497 1 atl497filing.txt FINAL PROS/SAI FOR ATLANTA FUNDS LOGO EATON VANCE LARGE-CAP GROWTH FUND A diversified fund seeking long-term capital growth EATON VANCE SMALL-CAP FUND A diversified fund seeking long-term capital growth Prospectus Dated April 26, 2002 The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or determined whether this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. Information in this prospectus Page Page -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fund Summaries 2 Sales Charges 6 Investment Objectives & Principal Redeeming Shares 7 Policies and Risks 4 Shareholder Account Features 8 Management and Organization 4 Tax Information 9 Valuing Shares 5 Additional Performance Purchasing Shares 6 Information 10 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This prospectus contains important information about the Funds and the services available to shareholders. Please save it for reference. FUND SUMMARIES EATON VANCE LARGE-CAP GROWTH FUND INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES. The Fund's investment objective is to seek long-term capital growth. The Fund invests primarily in common stocks of companies with large market capitalizations. The Fund will normally invest in companies having market capitalizations that rank in the top 1,000 U.S. companies. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in large company stocks. The portfolio securities of the Fund are selected by a portfolio management team which relies on the investment adviser's research staff. The Fund currently invests its assets in a separate registered investment company with the same objective and policies as the Fund. PRINCIPAL RISK FACTORS. The value of Fund shares is sensitive to stock market volatility. If there is a general decline in the value of U.S. stocks, the value of the Fund's shares will also likely decline. Changes in stock market values can be sudden and unpredictable. Also, although stock values can rebound, there is no assurance that values will return to previous levels. The Fund is not a complete investment program and you may lose money by investing in the Fund. Shareholders should invest for the long term. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. PERFORMANCE INFORMATION. As of the date of this prospectus, the Fund had not begun operations so there is no performance history. FUND FEES AND EXPENSES. The table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares. Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Maximum Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of offering price) 5.75% Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the lower of net asset value at time of purchase or redemption) None Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Distributions None Exchange Fee None Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund and Portfolio assets) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Management Fees 0.80% Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees* 0.25% Other Expenses** 0.35% ---- Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 1.40% * Service Fees are paid pursuant to a Service Plan. ** Other Expenses is estimated. EXAMPLE. This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 1 Year 3 Years ------------------------------------------------------------ Fund Shares $ 709 $ 993 2 EATON VANCE SMALL-CAP FUND INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES. The Fund's investment objective is to seek long-term capital growth. The Fund invests primarily in common stocks of companies with small market capitalizations. The Fund will normally invest in companies having market capitalizations within the range of companies comprising the Russell 2000 Index ("Russell 2000"). Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in small company stocks. The portfolio securities of the Fund are selected by a portfolio management team which relies on the investment adviser's research staff. The Fund currently invests its assets in a separate registered investment company with the same objective and policies as the Fund. PRINCIPAL RISK FACTORS. Shares of the Fund are sensitive to factors affecting small company stocks. Small company stocks are generally subject to greater price fluctuation and investment risk than securities of more established companies. Small companies include companies in the technology and health care sectors, which historically have been more volatile than other market sectors. The value of Fund shares is also sensitive to stock market volatility. If there is a general decline in the value of U.S. stocks, the value of the Fund's shares will also likely decline. Changes in stock market values can be sudden and unpredictable. Also, although stock values can rebound, there is no assurance that values will return to previous levels. The Fund is not a complete investment program and you may lose money by investing in the Fund. Shareholders should invest for the long term. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. PERFORMANCE INFORMATION. As of the date of this prospectus, the Fund had not begun operations so there is no performance history. FUND FEES AND EXPENSES. The table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares. Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Maximum Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of offering price) 5.75% Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the lower of net asset value at time of purchase or redemption) None Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Distributions None Exchange Fee None Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund and Portfolio assets) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Management Fees 1.15% Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees* 0.25% Other Expenses** 0.35% ----- Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 1.75% * Service Fees are paid pursuant to a Service Plan. ** Other Expenses is estimated. EXAMPLE. This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 1 Year 3 Years ------------------------------------------------------------ Fund Shares $ 743 $ 1,094 3 INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES & PRINCIPAL POLICIES AND RISKS The investment objectives and principal policies and risks of the Funds are set forth below. Each Fund's investment objective may not be changed without shareholder approval. Most of a Fund's investment policies may be changed by the Trustees without shareholder approval. Each Fund currently seek their investment objective by investing in one or more separate open-end investment companies that have the same objective and policies as the Fund. LARGE-CAP GROWTH FUND. Large-Cap Growth Fund's investment objective is to seek long-term capital growth. The Large-Cap Growth Fund currently invests in Large-Cap Growth Portfolio. Large-Cap Growth Portfolio will normally invest in companies having market capitalizations that rank in the top 1,000 U.S. companies (large company stocks). Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets in large company stocks. Large-Cap Growth Portfolio invests in a diversified selection of common stocks, emphasizing quality growth companies with a demonstrated record of consistent earnings growth. A company's financial quality is determined by analysis of its financial statements and the use of "financial quality ratings" provided by nationally recognized rating services. The investment adviser emphasizes quality large growth companies whose stocks are considered to trade at attractive valuations relative to their long-term growth rates. Sustainable earnings growth is determined by rigorous fundamental analysis of a company's financial trends, products and services, industry conditions and other factors. Based upon various long-term growth themes identified by the investment adviser, portfolio industry groups may be overweighted or underweighted versus the Standard & Poor's 500 Index ("S&P 500"). The portfolio management team utilizes recommendations provided by the investment adviser's research staff to make buy and sell decisions. SMALL-CAP FUND. Small-Cap Fund's investment objective is to seek long-term capital growth. The Small-Cap Fund currently invests in Small-Cap Portfolio. Small-Cap Portfolio will normally invest in companies having market capitalizations within the range of companies comprising the Russell 2000 (small company stocks). Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets in small company stocks. The Portfolio may also invest in larger companies. Small-Cap Portfolio invests in a diversified selection of common stocks, emphasizing quality small companies whose stocks are considered to trade at attractive valuations relative to earnings or cash flow per share. A company's financial quality is determined by analysis of its financial statements and the use of "financial quality ratings" provided by nationally recognized rating services. The investment adviser seeks to purchase stocks of companies capable of sustaining consistent earnings growth while maintaining a strong financial condition. Sustainable earnings growth is determined by rigorous fundamental analysis of a company's financial trends, products and services and other factors. The portfolio management team utilizes recommendations provided by the investment adviser's research staff to make buy and sell decisions. Small-Cap Portfolio is diversified across various economic sectors. Many of the small companies that Small-Cap Portfolio may purchase are more dependent on fewer products, services or product markets than more established companies, have limited financial resources or may rely upon a limited management group, may lack substantial capital reserves and do not have established performance records. Small company stocks frequently have lower trading volume and tend to be more sensitive to changes in earnings projections than stocks of more established companies, making them more volatile and possibly more difficult to value. Each Portfolio may borrow amounts up to one-third of the value of its total assets (including borrowings), but it will not borrow more than 5% of the value of its total assets except to satisfy redemption requests or for other temporary purposes. Such borrowings would result in increased expense to a Fund and, while they are outstanding, would magnify increases or decreases in the value of Fund shares. None of the Portfolios will purchase additional investment securities while outstanding borrowings exceed 5% of the value of its total assets. During unusual market conditions, each Portfolio may temporarily invest up to 100% of its assets in cash or cash equivalents, which may be inconsistent with the Fund's investment objective. While at times a Portfolio may use alternative investment strategies in an effort to limit losses, it may choose not to do so. MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION MANAGEMENT. Each Portfolio's investment adviser is Boston Management and Research ("BMR"), a subsidiary of Eaton Vance Management ("Eaton Vance"), with offices at The Eaton Vance Building, 255 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109. Eaton Vance has been managing assets since 1924 and managing mutual funds since 1931. Eaton Vance and its subsidiaries currently manage approximately $60 billion on behalf of mutual funds, institutional clients and individuals. 4 Pursuant to an investment sub-advisory agreement, BMR has delegated the investment management of each Portfolio to Atlanta Capital Management Company, L.L.C. ("Atlanta Capital"), an indirect, majority-owned subsidiary of Eaton Vance. BMR pays Atlanta Capital a portion of each advisory fee for sub-advisory services provided to the Portfolio. The day-to-day management of each Portfolio is the responsibility of a team of Atlanta Capital investment professionals. Each team meets to discuss investment holdings, prospective investments and portfolio composition and manages and provides research. The fees paid to BMR and the primary members of each team are as follows: LARGE-CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO. Under Large-Cap Growth Portfolio's investment advisory agreement, BMR receives a monthly advisory fee equal to 0.650% annually of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio up to $500 million. On net assets of $500 million and over the annual fee is reduced. Daniel W. Boone, III, William R. Hackney, III and Marilyn Robinson Irvin comprise the team of investment professionals for the Large-Cap Growth Portfolio. Mr. Boone and Mr. Hackney, Managing Partners of Atlanta Capital, and Ms. Irvin, Senior Vice President of Atlanta Capital, have been managing investments for more than 5 years. SMALL-CAP PORTFOLIO. Under Small-Cap Portfolio's investment advisory agreement, BMR receives a monthly advisory fee equal to 1.0% annually of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio up to $500 million. On net assets of $500 million and over the annual fee is reduced. William R. Hackney, III, Paul J. Marshall and Charles B. Reed comprise the team of investment professionals for the Small-Cap Portfolio. Mr. Hackney, Managing Partner of Atlanta Capital, has been managing investments for more than 5 years. Mr. Marshall has been a Vice President of Atlanta Capital since 2000. Prior to joining Atlanta Capital, he was a portfolio manager with Bank of America Capital Management. Mr. Reed has been a Vice President of Atlanta Capital since 1998. Prior to joining Atlanta Capital, he was a portfolio manager with the Florida State Board of Administration. Eaton Vance serves as the administrator of each Fund, providing each Fund with administrative services and related office facilities. In return, Eaton Vance receives a monthly administrative fee equal to 0.15% of average daily net assets of the Fund. ORGANIZATION. Each Fund is a series of Eaton Vance Growth Trust, a Massachusetts business trust. The Funds do not hold annual shareholder meetings, but may hold special meetings for matters that require shareholder approval (like electing or removing trustees, approving management contracts or changing investment policies that may only be changed with shareholder approval). Because a Fund invests in a Portfolio, it may be asked to vote on certain Portfolio matters (like changes in certain Portfolio investment restrictions). When necessary, a Fund will hold a meeting of its shareholders to consider the Portfolio matter and then vote its interest in the Portfolio in proportion to the votes cast by its shareholders. A Fund can withdraw from a Portfolio at any time. Because the Funds use this combined prospectus, a Fund could be held liable for a misstatement or omission made about another Fund. The Trust's Trustees considered this risk in approving the use of a combined prospectus. VALUING SHARES Each Fund values its shares once each day only when the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading (typically Monday through Friday), as of the close of regular trading on the Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m. eastern time). The purchase price of Fund shares is their net asset value (plus a sales charge), which is derived from Portfolio holdings. Exchange-listed securities are valued at closing sale prices. Most debt securities are valued by an independent pricing service. The investment adviser may use the fair value of a security if events occurring after the close of a securities market would materially affect net asset value or market prices are unavailable. Because foreign securities trade on days when Fund shares are not priced, net asset value can change at times when Fund shares cannot be redeemed. When purchasing or redeeming Fund shares, your investment dealer must communicate your order to the principal underwriter by a specific time each day in order for the purchase price or the redemption price to be based on that day's net asset value per share. It is the investment dealer's responsibility to transmit orders promptly. Each Fund may accept purchase and redemption orders as of the time of their receipt by certain investment dealers (or their designated intermediaries). 5 PURCHASING SHARES You may purchase Fund shares through your investment dealer or by mailing an account application form to the transfer agent (see back cover for address). You may request an account application by calling 1-866-386-3537. Your initial investment must be at least $1,000. The price of Fund shares is the net asset value plus a sales charge. After your initial investment, additional investments of $50 or more may be made at any time by sending a check payable to the order of the Fund or the transfer agent directly to the transfer agent (see back cover for address). Please include your name and account number and the name of the Fund with each investment. You may also make automatic investments of $50 or more each month or each quarter from your bank account. You can establish bank automated investing on the account application or by calling 1-800-262-1122. The minimum initial investment amount and Fund policy of redeeming accounts with low account balances are waived for bank automated investing accounts and certain group purchase plans. You may purchase Fund shares in exchange for securities. Please call 1-800-225-6265 for information about exchanging securities for Fund shares. If you purchase shares through an investment dealer (which includes brokers, dealers and other financial institutions), that dealer may charge you a fee for executing the purchase for you. A Fund may suspend the sale of its shares at any time and any purchase order may be refused. SALES CHARGES Fund shares are offered at net asset value per share plus a sales charge that is determined by the amount of your investment. The current sales charge schedule is: Sales Charge Sales Charge Sales Charge as Percentage as Percentage as a Percentage of Offering of Net Amount of Offering Amount of Purchase Price Invested Price -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Less than $50,000 5.75% 6.10% 5.00% $50,000 but less than $100,000 4.75% 4.99% 4.00% $100,000 but less than $250,000 3.75% 3.90% 3.00% $250,000 but less than $500,000 3.00% 3.09% 2.50% $500,000 but less than $1,000,000 2.00% 2.04% 1.75% $1,000,000 or more 0.00* 0.00* See Below * No sales charge is payable at the time of purchase on investments of $1 million or more. A CDSC of 1.00% will be imposed on such investments (as described below) in the event of redemptions within 12 months of purchase. The principal underwriter will pay an upfront commission to investment dealers on sales of $1 million or more as follows: 1.00% on amounts of $1 million or more but less than $3 million; plus 0.50% on amounts of $3 million or more but less than $5 million; plus 0.25% for any amounts of $5 million or more. Purchases totalling $1 million or more generally will be aggregated over a 12-month period for purposes of determining the amount of the commission to be paid. For Fund share purchases in a single fund in a single transaction totaling $5 million or more, the principal underwriter will pay a fee monthly in arrears to investment dealers based upon the commission rates stated above. Those rates will be applied to the amount originally invested minus any redemptions (as calculated at month end) and will be paid ratably over the first 12 months after the investment is made. The principal underwriter may also pay commissions of up to 1.00% on sales of Fund shares made at net asset value to certain tax-deferred retirement plans. Fund shares purchased at net asset value in amounts of $1 million but less than $5 million are subject to a 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") if redeemed within 12 months of purchase. Investors who purchase shares of a single fund purchased in a single transaction at net asset value in amounts of $5 million or more will not be subject to any CDSC for such investment or any subsequent investment in the same fund. The CDSC is based on the lower of the net asset value at the time of purchase or the time of redemption. Shares acquired through the reinvestment of distributions are exempt. Redemptions are made first from shares which are not subject to a CDSC. 6 REDUCING OR ELIMINATING SALES CHARGES. Front-end sales charges on purchases of Fund shares may be reduced under the right of accumulation or under a statement of intention. Under the right of accumulation, the sales charges you pay are reduced if the current market value of your current holdings (based on the current offering price), plus your new purchases, total $50,000 or more. Class A shares of other Eaton Vance funds owned by you can be included as part of your current holdings for this purpose. Under a statement of intention, purchases of $50,000 or more made over a 13-month period are eligible for reduced sales charges. Under a statement of intention, the principal underwriter may hold 5% of the dollar amount to be purchased in escrow in the form of shares registered in your name until you satisfy the statement or the 13-month period expires. Fund shares are offered at net asset value to clients of financial intermediaries who charge a fee for their services; accounts affiliated with those financial intermediaries; tax-deferred retirement plans; investment and institutional clients of Eaton Vance; certain persons affiliated with Eaton Vance; and certain Eaton Vance and fund service providers. Ask your investment dealer for details. Fund shares are also sold at net asset value if the amount invested represents redemption proceeds from a mutual fund not affiliated with Eaton Vance, provided the redemption occurred within 60 days of the Fund share purchase and the redeemed shares were subject to a sales charge. Fund shares so acquired will be subject to a 0.50% CDSC if they are redeemed within 12 months of purchase. Investment dealers will be paid a commission on such sales equal to 0.50% of the amount invested. If you redeem shares, you may reinvest at net asset value all or any portion of the redemption proceeds in shares of the Fund (or in Class A shares of any other Eaton Vance fund), provided that the reinvestment occurs within 60 days of the redemption, and the privilege has not been used more than once in the prior 12 months. Your account will be credited with any CDSC paid in connection with the redemption. Any CDSC period applicable to the shares you acquire upon reinvestment will run from the date of your original share purchase. Reinvestment requests must be in writing. If you reinvest, you will be sold shares at the next determined net asset value following receipt of your request. SERVICE FEES. The Fund pays service fees for personal and/or account services equal to 0.25% of average daily net assets annually. After the sale of shares, the principal underwriter receives service fees for one year and thereafter investment dealers receive them based on the value of shares sold by such dealers. REDEEMING SHARES You can redeem shares in any of the following ways: By Mail Send your request to the transfer agent along with any certificates and stock powers. The request must be signed exactly as your account is registered and signature guaranteed. You can obtain a signature guarantee at certain banks, savings and loan institutions, credit unions, securities dealers, securities exchanges, clearing agencies and registered securities associations. You may be asked to provide additional documents if your shares are registered in the name of a corporation, partnership or fiduciary. By Telephone You can redeem up to $100,000 by calling the transfer agent at 1-800-262-1122 on Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (eastern time). Proceeds of a telephone redemption can be mailed only to the account address. Shares held by corporations, trusts or certain other entities and shares that are subject to fiduciary arrangements cannot be redeemed by telephone. Through an Investment Your investment dealer is responsible for transmitting Dealer the order promptly. An investment dealer may charge a fee for this service. If you redeem shares, your redemption price will be based on the net asset value per share next computed after the redemption request is received. Your redemption proceeds will be paid in cash within seven days, reduced by the amount of any applicable CDSC and any federal income tax required to be withheld. Payments will be sent by mail unless you complete the Bank Wire Redemptions section of the account application. If you recently purchased shares, the proceeds of a redemption will not be sent until the purchase check (including a certified or cashier's check) has cleared. If the purchase check has not cleared, redemption proceeds may be delayed up to 15 days from the purchase date. If your account value falls below $750 (other than due to market decline), you may be asked either to add to your account or redeem it within 60 days. If you take no action, your account will be redeemed and the proceeds sent to you. 7 While redemption proceeds are normally paid in cash, redemptions may be paid by distributing marketable securities. If you receive securities, you could incur brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash. SHAREHOLDER ACCOUNT FEATURES Once you purchase shares, the transfer agent establishes a Lifetime Investing Account(R) for you. Share certificates are issued only on request. DISTRIBUTIONS. You may have your Fund distributions paid in one of the following ways: * Full Reinvest Option Dividends and capital gains are reinvested in additional shares. This option will be assigned if you do not specify an option. * Partial Reinvest Option Dividends are paid in cash and capital gains are reinvested in additional shares. * Cash Option Dividends and capital gains are paid in cash. * Exchange Option Dividends and/or capital gains are reinvested in additional shares of another Eaton Vance fund chosen by you. Before selecting this option, you must obtain a prospectus of the other fund and consider its objectives and policies carefully. INFORMATION FROM THE FUND. From time to time, you may be mailed the following: * Annual and Semi-Annual Reports, containing performance information and financial statements. * Periodic account statements, showing recent activity and total share balance. * Form 1099 and tax information needed to prepare your income tax returns. * Proxy materials, in the event a shareholder vote is required. * Special notices about significant events affecting your Fund. WITHDRAWAL PLAN. You may redeem shares on a regular monthly or quarterly basis by establishing a systematic withdrawal plan. Withdrawals will not be subject to any applicable CDSC if they are, in the aggregate, less than or equal to 12% annually of the greater of either the initial account balance or the current account balance. A minimum account size of $5,000 is required to establish a systematic withdrawal plan. Because purchases of Fund shares are generally subject to an initial sales charge, Fund shareholders should not make withdrawals from their accounts while also making purchases. TAX-SHELTERED RETIREMENT PLANS. Fund shares are available for purchase in connection with certain tax-sheltered retirement plans. Call 1-800-225-6265 for information. Distributions will be invested in additional shares for all tax-sheltered retirement plans. EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE. You may exchange your Fund shares for Class A shares of another Eaton Vance fund. Exchanges are generally made at net asset value. If you hold Fund shares for less than six months and exchange them for shares subject to a higher sales charge, you will be charged the difference between the two sales charges. If your shares are subject to a CDSC, the CDSC will continue to apply to your new shares at the same CDSC rate. For purposes of the CDSC, your shares will continue to age from the date of your original purchase. Before exchanging, you should read the prospectus of the new fund carefully. If you wish to exchange shares, write to the transfer agent (address on back cover) or call 1-800-262-1122. Periodic automatic exchanges are also available. The exchange privilege may be changed or discontinued at any time. You will receive 60 days' notice of any material change to the privilege. This privilege may not be used for "market timing". If an account (or group of accounts) makes more than two round-trip exchanges (exchanged from one fund to another and back again) within 12 months, it will be deemed to be market timing. The exchange privilege may be terminated for market timing accounts. TELEPHONE AND ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONS. You can redeem or exchange shares by telephone as described in this prospectus. In addition, certain transactions may be conducted through the Internet. The transfer agent and the principal underwriter have procedures in place to authenticate telephone and electronic instructions (such as using security codes or verifying personal account information). As long as the transfer agent and principal underwriter follow reasonable procedures, they will not be responsible for unauthorized telephone or electronic transactions and you bear the risk of possible loss resulting from these transactions. You may decline the telephone redemption option on the account application. Telephone instructions are tape recorded. 8 "STREET NAME" ACCOUNTS. If your shares are held in a "street name" account at an investment dealer, that dealer (and not the Fund or its transfer agent) will perform all recordkeeping, transaction processing and distribution payments. Because the Fund will have no record of your transactions, you should contact your investment dealer to purchase, redeem or exchange shares, to make changes in your account, or to obtain account information. You will not be able to utilize a number of shareholder features, such as telephone transactions, directly with the Fund. The transfer of shares in a "street name" account to an account with another investment dealer or to an account directly with the Fund involves special procedures and you will be required to obtain historical information about your shares prior to the transfer. Before establishing a "street name" account with an investment dealer, you should determine whether that dealer allows reinvestment of distributions in "street name" accounts. ACCOUNT QUESTIONS. If you have any questions about your account or the services available, please call Eaton Vance Shareholder Services at 1-800-225-6265, or write to the transfer agent (see back cover for address). TAX INFORMATION Large-Cap Growth Fund and Small-Cap Fund intend to pay dividends annually and to distribute any net realized capital gains at least annually. Distributions of income and net short-term capital gains will be taxable as ordinary income. Distributions of any long-term capital gains are taxable as long-term capital gains. Over time, distributions by each Fund can generally be expected to include both dividends taxable as ordinary income and capital gain distributions taxable as long-term capital gains. A portion of each Fund's income distributions may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporations. A Fund's distributions will be taxable as described above whether they are paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares. Investors who purchase shares at a time when a Fund's net asset value reflects gains that are either unrealized or realized but not distributed will pay the full price for the shares and then may receive some portion of the price back as a taxable distribution. Certain distributions paid in January will be taxable to shareholders as if received on December 31 of the prior year. A redemption of Fund shares, including an exchange for shares of another fund, is a taxable transaction. Shareholders should consult with their advisers concerning the applicability of state, local and other taxes to an investment. 9 ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCE INFORMATION ATLANTA CAPITAL PRIOR PERFORMANCE This section presents past performance information ("Composite Performance"), reduced as noted below to reflect expenses, for all accounts, unless otherwise noted, for which Atlanta Capital maintained investment discretion and managed with substantially similar investment objectives, policies and strategies as each of Large-Cap Growth Fund and Small-Cap Fund. The Composite Performance information provided by Atlanta Capital on a "gross of fee" basis has been reduced to deduct anticipated Fund fees and expenses assuming no expense caps or fee waivers. The Composite Performance is shown both with the Funds' maximum sales charge deducted from the initial investment at the beginning of the performance-reporting period and without the sales charge's deduction. The returns shown also assume the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Actual fees will vary depending on, among other things, the applicable fee schedule, Fund size, and applicable sales charges. The fee schedule for each Fund is included in the "Fund Summaries" section of the prospectus. Each Composite Performance is also compared with performance figures for the benchmark index of the appropriate Fund. THE PAST PERFORMANCE OF ATLANTA CAPITAL IN MANAGING ADVISORY ACCOUNTS IS NO GUARANTEE OF FUTURE RESULTS IN MANAGING THE FUNDS. PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING CAUTIONARY GUIDELINES IN REVIEWING THIS APPENDIX: PERFORMANCE FIGURES ARE NOT THE PERFORMANCE OF A FUND. The performance shown for Atlanta Capital is not the performance of a Fund and is not an indication of how a Fund would have performed in the past or will perform in the future. The Funds' performances in the future may be different from Atlanta Capital's performance in advising substantially similar advisory accounts due to factors such as differences in the cash flows into and out of the advisory accounts, different fees, expenses, performance calculation methods, portfolio size and composition. In particular, Composite Performance is not necessarily an indication of how a Fund will perform, as those accounts may not be subject to investment limitations, diversification requirements and other restrictions imposed on mutual funds by the 1940 Act and the Internal Revenue Code, which, if applicable, could have a negative impact on the Fund's performance. ATLANTA CAPITAL AND BENCHMARK PERFORMANCE ARE AVERAGES FOR THE PERIODS SHOWN. The information below shows average compounded annual total rates of returns for the periods indicated and the average total rate of returns for the periods less than one year, but does not reflect the volatility that may occur within a given period. A Fund may invest in market sectors that experienced significant performance fluctuations within the periods presented. THE BENCHMARK. Each Composite Performance is compared to a broad-based securities market index. Broad-based securities indices are unmanaged and are not subject to fees and expenses typically associated with managed accounts, including mutual funds. Investments cannot be made directly in a broad-based securities index. Each Fund's respective index is described below. 10
1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years Since Composite ATLANTA CAPITAL COMPOSITE PERFORMANCE Ended Ended Ended Ended Composite Inception (INCLUDING THE FUNDS' MAXIMUM SALES CHARGE 1) 12/31/01 12/31/01 12/31/01 12/31/01 Inception Date ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- High Quality Growth Composite 2 -20.70% 0.45% 12.04% 12.13% 12.13% 12/31/91 S&P 500 (Large-Cap Growth Fund Benchmark) 3 -11.88% -1.03% 10.70% 12.94% 12.94% High Quality Small Cap Composite 4 3.30% 5.77% 10.90% N/A 11.60% 3/31/92 Russell 2000 (Small-Cap Fund Benchmark) 5 2.49% 6.42% 7.52% N/A 10.99% 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years Since Composite ATLANTA CAPITAL COMPOSITE PERFORMANCE Ended Ended Ended Ended Composite Inception (WITHOUT THE FUNDS' MAXIMUM SALES CHARGE 6) 12/31/01 12/31/01 12/31/01 12/31/01 Inception Date ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ High Quality Growth Composite 2 -15.86% 2.45% 13.38% 12.79% 12.79% 12/31/91 S&P 500 (Large-Cap Growth Fund Benchmark) 3 -11.88% -1.03% 10.70% 12.94% 12.94% High Quality Small Cap Composite 4 9.60% 7.87% 12.22% N/A 12.28% 3/31/92 Russell 2000 (Small-Cap Fund Benchmark) 5 2.49% 6.42% 7.52% N/A 10.99%
1 These returns reflect the Funds' maximum front-end sales charge of 5.75%. 2 The High Quality Growth Composite corresponds to the Large-Cap Growth Fund. The composite's minimum account size is $10,000,000. 3 The S&P 500 is a market capitalization weighted index of common stocks. 4 The High Quality Small Cap Composite corresponds to the Small-Cap Fund. From the composite's inception date March 31, 1992 through December 31, 1994, the composite's minimum account size was $100,000. Beginning January 1, 1995, the minimum account size for this composite is $3,000,000. From 1992 through 1994, the composite had one non-fee paying account that represented the following percentage of composite assets for each indicated year: 1992 - 100%; 1993 - 5%; 1994 - 4%. 5 The Russell 2000 is a market capitalization weighted index of 2,000 small company stocks. 6 These returns do not reflect the Funds' maximum front-end sales charge of 5.75%. 11 LOGO More Information -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ABOUT THE FUNDS: More information is available in the statement of additional information. The statement of additional information is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Additional information about each Portfolios' investments will be available in the annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. In the annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected each Fund's performance during the past year. You may obtain free copies of the statement of additional information and the shareholder reports by contacting the principal underwriter: Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. The Eaton Vance Building 255 State Street Boston, MA 02109 1-800-225-6265 website: www.eatonvance.com You will find and may copy information about each Fund (including the statement of additional information and shareholder reports): at the Securities and Exchange Commission's public reference room in Washington, DC (call 1-202-942-8090 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. ABOUT SHAREHOLDER ACCOUNTS: You can obtain more information from Eaton Vance Shareholder Services (1-800-225-6265). If you own shares and would like to add to, redeem or change your account, please write or call the transfer agent: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PFPC, Inc. P.O. Box 9653 Providence, RI 02940-9653 1-800-262-1122 The Fund's SEC File No. is 811-1241. ACMSLCAPP (C) 2002 Eaton Vance Management STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION April 26, 2002 EATON VANCE LARGE-CAP GROWTH FUND EATON VANCE SMALL-CAP FUND THE EATON VANCE BUILDING 255 STATE STREET BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02109 1-800-225-6265 This Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") provides general information about the Funds and their corresponding Portfolios. Each Fund is a series of Eaton Vance Growth Trust. Capitalized terms used in this SAI and not otherwise defined have the meanings given to them in the prospectus. This SAI contains additional information about: Page Page Strategies and Risks 2 Purchasing and Redeeming Investment Restrictions 4 Shares 14 Management and Organization 5 Sales Charges 15 Investment Advisory and Administrative Performance 17 Services 11 Taxes 18 Other Service Providers 13 Portfolio Securities Calculation of Net Asset Value 14 Transactions 20 Financial Statements 22 Appendix A: Fund Specific Information 27 ALTHOUGH EACH FUND OFFERS ONLY ITS SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT A FUND MIGHT BECOME LIABLE FOR A MISSTATEMENT OR OMISSION IN THIS SAI REGARDING ANOTHER FUND BECAUSE THE FUNDS USE THIS COMBINED SAI. THE TRUSTEES OF THE TRUST HAVE CONSIDERED THIS FACTOR IN APPROVING THE USE OF A COMBINED SAI. This SAI is NOT a prospectus and is authorized for distribution to prospective investors only if preceded or accompanied by the Funds' prospectus dated April 26, 2002, as supplemented from time to time, which is incorporated herein by reference. This SAI should be read in conjunction with the prospectus, which may be obtained by calling 1-800-225-6265. (C) 2002 Eaton Vance Management The following defined terms may be used herein: "SEC" for the Securities and Exchange Commission; "CFTC" for the Commodities Futures Trading Commission; "Code" for the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; "1940 Act" for the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; and "NASD" for the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. For purposes of a Portfolio's policy of investing at least 80% of net assets in a particular type of investment, "net assets" will include any borrowings made for investment purposes. This policy will not be revised unless Fund shareholders are notified of the proposed change at least sixty days in advance of the proposed change. STRATEGIES AND RISKS Each Portfolio's primary strategies are defined in the prospectus. The following is a description of the various investment practices in which a Portfolio may engage, whether as a primary or secondary strategy, and a summary of certain attendant risks. A Portfolio's investment adviser may not buy any of the following instruments or use any of the following techniques unless it believes that doing so will help a Portfolio achieve its investment objective. FOREIGN INVESTMENTS. Because foreign companies are not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies, there may be less publicly available information about a foreign company than about a domestic company. Volume and liquidity in most foreign debt markets is less than in the United States and securities of some foreign companies are less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. companies. There is generally less government supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, broker-dealers and listed companies than in the United States. Mail service between the United States and foreign countries may be slower or less reliable than within the United States, thus increasing the risk of delayed settlements of portfolio transactions or loss of certificates for portfolio securities. Payment for securities before delivery may be required. In addition, with respect to certain foreign countries, there is the possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation, political or social instability, or diplomatic developments which could affect investments in those countries. Moreover, individual foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments position. Foreign securities markets, while growing in volume and sophistication, are generally not as developed as those in the United States, and securities of some foreign issuers (particularly those located in developing countries) may be less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. companies. American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), European Depositary Receipts (EDRs) and Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) may be purchased. ADRs, EDRs and GDRs are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer and are alternatives to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their national markets and currencies. However, they continue to be subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities. These risks include foreign exchange risk as well as the political and economic risks of the underlying issuer's country. ADRs, EDRs and GDRs may be sponsored or unsponsored. Unsponsored receipts are established without the participation of the issuer. Unsponsored receipts may involve higher expenses, they may not pass-through voting or other shareholder rights, and they may be less liquid. FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS. The value of foreign assets as measured in U.S. dollars may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in foreign currency rates and exchange control regulations. Currency exchange rates can also be affected unpredictably by intervention by U.S. or foreign governments or central banks, or the failure to intervene, or by currency controls or political developments in the U.S. or abroad. Foreign currency exchange transactions may be conducted on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market or through entering into derivative currency transactions. Currency futures contracts are exchange-traded and change in value to reflect movements of a currency or a basket of currencies. Settlement must be made in a designated currency. