0001395325falseIf common shares are sold to or through underwriters, the Prospectus Supplement will set forth any applicable sales load.Eaton Vance Management (“EVM”) will pay the expenses of the offering (other than the applicable commissions); therefore, offering expenses are not included in the Summary of Fund Expenses. Offering expenses generally include, but are not limited to, the preparation, review and filing with the SEC of the Fund’s registration statement (including its current Prospectus Supplement, the accompanying Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”)), the preparation, review and filing of any associated marketing or similar materials, costs associated with the printing, mailing or other distribution of its current Prospectus Supplement, the accompanying Prospectus, SAI and/or marketing materials, associated filing fees, stock exchange listing fees, and legal and auditing fees associated with the offering. You will be charged a $5.00 service charge and pay brokerage charges if you direct the plan agent to sell your common shares held in a dividend reinvestment account. Stated as a percentage of average net assets attributable to common shares for the year ended December 31, 2023.The investment adviser fee paid by the Fund to EVM is based on the average daily gross assets of the Fund, including all assets attributable to any form of investment leverage that the Fund may utilize. Accordingly, if the Fund were to utilize investment leverage in the future, the investment adviser fee will increase as a percentage of net assets. 0001395325 2023-01-01 2023-12-31 0001395325 cik0001395325:CommonSharesMember 2023-01-01 2023-12-31 0001395325 cik0001395325:MarketDiscountRiskMember 2023-01-01 2023-12-31 0001395325 cik0001395325:InvestmentAndMarketRiskMember 2023-01-01 2023-12-31 0001395325 cik0001395325:IssuerRiskMember 2023-01-01 2023-12-31 0001395325 cik0001395325:EquitySecuritiesRiskMember 2023-01-01 2023-12-31 0001395325 cik0001395325:LimitationsOnEquityMarketRiskManagementStrategyMember 2023-01-01 2023-12-31 0001395325 cik0001395325:OptionStrategyRiskMember 2023-01-01 2023-12-31 0001395325 cik0001395325:RiskOfSellingIndexCallOptionsMember 2023-01-01 2023-12-31 0001395325 cik0001395325:RisksOfSellingPutOptionsOnIndividualStocksMember 2023-01-01 2023-12-31 0001395325 cik0001395325:OptionsRisksGenerallyMember 2023-01-01 2023-12-31 0001395325 cik0001395325:LiquidityRiskMember 2023-01-01 2023-12-31 0001395325 cik0001395325:InflationRiskMember 2023-01-01 2023-12-31 0001395325 cik0001395325:CounterpartyRiskMember 2023-01-01 2023-12-31 0001395325 cik0001395325:LeverageRiskMember 2023-01-01 2023-12-31 0001395325 cik0001395325:RisksAssociatedWithActiveManagementMember 2023-01-01 2023-12-31 0001395325 cik0001395325:RecentMarketConditionsMember 2023-01-01 2023-12-31 0001395325 cik0001395325:TaxRiskMember 2023-01-01 2023-12-31 0001395325 cik0001395325:RisksOfInvestingInSmallerAndMidSizedCompaniesMember 2023-01-01 2023-12-31 0001395325 cik0001395325:ForeignInvestmentRiskMember 2023-01-01 2023-12-31 0001395325 cik0001395325:EmergingMarketsInvestmentRiskMember 2023-01-01 2023-12-31 0001395325 cik0001395325:CurrencyRiskMember 2023-01-01 2023-12-31 0001395325 us-gaap:InterestRateRiskMember 2023-01-01 2023-12-31 0001395325 cik0001395325:OTCOptionsRisksMember 2023-01-01 2023-12-31 0001395325 cik0001395325:DerivativesRiskMember 2023-01-01 2023-12-31 0001395325 cik0001395325:TaxSensitiveInvestingRiskMember 2023-01-01 2023-12-31 0001395325 cik0001395325:CybersecurityRiskMember 2023-01-01 2023-12-31 0001395325 cik0001395325:MarketDisruptionMember 2023-01-01 2023-12-31 0001395325 cik0001395325:AntiTakeoverProvisionsMember 2023-01-01 2023-12-31 0001395325 cik0001395325:GeneralFundInvestingRisksMember 2023-01-01 2023-12-31 0001395325 cik0001395325:CommonSharesMember 2023-10-01 2023-12-31 0001395325 cik0001395325:CommonSharesMember 2023-07-01 2023-09-30 0001395325 cik0001395325:CommonSharesMember 2023-04-01 2023-06-30 0001395325 cik0001395325:CommonSharesMember 2023-01-01 2023-03-31 0001395325 cik0001395325:CommonSharesMember 2022-10-01 2022-12-31 0001395325 cik0001395325:CommonSharesMember 2022-07-01 2022-09-30 0001395325 cik0001395325:CommonSharesMember 2022-04-01 2022-06-30 0001395325 cik0001395325:CommonSharesMember 2022-01-01 2022-03-31 xbrli:pure iso4217:USD xbrli:shares iso4217:USD xbrli:shares
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
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)
Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110
(Name and Address of Agent for Services)
(Registrant’s Telephone Number)
Item 1. Reports to Stockholders
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund (ETJ)
Annual Report
December 31, 2023
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 $0.0579 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.
Annual Report
December 31, 2023
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
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Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
Management’s Discussion of Fund Performance
†
Economic and Market Conditions
For U.S. equity investors, the 12-month period ended December 31, 2023, was a roller-coaster ride, driven largely by shifting perceptions of whether the U.S. Federal Reserve (the Fed) could bring the world’s largest economy in for a soft landing, and changing expectations of how long interest rates might remain high.
As the period opened in January 2023, U.S. equities began a rally that lasted through July. The initial tailwind was ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence (AI) application that led investors to perceive AI might become the next big innovation to drive the information technology (IT) sector. As a result, IT -- one of the worst-performing sectors in 2022 -- became a standout sector in 2023. Earlier recession fears that had weighed on stock prices receded as more investors came to view the U.S. economy as doing surprisingly well.
But from August through October 2023, the bond market halted the stock market’s momentum. As investors feared the Fed might keep rates higher for longer than they had anticipated just a few months earlier, longer-term bond interest rates rose sharply. Given the potential for relatively attractive returns with lower risk than stocks, many investors shifted asset allocations from equities to bonds.
In the final two months of the period, however, U.S. equities made another U-turn, as investors again revised their expectations of what the Fed might do. Encouraged by cooling economic data and declining inflation, investors began to conclude the Fed was done raising interest rates -- and might begin lowering rates as early as March 2024.
In response, the U.S. stock market ended the period on a high note, with the S&P 500® Index, a broad measure of U.S. stocks; the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average®; and the technology-laden Nasdaq Composite Index each rising more than 9% in November and more than 4% in December 2023. Unlike the equity rally during the first half of the period driven by a handful of large-cap technology-related stocks, the year-end rally extended across a wider range of market capitalizations, with the small-cap Russell 2000® Index keeping pace with its large-cap brethren in November, and significantly outperforming them in December.
For the period as a whole, U.S. equity performance was also strong. The S&P 500® Index returned 26.29%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average® returned 16.18%, the Nasdaq Composite Index returned 44.64%, and the Russell 2000® Index returned 16.93%.
Fund Performance
For the 12-month period ended December 31, 2023, Eaton Vance Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund (the Fund) returned 15.94% at net asset value of its common shares (NAV), underperforming its equity benchmark, the S&P 500® Index (the Index), which returned 26.29%; and underperforming its options benchmark, the Cboe S&P 500 95-110 Collar Index
SM
, which returned 18.25%.
The Fund’s collared-options strategy (the options strategy) was the largest single detractor from Fund performance versus the Index during the period. The options strategy may be beneficial during times of market weakness and higher volatility. But it may also detract from Fund performance relative to the Index during periods of market strength, since it seeks to buy downside protection at the expense of potential upside appreciation.
For much of the period, the Index moved sideways or higher as market volatility -- as measured by the Cboe Volatility Index®, or VIX -- declined. While the options strategy’s downside protection was helpful when market volatility spiked in mid-March and late September 2023, the overall market strength during the period created net losses in the options strategy.
The Fund’s common stock portfolio outperformed the Index, contributing to returns relative to the Index during the period. On an individual stock basis, the largest contributor to performance versus the Index was an overweight position in Meta Platforms, Inc. (Meta), the social media giant behind Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger. Meta’s stock price more than doubled during the period as advertising revenues rebounded on improved ad targeting, while profit margins exceeded expectations due to more rational spending on longer-term initiatives.
On a sector basis, stock selections and an overweight position in the communication services sector, along with stock selections in the health care and industrials sectors, contributed to Fund performance versus the Index during the period.
In contrast, the largest individual stock detractor from performance relative to the Index was an overweight position in Humana, Inc. (Humana), a managed health care company that focuses on the Medicare Advantage population. Humana’s share price declined over concerns about a rumored merger with Cigna Group that raised doubts about Humana’s future growth prospects; rising costs for treating Medicare patients; and the perceived end of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s program of interest rate hikes, which had been a tailwind for managed health care companies.
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. Furthermore, returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that shareholders may have to pay on Fund distributions or upon the sale of Fund shares. 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.
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
Management’s Discussion of Fund Performance
†
— continued
On a sector basis, stock selections in the consumer discretionary sector, stock selections and an underweight position in the information technology sector, and stock selections and an overweight position in the consumer staples sector detracted from Fund performance versus the Index during the period.
Fund Distributions
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the 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. The Fund’s MDP had no effect on the Fund’s investment strategy during the most recent fiscal year and is not expected to have an effect in future periods, but distributions in excess of Fund returns will cause its per share NAV to erode. Investors should not draw any conclusions about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount of its distribution or from the terms of its MDP.
For the period from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023, the Fund made monthly distributions of $0.0579 per share. 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 non-dividend distributions, also known as return of capital distributions. The federal income tax character of distributions is determined after the end of the calendar year and reported to shareholders on the Internal Revenue Service’s form 1099-DIV. For additional information, see Note 2 in the Notes to Financial Statements herein.
