497K 1 gthgefsp.htm GT 497K HEXAVEST GLOBAL EQUITY FUND

Summary Prospectus dated December 1, 2017

Eaton Vance Hexavest Global Equity Fund

 

Class /Ticker     A / EHGAX     C / EHGCX     I / EHGIX

This Summary Prospectus is designed to provide investors with key fund information in a clear and concise format. Before you invest, you may want to review the Fund’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, which contain more information about the Fund and its risks. The Fund’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, both dated December 1, 2017, as may be amended or supplemented, are incorporated by reference into this Summary Prospectus. For free paper or electronic copies of the Fund’s Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information, and other information about the Fund, go to http://www.eatonvance.com/funddocuments, email a request to contact@eatonvance.com, call 1-800-262-1122, or ask any financial advisor, bank, or broker-dealer who offers shares of the Fund. Unless otherwise noted, page number references refer to the current Prospectus for this Fund.

Investment Objective

The Fund’s investment objective is long-term capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. Investors may also pay commissions or other fees to their financial intermediary when they buy and hold shares of the Fund, which are not reflected below. You may qualify for a reduced sales charge if you invest, or agree to invest over a 13-month period, at least $50,000 in Eaton Vance funds. Certain financial intermediaries also may offer variations in Fund sales charges to their customers as described in Appendix A – Financial Intermediary Sales Charge Variations in the Fund's Prospectus. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial intermediary and in Sales Charges beginning on page 24 of the Fund's Prospectus and page 21 of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) Class A Class C Class I
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) 5.75% None None
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the lower of net asset value at time of purchase or redemption) None 1.00% None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) Class A Class C Class I
Management Fees 0.80% 0.80% 0.80%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees 0.25% 1.00% None
Other Expenses 0.32% 0.32% 0.32%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses 0.03% 0.03% 0.03%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 1.40% 2.15% 1.15%
Expense Reimbursement(1) (0.25)% (0.25)% (0.25)%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement 1.15% 1.90% 0.90%
(1)The investment adviser and administrator and the sub-adviser have agreed to reimburse the Fund’s expenses to the extent that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses exceed 1.15% for Class A shares, 1.90% for Class C shares and 0.90% for Class I shares. This expense reimbursement will continue through November 30, 2018. Any amendment to or termination of this reimbursement would require approval of the Board of Trustees. The expense reimbursement relates to ordinary operating expenses and acquired fund fees and expenses and does not include expenses such as: brokerage commissions, interest expense, taxes or litigation expenses. Amounts reimbursed may be recouped by the investment adviser and administrator and the sub-adviser during the same fiscal year to the extent actual expenses are less than the contractual expense cap during such year.

Example. This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year 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:

 

 

  Expenses with Redemption Expenses without Redemption
  1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
Class A shares $685 $969 $1,274 $2,138 $685 $969 $1,274 $2,138
Class C shares $293 $649 $1,131 $2,463 $193 $649 $1,131 $2,463
Class I shares $92 $341 $609 $1,375 $92 $341 $609 $1,375

 

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” the portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 109% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of issuers located throughout the developed world, including the United States (the “80% Policy”). A company will be considered to be located in the developed world if it is domiciled in and tied economically to one or more developed countries as defined by the MSCI World Index. The MSCI World Index is an unmanaged index of approximately 1,600 companies located in 23 countries. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest (i) at least 30% of its net assets in companies located outside the United States, including in emerging market countries and (ii) in issuers located in at least five different countries (including the United States). A company will be considered to be located outside the United States if it is domiciled in and tied economically to one or more non-U.S. countries and may include stocks of companies that trade in the form of depositary receipts.

The Fund may invest in securities issued by companies with a broad range of market capitalizations, including smaller companies. The Fund may invest in exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), a type of pooled investment vehicle, in order to equitize cash positions or seek exposure to certain markets or market sectors. The Fund will actively manage its exposure to foreign currencies and may seek to enhance return by increasing or decreasing its exposure to foreign currencies. The Fund expects to increase or decrease its foreign currency exposure primarily by entering into forward foreign currency exchange contracts. The Fund may also invest in futures contracts to enable changes in macroeconomic views to be efficiently and cost-effectively implemented, as well as to manage cash flows. Both forward foreign currency exchange contracts and futures contracts are types of derivative instruments. The Fund may also use derivatives consistent with its 80% Policy.

The Fund is managed using a predominately top-down investment style that incorporates proprietary fundamental research and quantitative models. The regional, country, currency, sector, and industry allocations of the portfolio are based primarily on the sub-adviser’s analysis of the macroeconomic environment, valuations of markets and the sentiment of investors (which often results in a contrarian view and value bias). Individual stock selection is based on fundamental research, optimization and quantitative screening to achieve desired market exposures and to emphasize stocks identified as having higher return potential. At the top-down level, sell decisions will be based on a significant deterioration in the macroeconomic environment, valuation and/or sentiment. At the individual security level, sell decisions are based on a change in views at the top-down level or on a significant change in fundamentals or relative valuation of the security. The portfolio managers seek to manage investment risk by using quantitative tools to assist in portfolio construction and monitoring and maintaining desired market exposures across the Fund’s holdings.