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are individually negotiated and privately traded so they are dependent upon the creditworthiness of the counterparty. Such contracts may be used when a security denominated in a foreign currency is purchased or sold, or when the receipt in a foreign currency of dividend or interest payments on such a security is anticipated. A forward contract can then "lock in" the U.S. dollar price of the security or the U.S. dollar equivalent of such dividend or interest payment, as the case may be. Additionally, when the investment adviser believes that the currency of a particular foreign country may suffer a substantial decline against the U.S. dollar, it may enter into a forward contract to sell, for a fixed amount of dollars, the amount of foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of the securities held that are denominated in such foreign currency. The precise matching of the forward contract amounts and the value of the securities involved will not generally be possible. In addition, it may not be possible to hedge against long-term currency changes. Cross-hedging may be used by using forward contracts in one currency (or basket of currencies) to hedge against fluctuations in the value of securities denominated in a different currency if the investment adviser determines that there is an established historical pattern of correlation between the two currencies (or the basket of currencies and the underlying currency). Use of a different foreign currency magnifies 2 exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. Forward contracts may also be used to shift exposure to foreign currency exchange rate changes from one currency to another. Short-term hedging provides a means of fixing the dollar value of only a portion of portfolio assets. Currency transactions are subject to the risk of a number of complex political and economic factors applicable to the countries issuing the underlying currencies. Furthermore, unlike trading in most other types of instruments, there is no systematic reporting of last sale information with respect to the foreign currencies underlying the derivative currency transactions. As a result, available information may not be complete. In an over-the-counter trading environment, there are no daily price fluctuation limits. There may be no liquid secondary market to close out options purchased or written, or forward contracts entered into, until their exercise, expiration or maturity. There is also the risk of default by, or the bankruptcy of, the financial institution serving as a counterparty. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS. Derivative instruments (which are instruments that derive their value from another instrument, security, index or currency) may be purchased or sold to enhance return (which may be considered speculative), to hedge against fluctuations in securities prices, market conditions or currency exchange rates, or as a substitute for the purchase or sale of securities or currencies. Such transactions may be in the U.S. or abroad and may include the purchase or sale of futures contracts on indicies and options on stock index futures, the purchase of put options and the sale of call options on securities held, equity swaps, the purchase and sale of currency futures, and forward foreign currency exchange contracts. 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. The loss on derivative instruments (other than purchased options) may substantially exceed an investment in these instruments. In addition, the entire premium paid for purchased options may be lost before they can be profitably exercised. Transaction costs are incurred in opening and closing positions. Derivative instruments may sometimes increase or leverage exposure to a particular market risk, thereby increasing price volatility. Over-the-counter ("OTC") derivative instruments involve an enhanced risk that the issuer or counterparty will fail to perform its contractual obligations. Some derivative instruments are not readily marketable or may become illiquid under adverse market conditions. In addition, during periods of market volatility, a commodity exchange may suspend or limit trading in an exchange-traded derivative instrument, which may make the contract temporarily illiquid and difficult to price. Commodity exchanges may also establish daily limits on the amount that the price of a futures contract or futures option can vary from the previous day's settlement price. Once the daily limit is reached, no trades may be made that day at a price beyond the limit. This may prevent the closing out of positions to limit losses. The staff of the SEC takes the position that certain purchased OTC options, and assets used as cover for written OTC options, are illiquid. The ability to terminate OTC derivative instruments may depend on the cooperation of the counterparties to such contracts. For thinly traded derivative instruments, the only source of price quotations may be the selling dealer or counterparty. In addition, certain provisions of the Code limit the use of derivative instruments. Under regulations of the CFTC, the use of futures transactions for non-hedging purposes is limited. There can be no assurance that the use of derivative instruments will be advantageous. Foreign exchange traded futures contracts and options thereon may be used only if the investment adviser determines that trading on such foreign exchange does not entail risks, including credit and liquidity risks, that are materially greater than the risks associated with trading on CFTC-regulated exchanges. A put option on a security may be written only if the investment adviser intends to acquire the security. Credit exposure on equity swaps to any one counterparty will be limited to 5% or less of net assets. Call options written on securites will be covered by ownership of the securities subject to the call option or an offsetting option. ASSET COVERAGE. To the extent required by SEC guidelines, each Portfolio 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, held in a segregated account 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 held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the position(s) requiring cover is open unless replaced with other appropriate assets. As a result, the commitment of a large portion of assets to cover or segregated accounts could impede portfolio management or the ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations. 3 SHORT SALES. A Portfolio may sell a security short if it owns at least an equal amount of the security sold short or another security convertible or exchangeable for an equal amount of the security sold short without payment of further compensation (a short sale against-the-box). In a short sale against-the-box, the short seller is exposed to the risk of being forced to deliver appreciated stock to close the position if the borrowed stock is called in by the lender. These transactions may also require the current recognition of taxable gain under certain tax rules applicable to constructive sales. Each Portfolio expects normally to close its short sales against-the-box by delivering newly-acquired stock. REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. Each Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements (the purchase of a security coupled with an agreement to resell at a higher price) with respect to its permitted investments. In the event of the bankruptcy of the other party to a repurchase agreement, a Portfolio might experience delays in recovering its cash. To the extent that, in the meantime, the value of the securities the Portfolio purchased may have decreased, the Portfolio could experience a loss. Repurchase agreements which mature in more than seven days will be treated as illiquid. A Portfolio's repurchase agreements will provide that the value of the collateral underlying the repurchase agreement will always be at least equal to the repurchase price, including any accrued interest earned on the agreement, and will be marked to market daily. LENDING PORTFOLIO SECURITIES. Each Portfolio may lend up to one-third of the value of its total assets (including borrowings) or such other amount as is permitted under relevant law. Each Portfolio may seek to earn income by lending portfolio securities to broker-dealers or other institutional borrowers. As with other extensions of credit, there are risks of delay in recovery or even loss of rights in the securities loaned if the borrower of the securities fails financially. In the judgment of the investment adviser the loans will be made only to organizations whose credit quality or claims paying ability is considered to be at least investment grade and when the expected returns, net of administrative expenses and any finders' fees, justify the attendant risk. Securities loans currently are required to be secured continuously by collateral in cash, cash equivalents (such as money market instruments) or other liquid securities held by the custodian and maintained in an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. The financial condition of the borrower will be monitored by the investment adviser. TEMPORARY INVESTMENTS. A Portfolio may invest temporarily in cash or cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are highly liquid, short-term securities such as commercial paper, certificates of deposit, short-term notes and short-term U.S. Government obligations. PORTFOLIO TURNOVER. A Portfolio cannot accurately predict its portfolio turnover rate, but it is anticipated that the annual 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 Portfolio were replaced in a period of one year. A high turnover rate (such as 100% or more) necessarily involves greater expenses to the Portfolio and may result in the realization of substantial net short-term capital gains. The Portfolio may engage in active short-term trading to benefit from yield disparities among different issues of securities or among the markets for fixed income securities of different countries, to seek short-term profits during periods of fluctuating interest rates, or for other reasons. Such trading will increase the Portfolio's rate of turnover and may increase the incidence of net short-term capital gains allocated to the Fund by the Portfolio which, upon distribution by the Fund, are taxable to Fund shareholders as ordinary income. INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS The following investment restrictions of each Fund are designated as fundamental policies and as such cannot be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of a Fund's outstanding voting securities, which as used in this SAI means the lesser of (a) 67% of the shares of a Fund present or represented by proxy at a meeting if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares are present or represented at the meeting or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of a Fund. Accordingly, each Fund may not: (1) 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; (2) Concentrate its investments in any particular industry, but, if deemed appropriate for the Fund's objective, up to (but less than) 25% of the value of its assets may be invested in any one industry; (3) Borrow money or issue senior securities except as permitted by the 1940 Act; (4) Purchase securities on margin (but the Fund may obtain such short-term credits as may be necessary for the clearance of purchase and sales of securities); (5) Engage in the underwriting of securities; 4 (6) Purchase or sell real estate, although it may purchase and sell securities which are secured by real estate and securities of companies which invest or deal in real estate; (7) Purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts for the purchase or sale of physical commodities; or (8) Make loans to any person except by (a) the acquisition of debt securities and making portfolio investments, (b) entering into repurchase agreements, (c) lending portfolio securities, and (d) lending cash consistent with applicable law. Notwithstanding the investment policies and restrictions of each Fund, the Fund may invest its investable assets in another open-end management investment company (a portfolio) with substantially the same investment objective, policies and restrictions as the Fund; moreover, subject to Trustee approval the Fund may invest its investable assets in two or more open-end management investment companies which together have substantially the same investment objective, policies and restrictions as the Fund, to the extent permitted by Section 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act. The following nonfundamental investment policies have been adopted by each Fund and Portfolio. A policy may be changed by the Trustees with respect to a Fund without approval by the Fund's shareholders or, with respect to a Portfolio, without approval of the Fund or its other investors. Each Fund and Portfolio will not: * make short sales of securities or maintain a short position, unless at all times when a short position is open (i) it owns an equal amount of such securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable, without payment of any further consideration, for securities of the same issue as, and equal in amount to, the securities sold short or (ii) it holds in a segregated account cash or other liquid securities (to the extent required under the 1940 Act) in an amount equal to the current market value of the securities sold short, and unless not more than 25% of its net assets (taken at current value) is held as collateral for such sales at any one time; or * invest more than 15% of net assets in investments which are not readily marketable, including restricted securities and repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days. Restricted securities for the purposes of this limitation do not include securities eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 and commercial paper issued pursuant to Section 4(2) of said Act that the Board of Trustees, or its delegate, determines to be liquid. Any such determination by a delegate will be made pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board. When investing in Rule 144A securities, the level of portfolio illiquidity may be increased to the extent that eligible buyers become uninterested in purchasing such securities. Whenever an investment policy or investment restriction set forth in the prospectus or this SAI states a maximum percentage of assets that may be invested in any security or other asset, or describes a policy regarding quality standards, such percentage limitation or standard shall be determined immediately after and as a result of the acquisition by a Fund and Portfolio of such security or asset. Accordingly, any later increase or decrease resulting from a change in values, assets or other circumstances or any subsequent rating change made by a rating service, will not compel a Fund and Portfolio to dispose of such security or other asset. MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION FUND MANAGEMENT. The Trustees of the Trust are responsible for the overall management and supervision of the affairs of the Trust. The Trustees of each Portfolio are responsible for the overall management and supervision of the affairs of each Portfolio. The Trustees and officers of the Trust and the Portfolios are listed below. Except as indicated, each individual has held the office shown or other offices in the same company for the last five years. Trustees and officers of the Trust and the Portfolios hold indefinite terms of office. The business address of each Trustee and officer is The Eaton Vance Building, 255 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109. As used in this SAI, "EVC" refers to Eaton Vance Corp., "EV" refers to Eaton Vance Inc. and "EVD" refers to Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. EVC and EV are the corporate parent and trustee, respectively, of Eaton Vance and BMR. EVD is the principal underwriter of each Fund. 5
Number of Portfolios Position(s) with in Fund Complex the Trust/ Term of Office and Principal Occupation(s) During Overseen By Other Directorships Name and Age Portfolio Length of Service Past Five Years Trustee(1) Held ------------ ---------------- ------------------ ------------------------------ -------------------- ------------------- Interested Trustees JESSICA M. BIBLIOWICZ Trustee Trustee of the President and Chief Executive 167 None Age 42 Trust since 1998; Officer of National Financial of the Portfolios Partners (financial services since 2001 company) (since April 1999). President and Chief Operating Officer of John A. Levin & Co. (registered investment adviser) (July 1997 to April 1999) and a Director of Baker, Fentress & Company which owns John A. Levin & Co. (July 1997 to April 1999). Formerly, Executive Vice President of Smith Barney Mutual Funds (July 1994 to June 1997). Ms. Bibliowicz is an interested person because of her affiliation with a brokerage firm. JAMES B. HAWKES Trustee and Trustee of the Chairman, President and Chief 172 Director of EVC, EV Age 60 President Trust since 1982, Executive Officer of BMR, Eaton and EVD President since Vance and their corporate parent 1982; Trustee of and trustee (EVC and EV); Vice the Portfolios President of EVD. President or since 2001 officer of 172 investment companies in the Eaton Vance Fund Complex. Mr. Hawkes is an interested person because of his positions with BMR, Eaton Vance and EVC, which are affiliates of the Fund and the Portfolio. Noninterested Trustees DONALD R. DWIGHT Trustee Trustee of the President of Dwight Partners, Inc. 172 Trustee/Director of Age 71 Trust since 1986; (corporate relations and the Royce Funds of the Portfolios communications company). (consisting of 17 since 2001 portfolios) SAMUEL L. HAYES, III Trustee Trustee of the Jacob H. Schiff Professor of 172 Director of Tiffany Age 67 Trust since 1986; Investment Banking Emeritus, & Co. (specialty of the Portfolios Harvard University Graduate retailer) and since 2001 School of Business Telect, Inc. Administration. (telecommunications services company) NORTON H. REAMER Trustee Trustee of the Chairman and Chief Operating 172 None Age 66 Trust since 1986; Officer, Hellman, Jordan of the Portfolios Management Co., Inc. (an since 2001 investment management company) (since November 2000). President, Unicorn Corporation (an investment and financial advisory services company) (since September 2000). Formerly Chairman of the Board, United Asset Management Corporation (a holding company owning institutional investment management firms) and Chairman, President and Director, UAM Funds (mutual funds). LYNN A. STOUT Trustee Trustee of the Professor Law, University of 167 None Age 44 Trust since 1998; California at Los Angeles School of the Portfolios of Law (since July 2001). Formerly, since 2001 Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center. JACK L. TREYNOR Trustee Trustee of the Investment Adviser and Consultant. 169 None Age 72 Trust since 1972; of the Portfolio since 2001
(1) Includes both master and feeder funds in a master-feeder structure. Principal Officers who are not Trustees
Position(s) with the Term of Office and Name and Age Trust/Portfolio Length of Service Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years ------------ -------------------- ------------------ ---------------------------------------------- DANIEL W. BOONE, III Vice President of Large-Cap Since 2001 Managing Partner and member of the Executive Age 57 Growth Portfolio Committee of Atlanta Capital. Officer of 1 investment company managed by Eaton Vance or BMR. GREGORY L. COLEMAN Vice President of the Trust Since 2001 Partner of Atlanta Capital. Officer of 10 investment Age 52 companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR. 6 Position(s) with the Term of Office and Name and Age Trust/Portfolio Length of Service Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years ------------ -------------------- ------------------ ---------------------------------------------- THOMAS E. FAUST JR. Vice President For the Trust since 1999; Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Age 43 for the Portfolios since Officer of Eaton Vance and BMR and Director of EVC. 2001 Officer of 16 investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR. WILLIAM R. HACKNEY, Vice President of the Since 2001 Managing Partner and member of the Executive III Portfolios Committee of Atlanta Capital. Officer of 3 Age 53 investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR. MARILYN ROBINSON Vice President of Large-Cap Since 2001 Senior Vice President and Principal of Atlanta IRVIN Growth Portfolio Capital. Officer of 1 investment company managed by Age 43 Eaton Vance or BMR. PAUL J. MARSHALL Vice President of Small-Cap Since 2001 Vice President of Atlanta Capital since 2000. Age 36 Portfolio Portfolio manager for Bank of America Capital Management (1995-2000). Officer of 2 investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR. CHARLES B. REED Vice President of Small-Cap Since 2001 Vice President of Atlanta Capital since 1998. Age 36 Portfolio Portfolio manager with the Florida State Board of Administration (1995-1998). Officer of 1 investment company managed by Eaton Vance or BMR. JAMES A. WOMACK Vice President of the Trust Since 2001 Vice President of Atlanta Capital. Officer of 10 Age 33 investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR. JAMES L. O'CONNOR Treasurer For the Trust since 1989; Vice President of BMR, Eaton Vance, EVD and EVC. Age 57 for the Portfolios since Officer of 172 investment companies managed by Eaton 2001 Vance or BMR. ALAN R. DYNNER Secretary For the Trust since 1997; Vice President, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer of Age 61 for the Portfolios since BMR, Eaton Vance, EVD and EVC. Officer of 172 2001 investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR.
The Nominating Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and the Portfolios is comprised of the Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Trust and the Portfolios as that term is defined under the 1940 Act ("noninterested Trustees"). The purpose of the Committee is to recommend to the Board nominees for the position of noninterested Trustee and to assure that at least a majority of the Board of Trustees is comprised of noninterested Trustees of the Trust and the Portfolios. In the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001, the Nominating Committee convened once. The Trustees will, when a vacancy exists or is anticipated, consider any nominee for Trustee recommended by a shareholder if such recommendation is submitted to the Trustees in writing and contains sufficient background information concerning the individual to enable a proper judgement to be made as to such individual's qualifications. Messrs. Treynor (Chairman), Dwight and Reamer are members of the Audit Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and the Portfolios. The Audit Committee's functions include making recommendations to the Trustees regarding the selection and performance of the independent accountants, and reviewing matters relative to accounting and auditing practices and procedures, accounting records, and the internal accounting controls, of the Trust and the Portfolios, and certain service providers. In the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001, the Audit Committee convened once. Messrs. Hayes (Chairman), Dwight and Reamer and Ms. Stout are members of the Special Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and the Portfolios. The purpose of the Special Committee is to consider, evaluate and make recommendations to the full Board of Trustees concerning (i) all contractual arrangements with service providers to the Trust and the Portfolios, including investment advisory (Portfolio only), administrative, transfer agency, custodial and fund accounting and distribution services, and (ii) all other matters in which Eaton Vance or its affiliates has any actual or potential conflict of interest with the Funds, Portfolios or investors therein. In the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001, the Special Committee convened four times. 7 In reviewing the approval of the investment advisory agreement(s) between the Portfolios and the investment adviser, the Special Committee considered, among other things, the following: * An independent report comparing the fees and expenses of each Fund to a peer group of funds; * Information on the investment performance (in the case of a renewal), the relevant peer group(s) of funds and appropriate indices; * Sales and redemption data in respect of the Fund (in the case of a renewal); * The economic outlook and the general investment outlook in the relevant investment markets; * Eaton Vance's results and financial condition and the overall organization of the investment adviser; * Arrangements regarding the distribution of Fund shares; * The procedures used to determine the fair value of each Fund's assets; * The allocation of brokerage, including allocations to soft dollar brokerage and allocations to firms that sell Eaton Vance fund shares; * Eaton Vance's management of the relationship with the custodian, subcustodians and fund accountants; * The resources devoted to Eaton Vance's compliance efforts undertaken on behalf of the funds it manages and the record of compliance with the investment policies and restrictions and with policies on personal securities transactions; * The quality, nature, cost and character of the administrative and other non-investment management services provided by Eaton Vance and its affiliates; * Investment management staffing; * Operating expenses (including transfer agency expenses) paid to third parties; and * Information provided to investors, including the Fund's shareholders. In addition to the factors mentioned above, the Special Committee also reviewed the level of the investment adviser's profits in respect of the management of the Eaton Vance funds, including the Portfolios. The Special Committee considered the profits realized by Eaton Vance and its affiliates in connection with the operation of the Portfolios. The Special Committee also considered Eaton Vance's profit margins in comparison with available industry data. The Special Committee did not consider any single factor as controlling in determining whether or not to approve the investment advisory agreement(s). Nor are the items described herein all encompassing of the matters considered by the Special Committee. In assessing the information provided by Eaton Vance and its affiliates, the Special Committee also took into consideration the benefits to shareholders of investing in a fund that is a part of a large family of funds which provides a large variety of shareholder services. Based on their consideration of all factors that it deemed material and assisted by the advice of its independent counsel, the Special Committee concluded that the approval of the investment advisory agreement(s), including the fee structure (described herein) is in the interests of shareholders. The Special Committee followed the same deliberations when reviewing the sub-advisory agreements for the Portfolios. SHARE OWNERSHIP. The following table shows the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each Trustee in the Fund and in all Eaton Vance Funds overseen by the Trustee as of December 31, 2001.
Dollar Range of Equity Securities Owned by ------------------------------------------ Jessica M. James B. Donald R. Samuel L. Norton H. Lynn A. Jack L. Fund Name Bibliowicz(1) Hawkes(1) Dwight(2) Hayes(2) Reamer(2) Stout(2) Treynor(2) --------- ------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -------- ---------- Large-Cap Growth Fund* None None None None None None None Small-Cap Fund* None None None None None None None Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities Owned in all Registered Funds Overseen by Trustee in the Eaton Vance Family of Funds $10,001-$50,000 over $100,000 over $100,000 over $100,000 over $100,000 $10,001-$50,000 $1-$10,000
* Have not commenced operations. (1) Interested Trustees (2) Disinterested Trustees 8 As of December 31, 2001, no noninterested Trustee or any of their immediate family members owned beneficially or of record any class of securities of EVC, EVD or any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC or EVD. During the calendar years ended December 31, 2000 and December 31, 2001, no noninterested Trustee (or their immediate family members) had: 1. Any direct or indirect interest in Eaton Vance, EVC, EVD or any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC or EVD; 2. Any direct or indirect material interest in any transaction or series of similar transactions with (i) the Trust or any Fund; (ii) another fund managed by EVC, distributed by EVD or a person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC or EVD; (iii) EVC or EVD; (iv) a person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC or EVD; or (v) an officer of any of the above; or 3. Any direct or indirect relationship with (i) the Trust or any Fund; (ii) another fund managed by EVC, distributed by EVD or a person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC or EVD; (iii) EVC or EVD; (iv) a person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC or EVD; or (v) an officer of any of the above. During the calendar years ended December 31, 2000 and December 31, 2001, no officer of EVC, EVD or any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC or EVD served on the Board of Directors of a company where a noninterested Trustee of the Trust or each Portfolio or any of their immediate family members served as an officer. Trustees of each Portfolio who are not affiliated with Eaton Vance may elect to defer receipt of all or a percentage of their annual fees received from certain Eaton Vance sponsored funds in accordance with the terms of a Trustees Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Trustees' Plan"). Under the Trustees' Plan, an eligible Trustee may elect to have his deferred fees invested by the Eaton Vance sponsored fund in the shares of one or more funds in the Eaton Vance Family of Funds, and the amount paid to the Trustees under the Trustees' Plan will be determined based upon the performance of such investments. Neither the Trust nor the Portfolios has a retirement plan for Trustees. Each Portfolio does not participate in the Trustees' Plan. The fees and expenses of the noninterested Trustees of the Trust and the Portfolios are paid by the Funds (and other series of the Trust) and the Portfolios, respectively. (A Trustee of the Trust and the Portfolios who is a member of the Eaton Vance organization receive no compensation from the Trust and the Portfolios). During the fiscal year ending September 30, 2002, it is estimated that the noninterested Trustees of each Portfolio will earn the following compensation in their capacities as Trustees from each Portfolio. For the year ended December 31, 2001, the noninterested Trustees earned the following compensation in their capacities as Trustees of the Trust and of the funds in the Eaton Vance fund complex(1):
Jessica M. Donald R. Samuel L. Norton H. Lynn A. Jack L. Source of Compensation Bibliowicz Dwight Hayes Reamer Stout Treynor ---------------------- ---------- --------- --------- --------- ------- ------- Trust(2) $ 3,027 $ 2,449 $ 2,636 $ 2,426 $ 2,768 $ 2,906 Large-Cap Growth Portfolio* 650 650 650 650 650 650 Small-Cap Portfolio* 650 650 650 650 650 650 Trust and Fund Complex 160,000 162,500(3) 170,000 160,000 160,000(4) 170,000
*Estimated (1) As of January 1, 2002, the Eaton Vance fund complex consists of 173 registered investment companies or series thereof. (2) The Trust consisted of 10 Funds as of December 10, 2001. (3) Includes $60,000 of deferred compensation. (4) Includes $16,000 of deferred compensation. ORGANIZATION Each Fund is a series of the Trust, which was established under Massachusetts law on May 25, 1989 (prior to that date it was a Maryland corporation organized on October 15, 1963), and is operated as an open-end management investment company. The Trust may issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest (no par value per share) in one or more series (such as a Fund). The Trustees have the authority under the Declaration of Trust to create additional classes of shares with differing rights and privileges. When issued and outstanding, shares are fully paid and nonassessable by the Trust. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each full share held. Fractional shares may be voted proportionately. Shares of a Fund will be voted together except that only shareholders of a particular class may vote on matters affecting only that class. Shares have no preemptive or conversion rights and are freely transferable. In the event of the liquidation of a Fund, shareholders of each 9 class are entitled to share pro rata in the net assets attributable to that class available for distribution to shareholders. As permitted by Massachusetts law, there will normally be no meetings of shareholders for the purpose of electing Trustees unless and until such time as less than a majority of the Trustees of the Trust holding office have been elected by shareholders. In such an event the Trustees then in office will call a shareholders' meeting for the election of Trustees. Except for the foregoing circumstances and unless removed by action of the shareholders in accordance with the Trust's By-laws, the Trustees shall continue to hold office and may appoint successor Trustees. The Trust's By-laws provide that no person shall serve as a Trustee if shareholders holding two-thirds of the outstanding shares have removed him or her from that office either by a written declaration filed with the Trust's custodian or by votes cast at a meeting called for that purpose. The By-laws further provide that under certain circumstances the shareholders may call a meeting to remove a Trustee and that the Trust is required to provide assistance in communication with shareholders about such a meeting. The Trust's Declaration of Trust may be amended by the Trustees when authorized by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, the financial interests of which are affected by the amendment. The Trustees may also amend the Declaration of Trust without the vote or consent of shareholders to change the name of the Trust or any series or to make such other changes (such as reclassifying series or classes of shares or restructuring the Trust) as do not have a materially adverse effect on the financial interests of shareholders or if they deem it necessary to conform it to applicable federal or state laws or regulations. The Trust's By-laws provide that the Trust will indemnify its Trustees and officers against liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with any litigation or proceeding in which they may be involved because of their offices with the Trust. However, no indemnification will be provided to any Trustee or officer for any liability to the Trust or shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office. The Trust or any series or class thereof may be terminated by: (1) the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds of the shares outstanding and entitled to vote at any meeting of shareholders of the Trust or the appropriate series or class thereof, or by an instrument or instruments in writing without a meeting, consented to by the holders of two-thirds of the shares of the Trust or a series or class thereof, provided, however, that, if such termination is recommended by the Trustees, the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust or a series or class thereof entitled to vote thereon shall be sufficient authorization; or (2) by means of an instrument in writing signed by a majority of the Trustees, to be followed by a written notice to shareholders stating that a majority of the Trustees has determined that the continuation of the Trust or a series or a class thereof is not in the best interest of the Trust, such series or class or of their respective shareholders. Under Massachusetts law, if certain conditions prevail, shareholders of a Massachusetts business trust (such as the Trust) could be deemed to have personal liability for the obligations of the Trust. Numerous investment companies registered under the 1940 Act have been formed as Massachusetts business trusts, and management is not aware of an instance where such liability has been imposed. The Trust's Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of liability on the part of Fund shareholders and the Trust's By-laws provide that the Trust shall assume the defense on behalf of any Fund shareholders. The Declaration of Trust also contains provisions limiting the liability of a series or class to that series or class. Moreover, the Trust's By-laws also provide for indemnification out of Fund property of any shareholder held personally liable solely by reason of being or having been a shareholder for all loss or expense arising from such liability. The assets of each Fund are readily marketable and will ordinarily substantially exceed its liabilities. In light of the nature of each Fund's business and the nature of its assets, management believes that the possibility of the Fund's liability exceeding its assets, and therefore the shareholder's risk of personal liability, is remote. Each Portfolio was organized as a trust under the laws of the state of New York on December 10, 2001 and intends to be treated as a partnership for federal tax purposes. In accordance with the Declaration of Trust of each Portfolio, there will normally be no meetings of the investors for the purpose of electing Trustees unless and until such time as less than a majority of the Trustees of the Portfolio holding office have been elected by investors. In such an event the Trustees of the Portfolio then in office will call an investors' meeting for the election of Trustees. Except for the foregoing circumstances and unless removed by action of the investors in accordance with the Portfolio's Declaration of Trust, the Trustees shall continue to hold office and may appoint successor Trustees. The Declaration of Trust of each Portfolio provides that no person shall serve as a Trustee if investors holding two-thirds of the outstanding interest have removed him from that office either by a written declaration filed with the Portfolio's custodian or by votes cast at a meeting called for that purpose. The Declaration of Trust further provides that under certain circumstances the investors may call a meeting to remove a Trustee and that the Portfolio is required to provide assistance in communicating with investors about such a meeting. 10 Each Portfolio's Declaration of Trust provides that a Fund and other entities permitted to invest in the Portfolio (e.g., other U.S. and foreign investment companies, and common and commingled trust funds) will each be liable for all obligations of the Portfolio. However, the risk of a Fund incurring financial loss on account of such liability is limited to circumstances in which both inadequate insurance exists and the Portfolio itself is unable to meet its obligations. Accordingly, the Trustees of the Trust believe that neither the Fund nor its shareholders will be adversely affected by reason of a Fund investing in the Portfolio. Whenever a Fund as an investor in a Portfolio is requested to vote on matters pertaining to the Portfolio (other than the termination of the Portfolio's business, which may be determined by the Trustees of the Portfolio without investor approval), the Fund will hold a meeting of Fund shareholders and will vote its interest in the Portfolio for or against such matters proportionately to the instructions to vote for or against such matters received from Fund shareholders. A Fund shall vote shares for which it receives no voting instructions in the same proportion as the shares for which it receives voting instructions. Other investors in a Portfolio may alone or collectively acquire sufficient voting interests in the Portfolio to control matters relating to the operation of the Portfolio, which may require the Fund to withdraw its investment in the Portfolio or take other appropriate action. Any such withdrawal could result in a distribution "in kind" of portfolio securities (as opposed to a cash distribution from the Portfolio). If securities are distributed, a Fund could incur brokerage, tax or other charges in converting the securities to cash. In addition, the distribution in kind may result in a less diversified portfolio of investments or adversely affect the liquidity of a Fund. Notwithstanding the above, there are other means for meeting shareholder redemption requests, such as borrowing. A Fund may withdraw (completely redeem) all its assets from the Portfolio at any time if the Board of Trustees of the Trust determines that it is in the best interest of the Fund to do so. In the event a Fund withdraws all of its assets from the Portfolio, or the Board of Trustees of the Trust determines that the investment objective of the Portfolio is no longer consistent with the investment objective of the Fund, the Trustees would consider what action might be taken, including investing the assets of the Fund in another pooled investment entity or retaining an investment adviser to manage the Fund's assets in accordance with its investment objective. A Fund's investment performance may be affected by a withdrawal of all its assets (or the assets of another investor in the Portfolio) from the Portfolio. INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES Pursuant to Investment Advisory Agreements with each Portfolio, BMR acts as the investment adviser for the Portfolios. Pursuant to Investment Sub-Advisory Agreements with Atlanta Capital Management Company, L.L.C. ("Atlanta Capital"), BMR has delegated investment management of the Portfolios to Atlanta Capital. Atlanta Capital is an indirect, majority-owned subsidiary of Eaton Vance. From time to time, BMR and Atlanta Capital are each referred to herein as an "investment adviser". Atlanta Capital is sometimes referred to herein as "sub-adviser". Investment Advisory Services. The investment adviser and sub-adviser are responsible for managing the investments and affairs of each Portfolio and providing related office facilities and personnel subject to the supervision of the Portfolio's Board of Trustees. The investment sub-adviser furnishes investment research, advice and supervision, furnishes an investment program and determines what securities will be purchased, held or sold by the Portfolio and what portion, if any, of the Portfolio's assets will be held uninvested. Each Investment Advisory Agreement and Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement requires the investment adviser or sub-adviser, as the case may be, to pay the salaries and fees of all officers and Trustees of the Portfolio who are members of the investment adviser's or sub-adviser's organization and all personnel of the investment adviser or sub-adviser performing services relating to research and investment activities. For a description of the compensation that Large-Cap Growth Portfolio and Small-Cap Portfolio pay the investment adviser on average daily net assets up to $500 million, see the prospectus. On net assets of $500 million and over the annual fee is reduced and the advisory fee for each Portfolio is computed as follows: Large-Cap Growth Portfolio Annual Fee Rate Average Daily Net Assets for the Month (for each level) -------------------------------------- ---------------- $500 million but less than $1 billion 0.625% $1 billion but less than $2.5 billion 0.600% $2.5 billion and over 0.575% 11 Small-Cap Portfolio Annual Fee Rate Average Daily Net Assets for the Month (for each level) -------------------------------------- ---------------- $500 million but less than $1 billion 0.9375% $1 billion but less than $2.5 billion 0.8750% $2.5 billion but less than $5 billion 0.8125% $5 billion and over 0.7500% Pursuant to Investment Sub-Advisory Agreements, BMR pays the following compensation to Atlanta Capital for providing sub-advisory services: Large-Cap Growth Portfolio Annual Fee Rate Average Daily Net Assets for the Month (for each level) -------------------------------------- ---------------- up to $500 million 0.4000% $500 million but less than $1 billion 0.3875% $1 billion but less than $2.5 billion 0.3750% $2.5 billion and over 0.3625% Small-Cap Portfolio Annual Fee Rate Average Daily Net Assets for the Month (for each level) -------------------------------------- ---------------- up to $500 million 0.75000% $500 million but less than $1 billion 0.71875% $1 billion but less than $2.5 billion 0.68750% $2.5 billion but less than $5 billion 0.65625% $5 billion and over 0.62500% Each Investment Advisory Agreement and Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement with an investment adviser or sub-adviser continues in effect from year to year so long as such continuance is approved at least annually (i) by the vote of a majority of the noninterested Trustees of the Trust or the Portfolio, as the case may be, 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 the Portfolio, as the case may be, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust or the Portfolio, as the case may be. Each Agreement may be terminated at any time without penalty on sixty (60) days' written notice by the Board of Trustees of either party, or by vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust or the Portfolio, as the case may be, and the Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment. Each Agreement provides that the investment adviser or sub-adviser may render services to others. Each Agreement also provides that the investment adviser or sub-adviser shall not be liable for any loss incurred in connection with the performance of its duties, or action taken or omitted under the Agreement, in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties thereunder, or for any losses sustained in the acquisition, holding or disposition of any security or other investment. