

The net proceeds of this offering of the Trust’s Common Shares will be approximately $262,075,000 ($301,386,250 if the underwriters exercise the overallotment option in full) after payment of the sales load and offering costs (other than the sales load) expected to be approximately $0.04 per share. The net proceeds of the offering will be invested in accordance with the Trust’s investment objectives and policies (as stated below) as soon as practicable after completion of the offering. The Trust currently anticipates being able to do so within three months after the completion of the offering. Pending investment of the net proceeds in accordance with the Trust’s investment objectives and policies, the Trust will invest in high-quality, short-term debt securities, cash and/or cash equivalents. Investors should expect, therefore, that before the Trust has fully invested the proceeds of the offering in accordance with its investment objectives and policies, the Trust would earn interest income at a modest rate. If the Trust’s investments are delayed, the first planned distribution could consist principally of a return of capital.

Investment objectives, policies and risks

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES

The Trust’s primary investment objective is to provide current income exempt from federal income tax. The Trust will, as a secondary investment objective, seek to achieve capital appreciation. The Trust will seek to achieve its investment objectives by investing primarily in municipal obligations (as defined below) that, at the time of investment, are investment grade quality. The Trust also may invest a portion of its gross assets in municipal obligations rated below investment grade or unrated securities that the Adviser considers to be of comparable quality. Securities will be purchased and sold in an effort to maintain a competitive yield and to enhance return based upon the relative value of the securities available in the marketplace. Investments are based on Eaton Vance’s municipal obligations research, trading and portfolio management, which generally are not available to individual investors.

Eaton Vance seeks to find municipal obligations exhibiting relative value as compared to other opportunities in the municipal marketplace. Eaton Vance’s team of research analysts, traders and portfolio managers are devoted exclusively to investing in municipal obligations. The team’s goal is to find municipal bonds that are attractively priced in relation to other available opportunities due to differing dynamics in individual sectors of the municipal bond market, municipal bond supply, and the

 

 

18


Table of Contents

Investment objectives, policies and risks

 

 

structure of individual bonds, especially in regard to maturities, coupons, and call dates. Eaton Vance views research capability as being key to identifying trends that affect the yield-spread relationship among bonds.

PRIMARY INVESTMENT POLICIES

General composition of the Trust

During normal market conditions, the Trust will invest at least 80% of its gross assets in debt obligations issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States, including the District of Columbia, and their political subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities, the interest on which is exempt from regular federal income tax (“municipal obligations”). For purposes of this 80% policy, municipal obligations will include investments in residual interest bonds whose interest is exempt from regular federal income tax.

During normal market conditions, at least 70% of the Trust’s investments in municipal obligations will be investment grade quality at the time of investment. A municipal obligation is considered investment grade quality if it is either (i) rated within the four highest ratings categories by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (a “Rating Agency”), which are those rated Baa or higher by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or BBB or higher by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (“S&P”) or Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”), or (ii) an unrated municipal obligation that the Trust’s investment adviser considers to be of investment grade quality. If a municipal obligation is rated differently by two or more Rating Agencies, the Trust will use the higher of such ratings (the “Municipal Obligation Rating”). If a municipal obligation is insured, the Trust will use the higher of the Municipal Obligation Rating or the insurance issuer’s rating. Securities rated in the fourth highest category (i.e., Baa by Moody’s or BBB by S&P or Fitch) are considered investment grade quality, but may have speculative characteristics.

Up to 30% of the Trust’s investments in municipal obligations may be in securities of issuers that are below investment grade quality at the time of investment. A municipal obligation is considered below investment grade quality if it is either (i) rated below investment grade by a Rating Agency, or (ii) an unrated municipal obligation that the Trust’s investment adviser considers to be of comparable quality. Municipal obligations of below investment grade quality (commonly referred to as “junk” bonds) involve special risks as compared to municipal obligations of investment grade quality. These risks include greater sensitivity to a general economic downturn, greater market price volatility and less secondary market trading. The Trust may invest in below investment grade municipal obligations of any quality. The Trust has no current intention, however, for more than 5% of its municipal obligation investments to consist of securities that, at the time of investment, are rated below B- by S&P or Fitch, rated below B3 by Moody’s or that are unrated but that the Adviser considers to be of comparable quality. This means that up to 5% of the Trust’s investments in municipal obligations may be in securities of issuers that are having financial difficulties, which may include being in default on obligations to pay principal or interest thereon when due or involved in bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings (such securities are commonly referred to as “distressed securities”). The Trust generally will not invest more than 2% of its gross assets in any security of below investment grade quality. For a description of municipal obligation ratings, see Appendix A to the Statement of Additional Information.

Up to 20% of the Trust’s investments in municipal obligations may be subject to the alternative minimum tax. This restriction limits the Trust’s opportunities to invest in higher yielding municipal obligations that are subject to the alternative minimum tax.

The foregoing credit quality policies apply only at the time a security is purchased, and the Trust is not required to dispose of a security in the event that a Rating Agency downgrades its assessment of the

 

 

19


Table of Contents

Investment objectives, policies and risks

 

 

credit characteristics of a particular issue or withdraws its assessment. In determining whether to retain or sell such a security, Eaton Vance may consider such factors as Eaton Vance’s assessment of the credit quality of the issuer of such security, the price at which such security could be sold and the rating, if any, assigned to such security by other Rating Agencies.

The Trust has adopted certain fundamental investment restrictions set forth in the Statement of Additional Information which may not be changed without a vote of the holders of the Trust’s common shares (“Common Shareholder”). Except for such restrictions and the 80% policy pertaining to investment in municipal obligations set forth above, the investment objectives and policies of the Trust may be changed by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) without Common Shareholder action.

The Trust anticipates that its initial portfolio will be approximately 80% investment grade. Under normal market conditions, the Trust will seek to maintain an average credit quality of investment grade. A portfolio, such as the Trust, that achieves a dollar-weighted average investment grade credit quality by investing primarily in investment grade securities, but that may also invest significantly in below investment grade securities, involves certain risk characteristics that differ from individual fixed income securities with credit ratings equivalent to the portfolio average or from a portfolio consisting mostly of securities of a quality near this average. Most notably, the Trust’s portfolio may contain a higher percentage of assets of lower quality that each individually involve a higher degree of credit risk and may be considered to be speculative in nature. As indicated above, the Trust may invest in unrated obligations for which Eaton Vance will make a credit quality determination for purposes of the Trust’s credit quality policy. To the extent that the Trust invests in such unrated obligations, the Trust’s credit quality will be more dependent on Eaton Vance’s credit analysis than if the Trust invested in only rated obligations. Investment in unrated obligations also involves a potential conflict of interest. In general, investment quality involves a trade-off between potential enhanced return and assumption of additional credit risk. In making credit quality determinations for unrated obligations, there is a possibility of an investment adviser being influenced by the goal of seeking to maximize investment performance. For a description of the risks of investing in below investment grade securities, see “Investment objectives, policies and risks—Risk considerations—Below investment grade securities risks.”

The Trust has no current intention to invest 25% or more of its gross assets (but may invest up to such amounts) in municipal obligations of issuers located in the same state (or U.S. territory), but reserves the flexibility to do so in the future. If the Trust invests 25% or more of its gross assets in any one state (or U.S. territory) the Trust may be more susceptible to adverse economic, political or regulatory occurrences affecting a particular state (or territory).

The Trust is a “diversified” investment company which means that with respect to 75% of its total assets (1) it may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of any one issuer and (2) it may not own more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer. Therefore, with respect to no more than 25% of its total assets, the Trust may invest more than 5% of the value of its total assets in the obligations of any single issuer. To the extent the Trust invests a relatively high percentage of its assets in obligations of a limited number of issuers, the Trust will be more susceptible to any single corporate, economic, political or regulatory occurrence.

The Trust may purchase and sell various kinds of financial futures contracts and related options, including futures contracts and related options based on various debt securities and securities indices. The Trust also may enter into interest rate, total return and other swaps and forward rate contracts to seek to hedge against changes in interest rates or for other risk management purposes.

The Trust may invest without limitation in derivative instruments (which are instruments that derive their value from another instrument, security or index) acquired for hedging purposes. See “Investment objectives, policies and risks—Additional investment practices—Derivative instruments.”

 

 

20


Table of Contents

Investment objectives, policies and risks

 

 

Municipal obligations

Municipal obligations include bonds, notes and commercial paper issued for a wide variety of both public and private purposes, the interest on which is, in the opinion of issuer’s counsel (or on the basis of other reliable authority), exempt from federal income tax. Public purpose municipal bonds include general obligation and revenue bonds. General obligation bonds are backed by the taxing power of the issuing municipality. Revenue bonds are backed by the revenues of a project or facility, or from the proceeds of a specific revenue source. Some revenue bonds are payable solely or partly from funds that are subject to annual appropriations by a state’s legislature.

Municipal obligations are often issued by state and local governmental entities to finance or refinance public projects, such as roads, schools, and water supply systems. Municipal obligations also may be issued on behalf of private entities or for private activities, such as housing, medical and educational facility construction, or for privately owned transportation, electric utility and pollution control projects. Municipal obligations may be issued on a long-term basis to provide long-term financing. The repayment of such debt may be secured generally by a pledge of the full faith and credit taxing power of the issuer, a limited or special tax, or any other revenue source, including project revenues, which may include tolls, fees and other user charges, lease payments, and mortgage payments. Municipal obligations also may be issued to finance projects on a short-term interim basis, anticipating repayment with the proceeds of the later issuance of long-term debt. The Trust may purchase municipal obligations in the form of bonds, notes, leases or certificates of participation; structured as callable or non-callable; with payment forms that include fixed coupon, variable rate, zero-coupon, capital appreciation bonds, tender option bonds, and residual interest bonds or inverse floating rate securities. Such municipal obligations also may be acquired through investments in pooled vehicles, partnerships, or other investment companies. No established resale market exists for certain of the municipal obligations in which the Trust may invest. The Trust has no limitation on the amount of its assets that may be invested in securities that are not readily marketable or are subject to restrictions on resale.

Up to 5% of the Trust’s investments in municipal obligations may be collateralized by the proceeds from class action or other litigation against the tobacco industry. Such municipal obligations are backed solely by expected revenues to be derived from lawsuits involving tobacco-related deaths and illnesses which were settled between certain states and American tobacco companies. Tobacco settlement bonds are secured by an issuing state’s proportionate share in the Master Settlement Agreement (“MSA”). The MSA is an agreement, reached out of court in November 1998 between 46 states and nearly all of the U.S. tobacco manufacturers. Under the terms of the MSA, the actual amount of future settlement payments by tobacco manufacturers is dependent on many factors, including, but not limited to, annual domestic cigarette shipments, reduced cigarette consumption, increased taxes on cigarettes, inflation, financial capability of tobacco companies, continuing litigation and the possibility of tobacco manufacturer bankruptcy. Payments made by tobacco manufacturers could be negatively impacted if the decrease in tobacco consumption is significantly greater than the forecasted decline. See “Additional investment information and restrictions—State specific investments” in the Statement of Additional Information for additional information about tobacco settlement bonds and the MSA.

Municipal leases

The Trust may invest in municipal leases and participations therein. Municipal leases are obligations in the form of a lease, installment purchase or conditional sales contract (which typically provide for the title to the leased asset to pass to the governmental issuer) which is issued by state or local governments to acquire equipment and facilities. Interest income from such obligations is generally exempt from local and state taxes in the state of issuance. “Participations” in such leases are undivided interests in a portion of the total obligation. Participations entitle their holders to receive a pro rata share of all payments

 

 

21


Table of Contents

Investment objectives, policies and risks

 

 

under the lease. The obligation of the issuer under such leases is often subject to the ongoing appropriation by a legislative body, on an annual or other basis, of funds for the payment thereof. Investments in municipal leases are thus subject to the risk that the legislative body will not make the necessary appropriation and the issuer will not otherwise be willing or able to meet its obligation.

Municipal notes

Municipal securities in the form of notes, generally are used by municipal issuers to provide for short-term capital needs, in anticipation of an issuer’s receipt of other revenues or financing, and typically have maturities of up to three years. Municipal notes include bond anticipation, tax anticipation and revenue anticipation notes. Bond, tax and revenue anticipation notes are short-term obligations that are intended to be retired with the proceeds of an anticipated bond issue, tax revenue or facility revenue, respectively. Generally, tax anticipation notes are issued in anticipation of various tax revenues, such as income, sales, property, use and business taxes, and are payable from these specific future taxes. Revenue anticipation notes are issued in expectation of receipt of other kinds of revenue, such as federal revenues available under federal revenue sharing programs. Bond anticipation notes are issued to provide interim financing until long-term bond financing can be arranged. In most cases, the long-term bonds then provide the funds needed for repayment of the bond anticipation notes. Tax and revenue anticipation notes combine individual characteristics of tax anticipation notes and revenue anticipation notes. The anticipated revenues from taxes, grants or bond financing generally secure the obligations of an issuer of municipal notes. An investment in such instruments, however, presents a risk that the anticipated revenues will not be received or that such revenues will be insufficient to satisfy the issuer’s payment obligations under the notes or that refinancing will be otherwise unavailable.

Residual interest bonds

Residual interest bonds, also known as inverse floating rate securities or inverse floaters, are securities whose interest rates bear an inverse relationship to the interest rate on another security or the value of an index. Generally, residual interest bonds represent beneficial interests in a special purpose trust (commonly called a tender option bond trust) formed by a third party sponsor for the purpose of holding municipal bonds. The special purpose trust typically sells two classes of beneficial interests or securities: short-term floating rate municipal securities (sometimes referred to as short-term floating rate securities), which are sold to third party investors, and residual interest bonds, which the Trust would purchase. The short-term floating rate security will be linked to a reference interest rate (such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (“SIFMA”) Municipal Bond Swap Index), and the tender option bond trust’s income will be used to pay the coupon on the short-term floating rate security, with any remaining income going toward the residual interest bond. The short-term floating rate securities have first priority on the cash flow from the municipal bonds held by the special purpose trust. Typically, a third party, such as a bank, broker-dealer or other financial institution, grants the floating rate security holders the option, at periodic intervals, to tender their securities to the institution and receive the face value thereof. As consideration for providing the option, the financial institution receives periodic fees. The holder of the short-term floating rate securities effectively holds a demand obligation that bears interest at the prevailing short-term, tax-exempt rate. However, an institution will not be obligated to accept tendered short-term floating rate securities in the event of certain defaults or a significant downgrade in the credit rating assigned to the bond issuer. For its residual interest bonds investment, the Trust receives the residual cash flow from the special purpose trust. Because the holder of the short-term floating rate securities is generally assured liquidity at the face value of the security, the Trust as the holder of the residual interest bond assumes the interest rate cash flow risk and the market value risk associated with the municipal security deposited into the special purpose trust. The volatility of the interest cash flow and the residual market value will vary with the degree to which the trust is leveraged. This is expressed in the ratio of the face value of the short-term floating rate securities in relation to the residual interest bonds that are issued by the special purpose

 

 

22


Table of Contents

Investment objectives, policies and risks

 

 

trust. All voting rights and decisions to be made with respect to any other rights relating to the municipal bonds held in the special purpose trust are passed through to the Trust, as the holder of the residual interest bonds. Under Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Statement No. 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishment of Liabilities,” when the Trust deposits municipal bonds in a tender option bond trust the Trust accounts for the transaction described above as a secured borrowing by including the fixed rate bond held by the special purpose trust in its portfolio of investments and the floating rate notes as a liability. A tender option bond trust can be collapsed or closed by either the holder of the residual interest bonds (such as the Trust) or by the liquidity provider. Generally, because the Trust may act to collapse the tender option bond trust and receive the value of the residual interests bonds held by the Trust within 7-days, such residual interest bonds are considered liquid securities when held by the Trust. The Trust anticipates initially incurring economic leverage by investing in residual interest bonds.

Because increases in either the interest rate on the securities or the value of indexes (with which residual interest bonds maintain their inverse relationship) reduce the residual interest paid on residual interest bonds, residual interest bonds’ value is generally more volatile than that of fixed rate bonds. Residual interest bonds have varying degrees of liquidity that approximate the liquidity of the underlying bond(s), and the market price for these securities is volatile. These securities generally will underperform the market of fixed rate bonds in a rising short term interest rate environment, but tend to outperform the market of fixed rate bonds when short term interest rates decline or remain relatively stable. Although volatile, residual interest bonds typically offer the potential for yields exceeding the yields available on fixed rate bonds with comparable credit quality, coupon, call provisions and maturity.

The Adviser may determine to invest in residual interest bonds rather than investing directly in municipal bonds because the embedded leverage provides an opportunity to earn enhanced income. The residual interest payments to which the Trust is entitled consists of all of the interest paid on all of the bonds held in the tender option bond trust less the interest payable to floating rate interest holders and the expenses of the trust. Accordingly, if the short-term rates payable to the floating rate interest holder are lower than the long-term rates on the municipal bonds held in the trust, the Trust as the residual interest holder will receive (i) the difference between these amounts on the portion of the tender option bond trust attributable to floating rate interests; plus (ii) the interest on such municipal bonds on the portion of the tender option bond trust attributable to residual interests; minus trust expenses.

The Trust will invest in residual interest bonds primarily for investment purposes.

Short-term floating rate securities

The Trust may also invest in short-term floating rate securities, as described above, issued by tender option bond trusts. The short-term floating rate security will be linked to a reference interest rate (such as LIBOR or the SIFMA Municipal Bond Swap Index) and the tender option bond trust’s income will be used to pay the coupon on the short-term floating rate security. Generally, the interest rate earned by short-term floating rate securities will be based upon the market rates for municipal obligations with maturities or remarketing provisions that are comparable in duration to the periodic interval of the tender option, which may vary from weekly, to monthly, to extended periods of one year or multiple years. Since the option feature has a shorter term than the final maturity or first call date of the underlying bond deposited in the trust, the Trust as the holder of the floating-rate securities relies upon the terms of the agreement with the financial institution furnishing the option as well as the credit strength of that institution. As further assurance of liquidity, the terms of the trust provide for a liquidation of the municipal security deposited in the trust and the application of the proceeds to pay off the short-term floating rate securities. The trusts that are organized to issue both short-term floating rate

 

 

23


Table of Contents

Investment objectives, policies and risks

 

 

securities and residual interest bonds generally include liquidation triggers to protect the investor in the short-term floating rate securities. The trusts do not have recourse to the investors in the residual interest bonds. However, in certain cases, at the discretion of the Adviser, the Trust may enter into a separate so-called shortfall and forbearance agreement with the sponsor of a tender option bond trust. The Trust generally may enter into such agreements (i) when the liquidity provider to the tender option bond trust requires such an agreement because the level of leverage in the tender option bond trust exceed the level that the liquidity provider is willing support absent such an agreement; and/or (ii) to seek to prevent the liquidity provider from collapsing the tender option bond trust in the event that the municipal obligation held in the trust has declined in value. Such an agreement would require the Trust to reimburse the sponsor upon termination of the trust the difference between the liquidation value of the bonds held in the trust and the principal amount due to the holders of floating rate interests. In such instances, the Trust may be at risk of loss that exceeds its investment in the residual interest securities. The Trust will segregate or earmark liquid assets with its custodian in accordance with 1940 Act Release No. 10666 (Apr. 18, 1979) to cover these obligations.

Leverage

The Trust anticipates using leverage to seek to enhance returns, initially by investing in residual interest bonds. The Trust will not utilize leverage in excess of 15% of its gross assets. Residual interest bonds are securities that pay interest at rates that vary inversely with changes in prevailing short-term tax-exempt interest rates and provide the economic effect of leverage. Although the Trust has no current intention to do so, the Trust is authorized also to utilize leverage through the issuance of preferred shares and/or borrowings, including the issuance of debt securities. The Trust may borrow for temporary, emergency or other purposes as permitted by the 1940 Act.

“Gross assets” of the Trust shall mean total assets of the Trust, including assets attributable to any form of leverage, minus all accrued expenses incurred in the normal course of operations, but not excluding any liabilities or obligations attributable to leverage obtained through (i) indebtedness of any type (including, without limitation, borrowing through a credit facility or the issuance of debt securities or through the purchase of residual interest bonds), (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; all as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principals.

In addition to investing in residual interest bonds, the Trust may invest without limitation in other derivative instruments (which are instruments that derive their value from another instrument, security or index) acquired for hedging purposes.

ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT PRACTICES

Derivative instruments

The Trust may invest without limitation in derivative instruments (which are instruments that derive their value from another instrument, security or index) acquired for hedging purposes. In the course of pursuing these investment strategies, the Trust may purchase and sell derivative contracts based on securities 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 not currently available. Derivative instruments may be used by the Trust to enhance returns or as a substitute for the purchase or sale of securities. The loss on derivative instruments (other than purchased options) may substantially exceed an investment in these instruments. Additional information about certain derivative instruments is set forth below.

 

 

24


Table of Contents

Investment objectives, policies and risks

 

 

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 to particular securities, baskets of securities or indices. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) on different currencies, securities, baskets of currencies or securities, indices or other instruments, which returns are calculated with respect to a “notional amount,” i.e., the designated referenced amount of exposure to the underlying instruments. The Trust will enter into swaps only on a net basis, i.e., the two payment streams are netted out, with the Trust 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 Trust’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that the Trust is contractually entitled to receive that is in excess of collateral posted by the Trust’s counterparty in respect of such liability. The net amount of the excess, if any, of the Trust’s obligations over its entitlements will be maintained in a segregated account by the Trust’s custodian. The Trust 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 Trust 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 total return performance of the Trust 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 designated 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 designated underlying asset(s).

Interest rate swaps and forward rate contracts

Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Trust with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest, e.g., an exchange of fixed rate payments for floating rate payments. The Trust will only enter into interest rate swaps on a net basis, i.e., the two payment streams are netted out with the Trust receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. The Trust may also enter forward rate contracts. Under these contracts, the buyer locks in an interest rate at a future settlement date. If the interest rate on the settlement date exceeds the lock rate, the buyer pays the seller the difference between the two rates. If the lock rate exceeds the interest rate on the settlement date, the seller pays the buyer the difference between the two rates. Any such gain received by the Trust would be taxable.

If the other party to an interest rate swap or forward rate contract defaults, the Trust’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that the Trust is contractually entitled to receive that is in excess of collateral posted by the Trust’s counterparty in respect of such liability. The net amount of the excess, if any, of the Trust’s obligations over its entitlements will be maintained in a segregated account by the Trust’s custodian. The Trust will not enter into any interest rate swap or forward rate contract 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 Trust will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction. These instruments are traded in the over-the-counter market.

 

 

25


Table of Contents

Investment objectives, policies and risks

 

 

Futures transactions

The Trust may purchase and sell various kinds of financial futures contracts and options thereon to seek to hedge against changes in interest rates or for other risk management purposes. Futures contracts may be based on various debt securities and securities indices. Such transactions involve a risk of loss or depreciation due to unanticipated adverse changes in securities prices, which may exceed the Trust’s initial investment in these contracts. The Trust only will purchase or sell futures contracts or related options in compliance with the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. These transactions involve transaction costs. There can be no assurance that Eaton Vance’s use of futures will be advantageous to the Trust. Distributions by the Trust of any gains realized on the Trust’s transactions in futures and options on futures will be taxable.

Zero-coupon bonds

Some of the obligations in which the Trust invests may include so-called “zero-coupon” bonds, whose values generally are subject to greater fluctuation in response to changes in market interest rates than bonds that pay interest currently. Zero-coupon bonds are issued at a discount from face value and pay interest only at maturity rather than at intervals during the life of the security. The Trust is required to take into account imputed income from zero-coupon bonds on a current basis, even though it does not receive that income currently in cash. Because the Trust is required to distribute substantially all of its income for each taxable year, investments in zero-coupon bonds may require the Trust to sell investments to obtain cash needed to make income distributions.

