N-CSR 1 d327177dncsr.htm EATON VANCE RISK-MANAGED DIVERSIFIED EQUITY INCOME FUND Eaton Vance Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form N-CSR

 

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act File Number: 811-22044

 

 

Eaton Vance Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

 

Maureen A. Gemma

Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110

(Name and Address of Agent for Services)

 

 

(617) 482-8260

(Registrant’s Telephone Number)

December 31

Date of Fiscal Year End

December 31, 2020

Date of Reporting Period

 

 

 


Table of Contents
Item 1.

Reports to Stockholders

 


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

 

Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund (ETJ)

Annual Report

December 31, 2020

 

 

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

Commodity Futures Trading Commission Registration. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) has adopted regulations that subject registered investment companies and advisers to regulation by the CFTC if a fund invests more than a prescribed level of its assets in certain CFTC-regulated instruments (including futures, certain options and swap agreements) or markets itself as providing investment exposure to such instruments. The investment adviser has claimed an exclusion from the definition of “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act with respect to its management of the Fund. Accordingly, neither the Fund nor the adviser with respect to the operation of the Fund is subject to CFTC regulation. Because of its management of other strategies, the Fund’s adviser is registered with the CFTC as a commodity pool operator. The adviser is also registered as a commodity trading advisor.

Managed Distribution Plan. Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (Order), the Fund is authorized to distribute long-term capital gains to shareholders more frequently than once per year. Pursuant to the Order, the Fund’s Board of Trustees approved a Managed Distribution Plan (MDP) pursuant to which the Fund makes monthly cash distributions to common shareholders, stated in terms of a fixed amount per common share.

The Fund currently distributes monthly cash distributions equal to $0.0760 per share in accordance with the MDP. You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount of these distributions or from the terms of the MDP. The MDP will be subject to regular periodic review by the Fund’s Board of Trustees and the Board may amend or terminate the MDP at any time without prior notice to Fund shareholders. However, at this time there are no reasonably foreseeable circumstances that might cause the termination of the MDP.

The Fund may distribute more than its net investment income and net realized capital gains and, therefore, a distribution may include a return of capital. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund’s investment performance and should not be confused with “yield” or “income.” With each distribution, the Fund will issue a notice to shareholders and a press release containing information about the amount and sources of the distribution and other related information. The amounts and sources of distributions contained in the notice and press release are only estimates and are not provided for tax purposes. The amounts and sources of the Fund’s distributions for tax purposes will be reported to shareholders on Form 1099-DIV for each calendar year.

Fund shares are not insured by the FDIC and are not deposits or other obligations of, or guaranteed by, any depository institution. Shares are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of principal invested.


Table of Contents

Annual Report December 31, 2020

Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

 

Table of Contents

  

Management’s Discussion of Fund Performance

     2  

Performance

     3  

Fund Profile

     3  

Fund Snapshot

     4  

The Fund’s Investment Objectives, Principal Strategies and Principal Risks

     5  

Endnotes and Additional Disclosures

     8  

Financial Statements

     9  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     22  

Federal Tax Information

     23  

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

     24  

Board of Trustees’ Contract Approval

     26  

Management and Organization

     31  

Important Notices

     34  


Table of Contents

Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

December 31, 2020

 

Management’s Discussion of Fund Performance1

 

 

Economic and Market Conditions

The 12-month period that began January 1, 2020, included some of the best and worst U.S. equity performances in over a decade.

As the period opened, news of a novel coronavirus outbreak in China began to raise investor concerns. As the virus turned into a global pandemic in February and March, it ended the longest-ever U.S. economic expansion and triggered a global economic slowdown. Economic activity declined dramatically and equity markets plunged in value amid unprecedented volatility.

In response, the U.S. Federal Reserve (the Fed) announced two emergency rate cuts in March 2020 — lowering the federal funds rate to 0.00%-0.25% — along with other measures designed to shore up equity and credit markets. At its July meeting, the Fed provided additional reassurances that it would use all the tools at its disposal to support the U.S. economy.

These actions helped calm markets and initiated a new equity rally that began in April and lasted through most of the summer. As consumers started to emerge from coronavirus lockdowns and factories gradually resumed production, stock prices reflected investor optimism. In the second quarter of 2020, U.S. stocks reported their best quarterly returns since 1998 — on the heels of the worst first quarter for American stocks since the 2007-2008 global financial crisis.

In September 2020, however, the equity rally stalled, as stock prices on Wall Street began to reflect the reality on Main Street, where coronavirus cases were on the rise in nearly every state. In September and October 2020, most U.S. stock indexes reported negative returns, reflecting concerns about the economic outlook for fall and winter, uncertainties related to the presidential election, and the failure of Congress to pass additional financial relief for struggling businesses and workers facing unemployment.

In the final two months of the period, however, stocks reversed course again. Joe Biden’s victory in the November presidential election eased political uncertainties that had dogged investment markets through much of the fall. Additionally, the announcement that two COVID-19 vaccine candidates had proven more than 90% effective in late-stage trials boosted investor optimism that powered a new stock market rally.

Unlike the largely tech-centered rally of the previous spring and summer, this rally was more broad-based, with strong participation by value and growth stocks across the market cap range. As both vaccines were approved for emergency use and vaccinations began in December 2020, an eventual end to the pandemic seemed to be in sight and the equity rally continued.

For the period as a whole, positive equity returns belied the dramatic volatility during the period, but demonstrated the dominance of technology stocks. The S&P 500® Index, a broad measure of U.S. stocks, returned 18.40%; the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average® returned 9.72%; and the technology-laden Nasdaq Composite Index returned 44.92%. Small-cap U.S. stocks, as measured by the Russell 2000® Index, kept pace with their large-cap counterparts, as measured by the S&P 500® Index and

Russell 1000® Index. As a group, growth stocks significantly outpaced value stocks, as measured by the Russell growth and value indexes.

Fund Performance

For the 12-month period ended December 31, 2020, Eaton Vance Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund (the Fund) returned 18.78% at net asset value of its common shares (NAV), outperforming the 18.40% return of its equity benchmark, the S&P 500® Index (the Index); and the 17.97% return of its options benchmark, the Cboe S&P 500 95–110 Collar IndexSM.

The Fund’s collared-options strategy (the options strategy) was a modest contributor to Fund performance versus the Index during a period marked by significant volatility in which the Index experienced about a 30% decline, and subsequently rallied to new all-time highs. While the Fund’s options strategy is intended to be beneficial during times of market weakness and higher volatility, it may also detract from Fund performance relative to the Index during periods of market strength, since the options strategy seeks to buy downside protection at the expense of potential upside appreciation.

The options strategy was effective in protecting investor capital during market stress early in the period, producing significant income from option premiums in February, March, and April that reduced the Fund’s exposure to falling stock prices. However, the options strategy also by its nature lowered the Fund’s participation in the subsequent market rally. For the period as a whole, the options strategy helped the Fund modestly outperform the Index with significantly less volatility than the benchmark itself.

The Fund’s underlying stock portfolio outperformed the Index as well, with stock selections in the consumer discretionary, health care, and financials sectors contributing to returns versus the Index. Within consumer discretionary, the Fund’s overweight position relative to the Index in e-commerce giant Amazon.com, Inc. (Amazon) aided relative returns. As the coronavirus pandemic forced consumers in its U.S. and overseas markets to stay at home, Amazon benefited from an accelerating shift to online purchasing and a significant rise in subscriptions to its Amazon Prime service, which offers fast shipping and streaming online entertainment.

In health care, the Fund’s overweight position in life sciences firm Danaher Corp. (Danaher) helped performance relative to the Index during the period. Danaher develops and markets tools and products used in labs and diagnostic testing. Its stock price rose during the period on increased demand for products used to test for COVID-19 and aid in vaccine development.

In contrast, detractors from performance versus the Index included stock selections in the information technology (IT), communication services, and consumer staples sectors. Not owning Index component NVIDIA Corp. (NVIDIA), a maker of computer graphics processing units used in gaming, data center and self-driving vehicle applications, hurt relative results in the IT sector. Long-term tailwinds, including growth in the gaming, artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicle industries, combined with a sharp increase in gaming and data center demand during the pandemic, helped NVIDIA’s stock price appreciate strongly during the period.

 

 

See Endnotes and Additional Disclosures in this report.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Returns are historical and are calculated net of management fees and other expenses by determining the percentage change in net asset value (NAV) or market price (as applicable) with all distributions reinvested in accordance with the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan. Performance at market price will differ from performance at NAV due to variations in the Fund’s market price versus NAV, which may reflect factors such as fluctuations in supply and demand for Fund shares, changes in Fund distributions, shifting market expectations for the Fund’s future returns and distribution rates, and other considerations affecting the trading prices of closed-end funds. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance for periods less than or equal to one year is cumulative. Performance is for the stated time period only; due to market volatility, current Fund performance may be lower or higher than the quoted return. For performance as of the most recent month-end, please refer to eatonvance.com.

 

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Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

December 31, 2020

 

Performance2

 

Portfolio Manager Michael A. Allison, CFA and G.R. Nelson

 

% Average Annual Total Returns    Inception Date      One Year     Five Years      Ten Years  

Fund at NAV

     07/31/2007        18.78     8.50      6.88

Fund at Market Price

            22.33       11.16        8.11  

 

S&P 500® Index

            18.40     15.20      13.87

Cboe S&P 500 95110 Collar IndexSM

            17.97       13.13        8.88  
% Premium/Discount to NAV3                               
             2.88
Distributions4                               

Total Distributions per share for the period

           $ 0.912  

Distribution Rate at NAV

             9.05

Distribution Rate at Market Price

             8.79  

Fund Profile

 

Sector Allocation (% of total investments)5

 

 

LOGO

Top 10 Holdings (% of total investments)5

 

 

Apple, Inc.

     6.9

Microsoft Corp.

     6.7  

Amazon.com, Inc.

     5.7  

Alphabet, Inc., Class C

     2.7  

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

     2.7  

Visa, Inc., Class A

     2.6  

Bank of America Corp.

     2.5  

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

     2.3  

Procter & Gamble Co. (The)

     2.2  

Verizon Communications, Inc.

     2.2  

Total

     36.5
 

 

See Endnotes and Additional Disclosures in this report.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Returns are historical and are calculated net of management fees and other expenses by determining the percentage change in net asset value (NAV) or market price (as applicable) with all distributions reinvested in accordance with the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan. Performance at market price will differ from performance at NAV due to variations in the Fund’s market price versus NAV, which may reflect factors such as fluctuations in supply and demand for Fund shares, changes in Fund distributions, shifting market expectations for the Fund’s future returns and distribution rates, and other considerations affecting the trading prices of closed-end funds. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance for periods less than or equal to one year is cumulative. Performance is for the stated time period only; due to market volatility, current Fund performance may be lower or higher than the quoted return. For performance as of the most recent month-end, please refer to eatonvance.com.

 

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Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

December 31, 2020

 

Fund Snapshot

 

 

Objective

   The primary investment objective is to provide current income and gains, with a secondary objective of capital appreciation.

Strategy

   The Fund invests in a diversified portfolio of common stocks and purchases out-of-the-money, short-dated S&P 500® Index put options and sells out-of-the-money S&P 500® Index call options of the same term as the put options with roll dates that are staggered across the options portfolio. The Fund evaluates returns on an after-tax basis and seeks to minimize and defer federal income taxes incurred by shareholders in connection with their investment in the Fund.

 

Options Strategy

   Write Index Covered Calls; Buy Index Puts

Equity Benchmark2

   S&P 500® Index

Morningstar Category

   Option Writing

Distribution Frequency

   Monthly
Common Stock Portfolio

Positions Held

   60

% US / Non-US

   96.4/3.6

Average Market Cap

   $535.0 Billion
Call Options Written

% of Stock Portfolio

   96%

Average Days to Expiration

   17 days

% Out of the Money

   0.8%
Put Options Purchased

% of Stock Portfolio

   96%

Average Days to Expiration

   17 days

% Out of the Money

   7.1%

The following terms as used in the Fund snapshot:

Average Market Cap: An indicator of the size of the companies in which the Fund invests and is the sum of each security’s weight in the portfolio multiplied by its market cap. Market Cap is determined by multiplying the price of a share of a company’s common stock by the number of shares outstanding.

Call Option: For an index call option, the buyer has the right to receive from the seller (or writer) a cash payment at the option expiration date equal to any positive difference between the value of the index at contract expiration and the exercise price. The buyer of a call option makes a cash payment (premium) to the seller (writer) of the option upon entering into the option contract.

Covered Call Strategy: A strategy of owning a portfolio of common stocks and writing call options on all or a portion of such stocks to generate current earnings from option premium.

Index Put Option: Gives the option buyer the right to receive from the option seller (writer) a cash payment if the value of the index exceeds a specified value (exercise price or strike price) on or before a specified date (option expiration date). The buyer makes a cash payment (premium) to the seller of the option upon entering into the contract.

Out of the Money: For a call option on an index, the extent to which the exercise price of the option exceeds the current price of the index. For an index put option, the extent to which the current price of the index exceeds the exercise price of the option.

 

 

See Endnotes and Additional Disclosures in this report.

 

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Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

December 31, 2020

 

The Fund’s Investment Objectives, Principal Strategies and Principal Risks6

 

 

The Fund’s primary investment objective is to provide current income and gains, with a secondary objective of capital appreciation.

Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its total assets in a combination of (1) dividend-paying common stocks, (2) common stocks the value of which is subject to written put options on individual stocks, and (3) common stocks the value of which is subject to written index call options. In addition, under normal market conditions, the Fund purchases index put options with respect to at least 80% of the value of its investments in common stocks. The Fund also sells out-of-the-money index put options in combination with the purchase of index put options at a higher exercise price, a strategy known as buying “put option spreads”. The Fund will emphasize investments in stocks that pay dividends that qualify for federal income taxation at rates applicable to long-term capital gains and evaluates returns on an after-tax basis, seeking to minimize and defer shareholder federal income taxes.

The Fund generally intends to buy put options and write call options on one or more broad-based stock indices that the investment adviser believes collectively approximate the characteristics of its common stock portfolio (or that portion of its portfolio against which options are purchased and written). The Fund intends to buy put options and write call options primarily on the S&P 500, and may also buy put options and write call options on other domestic and foreign stock indices. The indices on which the Fund buys put options and writes call options may vary as a result of changes in the availability and liquidity of various listed index options, changes in stock portfolio holdings, the investment adviser’s evaluation of equity market conditions and other factors. The Fund generally intends to purchase out-of-the-money, short-dated S&P 500 Index put options and sell out-of-the-money S&P 500 Index call options of the same term as the put options with roll dates that are staggered across the options portfolio.