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES. As indicated in the prospectus, Eaton Vance serves as administrator of each Fund, and each Fund is authorized to pay Eaton Vance a fee in the amount of 0.15% of average daily net assets for providing administrative services to the Fund. Under its Administrative Services Agreement, Eaton Vance has been engaged to administer each Fund's affairs, subject to the supervision of the Trustees of the Trust, and shall furnish office space and all necessary office facilities, equipment and personnel for administering the affairs of each Fund. INFORMATION ABOUT ATLANTA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT. Atlanta Capital is an Atlanta, Georgia based equity and fixed income manager with a primary focus on separate account management for institutional clients. At year end 2001, Atlanta Capital's assets under management totalled $7.1 billion. Atlanta Capital was founded in 1969 as a registered investment adviser. All of the employees of Atlanta Capital are employees of Eaton Vance Acquisitions, an Eaton Vance subsidiary, and own stock of EVC. 12 INFORMATION ABOUT BMR AND EATON VANCE. BMR and Eaton Vance are business trusts organized under Massachusetts law. Eaton Vance, Inc. ("EV") serves as trustee of BMR and Eaton Vance. EV is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eaton Vance Corporation ("EVC"), a Maryland corporation and publicly-held holding company. EVC through its subsidiaries and affiliates engages primarily in investment management, administration and marketing activities. The Directors of EVC are James B. Hawkes, John G.L. Cabot, Leo I. Higdon, Jr., John M. Nelson, Vincent M. O'Reilly and Ralph Z. Sorenson. All of the issued and outstanding shares of BMR are owned by Eaton Vance and all of the shares of Eaton Vance are owned by Eaton Vance Business Trust, which is owned by EVC. All shares of the outstanding Voting Common Stock of EVC are deposited in a Voting Trust, the Voting Trustees of which are Messrs. Hawkes, Jeffrey P. Beale, Alan R. Dynner, Thomas E. Faust, Jr., Thomas J. Fetter, Scott H. Page, Duncan W. Richardson, William M. Steul, Payson F. Swaffield, Michael W. Weilheimer, and Wharton P. Whitaker (all of whom are officers of Eaton Vance). The Voting Trustees have unrestricted voting rights for the election of Directors of EVC. All of the outstanding voting trust receipts issued under said Voting Trust are owned by certain of the officers of BMR and Eaton Vance who are also officers, or officers and Directors of EVC and EV. As indicated under "Management and Organization", all of the officers of the Trust (as well as Mr. Hawkes who is also a Trustee) hold positions in the Eaton Vance organization. CODE OF ETHICS. Each investment adviser and the sub-adviser and each Fund and each Portfolio have adopted Codes of Ethics governing personal securities transactions. Under the Codes, Eaton Vance employees may purchase and sell securities (including securities held by a Portfolio) subject to certain pre-clearance and reporting requirements and other procedures. EXPENSES. Each Fund and Portfolio is responsible for all expenses not expressly stated to be payable by another party (such as expenses required to be paid pursuant to an agreement with the investment adviser, the principal underwriter or the administrator). In the case of expenses incurred by the Trust, each Fund is responsible for its pro rata share of those expenses. OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER. Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. ("EVD"), The Eaton Vance Building, 255 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, is the principal underwriter of each Fund. The principal underwriter acts as principal in selling shares under a Distribution Agreement with the Trust. The expenses of printing copies of prospectuses used to offer shares and other selling literature and of advertising are borne by the principal underwriter. The fees and expenses of qualifying and registering and maintaining qualifications and registrations of a Fund and its shares under federal and state securities laws are borne by the Fund. The principal underwriter distributes shares on a "best efforts" basis under which it is required to take and pay for only such shares as may be sold. The Trust has authorized the principal underwriter to act as its agent in repurchasing shares at a rate of $2.50 for each repurchase transaction handled by the principal underwriter. EVD is a wholly-owned subsidiary of EVC. Mr. Hawkes is a Vice President and Director, Mr. Dynner is a Vice President, Secretary and Clerk and Mr. O'Connor is a Vice President of EVD. CUSTODIAN. Investors Bank & Trust Company ("IBT"), 200 Clarendon Street, Boston, MA 02116, serves as custodian to each Fund and Portfolio. IBT has custody of all cash and securities representing a Fund's interest in a Portfolio, has custody of each Portfolio's assets, maintains the general ledger of each Portfolio and each Fund and computes the daily net asset value of interests in each Portfolio and the net asset value of shares of each Fund. In such capacity it attends to details in connection with the sale, exchange, substitution, transfer or other dealings with each Portfolio's investments, receives and disburses all funds and performs various other ministerial duties upon receipt of proper instructions from the Trust and each Portfolio. IBT also provides services in connection with the preparation of shareholder reports and the electronic filing of such reports with the SEC. EVC and its affiliates and their officers and employees from time to time have transactions with various banks, including IBT. It is Eaton Vance's opinion that the terms and conditions of such transactions were not and will not be influenced by existing or potential custodial or other relationships between each Fund or each Portfolio and such banks. INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS. Deloitte & Touche LLP, 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116, are the Fund and Portfolio independent accountants, providing audit services, tax return preparation, and assistance and consultation with respect to the preparation of filings with the SEC. TRANSFER AGENT. PFPC, Inc., P.O. Box 9653, Providence, RI 02940-9653, serves as transfer and dividend disbursing agent for each Fund. 13 CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE The net asset value of each Portfolio is computed by IBT (as agent and custodian for each Portfolio) by subtracting the liabilities of the Portfolio from the value of its total assets. Each Fund and Portfolio will be closed for business and will not price their respective shares or interests on the following business holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Each investor in a Portfolio, including a Fund, may add to or reduce its investment in the Portfolio on each day the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") is open for trading ("Portfolio Business Day") as of the close of regular trading on the Exchange (the "Portfolio Valuation Time"). The value of each investor's interest in the Portfolio will be determined by multiplying the net asset value of the Portfolio by the percentage, determined on the prior Portfolio Business Day, which represented that investor's share of the aggregate interests in the Portfolio on such prior day. Any additions or withdrawals for the current Portfolio Business Day will then be recorded. Each investor's percentage of the aggregate interest in the Portfolio will then be recomputed as a percentage equal to a fraction (i) the numerator of which is the value of such investor's investment in the Portfolio as of the Portfolio Valuation Time on the prior Portfolio Business Day plus or minus, as the case may be, the amount of any additions to or withdrawals from the investor's investment in the Portfolio on the current Portfolio Business Day and (ii) the denominator of which is the aggregate net asset value of the Portfolio as of the Portfolio Valuation Time on the prior Portfolio Business Day plus or minus, as the case may be, the amount of the net additions to or withdrawals from the aggregate investment in the Portfolio on the current Portfolio Business Day by all investors in the Portfolio. The percentage so determined will then be applied to determine the value of the investor's interest in the Portfolio for the current Portfolio Business Day. The Trustees of each Portfolio have established the following procedures for the fair valuation of the Portfolio's assets under normal market conditions. Marketable securities listed on foreign or U.S. securities exchanges or in the NASDAQ National Market System generally are valued at closing sale prices or, if there were no sales, at the mean between the closing bid and asked prices therefor on the exchange where such securities are principally traded or on such National Market System (such prices may not be used, however, where an active over-the-counter market in an exchange listed security better reflects current market value). Unlisted or listed securities for which closing sale prices are not available are valued at the mean between the latest bid and asked prices. An option is valued at the last sale price as quoted on the principal exchange or board of trade on which such option or contract is traded, or in the absence of a sale, at the mean between the last bid and asked prices. Futures positions on securities or currencies are generally valued at closing settlement prices. Short-term debt securities with a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost. If securities were acquired with a remaining maturity of more than 60 days, their amortized cost value will be based on their value on the sixty-first day prior to maturity. Other fixed income and debt securities, including listed securities and securities for which price quotations are available, will normally be valued on the basis of valuations furnished by a pricing service. All other securities are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by or at the direction of the Trustees. Generally, trading in the foreign securities owned by a Portfolio is substantially completed each day at various times prior to the close of the Exchange. The values of these securities used in determining the net asset value of a Portfolio generally are computed as of such times. Occasionally, events affecting the value of foreign securities may occur between such times and the close of the Exchange which will not be reflected in the computation of a Portfolio's net asset value (unless the Portfolio deems that such events would materially affect its net asset value, in which case an adjustment would be made and reflected in such computation). Foreign securities and currency held by a Portfolio will be valued in U.S. dollars; such values will be computed by the custodian based on foreign currency exchange rate quotations supplied by an independent quotation service. PURCHASING AND REDEEMING SHARES ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PURCHASES. Fund shares are offered for sale only in states where they are registered. Fund shares are continuously offered through investment dealers which have entered agreements with the principal underwriter. The sales charge included in the public offering price of Fund shares is divided between the principal underwriter and the investment dealer. The sales charge table is applicable to purchases of a Fund alone or in combination with purchases of certain other funds offered by the principal underwriter, made at a single time by (i) an individual, or an individual, his or her spouse and their children under the age of twenty-one, purchasing shares for his or their own account, and (ii) a trustee or other fiduciary purchasing shares for a single trust estate or a single fiduciary account. The table is also presently applicable to (1) purchases of Fund shares pursuant to a written Statement of Intention; or (2) purchases of Fund shares pursuant to the Right of Accumulation and declared as such at the time of purchase. See "Sales Charges". 14 In connection with employee benefit or other continuous group purchase plans, a Fund may accept initial investments of less than $1,000 on the part of an individual participant. In the event a shareholder who is a participant of such a plan terminates participation in the plan, his or her shares will be transferred to a regular individual account. However, such account will be subject to the right of redemption by a Fund as described below. SUSPENSION OF SALES. The Trust may, in its absolute discretion, suspend, discontinue or limit the offering of one or more of its classes of shares at any time. In determining whether any such action should be taken, the Trust's management intends to consider all relevant factors, including (without limitation) the size of a Fund or class, the investment climate and market conditions, the volume of sales and redemptions of shares. Suspension of the offering of shares would not, of course, affect a shareholder's ability to redeem shares. ACQUIRING FUND SHARES IN EXCHANGE FOR SECURITIES. IBT, as escrow agent, will receive securities acceptable to Eaton Vance, as administrator, in exchange for Fund shares. The minimum value of securities (or securities and cash) accepted for deposit is $5,000. Securities accepted will be sold on the day of their receipt or as soon thereafter as possible. The number of Fund shares to be issued in exchange for securities will be the aggregate proceeds from the sale of such securities, divided by the applicable public offering price of shares acquired on the day such proceeds are received. Eaton Vance will use reasonable efforts to obtain the then current market price for such securities but does not guarantee the best available price. Eaton Vance will absorb any transaction costs, such as commissions, on the sale of the securities. Securities determined to be acceptable should be transferred via book entry or physically delivered, in proper form for transfer, through an investment dealer, together with a completed and signed Letter of Transmittal in approved form (available from investment dealers). Investors who are contemplating an exchange of securities for shares, or their representatives, must contact Eaton Vance to determine whether the securities are acceptable before forwarding such securities. Eaton Vance reserves the right to reject any securities. Exchanging securities for shares may create a taxable gain or loss. Each investor should consult his or her tax adviser with respect to the particular federal, state and local tax consequences of exchanging securities. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT REDEMPTIONS. The right to redeem shares of a Fund can be suspended and the payment of the redemption price deferred when the Exchange is closed (other than for customary weekend and holiday closings), during periods when trading on the Exchange is restricted as determined by the SEC, or during any emergency as determined by the SEC which makes it impracticable for a Portfolio to dispose of its securities or value its assets, or during any other period permitted by order of the SEC for the protection of investors. Due to the high cost of maintaining small accounts, the Trust reserves the right to redeem accounts with balances of less than $750. Prior to such a redemption, shareholders will be given 60 days' written notice to make an additional purchase. However, no such redemption would be required by the Trust if the cause of the low account balance was a reduction in the net asset value of shares. No CDSC will be imposed with respect to such involuntary redemptions. While normally payments will be made in cash for redeemed shares, the Trust, subject to compliance with applicable regulations, has reserved the right to pay the redemption price of shares of a Fund, either totally or partially, by a distribution in kind of readily marketable securities withdrawn from the Portfolio. The securities so distributed would be valued pursuant to the valuation procedures described in this SAI. If a shareholder received a distribution in kind, the shareholder could incur brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash. SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN. The transfer agent will send to the shareholder regular monthly or quarterly payments of any permitted amount designated by the shareholder based upon the value of the shares held. The checks will be drawn from share redemptions and hence, may require the recognition of taxable gain or loss. Income dividends and capital gains distributions in connection with withdrawal plan accounts will be credited at net asset value as of the record date for each distribution. Continued withdrawals in excess of current income will eventually use up principal, particularly in a period of declining market prices. A shareholder may not have a withdrawal plan in effect at the same time he or she has authorized Bank Automated Investing or is otherwise making regular purchases of Fund shares. The shareholder, the transfer agent or the principal underwriter may terminate the withdrawal plan at any time without penalty. SALES CHARGES DEALER COMMISSIONS. The principal underwriter may, from time to time, at its own expense, provide additional incentives to investment dealers which employ registered representatives who sell Fund shares and/or shares of other funds distributed by the principal underwriter. In some instances, such additional incentives may be offered only to certain investment dealers whose representatives sell or are expected to sell significant amounts of shares. In addition, the principal underwriter may from time to time increase or decrease the sales commissions payable to investment dealers. The principal underwriter may allow, upon notice to all investment dealers with whom it has agreements, discounts up to the full sales charge during the periods specified in the notice. During periods when the discount includes the full sales charge, such investment dealers may be deemed to be underwriters as that term is defined in the Securities Act of 1933. 15 PURCHASES AT NET ASSET VALUE. Fund shares may be sold at net asset value to current and retired Directors and Trustees of Eaton Vance funds and portfolios; to clients (including custodial, agency, advisory and trust accounts) and current and retired officers and employees of Eaton Vance, its affiliates and other investment advisers of Eaton Vance sponsored funds; to officers and employees of IBT and the transfer agent; to persons associated with law firms, consulting firms and others providing services to Eaton Vance and the Eaton Vance funds; and to such persons' spouses, parents, siblings and children and their beneficial accounts. Such shares may also be issued at net asset value (1) in connection with the merger (or similar transaction) of an investment company (or series or class thereof) or personal holding company with a Fund (or class thereof), (2) to investors making an investment as part of a fixed fee program whereby an entity unaffiliated with the investment adviser provides multiple investment services, such as management, brokerage and custody, and (3) to investment advisors, financial planners or other intermediaries who place trades for their own accounts or the accounts of their clients and who charge a management, consulting or other fee for their services; clients of such investment advisors, financial planners or other intermediaries who place trades for their own accounts if the accounts are linked to the master account of such investment advisor, financial planner or other intermediary on the books and records of the broker or agent; and to retirement and deferred compensation plans and trusts used to fund those plans, including, but not limited to, those defined in Section 401(a), 403(b) or 457 of the Code and "rabbi trusts". Fund shares may also be sold at net asset value to registered representatives and employees of investment dealers and bank employees who refer customers to registered representatives of investment dealers. Sales charges generally are waived because either (i) there is no sales effort involved in the sale of shares or (ii) the investor is paying a fee (other than the sales charge) to the investment dealer involved in the sale. STATEMENT OF INTENTION. If it is anticipated that $50,000 or more of Fund shares and shares of other funds exchangeable for Class A shares of another Eaton Vance fund will be purchased within a 13-month period, the Statement of Intention section of the account application should be completed so that shares may be obtained at the same reduced sales charge as though the total quantity were invested in one lump sum. Shares held under Right of Accumulation (see below) as of the date of the Statement will be included toward the completion of the Statement. If you make a Statement of Intention, the transfer agent is authorized to hold in escrow sufficient shares (5% of the dollar amount specified in the Statement) which can be redeemed to make up any difference in sales charge on the amount intended to be invested and the amount actually invested. A Statement of Intention does not obligate the shareholder to purchase or the Fund to sell the full amount indicated in the Statement. If the amount actually purchased during the 13-month period is less than that indicated in the Statement, the shareholder will be requested to pay the difference between the sales charge applicable to the shares purchased and the sales charge paid under the Statement of Intention. If the payment is not received in 20 days, the appropriate number of escrowed shares will be redeemed in order to realize such difference. If the total purchases during the 13-month period are large enough to qualify for a lower sales charge than that applicable to the amount specified in the Statement, all transactions will be computed at the expiration date of the Statement to give effect to the lower sales charge. Any difference will be refunded to the shareholder in cash or applied to the purchase of additional shares, as specified by the shareholder. This refund will be made by the investment dealer and the principal underwriter. If at the time of the recomputation, the investment dealer for the account has changed, the adjustment will be made only on those shares purchased through the current investment dealer for the account. RIGHT OF ACCUMULATION. The applicable sales charge level for the purchase of Fund shares is calculated by taking the dollar amount of the current purchase and adding it to the value (calculated at the maximum current offering price) of the Fund shares the shareholder owns in his or her account(s) in the Fund, and shares of other funds exchangeable for Fund shares. The sales charge on the shares being purchased will then be at the rate applicable to the aggregate. Shares purchased (i) by an individual, his or her spouse and their children under the age of twenty-one, and (ii) by a trustee, guardian or other fiduciary of a single trust estate or a single fiduciary account, will be combined for the purpose of determining whether a purchase will qualify for the Right of Accumulation and if qualifying, the applicable sales charge level. For any such discount to be made available, at the time of purchase a purchaser or his or her investment dealer must provide the principal underwriter (in the case of a purchase made through an investment dealer) or the transfer agent (in the case of an investment made by mail) with sufficient information to permit verification that the purchase order qualifies for the accumulation privilege. Confirmation of the order is subject to such verification. The Right of Accumulation privilege may be amended or terminated at any time as to purchases occurring thereafter. TAX-SHELTERED RETIREMENT PLANS. Fund shares are available for purchase in connection with certain tax-sheltered retirement plans. Detailed information concerning these plans, including certain exceptions to minimum investment requirements, and copies of the plans are available from the principal underwriter. This information should be read carefully and consulting with an attorney or tax adviser may be advisable. The information sets forth the service fee charged for retirement plans and describes the federal income tax 16 consequences of establishing a plan. Participant accounting services (including trust fund reconciliation services) will be offered only through third party recordkeepers and not by the principal underwriter. Under all plans, dividends and distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional shares. SERVICE PLAN The Trust has in effect a Service Plan (the "Fund Plan") for each Fund's shares that is designed to meet the service fee requirements of the sales charge rule of the NASD. (Management believes service fee payments are not distribution expenses governed by Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, but has chosen to have the Plan approved as if that Rule were applicable.) The Fund Plan provides that shares of each Fund may make service fee payments for personal services and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts to the principal underwriter, investment dealers and other persons in amounts not exceeding 0.25% of its average daily net assets for any fiscal year. Fund service fees are paid quarterly in arrears. For the service fees paid by Fund shares, see Appendix A. The Plan continues in effect from year to year so long as such continuance is approved at least annually by the vote of both a majority of (i) the noninterested Trustees of the Trust who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or any agreements related to the Plan (the "Plan Trustees") and (ii) all of the Trustees then in office. The Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the Plan Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. The Plan requires quarterly Trustee review of a written report of the amount expended under the Plan and the purposes for which such expenditures were made. The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the payments described therein without approval of the shareholders of the Fund and the Trustees. So long as the Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of the noninterested Trustees shall be committed to the discretion of such Trustees. The current Plan was initially approved by the Trustees, including the Plan Trustees, on December 10, 2001. The Trustees of the Trust who are "interested" persons of the Trust have an indirect financial interest in the Plan because their employers (or affiliates thereof) receive distribution and/or service fees under the Plan or agreements related thereto. PERFORMANCE Average annual total return before deduction of taxes ("pre-tax return") is determined by multiplying a hypothetical initial purchase order of $1,000 by the average annual compound rate of return (including capital appreciation/depreciation, and distributions paid and reinvested) for the stated period and annualizing the result. The calculation assumes (i) that all distributions are reinvested at net asset value on the reinvestment dates during the period, (ii) the deduction of the maximum of any initial sales charge from the initial $1,000 purchase, (iii) a complete redemption of the investment at the end of the period, and (iv) the deduction of any applicable CDSC at the end of the period. Average annual total return after the deduction of taxes on distributions is calculated in the same manner as pre-tax return except the calculation assumes that any federal income taxes due on distributions are deducted from the distributions before they are reinvested. Average annual total return after the deduction of taxes on distributions and taxes on redemption also is calculated in the same manner as pre-tax return except the calculation assumes that (i) any federal income taxes due on distributions are deducted from the distributions before they are reinvested and (ii) any federal income taxes due upon redemption are deducted at the end of the period. After-tax returns are based on the highest federal income tax rates in effect for individual taxpayers as of the time of each assumed distribution and redemption (taking into account their tax character), and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. In calculating after-tax returns, the net value of any federal income tax credits available to shareholders is applied to reduce federal income taxes payable on distributions at or near year-end and, to the extent the net value of such credits exceeds such distributions, is then assumed to be reinvested in additional Fund shares at net asset value on the last day of the fiscal year in which the credit was generated or, in the case of certain tax credits, on the date on which the year-end distribution is paid. For pre-tax and after-tax total return information, see Appendix A. In addition to the foregoing total return figures, each Fund may provide pre-tax and after-tax annual and cumulative total return, as well as the ending redeemable cash value of a hypothetical investment. If shares are subject to a sales charge, total return figures may be calculated based on reduced sales charges or at net asset value. These returns would be lower if the full sales charge was imposed. After-tax returns may also be calculated using different tax rate assumptions and taking into account state and local income taxes as well as federal taxes. Present and prospective investors may be provided with information on equity investing, which may include comparative performance information, evaluations of Fund performance, charts and/or illustrations prepared by independent sources, and narratives (including editorial comments). Performance may be compared to relevant indices, comparable investments, tax-deferred vehicles (such as Individual Retirement Accounts ("IRAs"), college investment plans and variable annuities) and to averages, performance rankings or ratings, or other information prepared by recognized mutual fund statistical services. Information relating to mutual fund classifications or categories created by such 17 statistical organizations and Fund categories and classifications may also be provided to investors. Information included in advertisements and materials furnished to investors may also include charts and illustrations showing the effects of inflation and taxes (including their effects on the dollar and the return on various investments), the effects of compounding earnings, and statistics, data and performance studies prepared by independent organizations or included in various publications reflecting the performance achieved by various asset classes or types of investments. Such information may also include commentary prepared by Eaton Vance investment professionals, including portfolio managers. Investors may be provided with information concerning Fund volatility or risk, including but not limited to beta, standard deviation and Sharpe ratio. Beta is a measure of risk which shows Fund volatility relative to a market index. A fund with a beta of 1 would have performed exactly like the market index; a beta of 2 would mean its performance was twice as volatile as the index, positive or negative. Standard deviation is a measure of a security's volatility, or variability, in expected return. Sharpe ratio is a measure of risk-adjusted performance. The higher the Sharpe ratio the better a fund's historical risk-adjusted return. Information concerning Fund distribution payments (or the payment record of issuers in which the Fund may invest) may also be provided to investors. Information used in advertisements and materials furnished to present and prospective investors may include statements or illustrations relating to the appropriateness of certain types of securities and/or mutual funds to meet specific financial goals. Such information may address: * cost associated with aging parents; * funding a college education (including its actual and estimated cost); * health care expenses (including actual and projected expenses); * long-term disabilities (including the availability of, and coverage provided by, disability insurance); and * retirement (including the availability of social security benefits, the tax treatment of such benefits and statistics and other information relating to maintaining a particular standard of living and outliving existing assets). Such information may also address different methods for saving money and the results of such methods, as well as the benefits of investing in particular types of securities or in mutual funds. Information provided to investors may also include profiles of different types of investors and different strategies for achieving investment goals (such as asset allocation strategies). Hypothetical examples may be used to demonstrate the foregoing. Information about portfolio allocation, portfolio turnover and portfolio holdings at a particular date may be included in advertisements and other material furnished to present and prospective shareholders. Descriptions of Atlanta Capital, Eaton Vance and other Fund and Portfolio service providers, their investment styles, other investment products, personnel and Fund distribution channels, as well as information on the use of investment professionals, also may be provided. A Fund's performance may differ from that of other investors in the Portfolio, including other investment companies. TAXES Each series of the Trust is treated as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes. Each Fund has elected to be treated and intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company ("RIC") under the Code. Accordingly, each Fund intends to satisfy certain requirements relating to sources of its income and diversification of its assets and to distribute substantially all of its net income and net short-term and long-term capital gains (after reduction by any available capital loss carryforwards) in accordance with the timing requirements imposed by the Code, so as to maintain its RIC status and to avoid paying any federal income or excise tax. To the extent it qualifies for treatment as a RIC and satisfies the above-mentioned distribution requirements, a Fund will not be subject to federal income tax on income paid to its shareholders in the form of dividends or capital gain distributions. Each Fund intends to qualify as a RIC for its current fiscal year. Because each Fund invests its assets in a Portfolio, the Portfolio normally must satisfy the applicable source of income and diversification requirements in order for the Fund to also satisfy these requirements. For federal income tax purposes, each Portfolio intends to be treated as a partnership that is not a "publicly traded partnership" and, as a result, will not be subject to federal income tax. A Fund, as an investor in a Portfolio, will be required to take into account in determining its federal income tax liability its share of such Portfolio's income, gains, losses, deductions and credits, without regard to whether it has received any distributions from such Portfolio. Each Portfolio will allocate at least annually among its investors, including a Fund, the Portfolio's net investment income, net realized capital gains, and any other items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit. For purposes of applying the requirements of the Code regarding qualification as a RIC, each Fund (i) will be deemed to own its proportionate share of each of the assets of the Portfolio and (ii) will be entitled to the gross income of the Portfolio attributable to such share. 18 In order to avoid incurring a federal excise tax obligation, the Code requires that a Fund distribute (or be deemed to have distributed) by December 31 of each calendar year (i) at least 98% of its ordinary 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 Fund paid no federal income tax. Under current law, provided that a Fund qualifies as a RIC and a Portfolio is treated as a partnership for Massachusetts and federal tax purposes, neither the Fund nor the Portfolio should be liable for any income, corporate excise or franchise tax in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. If a Fund does not qualify as a RIC for any taxable year, the Fund's taxable income will be subject to corporate income taxes, and all distributions from earnings and profits, including distributions of net capital gain (if any), will be taxable to the shareholder as ordinary income. In addition, in order to requalify for taxation as a RIC, the Fund may be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make certain distributions. A Portfolio'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 a Portfolio, defer Portfolio losses, cause adjustments in the holding periods of Portfolio 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. Transactions in foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated debt securities and certain foreign currency options, futures contracts, forward contracts and similar instruments (to the extent permitted) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned. Investments in "passive foreign investment companies" could subject a Portfolio to U.S. federal income tax or other charges on certain distributions from such companies and on disposition of investments in such companies; however, the tax effects of such investments may be mitigated by making an election to mark such investments to market annually or treat the passive foreign investment company as a "qualified electing fund". Each Portfolio may be subject to foreign withholding or other foreign taxes with respect to income (possibly including, in some cases, capital gains) on certain foreign securities. These taxes may be reduced or eliminated under the terms of an applicable U.S. income tax treaty. As it is not expected that more than 50% of the value of the total assets of a Portfolio will consist of securities issued by foreign corporations, a Fund will not be eligible to pass through to shareholders its proportionate share of any foreign taxes paid by the Portfolio and allocated to the Fund, with the result that shareholders will not include in income, and will not be entitled to take any foreign tax credits or deductions for, such foreign taxes. A portion of distributions made by a Fund which are derived from dividends from domestic corporations may qualify for the dividends-received deduction ("DRD") for corporations. The DRD is reduced to the extent the Fund shares with respect to which the dividends are received are treated as debt-financed under the Code and is eliminated if the shares are deemed to have been held for less than a minimum period, generally 46 days. Receipt of certain distributions qualifying for the DRD may result in reduction of the tax basis of the corporate shareholder's shares. Distributions eligible for the DRD may give rise to or increase an alternative minimum tax for certain corporations. Any loss realized upon the sale or exchange of Fund shares with a tax holding period of 6 months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any distributions treated as long-term capital gain with respect to such shares. In addition, all or a portion of a loss realized on a redemption or other disposition of Fund shares may be disallowed under "wash sale" rules to the extent the shareholder acquired other shares of the same Fund (whether through the reinvestment of distributions or otherwise) within the period beginning 30 days before the redemption of the loss shares and ending 30 days after such date. Any disallowed loss will result in an adjustment to the shareholder's tax basis in some or all of the other shares acquired. Sales charges paid upon a purchase of shares subject to a front-end sales charge cannot be taken into account for purposes of determining gain or loss on a redemption or exchange of the shares before the 91st day after their purchase to the extent a sales charge is reduced or eliminated in a subsequent acquisition of shares of the Fund (or of another fund) pursuant to the reinvestment or exchange privilege. Any disregarded amounts will result in an adjustment to the shareholder's tax basis in some or all of any other shares acquired. Dividends and distributions on a Fund's shares are generally subject to federal income tax as described herein to the extent they do not exceed the Fund's realized income and gains, even though such dividends and distributions may economically represent a return of a particular shareholder's investment. Such distributions are likely to occur in respect of shares purchased at a time when 19 the Fund's net asset value reflects gains that are either unrealized, or realized but not distributed. Such realized gains may be required to be distributed even when a Fund's net asset value also reflects unrealized losses. Certain distributions declared in October, November or December and paid in the following January will be taxed to shareholders as if received on December 31 of the year in which they were declared. Amounts paid by a Fund to individuals and certain other shareholders who have not provided the Fund with their correct taxpayer identification number ("TIN") and certain certifications required by the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") as well as shareholders with respect to whom the Fund has received certain information from the IRS or a broker, may be subject to "backup" withholding of federal income tax arising from the Fund's taxable dividends and other distributions as well as the proceeds of redemption transactions (including repurchases and exchanges), at a rate of 30% for amounts paid during 2002 and 2003. An individual's TIN is generally his or her social security number. The foregoing discussion does not address the special tax rules applicable to certain classes of investors, such as IRAs and other retirement plans, tax-exempt entities, foreign investors, insurance companies and financial institutions. