497K 1 cssp.htm COMMODITY STRATEGY FUND SUMMARY PROSPECTUS DTD 4/7/2010 REVISED 9/10/2010 cssp.htm - Generated by SEC Publisher for SEC Filing

Summary Prospectus dated April 7, 2010
as revised September 10, 2010

Eaton Vance Commodity Strategy Fund
Class /Ticker     A/EACSX      C/ECCSX      I/EICSX

This Summary Prospectus is designed to provide investors with key fund information in a clear and concise format. Before you invest, you may want to review the Fund’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, which contain more information about the Fund and its risks. The Fund’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, both dated April 7, 2010, as supplemented, are incorporated by reference into this Summary Prospectus. For free paper or electronic copies of the Fund’s Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information, and other information about the Fund, go to http://funddocuments.eatonvance.com, email a request to contact@eatonvance.com, call 1-800-262-1122, or ask any financial advisor, bank, or broker-dealer who offers shares of the Fund. Unless otherwise noted, page number references refer to the current Prospectus for this Fund.

Investment Objective

The Fund’s investment objective is total return.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for a reduced sales charge if you invest, or agree to invest over a 13-month period, at least $50,000 in Eaton Vance Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial intermediary and in Sales Charges beginning on page 17 of the Fund’s Prospectus and page 33 of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)  Class A  Class C  Class I 

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of offering price)  4.75% None None
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the lower of net asset value at purchase or redemption)  None 1.00% None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)  Class A  Class C  Class I 
Management Fees of the Fund and Subsidiary  1.05% 1.05% 1.05%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees  0.25% 1.00% n/a
Other Expenses (of the Fund and Subsidiary) (estimated) 
Other Expenses of the Fund  0.36% 0.36% 0.36%
Other Expenses of the Subsidiary  0.03% 0.03% 0.03%
Total Other Expenses  0.39% 0.39% 0.39%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses  1.69% 2.44% 1.44%
Less Expense Reimbursement(1)  (0.19)% (0.19)% (0.19)%
Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses  1.50% 2.25% 1.25%

 

(1)      The investment adviser, sub-adviser and administrator have agreed to reimburse the Fund’s expenses to the extent that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses exceed 1.50% for Class A shares, 2.25% for Class C shares and 1.25% for Class I shares. This expense reimbursement will continue through April 30, 2011. The expense reimbursement relates to ordinary operating expenses only and amounts reimbursed may be subject to recoupment during the current fiscal year to the extent expenses are less than the contractual expense cap.

Example. This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

  Expenses with Redemption  Expenses without Redemption 

  1 Year  3 Years  1 Year  3 Years 

   Class A shares  $620 $965 $620 $965
   Class C shares  $328 $742 $228 $742
   Class I shares  $127 $437 $127 $437

 

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance.


Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund will invest primarily in commodity-linked derivative instruments backed by a portfolio of long and short positions in fixed income securities. Commodity-linked derivative instruments include commodity index-linked swap agreements, commodity index-linked notes (“structured notes”), commodity options and futures and options on futures that provide exposure to the investment returns of the commodities markets, without investing directly in physical commodities. The Fund initially expects to pursue its investment objective primarily through investments in commodity-linked derivative instruments, global inflation-linked bonds and emerging market bonds. The Fund will seek to gain exposure to the commodity markets, in whole or in part, through investments in Eaton Vance CSF Commodity Subsidiary, Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Fund organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Subsidiary”) with the same objective and principal investment strategies as the Fund. The commodity-linked derivative instruments in which the Fund expects to invest are intended to provide returns based on the performance of a specified commodities index or reference basket of commodities. The Fund initially expects to provide exposure to a broad basket of commodities and returns that correspond to the performance of the Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index Total Return ("DJ-UBS Commodity Index"). The Fund may over-weight or under-weight its exposure to a particular commodity index, or a subset of commodities, such that the Fund has greater or lesser exposure to that index than the value of the Fund’s net assets, or greater or lesser exposure to a subset of commodities than is represented by a particular commodity index. The Fund initially seeks to generate returns comparable to the DJ-UBS Commodity Index with moderate volatility around the Index. Commodity index-linked notes may be leveraged or unleveraged. The Fund expects to hold its investments in particular sectors of the commodities markets; however, the Fund will not hold more than 25% of its assets in issuers in any one industry. The individual components of an index will be considered as separate industries for this purpose.