The Fund invests primarily in common stocks of United States issuers. The Fund may invest up to 40% of its total assets in securities of foreign issuers, including securities evidenced by American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) and European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”). The Fund may invest up to 5% of its total assets in securities of emerging market issuers. The Fund expects that its assets will normally be invested across a broad range of industries and market sectors. The Fund may not invest 25% or more of its total assets in the securities of issuers in any single industry.

In addition to buying index put options and writing index call options, the Fund may buy put options and/or write call options on up to 20% of the value of its total assets on futures contracts based upon broad-based securities indices. The Fund’s use of such options on index futures would be substantially similar to its use of options directly on indices. In addition to the Fund’s primary options strategies, the Fund may also invest up to 20% of its total assets in other derivative instruments acquired for hedging, risk management and investment purposes (to gain exposure to securities, securities markets, market indices and/or currencies consistent with its investment objectives and policies). However, excluding the Fund’s primary options strategies, no more than 10% of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in such other derivative instruments for speculative purposes.

Principal Risks

Market Discount Risk. The shares of closed-end management investment companies often trade at a discount from their NAV, and the common shares may likewise trade at a discount from NAV. This risk is separate and

distinct from the risk that the Fund’s NAV could decrease as a result of its investment activities. The trading price of the Fund’s Common Shares may be less than the public offering price.

Market Risk. The value of investments held by the Fund may increase or decrease in response to economic, political, financial, public health crises (such as epidemics or pandemics) or other disruptive events (whether real, expected or perceived) in the U.S. and global markets. The frequency and magnitude of such changes in value cannot be predicted. Certain securities and other investments held by the Fund may experience increased volatility, illiquidity, or other potentially adverse effects in reaction to changing market conditions. Monetary and/or fiscal actions taken by U.S. or foreign governments to stimulate or stabilize the global economy may not be effective and could lead to high market volatility. No active trading market may exist for certain investments held by the Fund, which may impair the ability of the Fund to sell or to realize the current valuation of such investments in the event of the need to liquidate such assets.

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

Option Strategy Risk. The Fund’s option strategy seeks to take advantage of, and its effectiveness is dependent on, a general excess of option price-implied volatilities for the S&P 500 over realized index volatilities. This market observation is often attributed to an excess of natural buyers over natural sellers of S&P 500 index options. There can be no assurance that this imbalance will apply in the future over specific periods or generally. It is possible that the imbalance could decrease or be eliminated by actions of investors, including the Fund, that employ strategies seeking to take advantage of the imbalance, which could have an adverse effect on the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.

Risk of Selling Index Call Options. The purchaser of an index call option has the right to any appreciation in the value of the index over the exercise price of the call option as of the valuation date of the option. Because their exercise is settled in cash, sellers of index call options such as the Fund cannot provide in advance for their potential settlement obligations by acquiring and holding the underlying securities. The Fund intends to mitigate the risks of its options activities by holding a diversified portfolio of stocks that the Fund’s investment adviser believes collectively approximate the characteristics of the indices on which options are written. The Fund will not, however, hold stocks that fully replicate the indices on which it writes call options. Due to tax considerations, the Fund intends to limit the overlap between its stock holdings (and any subset thereof) and each index on which it has outstanding options positions to less than 70% on an ongoing basis. The Fund’s stock holdings will normally include stocks not included in the indices on which it writes call options. Consequently, the Fund bears the

 

 

See Endnotes and Additional Disclosures in this report.

 

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Table of Contents

Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

December 31, 2020

 

The Fund’s Investment Objectives, Principal Strategies and Principal Risks6 — continued

 

 

risk that the performance of its stock portfolio will vary from the performance of the indices on which it writes call options. As the writer of index call options, the Fund will forgo, during the option’s life, the opportunity to profit from increases in the value of the applicable index above the sum of the option premium received and the exercise price of the call option, but retains the risk of loss, minus the option premium received, should the value of the applicable index decline. When a call option is exercised, the Fund will be required to deliver an amount of cash determined by the excess of the value of the applicable index at contract termination over the exercise price of the option. Thus, the exercise of index call options sold by the Fund may require the Fund to sell portfolio securities to generate cash at inopportune times or for unattractive prices. The trading price of options may be adversely affected if the market for such options becomes less liquid or smaller. The Fund may close out a call option by buying the option instead of letting it expire or be exercised. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist when the Fund seeks to close out a call option position by buying the option.

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

Tax-Sensitive Investing Risk. The Fund may hold a security in order to achieve more favorable tax-treatment or to sell a security in order to create tax losses. The Fund’s utilization of various tax-management techniques may be curtailed or eliminated by tax legislation, regulation or interpretations. The Fund may not be able to minimize taxable distributions to shareholders and a portion of the Fund’s distributions may be taxable.

Foreign Investment Risk. Foreign investments can be adversely affected by political, economic and market developments abroad, including the imposition of economic and other sanctions by the United States or another country. There may be less publicly available information about foreign issuers because they may not be subject to reporting practices, requirements or regulations comparable to those to which United States companies are subject. Foreign markets may be smaller, less liquid and

more volatile than the major markets in the United States, and as a result, Fund share values may be more volatile. Trading in foreign markets typically involves higher expense than trading in the United States. The Fund may have difficulties enforcing its legal or contractual rights in a foreign country. Depositary receipts are subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign instruments.

Emerging Markets Investment Risk. Investment markets within emerging market countries are typically smaller, less liquid, less developed and more volatile than those in more developed markets like the United States, and may be focused in certain economic sectors. Emerging market securities often involve greater risks than developed market securities. The information available about an emerging market issuer may be less reliable than for comparable issuers in more developed capital markets.

Currency Risk. Exchange rates for currencies fluctuate daily. The value of foreign investments may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency exchange rates in relation to the U.S. dollar. Currency markets generally are not as regulated as securities markets and currency transactions are subject to settlement, custodial and other operational risks.

Liquidity Risk. The Fund is exposed to liquidity risk when trading volume, lack of a market maker or trading partner, large position size, market conditions, or legal restrictions impair its ability to sell particular investments or to sell them at advantageous market prices. Consequently, the Fund may have to accept a lower price to sell an investment or continue to hold it or keep the position open, sell other investments to raise cash or abandon an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on the Fund’s performance. These effects may be exacerbated during times of financial or political stress.

Leverage Risk. Certain Fund transactions may give rise to leverage. Leverage can result from a non-cash exposure to an underlying reference instrument. Leverage can increase both the risk and return potential of the Fund. Leverage can also result from borrowings or issuance of preferred shares The Fund is required to segregate liquid assets or otherwise cover the Fund’s obligation created by a transaction that may give rise to leverage. The use of leverage may cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it may not be advantageous to do so to satisfy its obligations or to meet segregation requirements. Leverage may cause the Fund’s NAV to be more volatile than if it had not been leveraged, as certain types of leverage may exaggerate the effect of any increase or decrease in the Fund’s portfolio securities. The loss on leveraged investments may substantially exceed the initial investment.

Risks Associated with Active Management. The success of the Fund’s investment strategy depends on portfolio management’s successful application of analytical skills and investment judgment. Active management involves subjective decisions.

Recent Market Conditions. An outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus was first detected in China in late 2019 and subsequently spread internationally. This coronavirus has resulted in closing borders, enhanced health screenings, changes to healthcare service preparation and delivery, quarantines, cancellations, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The impact of this coronavirus has resulted in a substantial economic downturn, which may continue for an extended period of time. Health crises caused by outbreaks of disease, such as the coronavirus outbreak, may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks and

 

 

See Endnotes and Additional Disclosures in this report.

 

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Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

December 31, 2020

 

The Fund’s Investment Objectives, Principal Strategies and Principal Risks6 — continued

 

 

disrupt normal market conditions and operations. The impact of this outbreak has negatively affected the worldwide economy, as well as the economies of individual countries and industries, and could continue to affect the market in significant and unforeseen ways. Other epidemics and pandemics that may arise in the future may have similar effects. For example, a global pandemic or other widespread health crisis could cause substantial market volatility and exchange trading suspensions and closures. In addition, the increasing interconnectedness of markets around the world may result in many markets being affected by events or conditions in a single country or region or events affecting a single or small number of issuers. The coronavirus outbreak and public and private sector responses thereto have led to large portions of the populations of many countries working from home for indefinite periods of time, temporary or permanent layoffs, disruptions in supply chains, and lack of availability of certain goods. The impact of such responses could adversely affect the information technology and operational systems upon which the Fund and the Fund’s service providers rely, and could otherwise disrupt the ability of the employees of the Fund’s service providers to perform critical tasks relating to the Fund. Any such impact could adversely affect the Fund’s performance, or the performance of the securities in which the Fund invests and may lead to losses on your investment in the Fund.

Cybersecurity Risk. With the increased use of technologies by Fund service providers to conduct business, such as the Internet, the Fund is susceptible to operational, information security and related risks. In general, cyber incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. Cybersecurity failures by or breaches of the Fund’s investment adviser or administrator and other service providers (including, but not limited to, the custodian or transfer agent), and the issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, may disrupt and otherwise adversely affect their business operations. This may result in financial losses to the Fund, impede Fund trading, interfere with the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, interfere with Fund shareholders’ ability to transact business or cause violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, or additional compliance costs.

General Fund Investing Risks. The Fund is not a complete investment program and there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. It is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

 

See Endnotes and Additional Disclosures in this report.

 

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Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

December 31, 2020

 

Endnotes and Additional Disclosures

 

1 

The views expressed in this report are those of the portfolio manager(s) and are current only through the date stated at the top of this page. These views are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions, and Eaton Vance and the Fund(s) disclaim any responsibility to update such views. These views may not be relied upon as investment advice and, because investment decisions are based on many factors, may not be relied upon as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any Eaton Vance fund. This commentary may contain statements that are not historical facts, referred to as “forward looking statements.” The Fund’s actual future results may differ significantly from those stated in any forward looking statement, depending on factors such as changes in securities or financial markets or general economic conditions, the volume of sales and purchases of Fund shares, the continuation of investment advisory, administrative and service contracts, and other risks discussed from time to time in the Fund’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

2 

S&P 500® Index is an unmanaged index of large-cap stocks commonly used as a measure of U.S. stock market performance. S&P Dow Jones Indices are a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (“S&P DJI”) and have been licensed for use. S&P® and S&P 500® are registered trademarks of S&P DJI; Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”); S&P DJI, Dow Jones and their respective affiliates do not sponsor, endorse, sell or promote the Fund, will not have any liability with respect thereto and do not have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of the S&P Dow Jones Indices. Cboe S&P 500 95–110 Collar IndexSM is an unmanaged index of the S&P 500® stocks with a collar option strategy of buying put options and selling call options. Unless otherwise stated, index returns do not reflect the effect of any applicable sales charges, commissions, expenses, taxes or leverage, as applicable. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

 

3 

The shares of the Fund often trade at a discount or premium to their net asset value. The discount or premium may vary over time and may be higher or lower than what is quoted in this report. For up-to-date premium/discount information, please refer to https://funds.eatonvance.com/closed-end-fund-prices.php.

 

4 

The Distribution Rate is based on the Fund’s last regular distribution per share in the period (annualized) divided by the Fund’s NAV or market price at the end of the period. The Fund’s distributions may be comprised of amounts characterized for federal income tax purposes as qualified and non-qualified ordinary dividends, capital gains and nondividend distributions, also known as return of capital. For additional information about nondividend distributions, please refer to Eaton Vance Closed-End Fund Distribution Notices (19a) posted on our website, eatonvance.com. The Fund will determine the federal income tax character of distributions paid to a shareholder after the end of the calendar year. This is reported on the IRS form 1099-DIV and provided to the shareholder shortly after each year-end. For information about the tax character of distributions made in prior calendar years, please refer to Performance-Tax Character of Distributions on the Fund’s webpage available at eatonvance.com. In recent years, a significant portion of the Fund’s distributions has been characterized as a return of capital. The Fund’s distributions are determined by the investment adviser based on its current assessment of the Fund’s long-term return potential. Fund distributions may be affected by numerous factors including changes in Fund performance, the cost of financing for leverage, portfolio holdings, realized and

  projected returns, and other factors. As portfolio and market conditions change, the rate of distributions paid by the Fund could change.

 

5 

Depictions do not reflect the Fund’s option positions. Excludes cash and cash equivalents.

 

6 

The information contained herein is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell Fund shares. Common shares of the Fund are available for purchase and sale only at current market prices in secondary market trading.

Fund snapshot and profile subject to change due to active management.

Additional Information

Dow Jones Industrial Average® is a price-weighted average of 30 blue-chip stocks that are generally the leaders in their industry. Nasdaq Composite Index is a market capitalization-weighted index of all domestic and international securities listed on Nasdaq. Source: Nasdaq, Inc. The information is provided by Nasdaq (with its affiliates, are referred to as the “Corporations”) and Nasdaq’s third party licensors on an “as is” basis and the Corporations make no guarantees and bear no liability of any kind with respect to the information or the Fund. Russell 2000® Index is an unmanaged index of 2,000 U.S. small-cap stocks. Russell 1000® Index is an unmanaged index of 1,000 U.S. large-cap stocks.

Important Notice to Shareholders

On August 13, 2020, the Board of Trustees of the Fund amended and restated the Fund’s By-Laws (the “Amended and Restated By-Laws”). The Amended and Restated By-Laws include provisions (the “Control Share Provisions”) pursuant to which, in summary, a shareholder who obtains beneficial ownership of Fund shares in a “Control Share Acquisition” may exercise voting rights with respect to such shares only to the extent the authorization of such voting rights is approved by other shareholders of the Fund. The Control Share Provisions are primarily intended to protect the interests of the Fund and its shareholders by limiting the risk that the Fund will become subject to undue influence by opportunistic hedge funds or other activist investors. The Control Share Provisions do not eliminate voting rights for shares acquired in Control Share Acquisitions, but rather, they entrust the Fund’s other “non-interested” shareholders with determining whether to approve the authorization of voting rights for such shares. Subject to various conditions and exceptions, the Amended and Restated By-Laws define a “Control Share Acquisition” to include an acquisition of Fund shares that, but for the Control Share Provisions, would give the beneficial owner, upon the acquisition of such shares, the ability to exercise voting power in the election of Fund Trustees in any of the following ranges: (i) one-tenth or more, but less than one-fifth of all voting power; (ii) one-fifth or more, but less than one-third of all voting power; (iii) one-third or more, but less than a majority of all voting power; or (iv) a majority or more of all voting power. Share acquisitions prior to August 13, 2020 are excluded from the definition of Control Share Acquisition. This discussion is only a high-level summary of certain aspects of the Control Share Provisions, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full Amended and Restated By-Laws. The Amended and Restated By-Laws were filed by the Fund on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are available at sec.gov.