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers with respect to special tax rules that may apply in their particular situations, as well as the state, local, and, where applicable, foreign tax consequences of investing in a Fund. PORTFOLIO SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS Decisions concerning the execution of portfolio security transactions, including the selection of the market and the executing firm, are made by the investment adviser or sub-adviser of each Portfolio (each referred to herein as the "investment adviser"). Each Portfolio is responsible for the expenses associated with 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 many firms. The investment adviser uses its best efforts to obtain execution of portfolio security transactions at prices which are advantageous and at reasonably competitive spreads 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 executing firm's services, the value of the brokerage and research services provided, 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 executing firm, the reputation, reliability, experience and financial condition of the firm, the value and quality of the services rendered by the firm in this and other transactions, and the reasonableness of the spread or commission, if any. Transactions on stock exchanges and other agency transactions involve the payment of negotiated brokerage commissions. Such commissions vary among different broker-dealer firms, and a particular broker-dealer may charge different commissions according to such factors as the difficulty and size of the transaction and the volume of business done with such broker-dealer. Transactions in foreign securities often involve the payment of brokerage commissions, which may be higher than those in the United States. There is generally no stated commission in the case of securities traded in the over-the-counter markets, but the price paid or received usually includes an undisclosed dealer markup or markdown. In an underwritten offering the price paid often includes a disclosed fixed commission or discount retained by the underwriter or dealer. Although spreads or commissions paid on portfolio security transactions will, in the judgment of the investment adviser, be reasonable in relation to the value of the services provided, commissions exceeding those which another firm might charge may be paid to broker-dealers who were selected to execute transactions on behalf of the investment adviser's clients in part for providing brokerage and research services to the investment adviser. As authorized in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, a broker or dealer who executes a portfolio transaction may receive a commission which is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if the 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 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. In making any such determination, the investment adviser will not attempt to place a specific dollar value on the brokerage and research services provided or to determine what portion of the commission should be related to such services. 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. 20 It is a common practice of the investment advisory industry and of the advisers of investment companies, institutions and other investors to receive research, analytical, statistical and quotation services, data, information and other services, products and materials which assist such advisers in the performance of their investment responsibilities ("Research Services") from broker-dealer firms which execute portfolio transactions for the clients of such advisers and from third parties with which such broker-dealers have arrangements. Consistent with this practice, the investment adviser receives Research Services from many broker-dealer firms with which the investment adviser places transactions and from third parties with which these broker-dealers have arrangements. These Research Services include such matters as general economic, political, business and market information, industry and company reviews, evaluations of securities and portfolio strategies and transactions, proxy voting data and analysis services, technical analysis of various aspects of the securities markets, recommendations as to the purchase and sale of securities and other portfolio transactions, financial, industry and trade publications, news and information services, pricing and quotation equipment and services, and research oriented computer hardware, software, 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 advisory fee paid is not reduced because the investment adviser receives such Research Services. The investment adviser evaluates the nature and quality of the various Research Services obtained through broker-dealer firms and attempts to allocate sufficient portfolio security transactions to such firms to ensure the continued receipt of Research Services which the investment adviser believes are useful or of value to it in rendering investment advisory services to its clients. Each Portfolio and the investment adviser may also receive Research Services from underwriters and dealers in fixed-price offerings, which Research Services are reviewed and evaluated by the investment adviser in connection with its investment responsibilities. 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. Subject to the requirement that the investment adviser shall use its best efforts to seek and execute portfolio security transactions at advantageous prices and at reasonably competitive spreads or commission rates, the investment adviser is authorized to consider as a factor in the selection of any broker-dealer firm with whom portfolio orders may be placed the fact that such firm has sold or is selling Fund shares or shares of other investment companies sponsored by the investment adviser or its affiliates. This policy is not inconsistent with a rule of the NASD, which rule provides that no firm which is a member of the NASD shall favor or disfavor the distribution of shares of any particular investment company or group of investment companies on the basis of brokerage commissions received or expected by such firm from any source. Securities considered as investments for a Portfolio 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 a Portfolio and one or more of such other accounts simultaneously, the investment adviser will allocate the security transactions (including "hot" issues) in a manner which it believes to be equitable under the circumstances. As a result of such allocations, there may be instances where a Portfolio 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 a Portfolio from time to time, it is the opinion of the Trustees of the Trust and the Portfolio that the benefits from the investment adviser organization outweigh any disadvantage that may arise from exposure to simultaneous transactions. 21 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS There are no financial statements of each Fund because as of the date of this SAI, each Fund had not commenced operations. The audited financial statements of, and the independent auditors' reports for, each Portfolio appear herein. HOUSEHOLDING. Consistent with applicable law, duplicate mailings of shareholder reports and certain other Fund information to shareholders residing at the same address may be eliminated. 22 FINANCIAL STATEMENT Large-Cap Growth Portfolio Statement of Assets and Liabilities December 17, 2001 Assets: Cash....................................................... $100,010 -------- Total assets.............................................$100,010 ======== Liabilities and Net Assets: Net assets................................................. $100,010 ======== NOTES: (1) Large-Cap Growth Portfolio (the "Portfolio") was organized as a New York trust on December 10, 2001 and has been inactive since that date, except for matters relating to its organization and registration as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the sale of interests therein at the purchase price of $100,000 to Eaton Vance Management and the sale of an interest therein at the purchase price of $10 to Boston Management & Research (the "Initial Interests"). (2) The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimated. (3) At 4:00 PM, New York City time, on each business day of the Portfolio, the value of an investor's interest in the Portfolio is equal to the product of (i) the aggregate net assets of the Portfolio multiplied by (ii) the percentage representing that investor's share of the aggregate interest in the Portfolio effective for that day. 23 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT To the Trustees and Investors of Large-Cap Growth Portfolio: We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Large-Cap Growth Portfolio (a New York trust) (the "Portfolio") as of December 17, 2001. This financial statement is the responsibility of the Portfolio's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on this financial statement based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statement is free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statement. An audit also includes 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, such statement of assets and liabilities presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Large-Cap Growth Portfolio as of December 17, 2001, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP Boston, Massachusetts December 18, 2001 24 FINANCIAL STATEMENT Small-Cap Portfolio Statement of Assets and Liabilities December 17, 2001 Assets: Cash....................................................... $100,010 -------- Total assets.............................................$100,010 ======== Liabilities and Net Assets: Net assets................................................. $100,010 ======== NOTES: (1) Small-Cap Portfolio (the "Portfolio") was organized as a New York trust on December 10, 2001 and has been inactive since that date, except for matters relating to its organization and registration as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the sale of interests therein at the purchase price of $100,000 to Eaton Vance Management and the sale of an interest therein at the purchase price of $10 to Boston Management & Research (the "Initial Interests"). (2) The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimated. (3) At 4:00 PM, New York City time, on each business day of the Portfolio, the value of an investor's interest in the Portfolio is equal to the product of (i) the aggregate net assets of the Portfolio multiplied by (ii) the percentage representing that investor's share of the aggregate interest in the Portfolio effective for that day. 25 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT To the Trustees and Investors of Small-Cap Portfolio: We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Small-Cap Portfolio (a New York trust) (the "Portfolio") as of December 17, 2001. This financial statement is the responsibility of the Portfolio's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on this financial statement based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statement is free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statement. An audit also includes 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, such statement of assets and liabilities presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Small-Cap Portfolio as of December 17, 2001, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP Boston, Massachusetts December 18, 2001 26 APPENDIX A FUND SPECIFIC INFORMATION As of the date of this SAI, the Funds had not yet commenced operations so there is no fee or performance information. CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES. As of the date hereof, Eaton Vance owned one share of each Fund, being the only shares outstanding. Eaton Vance is a Massachusetts business trust and a wholly-owned subsidiary of EVC. 27 LOGO ATLANTA CAPITAL INTERMEDIATE BOND FUND A diversified fund seeking to balance current income with capital preservation ATLANTA CAPITAL LARGE-CAP GROWTH FUND A diversified fund seeking long-term capital growth ATLANTA CAPITAL SMALL-CAP FUND A diversified fund seeking long-term capital growth I SHARES Prospectus Dated April 26, 2002 The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or determined whether this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. Information in this prospectus Page Page -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fund Summaries 2 Redeeming Shares 8 Investment Objectives & Principal Shareholder Account Features 9 Policies and Risks 5 Tax Information 9 Management and Organization 6 Additional Performance Valuing Shares 7 Information 10 Purchasing Shares 7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This prospectus contains important information about the funds and the services available to shareholders. Please save it for reference. FUND SUMMARIES ATLANTA CAPITAL INTERMEDIATE BOND FUND INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES. The Fund's investment objective is to balance current income with capital preservation. The Fund normally invests in debt securities having intermediate maturities (i.e., average effective maturities of one to ten years) and primarily invests in fixed income securities having a debt rating of A or above by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"), Standard & Poor's Ratings Group ("S&P") or Fitch Ratings ("Fitch") or, if unrated, determined by the investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. The Fund may invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies, or its instrumentalities; corporate bonds; and mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities. The portfolio securities of the Fund are selected by a portfolio management team which relies on the investment adviser's research staff. PRINCIPAL RISK FACTORS. The value of Fund shares is sensitive to factors affecting fixed income securities. Fixed income securities are subject to interest rate risk, credit risk, and liquidity risk. Generally, the value of fixed income securities rises when interest rates fall and falls when interest rates rise. Mortgage related asset-backed securities are also subject to prepayment risk. With prepayment, the Fund may reinvest the prepaid amounts in securities with lower yields than the prepaid obligations. The Fund is not a complete investment program and you may lose money by investing in the Fund. Shareholders should invest for the long term. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. PERFORMANCE INFORMATION. As of the date of this prospectus, the Fund had not begun operations so there is no performance history. FUND FEES AND EXPENSES. The table describes the expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares. Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund assets) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Management Fees 0.40% Other Expenses* 0.35% ----- Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 0.75% * Other Expenses is estimated. EXAMPLE. This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 1 Year 3 Years -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fund Shares $ 77 $ 240 2 ATLANTA CAPITAL LARGE-CAP GROWTH FUND INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES. The Fund's investment objective is to seek long-term capital growth. The Fund invests primarily in common stocks of companies with large market capitalizations. The Fund will normally invest in companies having market capitalizations that rank in the top 1,000 U.S. companies. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in large company stocks. The portfolio securities of the Fund are selected by a portfolio management team which relies on the investment adviser's research staff. The Fund currently invests its assets in a separate registered investment company with the same objective and policies as the Fund. PRINCIPAL RISK FACTORS. The value of Fund shares is sensitive to stock market volatility. If there is a general decline in the value of U.S. stocks, the value of the Fund's shares will also likely decline. Changes in stock market values can be sudden and unpredictable. Also, although stock values can rebound, there is no assurance that values will return to previous levels. The Fund is not a complete investment program and you may lose money by investing in the Fund. Shareholders should invest for the long term. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. PERFORMANCE INFORMATION. As of the date of this prospectus, the Fund had not begun operations so there is no performance history. FUND FEES AND EXPENSES. The table describes the expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares. Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund and Portfolio assets) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Management Fees 0.65% Other Expenses* 0.35% ----- Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 1.00% * Other Expenses is estimated. EXAMPLE. This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 1 Year 3 Years -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fund Shares $ 102 $ 318 3 ATLANTA CAPITAL SMALL-CAP FUND INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES. The Fund's investment objective is to seek long-term capital growth. The Fund invests primarily in common stocks of companies with small market capitalizations. The Fund will normally invest in companies having market capitalizations within the range of companies comprising the Russell 2000 Index ("Russell 2000"). Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in small company stocks. The portfolio securities of the Fund are selected by a portfolio management team which relies on the investment adviser's research staff. The Fund currently invests its assets in a separate registered investment company with the same objective and policies as the Fund. PRINCIPAL RISK FACTORS. Shares of the Fund are sensitive to factors affecting small company stocks. Small company stocks are generally subject to greater price fluctuation and investment risk than securities of more established companies. Small companies include companies in the technology and health care sectors, which historically have been more volatile than other market sectors. The value of Fund shares is also sensitive to stock market volatility. If there is a general decline in the value of U.S. stocks, the value of the Fund's shares will also likely decline. Changes in stock market values can be sudden and unpredictable. Also, although stock values can rebound, there is no assurance that values will return to previous levels. The Fund is not a complete investment program and you may lose money by investing in the Fund. Shareholders should invest for the long term. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. PERFORMANCE INFORMATION. As of the date of this prospectus, the Fund had not begun operations so there is no performance history. FUND FEES AND EXPENSES. The table describes the expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares. Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund and Portfolio assets) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Management Fees 1.00% Other Expenses* 0.35% ----- Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 1.35% * Other Expenses is estimated. EXAMPLE. This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 1 Year 3 Years -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fund Shares $ 137 $ 428 4 INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES & PRINCIPAL POLICIES AND RISKS The investment objectives and principal policies and risks of the Funds are set forth below. Each Fund's investment objective may not be changed without shareholder approval. Most of a Fund's investment policies may be changed by the Trustees without shareholder approval. Large-Cap Growth Fund and Small-Cap Fund currently seek their investment objective by investing in one or more separate open-end investment companies that have the same objective and policies as the Fund. INTERMEDIATE BOND FUND. Intermediate Bond Fund's investment objective is to balance current income with capital preservation. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities. The Fund's average portfolio duration normally varies between three to five years. The Fund normally invests in debt securities having intermediate maturities (i.e., average effective maturities of one to ten years) and primarily invests in fixed income securities having a debt rating of A or above by Moody's, S&P or Fitch, or, if unrated, determined by the investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. The Fund may invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies, or its instrumentalities; corporate bonds; and mortgage-backed and asset backed securities. Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities represent interests in a pool of assets, such as mortgage loans, car receivables or credit card receivables. The Fund may also invest in lower rated debt securities. When selecting securities, the Fund's investment adviser takes into account economic and market conditions as well as issuer-specific data. Fixed income securities are subject to interest rate risk, credit risk, and liquidity risk. Generally, the value of fixed income securities rises when interest rates fall and falls when interest rates rise. Securities with longer maturities and mortgage securities can be more sensitive to interest rate changes. As with other debt securities, the value of U.S. Government securities changes as interest rates fluctuate. Fluctuations in the value of securities held by the Fund will not affect interest income on existing portfolio securities, but will be reflected in the Fund's net asset value. Thus, a decrease in interest rates will generally result in an increase in the value of Fund shares. Conversely, during periods of rising interest rates, the value of Fund shares will generally decline. The magnitude of these fluctuations will generally be greater at times when the Fund's average maturity is longer. The mortgage loans underlying mortgage-backed securities ("MBS") are generally subject to a greater rate of principal prepayments in a declining interest rate environment and to a lesser rate of principal prepayments in an increasing interest rate environment. Under certain interest and prepayment rate scenarios, the Fund may fail to recover the full amount of its investment in MBS, notwithstanding any direct or indirect governmental or agency guarantee. Because faster than expected prepayments must usually be invested in lower yielding securities, MBS are less effective than conventional bonds in "locking in" a specified interest rate. Similarly, unscheduled prepayments of asset-backed securities may result in a loss of income if the proceeds are invested in lower yielding securities. In a rising interest rate environment, a declining prepayment rate will extend the average life of many MBS. This possibility is often referred to as extension risk. Extending the average life of a mortgage-backed or asset-backed security increases the risk of depreciation due to future increases in market interest rates. Issuers of asset-backed securities may have limited ability to enforce the security interest in the underlying assets, and credit enhancements provided to support the securities, if any, may be inadequate to protect investors in the event of default. LARGE-CAP GROWTH FUND. Large-Cap Growth Fund's investment objective is to seek long-term capital growth. The Large-Cap Growth Fund currently invests in Large-Cap Growth Portfolio. Large-Cap Growth Portfolio will normally invest in companies having market capitalizations that rank in the top 1,000 U.S. companies (large company stocks). Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets in large company stocks. Large-Cap Growth Portfolio invests in a diversified selection of common stocks, emphasizing quality growth companies with a demonstrated record of consistent earnings growth. A company's financial quality is determined by analysis of its financial statements and the use of "financial quality ratings" provided by nationally recognized rating services. The investment adviser emphasizes quality large growth companies whose stocks are considered to trade at attractive valuations relative to their long-term growth rates. Sustainable earnings growth is determined by rigorous fundamental analysis of a company's financial trends, products and services, industry conditions and other factors. Based upon various long-term growth themes identified by the investment adviser, portfolio industry groups may be overweighted or underweighted versus the Standard & Poor's 500 Index ("S&P 500"). The portfolio management team utilizes recommendations provided by the investment adviser's research staff to make buy and sell decisions. 5 SMALL-CAP FUND. Small-Cap Fund's investment objective is to seek long-term capital growth. The Small-Cap Fund currently invests in Small-Cap Portfolio. Small-Cap Portfolio will normally invest in companies having market capitalizations within the range of companies comprising the Russell 2000 (small company stocks). Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets in small company stocks. The Portfolio may also invest in larger companies. Small-Cap Portfolio invests in a diversified selection of common stocks, emphasizing quality small companies whose stocks are considered to trade at attractive valuations relative to earnings or cash flow per share. A company's financial quality is determined by analysis of its financial statements and the use of "financial quality ratings" provided by nationally recognized rating services. The investment adviser seeks to purchase stocks of companies capable of sustaining consistent earnings growth while maintaining a strong financial condition. Sustainable earnings growth is determined by rigorous fundamental analysis of a company's financial trends, products and services and other factors. The portfolio management team utilizes recommendations provided by the investment adviser's research staff to make buy and sell decisions. Small-Cap Portfolio is diversified across various economic sectors. Many of the small companies that Small-Cap Portfolio may purchase are more dependent on fewer products, services or product markets than more established companies, have limited financial resources or may rely upon a limited management group, may lack substantial capital reserves and do not have established performance records. Small company stocks frequently have lower trading volume and tend to be more sensitive to changes in earnings projections than stocks of more established companies, making them more volatile and possibly more difficult to value. Each Portfolio and Intermediate Bond Fund may borrow amounts up to one-third of the value of its total assets (including borrowings), but it will not borrow more than 5% of the value of its total assets except to satisfy redemption requests or for other temporary purposes. Such borrowings would result in increased expense to a Fund and, while they are outstanding, would magnify increases or decreases in the value of Fund shares. None of the Portfolios nor Intermediate Bond Fund will purchase additional investment securities while outstanding borrowings exceed 5% of the value of its total assets. During unusual market conditions, each Portfolio or Fund may temporarily invest up to 100% of its assets in cash or cash equivalents, which may be inconsistent with the Fund's investment objective. While at times a Portfolio or Fund may use alternative investment strategies in an effort to limit losses, it may choose not to do so. Intermediate Bond Fund's investment policies include a fundamental investment provision allowing the Fund to invest its assets in one or more open-end management investment companies having substantially the same investment policies and restrictions as the Fund. Any such company or companies would be advised by the Fund's investment adviser (or an affiliate) and the Fund would not pay directly any advisory fee with respect to the assets so invested. The Fund may initiate investments in one or more investment companies without shareholder approval at any time. MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION MANAGEMENT. Intermediate Bond Fund, Large-Cap Growth Portfolio and Small-Cap Portfolio's investment adviser is Boston Management and Research ("BMR"), a subsidiary of Eaton Vance Management ("Eaton Vance"), with offices at The Eaton Vance Building, 255 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109. Eaton Vance has been managing assets since 1924 and managing mutual funds since 1931. Eaton Vance and its subsidiaries currently manage approximately $60 billion on behalf of mutual funds, institutional clients and individuals. Eaton Vance serves as the administrator of each Fund, providing each Fund with administrative services and related office facilities. Eaton Vance does not currently receive a fee for serving as administrator. Pursuant to an investment sub-advisory agreement, BMR has delegated the investment management of Intermediate Bond Fund and each Portfolio to Atlanta Capital Management Company, L.L.C. ("Atlanta Capital"), an indirect majority-owned subsidiary of Eaton Vance. BMR pays Atlanta Capital a portion of each advisory fee for sub-advisory services provided to the Intermediate Bond Fund and each Portfolio. The day-to-day management of Intermediate Bond Fund and each Portfolio is the responsibility of a team of Atlanta Capital investment professionals. Each team meets to discuss investment holdings, prospective investments and portfolio composition and manages and provides research. The fees paid to BMR and the primary members of each team are as follows: 6 INTERMEDIATE BOND FUND. Under Intermediate Bond Fund's investment advisory agreement, BMR receives a monthly advisory fee equal to 0.400% annually of the average daily net assets of the Fund up to $500 million. On net assets of $500 million and over the annual fee is reduced. Gregory L. Coleman and James A. Womack comprise the team of investment professionals for Intermediate Bond Fund. Mr. Coleman is a Partner of Atlanta Capital, and Mr. Womack is a Vice President of Atlanta Capital, and both have been managing investments for more than 5 years. LARGE-CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO. Under Large-Cap Growth Portfolio's investment advisory agreement, BMR receives a monthly advisory fee equal to 0.650% annually of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio up to $500 million. On net assets of $500 million and over the annual fee is reduced. Daniel W. Boone, III, William R. Hackney, III and Marilyn Robinson Irvin comprise the team of investment professionals for the Large-Cap Growth Portfolio. Mr. Boone and Mr. Hackney, Managing Partners of Atlanta Capital, and Ms. Irvin, Senior Vice President of Atlanta Capital, have been managing investments for more than 5 years. SMALL-CAP PORTFOLIO. Under Small-Cap Portfolio's investment advisory agreement, BMR receives a monthly advisory fee equal to 1.0% annually of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio up to $500 million. On net assets of $500 million and over the annual fee is reduced. William R. Hackney, III, Paul J. Marshall and Charles B. Reed comprise the team of investment professionals for the Small-Cap Portfolio. Mr. Hackney, Managing Partner of Atlanta Capital, has been managing investments for more than 5 years. Mr. Marshall has been a Vice President of Atlanta Capital since 2000. Prior to joining Atlanta Capital, he was a portfolio manager with Bank of America Capital Management. Mr. Reed has been a Vice President of Atlanta Capital since 1998. Prior to joining Atlanta Capital, he was a portfolio manager with the Florida State Board of Administration. ORGANIZATION. Each Fund is a series of Eaton Vance Growth Trust, a Massachusetts business trust. Each Fund offers multiple classes of shares. Each Class represents a pro rata interest in the Fund but is subject to different expenses and rights. The Fund shares offered by, and referred to in, this prospectus are Class I shares. The Funds do not hold annual shareholder meetings but may hold special meetings for matters that require shareholder approval (like electing or removing trustees, approving management contracts or changing investment policies that may only be changed with shareholder approval). Because a Fund invests in a Portfolio, it may be asked to vote on certain Portfolio matters (like changes in certain Portfolio investment restrictions). When necessary, a Fund will hold a meeting of its shareholders to consider the Portfolio matter and then vote its interest in the Portfolio in proportion to the votes cast by its shareholders. A Fund can withdraw from a Portfolio at any time. Because the Funds use this combined prospectus, a Fund could be held liable for a misstatement or omission made about another Fund. The Trust's Trustees considered this risk in approving the use of a combined prospectus. VALUING SHARES Each Fund values its shares once each day only when the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading (typically Monday through Friday), as of the close of regular trading on the Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m. eastern time). The purchase price of Fund shares is their net asset value, which for the Large-Cap Growth and Small-Cap Funds is derived from Portfolio holdings. Exchange-listed securities are valued at closing sale prices. Most debt securities are valued by an independent pricing service. The investment adviser may use the fair value of a security if events occurring after the close of a securities market would materially affect net asset value or market prices are unavailable. Because foreign securities trade on days when Fund shares are not priced, net asset value can change at times when Fund shares cannot be redeemed. When purchasing or redeeming Fund shares, your investment dealer must communicate your order to the principal underwriter by a specific time each day in order for the purchase price or the redemption price to be based on that day's net asset value per share. It is the investment dealer's responsibility to transmit orders promptly. Each Fund may accept purchase and redemption orders as of the time of their receipt by certain investment dealers (or their designated intermediaries). PURCHASING SHARES Class I shares are offered to clients of financial intermediaries who charge an advisory, management, consulting or similar fee for their services; accounts affiliated with those financial intermediaries; investment and institutional clients of Eaton Vance, Atlanta Capital and their affiliates; certain persons affiliated with Eaton Vance or Atlanta Capital; and certain Eaton Vance or Atlanta Capital and fund service providers. Class I shares also are offered to 7 pension plans, endowments and corporations. Your initial investment must be at least $1,000. Subsequent investments of any amount may be made at any time. The investment minimum is waived for persons affiliated with Eaton Vance and its service providers. The Fund provides shareholders ease of investment by allowing same day wire purchases. You may purchase Class I shares through your investment dealer or by requesting your bank to transmit immediately available funds (Federal Funds) by wire to the address set forth below. To make an initial investment by wire, you must first telephone the Fund Order Department at 800-225-6265 (extension 7604) to advise of your action and to be assigned an account number. Failure to call will delay the order. The account application form which accompanies this prospectus must be promptly forwarded to the transfer agent. Additional investments may be made at any time through the same wire procedure. The Fund Order Department must be advised by telephone of each transmission. Wire funds to: Boston Safe Deposit & Trust Co. ABA #811001234 Account #080411 Further Credit: Atlanta Capital Intermediate Bond Fund-Class I shares-Fund #958 Atlanta Capital Large-Cap Growth Fund-Class I shares-Fund #938 Atlanta Capital Small-Cap Fund-Class I shares-Fund # 948 A/C # [Insert your account number] Purchase orders will be executed at the net asset value next determined after their receipt by the Fund only if the Fund has received payment in cash or in Federal Funds. You may purchase Fund shares in exchange for securities. Please call 1-800-225-6265 for information about exchanging securities for Fund shares. If you purchase shares through an investment dealer (which includes brokers, dealers and other financial institutions), that dealer may charge you a fee for executing the purchase for you. The Fund may suspend the sale of its shares at any time and any purchase order may be refused. From time to time the Fund may suspend the continuous offering of its shares. During any such suspension, shareholders who reinvest their distributions in additional shares will be permitted to continue such reinvestments, and the Fund may permit tax-sheltered retirement plans which own shares to purchase additional shares of the Fund. The Fund may also refuse any order for the purchase of shares. REDEEMING SHARES You can redeem shares in one of two ways: By Wire If you have given complete written authorization in advance you may request that redemption proceeds be wired directly to your bank account. The bank designated may be any bank in the United States. The redemption request may be made by calling the Eaton Vance Fund Order Department at 800-225-6265 (extension 7604) or by sending a signature guaranteed letter of instruction to the transfer agent (see back cover for address). You may be required to pay the costs of redeeming by wire; however, no costs are currently charged. The Fund may suspend or terminate this expedited payment procedure upon at least 30 days notice. Through an Investment Your investment dealer is responsible for transmitting Dealer the order promptly. An investment dealer may charge a fee for this service. If you redeem shares, your redemption price will be based on the net asset value per share next computed after the redemption request is received. Your redemption proceeds will be paid in cash within seven days, reduced by the amount of any federal income tax required to be withheld. Payments will be sent by mail unless you complete the Bank Wire Redemptions section of the account application. 8 SHAREHOLDER ACCOUNT FEATURES DISTRIBUTIONS. You may have your Fund distributions paid in one of the following ways: * Full Reinvest Option Dividends and capital gains are reinvested in additional shares. This option will be assigned if you do not specify an option. * Partial Reinvest Option Dividends are paid in cash and capital gains are reinvested in additional shares. * Cash Option Dividends and capital gains are paid in cash. INFORMATION FROM THE FUND. From time to time, you may be mailed the following: * Annual and Semi-Annual Reports, containing performance information and financial statements. * Periodic account statements, showing recent activity and total share balance. * Form 1099 and tax information needed to prepare your income tax returns. * Proxy materials, in the event a shareholder vote is required. * Special notices about significant events affecting your Fund. EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE. You may exchange your Class I shares for other Atlanta Capital fund Class I shares. Exchanges are made at net asset value. Before exchanging, you should read the prospectus of the new fund carefully. The exchange privilege may be changed or discontinued at any time. You will receive 60 days' notice of any material change to the privilege. This privilege may not be used for "market timing". If an account (or group of accounts) makes more than two round-trip exchanges (exchanged from one fund to another and back again) within twelve months, it will be deemed to be market timing. The exchange privilege may be terminated for market timing accounts. TELEPHONE AND ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONS. The transfer agent and the principal underwriter have procedures in place to authenticate telephone and electronic instructions (such as using security codes or verifying personal account information). As long as the transfer agent and principal underwriter follow reasonable procedures, they will not be responsible for unauthorized telephone or electronic transactions and you bear the risk of possible loss resulting from these transactions. You may decline the telephone redemption option on the account application. Telephone instructions are tape recorded. ACCOUNT QUESTIONS. If you have any questions about your account or the services available, please call Eaton Vance Shareholder Services at 1-800-225-6265, or write to the transfer agent (see back cover for address). TAX-SHELTERED RETIREMENT PLANS. Class I shares are available for purchase in connection with certain tax-sheltered retirement plans. Call 1-800-225-6265 for information. Distributions will be invested in additional shares for all tax-sheltered retirement plans. TAX INFORMATION Intermediate Bond Fund makes distributions monthly. Large-Cap Growth Fund and Small-Cap Fund make distributions annually. Dividends may not be paid if Fund expenses exceed Fund income for the period. Each Fund makes distributions of net realized capital gains, if any, at least annually. Distributions of income and net short-term capital gains held by the Fund or a Portfolio will be taxable as ordinary income. Distributions of any long-term capital gains are taxable as long-term capital gains. Over time, distributions by each Fund can generally be expected to include both dividends taxable as ordinary income and capital gain distributions taxable as long-term gains. A portion of Large-Cap Growth Fund's and Small-Cap Fund's income distributions may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporations. A Fund's distributions will be taxable as described above whether they are paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares. Investors who purchase shares at a time when a Fund's net asset value reflects gains that are either unrealized or realized but not distributed will pay the full price for the shares and then may receive some portion of the price back as a taxable distribution. Certain distributions paid in January will be taxable to shareholders as if received on December 31 of the prior year. A redemption of Fund shares, including an exchange for shares of another fund, is a taxable transaction. Shareholders should consult with their advisers concerning the applicability of state, local and other taxes to an investment. 9 ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCE INFORMATION ATLANTA CAPITAL PRIOR PERFORMANCE. This section presents past performance information ("Composite Performance"), reduced as noted below to reflect expenses, for all accounts, unless otherwise noted, for which Atlanta Capital maintained investment discretion and managed with substantially similar investment objectives, policies and strategies as each of Intermediate Bond Fund, Large-Cap Growth Fund and Small-Cap Fund. The Composite Performance information provided by Atlanta Capital on a "gross of fee" basis has been reduced to deduct anticipated Class I fees and expenses assuming no expense caps or fee waivers. The returns shown also assume the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Actual fees will vary depending on, among other things, the applicable fee schedule, Fund size, and applicable sales charges, if any. The fee schedule for each Fund is included in the "Fund Summaries" section of the prospectus. Each Composite Performance is also compared with performance figures for the benchmark index of the appropriate Fund. THE PAST PERFORMANCE OF ATLANTA CAPITAL IN MANAGING ADVISORY ACCOUNTS IS NO GUARANTEE OF FUTURE RESULTS IN MANAGING THE FUNDS. PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING CAUTIONARY GUIDELINES IN REVIEWING THIS APPENDIX: PERFORMANCE FIGURES ARE NOT THE PERFORMANCE OF A FUND. The performance shown for Atlanta Capital is not the performance of a Fund and is not an indication of how a Fund would have performed in the past or will perform in the future. The Funds' performances in the future may be different from Atlanta Capital's performance in advising substantially similar advisory accounts due to factors such as differences in the cash flows into and out of the advisory accounts, different fees, expenses, performance calculation methods, portfolio size and composition. In particular, Composite Performance is not necessarily an indication of how a Fund will perform, as those accounts may not be subject to investment limitations, diversification requirements and other restrictions imposed on mutual funds by the 1940 Act and the Internal Revenue Code, which, if applicable, could have a negative impact on the Fund's performance. ATLANTA CAPITAL AND BENCHMARK PERFORMANCE ARE AVERAGES FOR THE PERIODS SHOWN. The information below shows average compounded annual total rates of returns for the periods indicated and the average total rate of returns for the periods less than one year, but does not reflect the volatility that may occur within a given period. A Fund may invest in market sectors that experienced significant performance fluctuations within the periods presented. THE BENCHMARK. Each Composite Performance is compared to a broad-based securities market index. Broad-based securities indices are unmanaged and are not subject to fees and expenses typically associated with managed accounts, including mutual funds. Investments cannot be made directly in a broad-based securities index. Each Fund's respective index is described below.
