-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, Iy7xf1VhcYkfLFbUN33khvrN6aZHs425VbS9Hf6tIP6gP3MWLKKhKySby1aKNjcB qNh1qIdjVo2PIAGYaYkhGQ== 0000950135-04-002778.txt : 20040524 0000950135-04-002778.hdr.sgml : 20040524 20040524162630 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950135-04-002778 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: N-2/A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 15 FILED AS OF DATE: 20040524 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001288992 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: N-2/A SEC ACT: 1940 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 811-21574 FILM NUMBER: 04827260 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: THE EATON VANCE BUILDING STREET 2: 255 STATE STREET CITY: BOSTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02109 BUSINESS PHONE: 617-482-8260 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: THE EATON VANCE BUILDING STREET 2: 255 STATE STREET CITY: BOSTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02109 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001288992 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: N-2/A SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-115087 FILM NUMBER: 04827261 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: THE EATON VANCE BUILDING STREET 2: 255 STATE STREET CITY: BOSTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02109 BUSINESS PHONE: 617-482-8260 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: THE EATON VANCE BUILDING STREET 2: 255 STATE STREET CITY: BOSTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02109 N-2/A 1 b50653a1nv2za.txt EATON VANCE FLOATING-RATE INCOME TRUST As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 24, 2004 1933 Act File No. 333-115087 1940 Act File No. 811- 21574 U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM N-2 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 [X] POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. [ ] AND/OR REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 AMENDMENT NO. 1 [X] (CHECK APPROPRIATE BOX OR BOXES) EATON VANCE FLOATING-RATE INCOME TRUST -------------------------------------- (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN CHARTER) THE EATON VANCE BUILDING, 255 STATE STREET, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02109 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES) (ZIP CODE) REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE (617) 482-8260 ----------------------------------------------------------------- ALAN R. DYNNER THE EATON VANCE BUILDING, 255 STATE STREET, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02109 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND ADDRESS (OF AGENT FOR SERVICE) COPIES OF COMMUNICATIONS TO: MARK P. GOSHKO, ESQ. THOMAS A. HALE, ESQ. KIRKPATRICK & LOCKHART LLP SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE 75 STATE STREET MEAGHER & FLOM LLP BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02109 333 WEST WACKER DRIVE SUITE 2100 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60606 APPROXIMATE DATE OF PROPOSED PUBLIC OFFERING: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement. If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered in connection with a dividend reinvestment plan, check the following box.[ ] It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box): [x] when declared effective pursuant to Section 8(c) CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
PROPOSED PROPOSED AMOUNT BEING MAXIMUM MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF REGISTERED OFFERING AGGREGATE REGISTRATION FEES TITLE OF SECURITIES BEING PRICE PER UNIT OFFERING PRICE REGISTERED (1) (1) (1) (1)(2)(3) - --------------------------- ------------ -------------- -------------- ----------------- Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, $0.01 par value 50,000 $20.00 $1,000,000 $126.70
(1) Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee, pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933. (2) Includes Shares that may be offered to the Underwriters pursuant to an option to cover over-allotments. (3) A Registration fee of $126.70 was previously paid in connection with the initial filing filed on May 3, 2004. THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATES AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a), MAY DETERMINE. THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS INCOMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. WE MAY NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES, AND WE ARE NOT SOLICITING OFFERS TO BUY THESE SECURITIES, IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED. PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION May 26, 2004 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SHARES EATON VANCE FLOATING-RATE INCOME TRUST COMMON SHARES [EATON VANCE LOGO] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES. Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust (the "Trust") is a newly organized, diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Trust's investment objective is to provide a high level of current income. The Trust will, as a secondary objective, also seek preservation of capital to the extent consistent with its primary goal of high current income. The Trust will seek to achieve its investment objectives by investing primarily in senior, secured floating rate loans ("Senior Loans"). Under normal market conditions, Eaton Vance Management, the Trust's investment adviser, expects the Trust to maintain an average duration of less than one year (including the effect of anticipated leverage). INVESTMENT ADVISER. The Trust's investment adviser is Eaton Vance Management ("Eaton Vance" or the "Adviser"). As of April 30, 2004, Eaton Vance and its subsidiaries managed approximately $85 billion on behalf of funds, institutional clients and individuals. As of April 30, 2004, Eaton Vance and its subsidiaries managed approximately $11.8 billion in funds, in other commingled investment vehicles and for institutional accounts which invest primarily in Senior Loans. PORTFOLIO CONTENTS. The Trust will pursue its objectives by investing its assets primarily in Senior Loans. Under normal market conditions, the Trust will invest at least 80% of its total assets in Senior Loans. Senior Loans are made to corporations, partnerships and other business entities ("Borrowers") which operate in various industries and geographical regions, including foreign Borrowers. Senior Loans pay interest at rates which are redetermined periodically on the basis of a floating base lending rate plus a premium. Senior Loans typically are of below investment grade quality and have below investment grade credit ratings, which ratings are associated with securities having high risk, speculative characteristics. Because of the protective features of Senior Loans (being both senior in a Borrower's capital structure and secured by specific collateral), the Adviser believes, based on its experience, that Senior Loans tend to have more favorable loss recovery rates compared to most other types of below investment grade obligations which are subordinated and unsecured. Because the Trust is newly organized, its common shares have no history of public trading. Approximately one to three months after completion of the offering of common shares, the Trust expects to begin use of financial leverage through the issuance of preferred shares and/or through borrowings, leveraging initially up to approximately 38% of its total assets (including the amount obtained through leverage). (continued on inside cover page) INVESTING IN SHARES INVOLVES CERTAIN RISKS, INCLUDING THAT THE TRUST WILL INVEST SUBSTANTIAL PORTIONS OF ITS ASSETS IN BELOW INVESTMENT GRADE QUALITY SECURITIES WITH SPECULATIVE CHARACTERISTICS. SEE "INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND RISKS" BEGINNING AT PAGE 11. NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
PRICE TO PUBLIC SALES LOAD(1) PROCEEDS TO TRUST - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Per share $20.00 $0.90 $19.10 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total $ $ $ - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total assuming full exercise of the over-allotment option $ $ $ - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(notes on following page) In addition to the sales load, the Trust will pay offering expenses of up to $0.04 per share, estimated to total $ , which will reduce the "Proceeds to Trust" (above). Eaton Vance or an affiliate has agreed to pay the amount by which the aggregate of all of the Trust's offering costs (other than sales loads) exceeds $0.04, per share. Eaton Vance or an affiliate has agreed to reimburse all Trust organizational costs. The underwriters named in the Prospectus may purchase up to additional shares from the Trust under certain circumstances. The underwriters are offering the shares subject to various conditions and expect to deliver the shares to purchasers on or about , 2004. UBS INVESTMENT BANK CITIGROUP MERRILL LYNCH & CO. WACHOVIA SECURITIES RBC CAPITAL MARKETS H&R BLOCK FINANCIAL ADVISORS, INC. J.J.B. HILLIARD, W.L. LYONS, INC. OPPENHEIMER QUICK & REILLY, INC. RYAN BECK & CO., INC. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (continued from previous page) EXCHANGE LISTING. The Trust intends to apply for the listing of its common shares on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "EFT." Because the Trust is newly organized, its common shares have no history of public trading. The shares of closed-end management investment companies frequently trade at a discount from their net asset value. The returns earned by holders of the Trust's common shares ("Common Shareholders") who purchase their shares in this offering and sell their shares below net asset value will be reduced. The Trust's net asset value and distribution rate will vary and may be affected by several factors, including changes in the credit quality of issuers and interest rates and other market factors. Fluctuations in net asset value may be magnified as a result of the Trust's use of leverage, which is a speculative investment technique. An investment in the Trust may not be appropriate for all investors. There is no assurance that the Trust will achieve its investment objectives. The Trust expects to use financial leverage through the issuance of preferred shares and/or through borrowings, initially equal to approximately 38% of its total assets (including the amount obtained through leverage). The Adviser anticipates that the use of leverage will result in higher income to common shareholders over time. Use of financial leverage creates an opportunity for increased income but, at the same time, creates special risks. There can be no assurance that a leveraging strategy will be utilized or will be successful. SEE "INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND RISKS--USE OF LEVERAGE AND RELATED RISKS" AT PAGE 23 AND "DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE" AT PAGE 33. This Prospectus sets forth concisely information you should know before investing in the shares of the Trust. Please read and retain this Prospectus for future reference. A Statement of Additional Information dated , 2004, has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and can be obtained without charge by calling 1-800-225-6265 or by writing to the Trust. A table of contents to the Statement of Additional Information is located at page 43 of this Prospectus. This Prospectus incorporates by reference the entire Statement of Additional Information. The Statement of Additional Information is available along with other Trust-related materials: at the SEC's public reference room in Washington, DC (call 1-202-942-8090 for information on the operation of the reference room); the EDGAR database on the SEC's internet site (http://www.sec.gov); upon payment of copying fees by writing to the SEC's public reference section, Washington, DC 20549-0102; or by electronic mail at publicinfo@sec.gov. The Trust's address is The Eaton Vance Building, 255 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109 and its telephone number is 1-800-225-6265. The Trust's shares do not represent a deposit or obligation of, and are not guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank or other insured depository institution, and are not federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other government agency. You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus. The Trust has not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. The Trust is not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. Until , 2004 (25 days after the date of this Prospectus), all dealers that buy, sell or trade the shares, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a Prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers' obligation to deliver a Prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions. - --------------- (1) Eaton Vance (not the Trust) will pay certain additional compensation to qualifying underwriters. See "Underwriting." Eaton Vance (not the Trust) will pay UBS Securities LLC for services provided pursuant to a shareholder servicing agreement between UBS Securities LLC and Eaton Vance. See "Shareholder Servicing Agent, custodian and transfer agent." The total amount of the foregoing payments will not exceed 4.5% of the aggregate initial offering price of the common shares offered hereby. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TABLE OF CONTENTS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prospectus summary.................... 1 Summary of Trust expenses............. 9 The Trust............................. 11 Use of proceeds....................... 11 Investment objectives, policies and risks............................... 11 Management of the Trust............... 28 Distributions......................... 30 Dividend reinvestment plan............ 32 Description of capital structure...... 33 Underwriting.......................... 39 Shareholder Servicing Agent, Custodian and Transfer Agent.................. 41 Legal opinions........................ 42 Reports to shareholders............... 42 Independent auditors.................. 42 Additional information................ 42 Table of contents for the Statement of Additional Information.............. 43 The Trust's privacy policy............ 43
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prospectus summary This is only a summary. This summary may not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in the Trust's common shares. You should review the more detailed information contained in this Prospectus and in the Statement of Additional Information, especially the information set forth under the heading "Investment objectives, policies and risk." THE TRUST Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust (the "Trust") is a newly organized, diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Trust offers investors the opportunity to receive a high level of current income, through a professionally managed portfolio investing primarily in senior, secured floating rate loans ("Senior Loans"), which are normally accessible only to financial institutions and large corporate and institutional investors, and are not widely available to individual investors. To the extent consistent with this primary goal, the Trust will offer an opportunity for preservation of capital. Investments are based on Eaton Vance Management's ("Eaton Vance" or the "Adviser") internal research and ongoing credit analysis, which is generally not available to individual investors. An investment in the Trust may not be appropriate for all investors. There is no assurance that the Trust will achieve its investment objectives. THE OFFERING The Trust is offering common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share, through a group of underwriters (the "Underwriters") led by UBS Securities LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC. The common shares of beneficial interest are called "Common Shares." The Underwriters have been granted an option by the Trust to purchase up to additional Common Shares solely to cover over-allotments, if any. The initial public offering price is $20.00 per share. The minimum purchase in this offering is 100 Shares ($2,000). See "Underwriting." Eaton Vance or an affiliate has agreed to (i) reimburse all organizational costs and (ii) pay all offering costs (other than sales loads) that exceed $0.04 per Common Share. INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES The Trust's investment objective is to provide a high level of current income. The Trust will, as a secondary objective, also seek preservation of capital to the extent consistent with its primary goal of high current income. Under normal market conditions, Eaton Vance expects the Trust to maintain a duration of less than one year (including the effect of anticipated leverage). The Trust will pursue its objectives by investing primarily in Senior Loans. Senior Loans are made to corporations, partnerships and other business entities ("Borrowers") which operate in various industries and geographical regions. Senior Loans pay interest at rates which are redetermined periodically by reference to a base lending rate, primarily the London-Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), plus a premium. It is anticipated that the proceeds of the Senior Loans in which the Trust will acquire interests primarily will be used to finance leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, mergers, acquisitions, stock repurchases, refinancing, and internal growth and for other corporate purposes of Borrowers. Under normal market conditions, the Trust will invest at least 80% of its total assets in Senior Loans. The Trust may invest up to 20% of its total assets in (i) loan interests which have (a) a second lien on collateral ("Second Lien"), (b) no security interest in the collateral, or (c) lower than a senior claim on collateral; (ii) other income-producing securities, such as investment and non-investment grade corporate debt securities and U.S. government and U.S. dollar-denominated foreign government or supranational debt securities; and (iii) warrants and equity securities issued by a Borrower or its affiliates as part of a package of investments in the Borrower or its affiliates. The Adviser anticipates that most of the Trust's investments, including investments in Senior Loans, will be of below 1 investment-grade quality. Corporate bonds of below investment grade quality ("Non-Investment Grade Bonds"), commonly referred to as "junk bonds," are bonds that are rated below investment grade by each of the national rating agencies who cover the security, or, if unrated, are determined to be of comparable quality by the Adviser. Standard & Poor's Ratings Group ("S&P") and Fitch Ratings ("Fitch") consider securities rated below BBB- to be below investment grade and Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") considers securities rated below Baa3 to be below investment grade. The Trust's credit quality policies apply only at the time a security is purchased, and the Trust is not required to dispose of a security in the event of a downgrade of an assessment of credit quality or the withdrawal of a rating. Securities rated in the lowest investment grade rating (BBB- or Baa3) may have certain speculative characteristics. Below investment grade quality securities are considered to be predominantly speculative because of the credit risk of the issuers. See "Investment objectives, policies and risks--Additional risk considerations--Non-investment grade securities risk." The Trust will only invest in U.S. dollar denominated securities. The Trust may invest in U.S. dollar denominated Senior Loans and other securities of non-United States issuers. The Trust's investments may have significant exposure to certain sectors of the economy and thus may react differently to political or economic developments than the market as a whole. Under normal market conditions, the Trust expects to maintain an average duration of less than one year (including the effect of anticipated leverage). In comparison to maturity (which is the date on which a debt instrument ceases and the issuer is obligated to repay the principal amount), duration is a measure of the price volatility of a debt instrument as a result of changes in market rates of interest, based on the weighted average timing of the instrument's expected principal and interest payments. Duration differs from maturity in that it considers a security's yield, coupon payments, principal payments and call features in addition to the amount of time until the security finally matures. As the value of a security changes over time, so will its duration. Prices of securities with longer durations tend to be more sensitive to interest rate changes than securities with shorter durations. In general, a portfolio of securities with a longer duration can be expected to be more sensitive to interest rate changes than a portfolio with a shorter duration. Investing in Senior Loans involves investment risk. Some Borrowers default on their Senior Loan payments. The Trust attempts to manage this credit risk through portfolio diversification and ongoing analysis and monitoring of Borrowers. The Trust also is subject to market, liquidity, interest rate and other risks. See "Investment objectives, policies and risks." Scott H. Page and Payson F. Swaffield (each a Vice President of Eaton Vance) are the portfolio managers of the Trust. Mr. Page and Mr. Swaffield have co-managed other Eaton Vance portfolios investing primarily in Senior Loans since 1996. The Trust's investments are actively managed, and Senior Loans and other securities may be bought or sold on a daily basis. The Adviser's staff monitors the credit quality and price of Senior Loans and other securities held by the Trust, as well as other securities that are available to the Trust. The Trust may invest in individual Senior Loans and other securities of any credit quality. Although the Adviser considers ratings when making investment decisions, it performs its own credit and investment analysis and does not rely primarily on the ratings assigned by the rating services. In evaluating the quality of particular Senior Loans or other securities, whether rated or unrated, the Adviser will normally take into consideration, among other things, the issuer's financial resources and operating history, its sensitivity to economic conditions and trends, the ability of its management, its debt maturity schedules and borrowing requirements, and relative values based on anticipated cash flow, interest and asset coverage, and earnings prospects. The Trust may purchase or sell derivative instruments (which derive their value from another instrument, security or index) for risk management purposes, such as hedging against fluctuations in Senior Loans and other securities prices or interest rates; diversification purposes; changing the duration of the Trust; or leveraging the Trust. Transactions in derivative instruments may include the 2 purchase or sale of futures contracts on securities, indices and other financial instruments, credit-linked notes, tranches of collateralized loan obligations and/or collateralized debt obligations, options on futures contracts, and exchange-traded and over-the-counter options on securities or indices, and interest rate, total return and credit default swaps. Guidelines of any rating organization that rates any preferred shares issued by the Trust may limit the Trust's ability to engage in such transactions. Subject to the Trust's policy of investing at least 80% of its total assets in Senior Loans and subject to the limitations on the use of futures contracts and related options imposed by Rule 4.5 of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Trust may invest, without limitation, in the foregoing derivative instruments for the purposes stated herein. LISTING The Trust intends to apply for the listing of the Common Shares on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "EFT." LEVERAGE The Trust expects to use financial leverage through the issuance of preferred shares and/or through borrowings, including the issuance of debt securities and/or through investment in derivative instruments. The Trust intends initially to use financial leverage of approximately 38% of its total assets (including the amount obtained through leverage). The Adviser anticipates that the use of leverage should result in higher income to holders of Common Shares ("Common Shareholders") over time. The Trust generally will not use leverage, however, if the Adviser anticipates that it would result in a lower return to holders of the Common Shareholders over time. Use of financial leverage creates an opportunity for increased income for Common Shareholders but, at the same time, creates special risks (including the likelihood of greater volatility of net asset value and market price of the Common Shares), and there can be no assurance that a leveraging strategy will be successful during any period in which it is employed. The Trust currently intends to issue preferred shares approximately one to three months after completion of this offering, subject to market conditions and to the Trust's receipt of a AAA or Aaa credit rating on such preferred shares from a nationally recognized statistical rating organization ("Rating Agency") (typically, Moody's, S&P or Fitch). During periods in which the Trust is using leverage, the fees paid to Eaton Vance for investment advisory services will be higher than if the Trust did not use leverage because the fees paid will be calculated on the basis of the Trust's gross assets, including proceeds from the issuance of preferred shares. See "Investment objectives, policies and risks--Use of leverage and related risks" and "Management of the Trust--The Adviser." INVESTMENT ADVISER AND ADMINISTRATOR Eaton Vance, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Eaton Vance Corp., is the Trust's investment adviser and administrator. The Adviser and its subsidiaries manage approximately $85 billion on behalf of funds, institutional accounts and individuals as of April 30, 2004. Twenty-nine of the funds are closed-end. As of April 30, 2004, Eaton Vance and its subsidiaries managed approximately $11.8 billion in funds, in other commingled investment vehicles and for institutional accounts which invest primarily in Senior Loans. See "Management of the Trust." TAX ASPECTS Dividends with respect to the Common Shares generally will not constitute "qualified dividend income" for federal income tax purposes and thus will not be eligible for the favorable long-term capital gains tax rates. DISTRIBUTIONS Commencing with the Trust's first dividend, the Trust intends to make regular monthly cash distributions to Common Shareholders of substantially all of the net investment income of the Trust. 3 The amount of each monthly distribution will vary depending on a number of factors, including dividends payable on the Trust's preferred shares or other costs of financial leverage. As portfolio and market conditions change, the rate of dividends on the Common Shares and the Trust's dividend policy could change. Over time, the Trust will distribute all of its net investment income (after it pays accrued dividends on any outstanding preferred shares) or other costs of financial leverage. In addition, at least annually, the Trust intends to distribute any net short-term capital gain and any net capital gain (which is the excess of net long-term capital gain over short-term capital loss). The initial distribution is expected to be declared approximately 45 days and paid approximately 60 to 90 days after the completion of this offering, depending on market conditions. Common Shareholders may elect automatically to reinvest some or all of their distributions in additional Common Shares under the Trust's dividend reinvestment plan. See "Distributions" and "Dividend reinvestment plan." DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN The Trust has established a dividend reinvestment plan (the "Plan"). Under the Plan, a Shareholder may elect to have all dividend and capital gain distributions automatically reinvested in additional Common Shares either purchased in the open market, or newly issued by the Trust if the Common Shares are trading at or above their net asset value. Common Shareholders may elect to participate in the Plan by completing the dividend reinvestment plan application form. Common Shareholders who do not elect to participate in the Plan will receive all distributions in cash paid by check mailed directly to them by PFPC Inc., as dividend paying agent. Common Shareholders who intend to hold their Common Shares through a broker or nominee should contact such broker or nominee to determine whether or how they may participate in the Plan. See "Dividend reinvestment plan." CLOSED-END STRUCTURE Closed-end funds differ from open-end management investment companies (commonly referred to as mutual funds) in that closed-end funds generally list their shares for trading on a securities exchange and do not redeem their shares at the option of the shareholder. By comparison, mutual funds issue securities redeemable at net asset value at the option of the shareholder and typically engage in a continuous offering of their shares. Mutual funds are subject to continuous asset in-flows and out-flows that can complicate portfolio management, whereas closed-end funds generally can stay more fully invested in securities consistent with the closed-end fund's investment objectives and policies. In addition, in comparison to open-end funds, closed-end funds have greater flexibility in the employment of financial leverage and in the ability to make certain types of investments, including investments in illiquid securities. However, shares of closed-end funds frequently trade at a discount from their net asset value. In recognition of the possibility that the Common Shares might trade at a discount to net asset value and that any such discount may not be in the interest of Common Shareholders, the Trust's Board of Trustees (the "Board"), in consultation with Eaton Vance, from time to time may review possible actions to reduce any such discount. The Board might consider open market repurchases or tender offers for Common Shares at net asset value. There can be no assurance that the Board will decide to undertake any of these actions or that, if undertaken, such actions would result in the Common Shares trading at a price equal to or close to net asset value per share. The Board might also consider the conversion of the Trust to an open-end mutual fund. The Board believes, however, that the closed-end structure is desirable, given the Trust's investment objectives and policies. Investors should assume, therefore, that it is highly unlikely that the Board would vote to convert the Trust to an open-end investment company. Investors should note that the anticipated issuance of preferred shares to provide investment leverage could make a conversion to open-end form more difficult because of the voting rights of preferred shareholders, the costs of redeeming preferred shares and other factors. See "Description of capital structure." 4 SPECIAL RISK CONSIDERATIONS NO OPERATING HISTORY The Trust is a closed-end investment company with no history of operations and is designed for long-term investors and not as a trading vehicle. INVESTMENT AND MARKET RISK An investment in Common Shares is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire principal amount invested. An investment in Common Shares represents an indirect investment in the securities owned by the Trust. The value of these securities, like other market investments, may move up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. The Common Shares at any point in time may be worth less than the original investment, even after taking into account any reinvestment of dividends and distributions. INCOME RISK The income investors receive from the Trust is based primarily on the interest it earns from its investments, which can vary widely over the short- and long-term. If prevailing market interest rates drop, investors' income from the Trust could drop as well. The Trust's income could also be affected adversely when prevailing short-term interest rates increase and the Trust is utilizing leverage, although this risk is mitigated by the Trust's investment in Senior Loans, which pay floating rates of interest. CREDIT RISK Credit risk is the risk that one or more debt obligations in the Trust's portfolio will decline in price, or fail to pay interest or principal when due, because the issuer of the obligation experiences a decline in its financial status. Credit risk involves two basic elements: delinquency and default. Delinquency refers to interruptions in the payment of interest and principal. Default refers to the potential for unrecoverable principal loss from the sale of foreclosed collateral or the Trust's inherent right to forgive principal or modify a debt instrument. PREPAYMENT RISK During periods of declining interest rates or for other purposes, Borrowers may exercise their option to prepay principal earlier than scheduled. For fixed-income securities, such payments often occur during periods of declining interest rates, forcing the Trust to reinvest in lower yielding securities. This is known as call or prepayment risk. Non-Investment Grade Bonds frequently have call features that allow the issuer to redeem the security at dates prior to its stated maturity at a specified price (typically greater than par) only if certain prescribed conditions are met ("call protection"). An issuer may redeem a Non-Investment Grade Bond if, for example, the issuer can refinance the debt at a lower cost due to declining interest rates or an improvement in the credit standing of the issuer. Senior Loans typically have no such call protection. For premium bonds (bonds acquired at prices that exceed their par or principal value) purchased by the Trust, prepayment risk may be enhanced. ISSUER RISK The value of corporate income-producing securities may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer's goods and services. SENIOR LOANS RISK The risks associated with Senior Loans are similar to the risks of Non-Investment Grade Bonds (discussed below), although Senior Loans are typically senior and secured in contrast to Non-Investment Grade Bonds, which are often subordinated and unsecured. Senior Loans' higher standing has historically resulted in generally higher recoveries in the event of a corporate reorganization or other restructuring. In addition, because their interest rates are adjusted for changes in short-term interest rates, Senior Loans generally have less interest rate risk than Non-Investment Grade Bonds, which are typically fixed rate. 5 The Trust's investments in Senior Loans are typically below investment grade and are considered speculative because of the credit risk of their issuers. Such companies are more likely to default on their payments of interest and principal owed to the Trust, and such defaults could reduce the Trust's net asset value and income distributions. An economic downturn generally leads to a higher non- payment rate, and a debt obligation may lose significant value before a default occurs. Moreover, any specific collateral used to secure a loan may decline in value or lose all its value or become illiquid, which would adversely affect the loan's value. Economic and other events (whether real or perceived) can reduce the demand for certain Senior Loans or Senior Loans generally, which may reduce market prices and cause the Trust's net asset value per share to fall. The frequency and magnitude of such changes cannot be predicted. Loans and other debt securities are also subject to the risk of price declines and to increases in prevailing interest rates, although floating-rate debt instruments are less exposed to this risk than fixed-rate debt instruments. Interest rate changes may also increase prepayments of debt obligations and require the Trust to invest assets at lower yields. No active trading market may exist for certain loans, which may impair the ability of the Trust to realize full value in the event of the need to liquidate such assets. Adverse market conditions may impair the liquidity of some actively traded loans. NON-INVESTMENT GRADE BONDS RISK The Trust's investments in Non-Investment Grade Bonds are predominantly speculative because of the credit risk of their issuers. While offering a greater potential opportunity for capital appreciation and higher yields, Non-Investment Grade Bonds typically entail greater potential price volatility and may be less liquid than higher-rated securities. Issuers of Non-Investment Grade Bonds are more likely to default on their payments of interest and principal owed to the Trust, and such defaults will reduce the Trust's net asset value and income distributions. The prices of these lower rated obligations are more sensitive to negative developments than higher rated securities. Adverse business conditions, such as a decline in the issuer's revenues or an economic downturn, generally lead to a higher non-payment rate. In addition, a security may lose significant value before a default occurs as the market adjusts to expected higher non-payment rates. DERIVATIVES RISK Derivative transactions (such as futures contracts and options thereon, options, swaps and short sales) subject the Trust to increased risk of principal loss due to imperfect correlation or unexpected price or interest rate movements. The Trust also will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties to the derivatives contracts purchased by the Trust. If a counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations under a derivative contract due to financial difficulties, the Trust may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery under the derivative contract in a bankruptcy or other reorganization proceeding. The Trust may obtain only a limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in such circumstances. EFFECTS OF LEVERAGE There can be no assurance that a leveraging strategy will be utilized by the Trust or that, if utilized, it will be successful during any period in which it is employed. Leverage creates risks for Common Shareholders, including the likelihood of greater volatility of net asset value and market price of the Common Shares and the risk that fluctuations in dividend rates on any preferred shares may affect the return to Common Shareholders. To the extent the income derived from securities purchased with proceeds received from leverage exceeds the cost of leverage, the Trust's distributions will be greater than if leverage had not been used. Conversely, if the income from the securities purchased with such proceeds is not sufficient to cover the cost of leverage, the amount available for distribution to Common Shareholders as dividends and other distributions will be less than if leverage had not been used. In the latter case, Eaton Vance in its best judgment may nevertheless determine to maintain the Trust's leveraged position if it deems such action to be appropriate. The costs of an offering of 6 preferred shares and/or borrowing program will be borne by Common Shareholders and consequently will result in a reduction of the net asset value of Common Shares. Financial leverage may be achieved through the issuance of preferred shares, through borrowings, including the issuance of debt securities and/or through investment in derivative instruments. Use of financial leverage creates an opportunity for increased income for Common Shareholders but, at the same time, creates special risks (including the likelihood of greater volatility of net asset value and market price of the Common Shares), and there can be no assurance that a leveraging strategy will be successful during any period in which it is employed. See "Investment objectives, policies and risks-- Additional investment practices" and "Investment objectives, policies and risks--Additional risk considerations." The Trust currently intends to seek a AAA/Aaa credit rating on any preferred shares from a Rating Agency. The Trust may be subject to investment restrictions of the Rating Agency as a result. These restrictions may impose asset coverage or portfolio composition requirements that are more stringent than those imposed on the Trust by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act" or "1940 Act"). It is not anticipated that these covenants or guidelines will impede Eaton Vance in managing the Trust's portfolio in accordance with its investment objectives and policies. See "Description of capital structure--Preferred shares." As discussed under "Management of the Trust," the fee paid to Eaton Vance will be calculated on the basis of the Trust's gross assets, including proceeds from the issuance of preferred shares and/or borrowings, so the fees will be higher when leverage is utilized. In this regard, holders of preferred shares do not bear the investment advisory fee. Rather, Common Shareholders bear the portion of the investment advisory fee attributable to the assets purchased with the proceeds of the preferred shares offering. See "Investment objectives, policies and risks--Use of leverage and related risks." INTEREST RATE RISK The value of Common Shares will usually change in response to interest rate fluctuations. When interest rates decline, the value of fixed-rate securities already held by the Trust can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of existing fixed-rate portfolio securities can be expected to decline. Because market interest rates are currently near their lowest levels in many years, there is a greater than normal risk that the Trust's portfolio will decline in value due to rising interest rates. Fluctuations in the value of fixed-rate securities will not affect interest income on existing securities but will be reflected in the Trust's net asset value. Fixed-rate securities with longer durations tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than securities with shorter durations, usually making them more volatile. The Trust may utilize certain strategies, including taking positions in futures or interest rate swaps, for the purpose of reducing the interest rate sensitivity of the portfolio and decreasing the Trust's exposure to interest rate risk, although there is no assurance that it will do so or that such strategies will be successful. The Trust is intended to have a relatively low level of interest rate risk in comparison to funds that invest primarily in fixed-rate income securities. FOREIGN SECURITY RISK The prices of foreign securities may be affected by factors not present with U.S. securities, including currency exchange rates, political and economic conditions, less stringent regulation and higher volatility. As a result, many foreign securities may be less liquid and more volatile than U.S. securities. LIQUIDITY RISK The Trust may invest in Senior Loans and other securities for which there is no readily available trading market or which are otherwise illiquid. The Trust may not be able to dispose readily of such securities at prices that approximate those at which the Trust could sell such securities if they were more widely traded and, as a result of such illiquidity, the Trust may have to sell other investments or engage in borrowing transactions if necessary to raise cash to meet its obligations. In addition, the 7 limited liquidity could affect the market price of the securities, thereby adversely affecting the Trust's net asset value and ability to make dividend distributions. REINVESTMENT RISK Income from the Trust's portfolio will decline if and when the Trust invests the proceeds from matured, traded or called debt obligations into lower yielding instruments. A decline in income could affect the Common Shares' distribution rate and their overall return. INFLATION RISK Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investment will be worth less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the real value of the Common Shares and distributions thereon can decline. In addition, during any periods of rising inflation, dividend rates of preferred shares would likely increase, which would tend to further reduce returns to Common Shareholders. This risk is mitigated to some degree by the Trust's investments in Senior Loans. MARKET PRICE OF SHARES The shares of closed-end management investment companies often trade at a discount from their net asset value, and the Trust's Common Shares may likewise trade at a discount from net asset value. The trading price of the Trust's Common Shares may be less than the public offering price. This risk may be greater for investors who sell their Common Shares in a relatively short period after completion of the public offering. MANAGEMENT RISK The Trust is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed portfolio. Eaton Vance and the individual portfolio managers will apply investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Trust, but there can be no guarantee that these will produce the desired results. REGULATORY RISK To the extent that legislation or state or federal regulators that regulate certain financial institutions impose additional requirements or restrictions with respect to the ability of such institutions to make loans, particularly in connection with highly leveraged transactions, the availability of Senior Loans for investment may be adversely affected. Further, such legislation or regulation could depress the market value of Senior Loans. MARKET DISRUPTION The terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001 had a disruptive effect on the securities markets. The Trust cannot predict the effects of similar events in the future on the U.S. economy. These terrorist attacks and related events, including the war in Iraq, its aftermath, and continuing occupation of Iraq by coalition forces, have led to increased short-term market volatility and may have long-term effects on U.S. and world economies and markets. A similar disruption of the financial markets could impact interest rates, auctions, secondary trading, ratings, credit risk, inflation and other factors relating to the Common Shares. In particular, Non-Investment Grade Bonds and Senior Loans tend to be more volatile than higher rated fixed income securities so that these events and any actions resulting from them may have a greater impact on the prices and volatility on Non- Investment Grade Bonds and Senior Loans than on higher rated fixed income securities. ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS The Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust includes provisions that could have the effect of limiting the ability of other persons or entities to acquire control of the Trust or to change the composition of its Board. See "Description of capital structure--Anti-takeover provisions in the Declaration of Trust." 8 Summary of Trust expenses The purpose of the table below is to help you understand all fees and expenses that you, as a Common Shareholder, would bear directly or indirectly. The following table assumes leverage in an amount equal to 38% after preferred shares issuance of the Trust's total assets, and shows Trust expenses as a percentage of net assets attributable to Common Shares. Shareholder transaction expenses Sales load paid by you (as a percentage of offering price)................................................. 4.50% Expenses borne by the Trust............................... 0.97%(1)(2) Dividend reinvestment plan fees........................... None(3)
PERCENTAGE OF NET ASSETS ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON SHARES (ASSUMING THE ISSUANCE OF PREFERRED SHARES)(4) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Annual expenses Investment advisory fee................................... 1.21% Other expenses............................................ 0.37%(5) ------ Total annual expenses..................................... 1.58% Less fee and expense reimbursements (years 1-5)........... (0.32)%(6) ------ Net annual expenses (years 1-5)........................... 1.26%(6) ======
- ------------ (1) Eaton Vance or an affiliate has agreed to reimburse all organizational costs and pay all offering costs (other than sales load) that exceed $0.04 per Common Share (0.20% of the offering price). (2) If the Trust offers preferred shares, costs of that offering, estimated to be slightly more than 1.25% of the total amount of the preferred share offering, will effectively be borne by Common Shareholders and result in the reduction of the net asset value of the Common Shares. Assuming the issuance of preferred shares in an amount equal to 38% of the Trust's total assets (after issuance), those offering costs are estimated to be not more than approximately $1,923,000 or $0.16 per Common Share (0.77% of the offering price). (3) You will be charged a $5.00 service charge and pay brokerage charges if you direct the plan agent to sell your Common Shares held in a dividend reinvestment account. (4) Stated as percentages of net assets attributable to Common Shares assuming no issuance of preferred shares or borrowings, the Trust's expenses would be estimated to be as follows:
PERCENTAGE OF NET ASSETS ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON SHARES (ASSUMING NO PREFERRED SHARES ARE ISSUED AND OUTSTANDING) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Annual expenses Investment advisory fee................................... 0.75% Other expenses............................................ 0.18% ----------- Total annual expenses..................................... 0.93% Less fees and expense reimbursements (years 1-5).......... (0.20)% ----------- Net annual expenses (years 1-5)........................... 0.73% ===========
(5) Estimated expenses based on the current fiscal year. (6) Eaton Vance has contractually agreed to reimburse the Trust for fees and other expenses in the amount of 0.20% of average total assets of the Trust for the first 5 full years of the Trust's operations, 0.15% of the average total assets for the Trust in year 6, 0.10% in year 7 and 0.05% in year 8. For this purpose, total assets shall be calculated by deducting accrued liabilities of the Trust not including the amount of any preferred shares outstanding or the principal amount of any indebtedness for money borrowed. Without the reimbursement, Total annual expenses would be estimated to be 1.58% of average daily net assets attributable to Common Shares (or, assuming no issuance of preferred shares or borrowings, 0.93% 9 of average daily net assets attributable to Common Shares). Eaton Vance may voluntarily reimburse additional fees and expenses but is under no obligation to do so. Any such voluntary reimbursements may be terminated at any time. The expenses shown in the table are based on estimated amounts for the Trust's first year of operations and assume that the Trust issues approximately 12,500,000 Common Shares. See "Management of the Trust" and "Dividend reinvestment plan." EXAMPLE The following example illustrates the expenses that you would pay on a $1,000 investment in common shares (including the sales load of $45, estimated offering expenses of this offering of $2 and the estimated preferred share offering costs assuming preferred shares are issued representing 38% of the Trust's total assets (after issuance) of $7.70), assuming (1) total net annual expenses of 1.26% of net assets attributable to Common Shares in years 1 through 5, increasing to 1.58% in years 9 and 10 and (2) a 5% annual return(1):
1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS(2) - ----------------------------------------- $67 $92 $120 $213
THE EXAMPLE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A REPRESENTATION OF FUTURE EXPENSES. ACTUAL EXPENSES MAY BE HIGHER OR LOWER. - ------------ (1) The example assumes that the estimated Other expenses set forth in the Annual expenses table are accurate, that fees and expenses increase as described in note 2 below and that all dividends and distributions are reinvested at net asset value. Actual expenses may be greater or less than those assumed. Moreover, the Trust's actual rate of return may be greater or less than the hypothetical 5% return shown in the example. (2) Assumes reimbursement of fees and expenses of 0.15% of average daily total assets of the Trust in year 6, 0.10% in year 7 and 0.05% in year 8 and no reimbursement of fees or expenses in years 9 and 10. Eaton Vance has not agreed to reimburse the Trust for any portion of its fees and expenses beyond 2012. 10 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Trust The Trust is a newly organized, diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the 1940 Act. The Trust was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on April 28, 2004, pursuant to a Declaration of Trust governed by the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and has no operating history. The Trust's principal office is located at The Eaton Vance Building, 255 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109 and its telephone number is 1-800-225-6265. This Prospectus relates to the initial public offering of the Trust's common shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value (the "Common Shares"). See "Underwriting." Use of proceeds The net proceeds of this offering of Common Shares will be approximately $ (or $ assuming exercise of the Underwriters' over-allotment option in full), which, after payment of the estimated offering expenses, will be invested in accordance with the Trust's investment objectives and policies as soon as practicable, but, in no event, under normal market conditions, later than three months after the receipt thereof. Pending such investment, the proceeds may be invested in high-quality, short-term debt securities, cash and/or other cash equivalents. Eaton Vance or an affiliate has agreed to (i) reimburse all organizational costs and (ii) pay all offering costs of the Trust (other than sales loads) that exceed $0.04 per Common Share. Investment objectives, policies and risks INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES The Trust's investment objective is to provide a high level of current income. The Trust will, as a secondary objective, also seek preservation of capital to the extent consistent with its primary goal of high current income. Under normal market conditions, Eaton Vance expects the Trust to maintain a duration of less than one year (including the effect of anticipated leverage). The Trust will pursue its objectives by investing its assets primarily in senior, secured floating rate loans ("Senior Loans"). Investment in such floating rate instruments is expected to minimize changes in the underlying principal value of the Senior Loans, and therefore the Trust's net asset value, resulting from changes in market interest rates. Senior Loans are made to corporations, partnerships and other business entities ("Borrowers") which operate in various industries and geographical regions. Senior Loans pay interest at rates which are redetermined periodically by reference to a base lending rate, primarily the London-Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), plus a premium. PRIMARY INVESTMENT POLICIES GENERAL COMPOSITION OF THE TRUST Under normal market conditions, the Trust will invest at least 80% of its total assets (generally by the purchase of assignments) in interests in Senior Loans of domestic or foreign Borrowers (so long as foreign loans are U.S. dollar-denominated and payments of interest and repayments of principal are required to be made in U.S. dollars). The Trust may invest up to 20% of its total assets in (i) loan interests which have (a) a second lien on collateral ("Second Lien"), (b) no security interest in the collateral, or (c) lower than a senior claim on collateral; (ii) other income-producing securities, such as investment and non-investment grade corporate debt securities and U.S. government and U.S. dollar-denominated foreign government or supranational debt securities; and (iii) warrants and equity securities issued by a Borrower or its affiliates as part of a package of investments in the Borrower or - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND RISKS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- its affiliates. If the Adviser determines that market conditions temporarily warrant a defensive investment policy, the Trust may invest up to 100% of its assets in cash and/or high quality, short-term debt securities, which would not be consistent with the Trust's investment objectives. While temporarily invested, the Trust may not achieve its investment objectives. The Adviser anticipates that most of the Trust's investments, including investments in Senior Loans, will be of below investment-grade quality. Corporate bonds of below investment grade quality ("Non-Investment Grade Bonds"), commonly referred to as "junk bonds," are bonds that are rated below investment grade by each of the nationally recognized statistical rating agencies ("Rating Agencies") who cover the security, or, if unrated, are determined to be of comparable quality by the Adviser. Standard & Poor's Ratings Group ("S&P") and Fitch Ratings ("Fitch") consider securities rated below BBB- to be below investment grade and Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") considers securities rated below Baa3 to be below investment grade. The Trust's credit quality policies apply only at the time a security is purchased, and the Trust is not required to dispose of a security in the event of a downgrade of an assessment of credit quality, the withdrawal of a rating, or in the event of a default. In determining whether to retain or sell such a security, Eaton Vance may consider such factors as Eaton Vance's assessment of the credit quality of the issuers of such security, the price at which such security could be sold and the rating, if any, assigned to such security by other Rating Agencies. Securities rated in the lowest investment grade rating (BBB- or Baa3) may have certain speculative characteristics. Below investment grade quality securities are considered to be predominantly speculative because of the credit risk of the issuers. See "Investment objectives, policies and risks--Additional risk considerations--Non- investment grade securities risk." The Trust will only invest in U.S. dollar denominated securities. The Trust may invest in U.S. dollar denominated securities of non-United States issuers. The Trust's investments may have significant exposure to certain sectors of the economy and thus may react differently to political or economic developments than the market as a whole. The Trust's policy of investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its total assets in Senior Loans is not considered to be fundamental by the Trust and can be changed without a vote of the Trust's shareholders. However, this policy may only be changed by the Trust's Board following the provision of 60 days prior written notice to the Trust's shareholders. Under normal market conditions, the Trust expects to maintain an average duration of less than one year (including the effect of anticipated leverage). In comparison to maturity (which is the date on which a debt instrument ceases and the issuer is obligated to repay the principal amount), duration is a measure of the price volatility of a debt instrument as a result of changes in market rates of interest, based on the weighted average timing of the instrument's expected principal and interest payments. Duration differs from maturity in that it considers a security's yield, coupon payments, principal payments and call features in addition to the amount of time until the security finally matures. As the value of a security changes over time, so will its duration. Prices of securities with longer durations tend to be more sensitive to interest rate changes than securities with shorter durations. In general, a portfolio of securities with a longer duration can be expected to be more sensitive to interest rate changes than a portfolio with a shorter duration. The Adviser's staff monitors the credit quality and the price of Senior Loans and other securities held by the Trust, as well as other securities that are available to the Trust. The Trust may invest in Senior Loans and other securities of any credit quality. Although the Adviser considers ratings when making investment decisions, it performs its own credit and investment analysis and does not rely primarily on the ratings assigned by the Rating Agencies. In evaluating the quality of a particular security, whether rated or unrated, the Adviser will normally take into consideration, among other things, the issuer's financial resources and operating history, its sensitivity to economic conditions and trends, the ability of its management, its debt maturity schedules and borrowing requirements, and relative values based - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND RISKS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- on anticipated cash flow, interest and asset coverage, and earnings prospects. The Adviser will attempt to reduce the risks of investing in lower rated or unrated debt instruments through active portfolio management, credit analysis and attention to current developments and trends in the economy and the financial markets. The Trust may purchase shares of other investment companies with a similar investment objective and policies as permitted under the Investment Company Act. Such investments are limited to 10% of total assets overall, with no more than 5% invested in any one issuer. The value of shares of other closed-end investment companies is affected by risks similar to those of the Trust, such as demand for those securities regardless of the demand for the underlying portfolio assets. Investment companies bear fees and expenses that the Trust will bear indirectly, so investors in the Trust will be subject to duplication of fees. The Trust also may invest up to 5% of its total assets in structured notes or derivatives with rates of return determined by reference to the total rate of return on one or more Senior Loans referenced in such notes or instruments. The rate of return on the structured note may be determined by applying a multiplier to the rate of total return on the referenced Senior Loan or Loans. Application of a multiplier is comparable to the use of financial leverage, a speculative technique. Leverage magnifies the potential for gain and the risk of loss; as a result, a relatively small decline in the value of a referenced Senior Loan could result in a relatively large loss in the value of a structured note or derivative. Common Shares of other investment companies and structured notes or derivatives as discussed above that invest in Senior Loans or baskets of Senior Loans will be treated as Senior Loans for purposes of the Trust's policy of normally investing at least 80% of its assets in Senior Loans, and may be subject to the Trust's leverage limitations. SENIOR LOANS Senior Loans hold the most senior position in the capital structure of a Borrower, are typically secured with specific collateral and have a claim on the assets and/or stock of the Borrower that is senior to that held by subordinated debt holders and stockholders of the Borrower. The capital structure of a Borrower may include Senior Loans, senior and junior subordinated debt, preferred stock and common stock issued by the Borrower, typically in descending order of seniority with respect to claims on the Borrower's asset. Senior Loans are typically secured by specific collateral. As also discussed above, the proceeds of Senior Loans primarily are used to finance leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, mergers, acquisitions, stock repurchases, refinancings and internal growth and for other corporate purposes. Senior Loans in which the Trust will invest generally pay interest at rates, which are redetermined periodically by reference to a base lending rate, plus a premium. Senior Loans typically have rates of interest which are redetermined either daily, monthly, quarterly or semi-annually by reference to a base lending rate, plus a premium or credit spread. These base lending rates are primarily LIBOR, and secondarily the prime rate offered by one or more major United States banks (the "Prime Rate") and the certificate of deposit ("CD") rate or other base lending rates used by commercial lenders. As floating rate loans, the frequency of how often a loan resets its interest rate will impact how closely such loans track current market interest rate. The Senior Loans held by the Trust will have a dollar-weighted average period until the next interest rate adjustment of approximately 90 days or less. As a result, as short-term interest rates increase, interest payable to the Trust from its investments in Senior Loans should increase, and as short-term interest rates decrease, interest payable to the Trust from its investments in Senior Loans should decrease. The Trust may utilize derivative instruments to shorten the effective interest rate redetermination period of Senior Loans in its portfolio. Senior Loans typically have a stated term of between one and ten years. In the experience of the Adviser over the last decade, however, the average life of Senior Loans has been two to four years because of prepayments. The Trust expects primarily to purchase Senior Loans by assignment from a participant in the original syndicate of lenders or from subsequent assignees of such interests. The Trust may also purchase participations in the original syndicate making Senior Loans. Such indebtedness may be secured or - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND RISKS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- unsecured. Loan participations typically represent direct participations in a loan to a corporate borrower, and generally are offered by banks or other financial institutions or lending syndicates. The Trust may participate in such syndications, or can buy part of a loan, becoming a part lender. When purchasing loan participations, the Trust assumes the credit risk associated with the corporate borrower and may assume the credit risk associated with an interposed bank or other financial intermediary. The participation interests in which the Trust intends to invest may not be rated by any Rating Agency. The Trust may purchase and retain in its portfolio Senior Loans where the Borrowers have experienced, or may be perceived to be likely to experience, credit problems, including involvement in or recent emergence from bankruptcy reorganization proceedings or other forms of debt restructuring. Such investments may provide opportunities for enhanced income as well as capital appreciation. At times, in connection with the restructuring of a Senior Loan either outside of bankruptcy court or in the context of bankruptcy court proceedings, the Trust may determine or be required to accept equity securities or junior debt securities in exchange for all or a portion of a Senior Loan. The Trust may also purchase unsecured loans, other floating rate debt securities such as notes, bonds and asset-backed securities (such as special purpose trusts investing in bank loans), credit-linked notes, tranches of collateralized loan obligations, investment grade fixed income debt obligations and money market instruments, such as commercial paper. Senior Loans and other floating-rate debt instruments are subject to the risk of non-payment of scheduled interest or principal. Such non-payment would result in a reduction of income to the Trust, a reduction in the value of the investment and a potential decrease in the net asset value of the Trust. There can be no assurance that the liquidation of any collateral securing a loan would satisfy the Borrower's obligation in the event of non-payment of scheduled interest or principal payments, or that such collateral could be readily liquidated. In the event of bankruptcy of a Borrower, the Trust could experience delays or limitations with respect to its ability to realize the benefits of the collateral securing a Senior Loan. The collateral securing a Senior Loan may lose all or substantially all of its value in the event of bankruptcy of a Borrower. Some Senior Loans are subject to the risk that a court, pursuant to fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws, could subordinate such Senior Loans to presently existing or future indebtedness of the Borrower or take other action detrimental to the holders of Senior Loans, including, in certain circumstances, invalidating such Senior Loans or causing interest previously paid to be refunded to the Borrower. If interest were required to be refunded, it could negatively affect the Trust's performance. Many Senior Loans in which the Trust will invest may not be rated by a Rating Agency, will not be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any state securities commission and will not be listed on any national securities exchange. The amount of public information available with respect to Senior Loans will generally be less extensive than that available for registered or exchange listed securities. In evaluating the creditworthiness of Borrowers, the Adviser will consider, and may rely in part, on analyses performed by others. Borrowers may have outstanding debt obligations that are rated below investment grade by a Rating Agency. Many of the Senior Loans held by the Trust will have been assigned ratings below investment grade by Rating Agencies. In the event Senior Loans are not rated, they are likely to be the equivalent of below investment grade quality. Because of the protective features of Senior Loans, the Adviser believes, based on its experience, that Senior Loans tend to have more favorable loss recovery rates as compared to more junior types of below investment grade debt obligations. The Adviser does not view ratings as the determinative factor in its investment decisions and relies more upon its credit analysis abilities than upon ratings. No active trading market may exist for some loans and some loans may be subject to restrictions on resale. A secondary market may be subject to irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods, which may impair the ability to realize full value and thus cause a - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND RISKS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- material decline in the Trust's net asset value. During periods of limited supply and liquidity of Senior Loans, the Trust's yield may be lower. When interest rates decline, the value of a fund invested in fixed-rate obligations can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of a fund invested in fixed-rate obligations can be expected to decline. Although changes in prevailing interest rates can be expected to cause some fluctuations in the value of Senior Loans (due to the fact that floating rates on Senior Loans only reset periodically), the value of Senior Loans is substantially less sensitive to changes in market interest rates than fixed-rate instruments. As a result, the Adviser expects the Trust's policy of investing a portion of its assets in floating-rate Senior Loans will make the Trust less volatile and less sensitive to changes in market interest rates than if the Trust invested exclusively in fixed-rate obligations. Similarly, a sudden and significant increase in market interest rates may cause a decline in the value of these investments and in the Trust's net asset value. Other factors (including, but not limited to, rating downgrades, credit deterioration, a large downward movement in stock prices, a disparity in supply and demand of certain Senior Loans and other securities or market conditions that reduce liquidity) can reduce the value of Senior Loans and other debt obligations, impairing the Trust's net asset value. The Adviser uses an independent pricing service to value most loans and other debt securities at their market value. The Adviser may use the fair value method to value loans or other securities if market quotations for them are not readily available or are deemed unreliable, or if events occurring after the close of a securities market and before the Trust values its assets would materially affect net asset value. A security that is fair valued may be valued at a price higher or lower than actual market quotations or the value determined by other funds using their own fair valuation procedures. Because foreign securities trade on days when the Common Shares are not priced, net asset value can change at times when Common Shares cannot be sold. ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT PRACTICES SECOND LIEN LOANS AND DEBT SECURITIES The Trust may invest in loans and other debt securities that have the same characteristics as Senior Loans except that such loans are second in lien priority rather than first. Such "second lien" loans and securities like Senior Loans typically have adjustable floating rate interest payments. Accordingly, the risks associated with "second lien" loans are higher than the risks of loans with first priority over the collateral. In the event of default on a "second lien" loan, the first priority lien holder has first claim to the underlying collateral of the loan. It is possible, that no collateral value would remain for the second priority lien holder and therefore result in a loss of investment to the Trust. COLLATERALIZED LOAN OBLIGATIONS ("CLOS") The Trust may invest in certain asset-backed securities as discussed below. Asset-backed securities are payment claims that are securitized in the form of negotiable paper that is issued by a financing company (generically called a Special Purpose Vehicle or "SPV"). These securitized payment claims are, as a rule, corporate financial assets brought into a pool according to specific diversification rules. The SPV is a company founded solely for the purpose of securitizing these claims and its only asset is the risk arising out of this diversified asset pool. On this basis, marketable securities are issued which, due to the diversification of the underlying risk, generally represent a lower level of risk than the original assets. The redemption of the securities issued by the SPV takes place at maturity out of the cash flow generated by the collected claims. A CLO is a structured credit security issued by an SPV that was created to reapportion the risk and return characteristics of a pool of assets. The assets, typically Senior Loans, are used as collateral supporting the various debt tranches issued by the SPV. The key feature of the CLO structure is the prioritization of the cash flows from a pool of debt securities among the several classes of CLO - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15 INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND RISKS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- holders, thereby creating a series of obligations with varying rates and maturities appealing to a wide range of investors. CLOs 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 debt instruments, usually, non-investment grade bank loans. Payments with respect to the underlying debt securities generally are made to the trustee under the indenture. CLOs are designed to be retired as the underlying debt instruments are repaid. In the event of sufficient early prepayments on such debt instruments, the class or series of CLO first to mature generally will be retired prior to maturity. Therefore, although in most cases the issuer of CLOs will not supply additional collateral in the event of such prepayments, there will be sufficient collateral to secure their priority with respect to other CLO tranches that remain outstanding. The credit quality of these securities depends primarily upon the quality of the underlying assets, their priority with respect to other CLO tranches and the level of credit support and/or enhancement provided. The underlying assets (e.g., loans) are subject to prepayments which shorten the securities' weighted average maturity and may lower their return. If the credit support or enhancement is exhausted, losses or delays in payment may result if the required payments of principal and interest are not made. The value of these securities also may change because of changes in market value, that is changes in the market's perception of the creditworthiness of the servicing agent for the pool, the originator of the pool, or the financial institution or fund providing the credit support or enhancement. COLLATERALIZED DEBT OBLIGATIONS ("CDOS") The Trust may invest in CDOs. A CDO is a structured credit security issued by an SPV that was created to reapportion the risk and return characteristics of a pool of assets. The assets, typically non-investment grade bonds, leveraged loans, and other asset-backed obligations, are used as collateral supporting the various debt and equity tranches issued by the SPV. The key feature of the CDO structure is the prioritization of the cash flows from a pool of debt securities among the several classes of CDO holders, thereby creating a series of obligations with varying rates and maturities appealing to a wide range of investors. CDOs 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 debt securities, usually, non-investment grade bonds. Payments with respect to the underlying debt securities generally are made to the trustee under the indenture. CDOs are designed to be retired as the underlying debt securities are repaid. In the event of sufficient early prepayments on such debt securities, the class or series of CDO first to mature generally will be retired prior to maturity. Therefore, although in most cases the issuer of CDOs will not supply additional collateral in the event of such prepayments, there will be sufficient collateral to secure CDOs that remain outstanding. The credit quality of these securities depends primarily upon the quality of the underlying assets and the level of credit support and/or enhancement provided. CDOs operate similarly to CLOs and are subject to the same inherent risks. FOREIGN SECURITIES Although the Trust will only invest in U.S. dollar-denominated income securities, the Trust may invest in Senior Loans and other debt securities of non-U.S. issuers. Investment in securities of non-U.S. issuers involves special risks, including that non-U.S. issuers may be subject to less rigorous accounting and reporting requirements than U.S. issuers, less rigorous regulatory requirements, differing legal systems and laws relating to creditors' rights, the potential inability to enforce legal judgments and the potential for political, social and economic adversity. The willingness and ability of sovereign issuers to pay principal and interest on government securities depends on various economic factors, including among others the issuer's balance of payments, overall debt level, and cash flow considerations related to the availability of tax or other revenues to satisfy the issuer's obligations. The securities of some foreign issuers are less liquid and at times more volatile than securities of - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16 INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND RISKS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- comparable U.S. issuers. Foreign settlement procedures and trade regulations may involve certain risks (such as delay in the payment or delivery of securities and interest or in the recovery of assets held abroad) and expenses not present in the settlement of domestic investments. Investments may include securities issued by the governments of lesser-developed countries, which are sometimes referred to as "emerging markets." There may be a possibility of nationalization or expropriation of assets, imposition of currency exchange controls, confiscatory taxation, political or financial instability, armed conflict and diplomatic developments which could affect the value of the Trust's investments in certain foreign countries. CORPORATE BONDS AND OTHER DEBT SECURITIES The Trust may invest in a wide variety of bonds, debentures and similar debt securities of varying maturities and durations issued by corporations and other business entities, including limited liability companies. Debt securities in which the Trust may invest may pay fixed or variable rates of interest. Bonds and other debt securities generally are issued by corporations and other issuers to borrow money from investors. The issuer pays the investor a fixed or variable rate of interest and normally must repay the amount borrowed on or before maturity. Certain debt securities are "perpetual" in that they have no maturity date. The Trust may invest in bonds and other debt securities of any quality. As discussed below, Non-Investment Grade Bonds, commonly known as "junk bonds," are considered to be predominantly speculative in nature because of the credit risk of the issuers. NON-INVESTMENT GRADE BONDS As indicated above, Non-Investment Grade Bonds are those rated lower than investment grade (i.e., bonds rated lower than Baa3 by Moody's and lower than BBB- by S&P and Fitch) or are unrated and of comparable quality as determined by the Adviser. Non-Investment Grade Bonds rated BB and Ba have speculative characteristics, while lower rated Non-Investment Grade Bonds are predominantly speculative. The Trust may hold securities that are unrated or in the lowest rating categories (rated C by Moody's or D by S&P or Fitch). Bonds rated C by Moody's are regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing. Bonds rated D by S&P or Fitch are in payment default or a bankruptcy petition has been filed and debt service payments are jeopardized. In order to enforce its rights with defaulted securities, the Trust may be required to retain legal counsel and/or a financial adviser. This may increase the Trust's operating expenses and adversely affect net asset value. The credit quality of most securities held by the Trust reflects a greater than average possibility that adverse changes in the financial condition of an issuer, or in general economic conditions, or both, may impair the ability of the issuer to make payments of interest and principal. The inability (or perceived inability) of issuers to make timely payment of interest and principal would likely make the values of securities held by the Trust more volatile and could limit the Trust's ability to sell its securities at favorable prices. In the absence of a liquid trading market for securities held by it, the Trust may have difficulties determining the fair market value of such securities. Although the Adviser considers security ratings when making investment decisions, it performs its own credit and investment analysis and does not rely primarily on the ratings assigned by the Rating Agencies. In evaluating the quality of a particular security, whether rated or unrated, the Adviser will normally take into consideration, among other things, the issuer's financial resources and operating history, its sensitivity to economic conditions and trends, the ability of its management, its debt maturity schedules and borrowing requirements, and relative values based on anticipated cash flow, interest and asset coverage, and earnings prospects. Because of the greater number of investment considerations involved in investing in high yield, high risk bonds, the achievement of the Trust's objectives depends more on the Adviser's judgment and analytical abilities than would be the case if - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17 INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND RISKS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- the Trust invested primarily in securities in the higher rating categories. While the Adviser will attempt to reduce the risks of investing in lower rated or unrated securities through active Trust management, diversification, credit analysis and attention to current developments and trends in the economy and the financial markets, there can be no assurance that a broadly diversified fund of such securities would substantially lessen the risk of defaults brought about by an economic downturn or recession. In recent years, issuances of Non-Investment Grade Bonds by companies in various sectors has increased. Accordingly, the Trust's investments may have significant exposure to certain sectors of the economy and thus may react differently to political or economic developments than the market as a whole. The Trust's high yield securities may have fixed or variable principal payments and all types of interest rate and dividend payment and reset terms, including fixed rate, adjustable rate, zero coupon, contingent, deferred, and payment in kind features. CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES The Trust may invest in convertible securities. A convertible security is a debt security or preferred stock that is exchangeable for an equity security of the issuer at a predetermined price. Depending upon the relationship of the conversion price to the market value of the underlying security, a convertible security may trade more like an equity security than a debt instrument. The Trust may invest in convertible securities of any rating. 