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. Furthermore, returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that shareholders may have to pay on Fund distributions or upon the sale of Fund shares. 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.
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
Performance
Portfolio Manager(s)
Charles B. Gaffney and Douglas R. Rogers, CFA, CMT
% Average Annual Total Returns 1 |
Inception Date |
One Year |
Five Years |
Ten Years |
Fund at NAV |
07/31/2007 |
15.94% |
8.67% |
5.99% |
Fund at Market Price |
— |
14.05 |
9.06 |
6.43 |
|
S&P 500® Index |
— |
26.29% |
15.68% |
12.03% |
Cboe S&P 500 95-110 Collar Index SM |
— |
18.25 |
11.79 |
8.68 |
% Premium/Discount to NAV 2 |
|
As of period end |
(7.66)% |
|
|
Total Distributions per share for the period |
$0.695 |
Distribution Rate at NAV |
8.18% |
Distribution Rate at Market Price |
8.86 |
Growth of $10,000
This graph shows the change in value of a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in the Fund for the period indicated. For comparison, the same investment is shown in the indicated index.
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. Furthermore, returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that shareholders may have to pay on Fund distributions or upon the sale of Fund shares. 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.
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
Sector Allocation (% of total investments) 1 |
Top 10 Holdings (% of total investments) 1 |
Microsoft Corp. |
8.7% |
Apple, Inc. |
7.7 |
Amazon.com, Inc. |
5.0 |
NVIDIA Corp. |
4.3 |
Alphabet, Inc., Class C |
3.9 |
Eli Lilly & Co. |
2.5 |
Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A |
2.5 |
Walmart, Inc. |
2.4 |
AbbVie, Inc. |
2.3 |
TransUnion |
2.0 |
Total |
41.3% |
Footnotes:
1 |
Depictions do not reflect the Fund’s option positions. Excludes cash and cash equivalents. |
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
The Fund's Investment Objectives, Principal Strategies and Principal Risks
‡
Investment Objectives
The Fund’s primary investment objective is to provide current income and gains, with a secondary objective of capital appreciation. In pursuing its investment objectives, the Fund evaluates returns on an after-tax basis, seeking to minimize and defer shareholder federal income taxes.
Principal Strategies.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund’s investment program consists primarily of owning a diversified portfolio of common stocks and employing a variety of options strategies. The Fund seeks to earn high levels of tax-advantaged income and gains by (1) investing in stocks that pay dividends that qualify for favorable federal income tax treatment, (2) writing (selling) put options on individual stocks deemed attractive for purchase, and/or (3) writing (selling) stock index call options with respect to a portion of its common stock portfolio value. To reduce the Fund’s risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the general equity market, the Fund intends to purchase index put options with respect to a substantial portion of the value of its common stock holdings and stocks subject to written put options.
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 may consider investments in stocks that pay dividends that qualify for federal income taxation at rates applicable to long-term capital gains. 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 Fund’s current options strategy consists of purchasing out-of-the-money S&P 500 Index put options and selling out-of-the-money S&P 500 Index call options on all or substantially all of the value of the Fund’s common stock portfolio. Purchasing index put options provides protection against loss of principal value during periods of market weakness and selling index call options generates premium income. The Fund generally intends to purchase short-dated (generally 28-day) index put options and sell index call options of the same term, staggering roll dates across the options portfolio. 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 Adviser’s evaluation of equity market conditions and other factors. The buying of index put options will reduce the Fund’s cash available for distribution from other sources, including from selling put options on individual stocks and index call options.
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. Eaton Vance generally considers mid-capitalization companies to be those companies having market capitalizations within the range of capitalizations for the S&P MidCap 400® Index (the “S&P MidCap 400®”). As of December 31, 2023, the median market capitalization of companies in the S&P MidCap 400® was approximately $6.3 billion. Market capitalizations of companies within the S&P MidCap 400® are subject to change.
During unusual market circumstances, the Fund may invest up to 100% of assets in cash or cash equivalents temporarily, which may be inconsistent with the Fund’s investment objective and other policies.
Principal Risks
Market Discount Risk.
As with any security, the market value of the common shares may increase or decrease from the amount initially paid for the common shares. The Fund’s common shares have traded both at a premium and at a discount relative to NAV. The shares of closed-end management investment companies frequently trade at a discount from their NAV. This is a risk separate and distinct from the risk that the Fund’s NAV may decrease.
Investment and Market Risk.
An investment in common shares is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire principal amount invested. An investment in common shares represents an indirect investment in the securities owned by the Fund, which are generally traded on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter markets. The value of these securities, like other market investments, may move up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Because the Fund may sell stock index call options on a portion of its common stock portfolio value, the Fund’s appreciation potential from equity market performance may be more limited than if the Fund did not engage in selling stock index call options. Because the Fund may sell put options on individual stocks, the Fund’s exposure to loss from a decline in the value of such stocks may increase. To the extent that the individual stocks held by the Fund and/or the stocks subject to written put options decrease in value more than the index or indices on which the Fund has purchased put options, the strategy of purchasing index put options will provide only limited protection with respect to the value of the Fund’s assets and may result in worse performance for the Fund than if it did not buy index put options. The common shares at any point in time may be worth less than the original investment, even after taking into account any reinvestment of distributions.
The value of investments held by the Fund may increase or decrease in response to social, economic, political, financial, public health crises or other disruptive events (whether real, expected or perceived) in the U.S. and global markets and include events such as war, natural disasters, epidemics and pandemics, terrorism, conflicts and social unrest. These events may negatively impact broad segments of businesses and populations and may exacerbate pre-existing risks to the Fund. The frequency and magnitude of resulting changes in the value of the Fund’s investments 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
See Endnotes and Additional Disclosures in this report.
6
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
The Fund's Investment Objectives, Principal Strategies and Principal Risks
‡
— continued
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.
Issuer Risk.
The value of securities held by the Fund may decline for a number of reasons that directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods and services.
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; unexpected trading activity among retail investors; 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.
Limitations on Equity Market Risk Management Strategy.
To manage the risk of a decline in the value of the general equity market, the Fund purchases index put options on a substantial portion of the value of its common stock holdings. As the purchaser of an index put option, the Fund would pay to the writer (seller) of the option cash (the premium), and the Fund has the right to receive from the seller the amount by which the cash value of the index is below the exercise price as of the valuation date of the option. If the Fund exercises the index put option, the seller would pay the Fund the difference between the exercise price and the value of the index. There are a number of limitations on the extent to which common shareholders of the Fund may benefit from this risk management strategy.
First, holding an index put option generally provides a hedge against a decline in the applicable index to levels below the exercise price on the option. A decline in the index to a level above the exercise price would result in the option expiring worthless if held until expiration. Generally, the Fund intends to buy index put options that are “out-of-the-money” (i.e., the exercise price generally is below the current level of the applicable index when the option is purchased). Options that are more “out-of-the-money” provide the Fund with less protection against a decline in the applicable index.
Second, there is a risk that the value of the stock indices subject to purchased put options will not correlate with the value of the Fund’s portfolio holdings. The Fund intends to buy put options on one or more broad-based stock indices that the Adviser believes collectively approximate the characteristics of the Fund’s common stock portfolio (or that portion of its portfolio against which put options are acquired). The Fund will not, however, hold stocks that fully replicate the indices on which it buys put options. Due to tax considerations, the Fund intends to generally 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 buys put options. Accordingly, the value of the indices may remain flat or increase in value at times when the Fund’s portfolio holdings are decreasing in value. Similarly, the indices may decrease in value but to a lesser extent than the Fund’s portfolio holdings. In such cases, the index put options would provide only a limited hedge against a decline in the value of the Fund’s portfolio holdings and may result in worse performance for the Fund than if it did not buy index put options. The use of index put options cannot serve as a complete hedge since the price movement of the indices underlying the options will not necessarily follow the price movements of the Fund’s portfolio holdings. Correlation risks are also presented in connection with the Fund’s selling of put options on individual stocks and purchasing index puts to hedge the associated increase in market risk. Purchasing index put options with respect to single stock put options written does not protect the Fund against the risk that the stocks against which put options are written decrease in value relative to the index on which put options are purchased and may result in greater costs and losses to the Fund than a strategy that does not involve such hedging.
Third, the Fund may in certain circumstances hold stock index put options with respect to only a portion of the value of its common stock holdings, subject to the condition that, under normal market conditions, the Fund will hold index put options with respect to at least 80% of the value of its investments in common stocks. The portion of the Fund’s portfolio value against which index put options are not acquired will not benefit from this risk management strategy.
Index put options can be highly volatile instruments. This may cause options positions held to react to market changes differently than the Fund’s portfolio securities and stocks subject to written put options. A put option acquired by the Fund and not sold prior to expiration will expire worthless if the price of the index at expiration exceeds the exercise price of the option, thereby causing the Fund to lose its entire investment in the option. If restrictions on exercise were imposed, the Fund might be unable to exercise an option it had purchased. If the Fund were unable to close out an option that it had purchased, it would have to exercise the option in order to realize any profit or the option may expire worthless.
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
See Endnotes and Additional Disclosures in this report.
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
The Fund's Investment Objectives, Principal Strategies and Principal Risks
‡
— continued
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 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.
Risks of Selling Put Options on Individual Stocks.
The Fund may write put options on individual stocks that the Adviser believes are attractive for purchase at prices at or above the exercise price of the put options written. The purchaser of a put option assumes the right to sell (put) the stock to the seller of the option at a specified price (the exercise price) on or before the expiration date of the option. If the value of the stock on the option expiration date is at or below the exercise price of the option, the Fund may be obligated to purchase the stock at the exercise price. In the event of a substantial depreciation in the value of the underlying stock, the Fund may incur a substantial loss.
Options Risks Generally.
A decision as to whether, when and how to use options involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived and well-executed options program may be adversely affected by market behavior or unexpected events. Successful options strategies may require the anticipation of future movements in securities prices, interest rates and other economic factors. No assurances can be given that the Adviser’s judgments in this respect will be correct.