When-issued securities

The Trust may purchase securities on a “when-issued” basis, which means that payment and delivery occur on a future settlement date. The price and yield of such securities are generally fixed on the date of commitment to purchase. However, the market value of the securities may fluctuate prior to delivery, and upon delivery the securities may be worth more or less than what the Trust agreed to pay for them. The Trust may be required to maintain a segregated account of liquid assets equal to outstanding purchase commitments. The Trust may also purchase instruments that give the Trust the option to purchase a municipal obligation when and if issued.

Investment company securities

The Trust may purchase common shares of closed-end investment companies that have investment objectives and policies similar to those of the Trust. In addition to providing tax-exempt income, such securities may provide capital appreciation. Such investments, which may also be leveraged and subject to similar risks as the Trust, will not exceed 10% of the Trust’s gross assets. These companies bear fees and expenses that the Trust will incur indirectly. The Trust will not invest in other investment companies that are affiliated with Eaton Vance.

Portfolio Turnover

The Trust may sell (and later purchase) securities in anticipation of a market decline (a rise in interest rates) or purchase (and later sell) securities in anticipation of a market rise (a decline in interest rates). Securities may also be purchased and sold based on their relative value in the marketplace. The Trust cannot accurately predict its portfolio turnover rate, but it is anticipated that the annual portfolio turnover rate will generally not exceed 100% (excluding turnover of securities having a maturity of one year or less). A 100% annual turnover rate could occur, for example, if all the securities held by the Trust were replaced once in a period of one year. A high turnover rate (100% or more) necessarily involves greater expenses to the Trust.

 

 

26


Table of Contents

Investment objectives, policies and risks

 

 

RISK CONSIDERATIONS

No operating history

The Trust is a closed-end management 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 Trust, which will generally trade in the over-the-counter markets. 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. If the current national economic downturn deteriorates into a prolonged recession, the ability of municipalities to collect revenue and service their obligations could be materially and adversely affected.

Interest rate and income risk

The prices of municipal obligations tend to fall as interest rates rise. When interest rates decline, the value of municipal obligations held by the Trust can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of municipal obligations held by the Trust can be expected to decline. Interest rate risk is the risk that the municipal securities in the Trust’s portfolio will decline in value because of increases in market interest rates. In typical market interest rate environments, the prices of longer-term municipal securities tend to fluctuate more in price in response to changes in market interest rates than prices of shorter-term municipal securities. A decline in the prices of the municipal obligations owned by the Trust would cause a decline in the net asset value of the Trust, which could adversely affect the trading price of the Trust’s Common Shares. This risk is usually greater among municipal obligations with longer maturities or durations. Although the Trust has no policy governing the maturities or durations of its investments, the Trust expects that initially it will invest in a portfolio of longer-term securities, generally with maturities of 10 years or greater. This means that the Trust’s Common Share net asset value and market price per share will fluctuate more in response to changes in market interest rates than if the Trust invested primarily in shorter-term municipal securities. The Trust may utilize certain strategies, including taking positions in futures or interest rate swaps and forward rate contracts, for the purpose of reducing the interest rate sensitivity of the portfolio and decreasing the Trust’s exposure to interest rate risk, although there can be no assurance that it will do so or that such strategies will be successful.

The income investors receive from the Trust is based primarily on the interest it earns from its investments, which can vary widely over the short- and long-term. If long-term interest rates drop, investors’ income from the Trust over time could drop as well if the Trust purchases securities with lower interest coupons.

The Trust anticipates initially incurring economic leverage by investing in residual interest bonds. Compared to similar fixed-rate municipal bonds, the value of these bonds will fluctuate to a greater extent in response to changes in prevailing long-term interest rates. Moreover, the income earned on residual interest municipal bonds will fluctuate in response to changes in prevailing short-term interest rates. Thus, when such bonds are held by the Trust, an increase in short- or long-term market interest rates may adversely affect the income received from such bonds or the net asset value of Trust shares.

Call and other reinvestment risks

If interest rates fall, it is possible that issuers of callable bonds with high interest coupons will “call” (or prepay) their bonds before their maturity date. If a call were exercised by the issuer during a period of

 

 

27


Table of Contents

Investment objectives, policies and risks

 

 

declining interest rates, the Trust is likely to replace such called security with a lower yielding security. If that were to happen, it could decrease the Trust’s dividends and possibly could affect the market price of Common Shares. Similar risks exist when the Trust invests the proceeds from matured or traded municipal obligations at market interest rates that are below the Trust’s current earnings rate.

Credit risk

Credit risk is the risk that one or more municipal bonds in the Trust’s portfolio will decline in price, or fail to pay interest or principal when due, because the issuer of the bond experiences a decline in its financial status. In general, lower rated municipal bonds carry a greater degree of risk that the issuer will lose its ability to make interest and principal payments, which could have a negative impact on the Trust’s net asset value or dividends. Securities rated in the fourth highest category (i.e., Baa by Moody’s or BBB by S&P or Fitch) are considered investment grade quality, but may have speculative characteristics.

Changes in the credit quality of the issuers of municipal obligations held by the Trust will affect the principal value of (and possibly the income earned on) such obligations. In addition, the value of such securities is affected by changes in general economic conditions and business conditions affecting the relevant economic sectors. Changes by Rating Agencies in their ratings of a security and in the ability of the issuer to make payments of principal and interest may also affect the value of the Trust’s investments. The amount of information about the financial condition of an issuer of municipal obligations may not be as extensive as that made available by corporations whose securities are publicly traded. The Trust may invest in unrated obligations for which Eaton Vance will make a credit quality determination for purposes of the Trust’s credit quality policy. To the extent that the Trust invests in such unrated obligations, the Trust’s credit quality will be more dependent on Eaton Vance’s credit analysis than if the Trust invested in only rated obligations.

The Trust may invest in municipal leases and participations in municipal leases. The obligation of the issuer to meet its obligations under such leases is often subject to the ongoing appropriation by a legislative body, on an annual or other basis, of funds for the payment of the obligations. Investments in municipal leases are thus subject to the risk that the legislative body will not make the necessary appropriation and the issuer will not otherwise be willing or able to meet its obligation.

Liquidity risk

The secondary market for some municipal obligations is less liquid than that for widely traded taxable debt obligations or widely traded municipal obligations. No established resale market exists for certain of the municipal obligations in which the Trust may invest. The Trust has no limitation on the amount of its assets that may be invested in securities that are not readily marketable or are subject to restrictions on resale. In certain situations, the Trust could find it more difficult to sell such securities at desirable times and/or prices. The Trust may not be able to readily dispose of such securities at prices that approximate those at which the Trust could sell such securities if they were more widely traded and, as a result of such illiquidity, the Trust 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 Trust’s net asset value and ability to make distributions. At times, a portion of the Trust’s assets may be invested in securities as to which the Trust, by itself or together with other accounts managed by Eaton Vance and its affiliates, holds a major portion or all of such securities.

Municipal bond market risk

Investing in the municipal bond market involves certain risks. Certain securities in which the Trust will invest will not be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or any state securities

 

 

28


Table of Contents

Investment objectives, policies and risks

 

 

commission and will not be listed on any national securities exchange. The amount of public information available about the municipal obligations in the Trust’s portfolio is generally less than for corporate equities or bonds, and the investment performance of the Trust may therefore be more dependent on the analytical abilities of Eaton Vance than if the Trust were a stock fund or taxable bond fund.

The ability of municipal issuers to make timely payments of interest and principal may be diminished during general economic downturns and as governmental cost burdens are reallocated among federal, state and local governments. In addition, laws enacted in the future by Congress or state legislatures or referenda could extend the time for payment of principal and/or interest, or impose other constraints on enforcement of such obligations, or on the ability of municipalities to levy taxes. Issuers of municipal obligations might seek protection under the bankruptcy laws. In the event of bankruptcy of an issuer, the Trust could experience delays in collecting principal and interest to which it is entitled, and may obtain only a limited recovery or no recovery in such circumstances. To enforce its rights in the event of default in the payment of interest or repayment of principal, or both, the Trust may take possession of and manage the assets securing the issuer’s obligations on such securities, which may increase the Trust’s operating expenses. Any income derived from the Trust’s ownership or operation of such assets may not be tax-exempt.

Current economic conditions may increase the likelihood that a municipal issuer will be unable to make timely payments of interest and principal or will default or seek protection under the bankruptcy laws and may increase the likelihood of legislation that will adversely effect the Trust’s investments in municipal obligations. See “Investment objectives, policies and risks—Risk considerations—Current economic conditions—credit crisis liquidity and volatility risk.”

Below investment grade securities risk

Up to 30% of the Trust’s investments in municipal obligations may be, at the time of investment, rated below investment grade or, if unrated, deemed by the Adviser to be below investment grade. Such obligations are commonly called “junk bonds” and will have speculative characteristics in varying degrees. While such obligations may have some quality and protective characteristics, these characteristics can be expected to be offset or outweighed by uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions. Below investment grade municipal obligations involve a greater degree of credit, interest rate and market risk than investment grade municipal obligations. Below investment grade municipal obligations are subject to a greater risk of an issuer’s inability to meet principal and interest payments on the obligations and may also be subject to greater price volatility due to such factors as interest rate sensitivity, market perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and general market liquidity. Below investment grade municipal obligations are considered predominantly speculative because of the credit risk of their issuers. While offering a greater potential opportunity for capital appreciation and higher yields, below investment grade municipal obligations typically entail greater potential price volatility and may be less liquid than investment grade municipal obligations. Issuers of below investment grade municipal obligations are more likely to default on their payments of interest and principal owed to the Trust, and such defaults will reduce the Trust’s net asset value and income distributions. The prices of these below investment grade obligations are more sensitive to negative developments than higher rated securities. Adverse economic conditions generally lead to a higher non-payment rate. In addition, below investment grade municipal obligations may lose significant value before a default occurs as the market adjusts to expected higher non-payment rates.

Increases in interest rates and changes in the economy may adversely affect the ability of issuers of lower grade municipal obligations to pay interest and to repay principal, to meet projected financial goals and to obtain additional financing. Issuers of below investment grade municipal obligations may be more

 

 

29


Table of Contents

Investment objectives, policies and risks

 

 

adversely affected by a prolonged recession or continued deterioration of economic conditions. In the event that an issuer of securities held by the Trust experiences difficulties in the timely payment of principal or interest and such issuer seeks to restructure the terms of its borrowings, the Trust may incur additional expenses and may determine to invest additional assets with respect to such issuer or the project or projects to which the Trust’s portfolio securities relate. Further, the Trust may incur additional expenses to the extent that it is required to seek recovery upon a default in the payment of interest or the repayment of principal on its portfolio holdings, and the Trust may be unable to obtain full recovery thereof.

The Adviser seeks to minimize the risks of investing in below investment grade obligations through professional investment analysis, attention to current developments in interest rates and economic conditions, and industry and geographic diversification (if practicable). When the Trust invests in lower rated or unrated municipal obligations, the achievement of the Trust’s investment objectives is more dependent on the Adviser’s credit analysis than would be the case if the Trust were investing in municipal obligations rated investment grade. In evaluating the credit quality of a particular issue, whether rated or unrated, the Adviser will normally take into consideration, among other things, the financial resources of the issuer (or, as appropriate, of the guarantor or underlying source of funds for debt service), its sensitivity to economic conditions and trends, any operating history of and the community support for the facility financed by the issue, the ability of the issuer’s management and regulatory matters. The Adviser will attempt to reduce the risks of investing in the lowest investment grade quality, below investment grade quality and comparable unrated obligations through active portfolio management, credit analysis and attention to current developments and trends in the economy and the financial markets.

To the extent that there is no established market for some of the lower grade municipal obligations in which the Trust may invest, trading in such securities may be relatively inactive. The Adviser is responsible for determining the net asset value of the Trust, subject to the supervision of the Trust’s Board. During periods of reduced market liquidity and in the absence of readily available market quotations for lower grade municipal obligations held in the Trust’s portfolio, the ability of the Adviser to value the Trust’s securities becomes more difficult and the Adviser’s use of judgment may play a greater role in the valuation of the Trust’s securities due to the reduced availability of reliable objective data. The effects of adverse publicity and investor perceptions may be more pronounced for securities for which no established market exists as compared with the effects on securities for which a regular market does exist. Further, the Trust may have more difficulty selling such securities in a timely manner and at their stated value than would be the case for securities for which an established market does exist.

Municipal obligations held by the Trust that are initially rated below investment grade may subsequently be determined by the Adviser to be of investment grade quality for purposes of the Trust’s investment policies if the securities subsequently are backed by escrow accounts containing U.S. Government obligations. The Trust may retain in its portfolio an obligation that declines in quality, including defaulted obligations, if such retention is considered desirable by the Adviser. In the case of a defaulted obligation, the Trust may incur additional expense seeking recovery of its investment.

Insurance risk

The Trust may purchase municipal securities that are secured by insurance, bank credit agreements or escrow accounts. The credit quality of the companies that provide such credit enhancements will generally affect the value of those securities. Certain significant providers of insurance for municipal securities have recently incurred significant losses as a result of exposure to sub-prime mortgages and other lower credit quality investments that have experienced defaults or otherwise suffered credit

 

 

30


Table of Contents

Investment objectives, policies and risks

 

 

deterioration. Such losses have reduced the insurers’ capital and may have called into question their continued ability to perform their obligations under such insurance if called upon in the future. While an insured municipal security will typically be deemed to have the rating of its insurer, if the insurer of a municipal security suffers a downgrade in its credit rating or the market discounts the value of the insurance provided, the rating of the underlying municipal security will generally be more relevant and the value of the municipal security would more closely, if not entirely, reflect such rating. In such a case, the value of insurance associated with a municipal security would decline and may not add any value. The insurance feature of a municipal security does not guarantee the full payment of principal and interest through the life of an insured obligation, the market value of the insured obligation or the net asset value of the Common Shares represented by such insured obligation.

Current economic conditions—credit crisis liquidity and volatility risk

The markets for many credit instruments, including municipal obligations, have experienced periods of illiquidity and extreme volatility since the latter half of 2007. The debt and equity capital markets in the United States have been negatively affected by significant write-offs in the financial services sector relating to subprime mortgages and the repricing of credit risk in the broader market, among other things. These events, along with the deterioration of the housing market, the failure of major financial institutions and the concerns that other financial institutions as well as the global financial system are experiencing severe economic distress have materially and adversely affected the broader financial and credit markets. General market uncertainty and consequent repricing risk have led to market imbalances of sellers and buyers, which in turn have resulted in significant valuation uncertainties in a variety of debt securities, including municipal obligations. In addition, during 2008, several major dealers of municipal bonds exited the market via acquisition or bankruptcy. These conditions resulted, and in many cases continue to result in, greater volatility, less liquidity, widening credit spreads and a lack of price transparency, with many debt securities remaining illiquid and of uncertain value. These market conditions may make valuation of some of the Trust’s municipal obligations uncertain and/or result in sudden and significant valuation increases or declines in its holdings. During times of reduced market liquidity, such as experienced recently, the Trust may not be able to sell securities readily at prices reflecting the underlying values of such securities or where carried on the Trust’s books. Sales of large blocks of securities by market participants that are seeking liquidity can further reduce security prices in an illiquid market. In addition, illiquidity and volatility in the credit markets may directly and adversely affect dividends on the Common Shares.

In response to the global economic downturn, governmental cost burdens may be reallocated among federal, state and local governments. The Federal Government, Federal Reserve and other governmental and regulatory bodies have taken and are considering additional actions to address the financial crisis. There can be no assurance as to what impact such actions will have on the markets for municipal obligations. Laws enacted in the future by Congress or state legislatures or referenda could extend the time for payment of principal and/or interest, or impose other constraints on enforcement of such obligations, or on the ability of municipalities to levy taxes. Issuers of municipal obligations might seek protection under the bankruptcy laws.

The current economic and financial market conditions may continue to contribute to increased market volatility, may have long-term effects on the U.S. and worldwide financial markets; and may cause further economic uncertainties or deterioration in the United States and worldwide. The prolonged continuation or further deterioration of the current U.S. and global economic downturn could adversely affect the Trust’s investments. The Adviser does not know how long the financial markets will continue to be affected by these events and cannot predict the effects of these or similar events in the future on the U.S. economy, markets and securities in the Trust’s portfolio. The Adviser intends to monitor developments and seek to manage the Trust’s portfolio in a manner consistent with achieving the Trust’s investment objectives, but there can be no assurance that it will be successful in doing so.

 

 

31


Table of Contents

Investment objectives, policies and risks

 

 

State specific risk

The Trust has no current intention to invest 25% or more of its gross assets (but may invest up to such amounts) in municipal obligations of issuers located in the same state (or U.S. territory), but reserves the flexibility to do so in the future. If the Trust invests 25% or more of its gross assets in any one state (or U.S. territory) the Trust may be more susceptible to adverse economic, political or regulatory occurrences affecting a particular state (or territory).

Up to 5% of the Trust’s investments in municipal obligations may be collateralized by the proceeds from class action or other litigation against the tobacco industry. Such municipal obligations are backed solely by expected revenues to be derived from lawsuits involving tobacco-related deaths and illnesses which were settled between certain states and American tobacco companies. Tobacco settlement bonds are secured by an issuing state’s proportionate share in the Master Settlement Agreement (“MSA”). The MSA is an agreement, reached out of court in November 1998 between 46 states and nearly all of the major U.S. tobacco manufacturers. Under the terms of the MSA, the actual amount of future settlement payments by tobacco manufacturers is dependent on many factors, including, but not limited to, annual domestic cigarette shipments, reduced cigarette consumption, increased taxes on cigarettes, inflation, financial capability of tobacco companies, continuing litigation and the possibility of tobacco manufacturer bankruptcy. Payments made by tobacco manufacturers could be negatively impacted if the decrease in tobacco consumption is significantly greater than the forecasted decline. See “Additional investment information and restrictions—State specific investments” in the Statement of Additional Information for additional information about tobacco settlement bonds and the MSA.

Residual interest bond risk

The Trust anticipates initially incurring economic leverage by investing in residual interest bonds. Residual interest bonds are securities that pay interest at rates that vary inversely with changes in prevailing short-term tax-exempt interest rates and provide the economic effect of leverage. Typically, such securities represent beneficial interests in a special purpose trust (sometimes called a “tender option bond trust”) formed by a third party sponsor for the purpose of holding municipal bonds. In general, income on residual interest bonds will decrease when short-term interest rates increase and increase when short-term interest rates decrease. Investments in residual interest bonds may subject the Trust to the risks of reduced or eliminated interest payments and losses of principal. In addition, residual interest bonds may increase or decrease in value at a greater rate than the underlying securities, which effectively leverages the Trust’s investment. The market value of such securities generally will be more volatile than that of conventional fixed rate securities.

Tender option bond trusts generally include liquidation triggers to protect the investor in the tender option bond. The trusts do not have recourse to the investors (such as the Trust) in the residual interest securities. However, in certain cases, at the discretion of the Adviser, the Trust may enter into a separate so-called shortfall and forbearance agreement with the sponsor of a tender option bond trust. The Trust generally may enter into such agreements (i) when the liquidity provider to the tender option bond trust requires such an agreement because the level of leverage in the tender option bond trust exceed the level that the liquidity provider is willing support absent such an agreement; and/or (ii) to seek to prevent the liquidity provider from collapsing the tender option bond trust in the event that the municipal obligation held in the trust has declined in value. Such an agreement would require the Trust to reimburse the sponsor upon termination of the trust the difference between the liquidation value of the bonds held in the trust and the principal amount due to the holders of floating rate interests. In such instances, the Trust may be at risk of loss that exceeds its investment in the residual interest securities. The Trust will segregate or earmark liquid assets with its custodian in accordance with 1940 Act Release No. 10666 (Apr. 18, 1979) to cover these obligations.

 

 

32


Table of Contents

Investment objectives, policies and risks

 

 

Any economic effect of leverage through the Trust’s purchase of residual interest bonds will create an opportunity for increased Share net income and returns, but will also create the possibility that the Trust’s long-term returns will be diminished if the cost of leverage exceeds the return on the bonds purchased with leverage by the Trust. See “Investment objectives, policies and risks—Risk considerations—Leverage risk.”

The amount of fees paid to Eaton Vance for investment advisory services will be higher if the Trust uses leverage because the fees will be calculated based on the Trust’s average daily gross assets, which may create an incentive for the Adviser to employ leverage. Gross assets include assets financed through the creation of tender option bond trusts, the issuance of preferred equity, borrowings and other forms of leverage, which will create a conflict of interest between Eaton Vance and the Common Shareholders.

Residual interest bonds have varying degrees of liquidity based upon the liquidity of the securities deposited in the associated tender option bond trust and other factors. The market price of residual interest bonds is more volatile than the underlying securities due to leverage. In circumstances where the Trust has a need for cash and the securities in a tender option bond trust are not actively trading, the Trust may be required to sell its residual interest bonds at less than favorable prices, or liquidate other Trust portfolio holdings.

Risks of municipal leases and certificates of participation

The Trust may invest in municipal leases and certificates of participation that involve special risks not normally associated with general obligations or revenue obligations. Municipal leases are obligations in the form of a lease, installment purchase or conditional sales contract (which typically provide for the title to the leased asset to pass to the governmental issuer), issued by state or local governments to acquire equipment and facilities. Interest income from such obligations is generally exempt from local and state taxes in the state of issuance. The issuer’s obligations under such leases is often subject to the ongoing appropriation by a legislative body, on an annual or other basis, of funds for the payment thereof. Investments in municipal leases are thus subject to the risk that the legislative body will not make the necessary appropriation and the issuer will not otherwise be willing or able to meet its obligation.

Market price of common shares

The Trust is a closed-end management investment company with no history of operations and is designed primarily for long-term investors and not as a trading vehicle. The shares of closed-end management investment companies often trade at a discount from their net asset value, and the Common Shares may likewise trade at a discount from net asset value. The trading price of the Trust’s Common Shares may be less than the initial public offering price, creating a risk of loss for investors purchasing in the initial public offering of the Common Shares. This market price risk may be greater for investors who sell their Common Shares within a relatively short period after completion of this offering.

Inflation risk/deflation risk

Inflation risk is the risk that the value 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. In addition, during periods of rising inflation, short-term interest rates and the Trust’s cost of leverage would likely increase, reducing returns to Common Shareholders to the extent that such increased cost is not offset by commensurately higher income. Deflation risk is the risk that prices throughout the economy decline over time—the opposite of inflation. Deflation may have an adverse affect on the creditworthiness of issuers and may make issuer defaults more likely, which may result in a decline in the value of the Trust’s investments.

 

 

33


Table of Contents

Investment objectives, policies and risks

 

 

Leverage risk

The Trust anticipates using leverage to seek to enhance returns, initially by investing in residual interest bonds. The Trust will not utilize leverage in excess of 15% of its gross assets. Residual interest bonds are securities that pay interest at rates that vary inversely with changes in prevailing short-term tax-exempt interest rates and provide the economic effect of leverage. Although the Trust has no current intention to do so, the Trust is authorized also to utilize leverage through the issuance of preferred shares and/or borrowings, including the issuance of debt securities. The Trust may borrow for temporary, emergency or other purposes as permitted by the 1940 Act. There can be no assurance 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 leverage costs will affect income and return to Common Shareholders. To the extent the income derived from securities purchased with proceeds received from leverage exceeds the cost of leverage, the Trust’s distributions may be greater than if leverage had not been used. Conversely, if the income from the securities purchased with such proceeds are 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 Trust’s leveraged position if it deems such action to be appropriate. The costs of an offering of preferred shares, borrowings and other forms of leverage 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 Trust’s average daily gross assets, including assets purchased using proceeds from the issuance of preferred shares, borrowings and other forms of leverage, including investments in residual interest bonds, so the fee will be higher when leverage is utilized, which may create an incentive for the Adviser to employ leverage. If the Trust utilizes leverage by issuing preferred shares or debt, holders of preferred shares and the holders of any debt issued by the Trust do not bear the investment advisory fee. Therefore, Common Shareholders bear the portion of the investment advisory fee attributable to the assets purchased with the proceeds of leverage.