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 that 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 Trust 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, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Federal National Mortgage Association, Government National Mortgage Association, 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 Trust will invest in obligations issued by these instrumentalities only if the 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 Trust 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 may be affected favorably by changes in the exchange rate between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar. SAMIS AND OTHER SENIOR LOAN BASED DERIVATIVES As discussed above, the Trust may obtain exposure to senior loans and baskets of senior loans through the use of derivative instruments. Such derivative instruments have recently become increasingly available. The Adviser reserves the right to utilize these instruments and similar instruments that may be available in the future. The Trust currently intends to invest in a derivative instrument known as - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18 INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND RISKS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- the Select Aggregate Market Index ("SAMI") which provides investors with exposure to a reference basket of Senior Loans. SAMIs are structured as floating rate instruments. SAMIs consists of a basket of credit default swaps whose underlying reference securities are senior secured loans. While investing in SAMIs will increase the universe of floating rate debt securities to which the Trust is exposed, such investments entail risks that are not typically associated with investments in other floating rate debt securities. The liquidity of the market for SAMIs will be subject to liquidity in the secured loan and credit derivatives markets. Investment in SAMIs involves many of the risks associated with investments in derivative instruments discussed generally below. The Trust may also be subject to the risk that the counterparty in a derivative transaction will default on its obligations. Derivative transactions generally involve the risk of loss due to unanticipated adverse changes in securities prices, interest rates, the inability to close out a position, 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 potential loss on derivative instruments may be substantial relative to the initial investment therein. COMMERCIAL PAPER Commercial paper represents short-term unsecured promissory notes issued in bearer form by corporations such as banks or bank holding companies and finance companies. The rate of return on commercial paper may be linked or indexed to the level of exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and a foreign currency or currencies. 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. ILLIQUID SECURITIES The Trust may invest without limitation in Senior Loans and other securities for which there is no readily available trading market or are otherwise illiquid. Illiquid securities include securities legally restricted as to resale, such as commercial paper issued pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and securities eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A thereunder. Section 4(2) and Rule 144A securities may, however, be treated as liquid by the Adviser pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board, which require consideration of factors such as trading activity, availability of market quotations and number of dealers willing to purchase the security. If the Trust invests in Rule 144A securities, the level of portfolio illiquidity may be increased to the extent that eligible buyers become uninterested in purchasing such securities. It may be difficult to sell such securities at a price representing the fair value until such time as such securities may be sold publicly. Where registration is required, a considerable period may elapse between a decision to sell the securities and the time when it would be permitted to sell. Thus, the Trust may not be able to obtain as favorable a price as that prevailing at the time of the decision to - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19 INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND RISKS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- sell. The Trust may also acquire securities through private placements under which it may agree to contractual restrictions on the resale of such securities. Such restrictions might prevent their sale at a time when such sale would otherwise be desirable. DERIVATIVES As described more specifically below, the Trust may purchase or sell derivative instruments (which are instruments that derive their value from another instrument, security or index) to seek to hedge against fluctuations in securities prices or interest rates or for purposes of leveraging the Trust. The Trust's transactions in derivative instruments may include the purchase or sale of futures contracts on securities, credit-linked notes, securities indices, other indices or other financial instruments; options on futures contracts; exchange-traded and over-the-counter options on securities or indices; index-linked securities; and interest rate swaps. The Trust's transactions in derivative instruments involve a risk of loss or depreciation due to: unanticipated adverse changes in securities prices, interest rates, the other financial instruments' prices; the inability to close out a position; default by the counterparty; imperfect correlation between a position and the desired hedge; tax constraints on closing out positions; and portfolio management constraints on securities subject to such transactions. The loss on derivative instruments (other than purchased options) may substantially exceed the Trust's initial investment in these instruments. In addition, the Trust may lose the entire premium paid for purchased options that expire before they can be profitably exercised by the Trust. Transaction costs will be incurred in opening and closing positions in derivative instruments. There can be no assurance that Eaton Vance's use of derivative instruments will be advantageous to the Trust. CREDIT-LINKED NOTES The Trust may invest in credit-linked notes ("CLN") for risk management purposes, including diversification. A CLN is a derivative instrument. It is a synthetic obligation between two or more parties where the payment of principal and/or interest is based on the performance of some obligation (a reference obligation). In addition to credit risk of the reference obligation and interest rate risk, the buyer/seller of the CLN is subject to counterparty risk. SWAPS Swap contracts may be purchased or sold to hedge against fluctuations in securities prices, interest rates or market conditions, to change the duration of the overall portfolio, or to mitigate default risk. In a standard "swap" transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) to be exchanged or "swapped" between the parties, which returns are calculated with respect to a "notional amount," i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate or in a "basket" of securities representing a particular index. Interest Rate Swaps. The Trust will enter into interest rate and total return swaps only on a net basis, i.e., the two payment streams are netted out, with the Trust receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Trust with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest (e.g., an exchange of fixed rate payments for floating rate payments). The Trust will only enter into interest rate swaps on a net basis. If the other party to an interest rate swap defaults, the Trust's risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that the Trust is contractually entitled to receive. The net amount of the excess, if any, of the Trust's obligations over its entitlements will be maintained in a segregated account by the Trust's custodian. The Trust will not enter into any interest rate swap unless the claims-paying ability of the other party thereto is considered to be investment grade by the Adviser. If there is a default by the other party to such a transaction, the Trust will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction. These instruments are traded in the over-the-counter market. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20 INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND RISKS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Trust may use interest rate swaps for risk management purposes only and not as a speculative investment and would typically use interest rate swaps to shorten the average interest rate reset time of the Trust's holdings. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Trust with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interests (e.g., an exchange of fixed rate payments for floating rate payments). The use of interest rate swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If the Adviser is incorrect in its forecasts of market values, interest rates and other applicable factors, the investment performance of the Trust would be unfavorably affected. Total Return Swaps. As stated above, the Trust will enter into total return swaps only on a net basis. Total return swaps are contracts in which one party agrees to make payments of the total return from the underlying asset(s), which may include securities, baskets of securities, or securities indices during the specified period, in return for payments equal to a fixed or floating rate of interest or the total return from other underlying asset(s). Credit Default Swaps. The Trust may enter into credit default swap contracts for risk management purposes, including diversification. When the Trust is the buyer of a credit default swap contract, the Trust is entitled to receive the par (or other agreed-upon) value of a referenced debt obligation from the counterparty to the contract in the event of a default by a third party, such as a U.S. or foreign corporate issuer, on the debt obligation. In return, the Trust would pay the counterparty a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no event of default has occurred. If no default occurs, the Trust would have spent the stream of payments and received no benefit from the contract. When the Trust is the seller of a credit default swap contract, it receives the stream of payments, but is obligated to pay upon default of the referenced debt obligation. As the seller, the Trust would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Trust would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. The Trust will segregate assets in the form of cash and cash equivalents in an amount equal to the aggregate market value of the credit default swaps of which it is the seller, marked to market on a daily basis. These transactions involve certain risks, including the risk that the seller may be unable to fulfill the transaction. FUTURES AND OPTIONS ON FUTURES The Trust may purchase and sell various kinds of financial futures contracts and options thereon to seek to hedge against changes in interest rates or for other risk management purposes. Futures contracts may be based on various debt securities and securities indices (such as the Municipal Bond Index traded on the Chicago Board of Trade). Such transactions involve a risk of loss or depreciation due to unanticipated adverse changes in securities prices, which may exceed the Trust's initial investment in these contracts. The Trust will only purchase or sell futures contracts or related options in compliance with the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. These transactions involve transaction costs. There can be no assurance that Eaton Vance's use of futures will be advantageous to the Trust. Rating Agency guidelines on any preferred shares issued by the Trust may limit use of these transactions. SECURITIES LENDING The Trust 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 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, justifies the attendant risk. Securities loans currently are required to be secured continuously by collateral in cash, cash equivalents (such as money market - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21 INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND RISKS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- instruments) or other liquid securities held by the custodian and maintained in an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. The financial condition of the borrower will be monitored by the Adviser on an ongoing basis. BORROWINGS The Trust may borrow money to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act as interpreted, modified or otherwise permitted by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time. The Trust may from time to time borrow money to add leverage to the portfolio. The Trust may also borrow money for temporary administrative purposes. REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS The Trust 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, the Trust might experience delays in recovering its cash. To the extent that, in the meantime, the value of the securities the Trust purchased may have decreased, the Trust could experience a loss. The Trust'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. REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS The Trust may enter into reverse repurchase agreements. Under a reverse repurchase agreement, the Trust temporarily transfers possession of a portfolio instrument to another party, such as a bank or broker-dealer, in return for cash. At the same time, the Trust agrees to repurchase the instrument at an agreed upon time (normally within seven days) and price, which reflects an interest payment. The Trust may enter into such agreements when it is able to invest the cash acquired at a rate higher than the cost of the agreement, which would increase earned income. When the Trust enters into a reverse repurchase agreement, any fluctuations in the market value of either the securities transferred to another party or the securities in which the proceeds may be invested would affect the market value of the Trust's assets. As a result, such transactions may increase fluctuations in the market value of the Trust's assets. While there is a risk that large fluctuations in the market value of the Trust's assets could affect net asset value, this risk is not significantly increased by entering into reverse repurchase agreements, in the opinion of the Adviser. Because reverse repurchase agreements may be considered to be the practical equivalent of borrowing funds, they constitute a form of leverage. Such agreements will be treated as subject to investment restrictions regarding "borrowings." If the Trust reinvests the proceeds of a reverse repurchase agreement at a rate lower than the cost of the agreement, entering into the agreement will lower the Trust's yield. PORTFOLIO TURNOVER The Trust cannot accurately predict its portfolio turnover rate, but the annual turnover rate may exceed 100% (excluding turnover of securities having a maturity of one year or less). A high turnover rate (100% or more) necessarily involves greater expenses to the Trust and may result in a realization of net short-term capital gains. The Trust 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 Trust's rate of turnover and may increase the incidence of net short-term capital gains which, upon distribution by the Trust, are taxable to the Trust's shareholders as ordinary income. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22 INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND RISKS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- USE OF LEVERAGE AND RELATED RISKS The Trust expects to use leverage through the issuance of preferred shares, through borrowings, including the issuance of debt securities and/or investment in derivative instruments. The Trust initially intends to use leverage of approximately 38% of its total assets (including the amount obtained from leverage). The Adviser anticipates that the use of leverage should result in higher income to Common Shareholders overtime. The Trust generally will not use leverage, however, if the Adviser anticipates that it would result in a lower return to Common Shareholders for any significant amount of time. The Trust also may borrow money as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes, including the payment of dividends and the settlement of securities transactions which otherwise might require untimely dispositions of Trust securities. Leverage creates risks for holders of the Common Shares, including the likelihood of greater volatility of net asset value and market price of the Common Shares. There is a risk that fluctuations in the dividend rates on any preferred shares may adversely affect the return to the holders of the Common Shares. If the income from the securities purchased with such funds is not sufficient to cover the cost of leverage, the return on the Trust will be less than if leverage had not been used, and therefore the amount available for distribution to Common Shareholders as dividends and other distributions will be reduced. The Adviser in its best judgment nevertheless may determine to maintain the Trust's leveraged position if it deems such action to be appropriate in the circumstances. Changes in the value of the Trust's portfolio will be borne entirely by the Common Shareholders. If there is a net decrease (or increase) in the value of the Trust's investment portfolio, the leverage will decrease (or increase) the net asset value per Common Share to a greater extent than if the Trust were not leveraged. During periods in which the Trust is using leverage, the fees paid to Eaton Vance for investment advisory services will be higher than if the Trust did not use leverage because the fees paid will be calculated on the basis of the Trust's gross assets, including the proceeds from the issuance of preferred shares. As discussed under "Description of capital structure," the Trust's issuance of preferred shares may alter the voting power of Common Shareholders. Capital raised through leverage will be subject to dividend payments, which may exceed the income and appreciation on the assets purchased. The issuance of preferred shares involves offering expenses and other costs and may limit the Trust's freedom to pay dividends on Common Shares or to engage in other activities. The issuance of a class of preferred shares having priority over the Common Shares creates an opportunity for greater return per Common Share, but at the same time such leveraging is a speculative technique in that it will increase the Trust's exposure to capital risk. Unless the income and appreciation, if any, on assets acquired with offering proceeds exceed the cost of issuing additional classes of securities (and other Trust expenses), the use of leverage will diminish the investment performance of the Common Shares compared with what it would have been without leverage. The Trust may be subject to certain restrictions on investments imposed by guidelines of one or more Rating Agencies that may issue ratings for any preferred shares issued by the Trust. These guidelines may impose asset coverage or Trust composition requirements that are more stringent than those imposed on the Trust by the 1940 Act. It is not anticipated that these covenants or guidelines will impede the Adviser from managing the Trust's portfolio in accordance with the Trust's investment objectives and policies. Under the Investment Company Act, the Trust is not permitted to issue preferred shares unless immediately after such issuance the total asset value of the Trust's portfolio is at least 200% of the liquidation value of the outstanding preferred shares (i.e., such liquidation value may not exceed 50% of the Trust's total assets). In addition, the Trust is not permitted to declare any cash dividend or other distribution on its Common Shares unless, at the time of such declaration, the net asset value of the Trust's portfolio (determined after deducting the amount of such dividend or other distribution) is at - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23 INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND RISKS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- least 200% of such liquidation value. If preferred shares are issued, the Trust intends, to the extent possible, to purchase or redeem preferred shares, from time to time, to maintain coverage of any preferred shares of at least 200%. If the Trust issues preferred shares amounting to 38% leverage, there will be an asset coverage of 263%. Normally, holders of the Common Shares will elect four of the Trustees of the Trust and holders of any preferred shares will elect two. In the event the Trust failed to pay dividends on its preferred shares for two years, preferred shareholders would be entitled to elect a majority of the Trustees until the dividends are paid. To qualify for federal income taxation as a "regulated investment company," the Trust must distribute in each taxable year at least 90% of its net investment income (including net interest income and net short-term gain). The Trust also will be required to distribute annually substantially all of its income and capital gain, if any, to avoid imposition of a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax. If the Trust is precluded from making distributions on the Common Shares because of any applicable asset coverage requirements, the terms of the preferred shares may provide that any amounts so precluded from being distributed, but required to be distributed for the Trust to meet the distribution requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company, will be paid to the holders of the preferred shares as a special dividend. This dividend can be expected to decrease the amount that holders of preferred shares would be entitled to receive upon redemption or liquidation of the shares. The Trust's willingness to issue new securities for investment purposes, and the amount the Trust will issue, will depend on many factors, the most important of which are market conditions and interest rates. Successful use of a leveraging strategy may depend on the Adviser's ability to predict correctly interest rates and market movements, and there is no assurance that a leveraging strategy will be successful during any period in which it is employed. Assuming the utilization of leverage in the amount of 38% of the Trust's total assets and an annual dividend rate on preferred shares of 1.25% based on market rates as of the date of this Prospectus, the additional income that the Trust must earn (net of expenses) in order to cover such dividend payments is 0.48%. The Trust's actual cost of leverage will be based on market rates at the time the Trust undertakes a leveraging strategy, and such actual cost of leverage may be higher or lower than that assumed in the previous example. The following table is designed to illustrate the effect on the return to a holder of the Common Shares of leverage in the amount of approximately 38% of the Trust's total assets, assuming hypothetical annual returns of the Trust's portfolio of minus 10% to plus 10%. As the table shows, leverage generally increases the return to Common Shareholders when portfolio return is positive and greater than the cost of leverage and decreases the return when the portfolio return is negative or less than the cost of leverage. The figures appearing in the table are hypothetical and actual returns may be greater or less than those appearing in the table. Assumed portfolio return (net of expenses)......... (10)% (5)% 0% 5% 10% Corresponding Common Share return assuming 38% leverage......................................... (16.90)% (8.83)% (0.77)% 7.30% 15.36%
Until the Trust issues preferred shares or borrows, the Common Shares will not be leveraged, and the risks and special considerations related to leverage described in this Prospectus will not apply. Such leveraging of the Common Shares cannot be achieved until the proceeds resulting from the use of leverage have been invested in accordance with the Trust's investment objectives and policies. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24 INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND RISKS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ADDITIONAL RISK CONSIDERATIONS NO OPERATING HISTORY The Trust is a closed-end management investment company with no history of operations and is designed for long-term investors and not as a trading vehicle. INVESTMENT AND MARKET RISK An investment in Common Shares is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire principal amount invested. An investment in Common Shares represents an indirect investment in the securities owned by the Trust. The value of these securities, like other market investments, may move up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. The Common Shares at any point in time may be worth less than the original investment, even after taking into account any reinvestment of dividends and distributions. INCOME RISK The income investors receive from the Trust is based primarily on the interest it earns from its investments, which can vary widely over the short- and long-term. If prevailing market interest rates drop, investors' income from the Trust over time could drop as well. The Trust's income could also be affected already when prevailing short-term interest rates increase and the Trust is utilizing leverage, although this risk is mitigated by the Trust's investment in Senior Loans. CREDIT RISK Credit risk is the risk that one or more debt obligations in the Trust's portfolio will decline in price, or fail to pay interest or principal when due, because the issuer of the obligation experiences a decline in its financial status. Credit risk involves two basic elements: delinquency and default. Delinquency refers to interruptions in the payment of interest and principal. Default refers to the potential for unrecoverable principal loss from the sale of foreclosed collateral or the Trust's inherent right to forgive principal or modify a debt instrument. PREPAYMENT RISK During periods of declining interest rates or for other purposes, the Borrowers may exercise their option to prepay principal earlier than scheduled. For fixed-income securities, such payments often occur during period of declining interest rates, forcing the Trust to reinvest in lower yielding securities. This is known as call or prepayment risk. Non-Investment Grade Bonds frequently have call features that allow the issuer to redeem the security at dates prior to its stated maturity at a specified price (typically greater than par) only if certain prescribed conditions are met ("call protection"). An issuer may redeem a high yield obligation if, for example, the issuer can refinance the debt at a lower cost due to declining interest rates or an improvement in the credit standing of the issuer. Senior Loans typically have no such call protection. For premium bonds (bonds acquired at prices that exceed their par or principal value) purchased by the Trust, prepayment risk may be enhanced. ISSUER RISK The value of corporate income-producing securities may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer's goods and services. SENIOR LOANS RISK The risks associated with Senior Loans are similar to the risks of Non-Investment Grade Bonds (discussed below), although Senior Loans are typically senior and secured in contrast to Non-Investment Grade Bonds, which are often subordinated and unsecured. Senior Loans' higher standing has historically resulted in generally higher recoveries in the event of a corporate reorganization or other restructuring. In addition, because their interest rates are adjusted for changes in short-term interest rates, Senior Loans generally have less interest rate risk than Non-Investment Grade Bonds, - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25 INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND RISKS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- which are typically fixed rate. The Trust's investments in Senior Loans are typically below investment grade and are considered speculative because of the credit risk of their issuers. Such companies are more likely to default on their payments of interest and principal owed to the Trust, and such defaults could reduce the Trust's net asset value and income distributions. An economic downturn generally leads to a higher non-payment rate, and a debt obligation may lose significant value before a default occurs. Moreover, any specific collateral used to secure a loan may decline in value or lose all its value or become illiquid, which would adversely affect the loan's value. Economic and other events (whether real or perceived) can reduce the demand for certain Senior Loans or Senior Loans generally, which may reduce market prices and cause the Trust's net asset value per share to fall. The frequency and magnitude of such changes cannot be predicted. Loans and other debt securities are also subject to the risk of price declines and to increases in prevailing interest rates, although floating-rate debt instruments are less exposed to this risk than fixed-rate debt instruments. Interest rate changes may also increase prepayments of debt obligations and require the Trust to invest assets at lower yields. No active trading market may exist for certain loans, which may impair the ability of the Trust to realize full value in the event of the need to liquidate such assets. Adverse market conditions may impair the liquidity of some actively traded loans. NON-INVESTMENT GRADE BONDS RISK The Trust's investments in Non-Investment Grade Bonds are predominantly speculative because of the credit risk of their issuers. While offering a greater potential opportunity for capital appreciation and higher yields, Non-Investment Grade Bonds typically entail greater potential price volatility and may be less liquid than higher-rated securities. Issuers of Non-Investment Grade Bonds are more likely to default on their payments of interest and principal owed to the Trust, and such defaults will reduce the Trust's net asset value and income distributions. The prices of these lower rated obligations are more sensitive to negative developments than higher rated securities. Adverse business conditions, such as a decline in the issuer's revenues or an economic downturn, generally lead to a higher non-payment rate. In addition, a security may lose significant value before a default occurs as the market adjusts to expected higher non-payment rates. DERIVATIVES RISK Derivative transactions (such as futures contracts and options thereon, options and swaps) subject the Trust to increased risk of principal loss due to imperfect correlation or unexpected price or interest rate movements. The Trust also will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties to the derivatives contracts purchased by the Trust. If a counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations under a derivative contract due to financial difficulties, the Trust may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery under the derivative contract in a bankruptcy or other reorganization proceeding. The Trust may obtain only a limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in such circumstances. EFFECTS OF LEVERAGE There can be no assurance that a leveraging strategy will be utilized by the Trust or that, if utilized, it will be successful during any period in which it is employed. See "Investment objectives, policies and risks--Use of leverage and related risks." INTEREST RATE RISK The value of Trust shares will usually change in response to interest rate fluctuations. When interest rates decline, the value of fixed-rate securities already held by the Trust can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of existing fixed-rate portfolio securities can be expected to decline. Because market interest rates are currently near their lowest levels in many years, there is a greater than normal risk that the Trust's portfolio will decline in value due to rising interest rates. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26 INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND RISKS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fluctuations in the value of fixed-rate securities will not affect interest income on existing securities but will be reflected in the Trust's net asset value. Fixed-rate securities with longer durations tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than securities with shorter durations, usually making them more volatile. Because the Trust's dollar-weighted average duration will normally not exceed 1 year (including the effects of anticipated leverage), the Common Shares' net asset value and market price per Common Share will tend to fluctuate more in response to changes in market interest rates than if the Trust invested mainly in shorter-term debt securities and less than if the Trust invested mainly in longer-term debt securities. The Trust may utilize certain strategies, including taking positions in futures or interest rate swaps, for the purpose of reducing the interest rate sensitivity of the portfolio and decreasing the Trust's exposure to interest rate risk, although there is no assurance that it will do so or that such strategies will be successful. The Trust is intended to have a relatively low level of interest rate risk in comparison to funds that invest primarily in fixed-rate income securities. FOREIGN SECURITY RISK The prices of foreign securities may be affected by factors not present with U.S. securities, including currency exchange rates, political and economic conditions, less stringent regulation and higher volatility. As a result, many foreign securities may be less liquid and more volatile than U.S. securities. LIQUIDITY RISK The Trust may invest in Senior Loans and other securities for which there is no readily available trading market or which are otherwise illiquid. Most Senior Loans are valued by an independent pricing service that uses market quotations of investors and traders in Senior Loans. Economic and other events (whether real or perceived) can reduce the demand for certain Senior Loans or Senior Loans generally, which may reduce market prices and cause the Trust's net asset value per share to fall. The frequency and magnitude of such changes cannot be predicted. Some Senior Loans are not readily marketable and may be subject to restrictions on resale. Senior Loans generally are not listed on any national securities exchange or automated quotation system and no active trading market may exist for some of the Senior Loans in which the Trust will invest. Where a secondary market exists, such market for some Senior Loans may be subject to irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods. Senior Loans that are illiquid may impair the Trust's ability to realize the full value of its assets in the event of a voluntary or involuntary liquidation of such assets and thus may cause a decline in the Trust's net asset value. The Trust has no limitation on the amount of its assets which may be invested in securities which are not readily marketable or are subject to restrictions on resale. The risks associated with illiquidity are particularly acute in situations where the Trust's operations require cash, such as when the Trust conducts repurchase offers for its shares, and may result in borrowings to meet short-term cash requirements. The Trustees of the Trust will consider the liquidity of the Trust's investments in determining the amount of quarterly repurchase offers, if any. REINVESTMENT RISK Income from the Trust's portfolio will decline if and when the Trust invests the proceeds from matured, traded or called debt obligations into lower yielding instruments. A decline in income could affect the Common Shares' distribution rate and their overall return. INFLATION RISK Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investment will be worth less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the real value of the Common Shares and distributions thereon can decline. In addition, during any periods of rising inflation, dividend rates of preferred shares would likely increase, which would tend further to reduce returns to Common Shareholders. This risk is mitigated to some degree by the Trust's investments in Senior Loans. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27 INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND RISKS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MARKET PRICE OF SHARES The shares of closed-end management investment companies often trade at a discount from their net asset value, and the Common Shares may likewise trade at a discount from net asset value. The trading price of the Common Shares may be less than the public offering price. This risk may be greater for investors who sell their Common Shares in a relatively short period after completion of the public offering. MANAGEMENT RISK The Trust is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed portfolio. Eaton Vance and the individual portfolio managers will apply investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Trust, but there can be no guarantee that these will produce the desired results. REGULATORY RISK To the extent that legislation or state or federal regulators that regulate certain financial institutions impose additional requirements or restrictions with respect to the ability of such institutions to make loans, particularly in connection with highly leveraged transactions, the availability of Senior Loans for investment may be adversely affected. Further, such legislation or regulation could depress the market value of Senior Loans. MARKET DISRUPTION The terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001 had a disruptive effect on the securities markets. The Trust cannot predict the effects of similar events in the future on the U.S. economy. These terrorist attacks and related events, including the war in Iraq, its aftermath, and continuing occupation of Iraq by coalition forces, have led to increased short-term market volatility and may have long-term effects on U.S. and world economies and markets. A similar disruption of the financial markets could impact interest rates, auctions, secondary trading, ratings, credit risk, inflation and other factors relating to the Common Shares. In particular, Non-Investment Grade Bonds and Senior Loans tend to be more volatile than higher rated fixed income securities so that these events and any actions resulting from them may have a greater impact on the prices and volatility on Non- Investment Grade Bonds and Senior Loans than on higher rated fixed income securities. ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS The Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust includes provisions that could have the effect of limiting the ability of other persons or entities to acquire control of the Trust or to change the composition of its Board. See "Description of capital structure -- Anti-takeover provisions in the Declaration of Trust." Management of the Trust BOARD OF TRUSTEES The management of the Trust, including general supervision of the duties performed by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement (as defined below), is the responsibility of the Trust's Board under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the 1940 Act. THE ADVISER Eaton Vance acts as the Trust's investment adviser under an Investment Advisory Agreement (the "Advisory Agreement"). The Adviser's principal office is located at The Eaton Vance Building, 255 State Street, Boston, MA 02109. Eaton Vance, its affiliates and predecessor companies have been managing assets of individuals and institutions since 1924 and of investment companies since 1931. Eaton Vance (or its affiliates) currently serves as the investment adviser to investment companies and - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 28 MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- various individual and institutional clients with combined assets under management of approximately $85 billion as of April 30, 2004. Eaton Vance is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Eaton Vance Corp., a publicly-held holding company, which through its subsidiaries and affiliates engages primarily in investment management, administration and marketing activities. Under the general supervision of the Trust's Board, the Adviser will carry out the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Trust, will furnish continuously an investment program with respect to the Trust, will determine which securities should be purchased, sold or exchanged, and will implement such determinations. The Adviser will furnish to the Trust investment advice and office facilities, equipment and personnel for servicing the investments of the Trust. The Adviser will compensate all Trustees and officers of the Trust who are members of the Adviser's organization and who render investment services to the Trust, and will also compensate all other Adviser personnel who provide research and investment services to the Trust. In return for these services, facilities and payments, the Trust has agreed to pay the Adviser as compensation under the Advisory Agreement a fee in the amount of 0.75% of the average daily gross assets of the Trust, subject to the expense reimbursement agreement described below. Eaton Vance has contractually agreed to reimburse the Trust for fees and other expenses in the amount of 0.20% of average daily total assets of the Trust for the first 5 full years of the Trust's operations, 0.15% of average daily total assets of the Trust in year 6, 0.10% in year 7 and 0.05% in year 8. Eaton Vance may voluntarily reimburse additional fees and expenses but is under no obligation to do so. Any such voluntary reimbursements may be terminated at any time. Gross assets of the Trust shall be calculated by deducting accrued liabilities of the Trust not including the amount of any preferred shares outstanding or the principal amount of any indebtedness for money borrowed. During periods in which the Trust is using leverage, the fees paid to Eaton Vance for investment advisory services will be higher than if the Trust did not use leverage because the fees paid will be calculated on the basis of the Trust's gross assets, including proceeds from any borrowings and from the issuance of preferred shares. Scott H. Page and Payson F. Swaffield are responsible for the overall and day-to-day management of the Trust's investments. Among other portfolios, Mr. Page and Mr. Swaffield have each been Eaton Vance portfolio managers since 1996, and are Vice Presidents of Eaton Vance. They currently co-manage (i) the following registered closed-end interval funds: Eaton Vance Prime Rate Reserves, Eaton Vance Advisers Senior Floating-Rate Fund, Eaton Vance Institutional Senior Floating Rate Fund and Eaton Vance Classic Senior Floating-Rate Fund; (ii) the following registered open-end funds: Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Fund and Eaton Vance Floating-Rate High Income Fund (the Senior Loan portion); (iii) Eaton Vance Senior Income Trust, a registered closed-end fund listed on the New York Stock Exchange, (iv) Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund, a registered closed-end fund listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the Senior Loan portion); (v) Eaton Vance Senior Floating-Rate Trust, a registered closed-end fund listed on the New York Stock Exchange and (vi) Eaton Vance VT Floating-Rate Income Fund, a registered open-end fund offered primarily to insurance company separate accounts, all of which employ investment strategies primarily focused on Senior Loans. As of April 30, 2004, these funds had combined assets of approximately $11.8 billion. See "Additional investment information and restrictions--Litigation involving Eaton Vance" in the Statement of Additional Information for further information. The Trust and the Adviser have adopted a Code of Ethics relating to personal securities transactions. The Code of Ethics permits Adviser personnel to invest in securities (including securities that may be purchased or held by the Trust) for their own accounts, subject to certain pre-clearance, reporting and other restrictions and procedures contained in such Code of Ethics. Eaton Vance serves as administrator of the Trust but currently receives no compensation for providing administrative services to the Trust. Under an Administration Agreement with the Trust ("Administration Agreement"), Eaton Vance is responsible for managing the business affairs of the - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 29 MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Trust, subject to the supervision of the Trust's Board. Eaton Vance will furnish to the Trust all office facilities, equipment and personnel for administering the affairs of the Trust. Eaton Vance's administrative services include recordkeeping, preparation and filing of documents required to comply with federal and state securities laws, supervising the activities of the Trust's custodian and transfer agent, providing assistance in connection with the Trustees' and shareholders' meetings, providing service in connection with any repurchase offers and other administrative services necessary to conduct the Trust's business. Distributions The Trust intends to make monthly distributions of net investment income, after payment of interest on any outstanding borrowings or dividends on any outstanding preferred shares. The Trust will distribute annually any net short-term capital gain and any net capital gain (which is the excess of net long-term capital gain over short-term capital loss). Distributions to Common Shareholders cannot be assured, and the amount of each monthly distribution is likely to vary. It is possible, although not intended, that distributions could exceed net investment income and net short-term and long-term capital gain, resulting in a return of capital. Initial distributions to Common Shareholders are expected to be declared approximately 45 days and paid approximately 60 to 90 days after the completion of this offering depending on market conditions. While there are any borrowings or preferred shares outstanding, the Trust may not be permitted to declare any cash dividend or other distribution on its Common Shares in certain circumstances. See "Description of capital structure." FEDERAL INCOME TAX MATTERS The following discussion of federal income tax matters is based on the advice of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP, counsel to the Trust. The following is a summary discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to a shareholder of acquiring, holding and disposing of the Common Shares of the Trust. This discussion addresses only U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. shareholders who hold their shares as capital assets and does not address all of the U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to particular shareholders in light of their individual circumstances. This discussion also does not address the tax consequences to shareholders who are subject to special rules, including, without limitation, banks and financial institutions, insurance companies, dealers in securities or foreign currencies, foreign shareholders, shareholders who hold their shares as or in a hedge against currency risk, a constructive sale, or a conversion transaction, shareholders who are subject to the alternative minimum tax, or tax-exempt or tax-deferred plans, accounts, or entities. In addition, the discussion does not address any state, local, or foreign tax consequences, and it does not address any U.S. federal tax consequences other than U.S. federal income tax consequences. The discussion is based upon present provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), the regulations promulgated thereunder, and judicial and administrative ruling authorities, all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations (possibly with retroactive effect). No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of all U.S. federal income tax concerns affecting the Trust and its shareholders, and the discussion set forth herein does not constitute tax advice. Investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers to determine the specific tax consequences to them of investing in the Trust, including the applicable federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences to them and the effect of possible changes in tax laws. The Trust will distribute annually any net short-term capital gain (which are taxable as ordinary income) and any net capital gain. Distributions of the Trust's net capital gains ("capital gain dividends"), if any, are taxable to Common Shareholders as long-term capital gains, regardless of the - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 30 DISTRIBUTIONS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- length of time Common Shares have been held by Common Shareholders. Dividends paid to Common Shareholders out of the Trust's current and accumulated earnings and profits, except in the case of capital gain dividends and certain dividends received by individuals, will be taxable as ordinary income. Dividends with respect to the Common Shares generally will not constitute "qualified dividend income" for federal income tax purposes and thus will not be eligible for the favorable long-term capital gains tax rates. Distributions, if any, in excess of the Trust's earnings and profits will first reduce the adjusted tax basis of a holder's Common Shares and, after that basis has been reduced to zero, will constitute capital gains to the Shareholder (assuming the Common Shares are held as a capital asset). See below for a summary of the maximum tax rates applicable to capital gains (including capital gain dividends). Dividends will not qualify for a dividends received deduction generally available to corporate Shareholders. The Trust will inform Common Shareholders of the source and tax status of all distributions promptly after the close of each calendar year. Selling Shareholders will generally recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the Common Shareholder's adjusted tax basis in the Common Shares sold and the amount received. If the Common Shares are held as a capital asset, the gain or loss will be a capital gain or loss. The maximum tax rate applicable to net capital gains recognized by individuals and other non-corporate taxpayers is (i) the same as the maximum ordinary income tax rate for gains recognized on the sale of capital assets held for one year or less and (ii) 15% for gains recognized on the sale of capital assets held for more than one year (as well as certain capital gain dividends) (5% for individuals in the 10% or 15% tax brackets). Any loss on a disposition of Common Shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends received with respect to those Common Shares. For purposes of determining whether Common Shares have been held for six months or less, the holding period is suspended for any periods during which the Common Shareholder's risk of loss is diminished as a result of holding one or more other positions in substantially similar or related property, or through certain options or short sales. Any loss realized on a sale or exchange of Common Shares will be disallowed to the extent those Common Shares are replaced by other Common Shares within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date of disposition of the Common Shares (whether through the reinvestment of distributions, which could occur, for example, if the Common Shareholder is a participant in the Plan (as defined below) or otherwise). In that event, the basis of the replacement Common Shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. An investor should be aware that, if Common Shares are purchased shortly before the record date for any taxable dividend (including a capital gain dividend), the purchase price likely will reflect the value of the dividend and the investor then would receive a taxable distribution likely to reduce the trading value of such Common Shares, in effect resulting in a taxable return of some of the purchase price. Taxable distributions to individuals and certain other non-corporate Common Shareholders, including those who have not provided their correct taxpayer identification number and other required certifications, may be subject to "backup" federal income tax withholding at the fourth lowest rate of tax applicable to a single individual (in 2004, 28%). The foregoing briefly summarizes some of the important federal income tax consequences to Common Shareholders of investing in Common Shares, reflects the federal tax law as of the date of this Prospectus, and does not address special tax rules applicable to certain types of investors, such as corporate and foreign investors. Investors should consult their tax advisors regarding other federal, state or local tax considerations that may be applicable in their particular circumstances, as well as any proposed tax law changes. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dividend reinvestment plan Pursuant to the Trust's dividend reinvestment plan (the "Plan"), a Common Shareholder may elect to have all distributions of dividends (including all capital gain dividends) automatically reinvested in Common Shares. Common Shareholders may elect to participate in the Plan by completing the dividend reinvestment plan application form. If Common Shareholders do not participate, such Common Shareholders will receive all distributions in cash paid by check mailed directly to them by PFPC Inc., as dividend paying agent. PFPC Inc. (the "Plan Agent") serves as agent for the Common Shareholders in administering the Plan. Common Shareholders who elect not to participate in the Plan will receive all distributions of dividends in cash paid by check mailed directly to the Common Shareholder of record (or if the Common Shares are held in street or other nominee name, then to the nominee) by PFPC Inc., as disbursing agent. Participation in the Plan is completely voluntary and may be terminated or resumed at any time without penalty by written notice if received by the Plan Agent prior to any dividend record date. Common Shares will be acquired by the Plan Agent or an independent broker-dealer for the participants' accounts, depending upon the circumstances described below, either (i) through receipt of additional previously authorized but unissued Common Shares from the Trust ("newly issued Common Shares") or (ii) by purchase of outstanding Common Shares on the open market ("open-market purchases") on the New York Stock Exchange or elsewhere. If on the payment date for the dividend, the net asset value per Common Share is equal to or less than the market price per Common Share plus estimated brokerage commissions (such condition being referred to herein as "market premium"), the Plan Agent will invest the dividend amount in newly issued Common Shares on behalf of the participants. The number of newly issued Common Shares to be credited to each participant's account will be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the dividend by the net asset value per Common Share on the date the Common Shares are issued, provided that the maximum discount from the then current market price per Common Share on the date of issuance may not exceed 5%. If on the dividend payment date the net asset value per Common Share is greater than the market value plus estimated brokerage commissions (such condition being referred to herein as "market discount"), the Plan Agent will invest the dividend amount in Common Shares acquired on behalf of the participants in open-market purchases. In the event of a market discount on the dividend payment date, the Plan Agent will have up to 30 days after the dividend payment date to invest the dividend amount in Common Shares acquired in open-market purchases. If, before the Plan Agent has completed its open-market purchases, the market price of a Common Share exceeds the net asset value per Common Share, the average per Common Share purchase price paid by the Plan Agent may exceed the net asset value of the Common Shares, resulting in the acquisition of fewer Common Shares than if the dividend had been paid in newly issued Common Shares on the dividend payment date. Therefore, the Plan provides that if the Plan Agent is unable to invest the full dividend amount in open-market purchases during the purchase period or if the market discount shifts to a market premium during the purchase period, the Plan Agent will cease making open-market purchases and will invest the uninvested portion of the dividend amount in newly issued Common Shares. The Plan Agent maintains all Common Shareholders' accounts in the Plan and furnishes written confirmation of all transactions in the accounts, including information needed by Common Shareholders for tax records. Common Shares in the account of each Plan participant will be held by the Plan Agent on behalf of the Plan participant, and each Common Shareholder proxy will include those Common Shares purchased or received pursuant to the Plan. The Plan Agent will forward all - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 32 DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- proxy solicitation materials to participants and vote proxies for Common Shares held pursuant to the Plan in accordance with the instructions of the participants. In the case of Common Shareholders such as banks, brokers or nominees that hold Common Shares for others who are the beneficial owners, the Plan Agent will administer the Plan on the basis of the number of Common Shares certified from time to time by the record Common Shareholder's name and held for the account of beneficial owners who participate in the Plan. There will be no brokerage charges with respect to Common Shares issued directly by the Trust as a result of dividends payable either in Common Shares or in cash. However, each participant will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred with respect to the Plan Agent's open-market purchases in connection with the reinvestment of dividends. Common Shareholders participating in the Plan may receive benefits not available to Common Shareholders not participating in the Plan. If the market price (plus commissions) of the Common Shares is above their net asset value, participants in the Plan will receive Common Shares of the Trust at less than they could otherwise purchase them and will have Common Shares with a cash value greater than the value of any cash distribution they would have received on their Common Shares. If the market price plus commissions is below the net asset value, participants will receive distributions in Common Shares with a net asset value greater than the per Common Share value of any cash distribution they would have received on their Common Shares. However, there may be insufficient Common Shares available in the market to make distributions in Common Shares at prices below the net asset value. Also, since the Trust does not redeem its Common Shares, the price on resale may be more or less than the net asset value. Experience under the Plan may indicate that changes are desirable. Accordingly, upon 30 days' notice to Plan participants, the Trust reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan. Common Shareholders will be charged a $5.00 service charge and pay brokerage charges if such Common Shareholder directs the Plan Agent to sell Common Shares held in a dividend reinvestment account. All correspondence concerning the Plan should be directed to the Plan Agent at PFPC Inc., P.O. Box 43027, Providence, RI 02940-3027. Please call 1-800-331-1710 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time if you have questions regarding the Plan. Description of capital structure The Trust is an unincorporated business trust established under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts by an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated April 28, 2004 and filed with the Secretary of The Commonwealth on April 28, 2004 (the "Declaration of Trust"). The Declaration of Trust provides that the Trustees of the Trust may authorize separate classes of shares of beneficial interest. The Trustees have authorized an unlimited number of Common Shares. The Trust intends to hold annual meetings of shareholders in compliance with the requirements of the New York Stock Exchange. COMMON SHARES The Declaration of Trust permits the Trust to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional Common Shares. Each Common Share represents an equal proportionate interest in the assets of the Trust with each other Common Share in the Trust. Holders of Common Shares will be entitled to the payment of dividends when, as and if declared by the Board. The 1940 Act or the terms of any borrowings or preferred shares may limit the payment of dividends to the holders of Common Shares. Each whole Common Share shall be entitled to one vote as to matters on which it is entitled to vote - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 33 DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- pursuant to the terms of the Declaration of Trust on file with the SEC. Upon liquidation of the Trust, after paying or adequately providing for the payment of all liabilities of the Trust and the liquidation preference with respect to any outstanding preferred shares, and upon receipt of such releases, indemnities and refunding agreements as they deem necessary for their protection, the Trustees may distribute the remaining assets of the Trust among the holders of the Common Shares. The Declaration of Trust provides that shareholders are not liable for any liabilities of the Trust and permits inclusion of a clause to that effect in every agreement entered into by the Trust and in coordination with the Trust's By-Laws indemnifies shareholders against any such liability. Although shareholders of an unincorporated business trust established under Massachusetts law, in certain limited circumstances, may be held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust as though they were general partners, the provisions of the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws described in the foregoing sentence make the likelihood of such personal liability remote. While there are any borrowings or preferred shares outstanding, the Trust may not be permitted to declare any cash dividend or other distribution on its Common Shares, unless at the time of such declaration, (i) all accrued dividends on preferred shares or accrued interest on borrowings have been paid and (ii) the value of the Trust's total assets (determined after deducting the amount of such dividend or other distribution), less all liabilities and indebtedness of the Trust not represented by senior securities, is at least 300% of the aggregate amount of such securities representing indebtedness and at least 200% of the aggregate amount of securities representing indebtedness plus the aggregate liquidation value of the outstanding preferred shares (expected to equal the aggregate original purchase price of the outstanding preferred shares plus redemption premium, if any, together with any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, whether or not earned or declared and on a cumulative basis). In addition to the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Trust may be required to comply with other asset coverage requirements as a condition of the Trust obtaining a rating of the preferred shares from a Rating Agency. These requirements may include an asset coverage test more stringent than under the 1940 Act. This limitation on the Trust's ability to make distributions on its Common Shares could in certain circumstances impair the ability of the Trust to maintain its qualification for taxation as a regulated investment company for federal income tax purposes. The Trust intends, however, to the extent possible to purchase or redeem preferred shares or reduce borrowings from time to time to maintain compliance with such asset coverage requirements and may pay special dividends to the holders of the preferred shares in certain circumstances in connection with any such impairment of the Trust's status as a regulated investment company. See "Investment objectives, policies and risks" and "Distributions--Federal income tax matters." Depending on the timing of any such redemption or repayment, the Trust may be required to pay a premium in addition to the liquidation preference of the preferred shares to the holders thereof. The Trust has no present intention of offering additional Common Shares, except as described herein. Other offerings of its Common Shares, if made, will require approval of the Board. Any additional offering will not be sold at a price per Common Share below the then current net asset value (exclusive of underwriting discounts and commissions) except in connection with an offering to existing shareholders or with the consent of a majority of the Trust's outstanding Common Shares. The Common Shares have no preemptive rights. The Trust generally will not issue Common Share certificates. However, upon written request to the Trust's transfer agent, a share certificate will be issued for any or all of the full Common Shares credited to an investor's account. Common Share certificates that have been issued to an investor may be returned at any time. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 34 DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CREDIT FACILITY/COMMERCIAL PAPER PROGRAM In the event the Trust leverages through borrowings, the Trust may enter into definitive agreements with respect to a credit facility/commercial paper program or other borrowing program. The Trust may negotiate with commercial banks to arrange a credit facility/commercial paper program. Any such borrowings would constitute financial leverage. Such a facility/commercial paper program is not expected to be convertible into any other securities of the Trust, outstanding amounts are expected to be prepayable by the Trust prior to final maturity without significant penalty and there are not expected to be any sinking fund or mandatory retirement provisions. Outstanding amounts would be payable at maturity or such earlier times as required by the agreement. The Trust may be required to prepay outstanding amounts under the facility/program or incur a penalty rate of interest in the event of the occurrence of certain events of default. The Trust would be expected to indemnify the lenders under the facility/program against liabilities they may incur in connection with the facility/program. In addition, the Trust expects that such a credit facility/program would contain covenants that, among other things, likely will limit the Trust's ability to pay dividends in certain circumstances, incur additional debt, change its fundamental investment policies and engage in certain transactions, including mergers and consolidations, and may require asset coverage ratios in addition to those required by the 1940 Act. The Trust may be required to pledge its assets and to maintain a portion of its assets in cash or high-grade securities as a reserve against interest or principal payments and expenses. The Trust expects that any credit facility/program would have customary covenant, negative covenant and default provisions. There can be no assurance that the Trust will enter into an agreement for a credit facility/program on terms and conditions representative of the foregoing, or that additional material terms will not apply. In addition, if entered into, any such credit facility/program may in the future be replaced or refinanced by one or more credit facilities having substantially different terms or by the issuance of preferred shares or debt securities. REPURCHASE OF COMMON SHARES AND OTHER DISCOUNT MEASURES Because shares of closed-end management investment companies frequently trade at a discount to their net asset values, the Board has determined that from time to time it may be in the interest of shareholders for the Trust to take corrective actions. The Board, in consultation with Eaton Vance, will review at least annually the possibility of open market repurchases and/or tender offers for the Common Shares and will consider such factors as the market price of the Common Shares, the net asset value of the Common Shares, the liquidity of the assets of the Trust, effect on the Trust's expenses, whether such transactions would impair the Trust's status as a regulated investment company or result in a failure to comply with applicable asset coverage requirements, general economic conditions and such other events or conditions which may have a material effect on the Trust's ability to consummate such transactions. There are no assurances that the Board will, in fact, decide to undertake either of these actions or if undertaken, that such actions will result in the Trust's Common Shares trading at a price which is equal to or approximates their net asset value. In recognition of the possibility that the Common Shares might trade at a discount to net asset value and that any such discount may not be in the interest of shareholders, the Board, in consultation with Eaton Vance, from time to time may review possible actions to reduce any such discount. PREFERRED SHARES The Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest with preference rights, including preferred shares (the "preferred shares"), having a par value of $0.01 per share, in one or more series, with rights as determined by the Board, by action of the Board without the approval of the shareholders. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 35 DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Under the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Trust must, immediately after the issuance of any preferred shares, have an "asset coverage" of at least 200%. Asset coverage means the ratio which the value of the total assets of the Trust, less all liability and indebtedness not represented by senior securities (as defined in the 1940 Act), bears to the aggregate amount of senior securities representing indebtedness of the Trust, if any, plus the aggregate liquidation preference of the preferred shares. If the Trust seeks a rating of the preferred shares, asset coverage requirements, in addition to those set forth in the 1940 Act, may be imposed. The liquidation value of the preferred shares is expected to equal their aggregate original purchase price plus redemption premium, if any, together with any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon (on a cumulative basis), whether or not earned or declared. The terms of the preferred shares, including their dividend rate, voting rights, liquidation preference and redemption provisions, will be determined by the Board (subject to applicable law and the Trust's Declaration of Trust) if and when it authorizes the preferred shares. The Trust may issue preferred shares that provide for the periodic redetermination of the dividend rate at relatively short intervals through an auction or remarketing procedure, although the terms of the preferred shares may also enable the Trust to lengthen such intervals. At times, the dividend rate as redetermined on the Trust's preferred shares may approach or exceed the Trust's return after expenses on the investment of proceeds from the preferred shares and the Trust's leveraged capital structure would result in a lower rate of return to Common Shareholders than if the Trust were not so structured. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Trust, the terms of any preferred shares may entitle the holders of preferred shares to receive a preferential liquidating distribution (expected to equal the original purchase price per preferred share plus redemption premium, if any, together with accrued and unpaid dividends, whether or not earned or declared and on a cumulative basis) before any distribution of assets is made to holders of Common Shares. After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distribution to which they are entitled, the preferred shareholders would not be entitled to any further participation in any distribution of assets by the Trust. Holders of preferred shares, voting as a class, shall be entitled to elect two of the Trust's Trustees. Under the 1940 Act, if at any time dividends on the preferred shares are unpaid in an amount equal to two full years' dividends thereon, the holders of all outstanding preferred shares, voting as a class, will be allowed to elect a majority of the Trust's Trustees until all dividends in default have been paid or declared and set apart for payment. In addition, if required by the Rating Agency rating the preferred shares or if the Board determines it to be in the best interests of the shareholders, issuance of the preferred shares may result in more restrictive provisions than required by the 1940 Act being imposed. In this regard, holders of the preferred shares may be entitled to elect a majority of the Trust's Board in other circumstances, for example, if one payment on the preferred shares is in arrears. The Trust currently intends to seek a AAA/Aaa credit rating for the preferred shares from a Rating Agency. The Trust intends that, as long as preferred shares are outstanding, the composition of its portfolio will reflect guidelines established by such Rating Agency. Although, as of the date hereof, no such Rating Agency has established guidelines relating to the preferred shares, based on previous guidelines established by such Rating Agencies for the securities of other issuers, the Trust anticipates that the guidelines with respect to the preferred shares will establish a set of tests for portfolio composition and asset coverage that supplement (and in some cases are more restrictive than) the applicable requirements under the 1940 Act. Although, at this time, no assurance can be given as to the nature or extent of the guidelines which may be imposed in connection with obtaining a rating of the preferred shares, the Trust currently anticipates that such guidelines will include asset coverage requirements which are more restrictive than those under the 1940 Act, restrictions on certain portfolio investments and investment practices, requirements that the Trust maintain a portion of its assets in short-term, high-quality, fixed-income securities and certain mandatory redemption - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 36 DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- requirements relating to the preferred shares. No assurance can be given that the guidelines actually imposed with respect to the preferred shares by such Rating Agency will be more or less restrictive than as described in this Prospectus. ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS IN THE DECLARATION OF TRUST The Declaration of Trust includes provisions that could have the effect of limiting the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Trust or to change the composition of its Board, and could have the effect of depriving Common Shareholders of an opportunity to sell their Common Shares at a premium over prevailing market prices by discouraging a third party from seeking to obtain control of the Trust. These provisions may have the effect of discouraging attempts to acquire control of the Trust, which attempts could have the effect of increasing the expenses of the Trust and interfering with the normal operation of the Trust. The Board is divided into three classes, with the term of one class expiring at each annual meeting of shareholders. At each annual meeting, one class of Trustees is elected to a three-year term. This provision could delay for up to two years the replacement of a majority of the Board. A Trustee may be removed from office only for cause by a written instrument signed by the remaining Trustees or by a vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the class of shares of the Trust that elected such Trustee and are entitled to vote on the matter. In addition, the Declaration of Trust requires the favorable vote of the holders of at least 75% of the outstanding shares of each class of the Trust, voting as a class, then entitled to vote to approve, adopt or authorize certain transactions with 5%-or-greater holders of a class of shares and their associates, unless the Board shall by resolution have approved a memorandum of understanding with such holders, in which case normal voting requirements would be in effect. For purposes of these provisions, a 5%-or-greater holder of a class of shares (a "Principal Shareholder") refers to any person who, whether directly or indirectly and whether alone or together with its affiliates and associates, beneficially owns 5% or more of the outstanding shares of any class of beneficial interest of the Trust. The transactions subject to these special approval requirements are: (i) the merger or consolidation of the Trust or any subsidiary of the Trust with or into any Principal Shareholder; (ii) the issuance of any securities of the Trust to any Principal Shareholder for cash; (iii) the sale, lease or exchange of all or any substantial part of the assets of the Trust to any Principal Shareholder (except assets having an aggregate fair market value of less than $1,000,000, aggregating for the purpose of such computation all assets sold, leased or exchanged in any series of similar transactions within a twelve-month period); or (iv) the sale, lease or exchange to the Trust or any subsidiary thereof, in exchange for securities of the Trust, of any assets of any Principal Shareholder (except assets having an aggregate fair market value of less than $1,000,000, aggregating for the purposes of such computation all assets sold, leased or exchanged in any series of similar transactions within a twelve-month period). The Board has determined that provisions with respect to the Board and the 75% voting requirements described above, which voting requirements are greater than the minimum requirements under Massachusetts law or the 1940 Act, are in the best interest of shareholders generally. Reference should be made to the Declaration of Trust on file with the SEC for the full text of these provisions. CONVERSION TO OPEN-END FUND The Trust may be converted to an open-end management investment company at any time if approved by the lesser of (i) two-thirds or more of the Trust's then outstanding Common Shares and preferred shares (if any), each voting separately as a class, or (ii) more than 50% of the then outstanding Common Shares and preferred shares (if any), voting separately as a class if such conversion is recommended by at least 75% of the Trustees then in office. If approved in the foregoing manner, conversion of the Trust could not occur until 90 days after the shareholders' meeting at which such conversion was approved and would also require at least 30 days' prior notice to all shareholders. The - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 37 DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- composition of the Trust's portfolio likely would prohibit the Trust from complying with regulations of the SEC applicable to open-end management investment companies. Accordingly, conversion likely would require significant changes in the Trust's investment policies and liquidation of a substantial portion of its relatively illiquid portfolio. Conversion of the Trust to an open-end management investment company also would require the redemption of any outstanding preferred shares and could require the repayment of borrowings, which would eliminate the leveraged capital structure of the Trust with respect to the Common Shares. In the event of conversion, the Common Shares would cease to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange or other national securities exchange or market system. The Board believes that the closed-end structure is desirable, given the Trust's investment objectives and policies. Investors should assume, therefore, that it is unlikely that the Board would vote to convert the Trust to an open-end management investment company. Shareholders of an open-end management investment company may require the company to redeem their shares at any time (except in certain circumstances as authorized by or under the 1940 Act) at their net asset value, less such redemption charge, if any, as might be in effect at the time of a redemption. If the Trust were to convert to an open-end investment company, the Trust expects it would pay all such redemption requests in cash, but likely would reserve the right to pay redemption requests in a combination of cash or securities. If such partial payment in securities were made, investors may incur brokerage costs in converting such securities to cash. If the Trust were converted to an open-end fund, it is likely that new Common Shares would be sold at net asset value plus a sales load. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 38 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Underwriting The underwriters named below (the "Underwriters"), acting through UBS Securities LLC, 299 Park Avenue, New York, New York, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, 4 World Financial Center, New York, New York, and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, 7 St. Paul Street, 1st Floor, Baltimore, Maryland, as lead managers and RBC Dain Rauscher Incorporated, H&R Block Financial Advisors, Inc., J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, Inc., Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., Quick & Reilly, Inc., a FleetBoston Financial Company and Ryan, Beck & Co., Inc. as their representatives (together with the lead managers, the "Representatives"), have severally agreed, subject to the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement with the Trust and Eaton Vance (the "Underwriting Agreement"), to purchase from the Trust the number of Common Shares set forth opposite their respective names. The Underwriters are committed to purchase and pay for all of such Common Shares (other than those covered by the over-allotment option described below) if any are purchased.