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 written option position by buying the option instead of letting it expire or be exercised. Similarly, the Fund may close out a purchased option position by selling the option instead of holding until exercise. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist when the Fund seeks to close out an option position by buying or selling the option. Reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on an exchange include the following: (i) there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options; (iv) unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (v) the facilities of an exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation (the “OCC”) may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading volume; or (vi) one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options) at some future date. If trading were discontinued, the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist. However, outstanding options on that exchange that had been issued by the OCC as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.
The Fund’s options positions will be marked to market daily. The hours of trading for options may not conform to the hours during which common stocks held by the Fund are traded. To the extent that the options markets close before the markets for securities, significant price and rate movements can take place in the securities markets that would not be reflected concurrently in the options markets. The value of index options is affected by changes in the value and dividend rates of the securities represented in the underlying index, changes in interest rates, changes in the actual or perceived volatility of the associated index and the remaining time to the options’ expiration, as well as trading conditions in the options market. Similarly, the value of single stock options is affected by changes in the value and dividend rate of the underlying stock, changes in interest rates, changes in the actual or perceived volatility of the associated stock and the remaining time to the options’ expiration, as well as options market trading conditions.
The Fund’s options transactions will be subject to limitations established by each of the exchanges, boards of trade or other trading facilities on which such options are traded. These limitations govern the maximum number of options in each class which may be written or purchased by a single investor or group of investors acting in concert, regardless of whether the options are written or purchased on the same or different exchanges, boards of trade or other trading facilities or are held or written in one or more accounts or through one or more brokers. Thus, the number of options which the Fund may write or purchase may be affected by options written or purchased by other investment advisory clients of the Adviser or. An exchange, board of trade or other trading facility may order the liquidation of positions found to be in excess of these limits, and may impose certain other sanctions. The Fund will not write “naked” or uncovered call options.
To the extent that the Fund buys or writes options on indices based upon foreign stocks, the Fund generally intends to buy or sell options on broad-based foreign country and/or regional stock indices that are listed for trading in the United States or which otherwise qualify as “section 1256 contracts” under the Code. Options on foreign indices that are listed for trading in the United States or which otherwise qualify as “section 1256 contracts” under the Code may trade in substantially lower volumes and with substantially wider bid-ask spreads than other options contracts on the same or similar indices that trade on other markets outside the United States. To implement its options program most effectively, the Fund may buy or sell index options that do not qualify as “section 1256 contracts” under the Code. Gain or loss on index options not qualifying as “section 1256 contracts” under the Code would be realized upon disposition, lapse or settlement of the positions and, generally, would be treated as short-term gain or loss.
See Endnotes and Additional Disclosures in this report.
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
The Fund's Investment Objectives, Principal Strategies and Principal Risks
‡
— continued
OTC Options Risks.
OTC options involve risk that the issuer or counterparty will fail to perform its contractual obligations. Participants in these markets are typically not subject to credit evaluation and regulatory oversight as are members of “exchange based” markets. Options traded in OTC markets will not be issued, guaranteed or cleared by the OCC. By engaging in option transactions in these markets, the Fund may take a credit risk with regard to parties with which it trades and also may bear the risk of settlement default. These risks may differ materially from those involved in exchange-traded transactions, which generally are characterized by clearing organization guarantees, daily marking-to-market and settlement, and segregation and minimum capital requirements applicable to intermediaries. Transactions entered into directly between two counterparties generally do not benefit from these protections, which in turn may subject the Fund to the risk that a counter-party will not settle a transaction in accordance with agreed terms and conditions because of a dispute over the terms of the contract or because of a credit or liquidity problem. Such “counterparty risk” is increased for contracts with longer maturities when events may intervene to prevent settlement. The ability of the Fund to transact business with any one or any number of counterparties, the lack of any independent evaluation of the counterparties or their financial capabilities, and the absence of a regulated market to facilitate a settlement may increase the potential for losses to the Fund.
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 (or be unable to achieve) the return of collateral or other assets held by the counterparty. The loss on derivative transactions may substantially exceed the initial investment. 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.
Tax Risk.
Although the Fund seeks to minimize and defer the federal income taxes incurred by common shareholders in connection with their investment in the Fund, there can be no assurance that it will be successful in this regard. The tax treatment and characterization of the Fund’s distributions may change over time due to changes in the Fund’s mix of investment returns and changes in the federal tax laws, regulations and administrative and judicial interpretations, potentially with retroactive effect. The Fund’s investment program and the tax treatment of Fund distributions may be affected by IRS interpretations of the Code and future changes in tax laws and regulations. While the Fund generally intends to use a variety of techniques and strategies designed to minimize and defer the federal income taxes incurred by common shareholders in connection with their investment in the Fund, certain of the Fund’s investment practices are subject to complex federal income tax provisions that may, among other things, cause common shareholders to pay more tax than they otherwise would have, or to accelerate common shareholders’ recognition of taxable income or gains.
Risks of Investing in Smaller and Mid-Sized Companies.
The Fund may make investments in stocks of companies whose market capitalization is considered middle sized or “mid-cap.” Smaller and mid-sized companies are generally subject to greater price fluctuations, limited liquidity, higher transaction costs and higher investment risk than the stocks of larger, more established companies. Such companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, may be dependent on a limited management group, and may lack substantial capital reserves or an established performance record. There may be generally less publicly available information about such companies than for larger, more established companies. Stocks of these companies frequently have lower trading volumes making them more volatile and potentially more difficult to value.
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 against a particular country or countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals. 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. Adverse changes in investment regulations, capital requirements or exchange controls could adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments. 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, including the political and economic risks of the underlying issuer’s country and, in the case of depositary receipts traded on foreign markets, currency risk.
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 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.
See Endnotes and Additional Disclosures in this report.
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
The Fund's Investment Objectives, Principal Strategies and Principal Risks
‡
— continued
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.
Interest Rate Risk.
The premiums from writing options and amounts available for distribution from the Fund’s options activities may decrease in declining interest rate environments. The value of the Fund’s common stock investments may also be influenced by changes in interest rates. Higher yielding stocks and stocks of issuers whose businesses are substantially affected by changes in interest rates may be particularly sensitive to interest rate risk.
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.
Inflation Risk.
Inflation risk is the risk that the purchasing power of assets or income from investments is worth less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the real value of the common shares and distributions thereon can decline.
Counterparty Risk.
A financial institution or other counterparty with whom the Fund does business (such as trading or as a derivatives counterparty), or that underwrites, distributes or guarantees any instruments that the Fund owns or is otherwise exposed to, may decline in financial condition and become unable to honor its commitments. This could cause the value of Fund shares to decline or could delay the return or delivery of collateral or other assets to the Fund. Counterparty risk is increased for contracts with longer maturities.
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 use of leverage may cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it may not be advantageous to do so to satisfy its obligations. 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 and there is no guarantee that such decisions will produce the desired results or expected returns.
Recent Market Conditions.
The outbreak of COVID-19 and efforts to contain its spread have 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, and the effects of other infectious illness outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics, may be short term or 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 disrupt normal market conditions and operations. 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 net asset value, 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.
Market Disruption.
Global instability, war, geopolitical tensions and terrorist attacks in the United States and around the world have previously resulted, and may continue to result in market volatility and may have long-term effects on the United States and worldwide financial markets and may cause further economic uncertainties in the United States and worldwide. The Fund cannot predict the effects of significant future events on the global economy and securities markets. A similar disruption of the financial markets could impact interest rates, auctions, secondary trading, ratings, credit risk, inflation and other factors relating to the common shares.
See Endnotes and Additional Disclosures in this report.
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
The Fund's Investment Objectives, Principal Strategies and Principal Risks
‡
— continued
Anti-Takeover Provisions.
The Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”) and Amended and Restated By-Laws include provisions that could have the effect of limiting the ability of other persons or entities to acquire control of the Fund or to change the composition of its Board. For example, pursuant to the Fund’s Declaration of Trust, the Fund Board is divided into three classes of Trustees with each class serving for a three-year term and certain types of transactions require the favorable vote of holders of at least 75% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
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.
Potential Conflicts of Interest
As a diversified global financial services firm, Morgan Stanley, the parent company of the investment adviser, engages in a broad spectrum of activities where Morgan Stanley’s interests or the interests of its clients may conflict with the interests of the Fund. Morgan Stanley advises clients and sponsors, manages or advises other investment funds and investment programs, accounts and businesses (collectively, together with any new or successor Morgan Stanley funds, programs, accounts or businesses, (other than funds, programs, accounts or businesses sponsored, managed, or advised by former direct or indirect subsidiaries of Eaton Vance Corp. (“Eaton Vance Investment Accounts”)), the “MS Investment Accounts,” and, together with the Eaton Vance Investment Accounts, the ‘‘Affiliated Investment Accounts’’) with a wide variety of investment objectives that in some instances may overlap or conflict with a Fund’s investment objectives and present conflicts of interest. There is no assurance that conflicts of interest will be resolved in favor of Fund shareholders and, in fact, they may not be. Conflicts of interest not described below may also exist.
Material Non-public Information.
It is expected that confidential or material non-public information regarding an investment or potential investment opportunity may become available to the investment adviser. If such information becomes available, the investment adviser may be precluded (including by applicable law or internal policies or procedures) from pursuing an investment or disposition opportunity with respect to such investment or investment opportunity. Morgan Stanley has established certain information barriers and other policies to address the sharing of information between different businesses within Morgan Stanley.
Investments by Morgan Stanley and its Affiliated Investment Accounts.
In serving in multiple capacities to Affiliated Investment Accounts, Morgan Stanley, including the investment adviser and its investment teams, may have obligations to other clients or investors in Affiliated Investment Accounts, the fulfillment of which may not be in the best interests of a Fund or its shareholders. A Fund’s investment objectives may overlap with the investment objectives of certain Affiliated Investment Accounts. As a result, the members of an investment team may face conflicts in the allocation of investment opportunities among a Fund and other investment funds, programs, accounts and businesses advised by or affiliated with the investment adviser. Certain Affiliated Investment Accounts may provide for higher management or incentive fees or greater expense reimbursements or overhead allocations, all of which may contribute to this conflict of interest and create an incentive for the investment adviser to favor such other accounts. To seek to reduce potential conflicts of interest and to attempt to allocate investment opportunities in a fair and equitable manner, the investment adviser has implemented allocation policies and procedures. These policies and procedures are intended to give all clients of the investment adviser, including the Fund(s), fair access to investment opportunities, consistent with the requirements of organizational documents, investment strategies, applicable laws and regulations, and the fiduciary duties of the investment adviser.