Derivatives risk

In addition to investing in residual interest bonds, the Trust may invest without limitation in other derivative instruments (which are instruments that derive their value from another instrument, security or index) acquired for hedging purposes. The loss on derivative instruments (other than purchased options) may substantially exceed an investment in these instruments. Derivative transactions, including options on securities and securities indices and other transactions in which the Trust may engage (such as futures contracts and options thereon, swaps and short sales), may subject the Trust to increased risk of principal loss due to unexpected movements in securities prices and interest rates, and imperfect correlations between the Trust’s securities holdings and indices upon which derivative transactions are based. Derivatives can be illiquid, may disproportionately increase losses, and may have a potentially large impact on the Trust’s performance. The Trust also will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties to any over-the-counter derivatives contracts entered into by the Trust. If a counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations under a derivative contract due to financial difficulties, the Trust may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery under the derivative contract in a bankruptcy or other reorganization proceeding. The Trust may obtain only a limited recovery or no recovery in such circumstances. Derivatives may disproportionately increase losses and have a potentially large negative impact on the Trust’s performance.

Counterparty risk

Changes in the credit quality of the companies that serve as the Trust’s counterparties with respect to its derivatives positions and liquidity providers for the Trust’s residual interest bonds or other investments supported by another party’s credit will affect the value of those instruments. Certain entities that have

 

 

34


Table of Contents

Investment objectives, policies and risks

 

 

served as counterparties in the municipals markets have recently incurred significant financial hardships including bankruptcy and material loss of credit standing as a result of exposure to sub-prime mortgages and other investments that have experienced defaults or otherwise suffered extreme credit deterioration. As a result, such hardships have reduced these entities’ capital and called into question their continued ability to perform their obligations. By using derivatives or other instruments that expose the Trust to counterparties, the Trust assumes the risk that its counterparties could experience future financial hardship.

Tax risk

The value of the Trust’s investments and its net asset value may be adversely affected by changes in tax rates and policies. Because interest income from municipal obligations normally is not subject to regular federal income taxation, the attractiveness of municipal obligations in relation to other investment alternatives is affected by changes in federal income tax rates or changes in the tax-exempt status of interest income from municipal obligations. Any proposed or actual changes in such rates or exempt status, therefore, can significantly affect the demand for and supply, liquidity and marketability of municipal obligations. This could in turn affect the Trust’s net asset value and ability to acquire and dispose of municipal obligations at desirable yield and price levels. To the extent that the Trust receives income from municipal obligations subject to the federal alternative minimum tax, a portion of the dividends paid by the Trust, although otherwise exempt from federal income tax, would be taxable to its Common Shareholders to the extent that their tax liability is determined under the federal alternative minimum tax. The Trust is not a suitable investment for individual retirement accounts, for other tax-exempt or tax-deferred accounts or for investors who are otherwise indifferent to the federal income tax consequences of their investments. See “Federal income tax matters.”

Management risk

The Trust is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed portfolio. Eaton Vance and the individual portfolio managers invest the assets of the Trust as they deem appropriate in implementing the Trust’s investment strategy. Accordingly, the success of the Trust depends upon the investment skills and analytical abilities of Eaton Vance and the individual portfolio managers to develop and effectively implement strategies that achieve the Trust’s investment objectives. There is no assurance that Eaton Vance and the individual portfolio managers will be successful in developing and implementing the Trust’s investment strategy. Subjective decisions made by Eaton Vance and the individual portfolio managers may cause the Trust to incur losses or to miss profit opportunities on which it could otherwise have capitalized.

Market disruption

The war in Iraq, instability in the Middle East and terrorist attacks around the world may adversely affect the performance of U.S. and worldwide financial markets and may cause economic uncertainties in the U.S. and elsewhere. The Trust cannot predict the future course of world affairs or the effects of significant future events on the U.S. economy and securities markets. Given these risks, an investment in the Common Shares may not be appropriate for all investors. You should carefully consider your ability to assume these risks before making an investment in the Trust.

Anti-takeover provisions

The Trust’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 Trust or to change the composition of the Board. See “Description of capital structure—Anti-takeover provisions in the Declaration of Trust.”

 

 

35


Table of Contents

  

 

 

Management of the Trust

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

The management of the Trust, including general supervision of the duties performed by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement (as defined below), is the responsibility of the Trust’s Board under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the 1940 Act.

THE ADVISER

Eaton Vance acts as the Trust’s investment adviser under an Investment Advisory and Administrative Agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”). The Adviser’s principal office is located at Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110. Eaton Vance, its affiliates and predecessor companies have been managing assets of individuals and institutions since 1924 and of investment companies since 1931. Eaton Vance and its affiliates serve as investment advisers to investment companies and individual and institutional clients. As of March 31, 2009, Eaton Vance and its affiliates managed approximately $119.3 billion of assets, including 61 municipal bond funds with combined assets of about $23.6 billion. 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 and administration.

Eaton Vance employs 24 personnel in its municipal bond department, including eight portfolio managers, five traders and nine research analysts. Eaton Vance was one of the first advisory firms to manage a registered municipal bond investment company, and has done so continuously since 1978. Eaton Vance and certain of its subsidiaries currently manage ten national municipal investment companies, 50 single state municipal investment companies, and one money market municipal investment company, with assets of about $23.6 billion. Of the municipal income funds managed by Eaton Vance, 20 are closed-end funds.

Under the general supervision of the Trust’s Board, Eaton Vance will act as investment adviser for and manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Trust and administer its affairs. As investment adviser to the Trust, Eaton Vance will furnish continuously an investment program and will determine from time to time what securities and other investments will be acquired, disposed of or exchanged and what portion of the Trust’s assets will be held uninvested, subject always to the applicable restrictions of the Declaration of Trust, By-Laws and registration statement of the Trust under the 1940 Act. Eaton Vance will 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 for administering its affairs and will pay the salaries and fees of all officers and Trustees of the Trust who are members of Eaton Vance’s organization and all personnel of Eaton Vance performing services relating to research and investment and administrative activities. In return for these investment advisory services, facilities and payments, the Trust has agreed to pay the Adviser as compensation under the Advisory Agreement a fee in the amount of 0.60% of the Trust’s average daily gross assets up to and including $1.5 billion, and 0.59% of the Trust’s average daily gross assets in excess of $1.5 billion. Accordingly, assuming that the Trust issues 7,500,000 Common Shares and employs leverage up to the maximum of 15% of gross assets, the effective advisory fee borne by Common Shareholders would increase from 0.60% to 0.71%. For purposes of this calculation, “gross assets” of the Trust shall mean total assets of the Trust, including any form of leverage, minus all accrued expenses incurred in the normal course of operations, but not excluding any liabilities or obligations attributable to leverage obtained through (i) indebtedness of any type (including, without limitation, borrowing through a credit facility or the issuance of debt securities or through the purchase of residual interest bonds), (ii) the issuance of preferred stock or other similar

 

 

36


Table of Contents

Management of the Trust

 

 

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; all as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principals. In approving the Fund’s Investment Advisory and Administrative Services Agreement, the Board considered that the fee payable to the Adviser is determined based on the gross assets of the Fund, including assets acquired through the use of leverage and, therefore, that the fees payable to the Advisor will increase with the use of leverage. In connection with the Board’s annual review of the Fund’s Investment Advisory and Administrative Services Agreement, the Board will consider the Fund’s use of leverage, including through the investment in residual interest bonds, and the conflicts of interest that arise from these activities.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approval of the Trust’s Investment Advisory and Administration Agreement will be available in the Trust’s initial report to shareholders.

Cynthia Clemson and Thomas Metzold are the portfolio managers of the Trust and are responsible for day-to-day management of the Trust’s investments. Each of Ms. Clemson and Mr. Metzold also manages other Eaton Vance portfolios, has been an Eaton Vance portfolio manager for more than 5 years, and is a Vice President of Eaton Vance. The Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about the portfolio managers’ compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers, and the portfolio managers’ ownership of securities in the Trust.

The Trust and the Adviser have adopted a Code of Ethics relating to personal securities transactions. The Code permits Adviser personnel to invest in securities (including securities that may be purchased or held by the Trust) for their own accounts, subject to certain pre-clearance, reporting and other restrictions and procedures contained in such Code of Ethics.

THE ADMINISTRATOR

Eaton Vance serves as administrator of the Trust but currently receives no compensation for providing administrative services to the Trust. Under the Advisory Agreement, Eaton Vance is responsible for managing the business affairs of the Trust, subject to the supervision of the Trust’s Board. Eaton Vance will furnish to the Trust all office facilities, equipment and personnel for administering the affairs of the Trust. 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 Trust’s custodian and transfer agent, providing assistance in connection with the Trustees’ and shareholders’ meetings, providing service in connection with any repurchase offers and other administrative services necessary to conduct the Trust’s business.

Determination of net asset value

The net asset value per share of the Trust is determined no less frequently than daily, on each day that the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for trading, as of the close of regular trading on the Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m. New York time). The Trust’s net asset value per share is determined by State Street Bank and Trust Company, in the manner authorized by the Trustees of the Trust. Net asset value is computed by dividing the value of the Trust’s total assets, less its liabilities, by the number of shares outstanding.

Inasmuch as the market for municipal obligations is a dealer market with no central trading location or continuous quotation system, it is not feasible to obtain last transaction prices for most municipal

 

 

37


Table of Contents

Determination of net asset value

 

 

obligations held by the Trust, and such obligations, including those purchased on a when-issued basis, will normally be valued on the basis of valuations furnished by a pricing service. The pricing service uses factors which may include: information with respect to transactions in bonds, quotations from bond dealers, market transactions in comparable securities, various relationships between securities, and yield to maturity in determining value. Taxable obligations, if any, are normally valued on the basis of valuations furnished by a pricing service. Open futures positions on debt securities are valued at closing settlement prices on the valuation day, unless such price does not reflect the fair value of the contract, in which case the positions will be valued in accordance with the Fund’s procedures.

Distributions

The Trust intends to make monthly distributions of net investment income. The Trust will distribute annually any net short-term capital gain and any net capital gain (which is the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss). Distributions to Common Shareholders cannot be assured, and the amount of each monthly distribution is likely to vary. Initial distributions to Common Shareholders are expected to be declared approximately 45 days and are expected to be paid approximately 60 days after the completion of this offering. See “Description of capital structure.”

Federal income tax matters

The following discussion of federal income tax matters is based on the advice of K&L Gates LLP, counsel to the Trust.

The Trust intends to invest a sufficient portion of its assets in tax-exempt municipal obligations so that it will be permitted to pay “exempt-interest dividends” (as defined under applicable federal income tax law). Each distribution of exempt-interest dividends, whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional Common Shares, ordinarily will constitute income exempt from regular federal income tax. Furthermore, exempt-interest dividends are included in determining what portion, if any, of a person’s social security and railroad retirement benefits will be includible in gross income subject to regular federal income tax. Distributions of any taxable net investment income and net short-term capital gain are taxable as ordinary income. Distributions of the Trust’s net capital gain (“capital gain dividends”), if any, are taxable to Common Shareholders as long-term capital gains, regardless of the length of time Common Shares have been held by Common Shareholders. Distributions, if any, in excess of the Trust’s earnings and profits will first reduce the adjusted tax basis of a holder’s Common Shares and, after that basis has been reduced to zero, will constitute capital gains to the Common Shareholder (assuming the Common Shares are held as a capital asset). See below for a summary of the maximum tax rates applicable to capital gains (including capital gain dividends). Interest on indebtedness incurred or continued by a Common Shareholder to purchase or carry Common Shares is not deductible for federal income tax purposes if the Trust distributes exempt-interest dividends during the Common Shareholder’s taxable year.

The Trust 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 and the amount received.

 

 

38


Table of Contents

Federal income tax matters

 

 

If the Common Shares are held as a capital asset, the gain or loss will be a capital gain or loss. For individuals and non-corporate taxpayers, short-term capital gain is currently taxed at rates applicable to ordinary income (currently at a maximum of 35%) while long-term capital gain generally is taxed at a maximum rate of 15%. Current law taxes both long-term and short-term capital gain of corporations at the rates applicable to ordinary income (currently at a maximum of 35%). Absent further legislation, the maximum 15% rate on long-term capital gains will increase to 20% for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2010. 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 dividends received with respect to those Common Shares, and will be disallowed to the extent of any exempt-interest dividends 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 (which could occur, for example, if the Common Shareholder is a participant in the Plan (as defined below)). In that event, the basis of the replacement Common Shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

Distributions by the Trust of net tax-exempt interest income that are properly designated as “exempt-interest dividends” may be treated by Common Shareholders as interest excludable from gross income under Section 103(a) of the Code. In order for the Trust to be entitled to pay exempt-interest dividends to its Common Shareholders, the Trust intends to satisfy certain requirements, including the requirement that, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, at least 50% of the value of its gross assets consists of obligations the interest on which is exempt from regular federal income tax under Code Section 103(a). Interest on certain municipal obligations is treated as a tax preference item for purposes of the alternative minimum tax. Common Shareholders of the Trust are required to report tax-exempt interest on their federal income tax returns.

Any interest on indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry the Trust’s Common Shares to which exempt-interest dividends are allocated is not deductible. Under certain applicable rules, the purchase or ownership of Common Shares may be considered to have been made with borrowed funds even though such funds are not directly used for the purchase or ownership of the Common Shares.

An investor should be aware that if Common Shares are purchased shortly before the record date for any taxable dividend (including a capital gain dividend), the purchase price likely will reflect the value of the dividend 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. Taxable distributions to individuals and certain other non-corporate Common Shareholders, including those who have not provided their correct taxpayer identification number and other required certifications, may be subject to “backup” federal income tax withholding at the rate of 28%.

Dividends declared by the Trust in October, November or December and paid during the following January may be treated as having been received by Common Shareholders in the year the distributions were declared.

The Trust intends to elect to be treated and to qualify each year as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Code. In order to qualify as a RIC, the Trust must satisfy certain requirements regarding the sources of its income, the diversification of its assets and the distribution of

 

 

39


Table of Contents

Federal income tax matters

 

 

its income. As a RIC, the Trust is not expected be subject to federal income tax provided that it meets certain distribution requirements. If the Trust retains any net capital gain or investment company taxable income, it will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained. If the Trust retains any net capital gain, it may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its Common Shareholders who, if subject to federal income tax on long-term capital gains, (i) will be required to include in income for federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their share of such undistributed amount; (ii) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the tax paid by the Trust on such undistributed amount against their federal income tax liabilities, if any; and (iii) will be entitled to claim refunds to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. For federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of Common Shares owned by a Common Shareholder of the Trust will be increased by an amount equal to the difference between the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the Common Shareholder’s gross income and the tax deemed paid by the Common Shareholder under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence.

The Trust may invest in other securities the federal income tax treatment of which is uncertain or subject to recharacterization by the Internal Revenue Service. To the extent the tax treatment of such securities or their income differs from the tax treatment expected by the Trust, it could affect the timing or character of income recognized by the Trust, requiring the Trust to purchase or sell securities, or otherwise change its portfolio, in order to comply with the tax rules applicable to regulated investment companies under the Code. In addition, certain of the Trust’s investment practices are subject to special and complex federal income tax provisions that may, among other things, (i) disallow, suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions, (ii) convert lower taxed long-term capital gains into higher taxed short-term capital gains or ordinary income, (iii) convert ordinary loss or a deduction into capital loss (the deductibility of which is more limited), (iv) cause the Trust to recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash, (v) adversely affect the time as to when a purchase or sale of stock or securities is deemed to occur, (vi) adversely alter the characterization of certain complex financial transactions and (vii) produce income that will not qualify as good income for purposes of the 90% annual gross income requirement described above.

If the Trust issues preferred shares, the Trust will designate dividends made to holders of Common Shares and to holders of those preferred shares in accordance with each class’s proportionate share of each item of Trust income. A class’s proportionate share of a particular type of income for a year is determined according to the percentage of total dividends paid by the RIC during that year to the class.

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. For more information, please see the Statement of Additional Information under “Federal income tax matters.” Investors should consult their tax advisors regarding other federal, state or local tax considerations that may be applicable in their particular circumstances, including federal and state alternative minimum tax as well as any proposed tax law changes.

Dividend reinvestment plan

The Trust has established a dividend reinvestment plan (the “Plan”). Under the Plan, unless a Common Shareholder elects to receive distributions in cash, all distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional Common Shares. American Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“AST” or the “Plan Agent”) serves as agent for the Common Shareholders in administering the Plan. Common Shareholders who

 

 

40


Table of Contents

Dividend reinvestment plan

 

 

elect not to participate in the Plan will receive all Trust 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 AST, 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 Trust (“newly issued Common Shares”) or (ii) by purchase of outstanding Common Shares on the open market (“open-market purchases”) on the NYSE 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 could exceed the net asset value of the 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’s 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 Trust as a result of distributions payable either in Common Shares or in cash. However, each Plan 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.

 

 

41


Table of Contents

Dividend reinvestment plan

 

 

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 Common Shares is above their net asset value, participants in the Plan will receive Common Shares of the Trust purchased at a discount to market price and having a current value that exceeds the cash distributions they would have otherwise received on their Common Shares. If the market price (plus commissions) of the Common Shares is below their net asset value, Plan participants will receive Common Shares with a net asset value that exceeds the cash distributions they would have otherwise received on their Common Shares. There may, however, be insufficient Common Shares available in the market at prices below net asset value to satisfy the Plan’s requirements, in which case the Plan Agent will acquire newly issued Common Shares. Also, since the Trust does not redeem its Common Shares, the price on resale of Common Shares may be more or less than their net asset value.

Experience under the Plan may indicate that changes are desirable. Accordingly, upon 30 days’ notice to Plan participants, the Trust 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 distribution reinvestment account.

All correspondence concerning the Plan should be directed to the Plan Agent at American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, P.O. Box 922, Wall Street Station, New York, NY 10269-0560. Please call 1-866-706-0514 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time if you have questions regarding the Plan.

Description of capital structure

The Trust is an unincorporated business trust established under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts by the Declaration of Trust. The Declaration of Trust provides that the Trustees of the Trust may authorize separate classes of shares of beneficial interest. The Trustees have authorized an unlimited number of Common Shares. The Trust intends to hold annual meetings of shareholders in compliance with the requirements of the NYSE.

COMMON SHARES

The Declaration of Trust permits the Trust to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional Common Shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per Share. Each Share represents an equal proportionate interest in the assets of the Trust with each other Share in the Trust. Holders of Common Shares will be entitled to the payment of dividends when, as and if declared by the Board. The 1940 Act or the terms of any borrowings may limit the payment of dividends to the holders of Common Shares. Each whole Share shall be entitled to one vote and each fractional share shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional 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 Trust, after paying or adequately providing for the payment of all liabilities of the Trust, and upon receipt of such releases, indemnities and refunding agreements as they deem necessary for their protection, the Trustees may distribute the remaining assets of the Trust among the holders of the Common Shares. The Declaration of Trust provides that shareholders are not liable for any liabilities of the Trust, and provides for the indemnification by the Trust or by any Class or Series thereof of the Shareholders, Trustees, officers and employees of the Trust and of such other Persons as the Trustees in the exercise of their discretion may deem appropriate or desirable, whether in the By-Laws or by contract, vote or other action of the Trustees. Although shareholders of an unincorporated

 

 

42


Table of Contents

Description of capital structure

 

 

business trust established under Massachusetts law, in certain limited circumstances, may be held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust as though they were general partners, the provisions of the Declaration of Trust described in the foregoing sentence make the likelihood of such personal liability remote.

The Trust 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. The Common Shares have no preemptive rights.

The Trust generally will not issue Share certificates. However, the Trustees may authorize the issuance of certificates of beneficial interest to evidence the ownership of Common Shares.

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 Trust 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 Trust, effect on the Trust’s expenses, whether such transactions would impair the Trust’s status as a regulated investment company or result in a failure to comply with any applicable asset coverage requirements, general economic conditions and such other events or conditions which may have a material effect on the Trust’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 Trust’s Common Shares trading at a price which is 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.

EFFECTS OF LEVERAGE

The Trust anticipates using leverage to seek to enhance returns, initially by investing in residual interest bonds. As discussed above, the Trust will not utilize economic leverage in excess of 15% of its gross assets. Although the Trust has no current intention to do so, the Trust is authorized also to utilize leverage through the issuance of preferred shares and/or borrowings, including the issuance of debt securities. The Trust may borrow for temporary, emergency or other purposes as permitted by the 1940 Act. In the event that the Trust determines in the future to utilize alternative or additional forms of leverage, there can be no assurance that such 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 leverage costs may affect the income and 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 Trust’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 Trust’s leveraged position if it deems such action to be

 

 

43


Table of Contents

Description of capital structure

 

 

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 Trust’s average daily gross assets, including assets purchased with any forms of leverage, 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 Trust 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 Trust. These provisions may have the effect of discouraging attempts to acquire control of the Trust, which attempts could have the effect of increasing the expenses of the Trust and interfering with the normal operation of the Trust. 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 holders of record of not less than two-thirds of the outstanding shares of beneficial interest in the Trust either by declaration in writing filed with the custodian of the securities of the trust or by votes cast in person or by proxy at a meeting called for the purpose.

In addition, the Declaration of Trust requires the favorable vote of the holders of at least 75% of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Trust then entitled to vote to approve, adopt or authorize certain transactions with 5%-or-greater holders of such shares and their associates, except where (i) the Trustees by resolution have approved a memorandum of understanding with such holders with respect to and substantially consistent with such transaction, or (ii) the transaction is with a Person of which a majority of the outstanding shares of all classes of stock normally entitled to vote in the election of directors is owned of record or beneficially by the Trust and its subsidiaries. For purposes of these provisions, the term “Principal Shareholder” shall mean any Person which is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than five percent (5%) of the issued and outstanding shares of the Trust or of any class of shares and shall include any “affiliate” or “associate,” as such terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The transactions subject to these special approval requirements are: (i) the merger or consolidation of the Trust or any subsidiary of the Trust with or into any Principal Shareholder; (ii) the issuance of any securities of the Trust to any Principal Shareholder for cash; (iii) the sale, lease or exchange of all or any substantial part of the assets of the Trust to any Principal Shareholder (except assets determined by the Trustees to have 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 assets sold in the ordinary course of business); or (iv) the sale, lease or exchange to or with the Trust or any subsidiary thereof, in exchange for securities of the Trust, of any assets of any Principal Shareholder (except assets determined by the Trustees to have 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).

 

 

44


Table of Contents

Description of capital structure

 

 

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 TRUST

The Trust may be converted from a “closed-end company” to an “open-end company,” as those terms are defined in Section 5(a)(2) and 5(a)(1), respectively, of the 1940 Act upon the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of two-thirds of each class of shares outstanding (with each class separately voting thereon or consenting thereto as a separate class). Such affirmative vote or consent shall be in addition to the vote or consent of the holders of the issued and outstanding shares otherwise required by law or by the terms of any Class or Series, whether now or hereafter authorized, or by any agreement between the Trust and any national securities exchange. However, if such conversion is recommended by at least 75% of the Trustees then in office, the vote or written consent of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust (which voting securities shall vote separately on the matter by class) shall be sufficient to authorize such conversion. The composition of the Trust’s portfolio likely would prohibit the Trust from complying with regulations of the SEC applicable to open-end management investment companies. Accordingly, conversion likely would require significant changes in the Trust’s investment policies and liquidation of a substantial portion of its relatively illiquid portfolio. In the event of conversion, the Common Shares would cease to be listed on the NYSE or other national securities exchange or market system. The Board believes, however, that the closed-end structure is desirable, given the Trust’s investment objectives and policies. Investors should assume, therefore, that it is unlikely that the Board would vote to convert the Trust to an open-end management investment company. Common 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. The Trust expects to pay all such redemption requests in cash, but intends to 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 Trust 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.