 

 

  8  


Table of Contents

Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

December 31, 2020

 

Portfolio of Investments

 

 

Common Stocks — 99.9%

 

Security   Shares     Value  
Automobiles — 1.2%  

General Motors Co.(1)

    187,628     $ 7,812,830  
            $ 7,812,830  
Banks — 6.2%  

Bank of America Corp.(1)

    536,588     $ 16,263,982  

JPMorgan Chase & Co.(1)

    138,598       17,611,648  

Wells Fargo & Co.(1)

    193,586       5,842,426  
            $ 39,718,056  
Beverages — 2.2%  

Constellation Brands, Inc., Class A(1)

    20,345     $ 4,456,572  

PepsiCo, Inc.(1)

    66,120       9,805,596  
            $ 14,262,168  
Biotechnology — 1.5%  

Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(1)(2)

    40,690     $ 9,616,675  
            $ 9,616,675  
Building Products — 0.6%  

Johnson Controls International PLC(1)

    85,193     $ 3,969,142  
            $ 3,969,142  
Capital Markets — 1.7%  

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)(1)

    40,690     $ 10,730,360  
            $ 10,730,360  
Communications Equipment — 0.9%  

Cisco Systems, Inc.(1)

    128,426     $ 5,747,064  
            $ 5,747,064  
Consumer Finance — 0.8%  

American Express Co.(1)

    39,984     $ 4,834,465  
            $ 4,834,465  
Diversified Telecommunication Services — 2.2%  

Verizon Communications, Inc.(1)

    242,212     $ 14,229,955  
            $ 14,229,955  
Security   Shares     Value  
Electric Utilities — 1.8%  

NextEra Energy, Inc.(1)

    152,585     $ 11,771,933  
            $ 11,771,933  
Electrical Equipment — 2.1%  

Eaton Corp. PLC(1)

    113,167     $ 13,595,883  
            $ 13,595,883  
Entertainment — 3.3%  

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.(1)(2)

    135,139     $ 9,930,014  

Netflix, Inc.(1)(2)

    12,716       6,875,923  

Walt Disney Co. (The)(1)(2)

    23,397       4,239,068  
            $ 21,045,005  
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) — 2.3%  

American Tower Corp.(1)

    26,702     $ 5,993,531  

AvalonBay Communities, Inc.(1)

    21,617       3,468,015  

EastGroup Properties, Inc.(1)

    36,875       5,090,963  
            $ 14,552,509  
Food & Staples Retailing — 1.8%  

Walmart, Inc.(1)

    81,379     $ 11,730,783  
            $ 11,730,783  
Food Products — 1.5%  

Mondelez International, Inc., Class A(1)

    165,300     $ 9,665,091  
            $ 9,665,091  
Health Care Equipment & Supplies — 4.2%  

Abbott Laboratories(1)

    122,066     $ 13,365,006  

Danaher Corp.(1)

    62,306       13,840,655  
            $ 27,205,661  
Health Care Providers & Services — 2.3%  

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.(1)

    42,631     $ 14,949,839  
            $ 14,949,839  
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure — 1.4%  

Starbucks Corp.(1)

    82,650     $ 8,841,897  
            $ 8,841,897  
 

 

  9   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Table of Contents

Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

December 31, 2020

 

Portfolio of Investments — continued

 

 

Security   Shares     Value  
Household Durables — 0.5%  

D.R. Horton, Inc.(1)

    47,047     $ 3,242,479  
            $ 3,242,479  
Household Products — 2.3%  

Procter & Gamble Co. (The)(1)

    104,267     $ 14,507,710  
            $ 14,507,710  
Insurance — 2.6%  

MetLife, Inc.(1)

    124,042     $ 5,823,772  

Progressive Corp. (The)(1)

    108,100       10,688,928  
            $ 16,512,700  
Interactive Media & Services — 5.5%  

Alphabet, Inc., Class C(1)(2)

    10,172     $ 17,820,123  

Facebook, Inc., Class A(1)(2)

    49,590       13,546,004  

Twitter, Inc.(1)(2)

    77,564       4,200,091  
            $ 35,566,218  
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail — 5.8%  

Amazon.com, Inc.(1)(2)

    11,443     $ 37,269,050  
            $ 37,269,050  
IT Services — 7.0%  

Accenture PLC, Class A(1)

    53,404     $ 13,949,659  

Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.(1)

    54,677       7,734,608  

GoDaddy, Inc., Class A(1)(2)

    78,836       6,539,446  

Visa, Inc., Class A(1)

    77,564       16,965,574  
            $ 45,189,287  
Life Sciences Tools & Services — 1.7%  

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.(1)

    24,160     $ 11,253,245  
            $ 11,253,245  
Machinery — 2.0%  

Caterpillar, Inc.(1)

    33,060     $ 6,017,581  

PACCAR, Inc.(1)

    80,107       6,911,632  
            $ 12,929,213  
Metals & Mining — 2.3%  

Franco-Nevada Corp.(1)

    55,948     $ 7,011,963  

Rio Tinto PLC ADR(1)

    105,538       7,938,568  
            $ 14,950,531  
Security   Shares     Value  
Multi-Utilities — 1.5%  

CMS Energy Corp.(1)

    54,677     $ 3,335,844  

Sempra Energy(1)

    49,590       6,318,262  
            $ 9,654,106  
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 1.4%  

Chevron Corp.(1)

    67,392     $ 5,691,254  

EOG Resources, Inc.(1)

    67,392       3,360,839  
            $ 9,052,093  
Pharmaceuticals — 3.0%  

Sanofi

    85,193     $ 8,257,162  

Zoetis, Inc.(1)

    67,392       11,153,376  
            $ 19,410,538  
Road & Rail — 2.1%  

CSX Corp.(1)

    147,499     $ 13,385,534  
            $ 13,385,534  
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment — 3.2%  

Micron Technology, Inc.(1)(2)

    81,379     $ 6,118,073  

Texas Instruments, Inc.(1)

    86,465       14,191,501  
            $ 20,309,574  
Software — 9.4%  

Intuit, Inc.(1)

    31,789     $ 12,075,052  

Microsoft Corp.(1)

    197,089       43,836,535  

Palantir Technologies, Inc., Class A(1)(2)

    204,718       4,821,109  
            $ 60,732,696  
Specialty Retail — 2.3%  

Best Buy Co., Inc.(1)

    52,134     $ 5,202,452  

Lowe’s Cos., Inc.(1)

    59,763       9,592,559  
            $ 14,795,011  
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals — 6.9%  

Apple, Inc.(1)

    336,957     $ 44,710,824  
            $ 44,710,824  
 

 

  10   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Table of Contents

Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

December 31, 2020

 

Portfolio of Investments — continued

 

 

Security   Shares     Value  
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods — 2.4%  

NIKE, Inc., Class B(1)

    83,922     $ 11,872,446  

PVH Corp.(1)

    36,370       3,414,779  
            $ 15,287,225  

Total Common Stocks
(identified cost $403,707,502)

 

  $ 643,037,350  
Short-Term Investments — 0.7%

 

Description   Units     Value  

Eaton Vance Cash Reserves Fund, LLC, 0.11%(3)

    4,783,085     $ 4,783,085  

Total Short-Term Investments
(identified cost $4,783,085)

 

  $ 4,783,085  

Total Purchased Put Options — 0.3%
(identified cost $4,648,645)

 

  $ 1,903,713  

Total Investments — 100.9%
(identified cost $413,139,232)

 

  $ 649,724,148  

Total Written Call Options — (0.9)%
(premiums received $4,984,548)

 

  $ (5,688,000

Other Assets, Less Liabilities — (0.0)%(4)

 

  $ (265,121

Net Assets — 100.0%

 

  $ 643,771,027  

The percentage shown for each investment category in the Portfolio of Investments is based on net assets.

 

(1) 

Security (or a portion thereof) has been pledged as collateral for written options.

 

(2) 

Non-income producing security.

 

(3) 

Affiliated investment company, available to Eaton Vance portfolios and funds, which invests in high quality, U.S. dollar denominated money market instruments. The rate shown is the annualized seven-day yield as of December 31, 2020.

 

(4) 

Amount is less than (0.05)%.

 

Purchased Put Options — 0.3%  
Exchange-Traded Options — 0.3%  
Description   Number of
Contracts
    Notional
Amount
    Exercise
Price
    Expiration
Date
    Value  

S&P 500 Index

    137     $ 51,458,159     $ 3,525       1/4/21     $ 13,700  

S&P 500 Index

    137       51,458,159       3,500       1/6/21       31,168  

S&P 500 Index

    138       51,833,766       3,415       1/8/21       31,050  

S&P 500 Index

    136       51,082,552       3,500       1/11/21       65,280  
Description   Number of
Contracts
    Notional
Amount
    Exercise
Price
    Expiration
Date
    Value  

S&P 500 Index

    137     $ 51,458,159     $ 3,500       1/13/21     $ 97,270  

S&P 500 Index

    137       51,458,159       3,525       1/15/21       154,125  

S&P 500 Index

    138       51,833,766       3,490       1/19/21       151,110  

S&P 500 Index

    138       51,833,766       3,510       1/20/21       189,060  

S&P 500 Index

    137       51,458,159       3,500       1/22/21       213,720  

S&P 500 Index

    136       51,082,552       3,540       1/25/21       284,920  

S&P 500 Index

    137       51,458,159       3,550       1/27/21       343,870  

S&P 500 Index

    136       51,082,552       3,515       1/29/21       328,440  

Total

                                  $ 1,903,713  
Written Call Options — (0.9)%  
Exchange-Traded Options — (0.9)%  
Description   Number of
Contracts
    Notional
Amount
    Exercise
Price
    Expiration
Date
    Value  

S&P 500 Index

    137     $ 51,458,159     $ 3,775       1/4/21     $ (113,710

S&P 500 Index

    137       51,458,159       3,775       1/6/21       (275,370

S&P 500 Index

    138       51,833,766       3,735       1/8/21       (702,420

S&P 500 Index

    136       51,082,552       3,775       1/11/21       (410,720

S&P 500 Index

    137       51,458,159       3,775       1/13/21       (490,460

S&P 500 Index

    137       51,458,159       3,800       1/15/21       (389,765

S&P 500 Index

    138       51,833,766       3,790       1/19/21       (499,560

S&P 500 Index

    138       51,833,766       3,780       1/20/21       (609,270

S&P 500 Index

    137       51,458,159       3,780       1/22/21       (665,820

S&P 500 Index

    136       51,082,552       3,810       1/25/21       (496,400

S&P 500 Index

    137       51,458,159       3,820       1/27/21       (496,625

S&P 500 Index

    136       51,082,552       3,820       1/29/21       (537,880

Total

                                  $ (5,688,000

Abbreviations:

 

ADR     American Depositary Receipt
 

 

  11   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Table of Contents

Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

December 31, 2020

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

 

Assets    December 31, 2020  

Unaffiliated investments, at value (identified cost, $408,356,147)

   $ 644,941,063  

Affiliated investment, at value (identified cost, $4,783,085)

     4,783,085  

Dividends receivable

     439,165  

Dividends receivable from affiliated investment

     119  

Receivable for premiums on written options

     405,298  

Receivable from the transfer agent

     132,885  

Total assets

   $ 650,701,615  
Liabilities         

Written options outstanding, at value (premiums received, $4,984,548)

   $ 5,688,000  

Payable for closed written options

     389,550  

Payable to affiliates:

  

Investment adviser fee

     541,638  

Trustees’ fees

     8,330  

Accrued expenses

     303,070  

Total liabilities

   $ 6,930,588  

Net Assets

   $ 643,771,027  
Sources of Net Assets         

Common shares, $0.01 par value, unlimited number of shares authorized, 63,892,866 shares issued and outstanding

   $ 638,929  

Additional paid-in capital

     420,725,177  

Distributable earnings

     222,406,921  

Net Assets

   $ 643,771,027  
Net Asset Value         

($643,771,027 ÷ 63,892,866 common shares issued and outstanding)

   $ 10.08  

 

  12   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Table of Contents

Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

December 31, 2020

 

Statement of Operations

 

 

Investment Income    Year Ended
December 31, 2020
 

Dividends (net of foreign taxes, $59,898)

   $ 11,023,814  

Dividends from affiliated investment

     43,429  

Total investment income

   $ 11,067,243  
Expenses         

Investment adviser fee

   $ 6,110,961  

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     32,310  

Custodian fee

     234,470  

Transfer and dividend disbursing agent fees

     18,550  

Legal and accounting services

     92,873  

Printing and postage

     227,218  

Miscellaneous

     62,897  

Total expenses

   $ 6,779,279  

Net investment income

   $ 4,287,964  
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)         

Net realized gain (loss) —

  

Investment transactions

   $ 54,454,400  

Investment transactions — affiliated investment

     (17,910

Written options

     (36,316,693

Foreign currency transactions

     32,743  

Net realized gain

   $ 18,152,540  

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) —

  

Investments

   $ 81,492,719  

Written options

     1,555,819  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

   $ 83,048,538  

Net realized and unrealized gain

   $ 101,201,078  

Net increase in net assets from operations

   $ 105,489,042  

 

  13   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Table of Contents

Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

December 31, 2020

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets    2020      2019  

From operations —

     

Net investment income

   $ 4,287,964      $ 4,207,192  

Net realized gain (loss)

     18,152,540        (13,165,382

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     83,048,538        91,423,134  

Net increase in net assets from operations

   $ 105,489,042      $ 82,464,944  

Distributions to shareholders

   $ (17,513,647    $ (4,177,178

Tax return of capital to shareholders

   $ (40,700,834    $ (53,922,139

Capital share transactions —

     

Reinvestment of distributions

   $ 1,025,940      $ 1,083,423  

Net increase in net assets from capital share transactions

   $ 1,025,940      $ 1,083,423  

Net increase in net assets

   $ 48,300,501      $ 25,449,050  
Net Assets                  

At beginning of year

   $ 595,470,526      $ 570,021,476  

At end of year

   $ 643,771,027      $ 595,470,526  

 

  14   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Table of Contents

Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

December 31, 2020

 

Financial Highlights

 

 

     Year Ended December 31  
      2020      2019      2018      2017     2016  

Net asset value — Beginning of year

   $ 9.340      $ 8.950      $ 10.080      $ 9.980     $ 11.150  
Income (Loss) From Operations                                            

Net investment income(1)

   $ 0.067      $ 0.066      $ 0.059      $ 0.078     $ 0.108  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     1.585        1.236        (0.277      0.968       (0.162

Total income (loss) from operations

   $ 1.652      $ 1.302      $ (0.218    $ 1.046     $ (0.054
Less Distributions                                            

From net investment income

   $ (0.080    $ (0.066    $ (0.486    $ (0.946   $ (0.093

From net realized gain

     (0.194                           

Tax return of capital

     (0.638      (0.846      (0.426            (1.023

Total distributions

   $ (0.912    $ (0.912    $ (0.912    $ (0.946   $ (1.116

Net asset value — End of year

   $ 10.080      $ 9.340      $ 8.950      $ 10.080     $ 9.980  

Market value — End of year

   $ 10.370      $ 9.330      $ 8.120      $ 9.630     $ 8.960  

Total Investment Return on Net Asset Value(2)

     18.78      15.18      (2.13 )%       11.66     0.60

Total Investment Return on Market Value(2)

     22.33      26.82      (7.06 )%       18.82     (0.88 )% 
Ratios/Supplemental Data                                            

Net assets, end of year (000’s omitted)

   $ 643,771      $ 595,471      $ 570,021      $ 641,923     $ 635,595  

Ratios (as a percentage of average daily net assets):

             

Expenses

     1.11      1.11      1.10      1.10     1.11

Net investment income

     0.70      0.71      0.60      0.78     1.05

Portfolio Turnover

     52      57      53      87     79

 

(1) 

Computed using average shares outstanding.