NUMBER OF UNDERWRITERS COMMON SHARES - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- UBS Securities LLC.......................................... Citigroup Global Markets Inc. .............................. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated................................... Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC RBC Dain Rauscher Incorporated.............................. H&R Block Financial Advisors, Inc. ......................... J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, Inc. .......................... Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. ..................................... Quick & Reilly, Inc., a FleetBoston Financial Company....... Ryan, Beck & Co., Inc. ..................................... ------------- Total.................................................. =============
The Trust has granted to the Underwriters an option, exercisable for 45 days from the date of this Prospectus, to purchase up to an additional Common Shares to cover over-allotments, if any, at the initial offering price. The Underwriters may exercise such option solely for the purpose of covering underwriting over-allotments incurred in the sale of the Common Shares offered hereby. To the extent that the Underwriters exercise this option, each of the Underwriters will have a firm commitment, subject to certain conditions, to purchase an additional number of Common Shares proportionate to such Underwriter's initial commitment. The Trust has agreed to pay a commission to the Underwriters in the amount of $0.90 per Common Share (4.5% of the public offering price per Common Share). The Representatives have advised the Trust that the Underwriters may pay up to $ per Common Share from such commission to selected dealers who sell the Common Shares and that such dealers may reallow a concession of up to $ per Common Share to certain other dealers who sell Common Shares. Eaton Vance or an affiliate has agreed to (i) reimburse all organizational costs and (ii) pay all offering costs of the Trust (other than sales loads) that exceed $0.04 per Common Share. Investors must pay for any Common Shares purchased on or before , 2004. Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the Common Shares or any other securities of the Trust. Consequently, the offering price for the Common Shares was determined by negotiation among the Trust and the Representatives. There can be no assurance, however, that the price at which Common Shares sell after this offering will not be lower than the price at which they are sold by the - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 39 UNDERWRITING - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Underwriters or that an active trading market in the Common Shares will develop and continue after this offering. The minimum investment requirement is 100 Common Shares ($2,000). The Trust and Eaton Vance have each agreed to indemnify the several Underwriters for or to contribute to the losses arising out of certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Trust has agreed not to offer, sell or register with the Securities and Exchange Commission any additional equity securities of the Trust, other than issuances of Common Shares, including pursuant to the Trust's Plan, and issuances in connection with any preferred shares, each as contemplated in this Prospectus, for a period of 180 days after the date of the Underwriting Agreement without the prior written consent of the Representatives. The Representatives have informed the Trust that the Underwriters do not intend to confirm sales to any accounts over which they exercise discretionary authority. In connection with this offering, the Underwriters may purchase and sell Common Shares in the open market. These transactions may include over-allotment and stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover syndicate short positions created in connection with this offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the Common Shares and syndicate short positions involve the sale by the Underwriters of a greater number of Common Shares than they are required to purchase from the Trust in this offering. The Underwriters also may impose a penalty bid, whereby selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers in respect of the Common Shares sold in this offering for their account may be reclaimed by the syndicate if such Common Shares are repurchased by the syndicate in stabilizing or covering transactions. These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the Common Shares, which may be higher than the price that might otherwise prevail in the open market; and these activities, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time without notice. These transactions may be effected on the New York Stock Exchange or otherwise. The Trust anticipates that the Representatives and certain other Underwriters may from time to time act as brokers or dealers in connection with the execution of its portfolio transactions after they have ceased to be Underwriters and, subject to certain restrictions, may act as such brokers while they are Underwriters. In connection with the offering, certain of the Underwriters or selected dealers may distribute prospectuses electronically. Eaton Vance (and not the Trust) has agreed pursuant to an additional compensation agreement (the "Additional Compensation Agreement") to pay to certain qualifying Underwriters who meet specified sales targets ("Qualifying Underwriters"), quarterly in arrears, an annual fee of up to 0.15% of the Trust's average daily gross assets attributable to Common Shares sold by such Qualifying Underwriters (including a proportionate share of assets acquired using leverage). Such sales targets may be waived or lowered with respect to any Underwriter in the sole discretion of Eaton Vance. These fee payments will remain in effect only so long as the Advisory Agreement remains in effect between the Trust and Eaton Vance or any successor in interest or affiliate of Eaton Vance, as and to the extent that such Advisory Agreement is renewed periodically in accordance with the 1940 Act. The sum of the additional compensation payable to the Qualifying Underwriters will not exceed % of the aggregate initial offering price of the Common Shares offered hereby. will receive additional compensation which will not exceed % of the aggregate initial offering price of the Common Shares offered hereby. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 40 UNDERWRITING - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As described below under "Shareholder Servicing Agent, Custodian and Transfer Agent," UBS Securities LLC will provide shareholder services to the Trust pursuant to a shareholder servicing agreement with Eaton Vance. Compensation received by pursuant to the Additional Compensation Agreement and compensation received by UBS Securities LLC pursuant to the Shareholder Servicing Agreement (as defined below) together will not exceed 4.5% of the aggregate initial offering price of the Common Shares offered hereby, and the total compensation received by the Underwriters will not exceed 9.0% of the aggregate initial offering price of the Common Shares offered hereby. Shareholder Servicing Agent, custodian and transfer agent Pursuant to a shareholder servicing agreement (the "Shareholder Servicing Agreement") between UBS Securities LLC (the "Shareholder Servicing Agent") and Eaton Vance, the Shareholder Servicing Agent will (i) at the request of and as specified by Eaton Vance, undertake to make available public information pertaining to the Trust on an ongoing basis and to communicate to investors and prospective investors the Trust's features and benefits (including arranging periodic seminars or conference calls for Eaton Vance to communicate to investors, responding to questions from current or prospective shareholders and contacting specific shareholders, where appropriate), provided that services shall not include customary market research information provided by the Shareholder Servicing Agent or its registered broker-dealer affiliates in the ordinary course of their business; (ii) at the request of and as specified by Eaton Vance, make available to investors and prospective investors market price, net asset value, yield and other information regarding the Trust (provided that services shall not include customary market research information provided by the Shareholder Servicing Agent or its registered broker-dealer affiliates in the ordinary course of their business), if reasonably obtainable, for the purpose of maintaining the visibility of the Trust in the investor community; (iii) at the request of Eaton Vance or the Trust, provide certain economic research and statistical information and reports, if reasonably obtainable, to Eaton Vance or the Trust and consult with representatives of Eaton Vance and/or Trustees of the Trust in connection therewith, which information and reports shall include: (a) statistical and financial market information with respect to the Trust's market performance; and (b) comparative information regarding the Trust and other closed-end management investment companies with respect to (1) the net asset value of their respective shares, (2) the respective market performance of the Trust and such other companies, and (3) other relevant performance indicators. Except as legally required, such information and reports may not be quoted or referred to, orally or in writing, reproduced or disseminated by the Trust or any of its affiliates or any of their agents, without the prior written consent of the Shareholder Servicing Agent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld; and (iv) at the request of Eaton Vance or the Trust, provide information to and consult with Eaton Vance and/or the Board of Trustees of the Trust with respect to applicable strategies designed to address market value discounts, which may include share repurchases, tender offers, modifications to dividend policies or capital structure, repositioning or restructuring of the Trust, conversion of the Trust to an open-end investment company, liquidation or merger; including providing information concerning the use and impact of the above strategic alternatives by other market participants; provided, however, that under the terms of the Shareholder Servicing Agreement, the Shareholder Servicing Agent is not obligated to render any opinions, valuations or recommendations of any kind or to perform any such similar services. For these services, Eaton Vance will pay the Shareholder Servicing Agent a fee computed daily and payable quarterly equal, on an annual basis, to 0.10% of the Trust's average daily gross assets. The sum of the payments payable to the Shareholder Servicing Agent under the Shareholder Servicing Agreement will not exceed % of the aggregate initial offering price of the Common Shares offered hereby. Under the terms of the Shareholder Servicing Agreement, the Shareholder Servicing Agent is relieved from liability to Eaton Vance or the Trust for any act or - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 41 SHAREHOLDER SERVICING AGENT, CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- omission to act in the course of its performance under the Shareholder Servicing Agreement in the absence of bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Shareholder Servicing Agent. The Shareholder Servicing Agreement will continue so long as the Advisory Agreement remains in effect between the Trust and the Adviser or any successor in interest or affiliate of the Adviser, as and to the extent that such Advisory Agreement is renewed periodically in accordance with the 1940 Act. Investors Bank & Trust Company ("IBT"), 200 Clarendon Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116 is the custodian of the Trust and will maintain custody of the securities and cash of the Trust. IBT maintains the Trust's general ledger and computes net asset value per share at least weekly. IBT also attends to details in connection with the sale, exchange, substitution, transfer and other dealings with the Trust's investments and receives and disburses all funds. IBT also assists in preparation of shareholder reports and the electronic filing of such reports with the SEC. PFPC Inc., P.O. Box 43027, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3027 is the transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent of the Trust. Legal opinions Certain legal matters in connection with the Common Shares will be passed upon for the Trust by Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP, Boston, Massachusetts, and for the Underwriters by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Chicago, Illinois. Reports to shareholders The Trust will send to Common Shareholders unaudited semi-annual and audited annual reports, including a list of investments held. Independent auditors Deloitte & Touche LLP, Boston, Massachusetts, are the independent auditors for the Trust and will audit the Trust's financial statements. Additional information The Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information do not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement that the Trust has filed with the SEC. The complete Registration Statement may be obtained from the SEC upon payment of the fee prescribed by its rules and regulations. The Statement of Additional Information can be obtained without charge by calling 1-800-225-6265. Statements contained in this Prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other documents referred to are not necessarily complete, and, in each instance, reference is made to the copy of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part, each such statement being qualified in all respects by such reference. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 42 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table of contents for the Statement of Additional Information
Additional investment information and restrictions.......... 2 Trustees and officers....................................... 14 Investment advisory and other services...................... 20 Determination of net asset value............................ 23 Portfolio trading........................................... 24 Taxes....................................................... 26 Other information........................................... 29 Independent auditors........................................ 30 Financial statements........................................ 31 Notes to financial statements............................... 32 Appendix A: Ratings......................................... A-1
The Trust's privacy policy The Trust is committed to ensuring your financial privacy. This notice is being sent to comply with privacy regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Trust has in effect the following policy with respect to nonpublic personal information about its customers: - - Only such information received from you, through application forms or otherwise, and information about your Trust transactions will be collected. - - None of such information about you (or former customers) will be disclosed to anyone, except as permitted by law (which includes disclosure to employees necessary to service your account). - - Policies and procedures (including physical, electronic and procedural safeguards) are in place that are designed to protect the confidentiality of such information. For more information about the Trust's privacy policies call 1-800-262-1122. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 43 (EATON VANCE LOGO) CE-FLRITRH STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SUBJECT TO COMPLETION May 26, 2004 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION , 2004 EATON VANCE FLOATING-RATE INCOME TRUST THE EATON VANCE BUILDING 255 STATE STREET BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02109 (800) 225-6265 TABLE OF CONTENTS - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PAGE ---- Additional investment information and restrictions.......... 2 Trustees and officers....................................... 14 Investment advisory and other services...................... 20 Determination of net asset value............................ 23 Portfolio trading........................................... 24 Taxes....................................................... 26 Other information........................................... 29 Independent auditors........................................ 30 Statement Of Assets And Liabilities......................... 31 Notes to financial statements............................... 32 APPENDIX A: Ratings......................................... A-1
THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ("SAI") IS NOT A PROSPECTUS AND IS AUTHORIZED FOR DISTRIBUTION TO PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ONLY IF PRECEDED OR ACCOMPANIED BY THE PROSPECTUS OF EATON VANCE FLOATING-RATE INCOME TRUST (THE "TRUST") DATED , 2004, AS SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME, WHICH IS INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE. THIS SAI SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH SUCH PROSPECTUS, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED WITHOUT CHARGE BY CONTACTING YOUR FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY OR CALLING THE TRUST AT 1-800-225-6265. THE INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, WHICH IS NOT A PROSPECTUS, IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED. Capitalized terms used in this SAI and not otherwise defined have the meanings given them in the Trust's Prospectus. Additional investment information and restrictions Primary investment strategies are described in the Prospectus. The following is a description of the various investment policies that may be engaged in, whether as a primary or secondary strategy, and a summary of certain attendant risks. Eaton Vance may not buy any of the following instruments or use any of the following techniques unless it believes that doing so will help to achieve the Trust's investment objectives. SENIOR LOANS STRUCTURE OF SENIOR LOANS A Senior Loan is typically originated, negotiated and structured by a U.S. or foreign commercial bank, insurance company, finance company or other financial institution (the "Agent") for a group of loan investors ("Loan Investors"). The Agent typically administers and enforces the Senior Loan on behalf of the other Loan Investors in the syndicate. In addition, an institution, typically but not always the Agent, holds any collateral on behalf of the Loan Investors. Senior Loans primarily include senior floating rate loans to corporations and secondarily institutionally traded senior floating rate debt obligations issued by an asset-backed pool, and interests therein. Loan interests primarily take the form of assignments purchased in the primary or secondary market. Loan interests may also take the form of participation interests in a Senior Loan. Such loan interests may be acquired from U.S. or foreign commercial banks, insurance companies, finance companies or other financial institutions who have made loans or are Loan Investors or from other investors in loan interests. The Trust typically purchases "Assignments" from the Agent or other Loan Investors. The purchaser of an Assignment typically succeeds to all the rights and obligations under the Loan Agreement of the assigning Loan Investor and becomes a Loan Investor under the Loan Agreement with the same rights and obligations as the assigning Loan Investor. Assignments may, however, be arranged through private negotiations between potential assignees and potential assignors, and the rights and obligations acquired by the purchaser of an Assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the assigning Loan Investor. The Trust also may invest in "Participations." Participations by the Trust in a Loan Investor's portion of a Senior Loan typically will result in the Trust having a contractual relationship only with such Loan Investor, not with the Borrower. As a result, the Trust may have the right to receive payments of principal, interest and any fees to which it is entitled only from the Loan Investor selling the Participation and only upon receipt by such Loan Investor of such payments from the Borrower. In connection with purchasing Participations, the Trust generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the Borrower with the terms of the loan agreement, nor any rights with respect to any funds acquired by other Loan Investors through set-off against the Borrower and the Trust may not directly benefit from the collateral supporting the Senior Loan in which it has purchased the Participation. As a result, the Trust may assume the credit risk of both the Borrower and the Loan Investor selling the Participation. In the event of the insolvency of the Loan Investor selling a Participation, the Trust may be treated as a general creditor of such Loan Investor. The selling Loan Investors and other persons interpositioned between such Loan Investors and the Trust with respect to such Participations will likely conduct their principal business activities in the banking, finance and financial services industries. Persons engaged in such industries may be more susceptible to, among other things, fluctuations in interest rates, changes in the Federal Open Market Committee's monetary policy, governmental regulations concerning such industries and concerning capital raising activities generally and fluctuations in the financial markets generally. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT INFORMATION AND RESTRICTIONS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Trust will only acquire Participations if the Loan Investor selling the Participation, and any other persons interpositioned between the Trust and the Loan Investor, at the time of investment has outstanding debt or deposit obligations rated investment grade (BBB or A-3 or higher by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group ("S&P") or Baa or P-3 or higher by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or comparably rated by another nationally recognized rating agency) or determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality. Securities rated Baa by Moody's have speculative characteristics. Long-term debt rated BBB by S&P is regarded by S&P as having adequate capacity to pay interest and repay principal and debt rated Baa by Moody's is regarded by Moody's as a medium grade obligation, i.e., it is neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Commercial paper rated A-3 by S&P indicates that S&P believes such obligations exhibit adequate protection parameters but that 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 and issues of commercial paper rated P-3 by Moody's are considered by Moody's to have an acceptable ability for repayment of senior short-term obligations. The effect of industry characteristics and market compositions may be more pronounced. Indebtedness of companies whose creditworthiness is poor involves substantially greater risks, and may be highly speculative. Some companies may never pay off their indebtedness, or may pay only a small fraction of the amount owed. Consequently, when investing in indebtedness of companies with poor credit, the Trust bears a substantial risk of losing the entire amount invested. The following table is intended to provide investors with a comparison of short-term money market rates, a representative base commercial lending rate, and a representative indicator of the premium over such base lending rate for Senior Loans. This comparison should not be considered a representation of future money market rates, spreads of Senior Loans over base reference rates nor what an investment in the Trust may earn or what an investor's yield or total return may be in the future.
SEPT. SEPT. SEPT. SEPT. SEPT. SEPT. 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Month Treasury Bill(1)........................... 2.98% 5.42% 5.11% 4.86% 2.38% 0.95% 3 Month LIBOR(2)................................... 3.21 5.87 5.80 5.57 3.03 1.14 CSFB Leveraged Loan Index(3)....................... 5.71 8.18 8.13 8.04 6.18 4.34
- ------------ (1) Source: Bloomberg (2) The London InterBank Offer Rate; Source: Bloomberg (3) The CSFB Leveraged Loan Index is a representative index of tradable, senior secured, U.S. dollar-denominated leveraged loans. Investors cannot invest directly in an index. Source for the CSFB leveraged loan index returns: Thomson Financial. LOAN COLLATERAL In order to borrow money pursuant to a Senior Loan, a Borrower will frequently, for the term of the Senior Loan, pledge collateral, including but not limited to, (i) working capital assets, such as accounts receivable and inventory; (ii) tangible fixed assets, such as real property, buildings and equipment; (iii) intangible assets, such as trademarks and patent rights (but excluding goodwill); and (iv) security interests in shares of stock of subsidiaries or affiliates. In the case of Senior Loans made to non-public companies, the company's shareholders or owners may provide collateral in the form of secured guarantees and/or security interests in assets that they own. In many instances, a Senior Loan may be secured only by stock in the Borrower or its subsidiaries. Collateral may consist of assets that may not be readily liquidated, and there is no assurance that the liquidation of such assets would satisfy fully a Borrower's obligations under a Senior Loan. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT INFORMATION AND RESTRICTIONS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CERTAIN FEES PAID TO THE TRUST In the process of buying, selling and holding Senior Loans, the Trust may receive and/or pay certain fees. These fees are in addition to interest payments received and may include facility fees, commitment fees, amendment fees, commissions and prepayment penalty fees. When the Trust buys a Senior Loan it may receive a facility fee and when it sells a Senior Loan it may pay a facility fee. On an ongoing basis, the Trust may receive a commitment fee based on the undrawn portion of the underlying line of credit portion of a Senior Loan. In certain circumstances, the Trust may receive a prepayment penalty fee upon the prepayment of a Senior Loan by a Borrower. Other fees received by the Trust may include covenant waiver fees and covenant modification fees. BORROWER COVENANTS A Borrower must comply with various restrictive covenants contained in a loan agreement or note purchase agreement between the Borrower and the holders of the Senior Loan (the "Loan Agreement"). Such covenants, in addition to requiring the scheduled payment of interest and principal, may include restrictions on dividend payments and other distributions to stockholders, provisions requiring the Borrower to maintain specific minimum financial ratios, and limits on total debt. In addition, the Loan Agreement may contain a covenant requiring the Borrower to prepay the Senior Loan with any free cash flow. Free cash flow is generally defined as net cash flow after scheduled debt service payments and permitted capital expenditures, and includes the proceeds from asset dispositions or sales of securities. A breach of a covenant that is not waived by the Agent, or by the Loan Investors directly, as the case may be, is normally an event of acceleration; i.e., the Agent, or the Loan Investors directly, as the case may be, has the right to call the outstanding Senior Loan. The typical practice of an Agent or a Loan Investor in relying exclusively or primarily on reports from the Borrower to monitor the Borrower's compliance with covenants may involve a risk of fraud by the Borrower. In the case of a Senior Loan in the form of Participation, the agreement between the buyer and seller may limit the rights of the holder to vote on certain changes that may be made to the Loan Agreement, such as waiving a breach of a covenant. However, the holder of the Participation will, in almost all cases, have the right to vote on certain fundamental issues such as changes in principal amount, payment dates and interest rate. ADMINISTRATION OF LOANS In a typical Senior Loan, the Agent administers the terms of the Loan Agreement. In such cases, the Agent is normally responsible for the collection of principal and interest payments from the Borrower and the apportionment of these payments to the credit of all institutions that are parties to the Loan Agreement. The Trust will generally rely upon the Agent or an intermediate participant to receive and forward to the Trust its portion of the principal and interest payments on the Senior Loan. Furthermore, unless under the terms of a Participation Agreement the Trust has direct recourse against the Borrower, the Trust will rely on the Agent and the other Loan Investors to use appropriate credit remedies against the Borrower. The Agent is typically responsible for monitoring compliance with covenants contained in the Loan Agreement based upon reports prepared by the Borrower. The seller of the Senior Loan usually does, but is often not obligated to, notify holders of Senior Loans of any failures of compliance. The Agent may monitor the value of the collateral and, if the value of the collateral declines, may accelerate the Senior Loan, may give the Borrower an opportunity to provide additional collateral or may seek other protection for the benefit of the participants in the Senior Loan. The Agent is compensated by the Borrower for providing these services under a Loan Agreement, and such compensation may include special fees paid upon structuring and funding the Senior Loan and other fees paid on a continuing basis. With respect to Senior Loans for which the Agent does not perform such administrative and enforcement functions, the Trust will perform such tasks on its own behalf, although a collateral bank will typically hold any collateral on behalf of the Trust and the other Loan Investors pursuant to the applicable Loan Agreement. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT INFORMATION AND RESTRICTIONS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A financial institution's appointment as Agent may usually be terminated in the event that it fails to observe the requisite standard of care or becomes insolvent, enters Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") receivership, or, if not FDIC insured, enters into bankruptcy proceedings. A successor Agent would generally be appointed to replace the terminated Agent, and assets held by the Agent under the Loan Agreement should remain available to holders of Senior Loans. However, if assets held by the Agent for the benefit of the Trust were determined to be subject to the claims of the Agent's general creditors, the Trust might incur certain costs and delays in realizing payment on a Senior Loan, or suffer a loss of principal and/or interest. In situations involving intermediate participants, similar risks may arise. PREPAYMENTS Senior Loans will usually require, in addition to scheduled payments of interest and principal, the prepayment of the Senior Loan from a portion of free cash flow, as defined above. The degree to which Borrowers prepay Senior Loans, whether as a contractual requirement or at their election, may be affected by general business conditions, the financial condition of the Borrower and competitive conditions among Loan Investors, among other factors. As such, prepayments cannot be predicted with accuracy. Upon a prepayment, either in part or in full, the actual outstanding debt on which the Trust derives interest income will be reduced. However, the Trust may receive both a prepayment penalty fee from the prepaying Borrower and a facility fee upon the purchase of a new Senior Loan with the proceeds from the prepayment of the former. Prepayments generally will not materially affect the Trust's performance because the Trust typically is able to reinvest prepayments in other Senior Loans that have similar yields and because receipt of such fees may mitigate any adverse impact on the Trust's yield. OTHER INFORMATION REGARDING SENIOR LOANS From time to time the Adviser and its affiliates may borrow money from various banks in connection with their business activities. Such banks may also sell interests in Senior Loans to or acquire them from the Trust or may be intermediate participants with respect to Senior Loans in which the Trust owns interests. Such banks may also act as Agents for Senior Loans held by the Trust. The Trust may acquire interests in Senior Loans that are designed to provide temporary or "bridge" financing to a Borrower pending the sale of identified assets or the arrangement of longer-term loans or the issuance and sale of debt obligations. The Trust may also invest in Senior Loans of Borrowers that have obtained bridge loans from other parties. A Borrower's use of bridge loans involves a risk that the Borrower may be unable to locate permanent financing to replace the bridge loan, which may impair the Borrower's perceived creditworthiness. The Trust will be subject to the risk that collateral securing a loan will decline in value or have no value. Such a decline, whether as a result of bankruptcy proceedings or otherwise, could cause the Senior Loan to be undercollateralized or unsecured. In most credit agreements, there is no formal requirement to pledge additional collateral. In addition, the Trust may invest in Senior Loans guaranteed by, or secured by assets of, shareholders or owners, even if the Senior Loans are not otherwise collateralized by assets of the Borrower; provided, however, that such guarantees are fully secured. There may be temporary periods when the principal asset held by a Borrower is the stock of a related company, which may not legally be pledged to secure a Senior Loan. On occasions when such stock cannot be pledged, the Senior Loan will be temporarily unsecured until the stock can be pledged or is exchanged for or replaced by other assets, which will be pledged as security for the Senior Loan. However, the Borrower's ability to dispose of such securities, other than in connection with such pledge or replacement, will be strictly limited for the protection of the holders of Senior Loans and, indirectly, Senior Loans themselves. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT INFORMATION AND RESTRICTIONS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If a Borrower becomes involved in bankruptcy proceedings, a court may invalidate the Trust's security interest in the loan collateral or subordinate the Trust's rights under the Senior Loan to the interests of the Borrower's unsecured creditors or cause interest previously paid to be refunded to the Borrower. If a court required interest to be refunded, it could negatively affect the Trust's performance. Such action by a court could be based, for example, on a "fraudulent conveyance" claim to the effect that the Borrower did not receive fair consideration for granting the security interest in the loan collateral to the Trust. For Senior Loans made in connection with a highly leveraged transaction, consideration for granting a security interest may be deemed inadequate if the proceeds of the Senior Loan were not received or retained by the Borrower, but were instead paid to other persons (such as shareholders of the Borrower) in an amount that left the Borrower insolvent or without sufficient working capital. There are also other events, such as the failure to perfect a security interest due to faulty documentation or faulty official filings, which could lead to the invalidation of the Trust's security interest in loan collateral. If the Trust's security interest in loan collateral is invalidated or the Senior Loan is subordinated to other debt of a Borrower in bankruptcy or other proceedings, the Trust would have substantially lower recovery, and perhaps no recovery on the full amount of the principal and interest due on the Senior Loan. The Trust may acquire warrants and other equity securities as part of a unit combining a Senior Loan and equity securities of a Borrower or its affiliates. The acquisition of such equity securities will only be incidental to the Trust's purchase of a Senior Loan. The Trust may also acquire equity securities or debt securities (including non-dollar denominated debt securities) issued in exchange for a Senior Loan, issued in connection with the debt restructuring or reorganization of a Borrower, if such acquisition, in the judgment of the Adviser, may enhance the value of a Senior Loan or if such acquisition would otherwise be consistent with the Trust's investment policies including its policy of generally only investing in U.S.-dollar denominated securities. DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION FINANCING The Trust may invest in debtor-in-possession financings (commonly called "DIP financings"). DIP financings are arranged when an entity seeks the protections of the bankruptcy court under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. These financings allow the entity to continue its business operations while reorganizing under chapter 11. Such financings are senior liens on unencumbered security (i.e., security not subject to other creditors claims). There is a risk that the entity will not emerge from chapter 11 and be forced to liquidate its assets under chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code. In such event, the Trust's only recourse will be against the property securing the DIP financing. LITIGATION INVOLVING EATON VANCE On October 15, 2001, an amended consolidated complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts against four Eaton Vance closed-end interval funds (the "Interval Funds"); their Trustees and certain officers of the Interval Funds; Eaton Vance, the Interval Funds' administrator; Boston Management and Research, the Interval Funds' investment adviser; and Eaton Vance Corp., the parent of Eaton Vance and Boston Management and Research. The Complaint, framed as a class action, alleges that for the period between May 25, 1998 and March 5, 2001, the Interval Funds' assets were incorrectly valued and certain matters were not properly disclosed, in violation of the federal securities laws. The Complaint seeks unspecified damages. The named defendants believe that the Complaint is without merit and are vigorously contesting the lawsuit. Eaton Vance believes that the lawsuit is not likely to have a material adverse affect on its ability to render services to the Trust. REGULATORY CHANGES To the extent that legislation or state or federal regulators that regulate certain financial institutions impose additional requirements or restrictions with respect to the ability of such institutions to make - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT INFORMATION AND RESTRICTIONS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- loans, particularly in connection with highly leveraged transactions, the availability of Senior Loans for investment may be adversely affected. Further, such legislation or regulation could depress the market value of Senior Loans. CREDIT QUALITY Many Senior Loans in which the Trust may invest are of below investment grade credit quality. Accordingly, these Senior Loans are subject to similar or identical risks and other characteristics described below in relation to Non-Investment Grade Bonds. NON-INVESTMENT GRADE BONDS Investments in Non-Investment Grade Bonds generally provide greater income and increased opportunity for capital appreciation than investments in higher quality securities, but they also typically entail greater price volatility and principal and income risk, including the possibility of issuer default and bankruptcy. Non-Investment Grade Bonds are regarded as predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer's continuing ability to meet principal and interest payments. Debt securities in the lowest investment grade category also may be considered to possess some speculative characteristics by certain rating agencies. In addition, analysis of the creditworthiness of issuers of Non-Investment Grade Bonds may be more complex than for issuers of higher quality securities. Non-Investment Grade Bonds may be more susceptible to real or perceived adverse economic and competitive industry conditions than investment grade securities. A projection of an economic downturn or of a period of rising interest rates, for example, could cause a decline in Non-Investment Grade Bond prices because the advent of recession could lessen the ability of an issuer to make principal and interest payments on its debt obligations. If an issuer of Non-Investment Grade Bonds defaults, in addition to risking payment of all or a portion of interest and principal, the Trust may incur additional expenses to seek recovery. In the case of Non-Investment Grade Bonds structured as zero-coupon, step-up or payment-in-kind securities, their market prices will normally be affected to a greater extent by interest rate changes, and therefore tend to be more volatile than securities that pay interest currently and in cash. Eaton Vance seeks to reduce these risks through diversification, credit analysis and attention to current developments in both the economy and financial markets. The secondary market on which Non-Investment Grade Bonds are traded may be less liquid than the market for investment grade securities. Less liquidity in the secondary trading market could adversely affect the net asset value of the Common Shares. Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of Non-Investment Grade Bonds, especially in a thinly traded market. When secondary markets for Non-Investment Grade Bonds are less liquid than the market for investment grade securities, it may be more difficult to value the securities because such valuation may require more research, and elements of judgment may play a greater role in the valuation because there is no reliable, objective data available. During periods of thin trading in these markets, the spread between bid and asked prices is likely to increase significantly and the Trust may have greater difficulty selling these securities. The Trust will be more dependent on Eaton Vance's research and analysis when investing in Non-Investment Grade Bonds. Eaton Vance seeks to minimize the risks of investing in all securities through in-depth credit analysis and attention to current developments in interest rate and market conditions. A general description of the ratings of securities by S&P, Fitch and Moody's is set forth in Appendix A to this SAI. Such ratings represent these rating organizations' opinions as to the quality of the securities they rate. It should be emphasized, however, that ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality. Consequently, debt obligations with the same maturity, coupon and rating may have different yields while obligations with the same maturity and coupon may have the same yield. For these reasons, the use of credit ratings as the sole method of evaluating Non-Investment Grade Bonds can involve certain risks. For example, credit ratings evaluate the safety or principal and interest - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT INFORMATION AND RESTRICTIONS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- payments, not the market value risk of Non-Investment Grade Bonds. Also, credit rating agencies may fail to change credit ratings in a timely fashion to reflect events since the security was last rated. Eaton Vance does not rely solely on credit ratings when selecting securities for the Trust, and develops its own independent analysis of issuer credit quality. In the event that a rating agency or Eaton Vance downgrades its assessment of the credit characteristics of a particular issue, the Trust is not required to dispose of such security. In determining whether to retain or sell a downgraded security, Eaton Vance may consider such factors as Eaton Vance's assessment of the credit quality of the issuer of such security, the price at which such security could be sold and the rating, if any, assigned to such security by other rating agencies. However, analysis of the creditworthiness of issuers of Non-Investment Grade Bonds may be more complex than for issuers of high quality debt securities. CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES The Trust may invest in convertible securities. Convertible securities include any corporate debt security or preferred stock that may be converted into underlying shares of common stock. The common stock underlying convertible securities may be issued by a different entity than the issuer of the convertible securities. Convertible securities entitle the holder to receive interest payments paid on corporate debt securities or the dividend preference on a preferred stock until such time as the convertible security matures or is redeemed or until the holder elects to exercise the conversion privilege. As a result of the conversion feature, however, the interest rate or dividend preference on a convertible security is generally less than would be the case if the securities were issued in non-convertible form. The value of convertible securities is influenced by both the yield of non-convertible securities of comparable issuers and by the value of the underlying common stock. The value of a convertible security viewed without regard to its conversion feature (i.e., strictly on the basis of its yield) is sometimes referred to as its "investment value." The investment value of the convertible security typically will fluctuate inversely with changes in prevailing interest rates. However, at the same time, the convertible security will be influenced by its "conversion value," which is the market value of the underlying common stock that would be obtained if the convertible security were converted. Conversion value fluctuates directly with the price of the underlying common stock. If, because of a low price of the common stock, the conversion value is substantially below the investment value of the convertible security, the price of the convertible security is governed principally by its investment value. If the conversion value of a convertible security increases to a point that approximates or exceeds its investment value, the value of the security will be principally influenced by its conversion value. A convertible security will sell at a premium over its conversion value to the extent investors place value on the right to acquire the underlying common stock while holding a fixed income security. Holders of convertible securities have a claim on the assets of the issuer prior to the common stockholders, but may be subordinated to holders of similar non-convertible securities of the same issuer. OTHER INVESTMENTS FIXED INCOME SECURITIES Fixed income securities include preferred, preference and convertible securities, equipment lease certificates, equipment trust certificates and conditional sales contracts. Preference stocks are stocks that have many characteristics of preferred stocks, but are typically junior to an existing class of preferred stocks. Equipment lease certificates are debt obligations secured by leases on equipment (such as railroad cars, airplanes or office equipment), with the issuer of the certificate being the owner and lessor of the equipment. Equipment trust certificates are debt obligations secured by an interest in property (such as railroad cars or airplanes), the title of which is held by a trustee while the property - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT INFORMATION AND RESTRICTIONS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- is being used by the borrower. Conditional sales contracts are agreements under which the seller of property continues to hold title to the property until the purchase price is fully paid or other conditions are met by the buyer. Fixed-rate bonds may have a demand feature allowing the holder to redeem the bonds at specified times. These bonds are more defensive than conventional long-term bonds (protecting to some degree against a rise in interest rates) while providing greater opportunity than comparable intermediate term bonds, since they may be retained if interest rates decline. Acquiring these kinds of bonds provides the contractual right to require the issuer of the bonds to purchase the security at an agreed upon price, which right is contained in the obligation itself rather than in a separate agreement or instrument. Since this right is assignable only with the bond, it will not be assigned any separate value. Certain securities may permit the issuer at its option to "call," or redeem, the securities. If an issuer were to redeem securities during a time of declining interest rates, the Trust may not be able to reinvest the proceeds in securities providing the same investment return as the securities redeemed. The rating assigned to a security by a rating agency does not reflect assessment of the volatility of the security's market value or of the liquidity of an investment in the securities. Credit ratings are based largely on the issuer's historical financial condition and the rating agency's investment analysis at the time of rating, and the rating assigned to any particular security is not necessarily a reflection of the issuer's current financial condition. Credit quality in the high yield, high risk bond market can change from time to time, and recently issued credit ratings may not fully reflect the actual risks posed by a particular high yield security. In addition to lower rated securities, the Trust also may invest in higher rated securities. For a description of corporate bond ratings, see Appendix A. REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS The Trust 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, the Trust might experience delays in recovering its cash. To the extent that, in the meantime, the value of the securities the Trust purchased may have decreased, the Trust could experience a loss. Repurchase agreements that mature in more than seven days will be treated as illiquid. The Trust'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. ZERO COUPON BONDS Zero coupon bonds are debt obligations that do not require the periodic payment of interest and are issued at a significant discount from face value. The discount approximates the total amount of interest the bonds will accrue and compound over the period until maturity at a rate of interest reflecting the market rate of the security at the time of issuance. The Trust is required to accrue income from zero coupon bonds on a current basis, even though it does not receive that income currently in cash and the Trust is required to distribute its income for each taxable year. Thus, the Trust may have to sell other investments to obtain cash needed to make income distributions. INDEXED SECURITIES The Trust may invest in securities that fluctuate in value with an index. Such securities generally will either be issued by the U.S. Government or one of its agencies or instrumentalities or, if privately issued, collateralized by mortgages that are insured, guaranteed or otherwise backed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities. The interest rate or, in some cases, the principal payable at the maturity of an indexed security may change positively or inversely in relation to one or more interest rates, financial indices, securities prices or other financial indicators ("reference prices"). An indexed security may be leveraged to the extent that the magnitude of any change in the interest rate or principal payable on an indexed security is a multiple of the change in the reference price. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT INFORMATION AND RESTRICTIONS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thus, indexed securities may decline in value due to adverse market changes in reference prices. Because indexed securities derive their value from another instrument, security or index, they are considered derivative debt securities, and are subject to different combinations of prepayment, extension, interest rate and/or other market risks. SHORT SALES The Trust may utilize short sales for hedging purposes. A short sale is effected by selling a security which the Trust does not own, or, if the Trust does own the security, is not to be delivered upon consummation of the sale. The Trust may engage in short sales "against the box" (i.e., short sales of securities the Trust already owns) for hedging purposes. If the price of the security in the short sale decreases, the Trust will realize a profit to the extent that the short sale price for the security exceeds the market price. If the price of the security increases, the Trust will realize a loss to the extent that the market price exceeds the short sale price. Selling securities short runs the risk of losing an amount greater than the initial investment therein. Purchasing securities to close out the short position can itself cause the price of the securities to rise further, thereby exacerbating the loss. Short-selling exposes the Trust to unlimited risk with respect to that security due to the lack of an upper limit on the price to which an instrument can rise. Although the Trust reserves the right to utilize short sales, the Adviser is under no obligation to utilize short sales at all. FOREIGN INVESTMENTS The Trust may invest in U.S. dollar denominated securities of non-U.S. issuers. 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 that 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 purchasing directly the underlying foreign securities in their national markets and currencies. However, they continue to be subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities. These risks include foreign exchange risk as well as the political and economic risks of the underlying issuer's country. ADRs, EDRs and GDRs may be sponsored or unsponsored. Unsponsored receipts are established without the participation of the issuer. Unsponsored receipts may involve higher expenses, they may not pass- through voting or other shareholder rights, and they may be less liquid. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT INFORMATION AND RESTRICTIONS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OPTIONS Call options may be purchased to provide exposure to increases in the market (e.g., with respect to temporary cash positions) or to hedge against an increase in the price of securities or other investments that the Trust intends to purchase or has sold short. Similarly, put options may be purchased for speculative purposes or to hedge against a decrease in the market generally or in the price of securities or other investments held by the Trust. Buying options may reduce the Trust's returns, but by no more than the amount of the premiums paid for the options. The Trust may write covered call options (i.e., where the Trust owns the security or other investment that is subject to the call) to enhance returns when the Adviser perceives that the option premium offered is in excess of the premium that the Adviser would expect to be offered under existing market conditions, or if the exercise price of the option is in excess of the price that the Adviser expects the security or other underlying investment to reach during the life of the option. Writing covered call options may limit the Trust's gain on portfolio investments if the option is exercised because the Trust will have to sell the underlying investments below the current market price. Purchasing and writing put and call options are highly specialized activities and entail greater than ordinary market risks. SECURITIES LENDING As described in the Prospectus, the Trust may lend a portion of its portfolio Senior Loans or other securities to broker-dealers or other institutional borrowers. Loans will be made only to organizations whose credit quality or claims paying ability is considered by the Adviser to be at least investment grade. All securities loans will be collateralized on a continuous basis by cash or U.S. government securities having a value, marked to market daily, of at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities. The Trust may receive loan fees in connection with loans that are collateralized by securities or on loans of securities for which there is special demand. The Trust may also seek to earn income on securities loans by reinvesting cash collateral in mortgage-backed securities ("MBS") or other securities consistent with its investment objectives and policies, seeking to invest at rates that are higher than the "rebate" rate that it normally will pay to the borrower with respect to such cash collateral. Any such reinvestment will be subject to the investment policies, restrictions and risk considerations described in the Prospectus and in this SAI. Senior Loans and other securities may result in delays in recovering, or a failure of the borrower to return, the loaned securities. The defaulting borrower ordinarily would be liable to the Trust for any losses resulting from such delays or failures, and the collateral provided in connection with the loan normally would also be available for that purpose. Securities loans normally may be terminated by either the Trust or the borrower at any time. Upon termination and the return of the loaned securities, the Trust would be required to return the related cash or securities collateral to the borrower and it may be required to liquidate longer term portfolio securities in order to do so. To the extent that such securities have decreased in value, this may result in the Trust realizing a loss at a time when it would not otherwise do so. The Trust also may incur losses if it is unable to reinvest cash collateral at rates higher than applicable rebate rates paid to borrowers and related administrative costs. These risks are substantially the same as those incurred through investment leverage, and will be subject to the investment policies, restrictions and risk considerations described in the Prospectus and in this SAI. The Trust will receive amounts equivalent to any interest or other distributions paid on securities while they are on loan, and the Trust will not be entitled to exercise voting or other beneficial rights on loaned securities. The Trust will exercise its right to terminate loans and thereby regain these rights whenever the Adviser considers it to be in the Trust's interest to do so, taking into account the related loss of reinvestment income and other factors. SHORT-TERM TRADING Securities may be sold in anticipation of market decline (a rise in interest rates) or purchased in anticipation of a market rise (a decline in interest rates) and later sold. In addition, a security may be - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT INFORMATION AND RESTRICTIONS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- sold and another purchased at approximately the same time to take advantage of what the Adviser believes to be a temporary disparity in the normal yield relationship between the two securities. Yield disparities may occur for reasons not directly related to the investment quality of particular issues or the general movement of interest rates, such as changes in the overall demand for or supply of various types of fixed income securities or changes in the investment objectives of investors. TEMPORARY INVESTMENTS The Trust may invest temporarily in cash or cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are highly liquid, short-term securities such as commercial paper, time deposits, certificates of deposit, short-term notes and short-term U.S. Government obligations. INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS The following investment restrictions of the Trust are designated as fundamental policies and as such cannot be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of the Trust's outstanding voting securities, which as used in this SAI means the lesser of (a) 67% of the shares of the Trust present or represented by proxy at a meeting if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares are present or represented at the meeting or (b) more than 50% of outstanding shares of the Trust. As a matter of fundamental policy the Trust may not: (1) Borrow money, except as permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). The 1940 Act currently requires that any indebtedness incurred by a closed-end investment company have an asset coverage of at least 300%; (2) Issue senior securities, as defined in the 1940 Act, other than (i) preferred shares which immediately after issuance will have asset coverage of at least 200%, (ii) indebtedness which immediately after issuance will have asset coverage of at least 300%, or (iii) the borrowings permitted by investment restriction (1) above. The 1940 Act currently defines "senior security" as any bond, debenture, note or similar obligation or instrument constituting a security and evidencing indebtedness, and any stock of a class having priority over any other class as to distribution of assets or payment of dividends. Debt and equity securities issued by a closed-end investment company meeting the foregoing asset coverage provisions are excluded from the general 1940 Act prohibition on the issuance of senior securities; (3) Purchase securities on margin (but the Trust may obtain such short-term credits as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of securities). The purchase of investment assets with the proceeds of a permitted borrowing or securities offering will not be deemed to be the purchase of securities on margin; (4) Underwrite securities issued by other persons, except insofar as it may technically be deemed to be an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended in selling or disposing of a portfolio investment; (5) Make loans to other persons, except by (a) the acquisition of loan interests, debt securities and other obligations in which the Trust is authorized to invest in accordance with its investment objectives and policies, (b) entering into repurchase agreements, (c) lending its portfolio securities and (d) lending cash consistent with applicable law; (6) Purchase or sell real estate, although it may purchase and sell securities that are secured by interests in real estate and securities of issuers that invest or deal in real estate. The Trust reserves the freedom of action to hold and to sell real estate acquired as a result of the ownership of securities; - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT INFORMATION AND RESTRICTIONS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (7) Purchase or sell physical commodities or contracts for the purchase or sale of physical commodities. Physical commodities do not include futures contracts with respect to securities, securities indices or other financial instruments; and (8) With respect to 75% of its total assets, invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of a single issuer or purchase more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of a single issuer, except obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities and except securities of other investment companies; or invest 25% or more of its total assets in any single industry (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities). The Trust may borrow money as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes, including the payment of dividends and the settlement of securities transactions which otherwise might require untimely dispositions of Trust securities. The 1940 Act currently requires that the Trust have 300% asset coverage with respect to all borrowings other than temporary borrowings. For purposes of construing restriction (8), securities of the U.S. Government, its agencies, or instrumentalities are not considered to represent industries. Municipal obligations backed by the credit of a governmental entity are also not considered to represent industries. The Trust has adopted the following nonfundamental investment policy, which may be changed by the Board without approval of the Trust's shareholders. As a matter of nonfundamental policy, the Trust may not make short sales of securities or maintain a short position, unless at all times when a short position is open it either owns an equal amount of such securities or owns securities convertible into or exchangeable, without payment of any further consideration, for securities of the same issuer as, and equal in amount to, the securities sold short. The Trust may invest more than 10% of its total assets in one or more other management investment companies (or may invest in affiliated investment companies) to the extent permitted by section 12(d) of the 1940 Act and rules thereunder. Whenever an investment policy or investment restriction set forth in the Prospectus or this SAI states a maximum percentage of assets that may be invested in any security or other asset or describes a policy regarding quality standards, such percentage limitation or standard shall be determined immediately after and as a result of the Trust's acquisition of such security or asset. Accordingly, any later increase or decrease resulting from a change in values, assets or other circumstances or any subsequent rating change made by a rating service (or as determined by the Adviser if the security is not rated by a rating agency) will not compel the Trust to dispose of such security or other asset. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust must always be in compliance with the borrowing policies set forth above. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Trustees and officers The Trustees of the Trust are responsible for the overall management and supervision of the affairs of the Trust. The Trustees and officers of the Trust are listed below. Except as indicated, each individual has held the office shown or other offices in the same company for the last five years. The "noninterested Trustees" consist of those Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Trust, as that term is defined under the 1940 Act. The business address of each Trustee and officer is The Eaton Vance Building, 255 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109. As used in this SAI, "EVC" refers to Eaton Vance Corp., "EV" refers to Eaton Vance, Inc., "BMR" refers to Boston Management and Research, and "EVD" refers to Eaton Vance Distributors Inc. EVC and EV are the corporate parent and trustee, respectively, of Eaton Vance and BMR.
NUMBER OF PORTFOLIOS IN TERM OF OFFICE FUND COMPLEX OTHER NAME AND POSITION(S) AND LENGTH PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) OVERSEEN BY DIRECTORSHIPS DATE OF BIRTH WITH THE FUND OF SERVICE DURING PAST FIVE YEARS TRUSTEE(1) HELD - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTERESTED TRUSTEE James B. Hawkes Trustee(2) and Since 5/21/04 Chairman, President and 197 Director of EVC 11/9/41 Vice President Three Years Chief Executive Officer of BMR, Eaton Vance, EVC and EV; Director of EV; Vice President and Director of EVD. Trustee and/or officer of 196 registered investment companies in the Eaton Vance Fund Complex. Mr. Hawkes is an interested person because of his positions with BMR, Eaton Vance, EVC and EV, which are affiliates of the Fund. NON-INTERESTED TRUSTEES Samuel L. Hayes, III Trustee(2) Since 5/21/04 Jacob H. Schiff 197 Director of 2/23/35 Three Years Professor of Investment Tiffany & Co. Banking Emeritus, (specialty Harvard University retailer) and Graduate School of Telect, Inc. Business (telecommunication Administration. services company) William H. Park Trustee(3) Since 5/21/04 President and Chief 194 None 9/19/47 Three Years Executive Officer, Prizm Capital Management, LLC (investment management firm) (since 2002). Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, United Asset Management Corporation (a holding company owning institutional investment management firms) (1982-2001).