Investments by Separate Investment Departments.
The entities and individuals that provide investment-related services for the Fund and certain other Eaton Vance Investment Accounts (the “Eaton Vance Investment Department”) may be different from the entities and individuals that provide investment-related services to MS Investment Accounts (the “MS Investment Department” and, together with the Eaton Vance Investment Department, the “Investment Departments”). Although Morgan Stanley has implemented information barriers between the Investment Departments in accordance with internal policies and procedures, each Investment Department may engage in discussions and share information and resources with the other Investment Department on certain investment related matters. A MS Investment Account could trade in advance of a Fund (and vice versa), might complete trades more quickly and efficiently than a Fund, and/or achieve different execution than a Fund on the same or similar investments made contemporaneously.
Morgan Stanley Trading and Principal Investing Activities.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Morgan Stanley will generally conduct its sales and trading businesses, publish research and analysis, and render investment advice without regard for a Fund’s holdings, although these activities could have an adverse impact on the value of one or more of the Fund’s investments, or could cause Morgan Stanley to have an interest in one or more portfolio investments that is different from, and potentially adverse to, that of a Fund.
Morgan Stanley’s Investment Banking and Other Commercial Activities.
Morgan Stanley advises clients on a variety of mergers, acquisitions, restructuring, bankruptcy and financing transactions. Morgan Stanley may act as an advisor to clients, including other investment funds that may compete with a Fund and with respect to investments that a Fund may hold. Morgan Stanley may give advice and take action with respect to any of its clients or proprietary accounts that may differ from the advice given, or may involve an action of a different timing or nature than the action taken, by a Fund.
General Process for Potential Conflicts.
All of the transactions described above involve the potential for conflicts of interest between the investment adviser, related persons of the investment adviser and/or their clients. The Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, as amended (“ERISA”) impose certain requirements designed to decrease the possibility of conflicts of interest between an investment adviser and its clients. In some cases, transactions may be
See Endnotes and Additional Disclosures in this report.
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
The Fund's Investment Objectives, Principal Strategies and Principal Risks
‡
— continued
permitted subject to fulfillment of certain conditions. Certain other transactions may be prohibited. In addition, the investment adviser has instituted policies and procedures designed to prevent conflicts of interest from arising and, when they do arise, to ensure that it effects transactions for clients in a manner that is consistent with its fiduciary duty to its clients and in accordance with applicable law.
Important Notice to Shareholders
The following information is a summary of certain changes since December 31, 2022. This information may not reflect all of the changes that have occurred since you purchased the Fund.
On January 26, 2023, the Fund’s Board of Trustees voted to exempt, on a going forward basis, all prior and, until further notice, new acquisitions of Fund shares that otherwise might be deemed “Control Share Acquisitions” under the Fund’s By-Laws from the Control Share Provisions of the Fund’s By-Laws.
Prior to May 26, 2023, the Fund’s portfolio management team included G.R. Nelson. Effective May 26, 2023, the Fund’s portfolio management team includes Charles B. Gaffney and Douglas R. Rogers, CFA, CMT. Mr. Gaffney and Mr. Rogers are Vice Presidents of Eaton Vance Management and have managed other Eaton Vance portfolios for more than five years.
See Endnotes and Additional Disclosures in this report.
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
The purpose of the table below is to help you understand all fees and expenses that you, as a common shareholder, would bear directly or indirectly. The table shows Fund expenses stated as a percentage of net assets attributable to common shares, and not as a percentage of total assets.
Common shareholder transaction expenses |
|
Sales load paid by you (as a percentage of offering price) |
— 1 |
Offering expenses (as a percentage of offering price) |
None 2 |
Dividend reinvestment plan fees |
$5.00 3 |
Annual expenses |
Percentage of net assets attributable to common shares4 |
Investment adviser fee |
1.00% 5 |
Other expenses |
0.13 |
Total annual Fund operating expenses |
1.13% |
The following Example illustrates the expenses that common shareholders would pay on a $1,000 investment in common shares, assuming (i) total annual expenses of 1.13% of net assets attributable to common shares in years 1 through 10; (ii) a 5% annual return; and (iii) all distributions are reinvested at NAV:
1 Year |
3 Years |
5 Years |
10 Years |
$12 |
$36 |
$62 |
$137 |
The above table and example and the assumption in the example of a 5% annual return are required by regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) that are applicable to all investment companies; the assumed 5% annual return is not a prediction of, and does not represent, the projected or actual performance of the Fund’s common shares. In addition, while the example assumes reinvestment of all dividends and distributions at NAV, participants in the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan may receive common shares purchased or issued at a price or value different from NAV. The example does not include sales load or estimated offering costs, which would cause the expenses shown in the example to increase.
The example should not be considered a representation of past or future expenses, and the Fund’s actual expenses may be greater or less than those shown. Moreover, the Fund’s actual rate of return may be greater or less than the hypothetical 5% return shown in the example.
1
If common shares are sold to or through underwriters, the Prospectus Supplement will set forth any applicable sales load.
2
Eaton Vance Management (“EVM”) will pay the expenses of the offering (other than the applicable commissions); therefore, offering expenses are not included in the Summary of Fund Expenses. Offering expenses generally include, but are not limited to, the preparation, review and filing with the SEC of the Fund’s registration statement (including its current Prospectus Supplement, the accompanying Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”)), the preparation, review and filing of any associated marketing or similar materials, costs associated with the printing, mailing or other distribution of its current Prospectus Supplement, the accompanying Prospectus, SAI and/or marketing materials, associated filing fees, stock exchange listing fees, and legal and auditing fees associated with the offering.
3
You will be charged a $5.00 service charge and pay brokerage charges if you direct the plan agent to sell your common shares held in a dividend reinvestment account.
4
Stated as a percentage of average net assets attributable to common shares for the year ended December 31, 2023.
5
The investment adviser fee paid by the Fund to EVM is based on the average daily gross assets of the Fund, including all assets attributable to any form of investment leverage that the Fund may utilize. Accordingly, if the Fund were to utilize investment leverage in the future, the investment adviser fee will increase as a percentage of net assets.
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
Trading and NAV Information
The Fund’s common shares have traded both at a premium and a discount to NAV. The Fund cannot predict whether its shares will trade in the future at a premium or discount to NAV. The provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), generally require that the public offering price of common shares (less any underwriting commissions and discounts) must equal or exceed the NAV per share of a company’s common stock. The issuance of common shares may have an adverse effect on prices in the secondary market for the Fund’s common shares by increasing the number of common shares available, which may put downward pressure on the market price for the Fund’s common shares. Shares of common stock of closed-end investment companies frequently trade at a discount from NAV.
In addition, the Fund’s Board of Trustees has authorized the Fund 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. The results of the share repurchase program are disclosed in the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders.
The following table sets forth for each of the periods indicated the high and low closing market prices for the common shares on the New York Stock Exchange, and the corresponding NAV per share and the premium or discount to NAV per share at which the Fund’s common shares were trading as of such date.