1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years Since Composite Ended Ended Ended Ended Composite Inception ATLANTA CAPITAL COMPOSITE PERFORMANCE 12/31/01 12/31/01 12/31/01 12/31/01 Inception Date ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- High Quality Intermediate Composite 1 7.08% 6.02% 6.74% 6.31% 6.31% 12/31/91 Lehman High Quality Intermediate Aggregate Index 8.66% 6.75% 7.31% 6.90% 6.90% (Intermediate Bond Fund Benchmark) 2 High Quality Growth Composite 3 -15.46% 2.86% 13.78% 13.20% 13.20% 12/31/91 S&P 500 (Large-Cap Growth Fund Benchmark) 4 -11.88% -1.03% 10.70% 12.94% 12.94% High Quality Small Cap Composite 5 10.00% 8.28% 12.62% N/A 12.69% 3/31/92 Russell 2000 (Small-Cap Fund Benchmark) 6 2.49% 6.42% 7.52% N/A 10.99%
1 The High Quality Intermediate Composite corresponds to the Intermediate Bond Fund. The composite has no minimum account size associated with it. 2 The Lehman High Quality Intermediate Aggregate Index is a market-value weighted index that covers the U.S. investment grade fixed rate bond market rated A3 or better by Moody's Investors Service, Inc., with index components for government and corporate securities, mortgage pass-through securities, and asset-backed securities. Securities included in the Index are U.S. domestic, taxable, and dollar denominated. 3 The High Quality Growth Composite corresponds to the Large-Cap Growth Fund. The composite's minimum account size is $10,000,000. 4 The S&P 500 is a market capitalization weighted index of common stocks. 5 The High Quality Small Cap Composite corresponds to the Small-Cap Fund. From the composite's inception date March 31, 1992 through December 31, 1994, the composite's minimum account size was $100,000. Beginning January 1, 1995, the minimum account size for this composite is $3,000,000. From 1992 through 1994, the composite had one non-fee paying account that represented the following percentage of composite assets for each indicated year: 1992 - 100%; 1993 - 5%; 1994 - 4%. 6 The Russell 2000 is a market capitalization weighted index of 2,000 small company stocks. 10 LOGO More Information -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ABOUT THE FUNDS: More information is available in the statement of additional information. The statement of additional information is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Additional information about each Fund's investments will be available in the annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. In the annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected each Fund's performance during the past year. You may obtain free copies of the statement of additional information and the shareholder reports by contacting the principal underwriter: Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. The Eaton Vance Building 255 State Street Boston, MA 02109 1-800-225-6265 website: www.eatonvance.com You will find and may copy information about each Fund (including the statement of additional information and shareholder reports): at the Securities and Exchange Commission's public reference room in Washington, DC (call 1-202-942-8090 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. ABOUT SHAREHOLDER ACCOUNTS: You can obtain more information from Eaton Vance Shareholder Services (1-800-225-6265). If you own shares and would like to add to, redeem or change your account, please write or call the transfer agent: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PFPC, Inc. P.O. Box 9653 Providence, RI 02940-9653 1-800-262-1122 The Fund's SEC File No. is 811-1241. ATLIPROS (C) 2002 Eaton Vance Management LOGO ATLANTA CAPITAL INTERMEDIATE BOND FUND A diversified fund seeking to balance current income with capital preservation ATLANTA CAPITAL LARGE-CAP GROWTH FUND A diversified fund seeking long-term capital growth ATLANTA CAPITAL SMALL-CAP FUND A diversified fund seeking long-term capital growth R SHARES Prospectus Dated April 26, 2002 The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or determined whether this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. Information in this prospectus Page Page -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fund Summaries 2 Redeeming Shares 9 Investment Objectives & Principal Shareholder Account Features 9 Policies and Risks 5 Tax Information 10 Management and Organization 6 Additional Performance Valuing Shares 7 Information 11 Purchasing Shares 7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This prospectus contains important information about the Funds and the services available to shareholders. Please save it for reference. FUND SUMMARIES ATLANTA CAPITAL INTERMEDIATE BOND FUND INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES. The Fund's investment objective is to balance current income with capital preservation. The Fund normally invests in debt securities having intermediate maturities (i.e., average effective maturities of one to ten years) and primarily invests in fixed income securities having a debt rating of A or above by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"), Standard & Poor's Ratings Group ("S&P") or Fitch Ratings ("Fitch") or, if unrated, determined by the investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. The Fund may invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies, or its instrumentalities; corporate bonds; and mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities. The portfolio securities of the Fund are selected by a portfolio management team which relies on the investment adviser's research staff. PRINCIPAL RISK FACTORS. The value of Fund shares is sensitive to factors affecting fixed income securities. Fixed income securities are subject to interest rate risk, credit risk, and liquidity risk. Generally, the value of fixed income securities rises when interest rates fall and falls when interest rates rise. Mortgage related asset-backed securities are also subject to prepayment risk. With prepayment, the Fund may reinvest the prepaid amounts in securities with lower yields than the prepaid obligations. The Fund is not a complete investment program and you may lose money by investing in the Fund. Shareholders should invest for the long term. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. PERFORMANCE INFORMATION. As of the date of this prospectus, the Fund had not begun operations so there is no performance history. FUND FEES AND EXPENSES. The table describes the expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares. Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund assets) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Management Fees 0.40% Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees 0.50% Other Expenses* 0.35% ----- Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 1.25% * Other Expenses is estimated. EXAMPLE. This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 1 Year 3 Years -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fund Shares $ 127 $ 397 2 ATLANTA CAPITAL LARGE-CAP GROWTH FUND INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES. The Fund's investment objective is to seek long-term capital growth. The Fund invests primarily in common stocks of companies with large market capitalizations. The Fund will normally invest in companies having market capitalizations that rank in the top 1,000 U.S. companies. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in large company stocks. The portfolio securities of the Fund are selected by a portfolio management team which relies on the investment adviser's research staff. The Fund currently invests its assets in a separate registered investment company with the same objective and policies as the Fund. PRINCIPAL RISK FACTORS. The value of Fund shares is sensitive to stock market volatility. If there is a general decline in the value of U.S. stocks, the value of the Fund's shares will also likely decline. Changes in stock market values can be sudden and unpredictable. Also, although stock values can rebound, there is no assurance that values will return to previous levels. The Fund is not a complete investment program and you may lose money by investing in the Fund. Shareholders should invest for the long term. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. PERFORMANCE INFORMATION. As of the date of this prospectus, the Fund had not begun operations so there is no performance history. FUND FEES AND EXPENSES. The table describes the expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares. Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund and Portfolio assets) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Management Fees 0.65% Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees 0.50% Other Expenses* 0.35% ----- Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 1.50% * Other Expenses is estimated. EXAMPLE. This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 1 Year 3 Years -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fund Shares $ 153 $ 474 3 ATLANTA CAPITAL SMALL-CAP FUND INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES. The Fund's investment objective is to seek long-term capital growth. The Fund invests primarily in common stocks of companies with small market capitalizations. The Fund will normally invest in companies having market capitalizations within the range of companies comprising the Russell 2000 Index ("Russell 2000"). Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in small company stocks. The portfolio securities of the Fund are selected by a portfolio management team which relies on the investment adviser's research staff. The Fund currently invests its assets in a separate registered investment company with the same objective and policies as the Fund. PRINCIPAL RISK FACTORS. Shares of the Fund are sensitive to factors affecting small company stocks. Small company stocks are generally subject to greater price fluctuation and investment risk than securities of more established companies. Small companies include companies in the technology and health care sectors, which historically have been more volatile than other market sectors. The value of Fund shares is also sensitive to stock market volatility. If there is a general decline in the value of U.S. stocks, the value of the Fund's shares will also likely decline. Changes in stock market values can be sudden and unpredictable. Also, although stock values can rebound, there is no assurance that values will return to previous levels. The Fund is not a complete investment program and you may lose money by investing in the Fund. Shareholders should invest for the long term. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. PERFORMANCE INFORMATION. As of the date of this prospectus, the Fund had not begun operations so there is no performance history. FUND FEES AND EXPENSES. The table describes the expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares. Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund and Portfolio assets) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Management Fees 1.00% Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees 0.50% Other Expenses* 0.35% ----- Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 1.85% * Other Expenses is estimated. EXAMPLE. This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 1 Year 3 Years -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fund Shares $ 188 $ 582 4 INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES & PRINCIPAL POLICIES AND RISKS The investment objectives and principal policies and risks of the Funds are set forth below. Each Fund's investment objective may not be changed without shareholder approval. Most of a Fund's investment policies may be changed by the Trustees without shareholder approval. Large-Cap Growth Fund and Small-Cap Fund currently seek their investment objective by investing in one or more separate open-end investment companies that have the same objective and policies as the Fund. INTERMEDIATE BOND FUND. Intermediate Bond Fund's investment objective is to balance current income with capital preservation. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities. The Fund's average portfolio duration normally varies between three to five years. The Fund normally invests in debt securities having intermediate maturities (i.e., average effective maturities of one to ten years) and primarily invests in fixed income securities having a debt rating of A or above by Moody's, S&P or Fitch, or, if unrated, determined by the investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. The Fund may invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies, or its instrumentalities; corporate bonds; and mortgage-backed and asset backed securities. Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities represent interests in a pool of assets, such as mortgage loans, car receivables or credit card receivables. The Fund may also invest in lower rated debt securities. When selecting securities, the Fund's investment adviser takes into account economic and market conditions as well as issuer-specific data. Fixed income securities are subject to interest rate risk, credit risk, and liquidity risk. Generally, the value of fixed income securities rises when interest rates fall and falls when interest rates rise. Securities with longer maturities and mortgage securities can be more sensitive to interest rate changes. As with other debt securities, the value of U.S. Government securities changes as interest rates fluctuate. Fluctuations in the value of securities held by the Fund will not affect interest income on existing portfolio securities, but will be reflected in the Fund's net asset value. Thus, a decrease in interest rates will generally result in an increase in the value of Fund shares. Conversely, during periods of rising interest rates, the value of Fund shares will generally decline. The magnitude of these fluctuations will generally be greater at times when the Fund's average maturity is longer. The mortgage loans underlying mortgage-backed securities ("MBS") are generally subject to a greater rate of principal prepayments in a declining interest rate environment and to a lesser rate of principal prepayments in an increasing interest rate environment. Under certain interest and prepayment rate scenarios, the Fund may fail to recover the full amount of its investment in MBS, notwithstanding any direct or indirect governmental or agency guarantee. Because faster than expected prepayments must usually be invested in lower yielding securities, MBS are less effective than conventional bonds in "locking in" a specified interest rate. Similarly, unscheduled prepayments of asset-backed securities may result in a loss of income if the proceeds are invested in lower yielding securities. In a rising interest rate environment, a declining prepayment rate will extend the average life of many MBS. This possibility is often referred to as extension risk. Extending the average life of a mortgage-backed or asset-backed security increases the risk of depreciation due to future increases in market interest rates. Issuers of asset-backed securities may have limited ability to enforce the security interest in the underlying assets, and credit enhancements provided to support the securities, if any, may be inadequate to protect investors in the event of default. LARGE-CAP GROWTH FUND. Large-Cap Growth Fund's investment objective is to seek long-term capital growth. The Large-Cap Growth Fund currently invests in Large-Cap Growth Portfolio. Large-Cap Growth Portfolio will normally invest in companies having market capitalizations that rank in the top 1,000 U.S. companies (large company stocks). Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets in large company stocks. Large-Cap Growth Portfolio invests in a diversified selection of common stocks, emphasizing quality growth companies with a demonstrated record of consistent earnings growth. A company's financial quality is determined by analysis of its financial statements and the use of "financial quality ratings" provided by nationally recognized rating services. The investment adviser emphasizes quality large growth companies whose stocks are considered to trade at attractive valuations relative to their long-term growth rates. Sustainable earnings growth is determined by rigorous fundamental analysis of a company's financial trends, products and services, industry conditions and other factors. Based upon various long-term growth themes identified by the investment adviser, portfolio industry groups may be overweighted or underweighted versus the Standard & Poor's 500 Index ("S&P 500"). The portfolio management team utilizes recommendations provided by the investment adviser's research staff to make buy and sell decisions. 5 SMALL-CAP FUND. Small-Cap Fund's investment objective is to seek long-term capital growth. The Small-Cap Fund currently invests in Small-Cap Portfolio. Small-Cap Portfolio will normally invest in companies having market capitalizations within the range of companies comprising the Russell 2000 (small company stocks). Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets in small company stocks. The Portfolio may also invest in larger companies. Small-Cap Portfolio invests in a diversified selection of common stocks, emphasizing quality small companies whose stocks are considered to trade at attractive valuations relative to earnings or cash flow per share. A company's financial quality is determined by analysis of its financial statements and the use of "financial quality ratings" provided by nationally recognized rating services. The investment adviser seeks to purchase stocks of companies capable of sustaining consistent earnings growth while maintaining a strong financial condition. Sustainable earnings growth is determined by rigorous fundamental analysis of a company's financial trends, products and services and other factors. The portfolio management team utilizes recommendations provided by the investment adviser's research staff to make buy and sell decisions. Small-Cap Portfolio is diversified across various economic sectors. Many of the small companies that Small-Cap Portfolio may purchase are more dependent on fewer products, services or product markets than more established companies, have limited financial resources or may rely upon a limited management group, may lack substantial capital reserves and do not have established performance records. Small company stocks frequently have lower trading volume and tend to be more sensitive to changes in earnings projections than stocks of more established companies, making them more volatile and possibly more difficult to value. Each Portfolio and Intermediate Bond Fund may borrow amounts up to one-third of the value of its total assets (including borrowings), but it will not borrow more than 5% of the value of its total assets except to satisfy redemption requests or for other temporary purposes. Such borrowings would result in increased expense to a Fund and, while they are outstanding, would magnify increases or decreases in the value of Fund shares. None of the Portfolios nor Intermediate Bond Fund will purchase additional investment securities while outstanding borrowings exceed 5% of the value of its total assets. During unusual market conditions, each Portfolio or Fund may temporarily invest up to 100% of its assets in cash or cash equivalents, which may be inconsistent with the Fund's investment objective. While at times a Portfolio or Fund may use alternative investment strategies in an effort to limit losses, it may choose not to do so. Intermediate Bond Fund's investment policies include a fundamental investment provision allowing the Fund to invest its assets in one or more open-end management investment companies having substantially the same investment policies and restrictions as the Fund. Any such company or companies would be advised by the Fund's investment adviser (or an affiliate) and the Fund would not pay directly any advisory fee with respect to the assets so invested. The Fund may initiate investments in one or more investment companies without shareholder approval at any time. Management and Organization MANAGEMENT. Intermediate Bond Fund, Large-Cap Growth Portfolio and Small-Cap Portfolio's investment adviser is Boston Management and Research ("BMR"), a subsidiary of Eaton Vance Management ("Eaton Vance"), with offices at The Eaton Vance Building, 255 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109. Eaton Vance has been managing assets since 1924 and managing mutual funds since 1931. Eaton Vance and its subsidiaries currently manage approximately $60 billion on behalf of mutual funds, institutional clients and individuals. Eaton Vance serves as the administrator of each Fund, providing each Fund with administrative services and related office facilities. Eaton Vance does not currently receive a fee for serving as administrator. Pursuant to an investment sub-advisory agreement, BMR has delegated the investment management of Intermediate Bond Fund and each Portfolio to Atlanta Capital Management Company, L.L.C. ("Atlanta Capital"), an indirect majority-owned subsidiary of Eaton Vance. BMR pays Atlanta Capital a portion of each advisory fee for sub-advisory services provided to the Intermediate Bond Fund and each Portfolio. The day-to-day management of Intermediate Bond Fund and each Portfolio is the responsibility of a team of Atlanta Capital investment professionals. Each team meets to discuss investment holdings, prospective investments and portfolio composition and manages and provides research. The fees paid to BMR and the primary members of each team are as follows: 6 INTERMEDIATE BOND FUND. Under Intermediate Bond Fund's investment advisory agreement, BMR receives a monthly advisory fee equal to 0.400% annually of the average daily net assets of the Fund up to $500 million. On net assets of $500 million and over the annual fee is reduced. Gregory L. Coleman and James A. Womack comprise the team of investment professionals for Intermediate Bond Fund. Mr. Coleman is a Partner of Atlanta Capital, and Mr. Womack is a Vice President of Atlanta Capital, and both have been managing investments for more than 5 years. LARGE-CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO. Under Large-Cap Growth Portfolio's investment advisory agreement, BMR receives a monthly advisory fee equal to 0.650% annually of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio up to $500 million. On net assets of $500 million and over the annual fee is reduced. Daniel W. Boone, III, William R. Hackney, III and Marilyn Robinson Irvin comprise the team of investment professionals for the Large-Cap Growth Portfolio. Mr. Boone and Mr. Hackney, Managing Partners of Atlanta Capital, and Ms. Irvin, Senior Vice President of Atlanta Capital, have been managing investments for more than 5 years. SMALL-CAP PORTFOLIO. Under Small-Cap Portfolio's investment advisory agreement, BMR receives a monthly advisory fee equal to 1.0% annually of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio up to $500 million. On net assets of $500 million and over the annual fee is reduced. William R. Hackney, III, Paul J. Marshall and Charles B. Reed comprise the team of investment professionals for the Small-Cap Portfolio. Mr. Hackney, Managing Partner of Atlanta Capital, has been managing investments for more than 5 years. Mr. Marshall has been a Vice President of Atlanta Capital since 2000. Prior to joining Atlanta Capital, he was a portfolio manager with Bank of America Capital Management. Mr. Reed has been a Vice President of Atlanta Capital since 1998. Prior to joining Atlanta Capital, he was a portfolio manager with the Florida State Board of Administration. ORGANIZATION. Each Fund is a series of Eaton Vance Growth Trust, a Massachusetts business trust. Each Fund offers multiple classes of shares. Each Class represents a pro rata interest in the Fund but is subject to different expenses and rights. The Fund shares offered by, and referred to in, this prospectus are Class R shares. The Funds do not hold annual shareholder meetings but may hold special meetings for matters that require shareholder approval (like electing or removing trustees, approving management contracts or changing investment policies that may only be changed with shareholder approval). Because a Fund invests in a Portfolio, it may be asked to vote on certain Portfolio matters (like changes in certain Portfolio investment restrictions). When necessary, a Fund will hold a meeting of its shareholders to consider the Portfolio matter and then vote its interest in the Portfolio in proportion to the votes cast by its shareholders. A Fund can withdraw from a Portfolio at any time. Because the Funds use this combined prospectus, a Fund could be held liable for a misstatement or omission made about another Fund. The Trust's Trustees considered this risk in approving the use of a combined prospectus. VALUING SHARES Each Fund values its shares once each day only when the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading (typically Monday through Friday), as of the close of regular trading on the Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m. eastern time). The purchase price of Fund shares is their net asset value, which for the Large-Cap Growth and Small-Cap Funds is derived from Portfolio holdings. Exchange-listed securities are valued at closing sale prices. Most debt securities are valued by an independent pricing service. The investment adviser may use the fair value of a security if events occurring after the close of a securities market would materially affect net asset value or market prices are unavailable. Because foreign securities trade on days when Fund shares are not priced, net asset value can change at times when Fund shares cannot be redeemed. When purchasing or redeeming Fund shares, your investment dealer must communicate your order to the principal underwriter by a specific time each day in order for the purchase price or the redemption price to be based on that day's net asset value per share. It is the investment dealer's responsibility to transmit orders promptly. Each Fund may accept purchase and redemption orders as of the time of their receipt by certain investment dealers (or their designated intermediaries). PURCHASING SHARES No commissions or redemption fees are charged on Fund purchases or redemptions. Your initial investment must be at least $1,000. Subsequent investments of any amount may be made at any time. The investment minimum is waived for persons affiliated with Eaton Vance and its service providers. You may purchase shares through your investment dealer or by mailing the account application form included in this prospectus to the transfer agent (see back cover for address). 7 The Fund provides shareholders ease of investment by allowing same day wire purchases. You may purchase Class R shares through your investment dealer or by requesting your bank to transmit immediately available funds (Federal Funds) by wire to the address set forth below. To make an initial investment by wire, you must first telephone the Fund Order Department at 800-225-6265 (extension 7604) to advise of your action and to be assigned an account number. Failure to call will delay the order. The account application form which accompanies this prospectus must be promptly forwarded to the transfer agent. Additional investments may be made at any time through the same wire procedure. The Fund Order Department must be advised by telephone of each transmission. Wire funds to: Boston Safe Deposit & Trust Co. ABA #811001234 Account #080411 Further Credit: Atlanta Capital Intermediate Bond Fund-Class R shares-Fund #458 Atlanta Capital Large-Cap Growth Fund-Class R shares-Fund #438 Atlanta Capital Small-Cap Fund-Class R shares-Fund # 448 A/C # [Insert your account number] After your initial investment, additional investments of any amount may be made at any time by sending a check payable to the order of the Fund or the transfer agent directly to the transfer agent (see back cover for address). Please include your name and account number and the name of the Fund and Class with each investment. You may also make automatic investments of $50 or more each month or each quarter from your bank account. You can establish bank automated investing on the account application or by calling 1-800-262-1122. The minimum initial investment amount and Fund policy of redeeming accounts with low account balances are waived for bank automated investing accounts and certain group purchase plans. Purchase orders will be executed at the net asset value next determined after their receipt by the Fund only if the Fund has received payment in cash or in Federal Funds. You may purchase Fund shares in exchange for securities. Please call 1-800-225-6265 for information about exchanging securities for Fund shares. If you purchase shares through an investment dealer (which includes brokers, dealers and other financial institutions), that dealer may charge you a fee for executing the purchase for you. The Fund may suspend the sale of its shares at any time and any purchase order may be refused. From time to time the Fund may suspend the continuous offering of its shares. During any such suspension, shareholders who reinvest their distributions in additional shares will be permitted to continue such reinvestments, and the Fund may permit tax-sheltered retirement plans which own shares to purchase additional shares of the Fund. The Fund may also refuse any order for the purchase of shares. DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE FEES. Each Fund has in effect a plan under Rule 12b-1 that allows the Fund to pay distribution fees of 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to Class R for the sale and distribution of Class R shares (so-called "12b-1 fees"). Because these fees are paid from Fund assets on an ongoing basis, they will increase your cost over time and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges. Class R shares also pay service fees for personal and/or account services equal to 0.25% of average daily net assets annually. After the sale of Class R shares, the principal underwriter receives service fees for one year and thereafter investment dealers generally receive them based on the value of shares sold by such dealers. Although there is no present intention to do so, the Fund could pay distribution fees of up to 0.50% annually upon Trustee approval. 8 REDEEMING SHARES You can redeem shares in one of two ways: By Mail Send your request to the transfer agent along with any certificates and stock powers. The request must be signed exactly as your account is registered and signature guaranteed. You can obtain a signature guarantee at certain banks, savings and loan institutions, credit unions, securities dealers, securities exchanges, clearing agencies and registered securities associations. You may be asked to provide additional documents if your shares are registered in the name of a corporation, partnership or fiduciary. By Telephone You can redeem up to $100,000 by calling the transfer agent at 1-800-262-1122 on Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (eastern time). Proceeds of a telephone redemption can be mailed only to the account address. Shares held by corporations, trusts or certain other entities and shares that are subject to fiduciary arrangements cannot be redeemed by telephone. By Wire If you have given complete written authorization in advance you may request that redemption proceeds be wired directly to your bank account. The bank designated may be any bank in the United States. The redemption request may be made by calling the Eaton Vance Fund Order Department at 800-225-6265 (extension 7604) or by sending a signature guaranteed letter of instruction to the transfer agent (see back cover for address). You may be required to pay the costs of redeeming by wire; however, no costs are currently charged. The Fund may suspend or terminate this expedited payment procedure upon at least 30 days notice. Through an Investment Your investment dealer is responsible for transmitting Dealer the order promptly. An investment dealer may charge a fee for this service. If you redeem shares, your redemption price will be based on the net asset value per share next computed after the redemption request is received. Your redemption proceeds will be paid in cash within seven days, reduced by the amount of any federal income tax required to be withheld. Payments will be sent by mail unless you complete the Bank Wire Redemptions section of the account application. If you recently purchased shares, the proceeds of a redemption will not be sent until the purchase check (including a certified or cashier's check) has cleared. If the purchase check has not cleared, redemption proceeds may be delayed up to 15 days from the purchase date. If your account value falls below $750 (other than due to market decline), you may be asked either to add to your account or redeem it within 60 days. If you take no action, your account will be redeemed and the proceeds sent to you. While redemption proceeds are normally paid in cash, redemptions may be paid by distributing marketable securities. If you receive securities, you could incur brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash. SHAREHOLDER ACCOUNT FEATURES DISTRIBUTIONS. You may have your Fund distributions paid in one of the following ways: * Full Reinvest Option Dividends and capital gains are reinvested in additional shares. This option will be assigned if you do not specify an option. * Partial Reinvest Option Dividends are paid in cash and capital gains are reinvested in additional shares. * Cash Option Dividends and capital gains are paid in cash. 9 INFORMATION FROM THE FUND. From time to time, you may be mailed the following: * Annual and Semi-Annual Reports, containing performance information and financial statements. * Periodic account statements, showing recent activity and total share balance. * Form 1099 and tax information needed to prepare your income tax returns. * Proxy materials, in the event a shareholder vote is required. * Special notices about significant events affecting your Fund. WITHDRAWAL PLAN. You may redeem shares on a regular monthly or quarterly basis by establishing a systematic withdrawal plan. A minimum account size of $5,000 is required to establish a systematic withdrawal plan. EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE. You may exchange your Class R shares for other Atlanta Capital fund Class R shares. Exchanges are made at net asset value. Before exchanging, you should read the prospectus of the new fund carefully. The exchange privilege may be changed or discontinued at any time. You will receive 60 days' notice of any material change to the privilege. This privilege may not be used for "market timing". If an account (or group of accounts) makes more than two round-trip exchanges (exchanged from one fund to another and back again) within twelve months, it will be deemed to be market timing. The exchange privilege may be terminated for market timing accounts. TELEPHONE AND ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONS. The transfer agent and the principal underwriter have procedures in place to authenticate telephone and electronic instructions (such as using security codes or verifying personal account information). As long as the transfer agent and principal underwriter follow reasonable procedures, they will not be responsible for unauthorized telephone or electronic transactions and you bear the risk of possible loss resulting from these transactions. You may decline the telephone redemption option on the account application. Telephone instructions are tape recorded. "STREET NAME" ACCOUNTS. If your shares are held in a "street name" account at an investment dealer, that dealer (and not the Fund or its transfer agent) will perform all recordkeeping, transaction processing and distribution payments. Because the Fund will have no record of your transactions, you should contact your investment dealer to purchase, redeem or exchange shares, to make changes in your account, or to obtain account information. You will not be able to utilize a number of shareholder features, such as telephone transactions, directly with the Fund. The transfer of shares in a "street name" account to an account with another investment dealer or to an account directly with the Fund involves special procedures and you will be required to obtain historical information about your shares prior to the transfer. Before establishing a "street name" account with an investment dealer, you should determine whether that dealer allows reinvestment of distributions in "street name" accounts. ACCOUNT QUESTIONS. If you have any questions about your account or the services available, please call Eaton Vance Shareholder Services at 1-800-225-6265, or write to the transfer agent (see back cover for address). TAX-SHELTERED RETIREMENT PLANS. Class R shares are available for purchase in connection with certain tax-sheltered retirement plans. Call 1-800-225-6265 for information. Distributions will be invested in additional shares for all tax-sheltered retirement plans. TAX INFORMATION Intermediate Bond Fund makes distributions monthly. Large-Cap Growth Fund and Small-Cap Fund make distributions annually. Dividends may not be paid if Fund expenses exceed Fund income for the period. Each Fund makes distributions of net realized capital gains, if any, at least annually. Distributions of income and net short-term capital gains held by the Fund or a Portfolio will be taxable as ordinary income. Distributions of any long-term capital gains are taxable as long-term capital gains. Over time, distributions by each Fund can generally be expected to include both dividends taxable as ordinary income and capital gain distributions taxable as long-term gains. A portion of Large-Cap Growth Fund's and Small-Cap Fund's income distributions may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporations. A Fund's distributions will be taxable as described above whether they are paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares. Investors who purchase shares at a time when a Fund's net asset value reflects gains that are either unrealized or realized but not distributed will pay the full price for the shares and then may receive some portion of the price back as a taxable distribution. Certain distributions paid in January will be taxable to shareholders as if received on December 31 of the prior year. A redemption of Fund shares, including an exchange for shares of another fund, is a taxable transaction. Shareholders should consult with their advisers concerning the applicability of state, local and other taxes to an investment. 10 ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCE INFORMATION ATLANTA CAPITAL PRIOR PERFORMANCE. This section presents past performance information ("Composite Performance"), reduced as noted below to reflect expenses, for all accounts, unless otherwise noted, for which Atlanta Capital maintained investment discretion and managed with substantially similar investment objectives, policies and strategies as each of Intermediate Bond Fund, Large-Cap Growth Fund and Small-Cap Fund. The Composite Performance information provided by Atlanta Capital on a "gross of fee" basis has been reduced to deduct anticipated Class R fees and expenses assuming no expense caps or fee waivers. The returns shown also assume the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Actual fees will vary depending on, among other things, the applicable fee schedule, Fund size, and applicable sales charges, if any. The fee schedule for each Fund is included in the "Fund Summaries" section of the prospectus. Each Composite Performance is also compared with performance figures for the benchmark index of the appropriate Fund. THE PAST PERFORMANCE OF ATLANTA CAPITAL IN MANAGING ADVISORY ACCOUNTS IS NO GUARANTEE OF FUTURE RESULTS IN MANAGING THE FUNDS. PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING CAUTIONARY GUIDELINES IN REVIEWING THIS APPENDIX: PERFORMANCE FIGURES ARE NOT THE PERFORMANCE OF A FUND. The performance shown for Atlanta Capital is not the performance of a Fund and is not an indication of how a Fund would have performed in the past or will perform in the future. The Funds' performances in the future may be different from Atlanta Capital's performance in advising substantially similar advisory accounts due to factors such as differences in the cash flows into and out of the advisory accounts, different fees, expenses, performance calculation methods, portfolio size and composition. In particular, Composite Performance is not necessarily an indication of how a Fund will perform, as those accounts may not be subject to investment limitations, diversification requirements and other restrictions imposed on mutual funds by the 1940 Act and the Internal Revenue Code, which, if applicable, could have a negative impact on the Fund's performance. ATLANTA CAPITAL AND BENCHMARK PERFORMANCE ARE AVERAGES FOR THE PERIODS SHOWN. The information below shows average compounded annual total rates of returns for the periods indicated and the average total rate of returns for the periods less than one year, but does not reflect the volatility that may occur within a given period. A Fund may invest in market sectors that experienced significant performance fluctuations within the periods presented. THE BENCHMARK. Each Composite Performance is compared to a broad-based securities market index. Broad-based securities indices are unmanaged and are not subject to fees and expenses typically associated with managed accounts, including mutual funds. Investments cannot be made directly in a broad-based securities index. Each Fund's respective index is described below.