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF PORTFOLIOS IN TERM OF OFFICE FUND COMPLEX OTHER NAME AND POSITION(S) AND LENGTH PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) OVERSEEN BY DIRECTORSHIPS DATE OF BIRTH WITH THE FUND OF SERVICE DURING PAST FIVE YEARS TRUSTEE(1) HELD - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ronald A. Pearlman Trustee(3) Since 5/21/04 Professor of Law, 194 None 7/10/40 Three Years Georgetown University Law Center (since 1999). Tax Partner, Covington & Burling, Washington, DC (1991- 2000). Norton H. Reamer Trustee(4) Since 5/21/04 President and Chief 197 None 9/21/35 Three Years Executive Officer of Asset Management Finance Corp. (a specialty finance company serving the investment management industry) (since October 2003). President, Unicorn Corporation (an investment and financial advisory services company) (since September 2000). Formerly, Chairman, Hellman, Jordan Management Co., Inc. (an investment management company) (2000-2003). Formerly, Advisory Director of Berkshire Capital Corporation (investment banking firm) (2002-2003). Formerly, Chairman of the Board, United Asset Management Corporation (a holding company owning institutional investment management firms) and Chairman, President and Director, UAM Funds (mutual funds) (1980-2000). Lynn A. Stout Trustee(4) Since 5/21/04 Professor of Law, 197 None 9/14/57 Three Years University of California at Los Angeles School of Law (since July 2001). Formerly, Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center.
- ------------ (1) Includes both master and feeder funds in master-feeder structure. (2) Class I Trustees whose term expires in 2005. (3) Class II Trustees whose term expires in 2006. (4) Class III Trustees whose term expires in 2007. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15 TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCIPAL OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT TRUSTEES
TERM OF OFFICE POSITION(S) AND LENGTH NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH WITH THE FUND OF SERVICE PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING PAST FIVE YEARS - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Payson F. Swaffield President and Since 4/28/04 Vice President of Eaton Vance and BMR. 8/13/56 Chief Executive Officer of 15 registered investment Officer companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR. Thomas E. Faust Jr. Vice President Since 4/28/04 Executive Vice President of Eaton Vance, 5/31/58 BMR, EVC and EV; Chief Investment Officer of Eaton Vance and BMR and Director of EVC. Chief Executive Officer of Belair Capital Fund LLC, Belcrest Capital Fund LLC, Belmar Capital Fund LLC; Belport Capital Fund LLC and Belrose Capital Fund LLC (private investment companies sponsored by Eaton Vance). Officer of 55 registered investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR. Scott H. Page Vice President Since 4/28/04 Vice President of Eaton Vance and BMR. 11/30/59 Officer of 15 registered investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR. Michael W. Weilheimer Vice President Since 4/28/04 Vice President of Eaton Vance and BMR. 2/11/61 Officer of 12 registered investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR. Barbara E. Campbell Treasurer and Since 4/28/04 Vice President of BMR and Eaton Vance. 6/19/57 Principal Officer of 195 registered investment Financial and companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR. Accounting Officer Alan R. Dynner Secretary Since 4/28/04 Vice President, Secretary and Chief Legal 10/10/40 Officer of BMR, Eaton Vance, EVD, EV and EVC. Officer of 197 registered investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR.
The Board of Trustees of the Trust has several standing Committees, including the Governance Committee, the Audit Committee, and the Special Committee. Each such Committee is comprised of only noninterested Trustees. The Governance Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Trust is comprised of the noninterested Trustees. Ms. Stout currently serves as chairperson of the Governance Committee. The purpose of the Governance Committee is to consider, evaluate and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees with respect to the structure, membership and operation of the Board of Trustees and the Committees thereof, including the nomination and selection of noninterested Trustees and the compensation of noninterested Trustees. The Governance Committee will, when a vacancy exists or is anticipated, consider any nominee for noninterested Trustee recommended by a shareholder if such recommendation is submitted to the Governance Committee, contains sufficient background information concerning the candidate and is received in a sufficiently timely manner. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16 TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Messrs. Reamer (Chairman), Hayes, Park and Ms. Stout are members of the Audit Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Trust. The Board of Trustees has designated Messrs. Hayes, Park and Reamer, each a noninterested Trustee, as audit committee financial experts. The Audit Committee's functions include (i) overseeing the Fund's accounting and financial reporting policies and practices, its internal audit controls and procedures, the internal controls of certain service providers, as appropriate, and the quality and integrity of the Trust's financial statements and independent audit thereof; (ii) approving the selection, evaluation and, when appropriate, replacement of the Trust's independent auditors; and (iii) evaluating the qualification, independence, and performance of the Trust's independent auditors. Messrs. Hayes (Chairman), Park, Pearlman, Reamer and Ms. Stout are currently members of the Special Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Trust. The purposes of the Special Committee are to consider, evaluate and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees concerning the following matters: (i) contractual arrangements with each service provider to the Trust, including advisory, subadvisory, transfer agency, custodial and fund accounting, distribution services and administrative services; (ii) any and all other matters in which any of the Trust service providers (including Eaton Vance or any affiliated entity thereof) has an actual or potential conflict of interest with the interests of the Trust, or investors therein; and (iii) any other matter appropriate for review by the noninterested Trustees, unless the matter is within the responsibilities of the Audit Committee or the Governance Committee of the Trust. In addition, the Special Committee has established a Contract Review Subcommittee whose duties and powers include evaluating proposed new or amended or existing contracts for services provided to the Trust and making recommendations to the Board of Trustees with respect to all matters involving an actual or potential conflict of interest between the interests of Eaton Vance or any of its affiliated companies, on the one hand, and the Trust on the other hand. The members of the Contract Review Subcommittee are . As of the date of this SAI, each of the Committees has held meetings. When considering approval of the Advisory Agreement between the Trust and the Adviser, the Contract Review Sub-Committee of the Special Committee considered, among other things, the following: + A report comparing the fees and expenses of the Trust and certain profitability analyses prepared by Eaton Vance; + Information on the relevant peer group(s) of funds; + The economic outlook and the general investment outlook in the relevant investment markets; + Eaton Vance's results and financial condition and the overall organization of the Adviser; + Arrangements regarding the distribution of Trust shares; + The procedures used to determine the fair value of the Trust'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; - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17 TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Operating expenses (including transfer agency expenses) to be paid to third parties; and + Information to be provided to investors, including the Trust's shareholders. In evaluating the Advisory Agreement between the Trust and Eaton Vance, the Contract Review Subcommittee of the Special Committee reviewed material furnished by Eaton Vance at the initial Board meeting held on May 21, 2004, including the above referenced considerations and information relating to the education, experience and number of investment professionals and other personnel who would provide services under the Advisory Agreement. The Contract Review Subcommittee also took into account the time and attention to be devoted by senior management to the Trust and the other funds in the complex. The Contract Review Subcommittee evaluated the level of skill required to manage the Trust and concluded that the human resources available at Eaton Vance were appropriate to fulfill effectively the duties of the Adviser on behalf of the Trust. The Contract Review Subcommittee also considered the business reputation of the Adviser, its financial resources and professional liability insurance coverage and concluded that Eaton Vance would be able to meet any reasonably foreseeable obligations under the Advisory Agreement. The Contract Review Subcommittee of the Special Committee received information concerning the investment philosophy and investment process to be applied by Eaton Vance in managing the Trust. In this regard, the Contract Review Subcommittee considered Eaton Vance's in-house research capabilities as well as other resources available to Eaton Vance personnel, including research services that may be available to Eaton Vance as a result of securities transactions effected for the Trust and other investment advisory clients. The Contract Review Subcommittee concluded that Eaton Vance's investment process, research capabilities and philosophy were well suited to the Fund, given the Trust's investment objectives and policies. In addition to the factors mentioned above, the Contract Review Subcommittee of the Special Committee also reviewed the level of the Adviser's profits in respect of the management of the Eaton Vance funds, including the Trust. The Contract Review Subcommittee considered the profits realized by Eaton Vance and its affiliates in connection with the operation of the Trust. The Contract Review Subcommittee also considered profit margins of Eaton Vance in comparison with available industry data. The Contract Review Subcommittee of the Special Committee did not consider any single factor as controlling in determining whether or not to approve the Advisory Agreement. Nor are the items described herein all encompassing of the matters considered by the Contract Review Subcommittee. In assessing the information provided by Eaton Vance and its affiliates, the Contract Review Subcommittee also took into consideration the benefits to shareholders of investing in a fund that is part of a large family of funds which provides a large variety of shareholder services. Based on its consideration of all factors that it deemed material and assisted by the advice of its independent counsel, the Contract Review Subcommittee of the Special Committee concluded that the approval of the Advisory Agreement, including the fee structure (described herein) is in the interests of shareholders. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18 TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SHARE OWNERSHIP The following table shows the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each Trustee in the Trust and all Eaton Vance funds overseen by the Trustee as of December 31, 2003.
AGGREGATE DOLLAR RANGE OF EQUITY DOLLAR RANGE OF SECURITIES OWNED IN ALL REGISTERED EQUITY SECURITIES FUNDS OVERSEEN BY TRUSTEE IN THE NAME OF TRUSTEE OWNED IN THE TRUST EATON VANCE FUND COMPLEX - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ INTERESTED TRUSTEE James B. Hawkes............................. None over $100,000 NONINTERESTED TRUSTEES Samuel L. Hayes, III........................ None over $100,000 William H. Park............................. None over $100,000 Ronald A. Pearlman.......................... None over $100,000 Norton H. Reamer............................ None over $100,000 Lynn A. Stout............................... None $50,001 - $100,000
As of December 31, 2003, 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, 2002 and December 31, 2003, 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; (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; (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, 2002 and December 31, 2003, 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 any of their immediate family members served as an officer. Trustees of the Trust who are not affiliated with the Adviser may elect to defer receipt of all or a percentage of their annual fees in accordance with the terms of a Trustees Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Trustees' Plan"). Under the Trustees' Plan, an eligible Trustee may elect to have his deferred fees invested by the Trust in the shares of one or more funds in the Eaton Vance Family of Funds, and the amount paid to the Trustees under the Trustees' Plan will be determined based upon the performance of such investments. Deferral of Trustees' fees in accordance with the Trustees' Plan will have a negligible effect on the Trust's assets, liabilities, and net income per share, and will not obligate the Trust to retain the services of any Trustee or obligate the Trust to pay any particular level of compensation to the Trustee. The Trust does not have a retirement plan for its Trustees. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19 TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The fees and expenses of the Trustees of the Trust are paid by the Trust. (A Trustee of the Trust who is a member of the Eaton Vance organization receives no compensation from the Trust.) During the Trust's fiscal year ending May 31, 2005, it is anticipated that the Trustees of the Trust will earn the following compensation in their capacities as Trustees. For the year ended December 31, 2003, the Trustees earned the compensation set forth below in their capacities as Trustees from the funds in the Eaton Vance fund complex(1).
SAMUEL L. WILLIAM H. RONALD A. NORTON H. LYNN A. SOURCE OF COMPENSATION HAYES, III PARK PEARLMAN REAMER STOUT - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Trust*............................. $ $ $ $ $ Fund Complex....................... $ $ $ $ $
- ------------ * Estimated (1) As of April 30, 2004, the Eaton Vance fund complex consisted of 198 registered investment companies or series thereof. PROXY VOTING POLICY The Trust is subject to the Eaton Vance Funds Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures (the "Fund Policy"), pursuant to which the Trustees have delegated proxy voting responsibility to the Adviser and adopted the Adviser's proxy voting policies and procedures (the "Policies"), which are described below. The Trustees will review the Trust's proxy voting records from time to time and will annually consider approving the Policies for the upcoming year. In the event that a conflict of interest arises between the Trust's shareholders and the Adviser or any of its affiliates or any affiliate of the Trust, the Adviser will generally refrain from voting the proxies related to the companies giving rise to such conflict until it consults with the Board of the Trust except as contemplated under the Fund Policy. The Board's Special Committee will instruct the Adviser on the appropriate course of action. The Policies are designed to promote accountability of a company's management to its shareholders and to align the interests of management with those shareholders. The Adviser will generally support company management on proposals relating to environmental and social policy issues, on matters regarding the state of organization of the company and routine matters related to corporate administration which are not expected to have a significant economic impact on the company or its shareholders. On all other matters, the Adviser will review each matter on a case-by-case basis and reserves the right to deviate from the Policies' guidelines when it believes the situation warrants such a deviation. The Policies include voting guidelines for matters relating to, among other things, the election of directors, approval of independent auditors, executive compensation, corporate structure and anti-takeover defenses. The Adviser may abstain from voting from time to time where it determines that the costs associated with voting a proxy outweigh the benefits derived from exercising the right to vote. In addition, the Adviser will monitor situations that may result in a conflict of interest between the Trust's shareholders and the Adviser or any of its affiliates or any affiliate of the Trust by maintaining a list of significant existing and prospective corporate clients. The Adviser's personnel responsible for reviewing and voting proxies on behalf of the Trust will report any proxy received or expected to be received from a company included on that list to members of senior management of the Adviser identified in the Policies. Such members of senior management will determine if a conflict exists. If a conflict does exist, the proxy will either be voted strictly in accordance with the Policies or the Adviser will seek instruction on how to vote from the Special Committee. Effective August 31, 2004, information on how the Trust voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the 12 month period ended June 30, 2004 will be available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-262-1122, and (2) on the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20 Investment advisory and other services Eaton Vance, its affiliates and its predecessor companies have been managing assets of individuals and institutions since 1924 and of investment companies since 1931. They maintain a large staff of experienced fixed-income, senior loan and equity investment professionals to service the needs of their clients. The fixed-income group focuses on all kinds of taxable investment-grade and high-yield securities, tax-exempt investment-grade and high-yield securities, and U.S. Government securities. The senior loan group focuses on senior floating rate loans, unsecured loans and other floating rate debt securities such as notes, bonds and asset backed securities. The equity group covers stocks ranging from blue chip to emerging growth companies. Eaton Vance and its affiliates act as adviser to a family of mutual funds, and individual and various institutional accounts, including corporations, hospitals, retirement plans, universities, foundations and trusts. The Trust will be responsible for all of its costs and expenses not expressly stated to be payable by Eaton Vance under the Advisory Agreement or Administration Agreement. Such costs and expenses to be borne by the Trust include, without limitation: custody and transfer agency fees and expenses, including those incurred for determining net asset value and keeping accounting books and records; expenses of pricing and valuation services; the cost of share certificates; membership dues in investment company organizations; expenses of acquiring, holding and disposing of securities and other investments; fees and expenses of registering under the securities laws, stock exchange listing fees and governmental fees; rating agency fees and preferred share remarketing expenses; expenses of reports to shareholders, proxy statements and other expenses of shareholders' meetings; insurance premiums; printing and mailing expenses; interest, taxes and corporate fees; legal and accounting expenses; compensation and expenses of Trustees not affiliated with Eaton Vance; expenses of conducting repurchase offers for the purpose of repurchasing Trust shares; and investment advisory and administration fees. The Trust will also bear expenses incurred in connection with any litigation in which the Trust is a party and any legal obligation to indemnify its officers and Trustees with respect thereto, to the extent not covered by insurance. The Advisory Agreement with the Adviser continues in effect to October 20, 2005 and from year to year so long as such continuance is approved at least annually (i) by the vote of a majority of the noninterested Trustees of the Trust or of the Adviser cast in person at a meeting specifically called for the purpose of voting on such approval and (ii) by the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding interests of the Trust. The Trust's Administration Agreement continues in effect from year to year so long as such continuance is approved at least annually by the vote of a majority of the Trust's Trustees. Each agreement may be terminated at any time without penalty on sixty (60) days' written notice by the Trustees of the Trust or Eaton Vance, as applicable, or by vote of the majority of the outstanding shares of the Trust. Each agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment. Each agreement provides that, in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations or duties to the Trust under such agreements on the part of Eaton Vance, Eaton Vance shall not be liable to the Trust for any loss incurred, to the extent not covered by insurance. Eaton Vance is a business trust organized under Massachusetts law. EV serves as trustee of Eaton Vance. Eaton Vance and EV are subsidiaries of EVC, a Maryland corporation and publicly-held holding company. EVC through its subsidiaries and affiliates engages primarily in investment management, administration and marketing activities. The Directors of EVC are James B. Hawkes, John G. L. Cabot, Thomas E. Faust Jr., Leo I. Higdon, Jr., John M. Nelson, Vincent M. O'Reilly and Ralph Z. Sorenson. All shares of the outstanding Voting Common Stock of EVC are deposited in a voting trust, the voting trustees of which are Messrs. James B. 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 or its affiliates). 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 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21 INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- by certain of the officers of BMR and Eaton Vance and its affiliates who are also officers, or officers and Directors of EVC and EV. As indicated under "Trustees and Officers", all of the officers of the Trust (as well as Mr. Hawkes who is also a Trustee) hold positions in the Eaton Vance organization. EVC and its affiliates and their officers and employees from time to time have transactions with various banks, including the custodian of the Trust, IBT. It is Eaton Vance's opinion that the terms and conditions of such transactions were not and will not be influenced by existing or potential custodial or other relationships between the Trust and such banks. INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES Under the general supervision of the Trust's Board of Trustees, Eaton Vance will carry out the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Trust, will furnish continuously an investment program with respect to the Trust, will determine which securities should be purchased, sold or exchanged, and will implement such determinations. Eaton Vance will furnish to the Trust investment advice and provide related office facilities and personnel for servicing the investments of the Trust. Eaton Vance will compensate all Trustees and officers of the Trust who are members of the Eaton Vance organization and who render investment services to the Trust, and will also compensate all other Eaton Vance personnel who provide research and investment services to the Trust. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES Under the Administration Agreement, Eaton Vance is responsible for managing the business affairs of the Trust, subject to the supervision of the Trust's Board of Trustees. Eaton Vance will furnish to the Trust all office facilities, equipment and personnel for administering the affairs of the Trust. Eaton Vance will compensate all Trustees and officers of the Trust who are members of the Eaton Vance organization and who render executive and administrative services to the Trust, and will also compensate all other Eaton Vance personnel who perform management and administrative services for the Trust. Eaton Vance's administrative services include recordkeeping, preparation and filing of documents required to comply with federal and state securities laws, supervising the activities of the Trust's custodian and transfer agent, providing assistance in connection with the Trustees and shareholders' meetings, providing services in connection with quarterly repurchase offers, if any, and other administrative services necessary to conduct the Trust's business. CODE OF ETHICS The Adviser and the Trust have adopted a Code of Ethics governing personal securities transactions. Under the Code of Ethics, Eaton Vance employees may purchase and sell securities (including securities held or eligible for purchase by the Trust) subject to certain pre-clearance and reporting requirements and other procedures. The Code of Ethics can be reviewed and copied at the Securities and Exchange Commission's public reference room in Washington, DC (call 1-202-942-8090 for information on the operation of the public reference room); on the EDGAR Database on the SEC's Internet site (http://www.sec.gov); or, upon payment of copying fees, by writing the SEC's public reference section, Washington, DC 20549-0102, or by electronic mail at publicinfo@sec.gov. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE The net asset value per Common Share of the Trust is determined no less frequently than daily, generally on each day of the week that the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") is open for trading, as of the close of regular trading on the Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m. New York time). The Trust's net asset value per Common Share is determined by IBT, in the manner authorized by the Trustees of the Trust. Net asset value is computed by dividing the value of the Trust's total assets, less its liabilities by the number of shares outstanding. The Adviser uses an independent pricing service to value most loans, and other debt securities at their market value. The Adviser may use the fair value method to value loans or other securities if market quotations for them are not readily available or are deemed unreliable, or if events occurring after the close of a securities market and before the Trust values its assets would materially affect net asset value. A security that is fair valued may be valued at a price higher or lower than actual market quotations or the value determined by other funds using their own fair valuation procedures. The Trustees have approved and monitor the procedures under which Senior Loans are valued. The Adviser and the Valuation Committee may implement new pricing methodologies or expand mark-to-market valuation of Senior Loans in the future, which may result in a change in the Trust's net asset value per share. The Trust's net asset value per share will also be affected by fair value pricing decisions and by changes in the market for Senior Loans. In determining the fair value of a Senior Loan, the Adviser will consider relevant factors, data, and information, including: (i) the characteristics of and fundamental analytical data relating to the Senior Loan, including the cost, size, current interest rate, period until next interest rate reset, maturity and base lending rate of the Senior Loan, the terms and conditions of the Senior Loan and any related agreements, and the position of the Senior Loan in the Borrower's debt structure; (ii) the nature, adequacy and value of the collateral, including the Trust's rights, remedies and interests with respect to the collateral; (iii) the creditworthiness of the Borrower, based on an evaluation of its financial condition, financial statements and information about the Borrower's business, cash flows, capital structure and future prospects; (iv) information relating to the market for the Senior Loan, including price quotations for and trading in the Senior Loan and interests in similar Senior Loans and the market environment and investor attitudes towards the Senior Loan and interests in similar Senior Loans; (v) the experience, reputation, stability and financial condition of the Agent and any intermediate participants in the Senior Loan; and (vi) general economic and market conditions affecting the fair value of the Senior Loan. The fair value of each Senior Loan is reviewed and approved by the Adviser's Valuation Committee and the Trust's Trustees. Non-loan holdings (other than debt securities, including short term obligations) may be valued on the basis of prices furnished by one or more pricing services that determine prices for normal, institutional-size trading units of such securities using market information, transactions for comparable securities and various relationships between securities which are generally recognized by institutional traders. In certain circumstances, portfolio securities will be valued at the last sale price on the exchange that is the primary market for such securities, or the average of the last quoted bid price and asked price for those securities for which the over-the-counter market is the primary market or for listed securities in which there were no sales during the day. Marketable securities listed on the NASDAQ National Market System are valued at the NASDAQ official closing price. The value of interest rate swaps will be based upon a dealer quotation. Debt securities for which the over-the-counter market is the primary market are normally valued on the basis of prices furnished by one or more pricing services at the mean between the latest available bid and asked prices. OTC options are valued at the mean between the bid and asked prices provided by dealers. Financial futures contracts listed on commodity exchanges and exchange-traded options are valued at closing settlement prices. Short-term obligations having remaining maturities of less than - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23 DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 that determines valuations based upon market transactions for normal, institutional-size trading units of such securities. Securities for which there is no such quotation or valuation and all other assets are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by or at the direction of the Trust's Trustees. Generally, trading in the foreign securities owned by the Trust 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 the Trust 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 the Trust's net asset value (unless the Trust deems that such events would materially affect its net asset value, in which case an adjustment would be made and reflected in such computation). The Trust may rely on an independent fair valuation service in making any such adjustment. Foreign securities and currency held by the Trust will be valued in U.S. dollars; such values will be computed by the custodian based on foreign currency exchange rate quotations supplied by an independent quotation service. PORTFOLIO TRADING Decisions concerning the execution of portfolio Senior Loan and other security transactions, including the selection of the market and the executing firm, are made by the Adviser. The Adviser is also responsible for the execution of transactions for all other accounts managed by it. The Adviser places the portfolio security transactions of the Trust and of all other accounts managed by it for execution with many firms. The Adviser uses its best efforts to obtain execution of portfolio security transactions at prices that are advantageous to the Trust and at reasonably competitive spreads or (when a disclosed commission is being charged) at reasonably competitive commission rates. In seeking such execution, the Adviser will use its best judgment in evaluating the terms of a transaction, and will give consideration to various relevant factors, including without limitation the full range and quality of the executing firm's services, the value of the brokerage and research services provided, the responsiveness of the firm to the Adviser, the size and type of the transaction, the nature and character of the market for the security, the confidentiality, speed and certainty of effective execution required for the transaction, the general execution and operational capabilities of the executing firm, the reputation, reliability, experience and financial condition of the firm, the value and quality of the services rendered by the firm in this and other transactions, and the reasonableness of the spread or commission, if any. The Trust will acquire Senior Loans from major international banks, selected domestic regional banks, insurance companies, finance companies and other financial institutions. In selecting financial institutions from which Senior Loans may be acquired, the Adviser will consider, among other factors, the financial strength, professional ability, level of service and research capability of the institution. While these financial institutions are generally not required to repurchase Senior Loans that they have sold, they may act as principal or on an agency basis in connection with their sale by the Trust. Other fixed income obligations that may be purchased and sold by the Trust are generally traded in the over-the-counter market on a net basis (i.e., without commission) through broker-dealers or banks acting for their own account rather than as brokers, or otherwise involve transactions directly with the issuers of such obligations. The Trust may also purchase fixed income and other securities from underwriters, the cost of which may include undisclosed fees and concessions to the underwriters. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24 PORTFOLIO TRADING - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. Although spreads or commissions paid on portfolio security transactions will, in the judgment of the Adviser, be reasonable in relation to the value of the services provided, commissions exceeding those that another firm might charge may be paid to broker-dealers who were selected to execute transactions on behalf of the Adviser's clients in part for providing brokerage and research services to the Adviser. As authorized in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, a broker or dealer who executes a portfolio transaction on behalf of the Trust may receive a commission that is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if the Adviser determines in good faith that such compensation was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided. This determination may be made on the basis of that particular transaction or on the basis of overall responsibilities which the Adviser and its affiliates have for accounts over which they exercise investment discretion. In making any such determination, the 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 that assist such advisers in the performance of their investment responsibilities ("Research Services") from broker-dealer firms that execute portfolio transactions for the clients of such advisers and from third parties with which such broker-dealers have arrangements. Consistent with this practice, the Adviser receives Research Services from many broker-dealer firms with which the Adviser places the Trust's 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 market, recommendations as to the purchase and sale of securities and other portfolio transactions, financial, industry and trade publications, news and information services, pricing and quotation equipment and services, and research oriented computer hardware, software, databases and services. Any particular Research Service obtained through a broker-dealer may be used by the Adviser in connection with client accounts other than those accounts that pay commissions to such broker-dealer. Any such Research Service may be broadly useful and of value to the Adviser in rendering investment advisory services to all or a significant portion of its clients, or may be relevant and useful for the management of only one client's account or of a few clients' accounts, or may be useful for the management of merely a segment of certain clients' accounts, regardless of whether any such account or accounts paid - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25 PORTFOLIO TRADING - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- commissions to the broker-dealer through which such Research Service was obtained. The advisory fee paid by the Trust is not reduced because the Adviser receives such Research Services. The Adviser evaluates the nature and quality of the various Research Services obtained through broker-dealer firms and attempts to allocate sufficient portfolio security transactions to such firms to ensure the continued receipt of Research Services that the Adviser believes are useful or of value to it in rendering investment advisory services to its clients. The Trust and the Adviser may also receive Research Services from underwriters and dealers in fixed-price offerings, which Research Services are reviewed and evaluated by the Adviser in connection with its investment responsibilities. The investment companies sponsored by the Adviser or its affiliates may allocate trades in such offerings to acquire information relating to the performance, fees and expenses of such investment companies and other mutual funds, which information is used by the Trustees of such investment companies to fulfill their responsibility to oversee the quality of the services provided by various entities, including the Adviser, to such investment companies. Such investment companies may also pay cash for such information. Subject to the requirement that the Adviser shall use its best efforts to seek and execute portfolio Senior Loan and other security transactions at advantageous prices and at reasonably competitive spreads or commission rates, the Adviser is authorized to consider as a factor in the selection of any broker-dealer firm with whom portfolio orders may be placed the fact that such firm has sold or is selling shares of the Trust or of other investment companies sponsored by the Adviser. This policy is not inconsistent with a rule of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("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 Trust may also be appropriate for other investment accounts managed by the Adviser or its affiliates. Whenever decisions are made to buy or sell securities by the Trust and one or more of such other accounts simultaneously, the Adviser will allocate the security transactions (including "hot" issues) in a manner which it believes to be equitable under the circumstances. As a result of such allocations, there may be instances where the Trust will not participate in a transaction that is allocated among other accounts. If an aggregated order cannot be filled completely, allocations will generally be made on a pro rata basis. An order may not be allocated on a pro rata basis where, for example: (i) consideration is given to portfolio managers who have been instrumental in developing or negotiating a particular investment; (ii) consideration is given to an account with specialized investment policies that coincide with the particulars of a specific investment; (iii) pro rata allocation would result in odd-lot or de minimis amounts being allocated to a portfolio or other client; or (iv) where the Adviser reasonably determines that departure from a pro rata allocation is advisable. While these aggregation and allocation policies could have a detrimental effect on the price or amount of the securities available to the Trust from time to time, it is the opinion of the Trustees of the Trust that the benefits from the Adviser's organization outweigh any disadvantage that may arise from exposure to simultaneous transactions. TAXES The following discussion of federal income tax matters is based on the advice of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP, counsel to the Trust. The following is a summary discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to a shareholder of acquiring, holding and disposing of the Common Shares of the Trust. This discussion addresses only U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. shareholders who hold their shares as capital assets and does not address all of the U.S. federal income tax consequences that - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26 TAXES - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- may be relevant to particular shareholders in light of their individual circumstances. This discussion also does not address the tax consequences to shareholders who are subject to special rules, including, without limitation, banks and financial institutions, insurance companies, dealers in securities or foreign currencies, foreign shareholders, shareholders who hold their shares as or in a hedge against currency risk, a constructive sale, or a conversion transaction, shareholders who are subject to the alternative minimum tax, or tax-exempt or tax-deferred plans, accounts, or entities. In addition, the discussion does not address any state, local, or foreign tax consequences, and it does not address any U.S. federal tax consequences other than U.S. federal income tax consequences. The discussion is based upon present provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), the regulations promulgated thereunder, and judicial and administrative ruling authorities, all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations (possibly with retroactive effect). No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of all U.S. federal income tax concerns affecting the Trust and its shareholders, and the discussion set forth herein does not constitute tax advice. Investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers to determine the specific tax consequences to them of investing in the Trust, including the applicable federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences to them and the effect of possible changes in tax laws. The Trust intends to elect to be treated and to qualify each year as a regulated investment company ("RIC") under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). Accordingly, the Trust intends to satisfy certain requirements relating to sources of its income and diversification of its assets and to distribute substantially all of its net income and net short-term and long-term capital gains (after reduction by any available capital loss carryforwards) in accordance with the timing requirements imposed by the Code, so as to maintain its RIC status and to avoid paying any federal income or excise tax. To the extent it qualifies for treatment as a RIC and satisfies the above-mentioned distribution requirements, the Trust will not be subject to federal income tax on income paid to its shareholders in the form of dividends or capital gain distributions. In order to avoid incurring a 4% federal excise tax obligation, the Code requires that the Trust distribute (or be deemed to have distributed) by December 31 of each calendar year an amount at least equal to the sum of (i) 98% of its ordinary income for such year and (ii) 98% of its capital gain net income (which is the excess of its realized net long-term capital gain over its realized net short-term capital loss), generally computed on the basis of the one-year period ending on October 31 of such year, after reduction by any available capital loss carryforwards, plus 100% of any ordinary income and capital gain net income from the prior year (as previously computed) that were not paid out during such year and on which the Trust paid no federal income tax. Under current law, provided that the Trust qualifies as a RIC for federal income tax purposes, the Trust should not be liable for any income, corporate excise or franchise tax in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. If the Trust does not qualify as a RIC for any taxable year, the Trust's taxable income will be subject to corporate income taxes, and all distributions from earnings and profits, including distributions of net capital gain (if any), will be taxable to the shareholder as ordinary income. In addition, in order to requalify for taxation as a RIC, the Trust may be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make certain distributions. The Trust's investment in zero coupon and certain other securities will cause it to realize income prior to the receipt of cash payments with respect to these securities. Such income will be accrued daily by the Trust and, in order to avoid a tax payable by the Trust, the Trust may be required to liquidate securities that it might otherwise have continued to hold in order to generate cash so that the Trust may make required distributions to its shareholders. The Trust may invest a portion of its total assets in "high yield" securities, commonly known as "junk bonds." Investments in these types of securities may present special tax issues for the Trust. Federal - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27 TAXES - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- income tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as when the Trust may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount or market discount, when and to what extent deductions may be taken for bad debts or worthless securities, how payments received on obligations in default should be allocated between principal and income and whether exchanges of debt obligations in a bankruptcy or workout context are taxable. These and other issues will be addressed by the Trust, in the event it invests in such debt securities, in order to seek to preserve its status as a regulated investment company and to not become subject to U.S. federal income or excise tax. Any recognized gain or income attributable to market discount on long-term debt obligations (i.e., on obligations with a term of more than one year except to the extent of a portion of the discount attributable to original issue discount) purchased by the Trust is taxable as ordinary income. A long-term debt obligation is generally treated as acquired at a market discount if purchased after its original issue at a price less than (i) the stated principal amount payable at maturity, in the case of an obligation that does not have original issue discount or (ii) in the case of an obligation that does have original issue discount, the sum of the issue price and any original issue discount that accrued before the obligation was purchased, subject to a de minimis exclusion. The Trust's investments in options, futures contracts, hedging transactions, forward contracts (to the extent permitted) and certain other transactions will be subject to special tax rules (including mark-to-market, constructive sale, straddle, wash sale, short sale and other rules), the effect of which may be to accelerate income to the Trust, defer Trust losses, cause adjustments in the holding periods of securities held by the Trust, 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 shareholders. The Trust may be required to limit its activities in options and futures contracts in order to enable it to maintain its RIC status. Any loss realized upon the sale or exchange of Trust shares with a holding period of 6 months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain distributions received with respect to such shares. In addition, all or a portion of a loss realized on a redemption or other disposition of Trust shares may be disallowed under "wash sale" rules to the extent the shareholder acquires other shares of the same Trust (whether through the reinvestment of distributions or otherwise) within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the disposition of the Common Shares. Any disallowed loss will result in an adjustment to the shareholder's tax basis in some or all of the other shares acquired. Sales charges paid upon a purchase of shares cannot be taken into account for purposes of determining gain or loss on a sale of the shares before the 91st day after their purchase to the extent a sales charge is reduced or eliminated in a subsequent acquisition of shares of the Trust (or of another fund) pursuant to the reinvestment or exchange privilege. Any disregarded amounts will result in an adjustment to the shareholder's tax basis in some or all of any other shares acquired. Dividends and distributions on the Trust's shares are generally subject to federal income tax as described herein to the extent they do not exceed the Trust's realized income and gains, even though such dividends and distributions may economically represent a return of a particular shareholder's investment. Such distributions are likely to occur in respect of shares purchased at a time when the Trust's net asset value reflects gains that are either unrealized, or realized but not distributed. Such realized gains may be required to be distributed even when the Trust's net asset value also reflects unrealized losses. Certain distributions declared in October, November or December and paid in the following January will be taxed to shareholders as if received on December 31 of the year in which they were declared. In addition, certain other distributions made after the close of a taxable year of the Trust may be "spilled back" and treated as paid by the Trust (except for purposes of the 4% excise tax) during such taxable year. In such case, shareholders will be treated as having received such - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 28 TAXES - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- dividends in the taxable year in which the distributions were actually made. Dividends paid out of the Trust's investment company taxable income are generally taxable to a shareholder as ordinary income to the extent of the Trust's earnings and profits. Dividends with respect to the Common Shares generally will not constitute "qualified dividends" for federal income tax purposes and thus will not be eligible for the new favorable long-term capital gains tax rates. Amounts paid by the Trust to individuals and certain other shareholders who have not provided the Trust with their correct taxpayer identification number ("TIN") and certain certifications required by the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") as well as shareholders with respect to whom the Trust has received certain information from the IRS or a broker may be subject to "backup" withholding of federal income tax arising from the Trust's taxable dividends and other distributions as well as the gross proceeds of sales of shares, at a rate of up to 28% for amounts paid during 2004. An individual's TIN is generally his or her social security number. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from payments made to a shareholder may be refunded or credited against such shareholder's U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS. The Trust will inform shareholders of the source and tax status of all distributions promptly after the close of each calendar year. The IRS has taken the position that if a RIC has more than one class of shares, it may designate distributions made to each class in any year as consisting of no more than that class's proportionate share of particular types of income for that year, including ordinary income and net capital gain. A class's proportionate share of a particular type of income for a year is determined according to the percentage of total dividends paid by the RIC during that year to the class. Accordingly, the Trust intends to designate a portion of its distributions in capital gain dividends in accordance with the IRS position. Although the matter is not free from doubt, due to the absence of direct regulatory or judicial authority, in the opinion of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP, counsel to the Trust, under current law the manner in which the Trust intends to allocate items of ordinary income and net capital gain among the Common Shares and preferred shares will be respected for federal income tax purposes. It is possible that the IRS could disagree with counsel's opinion and attempt to reallocate the Trust's net capital gain or other taxable income. STATE AND LOCAL TAXES Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers as the state or local tax consequences of investing in the Trust. OTHER INFORMATION The Trust is an organization of the type commonly known as a "Massachusetts business trust." Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of such a trust may, in certain circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for the obligations of the trust. The Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability in connection with the Trust property or the acts, obligations or affairs of the Trust. The Declaration of Trust, in cooridination with the Trust's By-laws, also provides for indemnification out of the Trust property of any shareholder held personally liable for the claims and liabilities to which a shareholder may become subject by reason of being or having been a shareholder. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which the Trust itself is unable to meet its obligations. The Trust has been advised by its counsel that the risk of any shareholder incurring any liability for the obligations of the Trust is remote. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 29 OTHER INFORMATION - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Declaration of Trust provides that the Trustees will not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law; but nothing in the Declaration of Trust protects a Trustee against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office. Voting rights are not cumulative, which means that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voting for the election of Trustees can elect 100% of the Trustees and, in such event, the holders of the remaining less than 50% of the shares voting on the matter will not be able to elect any Trustees. The Declaration of Trust provides that no person shall serve as a Trustee if shareholders holding two-thirds of the outstanding shares have removed him from that office either by a written declaration filed with the Trust's custodian or by votes cast at a meeting called for that purpose. The Declaration of Trust further provides that the Trustees of the Trust shall promptly call a meeting of the shareholders for the purpose of voting upon a question of removal of any such Trustee or Trustees when requested in writing so to do by the record holders of not less than 10 per centum of the outstanding shares. The Trust's Prospectus and this SAI do not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement that the Trust has filed with the SEC. The complete Registration Statement may be obtained from the SEC upon payment of the fee prescribed by its Rules and Regulations. INDEPENDENT AUDITORS Deloitte & Touche LLP, Boston, Massachusetts are the independent auditors for the Trust, providing audit services, tax return preparation, and assistance and consultation with respect to the preparation of filings with the SEC. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 30 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EATON VANCE FLOATING-RATE INCOME TRUST STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES ASSETS Cash...................................................... $ Offering costs............................................ Receivable from Adviser................................... 0 -------- Total assets.............................................. $ 0 ======== LIABILITIES Accrued offering costs.................................... $ 0 Accrued organizational costs.............................. 0 -------- Total liabilities......................................... $ 0 ======== Net assets applicable to common shares of beneficial interest issued and outstanding........................... $ 0 ======== NET ASSET VALUE AND OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE................ $ 20.00 ========
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS PERIOD FROM APRIL 28, 2004 (DATE OF ORGANIZATION) THROUGH . INVESTMENT INCOME........................................... $ -- -------- EXPENSES Organization costs........................................ $ Expense reimbursement..................................... ( ) -------- Net expenses........................................... $ -- -------- NET INVESTMENT INCOME....................................... $ -- ========
See notes to financial statements. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31 NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 1: ORGANIZATION The Trust was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on April 28, 2004, and has been inactive since that date except for matters relating to its organization and registration as a diversified, closed-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the sale of common shares to Eaton Vance Management, the Trust's Investment Adviser. Eaton Vance Management, or an affiliate, has agreed to reimburse all organizational costs, estimated at approximately $ . Eaton Vance Management, or an affiliate, has agreed to pay all offering costs (other than sales loads) that exceed $ per common share. The Trust's investment objective is to provide a high level of current income. The Trust may, as a secondary objective, also seek preservation of capital to the extent consistent with its primary goal of high current income. NOTE 2: ACCOUNTING POLICIES The Trust's financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America which require the use of management estimates. Actual results may differ from those estimates. The Trust's share of offering costs will be recorded within paid in capital as a reduction of the proceeds from the sale of common shares upon the commencement of Trust operations. The offering costs reflected above assume the sale of common shares. NOTE 3: INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement between the Adviser and the Trust, the Trust has agreed to pay an investment advisory fee, payable on a monthly basis, at an annual rate of % of the average daily gross assets of the Trust. Gross assets of the Trust shall be calculated by deducting accrued liabilities of the Trust not including the amount of any preferred shares outstanding or the principal amount of any indebtedness for money borrowed. In addition, Eaton Vance has contractually agreed to reimburse the Trust for fees and other expenses in the amount of % of the average daily gross assets for the first 5 full years of the Trust's operations, % of average weekly gross assets in year 6, % in year 7 and % in year 8. This reimbursement is exclusive of the Trust's organizational and offering costs. NOTE 4: FEDERAL INCOME TAXES The Trust intends to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income, including any net realized gain on investments. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 32 APPENDIX A: RATINGS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS+ MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC. LONG-TERM DEBT SECURITIES RATINGS AAA: Bonds that 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 that 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 that make the long term risk appear somewhat larger than the Aaa securities. A: Bonds that 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 that 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 that 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 that 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 that 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 that 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 that 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. - --------------- + 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 that would be given to these securities on the date of the Trust's fiscal year end. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A-1 DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Absence of Rating: Where no rating has been assigned or where a rating has been suspended or withdrawn, it may be for reasons unrelated to the quality of the issue. Should no rating be assigned, the reason may be one of the following: 1. An application for rating was not received or accepted. 2. The issue or issuer belongs to a group of securities or companies that are not rated as a matter of policy. 3. There is a lack of essential data pertaining to the issue or issuer. 4. The issue was privately placed, in which case the rating is not published in Moody's publications. Suspension or withdrawal may occur if new and material circumstances arise, the effects of which preclude satisfactory analysis; if there is no longer available reasonable up-to-date data to permit a judgment to be formed; if a bond is called for redemption; or for other reasons. Note: Moody's applies numerical modifiers, 1, 2 and 3 in each generic rating classification from Aa through B in its bond rating system. 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. SHORT-TERM DEBT SECURITIES RATINGS Moody's short-term debt ratings are opinions of the ability of issuers to repay punctually senior debt obligations. These obligations have an original maturity not exceeding one year, unless explicitly noted. Moody's employs the following three designations, all judged to be investment grade, to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers: PRIME-1: Issuers rated Prime-1 (or supporting institutions) have a superior ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. Prime-1 repayment ability will often be evidenced by many of the following characteristics: leading market positions in well-established industries; high rates of return on funds employed; conservative capitalization structure with moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection; broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash generation; and well-established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources of alternate liquidity. PRIME-2: Issuers rated Prime-2 (or supporting institutions) have a strong ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. This will normally be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above but to a lesser degree. Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, may be more subject to variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate, may be more affected by external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained. PRIME-3: Issuers rated Prime-3 (or supporting institutions) have an acceptable ability for repayment of senior short-term obligations. The effect of industry characteristics and market compositions may be more pronounced. Variability in earnings and profitability may result in changes in the level of debt protection measurements and may require relatively high financial leverage. Adequate alternate liquidity is maintained. NOT PRIME: Issuers rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A-2 DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STANDARD & POOR'S RATINGS GROUP INVESTMENT GRADE AAA: Debt rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by S&P. Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong. AA: Debt rated AA has a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal and differs from the highest rated issues only in small degree. A: Debt rated A has a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal although it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than debt in higher rated categories. BBB: Debt rated BBB is regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Whereas it normally exhibit adequate protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for debt in this category than in higher rated categories. SPECULATIVE GRADE Debt rated BB, B, CCC, CC and C is regarded as having predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal. BB indicates the least degree of speculation and C the highest. While such debt will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these are outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions. BB: Debt rated BB has less near-term vulnerability to default than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payments. The BB rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied BBB- rating. B: Debt rated B has a greater vulnerability to default but currently has the capacity to meet interest payments and principal repayments. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair capacity or willingness to pay interest and repay principal. The B rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied BB or BB- rating. CCC: Debt rated CCC has a currently identifiable vulnerability to default, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions to meet timely payment of interest and repayment of principal. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, it is not likely to have the capacity to pay interest and repay principal. The CCC rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied B or B- rating. CC: The rating CC is typically applied to debt subordinated to senior debt which is assigned an actual or implied CCC debt rating. C: The rating C is typically applied to debt subordinated to senior debt which is assigned an actual or implied CCC- debt rating. The C rating may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed, but debt service payments are continued. C1: The Rating C1 is reserved for income bonds on which no interest is being paid. D: Debt rated D is in payment default. The D rating category is used when interest payments or principal payments are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The D rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition if debt service payments are jeopardized. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A-3 DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. P: The letter "p" indicates that the rating is provisional. A provisional rating assumes the successful completion of the project being financed by the debt being rated and indicates that payment of debt service requirements is largely or entirely dependent upon the successful and timely completion of the project. This rating, however, while addressing credit quality subsequent to completion of the project, makes no comment on the likelihood of, or the risk of default upon failure of such completion. The investor should exercise his own judgment with respect to such likelihood and risk. L: The letter "L" indicates that the rating pertains to the principal amount of those bonds to the extent that the underlying deposit collateral is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and interest is adequately collateralized. In the case of certificates of deposit, the letter "L" indicates that the deposit, combined with other deposits being held in the same right and capacity, will be honored for principal and accrued pre-default interest up to the federal insurance limits within 30 days after closing of the insured institution or, in the event that the deposit is assumed by a successor insured institution, upon maturity. 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. COMMERCIAL PAPER COMMERCIAL PAPER RATING DEFINITIONS S&P's commercial paper rating is a current assessment of the likelihood of timely payment of debt having an original maturity of no more than 365 days. Ratings are graded into several categories, ranging from A for the highest quality obligations to D for the lowest. These categories are as follows: A-1: A short-term obligation rated A-1 is rated in the highest category by S&P. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong. A-2: A short-term obligation rated A-2 is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory. A-3: A short-term obligation rated A-3 exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. B: A short-term obligation rated B is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor's inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. C: A short-term obligation rated C is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. D: A short-term obligation rated D is in payment default. The D rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The D rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A-4 DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A commercial paper rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold a security inasmuch as it does not comment as to market price or suitability for a particular investor. The ratings are based on current information furnished to S&P by the issuer or obtained from other sources it considers reliable. S&P does not perform an audit in connection with any rating and may, on occasion, rely on unaudited financial information. The ratings may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn as a result of changes in or unavailability of such information. FITCH RATINGS INVESTMENT GRADE BOND RATINGS AAA: Bonds considered to be investment grade and of the highest credit quality. The obligor has an exceptionally strong ability to pay interest and repay principal, which is unlikely to be affected by reasonably foreseeable events. AA: Bonds considered to be investment grade and of very high credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is very strong, although not quite as strong as bonds rated "AAA". Because bonds rated in the "AAA" and "AA" categories are not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable future developments, short-term debt of these issuers is generally rated "F-1+". A: Bonds considered to be investment grade and of high credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is considered to be strong, but may be more vulnerable to adverse changes in economic conditions and circumstances than bonds with higher ratings. BBB: Bonds considered to be investment grade and of satisfactory credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is considered to be adequate. Adverse changes in economic conditions and circumstances, however, are more likely to have adverse impact on these bonds, and therefore, impair timely payment. The likelihood that the ratings of these bonds will fall below investment grade is higher than for bonds with higher ratings. HIGH YIELD BOND RATINGS BB: Bonds are considered speculative. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal may be affected over time by adverse economic changes. However, business and financial alternatives can be identified that could assist the obligor in satisfying its debt service requirements. B: Bonds are considered highly speculative. While bonds in this class are currently meeting debt service requirements, the probability of continued timely payment of principal and interest reflects the obligor's limited margin of safety and the need for reasonable business and economic activity throughout the life of the issue. CCC: Bonds have certain identifiable characteristics, which, if not remedied, may lead to default. The ability to meet obligations requires an advantageous business and economic environment. CC: Bonds are minimally protected. Default in payment of interest and/or principal seems probable over time. C: Bonds are in imminent default in payment of interest or principal. DDD, DD AND D: Bonds are in default on interest and/or principal payments. Such bonds are extremely speculative and should be valued on the basis of their ultimate recovery value in liquidation or reorganization of the obligor. "DDD" represents the highest potential for recovery on these bonds, and "D" represents the lowest potential for recovery. PLUS (+) OR MINUS (-): The ratings from AA to C may be modified by the addition of a plus or minus sign to indicate the relative position of a credit within the rating category. NR: Indicates that Fitch does not rate the specific issue. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A-5 DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONDITIONAL: A conditional rating is premised on the successful completion of a project or the occurrence of a specific event. INVESTMENT GRADE SHORT-TERM RATINGS Fitch's short-term ratings apply to debt obligations that are payable on demand or have original maturities of generally up to three years, including commercial paper, certificates of deposit, medium-term notes, and municipal and investment notes. F-1+: Exceptionally Strong Credit Quality. Issues assigned this rating are regarded as having the strongest degree of assurance for timely payment. F-1: Very Strong Credit Quality. Issues assigned this rating reflect an assurance of timely payment only slightly less in degree than issues rated "F-1+". F-2: Good Credit Quality. Issues carrying this rating have a satisfactory degree of assurance for timely payment, but the margin of safety is not as great as the "F-1+" and "F-1" categories. F-3: Fair Credit Quality. Issues carrying this rating have characteristics suggesting that the degree of assurance for timely payment is adequate, however, near-term adverse change could cause these securities to be rated below investment grade. * * * * * * * * Notes: Bonds which are unrated expose the investor to risks with respect to capacity to pay interest or repay principal which are similar to the risks of lower-rated speculative bonds. The Trust is dependent on the Adviser's judgment, analysis and experience in the evaluation of such bonds. Investors should note that the assignment of a rating to a bond by a rating service may not reflect the effect of recent developments on the issuer's ability to make interest and principal payments. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A-6 EATON VANCE FLOATING-RATE INCOME TRUST STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION , 2004 --------------------- INVESTMENT ADVISER AND ADMINISTRATOR Eaton Vance Management 255 State Street Boston, MA 02109 CUSTODIAN Investors Bank & Trust Company 200 Clarendon Street Boston, MA 02116 TRANSFER AGENT PFPC Inc. P.O. Box 43027 Providence, RI 02940-3027 (800) 331-1710 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS Deloitte & Touche LLP 200 Berkeley Street Boston, MA 02116 PART C OTHER INFORMATION ITEM 24. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS (1) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: Included in Part A: Not applicable. Included in Part B: Independent Auditor's Report* Statement of Assets and Liabilities* Notes to Financial Statement* - ---------------------------- *To be added by amendment. (2) EXHIBITS: (a) Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated April 28, 2004 is incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant's initial Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-115087 and 811-21574) as to the Registrant's common shares of beneficial interest ("Common Shares") filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 3, 2004 (Accession No. 0000898432-04-0002406) ("Initial Common Shares Registration Statement"). (b) By-Laws are incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant's Initial Common Shares Registration Statement. (c) Not applicable. (d) Form of Specimen Certificate for Common Shares of Beneficial Interest filed herein. (e) Dividend Reinvestment Plan filed herein. (f) Not applicable. (g) (1) Investment Advisory Agreement dated May 21, 2004, filed herein. (2) Expense Reimbursement Arrangement dated May 21, 2004, filed herein. (h) (1) Form of Underwriting Agreement filed herein. (2) Form of Master Agreement Among Underwriters filed herein. (3) Form of Master Selected Dealers Agreement filed herein. (i) The Securities and Exchange Commission has granted the Registrant an exemptive order that permits the Registrant to enter into deferred compensation arrangements with its independent Trustees. See in the matter of Capital Exchange Fund, Inc., Release No. IC- 20671 (November 1, 1994). (j) (1) Master Custodian Agreement with Investors Bank & Trust Company dated May 21, 2004 filed herein. (2) Extension Agreement dated August 31, 2000 to Master Custodian Agreement with Investors Bank & Trust Company filed as Exhibit (g)(4) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 of Eaton Vance Municipals Trust (File Nos. 33-572, 811-4409) filed with the Commission on January 23, 2001 (Accession No. 0000940394-01-500027) and incorporated herein by reference. (3) Delegation Agreement dated December 11, 2000, with Investors Bank & Trust Company filed as Exhibit (j)(e) to the Eaton Vance Prime Rate Reserves N-2, Amendment No. 5 (File Nos. 333-32267, 811-05808) filed April 3, 2002 (Accession No. 0000940394-01-500126) and incorporated herein by reference. (k) (1) Supplement to the Transfer Agency and Services Agreement dated May 21, 2004 filed herein. (2) Transfer Agency and Services Agreement as amended and restated on June 16, 2003, filed as Exhibit (k)(2) to the Registration Statement of Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund (File Nos. 333- 107050 and 811-21400) filed July 15, 2003 (Accession No. 0000898432- 03- 000638) and incorporated herein by reference. (3) Administration Agreement dated May 21, 2004 filed herein. (4) Form of Shareholder Servicing Agreement filed herein. (5) Form of Additional Compensation Agreement filed herein. (l) Opinion and Consent of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP as to Registrant's Common Shares to be filed by amendment. (m) Not applicable. (n) Consent of Independent Auditors filed herein. (o) Not applicable. (p) Letter Agreement with Eaton Vance Management to be filed by amendment. (q) Not applicable. (r) Code of Ethics adopted by Eaton Vance Corp., Eaton Vance Management, Boston Management and Research, Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. and the Eaton Vance Funds effective September 1, 2000, as revised June 4, 2002, filed as Exhibit (p) to Post- Effective Amendment No. 45 of Eaton Vance Investment Trust (File Nos. 33-1121, 811-4443) filed July 24, 2002 (Accession No. 0000940394-02-000462) and incorporated herein by reference. (s) Power of Attorney dated May 21, 2004 filed herein. ITEM 25. MARKETING ARRANGEMENTS See Form of Underwriting Agreement filed herein. ITEM 26. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION The approximate expenses in connection with the offering are as follows: Registration and Filing Fees $_________________ National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Fees New York Stock Exchange Fees Costs of Printing and Engraving Accounting Fees and Expenses Legal Fees and Expenses ================== Total $_________________
ITEM 27 PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL None. ITEM 28. NUMBER OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES Set forth below is the number of record holders as of May 21, 2004, of each class of securities of the Registrant:
Title of Class Number of Record Holders - -------------- ------------------------ Common Shares of Beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share 0