|
Market Price ($) |
|
NAV per Share on Date of Market Price ($) |
|
NAV Premium/(Discount) on Date of Market Price (%) |
Fiscal Quarter Ended |
High |
Low |
|
High |
Low |
|
High |
Low |
December 31, 2023 |
7.99 |
7.21 |
|
8.42 |
7.94 |
|
(5.11) |
(9.19) |
September 30, 2023 |
8.45 |
7.54 |
|
8.68 |
8.24 |
|
(2.65) |
(8.50) |
June 30, 2023 |
8.44 |
7.68 |
|
8.47 |
8.19 |
|
(0.35) |
(6.23) |
March 31, 2023 |
8.14 |
7.43 |
|
8.32 |
7.90 |
|
(2.16) |
(5.95) |
December 31, 2022 |
8.67 |
7.41 |
|
8.12 |
7.93 |
|
6.77 |
(6.56) |
September 30, 2022 |
9.90 |
8.27 |
|
8.80 |
7.88 |
|
12.50 |
4.95 |
June 30, 2022 |
9.92 |
8.38 |
|
9.52 |
8.25 |
|
4.20 |
1.58 |
March 31, 2022 |
10.73 |
9.19 |
|
10.40 |
9.11 |
|
3.17 |
0.88 |
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
Endnotes and Additional Disclosures
† |
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. |
‡ |
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. |
|
|
1 |
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. |
2 |
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. |
3 |
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. |
|
Fund 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. |
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
Security |
Shares |
Value |
Aerospace & Defense — 0.8% |
HEICO Corp. (1) |
|
26,495 |
$ 4,739,161 |
|
|
|
$ 4,739,161 |
Biotechnology — 2.3% |
AbbVie, Inc. (1) |
|
84,675 |
$ 13,122,085 |
|
|
|
$ 13,122,085 |
Broadline Retail — 5.0% |
Amazon.com, Inc. (1)(2) |
|
189,425 |
$ 28,781,234 |
|
|
|
$ 28,781,234 |
Capital Markets — 6.3% |
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (1) |
|
90,772 |
$ 11,657,848 |
S&P Global, Inc. (1) |
|
23,505 |
10,354,423 |
Stifel Financial Corp. (1) |
|
114,894 |
7,944,920 |
Tradeweb Markets, Inc., Class A (1) |
|
67,825 |
6,163,936 |
|
|
|
$ 36,121,127 |
Chemicals — 1.4% |
Linde PLC (1) |
|
19,956 |
$ 8,196,129 |
|
|
|
$ 8,196,129 |
Commercial Services & Supplies — 1.9% |
GFL Environmental, Inc. |
|
117,809 |
$ 4,065,588 |
Waste Management, Inc. (1) |
|
38,426 |
6,882,097 |
|
|
|
$ 10,947,685 |
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail — 2.4% |
Walmart, Inc. (1) |
|
86,402 |
$ 13,621,275 |
|
|
|
$ 13,621,275 |
Containers & Packaging — 1.5% |
AptarGroup, Inc. (1) |
|
66,959 |
$ 8,277,472 |
|
|
|
$ 8,277,472 |
Electric Utilities — 1.3% |
NextEra Energy, Inc. (1) |
|
124,224 |
$ 7,545,366 |
|
|
|
$ 7,545,366 |
Security |
Shares |
Value |
Electrical Equipment — 1.5% |
AMETEK, Inc. (1) |
|
49,975 |
$ 8,240,378 |
|
|
|
$ 8,240,378 |
Entertainment — 1.0% |
Netflix, Inc. (1)(2) |
|
11,820 |
$ 5,754,922 |
|
|
|
$ 5,754,922 |
Financial Services — 3.2% |
Shift4 Payments, Inc., Class A (1)(2) |
|
87,159 |
$ 6,479,400 |
Visa, Inc., Class A (1) |
|
44,752 |
11,651,183 |
|
|
|
$ 18,130,583 |
Ground Transportation — 2.2% |
Uber Technologies, Inc. (1)(2) |
|
146,007 |
$ 8,989,651 |
Union Pacific Corp. (1) |
|
14,782 |
3,630,755 |
|
|
|
$ 12,620,406 |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies — 2.7% |
Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (1)(2) |
|
23,802 |
$ 8,029,843 |
Stryker Corp. (1) |
|
25,148 |
7,530,820 |
|
|
|
$ 15,560,663 |
Health Care Providers & Services — 1.5% |
Humana, Inc. (1) |
|
18,383 |
$ 8,415,921 |
|
|
|
$ 8,415,921 |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure — 1.6% |
Domino's Pizza, Inc. (1) |
|
7,251 |
$ 2,989,079 |
Marriott International, Inc., Class A (1) |
|
27,035 |
6,096,663 |
|
|
|
$ 9,085,742 |
Household Products — 1.9% |
Procter & Gamble Co. (The) (1) |
|
74,982 |
$ 10,987,862 |
|
|
|
$ 10,987,862 |
Insurance — 3.8% |
Allstate Corp. (The) (1) |
|
79,700 |
$ 11,156,406 |
W.R. Berkley Corp. (1) |
|
150,918 |
10,672,921 |
|
|
|
$ 21,829,327 |
Interactive Media & Services — 6.5% |
Alphabet, Inc., Class C (1)(2) |
|
159,560 |
$ 22,486,791 |
Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A (1)(2) |
|
40,685 |
14,400,862 |
|
|
|
$ 36,887,653 |
16
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
Portfolio of Investments — continued
Security |
Shares |
Value |
IT Services — 1.3% |
Gartner, Inc. (1)(2) |
|
16,930 |
$ 7,637,292 |
|
|
|
$ 7,637,292 |
Life Sciences Tools & Services — 3.4% |
Danaher Corp. (1) |
|
27,925 |
$ 6,460,170 |
Illumina, Inc. (1)(2) |
|
35,947 |
5,005,260 |
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (1) |
|
15,222 |
8,079,685 |
|
|
|
$ 19,545,115 |
Machinery — 0.9% |
Parker-Hannifin Corp. (1) |
|
10,661 |
$ 4,911,523 |
|
|
|
$ 4,911,523 |
Media — 1.3% |
Comcast Corp., Class A (1) |
|
166,073 |
$ 7,282,301 |
|
|
|
$ 7,282,301 |
Multi-Utilities — 0.6% |
Sempra (1) |
|
48,933 |
$ 3,656,763 |
|
|
|
$ 3,656,763 |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 2.1% |
ConocoPhillips (1) |
|
55,471 |
$ 6,438,519 |
EOG Resources, Inc. (1) |
|
43,413 |
5,250,802 |
|
|
|
$ 11,689,321 |
Pharmaceuticals — 2.8% |
Eli Lilly & Co. (1) |
|
25,072 |
$ 14,614,970 |
Zoetis, Inc. (1) |
|
7,555 |
1,491,131 |
|
|
|
$ 16,106,101 |
Professional Services — 4.7% |
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (1) |
|
39,032 |
$ 9,093,285 |
Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp. (1) |
|
44,977 |
5,753,008 |
TransUnion (1) |
|
170,119 |
11,688,877 |
|
|
|
$ 26,535,170 |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment — 9.1% |
Analog Devices, Inc. (1) |
|
47,605 |
$ 9,452,449 |
Broadcom, Inc. (1) |
|
9,316 |
10,398,985 |
Lam Research Corp. (1) |
|
9,314 |
7,295,283 |
NVIDIA Corp. (1) |
|
50,437 |
24,977,411 |
|
|
|
$ 52,124,128 |
Security |
Shares |
Value |
Software — 12.1% |
ANSYS, Inc. (1)(2) |
|
24,229 |
$ 8,792,220 |
Intuit, Inc. (1) |
|
7,761 |
4,850,858 |
Microsoft Corp. (1) |
|
134,077 |
50,418,315 |
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (1)(2) |
|
17,297 |
5,100,539 |
|
|
|
$ 69,161,932 |
Specialty Retail — 2.5% |
Burlington Stores, Inc. (1)(2) |
|
34,077 |
$ 6,627,295 |
TJX Cos., Inc. (The) (1) |
|
81,468 |
7,642,513 |
|
|
|
$ 14,269,808 |
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals — 7.8% |
Apple, Inc. (1) |
|
232,464 |
$ 44,756,294 |
|
|
|
$ 44,756,294 |
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods — 1.2% |
NIKE, Inc., Class B (1) |
|
60,330 |
$ 6,550,028 |
|
|
|
$ 6,550,028 |
Wireless Telecommunication Services — 0.8% |
T-Mobile US, Inc. (1) |
|
29,804 |
$ 4,778,475 |
|
|
|
$ 4,778,475 |
Total Common Stocks (identified cost $374,394,566) |
|
|
$567,869,242 |
Short-Term Investments — 1.7% |
Security |
Shares |
Value |
Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds - Government Portfolio, Institutional Class, 5.27% (3) |
|
9,422,220 |
$ 9,422,220 |
Total Short-Term Investments (identified cost $9,422,220) |
|
|
$ 9,422,220 |
Total Purchased Put Options — 0.1% (identified cost $2,071,501) |
|
|
$ 767,868 |
Total Investments — 101.2% (identified cost $385,888,287) |
|
|
$578,059,330 |
Total Written Call Options — (0.9)% (premiums received $2,251,535) |
|
|
|
Other Assets, Less Liabilities — (0.3)% |
|
|
|
Net Assets — 100.0% |
|
|
$571,064,595 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
Portfolio of Investments — continued
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) |
May be deemed to be an affiliated investment company. The rate shown is the annualized seven-day yield as of December 31, 2023. |
Purchased Put Options (Exchange-Traded) — 0.1% |
Description |
Number of Contracts |
Notional Amount |
Exercise Price |
Expiration Date |
Value |
S&P 500 Index |
98 |
$ |
46,744,334 |
$ |
4,430 |
1/2/24 |
$ 980 |
S&P 500 Index |
98 |
|
46,744,334 |
|
4,460 |
1/3/24 |
1,470 |
S&P 500 Index |
97 |
|
46,267,351 |
|
4,465 |
1/5/24 |
3,395 |
S&P 500 Index |
97 |
|
46,267,351 |
|
4,490 |
1/8/24 |
6,063 |
S&P 500 Index |
97 |
|
46,267,351 |
|
4,540 |
1/10/24 |
12,610 |
S&P 500 Index |
95 |
|
45,313,385 |
|
4,615 |
1/12/24 |
40,850 |
S&P 500 Index |
95 |
|
45,313,385 |
|
4,620 |
1/16/24 |
56,050 |
S&P 500 Index |
95 |
|
45,313,385 |
|
4,660 |
1/17/24 |
97,850 |
S&P 500 Index |
94 |
|
44,836,402 |
|
4,635 |
1/19/24 |
91,650 |
S&P 500 Index |
95 |
|
45,313,385 |
|
4,650 |
1/22/24 |
118,750 |
S&P 500 Index |
95 |
|
45,313,385 |
|
4,660 |
1/24/24 |
153,425 |
S&P 500 Index |
95 |
|
45,313,385 |
|
4,665 |
1/26/24 |
184,775 |
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$767,868 |
Written Call Options (Exchange-Traded) — (0.9)% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Description |
Number of Contracts |
Notional Amount |
Exercise Price |
Expiration Date |
Value |
S&P 500 Index |
98 |
$ |
46,744,334 |
$ |
4,650 |
1/2/24 |
$(1,210,790) |
S&P 500 Index |
98 |
|
46,744,334 |
|
4,680 |
1/3/24 |
(923,650) |
S&P 500 Index |
97 |
|
46,267,351 |
|
4,700 |
1/5/24 |
(786,670) |
S&P 500 Index |
97 |
|
46,267,351 |
|
4,710 |
1/8/24 |
(718,285) |
S&P 500 Index |
97 |
|
46,267,351 |
|
4,750 |
1/10/24 |
(470,935) |
S&P 500 Index |
95 |
|
45,313,385 |
|
4,825 |
1/12/24 |
(179,550) |
S&P 500 Index |
95 |
|
45,313,385 |
|
4,850 |
1/16/24 |
(134,425) |
S&P 500 Index |
95 |
|
45,313,385 |
|
4,875 |
1/17/24 |
(97,375) |
S&P 500 Index |
94 |
|
44,836,402 |
|
4,900 |
1/19/24 |
(79,900) |
S&P 500 Index |
95 |
|
45,313,385 |
|
4,880 |
1/22/24 |
(127,775) |
S&P 500 Index |
95 |
|
45,313,385 |
|
4,875 |
1/24/24 |
(162,925) |
S&P 500 Index |
95 |
|
45,313,385 |
|
4,890 |
1/26/24 |
(148,200) |
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$(5,040,480) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
|
December 31, 2023 |
Assets |
|
Unaffiliated investments, at value (identified cost $376,466,067) |
$568,637,110 |
Affiliated investments, at value (identified cost $9,422,220) |
9,422,220 |
Dividends receivable |
325,039 |
Dividends receivable from affiliated investments |
20,641 |
Receivable for premiums on written options |
184,262 |
Tax reclaims receivable |
10,147 |
Trustees' deferred compensation plan |
103,632 |
Total assets |
$578,703,051 |
Liabilities |
|
Written options outstanding, at value (premiums received $2,251,535) |
$5,040,480 |
Payable for investments purchased |
612,952 |
Payable for closed written options |
1,104,183 |
Payable to affiliates: |
|
Investment adviser fee |
481,630 |
Trustees' fees |
923 |
Trustees' deferred compensation plan |
103,632 |
Accrued expenses |
294,656 |
Total liabilities |
|
Net Assets |
$571,064,595 |
Sources of Net Assets |
|
Common shares, $0.01 par value, unlimited number of shares authorized |
$673,018 |
Additional paid-in capital |
388,050,283 |
Distributable earnings |
182,341,294 |
Net Assets |
$571,064,595 |
Common Shares Issued and Outstanding |
67,301,787 |
Net Asset Value Per Common Share |
|
Net assets ÷ common shares issued and outstanding |
|
19
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
|
Year Ended |
|
December 31, 2023 |
Investment Income |