 

(2) 

Returns are historical and are calculated by determining the percentage change in net asset value or market value with all distributions reinvested. Distributions are assumed to be reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan.

 

  15   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Table of Contents

Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

December 31, 2020

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

 

1  Significant Accounting Policies

Eaton Vance Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund (the Fund) is a Massachusetts business trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as a diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund’s primary investment objective is to provide current income and gains, with a secondary objective of capital appreciation.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies of the Fund. The policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP). The Fund is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946.

A  Investment Valuation — The following methodologies are used to determine the market value or fair value of investments.

Equity Securities. Equity securities listed on a U.S. securities exchange generally are valued at the last sale or closing price on the day of valuation or, if no sales took place on such date, at the mean between the closing bid and ask prices on the exchange where such securities are principally traded. Equity securities listed on the NASDAQ Global or Global Select Market generally are valued at the NASDAQ official closing price. Unlisted or listed securities for which closing sales prices or closing quotations are not available are valued at the mean between the latest available bid and ask prices.

Derivatives. U.S. exchange-traded options are valued at the mean between the bid and ask prices at valuation time as reported by the Options Price Reporting Authority. Non-U.S. exchange-traded options and over-the-counter options are valued by a third party pricing service using techniques that consider factors including the value of the underlying instrument, the volatility of the underlying instrument and the period of time until option expiration.

Foreign Securities and Currencies. Foreign securities and currencies are valued in U.S. dollars, based on foreign currency exchange rate quotations supplied by a third party pricing service. The pricing service uses a proprietary model to determine the exchange rate. Inputs to the model include reported trades and implied bid/ask spreads. The daily valuation of exchange-traded foreign securities generally is determined as of the close of trading on the principal exchange on which such securities trade. Events occurring after the close of trading on foreign exchanges may result in adjustments to the valuation of foreign securities to more accurately reflect their fair value as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange. When valuing foreign equity securities that meet certain criteria, the Fund’s Trustees have approved the use of a fair value service that values such securities to reflect market trading that occurs after the close of the applicable foreign markets of comparable securities or other instruments that have a strong correlation to the fair-valued securities.

Affiliated Fund. The Fund may invest in Eaton Vance Cash Reserves Fund, LLC (Cash Reserves Fund), an affiliated investment company managed by Eaton Vance Management (EVM). While Cash Reserves Fund is not a registered money market mutual fund, it conducts all of its investment activities in accordance with the requirements of Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. Investments in Cash Reserves Fund are valued at the closing net asset value per unit on the valuation day. Cash Reserves Fund generally values its investment securities based on available market quotations provided by a third party pricing service.

Fair Valuation. Investments for which valuations or market quotations are not readily available or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value using methods determined in good faith by or at the direction of the Trustees of the Fund in a manner that most fairly reflects the security’s “fair value”, which is the amount that the Fund might reasonably expect to receive for the security upon its current sale in the ordinary course. Each such determination is based on a consideration of relevant factors, which are likely to vary from one pricing context to another. These factors may include, but are not limited to, the type of security, the existence of any contractual restrictions on the security’s disposition, the price and extent of public trading in similar securities of the issuer or of comparable companies or entities, quotations or relevant information obtained from broker/dealers or other market participants, information obtained from the issuer, analysts, and/or the appropriate stock exchange (for exchange-traded securities), an analysis of the company’s or entity’s financial statements, and an evaluation of the forces that influence the issuer and the market(s) in which the security is purchased and sold.

B  Investment Transactions — Investment transactions for financial statement purposes are accounted for on a trade date basis. Realized gains and losses on investments sold are determined on the basis of identified cost.

C  Income — Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date for dividends received in cash and/or securities. However, if the ex-dividend date has passed, certain dividends from foreign securities are recorded as the Fund is informed of the ex-dividend date. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends and capital gains have been provided for in accordance with the Fund’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

D  Federal Taxes — The Fund’s policy is to comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute to shareholders each year substantially all of its net investment income, and all or substantially all of its net realized capital gains. Accordingly, no provision for federal income or excise tax is necessary.

As of December 31, 2020, the Fund had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, de-recognition, or disclosure. The Fund files a U.S. federal income tax return annually after its fiscal year-end, which is subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for a period of three years from the date of filing.

E  Foreign Currency Translation — Investment valuations, other assets, and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currencies are translated each business day into U.S. dollars based upon current exchange rates. Purchases and sales of foreign investment securities and income and expenses denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars based upon currency exchange rates in effect on the respective dates of such transactions. Recognized gains or losses on investment transactions attributable to changes in foreign currency exchange rates are recorded for financial statement purposes as net

 

  16  


Table of Contents

Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

December 31, 2020

 

Notes to Financial Statements — continued

 

 

realized gains and losses on investments. That portion of unrealized gains and losses on investments that results from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates is not separately disclosed.

F  Use of Estimates — The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expense during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

G  Indemnifications — Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. Under Massachusetts law, if certain conditions prevail, shareholders of a Massachusetts business trust (such as the Fund) could be deemed to have personal liability for the obligations of the Fund. However, the Fund’s Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of liability on the part of Fund shareholders and the By-laws provide that the Fund shall assume, upon request by the shareholder, the defense on behalf of any Fund shareholders. Moreover, the By-laws also provide for indemnification out of Fund property of any shareholder held personally liable solely by reason of being or having been a shareholder for all loss or expense arising from such liability. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Fund enters into agreements with service providers that may contain indemnification clauses. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred.

H  Written Options — Upon the writing of a call or a put option, the premium received by the Fund is included in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as a liability. The amount of the liability is subsequently marked-to-market to reflect the current market value of the option written, in accordance with the Fund’s policies on investment valuations discussed above. Premiums received from writing options which expire are treated as realized gains. Premiums received from writing options which are exercised or are closed are added to or offset against the proceeds or amount paid on the transaction to determine the realized gain or loss. When an index option is exercised, the Fund is required to deliver an amount of cash determined by the excess of the exercise price of the option over the value of the index (in the case of a put) or the excess of the value of the index over the exercise price of the option (in the case of a call) at contract termination. If a put option on a security is exercised, the premium reduces the cost basis of the securities purchased by the Fund. The Fund, as a writer of an option, may have no control over whether the underlying securities or other assets may be sold (call) or purchased (put) and, as a result, bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the securities or other assets underlying the written option. The Fund may also bear the risk of not being able to enter into a closing transaction if a liquid secondary market does not exist.

I  Purchased Options — Upon the purchase of a call or put option, the premium paid by the Fund is included in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as an investment. The amount of the investment is subsequently marked-to-market to reflect the current market value of the option purchased, in accordance with the Fund’s policies on investment valuations discussed above. As the purchaser of an index option, the Fund has the right to receive a cash payment equal to any depreciation in the value of the index below the exercise price of the option (in the case of a put) or equal to any appreciation in the value of the index over the exercise price of the option (in the case of a call) as of the valuation date of the option. If an option which the Fund had purchased expires on the stipulated expiration date, the Fund will realize a loss in the amount of the cost of the option. If the Fund enters into a closing sale transaction, the Fund will realize a gain or loss, depending on whether the sales proceeds from the closing sale transaction are greater or less than the cost of the option. If the Fund exercises a put option on a security, it will realize a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying security, and the proceeds from such sale will be decreased by the premium originally paid. If the Fund exercises a call option on a security, the cost of the security which the Fund purchases upon exercise will be increased by the premium originally paid. The risk associated with purchasing options is limited to the premium originally paid.

2  Distributions to Shareholders and Income Tax Information

Subject to its Managed Distribution Plan, the Fund makes monthly distributions from its cash available for distribution, which consists of the Fund’s dividends and interest income after payment of Fund expenses, net option premiums and net realized and unrealized gains on stock investments. The Fund intends to distribute all or substantially all of its net realized capital gains. Distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. As required by U.S. GAAP, only distributions in excess of tax basis earnings and profits are reported in the financial statements as a return of capital. Permanent differences between book and tax accounting relating to distributions are reclassified to paid-in capital. For tax purposes, distributions from short-term capital gains are considered to be from ordinary income. Distributions in any year may include a substantial return of capital component.

The tax character of distributions declared for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 was as follows:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
      2020      2019  

Ordinary income

   $ 5,133,681      $ 4,177,178  

Long-term capital gains

   $ 12,379,966      $  

Tax return of capital

   $ 40,700,834      $ 53,922,139  

 

  17  


Table of Contents

Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

December 31, 2020

 

Notes to Financial Statements — continued

 

 

As of December 31, 2020, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated loss) on a tax basis were as follows:

 

   

Post October capital losses

   $ (16,383,977

Net unrealized appreciation

   $ 238,790,898  

At December 31, 2020, the Fund had a net capital loss of $16,383,977 attributable to security transactions incurred after October 31, 2020 that it has elected to defer. This net capital loss is treated as arising on the first day of the Fund’s taxable year ending December 31, 2021.

The cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments, including open derivative contracts, of the Fund at December 31, 2020, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:

 

Aggregate cost

   $ 409,029,537  

Gross unrealized appreciation

   $ 239,797,393  

Gross unrealized depreciation

     (1,006,495

Net unrealized appreciation

   $ 238,790,898  

3  Investment Adviser Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates

The investment adviser fee is earned by EVM, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eaton Vance Corp., as compensation for management and investment advisory services rendered to the Fund. The fee is computed at an annual rate of 1.00% of the Fund’s average daily gross assets and is payable monthly. Gross assets as referred to herein represent net assets plus obligations attributable to investment leverage, if any. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Fund’s investment adviser fee amounted to $6,110,961. The Fund invests its cash in Cash Reserves Fund. EVM does not currently receive a fee for advisory services provided to Cash Reserves Fund. EVM also serves as administrator of the Fund, but receives no compensation.

Trustees and officers of the Fund who are members of EVM’s organization receive remuneration for their services to the Fund out of the investment adviser fee. Trustees of the Fund who are not affiliated with EVM may elect to defer receipt of all or a percentage of their annual fees in accordance with the terms of the Trustees Deferred Compensation Plan. For the year ended December 31, 2020, no significant amounts have been deferred. Certain officers and Trustees of the Fund are officers of EVM.

4  Purchases and Sales of Investments

Purchases and sales of investments, other than short-term obligations, aggregated $315,220,960 and $385,663,466, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2020.

5  Common Shares of Beneficial Interest

Common shares issued by the Fund pursuant to its dividend reinvestment plan for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 were 105,884 and 117,054, respectively.

In August 2012, the Board of Trustees initially approved a share repurchase program for the Fund. Pursuant to the reauthorization of the share repurchase program by the Board of Trustees in March 2019, the Fund is authorized to repurchase up to 10% of its common shares outstanding as of the last day of the prior calendar year at market prices when shares are trading at a discount to net asset value. The share repurchase program does not obligate the Fund to purchase a specific amount of shares. There were no repurchases of common shares by the Fund for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

6  Financial Instruments

The Fund may trade in financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of its investing activities. These financial instruments may include written options and may involve, to a varying degree, elements of risk in excess of the amounts recognized for financial statement purposes. The notional or contractual amounts of these instruments represent the investment the Fund has in particular classes of financial instruments and do not necessarily represent the amounts potentially subject to risk. The measurement of the risks associated with these instruments is meaningful only when all related and offsetting transactions are considered. A summary of obligations under these financial instruments at December 31, 2020 is included in the Portfolio of Investments. At December 31, 2020, the Fund had sufficient cash and/or securities to cover commitments under these contracts.

 

  18  


Table of Contents

Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

December 31, 2020

 

Notes to Financial Statements — continued

 

 

The Fund is subject to equity price risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. The Fund pursues a “collared” options strategy which consists of buying S&P 500 index put options below the current value of the index and writing S&P 500 index call options above the current value of the index with the same expiration. The strategy uses the premium income from the written call options to buy an equal number of put options. In buying put options on an index, the Fund in effect, acquires protection against decline in the value of the applicable index below the exercise price in exchange for the option premium paid. In writing index call options, the Fund in effect, sells potential appreciation in the value of the applicable index above the exercise price. The Fund retains the risk of lost appreciation, minus the premium received, should the price of the underlying index rise above the exercise price. Under normal market conditions, the Fund’s use of option collars is expected to provide a more consistent level of market exposure and market protection.

The fair value of open derivative instruments (not considered to be hedging instruments for accounting disclosure purposes) and whose primary underlying risk exposure is equity price risk at December 31, 2020 was as follows:

 

     Fair Value  
Derivative    Asset Derivative(1)      Liability Derivative(2)  

Purchased options

   $ 1,903,713      $  

Written options

            (5,688,000

Total

   $ 1,903,713      $ (5,688,000

 

(1) 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities location: Unaffiliated investments, at value.

 

(2) 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities location: Written options outstanding, at value.

The effect of derivative instruments (not considered to be hedging instruments for accounting disclosure purposes) on the Statement of Operations and whose primary underlying risk exposure is equity price risk for the year ended December 31, 2020 was as follows:

 

Derivative    Realized Gain (Loss)
on Derivatives Recognized
in Income
(1)
     Change in Unrealized
Appreciation (Depreciation) on
Derivatives Recognized in  Income
(2)
 

Purchased options

   $ 20,632,860      $ (1,465,343

Written options

     (36,316,693      1,555,819  
     $ (15,683,833    $ 90,476  

 

(1)  

Statement of Operations location: Net realized gain (loss) – Investment transactions and Written options, respectively.

 

(2) 

Statement of Operations location: Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) – Investments and Written options, respectively.