1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years Since Composite Ended Ended Ended Ended Composite Inception ATLANTA CAPITAL COMPOSITE PERFORMANCE 12/31/01 12/31/01 12/31/01 12/31/01 Inception Date ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- High Quality Intermediate Composite 1 6.58% 5.52% 6.24% 5.80% 5.80% 12/31/91 Lehman High Quality Intermediate Aggregate Index 8.66% 6.75% 7.31% 6.90% 6.90% (Intermediate Bond Fund Benchmark) 2 High Quality Growth Composite 3 -15.96% 2.35% 13.28% 12.69% 12.69% 12/31/91 S&P 500 (Large-Cap Growth Fund Benchmark) 4 -11.88% -1.03% 10.70% 12.94% 12.94% High Quality Small Cap Composite 5 9.50% 7.77% 12.12% N/A 12.17% 3/31/92 Russell 2000 (Small-Cap Fund Benchmark) 6 2.49% 6.42% 7.52% N/A 10.99%
1 The High Quality Intermediate Composite corresponds to the Intermediate Bond Fund. The composite has no minimum account size associated with it. 2 The Lehman High Quality Intermediate Aggregate Index is a market-value weighted index that covers the U.S. investment grade fixed rate bond market rated A3 or better by Moody's Investors Service, Inc., with index components for government and corporate securities, mortgage pass-through securities, and asset-backed securities. Securities included in the Index are U.S. domestic, taxable, and dollar denominated. 3 The High Quality Growth Composite corresponds to the Large-Cap Growth Fund. The composite's minimum account size is $10,000,000. 4 The S&P 500 is a market capitalization weighted index of common stocks. 5 The High Quality Small Cap Composite corresponds to the Small-Cap Fund. From the composite's inception date March 31, 1992 through December 31, 1994, the composite's minimum account size was $100,000. Beginning January 1, 1995, the minimum account size for this composite is $3,000,000. From 1992 through 1994, the composite had one non-fee paying account that represented the following percentage of composite assets for each indicated year: 1992 - 100%; 1993 - 5%; 1994 - 4%. 6 The Russell 2000 is a market capitalization weighted index of 2,000 small company stocks. 11 LOGO More Information -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ABOUT THE FUNDS: More information is available in the statement of additional information. The statement of additional information is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Additional information about each Fund's investments will be available in the annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. In the annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected each Fund's performance during the past year. You may obtain free copies of the statement of additional information and the shareholder reports by contacting the principal underwriter: Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. The Eaton Vance Building 255 State Street Boston, MA 02109 1-800-225-6265 website: www.eatonvance.com You will find and may copy information about each Fund (including the statement of additional information and shareholder reports): at the Securities and Exchange Commission's public reference room in Washington, DC (call 1-202-942-8090 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. ABOUT SHAREHOLDER ACCOUNTS: You can obtain more information from Eaton Vance Shareholder Services (1-800-225-6265). If you own shares and would like to add to, redeem or change your account, please write or call the transfer agent: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PFPC, Inc. P.O. Box 9653 Providence, RI 02940-9653 1-800-262-1122 The Fund's SEC File No. is 811-1241. ATLRPROS (C) 2002 Eaton Vance Management STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION April 26, 2002 ATLANTA CAPITAL INTERMEDIATE BOND FUND ATLANTA CAPITAL LARGE-CAP GROWTH FUND ATLANTA CAPITAL SMALL-CAP FUND The Eaton Vance Building 255 State Street Boston, Massachusetts 02109 1-800-225-6265 This Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") provides general information about the Funds and Large-Cap Growth and Small-Cap Portfolios. Each Fund is a series of Eaton Vance Growth Trust. Capitalized terms used in this SAI and not otherwise defined have the meanings given to them in the prospectus. This SAI contains additional information about: Page Page Strategies and Risks 2 Purchasing and Redeeming Shares 18 Investment Restrictions 7 Performance 19 Management and Organization 8 Taxes 21 Investment Advisory and Portfolio Securities Transactions 22 Administrative Services 13 Financial Statements 24 Other Service Providers 16 Calculation of Net Asset Value 17 Appendix A: Class I Fees, Performance and Ownership 29 Appendix B: Class R Fees, Performance and Ownership 30 Appendix C: Ratings 31 Although each Fund offers only its shares of beneficial interest, it is possible that a Fund (or Class) might become liable for a misstatement or omission in this SAI regarding another Fund (or Class) because the Funds use this combined SAI. The Trustees of the Trust have considered this factor in approving the use of a combined SAI. THIS SAI IS NOT A PROSPECTUS AND IS AUTHORIZED FOR DISTRIBUTION TO PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ONLY IF PRECEDED OR ACCOMPANIED BY THE FUNDS' RELEVANT PROSPECTUS DATED APRIL 26, 2002, AS SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME, WHICH IS INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE. THIS SAI SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PROSPECTUS, WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED BY CALLING 1-800-225-6265. (C) 2002 Eaton Vance Management The following defined terms may be used herein: "SEC" for the Securities and Exchange Commission; "CFTC" for the Commodities Futures Trading Commission; "Code" for the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; "1940 Act" for the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; and "NASD" for the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. For purposes of the Intermediate Bond Fund's and each Portfolio's policy of investing at least 80% of net assets in a particular type of investment, "net assets" will include any borrowings made for investment purposes. This policy will not be revised unless Fund shareholders are notified of the proposed change at least sixty days in advance of the proposed change. Within the following sections of this SAI, and elsewhere as the context so requires, the term "Portfolio" refers to Intermediate Bond Fund, Large-Cap Growth Portfolio and Small-Cap Portfolio: Strategies and Risks Investment Restrictions Taxes Portfolio Securities Transactions STRATEGIES AND RISKS Each Portfolio and Intermediate Bond Fund's primary strategies are defined in the prospectus. The following is a description of the various investment practices in which a Portfolio and Intermediate Bond Fund may engage, whether as a primary or secondary strategy, and a summary of certain attendant risks. A Portfolio and Intermediate Bond Fund's investment adviser may not buy any of the following instruments or use any of the following techniques unless it believes that doing so will help a Portfolio and Intermediate Bond Fund achieve its investment objective. FIXED-INCOME SECURITIES. Fixed-income securities include preferred stocks, convertible debt securities, bonds, debentures, notes and other types of debt securities (such as collateralized mortgage obligations, mortgage-backed securities and other asset-backed and collateralized obligations). During an economic downturn, the ability of issuers to service their debt may be impaired. In the case of a default, the Fund may retain a defaulted security when the investment adviser deems it advisable to do so. In the case of a defaulted obligation, the Fund may incur additional expense seeking recovery of an investment that is in default. Issuers of fixed-income securities may reserve the right to call (redeem) the bond. If an issuer redeems securities during a time of declining interest rates, the Fund may not be able to reinvest the proceeds in securities providing the same investment return as the securities redeemed. While lower rated debt securities 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 securities are subject to the risk of an issuer's inability to meet principal and interest payments on the securities (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 securities are also more likely to react to real or perceived developments affecting market and credit risk than are more highly rated securities, which react primarily to movements in the general level of interest rates. MORTGAGE BACKED AND ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES. The Intermediate Bond Fund's investments in mortgage-backed securities may include conventional mortgage pass-through securities, stripped mortgage-backed securities ("SMBS"), floating rate mortgage-backed securities and certain classes of multiple class collateralized mortgage obligations ("CMOs"). Mortgage-backed securities differ from bonds in that the principal is paid back by the borrower over the length of the loan rather than returned in a lump sum at maturity. Government National Mortgage Association ("GNMA") Certificates and Federal National Mortgage Association ("FNMA") Mortgage-Backed Certificates are mortgage-backed securities representing part ownership of a pool of mortgage loans. GNMA loans -- issued by lenders such as mortgage bankers, commercial banks and savings and loan associations -- are either insured by the Federal Housing Administration or guaranteed by the Veterans Administration. A "pool" or group of such mortgages is assembled and, after being approved by GNMA, is offered to investors through securities dealers. Once such pool is approved by GNMA, the timely payment of interest and principal on the Certificates issued representing such pool is guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. FNMA, a federally chartered corporation owned entirely by private stockholders, purchases both conventional and federally insured or guaranteed residential mortgages from various entities, including savings and loan associations, savings banks, commercial banks, credit unions and mortgage bankers, and packages pools of such mortgages in the form of pass-through securities generally called FNMA Mortgage-Backed Certificates, which are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by FNMA but are not 2 backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. GNMA Certificates and FNMA Mortgage-Backed Certificates are called "pass-through" securities because a pro rata share of both regular interest and principal payments, as well as unscheduled early prepayments, on the underlying mortgage pool is passed through monthly to the holder of the Certificate (i.e., the Fund). The Fund may purchase GNMA Certificates, FNMA Mortgage-Backed Certificates and various other mortgage-backed securities on a when-issued basis subject to certain limitations and requirements. The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("FHLMC"), a corporate instrumentality of the U.S. Government created by Congress for the purposes of increasing the availability of mortgage credit for residential housing, issues participation certificates ("PCs") representing undivided interest in FHLMC'S mortgage portfolio. While FHLMC guarantees the time payment of interest and ultimate collection of the principal of its PCs, its PCs are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. FHLMC PCs differ from GNMA Certificates in that the mortgages underlying the PCs are monthly "Conventional" mortgages rather than mortgages insured or guaranteed by a federal agency or instrumentality. However, in several other respects, such as the monthly pass-through of interest and principal (including unscheduled prepayments) and the unpredictability of future unscheduled prepayments on the underlying mortgage pools, FHLMC PCs are similar to GNMA Certificates. While it is not possible to accurately predict the life of a particular issue of a mortgage-backed security, the actual life of any such security is likely to be substantially less than the average maturity of the mortgage pool underlying the security. This is because unscheduled early prepayments of principal on a mortgage-backed security will result from the prepayment, refinancing or foreclosure of the underlying loans in the mortgage or asset pool. The monthly payments (which may include unscheduled prepayments) on such a security may be able to be reinvested only at a lower rate of interest. Because of the regular scheduled payments of principal and the early unscheduled prepayments of principal, this type of security is less effective than other types of obligations as a means of "locking-in" attractive long-term interest rates. As a result, this type of security may have less potential for capital appreciation during periods of declining interest rates than other U.S. Government securities of comparable maturities, although many issues of mortgage-backed securities may have a comparable risk of decline in market value during periods of rising interest rates. If such a security has been purchased at a premium above its par value, both a scheduled payment of principal and an unscheduled prepayment of principal, which would be made at par, will accelerate the realization of a loss equal to that portion of the premium applicable to the payment or prepayment and will reduce performance. If such a security has been purchased at a discount from its par value, both a scheduled payment of principal and an unscheduled prepayment of principal will increase current yield and total returns and will accelerate the recognition of income, which when distributed to Fund shareholders, will be taxable as ordinary income. While asset-backed securities are also susceptible to prepayment risk, the collateral supporting asset-backed securities is generally of shorter maturity than mortgage loans and is less likely to experience substantial unscheduled prepayments. However, the collateral securing such securities may be more difficult to liquidate than mortgage loans. Moreover, issuers of asset-backed securities may have limited ability to enforce the security interest in the underlying assets, and credit enhancements provided to support the securities, if any, may be inadequate to protect investors in the event of default. CMOs are issued in two or more classes or series with varying maturities and stated rates of interest determined by the issuer. The key feature of the CMO structure is the prioritization of the cash flows from a pool of mortgages among the several classes of CMO holders, thereby creating a series of obligations with varying rates and maturities appealing to a wide range of investors. CMOs generally are secured by an assignment to a trustee under the indenture pursuant to which the bonds are issued of collateral consisting of a pool of mortgages. Payments with respect to the underlying mortgages generally are made to the trustee under the indenture. Payments of principal and interest on the underlying mortgages are not passed through to the holders of the CMOs as such (that is, the character of payments of principal and interest is not passed through and therefore payments to holders of CMOs attributable to interest paid and principal repaid on the underlying mortgages do not necessarily constitute income and return of capital, respectively, to such holders), but such payments are dedicated to payment of interest on and repayment of principal of the CMOs. Senior CMO classes will typically have priority over residual CMO classes as to the receipt of principal and/or interest payments on the underlying mortgages. Because the interest and principal payments on the underlying mortgages are not passed through to holders of CMOs, CMOs of varying maturities may be secured by the same pool of mortgages, the payments on which are used to pay interest to each class and to retire successive maturities in sequence. CMOs are designed to be retired as the underlying mortgages are repaid. In the event of sufficient early prepayments on such mortgages, the class or series of CMO first to mature generally will be retired prior to maturity. Therefore, although in most cases the issuer of CMOs will not supply additional collateral in the event of such prepayments, there will be sufficient collateral to secure CMOs that remain outstanding. 3 U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. U.S. Government securities include (1) U.S. Treasury obligations, which differ in their interest rates, maturities and times of issuance: U.S. Treasury bills (maturities of one year or less), U.S. Treasury notes (maturities of one year to ten years) and U.S. Treasury bonds (generally maturities of greater than ten years) and (2) obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies and instrumentalities which are supported by any of the following: (a) the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury, (b) the right of the issuer to borrow an amount limited to a specific line of credit from the U.S. Treasury, (c) discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase certain obligations of the U.S. Government agency or instrumentality or (d) the credit of the agency or instrumentality. The Fund may also invest in any other security or agreement collateralized or otherwise secured by U.S. Government securities. Agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. Government include but are not limited to: Federal Land Banks, Federal Financing Banks, Banks for Cooperatives, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, Farm Credit Banks, Federal Home Loan Banks, FHLMC, FNMA, GNMA, Student Loan Marketing Association, United States Postal Service, Small Business Administration, Tennessee Valley Authority and any other enterprise established or sponsored by the U.S. Government. Because the U.S. Government generally is not obligated to provide support to its instrumentalities, the Fund will invest in obligations issued by these instrumentalities only if the investment adviser determines that the credit risk with respect to such obligations is minimal. The principal of and/or interest on certain U.S. Government securities which may be purchased by the Fund could be (a) payable in foreign currencies rather than U.S. dollars or (b) increased or diminished as a result of changes in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to the value of foreign currencies. The value of such portfolio securities denominated in foreign currencies may be affected favorably by changes in the exchange rate between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar. WHEN-ISSUED SECURITIES AND FORWARD COMMITMENTS. Securities may be purchased on a "forward commitment" or "when-issued" basis (meaning securities are purchased or sold with payment and delivery taking place in the future) in order to secure what is considered to be an advantageous price and yield at the time of entering into the transaction. However, the yield on a comparable security when the transaction is consummated may vary from the yield on the security at the time that the forward commitment or when-issued transaction was made. From the time of entering into the transaction until delivery and payment is made at a later date, the securities that are the subject of the transaction are subject to market fluctuations. In forward commitment or when-issued transactions, if the seller or buyer, as the case may be, fails to consummate the transaction the counterparty may miss the opportunity of obtaining a price or yield considered to be advantageous. Forward commitment or when-issued transactions may be expected to occur a month or more before delivery is due. However, no payment or delivery is made until payment is received or delivery is made from the other party to the transaction. Forward commitment or when-issued transactions are not entered into for the purpose of investment leverage. FOREIGN INVESTMENTS. Because foreign companies are not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies, there may be less publicly available information about a foreign company than about a domestic company. Volume and liquidity in most foreign debt markets is less than in the United States and securities of some foreign companies are less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. companies. There is generally less government supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, broker-dealers and listed companies than in the United States. Mail service between the United States and foreign countries may be slower or less reliable than within the United States, thus increasing the risk of delayed settlements of portfolio transactions or loss of certificates for portfolio securities. Payment for securities before delivery may be required. In addition, with respect to certain foreign countries, there is the possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation, political or social instability, or diplomatic developments which could affect investments in those countries. Moreover, individual foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments position. Foreign securities markets, while growing in volume and sophistication, are generally not as developed as those in the United States, and securities of some foreign issuers (particularly those located in developing countries) may be less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. companies. American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), European Depositary Receipts (EDRs) and Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) may be purchased. ADRs, EDRs and GDRs are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer and are alternatives to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their national markets and currencies. However, they continue to be subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities. These risks include foreign exchange risk as well as the political and economic risks of the underlying issuer's country. ADRs, EDRs and GDRs may be sponsored or unsponsored. Unsponsored receipts are established without the participation of the issuer. Unsponsored receipts may involve higher expenses, they may not pass-through voting or other shareholder rights, and they may be less liquid. 4 FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS. The value of foreign assets as measured in U.S. dollars may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in foreign currency rates and exchange control regulations. Currency exchange rates can also be affected unpredictably by intervention by U.S. or foreign governments or central banks, or the failure to intervene, or by currency controls or political developments in the U.S. or abroad. Foreign currency exchange transactions may be conducted on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market or through entering into derivative currency transactions. Currency futures contracts are exchange-traded and change in value to reflect movements of a currency or a basket of currencies. Settlement must be made in a designated currency. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are individually negotiated and privately traded so they are dependent upon the creditworthiness of the counterparty. Such contracts may be used when a security denominated in a foreign currency is purchased or sold, or when the receipt in a foreign currency of dividend or interest payments on such a security is anticipated. A forward contract can then "lock in" the U.S. dollar price of the security or the U.S. dollar equivalent of such dividend or interest payment, as the case may be. Additionally, when the investment adviser believes that the currency of a particular foreign country may suffer a substantial decline against the U.S. dollar, it may enter into a forward contract to sell, for a fixed amount of dollars, the amount of foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of the securities held that are denominated in such foreign currency. The precise matching of the forward contract amounts and the value of the securities involved will not generally be possible. In addition, it may not be possible to hedge against long-term currency changes. Cross-hedging may be used by using forward contracts in one currency (or basket of currencies) to hedge against fluctuations in the value of securities denominated in a different currency if the investment adviser determines that there is an established historical pattern of correlation between the two currencies (or the basket of currencies and the underlying currency). Use of a different foreign currency magnifies exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. Forward contracts may also be used to shift exposure to foreign currency exchange rate changes from one currency to another. Short-term hedging provides a means of fixing the dollar value of only a portion of portfolio assets. Currency transactions are subject to the risk of a number of complex political and economic factors applicable to the countries issuing the underlying currencies. Furthermore, unlike trading in most other types of instruments, there is no systematic reporting of last sale information with respect to the foreign currencies underlying the derivative currency transactions. As a result, available information may not be complete. In an over-the-counter trading environment, there are no daily price fluctuation limits. There may be no liquid secondary market to close out options purchased or written, or forward contracts entered into, until their exercise, expiration or maturity. There is also the risk of default by, or the bankruptcy of, the financial institution serving as a counterparty. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS. Derivative instruments (which are instruments that derive their value from another instrument, security, index or currency) may be purchased or sold to enhance return (which may be considered speculative), to hedge against fluctuations in securities prices, market conditions or currency exchange rates, or as a substitute for the purchase or sale of securities or currencies. Such transactions may be in the U.S. or abroad and may include the purchase or sale of futures contracts on indicies and options on stock index futures, the purchase of put options and the sale of call options on securities held, equity swaps, the purchase and sale of currency futures, and forward foreign currency exchange contracts. 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. The loss on derivative instruments (other than purchased options) may substantially exceed an investment in these instruments. In addition, the entire premium paid for purchased options may be lost before they can be profitably exercised. Transaction costs are incurred in opening and closing positions. Derivative instruments may sometimes increase or leverage exposure to a particular market risk, thereby increasing price volatility. Over-the-counter ("OTC") derivative instruments involve an enhanced risk that the issuer or counterparty will fail to perform its contractual obligations. Some derivative instruments are not readily marketable or may become illiquid under adverse market conditions. In addition, during periods of market volatility, a commodity exchange may suspend or limit trading in an exchange-traded derivative instrument, which may make the contract temporarily illiquid and difficult to price. Commodity exchanges may also establish daily limits on the amount that the price of a futures contract or futures option can vary from the previous day's settlement price. Once the daily limit is reached, no trades may be made that day at a price beyond the 5 limit. This may prevent the closing out of positions to limit losses. The staff of the SEC takes the position that certain purchased OTC options, and assets used as cover for written OTC options, are illiquid. The ability to terminate OTC derivative instruments may depend on the cooperation of the counterparties to such contracts. For thinly traded derivative instruments, the only source of price quotations may be the selling dealer or counterparty. In addition, certain provisions of the Code limit the use of derivative instruments. Under regulations of the CFTC, the use of futures transactions for non-hedging purposes is limited. There can be no assurance that the use of derivative instruments will be advantageous. Foreign exchange traded futures contracts and options thereon may be used only if the investment adviser determines that trading on such foreign exchange does not entail risks, including credit and liquidity risks, that are materially greater than the risks associated with trading on CFTC-regulated exchanges. A put option on a security may be written only if the investment adviser intends to acquire the security. Credit exposure on equity swaps to any one counterparty will be limited to 5% or less of net assets. Call options written on securities will be covered by ownership of the securities subject to the call option or an offsetting option. ASSET COVERAGE. To the extent required by SEC guidelines, each Portfolio 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, held in a segregated account 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 held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the position(s) requiring cover is open unless replaced with other appropriate assets. As a result, the commitment of a large portion of assets to cover or segregated accounts could impede portfolio management or the ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations. SHORT SALES. A Portfolio may sell a security short if it owns at least an equal amount of the security sold short or another security convertible or exchangeable for an equal amount of the security sold short without payment of further compensation (a short sale against-the-box). In a short sale against-the-box, the short seller is exposed to the risk of being forced to deliver appreciated stock to close the position if the borrowed stock is called in by the lender. These transactions may also require the current recognition of taxable gain under certain tax rules applicable to constructive sales. Each Portfolio expects normally to close its short sales against-the-box by delivering newly-acquired stock. REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. Each Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements (the purchase of a security coupled with an agreement to resell at a higher price) with respect to its permitted investments. In the event of the bankruptcy of the other party to a repurchase agreement, a Portfolio might experience delays in recovering its cash. To the extent that, in the meantime, the value of the securities the Portfolio purchased may have decreased, the Portfolio could experience a loss. Repurchase agreements which mature in more than seven days will be treated as illiquid. A Portfolio's repurchase agreements will provide that the value of the collateral underlying the repurchase agreement will always be at least equal to the repurchase price, including any accrued interest earned on the agreement, and will be marked to market daily. LENDING PORTFOLIO SECURITIES. Each Portfolio may lend up to one-third of the value of its total assets (including borrowings) or such other amount as is permitted under relevant law. Each Portfolio may seek to earn income by lending portfolio securities to broker-dealers or other institutional borrowers. As with other extensions of credit, there are risks of delay in recovery or even loss of rights in the securities loaned if the borrower of the securities fails financially. In the judgment of the investment adviser the loans will be made only to organizations whose credit quality or claims paying ability is considered to be at least investment grade and when the expected returns, net of administrative expenses and any finders' fees, justify the attendant risk. Securities loans currently are required to be secured continuously by collateral in cash, cash equivalents (such as money market instruments) or other liquid securities held by the custodian and maintained in an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. The financial condition of the borrower will be monitored by the investment adviser. TEMPORARY INVESTMENTS. A Portfolio may invest temporarily in cash or cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are highly liquid, short-term securities such as commercial paper, certificates of deposit, short-term notes and short-term U.S. Government obligations. PORTFOLIO TURNOVER. A Fund or Portfolio cannot accurately predict its portfolio turnover rate, but, except as noted below, it is anticipated that the annual 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 Fund or Portfolio were replaced in a period of one year. Except as noted below, a high turnover rate (such as 100% or more) necessarily involves greater expenses to the Fund or Portfolio and may result in the realization of substantial net short-term capital gains. The Fund or Portfolio may engage in active short-term trading to benefit from yield disparities among different issues of securities or among the markets for fixed income securities of different countries, to seek short-term profits during periods of fluctuating interest rates, or for other reasons. Such trading will 6 increase the Fund's or Portfolio's rate of turnover and may increase the incidence of net short-term capital gains allocated to the Fund by the Portfolio (if applicable), which, upon distribution by the Fund, are taxable to Fund shareholders as ordinary income. Due to potential turnover of U.S. Treasury and agency debentures, Intermediate Bond Fund may experience a portfolio turnover rate in excess of 100%. It is not anticipated that such turnover will involve significantly greater expenses to the Fund. INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS The following investment restrictions of each Fund are designated as fundamental policies and as such cannot be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of a Fund's outstanding voting securities, which as used in this SAI means the lesser of (a) 67% of the shares of a Fund present or represented by proxy at a meeting if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares are present or represented at the meeting or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of a Fund. Accordingly, each Fund may not: (1) 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; (2) Concentrate its investments in any particular industry, but, if deemed appropriate for the Fund's objective, up to (but less than) 25% of the value of its assets may be invested in any one industry; (3) Borrow money or issue senior securities except as permitted by the 1940 Act; (4) Purchase securities on margin (but the Fund may obtain such short-term credits as may be necessary for the clearance of purchase and sales of securities); (5) Engage in the underwriting of securities; (6) Purchase or sell real estate, although it may purchase and sell securities which are secured by real estate and securities of companies which invest or deal in real estate; (7) Purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts for the purchase or sale of physical commodities; or (8) Make loans to any person except by (a) the acquisition of debt securities and making portfolio investments, (b) entering into repurchase agreements, (c) lending portfolio securities, and (d) lending cash consistent with applicable law. Notwithstanding the investment policies and restrictions of each Fund, the Fund may invest its investable assets in another open-end management investment company (a portfolio) with substantially the same investment objective, policies and restrictions as the Fund; moreover, subject to Trustee approval the Fund may invest its investable assets in two or more open-end management investment companies which together have substantially the same investment objective, policies and restrictions as the Fund, to the extent permitted by Section 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act. The following nonfundamental investment policies have been adopted by each Fund and Portfolio. A policy may be changed by the Trustees with respect to a Fund without approval by the Fund's shareholders or, with respect to a Portfolio, without approval of the Fund or its other investors. Each Fund and Portfolio will not: * make short sales of securities or maintain a short position, unless at all times when a short position is open (i) it owns an equal amount of such securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable, without payment of any further consideration, for securities of the same issue as, and equal in amount to, the securities sold short or (ii) it holds in a segregated account cash or other liquid securities (to the extent required under the 1940 Act) in an amount equal to the current market value of the securities sold short, and unless not more than 25% of its net assets (taken at current value) is held as collateral for such sales at any one time; or * invest more than 15% of net assets in investments which are not readily marketable, including restricted securities and repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days. Restricted securities for the purposes of this limitation do not include securities eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 and commercial paper issued pursuant to Section 4(2) of said Act that the Board of Trustees, or its delegate, determines to be liquid. Any such determination by a delegate will be made pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board. When investing in Rule 144A securities, the level of portfolio illiquidity may be increased to the extent that eligible buyers become uninterested in purchasing such securities. 7 Whenever an investment policy or investment restriction set forth in the prospectus or this SAI states a maximum percentage of assets that may be invested in any security or other asset, or describes a policy regarding quality standards, such percentage limitation or standard shall be determined immediately after and as a result of the acquisition by a Fund and Portfolio of such security or asset. Accordingly, any later increase or decrease resulting from a change in values, assets or other circumstances or any subsequent rating change made by a rating service, will not compel a Fund and Portfolio to dispose of such security or other asset. MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION FUND MANAGEMENT. The Trustees of the Trust are responsible for the overall management and supervision of the affairs of the Trust. The Trustees of each Portfolio are responsible for the overall management and supervision of the affairs of each Portfolio. The Trustees and officers of the Trust and the Portfolios are listed below. Except as indicated, each individual has held the office shown or other offices in the same company for the last five years. Trustees and officers of the Trust and the Portfolios hold indefinite terms of office. The business address of each Trustee and officer is The Eaton Vance Building, 255 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109. As used in this SAI, "EVC" refers to Eaton Vance Corp., "EV" refers to Eaton Vance Inc. and "EVD" refers to Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. EVC and EV are the corporate parent and trustee, respectively, of Eaton Vance and BMR. EVD is the principal underwriter of each Fund.