ITEM 29. INDEMNIFICATION The Registrant's By-Laws filed in the Registrant's Initial Common Shares Registration Statement contain and the Form of Underwriting Agreement filed herein contains provisions limiting the liability, and providing for indemnification, of the Trustees and officers under certain circumstances. Registrant's Trustees and officers are insured under a standard investment company errors and omissions insurance policy covering loss incurred by reason of negligent errors and omissions committed in their official capacities as such. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the provisions described in this Item 29, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. ITEM 30. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISER Reference is made to: (i) the information set forth under the caption Investment advisory and other services" in the Statement of Additional Information; (ii) the Eaton Vance Corp. 10-K filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (File No. 001-8100); and (iii) the Form ADV of Eaton Vance Management (File No. 801-15930) filed with the Commission, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 31. LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS All applicable accounts, books and documents required to be maintained by the Registrant by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules promulgated thereunder are in the possession and custody of the Registrant's custodian, Investors Bank & Trust Company, 200 Clarendon Street, 16th Floor, Boston, MA 02116, and its transfer agent, PFPC Inc., 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581-5120, with the exception of certain corporate documents and portfolio trading documents which are in the possession and custody of Eaton Vance Management, The Eaton Vance Building, 255 State Street, Boston, MA 02109. Registrant is informed that all applicable accounts, books and documents required to be maintained by registered investment advisers are in the custody and possession of Eaton Vance Management. ITEM 32. MANAGEMENT SERVICES Not applicable. ITEM 33. UNDERTAKINGS 1. The Registrant undertakes to suspend offering of Common Shares until the prospectus is amended if (1) subsequent to the effective date of this Registration Statement, the net asset value declines more than 10 percent from its net asset value as of the effective date of this Registration Statement or (2) the net asset value increases to an amount greater than its net proceeds as stated in the prospectus. 2. Not applicable. 3. Not applicable. 4. Not applicable. 5. The Registrant undertakes that: a. for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of the Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective; and b. for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post- effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. 6. The Registrant undertakes to send by first class mail or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery, within two business days of receipt of an oral or written request, its Statement of Additional Information. NOTICE A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and notice is hereby given that this instrument is executed on behalf of the Registrant by an officer of the Registrant as an officer and not individually and that the obligations of or arising out of this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders individually, but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Registrant. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this Pre-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on the 24th day of May 2004. EATON VANCE FLOATING-RATE INCOME TRUST By: /s/ Payson F. Swaffield --------------------------------- Payson F. Swaffield President Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Pre-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature Title Date - --------- ----- ---- /s/ Payson F. Swaffield President and Principal Executive Officer May 24, 2004 - ----------------------- Payson F. Swaffield /s/ Barbara E. Campbell Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer May 24, 2004 - ----------------------- Barbara E. Campbell /s/ James B. Hawkes Trustee May 24, 2004 - ------------------- James B. Hawkes /s/ Samuel L. Hayes III* Trustee May 24, 2004 - ------------------------ Samuel L. Hayes /s/ William H. Park* Trustee May 24, 2004 - -------------------- William H. Park /s/ Ronald A. Pearlman* Trustee May 24, 2004 - ----------------------- Ronald A. Pearlman /s/ Norton H. Reamer* Trustee May 24, 2004 - --------------------- Norton H. Reamer /s/ Lynn A. Stout* Trustee May 24, 2004 - ------------------ Lynn A. Stout *By: /s/ James L. O'Connor - ---------------------------- James L. O'Connor (As Attorney-in-Fact)
INDEX TO EXHIBITS (d) Form of Specimen Certificate (e) Dividend Reinvestment Plan (g)(1) Investment Advisory Agreement (g)(2) Expense Reimbursement Arrangement (h)(1) Form of Underwriting Agreement (h)(2) Form of Master Agreement Among Underwriters (h)(3) Form of Master Selected Dealers Agreement (j)(1) Master Custodian Agreement (k)(1) Supplement to the Transfer Agency and Services Agreement (k)(3) Administration Agreement (k)(4) Form of Shareholder Servicing Agreement (k)(5) Form of Additional Compensation Agreement (n) Consent of Independent Auditors (s) Power of Attorney dated May 21, 2004 EX-99.(D) 2 b50653a1exv99wxdy.txt FORM OF SPECIMEN CERTIFICATE Exhibit (d) SPECIMEN CERTIFICATE ONLY CERTIFICATE NUMBER OF NUMBER SHARES - ------------ ------------ EATON VANCE FLOATING-RATE INCOME TRUST Organized Under the Laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Common Shares $.01 Par Value Per Share Cusip No. _________________ This certifies that _________________________is the owner of ____________ fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Shares, $.01 par value per share, of Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust (the "Fund") transferable only on the books of the Fund by the holder thereof in person or by duly authorized Attorney upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. This Certificate is not valid unless countersigned by the transfer agent and registrar. A statement in full, of all the designations, preferences, qualifications, limitations, restrictions and special or relative rights of the shares of each class authorized to be issued, will be furnished by the Fund to any shareholders upon request and without charge. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Fund has caused this Certificate to be signed by its duly authorized officers and its Seal to be hereunto affixed this _________ day of ________________ A.D. 2004. Investors Bank & Trust Company EATON VANCE FLOATING-RATE INCOME TRUST As Transfer Agent and Registrar By: ___________________________ By: ________________________________ Authorized Signature President Attest:_____________________________ Secretary FOR VALUE RECEIVED, ____________________________________ hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto _____________________________ Shares represented by this Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint _____________ ____________________________________ Attorney to transfer the said Shares on the books of the within named Fund with full power of substitution in the premises. Dated ______________________________, ________________ In presence of _______________________________________ __________________________________ Shares of Common Shares evidenced by this Certificate may be sold, transferred, or otherwise disposed of only pursuant to the provisions of the Fund's Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended, a copy of which may be at the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Fund will furnish to any shareholder, upon request and without charge, a full statement of the designations, preferences, limitations and relative rights of the shares of each class of series of capital stock of the Fund authorized to be issued, so far as they have been determined, and the authority of the Board of Trustees to determine the relative rights and preferences of subsequent classes or series. Any such request should be addressed to the Secretary of the Fund. EX-99.(E) 3 b50653a1exv99wxey.txt DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN Exhibit (e) EATON VANCE FLOATING-RATE INCOME TRUST TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN Holders of common shares (the "Shares") of Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust (the "Fund") who participate (the "Participants") in the Fund's Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the "Plan") are advised as follows: 1. THE PLAN AGENT. PFPC Inc. (the "Agent") will act as Agent for each Participant. The Agent will open an account for each Participant under the Plan in the same name as his or her outstanding Shares are registered. 2. ELECTION TO PARTICIPATE. A Shareholder may elect to receive all income dividends and capital gains distributions ("Distributions") payable with respect to his or her Shares in additional Shares. To participate in the Plan and receive all Distributions in Shares, a Shareholder must indicate his or her election to do so by completing and returning to the Plan Agent a Dividend Reinvestment Plan Application Form. Shareholders who do not elect to participate in the Plan by completing and returning such Form will receive Distributions in cash paid directly by the Plan Agent as dividend disbursing agent for the applicable Fund. 3. MARKET PREMIUM ISSUANCES. If on the payment date for a Distribution, the net asset value per Share is equal to or less than the market price per Share plus estimated brokerage commissions, the Agent shall receive newly issued Shares, including fractions, from the Fund for each Participant's account. The number of additional Shares to be credited shall be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the Distribution by the greater of the net asset value per Share on the payment date, or 95% of the then current market price per Share. 4. MARKET DISCOUNT PURCHASES. If the net asset value per Share exceeds the market price plus estimated brokerage commissions on the payment date for a Distribution, the Agent (or a broker-dealer selected by the Agent) shall endeavor, for a purchase period of 30 days, to apply the amount of such Distribution on each Participant's Shares (less their pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred) to purchase Shares on the open market. The weighted average price (including brokerage commissions) of all Shares purchased by the Agent as Agent shall be the price per Share allocable to each Participant. If, at the close of business on any day during the purchase period on which net asset value per Share is calculated such net asset value equals or is less than the market price per Share plus estimated brokerage commissions, the Agent will cease open-market purchases, and the uninvested portion of such Distribution shall be filled through the issuance of new Shares from the Fund at the price set forth in Paragraph 3 above. Open-market purchases may be made on any securities exchange where Shares are traded, in the over-the-counter market or in negotiated transactions, and may be on such terms as to price, delivery and otherwise as the Agent shall determine. 5. VALUATION. The market price of Shares on a particular date shall be the last sales price on the Exchange where the Shares are listed on that date, or, if there is no sale on such Exchange on that date, then the mean between the closing bid and asked quotations on such Exchange on such date. The net asset value per Share on a particular date shall be the amount most recently calculated by or on behalf of the Fund as required by law. 6. LIABILITY OF AGENT. The Agent shall at all times act in good faith and agree to use its best efforts within reasonable limits to ensure the accuracy of all services performed under this Agreement and to comply with applicable law, but assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable for loss or damage due to errors unless such error is caused by the Agent's negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct or that of its employees. Each Participant's uninvested funds held by the Agent will not bear interest. The Agent shall have no liability in connection with any inability to purchase Shares within the time provided, or with the timing of any purchases effected. The Agent shall have no responsibility for the value of Shares acquired. For the purpose of cash investments, the Agent may commingle Participants' funds (of the same Fund). 7. RECORDKEEPING. The Agent may hold each Participant's Shares acquired pursuant to the Plan together with the Shares of other shareholders of the Fund acquired pursuant to the Plan in noncertificated form in the Agent's name or that of the Agent's nominee. Upon a Participant's written request, the Agent will deliver to the Participant, without charge, a certificate or certificates for the full shares. Each Participant will be sent a confirmation by the Agent of each acquisition made for their account as soon as practicable, but not later than 60 days after the date thereof. Although each Participant may from time to time have an undivided fractional interest in a share of the Fund, no certificates for a fractional share will be issued. Distributions on fractional shares will be credited to each Participant's account. In the event of termination of a Participant's account under the Plan, the Agent will adjust for any such undivided fractional interest in cash at the market value of Shares at the time of termination. Any share dividends or split shares distributed by the Fund on Shares held by the Agent for Participants will be credited to their accounts. In the event that the Fund makes available to its shareholders rights to purchase additional shares of other securities, the Shares held for each Participant under the Plan will be added to other shares held by the Participant in calculating the number of rights to be issued to each Participant. 8. PROXY MATERIALS. The Agent will forward to each Participant any proxy solicitation material and will vote any shares so held for each Participant first in accordance with the instructions set forth on proxies returned by the Participant to the Fund, and then with respect to any proxies not returned by the Participant to the Fund in the same portion as the Agent votes proxies returned by the Participants to the Fund. 9. FEES. The Agent's service fee for handling Distributions will be paid by the Fund. Each Participant will be charged their PRO RATA share of brokerage commissions on all open-market purchases. If a Participant elects by notice to the Agent to have the Agent sell part or all of his or her Shares and remit the proceeds, the Agent is authorized to deduct a $5.00 fee plus brokerage commissions from the proceeds. 10. TERMINATION IN THE PLAN. Each registered Participant may terminate his or her account under the Plan by notifying the Agent in writing at P.O. Box 43027, Providence, RI 02940-3027, or by telephone at 800-331-1710. Such termination will be effective with respect to a Distribution if the Participant's notice is received by the Agent prior to the Distribution record date. The Plan may be terminated by the Agent or the Fund upon notice in writing mailed to each Participant at least 30 days prior to any record date for the payment of any Distribution. Upon any termination, the Agent will cause a certificate or certificates to be issued for the full shares held for each Participant under the Plan and cash adjustment for any fraction to be delivered to them without charge. 11. AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN. These terms and conditions may be amended by the Agent, or the Fund at any time or times but, except when necessary or appropriate to comply with applicable law or the rules or policies of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other regulatory authority, only by mailing to each Participant appropriate written notice at least 30 days prior to the effective date thereof. The amendment shall be deemed to be accepted by each Participant unless, prior to the effective date thereof, the Agent receives notice of the termination of the Participant's account under the Plan. Any such amendment may include an appointment by the Agent of a successor Agent. 12. APPLICABLE LAW. These terms and conditions shall be governed by the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 2 EX-99.(G)(1) 4 b50653a1exv99wxgyx1y.txt INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT Exhibit g (1) EATON VANCE FLOATING-RATE INCOME TRUST INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT AGREEMENT made this 21st day of May, 2004, between Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust"), and Eaton Vance Management, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Adviser"). 1. DUTIES OF THE ADVISER. The Trust hereby employs the Adviser to act as investment adviser for and to manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Trust and to administer its affairs, subject to the supervision of the Trustees of the Trust, for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. The Adviser hereby accepts such employment, and undertakes to afford to the Trust the advice and assistance of the Adviser's organization in the choice of investments and in the purchase and sale of securities for the Trust and to furnish for the use of the Trust office space and all necessary office facilities, equipment and personnel for servicing the investments of the Trust and to pay the salaries and fees of all officers and Trustees of the Trust who are members of the Adviser's organization and all personnel of the Adviser performing services relating to research and investment activities. The Adviser shall for all purposes herein be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, except as otherwise expressly provided or authorized, have no authority to act for or represent the Trust in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Trust. The Adviser shall provide the Trust with such investment management and supervision as the Trust may from time to time consider necessary for the proper supervision of the Trust. As investment adviser to the Trust, the Adviser shall furnish continuously an investment program and shall determine from time to time what securities and other investments shall be acquired, disposed of or exchanged and what portion of the Trust's assets shall be held uninvested, subject always to the applicable restrictions of the Declaration of Trust, By-Laws and registration statement of the Trust. Should the Trustees of the Trust at any time, however, make any specific determination as to investment policy for the Trust and notify the Adviser thereof in writing, the Adviser shall be bound by such determination for the period, if any, specified in such notice or until similarly notified that such determination has been revoked. The Adviser shall take, on behalf of the Trust, all actions that it deems necessary or desirable to implement the investment policies of the Trust. The Adviser shall place all orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities for the account of the Trust either directly with the issuer or with brokers or dealers selected by the Adviser, and, to that end, the Adviser is authorized, as the agent of the Trust, to give instructions to the custodian of the Trust as to deliveries of securities and payments of cash for the account of the Trust. In connection with the selection of such brokers or dealers and the placing of such orders, the Adviser shall use its best efforts to seek to execute portfolio security transactions at prices that are advantageous to the Trust and (when a disclosed commission is being charged) at reasonably competitive commission rates. In selecting brokers or dealers qualified to execute a particular transaction, brokers or dealers may be selected who also provide brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) to the Adviser, and the Adviser is expressly authorized to cause the Trust to pay any broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission for executing a security transaction that is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if the Adviser determines in good faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall responsibilities that the Adviser and its affiliates have with respect to accounts over which they exercise investment discretion. Subject to the requirement set forth in the second sentence of this paragraph, the Adviser is authorized to consider, as a factor in the selection of any broker or dealer with whom purchase or sale orders may be placed, the fact that such broker or dealer has sold or is selling shares of any one or more investment companies sponsored by the Adviser or its affiliates. The Adviser shall not be responsible for providing certain special administrative services to the Trust under this Agreement. Eaton Vance Management, in its capacity as Administrator of the Trust, shall be responsible for providing such services to the Trust under the Trust's separate Administration Agreement. 2. COMPENSATION OF THE ADVISER. For the services, payments and facilities to be furnished hereunder by the Adviser, the Adviser shall be entitled to receive from the Trust compensation in an amount equal to 0.75% annually of the average daily gross assets of the Trust. (For purposes of this calculation, "gross assets" of the Trust shall mean total assets of the Trust, including any form of investment leverage, minus all accrued expenses incurred in the normal course of operations, but not excluding any liabilities or obligations attributable to investment leverage obtained through (i) indebtedness of any type (including, without limitation, borrowing through a credit facility or the issuance debt securities), (ii) the issuance of preferred stock or other similar preference securities, (iii) the reinvestment of collateral received for securities loaned in accordance with the Trust's investment objectives and policies, and/or (iv) any other means.) Such compensation shall be paid monthly in arrears on the last business day of each month. The Trust's net assets shall be computed in accordance with the Declaration of Trust of the Trust and any applicable votes and determinations of the Trustees of the Trust. In case of initiation or termination of the Agreement during any month, the fee for that month shall be reduced proportionately on the basis of the number of calendar days during which the Agreement is in effect and the fee shall be computed upon the basis of the average gross assets for the business days the Agreement is so in effect for that month. The Adviser may, from time to time, waive all or a part of the above compensation. 3. ALLOCATION OF CHARGES AND EXPENSES. It is understood that the Trust will pay all expenses other than those expressly stated to be payable by the Adviser hereunder, which expenses payable by the Trust shall include, without implied limitation (i) expenses of maintaining the Trust and continuing its existence; (ii) registration of the Trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940; (iii) commissions, spreads, fees and other expenses connected with the acquisition, holding and disposition of securities and other investments; (iv) auditing, accounting and legal expenses; (v) taxes and interest; (vi) governmental fees; (vii) expenses of listing shares of the Trust with a stock exchange, and expenses of issue, sale, repurchase and redemption (if any) of interests in the Trust, including expenses of conducting tender offers for the purpose of repurchasing Trust interests; (viii) expenses of registering and qualifying the Trust and its shares under federal and state securities laws and of preparing and filing registration statements and amendments for such purposes; (ix) expenses of reports and notices to shareholders and of meetings of shareholders and proxy solicitations therefore; (x) expenses of reports to governmental officers and commissions; (xi) insurance expenses; (xii) association membership dues; (xiii) fees, expenses and disbursements of custodians and subcustodians for all services to the Trust (including, without limitation, safekeeping of funds, securities and other investments, keeping of books, accounts and records, and determination of net asset values); (xiv) fees, expenses and disbursements of transfer agents, dividend disbursing agents, shareholder servicing agents and registrars for all services to the Trust; (xv) expenses for servicing shareholder accounts; (xvi) any direct charges to shareholders approved by the Trustees of the Trust; (xvii) compensation and expenses of Trustees of the Trust 2 who are not members of the Adviser's organization; (xviii) pricing and valuation services employed by the Trust; (xix) all expenses incurred in connection with leveraging of Trust's assets through a line of credit, or issuing and maintaining preferred shares; and (xx) such non-recurring items as may arise, including expenses incurred in connection with litigation, proceedings and claims and the obligation of the Trust to indemnify its Trustees, officers and shareholders with respect thereto. 4. OTHER INTERESTS. It is understood that Trustees and officers of the Trust and shareholders of the Trust are or may be or become interested in the Adviser as trustees, officers, employees, shareholders or otherwise and that trustees, officers and shareholders of the Adviser are or may be or become similarly interested in the Trust, and that the Adviser may be or become interested in the Trust as a shareholder or otherwise. It is also understood that trustees, officers, employees and shareholders of the Adviser may be or become interested (as directors, trustees, officers, employees, shareholders or otherwise) in other companies or entities (including, without limitation, other investment companies) that the Adviser may organize, sponsor or acquire, or with which it may merge or consolidate, and which may include the words "Eaton Vance" or any combination thereof as part of their name, and that the Adviser or its subsidiaries or affiliates may enter into advisory or management agreements or other contracts or relationships with such other companies or entities. 5. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF THE ADVISER. The services of the Adviser to the Trust are not to be deemed to be exclusive, the Adviser being free to render services to others and engage in other business activities. In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of obligations or duties hereunder on the part of the Adviser, the Adviser shall not be subject to liability to the Trust or to any shareholder of the Trust for any act or omission in the course of, or connected with, rendering services hereunder or for any losses that may be sustained in the acquisition, holding or disposition of any interest in a Loan or of any security, investment or other asset. 6. SUB-INVESTMENT ADVISERS. The Adviser may employ one or more sub-investment advisers from time to time to perform such of the acts and services of the Adviser, including the selection of brokers or dealers to execute the Trust's portfolio security transactions, and upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the Adviser and such sub-investment adviser and approved by the Trustees of the Trust, all as permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940. 7. DURATION AND TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall become effective upon the date of its execution, and, unless terminated as herein provided, shall remain in full force and effect through and including May 21, 2006 and shall continue in full force and effect indefinitely thereafter, but only so long as such continuance after May 21, 2006 is specifically approved at least annually (i) by the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust and (ii) by the vote of a majority of those Trustees of the Trust who are not interested persons of the Adviser or the Trust cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. Either party hereto may, at any time on sixty (60) days' prior written notice to the other, terminate this Agreement without the payment of any penalty, by action of Trustees of the Trust or the trustees of the Adviser, as the case may be, and the Trust may, at any time upon such written notice to the Adviser, terminate this Agreement by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment. 3 8. AMENDMENTS OF THE AGREEMENT. This Agreement may be amended by a writing signed by both parties hereto, provided that no amendment to this Agreement shall be effective until approved (i) by the vote of a majority of those Trustees of the Trust who are not interested persons of the Adviser or the Trust cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and (ii) by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, except for any such amendment as may be effected in the absence of such approval without violating the Investment Company Act of 1940. 9. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. The Adviser expressly acknowledges the provision in the Declaration of Trust of the Trust limiting the personal liability of the Trustees, officers and shareholders of the Trust, and the Adviser hereby agrees that it shall have recourse to the Trust for payment of claims or obligations as between the Trust and the Adviser arising out of this Agreement and shall not seek satisfaction from any Trustee, officer or shareholders of the Trust. 10. USE OF THE NAME "EATON VANCE". The Adviser hereby consents to the use by the Trust of the name "Eaton Vance" as part of the Trust's name; provided, however, that such consent shall be conditioned upon the employment of the Adviser or one of its affiliates as the investment adviser of the Trust. The name "Eaton Vance" or any variation thereof may be used from time to time in other connections and for other purposes by the Adviser and its affiliates and other investment companies that have obtained consent to the use of the name "Eaton Vance". The Adviser shall have the right to require the Trust to cease using the name "Eaton Vance" as part of the Trust's name if the Trust ceases, for any reason, to employ the Adviser or one of its affiliates as the Trust's investment adviser. Future names adopted by the Trust for itself, insofar as such names include identifying words requiring the consent of the Adviser, shall be the property of the Adviser and shall be subject to the same terms and conditions. 11. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. The terms "assignment" and "interested persons" when used herein shall have the respective meanings specified in the Investment Company Act of 1940 as now in effect or as hereafter amended subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission by any rule, regulation or order. The term "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities" shall mean the vote, at a meeting of shareholders, of the lesser of (a) 67 per centum or more of the shares of the Trust present or represented by proxy at the meeting if the shareholders of more than 50 per centum of the shares of the Trust are present or represented by proxy at the meeting, or (b) more than 50 per centum of the shares of the Trust. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed on the day and year first above written. EATON VANCE FLOATING-RATE INCOME TRUST By: ------------------------------------ President, and not Individually EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT By: ------------------------------------ Vice President, and not Individually 4 EX-99.(G)(2) 5 b50653a1exv99wxgyx2y.txt EXPENSE REINVESTMENT ARRANGEMENT Exhibit g(2) As of May 21, 2004 Trustees of Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust With reference to the Investment Advisory Agreement proposed to be entered into by Eaton Vance Management ("Eaton Vance") with Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust (the "Fund"), we hereby notify you as follows: For so long as the Investment Advisory Agreement for the Fund shall remain in effect, Eaton Vance agrees to reimburse the Fund for fees and expenses in the amount of 0.20% of average daily gross assets of the Fund for the first five full years of the Fund's operations, 0.15% of average daily gross assets of the Fund in year six, 0.10% of average daily gross assets of the Fund in year seven, and 0.05% of average daily gross assets of the Fund in year eight. This expense reimbursement for the Fund may be terminated or modified sooner upon mutual agreement of Eaton Vance and the Fund. In addition, in connection with the organization and initial offering of the common shares of the Fund, Eaton Vance hereby agrees to (i) reimburse all organizational costs of the Fund and (ii) pay all offering costs of such offering of the Fund (other than sales loads) that exceed $0.04 per share. This instrument is executed under seal and shall be governed by Massachusetts law. Very truly yours, EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT By: /s/ James B. Hawkes --------------------------- Name: James B. Hawkes Title: President, and not Individually ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO ON BEHALF OF THE FUND: By: /s/ Barbara E. Campbell ------------------------------- Name: Barbara E. Campbell Title: Treasurer, and not Individually EX-99.(H)(1) 6 b50653a1exv99wxhyx1y.txt FORM OF UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT Exhibit (h)(1) Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust [ ] Common Shares of Beneficial Interest Par Value $0.01 Per Share UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT June [ ], 2004 UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT June [ ], 2004 UBS Securities LLC [ ] as Representatives c/o UBS Securities LLC 299 Park Avenue New York, New York 10171-0026 Ladies and Gentlemen: Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust, a voluntary association with transferable shares organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts (commonly referred to as a Massachusetts business trust) (the "Fund"), proposes to issue and sell to the underwriters named in Schedule A annexed hereto (the "Underwriters") an aggregate of [ ] common shares of beneficial interest (the "Firm Shares"), par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Shares"), of the Fund. In addition, solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments, the Fund proposes to grant to the Underwriters the option to purchase from the Fund up to an additional [ ] Common Shares (the "Additional Shares"). The Firm Shares and the Additional Shares are hereinafter collectively sometimes referred to as the "Shares." The Shares are described in the Prospectus which is defined below. The Fund has filed, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively called the "Securities Act"), and with the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively called the "Investment Company Act"), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-115087 and 811-21574), including a prospectus and a statement of additional information, relating to the Shares. The Fund has furnished to the Representatives, for use by the Underwriters and by dealers, copies of one or more preliminary prospectuses (including a preliminary statement of additional information) (each thereof, including such preliminary statement of additional information, being herein called a "Preliminary Prospectus") relating to the Shares. Except where the context otherwise requires, the registration statement, as amended when it becomes effective (the "Effective Date"), including all documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated by reference therein, and including any information contained in a prospectus subsequently filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 497 2 under the Securities Act and deemed to be part of the registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act is herein called the "Registration Statement," and the prospectus (including the statement of additional information), in the form filed by the Fund with the Commission pursuant to Rule 497 under the Securities Act or, if no such filing is required, the form of final prospectus (including the form of final statement of additional information) included in the Registration Statement at the time it became effective, is herein called the "Prospectus." In addition, the Fund has filed a Notification of Registration on Form N-8A (the "Notification") pursuant to Section 8 of the Investment Company Act. UBS Securities LLC ("UBS Securities" or the "Managing Representative") will act as managing representative for the Underwriters. Eaton Vance Management, a Massachusetts business trust ("Eaton Vance" or the "Investment Adviser") will act as the Fund's investment adviser pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement by and between the Fund and the Investment Adviser, dated as of [ ], 2004 (the "Investment Advisory Agreement"). Investors Bank & Trust Company will act as the custodian (the "Custodian") of the Fund's cash and portfolio assets pursuant to a Custodian Agreement, dated as of [ ], 2004 (the "Custodian Agreement"). PFPC Inc. will act as the Fund's transfer agent, registrar, and dividend disbursing agent (the "Transfer Agent") pursuant to a Transfer Agency Services Agreement, dated as of [ ], 2004 (the "Transfer Agency Agreement"). Eaton Vance will act as the administrator of the Fund pursuant to an Administration Agreement, dated as of [ ], 2004 (the "Administration Agreement"). The Investment Adviser and UBS Securities LLC have entered into a Shareholder Servicing Agreement dated [ ], 2004 (the "Shareholder Servicing Agreement"). The Investment Adviser has also entered into an Additional Compensation Agreement with [ ] and [ ], dated [ ], 2004 (the "Additional Compensation Agreement"). In addition, the Fund has adopted a dividend reinvestment plan (the "Dividend Reinvestment Plan") pursuant to which holders of Shares may have their dividends automatically reinvested in additional Common Shares of the Fund if so elected. The Fund, the Investment Adviser and the Underwriters agree as follows: 1. SALE AND PURCHASE. Upon the basis of the warranties and representations and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Fund agrees to sell to the respective Underwriters and each of the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Fund the aggregate number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule A attached hereto in each case at a purchase price of $19.10 per Share. The Fund is advised that the Underwriters intend (i) to make a public offering of their respective portions of the Firm Shares as soon after the effective date of the Registration Statement as is advisable and (ii) initially to offer the Firm Shares upon the terms set forth in the Prospectus. The Underwriters may from time to time increase or decrease the public offering price after the initial public offering to such extent as they may determine. In addition, the Fund hereby grants to the several Underwriters the option to purchase, and upon the basis of the warranties and representations and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Underwriters shall have the right to purchase, severally and not jointly, from the Fund, ratably in accordance with the number of Firm Shares to be purchased by each of them, all or a portion of the 3 Additional Shares as may be necessary to cover over-allotments made in connection with the offering of the Firm Shares, at the same purchase price per Share to be paid by the Underwriters to the Fund for the Firm Shares. This option may be exercised by the Representatives on behalf of the several Underwriters at any time and from time to time on or before the forty-fifth day following the date hereof, by written notice to the Fund. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Additional Shares as to which the option is being exercised, and the date and time when the Additional Shares are to be delivered (such date and time being herein referred to as the "Additional Time of Purchase"); provided, however, that the Additional Time of Purchase shall not be earlier than the Time of Purchase (as defined below) nor earlier than the second business day after the date on which the option shall have been exercised. The number of Additional Shares to be sold to each Underwriter shall be the number which bears the same proportion to the aggregate number of Additional Shares being purchased as the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter on Schedule A hereto bears to the total number of Firm Shares (subject, in each case, to such adjustment as the Representatives may determine to eliminate fractional shares). 2. PAYMENT AND DELIVERY. Payment of the purchase price for the Firm Shares shall be made by the Underwriters to the Fund by Federal Funds wire transfer, against delivery of the certificates for the Firm Shares to the Representatives through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company for the respective accounts of the Underwriters. Such payment and delivery shall be made at a time mutually agreed upon by the parties on the third business day following the date of this Underwriting Agreement (unless another date shall be agreed to by the Representatives and the Fund). The time at which such payment and delivery are actually made is hereinafter sometimes called the Time of Purchase. Certificates for the Firm Shares shall be delivered to the Representatives in definitive form in such names and in such denominations as the Representatives shall specify on the second business day preceding the Time of Purchase. For the purpose of expediting the checking of the certificates for the Firm Shares by the Representatives, the Fund agrees to make such certificates available to the Representatives for such purpose at least one full business day preceding the Time of Purchase. Payment of the purchase price for the Additional Shares shall be made at the Additional Time of Purchase in the same manner and at the same office as the payment for the Firm Shares. Certificates for the Additional Shares shall be delivered to the Representatives in definitive form in such names and in such denominations as the Representatives shall specify no later than the second business day preceding the Additional Time of Purchase. For the purpose of expediting the checking of the certificates for the Additional Shares by the Representatives, the Fund agrees to make such certificates available to the Representatives for such purpose at least one full business day preceding the Additional Time of Purchase. The Time of Purchase and the Additional Time of Purchase are sometimes referred to herein as the Closing Dates. 4 3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE FUND AND THE INVESTMENT ADVISER. Each of the Fund and the Investment Adviser jointly and severally represents and warrants to each Underwriter as follows: (a) On (i) the Effective Date and the date on which the Prospectus is first filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 497(b), (h) or (j) under the Securities Act, as the case may be, (ii) the date on which any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement (except any post-effective amendment which is filed with the Commission after the later of (x) one year from the date of this Underwriting Agreement or (y) the date on which the distribution of the Shares is completed) became or becomes effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus was or is filed with the Commission and (iii) the Closing Dates, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any such amendment or supplement thereto and the Notification complied or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Investment Company Act, as the case may be. On the Effective Date and on the date that any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement (except any post-effective amendment which is filed with the Commission after the later of (x) one year from the date of this Underwriting Agreement or (y) the date on which the distribution of the Shares is completed) became or becomes effective, neither the Registration Statement nor any such amendment did or will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated in it or necessary to make the statements in it not misleading. At the Effective Date and, if applicable, the date the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus was or is filed with the Commission and at the Closing Dates, the Prospectus did not or will not, as the case may be, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated in it or necessary to make the statements in it, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The foregoing representations in this Section 3(a) do not apply to statements or omissions relating to the Underwriters made in reliance on and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Fund by the Underwriters expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto, as described in Section 9(f) hereof. (b) The Fund has been duly formed, is validly existing a business trust under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with full power and authority to conduct all the activities conducted by it, to own or lease all assets owned or leased by it and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, and the Fund is duly licensed and qualified to do business and in good standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or leasing of property or its conducting of business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Fund, and the Fund owns, possesses or has obtained and currently maintains all 5 governmental licenses, permits, consents, orders, approvals and other authorizations, whether foreign or domestic, necessary to carry on its business as contemplated in the Prospectus. The Fund has no subsidiaries. (c) The capitalization of the Fund is as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The Common Shares conform in all material respects to the description of them in the Prospectus. All the outstanding Common Shares have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable (except as described in the Registration Statement). The Shares to be issued and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with this Underwriting Agreement against payment therefor as provided by this Underwriting Agreement have been duly authorized and when issued and delivered to the Underwriters will have been validly issued and will be fully paid and nonassessable (except as described in the Registration Statement). No person is entitled to any preemptive or other similar rights with respect to the Shares. (d) The Fund is duly registered with the Commission under the Investment Company Act as a diversified, closed-end management investment company, and, subject to the filing of any final amendment to the Registration Statement (a "Final Amendment"), if not already filed, all action under the Securities Act and the Investment Company Act, as the case may be, necessary to make the public offering and consummate the sale of the Shares as provided in this Underwriting Agreement has or will have been taken by the Fund. (e) The Fund has full power and authority to enter into each of this Underwriting Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Custodian Agreement, the Transfer Agency Agreement, the Administration Agreement, and the Dividend Reinvestment Plan (collectively, the "Fund Agreements") and to perform all of the terms and provisions hereof and thereof to be carried out by it and (i) each Fund Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Fund, (ii) each Fund Agreement does not violate in any material respect any of the applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act or the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively called the "Advisers Act"), as the case may be, and (iii) assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties thereto, each Fund Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Fund enforceable in accordance with its terms, (A) subject, as to enforcement, to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to general equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (B) except as rights to indemnity thereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws. 6 (f) None of (i) the execution and delivery by the Fund of the Fund Agreements, (ii) the issue and sale by the Fund of the Shares as contemplated by this Underwriting Agreement and (iii) the performance by the Fund of its obligations under any of the Fund Agreements or consummation by the Fund of the other transactions contemplated by the Fund Agreements conflicts with or will conflict with, or results or will result in a breach of, the Declaration of Trust or the By-laws of the Fund or any agreement or instrument to which the Fund is a party or by which the Fund is bound, or any law, rule or regulation, or order of any court, governmental instrumentality, securities exchange or association or arbitrator, whether foreign or domestic, applicable to the Fund, other than state securities or "blue sky" laws applicable in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters pursuant to this Underwriting Agreement. (g) The Fund is not currently in breach of, or in default under, any written agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or its property is bound or affected. (h) No person has any right to the registration of any securities of the Fund because of the filing of the registration statement. (i) No consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental agency or body or securities exchange or association, whether foreign or domestic, is required by the Fund for the consummation by the Fund of the transactions to be performed by the Fund or the performance by the Fund of all the terms and provisions to be performed by or on behalf of it in each case as contemplated in the Fund Agreements, except such as (i) have been obtained under the Securities Act, the Investment Company Act, or the Advisers Act, and (ii) may be required by the New York Stock Exchange or under state securities or "blue sky" laws, in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters pursuant to this Underwriting Agreement. (j) The Shares are duly authorized for listing, subject to official notice of issuance, on the New York Stock Exchange and the Fund's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively called the "Exchange Act"), has become effective. (k) Deloitte & Touche LLP, whose report appears in the Prospectus, are independent public auditors with respect to the Fund as required by the Securities Act and the Investment Company Act. (l) The statement of assets and liabilities included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus presents fairly in all material respects, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United 7 States applied on a consistent basis, the financial position of the Fund as of the date indicated. (m) The Fund will maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management's general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets through an asset reconciliation procedure or otherwise at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. (n) Since the date as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, (i) there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, business affairs or business of the Fund, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, (ii) there have been no transactions entered into by the Fund other than those in the ordinary course of its business and (iii) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made on any class of its capital shares. (o) There is no action, suit or proceeding before or by any court, commission, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental agency or body, foreign or domestic, now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Fund, threatened against or affecting the Fund, which (i) might result in any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, business affairs or business prospects of the Fund or might materially adversely affect the properties or assets of the Fund or (ii) is of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus; and there are no contracts, franchises or other documents that are of a character required to be described in, or that are required to be filed as exhibits to, the Registration Statement that have not been described or filed as required. (p) Except for stabilization transactions conducted by the Underwriters, and except for tender offers, Share repurchases and the issuance or purchase of Shares pursuant to the Fund's Dividend Reinvestment Plan effected following the date on which the distribution of the Shares is completed in accordance with the policies of the Fund as set forth in the Prospectus, the Fund has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed or which might be reasonably expected to cause or result in, or which will constitute, stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Common Shares in violation of applicable federal securities laws. 8 (q) The Fund intends to direct the investment of the proceeds of the offering of the Shares in such a manner as to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). (r) To the knowledge of the Fund after due inquiry, no advertising, sales literature or other promotional materials (excluding road show slides or road show tapes) were authorized or prepared by or on behalf of the Fund or the Investment Adviser or any representative thereof for use in connection with the public offering or sale of the Shares other than the definitive client brochure and the broker selling memo which were filed with the NASD on [ ], 2004, a draft prospecting letter which was filed with the NASD on [ ], 2004, a draft of a prospecting letter made available on a password-protected Internet web site maintained by the Investment Adviser and a road show tape made available for broker use on an Intranet web site maintained by the Investment Adviser (collectively, the "sales materials"); the sales materials and any road show slides or road show tapes complied and comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and interpretations of the NASD; and no broker kits, road show slides, road show tapes or sales materials authorized or prepared by the Fund or authorized or prepared on behalf of the Fund by the Investment Adviser or any representative thereof for use in connection with the public offering or sale of the Shares contained or contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading. 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISER. The Investment Adviser represents to each Underwriter as follows: (a) The Investment Adviser has been duly formed, is validly existing as a business trust under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with full power and authority to conduct all of the activities conducted by it, to own or lease all of the assets owned or leased by it and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, and the Investment Adviser is duly licensed and qualified to do business and in good standing in each jurisdiction in which it is required to be so qualified, except to the extent that failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a material adverse affect on the Investment Adviser's ability to provide services to the Fund; and the Investment Adviser owns, possesses or has obtained and currently maintains all governmental licenses, permits, consents, orders, approvals and other authorizations, whether foreign or domestic, necessary to carry on its business as contemplated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. (b) The Investment Adviser is (i) duly registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and (ii) not prohibited by the Advisers Act or the 9 Investment Company Act from acting as the investment adviser for the Fund as contemplated by the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. (c) The Investment Adviser has full power and authority to enter into each of this Underwriting Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Administration Agreement, the Shareholder Servicing Agreement, and the Additional Compensation Agreement (collectively, the "Investment Adviser Agreements") and to carry out all the terms and provisions hereof and thereof to be carried out by it; and each Investment Adviser Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Investment Adviser; none of the Investment Adviser Agreements violate in any material respect any of the applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act or the Advisers Act; and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties thereto, each Investment Adviser Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Investment Adviser, enforceable in accordance with its terms, (i) subject, as to enforcement, to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to general equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (ii) except as rights to indemnity thereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws. (d) Neither (i) the execution and delivery by the Investment Adviser of any Investment Adviser Agreement nor (ii) the consummation by the Investment Adviser of the transactions contemplated by, or the performance of its obligations under any Investment Adviser Agreement conflicts or will conflict with, or results or will result in a breach of, the Declaration of Trust or By-Laws of the Investment Adviser or any agreement or instrument to which the Investment Adviser is a party or by which the Investment Adviser is bound, or any law, rule or regulation, or order of any court, governmental instrumentality, securities exchange or association or arbitrator, whether foreign or domestic, applicable to the Investment Adviser. (e) No consent, approval, authorization or order of any court, governmental agency or body or securities exchange or association, whether foreign or domestic, is required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated in, or the performance by the Investment Adviser of its obligations under, any Investment Adviser Agreement, as the case may be, except such as (i) have been obtained under the Act, the Investment Company Act, or the Advisers Act, and (ii) may be required by the New York Stock Exchange or under state securities or "blue sky" laws, in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters pursuant to this Underwriting Agreement. 10 (f) The description of the Investment Adviser and its business and the statements attributable to the Investment Adviser in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply with the requirements of the Act and the Investment Company Act and do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading. (g) Except as disclosed, there is no action, suit or proceeding before or by any court, commission, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental agency or body, foreign or domestic, now pending or, to the knowledge of the Investment Adviser, threatened against or affecting the Investment Adviser of a nature required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or that might reasonably be expected to result in any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, business affairs or business prospects of the Investment Adviser or the ability of the Investment Adviser to fulfill its respective obligations under any Investment Adviser Agreement. (h) Except for stabilization activities conducted by the Underwriters and except for tender offers, Share repurchases and the issuance or purchase of Shares pursuant to the Fund's Dividend Reinvestment Plan effected following the date on which the distribution of the Shares is completed in accordance with the policies of the Fund as set forth in the Prospectus, the Investment Adviser has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed, or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, or which will constitute, stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Common Shares in violation of applicable federal securities laws. In the event that the Fund or the Investment Adviser makes available any promotional materials (other than the sales materials) intended for use only by qualified broker-dealers and registered representatives thereof by means of an Internet web site or similar electronic means, the Investment Adviser will install and maintain pre-qualification and password-protection or similar procedures which will effectively prohibit access to such promotional materials by persons other than qualified broker-dealers and registered representatives thereof. 5. AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. (a) If the registration statement relating to the Shares has not yet become effective, the Fund will promptly file a Final Amendment, if not previously filed, with the Commission, and will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective and, as soon as the Fund is advised, will advise the Managing Representative when the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto has become effective. If the Registration Statement has become effective and the Prospectus 11 contained therein omits certain information at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act, the Fund will file a 430A Prospectus pursuant to Rule 497(h) under the Act as promptly as practicable, but no later than the second business day following the earlier of the date of the determination of the offering price of the Shares or the date the Prospectus is first used after the Effective Date. If the Registration Statement has become effective and the Prospectus contained therein does not so omit such information, the Fund will file a Prospectus pursuant to Rule 497(b) or a certification pursuant to Rule 497(j) under the Act as promptly as practicable, but no later than the fifth business day following the date of the later of the Effective Date or the commencement of the public offering of the Shares after the Effective Date. In either case, the Fund will provide the Managing Representative satisfactory evidence of the filing. The Fund will not file with the Commission any Prospectus or any other amendment (except any post-effective amendment which is filed with the Commission after the later of (x) one year from the date of this Underwriting Agreement or (y) the date on which distribution of the Shares is completed) or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus unless a copy has first been submitted to the Managing Representative a reasonable time before its filing and the Managing Representative has not objected to it in writing within a reasonable time after receiving the copy. (b) For the period of three years from the date hereof, the Fund will advise the Managing Representative promptly (i) of the issuance by the Commission of any order in respect of the Fund or the Investment Adviser, which relates to the Fund, or which relates to any material arrangements or proposed material arrangements involving the Fund or the Investment Adviser, (ii) of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for, or receipt by the Fund of any notice with respect to, any suspension of the qualification of the Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the issuance of any order by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (iii) of receipt by the Fund, or any representative or attorney of the Fund, of any other communication from the Commission relating in any material way to the Fund, the Registration Statement, the Notification, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or to the transactions contemplated by this Underwriting Agreement and (iv) the issuance by any court, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental agency or body, whether foreign or domestic, of any order, ruling or decree, or the threat to initiate any proceedings with respect thereto, regarding the Fund, which relates in any material way to the Fund or any material arrangements or proposed material arrangements involving the Fund. The Fund will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and, if any such order is issued, to obtain its lifting as soon as possible. 12 (c) If not delivered prior to the date of this Underwriting Agreement, the Fund will deliver to the Managing Representative, without charge, a signed copy of the Registration Statement and the Notification and of any amendments (except any post-effective amendment which is filed with the Commission after the later of (x) one year from the date of this Underwriting Agreement or (y) the date on which the distribution of the Shares is completed) to either the Registration Statement or the Notification (including all exhibits filed with any such document) and as many conformed copies of the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto (except any post-effective amendment which is filed with the Commission after the later of (x) one year from the date of this Underwriting Agreement or (y) the date on which the distribution of the Shares is completed) (excluding exhibits) as the Managing Representative may reasonably request. (d) During such period as a prospectus is required by law to be delivered by an underwriter or a dealer, the Fund will deliver, without charge, to the Representatives, the Underwriters and any dealers, at such office or offices as the Representatives may designate, as many copies of the Prospectus as the Representatives may reasonably request, and, if any event occurs during such period as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus, in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading in any material respect, or if during such period it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Act or the Investment Company Act, the Fund promptly will prepare, submit to the Managing Representative, file with the Commission and deliver, without charge, to the Underwriters and to dealers (whose names and addresses the Managing Representative will furnish to the Fund) to whom Shares may have been sold by the Underwriters, and to other dealers on request, amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in such Prospectus, as so amended or supplemented, will not, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, be misleading in any material respect and will comply with the Act and the Investment Company Act. Delivery by the Underwriters of any such amendments or supplements to the Prospectus will not constitute a waiver of any of the conditions in Section 6 hereof. (e) The Fund will make generally available to holders of the Fund's securities, as soon as practicable but in no event later than the last day of the 18th full calendar month following the calendar quarter in which the Effective Date falls, an earnings statement, if applicable, satisfying the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the Act and, at the option of the Fund, Rule 158 under the Securities Act. (f) If the transactions contemplated by this Underwriting Agreement are consummated, the Fund shall pay all costs and expenses incident to the 13 performance of the obligations of the Fund under this Underwriting Agreement (to the extent such expenses do not, in the aggregate, exceed $0.04 per Share), including but not limited to costs and expenses of or relating to (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement and exhibits to it, each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and all amendments and supplements thereto, (ii) the issuance of the Shares and the preparation and delivery of certificates for the Shares, (iii) the registration or qualification of the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or "blue sky" laws of the jurisdictions referred to in the foregoing paragraph, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in that connection, and the preparation and printing of any preliminary and supplemental "blue sky" memoranda, (iv) the furnishing (including costs of design, production, shipping and mailing) to the Underwriters and dealers of copies of each Preliminary Prospectus relating to the Shares, the sales materials, the Prospectus, and all amendments or supplements to the Prospectus, and of the other documents required by this Section to be so furnished, (v) the filing requirements of the NASD, in connection with its review of the financing, including filing fees and the disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in that connection, (vi) all transfer taxes, if any, with respect to the sale and delivery of the Shares to the Underwriters, (vii) the listing of the Shares on the New York Stock Exchange and (viii) the transfer agent for the Shares. To the extent the foregoing costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Fund under this Underwriting Agreement exceed, in the aggregate, $0.04 per Share, Eaton Vance or an affiliate will pay all such excess costs and expenses. (g) If the transactions contemplated by this Underwriting Agreement are not consummated, except as otherwise provided herein, no party will be under any liability to any other party, except that (i) if this Underwriting Agreement is terminated by (x) the Fund or the Investment Adviser pursuant to any of the provisions hereof or (y) by the Representatives or the Underwriters because of any inability, failure or refusal on the part of the Fund or the Investment Adviser to comply with any material terms or because any of the conditions in Section 6 are not satisfied, the Investment Adviser or an affiliate and the Fund, jointly and severally, will reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of their counsel) reasonably incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Shares and (ii) no Underwriter who has failed or refused to purchase the Shares agreed to be purchased by it under this Underwriting Agreement, in breach of its obligations pursuant to this Underwriting Agreement, will be relieved of liability to the Fund, the Investment Adviser and the other Underwriters for damages occasioned by its default. (h) Without the prior written consent of the Managing Representative, the Fund will not offer, sell or register with the Commission, or announce an 14 offering of, any equity securities of the Fund, within 180 days after the Effective Date, except for the Shares as described in the Prospectus and any issuances of Common Shares pursuant to the Dividend Reinvestment Plan and except in connection with any offering of preferred shares of beneficial interest as contemplated by the Prospectus. (i) The Fund will use its best efforts to list the Shares on the New York Stock Exchange prior to the date the Shares are issued and comply with the rules and regulations of such exchange. (j) The Fund will direct the investment of the net proceeds of the offering of the Shares in such a manner as to comply with the investment objective and policies of the Fund as described in the Prospectus. 6. CONDITIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS' OBLIGATIONS. The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Shares are subject to the accuracy on the date of this Underwriting Agreement, and on each of the Closing Dates, of the representations of the Fund and the Investment Adviser in this Underwriting Agreement, to the accuracy and completeness of all material statements made by the Fund or the Investment Adviser or any of their respective officers in any certificate delivered to the Managing Representative or its counsel pursuant to this Underwriting Agreement, to performance by the Fund and the Investment Adviser of their respective obligations under this Underwriting Agreement and to each of the following additional conditions: (a) The Registration Statement must have become effective by 5:30 p.m., New York City time, on the date of this Underwriting Agreement or such later date and time as the Managing Representative consents to in writing. The Prospectus must have been filed in accordance with Rule 497(b) or (h) or a certificate must have been filed in accordance with Rule 497(j), as the case may be, under the Securities Act. (b) No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement may be in effect and no proceedings for such purpose may be pending before or, to the knowledge of counsel to the Underwriters, threatened by the Commission, and any requests for additional information on the part of the Commission (to be included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise) must be complied with or waived to the reasonable satisfaction of the Managing Representative. (c) Since the dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (i) there must not have been any material change in the Common Shares or liabilities of the Fund except as set forth in or contemplated by the Prospectus; (ii) there must not have been any material adverse change in the general affairs, prospects, management, business, financial condition or results of operations of the Fund or the Investment Adviser whether or not arising from transactions in the 15 ordinary course of business as set forth in or contemplated by the Prospectus which in the opinion of the Managing Representative would materially adversely affect the market for the Shares; (iii) the Fund must not have sustained any material loss or interference with its business from any court or from legislative or other governmental action, order or decree, whether foreign or domestic, or from any other occurrence not described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus; and (iv) there must not have occurred any event that makes untrue or incorrect in any material respect any statement or information contained in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or that is not reflected in the Registration Statement or Prospectus but should be reflected therein in order to make the statements or information therein (in the case of the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances in which they were made) not misleading in any material respect; if, in the judgment of the Managing Representative, any such development referred to in clause (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of this paragraph (c) makes it impracticable or inadvisable to consummate the sale and delivery of the Shares pursuant to this Underwriting Agreement by the Underwriters, at the initial public offering price of the Shares. (d) The Managing Representative must have received on each Closing Date a certificate, dated such date, of the President or a Vice-President and the chief financial or accounting officer of each of the Fund and the Investment Adviser certifying that (i) the signers have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and this Underwriting Agreement, (ii) the representations of the Fund (with respect to the certificates from such Fund officers) and the representations of the Investment Adviser (with respect to the certificates from such officers of the Investment Adviser) in this Underwriting Agreement are accurate on and as of the date of the certificate, (iii) there has not been any material adverse change in the general affairs, prospects, management, business, financial condition or results of operations of the Fund (with respect to the certificates from such Fund officers) or the Investment Adviser (with respect to the certificates from such officers of the Investment Adviser), which change would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Fund or the Investment Adviser, as the case may be, to fulfill its obligations under this Underwriting Agreement or the Investment Advisory Agreement, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, (iv) with respect to the Fund only, to the knowledge of such officers after reasonable investigation, no order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, prohibiting the sale of any of the Shares or otherwise having a material adverse effect on the Fund has been issued and no proceedings for any such purpose are pending before or threatened by the Commission or any other regulatory body, whether foreign or domestic, (v) to the knowledge of the officers of the Investment Adviser, after reasonable investigation, no order having a material adverse effect on the ability of the Investment Adviser to fulfill its obligations under this Underwriting Agreement, the Shareholder 16 Servicing Agreement, the Additional Compensation Agreement or the Investment Advisory Agreement, as the case may be, has been issued and no proceedings for any such purpose are pending before or threatened by the Commission or any other regulatory body, whether foreign or domestic, and (vi) each of the Fund (with respect to the certificates from such Fund officers) and the Investment Adviser (with respect to the certificates from such officers of the Investment Adviser) has performed all of its respective agreements that this Underwriting Agreement requires it to perform by such Closing Date (to the extent not waived in writing by the Managing Representative). (e) The Managing Representative must have received on each Closing Date the opinions dated such Closing Date substantially in the form of Schedules B and C to this Underwriting Agreement from the counsel identified in each such Schedules. (f) The Managing Representative must have received on each Closing Date from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and its affiliated entities an opinion dated such Closing Date with respect to the Fund, the Shares, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, this Underwriting Agreement and the form and sufficiency of all proceedings taken in connection with the sale and delivery of the Shares. Such opinion and proceedings shall fulfill the requirements of this Section 6(f) only if such opinion and proceedings are satisfactory in all respects to the Managing Representative. The Fund and the Investment Adviser must have furnished to such counsel such documents as counsel may reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to render such opinion. (g) The Managing Representative must have received on the date this Underwriting Agreement is signed and delivered by you a signed letter, dated such date, substantially in the form of Schedule D to this Underwriting Agreement from the firm of accountants designated in such Schedule. The Managing Representative also must have received on each Closing Date a signed letter from such accountants, dated as of such Closing Date, confirming on the basis of a review in accordance with the procedures set forth in their earlier letter that nothing has come to their attention during the period from a date not more than five business days before the date of this Underwriting Agreement, specified in the letter, to a date not more than five business days before such Closing Date, that would require any change in their letter referred to in the foregoing sentence. All opinions, letters, evidence and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Underwriting Agreement will comply only if they are in form and scope reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, provided that any such documents, forms of which are annexed hereto, shall be deemed satisfactory to such counsel if substantially in such form. 17 7. TERMINATION. This Underwriting Agreement may be terminated by the Managing Representative by notifying the Fund at any time: (a) before the later of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and the time when any of the Shares are first generally offered pursuant to this Underwriting Agreement by the Managing Representative to dealers by letter or telegram; (b) at or before any Closing Date if, in the sole judgment of the Managing Representative, payment for and delivery of any Shares is rendered impracticable or inadvisable because (i) trading in the equity securities of the Fund is suspended by the Commission or by the principal exchange that lists the Shares, (ii) trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market shall have been suspended or limited or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established on such exchange or over-the-counter market, (iii) additional material governmental restrictions, not in force on the date of this Underwriting Agreement, have been imposed upon trading in securities or trading has been suspended on any U.S. securities exchange, (iv) a general banking moratorium has been established by U.S. federal or New York authorities or (v) any material adverse change in the financial or securities markets in the United States or in political, financial or economic conditions in the United States or any outbreak or material escalation of hostilities or declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war or other calamity or crisis shall have occurred the effect of any of which is such as to make it, in the sole judgment of the Managing Representative, impracticable or inadvisable to market the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the Prospectus; or (c) at or before any Closing Date, if any of the conditions specified in Section 6 have not been fulfilled when and as required by this Underwriting Agreement. 