|
Dividend income (net of foreign taxes withheld of $51,554) |
$7,576,380 |
Dividend income from affiliated investments |
154,723 |
Total investment income |
|
Expenses |
|
Investment adviser fee |
$5,603,817 |
Trustees’ fees and expenses |
26,902 |
Custodian fee |
214,802 |
Transfer and dividend disbursing agent fees |
18,065 |
Legal and accounting services |
79,860 |
Printing and postage |
339,701 |
Miscellaneous |
64,774 |
Total expenses |
|
Deduct: |
|
Waiver and/or reimbursement of expenses by affiliates |
$4,524 |
Total expense reductions |
|
Net expenses |
|
Net investment income |
|
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
|
Net realized gain (loss): |
|
Investment transactions |
$55,353,235 |
Written options |
(18,025,023) |
Foreign currency transactions |
(3,382) |
Net realized gain |
|
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation): |
|
Investments |
$46,842,011 |
Written options |
(5,204,485) |
Foreign currency |
3,766 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) |
|
Net realized and unrealized gain |
|
Net increase in net assets from operations |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
2023 |
2022 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
|
|
From operations: |
|
|
Net investment income |
$1,387,706 |
$2,307,547 |
Net realized gain |
37,324,830 |
34,275,880 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) |
41,641,292 |
(137,486,081) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations |
|
$(100,902,654) |
Distributions to shareholders |
|
|
Tax return of capital to shareholders |
|
|
Capital share transactions: |
|
|
Proceeds from shelf offering, net of offering costs (see Note 5) |
$— |
$16,042,117 |
Reinvestment of distributions |
— |
3,783,607 |
Net increase in net assets from capital share transactions |
|
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets |
|
$(139,572,619) |
Net Assets |
|
|
At beginning of year |
$537,472,049 |
$677,044,668 |
At end of year |
$571,064,595 |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
Net asset value — Beginning of year |
$7.990 |
$10.380 |
$10.080 |
$9.340 |
$8.950 |
Income (Loss) From Operations |
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (1) |
$0.021 |
$0.035 |
$0.045 |
$0.067 |
$0.066 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
1.174 |
(1.555) |
1.159 |
1.585 |
1.236 |
Total income (loss) from operations |
|
|
|
|
|
Less Distributions |
|
|
|
|
|
From net investment income |
$(0.020) |
$(0.033) |
$(0.045) |
$(0.080) |
$(0.066) |
From net realized gain |
(0.624) |
(0.549) |
(0.181) |
(0.194) |
— |
Tax return of capital |
(0.051) |
(0.294) |
(0.686) |
(0.638) |
(0.846) |
Total distributions |
|
|
|
|
|
Premium from common shares sold through shelf offering (see Note 5) (1) |
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value — End of year |
|
|
|
|
|
Market value — End of year |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Investment Return on Net Asset Value (2) |
15.94% |
(14.93)% |
12.35% |
18.78% |
15.18% |
Total Investment Return on Market Value (2) |
14.05% |
(22.46)% |
12.47% |
22.33% |
26.82% |
Ratios/Supplemental Data |
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets, end of year (000’s omitted) |
$571,065 |
$537,472 |
$677,045 |
$643,771 |
$595,471 |
Ratios (as a percentage of average daily net assets): |
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses |
1.13% (3) |
1.12% (3) |
1.10% |
1.11% |
1.11% |
Net investment income |
0.25% |
0.39% |
0.44% |
0.70% |
0.71% |
Portfolio Turnover |
73% |
55% |
41% |
52% |
57% |
(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. |
(3) |
Includes a reduction by the investment adviser of a portion of its adviser fee due to the Fund’s investment in the Liquidity Fund (equal to less than 0.005% of average daily net assets for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022). |
22
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
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 National Market System 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.
Other.
Investments in management investment companies (including money market funds) that do not trade on an exchange are valued at the net asset value as of the close of each business day.
Fair Valuation.
In connection with Rule 2a-5 of the 1940 Act, the Trustees have designated the Fund’s investment adviser as its valuation designee. Investments for which valuations or market quotations are not readily available or are deemed unreliable are valued by the investment adviser, as valuation designee, at fair value using methods that most fairly reflect 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, 2023, 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
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
Notes to Financial Statements — continued
gains or losses on investment transactions attributable to changes in foreign currency exchange rates are recorded for financial statement purposes as net 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. Premiums paid for purchasing options that expire are treated as realized losses. Premiums paid for purchasing options that are exercised or closed are added to the amounts paid or offset against the proceeds on the underlying investment transaction to determine the realized gain or loss. 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. The risk associated with purchasing options is limited to the premium originally paid. Purchased options traded over-the-counter involve risk that the issuer or counterparty will fail to perform its contractual obligations.
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, 2023 and December 31, 2022 was as follows:
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
2023 |
2022 |
Ordinary income |
$1,378,596 |
$2,210,441 |
Long-term capital gains |
$41,978,747 |
$36,662,568 |
Tax return of capital |
$3,403,939 |
$19,622,680 |
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
Notes to Financial Statements — continued
During the year ended December 31, 2023, distributable earnings was increased by $28,977 and paid-in capital was decreased by $28,977 due to differences between book and tax accounting. These reclassifications had no effect on the net assets or net asset value per share of the Fund.
As of December 31, 2023, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Post October capital losses |
$(10,210,551) |
Net unrealized appreciation |
192,551,845 |
Distributable earnings |
$182,341,294 |
At December 31, 2023, the Fund had a net capital loss of $10,210,551 attributable to security transactions incurred after October 31, 2023 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, 2024.
The cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments, including open derivative contracts, of the Fund at December 31, 2023, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
Aggregate cost |
$384,739,619 |
Gross unrealized appreciation |
$194,147,633 |
Gross unrealized depreciation |
(1,595,790) |
Net unrealized appreciation |
$192,551,843 |
3 Investment Adviser Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates
The investment adviser fee is earned by Eaton Vance Management (EVM), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, as compensation for 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, as defined in the investment advisory agreement, and is payable monthly. For purposes of this calculation, gross assets represent net assets plus obligations attributable to investment leverage. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Fund had no obligations attributable to investment leverage. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the investment adviser fee amounted to $5,603,817. The Fund may invest in a money market fund, the Institutional Class of the Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds - Government Portfolio (the “Liquidity Fund”), an open-end management investment company managed by Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley. The investment adviser fee paid by the Fund is reduced by an amount equal to its pro rata share of the advisory and administration fees paid by the Fund due to its investment in the Liquidity Fund. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the investment adviser fee paid was reduced by $4,524 relating to the Fund’s investment in the Liquidity 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. 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 $407,400,429 and $507,028,396, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2023.
5 Common Shares of Beneficial Interest and Shelf Offering
The Fund may issue common shares pursuant to its dividend reinvestment plan. There were no common shares issued by the Fund during the year ended December 31, 2023. Common shares issued by the Fund pursuant to its dividend reinvestment plan for the year ended December 31, 2022 were 432,054.
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, 2023 and December 31, 2022.
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
Notes to Financial Statements — continued
Pursuant to a registration statement filed with the SEC, the Fund is authorized to issue up to an additional 9,600,000 common shares through an equity shelf offering program (the “shelf offering”). Under the shelf offering, the Fund, subject to market conditions, may raise additional capital from time to time and in varying amounts and offering methods at a net price at or above the Fund’s net asset value per common share. During the year ended December 31, 2023, there were no shares sold by the Fund pursuant to its shelf offering. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Fund sold 1,621,549 common shares and received proceeds (net of offering costs) of $16,042,117 through its shelf offering. The net proceeds in excess of the net asset value of the shares sold were $399,066 for the year ended December 31, 2022. Offering costs (other than the applicable sales commissions) incurred in connection with the shelf offering were borne directly by EVM. Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. (EVD), an affiliate of EVM, is the distributor of the Fund’s shares and is entitled to receive a sales commission from the Fund of 1.00% of the gross sales price per share, a portion of which is re-allowed to sales agents. The Fund was informed that the sales commissions retained by EVD during the year ended December 31, 2022 were $32,408.
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, 2023 is included in the Portfolio of Investments. At December 31, 2023, the Fund had sufficient cash and/or securities to cover commitments under these contracts.