 

 

45


Table of Contents

  

 

 

Underwriting

The underwriters named below (the “Underwriters”), acting through UBS Securities LLC, 299 Park Avenue, New York, New York, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, 4 World Financial Center, New York, New York, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, 1585 Broadway, New York, New York, and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, 375 Park Avenue, New York, New York, as lead managers, and RBC Capital Markets Corporation, Ameriprise Advisor Services, Inc., Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, LLC, Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc., Maxim Group LLC and Southwest Securities, Inc., as their representatives (together with the lead managers, the “Representatives”), have severally agreed, subject to the terms and conditions of an underwriting agreement with the Trust and the Adviser (the “Underwriting Agreement”), to purchase from the Trust the number of Common Shares set forth opposite the their respective names. The Underwriters are committed and purchase and pay for all such Common Shares (other than those covered by the over-allotment option described below) if any are purchased.

 

Underwriters    Number of
Common Shares

UBS Securities LLC

   2,000,000

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

   2,650,000

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

Incorporated

   2,800,000

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated

   1,500,000

Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC

   2,800,000

RBC Capital Markets Corporation

   585,000

Ameriprise Advisor Services, Inc.

   185,000

Janney Montgomery Scott LLC

   185,000

Oppenheimer & Co.

   185,000

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated

   100,000

J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, LLC

   40,000

Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.

   40,000

Maxim Group LLC

   40,000

Southwest Securities, Inc.

   40,000

BB&T Capital Markets, a division of Scott & Stringfellow, Inc.

   25,000

Bishop, Rosen & Co., Inc.

   25,000

Brean Murray, Carret & Co., LLC

   25,000

Cantella & Co., Inc.

   25,000

Comerica Securities, Inc.

   25,000

Crowell, Weedon & Co.

   25,000

David A. Noyes & Company

   25,000

Dominick & Dominick LLC

   25,000

Dougherty & Company LLC

   25,000

Fifth Third Securities, Inc.

   25,000

Hennion & Walsh, Inc.

   25,000

Howe Barnes Hoefer & Arnett, Inc.

   25,000

Huntleigh Securities Corporation

   25,000

Jesup & Lamont Securities Corp

   25,000

LaSalle St. Securities, LLC

   25,000

Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc.

   25,000

Muriel Siebert & Co., Inc.

   25,000

Newbridge Securities Corporation

   25,000

Regal Securities, Inc.

   25,000

Stephens Inc.

   25,000

Summit Brokerage Services, Inc.

   25,000

The Huntington Investment Company

   25,000

Wayne Hummer Investments L.L.C.

   25,000

Western International Securities, Inc.

   25,000
    

Total

   13,750,000
    

 

 

46


Table of Contents

Underwriting

 

 

The Trust 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 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 Trust 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 Trust that the Underwriters may pay up to $0.60 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 $0.10 per Common Share to certain other dealers who sell Common Shares. The Adviser or an affiliate has agreed to pay the amount by which the aggregate of all of the Trust’s offering costs (other than sales loads) exceed $0.04 per Common Share. The Adviser or an affiliate has agreed to reimburse all organizational costs of the Trust. Investors must pay for any Common Shares purchased on or before May 29, 2009.

Prior to this offering, there has been no public or private market for the Common Shares or any other securities of the Trust. Consequently, the offering price for the Common Shares was determined by negotiation among the Trust and the Representatives. There can be no assurance, however, that the price at which the 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 Trust has been approved for listing its Common Shares on the NYSE, subject to notice of issuance, under the trading or “ticker” symbol “EOT.”

In connection with the requirements for listing the Common Shares on the NYSE, the Underwriters have undertaken to sell lots of 100 or more Common Shares to a minimum of 2,000 beneficial owners in the United States. The minimum investment requirement is 100 Common Shares.

The Trust and the Adviser 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, except in the cases of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of applicable obligations and duties.

The Trust has agreed not to offer, sell or register with the SEC any additional equity securities of the Trust, other than issuances of Common Shares, including pursuant to the Trust’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 Trust that the Underwriters do not intend to sell to any accounts over which they have been granted and 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 Trust 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

 

 

47


Table of Contents

Underwriting

 

 

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 NYSE or otherwise.

The Trust 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.

Shareholder servicing fee, structuring fees, additional compensation and other relationships

Pursuant to a shareholder servicing agreement (the “Shareholder Servicing Agreement”) between UBS Securities LLC and the Adviser, following the completion of this offering, UBS Securities LLC will at the request of and as specified by the Adviser: (i) undertake to make available public information pertaining to the Trust on an ongoing basis and to communicate to investors and prospective investors the Trust’s features and benefits, (ii) make available to investors and prospective investors market price, net asset value, yield and other information regarding the Trust, if reasonably obtainable, for the purpose of maintaining the visibility of the Trust in the investor community (provided that services described in (i) and (ii) above shall not include customary market research information provided by UBS Securities LLC or its registered broker-dealer affiliates in the ordinary course of their business); (iii) provide certain economic research and statistical information and reports, if reasonably obtainable, on matters including the Trust’s market performance and comparative information regarding the Trust and other investment funds, to the Adviser or the Trust, and consult with representatives of the Adviser and the Board in connection therewith; and (iv) provide information to and consult with the Adviser and/or the Board with respect to applicable strategies designed to address market value discounts, including providing information concerning the use and impact of such strategies by other market participants; provided, however, that under the terms of the Shareholder Servicing Agreement, UBS Securities LLC is not obligated to render any opinions, valuations or recommendations of any kind or to perform any such similar services. For these services, the Adviser (and not the Trust) will pay UBS Securities LLC a fee computed daily and payable quarterly equal, on an annual basis, of 0.10% of the Trust’s average daily gross assets. The total of all of the payments payable to UBS Securities LLC under the Shareholder Servicing Agreement will not exceed 3.5264% of the aggregate initial offering price of the Common Shares offered hereby. Under the terms of the Shareholder Servicing Agreement, UBS Securities LLC is relieved from liability to the Adviser for any act or omission to act in the course of its performances under the Shareholder Servicing Agreement in the absence of bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of UBS Securities LLC. The Shareholder Servicing Agreement will continue so long as the investment management agreement remains in effect between the Trust and the Adviser or any successor in interest or affiliate of the Adviser as and to the extent that the investment management agreement is renewed periodically in accordance with the 1940 Act.

The Adviser (and not the Trust) has agreed to pay to Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (“Citi”), from its own assets, a structuring fee for advice relating to the structure, design and organization of the Trust as well as services related to the sale and distribution of the Common Shares in the amount of $735,000. The structuring fee paid to Citi will not exceed 0.2673% of the aggregate initial offering price of the Common Shares offered hereby.

 

 

48


Table of Contents

Shareholder servicing fee, structuring fees, additional compensation and other relationships

 

 

The Adviser (and not the Trust) has agreed to pay to Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”), from its own assets, additional compensation for advice relating to the structure, design and organization of the Trust as well as services related to the sale and distribution of Common Shares in the amount of $814,388.75. The additional compensation paid to Merrill Lynch will not exceed 0.2961% of the aggregate initial offering price of the Common Shares offered hereby.

The Adviser (and not the Trust) has agreed to pay to Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated (“Morgan Stanley”), from its own assets, a marketing and structuring fee equal to 1.35% of the aggregate price to the public of the Common Shares sold by Morgan Stanley (including shares over-allotted by Morgan Stanley regardless of whether the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised), and which will total $311,868.09.

The marketing and structuring fee paid to Morgan Stanley will not exceed 0.1134% of the aggregate initial offering price of the Common Shares offered hereby. In contrast to the underwriting discounts and commissions (earned under the underwriting agreement by the underwriting syndicate as a group), this marketing and structuring fee will be earned by and paid to Morgan Stanley by the Adviser for advice to the Adviser on the design and structuring of, and marketing assistance with respect to, the Trust and the distribution of its Common Shares. These services provided by Morgan Stanley to the Adviser are unrelated to the Adviser’s function of advising the Trust as to its investments in securities.

The Adviser (and not the Trust) has agreed to pay to Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC (“Wachovia”), from its own assets, a structuring fee for advice relating to the structure, design and organization of the Trust as well as services related to the sale and distribution of Common Shares in the amount of $816,084.75. The structuring fee paid to Wachovia will not exceed 0.2968% of the aggregate initial offering price of the Common Shares offered hereby.

The sum of the fees described above to be paid by the Adviser to UBS Securities LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, and the sales load to be paid by the Trust will not exceed 9.00% of the aggregate initial offering price of the Common Shares offered hereby. None of the compensation to be received by Underwriters with respect to additional compensation transactions will be subject to any discount methodology.

Custodian and transfer agent

State Street Bank and Trust Company, 200 Clarendon Street, Boston, MA 02116 is the custodian of the Trust and will maintain custody of the securities and cash of the Trust. State Street maintains the Trust’s general ledger and computes net asset value per share at least weekly. State Street also attends to details in connection with the sale, exchange, substitution, transfer and other dealings with the Trust’s investments, and receives and disburses all funds. State Street also assists in preparation of shareholder reports and the electronic filing of such reports with the SEC.

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company is the transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent of the Trust.

Legal matters

Certain legal matters in connection with the Common Shares will be passed upon for the Trust by K&L Gates LLP, Boston, Massachusetts and for the underwriters by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Chicago, Illinois.

 

 

49


Table of Contents

  

 

 

Reports to shareholders

The Trust will send to its shareholders unaudited semi-annual and audited annual reports, including a list of investments held.

Independent registered public accounting firm

Deloitte & Touche LLP, Boston, Massachusetts, is the independent registered public accounting firm for the Trust and will audit the Trust’s financial statements.

Additional information

This prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information do not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement that the Trust has filed with the SEC (file No. 333-156948). The complete Registration Statement may be obtained from the SEC at www.sec.gov. See the cover page of this prospectus for information about how to obtain a paper copy of the Registration Statement or Statement of Additional Information without charge.

 

 

50


Table of Contents

  

 

 

Table of contents of the Statement of Additional Information

 

Additional investment information and restrictions

   2

Trustees and officers

   10

Investment advisory and other services

   16

Portfolio trading

   19

Taxes

   21

Other information

   24

Independent registered public accounting firm

   25

Financial statements

   27

Appendix A: Proxy Voting Policies

   A-1

Appendix B: Ratings of municipal bonds

   B-1

 

 

51


Table of Contents

  

 

 

The Trust’s privacy policy

The Eaton Vance organization is committed to ensuring your financial privacy. Each of the financial institutions identified below has in effect the following policy (“Privacy Policy”) with respect to nonpublic personal information about its customers:

 

Ø  

Only such information received from you, through application forms or otherwise, and information about your Eaton Vance fund transactions will be collected. This may include information such as name, address, social security number, tax status, account balances and transactions.

 

Ø  

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). In the normal course of servicing a customer’s account, Eaton Vance may share information with unaffiliated third parties that perform various required services such as transfer agents, custodians and broker/dealers.

 

Ø  

Policies and procedures (including physical, electronic and procedural safeguards) are in place that are designed to protect the confidentiality of such information.

 

Ø  

We reserve the right to change our Privacy Policy at any time upon proper notification to you. Customers may want to review our Privacy Policy periodically for changes by accessing the link on our homepage: www.eatonvance.com.

Our pledge of privacy applies to the following entities within the Eaton Vance organization: the Eaton Vance Family of Funds, Eaton Vance Management, Eaton Vance Investment Counsel, Boston Management and Research, and Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc.

In addition, our Privacy Policy only applies to those Eaton Vance customers who are individuals and who have a direct relationship with us. If a customer’s account (i.e., fund shares) is held in the name of a third-party financial adviser/broker-dealer, it is likely that only such adviser’s privacy policies apply to the customer. This notice supersedes all previously issued privacy disclosures.

For more information about Eaton Vance’s Privacy Policy, please call 1-800-262-1122.

 

 

52


Table of Contents

 

LOGO

 

 

3740-5/09

CE-NMOTFP


Table of Contents

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

May 26, 2009

Eaton Vance National Municipal Opportunities Trust

Two International Place

Boston, Massachusetts 02110

(800) 225-6265

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Additional investment information and restrictions

   2

Trustees and officers

   10

Investment advisory and other services

   16

Portfolio trading

   19

Taxes

   21

Other information

   24

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   25

Financial statements

   27

Appendix A

   A-1

Appendix B

   B-1

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 NATIONAL MUNICIPAL OPPORTUNITIES TRUST (THE “TRUST”) DATED MAY 26, 2009, 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 TRUST AT 1-800-225-6265.


Table of Contents

Capitalized terms used in this SAI and not otherwise defined have the meanings given to them in the Trust’s Prospectus.

Additional investment information and restrictions

ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT INFORMATION

Primary strategies are defined in the prospectus. The following is a description of the various investment practices that may be engaged in, whether as a primary or secondary strategy, and a summary of certain attendant risks. The investment adviser(s) may not buy any of the following instruments or use any of the following techniques unless it believes that doing so will help achieve the investment objective(s).

Municipal Obligations.

Municipal obligations are issued to obtain funds for various public and private purposes. Municipal obligations include bonds as well as tax-exempt commercial paper, project notes and municipal notes such as tax, revenue and bond anticipation notes of short maturity, generally less than three years. While most municipal bonds pay a fixed rate of interest semiannually in cash, there are exceptions. Some bonds pay no periodic cash interest, but rather make a single payment at maturity representing both principal and interest. Bonds may be issued or subsequently offered with interest coupons materially greater or less than those then prevailing, with price adjustments reflecting such deviation.

In general, there are three categories of municipal obligations, the interest on which is exempt from federal income tax and is not a tax preference item for purposes of the AMT: (i) certain “public purpose” obligations (whenever issued), which include obligations issued directly by state and local governments or their agencies to fulfill essential governmental functions; (ii) certain obligations issued before August 8, 1986 for the benefit of non-governmental persons or entities; and (iii) certain “private activity bonds” issued after August 7, 1986 which include “qualified Section 501(c)(3) bonds” or refundings of certain obligations included in the second category. In assessing the federal income tax treatment of interest on any municipal obligation, the Trust will rely on an opinion of the issuer’s counsel (when available) and will not undertake any independent verification of the basis for the opinion.

Interest on certain “private activity bonds” issued after August 7, 1986 is exempt from regular federal income tax, but such interest (including a distribution by the Trust derived from such interest) is treated as a tax preference item which could subject the recipient to or increase the recipient’s liability for the Alternative Minimum Tax (“AMT”). For corporate shareholders, the Trust’s distributions derived from interest on all municipal obligations (whenever issued) are included in “adjusted current earnings” for purposes of the AMT as applied to corporations (to the extent not already included in alternative minimum taxable income as income attributable to private activity bonds). For both individual and corporate taxpayers, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides an exemption from the federal alternative minimum tax for interest on private activity bonds that are issued after December 31, 2008 and before January 1, 2011, including refunding bonds issued during that period to refund bonds originally issued after December 31, 2003 and before January 1, 2009.

The two principal classifications of municipal bonds are “general obligation” and “revenue” bonds. Issuers of general obligation bonds include states, counties, cities, towns and regional districts. The proceeds of these obligations are used to fund a wide range of public projects, including the construction or improvement of schools, highways and roads, water and sewer systems and a variety of other public purposes. The basic security of general obligation bonds is the issuer’s pledge of its faith, credit, and taxing power for the payment of principal and interest. The taxes that can be levied for the payment of debt service may be limited or unlimited as to rate and amount. Revenue bonds are generally secured by the net revenues derived from a particular facility or group of facilities or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise or other specific revenue source.

Revenue bonds have been issued to fund a wide variety of capital projects including: electric, gas, water, sewer and solid waste disposal systems; highways, bridges and tunnels; port, airport and parking facilities; transportation systems; housing facilities, colleges and universities and hospitals. Although the principal security behind these bonds varies widely, many provide additional security in the form of a debt service reserve fund whose monies may be used to make principal and interest payments on the issuer’s obligations. Housing finance authorities have a wide range of security including partially or fully insured, rent subsidized and/or collateralized mortgages, and/or the net revenues from housing or other public projects. In addition to a debt service reserve fund, some authorities provide further security in the form of a state’s ability (without legal obligation) to make up deficiencies in the debt service reserve fund. Lease rental revenue bonds issued by a state or local authority for capital projects are normally secured by annual lease rental payments from the state or locality to the authority sufficient to cover debt service on the authority’s obligations. Such payments are usually subject to annual appropriations by the state or locality. Industrial development and pollution control bonds, although nominally issued by municipal authorities, are in most cases revenue bonds and are generally not secured by the taxing power of the

 

2


Table of Contents

municipality, but are usually secured by the revenues derived by the authority from payments of the industrial user or users. The Trust may on occasion acquire revenue bonds which carry warrants or similar rights covering equity securities. Such warrants or rights may be held indefinitely, but if exercised, the Trust anticipates that it would, under normal circumstances, dispose of any equity securities so acquired within a reasonable period of time.

The obligations of any person or entity to pay the principal of and interest on a municipal obligation are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors, such as the Federal Bankruptcy Act, and laws, if any, which may be enacted by Congress or state legislatures extending the time for payment of principal or interest, or both, or imposing other constraints upon enforcement of such obligations. Certain bond structures may be subject to the risk that a taxing authority may issue an adverse ruling regarding tax-exempt status. There is also the possibility that as a result of adverse economic conditions (including unforeseen financial events, natural disasters and other conditions that may affect an issuer’s ability to pay its obligations), litigation or other conditions, the power or ability of any person or entity to pay when due principal of and interest on a municipal obligation may be materially affected or interest and principal previously paid may be required to be refunded. There have been recent instances of defaults and bankruptcies involving municipal obligations which were not foreseen by the financial and investment communities. The Trust will take whatever action it considers appropriate in the event of anticipated financial difficulties, default or bankruptcy of either the issuer of any municipal obligation or of the underlying source of funds for debt service. Such action may include retaining the services of various persons or firms (including affiliates of the investment adviser) to evaluate or protect any real estate, facilities or other assets securing any such obligation or acquired by the Trust as a result of any such event, and the Trust may also manage (or engage other persons to manage) or otherwise deal with any real estate, facilities or other assets so acquired. The Trust anticipates that real estate consulting and management services may be required with respect to properties securing various municipal obligations in its portfolio or subsequently acquired by the Trust. The Trust will incur additional expenditures in taking protective action with respect to portfolio obligations in (or anticipated to be in) default and assets securing such obligations.

The yields on municipal obligations will be dependent on a variety of factors, including purposes of issue and source of funds for repayment, general money market conditions, general conditions of the municipal bond market, size of a particular offering, maturity of the obligation and rating of the issue. The ratings of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch represent their opinions as to the quality of the municipal obligations which they undertake to rate. It should be emphasized, however, that ratings are based on judgment and are not absolute standards of quality. Consequently, municipal obligations with the same maturity, coupon and rating may have different yields while obligations of the same maturity and coupon with different ratings may have the same yield. In addition, the market price of such obligations will normally fluctuate with changes in interest rates, and therefore the net asset value of the Trust will be affected by such changes.

State Specific Investments

The Trust has no current intention to invest 25% or more of its gross assets (but may invest up to such amounts) in municipal obligations of issuers located in the same state (or U.S. territory), but reserves the flexibility to do so in the future. If the Trust invests 25% or more of its gross assets in any one state (or U.S. territory) the Trust may be more susceptible to adverse economic, political or regulatory occurrences affecting a particular state (or U.S. territory). Municipal obligations of issuers located in a single state may be adversely affected by economic developments (including insolvency of an issuer) and by legislation and other governmental activities in that state. There could be economic, business or political developments or court decisions that adversely affect all municipal obligations in the same sector. In particular, investments in revenue bonds might involve (without limitation) the following risks.

Hospital bond ratings are often based on feasibility studies which contain projections of expenses, revenues and occupancy levels. Among the influences affecting a hospital’s gross receipts and net income available to service its debt are demand for hospital services, the ability of the hospital to provide the services required, management capabilities, economic developments in the service area, efforts by insurers and government agencies to limit rates and expenses, confidence in the hospital, service area economic developments, competition, availability and expense of malpractice insurance, Medicaid and Medicare funding and possible federal legislation limiting the rates of increase of hospital charges.

Electric utilities face problems in financing large construction programs in an inflationary period, cost increases and delay occasioned by safety and environmental considerations (particularly with respect to nuclear facilities), difficulty in obtaining fuel at reasonable prices, and in achieving timely and adequate rate relief from regulatory commissions, effects of energy conservation and limitations on the capacity of the capital market to absorb utility debt.

Industrial development bonds (“IDBs”) are normally secured only by the revenues from the project and not by state or local government tax payments, they are subject to a wide variety of risks, many of which relate to the nature of the specific project. Generally, IDBs are sensitive to the risk of a slowdown in the economy.

 

3


Table of Contents

Standard tobacco bonds are secured by a single source of revenue, installment payments made by tobacco companies stemming from the settlement of lawsuits brought against them by various states (the “Master Settlement Agreement”). Appropriation backed tobacco bonds are supported by the same Master Settlement Agreement payments as standard tobacco bonds, but are also subject to a state’s pledge that the governor will request an appropriation of funds in its annual budget for debt service if Master Settlement Agreement revenues are insufficient. These payments are not generally fixed but rather are tied to the volume of the company’s U.S. sales of cigarettes. Tobacco bonds are subject to several risks, including the risk that cigarette consumption declines or that a tobacco company defaults on its obligation to make payments to the state. Escrowed tobacco bonds no longer rely on Master Settlement Agreement revenue as security, and are backed by a variety of government securities.

In addition, the airline industry continues to evolve. A number of major carriers have either emerged from bankruptcy or are currently in bankruptcy. Recent problems include, but are not limited to, increased competition, labor and union conflicts, greater security costs and fluctuating jet fuel prices. Court rulings have given some guidance to the viability of collateral structures. However, there is still uncertainty as to the strength of collateral pledged under various security systems.

Certain tax-exempt bonds issued by Native American tribes may be subject to the risk that a taxing authority would determine that the income from such bonds is not eligible for tax-exempt status. In the event of any final adverse ruling to this effect, holders of such bonds may be subject to penalties.

Insured Obligations

The Trust may purchase municipal obligations insured as to their scheduled payment of principal and interest or municipal obligations that are additionally secured by bank credit agreements or escrow accounts.

The credit quality of companies which provide such credit enhancements will affect the value of those securities. Although the insurance feature reduces certain financial risks, the premiums for insurance and the higher market price sometimes paid for insured obligations may reduce the Trust’s current yield. See Appendix A for a description of the claims-paying ability ratings of S&P and Moody’s. The insurance does not guarantee the market value of the insured obligation. To the extent that securities held by the Trust are insured as to principal and interest payments by insurers whose claims-paying ability rating is downgraded by Moody’s, S&P or Fitch, the value of such securities may be affected.

Credit Quality

While municipal obligations rated investment grade or below and comparable unrated municipal obligations may have some quality and protective characteristics, these characteristics can be expected to be offset or outweighed by uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions. Lower rated and comparable unrated municipal obligations are subject to the risk of an issuer’s inability to meet principal and interest payments on the obligations (credit risk) and may also be subject to greater price volatility due to such factors as interest rate sensitivity, market perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and general market liquidity (market risk). Lower rated or unrated municipal obligations are also more likely to react to real or perceived developments affecting market and credit risk than are more highly rated obligations, which react primarily to movements in the general level of interest rates.

Municipal obligations held by the Trust which are rated below investment grade but which, subsequent to the assignment of such rating, are backed by escrow accounts containing U.S. Government obligations may be determined by the investment adviser to be of investment grade quality for purposes of the Trust’s investment policies. The Trust may retain in its portfolio an obligation whose rating drops after its acquisition, including defaulted obligations, if such retention is considered desirable by the investment adviser; provided, however, that holdings of obligations rated below Baa or BBB will be less than 30% of the Trust’s investments in municipal obligations and holdings rated below B- by Standard & Poors or Fitch or B3 by Moodys will be less than 5% of its municipal obligations investments, each at the time of purchase. In the case of a defaulted obligation, the Trust may incur additional expense seeking recovery of its investment. See “Portfolio of Investments” in the “Financial Statements” incorporated by reference into this SAI with respect to any defaulted obligations held by the Trust.