8. SUBSTITUTION OF UNDERWRITERS. If one or more of the Underwriters fails (other than for a reason sufficient to justify the termination of this Underwriting Agreement) to purchase on any Closing Date the Shares agreed to be purchased on such Closing Date by such Underwriter or Underwriters, the Managing Representative may find one or more substitute underwriters to purchase such Shares or make such other arrangements as the Managing Representative deems advisable, or one or more of the remaining Underwriters may agree to purchase such Shares in such proportions as may be approved by the Managing Representative, in each case upon the terms set forth in this Underwriting Agreement. If no such arrangements have been made within 36 hours after such Closing Date, and 18 (a) the number of Shares to be purchased by the defaulting Underwriters on such Closing Date does not exceed 10% of the Shares that the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on such Closing Date, each of the nondefaulting Underwriters will be obligated to purchase such Shares on the terms set forth in this Underwriting Agreement in proportion to their respective obligations under this Underwriting Agreement, or (b) the number of Shares to be purchased by the defaulting Underwriters on such Closing Date exceeds 10% of the Shares to be purchased by all the Underwriters on such Closing Date, the Fund will be entitled to an additional period of 24 hours within which to find one or more substitute underwriters reasonably satisfactory to the Managing Representative to purchase such Shares on the terms set forth in this Underwriting Agreement. Upon the occurrence of the circumstances described in the foregoing paragraph (b), either the Managing Representative or the Fund will have the right to postpone the applicable Closing Date for not more than five business days in order that necessary changes and arrangements (including any necessary amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus) may be effected by the Managing Representative and the Fund. If the number of Shares to be purchased on such Closing Date by such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters exceeds 10% of the Shares that the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on such Closing Date, and none of the nondefaulting Underwriters or the Fund makes arrangements pursuant to this Section within the period stated for the purchase of the Shares that the defaulting Underwriters agreed to purchase, this Underwriting Agreement will terminate without liability on the part of any nondefaulting Underwriter, the Fund, or the Investment Adviser, except as provided in Sections 5(g) and 9 hereof. Any action taken under this Section will not affect the liability of any defaulting Underwriter to the Fund or the Investment Adviser or to any nondefaulting Underwriters arising out of such default. A substitute underwriter will become an Underwriter for all purposes of this Underwriting Agreement. 9. INDEMNITY AND CONTRIBUTION. (a) Each of the Fund and the Investment Adviser, jointly and severally, agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Underwriter, its partners, directors and officers, and any person who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and their successors and assigns of all of the foregoing persons from and against any loss, damage, expense, liability or claim (including the reasonable cost of investigation) which, jointly or severally, any such Underwriter or any such person may incur under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the Investment Company Act, the Advisers Act, 19 the common law or otherwise, insofar as such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or in the Registration Statement as amended by any post-effective amendment thereof by the Fund) or in a Prospectus (the term "Prospectus" for the purpose of this Section 9 being deemed to include any Preliminary Prospectus, the sales materials, the Prospectus and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented by the Fund), or arises out of or is based upon any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated in either such Registration Statement or Prospectus or necessary to make the statements made therein (with respect to the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except insofar as any such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in and in conformity with information furnished in writing by or on behalf of any Underwriter to the Fund or the Investment Adviser expressly for use with reference to any Underwriter in such Registration Statement or such Prospectus or arises out of or is based upon any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact in connection with such information required to be stated in such Registration Statement or such Prospectus or necessary to make such information (with respect to the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this subsection (a) with respect to any Preliminary Prospectus or amended Preliminary Prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter (or to the benefit of any person controlling such Underwriter) from whom the person asserting any such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim purchased the Shares which is the subject thereof if the Prospectus corrected any such alleged untrue statement or omission and if such Underwriter failed to send or give a copy of the Prospectus to such person at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such Shares to such person, unless the failure is the result of noncompliance by the Fund with Section 5(d) hereof. If any action, suit or proceeding (together, a "Proceeding") is brought against an Underwriter or any such person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Fund or the Investment Adviser pursuant to the foregoing paragraph, such Underwriter or such person shall promptly notify the Fund and the Investment Adviser in writing of the institution of such Proceeding and the Fund or the Investment Adviser shall assume the defense of such Proceeding, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party and payment of all fees and expenses; provided, however, that the omission to so notify the Fund or the Investment Adviser shall not relieve the Fund or the Investment Adviser from any liability which the Fund or the Investment Adviser may have to any Underwriter or any such person or otherwise. Such Underwriter or such person shall have the right to employ its or their 20 own counsel in any such case, but the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Underwriter or of such person unless the employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by the Fund or the Investment Adviser, as the case may be, in connection with the defense of such Proceeding or the Fund or the Investment Adviser shall not have, within a reasonable period of time in light of the circumstances, employed counsel to have charge of the defense of such Proceeding or such indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to it or them, which are different from, additional to or in conflict with those available to the Fund or the Investment Adviser (in which case the Fund or the Investment Adviser shall not have the right to direct the defense of such Proceeding on behalf of the indemnified party or parties), in any of which events such reasonable fees and expenses shall be borne by the Fund or the Investment Adviser and paid as incurred (it being understood, however, that the Fund or the Investment Adviser shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (in addition to any local counsel) in any one Proceeding or series of related Proceedings in the same jurisdiction representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such Proceeding). Neither the Fund nor the Investment Adviser shall be liable for any settlement of any Proceeding effected without its written consent but if settled with the written consent of the Fund or the Investment Adviser, the Fund or the Investment Adviser, as the case may be, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any Underwriter and any such person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for reasonable fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second sentence of this paragraph, then the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any Proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 60 business days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement and (iii) such indemnified party shall have given the indemnifying party at least 30 days' prior notice of its intention to settle. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened Proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding and does not include an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of such indemnified party. 21 (b) Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Fund and the Investment Adviser, and each of their respective shareholders, partners, managers, members, trustees, directors and officers, and any person who controls the Fund or the Investment Adviser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and the successors and assigns of all of the foregoing persons from and against any loss, damage, expense, liability or claim (including the reasonable cost of investigation), which, jointly or severally, the Fund or the Investment Adviser or any such person may incur under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the Investment Company Act, the Advisers Act, the common law or otherwise, insofar as such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in and in conformity with information furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Underwriter to the Fund or the Investment Adviser expressly for use with reference to such Underwriter in the Registration Statement (or in the Registration Statement as amended by any post-effective amendment thereof by the Fund) or in a Prospectus, or arises out of or is based upon any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact in connection with such information required to be stated in such Registration Statement or such Prospectus or necessary to make such information not misleading (with respect to the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made). If any Proceeding is brought against the Fund, the Investment Adviser or any such person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against any Underwriter pursuant to the foregoing paragraph, the Fund, the Investment Adviser or such person shall promptly notify such Underwriter in writing of the institution of such Proceeding and such Underwriter shall assume the defense of such Proceeding, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party and payment of all fees and expenses; provided, however, that the omission to so notify such Underwriter shall not relieve such Underwriter from any liability which such Underwriter may have to the Fund, the Investment Adviser or any such person or otherwise. The Fund, the Investment Adviser or such person shall have the right to employ its own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the Fund, the Investment Adviser or such person, as the case may be, unless the employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by such Underwriter in connection with the defense of such Proceeding or such Underwriter shall not have, within a reasonable period of time in light of the circumstances, employed counsel to have charge of the defense of such Proceeding or such indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to it or them, which are different from or additional to or in conflict with those available to such Underwriter (in which case such Underwriter shall not have the right to direct the defense of such Proceeding on behalf of the indemnified party or 22 parties, but such Underwriter may employ counsel and participate in the defense thereof but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Underwriter), in any of which events such fees and expenses shall be borne by such Underwriter and paid as incurred (it being understood, however, that such Underwriter shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (in addition to any local counsel) in any one Proceeding or series of related Proceedings in the same jurisdiction representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such Proceeding). No Underwriter shall be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding effected without the written consent of such Underwriter but if settled with the written consent of such Underwriter, such Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund, the Investment Adviser and any such person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second sentence of this paragraph, then the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any Proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 60 business days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement and (iii) such indemnified party shall have given the indemnifying party at least 30 days' prior notice of its intention to settle. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened Proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding and does not include an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of such indemnified party. (c) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 9 is unavailable to an indemnified party under subsections (a) and (b) of this Section 9 in respect of any losses, damages, expenses, liabilities or claims referred to therein, then each applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, damages, expenses, liabilities or claims (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Fund and the Investment Adviser on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Fund and the Investment Adviser on the one hand and of the 23 Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions, which resulted in such losses, damages, expenses, liabilities or claims, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Fund and the Investment Adviser on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total proceeds from the offering (net of underwriting discounts and commissions but before deducting expenses) received by the Fund and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, bear to the aggregate public offering price of the Shares. The relative fault of the Fund and the Investment Adviser on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission relates to information supplied by the Fund or the Investment Adviser or by the Underwriters and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, damages, expenses, liabilities and claims referred to in this subsection shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating, preparing to defend or defending any Proceeding. (d) The Fund, the Investment Adviser and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in subsection (c) above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the fees and commissions received by such Underwriter. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 9 are several in proportion to their respective underwriting commitments and not joint. (e) The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 9 and the covenants, warranties and representations of the Fund contained in this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, its partners, directors or officers or any person (including each partner, officer or director of such person) who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of 24 Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, or by or on behalf of the Fund or the Investment Adviser, its shareholders, partners, Advisers, members, trustees, directors or officers or any person who controls the Fund or the Investment Adviser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and shall survive any termination of this Agreement or the issuance and delivery of the Shares. The Fund and the Investment Adviser and each Underwriter agree promptly to notify each other of the commencement of any Proceeding against it and, in the case of the Fund or the Investment Adviser, against any of the Fund's or the Investment Adviser's shareholders, partners, managers, members, trustees, directors or officers in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares, or in connection with the Registration Statement or Prospectus. (f) The Fund and the Investment Adviser each acknowledge that the statements with respect to (1) the public offering of the Shares as set forth on the cover page of and (2) stabilization and selling concessions and reallowances of selling concessions and payment of fees to Underwriters that meet certain minimum sales thresholds under the caption "Underwriting" in the Prospectus constitute the only information furnished in writing to the Fund by the Underwriters expressly for use in such document. The Underwriters severally confirm that these statements are correct in all material respects and were so furnished by or on behalf of the Underwriters severally for use in the Prospectus. (g) Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Section 9, no party shall be entitled to indemnification or contribution under this Underwriting Agreement against any loss, claim, liability, expense or damage arising by reason of such person's willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its duties in the performance of its duties hereunder. 10. NOTICES. Except as otherwise herein provided, all statements, requests, notices and agreements shall be in writing or by telegram and, if to the Underwriters, shall be sufficient in all respects if delivered or sent to UBS Securities LLC, 299 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10171-0026, Attention: Syndicate Department and, if to the Fund or the Investment Adviser, shall be sufficient in all respects if delivered or sent to the Fund or the Investment Adviser, as the case may be, at the offices of the Fund or the Investment Adviser at Eaton Vance Management, 255 State Street, Boston, MA 02109. 11. GOVERNING LAW; CONSTRUCTION. This Agreement and any claim, counterclaim or dispute of any kind or nature whatsoever arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement ("Claim"), directly or indirectly, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. The Section headings in this Agreement have been inserted as a matter of convenience of reference and are not a part of this Agreement. 12. SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. Except as set forth below, no Claim may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in any court other than the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which courts shall 25 have jurisdiction over the adjudication of such matters, and the Fund and UBS Securities each consent to the jurisdiction of such courts and personal service with respect thereto. The Fund and UBS Securities hereby consent to personal jurisdiction, service and venue in any court in which any Claim arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement is brought by any third party against UBS Securities or any indemnified party. Each of UBS Securities, the Fund (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates) and the Investment Adviser (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its unitholders and affiliates) waives all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether based upon contract, tort or otherwise) in any way arising out of or relating to this Agreement. Each of the Fund and the Investment Adviser agrees that a final judgment in any such action, proceeding or counterclaim brought in any such court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Fund and the Investment Adviser, as the case may be, and may be enforced in any other courts in the jurisdiction of which the Fund or the Investment Adviser, as the case may be, is or may be subject, by suit upon such judgment. 13. PARTIES AT INTEREST. The Agreement herein set forth has been and is made solely for the benefit of the Underwriters, the Fund and the Investment Adviser and to the extent provided in Section 9 hereof the controlling persons, shareholders, partners, members, trustees, managers, directors and officers referred to in such section, and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, personal representatives and executors and administrators. No other person, partnership, association or corporation (including a purchaser, as such purchaser, from any of the Underwriters) shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. 14. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be signed by the parties in one or more counterparts which together shall constitute one and the same agreement among the parties. 15. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Underwriters, the Fund and the Investment Adviser, and any successor or assign of any substantial portion of the Fund's, the Investment Adviser's, or any of the Underwriters' respective businesses and/or assets. 16. DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY OF TRUSTEES AND BENEFICIARIES. A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of each of the Fund and Eaton Vance is on file with the Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice hereby is given that this Underwriting Agreement is executed on behalf of the Fund and Eaton Vance, respectively, by an officer or Trustee of the Fund or Eaton Vance, as the case may be, in his or her capacity as an officer or Trustee of the Fund or Eaton Vance, as the case may be, and not individually and that the obligations under or arising out of this Underwriting Agreement are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders individually but are binding 26 only upon the assets and properties of the Fund or Eaton Vance, as the case may be. 27 If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding among the Fund, the Investment Adviser and the Underwriters, please so indicate in the space provided below, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall constitute a binding agreement among the Fund, the Investment Adviser and the Underwriters, severally. Very truly yours, EATON VANCE FLOATING-RATE INCOME TRUST -------------------------- By: Title: EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT -------------------------- By: Title: 28 Accepted and agreed to as of the date first above written, on behalf of themselves and the other several Underwriters named in Schedule A UBS Securities LLC - -------------------------- By: Title: - -------------------------- By: Title: 29 SCHEDULE A UBS Securities LLC [ ] Total........................... [ ] ===
Schedule A-1 SCHEDULE B FORM OF OPINION OF KIRKPATRICK & LOCKHART LLP REGARDING THE FUND 1. The Registration Statement and all post-effective amendments, if any, are effective under the Securities Act and no stop order with respect thereto has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been instituted or, to the best of our knowledge, is threatened by the Commission. Any filing of the Prospectus or any supplements thereto required under Rule 497 of the Securities Act Rules prior to the date hereof have been made in the manner and within the time required by such rule. 2. The Fund has been duly formed and is validly existing as a Massachusetts business trust under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with full power and authority to conduct all the activities conducted by it, to own or lease all assets owned (or to be owned) or leased (or to be leased) by it and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, and the Fund is duly licensed and qualified to do business and in good standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or leasing of property or its conducting of business requires such qualification, and the Fund owns, possesses or has obtained and currently maintains all governmental licenses, permits, consents, orders, approvals and other authorizations, whether foreign or domestic, necessary to carry on its business as contemplated in the Prospectus. The Fund has no subsidiaries. 3. The capitalization of the Fund is as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The Shares of Beneficial Interest of the Fund conform in all respects to the description of them in the Prospectus. All the outstanding Shares of Beneficial Interest have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable (except as described in the Registration Statement). The Shares to be issued and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement against payment therefor as provided by the Underwriting Agreement have been duly authorized and when issued and delivered to the Underwriters will have been validly issued and will be fully paid and nonassessable (except as described in the Registration Statement). No person is entitled to any preemptive or other similar rights with respect to the Shares. 4. The Fund is duly registered with the Commission under the Investment Company Act as a diversified, closed-end management investment company and all action under the Securities Act, the Investment Company Act, the Securities Act Rules and the Investment Company Act Rules, as the case may be, necessary to make the public offering and consummate the sale of the Shares as provided in the Underwriting Agreement has or will have been taken by the Fund. 5. The Fund has full power and authority to enter into each of the Underwriting Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Custodian Agreement, the Administration Agreement, and the Transfer Agency Agreement (collectively, the "Fund Agreements") and to perform all of the terms and provisions Schedule B-1 thereof to be carried out by it and (A) each Fund Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Fund, (B) each Fund Agreement complies in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act, the Advisers Act , the Investment Company Act Rules and the Advisers Act Rules, as the case may be, and (C) assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties thereto, each Fund Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Fund enforceable in accordance with its terms, (1) subject, as to enforcement, to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to general equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (2) as rights to indemnity thereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws. 6. None of (A) the execution and delivery by the Fund of the Fund Agreements, (B) the issue and sale by the Fund of the Shares as contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement and (C) the performance by the Fund of its obligations under the Fund Agreements or consummation by the Fund of the other transactions contemplated by the Fund Agreements conflicts with or will conflict with, or results or will result in a breach of, the Declaration of Trust or the By-laws of the Fund or any agreement or instrument to which the Fund is a party or by which the Fund is bound, or any law, rule or regulation, or order of any court, governmental instrumentality, securities exchange or association or arbitrator, whether foreign or domestic, applicable to the Fund, except that we express no opinion as to the securities or "blue sky" laws applicable in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement. 7. The Fund is not currently in breach of, or in default under, any written agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or its property is bound or affected. 8. No consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental agency or body or securities exchange or association, whether foreign or domestic, is required by the Fund for the consummation by the Fund of the transactions to be performed by the Fund or the performance by the Fund of all the terms and provisions to be performed by or on behalf of it in each case as contemplated in the Fund Agreements, except such as (A) have been obtained under the Securities Act, the Investment Company Act, the Advisers Act, the Securities Act Rules, the Investment Company Act Rules and the Advisers Act Rules and (B) may be required by the New York Stock Exchange or under state securities or "blue sky" laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement. 9. The Shares have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance, and the Fund's Registration Statement on Form 8-A under the 1934 Act is effective. Schedule B-2 10. There is no action, suit or proceeding before or by any court, commission, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental agency or body, foreign or domestic, now pending or, to our knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Fund, which is required to be disclosed in the Prospectus that is not disclosed in the Prospectus, and there are no contracts, franchises or other documents that are of a character required to be described in, or that are required to be filed as exhibits to, the Registration Statement that have not been described or filed as required. 11. The Fund does not require any tax or other rulings to enable it to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code. 12. Each of the section in the Prospectus entitled "Distributions -- Federal Income Tax Matters" and the section in the Statement of Additional Information entitled "Taxes" is a fair summary of the principal United States federal income tax rules currently in effect applicable to the Fund and to the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Shares. 13. The Registration Statement (except the financial statements and schedules and other financial data included therein as to which we express no view), at the time it became effective, and the Prospectus (except as aforesaid), as of the date thereof, complied as to form in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Investment Company Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. In rendering our opinion, we have relied, as to factual matters, upon the attached written certificates and statements of officers of the Fund. In connection with the registration of the Shares, we have advised the Fund as to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Investment Company Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and have rendered other legal advice and assistance to the Fund in the course of its preparation of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. Rendering such assistance involved, among other things, discussions and inquiries concerning various legal and related subjects and reviews of certain corporate records, documents and proceedings. We also participated in conferences with representatives of the Fund and its accountants at which the contents of the Registration Statement and Prospectus and related matters were discussed. With your permission, we have not undertaken, except as otherwise indicated herein, to determine independently, and do not assume any responsibility for, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements in the Registration Statement or Prospectus. On the basis of the information which was developed in the course of the performance of the services referred to above, no information has come to our attention that would lead us to believe that the Registration Statement, at the time it became effective, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or that the Prospectus, as of its date and as of the date hereof, contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements Schedule B-3 therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or that any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus, as of its respective date, and as of the date hereof, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements in the Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (except the financial statements, schedules and other financial data included therein, as to which we express no view). Schedule B-4 SCHEDULE C FORM OF OPINION OF INTERNAL COUNSEL REGARDING EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT 1. Eaton Vance has been duly formed and is validly existing as a Massachusetts business trust under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation with full power and authority to conduct all of the activities conducted by it, to own or lease all of the assets owned or leased by it and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, and Eaton Vance is duly licensed and qualified and in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which it is required to be so qualified and Eaton Vance owns, possesses or has obtained and currently maintains all governmental licenses, permits, consents, orders, approvals and other authorizations, whether foreign or domestic, necessary for Eaton Vance to carry on its business as contemplated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. 2. Eaton Vance is duly registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and is not prohibited by the Advisers Act, the Investment Company Act, the Advisers Act Rules or the Investment Company Act Rules from acting as investment adviser for the Fund as contemplated by the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. 3. Eaton Vance has full power and authority to enter into each of the Underwriting Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Administration Agreement, the Additional Compensation Agreement, and the Shareholder Servicing Agreement (collectively, the "Eaton Vance Agreements") and to carry out all the terms and provisions thereof to be carried out by it, and each such agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by Eaton Vance; each Eaton Vance Agreement complies in all material respects with all provisions of the Investment Company Act, the Advisers Act, the Investment Company Act Rules and the Advisers Act Rules; and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties thereto, each Eaton Vance Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Eaton Vance, enforceable in accordance with its terms, (1) subject, as to enforcement, to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to general equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (2) as rights to indemnity thereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws. 4. Neither (A) the execution and delivery by Eaton Vance of any Eaton Vance Agreement nor (B) the consummation by Eaton Vance of the transactions contemplated by, or the performance of its obligations under any Eaton Vance Agreement conflicts or will conflict with, or results or will result in a breach of, the Agreement and Declaration of Trust or By-Laws of Eaton Vance or any agreement or instrument to which Eaton Vance is a party or by which Eaton Vance is bound, or any law, rule or regulation, or order of any court, governmental instrumentality, securities Schedule C-1 exchange or association or arbitrator, whether foreign or domestic, applicable to Eaton Vance. 5. No consent, approval, authorization or order of any court, governmental agency or body or securities exchange or association, whether foreign or domestic, is required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated in, or the performance by Eaton Vance of its obligations under, any Eaton Vance Agreement, except such as have been obtained under the Investment Company Act, the Advisers Act, the Securities Act, the Investment Company Act Rules, the Advisers Act Rules and the Securities Act Rules. 6. The description of Eaton Vance and its business, and the statements attributable to Eaton Vance, in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus complies with the requirements of the Securities Act, the Investment Company Act, the Securities Act Rules and the Investment Company Act Rules and do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading. 7. There is no action, suit or proceeding before or by any court, commission, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental agency or body, foreign or domestic, now pending or, to our knowledge, threatened against or affecting Eaton Vance of a nature required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or that might reasonably result in any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, business affairs or business prospects of Eaton Vance or the ability of Eaton Vance to fulfill its respective obligations under any Eaton Vance Agreement. 8. The Registration Statement (except the financial statements and schedules and other financial data included therein as to which we express no view), at the time it became effective, and the Prospectus (except as aforesaid), as of the date thereof, appeared on their face to be appropriately responsive in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Investment Company Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. In rendering our opinion, we have relied, as to factual matters, upon the attached written certificates and statements of officers of Eaton Vance. In connection with the registration of the Shares, we have advised Eaton Vance as to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Investment Company Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and have rendered other legal advice and assistance to Eaton Vance in the course of the preparation of the registration Statement and the Prospectus. Rendering such assistance involved, among other things, discussions and inquiries concerning various legal and related subjects and reviews of certain corporate records, documents and proceedings. We also participated in conferences with representatives of the Fund and its accountants and Eaton Vance at which the contents of the registration and Prospectus and related matters were discussed. Schedule C-2 With your permission, we have not undertaken, except as otherwise indicated herein, to determine independently, and do not assume any responsibility for, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements in the Registration Statement or Prospectus. On the basis of the information which was developed in the course of the performance of the services referred to above, no information has come to our attention that would lead us to believe that the Registration Statement, at the time it became effective, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or that the Prospectus, as of its date and as of the date hereof, contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or that any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus, as of its respective date, and as of the date hereof, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements in the Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (except the financial statements, schedules and other financial data included therein, as to which we express no view). Schedule C-3 SCHEDULE D FORM OF ACCOUNTANT'S LETTER , 2004 The Board of Trustees of Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust The Eaton Vance Building 255 State Street Boston, Massachusetts 02109 UBS Securities LLC 299 Park Avenue New York, New York 10171 as Managing Representative of the Underwriters Ladies and Gentlemen: We have audited the statement of assets and liabilities of Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust (the "Fund") as of [ ], 2004 included in the Registration Statement on Form N-2 filed by the Fund under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") (File No. 333-115087) and under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Investment Company Act") (File No. 811-21574); such statement and our report with respect to such statement are included in the Registration Statement. In connection with the Registration Statement: 1. We are independent public accountants with respect to the Fund within the meaning of the Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder. 2. In our opinion, the statement of assets and liabilities included in the Registration Statement and audited by us complies as to form in all respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act, the Investment Company Act and the respective rules and regulations thereunder. 3. For purposes of this letter we have read the minutes of all meetings of the Shareholders, the Board of Trustees and all Committees of the Board of Trustees of the Fund as set forth in the minute books at the offices of the Fund, officials of the Fund having advised us that the minutes of all such meetings through [ ], 2004, were set forth therein. 4. Fund officials have advised us that no financial statements as of any date subsequent to [ ], 2004, are available. We have made inquiries of certain officials of the Fund who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters Schedule D-1 regarding whether there was any change at [ ], 2004, in the capital shares or net assets of the Fund as compared with amounts shown in the [ ], 2004, statement of assets and liabilities included in the Registration Statement, except for changes that the Registration Statement discloses have occurred or may occur. On the basis of our inquiries and our reading of the minutes as described in Paragraph 3, nothing came to our attention that caused us to believe that there were any such changes. The foregoing procedures do not constitute an audit made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Accordingly, we make no representations as to the sufficiency of the foregoing procedures for your purposes. This letter is solely for the information of the addressees and to assist the underwriters in conducting and documenting their investigation of the affairs of the Fund in connection with the offering of the securities covered by the Registration Statement, and is not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise referred to within or without the underwriting group for any other purpose, including but not limited to the registration, purchase or sale of securities, nor is it to be filed with or referred to in whole or in part in the Registration Statement or any other document, except that reference may be made to it in the underwriting agreement or in any list of closing documents pertaining to the offering of the securities covered by the Registration Statement. Very truly yours, Schedule D-2 EX-99.(H)(2) 7 b50653a1exv99wxhyx2y.txt FORM OF MASTER AGREEMENT AMONG UNDERWRITERS Exhibit (h)(2) Master Agreement Among Underwriters UBS Securities LLC 299 Park Avenue New York, New York 10171-0026 Ladies and Gentlemen: We hereby agree that this Master Agreement Among Underwriters (this "Agreement") will apply to our participation in offerings of securities where you act as Manager or one of the Managers of the underwriting syndicate (including offerings subject to competitive bidding where you act as Representative of a group of bidders or purchasers). The issuer of the securities is referred to as the "Company", the seller of any such securities other than the Company is referred to as the "Seller" and such securities are referred to as the "Securities". 1. Applicability This Agreement as amended or supplemented by the Terms Communication (as defined below) will apply to any offering of Securities, pursuant to a registration statement filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the "Securities Act"), or exempt from such registration, where you have informed us that this Agreement applies. Any such offering in which we participate as an Underwriter is referred to as an "Offering". You may, from time to time, invite us to participate in an Offering by sending a wire, telex, facsimile or other means of invitation relating to that Offering (an "Invitation"). As to any such Offering, you will promptly advise us of the following as applicable: the amount of Securities to be underwritten by us, the expected offering and closing dates, the offering price and the purchase price, the interest or dividend rate (or the method by which such rate is to be determined), the conversion price, the underwriting discount, the management fee, the concession and the reallowance. If the offering price is to be determined by a formula based upon the market price of certain securities ("Formula Pricing"), you will so indicate and specify the maximum underwriting discount, management fee and concession. You will also advise us if the Offering includes Delayed Delivery Contracts or if the Underwriting Agreement (as defined below) grants the Underwriters an option to purchase additional Securities (the "Option Securities"). The foregoing information may be conveyed in the Invitation or in a Terms Wire substantially in the forms of Exhibits A and B hereto, respectively (collectively, the "Terms Communication"). The Terms Communication may also supplement or amend the terms of this Agreement applicable to an Offering. Receipt of our acceptance substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A without receipt of our written revocation before the time specified in the Terms Communication constitutes our "Final Acceptance". By our Final Acceptance, we agree that this Agreement will be incorporated by reference in such Terms Communication as though set forth in its entirety and will govern our participation in such Offering. 2. Underwriting Agreement and Master Underwriters' Questionnaire For each Offering, the Company, any Seller and/or any guarantor of such Securities will enter into an underwriting or purchase agreement or similar agreement (the "Underwriting Agreement"), which will be sent to us, available for review in your office or in publicly available form with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). By our Final Acceptance, we authorize you to purchase on our behalf the amount of the Securities set forth in the Terms Communication (our "Initial Commitment") plus our share of any Option Securities less any amount of our Securities to be sold pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts under Section 7 below. The Securities we are obligated to purchase after any such adjustment are referred to as "Our Securities." If the Securities are debt obligations maturing serially, our allocation of the maturities will be proportionate to our underwriting obligation. Our Final Acceptance will also constitute (i) our representation that our commitment with respect to the Offering will not violate any applicable capital requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the "Exchange Act"), the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") or any securities exchange and (ii) our confirmation that the information given or deemed given in response to the Master Underwriters' Questionnaire attached as Exhibit C is correct. We will notify you immediately whenever such information becomes inaccurate or incomplete during an Offering. 3. Offering Documents Registered Offerings. For an Offering of Securities registered under the Securities Act ("Registered Offering"), you will provide the file number(s) of the Registration Statement (as defined below) filed with the Commission or, to the extent made available by the Company, send us or make available for our review in your office a copy of such Registration Statement except for any exhibits and documents incorporated therein by reference. As soon as practicable after sufficient quantities of the final prospectus (excluding documents incorporated by reference therein) are made available to you by the Company to be used in connection with the Offering of the Securities, you will furnish to us sufficient copies thereof or arrange to have such copies furnished to us. We understand that we are not authorized to give any information or make any representation not contained in the Prospectus (including documents incorporated by reference therein), as amended or supplemented, in connection with the Offering. Our Final Acceptance will constitute (i) our acknowledgment that we are familiar with such Registration Statement, as amended to the date of the Offering, including any exhibits or 2 documents incorporated therein by reference (the "Registration Statement"), and with any preliminary prospectus, final prospectus, or prospectus supplement filed with the Commission (collectively, the "Prospectus") and the forms of Underwriting Agreement and indenture or other document describing the terms of the Securities filed as exhibits thereto or otherwise made available to us, (ii) our representation that the information relating to us in such Registration Statement and Prospectus is correct and not misleading, (iii) our consent to be named as an Underwriter therein, and (iv) our representation that we will furnish a Prospectus to each person to whom we sell Securities or to whom we furnished a previous Prospectus as required by applicable regulation or as requested by you. We will maintain accurate records of our distribution of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. Where specified in the Terms Communication, we will not without your consent sell any of the Securities to an account over which we have investment discretion. Offerings Pursuant to Offering Circular. For other than a Registered Offering, you will provide or make available to us for our review in your office, to the extent made available by the Company, copies of any preliminary and final offering circulars or other offering materials and any amendments thereto (the "Offering Circular"). As soon as practicable after sufficient quantities of the final offering circular (excluding documents incorporated by reference therein) are made available to you by the Company to be used in connection with the Offering of the Securities, you will furnish to us sufficient copies thereof or arrange to have such copies furnished to us. We understand that we are not authorized to give any information or make any representation not contained in the Offering Circular (including documents incorporated by reference therein), as amended or supplemented, in connection with the Offering. Our Final Acceptance will also constitute (i) our acknowledgment that we are familiar with the Offering Circular, and the forms of Underwriting Agreement and indenture or other document describing the terms of the Securities made available to us (ii) our representation that the information relating to us in the Offering Circular is correct and not misleading, (iii) our consent to being named as an Underwriter therein, and (iv) our representation that we will furnish an Offering Circular to each person to whom we sell Securities or to whom we furnish a previous Offering Circular as required by any regulation or as requested by you. We will maintain accurate records of our distribution of the Offering Circular. 4. Manager's Authority We authorize you, acting as Manager, to (i) negotiate, execute and deliver the Underwriting Agreement, (ii) exercise all authority and discretion granted by the Underwriting Agreement and take all action you deem desirable in connection with this Agreement and the Underwriting Agreement including, but not limited to, waiving performance or satisfaction by the Company, any selling security holder or any other party to the Underwriting Agreement of its or their obligations or conditions included in the Underwriting Agreement or the Terms Communication (including this Agreement), if in your judgment such waiver will not have a material adverse effect upon the interests of the Underwriters and exercising any right of cancellation or 3 termination, (iii) modify, vary or waive any provision in the Underwriting Agreement except the amount of Our Securities or the purchase price (except you may determine the price by Formula Pricing where applicable), (iv) determine the timing and the terms of the Offering (including varying the offering terms and the concessions and discounts to dealers), (v) exercise any option relating to the purchase of Option Securities, and (vi) take all action you deem desirable in connection with the Offering and the purchase, carrying, sale and distribution of the Securities. If there are other Managers with respect to an Offering, you may take any action hereunder alone on behalf of the Managers, and our representations, agreements and authorizations given herein shall also be for the benefit of such other Manager to whom you may grant any of your authority to act hereunder. You may arrange for the purchase by others, who may include your or other Underwriters, of any Securities not taken up by an Underwriter in respect of its obligations hereunder who defaults under this Agreement and/or the Underwriting Agreement. We will assume our proportionate share of all defaulted obligations not assumed by others and any Securities so assumed shall be included in Our Securities. However, nothing in this paragraph will affect our liability or obligations in the event of a default by us or any other Underwriter(s). You may advertise the Offering as you determine and determine all matters relating to communications with dealers or others. We will not advertise the Offering without your consent, and we assume all expense and risk with respect to any advertising by us. Notwithstanding any information you furnish as to jurisdictions where you believe the Securities may be sold, you have no obligation for qualification of the Securities for sale under the laws of any jurisdiction. You may file a New York Further State Notice. You have no liability to us except for your own lack of good faith in meeting obligations expressly assumed by you hereunder. 5. Management Fee We will pay and authorize you to charge our account with our share of the Management Fee set forth in the Terms Communication and calculated without deduction in respect of any Delayed Delivery Securities. Such compensation may be divided among the Managers as you decide. 6. Offering We will comply with any applicable requirement of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and any other applicable Federal or state statute and the rules and regulations thereunder. We will make no sales of Securities until you release us to do so. Any Securities released to us for public offering will be promptly offered in conformity with the Prospectus or Offering Circular and we will not allow any discount except as permitted by this Agreement. If we offer Securities outside the United States, its territories or possessions, we will take all action necessary to comply with all applicable laws at our own expense and risk. You may reserve for sale, sell and deliver for our account any of Our Securities (i) to customers, (ii) to dealers (including Underwriters) who 4 are members of the NASD and agree to comply with the terms of Section 16 below and (iii) to foreign dealers or other institutions (including Underwriters) not eligible for NASD membership who agree to comply with the terms of Section 16 below. Sales of Securities to customers for the account of Underwriters will be as nearly as practicable in proportion to their respective Initial Commitments, and sales of Securities to dealers for the account of Underwriters will be as nearly as practicable in proportion to each Underwriter's pro rata share of Securities reserved for such sales. You will advise us of the amount of Our Securities which we will retain for direct sale. Any Securities reserved by you for sale for our account but not sold may be released by you to us for direct sale, in which event the amount of Securities so reserved shall be correspondingly reduced. We will obtain an agreement containing the representations in Section 16 below from dealers to whom we sell Securities. In connection with any Offering of Securities that are registered under the Act and issued by a company that was not, immediately prior to the filing of the Registration Statement, subject to the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, we agree that unless otherwise advised by you and disclosed in the Prospectus we will not make sales to any account over which we exercise discretionary authority with respect to that sale (discretionary accounts). We will advise you on request of the unsold amount of Our Securities. You may at any time (i) reserve such Securities for sale by you for our account, (ii) purchase any such Securities to make deliveries for the Underwriters (at the public offering price or at such price less all or part of the concession) or (iii) reserve such Securities for sale by the Company pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts. If the total of the unsold Securities does not exceed 15% of all Securities, you may sell the unsold Securities for the Underwriters as you determine. If prior to the termination of this Agreement with respect to the offering of the Securities, you shall purchase or contract to purchase any of Our Securities sold or loaned directly by us, in your discretion you may (i) sell for our account the Securities so purchased and debit or credit our account for the loss or profit resulting from such sale, (ii) charge our account with an amount not in excess of the concession to dealers with respect thereto and credit such amount against the cost thereof or (iii) require us to purchase such Securities at a price equal to the total cost of such purchase, including commissions, accrued interest, amortization of original issue discount or dividends and transfer taxes on redelivery. 7. Arrangements for Delayed Delivery Arrangements for Delayed Delivery Securities will be made only through you directly, or through dealers (which may be Underwriters) to whom you may pay a commission. Our Initial Commitment will be reduced by the Delayed Delivery Securities attributed to us. Delayed Delivery Securities will be attributed in the same manner and proportions as provided in Section 6 above. The fee payable to us will be credited to our account based on the amount by which our Initial Commitment is reduced in accordance with the above paragraph, less the commission paid on Delayed Delivery Securities that are sold through dealers and attributed to us. We will be treated 5 as only a dealer and receive only the concession with respect to the Securities, if any, by which the aggregate of the Delayed Delivery Securities attributable to us exceeds our Initial Commitment. 8. Stabilization and Over-Allotment During an Offering, and longer if necessary to cover any short position, you may buy and sell for either long or short account in the open market or otherwise (i) the Securities, (ii) if the Securities are common stock or a security convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for common stock (including any option on common stock), the common stock of the Company and any security convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for common stock including any option on such common stock (referred to as "Equivalent Securities"), and (iii) any other securities that you may designate in the Terms Communication. In arranging for sales of Securities, you may also over-allot and cover such over-allotment on such terms as you deem advisable. At no time (except for over-allotments which may be covered by an over-allotment option and except as a result of a default by an Underwriter) shall our net commitment pursuant to this Section exceed 20% of our Initial Commitment. All transactions pursuant to this Section shall be made for the respective accounts of the Underwriters as nearly as practicable in proportion to their Initial Commitments. Any securities purchased by you for stabilizing purposes prior to our Final Acceptance will also be subject to this Section. On demand, we will (x) pay for any Securities purchased, deliver any Securities sold or over-allotted, or pay any losses or expenses incurred for our account pursuant to this Section and (y) advise you of the Securities retained by us and unsold and will sell to you for the account of one or more of the Underwriters such of our unsold Securities at such price, not less than the net price to selected dealers nor more than the public offering price, as you determine. You will notify us promptly of any transaction which in your judgment may be a "stabilizing purchase" within the meaning of the applicable rules of the Commission and will also notify us of the date and time when any such stabilizing was terminated. If stabilization is effected we will provide you not later than the fifth full business day following the termination of stabilization, with such information and reports as are required in relation to such stabilization pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Exchange Act. 9. Open Market Transactions Until notified by you to the contrary, we will not buy, sell, deal or trade in Securities, any Equivalent Securities, or any other securities designated in the Terms Communication. However, such restrictions will not apply to unsolicited brokerage orders received in the ordinary course of business. We may, with your prior consent, make purchases of the Securities from and sales to other Underwriters at the public offering price, less all or any part of the concession to dealers. We will also comply with the provisions of Regulation M under the Exchange Act if applicable to us. 10. Payment, Delivery and Settlement 6 In payment for the Securities we are obligated to purchase, we will deliver a federal funds wire transfer to your order in accordance with your instructions as to time and place of delivery and amount of funds. As our agent you may pay the Company and any Seller the amount due against delivery of the Securities. Unless we promptly provide contrary instructions, transactions may be settled through The Depository Trust Company if we or our correspondent is a member. If you do not receive our payment as instructed, you may make payment for our account without relieving us of our obligations under this Agreement and, we will repay promptly on demand the amount advanced plus interest at current rates. You may deliver to us from time to time against payment, for carrying purposes only, the unsold amount of Our Securities except that if the aggregate amount of reserved but unsold Securities upon termination in accordance with the second paragraph of Section 13 below does not exceed 10% of the total amount of Securities, you may in your discretion sell such Securities for the accounts of the Underwriters, at such prices and in such manner as you determine. On demand, we will redeliver against payment any Securities so delivered. As soon as practicable after any Offering, the net credit or debit balance in our account shall be paid to or collected from us; provided, however, that you may reserve any amount for possible additional expenses chargeable to the Underwriters. No statement by you regarding a balance in our account or the establishment of any reserve shall constitute a representation as to the existence or nonexistence of amounts chargeable to us. Notwithstanding any distribution to us, we will remain liable for and pay on demand (i) any transfer taxes paid after settlement of our account, and (ii) our proportionate share based on our Initial Commitment of all expenses and liability incurred for the Underwriters, including any liability based on the claim that the Underwriters constitute an association, unincorporated business, partnership or any separate entity. You may at any time make partial distribution of credit balances or require partial payment of debit balances. 7 11. Authority to Borrow In carrying out this Agreement, you may arrange loans from yourself or others for our account. In connection with any such loan, you may hold or pledge the Securities or any other securities and execute and deliver any notes, agreements or other instruments you deem appropriate. Any lender is authorized to accept your instructions as Manager in all matters relating to such loans. Any Securities or such other securities held by you for our account may be delivered to us for carrying purposes, and if so delivered will be redelivered to you upon demand. 12. Expenses All expenses incurred by you in connection with an Offering and with this Agreement are to be charged to the Underwriters' accounts in proportion to their respective Initial Commitments except that any transfer taxes on sales made by you to dealers are to be charged to the Underwriter for whose account such sales were made. Any of our funds may be held with your general funds without interest. Your determination, apportionment and distribution of profits, losses and expenses will be final and conclusive. 13. Termination This Agreement may be terminated by either party on five business days' prior written notice except that our notice is not effective as to any Offering where such notice is received by you after our Final Acceptance. Further, the third paragraph of Section 10 and Sections 12, 14, 15, and 17 and your representations hereunder will in all circumstances survive as to all Offerings. Except as otherwise provided in the foregoing paragraph, with respect to any Offering this Agreement will terminate at the close of business on the thirtieth day after the Securities are released for public sale, unless you either terminate this Agreement earlier or extend it for up to thirty additional days. This Agreement will continue in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of any Underwriting Agreement, (ii) any investigation relating to any Securities or any Offering and (iii) the delivery of and payment for any Securities. No termination pursuant to this Section will affect your authority or our obligations under Sections 8 and 10. No termination will relieve any defaulting Underwriter. 8 14. Underwriters' Status Nothing herein is to constitute any of the Underwriters a partnership, association, unincorporated business or other separate entity or is to render you or us liable (except as provided herein or in the Underwriting Agreement) for any obligation of any other Underwriters; and the obligations and liabilities of each of the Underwriters are several and not joint. In no event will the Underwriters elect to be treated as a partnership for Federal income tax purposes, and will not take any position inconsistent with this sentence. If for Federal income tax purposes the Underwriters should be deemed to constitute a partnership, then each Underwriter elects to be excluded from the application of Subchapter K, Chapter 1, Subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code and authorizes UBS Securities LLC, in its discretion, on behalf of such Underwriter, to execute such evidence of such election as may be required by the Internal Revenue Services. 15. Default by Underwriters Default by one or more Underwriters hereunder or under the Underwriting Agreement will not release the other Underwriters from their respective obligations or affect the liability of any defaulting Underwriters to the other Underwriters for damages resulting from such default. 16. Indemnity and Contribution We will indemnify, hold harmless and reimburse you and each other Underwriter (and your respective controlling persons within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act) and the successors and assigns of all of the foregoing persons to the extent and on the terms that each Underwriter agrees to indemnify any person in the Underwriting Agreement. If any inquiry or investigation is initiated or if any claim is asserted against you as Manager or otherwise involves the Underwriters generally, or relates to any Prospectus, Registration Statement, Offering Circular, the offering of the Securities, or any transaction contemplated by this Agreement or any Underwriting Agreement, you may make such investigation, retain such counsel and take any other action you deem desirable, including settlement of any claim if recommended by counsel retained by you. Upon your request, we will pay our proportionate share of all expenses incurred by you or with your consent (including, but not limited to, fees and disbursements of counsel) in investigating and defending against such inquiry, investigation, claim or otherwise, and, as contributions, our proportionate share of any related liability incurred whether such liability results from a judgment, settlement or otherwise. A claim against or liability incurred by a person who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or Exchange Act shall be deemed incurred by such Underwriter. You may consent to being named as the representative of a defendant class of Underwriters. If any Underwriter or Underwriters default in their obligation to make any payments under Section 15, each nondefaulting Underwriter shall be obligated to pay its proportionate share of all defaulted payments, based upon such Underwriter's underwriting obligation as related to the underwriting obligations of all nondefaulting Underwriters, without relieving the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters of liability therefor. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the 9 meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. 17. NASD We understand that you are a member in good standing of the NASD. We represent that (i) we are a member in good standing of the NASD and will comply with all applicable rules of the NASD, including the NASD's Interpretation with respect to Free Riding and Withholding and Rule 2740 of the Conduct Rules, or (ii) we are a foreign bank, broker, dealer or other institutions not eligible for such membership and will not make sales within the United States, its territories or possessions or to persons who are citizens or residents thereof except through you (except that we may participate in group sales pursuant to Section 6 above) and that in making sales outside the United States, we will comply with the requirements of the NASD's Interpretation with respect to Free Riding and Withholding and comply as though a member with Rules 2420, 2730, 2740 and 2750 of the Conduct Rules of the NASD. 18. Miscellaneous This Agreement and any claim, counterclaim or dispute of any kind or nature whatsoever arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement ("Claim"), directly or indirectly, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without regard to the conflicts of law provisions thereof. Except as set forth below, no Claim may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in any court other than the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which courts shall have jurisdiction over the adjudication of such matters, and we and you consent to the jurisdiction of such courts and personal service with respect thereto. We and you waive all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether based upon contract, tort or otherwise) in any way arising out of or relating to this Agreement. We agree that a final judgment in any such action, proceeding or counterclaim brought in any such court shall be conclusive and binding upon us and may be enforced in any other courts to the jurisdiction of which we are, or may be subject, by suit upon such judgment. The Section headings in this Agreement have been inserted as a matter of convenience of reference and are not a part of this Agreement. This Agreement may be supplemented or amended by you by written notice to us and, except for supplements or amendments set forth in a Terms Communication, any such supplement or amendment to this Agreement shall be effective with respect to any Offering to which this Agreement applies after the date of such supplement or amendment. Each reference to "Agreement" herein shall, as appropriate, be to this Agreement as so amended and supplemented. This Agreement may be signed by the parties in one or more counterparts which together shall constitute one and the same agreement among the parties. 19. Notices 10 Any notice hereunder is duly given if sent from you by registered mail, telegram or telex, to us as set forth below or if sent to you at UBS Securities LLC, 299 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10171-0026, Attention: Corporate Syndicate Department. Very truly yours, __________________________________ (Name of Firm) __________________________________ (Address of Firm) __________________________________ (Name and Title of Signatory) By:____________________________ (Signature) Facsimile No.:____________ 11 Confirmed as of the date first above written. UBS Securities LLC By: ______________________________ Executive Director UBS Securities LLC By: ______________________________ Managing Director 12 FORM OF INVITATION TO BE USED WITH MASTER AGREEMENT AMONG UNDERWRITERS (The following form of Invitation, adapted as appropriate for debt securities, convertible securities, stock or units, is designed for use in all offerings to which UBS Securities LLC Master Agreement Among Underwriters (the "Master AAU") will apply. In certain cases, all or a part of the following form will be combined with the form of Terms Wire.) (Date) (Name and address of prospective Underwriter) Attention: Corporate Syndicate Department Invitation Wire (Name of Issuer) (Title of Securities) (principal amount or number shares) (Name of Guarantor, if any) Registration form or application filed with (name of regulatory authority) Seller(s): (Insert if other than or in addition to Company) The anticipated terms are as follows: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Call Protection: (insert if applicable) Sinking Fund: (insert if applicable) Starts in and retires $ per annum through Optional Redemption Schedule: Redeemable at %, beginning declining (straight-line) to 100%, beginning Over-allotment Option: (insert amount, if applicable) Ratings: (expected-confirmed) Listing: (insert if applicable) Application has been made to list (insert name(s) of exchange(s)) Delayed Delivery: (insert if applicable) Name of Trustee: (insert if applicable) Name of Parent of Trustee: (insert if applicable) Name of Parent of Company: (insert if applicable) Equivalent Securities and other securities subject to stabilization pursuant to Section 8 of Master AAU and restricted pursuant to Section 9 of Master AAU: (insert if applicable) Other terms of the Offering or the Securities: (insert if applicable)
13 [The issuer is not subject to the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. We call your attention to the final paragraph of Section 3(a) of our Master Agreement Among Underwriters and advise you that, without our consent, Securities should not be sold to an account over which you have investment discretion.] (insert if applicable) You are hereby invited to participate as one of the several Underwriters in the above-referenced Offering for (amount). Your participation as an Underwriter shall be subject to the provisions of the Master Agreement Among Underwriters between you and UBS Securities LLC, as amended. If you wish to accept this Invitation and thereby agree to its terms, the Corporate Syndicate Department of UBS Securities LLC : must receive a telegram, telex or Graphic Scanning communication from you not later than _____________ M., New York City time, on ____________, ___, in substantially the following form: "We accept the Invitation dated _____________, ____, to participate as an Underwriter in the Offering of Securities of (insert name of issuer). We confirm that we agree to be bound by the Master Agreement Among Underwriters as it relates to this Offering and that there are no exceptions to your Master Underwriters' Questionnaire (or state exceptions)." (Signature of firm) UBS Securities LLC [Name of Co-Manager(s), if any] FORM OF TERMS WIRE TO BE USED WITH UBS SECURITIES LLC MASTER AGREEMENT AMONG UNDERWRITERS (The following form, adapted as appropriate for debt securities, convertible securities, stock or units, will be used in connection with offerings to which the UBS Securities LLC Master Agreement Among Underwriters will apply. In certain cases all or part of the following form will be combined with the form of Invitation.) 14 (Date) (Name and address of prospective Underwriter) Attention: Corporate Syndicate Department Terms Wire (Name of Issuer) (Title of Securities) (principal amount or number of shares) (Name of Guarantor, if any) Your underwriting commitment shall be ____________________ Coupon [dividend rate] (insert if applicable) Initial offering price[s] (1) (or specify formula pricing is being used) Yield to Maturity: Conversion price and other terms: (insert if applicable) Expected Offering Date: Expected Closing Date: Delivery of Securities: Type of Funds: Gross spread: (unless formula pricing is being used) Management fee: (or maximum amount thereof) Underwriting: (unless formula pricing is being used) Selling concession: (unless formula pricing is being used) Reallowance: (unless formula pricing is being used) Other terms of the Offering or the Securities: (insert if applicable)