The average number of purchased and written options contracts outstanding during the year ended December 31, 2020, which are indicative of the volume of these derivative types, were 1,815 and 1,772 contracts, respectively.

7  Investments in Affiliated Funds

At December 31, 2020, the value of the Fund’s investment in affiliated funds was $4,783,085, which represents 0.7% of the Fund’s net assets. Transactions in affiliated funds by the Fund for the year ended December 31, 2020 were as follows:

 

Name of affiliated fund   Value,
beginning
of period
    Purchases    

Sales

proceeds

    Net
realized
gain (loss)
    Change in
unrealized
appreciation
(depreciation)
    Value, end
of period
    Dividend
income
    Units, end
of period
 

Short-Term Investments

 

             

Eaton Vance Cash Reserves Fund, LLC

  $ 2,947,208     $ 245,534,450     $ (243,680,663   $ (17,910   $         —     $ 4,783,085     $ 43,429       4,783,085  

 

  19  


Table of Contents

Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

December 31, 2020

 

Notes to Financial Statements — continued

 

 

8  Fair Value Measurements

Under generally accepted accounting principles for fair value measurements, a three-tier hierarchy to prioritize the assumptions, referred to as inputs, is used in valuation techniques to measure fair value. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized in the three broad levels listed below.

 

 

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

 

 

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

 

 

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including a fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

In cases where the inputs used to measure fair value fall in different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level disclosed is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

At December 31, 2020, the hierarchy of inputs used in valuing the Fund’s investments and open derivative instruments, which are carried at value, were as follows:

 

Asset Description    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Common Stocks

           

Communication Services

   $ 70,841,178      $      $      $ 70,841,178  

Consumer Discretionary

     87,248,492                      87,248,492  

Consumer Staples

     50,165,752                      50,165,752  

Energy

     9,052,093                      9,052,093  

Financials

     71,795,581                      71,795,581  

Health Care

     74,178,796        8,257,162               82,435,958  

Industrials

     43,879,772                      43,879,772  

Information Technology

     176,689,445                      176,689,445  

Materials

     14,950,531                      14,950,531  

Real Estate

     14,552,509                      14,552,509  

Utilities

     21,426,039                      21,426,039  

Total Common Stocks

   $ 634,780,188      $ 8,257,162    $      $ 643,037,350  

Short-Term Investments

   $      $ 4,783,085      $      $ 4,783,085  

Purchased Put Options

     1,903,713                      1,903,713  

Total Investments

   $ 636,683,901      $ 13,040,247      $      $ 649,724,148  

Liability Description

                                   

Written Call Options

   $ (5,688,000    $      $      $ (5,688,000

Total

   $ (5,688,000    $      $         —      $ (5,688,000

 

*

Includes foreign equity securities whose values were adjusted to reflect market trading of comparable securities or other correlated instruments that occurred after the close of trading in their applicable foreign markets.

9  Risks and Uncertainties

Pandemic Risk

An outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus was first detected in China in December 2019 and subsequently spread internationally. This coronavirus has resulted in closing borders, enhanced health screenings, changes to healthcare service preparation and delivery, quarantines, cancellations, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, as well as general concern and uncertainty. Health crises caused by outbreaks, such as the coronavirus outbreak, may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks and disrupt normal market conditions and operations. The impact of this outbreak has negatively affected the worldwide economy, the economies of individual countries, individual companies, and the market in general, and may continue to do so in significant and unforeseen ways, as may other epidemics and pandemics that may arise in the future. Any such impact could adversely affect the Fund’s performance, or the performance of the securities in which the Fund invests.

 

  20  


Table of Contents

Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

December 31, 2020

 

Notes to Financial Statements — continued

 

 

10  Additional Information

On October 8, 2020, Morgan Stanley and Eaton Vance Corp. (“Eaton Vance”) announced that they had entered into a definitive agreement under which Morgan Stanley would acquire Eaton Vance. Under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, consummation of this transaction may be deemed to result in the automatic termination of an Eaton Vance Fund’s investment advisory agreement, and, where applicable, any related sub-advisory agreement. On November 10, 2020, the Fund’s Board approved a new investment advisory agreement. The new investment advisory agreement was approved by Fund shareholders at a joint special meeting of shareholders held on January 22, 2021, and would take effect upon consummation of the transaction.

 

 

  21  


Table of Contents

Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

December 31, 2020

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

 

To the Trustees and Shareholders of Eaton Vance Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund:

Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Eaton Vance Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund (the “Fund”), including the portfolio of investments, as of December 31, 2020, the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, and the related notes. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2020, and the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and financial highlights. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2020, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 17, 2021

We have served as the auditor of one or more Eaton Vance investment companies since 1959.

 

  22  


Table of Contents

Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

December 31, 2020

 

Federal Tax Information (Unaudited)

 

 

The Form 1099-DIV you received in February 2021 showed the tax status of all distributions paid to your account in calendar year 2020. Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax adviser with respect to the tax consequences of their investment in the Fund. As required by the Internal Revenue Code and/or regulations, shareholders must be notified regarding the status of qualified dividend income for individuals, the dividends received deduction for corporations and capital gains dividends.

Qualified Dividend Income.  For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, the Fund designates approximately $10,619,949, or up to the maximum amount of such dividends allowable pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code, as qualified dividend income eligible for the reduced tax rate of 15%.

Dividends Received Deduction.  Corporate shareholders are generally entitled to take the dividends received deduction on the portion of the Fund’s dividend distribution that qualifies under tax law. For the Fund’s fiscal 2020 ordinary income dividends, 100% qualifies for the corporate dividends received deduction.

Capital Gains Dividends.  The Fund hereby designates as a capital gain dividend with respect to the taxable year ended December 31, 2020, $12,379,966 or, if subsequently determined to be different, the net capital gain of such year.

 

  23  


Table of Contents

Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

December 31, 2020

 

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

 

 

The Fund offers a dividend reinvestment plan (Plan) pursuant to which shareholders automatically have distributions reinvested in common shares (Shares) of the Fund unless they elect otherwise through their investment dealer. On the distribution payment date, if the NAV per Share is equal to or less than the market price per Share plus estimated brokerage commissions, then new Shares will be issued. The number of Shares shall be determined by the greater of the NAV per Share or 95% of the market price. Otherwise, Shares generally will be purchased on the open market by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, the Plan agent (Agent). Distributions subject to income tax (if any) are taxable whether or not Shares are reinvested.

If your Shares are in the name of a brokerage firm, bank, or other nominee, you can ask the firm or nominee to participate in the Plan on your behalf. If the nominee does not offer the Plan, you will need to request that the Fund’s transfer agent re-register your Shares in your name or you will not be able to participate.

The Agent’s service fee for handling distributions will be paid by the Fund. Plan participants will be charged their pro rata share of brokerage commissions on all open-market purchases.

Plan participants may withdraw from the Plan at any time by writing to the Agent at the address noted on the following page. If you withdraw, you will receive Shares in your name for all Shares credited to your account under the Plan. If a participant elects by written notice to the Agent to 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.

If you wish to participate in the Plan and your Shares are held in your own name, you may complete the form on the following page and deliver it to the Agent. Any inquiries regarding the Plan can be directed to the Agent at 1-866-439-6787.

 

  24  


Table of Contents

Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

December 31, 2020

 

Application for Participation in Dividend Reinvestment Plan

 

 

 

This form is for shareholders who hold their common shares in their own names. If your common shares are held in the name of a brokerage firm, bank, or other nominee, you should contact your nominee to see if it will participate in the Plan on your behalf. If you wish to participate in the Plan, but your brokerage firm, bank, or nominee is unable to participate on your behalf, you should request that your common shares be re-registered in your own name which will enable your participation in the Plan.

The following authorization and appointment is given with the understanding that I may terminate it at any time by terminating my participation in the Plan as provided in the terms and conditions of the Plan.

 

 

Please print exact name on account

 

 

Shareholder signature                                                           Date

 

 

Shareholder signature                                                           Date

Please sign exactly as your common shares are registered. All persons whose names appear on the share certificate must sign.

YOU SHOULD NOT RETURN THIS FORM IF YOU WISH TO RECEIVE YOUR DISTRIBUTIONS IN CASH. THIS IS NOT A PROXY.

This authorization form, when signed, should be mailed to the following address:

Eaton Vance Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

c/o American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

P.O. Box 922

Wall Street Station

New York, NY 10269-0560

 

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Table of Contents

Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

December 31, 2020

 

Board of Trustees’ Contract Approval

 

 

Overview of the Contract Review Process

Even though the following description of the Board’s (as defined below) consideration of investment advisory agreements covers multiple funds, for purposes of this shareholder report, the description is only relevant as to Eaton Vance Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund.

At a meeting held on November 10, 2020 (the “November Meeting”), the Board of Trustees (each, a “Board” and, collectively, the “Board”) of each closed-end Fund (each, a “Fund” and, collectively, the “Funds”(1)) managed by Eaton Vance Management (“Eaton Vance”), including a majority of the Board members (the “Independent Trustees”) who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”)) of the Funds or Eaton Vance, voted to approve a new investment advisory agreement between each Fund and Eaton Vance, each of which is intended to go into effect upon the completion of the Transaction (as defined below) (each, a “New Agreement” and, collectively, the “New Agreements”). The Board’s evaluative process is more fully described below. In voting its approval of the New Agreements at the November Meeting, the Board relied on an order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission in response to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic that provided temporary relief from the in-person meeting requirements under Section 15 of the 1940 Act.

In voting its approval of the New Agreements, the Board of each Fund relied upon the recommendation of its Contract Review Committee, which is a committee comprised exclusively of Independent Trustees. Prior to and during meetings leading up to the November Meeting, the Contract Review Committee reviewed and discussed information furnished by Eaton Vance and Morgan Stanley, as requested by the Independent Trustees, that the Contract Review Committee considered reasonably necessary to evaluate the terms of the New Agreements and to form its recommendations. Such information included, among other things, the terms and anticipated impacts of Morgan Stanley’s pending acquisition of Eaton Vance Corp. (the “Transaction”) on the Funds and their shareholders. In addition to considering information furnished specifically to evaluate the impact of the Transaction on the Funds and their respective shareholders, the Board and its Contract Review Committee also considered information furnished for prior meetings of the Board and its committees, including, but not limited to, information provided in connection with the annual contract review process for the Funds, which most recently culminated in April 2020 (the “2020 Annual Approval Process”).

The Board of each Fund, including the Independent Trustees, concluded that the applicable New Agreement, including the fees payable thereunder, was fair and reasonable, and it voted to approve the New Agreement and to recommend that shareholders do so as well.

Shortly after the announcement of the Transaction, the Board, including all of the Independent Trustees, met with senior representatives from Eaton Vance and Morgan Stanley at its meeting held on October 13, 2020 to discuss certain aspects of the Transaction and the expected impacts of the Transaction on the Funds and their shareholders. As part of the Board’s evaluation process, counsel to the Independent Trustees, on behalf of the Contract Review Committee, requested additional information to assist the Independent Trustees in their evaluation of the New Agreements and the implications of the Transaction, as well as other contractual arrangements that may be affected by the Transaction. The Contract Review Committee considered information furnished by Eaton Vance and Morgan Stanley and their respective affiliates during meetings on November 5, 2020 and November 10, 2020.

The Contract Review Committee again met with senior representatives of Eaton Vance and Morgan Stanley at its meeting on November 10, 2020, to further discuss the approval of the New Agreements. The representatives from Eaton Vance and Morgan Stanley each made presentations to, and responded to questions from, the Independent Trustees. The Contract Review Committee considered Eaton Vance’s and Morgan Stanley’s responses related to the Transaction and specifically to the Funds, as well as information received in connection with the 2020 Annual Approval Process, with respect to its evaluation of the New Agreements. Among other information, the Board considered:

Information about the Transaction and its Terms

 

   

Information about the material terms and conditions, and expected impact, of the Transaction that relate to the Funds, including the expected impact on the businesses conducted by Eaton Vance with respect to the Funds;

 

   

Information about the advantages of the Transaction as they relate to the Funds and their shareholders;

 

   

A commitment that the Funds would not bear any expenses, directly or indirectly, in connection with the Transaction, including with respect to the solicitation of shareholder approval of the New Agreements;

 

   

A commitment that, for a period of three years after the Closing, at least 75% of each Fund’s Board members must not be “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the investment adviser (or predecessor investment adviser, if applicable) pursuant to Section 15(f)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act;

 

   

A commitment that Morgan Stanley would use its reasonable best efforts to ensure that it did not impose any “unfair burden” (as that term is used in section 15(f)(1)(B) of the 1940 Act) on the Funds as a result of the Transaction;

 

   

Information with respect to the potential impact of the Transaction on personnel and/or other resources of Eaton Vance and its affiliates, as well as any expected changes to compensation, including any retention-based compensation intended to incentivize key personnel at Eaton Vance and its affiliates;

 

   

Information regarding any changes that are expected with respect to the Funds’ slate of officers as a result of the Transaction;

 

(1) 

References to the Funds do not include Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Plus Fund.