When the Trust invests in lower rated or unrated municipal obligations, the achievement of the Trust’s goals is more dependent on the investment adviser’s ability than would be the case if the Trust were investing in municipal obligations in the higher rating categories. In evaluating the credit quality of a particular issue, whether rated or unrated, the investment adviser may take into consideration, among other things, the financial resources of the issuer (or, as appropriate, of the underlying source of funds for debt service), its sensitivity to economic conditions and trends, any operating history of and the community support for the facility financed by the issue, the ability of the issuer’s management and regulatory matters. The investment adviser may also purchase structured derivative products with greater or lesser credit risk than the underlying bonds. Such bonds may be rated investment grade, as well as below investment grade. For a description of municipal bond ratings, see Appendix A.

 

4


Table of Contents

Municipal Leases

The Trust may invest in municipal leases and participations therein, which arrangements frequently involve special risks. Municipal leases are obligations in the form of a lease, installment purchase or conditional sales contract (which typically provide for the title to the leased asset to pass to the governmental issuer) which is issued by state or local governments to acquire equipment and facilities. Interest income from such obligations is generally exempt from local and state taxes in the state of issuance. “Participations” in such leases are undivided interests in a portion of the total obligation. Participations entitle their holders to receive a pro rata share of all payments under the lease. The obligation of the issuer to meet its obligations under such leases is often subject to the appropriation by the appropriate legislative body, on an annual or other basis, of funds for the payment of the obligations. Investments in municipal leases are thus subject to the risk that the legislative body will not make the necessary appropriation and the issuer will not otherwise be willing or able to meet its obligation.

Certain municipal lease obligations owned by the Trust may be deemed illiquid, unless determined by the investment adviser, pursuant to guidelines adopted by the Trustees, to be liquid securities. In determining the liquidity of municipal lease obligations, the investment adviser will consider the factors it believes are relevant to the marketability of the obligation, to the extent that information regarding such factor is available to the investment adviser and pertinent to the liquidity determination, which may include: (1) the willingness of dealers to bid for the obligation; (2) the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the obligation and the number of other potential buyers; (3) the frequency of trades and quotes for the obligation; (4) the nature of the marketplace trades, including the time needed to dispose of the obligation, the method of soliciting offers, and the mechanics of transfer; (5) the willingness of the governmental issuer to continue to appropriate funds for the payment of the obligation; (6) how likely or remote an event of nonappropriation may be, which depends in varying degrees on a variety of factors, including those relating to the general creditworthiness of the governmental issuer, its dependence on its continuing access to the credit markets, and the importance to the issuer of the equipment, property or facility covered by the lease or contract; (7) the rating, if any, assigned to the obligation and/or the governmental issuer by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization; (8) whether the obligation is insured as to the timely payment of principal and interest; and (9) all factors and information unique to the obligation in determining its liquidity. If the municipal lease obligation is insured as to the timely payment of principal and interest, or if the obligation has an investment grade rating (rated BBB or Baa or higher), the investment adviser will consider the obligation to be liquid. In the event the Trust acquires an unrated municipal lease obligation, the investment adviser will be responsible for determining the credit quality of such obligation on an ongoing basis, including an assessment of the likelihood that the lease may or may not be cancelled.

Zero Coupon Bonds

Zero coupon bonds are debt obligations which do not require the periodic payment of interest and are issued at a significant discount from face value. The discount approximates the total amount of interest the bonds will accrue and compound over the period until maturity at a rate of interest reflecting the market rate of the security at the time of issuance. The Trust is required to accrue income from zero coupon bonds on a current basis, even though it does not receive that income currently in cash, and the Trust is required to distribute that income for each taxable year. Thus, the Trust may have to sell other investments to obtain cash needed to make income distributions.

When-Issued Securities

New issues of municipal obligations are sometimes offered on a “when-issued” basis, that is, delivery and payment for the securities normally take place within a specified number of days after the date of the Trust’s commitment and are subject to certain conditions such as the issuance of satisfactory legal opinions. The Trust may also purchase securities on a when-issued basis pursuant to refunding contracts in connection with the refinancing of an issuer’s outstanding indebtedness. Refunding contracts generally require the issuer to sell and the Trust to buy such securities on a settlement date that could be several months or several years in the future. The Trust may also purchase instruments that give the Trust the option to purchase a municipal obligation when and if issued.

The Trust will make commitments to purchase when-issued securities only with the intention of actually acquiring the securities, but may sell such securities before the settlement date if it is deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy. The payment obligation and the interest rate that will be received on the securities are fixed at the time the Trust enters into the purchase commitment. When the Trust commits to purchase a security on a when-issued basis it records the transaction and reflects the value of the security in determining its net asset value. Securities purchased on a when-issued basis and the securities held by the Trust are subject to changes in value based upon the perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and changes in the level of interest rates (i.e., appreciation when interest rates decline and depreciation when interest rates rise). Therefore, to the extent that the Trust remains substantially fully invested at the same time that it has purchased securities on a when-issued basis, there will be greater fluctuations in the Trust’s net asset value than if it solely set aside cash to pay for when-issued securities.

 

5


Table of Contents

Credit Derivatives

The Trust may invest in credit default swaps, total return swaps or credit options for hedging and other risk management purposes. In a credit default swap, the buyer of credit protection (or seller of credit risk) agrees to pay the counterparty a fixed, periodic premium for a specified term. In return, the counterparty agrees to pay a contingent payment to the buyer in the event of an agreed upon credit occurrence with respect to a particular reference entity. In a total return swap, the buyer receives a periodic return equal to the total economic return of a specified security, securities or index, for a specified period of time. In return, the buyer pays the counterparty a variable stream of payments, typically based upon short term interest rates, possibly plus or minus an agreed upon spread. Credit options are options whereby the purchaser has the right, but not the obligation, to enter into a transaction involving either an asset with inherent credit risk or a credit derivative, at terms specified at the initiation of the option. Transactions in derivative instruments involve a risk of loss or depreciation due to: unanticipated adverse changes in securities prices, interest rates, indices, the other financial instruments’ prices or currency exchange rates; 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. Derivative instruments may sometimes increase or leverage exposure to a particular market risk, thereby increasing price volatility.

Redemption, Demand and Put Features and Put Options

Issuers of municipal obligations reserve the right to call (redeem) the bond. If an issuer redeems securities held by the Trust during a time of declining interest rates, the Trust may not be able to reinvest the proceeds in securities providing the same investment return as the securities redeemed. Also, some bonds may have “put” or “demand” features that allow early redemption by the bondholder. Longer term fixed-rate bonds may give the holder a right to request redemption at certain times (often annually after the lapse of an intermediate term). These bonds are more defensive than conventional long term bonds (protecting to some degree against a rise in interest rates) while providing greater opportunity than comparable intermediate term bonds, because the Trust may retain the bond if interest rates decline.

Liquidity and Protective Put Options

The Trust may enter into a separate agreement with the seller of the security or some other person granting the Trust the right to put the security to the seller thereof or the other person at an agreed upon price. The Trust intends to limit this type of transaction to institutions (such as banks or securities dealers) which the investment adviser believes present minimal credit risks and would engage in this type of transaction to facilitate portfolio liquidity or (if the seller so agrees) to hedge against rising interest rates. There is no assurance that this kind of put option will be available to the Trust or that selling institutions will be willing to permit the Trust to exercise a put to hedge against rising interest rates. The Trust does not expect to assign any value to any separate put option which may be acquired to facilitate portfolio liquidity, inasmuch as the value (if any) of the put will be reflected in the value assigned to the associated security; any put acquired for hedging purposes would be valued in good faith under methods or procedures established by the Trustees after consideration of all relevant factors, including its expiration date, the price volatility of the associated security, the difference between the market price of the associated security and the exercise price of the put, the creditworthiness of the issuer of the put and the market prices of comparable put options. Interest income generated by certain bonds having put or demand features may be taxable.

OTC Options

The Trust may enter into an agreement with a potential buyer of a municipal obligation that gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to purchase a municipal obligation held by the Trust at a particular price in the future and is commonly referred to as an over-the-counter option or OTC option. Such agreements will be entered solely to help facilitate the selling of municipal obligations, for instance, if the buyer wishes to lock in a price for a particular municipal obligation subject to performing due diligence on the issue or issuer. The buyer may not pay a premium for such option. There is a risk that the value of a municipal obligation underlying an option may appreciate above the value that the buyer has agreed to pay for the municipal obligation and therefore the Trust would not be entitled to the appreciation above such price.

Variable Rate Obligations

The Trust may purchase variable rate obligations. Variable rate instruments provide for adjustments in the interest rate at specified intervals (weekly, monthly, semiannually, etc.). The revised rates are usually set at the issuer’s discretion in which case the investor normally enjoys the right to “put” the security back to the issuer or his agent. Rate revisions may alternatively be determined by formula or in some other contractual fashion. Variable rate obligations normally provide that the holder can demand payment of the obligation on short notice at par with accrued interest and which are frequently secured by letters of credit or other support

 

6


Table of Contents

arrangements provided by banks. To the extent that such letters of credit or other arrangements constitute an unconditional guarantee of the issuer’s obligations, a bank may be treated as the issuer of a security for the purposes of complying with the diversification requirements set forth in Section 5(b) of the 1940 Act and Rule 5b-2 thereunder. The Trust would anticipate using these bonds as cash equivalents pending longer term investment of its funds.

Residual Interest Bonds

The Trust may invest in residual interests in a trust that holds municipal securities (“inverse floaters” also known as “residual interest bonds”). The interest rate payable on an inverse floater bears an inverse relationship to the interest rate on another security issued by the trust. Because changes in the interest rate on the other security inversely affect the interest paid on the inverse floater, the value and income of an inverse floater is generally more volatile than that of a fixed rate bond. Inverse floaters have interest rate adjustment formulas which generally reduce or, in the extreme, eliminate the interest paid to the Trust when short-term interest rates rise, and increase the interest paid to the Trust when short-term interest rates fall. Inverse floaters have varying degrees of liquidity, and the market for these securities is relatively volatile. These securities tend to underperform the market for fixed rate bonds in a rising long-term interest rate environment, but tend to outperform the market for fixed rate bonds when long-term interest rates decline. Although volatile, inverse floaters typically offer the potential for yields exceeding the yields available on fixed rate bonds with comparable credit quality and maturity. These securities usually permit the investor to convert the floating rate to a fixed rate (normally adjusted downward), and this optional conversion feature may provide a partial hedge against rising rates if exercised at an opportune time. While inverse floaters expose the Trust to leverage risk because they provide two or more dollars of bond market exposure for every dollar invested, they are not subject to a Trust’s restrictions on borrowings.

A tender option bond trust typically can be collapsed or closed by the holder of the residual interest bonds (such as the Trust) or by the liquidity provider. Generally, because the Trust may act to collapse the tender option bond trust and receive the value of the residual interests bonds held by the Trust within 7-days, such residual interest bonds are considered liquid securities when held by the Trust.

The Trust anticipates using leverage to seek to enhance returns, initially by investing in residual interest bonds. The Trust will not utilize leverage in excess of 15% of its gross assets. The amount of leverage obtained through investments in residual interest bonds is calculated based upon the amount of the corresponding floating-rate notes issued by the tender option bond trust in which the Trust holds a residual interest.

At the discretion of the Adviser, the Trust may enter into a so-called shortfall and forbearance agreement with the sponsor of an inverse floater held by the Trust. The Trust generally may enter into such agreements (i) when the liquidity provider to the tender option bond trust requires such an agreement because the level of leverage in the tender option bond trust exceed the level that the liquidity provider is willing support absent such an agreement; and/or (ii) to seek to prevent the liquidity provider from collapsing the tender option bond trust in the event that the municipal obligation held in the trust has declined in value. Such agreements commit the Trust to reimburse the sponsor of such inverse floater, upon the termination of the trust issuing the inverse floater, the difference between the liquidation value of the underlying security (which is the basis of the inverse floater) and the principal amount due to the holders of the floating rate security issued in conjunction with the inverse floater. Such agreements may expose the Trust’s other assets to losses. Absent a shortfall and forebearance agreement, the Trust would not be required to make such a reimbursement. If the Trust chooses not to enter into such an agreement, the inverse floater could be terminated and the Trust could incur a loss. The Trust will segregate or ear mark liquid assets with its custodian on a mark-to-market basis to cover any obligations owed to the sponsor under any such agreement.

Interest Rate Swaps and Forward Rate Contracts

Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Trust with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest, e.g., an exchange of fixed rate payments for floating rate payments. The Trust will only enter into interest rate swaps on a net basis, i.e., the two payment streams are netted out with the Trust receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. The Trust may also enter forward rate contracts. Under these contracts, the buyer locks in an interest rate at a future settlement date. If the interest rate on the settlement date exceeds the lock rate, the buyer pays the seller the difference between the two rates. If the lock rate exceeds the interest rate on the settlement date, the seller pays the buyer the difference between the two rates. Any such gain received by the Trust would be taxable.

If the other party to an interest rate swap or forward rate contract defaults, the Trust’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that the Trust is contractually entitled to receive. The net amount of the excess, if any, of the Trust’s obligations over its entitlements will be maintained in a segregated account by the Trust’s custodian. The Trust will not enter into any interest rate swap or forward rate contract unless the claims-paying ability of the other party thereto is considered to be investment grade by the investment adviser. If there is a default by the other party to such a transaction, the Trust will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction. These instruments are traded in the over the counter market.

 

7


Table of Contents

Illiquid Obligations

At times, a substantial portion of the Trust’s assets may be invested in securities as to which the Trust, by itself or together with other accounts managed by the investment adviser and its affiliates, holds a major portion or all of such securities. Under adverse market or economic conditions or in the event of adverse changes in the financial condition of the issuer, the Trust could find it more difficult to sell such securities when the investment adviser believes it advisable to do so or may be able to sell such securities only at prices lower than if such securities were more widely held. Under such circumstances, it may also be more difficult to determine the fair value of such securities for purposes of computing the Trust’s net asset value. Illiquid securities may also include those legally restricted as to resale, and securities eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A thereunder. Rule 144A securities may be treated as liquid securities if the investment adviser determines that such treatment is warranted. Even if determined to be liquid, holdings of these securities may increase the level of Trust illiquidity if eligible buyers become uninterested in purchasing them.

The secondary market for some municipal obligations issued within a state (including issues which are privately placed with the Trust) is less liquid than that for taxable debt obligations or other more widely traded municipal obligations. No established resale market exists for certain of the municipal obligations in which the Trust may invest. The market for obligations rated below investment grade is also likely to be less liquid than the market for higher rated obligations. As a result, the Trust may be unable to dispose of these municipal obligations at times when it would otherwise wish to do so at the prices at which they are valued.

Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts

A change in the level of interest rates may affect the value of the securities held by the Trust (or of securities that the Trust expects to purchase). To hedge against changes in rates, the Trust may enter into (i) futures contracts for the purchase or sale of debt securities and (ii) futures contracts on securities indices. All futures contracts entered into by the Trust are traded on exchanges or boards of trade that are licensed and regulated by the CFTC and must be executed through a futures commission merchant or brokerage firm which is a member of the relevant exchange. The Trust may purchase and write call and put options on futures contracts which are traded on a United States exchange or board of trade. The Trust will be required, in connection with transactions in futures contracts and the writing of options on futures, to make margin deposits, which will be held by the futures commission merchant through whom the Trust engages in such futures and options transactions.

Some futures contracts and options thereon may become illiquid under adverse market conditions. In addition, during periods of market volatility, a commodity exchange may suspend or limit transactions in an exchange-traded instrument, which may make the instrument 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 Trust from closing out positions and limiting its losses.

The Trust will engage in futures and related options transactions for hedging purposes. The Trust will determine that the price fluctuations in the futures contracts and options on futures used for hedging purposes are substantially related to price fluctuations in securities held by the Trust or which it expects to purchase. The Trust will engage in transactions in futures and related options contracts only to the extent such transactions are consistent with the requirements of the Code, for maintaining qualification of the Trust as a regulated investment company for federal income tax purposes. The Trust has claimed an exclusion from the definition of a Commodity Pool Operator (“CPO”) under the Commodity Exchange Act and therefore is not subject to registration or regulation as a CPO.

Asset Coverage

To the extent required by SEC guidelines, the Trust will only engage in transactions that expose it to an obligation to another party if it owns either (1) an offsetting (“covered”) position for the same type of financial asset, or (2) cash or liquid securities, segregated with its custodian, with a value sufficient at all times to cover its potential obligations not covered as provided in (1). Assets used as cover or segregated with the custodian cannot be sold while the position(s) requiring cover is open unless replaced with other appropriate assets. As a result, if a large portion of assets is segregated or committed as cover, it could impede portfolio management.

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. These securities may be subject to federal income, state income and/or other taxes.

 

8


Table of Contents

Portfolio Turnover

The Trust may sell (and later purchase) securities in anticipation of a market decline (a rise in interest rates) or purchase (and later sell) securities in anticipation of a market rise (a decline in interest rates). Securities may also be purchased and sold based on their relative value in the marketplace. The Trust cannot accurately predict its portfolio turnover rate, but it is anticipated that the annual portfolio turnover rate will generally not exceed 100% (excluding turnover of securities having a maturity of one year or less). A 100% annual turnover rate could occur, for example, if all the securities held by the Trust were replaced once in a period of one year. A high turnover rate (100% or more) necessarily involves greater expenses to the Trust.

Diversified Status

The Trust is a “diversified” investment company under the 1940 Act. This means that with respect to 75% of its total assets (1) it may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of any one issuer (except U.S. Government obligations) and (2) it may not own more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer. With respect to no more than 25% of its total assets, investments are not subject to the foregoing restrictions.

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

The following investment restrictions of the Trust are designated as fundamental policies and as such cannot be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of the Trust’s outstanding voting securities, which as used in this SAI means the lesser of: (a) 67% of the shares of the Trust present or represented by proxy at a meeting if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares are present or represented at the meeting; or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Trust. As a matter of fundamental policy, the Trust may not:

 

  (1) Borrow money, except as permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”);

 

  (2) Issue senior securities, as defined in the 1940 Act, other than (i) preferred shares which immediately after issuance will have asset coverage of at least 200%, (ii) indebtedness which immediately after issuance will have asset coverage of at least 300%, or (iii) the borrowings permitted by investment restriction (1) above;

 

  (3) Purchase securities on margin (but the Trust 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 loans, loan interests, debt securities and other obligations in which the Trust 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 Trust 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 or other financial instruments;

 

  (8) 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).

 

  (9) With respect to 75% of its total assets, invest more than 5% of its total assets (taken at current value) in the securities of any one issuer, or invest in more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer, except obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities and except securities of other investment companies;

 

9


Table of Contents

For purposes of the Trust’s investment restrictions, the determination of the “issuer” of a municipal obligation which is not a general obligation bond will be made by the Adviser on the basis of the characteristics of the obligation and other relevant factors, the most significant of which is the source of funds committed to meeting interest and principal payments of such obligation.

The Trust 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 Trust securities. The 1940 Act currently requires that the Trust have 300% asset coverage with respect to all borrowings other than temporary borrowings.

In regard to restriction (5)(c), the value of the securities loaned by the Trust may not exceed 33 1/3% of its total assets.

For purposes of construing restriction (8), securities of the U.S. Government, its agencies, or instrumentalities are not considered to represent industries. Municipal obligations backed by the credit of a governmental entity are also not considered to represent industries. Furthermore, a large economic or market sector shall not be construed as a group of industries for purposes of this restriction.

The Trust has adopted the following nonfundamental investment policy which may be changed by the Trustees without approval of the Trust’s shareholders. As a matter of nonfundamental policy, the Trust 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 Board of Trustee approval, the Trust 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 asset or describes a policy regarding quality standards, such percentage limitation or standard shall be determined immediately after and as a result of the Trust’s acquisition of such security or asset. Accordingly, any later increase or decrease resulting from a change in values, assets or other circumstances will not compel the Trust to dispose of such security or other asset. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust must always be in compliance with the borrowing policies set forth above.

Trustees and officers

The Trustees of the Trust are responsible for the overall management and supervision of the affairs of the Trust. The Trustees and officers of the Trust are listed below. Except as indicated, each individual has held the office shown or other offices in the same company for the last five years. The “noninterested Trustees” consist of those Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust, as that term is defined under the 1940 Act. The business address of each Trustee and officer is Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110. As used in this SAI, “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. Each officer affiliated with Eaton Vance may hold a position with other Eaton Vance affiliates that is comparable to his or her position with Eaton Vance listed below.

 

10


Table of Contents

Name and Date of Birth

 

Position(s)

with the Trust

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Service

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

 

Number of

Portfolios in

Fund Complex
Overseen by
Trustee(1)

 

Other Directorships
Held

Interested Trustee          

Thomas E. Faust Jr.

5/31/58

 

Trustee and

President(2)

  Since 2009   Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of EVC, Director and President of EV, Chief Executive Officer and President of Eaton Vance and BMR, and Director of EVD. Trustee and/or officer of 175 registered investment companies and 4 private investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR. Mr. Faust is an interested person because of his positions with BMR, Eaton Vance, EVC, EVD and EV, which are affiliates of the Trust.   175   Director of EVC

Name and Date of Birth

 

Position(s)

with the Trust

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Service

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

 

Number of

Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Trustee(1)

 

Other Directorships
Held

Noninterested Trustees

         

Benjamin C. Etsy

1/2/63

  Trustee(2)   Since 2009   Roy and Elizabeth Simmons Professor of Business Administration, Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration.   175   None.

Allen R. Freedman

4/3/40

  Trustee(2)   Since 2009   Former Chairman (2002-2004) and a Director (1983-2004) of Systems & Computer Technology Corp. (provider of software to higher education). Formerly, a Director of Loring Ward International (fund distributor) (2005-2007). Formerly, Chairman and a Director of Indus International, Inc. (provider of enterprise management software to the power generating industry) (2005-2007).   175   Director of Assurant, Inc. (insurance provider), and Stonemor Partners L.P. (owner and operator of cemeteries)

William H. Park

9/19/47

  Trustee(3)   Since 2009   Vice Chairman, Commercial Industrial Finance Corp. (specialty finance company) (since 2006). Formerly, President and Chief Executive Officer, Prizm Capital Management, LLC (investment management firm) (2002-2005).   175   None.

Ronald R. Pearlman

7/10/40

  Trustee(3)   Since 2009   Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center.   175   None.

 

11


Table of Contents

Name and Date of Birth

 

Position(s)

with the Trust

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Service

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

 

Number of

Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Trustee(1)

 

Other Directorships
Held

Heidi L. Steiger

7/8/53

  Trustee(3)   Since 2009   Managing Partner, Topridge Associates LLC (global wealth management firm) (since 2008); Senior Adviser (since 2008), President (2005-2008), Lowenhaupt Global Advisors, LLC (global wealth management firm). Formerly, President and Contributing Editor, Worth Magazine (2004-2005). Formerly, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Private Asset Management (and various other positions), Neuberger Berman (investment firm) (1986-2004).   175   Director of Nuclear Electric Insurance Ltd. (nuclear insurance provider) and Aviva USA (insurance provider)

Lynn A. Stout

9/14/57

  Trustee(4)   Since 2009   Paul Hastings Professor of Corporate and Securities Law (since 2006) and Professor of Law (2001-2006), University of California at Los Angeles School of Law.   175   None.

Ralph F. Verni

1/26/43

  Trustee(4)   Since 2009   Consultant and private investor.   175   None.

 

(1) Includes both Master and Feeder Funds in Master-Feeder Structure.
(2) Class I Trustees whose term expires in 2010.
(3) Class II Trustees whose term expires in 2011.
(4) Class III Trustees whose term expires in 2012.

 

12


Table of Contents

PRINCIPAL OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT TRUSTEES

 

Name and Date of Birth

 

Position(s)

with the Fund

 

Term of Office

and Length

of Service

 

Principal Occupations During Past Five Years

Cynthia Clemson

3/2/63

  President and Principal Executive Officer   Since 2009   Vice President of Eaton Vance and BMR. Officer of 92 registered investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR.