NOTE: Plus accrued interest/dividends from (insert date for fixed income securities). Unless a telex from you revoking your previous Acceptance of our Invitation with respect to this offering is received by the UBS Securities LLC Corporate Syndicate Department, prior to New York City time on ___________, your Acceptance will become final and our Master Agreement Among Underwriters will become effective as to you with respect to this Offering. UBS Securities LLC [Name of Co-Manager(s), if any] By: UBS Securities LLC 15 UBS Securities LLC MASTER UNDERWRITERS' QUESTIONNAIRE Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used herein shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Master Agreement Among Underwriters between UBS Securities LLC and us (such agreement as amended or supplemented from time to time being hereinafter referred to as the "Agreement"). Reference will be made to this Master Underwriters' Questionnaire in the Terms Communication described in Section 1 of the Agreement received by us in connection with the offerings of securities in which UBS Securities LLC is acting as manager of the several underwriters. Our acceptance of any Terms Communication should respond to this Master Underwriters' Questionnaire, and state that there are "no exceptions" or, if there are exceptions, provide details thereof. We authorize you to furnish such information and make such representations to appropriate authorities based on the information provided by us pursuant to this Questionnaire. In connection with the Offering, we advise you and the Company that, except as indicated in our acceptance of the Terms Communication: neither we nor any of our directors, officers or partners has, nor have we or they had within the last three years, a "material" relationship (as the term "material" is defined in Regulation C promulgated under the Securities Act) with the Company, its parent, if any, any Seller or Guarantor; neither we nor any of our officers, directors or partners, separately or as a "group" (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), owns of record or beneficially (determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) more than 5% of any class of voting securities of the Company, its parent or any Seller or Guarantor or is affiliated (as that term is defined in the Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act) with any person who owns of record or beneficially more than 5% of any such class of securities or has knowledge that more than 5% of any such class is or is to be held subject to any voting trust or similar arrangement; other than as may be stated in the Agreement, the Terms Communication or the Underwriting Agreement relating to the proposed offering or the UBS Securities LLC Master Dealer Agreement, we do not know of, or have any reason to believe that there are, any arrangements (i) for any discounts or commissions to be allowed or paid to underwriters or any other items that would be deemed by the NASD to constitute underwriting compensation for purposes of Rule 2710 of the NASD's Conduct Rules; (ii) for any discounts or commissions to be allowed or paid to dealers or any cash, securities, contracts or other consideration to be received by any dealer in connection with the sale of the Securities; (iii) for limiting or restricting the sale of any securities of the Company or the Guarantor for the period of distribution; (iv) for stabilizing the market for any securities of the Company or the Guarantor; or (v) for withholding commissions or otherwise holding each underwriter or dealer responsible for the distribution of his participation; 16 neither we nor any of our directors, officers, partners or "persons associated with" us (as defined in the By-laws of the NASD) within the last 12 months have purchased (or intends within six months after the commencement of the offering of the Securities to purchase) in private transactions any securities of the Company or the Guarantor or any parent or subsidiary thereof or have had any dealings with the Company or the Guarantor or any parent or controlling stockholder thereof (other than relating to the proposed Underwriting Agreement), as to which documents or information are required to be filed with the NASD pursuant to its Conduct Rules; no report or memorandum has been prepared by or for us for external use in connection with the Offering, and if the Registration Statement is on Form S-1, no engineering, management or similar report or memorandum relating to broad aspects of the business, operations or products of the Company, the Guarantor or any parent thereof has been prepared for or by you within the past twelve months (except for reports solely comprised of recommendations to buy, sell or hold the securities of the Company, the Guarantor or any parent thereof, unless such recommendations have changed within the last six months). If the Securities are to be issued under an Indenture qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939: we (if a corporation) do not have outstanding nor have we assumed or guaranteed any securities issued otherwise than in our present corporate name and neither the Trustee nor its parent is a holder of any of our securities; neither we nor any of our directors, officers or partners is an "affiliate," as defined in Rule 0-2 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, of the Trustee or its parent, and neither the Trustee nor its parent, nor any of their directors or executive officers is a director, officer, partner, employee, appointee or representative of us as those terms are defined in said Act or in the relevant instructions to the Trustee's Statement of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1; and In the event of an exception to the type of materials referred to, three complies of each item of such material, together with a statement describing the actual or proposed use, the distribution thereof, and identifying the classes of recipients, the number of copies of such materials distributed to each such class and the period of distribution must be sent to UBS Securities LLC, 299 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10171-0026, Attention: Corporate Syndicate Department. neither we nor any of our directors, executive officers, partners or parents, separately or as a group, owns beneficially 1% or more of any class of voting securities of the Trustee or its parent; and if the issuer is a public utility, we are not a "holding company" or a "subsidiary company" or an "affiliate" of a "holding company" or of a "public utility company," each as defined in the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935. 17 EX-99.(H)(3) 8 b50653a1exv99wxhyx3y.txt FORM OF MASTER SELECTED DEALERS AGREEMENT Exhibit (h)(3) MASTER SELECTED DEALERS AGREEMENT , 2004 UBS Securities LLC 299 Park Avenue New York, New York 10171 Gentlemen: 1. General. We understand that UBS Securities LLC ("UBS Securities") is entering into this Agreement with us and other firms who may be offered the right to purchase as principal a portion of securities being distributed to the public. The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall be applicable to any public offering of securities ("Securities") wherein UBS Securities (acting for its own account or for the account of any underwriting or similar group or syndicate) is responsible for managing or other wise implementing the sale of the Securities to selected dealers ("Selected Dealers") and has expressly informed us that such terms and conditions shall be applicable. Any such offering of Securities to us as a Selected Dealer is hereinafter called an "Offering." In the case of any Offering in which you are acting for the account of any underwriting or similar group or syndicate ("Underwriters"), the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of, and binding upon such Underwriters, including, in the case of any Offering in which you are acting with others as representatives of Underwriters, such other representatives. The term "preliminary prospectus" means, in the case of an Offering registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"), any preliminary prospectus relating to an Offering of Securities or any preliminary prospectus supplement together with a prospectus relating to an Offering of Securities and, in the case of an Offering not registered under the Securities Act, any preliminary offering circular relating to an Offering of Securities or any preliminary offering circular supplement together with an offering circular relating to an Offering of Securities; the term "Prospectus" means, in the case of an Offering registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"), the prospectus, together with the final prospectus supplement, if any, relating to such Offering of Securities, filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) or Rule 424(c) under the Securities Act and, in the case of an Offering not registered under the Securities Act, the final offering circular, including any supplements, relating to such Offering of Securities. 2. Conditions of Offering; Acceptance and Purchase. Any Offering will be subject to delivery of the Securities and their acceptance by you and any other Underwriters, may be subject to the approval of all legal matters by counsel and the satisfaction of other conditions, and may be made on the basis of reservation of Securities or an allotment against subscription. You will advise us by telegram, telex or other form of writ ten communication ("Written Communication") of the particular method and supplementary terms and conditions (including, without limitation, the information as to prices and offering date referred to in Section 3(b)) of any Offering in which we are invited to participate. To the extent such supplementary terms and conditions are inconsistent with any provision herein, such terms and conditions shall supersede any such provision. Unless otherwise indicated in any such Written Communication, acceptances and other communications by us with respect to any Offering should be sent to UBS Securities LLC, 299 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10171. You reserve the right to reject any acceptance in whole or in part. Payment for Securities purchased by us is to be made at such office as you may designate, at the public offering price, or, if you shall so advise us, at such price less the concession to dealers or at the price set forth or indicated in a Written Communication, on such date as you shall determine, on one day's prior notice to us, by certified or official bank check in New York Clearing House funds payable to the order of PaineWebber Incorporated, against delivery of certificates evidencing such Securities. If payment is made for Securities purchased by us at the public offering price, the concession to which we shall be entitled will be paid to us upon termination of the provisions of Section 3(b) with respect to such Securities. Unless we promptly give you written instructions otherwise, if transactions in the Securities may be settled through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company, payment for and delivery of Securities purchased by us will be made through such facilities if we are a member, or if we are not a member, settlement may be made through our ordinary correspondent who is a member. 3. Representations, Warranties and Agreements. (a) Prospectuses. You shall provide us with such number of copies of each preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and any supplement thereto relating to each Offering as we may reasonably request. If the Securities will be registered under the Securities Act, we represent that we are familiar with Rule 15c2-8 under the Exchange Act relating to the distribution of preliminary and final prospectuses and agree that we will comply therewith; we agree to keep an accurate record of our distribution (including dates, number of copies and persons to whom sent) of copies of the Prospectus or any preliminary prospectus (or any amendment or supplement to any thereof), and promptly upon request by you, to bring all subsequent changes to the attention of anyone to whom such material shall have been furnished, and we agree to furnish to persons who receive a confirmation of sale a copy of the Prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) or Rule 424(c) under the Securities Act. If the Securities will not be registered under the Securities Act, we agree that we will deliver all preliminary and final offering circulars required for compliance with the applicable laws and regulations governing the use and distribution of offering circulars by underwriters, and, to the extent consistent with such laws and regulations, we confirm that we have delivered and agree that we will deliver all preliminary and final offering circulars which would be required if the provisions of Rule 15c2-8 under the Exchange Act applied to this offering. We agree that in purchasing Securities in an Offering we will rely upon no statements whatsoever, written or oral, other than the statements in the Prospectus delivered to us by you. We will not be authorized by the issuer or other seller of Securities offered pursuant to a Prospectus or by any Underwriters to give any information or to make any representation not contained in the Prospectus in connection with the sale of such Securities. (b) Offer and Sale to the Public. With respect to any Offering of Securities, you will inform us by a Written Communication of the public offering price, the selling concession, the relaunch (if any) to dealers and the time when we may commence selling Securities to the public. After such public offering has commenced, you may change the public offering price, the selling concession and the relaunch to dealers. With respect to each Offering of Securities, until the provisions of this Section 3(b) shall be terminated pursuant to Section 4, we agree to offer Securities to the public only at the public offering price, except that if a relaunch is in effect, a relaunch from the public offering price not in excess of such relaunch may be allowed as consideration for services rendered in distribution to dealers who are actually engaged in the investment banking or securities business, who execute the written agreement prescribed by Section 24(c) of Article III of the Rules of Fair Practice of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD"), and who are either members in good standing of the NASD or foreign brokers or dealers not eligible for membership in the NASD who represent to us that they will promptly rafter such Securities at the public offering price and will abide by the conditions with respect to foreign brokers and dealers set forth in Section 3(e). (c) Stabilization and Over-Allotment. You may, with respect to any Offering, be authorized to over-allot in arranging sales to Selected Dealers, to purchase and sell Securities, any other securities of the issuer of the Securities of the same class and series and any other securities of such issuer that you may designate for long or short account and to stabilize or maintain the market price of the 3 Securities. We agree to advise you from time to time upon request, prior to the termination of the provisions of Section 3(b) with respect to any Offering, of the amount of Securities purchased by us hereunder remaining unsold and we will, upon your request, sell to you, for the accounts of the Underwriters, such amount of Securities as you may designate, at the public offering price thereof less an amount to be deter mined by you not in excess of the concession to dealers. In the event that prior to the later of (i) the termination of the provisions of Section 3(b) with respect to any Offering, or (ii) the covering by you of any short position created by you in connection with such Offering for your account or the account of one or more Underwriters, you purchase or contract to purchase for the account of any of the Underwriters, in the open market or other wise, any Securities theretofore delivered to us, you reserve the right to withhold the above-mentioned concession to dealers on such Securities if sold to us at the public offering price, or if such concession has been allowed to us through our purchase at a net price, we agree to repay such concession upon your demand, plus in each case any taxes on redeliver, commissions, accrued interest and dividends paid in connection with such purchase or contract to purchase. (d) Open Market Transactions. We agree not to bid for, purchase, attempt to purchase, or sell, directly or indirectly, any Securities, any other securities of the issuer of the Securities of the same class and series or any other securities of such issuer as you may designate, except as brokers pursuant to unsolicited orders and as otherwise provided in this Agreement. If the Securities are common stock or securities convertible into common stock, we agree not to effect, or attempt to induce others to effect, directly or indirectly, any transactions in or relating to put or call options on any stock of such issuer, except to the extent permitted by Rule 10b-6 under the Exchange Act as interpreted by the Securities and Exchange Commission. An opening uncovered writing transaction in options to acquire Securities for our account or for the account of any customer shall be deemed, for purposes of the preceding sentence, to be a transaction effected by us in or relating to put or call options on stock of the Company not permitted by Rule 10b-6. The term "opening uncovered writing transaction" means an opening sale transaction where the seller in tends to become a writer of an option to purchase stock which it does not own or have the right to acquire upon exercise of conversion or option rights. (e) NASD. We represent that we are actually engaged in the investment banking or securities business and we are either a member in good standing of the NASD, or, if not such a member, a foreign dealer not eligible for membership. If we are such a member we agreed that in making sales of the Securities we will comply with all applicable rules of the NASD, including, without limitation, the NASD's 4 Interpretation with Respect to Free-Riding and Withholding and Section 24 of Article III of the Rules of Fair Practice. If we are such a foreign dealer, we agree not to offer or sell any Securities in the United States of America except through you and in making sales of Securities outside the United States of America, we agree to comply, as though we were a member with such Interpretation and Sections 8, 24 and 36 of Article III of the NASD's Rules of Fair Practice and to comply with Section 23 of such Article III as it applies to a nonmember broker or dealer in a foreign country. (f) Relationship among Underwriters and Selected Dealers. You may buy Securities from or sell Securities to any Underwriter or Selected Dealer and, with your consent, the Underwriters (if any) and the Selected Dealers may purchase Securities from and sell Securities to each other at the public offering price less all or any part of the concession. We are not authorized to act as agent for you or any Underwriter or the issuer or other seller of any Securities in offering Securities to the public or otherwise. Nothing contained herein or in any Written Communication from you shall constitute the Selected Dealers partners with you or any Underwriter or with one another. Neither you nor any Underwriter shall be under any obligation to us except for obligations assumed hereby or in any Written Communication from you in connection with any Offering. In connection with any Offering, we agree to pay our proportionate share of any claim, demand or liability asserted against us, and the other Selected Dealers or any of them, or against you or the Underwriters, if any, based on any claim that such Selected Dealers or any of them constitute an association, unincorporated business or other separate entity, including in each case our proportionate share of any expense incurred in defending against any such claim, demand or liability. (g) Blue Sky Laws. Upon application to you, you will inform us as to the jurisdictions in which you believe the Securities have been qualified for sale under the respective securities of "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions. We understand and agree that compliance with the securities or "blue sky" laws in each jurisdiction in which we shall offer or sell any of the Securities shall be our sole responsibility and that you assume no responsibility or obligations as to the eligibility of the Securities for sale or our right to sell the Securities in any jurisdiction. (h) Compliance with Law. We agree that in selling Securities pursuant to any Offering (which agreement shall also be for the benefit of the issuer or other seller of such Securities) we will comply with the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, the applicable rules and 5 regulations of the NASD and the applicable rules and regulations of any securities exchange having jurisdiction over the Offering. You shall have full authority to take such action as you may deem advisable in respect of all matters pertaining to any Offering. Neither you nor any Underwriter shall be under any liability to us, except for lack of good faith and for obligations expressly assumed by you in this Agreement; provided, however, that nothing in this sentence shall be deemed to relieve you from any liability imposed by the Securities Act. 4. Termination; Supplements and Amendments. This agreement may be terminated by either party herein upon five business days' written notice to the other party; provided that with respect to any Offering for which a Written Communication was sent and accepted prior to such notice, this Agreement as it applies to such Offering shall remain in full force and effect and shall terminate with respect to such Offering in accordance with the last sentence of this Section. This Agreement may be supplemented or amended by you by written notice thereof to us, and any such supplement or amendment to this Agreement shall be effective with respect to any Offering to which this Agreement applies after the date of such supplement or amendment. Each reference to "this Agreement" herein shall, as appropriate, be to this Agreement as so amended and supplemented. The terms and conditions set forth in Sections 3(b) and (d) with regard to any Offering will terminate at the close of business on the thirtieth day after the date of the initial public offering of the Securities to which such Offering relates, but such terms and conditions, upon notice to us, may be terminated by you at any time. 5. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding on, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and other persons specified or indicated in Section 1, and the respective successors and assigns of each of them. 6. Governing Law. This Agreement and the terms and conditions set forth herein with respect to any Offering together with such supplementary terms and conditions with respect to such Offering as may be contained in any Written Communication from you to us in connection therewith shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. By signing this Agreement we confirm that our subscription to, or our acceptance of any reservation of, any Securities pursuant to an Offering shall constitute (i) acceptance of and agreement to other terms and conditions of this Agreement (as supplemented and amended pursuant to Section 4) together with the subject to any supplementary terms and conditions contained in any Written Communication from you in connection with such Offering, all of which shall 6 constitute a binding agreement between us and you, individually or as representative of any Underwriters, (ii) confirmation that our representations and warranties set forth in Section 3 are true and correct at that time and (iii) confirmation that our agreements set forth in Sections 2 and 3 have been and will be fully performed by us to the extent and at the times required thereby. Very truly yours, --------------------------- (Name of Firm) By_________________________ Title______________________ Confirmed, as of the date first above written. UBS Securities LLC By_______________________ Title: 7 EX-99.(J)(1) 9 b50653a1exv99wxjyx1y.txt MASTER CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT Exhibit j(1) EATON VANCE FLOATING-RATE INCOME TRUST May 21, 2004 Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust hereby adopts and agrees to become a party to the attached Custodian Agreement as amended and extended with Investors Bank & Trust Company. EATON VANCE FLOATING-RATE INCOME TRUST By: /s/ Payson F. Swaffield ----------------------- Payson F. Swaffield President, and not Individually Accepted and agreed to: INVESTORS BANK & TRUST COMPANY By: ----------------------------- Title: MASTER CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT between EATON VANCE GROUP OF FUNDS and INVESTORS BANK & TRUST COMPANY TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Definitions..................................................................................... 1-2 2. Employment of Custodian and Property to be held by it........................................... 2-3 3. Duties of the Custodian with Respect to Property of the Fund.................................... 3 A. Safekeeping and Holding of Property......................................................... 3 B. Delivery of Securities...................................................................... 3-6 C. Registration of Securities.................................................................. 6 D. Bank Accounts............................................................................... 6 E. Payments for Shares of the Fund............................................................. 6-7 F. Investment and Availability of Federal Funds................................................ 7 G. Collections................................................................................. 7-8 H. Payment of Fund Moneys...................................................................... 8-9 I. Liability for Payment in Advance of Receipt of Securities Purchased......................... 9 J. Payments for Repurchases of Redemptions of Shares of the Fund............................... 9-10 K. Appointment of Agents by the Custodian...................................................... 10 L. Deposit of Fund Portfolio Securities in Securities Systems.................................. 10-12 M. Deposit of Fund Commercial Paper in an Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper...... 12-13 N. Segregated Account.......................................................................... 14 O. Ownership Certificates for Tax Purposes..................................................... 14 P. Proxies..................................................................................... 14 Q. Communications Relating to Fund Portfolio Securities........................................ 14 R. Exercise of Rights; Tender Offers.......................................................... 15
-i- S. Depository Receipts........................................................................ 15 T. Interest Bearing Call or Time Deposits..................................................... 15-16 U. Options, Futures Contracts and Foreign Currency Transactions............................... 16-17 V. Actions Permitted Without Express Authority................................................ 17 W. Advances by the Bank....................................................................... 18 4. Duties of Bank with Respect to Books of Account and Calculations of Net Asset Value............ 18 5. Records and Miscellaneous Duties............................................................... 18-19 6. Opinion of Fund's Independent Public Accountants............................................... 19 7. Compensation and Expenses of Bank.............................................................. 19 8. Responsibility of Bank......................................................................... 19-20 9. Persons Having Access to Assets of the Fund.................................................... 20 10. Effective Period, Termination and Amendment; Successor Custodian............................... 20-21 11. Interpretive and Additional Provisions......................................................... 21 12. Notices........................................................................................ 21 13. Massachusetts Law to Apply..................................................................... 22 14. Adoption of the Agreement by the Fund.......................................................... 22
-ii- MASTER CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT This Agreement is made between each investment company advised by Eaton Vance Management which has adopted this Agreement in the manner provided herein and Investors Bank & Trust Company (hereinafter called "Bank", "Custodian" and "Agent"), a trust company established under the laws of Massachusetts with a principal place of business in Boston, Massachusetts. Whereas, each such investment company is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and has appointed the Bank to act as Custodian of its property and to perform certain duties as its Agent, as more fully hereinafter set forth; and Whereas, the Bank is willing and able to act as each such investment company's Custodian and Agent, subject to and in accordance with the provisions hereof; Now, therefore, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, each such investment company and the Bank agree as follows: 1. Definitions Whenever used in this Agreement, the following words and phrases, unless the context otherwise requires, shall have the following meanings: (a) "Fund" shall mean the investment company which has adopted this Agreement. If the Fund is a Massachusetts business trust, it may in the future establish and designate other separate and distinct series of shares, each of which may be called a "portfolio"; in such case, the term "Fund" shall also refer to each such separate series or portfolio. (b) "Board" shall mean the board of directors/trustees/managing general partners/director general partners of the Fund, as the case may be. (c) "The Depository Trust Company", a clearing agency registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 which acts as a securities depository and which has been specifically approved as a securities depository for the Fund by the Board. (d) "Participants Trust Company", a clearing agency registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 which acts as a securities depository and which has been specifically approved as a securities depository for the Fund by the Board. (e) "Approved Clearing Agency" shall mean any other domestic clearing agency registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 which acts as a securities depository but only if the Custodian has received a certified copy of a vote of the Board approving such clearing agency as a securities depository for the Fund. (f) "Federal Book-Entry System" shall mean the book-entry system referred to in Rule 17f-4(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 for United States and federal agency securities (i.e., as provided in Subpart O of Treasury Circular No. 300, 31 CFR 306, Subpart B of 31 CFR Part 350, and the book-entry regulations of federal agencies substantially in the form of Subpart O). (g) "Approved Foreign Securities Depository" shall mean a foreign securities depository or clearing agency referred to in Rule 17f-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 for foreign securities but only if the Custodian has received a certified copy of a vote of the Board approving such depository or clearing agency as a foreign securities depository for the Fund. (h) "Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper" shall mean a system maintained by the Custodian or by a subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof for the holding of commercial paper in book-entry form but only if the Custodian has received a certified copy of a vote of the Board approving the participation by the Fund in such system. (i) The Custodian shall be deemed to have received "proper instructions" in respect of any of the matters referred to in this Agreement upon receipt of written or facsimile instructions signed by such one or more person or persons as the Board shall have from time to time authorized to give the particular class of instructions in question. Electronic instructions for the purchase and sale of securities which are transmitted by Eaton Vance Management to the Custodian through the Eaton Vance equity trading system and the Eaton Vance fixed income trading system shall be deemed to be proper instructions; the Fund shall cause all such instructions to be confirmed in writing. Different persons may be authorized to give instructions for different purposes. A certified copy of a vote of the Board may be received and accepted by the Custodian as conclusive evidence of the authority of any such person to act and may be considered as in full force and effect until receipt of written notice to the contrary. Such instructions may be general or specific in terms and, where appropriate, may be standing instructions. Unless the vote delegating authority to any person or persons to give a particular class of instructions specifically requires that the approval of any person, persons or committee shall first have been obtained before the Custodian may act on instructions of that class, the Custodian shall be under no obligation to question the right of the person or persons giving such instructions in so doing. Oral instructions will be considered proper instructions if the Custodian reasonably believes them to have been given by a person authorized to give such instructions with respect to the transaction involved. The Fund shall cause all oral instructions to be confirmed in writing. The Fund authorizes the Custodian to tape record any and all telephonic or other oral instructions given to the Custodian. Upon receipt of a certificate signed by two officers of the Fund as to the authorization by the President and the Treasurer of the Fund accompanied by a detailed description of the communication procedures approved by the President and the Treasurer of the Fund, "proper instructions" may also include communications effected directly between electromechanical or electronic devices provided that the President and Treasurer of the Fund and the Custodian are satisfied that such procedures afford adequate safeguards for the Fund's assets. In performing its duties generally, and more particularly in connection with the purchase, sale and exchange of securities made by or for the Fund, the Custodian may take cognizance of the provisions of the governing documents and registration statement of the Fund as the same may from time to time be in effect (and votes, resolutions or proceedings of the shareholders or the Board), but, nevertheless, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Custodian may assume unless and until notified in writing to the contrary that so-called proper instructions received by it are not in conflict with or in any way contrary to any provisions of such governing documents and registration statement, or votes, resolutions or proceedings of the shareholders or the Board. 2. Employment of Custodian and Property to be Held by It The Fund hereby appoints and employs the Bank as its Custodian and Agent in accordance with and subject to the provisions hereof, and the Bank hereby accepts such appointment and employment. The Fund agrees to deliver to the Custodian all securities, participation interests, cash and other assets -2- owned by it, and all payments of income, payments of principal and capital distributions and adjustments received by it with respect to all securities and participation interests owned by the Fund from time to time, and the cash consideration received by it for such new or treasury shares ("Shares") of the Fund as may be issued or sold from time to time. The Custodian shall not be responsible for any property of the Fund held by the Fund and not delivered by the Fund to the Custodian. The Fund will also deliver to the Bank from time to time copies of its currently effective charter (or declaration of trust or partnership agreement, as the case may be), by-laws, prospectus, statement of additional information and distribution agreement with its principal underwriter, together with such resolutions, votes and other proceedings of the Fund as may be necessary for or convenient to the Bank in the performance of its duties hereunder. The Custodian may from time to time employ one or more subcustodians to perform such acts and services upon such terms and conditions as shall be approved from time to time by the Board of Directors. Any such subcustodian so employed by the Custodian shall be deemed to be the agent of the Custodian, and the Custodian shall remain primarily responsible for the securities, participation interests, moneys and other property of the Fund held by such subcustodian. Any foreign subcustodian shall be a bank or trust company which is an eligible foreign custodian within the meaning of Rule 17f-5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and the foreign custody arrangements shall be approved by the Board of Directors and shall be in accordance with and subject to the provisions of said Rule. For the purposes of this Agreement, any property of the Fund held by any such subcustodian (domestic or foreign) shall be deemed to be held by the Custodian under the terms of this Agreement. 3. Duties of the Custodian with Respect to Property of the Fund A. Safekeeping and Holding of Property The Custodian shall keep safely all property of the Fund and on behalf of the Fund shall from time to time receive delivery of Fund property for safekeeping. The Custodian shall hold, earmark and segregate on its books and records for the account of the Fund all property of the Fund, including all securities, participation interests and other assets of the Fund (1) physically held by the Custodian, (2) held by any subcustodian referred to in Section 2 hereof or by any agent referred to in Paragraph K hereof, (3) held by or maintained in The Depository Trust Company or in Participants Trust Company or in an Approved Clearing Agency or in the Federal Book-Entry System or in an Approved Foreign Securities Depository, each of which from time to time is referred to herein as a "Securities System", and (4) held by the Custodian or by any subcustodian referred to in Section 2 hereof and maintained in any Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper. B. Delivery of Securities The Custodian shall release and deliver securities or participation interests owned by the Fund held (or deemed to be held) by the Custodian or maintained in a Securities System account or in an Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper account only upon receipt of proper instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, and only in the following cases: 1) Upon sale of such securities or participation interests for the account of the Fund, but only against receipt of payment therefor; if delivery is made in Boston or New York City, payment therefor shall be made in accordance with generally accepted clearing house procedures or by use of Federal Reserve Wire System procedures; if delivery is made elsewhere payment -3- therefor shall be in accordance with the then current -4- "street delivery" custom or in accordance with such procedures agreed to in writing from time to time by the parties hereto; if the sale is effected through a Securities System, delivery and payment therefor shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph L hereof; if the sale of commercial paper is to be effected through an Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper, delivery and payment therefor shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph M hereof; if the securities are to be sold outside the United States, delivery may be made in accordance with procedures agreed to in writing from time to time by the parties hereto; for the purposes of this subparagraph, the term "sale" shall include the disposition of a portfolio security (i) upon the exercise of an option written by the Fund and (ii) upon the failure by the Fund to make a successful bid with respect to a portfolio security, the continued holding of which is contingent upon the making of such a bid; 2) Upon the receipt of payment in connection with any repurchase agreement or reverse repurchase agreement relating to such securities and entered into by the Fund; 3) To the depository agent in connection with tender or other similar offers for portfolio securities of the Fund; 4) To the issuer thereof or its agent when such securities or participation interests are called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable; provided that, in any such case, the cash or other consideration is to be delivered to the Custodian or any subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof; 5) To the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the name of the Fund or into the name of any nominee of the Custodian or into the name or nominee name of any agent appointed pursuant to Paragraph K hereof or into the name or nominee name of any subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof; or for exchange for a different number of bonds, certificates or other evidence representing the same aggregate face amount or number of units; provided that, in any such case, the new securities or participation interests are to be delivered to the Custodian or any subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof; 6) To the broker selling the same for examination in accordance with the "street delivery" custom; provided that the Custodian shall adopt such procedures as the Fund from time to time shall approve to ensure their prompt return to the Custodian by the broker in the event the broker elects not to accept them; 7) For exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment of the securities of the Issuer of such securities, or pursuant to provisions for conversion of such -5- securities, or pursuant to any deposit agreement; -6- provided that, in any such case, the new securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian or any subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof; 8) In the case of warrants, rights or similar securities, the surrender thereof in connection with the exercise of such warrants, rights or similar securities, or the surrender of interim receipts or temporary securities for definitive securities; provided that, in any such case, the new securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian or any subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof; 9) For delivery in connection with any loans of securities made by the Fund (such loans to be made pursuant to the terms of the Fund's current registration statement), but only against receipt of adequate collateral as agreed upon from time to time by the Custodian and the Fund, which may be in the form of cash or obligations issued by the United States government, its agencies or instrumentalities; except that in connection with any securities loans for which collateral is to be credited to the Custodian's account in the book-entry system authorized by the U.S. Department of Treasury, the Custodian will not be held liable or responsible for the delivery of securities loaned by the Fund prior to the receipt of such collateral; 10) For delivery as security in connection with any borrowings by the Fund requiring a pledge or hypothecation of assets by the Fund (if then permitted under circumstances described in the current registration statement of the Fund), provided, that the securities shall be released only upon payment to the Custodian of the monies borrowed, except that in cases where additional collateral is required to secure a borrowing already made, further securities may be released for that purpose; upon receipt of proper instructions, the Custodian may pay any such loan upon redelivery to it of the securities pledged or hypothecated therefor and upon surrender of the note or notes evidencing the loan; 11) When required for delivery in connection with any redemption or repurchase of Shares of the Fund in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph J hereof; 12) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement between the Custodian (or a subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof) and a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and, if necessary, the Fund, relating to compliance with the rules of The Options Clearing Corporation or of any registered national securities exchange, or of any similar organization or organizations, regarding deposit or escrow or other arrangements in connection with options transactions by the Fund; -7- 13) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Fund, the Custodian (or a subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof), and a futures commissions merchant, relating to compliance with the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or of any contract market or commodities exchange or similar organization, regarding futures margin account deposits or payments in connection with futures transactions by the Fund; 14) For any other proper corporate purpose, but only upon receipt of, in addition to proper instructions, a certified copy of a vote of the Board specifying the securities to be delivered, setting forth the purpose for which such delivery is to be made, declaring such purpose to be proper corporate purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom delivery of such securities shall be made. C. Registration of Securities Securities held by the Custodian (other than bearer securities) for the account of the Fund shall be registered in the name of the Fund or in the name of any nominee of the Fund or of any nominee of the Custodian, or in the name or nominee name of any agent appointed pursuant to Paragraph K hereof, or in the name or nominee name of any subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof, or in the name or nominee name of The Depository Trust Company or Participants Trust Company or Approved Clearing Agency or Federal Book-Entry System or Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper; provided, that securities are held in an account of the Custodian or of such agent or of such subcustodian containing only assets of the Fund or only assets held by the Custodian or such agent or such subcustodian as a custodian or subcustodian or in a fiduciary capacity for customers. All certificates for securities accepted by the Custodian or any such agent or subcustodian on behalf of the Fund shall be in "street" or other good delivery form or shall be returned to the selling broker or dealer who shall be advised of the reason thereof. D. Bank Accounts The Custodian shall open and maintain a separate bank account or accounts in the name of the Fund, subject only to draft or order by the Custodian acting in pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall hold in such account or accounts, subject to the provisions hereof, all cash received by it from or for the account of the Fund other than cash maintained by the Fund in a bank account established and used in accordance with Rule 17f-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Funds held by the Custodian for the Fund may be deposited by it to its credit as Custodian in the Banking Department of the Custodian or in such other banks or trust companies as the Custodian may in its discretion deem necessary or desirable; provided, however, that every such bank or trust company shall be qualified to act as a custodian under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and that each such bank or trust company and the funds to be deposited with each such bank or trust company shall be approved in writing by two officers of the Fund. Such funds shall be deposited by the Custodian in its capacity as Custodian and shall be subject to withdrawal only by the Custodian in that capacity. E. Payment for Shares of the Fund The Custodian shall make appropriate arrangements with the Transfer Agent and the principal underwriter of the Fund to enable the Custodian to -8- make certain it promptly receives the cash or other consideration due to the Fund for -9- such new or treasury Shares as may be issued or sold from time to time by the Fund, in accordance with the governing documents and offering prospectus and statement of additional information of the Fund. The Custodian will provide prompt notification to the Fund of any receipt by it of payments for Shares of the Fund. F. Investment and Availability of Federal Funds Upon agreement between the Fund and the Custodian, the Custodian shall, upon the receipt of proper instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, 1) invest in such securities and instruments as may be set forth in such instructions on the same day as received all federal funds received after a time agreed upon between the Custodian and the Fund; and 2) make federal funds available to the Fund as of specified times agreed upon from time to time by the Fund and the Custodian in the amount of checks received in payment for Shares of the Fund which are deposited into the Fund's account. G. Collections The Custodian shall promptly collect all income and other payments with respect to registered securities held hereunder to which the Fund shall be entitled either by law or pursuant to custom in the securities business, and shall promptly collect all income and other payments with respect to bearer securities if, on the date of payment by the issuer, such securities are held by the Custodian or agent thereof and shall credit such income, as collected, to the Fund's custodian account. The Custodian shall do all things necessary and proper in connection with such prompt collections and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Custodian shall 1) Present for payment all coupons and other income items requiring presentations; 2) Present for payment all securities which may mature or be called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable; 3) Endorse and deposit for collection, in the name of the Fund, checks, drafts or other negotiable instruments; 4) Credit income from securities maintained in a Securities System or in an Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper at the time funds become available to the Custodian; in the case of securities maintained in The Depository Trust Company funds shall be deemed available to the Fund not later than the opening of business on the first business day after receipt of such funds by the Custodian. The Custodian shall notify the Fund as soon as reasonably practicable whenever income due on any security is not promptly collected. In any case in which the Custodian does not receive any due and unpaid income after it has made demand for the same, it shall -10- immediately so notify the Fund in writing, enclosing copies of any demand letter, any -11- written response thereto, and memoranda of all oral responses thereto and to telephonic demands, and await instructions from the Fund; the Custodian shall in no case have any liability for any nonpayment of such income provided the Custodian meets the standard of care set forth in Section 8 hereof. The Custodian shall not be obligated to take legal action for collection unless and until reasonably indemnified to its satisfaction. The Custodian shall also receive and collect all stock dividends, rights and other items of like nature, and deal with the same pursuant to proper instructions relative thereto. H. Payment of Fund Moneys Upon receipt of proper instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, the Custodian shall pay out moneys of the Fund in the following cases only: 1) Upon the purchase of securities, participation interests, options, futures contracts, forward contracts and options on futures contracts purchased for the account of the Fund but only (a) against the receipt of (i) such securities registered as provided in Paragraph C hereof or in proper form for transfer or (ii) detailed instructions signed by an officer of the Fund regarding the participation interests to be purchased or (iii) written confirmation of the purchase by the Fund of the options, futures contracts, forward contracts or options on futures contracts by the Custodian (or by a subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof or by a clearing corporation of a national securities exchange of which the Custodian is a member or by any bank, banking institution or trust company doing business in the United States or abroad which is qualified under the Investment Company Act of 1940 to act as a custodian and which has been designated by the Custodian as its agent for this purpose or by the agent specifically designated in such instructions as representing the purchasers of a new issue of privately placed securities); (b) in the case of a purchase effected through a Securities System, upon receipt of the securities by the Securities System in accordance with the conditions set forth in Paragraph L hereof; (c) in the case of a purchase of commercial paper effected through an Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper, upon receipt of the paper by the Custodian or subcustodian in accordance with the conditions set forth in Paragraph M hereof; (d) in the case of repurchase agreements entered into between the Fund and another bank or a broker-dealer, against receipt by the Custodian of the securities underlying the repurchase agreement either in certificate form or through an entry crediting the Custodian's segregated, non-proprietary account at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston with such securities along with written evidence of the agreement by the bank or -12- broker-dealer to repurchase such securities from the Fund; or (e) with respect to securities purchased outside of the United States, in accordance with written procedures agreed to from time to time in writing by the parties hereto; 2) When required in connection with the conversion, exchange or surrender of securities owned by the Fund as set forth in Paragraph B hereof; 3) When required for the redemption or repurchase of Shares of the Fund in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph J hereof; 4) For the payment of any expense or liability incurred by the Fund, including but not limited to the following payments for the account of the Fund: advisory fees, distribution plan payments, interest, taxes, management compensation and expenses, accounting, transfer agent and legal fees, and other operating expenses of the Fund whether or not such expenses are to be in whole or part capitalized or treated as deferred expenses; 5) For the payment of any dividends or other distributions to holders of Shares declared or authorized by the Board; and 6) For any other proper corporate purpose, but only upon receipt of, in addition to proper instructions, a certified copy of a vote of the Board, specifying the amount of such payment, setting forth the purpose for which such payment is to be made, declaring such purpose to be a proper corporate purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom such payment is to be made. I. Liability for Payment in Advance of Receipt of Securities Purchased In any and every case where payment for purchase of securities for the account of the Fund is made by the Custodian in advance of receipt of the securities purchased in the absence of specific written instructions signed by two officers of the Fund to so pay in advance, the Custodian shall be absolutely liable to the Fund for such securities to the same extent as if the securities had been received by the Custodian; except that in the case of a repurchase agreement entered into by the Fund with a bank which is a member of the Federal Reserve System, the Custodian may transfer funds to the account of such bank prior to the receipt of (i) the securities in certificate form subject to such repurchase agreement or (ii) written evidence that the securities subject to such repurchase agreement have been transferred by book-entry into a segregated non-proprietary account of the Custodian maintained with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston or (iii) the safekeeping receipt, provided that such securities have in fact been so transfered by book-entry and the written repurchase agreement is received by the Custodian in due course; and except that if the securities are to be purchased outside the United States, payment may be made in accordance with procedures agreed to in writing from time to time by the parties hereto. J. Payments for Repurchases or Redemptions of Shares of the Fund From such funds as may be available for the purpose, but subject to any applicable votes of the Board and the -13- current redemption and repurchase procedures of the Fund, the Custodian shall, upon receipt of written instructions from the Fund or from the Fund's transfer agent or from the principal underwriter, make funds and/or portfolio securities available for payment to holders of Shares who have caused their Shares to be redeemed or repurchased by the Fund or for the Fund's account by its transfer agent or principal underwriter. The Custodian may maintain a special checking account upon which special checks may be drawn by shareholders of the Fund holding Shares for which certificates have not been issued. Such checking account and such special checks shall be subject to such rules and regulations as the Custodian and the Fund may from time to time adopt. The Custodian or the Fund may suspend or terminate use of such checking account or such special checks (either generally or for one or more shareholders) at any time. The Custodian and the Fund shall notify the other immediately of any such suspension or termination. K. Appointment of Agents by the Custodian The Custodian may at any time or times in its discretion appoint (and may at any time remove) any other bank or trust company (provided such bank or trust company is itself qualified under the Investment Company Act of 1940 to act as a custodian or is itself an eligible foreign custodian within the meaning of Rule 17f-5 under said Act) as the agent of the Custodian to carry out such of the duties and functions of the Custodian described in this Section 3 as the Custodian may from time to time direct; provided, however, that the appointment of any such agent shall not relieve the Custodian of any of its responsibilities or liabilities hereunder, and as between the Fund and the Custodian the Custodian shall be fully responsible for the acts and omissions of any such agent. For the purposes of this Agreement, any property of the Fund held by any such agent shall be deemed to be held by the Custodian hereunder. L. Deposit of Fund Portfolio Securities in Securities Systems The Custodian may deposit and/or maintain securities owned by the Fund (1) in The Depository Trust Company; (2) in Participants Trust Company; (3) in any other Approved Clearing Agency; (4) in the Federal Book-Entry System; or (5) in an Approved Foreign Securities Depository in each case only in accordance with applicable Federal Reserve Board and Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations, and at all times subject to the following provisions: (a) The Custodian may (either directly or through one or more subcustodians employed pursuant to Section 2 keep securities of the Fund in a Securities System provided that such securities are maintained in a non-proprietary account ("Account") of -14- the Custodian or such subcustodian in the Securities System which shall not include any assets of the Custodian or such subcustodian or any other person other than assets held by the Custodian or such subcustodian as a fiduciary, custodian, or otherwise for its customers. (b) The records of the Custodian with respect to securities of the Fund which are maintained in a Securities System shall identify by book-entry those securities belonging to the Fund, and the Custodian shall be fully and completely responsible for maintaining a recordkeeping system capable of accurately and currently stating the Fund's holdings maintained in each such Securities System. (c) The Custodian shall pay for securities purchased in book-entry form for the account of the Fund only upon (i) receipt of notice or advice from the Securities System that such securities have been transferred to the Account, and (ii) the making of any entry on the records of the Custodian to reflect such payment and transfer for the account of the Fund. The Custodian shall transfer securities sold for the account of the Fund only upon (i) receipt of notice or advice from the Securities System that payment for such securities has been transferred to the Account, and (ii) the making of an entry on the records of the Custodian to reflect such transfer and payment for the account of the Fund. Copies of all notices or advices from the Securities System of transfers of securities for the account of the Fund shall identify the Fund, be maintained for the Fund by the Custodian and be promptly provided to the Fund at its request. The Custodian shall promptly send to the Fund confirmation of each transfer to or from the account of the Fund in the form of a written advice or notice of each such transaction, and shall furnish to the Fund copies of daily transaction sheets reflecting each day's transactions in the Securities System for the account of the Fund on the next business day. (d) The Custodian shall promptly send to the Fund any report or other communication received or obtained by the Custodian relating to the Securities System's accounting system, system of internal accounting controls or procedures for safeguarding securities deposited in the Securities System; the Custodian shall promptly send to the Fund any report or other communication relating to the Custodian's internal accounting controls and procedures for safeguarding securities deposited in any Securities System; and the Custodian shall ensure that any agent appointed pursuant to Paragraph K hereof or any subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof shall promptly send to the Fund and to the Custodian any report or other communication relating to such agent's or subcustodian's internal accounting controls and procedures for safeguarding securities deposited in any Securities System. The Custodian's books and records relating to the Fund's participation in each Securities System will at all times during regular business hours be open to the inspection of the Fund's authorized officers, employees or agents. (e) The Custodian shall not act under this Paragraph L in the absence of receipt of a certificate of an officer of the Fund that the Board has approved the use of a particular Securities System; the Custodian shall also obtain appropriate assurance from the officers of the Fund that the Board has annually reviewed the continued use by the Fund of each Securities System, and the Fund shall promptly notify the Custodian if the use of a Securities System is to be discontinued; at the request of the Fund, the Custodian will terminate the use of any such Securities System as promptly as practicable. -15- (f) Anything to the contrary in this Agreement notwithstanding, the Custodian shall be liable to the Fund for any loss or damage to the Fund resulting from use of the Securities System by reason of any negligence, misfeasance or misconduct of the Custodian or any of its agents or subcustodians or of any of its or their employees or from any failure of the Custodian or any such agent or subcustodian to enforce effectively such rights as it may have against the Securities System or any other person; at the election of the Fund, it shall be entitled to be subrogated to the rights of the Custodian with respect to any claim against the Securities System or any other person which the Custodian may have as a consequence of any such loss or damage if and to the extent that the Fund has not been made whole for any such loss or damage. M. Deposit of Fund Commercial Paper in an Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper Upon receipt of proper instructions with respect to each issue of direct issue commercial paper purchased by the Fund, the Custodian may deposit and/or maintain direct issue commercial paper owned by the Fund in any Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper, in each case only in accordance with applicable Securities and Exchange Commission rules, regulations, and no-action correspondence, and at all times subject to the following provisions: (a) The Custodian may (either directly or through one or more subcustodians employed pursuant to Section 2) keep commercial paper of the Fund in an Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper, provided that such paper is issued in book entry form by the Custodian or subcustodian on behalf of an issuer with which the Custodian or subcustodian has entered into a book-entry agreement and provided further that such paper is maintained in a non-proprietary account ("Account") of the Custodian or such subcustodian in an Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper which shall not include any assets of the Custodian or such subcustodian or any other person other than assets held by the Custodian or such subcustodian as a fiduciary, custodian, or otherwise for its customers. (b) The records of the Custodian with respect to commercial paper of the Fund which is maintained in an Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper shall identify by book-entry each specific issue of commercial paper purchased by the Fund which is included in the System and shall at all times during regular business hours be open for inspection by authorized officers, employees or agents of the Fund. The Custodian shall be fully and completely responsible for maintaining a recordkeeping system capable of accurately and currently stating the Fund's holdings of commercial paper maintained in each such System. (c) The Custodian shall pay for commercial paper purchased in book-entry form for the account of the Fund only upon contemporaneous (i) receipt of notice or advice from the issuer that such paper has been issued, sold and transferred to the Account, and (ii) the making of an entry on the records of the Custodian to reflect such purchase, payment and transfer for the account of the Fund. The Custodian shall transfer such commercial paper which is sold or cancel such commercial paper which is redeemed for the account of the Fund only upon contemporaneous (i) receipt of notice or advice that payment for such paper has been transferred to the Account, and (ii) the making of an entry on the records of -16- the Custodian to reflect such transfer or redemption and payment -17- for the account of the Fund. Copies of all notices, advices and confirmations of transfers of commercial paper for the account of the Fund shall identify the Fund, be maintained for the Fund by the Custodian and be promptly provided to the Fund at its request. The Custodian shall promptly send to the Fund confirmation of each transfer to or from the account of the Fund in the form of a written advice or notice of each such transaction, and shall furnish to the Fund copies of daily transaction sheets reflecting each day's transactions in the System for the account of the Fund on the next business day. (d) The Custodian shall promptly send to the Fund any report or other communication received or obtained by the Custodian relating to each System's accounting system, system of internal accounting controls or procedures for safeguarding commercial paper deposited in the System; the Custodian shall promptly send to the Fund any report or other communication relating to the Custodian's internal accounting controls and procedures for safeguarding commercial paper deposited in any Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper; and the Custodian shall ensure that any agent appointed pursuant to Paragraph K hereof or any subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof shall promptly send to the Fund and to the Custodian any report or other communication relating to such agent's or subcustodian's internal accounting controls and procedures for safeguarding securities deposited in any Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper. (e) The Custodian shall not act under this Paragraph M in the absence of receipt of a certificate of an officer of the Fund that the Board has approved the use of a particular Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper; the Custodian shall also obtain appropriate assurance from the officers of the Fund that the Board has annually reviewed the continued use by the Fund of each Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper, and the Fund shall promptly notify the Custodian if the use of an Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper is to be discontinued; at the request of the Fund, the Custodian will terminate the use of any such System as promptly as practicable. (f) The Custodian (or subcustodian, if the Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper is maintained by the subcustodian) shall issue physical commercial paper or promissory notes whenever requested to do so by the Fund or in the event of an electronic system failure which impedes issuance, transfer or custody of direct issue commercial paper by book-entry. (g) Anything to the contrary in this Agreement notwithstanding, the Custodian shall be liable to the Fund for any loss or damage to the Fund resulting from use of any Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper by reason of any negligence, misfeasance or misconduct of the Custodian or any of its agents or subcustodians or of any of its or their employees or from any failure of the Custodian or any such agent or subcustodian to enforce effectively such rights as it may have against the System, the issuer of the commercial paper or any other person; at the election of the Fund, it shall be entitled to be subrogated to the rights of the Custodian with respect to any claim against the System, the issuer of the commercial paper or any other person which the Custodian may have as a consequence of any such loss or damage if and to the extent that the Fund has not been made whole for any such loss or damage. -18- N. Segregated Account The Custodian shall upon receipt of proper instructions establish and maintain a segregated account or accounts for and on behalf of the Fund, into which account or accounts may be transferred cash and/or securities, including securities maintained in an account by the Custodian pursuant to Paragraph L hereof, (i) in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Fund, the Custodian and any registered broker-dealer (or any futures commission merchant), relating to compliance with the rules of the Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange (or of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission or of any contract market or commodities exchange), or of any similar organization or organizations, regarding escrow or deposit or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Fund, (ii) for purposes of segregating cash or U.S. Government securities in connection with options purchased, sold or written by the Fund or futures contracts or options thereon purchased or sold by the Fund, (iii) for the purposes of compliance by the Fund with the procedures required by Investment Company Act Release No. 10666, or any subsequent release or releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the maintenance of segregated accounts by registered investment companies and (iv) for other proper purposes, but only, in the case of clause (iv), upon receipt of, in addition to proper instructions, a certificate signed by two officers of the Fund, setting forth the purpose such segregated account and declaring such purpose to be a proper purpose. O. Ownership Certificates for Tax Purposes The Custodian shall execute ownership and other certificates and affidavits for all federal and state tax purposes in connection with receipt of income or other payments with respect to securities of the Fund held by it and in connection with transfers of securities. P. Proxies The Custodian shall, with respect to the securities held by it hereunder, cause to be promptly delivered to the Fund all forms of proxies and all notices of meetings and any other notices or announcements or other written information affecting or relating to the securities, and upon receipt of proper instructions shall execute and deliver or cause its nominee to execute and deliver such proxies or other authorizations as may be required. Neither the Custodian nor its nominee shall vote upon any of the securities or execute any proxy to vote thereon or give any consent or take any other action with respect thereto (except as otherwise herein provided) unless ordered to do so by proper instructions. Q. Communications Relating to Fund Portfolio Securities The Custodian shall deliver promptly to the Fund all written information (including, without limitation, pendency of call and maturities of securities and participation interests and expirations of rights in connection therewith and notices of exercise of call and put options written by the Fund and the maturity of futures contracts purchased or sold by the Fund) received by the Custodian from issuers and other persons relating to the securities and participation interests being held for the Fund. With respect to tender or exchange offers, the Custodian shall deliver promptly to the Fund all written information received by the Custodian from issuers and other persons relating to the securities and participation interests whose tender or exchange is sought and from the party (or his agents) making the tender or exchange offer. -19- R. Exercise of Rights; Tender Offers In the case of tender offers, similar offers to purchase or exercise rights (including, without limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of securities and participation interests and expirations of rights in connection therewith and notices of exercise of call and put options and the maturity of futures contracts) affecting or relating to securities and participation interests held by the Custodian under this Agreement, the Custodian shall have responsibility for promptly notifying the Fund of all such offers in accordance with the standard of reasonable care set forth in Section 8 hereof. For all such offers for which the Custodian is responsible as provided in this Paragraph R, the Fund shall have responsibility for providing the Custodian with all necessary instructions in timely fashion. Upon receipt of proper instructions, the Custodian shall timely deliver to the issuer or trustee thereof, or to the agent of either, warrants, puts, calls, rights or similar securities for the purpose of being exercised or sold upon proper receipt therefor and upon receipt of assurances satisfactory to the Custodian that the new securities and cash, if any, acquired by such action are to be delivered to the Custodian or any subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof. Upon receipt of proper instructions, the Custodian shall timely deposit securities upon invitations for tenders of securities upon proper receipt therefor and upon receipt of assurances satisfactory to the Custodian that the consideration to be paid or delivered or the tendered securities are to be returned to the Custodian or subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Custodian shall take all necessary action, unless otherwise directed to the contrary by proper instructions, to comply with the terms of all mandatory or compulsory exchanges, calls, tenders, redemptions, or similar rights of security ownership, and shall thereafter promptly notify the Fund in writing of such action. S. Depository Receipts The Custodian shall, upon receipt of proper instructions, surrender or cause to be surrendered foreign securities to the depository used by an issuer of American Depository Receipts or International Depository Receipts (hereinafter collectively referred to as "ADRs") for such securities, against a written receipt therefor adequately describing such securities and written evidence satisfactory to the Custodian that the depository has acknowledged receipt of instructions to issue with respect to such securities ADRs in the name of a nominee of the Custodian or in the name or nominee name of any subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof, for delivery to the Custodian or such subcustodian at such place as the Custodian or such subcustodian may from time to time designate. The Custodian shall, upon receipt of proper instructions, surrender ADRs to the issuer thereof against a written receipt therefor adequately describing the ADRs surrendered and written evidence satisfactory to the Custodian that the issuer of the ADRs has acknowledged receipt of instructions to cause its depository to deliver the securities underlying such ADRs to the Custodian or to a subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof. T. Interest Bearing Call or Time Deposits The Custodian shall, upon receipt of proper instructions, place interest bearing fixed term and call deposits with the banking department of such banking institution (other than the Custodian) and in such amounts as the Fund may designate. Deposits may be denominated in U.S. Dollars or other currencies. The Custodian shall include in its records with respect to the assets of the Fund appropriate notation as to the amount and currency of each such deposit, the accepting banking institution and other appropriate details and shall retain such forms of -20- advice or receipt evidencing the deposit, if any, as may be forwarded to the Custodian by the banking institution. Such deposits shall be deemed portfolio securities of the applicable Fund for the purposes of this Agreement, and the Custodian shall be responsible for the collection of income from such accounts and the transmission of cash to and from such accounts. U. Options, Futures Contracts and Foreign Currency Transactions 1. Options. The Custodians shall, upon receipt of proper instructions and in accordance with the provisions of any agreement between the Custodian, any registered broker-dealer and, if necessary, the Fund, relating to compliance with the rules of the Options Clearing Corporation or of any registered national securities exchange or similar organization or organizations, receive and retain confirmations or other documents, if any, evidencing the purchase or writing of an option on a security or securities index or other financial instrument or index by the Fund; deposit and maintain in a segregated account for each Fund separately, either physically or by book-entry in a Securities System, securities subject to a covered call option written by the Fund; and release and/or transfer such securities or other assets only in accordance with a notice or other communication evidencing the expiration, termination or exercise of such covered option furnished by the Options Clearing Corporation, the securities or options exchange on which such covered option is traded or such other organization as may be responsible for handling such options transactions. The Custodian and the broker-dealer shall be responsible for the sufficiency of assets held in each Fund's segregated account in compliance with applicable margin maintenance requirements. 