 

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Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

December 31, 2020

 

Board of Trustees’ Contract Approval — continued

 

 

Information about Morgan Stanley

 

   

Information about Morgan Stanley’s overall business, including information about the advisory, brokerage and related businesses that Morgan Stanley operates;

 

   

Information about Morgan Stanley’s financial condition, including its access to capital and other resources required to support the investment advisory businesses related to the Funds;

 

   

Information on how the Funds are expected to fit within Morgan Stanley’s overall business strategy, and any changes that Morgan Stanley contemplates implementing to the Funds in the short- or long-term following the closing of the Transaction (the “Closing”);

 

   

Information regarding risk management functions at Morgan Stanley and its affiliates, including how existing risk management protocols and procedures may impact the Funds and/or the businesses of Eaton Vance and its affiliates as they relate to the Funds;

 

   

Information on the anticipated benefits of the Transaction to the Funds with respect to potential additional distribution capabilities and the ability to access new markets and customer segments through Morgan Stanley’s distribution network, including, in particular, its institutional client base;

 

   

Information regarding the financial condition and reputation of Morgan Stanley, its worldwide presence, experience as a fund sponsor and manager, commitment to maintain a high level of cooperation with, and support to, the Funds, strong client service capabilities, and relationships in the asset management industry;

Information about the New Agreements

 

   

A representation that, after the Closing, all of the Funds will continue to be advised by Eaton Vance, and will continue under the “Eaton Vance” brand;

 

   

Information regarding the terms of the New Agreements, including certain changes as compared to the current investment advisory agreement between each Fund and Eaton Vance (collectively, the “Current Agreements”);

 

   

Information confirming that the fee rates payable under the New Agreements are not changed as compared to the Current Agreements;

 

   

A representation that the New Agreements will not cause any diminution in the nature, extent and quality of services provided by Eaton Vance to the Funds and their respective shareholders, including with respect to compliance and other non-advisory services;

Information about Fund Performance, Fees and Expenses

 

   

A report from an independent data provider comparing the investment performance of each Fund (including, as relevant, total return data, income data, Sharpe ratios and information ratios) to the investment performance of comparable funds and, as applicable, benchmark indices, over various time periods as of the 2020 Annual Approval Process, as well as performance information as of a more recent date;

 

   

A report from an independent data provider comparing each Fund’s total expense ratio (and its components) to those of comparable funds as of the 2020 Annual Approval Process, as well as fee and expense information as of a more recent date;

 

   

In certain instances, data regarding investment performance relative to customized groups of peer funds and blended indices identified by Eaton Vance in consultation with the Portfolio Management Committee of the Board as of the 2020 Annual Approval Process, as well as corresponding performance information as of a more recent date;

 

   

Comparative information concerning the fees charged and services provided by Eaton Vance to each Fund in managing other accounts (which may include other mutual funds, collective investment funds and institutional accounts) using investment strategies and techniques similar to those used in managing such Fund(s), if any;

 

   

Profitability analyses of Eaton Vance with respect to each of the Funds as of the 2020 Annual Approval Process, as well as information regarding the impact of the Transaction on profitability;

Information about Portfolio Management and Trading

 

   

Descriptions of the investment management services currently provided and expected to be provided to each Fund after the Closing, as well as each of the Funds’ investment strategies and policies;

 

   

The procedures and processes used to determine the fair value of Fund assets, when necessary, and actions taken to monitor and test the effectiveness of such procedures and processes;

 

   

Information regarding any contemplated changes to the policies and practices of Eaton Vance with respect to trading, including their processes for seeking best execution of portfolio transactions;

 

   

Information regarding the impact on trading and access to capital markets associated with the Funds’ post-Closing affiliations with Morgan Stanley and its affiliates, including potential restrictions with respect to the Funds’ ability to execute portfolio transactions with Morgan Stanley and its affiliates;

Information about Eaton Vance

 

   

Information about the financial results and condition of Eaton Vance since the culmination of the 2020 Annual Approval Process and any material changes in financial condition that are reasonably expected to occur before and after the Closing;

 

   

Confirmation that there are no immediately contemplated post-Closing changes to the individual investment professionals whose responsibilities include portfolio management and investment research for the Funds, and, for portfolio managers and certain other investment professionals, information relating to their responsibilities with respect to managing other mutual funds and investment accounts, as applicable post-Closing;

 

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Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

December 31, 2020

 

Board of Trustees’ Contract Approval — continued

 

 

   

The Code of Ethics of Eaton Vance and its affiliates, together with information relating to compliance with, and the administration of, such codes;

 

   

Policies and procedures relating to proxy voting and the handling of corporate actions and class actions;

 

   

Information concerning the resources devoted to compliance efforts undertaken by Eaton Vance and its affiliates, including descriptions of their various compliance programs and their record of compliance;

 

   

Information concerning the business continuity and disaster recovery plans of Eaton Vance and its affiliates;

Other Relevant Information

 

   

Information concerning the nature, cost and character of the administrative and other non-investment advisory services provided by Eaton Vance and its affiliates;

 

   

Information concerning oversight of the relationship with the custodian, subcustodians and fund accountants by Eaton Vance and/or administrator to each of the Funds;

 

   

Information concerning the benefits of the closed-end fund structure, as well as, where relevant, the closed-end fund’s market prices, trading volume data, distribution rates and other relevant matters;

 

   

Confirmation that Eaton Vance intends to continue to manage the Funds in a manner materially consistent with each Fund’s current investment objective(s) and principal investment strategies;

 

   

Information regarding Morgan Stanley’s commitment to maintaining competitive compensation arrangements to attract and retain highly qualified personnel;

 

   

Confirmation that Eaton Vance and Morgan Stanley will continue to keep the Board apprised of developments as the Transaction progresses and prior to and, as applicable, following the Closing;

 

   

Confirmation that the current senior management team at Eaton Vance has indicated its strong support of the Transaction; and

 

   

Information regarding the fact that Morgan Stanley and Eaton Vance Corp. will each derive benefits from the Transaction and that, as a result, they have a financial interest in the matters that were being considered.

As indicated above, the Board and its Contract Review Committee also considered information received at its regularly scheduled meetings throughout the year, which included information from portfolio managers and other investment professionals of Eaton Vance regarding investment and performance matters, and considered various investment and trading strategies used in pursuing the Funds’ investment objectives. The Board also received information regarding risk management techniques employed in connection with the management of the Funds. The Board and its committees evaluated issues pertaining to industry and regulatory developments, compliance procedures, fund governance and other issues with respect to the Funds, and received reports and participated in presentations provided by Eaton Vance and its affiliates with respect to such matters.

The Contract Review Committee was advised throughout the evaluation process by Goodwin Procter LLP, independent legal counsel for the Independent Trustees. The members of the Contract Review Committee, with the advice of such counsel, exercised their own business judgment in determining the material factors to be considered in evaluating the New Agreements and the weight to be given to each such factor. The conclusions reached with respect to the New Agreements were based on a comprehensive evaluation of all the information provided and not any single factor. Moreover, each Independent Trustee may have placed varying emphasis on particular factors in reaching conclusions with respect to the New Agreements.

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services

In considering whether to approve the New Agreements, the Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of services currently provided to each Fund by Eaton Vance under the Current Agreements. In evaluating the nature, extent and quality of services to be provided by Eaton Vance under the New Agreements, the Board considered, among other information, the expected impact, if any, of the Transaction on the operations, facilities, organization and personnel of Eaton Vance, and that Morgan Stanley and Eaton Vance have advised the Board that, following the Closing, there is not expected to be any diminution in the nature, extent and quality of services provided by Eaton Vance to the Funds and their shareholders, including compliance and other non-advisory services, and that there are not expected to be any changes in portfolio management personnel as a result of the Transaction.

The Board also considered the financial resources of Morgan Stanley and Eaton Vance and the importance of having a Fund manager with, or with access to, significant organizational and financial resources. The Board considered the benefits to the Funds of being part of a larger combined organization with greater financial resources following the Closing, particularly during periods of market disruptions and volatility. In this regard, the Board considered information provided by Morgan Stanley regarding its business and operating structure, scale of operation, leadership and reputation, distribution capabilities and financial condition, as well as information on how the Funds are expected to fit within Morgan Stanley’s overall business strategy and any changes that Morgan Stanley contemplates in the short- or long-term following the Closing. The Board also noted Morgan Stanley’s and Eaton Vance’s commitment to keep the Board apprised of developments with respect to its long-term integration plans for Eaton Vance and existing Morgan Stanley affiliates and their respective personnel.

The Board considered Eaton Vance’s management capabilities, investment processes and investment performance in light of the types of investments held by each Fund, including the education, experience and number of investment professionals and other personnel who provide portfolio management, investment research, and similar services to each Fund. In particular, the Board considered the abilities and experience of Eaton Vance’s investment professionals in implementing each Fund’s investment strategies. The Board also took into account the resources dedicated to portfolio management and

 

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Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

December 31, 2020

 

Board of Trustees’ Contract Approval — continued

 

 

other services, the compensation methods of Eaton Vance and other factors, including the reputation and resources of Eaton Vance to recruit and retain highly qualified research, advisory and supervisory investment professionals. With respect to the recruitment and retention of key personnel, the Board noted information from Morgan Stanley and Eaton Vance regarding the benefits of joining Morgan Stanley. In addition, the Board considered the time and attention devoted to the Funds by senior management, as well as the infrastructure, operational capabilities and support staff in place to assist in the portfolio management and operations of the Funds, including the provision of administrative services. With respect to the foregoing, the Board also considered information from Eaton Vance and Morgan Stanley regarding the anticipated impact of the Transaction on such matters. The Board also considered the business-related and other risks to which Eaton Vance or its affiliates may be subject in managing the Funds and in connection with the Transaction. The Board considered the deep experience of Eaton Vance and its affiliates with managing and operating funds organized as exchange-listed closed-end funds, such as the Funds. In this regard, the Board considered, among other things, Eaton Vance’s and its affiliates’ experience with implementing leverage arrangements, monitoring and assessing trading price discounts and premiums and adhering to the requirements of securities exchanges.

The Board considered the compliance programs of Eaton Vance and relevant affiliates thereof. The Board considered compliance and reporting matters regarding, among other things, personal trading by investment professionals, disclosure of portfolio holdings, late trading, frequent trading, portfolio valuation, business continuity and the allocation of investment opportunities. The Board also considered the responses of Eaton Vance and its affiliates to requests in recent years from regulatory authorities, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. The Board also considered certain information relating to the compliance record of Morgan Stanley and its affiliates, including information requests in recent years from regulatory authorities. With respect to the foregoing, including the compliance programs of Eaton Vance, the Board noted information regarding the impact of the Transaction, as well as Eaton Vance’s and Morgan Stanley’s commitment to keep the Board apprised of developments with respect to its long-term integration plans for Eaton Vance and existing Morgan Stanley affiliates and their respective personnel.

The Board considered other administrative services provided and to be provided or overseen by Eaton Vance and its affiliates, including transfer agency and accounting services. The Board evaluated the benefits to shareholders of investing in a fund that is a part of a large fund complex offering exposure to a variety of asset classes and investment disciplines. The Board noted information that the Transaction was not expected to have any material impact on such matters in the near-term.

In evaluating the nature, extent and quality of the services to be provided under the New Agreements, the Board also considered investment performance information provided for each Fund in connection with the 2020 Annual Approval Process, as well as information provided as of a more recent date. In this regard, the Board compared each Fund’s investment performance to that of comparable funds identified by an independent data provider (the peer group), as well as appropriate benchmark indices and, for certain Funds, a custom peer group of similarly managed funds. The Board also considered, where applicable, Fund-specific performance explanations based on criteria established by the Board in connection with the 2020 Annual Approval Process and, where applicable, performance explanations as of a more recent date. In addition to the foregoing information, it was also noted that the Board has received and discussed with management information throughout the year at periodic intervals comparing each Fund’s performance against applicable benchmark indices and peer groups. In addition, the Board considered each Fund’s performance in light of overall financial market conditions. Where a Fund’s relative underperformance to its peers was significant during one or more specified periods, the Board noted the explanations from Eaton Vance concerning the Fund’s relative performance versus the peer group.

After consideration of the foregoing factors, among others, and based on their review of the materials provided and the assurances received from, and recommendations of, Eaton Vance and Morgan Stanley, the Board determined that the Transaction was not expected to adversely affect the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Funds by Eaton Vance and its affiliates and that the Transaction was not expected to have an adverse effect on the ability of Eaton Vance and its affiliates to provide those services. The Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services expected to be provided by Eaton Vance, taken as a whole, are appropriate and expected to be consistent with the terms of the New Agreements.

Management Fees and Expenses

The Board considered contractual fee rates payable by each Fund for advisory and administrative services (referred to collectively as “management fees”) in connection with the 2020 Annual Approval Process, as well as information provided as of a more recent date. As part of its review, the Board considered each Fund’s management fees and total expense ratio over various periods, as compared to those of comparable funds, before and after giving effect to any undertaking to waive fees or reimburse expenses.

The Board also considered factors, and, where applicable, certain Fund-specific factors, that had an impact on a Fund’s total expense ratio relative to comparable funds, as identified by Eaton Vance in response to inquiries from the Contract Review Committee. The Board considered that the New Agreement does not change a Fund’s management fee rate or the computation method for calculating such fees, including any separately executed permanent contractual management fee reduction currently in place for the Fund.

The Board also received and considered, where applicable, information about the services offered and the fee rates charged by Eaton Vance to other types of accounts with investment objectives and strategies that are substantially similar to and/or managed in a similar investment style as a Fund. In this regard, the Board received information about the differences in the nature and scope of services Eaton Vance provides to the Funds as compared to other types of accounts and the material differences in compliance, reporting and other legal burdens and risks to Eaton Vance as between each Fund and other types of accounts.

 

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Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

December 31, 2020

 

Board of Trustees’ Contract Approval — continued

 

 

After considering the foregoing information, and in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services expected to be provided by Eaton Vance, the Board concluded that the management fees charged for advisory and related services are reasonable with respect to its approval of the New Agreements.

Profitability and “Fall-Out” Benefits

During the 2020 Annual Approval Process, the Board considered the level of profits realized by Eaton Vance and relevant affiliates thereof in providing investment advisory and administrative services to the Funds and to all Eaton Vance funds as a group. The Board considered the level of profits realized without regard to marketing support or other payments by Eaton Vance and its affiliates to third parties in respect of distribution or other services. In light of the foregoing factors and the nature, extent and quality of the services rendered, the profits realized by Eaton Vance and its affiliates were not deemed to be excessive by the Board.

The Board noted that Morgan Stanley and Eaton Vance are expected to realize, over time, cost savings from the Transaction based on eliminating duplicate corporate overhead expenses. The Board considered, however, information from Eaton Vance and Morgan Stanley that such cost savings are not expected to be realized immediately upon the Closing and that, accordingly, there are currently no specific expected changes in the levels of profitability associated with the advisory and other services provided to the Funds that are contemplated as a result of the Transaction. The Board noted that it will continue to receive information regarding profitability during its annual contract review processes, including the extent to which cost savings and/or other efficiencies result in changes to profitability levels.

The Board also considered direct or indirect fall-out benefits received by Eaton Vance and its affiliates in connection with their respective relationships with the Funds, including the benefits of research services that may be available to Eaton Vance and its affiliates as a result of securities transactions effected for the Funds and other investment advisory clients. In evaluating the fall-out benefits to be received by Eaton Vance and its affiliates under the New Agreements, the Board considered whether the Transaction would have an impact on the fall-out benefits currently realized by Eaton Vance and its affiliates in connection with services provided pursuant to the Current Agreements.

The Board of each Fund considered that Morgan Stanley may derive reputational and other benefits from its ability to use the names of Eaton Vance and its affiliates in connection with operating and marketing the Funds. The Board considered that the Transaction, if completed, would significantly increase Morgan Stanley’s assets under management and expand Morgan Stanley’s investment capabilities.

Economies of Scale

The Board also considered the extent to which Eaton Vance and its affiliates, on the one hand, and the Funds, on the other hand, can expect to realize benefits from economies of scale as the assets of the Funds increase. The Board acknowledged the difficulty in accurately measuring the benefits resulting from economies of scale, if any, with respect to the management of any specific Fund or group of funds. As part of the 2020 Annual Approval Process, the Board reviewed data summarizing the increases and decreases in the assets of the Funds and of all Eaton Vance funds as a group over various time periods, and evaluated the extent to which the total expense ratio of each Fund and the profitability of Eaton Vance and its affiliates may have been affected by such increases or decreases.