Principal Risks

Equity Investing Risk. Fund performance is sensitive to stock market volatility. Stock prices may decline in response to adverse changes in the economy or the economic outlook; deterioration in investor sentiment; interest rate, currency, and commodity price fluctuations; adverse geopolitical, social or environmental developments; issuer- and sector-specific considerations; and other factors. Market conditions may affect certain types of stocks to a greater extent than other types of stocks. If the stock market declines, the value of Fund shares will also likely decline. Although stock prices can rebound, there is no assurance that values will return to previous levels.

Foreign and Emerging Market Investment Risk. Because the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in foreign instruments, the value of shares may be adversely affected by changes in currency exchange rates and political, economic and market developments abroad, including the imposition of economic and other sanctions by the United States or another country. Investment markets in emerging market countries are typically smaller, less liquid and more

Eaton Vance Hexavest Global Equity Fund2Summary Prospectus dated December 1, 2017
 

volatile than developed markets, and emerging market securities often involve higher risk than developed market securities. Trading in foreign markets often involves higher expense than trading in the United States. The value of investments denominated in foreign currencies can be adversely affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Depositary receipts are subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign instruments.

Derivatives Risk. The use of derivatives can lead to losses because of adverse movements in the price or value of the asset, index, rate or instrument underlying a derivative, due to failure of a counterparty or due to tax or regulatory constraints. Derivatives may create economic leverage, which represents a non-cash exposure to the underlying asset, index, rate or instrument. Leverage can increase both the risk and return potential of the Fund. Derivatives risk may be more significant when derivatives are used to enhance return or as a substitute for a cash investment position, rather than solely to hedge the risk of a position held by the Fund.   A decision as to whether, when and how to use derivatives involves the exercise of specialized skill and judgment, and a transaction may be unsuccessful in whole or in part because of market behavior or unexpected events. Changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index. Derivative instruments traded in over-the-counter markets may be difficult to value, may be illiquid, and may be subject to wide swings in valuation caused by changes in the value of the underlying instrument. If a derivative’s counterparty is unable to honor its commitments, the value of Fund shares may decline and the Fund could experience delays in the return of collateral or other assets held by the counterparty. The loss on derivative transactions may substantially exceed the initial investment, particularly when there is no stated limit on the Fund’s use of derivatives.

Currency Risk. In general, fluctuations in foreign currency values will result in fluctuations in the U.S. dollar value of Fund securities denominated in that foreign currency. If the U.S. dollar rises in value relative to a foreign currency, a security denominated in that foreign currency will be worth less in U.S. dollars. If the U.S. dollar decreases in value relative to a foreign currency, a security denominated in that foreign currency will be worth more in U.S. dollars. The value of foreign currencies as measured in U.S. dollars may be unpredictably affected by changes in foreign currency rates and exchange control regulations, application of foreign tax laws (including withholding tax), governmental administration of economic or monetary policies (in the U.S. or abroad), intervention (or the failure to intervene) by U.S. or foreign governments or central banks, and relations between nations.  A devaluation of a currency by a country’s government or banking authority will have a significant impact on the value of any investments denominated in that currency. Currency markets generally are not as regulated as securities markets and currency transactions are subject to settlement, custodial and other operational risks. Exposure to foreign currencies through derivative instruments will be subject to derivative risks described herein.

Smaller Company Equity Risk. The stocks of smaller, less seasoned companies are generally subject to greater price fluctuations, limited liquidity, higher transaction costs and higher investment risk than the stocks of larger, more established companies. Smaller, less seasoned companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, may be dependent on a limited management group, and may lack substantial capital reserves or an established performance record. There may be generally less publicly available information about such companies than for larger, more established companies.

ETF Risk. ETFs are subject to the risks of investing in the underlying securities. ETF shares may trade at a premium or discount to net asset value and are subject to secondary market trading risks. In addition, the Fund will bear a pro rata portion of the operating expenses of an ETF in which it invests.

Risks Associated with Active and Quantitative Management. The success of the Fund’s investment program depends on portfolio management’s successful application of analytical skills and investment judgment. Active management involves subjective decisions. The portfolio managers also use quantitative investment techniques and analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund. There can be no assurance that these techniques will achieve the desired results.