2. Futures Contracts The Custodian shall, upon receipt of proper instructions, receive and retain confirmations and other documents, if any, evidencing the purchase or sale of a futures contract or an option on a futures contract by the Fund; deposit and maintain in a segregated account, for the benefit of any futures commission merchant, assets designated by the Fund as initial, maintenance or variation "margin" deposits (including mark-to-market payments) intended to secure the Fund's performance of its obligations under any futures contracts purchased or sold or any options on futures contracts written by Fund, in accordance with the provisions of any agreement or agreements among the Fund, the Custodian and such futures commission merchant, designed to comply with the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or of any contract market or commodities exchange or similar organization regarding such margin deposits or payments; and release and/or transfer assets in such margin accounts only in accordance with any such agreements or rules. The Custodian and the futures commission merchant shall be responsible for the sufficiency of assets held in the segregated account in compliance with the applicable margin maintenance and mark-to-market payment requirements. -21- 3. Foreign Exchange Transactions The Custodian shall, pursuant to proper instructions, enter into or cause a subcustodian to enter into foreign exchange contracts or options to purchase and sell foreign currencies for spot and future delivery on behalf and for the account of the Fund. Such transactions may be undertaken by the Custodian or subcustodian with such banking or financial institutions or other currency brokers, as set forth in proper instructions. Foreign exchange contracts and options shall be deemed to be portfolio securities of the Fund; and accordingly, the responsibility of the Custodian therefor shall be the same as and no greater than the Custodian's responsibility in respect of other portfolio securities of the Fund. The Custodian shall be responsible for the transmittal to and receipt of cash from the currency broker or banking or financial institution with which the contract or option is made, the maintenance of proper records with respect to the transaction and the maintenance of any segregated account required in connection with the transaction. The Custodian shall have no duty with respect to the selection of the currency brokers or banking or financial institutions with which the Fund deals or for their failure to comply with the terms of any contract or option. Without limiting the foregoing, it is agreed that upon receipt of proper instructions and insofar as funds are made available to the Custodian for the purpose, the Custodian may (if determined necessary by the Custodian to consummate a particular transaction on behalf and for the account of the Fund) make free outgoing payments of cash in the form of U.S. dollars or foreign currency before receiving confirmation of a foreign exchange contract or confirmation that the countervalue currency completing the foreign exchange contact has been delivered or received. The Custodian shall not be responsible for any costs and interest charges which may be incurred by the Fund or the Custodian as a result of the failure or delay of third parties to deliver foreign exchange; provided that the Custodian shall nevertheless be held to the standard of care set forth in, and shall be liable to the Fund in accordance with, the provisions of Section 8. V. Actions Permitted Without Express Authority The Custodian may in its discretion, without express authority from the Fund: 1) make payments to itself or others for minor expenses of handling securities or other similar items relating to its duties under this Agreement, provided, that all such payments shall be accounted for by the Custodian to the Treasurer of the Fund; 2) surrender securities in temporary form for securities in definitive form; 3) endorse for collection, in the name of the Fund, checks, drafts and other negotiable instruments; and 4) in general, attend to all nondiscretionary details in connection with the sale, exchange, substitution, purchase, transfer and other dealings with the securities and property of the Fund except as otherwise directed by the Fund. -22- W. Advances by the Bank. The Bank may, in its sole discretion, advance funds on behalf of the Fund to make any payment permitted by this Agreement upon receipt of any proper authorization required by this Agreement for such payments by the Fund. Should such a payment or payments, with advanced funds, result in an overdraft (due to insufficiencies of the Fund's account with the Bank, or for any other reason) this Agreement deems any such overdraft or related indebtedness a loan made by the Bank to the Fund payable on demand. Such overdraft shall bear interest at the current rate charged by the Bank for such secured loans unless the Fund shall provide the Bank with agreed upon compensating balances. The Fund agrees that the Bank shall have a continuing lien and security interest to the extent of any overdraft or indebtedness or the extent required by law, whichever is greater, in and to any property at any time held by it for the Fund's benefit or in which the Fund has an interest and which is then in the Bank's possession or control (or in the possession or control of any third party acting on the Bank's behalf). The Fund authorizes the Bank, in the Bank's sole discretion, at any time to charge any overdraft or indebtedness, together with interest due thereon, against any balance of account standing to the credit of the Fund on the Bank's books. 4. Duties of Bank with Respect to Books of Account and Calculations of Net Asset Value The Bank shall as Agent (or as Custodian, as the case may be) keep such books of account (including records showing the adjusted tax costs of the Fund's portfolio securities) and render as at the close of business on each day a detailed statement of the amounts received or paid out and of securities received or delivered for the account of the Fund during said day and such other statements, including a daily trial balance and inventory of the Fund's portfolio securities; and shall furnish such other financial information and data as from time to time requested by the Treasurer or any executive officer of the Fund; and shall compute and determine, as of the close of business of the New York Stock Exchange, or at such other time or times as the Board may determine, the net asset value of a Share in the Fund, such computation and determination to be made in accordance with the governing documents of the Fund and the votes and instructions of the Board at the time in force and applicable, and promptly notify the Fund and its investment adviser and such other persons as the Fund may request of the result of such computation and determination. In computing the net asset value the Custodian may rely upon security quotations received by telephone or otherwise from sources or pricing services designated by the Fund by proper instructions, and may further rely upon information furnished to it by any authorized officer of the Fund relative (a) to liabilities of the Fund not appearing on its books of account, (b) to the existence, status and proper treatment of any reserve or reserves, (c) to any procedures established by the Board regarding the valuation of portfolio securities, and (d) to the value to be assigned to any bond, note, debenture, Treasury bill, repurchase agreement, subscription right, security, participation interests or other asset or property for which market quotations are not readily available. 5. Records and Miscellaneous Duties The Bank shall create, maintain and preserve all records relating to its activities and obligations under this Agreement in such manner as will meet the obligations of the Fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940, with particular attention to Section 31 thereof and Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 thereunder, applicable federal and state tax laws and any other law or administrative rules or procedures which may be applicable to the Fund. All books of account and records maintained by the Bank in connection with the -23- performance of its duties under this Agreement shall be the property of the Fund, shall at all times during the regular business hours of the Bank be open for inspection by authorized officers, employees or agents of the Fund, and in the event of termination of this Agreement shall be delivered to the Fund or to such other person or persons as shall be designated by the Fund. Disposition of any account or record after any required period of preservation shall be only in accordance with specific instructions received from the Fund. The Bank shall assist generally in the preparation of reports to shareholders, to the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Forms N-SAR and N-1Q, to state "blue sky" authorities and to others, audits of accounts, and other ministerial matters of like nature; and, upon request, shall furnish the Fund's auditors with an attested inventory of securities held with appropriate information as to securities in transit or in the process of purchase or sale and with such other information as said auditors may from time to time request. The Custodian shall also maintain records of all receipts, deliveries and locations of such securities, together with a current inventory thereof, and shall conduct periodic verifications (including sampling counts at the Custodian) of certificates representing bonds and other securities for which it is responsible under this Agreement in such manner as the Custodian shall determine from time to time to be advisable in order to verify the accuracy of such inventory. The Bank shall not disclose or use any books or records it has prepared or maintained by reason of this Agreement in any manner except as expressly authorized herein or directed by the Fund, and the Bank shall keep confidential any information obtained by reason of this Agreement. 6. Opinion of Fund's Independent Public Accountants The Custodian shall take all reasonable action, as the Fund may from time to time request, to enable the Fund to obtain from year to year favorable opinions from the Fund's independent public accountants with respect to its activities hereunder in connection with the preparation of the Fund's registration statement and Form N-SAR or other periodic reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission and with respect to any other requirements of such Commission. 7. Compensation and Expenses of Bank The Bank shall be entitled to reasonable compensation for its services as Custodian and Agent, as agreed upon from time to time between the Fund and the Bank. The Bank shall be entitled to receive from the Fund on demand reimbursement for its cash disbursements, expenses and charges, including counsel fees, in connection with its duties as Custodian and Agent hereunder, but excluding salaries and usual overhead expenses. 8. Responsibility of Bank So long as and to the extent that it is in the exercise of reasonable care, the Bank as Custodian and Agent shall be held harmless in acting upon any notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to be signed by the proper party or parties. The Bank as Custodian and Agent shall be entitled to rely on and may act upon advice of counsel (who may be counsel for the Fund) on all matters, and shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such advice. The Bank as Custodian and Agent shall be held to the exercise of reasonable care in carrying out the provisions of this Agreement but shall be liable only for its own negligent or bad faith acts or failures to -24- act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained in this paragraph is intended to nor shall it be construed to modify the standards of care and responsibility set forth in Section 2 hereof with respect to subcustodians and in subparagraph f of Paragraph L of Section 3 hereof with respect to Securities Systems and in subparagraph g of Paragraph M of Section 3 hereof with respect to an Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper. The Custodian shall be liable for the acts or omissions of a foreign banking institution to the same extent as set forth with respect to subcustodians generally in Section 2 hereof, provided that, regardless of whether assets are maintained in the custody of a foreign banking institution, a foreign securities depository or a branch of a U.S. bank, the Custodian shall not be liable for any loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim resulting from, or caused by, the direction of or authorization by the Fund to maintain custody of any securities or cash of the Fund in a foreign county including, but not limited to, losses resulting from nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, acts of war, civil war or terrorism, insurrection, revolution, military or usurped powers, nuclear fission, fusion or radiation, earthquake, storm or other disturbance of nature or acts of God. If the Fund requires the Bank in any capacity to take any action with respect to securities, which action involves the payment of money or which action may, in the opinion of the Bank, result in the Bank or its nominee assigned to the Fund being liable for the payment of money or incurring liability of some other form, the Fund, as a prerequisite to requiring the Custodian to take such action, shall provide indemnity to the Custodian in an amount and form satisfactory to it. 9. Persons Having Access to Assets of the Fund (i) No trustee, director, general partner, officer, employee or agent of the Fund shall have physical access to the assets of the Fund held by the Custodian or be authorized or permitted to withdraw any investments of the Fund, nor shall the Custodian deliver any assets of the Fund to any such person. No officer or director, employee or agent of the Custodian who holds any similar position with the Fund or the investment adviser of the Fund shall have access to the assets of the Fund. (ii) Access to assets of the Fund held hereunder shall only be available to duly authorized officers, employees, representatives or agents of the Custodian or other persons or entities for whose actions the Custodian shall be responsible to the extent permitted hereunder, or to the Fund's independent public accountants in connection with their auditing duties performed on behalf of the Fund. (iii) Nothing in this Section 9 shall prohibit any officer, employee or agent of the Fund or of the investment adviser of the Fund from giving instructions to the Custodian or executing a certificate so long as it does not result in delivery of or access to assets of the Fund prohibited by paragraph (i) of this Section 9. 10. Effective Period, Termination and Amendment; Successor Custodian This Agreement shall become effective as of its execution, shall continue in full force and effect until terminated by either party after August 31, 2000 by an instrument in writing delivered or mailed, postage prepaid to the other party, such termination to take effect not sooner than sixty (60) days after the date of such delivery or mailing; provided, that the Fund may at any time by action of its Board, (i) substitute another bank or trust company for the Custodian by giving notice as described above to the Custodian in the event the Custodian assigns this Agreement to another party without consent of the -25- noninterested Trustees of the Funds, or (ii) immediately terminate this Agreement in the event of the appointment of a conservator or receiver for the Custodian by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or by the Banking Commissioner of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts or upon the happening of a like event at the direction of an appropriate regulatory agency or court of competent jurisdiction. Upon termination of the Agreement, the Fund shall pay to the Custodian such compensation as may be due as of the date of such termination (and shall likewise reimburse the Custodian for its costs, expenses and disbursements). This Agreement may be amended at any time by the written agreement of the parties hereto. If a majority of the non-interested trustees of any of the Funds determines that the performance of the Custodian has been unsatisfactory or adverse to the interests of shareholders of any Fund or Funds or that the terms of the Agreement are no longer consistent with publicly available industry standards, then the Fund or Funds shall give written notice to the Custodian of such determination and the Custodian shall have 60 days to (1) correct such performance to the satisfaction of the non-interested trustees or (2) renegotiate terms which are satisfactory to the non-interested trustees of the Funds. If the conditions of the preceding sentence are not met then the Fund or Funds may terminate this Agreement on sixty (60) days written notice. The Board of the Fund shall, forthwith, upon giving or receiving notice of termination of this Agreement, appoint as successor custodian, a bank or trust company having the qualifications required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules thereunder. The Bank, as Custodian, Agent or otherwise, shall, upon termination of the Agreement, deliver to such successor custodian, all securities then held hereunder and all funds or other properties of the Fund deposited with or held by the Bank hereunder and all books of account and records kept by the Bank pursuant to this Agreement, and all documents held by the Bank relative thereto. In the event that no written order designating a successor custodian shall have been delivered to the Bank on or before the date when such termination shall become effective, then the Bank shall not deliver the securities, funds and other properties of the Fund to the Fund but shall have the right to deliver to a bank or trust company doing business in Boston, Massachusetts of its own selection meeting the above required qualifications, all funds, securities and properties of the Fund held by or deposited with the Bank, and all books of account and records kept by the Bank pursuant to this Agreement, and all documents held by the Bank relative thereto. Thereafter such bank or trust company shall be the successor of the Custodian under this Agreement. 11. Interpretive and Additional Provisions In connection with the operation of this Agreement, the Custodian and the Fund may from time to time agree on such provisions interpretive of or in addition to the provisions of this Agreement as may in their joint opinion be consistent with the general tenor of this Agreement. Any such interpretive or additional provisions shall be in a writing signed by both parties and shall be annexed hereto, provided that no such interpretive or additional provisions shall contravene any applicable federal or state regulations or any provision of the governing instruments of the Fund. No interpretive or additional provisions made as provided in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Agreement. 12. Notices Notices and other writings delivered or mailed postage prepaid to the Fund addressed to 24 Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, or to such other address as the Fund may have designated to the Bank, in writing, or to Investors Bank & Trust Company, 24 Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, shall be -26- deemed to have been properly delivered or given hereunder to the respective addressees. 13. Massachusetts Law to Apply This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. If the Fund is a Massachusetts business trust, the Custodian expressly acknowledges the provision in the Fund's declaration of Trust limiting the personal liability of the trustees and shareholders of the Fund; and the Custodian agrees that it shall have recourse only to the assets of the Fund for the payment of claims or obligations as between the Custodian and the Fund arising out of this Agreement, and the Custodian shall not seek satisfaction of any such claim or obligation from the trustees or shareholders of the Fund. 14. Adoption of the Agreement by the Fund The Fund represents that its Board has approved this Agreement and has duly authorized the Fund to adopt this Agreement, such adoption to be evidenced by a letter agreement between the Fund and the Bank reflecting such adoption, which letter agreement shall be dated and signed by a duly authorized officer of the Fund and duly authorized officer of the Bank. This Agreement shall be deemed to be duly executed and delivered by each of the parties in its name and behalf by its duly authorized officer as of the date of such letter agreement, and this Agreement shall be deemed to supersede and terminate, as of the date of such letter agreement, all prior agreements between the Fund and the Bank relating to the custody of the Fund's assets. * * * * * -27- EX-99.(K)(1) 10 b50653a1exv99wxkyx1y.txt SUPPL.TO THE TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT Exhibit k(1) May 21, 2004 PFPC Inc. 4400 Computer Drive Westborough, MA 01581-5120 Attn: President Re: Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust Dear Sirs: Please be advised that, pursuant to Trustee action taken on May 21, 2004, your firm was appointed transfer and dividend disbursing agent for Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust. Accordingly, pursuant to Sections 10(e) and 12(a) of that certain Amended and Restated Transfer Agency and Services Agreement dated as of June 16, 2003, by and between PFPC Inc. and each of the various Eaton Vance Funds listed on Exhibit 1 thereto (the "Agreement"), you are hereby notified that Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust has been added as a party to the Agreement and that Exhibit 1 and Schedule B to the Agreement (as attached hereto) are hereby restated in their entirety. Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust By: ---------------------------------- President Accepted and Acknowledged: PFPC Inc. By: ----------------------------------------- Authorized Officer EXHIBIT 1 LIST OF FUNDS RESTATED MAY 21, 2004 Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust Eaton Vance Florida Municipal Income Trust Eaton Vance Massachusetts Municipal Income Trust Eaton Vance Michigan Municipal Income Trust Eaton Vance New Jersey Municipal Income Trust Eaton Vance New York Municipal Income Trust Eaton Vance Ohio Municipal Income Trust Eaton Vance Pennsylvania Municipal Income Trust Eaton Vance Insured Municipal Bond Fund Eaton Vance Insured California Municipal Bond Fund Eaton Vance Insured New York Municipal Bond Fund Eaton Vance Insured Municipal Bond Fund II Eaton Vance Insured California Municipal Bond Fund II Eaton Vance Insured Florida Municipal Bond Fund Eaton Vance Insured Massachusetts Municipal Bond Fund Eaton Vance Insured Michigan Municipal Bond Fund Eaton Vance Insured New Jersey Municipal Bond Fund Eaton Vance Insured New York Municipal Bond Fund II Eaton Vance Insured Ohio Municipal Bond Fund Eaton Vance Pennsylvania Municipal Bond Fund Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund Eaton Vance Senior Floating-Rate Trust Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust SCHEDULE B RESTATED MAY 21, 2004 FEE SCHEDULE 1. INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING FEES IPO Project Administration Fee: $3,000 per Fund IPO Project Administration Fee covers: Issuance of up to 1,000 certificates - Issuance of certificates in excess of 1,000 to be billed at $2.00 per certificate Administration coordination with IPO client, underwriter and legal representatives Attendance at closing (out of pocket expenses associated with such attendance will be billed as incurred) Set-up, testing and implementation of electronic settlement and delivery of shares through The Depository Trust Company 2. OVER-ALLOTMENT FEE: $1,000 per Fund Applies in the event that the underwriters elect to exercise an over-allotment option which requires a second closing 3. STANDARD SERVICE FEE: (a) The following standard service fees shall apply with respect to the shares offered by: Eaton Vance Insured Municipal Bond Fund; Eaton Vance Insured California Municipal Bond Fund; Eaton Vance Insured New York Municipal Bond Fund; Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund; Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund; Eaton Vance Senior Floating-Rate Trust; Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund; Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund; and Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust. Annual Service Fee: $15.00 Per Account Monthly Minimum Fee: $5,000.00 (b) The following standard service fees shall apply with respect to the shares offered by: Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust; Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust; Eaton Vance Florida Municipal Income Trust; Eaton Vance Massachusetts Municipal Income Trust; Eaton Vance Michigan Municipal Income Trust; Eaton Vance New Jersey Municipal Income Trust; Eaton Vance New York Municipal Income Trust; Eaton Vance Ohio Municipal Income Trust; and Eaton Vance Pennsylvania Municipal Income Trust. Each Fund shall pay 9 basis points annually on the average daily net assets, paid monthly, in arrears, with respect to the shares offered by the Fund. (c) The following standard service fees shall apply with respect to the shares offered by: Eaton Vance Insured Municipal Bond Fund II; Eaton Vance Insured California Municipal Bond Fund II; Eaton Vance Insured Florida Municipal Bond Fund; Eaton Vance Insured Massachusetts Municipal Bond Fund; Eaton Vance Insured Michigan Municipal Bond Fund; Eaton Vance Insured New Jersey Municipal Bond Fund; Eaton Vance Insured New York Municipal Bond Fund II; Eaton Vance Insured Ohio Municipal Bond Fund; and Eaton Vance Insured Pennsylvania Municipal Bond Fund. Each Fund shall pay 7.5 basis points annually on the average daily net assets, paid monthly, in arrears, with respect to the shares offered by the Fund. After the one year anniversary of the effective date of this Agreement, PFPC may adjust the above fees once per calendar year, upon thirty (30) days prior written notice in an amount not to exceed the cumulative percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) U.S. City Average, All items (unadjusted) - (1982-84=100), published by the U.S. Department of Labor since the last such adjustment in the Fund's monthly fees (or the Effective Date absent a prior such adjustment). EX-99.(K)(3) 11 b50653a1exv99wxkyx3y.txt ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT Exhibit k(3) EATON VANCE FLOATING-RATE INCOME TRUST ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT AGREEMENT made this 21st day of May, 2004, between Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Fund"), and Eaton Vance Management, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Administrator"). 1. DUTIES OF THE ADMINISTRATOR. The Fund hereby employs the Administrator to act as administrator for and to administer the affairs of the Fund, subject to the supervision of the Trustees of the Fund for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. The Administrator hereby accepts such employment, and agrees to administer the Fund's business affairs and, in connection therewith, to furnish for the use of the Fund office space and all necessary office facilities, equipment and personnel for administering the affairs of the Fund. The Administrator shall also pay the salaries and compensation of all officers and Trustees of the Fund who are members of the Administrator's organization and who render executive and administrative services to the Fund, and the salaries and compensation of all other personnel of the Administrator performing management and administrative services for the Fund. The Administrator shall for all purposes herein be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, except as otherwise expressly provided or authorized, have no authority to act for or represent the Fund in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Fund. In connection with its responsibilities as Administrator of the Fund, the Administrator (i) will assist in preparing all annual, semi-annual and other reports required to be sent to Fund shareholders, and arrange for the printing and dissemination of such reports to shareholders; (ii) will prepare and assemble all reports required to be filed by the Fund with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on Forms N-SAR and N-CSR, or on such other form as the SEC may substitute for Form N-SAR or N-CSR, and file such reports with the SEC; (iii) will review the provision of services by the Fund's independent accountants, including, but not limited to, the preparation by such accountants of audited financial statements of the Fund and the Fund's federal, state and local tax returns; and make such reports and recommendations to the Trustees of the Fund concerning the performance of the independent accountants as the Trustees deem appropriate; (iv) will arrange for the filing with the appropriate authorities all required federal, state and local tax returns; (v) will arrange for the dissemination to shareholders of the Fund's proxy materials, and will oversee the tabulation of proxies by the Fund's transfer agent or other duly authorized proxy tabulator; (vi) will review and supervise the provision of custodian services to the Fund; and make such reports and recommendations to the Trustees concerning the provision of such services as the Trustees deem appropriate; (vii) will value all such portfolio investments and other assets of the Fund as may be designated by the Trustees (subject to any guidelines, directions and instructions of the Trustees), and review and supervise the calculation of the net asset value of the Fund's shares by the custodian; (viii) will negotiate the terms and conditions under which transfer agency and dividend disbursing services will be provided to the Fund, and the fees to be paid by the Fund in connection therewith; review and supervise the provision of transfer agency and dividend disbursing services to the Fund; and make such reports and recommendations to the Trustees concerning the performance of the Fund's transfer and dividend disbursing agent as the Trustees deem appropriate; (ix) will establish the accounting policies of the Fund; reconcile accounting issues which may arise with respect to the Fund's operations; and consult with the Fund's independent accountants, legal counsel, custodian, accounting and bookkeeping agents and transfer and dividend disbursing agent as necessary in connection therewith; (x) will determine the amount of all distributions to be paid by the Fund to its shareholders; prepare and arrange for the printing of notices to shareholders regarding such distributions and provide the Fund's transfer and dividend disbursing agent and custodian with such information as is required for such parties to effect the payment of distributions and to implement the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan; (xi) will review the Fund's bills and authorize payments of such bills by the Fund's custodian; (xii) will make recommendations to the Trustees as to whether the Fund should make repurchase or tender offers for its own shares; arrange for the preparation and filing of all documents required to be filed by the Fund with the SEC; arrange for the preparation and dissemination of all appropriate repurchase or tender offer documents and papers on behalf of the Fund; and supervise and conduct the Fund's periodic repurchase or tender offers for its own shares; (xiii) monitor any variance between the market value and net asset value per share, and periodically report to the Trustees available actions that may conform such values; (xiv) monitor the activities of any shareholder servicing agent retained by the Administrator and periodically report to the Trustees about such activities; (xv) will arrange for the preparation and filing of all other reports, forms, registration statements and documents required to be filed by the Fund with the SEC, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and any securities exchange where Fund shares are listed; and (xvi) will provide to the Fund such other internal legal, auditing and accounting services and internal executive management and administrative services as the Trustees deem appropriate to conduct the Fund's business affairs. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator shall not be deemed to have assumed any duties with respect to, and shall not be responsible for, the management of the Fund's assets or the rendering of investment advice and supervision with respect thereto or the distribution of shares of the Fund, nor shall the Administrator be deemed to have assumed or have any responsibility with respect to functions specifically assumed by any transfer agent, custodian or shareholder servicing agent of the Fund. SUB-ADMINISTRATORS. The Administrator may employ one or more sub-administrators from time to time to perform such of the acts and services of the Administrator and upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the Administrator and such sub-administrators and approved by the Trustees of the Fund. 2. COMPENSATION OF THE ADMINISTRATOR. The Board of Trustees of the Fund have currently determined that, based on the current level of compensation payable to Eaton Vance Management by the Fund under the Fund's present Investment Advisory Agreement with Eaton Vance Management, the Administrator shall receive no compensation from the Fund in respect of the services to be rendered and the facilities to be provided by the Administrator under this Agreement. If the Trustees subsequently determine that the Fund should compensate the Administrator for such services and facilities, such compensation shall be set forth in a new agreement or in an amendment to this Agreement to be entered into by the parties hereto. 3. ALLOCATION OF CHARGES AND EXPENSES. It is understood that the Fund will pay all its expenses other than those expressly stated to be payable by the Administrator hereunder, which expenses payable by the Fund shall include, without implied limitation, (i) expenses of maintaining the Fund and continuing its existence; (ii) registration of the Fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940; (iii) commissions, fees and other expenses connected with the acquisition, holding and disposition of securities and other investments; (iv) auditing, accounting and legal expenses; (v) taxes and interest; (vi) governmental fees; (vii) expenses of repurchase and redemption (if any) of shares, including all expenses incurred in conducting repurchase and tender offers for the purpose of repurchasing Fund shares; (viii) expenses of registering and qualifying the Fund and its shares under federal and state securities laws and of preparing registration statements and amendments for such purposes; (ix) expenses of reports and notices to shareholders and of meetings of shareholders and proxy solicitations therefor; (x) expenses of reports to governmental officers and commissions; (xi) insurance expenses; (xii) association membership dues; (xiii) fees, expenses and disbursements of custodians and subcustodians for all services to the Fund (including without limitation safekeeping of funds and securities, keeping of books and accounts and determination of net asset value); (xiv) fees, expenses and disbursements of transfer agents, dividend disbursing agents, shareholder servicing agents and registrars for all services to the Fund; (xv) expenses of listing shares with a stock exchange; (xvi) any direct 2 charges to shareholders approved by the Trustees of the Fund; (xvii) compensation of and any expenses of Trustees of the Fund who are not members of the Administrator's organization; (xviii) all payments to be made and expenses to be assumed by the Fund in connection with the distribution of Fund shares; (xix) any pricing and valuation services employed by the Fund; (xx) any investment advisory fee payable to an investment adviser; (xxi) all expenses incurred in connection with leveraging the Fund's assets through a line of credit, or issuing and maintaining preferred shares; and (xxii) such non-recurring items as may arise, including expenses incurred in connection with litigation, proceedings and claims and obligations of the Fund to indemnify its shareholders, Trustees, officers and employees with respect thereto. 4. OTHER INTERESTS. It is understood that Trustees, officers and shareholders of the Fund are or may be or become interested in the Administrator as trustees, officers, employees, shareholders or otherwise and that trustees, officers, employees and shareholders of the Administrator are or may be or become similarly interested in the Fund, and that the Administrator may be or become interested in the Fund as a shareholder or otherwise. It is also understood that trustees, officers, employees and shareholders of the Administrator may be or become interested (as directors, trustees, officers, employees, stockholders or otherwise) in other companies or entities (including, without limitation, other investment companies) that the Administrator may organize, sponsor or acquire, or with which it may merge or consolidate, and that the Administrator or its subsidiaries or affiliates may enter into advisory, management or administration agreements or other contracts or relationship with such other companies or entities. 5. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF THE ADMINISTRATOR. The services of the Administrator to the Fund are not to be deemed to be exclusive, the Administrator being free to render services to others and engage in other business activities. In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of obligations or duties hereunder on the part of the Administrator, the Administrator shall not be subject to liability to the Fund or to any shareholder of the Fund for any act or omission in the course of, or connected with, rendering services hereunder or for any losses which may be sustained in the acquisition, holding or disposition of any security or other investment. 6. DURATION AND TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall become effective upon the date of its execution, and, unless terminated as herein provided, shall remain in full force and effect through and including May 21, 2006 and shall continue in full force and effect indefinitely thereafter, but only so long as such continuance after May 21, 2006 is specifically approved at least annually (i) by the Board of Trustees of the Fund, and (ii) by the vote of a majority of those Trustees of the Fund who are not interested persons of the Administrator or the Fund. Either party hereto may, at any time on sixty (60) days' prior written notice to the other, terminate this Agreement by action of the Trustees of the Fund or the trustees of the Administrator, and the Fund may, at any time upon such written notice to the Administrator, terminate the Agreement by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment. 7. AMENDMENTS OF THE AGREEMENT. This Agreement may be amended by a writing signed by both parties hereto, provided that no amendment to this Agreement shall be effective until approved (i) by the vote of a majority of those Trustees of the Fund who are not interested persons of the Administrator or the Fund, and (ii) by vote of the Board of Trustees of the Fund. 3 8. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. Each party expressly acknowledges the provision in the other party's Agreement and Declaration of Trust limiting the personal liability of its shareholders officers, and Trustees, and each party hereby agrees that it shall have recourse to the other party for payment of claims or obligations as between the Fund and the Administrator arising out of this Agreement and shall not seek satisfaction from the Trustees, officers or shareholders of the other party. 9. USE OF THE NAME "EATON VANCE." The Administrator hereby consents to the use by the Fund of the name "Eaton Vance" as part of the Fund's name; provided, however, that such consent shall be conditioned upon the employment of the Administrator or one of its affiliates as the administrator of the Fund. The name "Eaton Vance" or any variation thereof may be used from time to time in other connections and for other purposes by the Administrator and its affiliates and other investment companies that have obtained consent to the use of the name "Eaton Vance." The Administrator shall have the right to require the Fund to cease using the name "Eaton Vance" as part of the Fund's name if the Fund ceases, for any reason, to employ the Administrator or one of its affiliates as the Fund's administrator. Future names adopted by the Fund for itself, insofar as such names include identifying words requiring the consent of the Administrator, shall be the property of the Administrator and shall be subject to the same terms and conditions. 10. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. The terms "assignment" and "interested persons" when used herein shall have the respective meanings specified in the Investment Company Act of 1940 as now in effect or as hereafter amended subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission by any rule, regulation or order. The term "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities" shall mean the vote of the lesser of (a) 67 per centum or more of the shares of the Fund present or represented by proxy at the meeting if the holders of more than 50 per centum of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy at the meeting, or (b) more than 50 per centum of the outstanding shares of the Fund. EATON VANCE FLOATING-RATE EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT INCOME TRUST By: By: ------------------------------- --------------------------- President, and not Individually Vice President, and not Individually 4 EX-99.(K)(4) 12 b50653a1exv99wxkyx4y.txt FROM OF SHAREHOLDER SERVICING AGREEMENT Exhibit k(4) SHAREHOLDER SERVICING AGREEMENT SHAREHOLDER SERVICING AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), dated as of June [ ], 2004, between Eaton Vance Management ("Eaton Vance") and UBS Securities LLC ("UBS Securities"). WHEREAS, Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust (the "Fund") is a closed-end, diversified management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), and its shares of beneficial interest are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; and WHEREAS, Eaton Vance is the investment adviser and the administrator of the Fund; and WHEREAS, Eaton Vance desires to retain UBS Securities to provide shareholder servicing and market information with respect to the Fund, and UBS Securities is willing to render such services; NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual terms and conditions set forth below, the parties hereto agree as follows: 1. Eaton Vance hereby employs UBS Securities, for the period and on the terms and conditions set forth herein, to provide the following services (the "Services"): (a) At the request of and as specified by Eaton Vance, undertake to make available public information pertaining to the Fund on an ongoing basis and to communicate to investors and prospective investors the Fund's features and benefits (including arranging periodic seminars or conference calls for Eaton Vance to communicate to investors, responding to questions from current or prospective shareholders and contacting specific shareholders, where appropriate), provided that Services shall not include customary market research information provided by UBS Securities or its registered broker-dealer affiliates in the ordinary course of their business. (b) At the request of and as specified by Eaton Vance, make available to investors and prospective investors market price, net asset value, yield and other information regarding the Fund (provided that Services shall not include customary market research information provided by UBS Securities or its registered broker-dealer affiliates in the ordinary course of their business), if reasonably obtainable, for the purpose of maintaining the visibility of the Fund in the investor community. (c) At the request of Eaton Vance or the Fund, provide certain economic research and statistical information and reports, if reasonably obtainable, to Eaton Vance or the Fund and consult with representatives of Eaton Vance and/or Trustees of the Fund in connection therewith, which information and reports shall include: (i) statistical and financial market information with respect to the Fund's market performance; and (ii) comparative information regarding the Fund and other closed-end management investment companies with respect to (x) the net asset value of their respective shares, (y) the respective market performance of the Fund and such other companies, and (z) other relevant performance indicators. Except as legally required, such information and reports may not be quoted or referred to, orally or in writing, reproduced or disseminated by the Fund or any of its affiliates or any of their agents, without the prior written consent of UBS Securities, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld. (d) At the request of Eaton Vance or the Fund, provide information to and consult with Eaton Vance and/or the Board of Trustees of the Fund with respect to applicable strategies designed to address market value discounts, which may include share repurchases, tender offers, modifications to dividend policies or capital structure, repositioning or restructuring of the Fund, conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company, liquidation or merger; including providing information concerning the use and impact of the above strategic alternatives by other market participants. (e) At the request of Eaton Vance or the Fund, UBS Securities shall limit or cease any action or service provided hereunder to the extent and for the time period requested by Eaton Vance or the Fund; provided, however, that pending termination of this Agreement as provided for in Section 5 hereof, any such limitation or cessation shall not relieve Eaton Vance of its payment obligations pursuant to Section 2 hereof. (f) UBS Securities will promptly notify Eaton Vance or the Fund, as the case may be, if it learns of any material inaccuracy or misstatement in, or material omission from, any written information provided by UBS Securities to Eaton Vance or the Fund in connection with the performance of Services by UBS Securities under this Agreement. UBS Securities acknowledges that in performing the Services under this Agreement, it will comply in all material respects with all applicable laws, rules and regulations. 2. Eaton Vance will pay UBS Securities a fee computed daily and payable quarterly at an annualized rate of 0.10% of the average daily gross assets of the Fund; provided, however, that the fee payable hereunder by Eaton Vance to UBS Securities shall be reduced for the duration of any period during which Eaton Vance voluntarily agrees to reduce or limit the management fee payable to it by the Fund under any management contract with the Fund from time-to-time in effect (provided, however, that the fee payable by Eaton Vance shall not be reduced in connection with any contractual fee waiver or expense reimbursement, which is disclosed in the prospectus of the Fund). The reduced fee payable hereunder during any such period shall be the percentage of the usual fee payable hereunder equal to the percentage of the usual management fee received by Eaton Vance after giving effect to the fee waiver or limitation (i.e., if the management fee is effectively reduced by 40% the fee hereunder also shall be reduced by 40%); provided further, that under no circumstances shall the fee hereunder be reduced to less than zero for any period. Fees payable hereunder shall be subject to the sales charge limits of the National Association of Securities Dealer, Inc., and shall not exceed [ ]% of the aggregate offering price in the initial public offering of the common shares of the Fund (the "Offering") (the "Maximum Fee Amount"). 3. Eaton Vance acknowledges that the Services of UBS Securities provided for hereunder do not include any advice as to the value of securities or regarding the advisability of purchasing or selling any securities for the Fund's portfolio. No provision of this Agreement shall be considered as creating, nor shall any provision create, any obligation on the part of UBS Securities, and UBS Securities is not hereby agreeing, to: (i) furnish any advice or make any recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of portfolio securities or (ii) render any opinions, valuations or recommendations of any kind or to perform any such similar services in connection with providing the Services described in Section 1 hereof, it being understood between the parties hereto that any such advice, recommendations or such similar activities if, and to the extent, agreed to be performed by UBS Securities shall be the subject of a separate agreement with Eaton Vance, including, but not limited to, separate agreements with respect to any indemnification of UBS Securities. Except to the extent legally required, neither (i) the name of UBS Securities nor (ii) any advice rendered by UBS Securities to Eaton Vance or the Fund in connection with the services performed by UBS Securities pursuant to this Agreement will be quoted or referred to orally or in writing, or in the case of (ii), reproduced or disseminated, by the Fund or any of its affiliates or any of their agents, without the prior written consent of UBS Securities, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld. 4. Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting UBS Securities or its affiliates from providing similar or other services to any other clients (including other registered investment companies or other investment advisers), so long as Services provided by UBS Securities to Eaton Vance and the Fund are not impaired thereby. Neither this Agreement nor the performance of the Services hereunder shall be considered to constitute a partnership, association or joint venture between UBS Securities and Eaton Vance. In addition, nothing herein shall be construed to constitute UBS Securities as the agent or employee of Eaton Vance or Eaton Vance as the agent or employee of UBS Securities, and neither party shall make any representation to the contrary. 5. This Agreement shall continue coterminously with and so long as the Investment Advisory Agreement, dated [ ], 2004, remains in effect between the Fund and Eaton Vance, or any similar investment advisory agreement with a successor in interest or affiliate of Eaton Vance remains in effect, as, and to the extent, that such investment advisory agreement is renewed periodically in accordance with the 1940 Act; provided, however, that this Agreement shall automatically terminate if further payments to UBS Securities would cause the total amount of underwriting compensation in connection with the Offering to exceed the Maximum Fee Amount. This Agreement may not be assigned, except by operation of law or in connection with the sale of all or substantially all of the assets or of the equity securities of one of the parties hereto, without the other party's prior consent. 6. Eaton Vance will furnish UBS Securities with such information as UBS Securities believes appropriate to its assignment hereunder (all such information so furnished being the "Information"). Eaton Vance recognizes and confirms that UBS Securities (a) will use and rely primarily on the Information and on information available from generally recognized public sources in performing the Services contemplated by this Agreement without having independently verified the same and (b) does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the Information and such other information. The Information to be furnished by Eaton Vance when delivered, will be true and correct in all material respects and will not contain any material misstatement of fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading. Eaton Vance will promptly notify UBS Securities if it learns of any material inaccuracy or misstatement in, or material omission from, any Information delivered to UBS Securities. UBS Securities acknowledges that certain of the Information provided by Eaton Vance may be proprietary to Eaton Vance and hereby agrees that it will not disclose (other than as may be required by applicable law or regulatory proceeding) to any third party any Information provided to UBS Securities by Eaton Vance and specifically identified in writing by Eaton Vance, prior to or at the time of its delivery, as confidential or proprietary. 7. It is understood that UBS Securities is being engaged hereunder solely to provide the Services described above to Eaton Vance and to the Fund and that UBS Securities is not acting as an agent or fiduciary of, and shall have no duties or liability to the current or future shareholders of Eaton Vance or any other third party in connection with its engagement hereunder, all of which are hereby expressly waived. 8. Eaton Vance agrees that UBS Securities shall have no liability to Eaton Vance or the Fund for any act or omission to act by UBS Securities in the course of its performance under this Agreement, in the absence of bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of UBS Securities. Eaton Vance agrees to the indemnification and other agreements set forth in the Indemnification Agreement attached hereto, the provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference and shall survive the termination, expiration or supersession of this Agreement. 9. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK FOR CONTRACTS TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY THEREIN AND WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CHOICE OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF. 10. EACH OF EATON VANCE AND UBS SECURITIES AGREE THAT ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING BASED HEREON, OR ARISING OUT OF UBS SECURITIES' ENGAGEMENT HEREUNDER, SHALL BE BROUGHT AND MAINTAINED EXCLUSIVELY IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK OR IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK. EATON VANCE AND UBS SECURITIES EACH HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING AS SET FORTH ABOVE AND IRREVOCABLY AGREE TO BE BOUND BY ANY JUDGMENT RENDERED THEREBY IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING. EACH OF EATON VANCE AND UBS SECURITIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY HAVE OR HEREAFTER MAY HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH REFERRED TO ABOVE AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. 11. Eaton Vance and UBS Securities each hereby irrevocably waive any right they may have to a trial by jury in respect of any claim based upon or arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement may not be assigned by either party without the prior written consent of the other party. 12. This Agreement (including the attached Indemnification Agreement) embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, such determination will not affect such provision in any other respect or any other provision of this Agreement, which will remain in full force and effect. This Agreement may not be amended or otherwise modified or waived except by an instrument in writing signed by both UBS Securities and Eaton Vance. 13. All notices required or permitted to be sent under this Agreement shall be sent, if to Eaton Vance: Eaton Vance Management 255 State Street Boston, MA 02109 Attention: Chief Legal Officer or if to UBS Securities: UBS Securities LLC 299 Park Avenue New York, New York 10171 Attention: Syndicate Department or such other name or address as may be given in writing to the other parties. Any notice shall be deemed to be given or received on the third day after deposit in the U.S. mail with certified postage prepaid or when actually received, whether by hand, express delivery service or facsimile transmission, whichever is earlier. 14. This Agreement may be exercised on separate counterparts, each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken together constitute one and the same agreement. 15. A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of Eaton Vance is on file with the Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice hereby is given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of the Trustees of Eaton Vance as Trustees and not individually and that the obligations or arising out of this Agreement are not binding upon any of the Trustees or beneficiaries individually but are binding only upon the assets and properties of Eaton Vance. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Shareholder Servicing Agreement as of the date first above written. EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT By: _____________________________ Name: Title: UBS SECURITIES LLC By: _____________________________ By: Title: By: _____________________________ By: Title: UBS Securities LLC Indemnification Agreement June [ ], 2004 UBS Securities LLC 299 Park Avenue New York, New York 10171 In connection with the engagement of UBS Securities LLC ("UBS Securities") to provide the Services to the undersigned (the "Company") with the matters set forth in the Shareholder Servicing Agreement dated June [ ], 2004 between the Company and UBS Securities (the "Agreement"), in the event that UBS Securities becomes involved in any capacity in any claim, suit, action, proceeding, investigation or inquiry (including, without limitation, any shareholder or derivative action or arbitration proceeding) (collectively, a "Proceeding") in connection with or arising out of the Agreement or the Services to be provided thereunder, the Company agrees to indemnify, defend and hold UBS Securities harmless to the fullest extent permitted by law, from and against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in connection with or arising out of the Agreement or the Services to be provided thereunder (a "Covered Claim"), except to the extent that it shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a judgment that has become final in that it is no longer subject to appeal or other review, that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses resulted solely from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of UBS Securities. In addition, in the event that UBS Securities becomes involved in any capacity in any Proceeding which relates to a Covered Claim, the Company will reimburse UBS Securities for its legal and other expenses (including the reasonable cost of any investigation and preparation) as such expenses are incurred by UBS Securities in connection therewith. If such indemnification were not to be available for any reason, the Company agrees to contribute to the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses involved (i) in the proportion appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received or sought to be received by the Company and its stockholders, on the one hand, and UBS Securities, on the other hand, in the matters contemplated by the Agreement or (ii) if (but only if and to the extent) the allocation provided for in clause (i) is for any reason held unenforceable, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company and its stockholders, on the one hand, and the party entitled to contribution, on the other hand, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided, that in no event shall the Company contribute less than the amount necessary to assure that UBS Securities is not liable for losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in excess of the amount of fees actually received by UBS Securities pursuant to the Agreement. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any alleged untrue statement or omission or any other alleged conduct relates to information provided by the Company or other conduct by the Company (or its employees or other agents), on the one hand, or by UBS Securities, on the other hand. The Company will not settle any Proceeding in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, whether or not UBS Securities is an actual or potential party to such Proceeding, without UBS Securities's prior written consent. For purposes of this Indemnification Agreement, UBS Securities shall include UBS Securities LLC, any of its affiliates, each other person, if any, controlling UBS Securities or any of its affiliates, their respective officers, current and former directors, employees and agents, and the successors and assigns of all of the foregoing persons. The foregoing indemnity and contribution agreement shall be in addition to any rights that any indemnified party may have at common law or otherwise. If any Proceeding is brought against UBS Securities in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Company pursuant to the foregoing paragraph, UBS Securities shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the institution of such Proceeding and the Company shall assume the defense of such Proceeding, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to UBS Securities and payment of all fees and expenses; provided, however, that the omission to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company from any liability which the Company may have to UBS Securities or otherwise, unless and only to the extent that, such omission results in the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses by the Company. UBS Securities shall have the right to employ its own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of UBS Securities unless the employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by the Company in connection with the defense of such Proceeding or the Company shall not have, within a reasonable period of time in light of the circumstances, employed counsel to have charge of the defense of such Proceeding or UBS Securities shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to it which are different from, additional to or in conflict with those available to the Company (in which case the Company shall not have the right to direct the defense of such Proceeding on behalf of UBS Securities), in any of which events such fees and expenses shall be borne by the Company and paid as incurred (it being understood, however, that the Company shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (in addition to any local counsel) in any one Proceeding or series of related Proceedings in the same jurisdiction). The Company shall not be liable for any settlement of any Proceeding effected without its written consent but if settled with the written consent of the Company, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless UBS Securities from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time UBS Securities shall have requested the Company to reimburse UBS Securities for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second sentence of this paragraph, then the Company agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any Proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 60 business days after receipt by the Company of the aforesaid request, (ii) the Company shall not have reimbursed UBS Securities in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement and (iii) UBS Securities shall have given the Company at least 30 days' prior notice of its intention to settle. The Company shall not, without its prior written consent, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened Proceeding in respect of which UBS Securities is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by UBS Securities, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of UBS Securities from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding and does not include an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of UBS Securities. The Company agrees that neither UBS Securities nor any of its affiliates, directors, agents, employees or controlling persons shall have any liability to the Company or any person asserting claims on behalf of or in right of the Company in connection with or as a result of a Covered Claim, except to the extent that it shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a judgment that has become final in that it is no longer subject to appeal or other review that any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses incurred by the Company resulted solely from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of UBS Securities in performing the Services. THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT AND ANY CLAIM, COUNTERCLAIM OR DISPUTE OF ANY KIND OR NATURE WHATSOEVER ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT ("CLAIM"), DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW, NO CLAIM MAY BE COMMENCED, PROSECUTED OR CONTINUED IN ANY COURT OTHER THAN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK OR IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, WHICH COURTS SHALL HAVE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OVER THE ADJUDICATION OF SUCH MATTERS, AND THE COMPANY AND UBS SECURITIES CONSENT TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS AND PERSONAL SERVICE WITH RESPECT THERETO. THE COMPANY HEREBY CONSENTS TO PERSONAL JURISDICTION, SERVICE AND VENUE IN ANY COURT IN WHICH ANY CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT IS BROUGHT BY AND THIRD PARTY AGAINST UBS SECURITIES OR ANY INDEMNIFIED PARTY. EACH OF UBS SECURITIES AND THE COMPANY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING OR CLAIM (WHETHER BASED UPON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT. THE COMPANY AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY PROCEEDING OR CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND BINDING UPON THE COMPANY AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN ANY OTHER COURTS TO THE JURISDICTION OF WHICH THE COMPANY IS OR MAY BE SUBJECT, BY SUIT UPON SUCH JUDGMENT. The foregoing Indemnification Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any termination of UBS Securities's engagement. This Indemnification Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement. Very truly yours, EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT By: ___________________________ Name: Title: Accepted and agreed to as of the date first above written: UBS SECURITIES LLC By: ___________________________ By: Title: By: ___________________________ By: Title: EX-99.(K)(5) 13 b50653a1exv99wxkyx5y.txt FORM OF ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION AGREEMENT Exhibit k(5) ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION AGREEMENT June [ ], 2004 Eaton Vance Management 255 State Street Boston, MA 02109 Ladies and Gentlemen: Reference is made to the Underwriting Agreement dated June [ ], 2004 (the "Underwriting Agreement"), by and among Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust a closed-end management investment company (the "Fund"), Eaton Vance Management ("Eaton Vance" or the "Investment Adviser") and each of the respective Underwriters named therein, with respect to the issue and sale of the Fund's common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Shares"), as described therein. Reference is also made to (i) the Investment Advisory Agreement, dated [ ], 2004 (the "Investment Advisory Agreement") between Eaton Vance and the Fund and (ii) the registration statement on Form N-2 regarding the Common Shares of the Fund (the "Registration Statement"). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings given to them in the Underwriting Agreement. Eaton Vance hereby confirms its agreement with each Qualifying Underwriter (as defined in Section 1 hereof) with respect to the additional compensation referred to in the "Underwriting" section of the Registration Statement, payable by Eaton Vance to each of the Qualifying Underwriters. Eaton Vance agrees to pay to each Qualifying Underwriter additional compensation (collectively, the "Additional Compensation") as provided for in Section 3 hereof; provided, however, that such Additional Compensation shall not exceed an amount equal to 0.15% per annum of the aggregate average daily gross assets of the Fund (including assets attributable to any preferred shares of the Fund that may be outstanding); and provided, further, that such payments shall not exceed the "Maximum Additional Compensation Amount" (as defined in Section 4 hereof). The Additional Compensation shall be payable as set forth in Section 3 hereof. SECTION 1. Qualifying Underwriters. For the purposes of this Additional Compensation Agreement, each Underwriter (other than UBS Securities LLC), which sells Common Shares of the Fund with an aggregate purchase price to the public of at least $50,000,000 shall be a "Class I Qualifying Underwriter" and each Underwriter (other than UBS Securities LLC), which sells Common Shares of the Fund with an aggregate purchase price to the public of at least $100,000,000 shall be a "Class II Qualifying Underwriter;" provided, however, that the amounts required to qualify as a Class I Qualifying Underwriter or a Class II Qualifying Underwriter may be reduced with respect to any Underwriter in the sole discretion of Eaton Vance. Class I Qualifying Underwriters and Class II Qualifying Underwriters are referred to collectively herein as "Qualifying Underwriters." A Qualifying Underwriter which qualifies as a Class II Qualifying Underwriter shall not also be a Class I Qualifying Underwriter. Within 60 days following the Closing Date, the Qualifying Underwriters shall prepare or cause to be prepared and provide to Eaton Vance a chart listing each of the Qualifying Underwriters, which chart shall indicate the aggregate purchase price to the public of the Common Shares sold by each Qualifying Underwriter and the Pro Rata Percentage (as defined in Section 2 hereof) of each Qualifying Underwriter and shall be appended as Schedule A to this Additional Compensation Agreement. Such Schedule A shall be prepared in good faith by the Qualifying Underwriters and subject to verification by Eaton Vance. SECTION 2. Pro Rata Percentage. Each Qualifying Underwriter shall be assigned a "Pro Rata Percentage," the numerator of which shall equal the aggregate purchase price to the public of the Common Shares sold by such Underwriter as set forth on Schedule A hereto and the denominator of which shall equal the aggregate purchase price to the public of all of the Common Shares purchased by the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement. SECTION 3. Payment of Additional Compensation. (a) Eaton Vance shall pay the Additional Compensation, quarterly in arrears, to each Class I Qualifying Underwriter in an amount equal to the product of such Qualifying Underwriter's Pro Rata Percentage multiplied by 0.0250% of the aggregate average daily gross assets of the Fund for such quarter. (b) Eaton Vance shall pay the Additional Compensation, quarterly in arrears, to each Class II Qualifying Underwriter in an amount equal to the product of such Qualifying Underwriter's Pro Rata Percentage multiplied by 0.0375% of the aggregate average daily gross assets of the Fund for such quarter. (c) All fees payable hereunder shall be paid to each Qualifying Underwriter by wire transfer of immediately available funds within 15 days following the end of each calendar quarter to a bank account designated by such Qualifying Underwriter. At the time of each payment of Additional Compensation hereunder, Eaton Vance shall deliver to each Qualifying Underwriter receiving an installment of Additional Compensation a statement indicating the amount of the of the aggregate average daily gross asset value of the Fund for such quarter (including assets attributable to any preferred shares of the Fund that may be outstanding) on which such payment was based. (d) The initial payments of Additional Compensation hereunder shall be paid with respect to the calendar quarter ending September 30, 2004. In the event that this Additional Compensation Agreement terminates prior to the end of a calendar quarter, the Additional Compensation required to be paid hereunder shall be due and payable within 15 days following the termination hereof and shall be pro-rated in respect of the period prior to such termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any payment hereunder would otherwise fall on a day which is not a business day, it shall be due on the next day which is a business day. All fees payable hereunder shall be in addition to any fees paid by the Investment Adviser pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement. SECTION 4. Maximum Additional Compensation Amount. The "Maximum Additional Compensation Amount" payable by the Investment Adviser hereunder shall be [ ]% of the aggregate offering price of the Common Shares. [ ] will receive additional compensation which will not exceed [ ]% of the aggregate initial offering price of the Common Shares and [ ] will received additional compensation which will not exceed [ ]% of the aggregate initial offering price of the Common Shares. SECTION 5. Term. This Additional Compensation Agreement shall continue coterminously with and so long as the Investment Advisory Agreement, dated [ ], 2004, remains in effect between the Fund and Eaton Vance, or any similar investment advisory agreement with a successor in interest or affiliate of Eaton Vance remains in effect, as, and to the extent, that such investment advisory agreement is renewed periodically in accordance with the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. This Additional Compensation Agreement shall terminate on the earliest to occur of (a) with respect to any Qualifying Underwriter, the payment by Eaton Vance to such Qualifying Underwriter of the Maximum Additional Compensation Amount, (b) with respect to the Fund, the dissolution and winding up of the Fund and (c) with respect to the Fund, the date on which the Investment Advisory Agreement or other investment advisory agreement between the Fund and Eaton Vance or any successor in interest to Eaton Vance, including but not limited to an affiliate of Eaton Vance, shall terminate. SECTION 6. Not an Investment Adviser. Eaton Vance acknowledges that the Underwriters are not providing any advice hereunder as to the value of securities or regarding the advisability of purchasing or selling any securities for the Fund. No provision of this Additional Compensation Agreement shall be considered as creating, nor shall any provision create, any obligation on the part of any Underwriter, and the Underwriters are not hereby agreeing, to: (i) furnish any advice or make any recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of portfolio securities or (ii) render any opinions, valuations or recommendations of any kind or to perform any such similar services. SECTION 7. Not Exclusive. Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting any Underwriter or its respective affiliates from acting as such for any other clients (including other registered investment companies or other investment advisers). SECTION 8. No Liability. Eaton Vance agrees that no Underwriter shall have liability to Eaton Vance or the Fund for any act or omission to act by such Underwriter in the course of its performance under this Additional Compensation Agreement, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of such Underwriter. Eaton Vance agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and its respective officers, directors, agents and employees against any loss or expense arising out of or in connection with such Underwriter's performance under this Additional Compensation Agreement. This provision shall survive the termination, expiration or supersession of this Additional Compensation Agreement. SECTION 9. Assignment. This Additional Compensation Agreement may not be assigned by any party without the prior written consent of each other party. SECTION 10. Amendment; Waiver. No provision of this Additional Compensation Agreement may be amended or waived except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto. SECTION 11. Governing Law. This Additional Compensation Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. SECTION 12. Counterparts. This Additional Compensation Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one agreement. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Additional Compensation Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof. If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among Eaton Vance and the Qualifying Underwriters in accordance with its terms. Very truly yours, [ ] By:_________________________ Name: Title: [ ] By:_________________________ Name: Title: CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED, as of the date first above written: EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT By:________________________ Name: Title: SCHEDULE A
Aggregate PURCHASE PRICE TO PUBLIC PRO RATA NAME OF QUALIFYING UNDERWRITER CLASS OF COMMON SHARES SOLD PERCENTAGE - ------------------------------ ------- ------------------------ ----------
EX-99.(N) 14 b50653a1exv99wxny.txt CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS Exhibit (n) INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S CONSENT We consent to the reference to our Firm under the heading "Independent auditors" in the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information in this Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement of Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust on Form N-2 filed by the Fund under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Registration No. 333-115087) and under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (Registration No. 811-21574). /s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP Boston, Massachusetts May 24, 2004 EX-99.(S) 15 b50653a1exv99wxsy.txt POWER OF ATTORNEY DATED MAY 21, 2004 Exhibit (s) POWER OF ATTORNEY We, the undersigned officers and Trustees of Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust, a Massachusetts business trust, do hereby severally constitute and appoint Alan R. Dynner, Thomas E. Faust Jr., James B. Hawkes or James L. O'Connor, or any of them, to be true, sufficient and lawful attorneys, or attorney for each of us, to sign for each of us, in the name of each of us in the capacities indicated below, Registration Statements and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to such Registration Statements on Form N-2 filed by Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust with the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect of any class of shares of beneficial interest and other documents and papers relating thereto. IN WITNESS WHEREOF we have hereunto set our hands on the dates set opposite our respective signatures.
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE --------- ----- ---- /s/ Payson F. Swaffield President and Principal May 21, 2004 - -------------------------- Payson F. Swaffield Executive Officer /s/ Barbara E. Campbell Treasurer and Principal May 21, 2004 - -------------------------- Financial and Accounting Barbara E. Campbell Officer /s/ James B. Hawkes Trustee May 21, 2004 - -------------------------- James B. Hawkes /s/ Samuel L. Hayes, III Trustee May 21, 2004 - -------------------------- Samuel L. Hayes, III /s/ William H. Park Trustee May 21, 2004 - -------------------------- William H. Park /s/ Ronald A. Pearlman Trustee May 21, 2004 - -------------------------- Ronald A. Pearlman /s/ Norton H. Reamer Trustee May 21, 2004 - -------------------------- Norton H. Reamer /s/ Lynn A. Stout Trustee May 21, 2004 - -------------------------- Lynn A. Stout
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