Robert B. MacIntosh

1/22/57

  Vice President   Since 2009   Vice President of Eaton Vance and BMR. Officer of 92 registered investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR.

Thomas M. Metzold

8/3/58

  Vice President   Since 2009   Vice President of Eaton Vance and BMR. Officer of 46 registered investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR.

Barbara E. Campbell

6/19/57

  Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer   Since 2009   Vice President of Eaton Vance and BMR. Officer of 175 registered investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR.

Maureen A. Gemma

5/24/60

  Secretary and Chief Legal Officer   Since 2009   Vice President of Eaton Vance and BMR. Officer of 175 registered investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR.

Paul M. O’Neil

7/11/53

  Chief Compliance Officer   Since 2009   Vice President of Eaton Vance and BMR. Officer of 175 registered investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR.

The Board of Trustees of the Trust have several standing Committees, including the Governance Committee, the Audit Committee, the Portfolio Management Committee, the Compliance Reports and Regulatory Matters Committee and the Contract Review Committee (formerly, the Special Committee). Each of the Committees is comprised of only noninterested Trustees.

Mmes. Stout (Chair), Peters and Steiger and Messrs Esty, Freedman, Park, Pearlman and Verni are members of the Governance Committee. The purpose of the Governance Committee is to consider, evaluate and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees with respect to the structure, membership and operation of the Board of Trustees and the Committees thereof, including the nomination and selection of noninterested Trustees and a Chairperson of the Board of Trustees and the compensation of such persons. As of the date of this SAI the Governance Committee has not met.

The Governance Committee will, when a vacancy exists or is anticipated, consider any nominee for noninterested Trustee recommended by a shareholder if such recommendation is submitted in writing to the Governance Committee, contains sufficient background information concerning the candidate, including evidence the candidate is willing to serve as a noninterested Trustee if selected for the position, and is received in a sufficiently timely manner.

Messrs. Park (Chair) and Verni and Mmes. Steiger and Stout are members of the Audit Committee. The Board of Trustees has designated Mr. Park, a noninterested Trustee, as audit committee financial expert. The Audit Committee’s purposes are to (i) oversee the Trust’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 Trust’s financial statements and the independent audit thereof; (iii) oversee, or, as appropriate, assist Board oversight of, the Trust’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements that relate to the Trust’s accounting and financial reporting, internal control over financial reporting and independent audits; (iv) approve prior to appointment the engagement and, when appropriate,

 

13


Table of Contents

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 Trust; (v) evaluate the qualifications, independence and performance of the independent registered public accounting firm and the audit partner in charge of leading the audit; and (vi) prepare, as necessary, audit committee reports consistent with the requirements of applicable SEC and stock exchange rules for inclusion in the proxy statement of a Trust. As of the date of this SAI the Audit Committee has not met.

Messrs. Verni (Chair), Esty, Freedman, Park and Pearlman and Ms. Peters are currently members of the Contract Review Committee. The purposes of the Contract Review Committee are to consider, evaluate and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees concerning the following matters: (i) contractual arrangements with each service provider to the Trust, including advisory and administrative services, transfer agency, custodial services and fund accounting, and distribution services; (ii) any and all other matters in which any service provider (including Eaton Vance or any affiliated entity thereof) has an actual or potential conflict of interest with the interests of the Trust, or investors therein; and (iii) any other matter appropriate for review by the noninterested Trustees, unless the matter is within the responsibilities of the other Committees of the Board of Trustees. As of the date of this SAI the Contract Review Committee has met one time.

Messrs. Esty (Chair) and Freedman and Ms. Peters are currently members of the Portfolio Management Committee. The purposes of the Portfolio Management Committee are to: (i) assist the Board of Trustees in its oversight of the portfolio management process employed by the Trust and its investment adviser relative to the Trust’s stated objective(s), strategies and restrictions; (ii) assist the Board of Trustees in its oversight of the trading policies and procedures and risk management techniques applicable to the Trust; and (iii) assist the Board of Trustees in its monitoring of the performance results of the Trust. As of the date of this SAI the Portfolio Management Committee has met one time.

Mr. Pearlman (Chair) and Mmes. Steiger and Stout are currently members of the Compliance Reports and Regulatory Matters Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Trust. The purposes of the Compliance Reports and Regulatory Matters Committee are to: (i) assist the Board of Trustees in its oversight role with respect to compliance issues and certain other regulatory matters affecting the Trust; (ii) serve as a liaison between the Board of Trustees and the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (the “CCO”); and (iii) serve as a “qualified legal compliance committee” within the rules promulgated by the SEC. As of the date of this SAI the Compliance Reports and Regulatory Matters Committee has not met.

SHARE OWNERSHIP

The following table shows the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each Trustee in the Trust and all Eaton Vance funds overseen by the Trustee as of December 31, 2008.

 

Name of Trustee

   Dollar Range of
Equity Securities
Owned in the Trust
   Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity
Securities Owned in All Registered
Funds Overseen by Trustee in the
Eaton Vance Fund Complex

Interested Trustees

     

Thomas E. Faust Jr.

   None    Over $100,000

Noninterested Trustees

     

Benjamin C. Esty

   None    Over $100,000

Allen R. Freedman

   None    Over $100,000

William H. Park

   None    Over $100,000*

Ronald A. Pearlman

   None    Over $100,000

Helen F. Peters

   None    None

Heidi L. Steiger

   None    None

Lynn A. Stout

   None    Over $100,000*

Ralph F. Verni

   None    Over $100,000*

 

* Includes shares which may be deemed to be beneficially owned through the Trustee Deferred Compensation Plan.

As of December 31, 2008, no noninterested Trustee or any of their immediate family members owned beneficially or of record any class of securities of EVC, EVD, or any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC, EVD.

 

14


Table of Contents

During the calendar years ended December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2008, no noninterested Trustee (or their immediate family members) had:

 

1. Any direct or indirect interest in Eaton Vance, EVC, EVD, or any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC, EVD;

 

2. Any direct or indirect material interest in any transaction or series of similar transactions with (i) the Trust; (ii) another fund managed by EVC, distributed by EVD or a person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC, EVD, (iii) EVC, EVD, (iv) a person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC, EVD; or (v) an officer of any of the above; or

 

3. Any direct or indirect relationship with (i) the Trust; (ii) another fund managed by EVC, distributed by EVD or a person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC, EVD, (iii) EVC, EVD, or; (iv) a person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC, EVD; or (v) an officer of any of the above.

During the calendar years ended December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2008 no officer of EVC, EVD, or any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC, EVD, served on the Board of Directors of a company where a noninterested Trustee of the Trust or any of their immediate family members served as an officer.

Trustees of the Trust 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 or her deferred fees invested by the Trust 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 Trust’s assets, liabilities, and net income per share, and will not obligate the Trust to retain the services of any Trustee or obligate the Trust to pay any particular level of compensation to the Trustee. The Trust does not have a retirement plan for its Trustees.

The fees and expenses of the Trustees of the Trust are paid by the Trust. (Trustees of the Trust who are members of the Eaton Vance organization receive no compensation from the Trust.) During the Trust’s fiscal year ending March 31, 2010, 2009, it is anticipated that the Trustees of the Trust will earn the following compensation in their capacities as Trustees of the Trust. For the year ended December 31, 2008, the Trustees earned the following compensation in their capacities as Trustees of the funds in the Eaton Vance fund complex(1).

 

Source of Compensation of Noninterested Trustees

  Benjamin C.
Esty
  Allen R.
Freedman
  William H.
Park
    Ronald A.
Pearlman
  Helen F.
Peters
  Heidi L.
Steiger
  Lynn A.
Stout
    Ralph F.
Verni
 

Fund

  $ 891   $ 813   $ 891     $ 891   $ 813   $ 813   $ 891     $ 1,259  

Fund Complex(1)

  $ 212,500   $ 204,167   $ 209,167 (2)   $ 212,500   $ 204,167   $ 204,167   $ 224,167 (3)   $ 319,167 (4)

 

(1) As of May 1, 2009, the Eaton Vance fund complex consisted of 173 registered investment companies or series thereof.
(2) Includes $80,000 of deferred compensation
(3) Includes $45,000 of deferred compensation
(4) Includes $157,500 of deferred compensation

PROXY VOTING POLICY

The Trust is subject to the Eaton Vance Funds Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures, 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”). The Trustees will review the Trust’s proxy voting records from time to time and will annually consider approving the Policies for the upcoming year. An independent proxy voting service has been retained to assist in the voting of the Trust proxies through the provision of vote analysis, implementation and recordkeeping and disclosure services. In the event that a conflict of interest arises between the Trust’s shareholders and the Adviser or any of its affiliates or any affiliate of the Trust, 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 Trust, except as contemplated under the Trust Policy. The Board’s Special Committee will instruct the Adviser on the appropriate course of action. The Trust’s and the Adviser’s Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures are attached as Appendix B to this SAI.

 

15


Table of Contents

Information on how the Trust voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-262-1122, and (2)  on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

Investment advisory and other services

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 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. 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, including corporations, hospitals, retirement plans, universities, foundations and trusts.

The Trust will be responsible for all of its costs and expenses not expressly stated to be payable by Eaton Vance under the Investment Advisory and Administrative Agreement. Such costs and expenses to be borne by the Trust 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 Trust shares; and investment advisory and administration fees. The Trust will also bear expenses incurred in connection with any litigation in which the Trust is a party and any legal obligation to indemnify its officers and Trustees with respect thereto, to the extent not covered by insurance.

The Investment Advisory and Administrative Agreement with the Adviser continues in effect to April 16, 2011 and from year to year thereafter so long as such continuance is approved at least annually (i) by the vote of a majority of the noninterested Trustees of the Trust or of the Adviser, such vote being cast in person at a meeting specifically called for the purpose of voting on such approval and (ii) by the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Trust. The Agreement may be terminated at any time without penalty on sixty (60) days’ written notice by the Trustees of the Trust or Eaton Vance, as applicable, or by vote of the majority of the outstanding shares of the Trust. The Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment. The Agreement provides that, in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations or duties to the Trust under such agreements on the part of Eaton Vance, Eaton Vance shall not be liable to the Trust for any loss incurred, to the extent not covered by insurance.

Pursuant to an investment advisory and administrative agreement (“Advisory Agreement”) between the Adviser and the Trust, the Trust has agreed to pay the Adviser as compensation under the Advisory Agreement a fee for investment advisory services in the amount of 0.60% of the Trust’s average daily gross assets up to and including $1.5 billion, and 0.59% of the Trust’s average daily gross assets in excess of $1.5 billion. Accordingly, assuming that the Trust employs leverage up to the maximum of 15% of gross assets, the effective advisory fee borne by Common Shareholders would increase from 0.60% to 0.71% based on assets of $150 million. 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 of debt securities or through the purchase of residual interest bonds), (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; all as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principals. In approving the Fund’s Investment Advisory and Administrative Services Agreement, the Board considered that the fee payable to the Adviser is determined based on the gross assets of the Fund, including assets acquired through the use of leverage and, therefore, that the fees payable to the Advisor will increase with the use of leverage. In connection with the Board’s annual review of the Fund’s Investment Advisory and Administrative Services Agreement, the Board will consider the Fund’s use of leverage, including through the investment in residual interest bonds, and the conflicts of interest that arise from these activities.

Eaton Vance is a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. EV serves as trustee of Eaton Vance. Eaton Vance and EV are wholly-owned 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

 

16


Table of Contents

Directors of EVC are Thomas E. Faust Jr., Ann E. Berman, Leo I. Higdon, Jr., Dorothy E. Puhy, Duncan W. Richardson and Winthrop H. Smith, Jr. All shares of the outstanding Voting Common Stock of EVC are deposited in a Voting Trust, the Voting Trustees of which are Messrs. Faust and Richardson, Jeffrey P. Beale, Cynthia J. Clemson, Maureen A. Gemma, Lisa Jones, Brian D. Langstraat, Michael R. Mach, Robert B. Macintosh, Frederick S. Marius, Thomas M. Metzold, Scott H. Page, Walter P. Row, III, G. West Saltonstall, Judith A. Saryan, David M. Stein, Payson F. Swaffield, Walter Row, Mark Venezia, Michael W. Weilheimer, Robert J. Whelan and Matthew J. Wittkas (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 and Eaton Vance and its affiliates 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 hold positions in the Eaton Vance organization.

Portfolio Managers

The portfolio managers of the Trust are Cynthia Clemson and Thomas Metzold. Ms. Clemson and Mr. Metzold manage other investment companies and/or investment accounts in addition to the Trust. The following table shows, as of March 31, 2009, the number of accounts each portfolio manager managed in each of the listed categories and the total assets in the accounts managed within each category. The table also shows the number of accounts with respect to which the advisory fee is based on the performance of the account, if any, and the total assets in those accounts.

 

     Number
of
accounts
   Total assets of
accounts*
   Number of
accounts
paying a
performance
fee
   Total assets
of accounts
paying a
performance
fee*

Cynthia Clemson

           

Registered Investment Companies

   8    $ 2,218.5    0    $ 0

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

   0    $ 0    0    $ 0

Other Accounts

   0    $ 0    0    $ 0

Thomas M. Metzold

           

Registered Investment Companies

   7    $ 6,357.7    0    $ 0

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

   0    $ 0    0    $ 0

Other Accounts

   0    $ 0    0    $ 0

 

* In millions of dollars.
** For registered investment companies, assets represent net assets of all open-end investment companies and gross assets of all closed-end investment companies.

None of the portfolio managers beneficially owned shares of the Trust as of the date of this SAI. As of December 31, 2008, Cynthia Clemson and Thomas Metzold each beneficially owned over $100,000, of funds in the Eaton Vance Fund Complex.

It is possible that conflicts of interest may arise in connection with the portfolio managers’ management of the Trust’s investments on the one hand and the investments of other accounts for which the Trust manager is responsible for on the other. For example, a portfolio manager may have conflicts of interest in allocating management time, resources and investment opportunities among the Trust and other accounts he or she advises. In addition due to differences in the investment strategies or restrictions between the Trust and the other accounts, a portfolio manager may take action with respect to another account that differs from the action taken with respect to the Trust. In some cases, another account managed by a portfolio manager may compensate the investment adviser based on the performance of the securities held by that account. The existence of such a performance based fee may create additional conflicts of interest for the portfolio manager in the allocation of management time, resources and investment opportunities. Whenever conflicts of interest arise, the portfolio manager will endeavor to exercise his or her discretion in a manner that he or she believes is equitable to all interested persons.

Compensation Structure of Eaton Vance. Compensation of the Adviser’s portfolio managers and other investment professionals has three primary components: (1) a base salary, (2) an annual cash bonus, and (3) annual stock-based compensation consisting of options to purchase shares of EVC’s nonvoting common stock and/or restricted shares of EVC’s nonvoting common stock. The Adviser’s investment professionals also receive certain retirement, insurance and other benefits that are broadly available to all the Adviser’s employees. Compensation of the Adviser’s investment professionals is reviewed primarily on an annual basis. Cash bonuses, stock-based compensation awards, and adjustments in base salary are typically paid or put into effect at or shortly after the October 31st fiscal year-end of EVC.

 

17


Table of Contents

Method to Determine Compensation. The Adviser compensates its portfolio managers based primarily on the scale and complexity of their portfolio responsibilities and the total return performance of managed funds and accounts versus appropriate peer groups or benchmarks. In addition to rankings within peer groups of funds on the basis of absolute performance, consideration may also be given to relative risk-adjusted performance. Risk-adjusted performance measures include, but are not limited to, the Sharpe Ratio. Performance is normally based on periods ending on the September 30th preceding fiscal year end. Fund performance is normally evaluated primarily versus peer groups of funds as determined by Lipper Inc. and/or Morningstar, Inc. When a fund’s peer group as determined by Lipper or Morningstar is deemed by the investment adviser’s management not to provide a fair comparison, performance may instead be evaluated primarily against a custom peer group. In evaluating the performance of a fund and its manager, primary emphasis is normally placed on three-year performance, with secondary consideration of performance over longer and shorter periods. For funds that are tax-managed or otherwise have an objective of after-tax returns, performance is measured net of taxes. For other funds, performance is evaluated on a pre-tax basis. For funds with an investment objective other than total return (such as current income), consideration will also be given to the fund’s success in achieving its objective. For managers responsible for multiple funds and accounts, investment performance is evaluated on an aggregate basis, based on averages or weighted averages among managed funds and accounts. Funds and accounts that have performance-based advisory fees are not accorded disproportionate weightings in measuring aggregate portfolio manager performance.

The compensation of portfolio managers with other job responsibilities (such as heading an investment group or providing analytical support to other portfolios) will include consideration of the scope of such responsibilities and the managers’ performance in meeting them.

The Adviser seeks to compensate portfolio managers commensurate with their responsibilities and performance, and competitive with other firms within the investment management industry. The Adviser participates in investment-industry compensation surveys and utilizes survey data as a factor in determining salary, bonus and stock-based compensation levels for portfolio managers and other investment professionals. Salaries, bonuses and stock-based compensation are also influenced by the operating performance of the Adviser and its parent company. The overall annual cash bonus pool is based on a substantially fixed percentage of pre-bonus operating income. While the salaries of the Adviser’s portfolio managers are comparatively fixed, cash bonuses and stock-based compensation may fluctuate significantly from year to year, based on changes in manager performance and other factors as described herein. For a high performing portfolio manager, cash bonuses and stock-based compensation may represent a substantial portion of total compensation.

CODE OF ETHICS

The Adviser and the Trust have adopted a Code of Ethics governing personal securities transactions. Under the Code of Ethics, Eaton Vance employees may purchase and sell securities (including securities held or eligible for purchase by the Trust) subject to certain pre-clearance and reporting requirements and other procedures.

The Code 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 to 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 Trust’s Board of Trustees, Eaton Vance will carry out the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Trust, will furnish continuously an investment program with respect to the Trust, will determine which securities should be purchased, sold or exchanged, and will implement such determinations. Eaton Vance will furnish to the Trust investment advice and provide related office facilities and personnel for servicing the investments of the Trust. Eaton Vance will compensate all Trustees and officers of the Trust who are members of the Eaton Vance organization and who render investment services to the Trust, and will also compensate all other Eaton Vance personnel who provide research and investment services to the Trust.

 

18


Table of Contents

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

Under the Investment Advisory and Administrative Agreement, Eaton Vance is responsible for managing the business affairs of the Trust, subject to the supervision of the Trust’s Board of Trustees. Eaton Vance will furnish to the Trust all office facilities, equipment and personnel for administering the affairs of the Trust. Eaton Vance will compensate all Trustees and officers of the Trust who are members of the Eaton Vance organization and who render executive and administrative services to the Trust, and will also compensate all other Eaton Vance personnel who perform management and administrative services for the Trust. 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 Trust’s custodian and transfer agent, providing assistance in connection with the Trustees and shareholders’ meetings, providing services in connection with quarterly repurchase offers and other administrative services necessary to conduct the Trust’s business.

Portfolio trading

Decisions concerning the execution of portfolio security transactions, including the selection of the market and the broker-dealer firm, are made by Eaton Vance, the Trust’s investment adviser. The Trust is responsible for the expenses associated with its portfolio transactions. The investment adviser is also responsible for the execution of transactions for all other accounts managed by it. The investment adviser places the portfolio security transactions for execution with one or more broker-dealer firms. The investment adviser uses its best efforts to obtain execution of portfolio security transactions at prices which in the investment adviser’s judgment are advantageous to the Trust and at a reasonably competitive spread or (when a disclosed commission is being charged) at reasonably competitive commission rates. In seeking such execution, the investment adviser will use its best judgment in evaluating the terms of a transaction, and will give consideration to various relevant factors, including without limitation the full range and quality of the broker-dealer firm’s services including the responsiveness of the firm to the investment adviser, the size and type of the transaction, the nature and character of the market for the security, the confidentiality, speed and certainty of effective execution required for the transaction, the general execution and operational capabilities of the broker-dealer firm, the reputation, reliability, experience and financial condition of the firm, the value and quality of the services rendered by the firm in other transactions, and the reasonableness of the spread or commission, if any. In addition, the investment adviser may consider the receipt of Proprietary Research Services (as defined below), provided it does not compromise the investment adviser’s obligation to seek best overall execution for the Trust. The investment adviser may engage in portfolio brokerage transactions with a broker-dealer firm that sells shares of Eaton Vance funds, provided such transactions are not directed to that firm as compensation for the promotion or sale of such shares.

Municipal obligations, including state obligations, purchased and sold by the Trust are generally traded in the over-the-counter market on a net basis (i.e., without commission) through broker-dealers and banks acting for their own account rather than as brokers, or otherwise involve transactions directly with the issuer of such obligations. Such firms attempt to profit from such transactions by buying at the bid price and selling at the higher asked price of the market for such obligations, and the difference between the bid and asked price is customarily referred to as the spread. The Trust may also purchase municipal obligations from underwriters, and dealers in fixed-price offerings, the cost of which may include undisclosed fees and concessions to the underwriters. On occasion it may be necessary or appropriate to purchase or sell a security through a broker on an agency basis, in which case the Trust will incur a brokerage commission. Although spreads or commissions paid on portfolio security transactions will, in the judgment of the investment adviser, be reasonable in relation to the value of the services provided, spreads or commissions exceeding those which another firm might charge may be paid to broker-dealers who were selected to execute transactions on behalf of the Trust and the investment adviser’s other clients in part for providing brokerage and research services to the investment adviser.

Pursuant to the safe harbor provided in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, a broker or dealer who executes a portfolio transaction on behalf of the investment adviser client may receive a commission that is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if the investment adviser determines in good faith that such compensation was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided. This determination may be made either on the basis of either that particular transaction or on the basis of overall responsibilities which the investment 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. The investment adviser may also receive Research Services from underwriters and dealers in fixed-price offerings.

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

 

19


Table of Contents

which assist such advisers in the performance of their investment responsibilities (“Research Services”) from broker-dealer firms that execute portfolio transactions for the clients of such advisers and from affiliates of executing broker-dealers. Investment 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 arrangement involving transactions in municipal obligations, an executing broker-dealer enters into an arrangement with an investment adviser pursuant to which the investment adviser receives a credit for portfolio transactions executed for its clients through that broker-dealer. These credits are referred to herein as “research credits” and are primarily generated as the result of acquisitions of new issuances of municipal obligations in fixed-price offerings. The amount of the research credit generated as the result of a particular transaction is typically a negotiated percentage of the offering price of the municipal obligations. The investment adviser may use research credits to acquire Third Party Research Services, which are then paid for by the executing broker-dealer. The investment adviser may receive Research Services and Third Party Research Services consistent with the foregoing.

Research Services received by the investment adviser may include, but are not limited to, such matters as general economic, political, business and market information, industry and company reviews, evaluations of securities and portfolio strategies and transactions, technical analysis of various aspects of the securities markets, recommendations as to the purchase and sale of securities and other portfolio transactions, certain financial, industry and trade publications, certain news and information services, and certain research oriented computer software, data bases and services. Any particular Research Service obtained through a broker-dealer may be used by the investment adviser in connection with client accounts other than those accounts which pay commissions to such broker-dealer. Any such Research Service may be broadly useful and of value to the investment adviser in rendering investment advisory services to all or a significant portion of its clients, or may be relevant and useful for the management of only one client’s account or of a few clients’ accounts, or may be useful for the management of merely a segment of certain clients’ accounts, regardless of whether any such account or accounts paid commissions to the broker-dealer through which such Research Service was obtained. The investment adviser evaluates the nature and quality of the various Research Services obtained through broker-dealer firms and may attempt to allocate sufficient portfolio security transactions to such firms to ensure the continued receipt of Research Services which the investment adviser believes are useful or of value to it in rendering investment advisory services to its clients.

To the extent the investment adviser uses research credits generated from the Trust securities transactions to pay for Third Party Research Services (as described above), the investment adviser has agreed to reduce the advisory fee payable by the Trust by the amount of such research credits. However, the investment adviser generally does not expect to acquire Third Party Research Services with research credits but may do so in the future.