General Fund Investing Risks. The Fund is not a complete investment program and there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. It is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. The Fund is designed to be a long-term investment vehicle and is not suited for short-term trading. Investors in the Fund should have a long-term investment perspective and be able to tolerate potentially sharp declines in value. Purchase and redemption activities by Fund shareholders may impact the management of the Fund and its ability to achieve its investment objective. In addition, the redemption by one or more large shareholders or groups of shareholders of their holdings in the Fund could have an adverse impact on the remaining shareholders in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Eaton Vance Hexavest Global Equity Fund3Summary Prospectus dated December 1, 2017
 

 

Performance

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and how the Fund’s average annual returns over time compare with those of a broad-based securities market index. The returns in the bar chart are for Class A shares and do not reflect a sales charge. If the sales charge was reflected, the returns would be lower. Past performance (both before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. The Fund’s performance reflects the effects of expense reductions. Absent these reductions, performance would have been lower. Updated Fund performance information can be obtained by visiting www.eatonvance.com.

During the period from December 31, 2012 to December 31, 2016, the highest quarterly total return for Class A was 8.48% for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 and the lowest quarterly return was -5.53% for the quarter ended September 30, 2015. The year-to-date total return through the end of the most recent calendar quarter (December 31, 2016 to September 30, 2017) was 9.87%.

Average Annual Total Return as of December 31, 2016 One Year Life of Fund
Class A Return Before Taxes 5.34% 7.34%
Class A Return After Taxes on Distributions 4.38% 6.04%
Class A Return After Taxes on Distributions and the Sale of Class A Shares 3.69% 5.48%
Class C Return Before Taxes 10.70% 8.80%
Class I Return Before Taxes 12.07% 9.08%
MSCI World Index (reflects net dividends, which reflects the deduction of withholding taxes) 7.51% 9.57%

These returns reflect the maximum sales charge for Class A (5.75%). Class A and Class I commenced operations on August 29, 2012. The Class C performance shown above for the period prior to December 1, 2016 (commencement of operations) is the performance of Class A shares at net asset value without adjustment for any differences in the expenses of the two classes. If adjusted for such differences, returns would be different. (Source for the MSCI World Index: MSCI.) MSCI data may not be reproduced or used for any other purpose. MSCI provides no warranties, has not prepared or approved this report, and has no liability hereunder. Investors cannot invest directly in an Index.

After-tax returns are calculated using the highest historical individual federal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on a shareholder’s tax situation and the actual characterization of distributions, and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to shareholders who hold shares in tax-deferred accounts or to shares held by non-taxable entities. After-tax returns for other Classes of shares will vary from the after-tax returns presented for Class A shares. Return After Taxes on Distributions for a period may be the same as Return Before Taxes for that period because no taxable distributions were made during that period. Also, Return After Taxes on Distributions and the Sale of Fund Shares for a period may be greater than or equal to Return After Taxes on Distributions for the same period because of losses realized on the sale of Fund shares.

Management

Investment Adviser. Eaton Vance Management (“Eaton Vance”).

Investment Sub-Adviser. Hexavest Inc. (“Hexavest”).

Portfolio Managers. The Fund is managed by a team comprised of:

Vital Proulx, Chairman and Co-Chief Investment Officer at Hexavest, who has managed the Fund since its inception in August 2012;

Jean-René Adam, Co-Chief Investment Officer at Hexavest, who has managed the Fund since its inception in August 2012;

Jean-Pierre Couture, Portfolio Manager at Hexavest, who has managed the Fund since its inception in August 2012;

Christian Crête, Portfolio Manager at Hexavest, who has managed the Fund since December 2014;

Eaton Vance Hexavest Global Equity Fund4Summary Prospectus dated December 1, 2017
 

Marc Christopher Lavoie, President and Portfolio Manager at Hexavest, who has managed the Fund since its inception in August 2012;

Etienne Durocher-Dumais, Portfolio Manager at Hexavest, who has managed the Fund since June 2016; and

Kevin LeBlanc, Portfolio Manager at Hexavest, who has managed the Fund since June 2017.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

You may purchase, redeem or exchange Fund shares on any business day, which is any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business. Class C shares are only available for purchase through a financial intermediary. You may purchase, redeem or exchange Fund shares either through your financial intermediary or directly from the Fund either by writing to the Fund, P.O. Box 9653, Providence, RI 02940-9653, or by calling 1-800-262-1122. The minimum initial purchase or exchange into the Fund is $1,000 for each class (with the exception of Class I) and $250,000 for Class I (waived in certain circumstances). There is no minimum for subsequent investments.

Tax Information

If your shares are held in a taxable account, the Fund’s distributions will be taxed to you as ordinary income and/or capital gains, unless you are exempt from taxation. If your shares are held in a tax-advantaged account, you will generally be taxed only upon withdrawals from the account.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase the Fund’s shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank) (collectively, “financial intermediaries”), the Fund, its principal underwriter and its affiliates may pay the financial intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the financial intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

6086 12.1.17 © 2017 Eaton Vance Management

Eaton Vance Hexavest Global Equity Fund5Summary Prospectus dated December 1, 2017