The Board noted that Morgan Stanley and Eaton Vance are expected to benefit from possible growth of the Funds resulting from enhanced distribution capabilities, including with respect to the Funds’ potential access to Morgan Stanley’s institutional client base. Based upon the foregoing, the Board concluded that the Funds currently share in the benefits from economies of scale, if any, when they are realized by Eaton Vance, and that the Transaction is not expected to impede a Fund from continuing to benefit from any future economies of scale realized by Eaton Vance. The Board also considered the fact that the Funds are not continuously offered in the same manner as an open-end fund and that the Funds’ assets may not increase materially in the foreseeable future.

Conclusion

Based on its consideration of the foregoing, and such other information it deemed relevant, including the factors and conclusions described above, the Contract Review Committee recommended to the Board approval of the New Agreements. Based on the recommendation of the Contract Review Committee, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, unanimously voted to approve the New Agreements for the Funds and recommended that shareholders approve the New Agreements.

 

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Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

December 31, 2020

 

Management and Organization

 

 

Fund Management.  The Trustees of Eaton Vance Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund (the Fund) are responsible for the overall management and supervision of the Fund’s affairs. The Trustees and officers of the Fund are listed below. Except as indicated, each individual has held the office shown or other offices in the same company for the last five years. The “noninterested Trustees” consist of those Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as that term is defined under the 1940 Act. The business address of each Trustee and officer is Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110. As used below, “EVC” refers to Eaton Vance Corp., “EV” refers to Eaton Vance, Inc., “EVM” refers to Eaton Vance Management, “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 EVM and BMR. Each officer affiliated with Eaton Vance may hold a position with other Eaton Vance affiliates that is comparable to his or her position with EVM listed below. Each Trustee oversees 144 portfolios (with the exception of Messrs. Faust and Wennerholm and Ms. Frost who oversee 143 portfolios) in the Eaton Vance Complex (including all master and feeder funds in a master feeder structure). Each officer serves as an officer of certain other Eaton Vance funds.

 

Name and Year of Birth    Position(s)
with the
Fund
     Term Expiring;
Trustee  Since
(1)
     Principal Occupation(s) and Directorships
During Past Five Years and Other Relevant Experience
Interested Trustee

Thomas E. Faust Jr.

1958

  

Class I

Trustee

    

Until 2023.

Trustee since 2007.

    

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of EVC, Director and President of EV, Chief Executive Officer and President of EVM and BMR, and Director of EVD. Trustee and/or officer of 143 registered investment companies. Mr. Faust is an interested person because of his positions with EVM, BMR, EVD, EVC and EV, which are affiliates of the Fund.

Directorships in the Last Five Years. Director of EVC and Hexavest Inc. (investment management firm).

Noninterested Trustees

Mark R. Fetting

1954

  

Class III

Trustee

    

Until 2022.

Trustee since

2016.

    

Private investor. Formerly held various positions at Legg Mason, Inc. (investment management firm) (2000-2012), including President, Chief Executive Officer, Director and Chairman (2008-2012), Senior Executive Vice President (2004-2008) and Executive Vice President (2001-2004). Formerly, President of Legg Mason family of funds (2001-2008). Formerly, Division President and Senior Officer of Prudential Financial Group, Inc. and related companies (investment management firm) (1991-2000).

Other Directorships in the Last Five Years. None.

Cynthia E. Frost

1961

  

Class I

Trustee

    

Until 2023.

Trustee since 2014.

    

Private investor. Formerly, Chief Investment Officer of Brown University (university endowment) (2000-2012). Formerly, Portfolio Strategist for Duke Management Company (university endowment manager) (1995-2000). Formerly, Managing Director, Cambridge Associates (investment consulting company) (1989-1995). Formerly, Consultant, Bain and Company (management consulting firm) (1987-1989). Formerly, Senior Equity Analyst, BA Investment Management Company (1983-1985).

Other Directorships in the Last Five Years. None.

George J. Gorman

1952

  

Class II

Trustee

    

Until 2021.

Trustee since 2014.

    

Principal at George J. Gorman LLC (consulting firm). Formerly, Senior Partner at Ernst & Young LLP (a registered public accounting firm) (1974-2009).

Other Directorships in the Last Five Years. Formerly, Trustee of the BofA Funds Series Trust (11 funds) (2011-2014) and of the Ashmore Funds (9 funds) (2010-2014).

Valerie A. Mosley

1960

  

Class III

Trustee

    

Until 2022.

Trustee since 2014.

    

Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer of Valmo Ventures (a consulting and investment firm). Formerly, Partner and Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager and Investment Strategist at Wellington Management Company, LLP (investment management firm) (1992-2012). Formerly, Chief Investment Officer, PG Corbin Asset Management (1990-1992). Formerly worked in institutional corporate bond sales at Kidder Peabody (1986-1990).

Other Directorships in the Last Five Years. Director of DraftKings, Inc.

(digital sports entertainment and gaming company) (since September 2020). Director of Groupon, Inc. (e-commerce provider) (since April 2020). Director of Envestnet, Inc. (provider of intelligent systems for wealth management and financial wellness) (since 2018). Formerly, Director of Dynex Capital, Inc. (mortgage REIT) (2013-2020).

 

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Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

December 31, 2020

 

Management and Organization — continued

 

 

Name and Year of Birth    Position(s)
with the
Fund
     Term Expiring;
Trustee  Since
(1)
     Principal Occupation(s) and Directorships
During Past Five Years and Other Relevant Experience
Noninterested Trustees (continued)

William H. Park

1947

   Chairperson of the Board and Class II Trustee     

Until 2021.

Chairperson of the Board since 2016 and Trustee since 2003.

    

Private investor. Formerly, Consultant (management and transactional) (2012-2014). Formerly, Chief Financial Officer, Aveon Group L.P. (investment management firm) (2010-2011). Formerly, Vice Chairman, Commercial Industrial Finance Corp. (specialty finance company) (2006-2010). Formerly, President and Chief Executive Officer, Prizm Capital Management, LLC (investment management firm) (2002-2005). Formerly, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, United Asset Management Corporation (investment management firm) (1982-2001). Formerly, Senior Manager, Price Waterhouse (now PricewaterhouseCoopers) (a registered public accounting firm) (1972-1981).

Other Directorships in the Last Five Years. None.

Helen Frame Peters

1948

  

Class II

Trustee

    

Until 2021.

Trustee since 2008.

    

Professor of Finance, Carroll School of Management, Boston College. Formerly, Dean, Carroll School of Management, Boston College (2000-2002). Formerly, Chief Investment Officer, Fixed Income, Scudder Kemper Investments (investment management firm) (1998-1999). Formerly, Chief Investment Officer, Equity and Fixed Income, Colonial Management Associates (investment management firm) (1991-1998).

Other Directorships in the Last Five Years. None.

Keith Quinton

1958

  

Class I

Trustee

    

Until 2023.

Trustee since 2018.

    

Private investor, researcher and lecturer. Independent Investment Committee Member at New Hampshire Retirement System (since 2017). Formerly, Portfolio Manager and Senior Quantitative Analyst at Fidelity Investments (investment management firm) (2001-2014).

Other Directorships in the Last Five Years. Director (since 2016) and

Chairman (since 2019) of New Hampshire Municipal Bond Bank.

Marcus L. Smith

1966

  

Class III

Trustee

    

Until 2022.

Trustee since 2018.

    

Private investor. Member of Posse Boston Advisory Board (foundation) (since 2015). Formerly, Portfolio Manager at MFS Investment Management (investment management firm) (1994-2017).

Other Directorships in the Last Five Years. Director of MSCI Inc. (global provider of investment decision support tools) (since 2017). Formerly, Director of DCT Industrial Trust Inc. (logistics real estate company) (2017-2018).

Susan J. Sutherland

1957

  

Class II

Trustee

    

Until 2021.

Trustee since 2015.

    

Private investor. Director of Ascot Group Limited and certain of its subsidiaries (insurance and reinsurance) (since 2017). Formerly, Director of Hagerty Holding Corp. (insurance and reinsurance) (2015-2018). Formerly, Associate, Counsel and Partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (law firm) (1982-2013).

Other Directorships in the Last Five Years. Director of Kairos Acquisition Corp. (insurance/InsurTech acquisition company) (since 2021). Formerly, Director of Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd. (global provider of customized insurance and reinsurance products) (2013-2015).

Scott E. Wennerholm

1959

  

Class I

Trustee

    

Until 2023.

Trustee since 2016.

    

Private Investor. Formerly, Trustee at Wheelock College (postsecondary institution) (2012-2018). Formerly, Consultant at GF Parish Group (executive recruiting firm) (2016-2017). Formerly, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President at BNY Mellon Asset Management (investment management firm) (2005-2011). Formerly, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at Natixis Global Asset Management (investment management firm) (1997-2004). Formerly, Vice President at Fidelity Investments Institutional Services (investment management firm) (1994-1997).

Other Directorships in the Last Five Years. None.

 

Name and Year of Birth    Position(s)
with the
Fund
     Officer
Since
(2)
     Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years
Principal Officers who are not Trustees

Edward J. Perkin

1972

   President      2014      Vice President and Chief Equity Investment Officer of EVM and BMR. Also Vice President of Calvert Research and Management (“CRM”).

 

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Eaton Vance

Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

December 31, 2020

 

Management and Organization — continued

 

 

Name and Year of Birth    Position(s)
with the
Fund
     Officer
Since
(2)
     Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years
Principal Officers who are not Trustees (continued)

Deidre E. Walsh

1971

   Vice President      2009      Vice President of EVM and BMR.

Maureen A. Gemma

1960

   Secretary and Chief Legal Officer      2005      Vice President of EVM and BMR. Also Vice President of CRM.

James F. Kirchner

1967

   Treasurer      2007      Vice President of EVM and BMR. Also Vice President of CRM.

Richard F. Froio

1968

   Chief Compliance Officer      2017      Vice President of EVM and BMR since 2017. Formerly Deputy Chief Compliance Officer (Adviser/Funds) and Chief Compliance Officer (Distribution) at PIMCO (2012-2017) and Managing Director at BlackRock/Barclays Global Investors (2009-2012).

 

(1) 

Year first appointed to serve as Trustee for a fund in the Eaton Vance family of funds. Each Trustee has served continuously since appointment unless indicated otherwise.

(2) 

Year first elected to serve as officer of a fund in the Eaton Vance family of funds when the officer has served continuously. Otherwise, year of most recent election as an officer of a fund in the Eaton Vance family of funds. Titles may have changed since initial election. Each officer serves until his or her successor is elected.

 

  33  


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Eaton Vance Funds

 

IMPORTANT NOTICES

 

 

Privacy.  The Eaton Vance organization is committed to ensuring your financial privacy. Each entity listed below has adopted privacy policy and procedures (“Privacy Program”) Eaton Vance believes is reasonably designed to protect your personal information and to govern when and with whom Eaton Vance may share your personal information.

 

 

At the time of opening an account, Eaton Vance generally requires you to provide us with certain information such as name, address, social security number, tax status, account numbers, and account balances. This information is necessary for us to both open an account for you and to allow us to satisfy legal requirements such as applicable anti-money laundering reviews and know-your-customer requirements.

 

 

On an ongoing basis, in the normal course of servicing your account, Eaton Vance may share your information with unaffiliated third parties that perform various services for Eaton Vance and/or your account. These third parties include transfer agents, custodians, broker/dealers and our professional advisers including auditors, accountants, and legal counsel. Eaton Vance may share your personal information with our affiliates. Eaton Vance may also share your information as required or permitted by applicable law.

 

 

We have adopted a Privacy Program we believe is reasonably designed to protect the confidentiality of your personal information and to prevent unauthorized access to your information.

 

 

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

Our pledge of protecting your personal information applies to the following entities within the Eaton Vance organization: the Eaton Vance Family of Funds, Eaton Vance Management, Eaton Vance WaterOak Advisors, Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc., Eaton Vance Trust Company, Eaton Vance Management (International) Limited, Eaton Vance Advisers International Ltd., Eaton Vance Global Advisors Limited, Eaton Vance Management’s Real Estate Investment Group, Boston Management and Research, Calvert Research and Management, and Calvert Funds. This notice supersedes all previously issued privacy disclosures. For more information about Eaton Vance’s Privacy Program or about how your personal information may be used, please call 1-800-262-1122.

Delivery of Shareholder Documents.  The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) permits funds to deliver only one copy of shareholder documents, including prospectuses, proxy statements and shareholder reports, to fund investors with multiple accounts at the same residential or post office box address. This practice is often called “householding” and it helps eliminate duplicate mailings to shareholders. American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (“AST”), the closed-end funds transfer agent, or your financial intermediary, may household the mailing of your documents indefinitely unless you instruct AST, or your financial intermediary, otherwise. If you would prefer that your Eaton Vance documents not be householded, please contact AST or your financial intermediary. Your instructions that householding not apply to delivery of your Eaton Vance documents will typically be effective within 30 days of receipt by AST or your financial intermediary.

Portfolio Holdings.  Each Eaton Vance Fund and its underlying Portfolio(s) (if applicable) files a schedule of portfolio holdings on Part F to Form N-PORT with the SEC. Certain information filed on Form N-PORT may be viewed on the Eaton Vance website at www.eatonvance.com, by calling Eaton Vance at 1-800-262-1122 or in the EDGAR database on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Proxy Voting.  From time to time, funds are required to vote proxies related to the securities held by the funds. The Eaton Vance Funds or their underlying Portfolios (if applicable) vote proxies according to a set of policies and procedures approved by the Funds’ and Portfolios’ Boards. You may obtain a description of these policies and procedures and information on how the Funds or Portfolios voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-262-1122 and by accessing the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Share Repurchase Program.  The Fund’s Board of Trustees has approved a share repurchase program authorizing the Fund to repurchase up to 10% of its common shares outstanding as of the last day of the prior calendar year in open-market transactions at a discount to net asset value. The repurchase program does not obligate the Fund to purchase a specific amount of shares. The Fund’s repurchase activity, including the number of shares purchased, average price and average discount to net asset value, is disclosed in the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders.

Additional Notice to Shareholders.  If applicable, a Fund may also redeem or purchase its outstanding preferred shares in order to maintain compliance with regulatory requirements, borrowing or rating agency requirements or for other purposes as it deems appropriate or necessary.

Closed-End Fund Information.  Eaton Vance closed-end funds make fund performance data and certain information about portfolio characteristics available on the Eaton Vance website shortly after the end of each month. Other information about the funds is available on the website. The funds’ net asset value per share is readily accessible on the Eaton Vance website. Portfolio holdings for the most recent month-end are also posted to the website approximately 30 days following the end of the month. This information is available at www.eatonvance.com on the fund information pages under “Individual Investors — Closed-End Funds”.