Some 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 Trust will not be reduced in connection with the receipt of Proprietary Research Services by the investment adviser.

The investment companies sponsored by the investment 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 investment adviser, to such companies. Such companies may also pay cash for such information.

Securities considered as investments for the Trust may also be appropriate for other investment accounts managed by the investment adviser or its affiliates. Whenever decisions are made to buy or sell securities by the Trust and one or more of such other accounts simultaneously, the investment adviser will allocate the security transactions (including “new” issues) in a manner which it believes to be equitable under the circumstances. As a result of such allocations, there may be instances where the Trust will not participate in a transaction that is allocated among other accounts. If an aggregated order cannot be filled completely, allocations will generally be made on a pro rata basis. An order may not be allocated on a pro rata basis where, for example: (i) consideration is given to portfolio managers who have been instrumental in developing or negotiating a particular investment; (ii) consideration is given to an account with specialized investment policies that coincide with the particulars of a specific investment; (iii) pro rata allocation would result in odd-lot or de minimis amounts being allocated to a portfolio or other client; or (iv) where the investment adviser reasonably determines that departure from a pro rata allocation is advisable. While these aggregation and allocation policies could have a detrimental effect on the price or amount of the securities available to the Trust from time to time, it is the opinion of the Trustees of the Trust that the benefits from the investment adviser organization outweigh any disadvantage that may arise from exposure to simultaneous transactions.

 

20


Table of Contents

Taxes

The following discussion of federal income tax matters is based on the advice of K&L Gates LLP, counsel to the Trust.

The Trust intends to elect to be treated and intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Accordingly, the Trust intends to satisfy certain requirements relating to sources of its income and diversification of its assets and to distribute substantially all of its net investment income (including tax-exempt income) and net short-term and long-term capital gains (after reduction by any available capital loss carryforwards) in accordance with the timing requirements imposed by the Code, so as to maintain its RIC status and to avoid paying any federal income tax. If the Trust qualifies for treatment as a RIC and satisfies the above-mentioned distribution requirements, it will not be subject to federal income tax on income paid to its shareholders in the form of dividends or capital gain distributions. If the Trust retains any net capital gain or investment company taxable income, it will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained. If the Trust retains any net capital gain, it may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its shareholders who, if subject to federal income tax on long-term capital gains, (i) will be required to include in income for federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their share of such undistributed amount; (ii) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the tax paid by the Trust on such undistributed amount against their federal income tax liabilities, if any; and (iii) will be entitled to claim refunds to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. For federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of shares owned by a shareholder of the Trust will be increased by an amount equal to the difference between the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder’s gross income and the tax deemed paid by the shareholder under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence. The Trust also seeks to avoid payment of federal excise tax. However, if the Trust fails to distribute in a calendar year substantially all of its ordinary income for such year and substantially all of its capital gain net income for the one-year period ending October 31 (or later if the Trust is permitted so to elect and so elects), plus any retained amount from the prior year, the Trust will be subject to a 4% excise tax on the undistributed amounts.

In order to avoid incurring a federal excise tax obligation, the Code requires that the Trust distribute (or be deemed to have distributed) by December 31 of each calendar year (i) at least 98% of its ordinary income (not including tax-exempt income) for such year, (ii) at least 98% of its capital gain net income (which is the excess of its realized capital gains over its realized capital losses), generally computed on the basis of the one-year period ending on October 31 of such year, after reduction by any available capital loss carryforwards and (iii) 100% of any income and capital gains from the prior year (as previously computed) that was not paid out during such year and on which the Trust paid no federal income tax. If the Trust fails to meet these requirements it will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax on the undistributed amounts. Under current law, provided that the Trust qualifies as a RIC for federal tax purposes, the Trust should not be liable for any income, corporate excise or franchise tax in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

If the Trust does not qualify as a RIC for any taxable year, the Trust’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. However, such distributions will be eligible (i) to be treated as qualified dividend income in the case of shareholders taxed as individuals and (ii) for the dividends received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders. In addition, in order to requalify for taxation as a RIC, the Trust may be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make substantial distributions.

The Trust’s investment in zero coupon 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 Trust and, in order to avoid a tax payable by the Trust, the Trust may be required to liquidate securities that it might otherwise have continued to hold in order to generate cash so that the Trust may make required distributions to its shareholders.

The Trust may invest to a significant extent in debt obligations that are in the lowest rating categories or are unrated, including debt obligations of issuers not currently paying interest or who are in default. Investments in debt obligations that are at risk of or in default present special tax issues for the Trust. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as when the Trust may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount or market discount, when and to what extent deductions may be taken for bad debts or worthless securities and how payments received on obligations in default should be allocated between principal and income.

Distributions by the Trust of net tax-exempt interest income that are properly designated as “exempt-interest dividends” may be treated by shareholders as interest excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes under Section 103(a) of the Code. In order for the Trust to be entitled to pay the tax-exempt interest income as exempt-interest dividends to its shareholders, the Trust must

 

21


Table of Contents

and intends to satisfy certain requirements, including the requirement that, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, at least 50% of the value of its total assets consists of obligations the interest on which is exempt from regular federal income tax under Code Section 103(a).

Federal income tax law imposes an alternative minimum tax with respect to corporations, individuals, trusts and estates. Interest on certain “private activity” bonds is included as an item of tax preference in determining the amount of a taxpayer’s alternative minimum taxable income. The Trust may invest in municipal obligations subject to the alternative minimum tax. To the extent that the Trust receives income from municipal securities subject to the federal alternative minimum tax, a portion of the dividends paid by the Trust, although otherwise exempt from federal income tax, would be taxable to its shareholders to the extent that their tax liability is determined under the federal alternative minimum tax. The Trust will annually provide a report indicating the percentage of the Trust’s income attributable to municipal securities subject to the federal alternative minimum tax. In addition, for certain corporations, federal alternative minimum taxable income is increased by 75% of the difference between an alternative measure of income (“adjusted current earnings”) and the amount otherwise determined to be the alternative minimum taxable income. Interest on all municipal securities, and therefore a distribution by the Trust that would otherwise be tax-exempt, is included in calculating a corporation’s adjusted current earnings. Certain small corporations are not subject to the federal alternative minimum tax. For both individual and corporate taxpayers, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides an exemption from the federal alternative minimum tax for interest on certain private activity bonds that are issued after December 31, 2008 and before January 1, 2011, including refunding bonds issued during that period to refund bonds originally issued after December 31, 2003 and before January 1, 2009.

Tax-exempt distributions received from the Trust are taken into account in determining, and may increase, the portion of social security and certain railroad retirement benefits that may be subject to federal income tax.

Interest on indebtedness incurred or continued by a shareholder to purchase or carry shares of the Trust is not deductible to the extent it is deemed related to the Trust’s distributions of tax-exempt interest. Further, entities or persons who are “substantial users” (or persons related to “substantial users”) of facilities financed by industrial development or private activity bonds should consult their tax advisers before purchasing shares of the Trust. “Substantial user” is defined in applicable Treasury regulations to include a “non-exempt person” who regularly uses in its trade or business a part of a facility financed from the proceeds of industrial development bonds, and the same definition should apply in the case of private activity bonds.

For taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2010, distributions of investment income designated by the Trust as derived from “qualified dividend income” will be taxed in the hands of individual shareholders at the rates applicable to long-term capital gains, provided holding period and other requirements are met at both the shareholder and Trust level. It is not expected a significant portion of Trust distributions would be derived from qualified dividend income.

Any recognized gain or income attributable to market discount on any long term-debt obligations (i.e., obligations with a term of more than one year) including long-term tax-exempt municipal obligations purchased after April 30, 1993 (except to the extent of a portion of the discount attributable to original issue discount), is taxable as ordinary income. A long-term debt obligation is generally treated as acquired at a market discount if purchased after its original issue at a price less than (i) the stated principal amount payable at maturity, in the case of an obligation that does not have original issue discount or (ii) in the case of an obligation that does have original issue discount, the sum of the issue price and any original issue discount that accrued before the obligation was purchased, subject to a de minimis exclusion. In addition, the Trust will be required to defer deduction of all or a portion of the interest on indebtedness incurred or maintained to acquire or carry the market discount bond. If the Trust is required under the market discount rules of the Code to defer deduction of all or a portion of the interest on indebtedness incurred or maintained to acquire or carry the market discount bond, then the Trust will be allowed to deduct such interest, in whole or in part, on disposition of such market discount bond.

From time to time proposals have been introduced before Congress for the purpose of restricting or eliminating the federal income tax exemption for interest on certain types of municipal obligations, and it can be expected that similar proposals may be introduced in the future. Under federal tax legislation enacted in 1986, the federal income tax exemption for interest on certain municipal obligations was eliminated or restricted. As a result of any such future legislation, the availability of municipal obligations for investment by the Trust and the value of the securities held by it may be affected.

It is possible that events occurring after the date of issuance of municipal obligations, or after a Trust’s acquisition of such an obligation, may result in a determination that the interest paid on that obligation is taxable, even retroactively. In the course of managing its investments, the Trust may realize some short-term and long-term capital gains (and/or losses) as well as other taxable

 

22


Table of Contents

income. Any distributions by the Trust of its share of such capital gains (after reduction by any capital loss carryforwards) or other taxable income would be taxable to shareholders of the Trust. However, it is expected that such amounts, if any, would normally be insubstantial in relation to the tax-exempt interest earned by the Trust.

The Trust’s investments in options, futures contracts, hedging transactions, forward contracts (to the extent permitted) and certain other transactions will be subject to special tax rules (including mark-to-market, constructive sale, straddle, wash sale, short sale and other rules), the effect of which may be to accelerate income to the Trust, defer Trust losses, cause adjustments in the holding periods of Trust securities, convert capital gain into ordinary income and convert short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to investors.

As a result of entering into swap contracts, the Trust may make or receive periodic net payments. The Trust may also make or receive a payment when a swap is terminated prior to maturity through an assignment of the swap or other closing transaction. Periodic net payments will generally constitute ordinary income or deductions, while termination of a swap will generally result in capital gain or loss (which will be a long-term capital gain or loss if the Trust has been a party to a swap for more than one year). With respect to certain types of swaps, the Trust may be required to currently recognize income or loss with respect to future payments on such swaps or may elect under certain circumstances to mark such swaps to market annually for tax purposes as ordinary income or loss. The tax treatment of many types of credit default swaps is uncertain.

Selling shareholders will generally recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in the shares and the amount received. If the shares are held as a capital asset, the gain or loss will be a capital gain or loss. For individuals and non-corporate taxpayers, short-term capital gain is currently taxed at rates applicable to ordinary income (currently at a maximum of 35%) while long-term capital gain generally is taxed at a maximum rate of 15%. Current law taxes both long-term and short-term capital gain of corporations at the rates applicable to ordinary income (currently at a maximum of 35%).

Any loss realized upon the sale or exchange of Trust shares with a tax holding period of six months or less will be disallowed to the extent of any distributions treated as tax-exempt interest with respect to such shares and if the loss exceeds the disallowed amount, will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any distributions treated as long-term capital gain with respect to such shares. In addition, all or a portion of a loss realized on a redemption or other disposition of Trust shares may be disallowed under “wash sale” rules to the extent the shareholder acquired other shares of the same Trust (whether through the reinvestment of distributions or otherwise) within the period beginning 30 days before the redemption of the loss shares and ending 30 days after such date. Any disallowed loss will result in an adjustment to the shareholder’s tax basis in some or all of the other shares acquired.

Sales charges paid upon a purchase of shares subject to a front-end sales charge cannot be taken into account for purposes of determining gain or loss on a redemption or exchange of the shares before the 91st day after their purchase to the extent a sales charge is reduced or eliminated in a subsequent acquisition of Trust shares (or shares 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 Trust’s shares are generally subject to federal income tax as described herein to the extent they do not exceed the Trust’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 Trust’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 Trust’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 general, dividends (other than capital gain dividends and exempt-interest dividends) paid to a shareholder that is not a “U.S. person” within the meaning of the Code (a “foreign person”) are subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate). For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2010, properly-designated dividends are generally exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax where they (i) are paid in respect of the Trust’s “qualified net interest income” (generally, the Trust’s U.S. source interest income, other than certain contingent interest and interest from obligations of a corporation or partnership in which the Trust is at least a 10% shareholder, reduced by expenses that are allocable to such income) or (ii) are paid in respect of the Trust’s “qualified short-term capital gains” (generally, the excess of the Trust’s net short-term capital gain over the Trust’s long-term capital loss for such taxable year). However, depending on its circumstances, the Trust may designate all, some or none of its potentially eligible dividends as such qualified net interest income or as qualified short term capital gains and/or treat such dividends, in whole or in part, as ineligible for this exemption from withholding. In order to qualify for this exemption from withholding, a non-U.S.

 

23


Table of Contents

shareholder will need to comply with applicable certification requirements relating to its non-U.S. status (including, in general, furnishing an IRS Form W-8BEN or substitute Form). In the case of shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may withhold even if the Trust designates the payment as qualified net interest income or qualified short-term capital gain. Non-U.S. shareholders should contact their intermediaries with respect to the application of these rules to their accounts.

For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2010, distributions that the Trust designates as “short-term capital gains dividends” or “long-term capital gains dividends” may not be treated as such to a recipient foreign shareholder if the distribution is attributable to gain received from the sale or exchange of U.S. real property or an interest in a U.S. real property holding corporation and the foreign shareholder has owned more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Trust at any time during the one-year period ending on the date of distribution. Such distributions will be subject to 35% withholding by the Trust and will be treated as ordinary dividends to the foreign shareholder.

If the Trust’s direct or indirect interests in U.S. real property were to exceed certain levels, a foreign shareholder realizing gains upon redemption from the Trust could be subject to the 35% withholding tax and U.S. filing requirements unless, for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2010, more than 50% of the Trust’s shares were owned by U.S. persons at such time or unless the foreign person had not held more than 5% of the Trust’s outstanding shares throughout either such person’s holding period for the redeemed shares or, if shorter, the previous five years. It is not expected that a significant portion of the Trust’s distributions will be attributable to gains from sale or exchange of U.S. real property interests.

Amounts paid by the Trust to individuals and certain other shareholders who have not provided the Trust with their correct taxpayer identification number (“TIN”) and certain certifications required by the IRS as well as shareholders with respect to whom the Trust has received certain information from the IRS or a broker, may be subject to “backup” withholding of federal income tax arising from the Trust’s taxable dividends and other distributions as well as the proceeds of redemption transactions (including repurchases and exchanges), at a rate of 28% for amounts paid through 2010. The backup withholding rate will be 31% for amounts paid thereafter. An individual’s TIN is generally his or her social security number. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amount withheld may be credited against a shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability.

Under Treasury regulations, if a shareholder realizes a loss on disposition of a Trust’s shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a RIC are not excepted. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances. Under recently enacted legislation, certain tax-exempt entities and their managers may be subject to excise tax if they are parties to certain reportable transactions.

The foregoing discussion and the discussion in the “Federal income tax matters” section of the prospectus do not address the special tax rules applicable to certain classes of investors, such as tax-exempt entities, foreign investors, insurance companies and financial institutions. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers with respect to special tax rules that may apply in their particular situations, as well as the federal, state, local, and, where applicable, foreign tax consequences of investing in the Trust.

Other information

The Trust 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 Trust property or the acts, obligations or affairs of the Trust. The Declaration of Trust also provides that the Trustees may provide, whether in the By-Laws or by contract, vote or other action, for the indemnification by the Trust or by any Class or Series thereof of the Shareholders, Trustees, officers and employees of the Trust and of such other Persons as the Trustees in the exercise of their discretion may deem appropriate or desirable. If such indemnification is provided, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability would be limited to circumstances in which the Trust itself is unable to meet its obligations. The Trust has been advised by its counsel that the risk of any shareholder incurring any liability for the obligations of the Trust 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 Trust 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

 

24


Table of Contents

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 Trust’s custodian or by votes cast at a meeting called for that purpose. The Declaration of Trust further provides that the Trustees of the Trust 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. In conformity with the requirements of Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act the Trust will assist such shareholders by providing information as reasonably requested regarding other Trust shareholders.

The Trust’s Prospectus and this SAI do not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement that the Trust 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, is the independent registered public accounting firm for the Trust, providing audit services, tax return preparation and consultation with respect to the preparation of filings with the SEC.

 

25


Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Trustees and Shareholder of

Eaton Vance National Municipal Opportunities Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Eaton Vance National Municipal Opportunities Trust (the “Trust”) as of April 14, 2009 and the related statement of operations for the period from January 26, 2009 (date of organization) through April 14, 2009. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Eaton Vance National Municipal Opportunities Trust as of April 14, 2009, and the results of its operations for the period from January 26, 2009 (date of organization) through April 14, 2009, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

 

Boston, Massachusetts

April 15, 2009

 

26


Table of Contents

Financial statements

Eaton Vance National Municipal Opportunities Trust

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

As of April 14, 2009

 

ASSETS   

Cash

   $ 100,000

Offering costs

     300,000

Receivable from Adviser

     12,000
      

Total assets

   $ 412,000
      
LIABILITIES   

Accrued offering costs

   $ 300,000

Accrued organizational costs

     12,000
      

Total liabilities

   $ 312,000
      

Net assets applicable to 5,000 common shares ($0.01 par value per share) of beneficial interest issued and outstanding

   $ 100,000
      

Net asset value and offering price per share

   $ 20.00
      

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

Period from January 26, 2009 (date of organization) through April 14, 2009

 

INVESTMENT INCOME

   $  
        

EXPENSES

  

Organization costs

   $ 12,000  

Expense reimbursement

     (12,000 )
        

Net expenses

   $ —    
        

Net investment income

   $ —    
        

See notes to financial statements.

 

27


Table of Contents

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1. Organization

Eaton Vance National Municipal Opportunities Trust (the “Trust”) was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on January 26, 2009, 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 5,000 common shares to Eaton Vance Management, the Trust’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”).

Eaton Vance Management, or an affiliate, has agreed to reimburse all organizational costs, estimated at approximately $12,000. Eaton Vance Management, or an affiliate, directly provided certain organizational services to the Trust at no expense.

Eaton Vance Management, or an affiliate, has agreed to pay all offering costs (other than sales loads) that exceed $0.04 per common share. The total estimated fund offering costs are $425,870, of which the Trust would pay $300,000 and Eaton Vance Management would pay $125,870 based on such estimate.

The Trust is a newly organized, diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Trust’s primary investment objective is to provide current income exempt from federal income tax. The Trust will, as a secondary investment objective, seek to achieve capital appreciation. The Trust will invest primarily in municipal obligations that, at the time of investment, are investment grade quality. The Trust also may invest a portion of its assets in municipal obligations rated below investment grade quality or unrated securities that the Adviser considers to be of comparable quality. There is no assurance that the Trust will achieve its investment objectives.

The Trust anticipates using leverage to seek to enhance returns, initially by investing in residual interest bonds. The Trust will not utilize leverage in excess of 15% of it gross assets. Although the Trust has no current intention to do so, the Trust is authorized to utilize leverage through the issuance of preferred shares and/or borrowings, including the issuance of debt securities. The Trust may borrow for temporary, emergency or other purposes as permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The costs of an offering of preferred shares, borrowings and other forms of leverage 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 Trust’s average daily gross assets, including proceeds from the issuance of preferred shares, borrowings and other forms of leverage, so the fee will be higher when leverage is utilized, which may create an incentive for the Adviser to employ leverage. 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.

Note 2: Accounting Policies

The Trust’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America which require management to make estimates. Actual results may differ from those estimates.

The Trust’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 Trust operations. The offering costs reflected above assume the sale of 7,500,000 common shares or $143,250,000 after taking account of the Trust’s sales load.

Note 3: Investment Advisory and Administration Agreement

Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement between the Adviser and the Trust, the Trust has agreed to pay an investment advisory fee, payable on a monthly basis, at an annual rate of 0.60% of gross assets up to $1.5 billion and 0.59% of gross assets in excess of $1.5 billion of the average daily gross assets of the Trust. Gross assets of the Trust shall be calculated by deducting accrued liabilities of the Trust not including the amount of any preferred shares outstanding or the principal amount of any indebtedness for money borrowed. Eaton Vance Management also serves as administrator of the Trust but currently receives no compensation for providing administrative services to the Trust.

 

28


Table of Contents

Note 4: Federal Income Taxes

The Trust intends to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute each year substantially all of its taxable income, including any net realized gain on investments. As of April 14, 2009, the Trust had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, de-recognition, or disclosure.

 

29


Table of Contents

Appendix A

Description of securities ratings(†)

Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

Long-Term Debt Securities Ratings

Aaa: Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, with minimal credit risk.

Aa: Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

A: Obligations rated A are considered upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

Baa: Obligations rated Baa are subject to moderate credit risk. They are considered medium-grade and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

Ba: Obligations rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements and are subject to substantial credit risk.

B: Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

Caa: Obligations rated Caa are judged to be of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

Ca: Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

C: Obligations rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

 

(†) The ratings indicated herein are believed to be the most recent ratings available at the date of this SAI for the securities listed. Ratings are generally given to securities at the time of issuance. While the rating agencies may from time to time revise such ratings, they undertake no obligation to do so, and the ratings indicated do not necessarily represent ratings which would be given to these securities on the date of the Trust’s fiscal year end.

 

A-1


Table of Contents

Absence of Rating: Where no rating has been assigned or where a rating has been suspended or withdrawn, it may be for reasons unrelated to the quality of the issue.

Should no rating be assigned, the reason may be one of the following:

 

1. An application for rating was not received or accepted.

 

2. The issue or issuer belongs to a group of securities or companies that are not rated as a matter of policy.

 

3. There is a lack of essential data pertaining to the issue or issuer.

 

4. The issue was privately placed, in which case the rating is not published in Moody’s publications.

Suspension or withdrawal may occur if new and material circumstances arise, the effects of which preclude satisfactory analysis; if there is no longer available reasonable up-to-date data to permit a judgment to be formed; if a bond is called for redemption; or for other reasons.

Note: Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.

Short-Term Ratings

Moody’s short-term ratings are opinions of the ability of issuers to honor short-term financial obligations. Ratings may be assigned to issuers, short-term programs or to individual short-term debt instruments. Such obligations generally have an original maturity not exceeding thirteen months, unless explicitly noted.

Moody’s employs the following designations to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:

P-1: Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

P-2: Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

P-3: Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

NP: Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services

Investment grade

AAA: An obligation rated ‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.

AA: An obligation rated ‘AA’ differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.

A: An obligation rated ‘A’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.

BBB: An obligation rated ‘BBB’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

A-2


Table of Contents

Speculative grade

Obligations rated ‘BB’, ‘B’, ‘CCC’, ‘CC’, and ‘C’ are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. ‘BB’ indicates the least degree of speculation and ‘C’ the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.

BB: An obligation rated ‘BB’ is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

B: An obligation rated ‘B’ is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated ‘BB’, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

CCC: An obligation rated ‘CCC’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

CC: An obligation rated ‘CC’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.

C: A ‘C’ rating is assigned to obligations that are currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, obligations that have payment arrearages allowed by the terms of the documents, or obligations of an issuer that is the subject of a bankruptcy petition or similar action which have not experienced a payment default. Among others, the ‘C’ rating may be assigned to subordinated debt, preferred stock or other obligations on which cash payments have been suspended in accordance with the instrument’s terms.

D: An obligation rated ‘D’ is in payment default. The ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.

Plus (+) or Minus (-): The ratings from ‘AA’ to ‘CCC’ may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

NR: NR indicates no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that S&P does not rate a particular type of obligation as a matter of policy.

Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings

A-1: A short-term obligation rated ‘A-1’ is rated in the highest category by Standard & Poor’s. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.

A-2: A short-term obligation rated ‘A-2’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.