The average portfolio duration of the Fund’s fixed income portfolio will vary based primarily on the sub-adviser’s interest rate outlook, and under normal market conditions is not expected to exceed ten years and may have negative duration. Initially, the Fund expects to maintain a duration of less than or equal to four years. The Fund may invest in securities and instruments that are economically tied to emerging market countries. The Fund may invest up to 33% of its total assets in securities denominated in foreign currencies and may invest beyond this limit in U.S. dollar denominated securities of foreign issuers. The Fund may invest in high yield securities ("junk bonds") rated B or higher by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., or equivalently rated by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services or Fitch, Inc., or, if unrated, determined by the sub-adviser to be of comparable quality. The Fund may, without limitation, seek to obtain market exposure to the securities in which it primarily invests by entering into a series of purchase and sale contracts or by using other investment techniques (such as buy back or dollar rolls). The Fund may purchase and sell securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis and may engage in short sales.

Principal Risks

Risks of Commodity-Related Investments. The value of commodities investments will generally be affected by overall market movements and factors specific to a particular industry or commodity, which may include weather, embargoes, tariffs, and health, political, international and regulatory developments. Economic and other events (whether real or perceived) can reduce the demand for commodities, which may reduce market prices and cause the value of Fund shares to fall. The frequency and magnitude of such changes cannot be predicted. Exposure to commodities and commodities markets may subject the Fund to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. No active trading market may exist for certain commodities investments, which may impair the ability of the Fund to sell or to realize the full value of such investments in the event of the need to liquidate such investments. In addition, adverse market conditions may impair the liquidity of actively traded commodities investments. Certain types of commodities instruments (such as total return swaps and commodity-linked notes) are subject to the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or will be unable to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument. To the extent commodity-related investments are held through an offshore subsidiary of the Fund, such subsidiary will not be subject to U.S. laws (including securities laws) and their protections. An offshore subsidiary will be subject to the laws of a foreign jurisdiction, which can be affected by developments in that jurisdiction.

Derivatives Risk. The use of derivatives can lead to losses because of adverse movements in the price or value of the asset, index, rate or instrument underlying a derivative, due to failure of a counterparty or due to tax or regulatory constraints. Derivatives may create investment leverage in the Fund, which magnifies the Fund’s exposure to the underlying investment. Derivatives for hedging purposes may not reduce risk if they are not sufficiently correlated to the position being hedged. The use of derivatives involves the exercise of specialized skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived transaction may be unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected events. Derivative instruments may be difficult to value, may be illiquid, and may be subject to wide swings in valuation caused by changes in the value of the underlying instrument. The loss on derivative transactions may substantially exceed the initial investment.

Counterparty Risk. A financial institution or other counterparty with whom the Fund does business may decline in financial condition and become unable to honor its commitments. This could cause the value of Fund shares to decline and/or the Fund could experience delays in the return or delivery of collateral or other assets held by the counterparty.

Eaton Vance Commodity Strategy Fund  2 Summary Prospectus dated April 7, 2010, as revised September 10, 2010

 


Tracking Error Risk. Tracking error risk refers to the risk that the Fund’s performance may not match or correlate to that of the DJ-UBS Commodity Index, either on a daily or aggregate basis. Factors such as Fund expenses, imperfect correlation between the Fund’s investments and the DJ-UBS Commodity Index, rounding of share prices, changes to the composition of the DJ-UBS Commodity Index, regulatory policies, high portfolio turnover rate and the use of leverage all contribute to tracking error. Tracking error risk may cause the Fund’s performance to be less than expected.

Correlation Risk. Changes in the value of a hedging instrument may not match those of the investment being hedged. Commodity-linked structured notes may be structured in a way that results in the Fund’s performance significantly diverging from the DJ–UBS Commodity Index.