 

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Investment Adviser and Administrator

Eaton Vance Management

Two International Place

Boston, MA 02110

Custodian

State Street Bank and Trust Company

State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

Transfer Agent

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

6201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11219

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Deloitte & Touche LLP

200 Berkeley Street

Boston, MA 02116-5022

Fund Offices

Two International Place

Boston, MA 02110

 

 


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LOGO

 

LOGO

3079    12.31.20


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Item 2.

Code of Ethics

The registrant (sometimes referred to as the “Fund”) has adopted a code of ethics applicable to its Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer. The registrant undertakes to provide a copy of such code of ethics to any person upon request, without charge, by calling 1-800-262-1122. The registrant has not amended the code of ethics as described in Form N-CSR during the period covered by this report. The registrant has not granted any waiver, including an implicit waiver, from a provision of the code of ethics as described in Form N-CSR during the period covered by this report.

 

Item 3.

Audit Committee Financial Expert

The registrant’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) has designated George J. Gorman and William H. Park, each an independent trustee, as audit committee financial experts. Mr. Gorman is a certified public accountant who is the Principal at George J. Gorman LLC (a consulting firm). Previously, Mr. Gorman served in various capacities at Ernst & Young LLP (a registered public accounting firm), including as Senior Partner. Mr. Gorman


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also has experience serving as an independent trustee and audit committee financial expert of other mutual fund complexes. Mr. Park is a certified public accountant who is a private investor. Previously, he served as a consultant, as the Chief Financial Officer of Aveon Group, L.P. (an investment management firm), as the Vice Chairman of Commercial Industrial Finance Corp. (specialty finance company), as President and Chief Executive Officer of Prizm Capital Management, LLC (investment management firm), as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of United Asset Management Corporation (an institutional investment management firm) and as a Senior Manager at Price Waterhouse (now PricewaterhouseCoopers) (a registered public accounting firm).

 

Item 4.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

(a)–(d)

The following table presents the aggregate fees billed to the registrant for the registrant’s fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020 by the registrant’s principal accountant, Deloitte & Touche LLP (“D&T”), for professional services rendered for the audit of the registrant’s annual financial statements and fees billed for other services rendered by D&T during such periods.

 

Fiscal Years Ended

   12/31/19      12/31/20  

Audit Fees

   $ 50,200      $ 50,200  

Audit-Related Fees(1)

   $ 0      $ 0  

Tax Fees(2)

   $ 12,214      $ 7,704  

All Other Fees(3)

   $ 0      $ 0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 62,414      $ 57,904  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) 

Audit-related fees consist of the aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of financial statements and are not reported under the category of audit fees.

(2) 

Tax fees consist of the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant relating to tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning and specifically include fees for tax return preparation and other related tax compliance/planning matters.

(3) 

All other fees consist of the aggregate fees billed for products and services provided by the principal accountant other than audit, audit-related, and tax services.

(e)(1) The registrant’s audit committee has adopted policies and procedures relating to the pre-approval of services provided by the registrant’s principal accountant (the “Pre-Approval Policies”). The Pre-Approval Policies establish a framework intended to assist the audit committee in the proper discharge of its pre-approval responsibilities. As a general matter, the Pre-Approval Policies (i) specify certain types of audit, audit-related, tax, and other services determined to be pre-approved by the audit committee; and (ii) delineate specific procedures governing the mechanics of the pre-approval process, including the approval and monitoring of audit and non-audit service fees. Unless a service is specifically pre-approved under the Pre-Approval Policies, it must be separately pre-approved by the audit committee.

The Pre-Approval Policies and the types of audit and non-audit services pre-approved therein must be reviewed and ratified by the registrant’s audit committee at least annually. The registrant’s audit committee maintains full responsibility for the appointment, compensation, and oversight of the work of the registrant’s principal accountant.


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(e)(2) No services described in paragraphs (b)-(d) above were approved by the registrant’s audit committee pursuant to the “de minimis exception” set forth in Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X.

(f) Not applicable.

(g) The following table presents (i) the aggregate non-audit fees (i.e., fees for audit-related, tax, and other services) billed to the registrant by D&T for the registrant’s fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020; and (ii) the aggregate non-audit fees (i.e., fees for audit-related, tax, and other services) billed to the Eaton Vance organization by D&T for the same time periods.

 

Fiscal Years Ended

   12/31/19      12/31/20  

Registrant

   $ 12,214      $ 7,704  

Eaton Vance(1)

   $ 59,903      $ 150,300  

 

(1) 

The investment adviser to the registrant, as well as any of its affiliates that provide ongoing services to the registrant, are subsidiaries of Eaton Vance Corp.

(h) The registrant’s audit committee has considered whether the provision by the registrant’s principal accountant of non-audit services to the registrant’s investment adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were not pre-approved pursuant to Rule 2-01(c)(7)(ii) of Regulation S-X is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence.

 

Item 5.

Audit Committee of Listed Registrants

The registrant has a separately-designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. George J. Gorman (Chair), William H. Park, Helen Frame Peters and Scott E. Wennerholm are the members of the registrant’s audit committee.

 

Item 6.

Schedule of Investments

Please see schedule of investments contained in the Report to Stockholders included under Item 1 of this Form N-CSR.

 

Item 7.

Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies

The Board of the Fund has adopted a proxy voting policy and procedure (the “Fund Policy”), pursuant to which the trustees have delegated proxy voting responsibility to the Fund’s investment adviser and adopted the investment adviser’s proxy voting policies and procedures (the “Policies”) which are described below. The trustees will review the Policies annually. In the event that a conflict of interest arises between the Fund’s shareholders and the investment adviser, the administrator, or any of their affiliates or any affiliate of the Fund, the investment adviser will generally refrain from voting the proxies related to the companies giving rise to such conflict until it consults with the Board, or any committee, sub-committee or group of independent trustees identified by the Board, which will instruct the investment adviser on the appropriate course of action. If the Board Members are unable to meet and the failure to vote a proxy would have a material adverse impact on the Fund, the investment adviser may vote such proxy, provided that it discloses the existence of the material conflict to the Chairperson of the Fund’s Board as soon as practicable and to the Board at its next meeting.


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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. An independent proxy voting service (“Agent”), currently Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc., has been retained to assist in the voting of proxies through the provision of vote analysis, implementation and recordkeeping and disclosure services. The investment adviser will generally vote proxies through the Agent. The Agent is required to vote all proxies in accordance with customized proxy voting guidelines (the “Guidelines”) and/or refer them back to the investment adviser pursuant to the Policies.

The Agent is required to establish and maintain adequate internal controls and policies in connection with the provision of proxy voting services, including methods to reasonably ensure that its analysis and recommendations are not influenced by a conflict of interest. The Guidelines 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 investment adviser may cause the Fund to 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 or it is unable to access or access timely ballots or other proxy information, among other stated reasons. The Agent will refer Fund proxies to the investment adviser for instructions under circumstances where, among others: (1) the application of the Guidelines is unclear; (2) a particular proxy question is not covered by the Guidelines; or (3) the Guidelines require input from the investment adviser. When a proxy voting issue has been referred to the investment adviser, the analyst (or portfolio manager if applicable) covering the company subject to the proxy proposal determines the final vote (or decision not to vote) and the investment adviser’s Proxy Administrator (described below) instructs the Agent to vote accordingly for securities held by the Fund. Where more than one analyst covers a particular company and the recommendations of such analysts voting a proposal conflict, the investment adviser’s Global Proxy Group (described below) will review such recommendations and any other available information related to the proposal and determine the manner in which it should be voted, which may result in different recommendations for the Fund that may differ from other clients of the investment adviser.

The investment adviser has appointed a Proxy Administrator to assist in the coordination of the voting of client proxies (including the Fund’s) in accordance with the Guidelines and the Policies. The investment adviser and its affiliates have also established a Global Proxy Group. The Global Proxy Group develops the investment adviser’s positions on all major corporate issues, creates the Guidelines and oversees the proxy voting process. The Proxy Administrator maintains a record of all proxy questions that have been referred by the Agent, all applicable recommendations, analysis and research received and any resolution of the matter. Before instructing the Agent to vote contrary to the Guidelines or the recommendation of the Agent, the Proxy Administrator will provide the Global Proxy Group with the Agent’s recommendation for the proposal along with any other relevant materials, including the basis for the analyst’s recommendation. The Proxy Administrator will then instruct the Agent to vote the proxy in the manner determined by the Global Proxy Group. A similar process will be followed if the Agent has a conflict of interest with respect to a proxy. The investment adviser will report to the Fund’s Board any votes cast contrary to the Guidelines or Agent recommendations, as applicable, no less than annually.

The investment adviser’s Global Proxy Group is responsible for monitoring and resolving possible material conflicts with respect to proxy voting. Because the Guidelines are predetermined and designed to be in the best interests of shareholders, application of the Guidelines to vote client proxies should, in most cases, adequately address any possible conflict of interest. The investment adviser will monitor situations that may result in a conflict of interest between any of its clients and the investment adviser or any of its affiliates by maintaining a list of significant existing and prospective corporate clients. The Proxy Administrator will compare such list with the names of companies of which he or she has been referred a proxy statement (the “Proxy Companies”). If a company on the list is also a Proxy Company, the Proxy Administrator will report that fact to the Global Proxy Group. If the Proxy Administrator intends to instruct the Agent to vote in a manner inconsistent with the Guidelines, the Global Proxy Group will first determine, in consultation with legal counsel if necessary, whether a material conflict exists. If it is determined that a material conflict exists, the investment adviser will


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seek instruction on how the proxy should be voted from the Fund’s Board, or any committee or subcommittee identified by the Board. If a matter is referred to the Global Proxy Group, the decision made and basis for the decision will be documented by the Proxy Administrator and/or Global Proxy Group.

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

 

Item 8.

Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies

Eaton Vance Management (“EVM” or “Eaton Vance”) is the investment adviser of the Fund. Michael A. Allison and G.R. Nelson are responsible for the overall and day-to-day management of the Fund’s investments. Mr. Allison is a Vice President of EVM, has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since July 2007 and has managed other Eaton Vance portfolios for more than five years. Mr. Nelson is a Vice President of Eaton Vance, has been employed by Eaton Vance for more than five years and has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since December 2019. This information is provided as of the date of filing this report.

The following table shows, as of the Fund’s most recent fiscal year end, the number of accounts each portfolio manager managed in each of the listed categories and the total assets (in millions of dollars) in the accounts managed within each category. The table also shows the number of accounts with respect to which the advisory fee is based on the performance of the account, if any, and the total assets (in millions of dollars) in those accounts.

 

     Number
of All
Accounts
     Total Assets of
All
Accounts
    Number of Accounts
Paying a
Performance Fee
     Total Assets
of Accounts Paying
a Performance Fee
 

Michael A. Allison(1)

          

Registered Investment Companies

     17      $ 44,469.2       0      $ 0  

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

     14      $ 31,114.2 (2)      0      $ 0  

Other Accounts

     1      $ 0.5       0      $ 0  

G.R. Nelson

          

Registered Investment Companies

     3      $ 3,266.0       0      $ 0  

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

     0      $ 0       0      $ 0  

Other Accounts

     1      $ 1.4       0      $ 0  

 

(1) 

This portfolio manager serves as portfolio manager of one or more registered investment companies that invests or may invest in one or more underlying registered investment companies in the Eaton Vance family of funds or other pooled investment vehicles sponsored by Eaton Vance. The underlying investment companies may be managed by this portfolio manager or another portfolio manager.

(2) 

Certain of these “Other Pooled Investment Vehicles” invest a substantial portion of their assets either in a registered investment company in the Eaton Vance family of funds and/or in a separate pooled investment vehicle sponsored by Eaton Vance which may be managed by this portfolio manager or another portfolio manager.

The following table shows the dollar range of Fund shares beneficially owned by each portfolio manager as of the Fund’s most recent fiscal year end.

 

Portfolio Manager

   Dollar Range of Equity Securities
Beneficially Owned in the Fund

Michael A. Allison

   $10,001-$50,000

G.R. Nelson

   None


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Potential for Conflicts of Interest. It is possible that conflicts of interest may arise in connection with a portfolio manager’s management of the Fund’s investments on the one hand and the investments of other accounts for which a portfolio manager is responsible on the other. For example, a portfolio manager may have conflicts of interest in allocating management time, resources and investment opportunities among the Fund and other accounts he advises. In addition, due to differences in the investment strategies or restrictions between the Fund and the other accounts, the portfolio manager may take action with respect to another account that differs from the action taken with respect to the Fund. In some cases, another account managed by a portfolio manager may compensate the investment adviser based on the performance of the securities held by that account. The existence of such a performance based fee may create additional conflicts of interest for the portfolio manager in the allocation of management time, resources and investment opportunities. Whenever conflicts of interest arise, the portfolio manager will endeavor to exercise his discretion in a manner that he believes is equitable to all interested persons. EVM has adopted several policies and procedures designed to address these potential conflicts including a code of ethics and policies that govern the investment adviser’s trading practices, including among other things the aggregation and allocation of trades among clients, brokerage allocations, cross trades and best execution.

Compensation Structure for EVM

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

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

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


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

 

Item 9.

Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers

No such purchases this period.

 

Item 10.

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

No material changes.

 

Item 11.

Controls and Procedures

(a) It is the conclusion of the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer that the effectiveness of the registrant’s current disclosure controls and procedures (such disclosure controls and procedures having been evaluated within 90 days of the date of this filing) provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by the registrant has been recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time period specified in the Commission’s rules and forms and that the information required to be disclosed by the registrant has been accumulated and communicated to the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer in order to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(b) There have been no changes in the registrant’s internal controls over financial reporting during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 12.

Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies

No activity to report for the registrant’s most recent fiscal year end.

 

Item 13.

Exhibits

 

(a)(1)

   Registrant’s Code of Ethics – Not applicable (please see Item 2).

(a)(2)(i)

   Treasurer’s Section 302 certification.

(a)(2)(ii)  

   President’s Section 302 certification.

(b)

   Combined Section 906 certification.

(c)

   Registrant’s notices to shareholders pursuant to Registrant’s exemptive order granting an exemption from Section  19(b) of the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1 thereunder regarding distributions paid pursuant to the Registrant’s Managed Distribution Plan.

 


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Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Eaton Vance Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

 

By:  

/s/ Edward J. Perkin

  Edward J. Perkin
  President
Date:   February 24, 2021

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By:  

/s/ James F. Kirchner

  James F. Kirchner
  Treasurer
Date:   February 24, 2021
By:  

/s/ Edward J. Perkin

  Edward J. Perkin
  President
Date:   February 24, 2021