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, 2023 was as follows:
|
Fair Value |
Derivative |
|
|
Purchased options |
$767,868 |
$ — |
Written options |
— |
(5,040,480) |
Total |
$767,868 |
$(5,040,480) |
(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, 2023 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 |
$(30,178,924) |
$(1,002,488) |
Written options |
(18,025,023) |
(5,204,485) |
Total |
$(48,203,947) |
$(6,206,973) |
(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. |
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
Notes to Financial Statements — continued
The average number of purchased and written options contracts outstanding during the year ended December 31, 2023, which are indicative of the volume of these derivative types, were 1,261 and 1,261 contracts, respectively.
7 Affiliated Investments
At December 31, 2023, the value of the Fund's investment in funds that may be deemed to be affiliated was $9,422,220, which represents 1.7% of the Fund's net assets. Transactions in such investments by the Fund for the year ended December 31, 2023 were as follows:
Name |
Value, beginning of period |
Purchases |
Sales proceeds |
Net realized gain (loss) |
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) |
Value, end of period |
Dividend income |
Shares, end of period |
Short-Term Investments |
Liquidity Fund |
$1,728,958 |
$138,907,210 |
$(131,213,948) |
$ — |
$ — |
$9,422,220 |
$154,723 |
9,422,220 |
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, 2023, the hierarchy of inputs used in valuing the Fund’s investments and open derivative instruments, which are carried at fair value, were as follows:
Asset Description |
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Total |
Common Stocks |
$567,869,242* |
$ — |
$ — |
$567,869,242 |
Short-Term Investments |
9,422,220 |
— |
— |
9,422,220 |
Purchased Put Options |
767,868 |
— |
— |
767,868 |
Total Investments |
|
$ — |
$ — |
|
Liability Description |
|
|
|
|
Written Call Options |
$ (5,040,480) |
$ — |
$ — |
$ (5,040,480) |
Total |
|
$ — |
$ — |
|
* |
The level classification by major category of investments is the same as the category presentation in the Portfolio of Investments. |
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
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, 2023, 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, 2023, 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, 2023, 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 20, 2024
We have served as the auditor of one or more Eaton Vance investment companies since 1959.
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
Federal Tax Information (Unaudited)
The Form 1099-DIV you received in February 2024 showed the tax status of all distributions paid to your account in calendar year 2023. 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 and the dividends received deduction for corporations.
Qualified Dividend Income.
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the Fund designates approximately $7,385,111, 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 2023 ordinary income dividends, 100% qualifies for the corporate dividends received deduction.
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
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 Equiniti Trust Company, LLC (“EQ"), 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.
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
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 Equiniti Trust Company, LLC (“EQ")
P.O. Box 10027
Newark, NJ 07101
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
Management and Organization
Fund Management
. The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the “Board”) is responsible for the overall management and supervision of the affairs of the Fund. The Board members 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. Each Trustee holds office until the annual meeting for the year in which his or her term expires and until his or her successor is elected and qualified, subject to a prior death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal. Under the terms of the Fund’s current Trustee retirement policy, an Independent Trustee must retire and resign as a Trustee on the earlier of: (i) the first day of July following his or her 74th birthday; or (ii), with limited exception, December 31st of the 20th year in which he or she has served as a Trustee. However, if such retirement and resignation would cause the Fund to be out of compliance with Section 16 of the 1940 Act or any other regulations or guidance of the Securities and Exchange Commission, then such retirement and resignation will not become effective until such time as action has been taken for the Fund to be in compliance therewith. 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 Board member and officer is Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110. As used below, “BMR” refers to Boston Management and Research, “EV” refers to EV LLC, “EVM” refers to Eaton Vance Management, “MSIM” refers to Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. and “EVD” refers to Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. EV is the trustee of each of EVM and BMR. Each of EVM, BMR, EVD and EV are indirect, wholly owned subsidiaries of Morgan Stanley. Each officer affiliated with EVM may hold a position with other EVM affiliates that is comparable to his or her position with EVM listed below. Each Trustee oversees 127 funds in the Eaton Vance fund complex (including both funds and portfolios in a hub and spoke structure).
Name and Year of Birth |
Fund Position(s) |
Length of Service |
Principal Occupation(s) and Other Directorships During Past Five Years and Other Relevant Experience |
Interested Trustee |
Anchal Pachnanda (1) 1980 |
Class III Trustee |
Until 2025. 3 years. Since 2023. |
Co-Head of Strategy of MSIM (since 2019). Formerly, Head of Strategy of MSIM (2017-2019). Ms. Pachnanda is an interested person because of her position with MSIM, which is an affiliate of the Fund. . None. |
Noninterested Trustees |
Alan C. Bowser 1962 |
Class II Trustee |
Until 2024. 3 years. Since 2023. |
Private investor. Formerly, Chief Diversity Officer, Partner and a member of the Operating Committee, and formerly served as Senior Advisor on Diversity and Inclusion for the firm's chief executive officer, Co-Head of the Americas Region, and Senior Client Advisor of Bridgewater Associates, an asset management firm (2011- 2023). . Independent Director of Stout Risius Ross (a middle market professional services advisory firm) (since 2021). |
Mark R. Fetting 1954 |
Class III Trustee |
Until 2025. 3 years. 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). None. |
Cynthia E. Frost 1961 |
Class I Trustee |
Until 2026. 3 years. 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). None. |
George J. Gorman 1952 |
Chairperson of the Board and Class II Trustee |
Until 2024. 3 years. Chairperson of the Board since 2021 and 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). None. |
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
Management and Organization — continued
Name and Year of Birth |
Fund Position(s) |
Length of Service |
Principal Occupation(s) and Other Directorships During Past Five Years and Other Relevant Experience |
Noninterested Trustees (continued) |
Valerie A. Mosley 1960 |
Class III Trustee |
Until 2025. 3 years. Since 2014. |
Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer of Valmo Ventures (a consulting and investment firm). Founder of Upward Wealth, Inc., dba BrightUP, a fintech platform. 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). Director of DraftKings, Inc. (digital sports entertainment and gaming company) (since September 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) (since 2013-2020) and Director of Groupon, Inc. (e-commerce provider) (2020-2022). |
Keith Quinton 1958 |
Class I Trustee |
Until 2026. 3 years. Since 2018. |
Private investor, researcher and lecturer. Formerly, Independent Investment Committee Member at New Hampshire Retirement System (2017-2021). Formerly, Portfolio Manager and Senior Quantitative Analyst at Fidelity Investments (investment management firm) (2001-2014). Formerly, Director (2016-2021) and Chairman (2019-2021) of New Hampshire Municipal Bond Bank. |
Marcus L. Smith 1966 |
Class III Trustee |
Until 2025. 3 years. Since 2018. |
Private investor and independent corporate director. Formerly, Chief Investment Officer, Canada (2012-2017), Chief Investment Officer, Asia (2010-2012), Director of Asian Research (2004-2010) and portfolio manager (2001-2017) at MFS Investment Management (investment management firm). Director of First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc. (an industrial REIT) (since 2021). 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 2024. 3 years. 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) (2015-2018) and Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd. (insurance and reinsurance) (2013-2015). Formerly, Associate, Counsel and Partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (law firm) (1982-2013). Formerly, Director of Kairos Acquisition Corp. (insurance/InsurTech acquisition company) (2021-2023). |
Scott E. Wennerholm 1959 |
Class I Trustee |
Until 2026. 3 years. 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). None. |
Nancy A. Wiser 1967 |
Class II Trustee |
Until 2024. 3 years. Since 2022. |
Formerly, Executive Vice President and the Global Head of Operations at Wells Fargo Asset Management (2011-2021). None. |
Name and Year of Birth |
Fund Position(s) |
Length of Service |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years |
Principal Officers who are not Trustees |
R. Kelly Williams, Jr. 1971 |
President |
Since 2023 |
President and Chief Operating Officer of Atlanta Capital Management Company, LLC. Officer of 21 registered investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR. |
Deidre E. Walsh 1971 |
Vice President and Chief Legal Officer |
Since 2009 |
Vice President of EVM and BMR. Also Vice President of CRM. |
James F. Kirchner 1967 |
Treasurer |
Since 2007 |
Vice President of EVM and BMR. Also Vice President of CRM. |
Eaton Vance
Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
December 31, 2023
Management and Organization — continued
Name and Year of Birth |
Fund Position(s) |
Length of Service |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years |
Principal Officers who are not Trustees (continued) |
Nicholas S. Di Lorenzo 1987 |
Secretary |
Since 2022 |
Formerly, associate (2012-2021) and counsel (2022) at Dechert LLP. |
Laura T. Donovan 1976 |
Chief Compliance Officer |
Since 2024 |
Vice President of EVM and BMR. |
(1)
Ms. Pachnanda began serving as Trustee effective April 1, 2023.