Market Risk. Economic and other events (whether real or perceived) can reduce the demand for certain income securities, or for investments generally, which may reduce market prices and cause the value of Fund shares to fall. The frequency and magnitude of such changes cannot be predicted. Certain income securities can experience downturns in trading activity and, at such times, the supply of such instruments in the market may exceed the demand. At other times, the demand for such instruments may exceed the supply in the market. An imbalance in supply and demand in the market may result in valuation uncertainties and greater volatility, less liquidity, widening credit spreads and a lack of price transparency in the market. No active trading market may exist for certain investments, which may impair the ability of the Fund to sell or to realize the full value of such investments in the event of the need to liquidate such assets. Adverse market conditions may impair the liquidity of some actively traded investments.

Interest Rate Risk. As interest rates rise, the value of certain income investments is likely to decline. Conversely, when interest rates decline, the value of such investments is likely to rise. Investments with longer maturities typically offer higher yields, but involve greater risk because the prices of such investments are more sensitive to changes in interest rates than investments with shorter maturities. In a declining interest rate environment, prepayments of investments may increase if the issuer has the ability to pre-pay or "call" the investment. In such circumstances, the Fund may have to reinvest the prepayment proceeds at lower yields.

Credit Risk. Income securities are subject to the risk of non-payment of scheduled principal and interest. Changes in economic conditions or other circumstances may reduce the capacity of the party obligated to make principal and interest payments on such instruments and may lead to defaults. Such non-payments and defaults may reduce the value of Fund shares and income distributions. The value of a fixed income security also may decline because of concerns about the issuer’s ability to make principal and interest payments. In addition, the credit ratings of income securities may be lowered if the financial condition of the party obligated to make payments with respect to such instruments changes. In the event of bankruptcy of the issuer of income securities, the Fund could experience delays or limitations with respect to its ability to realize the benefits of any collateral securing the instrument. In order to enforce its rights in the event of a default, bankruptcy or similar situation, the Fund may be required to retain legal or similar counsel.

Duration Risk.  Duration measures the expected life of a fixed-income security, which can determine its sensitivity to changes in the general level of interest rates. Securities with longer durations tend to be more sensitive to interest rate changes than securities with shorter durations. A mutual fund with a longer dollar-weighted average duration can be expected to be more sensitive to interest rate changes than a fund with a shorter dollar-weighted average duration. Duration differs from maturity in that it considers a security’s coupon payments in addition to the amount of time until the security matures. As the value of a security changes over time, so will its duration.  A portfolio with negative duration generally incurs a loss when interest rates and yield fall.

Risk of Lower Rated Investments. Investments rated below investment grade and comparable unrated investments (commonly referred to as "junk bonds") have speculative characteristics because of the credit risk associated with their issuers. Changes in economic conditions or other circumstances typically have a greater effect on the ability of issuers of lower rated investments to make principal and interest payments than they do on issuers of higher rated investments. An economic downturn generally leads to a higher non-payment rate, and a lower rated investment may lose significant value before a default occurs. Lower rated investments generally are subject to greater price volatility and illiquidity than higher rated investments.

Leverage Risk. Borrowing to increase investments ("leverage") may exaggerate the effect on the Fund’s net asset value of any increase or decrease in the value of the security purchased with the borrowings. Successful use of a leveraging strategy depends on the investment adviser’s ability to predict correctly interest rates and market movements. There can be no assurance that the use of leverage will be successful. In connection with its borrowing, the Fund will be required to maintain specified asset coverage with respect to such borrowing by both the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the terms of its credit facility with the lender. The Fund may be required to dispose of portfolio investments on unfavorable terms if market fluctuations or other factors reduce the required asset coverage to less than the prescribed amount. Borrowings involve additional expense to the Fund.

Short Sale Risk. Short sale risk includes, among other things, the potential loss of more money than the actual cost of the investment, and the risk that the third party to the short sale may fail to honor its contract terms, causing a loss to the Fund.

Foreign Investment Risk. Because the Fund can invest a significant portion of its assets in foreign instruments, the value of Fund shares can be adversely affected by changes in currency exchange rates and political and economic developments abroad. In emerging or less developed countries, these risks can be more significant. Investment markets in emerging market countries are substantially smaller, less liquid and more volatile than the major markets in developed countries, and as a result, Fund share values may be more volatile. Emerging market countries may have relatively unstable governments and economies. Emerging market investments often are subject to speculative trading, which typically contributes to volatility. Trading in foreign and emerging 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.