A-3: A short-term obligation rated ‘A-3’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

B: A short-term obligation rated ‘B’ is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. Ratings of ‘B-1’, ‘B-2’, and ‘B-3’ may be assigned to indicate finer distinctions within the ‘B’ category. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

B-1: A short-term obligation rated ‘B-1’ is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, but the obligor has a relatively stronger capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.

 

A-3


Table of Contents

B-2: A short-term obligation rated ‘B-2’ is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, and the obligor has an average speculative-grade capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.

B-3: A short-term obligation rated ‘B-3’ is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, and the obligor has a relatively weaker capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.

C: A short-term obligation rated ‘C’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

D: A short-term obligation rated ‘D’ is in payment default. The ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.

Dual Ratings

Standard & Poor’s assigns “dual” ratings to all debt issues that have a put option or demand feature as part of their structure. The first rating addresses the likelihood of repayment of principal and interest as due, and the second rating addresses only the demand feature. The long-term rating symbols are used for bonds to denote the long-term maturity and the short-term rating symbols for the put option (for example, ‘AAA/A-1+’). With U.S. municipal short-term demand debt, note rating symbols are used with the short-term issue credit rating symbols (for example, ‘SP-1+/A-1+’).

Fitch ratings

Investment grade bond ratings

AAA: Highest credit quality. ‘AAA’ ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

AA: Very high credit quality. ‘AA’ ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

A: High credit quality. ‘A’ ratings denote expectations of low credit risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

BBB: Good credit quality. ‘BBB’ ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

High yield bond ratings

BB: Speculative. ‘BB’ ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.

B: Highly speculative. ‘B’ ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.

CCC: Substantial credit risk. ‘CCC’ ratings indicate that substantial credit risk is present.

CC: Very high levels of credit risk. ‘CC’ ratings indicate very high levels of credit risk.

C: Exceptionally high levels of credit risk. ‘C’ indicates exceptionally high levels of credit risk.

Defaulted obligations typically are not assigned ‘D’ ratings, but are instead rated in the ‘B’ to ‘C’ rating categories, depending upon their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics. This approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.

 

A-4


Table of Contents

Plus (+) or Minus (-): The modifiers “+” or “-” may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to the ‘AAA’ obligation rating category, or to corporate or public finance obligation ratings in the categories below ‘B’.

NR: Indicates that Fitch does not rate the specific issue.

Conditional: A conditional rating is premised on the successful completion of a project or the occurrence of a specific event.

Short-Term Ratings

Fitch’s short-term ratings apply to debt obligations that are payable on demand or have original maturities of generally up to three years, including commercial paper, certificates of deposit, medium-term notes, and municipal and investment notes.

F1: Highest short-term credit quality. Indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

F2: Good short-term credit quality. Good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

F3: Fair short-term credit quality. The intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

B: Speculative short-term credit quality. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

C: High short-term default risk. Default is a real possibility.

RD: Restricted default. Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Applicable to entity ratings only.

D: Default. Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a specific short-term obligation.

* * * * * *

Notes: Bonds which are unrated expose the investor to risks with respect to capacity to pay interest or repay principal which are similar to the risks of lower-rated speculative bonds. The Trust is dependent on the Adviser’s judgment, analysis and experience in the evaluation of such bonds.

Investors should note that the assignment of a rating to a bond by a rating service may not reflect the effect of recent developments on the issuer’s ability to make interest and principal payments.

 

A-5


Table of Contents

Appendix B

Eaton Vance Funds

Proxy voting policy and procedures

I. OVERVIEW

The Boards of Trustees (the “Boards”) of the Eaton Vance Funds (the “Funds”) recognize that it is their fiduciary responsibility to actively monitor the Funds’ operations. The Boards have always placed paramount importance on their oversight of the implementation of the Funds’ investment strategies and the overall management of the Funds’ investments. A critical aspect of the investment management of the Funds continues to be the effective assessment and voting of proxies relating to the Funds’ portfolio securities. While the Boards will continue to delegate the day-to-day responsibilities relating to the management of the proxy-voting process to the relevant investment adviser or sub-adviser, if applicable, of the Fund (or its underlying portfolio in the case of a master-feeder arrangement), the Boards have determined that it is in the interests of the Funds’ shareholders to adopt these written proxy voting policy and procedures (the “Policy”). For purposes of this Policy the term “Fund” shall include a Fund’s underlying portfolio in the case of a master-feeder arrangement and the term “Adviser” shall mean the adviser to a Fund or its sub-adviser if a sub-advisory relationship exists.

II. DELEGATION OF PROXY VOTING RESPONSIBILITIES

Pursuant to investment advisory agreements between each Fund and its Adviser, the Adviser has long been responsible for reviewing proxy statements relating to Fund investments and, if the Adviser deems it appropriate to do so, to vote proxies on behalf of the Funds. The Boards hereby formally delegate this responsibility to the Adviser, except as otherwise described in this Policy. In so doing, the Boards hereby adopt on behalf of each Fund the proxy voting policies and procedures of the Adviser(s) to each Fund as the proxy voting policies and procedures of the Fund. The Boards recognize that the Advisers may from time to time amend their policies and procedures. The Advisers will report material changes to the Boards in the manner set forth in Section V below. In addition, the Boards will annually review and approve the Advisers’ proxy voting policies and procedures.

III. DELEGATION OF PROXY VOTING DISCLOSURE RESPONSIBILITIES

The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) recently enacted certain new reporting requirements for registered investment companies. The Commission’s new regulations require that funds (other than those which invest exclusively in non-voting securities) make certain disclosures regarding their proxy voting activities. The most significant disclosure requirement for the Funds is the duty pursuant to Rule 30b1-4 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), to file Form N-PX no later than August 31st of each year beginning in 2004. Under Form N-PX, each Fund will be required to disclose, among other things, information concerning proxies relating to the Fund’s portfolio investments, whether or not the Fund (or its Adviser) voted the proxies relating to securities held by the Fund and how it voted in the matter and whether it voted for or against management.

The Boards hereby delegate to each Adviser the responsibility for recording, compiling and transmitting in a timely manner all data required to be filed on Form N-PX to Eaton Vance Management, which acts as administrator to each of the Funds (the “Administrator”), for each Fund that such Adviser manages. The Boards hereby delegate the responsibility to file Form N-PX on behalf of each Fund to the Administrator.

IV. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The Boards expect each Adviser, as a fiduciary to the Fund(s) it manages, to put the interests of each Fund and its shareholders above those of the Adviser. In the event that in connection with its proxy voting responsibilities a material conflict of interest arises between a Fund’s shareholders and the Fund’s Adviser or the Administrator (or any of their affiliates) or any affiliated person of the Fund and the Proxy Administrator intends to vote the proxy in a manner inconsistent with the guidelines approved by the Board, the Adviser, to the extent it is aware or reasonably should have been aware of the material conflict, will refrain from voting any proxies related to companies giving rise to such material conflict until it notifies and consults with the appropriate Board(s), or a committee or sub-committee of such Board, concerning the material conflict.

 

B-1


Table of Contents

Once the Adviser notifies the relevant Board(s), committee or sub-committee of the Board, of the material conflict, the Board(s), committee or sub-committee, shall convene a meeting to review and consider all relevant materials related to the proxies involved. In considering such proxies, the Adviser shall make available all materials requested by the Board, committee or sub-committee and make reasonably available appropriate personnel to discuss the matter upon request. The Board, committee or sub-committee will instruct the Adviser on the appropriate course of action. If the Board, committee or sub-committee is unable to meet and the failure to vote a proxy would have a material adverse impact on the Fund(s) involved, each Adviser will have the right to vote such proxy, provided that it discloses the existence of the material conflict to the Board, committee or sub-committee at its next meeting. Any determination regarding the voting of proxies of each Fund that is made by the committee or sub-committee shall be deemed to be a good faith determination regarding the voting of proxies by the full Board.

V. REPORTS

The Administrator shall make copies of each Form N-PX filed on behalf of the Funds available for the Boards’ review upon the Boards’ request. The Administrator (with input from the Adviser for the relevant Fund(s)) shall also provide any reports reasonably requested by the Boards regarding the proxy voting records of the Funds.

Each Adviser shall annually report any material changes to such Adviser’s proxy voting policies and procedures to the relevant Board(s) and the relevant Board(s) will annually review and approve the Adviser’s proxy voting policies and procedures. Each Adviser shall report any changes to such Adviser’s proxy voting policies and procedures to the Administrator prior to implementing such changes in order to enable the Administrator to effectively coordinate the Funds’ disclosure relating to such policies and procedures.

Eaton Vance Management

Boston Management and Research

Proxy voting policies and procedures

I. INTRODUCTION

Eaton Vance Management, Boston Management and Research and Eaton Vance Investment Counsel (each an “Adviser” and collectively the “Advisers”) have each adopted and implemented policies and procedures that each Adviser believes are reasonably designed to ensure that proxies are voted in the best interest of clients, in accordance with its fiduciary duties and Rule 206(4)-6 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The Advisers’ authority to vote the proxies of their clients is established by their advisory contracts or similar documentation, such as the Eaton Vance Funds Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures. These proxy policies and procedures reflect the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) requirements governing advisers and the long-standing fiduciary standards and responsibilities for ERISA accounts set out in the Department of Labor Bulletin 94-2 C.F.R. 2509.94-2 (July 29, 1994).

II. OVERVIEW

Each Adviser manages its clients’ assets with the overriding goal of seeking to provide the greatest possible return to such clients consistent with governing laws and the investment policies of each client. In pursuing that goal, each Adviser seeks to exercise its clients’ rights as shareholders of voting securities to support sound corporate governance of the companies issuing those securities with the principle aim of maintaining or enhancing the companies’ economic value.

The exercise of shareholder rights is generally done by casting votes by proxy at shareholder meetings on matters submitted to shareholders for approval (for example, the election of directors or the approval of a company’s stock option plans for directors, officers or employees). Each Adviser is adopting the formal written Guidelines described in detail below and will utilize such Guidelines in voting proxies on behalf of its clients. These Guidelines are designed to promote accountability of a company’s management and board of directors to its shareholders and to align the interests of management with those of shareholders.

Each Adviser will vote any proxies received by a client for which it has sole investment discretion through a third-party proxy voting service (“Agent”) in accordance with customized policies, as approved by the Boards of Trustees of the Eaton Vance Funds and, with respect to proxies referred back to the Adviser by the Agent pursuant to the Guidelines, in a manner that is reasonably designed to eliminate any potential conflicts of interest, as described more fully below. The Agent is currently Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. Proxies will be voted in accordance with client-specific guidelines and an Eaton Vance Fund’s sub-adviser’s proxy voting policies and procedures, if applicable.

 

B-2


Table of Contents

No set of Guidelines can anticipate all situations that may arise. In special cases, the Proxy Administrator (the person specifically charged with the responsibility to oversee the Agent and coordinate the voting of proxies referred back to the Adviser by the Agent) may seek insight from the Proxy Group established by the Advisers. The Proxy Group will assist in the review of the Agent’s recommendation when a proxy voting issue is referred to the Proxy Group through the Proxy Administrator. The members of the Proxy Group, which may include employees of the Advisers’ affiliates, may change at the Advisers’ discretion.

III. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Proxy Administrator

The Proxy Administrator will assist in the coordination of the voting of each client’s proxy in accordance with the Guidelines below and the Funds’ Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures. The Proxy Administrator is authorized to direct the Agent to vote a proxy in accordance with the Guidelines. Responsibilities assigned herein to the Proxy Administrator, or activities in support thereof, may be performed by such members of the Proxy Group or employees of the Advisers’ affiliates as are deemed appropriate by the Proxy Group.

B. Agent

An independent proxy voting service (the “Agent”), as approved by the Board of each Fund, shall be engaged to assist in the voting of proxies. The Agent is currently Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. The Agent is responsible for coordinating with the clients’ custodians and the Advisers to ensure that all proxy materials received by the custodians relating to the portfolio securities are processed in a timely fashion. The Agent is required to vote and/or refer all proxies in accordance with the Guidelines below. The Agent shall retain a record of all proxy votes handled by the Agent. Such record must reflect all of the information required to be disclosed in a Fund’s Form N-PX pursuant to Rule 30b1-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. In addition, the Agent is responsible for maintaining copies of all proxy statements received by issuers and to promptly provide such materials to an Adviser upon request.

Subject to the oversight of the Advisers, the Agent shall establish and maintain adequate internal controls and policies in connection with the provision of proxy voting services to the Advisers, including methods to reasonably ensure that its analysis and recommendations are not influenced by a conflict of interest, and shall disclose such controls and policies to the Advisers when and as provided for herein. Unless otherwise specified, references herein to recommendations of the Agent shall refer to those in which no conflict of interest has been identified.

C. Proxy Group

The Adviser shall establish a Proxy Group which shall assist in the review of the Agent’s recommendations when a proxy voting issue has been referred to the Proxy Administrator by the Agent. The members of the Proxy Group, which may include employees of the Advisers’ affiliates, may be amended from time to time at the Advisers’ discretion.

For each proposal referred to the Proxy Group, the Proxy Group will review the (i) Guidelines, (ii) recommendations of the Agent, and (iii) any other resources that any member of the Proxy Group deems appropriate to aid in a determination of the recommendation.

If the Proxy Group recommends a vote in accordance with the Guidelines, or the recommendation of the Agent, where applicable, it shall instruct the Proxy Administrator to so advise the Agent.

If the Proxy Group recommends a vote contrary to the Guidelines, or the recommendation of the Agent, where applicable, or if the proxy statement relates to a conflicted company of the Agent, as determined by the Advisers, it shall follow the procedures for such voting outlined below.

The Proxy Administrator shall use best efforts to convene the Proxy Group with respect to all matters requiring its consideration. In the event the Proxy Group cannot meet in a timely manner in connection with a voting deadline, the Proxy Administrator shall follow the procedures for such voting outlined below.

 

B-3


Table of Contents

IV. PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES (“Guidelines”)

A. General Policies

It shall generally be the policy of the Advisers to take no action on a proxy for which no client holds a position or otherwise maintains an economic interest in the relevant security at the time the vote is to be cast.

In all cases except those highlighted below, it shall generally be the policy of the Advisers to vote in accordance with the recommendation by the Agent, Institutional Shareholder Services Inc.

When a fund client participates in the lending of its securities and the securities are on loan at the record date, proxies related to such securities generally will not be forwarded to the relevant Adviser by the fund’s custodian and therefore will not be voted. In the event that the Adviser determines that the matters involved would have a material effect on the applicable fund’s investment in the loaned securities, the fund will exercise its best efforts to terminate the loan in time to be able to cast such vote or exercise such consent.

Interpretation and application of these Guidelines is not intended to supersede any law, regulation, binding agreement or other legal requirement to which an issuer may be or become subject. The Guidelines relate to the types of proposals that are most frequently presented in proxy statements to shareholders. Absent unusual circumstances, each Adviser will utilize these Guidelines when voting proxies on behalf of its clients. The Guidelines may be revised at any time, provided such revisions are reported to the Boards of Trustees of the Eaton Vance Funds.

B. Proposals Regarding Mergers and Corporate Restructurings

The Agent shall be directed to refer proxy proposals accompanied by its written analysis and voting recommendation to the Proxy Administrator for all proposals relating to Mergers and Corporate Restructurings.

C. Proposals Regarding Mutual Fund Proxies—Disposition of Assets/Termination/Liquidation and Mergers

The Agent shall be directed to refer proxy proposals accompanied by its written analysis and voting recommendation to the Proxy Administrator for all proposals relating to the Disposition of Assets/ Termination/Liquidation and Mergers contained in mutual fund proxies.

D. Corporate Structure Matters/Anti-Takeover Defenses

As a general matter, the Advisers will normally vote against anti-takeover measures and other proposals designed to limit the ability of shareholders to act on possible transactions (except in the case of closed-end management investment companies).

E. Social and Environmental Issues

The Advisers generally support management on social and environmental proposals.

F. Voting Procedures

Upon receipt of a referral from the Agent or upon advice from an Eaton Vance investment professional, the Proxy Administrator may solicit additional research from the Agent, as well as from any other source or service.

1. WITHIN-GUIDELINES VOTES: Votes in Accordance with the Guidelines and/or, where applicable, Agent Recommendation

In the event the Proxy Administrator recommends a vote within the Guidelines and/or, where applicable, in accordance with the Agent’s recommendation, the Proxy Administrator will instruct the Agent to vote in this manner.

2. NON-VOTES: Votes in Which No Action is Taken

The Proxy Administrator may recommend that a client refrain from voting under the following circumstances: (i) if the economic effect on shareholders’ interests or the value of the portfolio holding is indeterminable or insignificant, e.g., proxies in connection with securities no longer held in the portfolio of a client or proxies being considered on behalf of a client that is no longer in existence; or

 

B-4


Table of Contents

(ii) if the cost of voting a proxy outweighs the benefits, e.g., certain international proxies, particularly in cases in which share blocking practices may impose trading restrictions on the relevant portfolio security. In such instances, the Proxy Administrator may instruct the Agent not to vote such proxy.

Reasonable efforts shall be made to secure and vote all other proxies for the clients, but, particularly in markets in which shareholders’ rights are limited, Non-Votes may also occur in connection with a client’s related inability to timely access ballots or other proxy information in connection with its portfolio securities.

Non-Votes may also result in certain cases in which the Agent’s recommendation has been deemed to be conflicted, as provided for herein.

3. OUT-OF-GUIDELINES VOTES: Votes Contrary to the Guidelines, or Agent Recommendation, where applicable, Where No Recommendation is Provided by Agent, or Where Agent’s Recommendation is Conflicted

If the Proxy Administrator recommends that a client vote contrary to the Guidelines, or the recommendation of the Agent, where applicable, if the Agent has made no recommendation on a matter requiring case-by-case consideration and the Guidelines are silent, or the Agent’s recommendation on a matter requiring case-by-case consideration is deemed to be conflicted, the Proxy Administrator will forward the Agent’s analysis and recommendation and any research obtained from the Agent or any other source to the Proxy Group. The Proxy Group may consult with the Agent as it deems necessary. The Proxy Administrator will instruct the Agent to vote the proxy as recommended by the Proxy Group. The Adviser will provide a report to the Boards of Trustees of the Eaton Vance Funds reflecting any votes cast contrary to the Guidelines or Agent Recommendation, as applicable, and shall do so no less than annually.

The Proxy Administrator will maintain a record of all proxy questions that have been referred by the Agent, all applicable recommendations, analysis and research received and any resolution of the matter.

V. RECORDKEEPING

The Advisers will maintain records relating to the proxies they vote on behalf of their clients in accordance with Section 204-2 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. Those records will include:

 

 

A copy of the Advisers’ proxy voting policies and procedures;

 

 

Proxy statements received regarding client securities. Such proxy statements received from issuers are either in the SEC’s EDGAR database or are kept by the Agent and are available upon request;

 

 

A record of each vote cast;

 

 

A copy of any document created by the Advisers that was material to making a decision on how to vote a proxy for a client or that memorializes the basis for such a decision; and

 

 

Each written client request for proxy voting records and the Advisers’ written response to any client request (whether written or oral) for such records.

All records described above will be maintained in an easily accessible place for five years and will be maintained in the offices of the Advisers or their Agent for two years after they are created.

VI. ASSESSMENT OF AGENT AND IDENTIFICATION AND RESOLUTION OF CONFLICTS WITH CLIENTS

A. Assessment of Agent

The Advisers shall establish that the Agent (i) is independent from the Advisers, (ii) has resources that indicate it can competently provide analysis of proxy issues, and (iii) can make recommendations in an impartial manner and in the best interests of the clients and, where applicable, their beneficial owners. The Advisers shall utilize, and the Agent shall comply with, such methods for establishing the foregoing as the Advisers may deem reasonably appropriate and shall do so not less than annually as well as prior to engaging the services of any new proxy voting service. The Agent shall also notify the Advisers in writing within fifteen (15) calendar days of any material change to information previously provided to an Adviser in connection with establishing the Agent’s independence, competence or impartiality.

 

B-5


Table of Contents

B. Conflicts of Interest

As fiduciaries to their clients, each Adviser puts the interests of its clients ahead of its own. In order to ensure that relevant personnel of the Advisers are able to identify potential material conflicts of interest, each Adviser will take the following steps:

 

 

Quarterly, the Eaton Vance Legal and Compliance Department will seek information from the department heads of each department of the Advisers and of Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. (“EVD”) (an affiliate of the Advisers and principal underwriter of certain Eaton Vance Funds). Each department head will be asked to provide a list of significant clients or prospective clients of the Advisers or EVD.

 

 

A representative of the Legal and Compliance Department will compile a list of the companies identified (the “Conflicted Companies”) and provide that list to the Proxy Administrator.

 

 

The Proxy Administrator will compare the list of Conflicted Companies with the names of companies for which he or she has been referred a proxy statement (the “Proxy Companies”). If a Conflicted Company is also a Proxy Company, the Proxy Administrator will report that fact to the Proxy Group.

 

 

If the Proxy Administrator expects to instruct the Agent to vote the proxy of the Conflicted Company strictly according to the Guidelines contained in these Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (the “Policies”) or the recommendation of the Agent, as applicable, he or she will (i) inform the Proxy Group of that fact, (ii) instruct the Agent to vote the proxies and (iii) record the existence of the material conflict and the resolution of the matter.

 

 

If the Proxy Administrator intends to instruct the Agent to vote in a manner inconsistent with the Guidelines contained herein or, the recommendation of the Agent, as applicable, the Proxy Group, in consultation with Eaton Vance senior management, will then determine if a material conflict of interest exists between the relevant Adviser and its clients. If the Proxy Group, in consultation with Eaton Vance senior management, determines that a material conflict exists, prior to instructing the Agent to vote any proxies relating to these Conflicted Companies the Adviser will seek instruction on how the proxy should be voted from:

 

   

The client, in the case of an individual or corporate client;

 

   

In the case of a Fund its board of directors, or any committee or sub-committee identified by the board; or

 

   

The adviser, in situations where the Adviser acts as a sub-adviser to such adviser.

The Adviser will provide all reasonable assistance to each party to enable such party to make an informed decision.

If the client, Fund board or adviser, as the case may be, fails to instruct the Adviser on how to vote the proxy, the Adviser will generally instruct the Agent, through the Proxy Administrator, to abstain from voting in order to avoid the appearance of impropriety. If however, the failure of the Adviser to vote its clients’ proxies would have a material adverse economic impact on the Advisers’ clients’ securities holdings in the Conflicted Company, the Adviser may instruct the Agent, through the Proxy Administrator, to vote such proxies in order to protect its clients’ interests. In either case, the Proxy Administrator will record the existence of the material conflict and the resolution of the matter.

The Advisers shall also identify and address conflicts that may arise from time to time concerning the Agent. Upon the Advisers’ request, which shall be not less than annually, and within fifteen (15) calendar days of any material change to such information previously provided to an Adviser, the Agent shall provide the Advisers with such information as the Advisers deem reasonable and appropriate for use in determining material relationships of the Agent that may pose a conflict of interest with respect to the Agent’s proxy analysis or recommendations. Such information shall include, but is not limited to, a monthly report from the Agent detailing the Agent’s Corporate Securities Division clients and related revenue data. The Advisers shall review such information on a monthly basis. The Proxy Administrator shall instruct the Agent to refer any proxies for which a material conflict of the Agent is deemed to be present to the Proxy Administrator. Any such proxy referred by the Agent shall be referred to the Proxy Group for consideration accompanied by the Agent’s written analysis and voting recommendation. The Proxy Administrator will instruct the Agent to vote the proxy as recommended by the Proxy Group.

 

B-6


Table of Contents

Eaton Vance National Municipal Opportunities Trust

Statement of Additional Information

May 26, 2009

 

 

Investment Adviser and Administrator

Eaton Vance Management

Two International Place

Boston, MA 02110

Custodian

State Street Bank and Trust Company

200 Clarendon Street

Boston, MA 02116

Transfer Agent

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company

P.O. Box 922, Wall Street Station

New York, NY 10269-0560

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Deloitte & Touche LLP

200 Berkeley Street

Boston, MA 02116

 

B-7