Number of Portfolios Position(s) with in Fund Complex the Trust/ Term of Office and Principal Occupation(s) During Overseen By Other Directorships Name and Age Portfolio Length of Service Past Five Years Trustee(1) Held ------------ ---------------- ------------------ ------------------------------ -------------------- ------------------- Interested Trustees JESSICA M. BIBLIOWICZ Trustee Trustee of the President and Chief Executive 167 None Age 42 Trust since 1998; Officer of National Financial of the Portfolios Partners (financial services since 2001 company) (since April 1999). President and Chief Operating Officer of John A. Levin & Co. (registered investment adviser) (July 1997 to April 1999) and a Director of Baker, Fentress & Company which owns John A. Levin & Co. (July 1997 to April 1999). Formerly, Executive Vice President of Smith Barney Mutual Funds (July 1994 to June 1997). Ms. Bibliowicz is an interested person because of her affiliation with a brokerage firm. JAMES B. HAWKES Trustee and Trustee of the Chairman, President and Chief 172 Director of EVC, EV Age 60 President Trust since 1982, Executive Officer of BMR, Eaton and EVD President since Vance and their corporate parent 1982; Trustee of and trustee (EVC and EV); Vice the Portfolios President of EVD. President or since 2001 officer of 172 investment companies in the Eaton Vance Fund Complex. Mr. Hawkes is an interested person because of his positions with BMR, Eaton Vance and EVC, which are affiliates of the Fund and the Portfolio. Noninterested Trustees DONALD R. DWIGHT Trustee Trustee of the President of Dwight Partners, Inc. 172 Trustee/Director of Age 71 Trust since 1986; (corporate relations and the Royce Funds of the Portfolios communications company). (consisting of 17 since 2001 portfolios) SAMUEL L. HAYES, III Trustee Trustee of the Jacob H. Schiff Professor of 172 Director of Tiffany Age 67 Trust since 1986; Investment Banking Emeritus, & Co. (specialty of the Portfolios Harvard University Graduate retailer) and since 2001 School of Business Telect, Inc. Administration. (telecommunications services company) NORTON H. REAMER Trustee Trustee of the Chairman and Chief Operating 172 None Age 66 Trust since 1986; Officer, Hellman, Jordan of the Portfolios Management Co., Inc. (an since 2001 investment management company) (since November 2000). President, Unicorn Corporation (an investment and financial advisory services company) (since September 2000). Formerly Chairman of the Board, United Asset Management Corporation (a holding company owning institutional investment management firms) and Chairman, President and Director, UAM Funds (mutual funds). 8 Number of Portfolios Position(s) with in Fund Complex the Trust/ Term of Office and Principal Occupation(s) During Overseen By Other Directorships Name and Age Portfolio Length of Service Past Five Years Trustee(1) Held ------------ ---------------- ------------------ ------------------------------ -------------------- ------------------- LYNN A. STOUT Trustee Trustee of the Professor Law, University of 167 None Age 44 Trust since 1998; California at Los Angeles School of the Portfolios of Law (since July 2001). Formerly, since 2001 Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center. JACK L. TREYNOR Trustee Trustee of the Investment Adviser and Consultant. 169 None Age 72 Trust since 1972; of the Portfolios since 2001
(1) Includes both master and feeder funds in a master-feeder structure. Principal Officers who are not Trustees
Position(s) with the Term of Office and Name and Age Trust/Portfolio Length of Service Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years ------------ -------------------- ------------------ ---------------------------------------------- DANIEL W. BOONE, III Vice President of Large-Cap Since 2001 Managing Partner and member of the Executive Age 57 Growth Portfolio Committee of Atlanta Capital. Officer of 1 investment company managed by Eaton Vance or BMR. GREGORY L. COLEMAN Vice President of the Trust Since 2001 Partner of Atlanta Capital. Officer of 10 investment Age 52 companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR. THOMAS E. FAUST JR. Vice President For the Trust since 1999; Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Age 43 for the Portfolios since Officer of Eaton Vance and BMR and Director of EVC. 2001 Officer of 16 investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR. WILLIAM R. HACKNEY, Vice President of the Since 2001 Managing Partner and member of the Executive III Portfolios Committee of Atlanta Capital. Officer of 3 Age 53 investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR. MARILYN ROBINSON Vice President of Large-Cap Since 2001 Senior Vice President and Principal of Atlanta IRVIN Growth Portfolio Capital. Officer of 1 investment company managed by Age 43 Eaton Vance or BMR. PAUL J. MARSHALL Vice President of Small-Cap Since 2001 Vice President of Atlanta Capital since 2000. Age 36 Portfolio Portfolio manager for Bank of America Capital Management (1995-2000). Officer of 2 investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR. CHARLES B. REED Vice President of Small-Cap Since 2001 Vice President of Atlanta Capital since 1998. Age 36 Portfolio Portfolio manager with the Florida State Board of Administration (1995-1998). Officer of 1 investment company managed by Eaton Vance or BMR. JAMES A. WOMACK Vice President of the Trust Since 2001 Vice President of Atlanta Capital. Officer of 10 Age 33 investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR. JAMES L. O'CONNOR Treasurer For the Trust since 1989; Vice President of BMR, Eaton Vance, EVD and EVC. Age 57 for the Portfolios since Officer of 172 investment companies managed by Eaton 2001 Vance or BMR. ALAN R. DYNNER Secretary For the Trust since 1997; Vice President, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer of Age 61 for the Portfolios since BMR, Eaton Vance, EVD and EVC. Officer of 172 2001 investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR.
The Nominating Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and the Portfolios is comprised of the Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Trust and the Portfolios as that term is defined under the 1940 Act ("noninterested Trustees"). The purpose of the Committee is to recommend to the Board nominees for the position of noninterested Trustee and to assure that at least a majority of the Board of Trustees is comprised of noninterested Trustees of the Trust and the Portfolios. In the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001, the Nominating Committee convened once. 9 The Trustees will, when a vacancy exists or is anticipated, consider any nominee for Trustee recommended by a shareholder if such recommendation is submitted to the Trustees in writing and contains sufficient background information concerning the individual to enable a proper judgement to be made as to such individual's qualifications. Messrs. Treynor (Chairman), Dwight and Reamer are members of the Audit Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and the Portfolios. The Audit Committee's functions include making recommendations to the Trustees regarding the selection and performance of the independent accountants, and reviewing matters relative to accounting and auditing practices and procedures, accounting records, and the internal accounting controls, of the Trust and the Portfolios, and certain service providers. In the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001, the Audit Committee convened once. Messrs. Hayes (Chairman), Dwight and Reamer and Ms. Stout are members of the Special Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and the Portfolios. The purpose of the Special Committee is to consider, evaluate and make recommendations to the full Board of Trustees concerning (i) all contractual arrangements with service providers to the Trust and the Portfolios, including investment advisory, administrative, transfer agency, custodial and fund accounting and distribution services, and (ii) all other matters in which Eaton Vance or its affiliates has any actual or potential conflict of interest with the Funds, Portfolios or investors therein. In the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001, the Special Committee convened four times. In reviewing the approval of the investment advisory agreement(s) between the Intermediate Bond Fund and the Portfolios and the investment adviser, the Special Committee considered, among other things, the following: * An independent report comparing the fees and expenses of each Fund to a peer group of funds; * Information on the investment performance (in the case of a renewal), the relevant peer group(s) of funds and appropriate indices; * Sales and redemption data in respect of the Fund (in the case of a renewal); * The economic outlook and the general investment outlook in the relevant investment markets; * Eaton Vance's results and financial condition and the overall organization of the investment adviser; * Arrangements regarding the distribution of Fund shares; * The procedures used to determine the fair value of each Fund's assets; * The allocation of brokerage, including allocations to soft dollar brokerage and allocations to firms that sell Eaton Vance fund shares; * Eaton Vance's management of the relationship with the custodian, subcustodians and fund accountants; * The resources devoted to Eaton Vance's compliance efforts undertaken on behalf of the funds it manages and the record of compliance with the investment policies and restrictions and with policies on personal securities transactions; * The quality, nature, cost and character of the administrative and other non-investment management services provided by Eaton Vance and its affiliates; * Investment management staffing; * Operating expenses (including transfer agency expenses) paid to third parties; and * Information provided to investors, including the Fund's shareholders. In addition to the factors mentioned above, the Special Committee also reviewed the level of the investment adviser's profits in respect of the management of the Eaton Vance funds, including the Intermediate Bond Fund and the Portfolios. The Special Committee considered the profits realized by Eaton Vance and its affiliates in connection with the operation of the Intermediate Bond Fund and the Portfolios. The Special Committee also considered Eaton Vance's profit margins in comparison with available industry data. The Special Committee did not consider any single factor as controlling in determining whether or not to approve the investment advisory agreement(s). Nor are the items described herein all encompassing of the matters considered by the Special Committee. In assessing the information provided by Eaton Vance and its affiliates, the Special Committee also took into consideration the benefits to shareholders of investing in a fund that is a part of a large family of funds which provides a large variety of shareholder services. Based on their consideration of all factors that it deemed material and assisted by the advice of its independent counsel, the Special Committee concluded that the approval of the investment advisory agreement(s), including the fee structure (described herein) is in the interests of shareholders. The Special Committee followed the same deliberations when reviewing the sub-advisory agreements for the Intermediate Bond Fund and the Portfolios. 10 SHARE OWNERSHIP. The following table shows the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each Trustee in the Fund and in all Eaton Vance Funds overseen by the Trustee as of December 31, 2001.
Dollar Range of Equity Securities Owned by ------------------------------------------ Jessica M. James B. Donald R. Samuel L. Norton H. Lynn A. Jack L. Fund Name Bibliowicz(1) Hawkes(1) Dwight(2) Hayes(2) Reamer(2) Stout(2) Treynor(2) --------- ------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -------- ---------- Intermediate Bond Fund* None None None None None None None Large-Cap Growth Fund* None None None None None None None Small-Cap Fund* None None None None None None None Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities Owned in all Registered Funds Overseen by Trustee in the Eaton Vance Family of Funds $10,001-$50,000 over $100,000 over $100,000 over $100,000 over $100,000 $10,001-$50,000 $1-$10,000
* Have not commenced operations. (1) Interested Trustees (2) Disinterested Trustees As of December 31, 2001, no noninterested Trustee or any of their immediate family members owned beneficially or of record any class of securities of EVC, EVD or any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC or EVD. During the calendar years ended December 31, 2000 and December 31, 2001, no noninterested Trustee (or their immediate family members) had: 1. Any direct or indirect interest in Eaton Vance, EVC, EVD or any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC or EVD; 2. Any direct or indirect material interest in any transaction or series of similar transactions with (i) the Trust or any Fund; (ii) another fund managed by EVC, distributed by EVD or a person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC or EVD; (iii) EVC or EVD; (iv) a person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC or EVD; or (v) an officer of any of the above; or 3. Any direct or indirect relationship with (i) the Trust or any Fund; (ii) another fund managed by EVC, distributed by EVD or a person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC or EVD; (iii) EVC or EVD; (iv) a person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC or EVD; or (v) an officer of any of the above. During the calendar years ended December 31, 2000 and December 31, 2001, no officer of EVC, EVD or any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with EVC or EVD served on the Board of Directors of a company where a noninterested Trustee of the Trust or each Portfolio or any of their immediate family members served as an officer. Trustees of each Portfolio who are not affiliated with Eaton Vance may elect to defer receipt of all or a percentage of their annual fees received from certain Eaton Vance sponsored funds in accordance with the terms of a Trustees Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Trustees' Plan"). Under the Trustees' Plan, an eligible Trustee may elect to have his deferred fees invested by the Eaton Vance sponsored fund in the shares of one or more funds in the Eaton Vance Family of Funds, and the amount paid to the Trustees under the Trustees' Plan will be determined based upon the performance of such investments. Neither the Trust nor the Portfolios has a retirement plan for Trustees. Each Portfolio does not participate in the Trustees' Plan. The fees and expenses of the noninterested Trustees of the Trust and the Portfolios are paid by the Funds (and other series of the Trust) and the Portfolios, respectively. (A Trustee of the Trust and the Portfolios who is a member of the Eaton Vance organization receive no compensation from the Trust and the Portfolios). During the fiscal year ending September 30, 2002, it is estimated that the noninterested Trustees of each Portfolio will earn the following compensation in their capacities as Trustees from each Portfolio. For the year ended December 31, 2001, the noninterested Trustees earned the following compensation in their capacities as Trustees of the Trust and of the funds in the Eaton Vance fund complex(1): 11
Jessica M. Donald R. Samuel L. Norton H. Lynn A. Jack L. Source of Compensation Bibliowicz Dwight Hayes Reamer Stout Treynor ---------------------- ---------- --------- --------- --------- ------- ------- Trust(2) $ 3,027 $ 2,449 $ 2,636 $ 2,426 $ 2,768 $ 2,906 Large-Cap Growth Portfolio* 650 650 650 650 650 650 Small-Cap Portfolio* 650 650 650 650 650 650 Trust and Fund Complex 160,000 162,500(3) 170,000 160,000 160,000(4) 170,000
*Estimated (1) As of January 1, 2002, the Eaton Vance fund complex consists of 173 registered investment companies or series thereof. (2) The Trust consisted of 10 Funds as of December 10, 2001. (3) Includes $60,000 of deferred compensation. (4) Includes $16,000 of deferred compensation. ORGANIZATION Each Fund is a series of the Trust, which was established under Massachusetts law on May 25, 1989 (prior to that date it was a Maryland corporation organized on October 15, 1963), and is operated as an open-end management investment company. The Trust may issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest (no par value per share) in one or more series (such as a Fund). The Trustees of the Trust have divided the shares of each Fund into multiple classes. Each class represents an interest in a Fund, but is subject to different expenses, rights and privileges. The Trustees have the authority under the Declaration of Trust to create additional classes of shares with differing rights and privileges. When issued and outstanding, shares are fully paid and nonassessable by the Trust. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each full share held. Fractional shares may be voted proportionately. Shares of a Fund will be voted together except that only shareholders of a particular class may vote on matters affecting only that class. Shares have no preemptive or conversion rights and are freely transferable. In the event of the liquidation of a Fund, shareholders of each class are entitled to share pro rata in the net assets attributable to that class available for distribution to shareholders. As permitted by Massachusetts law, there will normally be no meetings of shareholders for the purpose of electing Trustees unless and until such time as less than a majority of the Trustees of the Trust holding office have been elected by shareholders. In such an event the Trustees then in office will call a shareholders' meeting for the election of Trustees. Except for the foregoing circumstances and unless removed by action of the shareholders in accordance with the Trust's By-laws, the Trustees shall continue to hold office and may appoint successor Trustees. The Trust's By-laws provide that no person shall serve as a Trustee if shareholders holding two-thirds of the outstanding shares have removed him or her from that office either by a written declaration filed with the Trust's custodian or by votes cast at a meeting called for that purpose. The By-laws further provide that under certain circumstances the shareholders may call a meeting to remove a Trustee and that the Trust is required to provide assistance in communication with shareholders about such a meeting. The Trust's Declaration of Trust may be amended by the Trustees when authorized by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, the financial interests of which are affected by the amendment. The Trustees may also amend the Declaration of Trust without the vote or consent of shareholders to change the name of the Trust or any series or to make such other changes (such as reclassifying series or classes of shares or restructuring the Trust) as do not have a materially adverse effect on the financial interests of shareholders or if they deem it necessary to conform it to applicable federal or state laws or regulations. The Trust's By-laws provide that the Trust will indemnify its Trustees and officers against liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with any litigation or proceeding in which they may be involved because of their offices with the Trust. However, no indemnification will be provided to any Trustee or officer for any liability to the Trust or shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office. The Trust or any series or class thereof may be terminated by: (1) the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds of the shares outstanding and entitled to vote at any meeting of shareholders of the Trust or the appropriate series or class thereof, or by an instrument or instruments in writing without a meeting, consented to by the holders of two-thirds of the shares of the Trust or a series or class thereof, provided, however, that, if such termination is recommended by the Trustees, the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust or a series or class thereof entitled to vote thereon shall be sufficient authorization; or (2) by means of an instrument in writing signed by a majority of the Trustees, to be followed by a written notice to shareholders stating that a majority of the Trustees has determined that the continuation of the Trust or a series or a class thereof is not in the best interest of the Trust, such series or class or of their respective shareholders. 12 Under Massachusetts law, if certain conditions prevail, shareholders of a Massachusetts business trust (such as the Trust) could be deemed to have personal liability for the obligations of the Trust. Numerous investment companies registered under the 1940 Act have been formed as Massachusetts business trusts, and management is not aware of an instance where such liability has been imposed. The Trust's Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of liability on the part of Fund shareholders and the Trust's By-laws provide that the Trust shall assume the defense on behalf of any Fund shareholders. The Declaration of Trust also contains provisions limiting the liability of a series or class to that series or class. Moreover, the Trust's By-laws also provide for indemnification out of Fund property of any shareholder held personally liable solely by reason of being or having been a shareholder for all loss or expense arising from such liability. The assets of each Fund are readily marketable and will ordinarily substantially exceed its liabilities. In light of the nature of each Fund's business and the nature of its assets, management believes that the possibility of the Fund's liability exceeding its assets, and therefore the shareholder's risk of personal liability, is remote. Each Portfolio was organized as a trust under the laws of the state of New York on December 10, 2001 and intends to be treated as a partnership for federal tax purposes. In accordance with the Declaration of Trust of each Portfolio, there will normally be no meetings of the investors for the purpose of electing Trustees unless and until such time as less than a majority of the Trustees of the Portfolio holding office have been elected by investors. In such an event the Trustees of the Portfolio then in office will call an investors' meeting for the election of Trustees. Except for the foregoing circumstances and unless removed by action of the investors in accordance with the Portfolio's Declaration of Trust, the Trustees shall continue to hold office and may appoint successor Trustees. The Declaration of Trust of each Portfolio provides that no person shall serve as a Trustee if investors holding two-thirds of the outstanding interest have removed him from that office either by a written declaration filed with the Portfolio's custodian or by votes cast at a meeting called for that purpose. The Declaration of Trust further provides that under certain circumstances the investors may call a meeting to remove a Trustee and that the Portfolio is required to provide assistance in communicating with investors about such a meeting. Each Portfolio's Declaration of Trust provides that a Fund and other entities permitted to invest in the Portfolio (e.g., other U.S. and foreign investment companies, and common and commingled trust funds) will each be liable for all obligations of the Portfolio. However, the risk of a Fund incurring financial loss on account of such liability is limited to circumstances in which both inadequate insurance exists and the Portfolio itself is unable to meet its obligations. Accordingly, the Trustees of the Trust believe that neither the Fund nor its shareholders will be adversely affected by reason of a Fund investing in the Portfolio. Whenever a Fund as an investor in a Portfolio is requested to vote on matters pertaining to the Portfolio (other than the termination of the Portfolio's business, which may be determined by the Trustees of the Portfolio without investor approval), the Fund will hold a meeting of Fund shareholders and will vote its interest in the Portfolio for or against such matters proportionately to the instructions to vote for or against such matters received from Fund shareholders. A Fund shall vote shares for which it receives no voting instructions in the same proportion as the shares for which it receives voting instructions. Other investors in a Portfolio may alone or collectively acquire sufficient voting interests in the Portfolio to control matters relating to the operation of the Portfolio, which may require the Fund to withdraw its investment in the Portfolio or take other appropriate action. Any such withdrawal could result in a distribution "in kind" of portfolio securities (as opposed to a cash distribution from the Portfolio). If securities are distributed, a Fund could incur brokerage, tax or other charges in converting the securities to cash. In addition, the distribution in kind may result in a less diversified portfolio of investments or adversely affect the liquidity of a Fund. Notwithstanding the above, there are other means for meeting shareholder redemption requests, such as borrowing. A Fund may withdraw (completely redeem) all its assets from the Portfolio at any time if the Board of Trustees of the Trust determines that it is in the best interest of the Fund to do so. In the event a Fund withdraws all of its assets from the Portfolio, or the Board of Trustees of the Trust determines that the investment objective of the Portfolio is no longer consistent with the investment objective of the Fund, the Trustees would consider what action might be taken, including investing the assets of the Fund in another pooled investment entity or retaining an investment adviser to manage the Fund's assets in accordance with its investment objective. A Fund's investment performance may be affected by a withdrawal of all its assets (or the assets of another investor in the Portfolio) from the Portfolio. INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES Pursuant to Investment Advisory Agreements with each of Intermediate Bond Fund and the Portfolios, BMR acts as the investment adviser for the Fund and the Portfolios. Pursuant to Investment Sub-Advisory Agreements with Atlanta Capital Management Company, L.L.C. ("Atlanta Capital"), BMR has delegated investment management of the Fund and the Portfolios to Atlanta Capital. Atlanta Capital is an indirect, majority-owned subsidiary of Eaton Vance. From time to time, BMR 13 BMR and Atlanta Capital are each referred to herein as an "investment adviser". Atlanta Capital is sometimes referred to herein as "sub-adviser". INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES. The investment adviser and sub-adviser are responsible for managing the investments and affairs of Intermediate Bond Fund, Large-Cap Growth Portfolio and Small-Cap Portfolio and providing related office facilities and personnel subject to the supervision of the Trust's and Portfolio's Board of Trustees. The investment sub-adviser furnishes investment research, advice and supervision, furnishes an investment program and determines what securities will be purchased, held or sold by the Fund and Portfolio and what portion, if any, of the Fund's or Portfolio's assets will be held uninvested. Each Investment Advisory Agreement and Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement requires the investment adviser or sub-adviser, as the case may be, to pay the salaries and fees of all officers and Trustees of the Trust and the Portfolio who are members of the investment adviser's or sub-adviser's organization and all personnel of the investment adviser or sub-adviser performing services relating to research and investment activities. For a description of the compensation that Intermediate Bond Fund, Large-Cap Growth Portfolio and Small-Cap Portfolio pay the investment adviser on average daily net assets up to $500 million, see the prospectus. On net assets of $500 million and over the annual fee is reduced and the advisory fees are computed as follows: Intermediate Bond Fund Annual Fee Rate Average Daily Net Assets for the Month (for each level) -------------------------------------- ---------------- $500 million but less than $1 billion 0.375% $1 billion but less than $2.5 billion 0.350% $2.5 billion and over 0.325% Large-Cap Growth Portfolio Annual Fee Rate Average Daily Net Assets for the Month (for each level) -------------------------------------- ---------------- $500 million but less than $1 billion 0.625% $1 billion but less than $2.5 billion 0.600% $2.5 billion and over 0.575% Small-Cap Portfolio Annual Fee Rate Average Daily Net Assets for the Month (for each level) -------------------------------------- ---------------- $500 million but less than $1 billion 0.9375% $1 billion but less than $2.5 billion 0.8750% $2.5 billion but less than $5 billion 0.8125% $5 billion and over 0.7500% Pursuant to Investment Sub-Advisory Agreements, BMR pays the following compensation to Atlanta Capital for providing sub-advisory services: Intermediate Bond Fund Annual Fee Rate Average Daily Net Assets for the Month (for each level) -------------------------------------- ---------------- up to $500 million 0.3000% $500 million but less than $1 billion 0.2875% $1 billion but less than $2.5 billion 0.2750% $2.5 billion and over 0.2625% 14 Large-Cap Growth Portfolio Annual Fee Rate Average Daily Net Assets for the Month (for each level) -------------------------------------- ---------------- up to $500 million 0.4000% $500 million but less than $1 billion 0.3875% $1 billion but less than $2.5 billion 0.3750% $2.5 billion and over 0.3625% Small-Cap Portfolio Annual Fee Rate Average Daily Net Assets for the Month (for each level) -------------------------------------- ---------------- up to $500 million 0.75000% $500 million but less than $1 billion 0.71875% $1 billion but less than $2.5 billion 0.68750% $2.5 billion but less than $5 billion 0.65625% $5 billion and over 0.62500% Each Investment Advisory Agreement and Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement with an investment adviser or sub-adviser continues in effect from year to year so long as such continuance is approved at least annually (i) by the vote of a majority of the noninterested Trustees of the Trust, in the case of Intermediate Bond Fund, or the Portfolio, as the case may be, 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, in the case of Intermediate Bond Fund, or the Portfolio, as the case may be, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Intermediate Bond Fund or the Portfolio, as the case may be. Each Agreement may be terminated at any time without penalty on sixty (60) days' written notice by the Board of Trustees of either party, or by vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of Intermediate Bond Fund or the Portfolio, as the case may be, and the Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment. Each Agreement provides that the investment adviser or sub-adviser may render services to others. Each Agreement also provides that the investment adviser or sub-adviser shall not be liable for any loss incurred in connection with the performance of its duties, or action taken or omitted under the Agreement, in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties thereunder, or for any losses sustained in the acquisition, holding or disposition of any security or other investment. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES. As indicated in the prospectus, Eaton Vance serves as administrator of each Fund, but currently receives no compensation for providing administrative services to the Fund. Under its Administrative Services Agreement, Eaton Vance has been engaged to administer each Fund's affairs, subject to the supervision of the Trustees of the Trust, and shall furnish office space and all necessary office facilities, equipment and personnel for administering the affairs of each Fund. INFORMATION ABOUT ATLANTA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT. Atlanta Capital is an Atlanta, Georgia based equity and fixed income manager with a primary focus on separate account management for institutional clients. At year end 2001, Atlanta Capital's assets under management totalled $7.1 billion. Atlanta Capital was founded in 1969 as a registered investment adviser. All of the employees of Atlanta Capital are employees of Eaton Vance Acquisitions, an Eaton Vance subsidiary, and own stock of EVC. INFORMATION ABOUT BMR AND EATON VANCE. BMR and Eaton Vance are business trusts organized under Massachusetts law. Eaton Vance, Inc. ("EV") serves as trustee of BMR and Eaton Vance. EV is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eaton Vance Corporation ("EVC"), a Maryland corporation and publicly-held holding company. EVC through its subsidiaries and affiliates engages primarily in investment management, administration and marketing activities. The Directors of EVC are James B. Hawkes, John G.L. Cabot, Leo I. Higdon, Jr., John M. Nelson, Vincent M. O'Reilly and Ralph Z. Sorenson. All of the issued and outstanding shares of BMR are owned by Eaton Vance and all of the shares of Eaton Vance are owned by Eaton Vance Business Trust, which is owned by EVC. All shares of the outstanding Voting Common Stock of EVC are deposited in a Voting Trust, the Voting Trustees of which are Messrs. Hawkes, Jeffrey P. Beale, Alan R. Dynner, Thomas E. Faust Jr., Thomas J. Fetter, Scott H. Page, Duncan W. Richardson, William M. Steul, Payson 15 F. Swaffield, Michael W. Weilheimer, and Wharton P. Whitaker (all of whom are officers of Eaton Vance). The Voting Trustees have unrestricted voting rights for the election of Directors of EVC. All of the outstanding voting trust receipts issued under said Voting Trust are owned by certain of the officers of BMR and Eaton Vance who are also officers, or officers and Directors of EVC and EV. As indicated under "Management and Organization", all of the officers of the Trust (as well as Mr. Hawkes who is also a Trustee) hold positions in the Eaton Vance organization. CODE OF ETHICS. Each investment adviser and the sub-adviser and each Fund and each Portfolio have adopted Codes of Ethics governing personal securities transactions. Under the Codes, Eaton Vance employees may purchase and sell securities (including securities held by a Portfolio) subject to certain pre-clearance and reporting requirements and other procedures. EXPENSES. Each Fund and Portfolio is responsible for all expenses not expressly stated to be payable by another party (such as expenses required to be paid pursuant to an agreement with the investment adviser, the principal underwriter or the administrator). In the case of expenses incurred by the Trust, each Fund is responsible for its pro rata share of those expenses. The only expenses of a Fund allocated to a particular class are those incurred under the Distribution or Service Plan applicable to that class, the fee paid to the principal underwriter for handling repurchase transactions and certain other class-specific expenses. OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER. Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. ("EVD"), The Eaton Vance Building, 255 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, is the principal underwriter of each Fund. The principal underwriter acts as principal in selling shares under a Distribution Agreement with the Trust. The expenses of printing copies of prospectuses used to offer shares and other selling literature and of advertising are borne by the principal underwriter. The fees and expenses of qualifying and registering and maintaining qualifications and registrations of a Fund and its shares under federal and state securities laws are borne by the Fund. The Distribution Agreement as it applies to Class I shares is renewable annually by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (including a majority of the noninterested Trustees), may be terminated on six months' notice by either party and is automatically terminated upon assignment. The Distribution Agreement as it applies to Class R shares is renewable annually by the Trust's Board of Trustees (including a majority of the noninterested Trustees who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Distribution Plan or the Distribution Agreement), may be terminated on sixty days' notice either by such Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding Class R shares or on six months' notice by the principal underwriter and is automatically terminated upon assignment. The principal underwriter distributes shares on a "best efforts" basis under which it is required to take and pay for only such shares as may be sold. The Trust has authorized the principal underwriter to act as its agent in repurchasing shares at a rate of $2.50 for each repurchase transaction handled by the principal underwriter. EVD is a wholly-owned subsidiary of EVC. Mr. Hawkes is a Vice President and Director, Mr. Dynner is a Vice President, Secretary and Clerk and Mr. O'Connor is a Vice President of EVD. CUSTODIAN. Investors Bank & Trust Company ("IBT"), 200 Clarendon Street, Boston, MA 02116, serves as custodian to Intermediate Bond Fund, Large-Cap Growth Portfolio and Small-Cap Portfolio. IBT has custody of all cash and securities of Intermediate Bond Fund, maintains the Fund's general ledger and computes the daily net asset value of shares of the Fund. IBT has custody of all cash and securities representing Large-Cap Growth and Small-Cap Fund's interest in their respective Portfolios, has custody of each Portfolio's assets, maintains the general ledger of each Portfolio and each Fund and computes the daily net asset value of interests in each Portfolio and the net asset value of shares of each Fund. In such capacity it attends to details in connection with the sale, exchange, substitution, transfer or other dealings with Intermediate Bond Fund and each Portfolio's investments, receives and disburses all funds and performs various other ministerial duties upon receipt of proper instructions from the Trust and each Portfolio. IBT also provides services in connection with the preparation of shareholder reports and the electronic filing of such reports with the SEC. EVC and its affiliates and their officers and employees from time to time have transactions with various banks, including IBT. It is Eaton Vance's opinion that the terms and conditions of such transactions were not and will not be influenced by existing or potential custodial or other relationships between each Fund or each Portfolio and such banks. INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS. Deloitte & Touche LLP, 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116, are the Fund and Portfolio independent accountants, providing audit services, tax return preparation, and assistance and consultation with respect to the preparation of filings with the SEC. TRANSFER AGENT. PFPC, Inc., P.O. Box 9653, Providence, RI 02940-9653, serves as transfer and dividend disbursing agent for each Fund. 16 CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE The net asset value of the Intermediate Bond Fund and each Portfolio is computed by IBT (as agent and custodian for the Intermediate Bond Fund and each Portfolio) by subtracting the liabilities of the Fund or Portfolio, as the case may be, from the value of its total assets. Each Fund and Portfolio will be closed for business and will not price their respective shares or interests on the following business holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Each investor in a Portfolio, including a Fund, may add to or reduce its investment in the Portfolio on each day the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") is open for trading ("Portfolio Business Day") as of the close of regular trading on the Exchange (the "Portfolio Valuation Time"). The value of each investor's interest in the Portfolio will be determined by multiplying the net asset value of the Portfolio by the percentage, determined on the prior Portfolio Business Day, which represented that investor's share of the aggregate interests in the Portfolio on such prior day. Any additions or withdrawals for the current Portfolio Business Day will then be recorded. Each investor's percentage of the aggregate interest in the Portfolio will then be recomputed as a percentage equal to a fraction (i) the numerator of which is the value of such investor's investment in the Portfolio as of the Portfolio Valuation Time on the prior Portfolio Business Day plus or minus, as the case may be, the amount of any additions to or withdrawals from the investor's investment in the Portfolio on the current Portfolio Business Day and (ii) the denominator of which is the aggregate net asset value of the Portfolio as of the Portfolio Valuation Time on the prior Portfolio Business Day plus or minus, as the case may be, the amount of the net additions to or withdrawals from the aggregate investment in the Portfolio on the current Portfolio Business Day by all investors in the Portfolio. The percentage so determined will then be applied to determine the value of the investor's interest in the Portfolio for the current Portfolio Business Day. Debt securities for which the over-the-counter market is the primary market are normally valued at the mean between the latest available bid and asked prices. OTC options are valued at the mean between the bid and asked prices provided by dealers. Financial futures contracts listed on commodity exchanges and exchange-traded options are valued at closing settlement prices. Short-term obligations having remaining maturities of less than 60 days are valued at amortized cost, which approximates value, unless the Trustees determine that under particular circumstances such method does not result in fair value. As authorized by the Trustees, debt securities (other than short-term obligations) may be valued on the basis of valuations furnished by a pricing service which determines valuations based upon market transactions for normal, institutional-size trading units of such securities. Mortgage-backed "pass-through" securities are valued through use of an independent matrix pricing system applied by the investment adviser which takes into account closing bond valuations, yield differentials, anticipated prepayments and interest rates provided by dealers. Securities for which there is no such quotation or valuation and all other assets are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by or at the direction of the Trustees of the Trust and each Portfolio. The Trustees of the Trust and each Portfolio have established the following procedures for the fair valuation of the Fund's and each Portfolio's assets under normal market conditions. Marketable securities listed on foreign or U.S. securities exchanges or in the NASDAQ National Market System generally are valued at closing sale prices or, if there were no sales, at the mean between the closing bid and asked prices therefor on the exchange where such securities are principally traded or on such National Market System (such prices may not be used, however, where an active over-the-counter market in an exchange listed security better reflects current market value). Unlisted or listed securities for which closing sale prices are not available are valued at the mean between the latest bid and asked prices. An option is valued at the last sale price as quoted on the principal exchange or board of trade on which such option or contract is traded, or in the absence of a sale, at the mean between the last bid and asked prices. Futures positions on securities or currencies are generally valued at closing settlement prices. Short-term debt securities with a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost. If securities were acquired with a remaining maturity of more than 60 days, their amortized cost value will be based on their value on the sixty-first day prior to maturity. Other fixed income and debt securities, including listed securities and securities for which price quotations are available, will normally be valued on the basis of valuations furnished by a pricing service. All other securities are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by or at the direction of the Trustees. Generally, trading in the foreign securities owned by a Portfolio is substantially completed each day at various times prior to the close of the Exchange. The values of these securities used in determining the net asset value of a Portfolio generally are computed as of such times. Occasionally, events affecting the value of foreign securities may occur between such times and the close of the Exchange which will not be reflected in the computation of a Portfolio's net asset value (unless the Portfolio deems that such events would materially affect its net asset value, in which case an adjustment would be made and reflected in such computation). Foreign securities and currency held by a Portfolio will be valued in U.S. dollars; such values will be computed by the custodian based on foreign currency exchange rate quotations supplied by an independent quotation service. 