Eaton Vance Commodity Strategy Fund  3 Summary Prospectus dated April 7, 2010, as revised September 10, 2010

 


Issuer Diversification Risk. The Fund is “non-diversified” which means it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a single issuer than funds that are “diversified.” Non-diversified funds face the risks of focusing investments in a small number of issuers, including being more susceptible to risks affecting such issuers than a more diversified fund might be.

Sector Concentration Risk. Because the Fund will concentrate its investments in a particular sector of the commodities markets (such as agricultural, energy and natural resources, livestock, precious metals, industrial metals and others), the value of Fund shares may be affected by events that adversely affect that sector and may fluctuate more than that of a less concentrated fund.

Risks Associated with Active Management. The Fund is an actively managed portfolio and its success depends upon the investment skills and analytical abilities of the investment adviser to develop and effectively implement strategies that achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Subjective decisions made by the investment adviser may cause the Fund to incur losses or to miss profit opportunities on which it may otherwise have capitalized.

Subsidiary Risk. By investing in the Subsidiary, the Fund will be indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments, which are generally similar to those that are permitted to be held by the Fund. The Subsidiary is not registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”), and is not subject to all of the provisions of the 1940 Act. The Fund has applied for a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") with respect to its investment in the Subsidiary. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in the Fund’s Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information and could adversely affect the Fund.

Tax Risk. The Fund gains exposure to the commodity markets through investments in commodity index-linked derivative instruments, including commodity index-linked swap agreements, commodity index-linked notes, commodity options and futures and options on futures. The Fund may also gain exposure indirectly to commodity markets by investing in the Subsidiary, which may invest in commodity index-linked securities and derivative instruments. In order for the Fund to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”), the Fund must derive at least 90 percent of its gross income each taxable year from certain qualifying sources of income. The IRS has issued a revenue ruling which holds that income derived from commodity-linked swaps is not qualifying income under Subchapter M of the Code. However, the Fund has been advised that income from certain commodity-linked notes is qualifying income and that income derived from a wholly-owned subsidiary will also constitute qualifying income. The Fund may seek to gain exposure to the commodity markets primarily through investments in commodity-linked notes and through investments in the Subsidiary. The Fund has applied for a private letter ruling from the IRS on behalf of the Fund confirming that income produced by certain types of structured notes, in addition to the Fund’s investment in its subsidiary, constitute qualifying income to the Fund. The tax treatment of commodity-linked notes, other commodity-linked derivatives and the Fund’s investments in the Subsidiary may be adversely affected by future legislation, Treasury Regulations and/or guidance issued by the IRS that could affect the character, timing and/or amount of the Fund’s taxable income or any gains and distributions made by the Fund.

General Fund Investing Risks. The Fund is not a complete investment program and you may lose money by investing in the Fund. All investments carry a certain amount of risk and there is no guarantee that the Fund will be able to achieve its investment objective. In general, the Fund’s Annual Fund Operating Expenses as a percentage of Fund average daily net assets will change as Fund assets increase and decrease, and the Fund’s Annual Fund Operating Expenses may differ in the future. Purchase and redemption activities by Fund shareholders may impact the management of the Fund and its ability to achieve its objective. Investors in the Fund should have a long-term investment perspective and be able to tolerate potentially sharp declines in value. 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, entity or person. You may lose money by investing in the Fund.

Performance

Performance history will be available for the Fund after the Fund has been in operation for one calendar year.

Management

Investment Adviser. Eaton Vance Management ("EVM").

Investment Sub-Adviser. Armored Wolf, LLC ("Armored Wolf").

Portfolio Manager. The Fund is managed by John B. Brynjolfsson, Chief Investment Officer and a Managing Director of Armored Wolf, who has managed the Fund since its inception in 2010.

Eaton Vance Commodity Strategy Fund  4  Summary Prospectus dated April 7, 2010, as revised September 10, 2010

 


Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

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

Tax Information

The Fund’s distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income and/or capital gains, unless you are exempt from taxation.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

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

4425-9/10 CSSP  © 2010 Eaton Vance Management
    
Eaton Vance Commodity Strategy Fund  5 Summary Prospectus dated April 7, 2010, as revised September 10, 2010