Privacy Notice |
April 2021 |
FACTS |
WHAT DOES EATON VANCE DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION? |
Why? |
Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do. |
|
|
What? |
The types of personal information we collect and share depend on the product or service you have with us. This information can include:■ Social Security number and income ■ investment experience and risk tolerance ■ checking account number and wire transfer instructions |
|
|
How? |
All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday business. In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers’ personal information; the reasons Eaton Vance chooses to share; and whether you can limit this sharing. |
Reasons we can share your personal information |
Does Eaton Vance share? |
Can you limit this sharing? |
For our everyday business purposes — such as to process your transactions, maintain your account(s), respond to court orders and legal investigations, or report to credit bureaus |
Yes |
No |
For our marketing purposes — to offer our products and services to you |
Yes |
No |
For joint marketing with other financial companies |
No |
We don’t share |
For our investment management affiliates’ everyday business purposes — information about your transactions, experiences, and creditworthiness |
Yes |
Yes |
For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes — information about your transactions and experiences |
Yes |
No |
For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes — information about your creditworthiness |
No |
We don’t share |
For our investment management affiliates to market to you |
Yes |
Yes |
For our affiliates to market to you |
No |
We don’t share |
For nonaffiliates to market to you |
No |
We don’t share |
To limit our
sharing |
Call toll-free 1-800-262-1122 or email: EVPrivacy@eatonvance.comIf you are a customer, we can begin sharing your information 30 days from the date we sent this notice. When you are our customer, we continue to share your information as described in this notice. However, you can contact us at any time to limit our sharing. |
Questions? |
Call toll-free 1-800-262-1122 or email: EVPrivacy@eatonvance.com |
Privacy Notice — continued |
April 2021 |
Who we are |
Who is providing this notice? |
Eaton Vance Management, 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, Eaton Vance and Calvert Fund Families and our investment advisory affiliates (“Eaton Vance”) (see Investment Management Affiliates definition below) |
What we do |
How does Eaton Vance protect my personal information? |
To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings. We have policies governing the proper handling of customer information by personnel and requiring third parties that provide support to adhere to appropriate security standards with respect to such information. |
How does Eaton Vance collect my personal information? |
We collect your personal information, for example, when you■ open an account or make deposits or withdrawals from your account ■ buy securities from us or make a wire transfer ■ give us your contact informationWe also collect your personal information from others, such as credit bureaus, affiliates, or other companies. |
Why can’t I limit all sharing? |
Federal law gives you the right to limit only■ sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes — information about your creditworthiness ■ affiliates from using your information to market to you ■ sharing for nonaffiliates to market to youState laws and individual companies may give you additional rights to limit sharing. See below for more on your rights under state law. |
Definitions |
Investment Management Affiliates |
Eaton Vance Investment Management Affiliates include registered investment advisers, registered broker- dealers, and registered and unregistered funds. Investment Management Affiliates does not include entities associated with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, such as Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. |
Affiliates |
Companies related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.■ Our affiliates include companies with a Morgan Stanley name and financial companies such as Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. |
Nonaffiliates |
Companies not related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.■ Eaton Vance does not share with nonaffiliates so they can market to you. |
Joint marketing |
A formal agreement between nonaffiliated financial companies that together market financial products or services to you.■ Eaton Vance doesn’t jointly market. |
Other important information |
Vermont: Except as permitted by law, we will not share personal information we collect about Vermont residents with Nonaffiliates unless you provide us with your written consent to share such information. California: Except as permitted by law, we will not share personal information we collect about California residents with Nonaffiliates and we will limit sharing such personal information with our Affiliates to comply with California privacy laws that apply to us. |
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.
Equiniti Trust Company, LLC
(“
”),
the closed-end funds transfer agent, or your financial intermediary, may household the mailing of your documents indefinitely unless you instruct EQ, or your financial intermediary, otherwise.
If you would prefer that your Eaton Vance documents not be householded, please contact EQ 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 EQ 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 “Closed-End Funds & Term Trusts.”
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Investment Adviser and Administrator
Eaton Vance Management
Two International Place
Boston, MA 02110
Custodian
State Street Bank and Trust Company
One Congress Street, Suite 1
Boston, MA 02114-2016
Transfer Agent
Equiniti Trust Company, LLC ("EQ")
P.O. Box 500
Newark, NJ 07101
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Deloitte & Touche LLP
200 Berkeley Street
Boston, MA 02116-5022
Fund Offices
Two International Place
Boston, MA 02110
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 Scott E. Wennerholm, 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 also has experience serving as an independent trustee and audit committee financial expert of other mutual fund complexes. Mr. Wennerholm is a private investor. Previously, Mr. Wennerholm served as a Trustee at Wheelock College (postsecondary institution), as a Consultant at GF Parish Group (executive recruiting firm), Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President at BNY Mellon Asset Management (investment management firm), Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at Natixis Global Asset Management (investment management firm), and Vice President at Fidelity Investments Institutional Services (investment management 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, 2022 and December 31, 2023 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 |
|
12/31/22 |
|
|
12/31/23 |
|
Audit Fees |
|
$ |
57,350 |
|
|
$ |
55,300 |
|
Audit-Related Fees(1) |
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
Tax Fees(2) |
|
$ |
350 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
All Other Fees(3) |
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
57,700 |
|
|
$ |
55,300 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(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.
(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, 2022 and December 31, 2023; 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 |
|
12/31/22 |
|
|
12/31/23 |
|
Registrant |
|
$ |
350 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
Eaton Vance(1) |
|
$ |
52,836 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
(1) |
The investment adviser to the registrant, as well as any of its affiliates that provide ongoing services to the registrant, are subsidiaries of Morgan Stanley. |
(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.
(i) Not applicable.
(j) Not applicable.
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, Keith Quinton, Scott E. Wennerholm (Chair), and Nancy A. Wiser 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.
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 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. Charles B. Gaffney and Douglas R. Rogers, CFA, CMT are responsible for the overall and day-to-day management of the Fund’s investments. Messrs. Gaffney and Rogers are Vice Presidents of Eaton Vance, have managed other Eaton Vance portfolios for more than five years, and have been portfolio managers of the Fund since May 2023.
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 |
|
Charles B. Gaffney(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies |
|
|
12 |
|
|
$ |
10,317.4 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
Other Accounts |
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
Douglas R. Rogers, CFA, CMT(1)(2) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies |
|
|
12 |
|
|
$ |
8,888.6 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
|
|
1 |
|
|
$ |
17.9 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
Other Accounts |
|
|
5 |
|
|
$ |
1,761.7 |
|
|
|
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) |
This portfolio manager may provide advisory services for certain of the “Other Accounts” on a nondiscretionary or model basis. For “Other Accounts” that are part of a wrap account program, the number of accounts is the number of sponsors for which the portfolio manager provides advisory services rather than the number of individual customer accounts within each wrap account program. The assets managed may include assets advised on a nondiscretionary or model basis. |
The following table shows the dollar range of Fund shares beneficially owned by the portfolio manager as of the Fund’s most recent fiscal year end.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio Manager |
|
Dollar Range of Equity Securities Beneficially Owned in the Fund |
|
|
|
|
Charles B. Gaffney |
|
None |
|
|
|
|
Douglas R. Rogers, CFA, CMT |
|
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
The compensation structure of Eaton Vance and its affiliates that are investment advisers (for purposes of this section “Eaton Vance”) is based on a total reward system of base salary and incentive compensation, which is paid either in the form of cash bonus, or for employees meeting the specified deferred compensation eligibility threshold, partially as a cash bonus and partially as mandatory deferred compensation. Deferred compensation granted to Eaton Vance employees is generally granted as a mix of deferred cash awards under the Investment Management Alignment Plan (IMAP) and equity-based awards in the form of stock units. The portion of incentive compensation granted in the form of a deferred compensation award and the terms of such awards are determined annually by the Compensation, Management Development and Succession Committee of the Board of Directors of Eaton Vance’s parent company, Morgan Stanley.
Base salary compensation. Generally, portfolio managers and research analysts receive base salary compensation based on the level of their position with the Adviser.
Incentive compensation. In addition to base compensation, portfolio managers and research analysts may receive discretionary year-end compensation. Incentive compensation may include:
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A mandatory program that defers a portion of incentive compensation into restricted stock units or other awards based on Morgan Stanley common stock or other plans that are subject to vesting and other conditions. |
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IMAP is a cash-based deferred compensation plan designed to increase the alignment of participants’ interests with the interests of clients. For eligible employees, a portion of their deferred compensation is mandatorily deferred into IMAP on an annual basis. Awards granted under IMAP are notionally invested in referenced funds available pursuant to the plan, which are funds advised by MSIM and its affiliates including Eaton Vance. Portfolio managers are required to notionally invest a minimum of 40% of their account balance in the designated funds that they manage and are included in the IMAP notional investment fund menu. |
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Deferred compensation awards are typically subject to vesting over a multi-year period and are subject to cancellation through the payment date for competition, cause (i.e., any act or omission that constitutes a breach of obligation to the Funds, including failure to comply with internal compliance, ethics or risk management standards, and failure or refusal to perform duties satisfactorily, including supervisory and management duties), disclosure of proprietary information, and solicitation of |
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employees or clients. Awards are also subject to clawback through the payment date if an employee’s act or omission (including with respect to direct supervisory responsibilities) causes a restatement of the firm’s consolidated financial results, constitutes a violation of the firm’s global risk management principles, policies and standards, or causes a loss of revenue associated with a position on which the employee was paid and the employee operated outside of internal control policies. |
Eaton Vance compensates employees based on principles of pay-for-performance, market competitiveness and risk management. Eligibility for, and the amount of any, discretionary compensation is subject to a multi-dimensional process. Specifically, consideration is given to one or more of the following factors, which can vary by portfolio management team and circumstances:
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Revenue and profitability of the business and/or each fund/account managed by the portfolio manager |
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Revenue and profitability of the firm |
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Return on equity and risk factors of both the business units and Morgan Stanley |
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Assets managed by the portfolio manager |
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External market conditions |
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New business development and business sustainability |
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Contribution to client objectives |
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Team, product and/or Eaton Vance performance |
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The pre-tax investment performance of the funds/accounts managed by the portfolio manager(1) (which may, in certain cases, be measured against the applicable benchmark(s) and/or peer group(s) over one, three and five-year periods),(2) provided that for funds that are tax-managed or otherwise have an objective of after-tax returns, performance net of taxes will be considered |
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Individual contribution and performance |
Further, the firm’s Global Incentive Compensation Discretion Policy requires compensation managers to consider only legitimate, business related factors when exercising discretion in determining variable incentive compensation, including adherence to Morgan Stanley’s core values, conduct, disciplinary actions in the current performance year, risk management and risk outcomes.
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Generally, this is total return performance, provided that consideration may also be given to relative risk-adjusted performance. |
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When a fund’s peer group as determined by Lipper or Morningstar is deemed by the relevant Eaton Vance Chief Investment Officer, or in the case of the sub-advised Funds, the Director of Product Development and Sub-Advised Funds, not to provide a fair comparison, performance may instead be evaluated primarily against a custom peer group or market index |
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
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
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By: |
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/s/ R. Kelly Williams, Jr. |
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R. Kelly Williams, Jr. |
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President |
Date: February 27, 2024
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.
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By: |
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/s/ James F. Kirchner |
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James F. Kirchner |
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Treasurer |
Date: February 27, 2024
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By: |
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/s/ R. Kelly Williams, Jr. |
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R. Kelly Williams, Jr. |
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President |
Date: February 27, 2024