17 PURCHASING AND REDEEMING SHARES ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PURCHASES. Fund shares are offered for sale only in states where they are registered. Fund shares are continuously offered through investment dealers which have entered agreements with the principal underwriter. In connection with employee benefit or other continuous group purchase plans, a Fund may accept initial investments of less than $1,000 on the part of an individual participant. In the event a shareholder who is a participant of such a plan terminates participation in the plan, his or her shares will be transferred to a regular individual account. However, such account will be subject to the right of redemption by a Fund as described below. SUSPENSION OF SALES. The Trust may, in its absolute discretion, suspend, discontinue or limit the offering of one or more of its classes of shares at any time. In determining whether any such action should be taken, the Trust's management intends to consider all relevant factors, including (without limitation) the size of a Fund or class, the investment climate and market conditions, the volume of sales and redemptions of shares. The Class R Distribution Plan may continue in effect and payments may be made under the Plan following any such suspension, discontinuance or limitation of the offering of shares; however, there is no contractual obligation to continue the Plan for any particular period of time. Suspension of the offering of shares would not, of course, affect a shareholder's ability to redeem shares. ACQUIRING FUND SHARES IN EXCHANGE FOR SECURITIES. IBT, as escrow agent, will receive securities acceptable to Eaton Vance, as administrator, in exchange for Fund shares. The minimum value of securities (or securities and cash) accepted for deposit is $5,000. Securities accepted will be sold on the day of their receipt or as soon thereafter as possible. The number of Fund shares to be issued in exchange for securities will be the aggregate proceeds from the sale of such securities, divided by the applicable public offering price of shares acquired on the day such proceeds are received. Eaton Vance will use reasonable efforts to obtain the then current market price for such securities but does not guarantee the best available price. Eaton Vance will absorb any transaction costs, such as commissions, on the sale of the securities. Securities determined to be acceptable should be transferred via book entry or physically delivered, in proper form for transfer, through an investment dealer, together with a completed and signed Letter of Transmittal in approved form (available from investment dealers). Investors who are contemplating an exchange of securities for shares, or their representatives, must contact Eaton Vance to determine whether the securities are acceptable before forwarding such securities. Eaton Vance reserves the right to reject any securities. Exchanging securities for shares may create a taxable gain or loss. Each investor should consult his or her tax adviser with respect to the particular federal, state and local tax consequences of exchanging securities. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT REDEMPTIONS. The right to redeem shares of a Fund can be suspended and the payment of the redemption price deferred when the Exchange is closed (other than for customary weekend and holiday closings), during periods when trading on the Exchange is restricted as determined by the SEC, or during any emergency as determined by the SEC which makes it impracticable for Intermediate Bond Fund or a Portfolio to dispose of its securities or value its assets, or during any other period permitted by order of the SEC for the protection of investors. Due to the high cost of maintaining small accounts, the Trust reserves the right to redeem accounts with balances of less than $750. Prior to such a redemption, shareholders will be given 60 days' written notice to make an additional purchase. However, no such redemption would be required by the Trust if the cause of the low account balance was a reduction in the net asset value of shares. No CDSC will be imposed with respect to such involuntary redemptions. While normally payments will be made in cash for redeemed shares, the Trust, subject to compliance with applicable regulations, has reserved the right to pay the redemption price of shares of a Fund, either totally or partially, by a distribution in kind of readily marketable securities which, in the case of Large-Cap Growth Fund and Small-Cap Fund, are withdrawn from the Portfolio. The securities so distributed would be valued pursuant to the valuation procedures described in this SAI. If a shareholder received a distribution in kind, the shareholder could incur brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash. SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN. The transfer agent will send to the shareholder regular monthly or quarterly payments of any permitted amount designated by the shareholder based upon the value of the shares held. The checks will be drawn from share redemptions and hence, may require the recognition of taxable gain or loss. Income dividends and capital gains distributions in connection with withdrawal plan accounts will be credited at net asset value as of the record date for each distribution. Continued withdrawals in excess of current income will eventually use up principal, particularly in a period of declining market prices. A shareholder may not have a withdrawal plan in effect at the same time he or she has authorized Bank Automated Investing or is otherwise making regular purchases of Fund shares. The shareholder, the transfer agent or the principal underwriter may terminate the withdrawal plan at any time without penalty. 18 TAX-SHELTERED RETIREMENT PLANS. Fund shares are available for purchase in connection with certain tax-sheltered retirement plans. Detailed information concerning these plans, including certain exceptions to minimum investment requirements, and copies of the plans are available from the principal underwriter. This information should be read carefully and consulting with an attorney or tax adviser may be advisable. The information sets forth the service fee charged for retirement plans and describes the federal income tax consequences of establishing a plan. Participant accounting services (including trust fund reconciliation services) will be offered only through third party recordkeepers and not by the principal underwriter. Under all plans, dividends and distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional shares. DISTRIBUTION PLAN The Trust has in effect a compensation-type Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1under the 1940 Act (the "Class R Plan") for each Fund's Class R shares. The Class R Plan provides for the payment of a monthly distribution fee to the principal underwriter of up to 0.50% of average daily net assets attributable to Class R shares. The Trustees of the Trust have currently limited Class R distribution payments to 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to Class R shares. Aggregate payments to the principal underwriter under the Class R Plan are limited to those permitted pursuant to a rule of the NASD. The Class R Plan also provides that Class R shares will pay a service fee to the principal underwriter in an amount equal on an annual basis to 0.25% of that portion of average daily net assets attributable to Class R shares for personal services and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts. Service fees are paid quarterly in arrears. For the distribution and service fees paid by Class R shares, see Appendix B. The Plan continues in effect from year to year so long as such continuance is approved at least annually by the vote of both a majority of (i) the noninterested Trustees of the Trust who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or any agreements related to the Plan (the "Plan Trustees") and (ii) all of the Trustees then in office. The Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the Plan Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Class R shares of the Fund. The Plan requires quarterly Trustee review of a written report of the amount expended under the Plan and the purposes for which such expenditures were made. The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the payments described therein without approval of the shareholders of the Class R shares of the Fund and the Trustees. So long as the Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of the noninterested Trustees shall be committed to the discretion of such Trustees. The current Plan was initially approved by the Trustees, including the Plan Trustees, on December 10, 2001. The Trustees of the Trust who are "interested" persons of the Trust have an indirect financial interest in the Plan because their employers (or affiliates thereof) receive distribution and/or service fees under the Plan or agreements related thereto. PERFORMANCE Average annual total return before deduction of taxes ("pre-tax return") is determined by multiplying a hypothetical initial purchase order of $1,000 by the average annual compound rate of return (including capital appreciation/depreciation, and distributions paid and reinvested) for the stated period and annualizing the result. The calculation assumes (i) that all distributions are reinvested at net asset value on the reinvestment dates during the period, (ii) the deduction of the maximum of any initial sales charge from the initial $1,000 purchase, (iii) a complete redemption of the investment at the end of the period, and (iv) the deduction of any applicable CDSC at the end of the period. Average annual total return after the deduction of taxes on distributions is calculated in the same manner as pre-tax return except the calculation assumes that any federal income taxes due on distributions are deducted from the distributions before they are reinvested. Average annual total return after the deduction of taxes on distributions and taxes on redemption also is calculated in the same manner as pre-tax return except the calculation assumes that (i) any federal income taxes due on distributions are deducted from the distributions before they are reinvested and (ii) any federal income taxes due upon redemption are deducted at the end of the period. After-tax returns are based on the highest federal income tax rates in effect for individual taxpayers as of the time of each assumed distribution and redemption (taking into account their tax character), and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. In calculating after-tax returns, the net value of any federal income tax credits available to shareholders is applied to reduce federal income taxes payable on distributions at or near year-end and, to the extent the net value of such credits exceeds such distributions, is then assumed to be reinvested in additional Fund shares at net asset value on the last day of the fiscal year in which the credit was generated or, in the case of certain tax credits, on the date on which the year-end distribution is paid. For pre-tax and after-tax total return information, see Appendix A and Appendix B. 19 In addition to the foregoing total return figures, each Fund may provide pre-tax and after-tax annual and cumulative total return, as well as the ending redeemable cash value of a hypothetical investment. If shares are subject to a sales charge, total return figures may be calculated based on reduced sales charges or at net asset value. These returns would be lower if the full sales charge was imposed. After-tax returns may also be calculated using different tax rate assumptions and taking into account state and local income taxes as well as federal taxes. Yield is computed pursuant to a standardized formula by dividing the net investment income per share earned during a recent thirty-day period by the maximum offering price (including the maximum of any initial sales charge) per share on the last day of the period and annualizing the resulting figure. Net investment income per share is calculated from the yields to maturity of all debt obligations based on prescribed methods, reduced by accrued expenses for the period with the resulting number being divided by the average daily number of shares outstanding and entitled to receive distributions during the period. Yield figures do not reflect the deduction of any applicable CDSC, but assume the maximum of any initial sales charge. Actual yield may be affected by variations in sales charges on investments. Present and prospective investors may be provided with information on equity and fixed income investing, which may include comparative performance information, evaluations of Fund performance, charts and/or illustrations prepared by independent sources, and narratives (including editorial comments). Performance may be compared to relevant indices, comparable investments, tax-deferred vehicles (such as Individual Retirement Accounts ("IRAs"), college investment plans and variable annuities) and to averages, performance rankings or ratings, or other information prepared by recognized mutual fund statistical services. Information relating to mutual fund classifications or categories created by such statistical organizations and Fund categories and classifications may also be provided to investors. Information included in advertisements and materials furnished to investors may also include charts and illustrations showing the effects of inflation and taxes (including their effects on the dollar and the return on various investments), the effects of compounding earnings, and statistics, data and performance studies prepared by independent organizations or included in various publications reflecting the performance achieved by various asset classes or types of investments. Such information may also include commentary prepared by Eaton Vance investment professionals, including portfolio managers. Investors may be provided with information concerning Fund volatility or risk, including but not limited to beta, standard deviation and Sharpe ratio. Beta is a measure of risk which shows Fund volatility relative to a market index. A fund with a beta of 1 would have performed exactly like the market index; a beta of 2 would mean its performance was twice as volatile as the index, positive or negative. Standard deviation is a measure of a security's volatility, or variability, in expected return. Sharpe ratio is a measure of risk-adjusted performance. The higher the Sharpe ratio the better a fund's historical risk-adjusted return. Information concerning Fund distribution payments (or the payment record of issuers in which the Fund may invest) may also be provided to investors. Information used in advertisements and materials furnished to present and prospective investors may include statements or illustrations relating to the appropriateness of certain types of securities and/or mutual funds to meet specific financial goals. Such information may address: * cost associated with aging parents; * funding a college education (including its actual and estimated cost); * health care expenses (including actual and projected expenses); * long-term disabilities (including the availability of, and coverage provided by, disability insurance); and * retirement (including the availability of social security benefits, the tax treatment of such benefits and statistics and other information relating to maintaining a particular standard of living and outliving existing assets). Such information may also address different methods for saving money and the results of such methods, as well as the benefits of investing in particular types of securities or in mutual funds. Information provided to investors may also include profiles of different types of investors and different strategies for achieving investment goals (such as asset allocation strategies). Hypothetical examples may be used to demonstrate the foregoing. Information about portfolio allocation, portfolio turnover and portfolio holdings at a particular date may be included in advertisements and other material furnished to present and prospective shareholders. Descriptions of Atlanta Capital, Eaton Vance and other Fund and Portfolio service providers, their investment styles, other investment products, personnel and Fund distribution channels, as well as information on the use of investment professionals, also may be provided. A Fund's performance may differ from that of other investors in the Portfolio, including other investment companies. 20 TAXES Each series of the Trust is treated as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes. Each Fund has elected to be treated and intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company ("RIC") under the Code. Accordingly, each Fund intends to satisfy certain requirements relating to sources of its income and diversification of its assets and to distribute substantially all of its net income and net short-term and long-term capital gains (after reduction by any available capital loss carryforwards) in accordance with the timing requirements imposed by the Code, so as to maintain its RIC status and to avoid paying any federal income or excise tax. To the extent it qualifies for treatment as a RIC and satisfies the above-mentioned distribution requirements, a Fund will not be subject to federal income tax on income paid to its shareholders in the form of dividends or capital gain distributions. Each Fund intends to qualify as a RIC for its current fiscal year. Because each of Large-Cap Growth Fund and Small-Cap Fund invests its assets in a Portfolio, the Portfolio normally must satisfy the applicable source of income and diversification requirements in order for the Fund to also satisfy these requirements. For federal income tax purposes, each Portfolio intends to be treated as a partnership that is not a "publicly traded partnership" and, as a result, will not be subject to federal income tax. A Fund, as an investor in a Portfolio, will be required to take into account in determining its federal income tax liability its share of such Portfolio's income, gains, losses, deductions and credits, without regard to whether it has received any distributions from such Portfolio. Each Portfolio will allocate at least annually among its investors, including a Fund, the Portfolio's net investment income, net realized capital gains, and any other items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit. For purposes of applying the requirements of the Code regarding qualification as a RIC, each of Large-Cap Growth Fund and Small-Cap Fund (i) will be deemed to own its proportionate share of each of the assets of the Portfolio and (ii) will be entitled to the gross income of the Portfolio attributable to such share. In order to avoid incurring a federal excise tax obligation, the Code requires that a Fund distribute (or be deemed to have distributed) by December 31 of each calendar year (i) at least 98% of its ordinary 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 Fund paid no federal income tax. Under current law, provided that a Fund qualifies as a RIC and a Portfolio is treated as a partnership for Massachusetts and federal tax purposes, neither the Fund nor the Portfolio should be liable for any income, corporate excise or franchise tax in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. If a Fund does not qualify as a RIC for any taxable year, the Fund's taxable income will be subject to corporate income taxes, and all distributions from earnings and profits, including distributions of net capital gain (if any), will be taxable to the shareholder as ordinary income. In addition, in order to requalify for taxation as a RIC, the Fund may be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make certain distributions. The Intermediate Bond Fund's investments in zero coupon, deferred interest and certain payment-in-kind or 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 and, in order to avoid a tax payable by the Fund, the Fund may be required to liquidate securities that it might otherwise have continued to hold in order to generate cash so that the Fund may make required distributions to its shareholders. Investments in lower-rated or unrated securities may present special tax issues for the Intermediate Bond Fund to the extent that the issuers of these securities default on their obligations pertaining thereto. The Code is not entirely clear regarding the federal income tax consequences of the Fund's taking certain positions in connection with ownership of such distressed securities. A Portfolio'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 a Portfolio, defer Portfolio losses, cause adjustments in the holding periods of Portfolio 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. Transactions in foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated debt securities and certain foreign currency options, futures contracts, forward contracts and similar instruments (to the extent permitted) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned. 21 Investments in "passive foreign investment companies" could subject a Portfolio to U.S. federal income tax or other charges on certain distributions from such companies and on disposition of investments in such companies; however, the tax effects of such investments may be mitigated by making an election to mark such investments to market annually or treat the passive foreign investment company as a "qualified electing fund". Each Portfolio may be subject to foreign withholding or other foreign taxes with respect to income (possibly including, in some cases, capital gains) on certain foreign securities. These taxes may be reduced or eliminated under the terms of an applicable U.S. income tax treaty. As it is not expected that more than 50% of the value of the total assets of a Portfolio will consist of securities issued by foreign corporations, a Fund will not be eligible to pass through to shareholders its proportionate share of any foreign taxes paid by the Portfolio and allocated to the Fund, with the result that shareholders will not include in income, and will not be entitled to take any foreign tax credits or deductions for, such foreign taxes. A portion of distributions made by a Fund which are derived from dividends from domestic corporations may qualify for the dividends-received deduction ("DRD") for corporations. The DRD is reduced to the extent the Fund shares with respect to which the dividends are received are treated as debt-financed under the Code and is eliminated if the shares are deemed to have been held for less than a minimum period, generally 46 days. Receipt of certain distributions qualifying for the DRD may result in reduction of the tax basis of the corporate shareholder's shares. Distributions eligible for the DRD may give rise to or increase an alternative minimum tax for certain corporations. Any loss realized upon the sale or exchange of Fund shares with a tax holding period of 6 months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any distributions treated as long-term capital gain with respect to such shares. In addition, all or a portion of a loss realized on a redemption or other disposition of Fund shares may be disallowed under "wash sale" rules to the extent the shareholder acquired other shares of the same Fund (whether through the reinvestment of distributions or otherwise) within the period beginning 30 days before the redemption of the loss shares and ending 30 days after such date. Any disallowed loss will result in an adjustment to the shareholder's tax basis in some or all of the other shares acquired. Dividends and distributions on a Fund's shares are generally subject to federal income tax as described herein to the extent they do not exceed the Fund's realized income and gains, even though such dividends and distributions may economically represent a return of a particular shareholder's investment. Such distributions are likely to occur in respect of shares purchased at a time when the Fund's net asset value reflects gains that are either unrealized, or realized but not distributed. Such realized gains may be required to be distributed even when a Fund's net asset value also reflects unrealized losses. Certain distributions declared in October, November or December and paid in the following January will be taxed to shareholders as if received on December 31 of the year in which they were declared. Amounts paid by a Fund to individuals and certain other shareholders who have not provided the Fund with their correct taxpayer identification number ("TIN") and certain certifications required by the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") as well as shareholders with respect to whom the Fund has received certain information from the IRS or a broker, may be subject to "backup" withholding of federal income tax arising from the Fund's taxable dividends and other distributions as well as the proceeds of redemption transactions (including repurchases and exchanges), at a rate of 30% for amounts paid during 2002 and 2003. An individual's TIN is generally his or her social security number. The foregoing discussion does not address the special tax rules applicable to certain classes of investors, such as IRAs and other retirement plans, tax-exempt entities, foreign investors, insurance companies and financial institutions. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers with respect to special tax rules that may apply in their particular situations, as well as the state, local, and, where applicable, foreign tax consequences of investing in a Fund. PORTFOLIO SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS Decisions concerning the execution of portfolio security transactions, including the selection of the market and the executing firm, are made by the investment adviser or sub-adviser of each Fund or Portfolio (each referred to herein as the "investment adviser"). Intermediate Bond Fund and each Portfolio are responsible for the expenses associated with 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 many firms. The investment adviser uses its best efforts to obtain execution of portfolio security transactions at prices which are advantageous and at reasonably competitive spreads 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 executing firm's services, the value of the brokerage and research services provided, 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 22 of the executing firm, the reputation, reliability, experience and financial condition of the firm, the value and quality of the services rendered by the firm in this and other transactions, and the reasonableness of the spread or commission, if any. Transactions on stock exchanges and other agency transactions involve the payment of negotiated brokerage commissions. Such commissions vary among different broker-dealer firms, and a particular broker-dealer may charge different commissions according to such factors as the difficulty and size of the transaction and the volume of business done with such broker-dealer. Transactions in foreign securities often involve the payment of brokerage commissions, which may be higher than those in the United States. There is generally no stated commission in the case of securities traded in the over-the-counter markets, but the price paid or received usually includes an undisclosed dealer markup or markdown. In an underwritten offering the price paid often includes a disclosed fixed commission or discount retained by the underwriter or dealer. Although spreads or commissions paid on portfolio security transactions will, in the judgment of the investment adviser, be reasonable in relation to the value of the services provided, commissions exceeding those which another firm might charge may be paid to broker-dealers who were selected to execute transactions on behalf of the investment adviser's clients in part for providing brokerage and research services to the investment adviser. As authorized in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, a broker or dealer who executes a portfolio transaction may receive a commission which is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if the 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 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. In making any such determination, the investment adviser will not attempt to place a specific dollar value on the brokerage and research services provided or to determine what portion of the commission should be related to such services. Brokerage and research services may include advice as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing, or selling securities, and the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy and the performance of accounts; effecting securities transactions and performing functions incidental thereto (such as clearance and settlement); and the "Research Services" referred to in the next paragraph. It is a common practice of the investment advisory industry and of the advisers of investment companies, institutions and other investors to receive research, analytical, statistical and quotation services, data, information and other services, products and materials which assist such advisers in the performance of their investment responsibilities ("Research Services") from broker-dealer firms which execute portfolio transactions for the clients of such advisers and from third parties with which such broker-dealers have arrangements. Consistent with this practice, the investment adviser receives Research Services from many broker-dealer firms with which the investment adviser places transactions and from third parties with which these broker-dealers have arrangements. These Research Services include such matters as general economic, political, business and market information, industry and company reviews, evaluations of securities and portfolio strategies and transactions, proxy voting data and analysis services, technical analysis of various aspects of the securities markets, recommendations as to the purchase and sale of securities and other portfolio transactions, financial, industry and trade publications, news and information services, pricing and quotation equipment and services, and research oriented computer hardware, software, 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 advisory fee paid is not reduced because the investment adviser receives such Research Services. The investment adviser evaluates the nature and quality of the various Research Services obtained through broker-dealer firms and attempts to allocate sufficient portfolio security transactions to such firms to ensure the continued receipt of Research Services which the investment adviser believes are useful or of value to it in rendering investment advisory services to its clients. Intermediate Bond Fund and each Portfolio and the investment adviser may also receive Research Services from underwriters and dealers in fixed-price offerings, which Research Services are reviewed and evaluated by the investment adviser in connection with its investment responsibilities. 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 23 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. Subject to the requirement that the investment adviser shall use its best efforts to seek and execute portfolio security transactions at advantageous prices and at reasonably competitive spreads or commission rates, the investment adviser is authorized to consider as a factor in the selection of any broker-dealer firm with whom portfolio orders may be placed the fact that such firm has sold or is selling Fund shares or shares of other investment companies sponsored by the investment adviser or its affiliates. This policy is not inconsistent with a rule of the NASD, which rule provides that no firm which is a member of the NASD shall favor or disfavor the distribution of shares of any particular investment company or group of investment companies on the basis of brokerage commissions received or expected by such firm from any source. Securities considered as investments for the Intermediate Bond Fund and each Portfolio 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 Intermediate Bond Fund and each Portfolio and one or more of such other accounts simultaneously, the investment adviser will allocate the security transactions (including "hot" issues) in a manner which it believes to be equitable under the circumstances. As a result of such allocations, there may be instances where the Intermediate Bond Fund and each Portfolio 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 Intermediate Bond Fund and each Portfolio from time to time, it is the opinion of the Trustees of the Trust and the Portfolio that the benefits from the investment adviser organization outweigh any disadvantage that may arise from exposure to simultaneous transactions. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS There are no financial statements of each Fund because as of the date of this SAI, each Fund had not commenced operations. The audited financial statements of, and the independent auditors' reports for, each Portfolio appear herein. HOUSEHOLDING. Consistent with applicable law, duplicate mailings of shareholder reports and certain other Fund information to shareholders residing at the same address may be eliminated. 24 FINANCIAL STATEMENT Large-Cap Growth Portfolio Statement of Assets and Liabilities December 17, 2001 Assets: Cash....................................................... $100,010 -------- Total assets.............................................$100,010 ======== Liabilities and Net Assets: Net assets................................................. $100,010 ======== NOTES: (1) Large-Cap Growth Portfolio (the "Portfolio") was organized as a New York trust on December 10, 2001 and has been inactive since that date, except for matters relating to its organization and registration as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the sale of interests therein at the purchase price of $100,000 to Eaton Vance Management and the sale of an interest therein at the purchase price of $10 to Boston Management & Research (the "Initial Interests"). (2) The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimated. (3) At 4:00 PM, New York City time, on each business day of the Portfolio, the value of an investor's interest in the Portfolio is equal to the product of (i) the aggregate net assets of the Portfolio multiplied by (ii) the percentage representing that investor's share of the aggregate interest in the Portfolio effective for that day. 25 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT To the Trustees and Investors of Large-Cap Growth Portfolio: We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Large-Cap Growth Portfolio (a New York trust) (the "Portfolio") as of December 17, 2001. This financial statement is the responsibility of the Portfolio's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on this financial statement based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statement is free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statement. An audit also includes 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, such statement of assets and liabilities presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Large-Cap Growth Portfolio as of December 17, 2001, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP Boston, Massachusetts December 18, 2001 26 FINANCIAL STATEMENT Small-Cap Portfolio Statement of Assets and Liabilities December 17, 2001 Assets: Cash....................................................... $100,010 -------- Total assets.............................................$100,010 ======== Liabilities and Net Assets: Net assets................................................. $100,010 ======== NOTES: (1) Small-Cap Portfolio (the "Portfolio") was organized as a New York trust on December 10, 2001 and has been inactive since that date, except for matters relating to its organization and registration as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the sale of interests therein at the purchase price of $100,000 to Eaton Vance Management and the sale of an interest therein at the purchase price of $10 to Boston Management & Research (the "Initial Interests"). (2) The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimated. (3) At 4:00 PM, New York City time, on each business day of the Portfolio, the value of an investor's interest in the Portfolio is equal to the product of (i) the aggregate net assets of the Portfolio multiplied by (ii) the percentage representing that investor's share of the aggregate interest in the Portfolio effective for that day. 27 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT To the Trustees and Investors of Small-Cap Portfolio: We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Small-Cap Portfolio (a New York trust) (the "Portfolio") as of December 17, 2001. This financial statement is the responsibility of the Portfolio's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on this financial statement based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statement is free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statement. An audit also includes 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, such statement of assets and liabilities presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Small-Cap Portfolio as of December 17, 2001, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP Boston, Massachusetts December 18, 2001 28 APPENDIX A CLASS I FEES, PERFORMANCE & OWNERSHIP As of the date of this SAI, this Class of each Fund had not yet commenced operations so there is no fee or performance information. CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES. As of the date hereof, Eaton Vance owned one share of this Class of each Fund, being the only shares of this Class outstanding. Eaton Vance is a Massachusetts business trust and a wholly-owned subsidiary of EVC. 29 APPENDIX B CLASS R FEES, PERFORMANCE & OWNERSHIP As of the date of this SAI, this Class of each Fund had not yet commenced operations so there is no fee or performance information. CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES. As of the date hereof, Eaton Vance owned one share of this Class of each Fund, being the only shares of this Class outstanding. Eaton Vance is a Massachusetts business trust and a wholly-owned subsidiary of EVC. 30 APPENDIX C DESCRIPTION OF CORPORATE BOND RATINGS 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 a particular date. 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. Evaluation of these bonds is dependent on the investment adviser's judgment, analysis and experience. 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. MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC. Aaa: Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as "gilt edged." Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues. Aa: Bonds which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as high grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present which make the long term risk appear somewhat larger than the Aaa securities. A: Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be considered as upper-medium-grade obligations. Factors giving security to principal and interest are considered adequate, but elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future. Baa: Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium-grade obligations (i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured). Interest payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well. Ba: Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements; their future cannot be considered as well-assured. Often the protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate and thereby not well safeguarded during other good and bad times over the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class. B: Bonds which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small. Caa: Bonds which are rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be in default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest. Ca: Bonds which are rated Ca represent obligations which are speculative in a high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked shortcomings. C: Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds, and issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing. 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. 31 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 applies numerical modifiers, 1, 2, and 3 in each generic rating classification from Aa through B. The modifier 1 indicates that the security ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks in the lower end of its generic rating category. STANDARD & POOR'S RATINGS GROUP AAA: An obligation rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by S&P. 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 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. 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 that 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: The C rating may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed or similar action has been taken but payments on this obligation are being continued. C is also used for a preferred stock that is in arrears (as well as for junior debt of issuers rated CCC and CC). D: The D rating, unlike other ratings, is not prospective; rather, it is used only where a default has actually occurred - and not where a default is only expected. 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. NOTES: An obligation which is unrated exposes the investor to risks with respect to capacity to pay interest or repay principal which are similar to the risks of lower-rated speculative obligations. Evaluation of such debt is dependent on the investment adviser's judgment, analysis and experience. 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. 32