Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration Statement No. 333-146280

The filing fee of $15,450 related to the securities offered from the registration statement (333-146280) by means of this prospectus supplement, which is calculated in accordance with Rule 457(r), is transmitted herewith.

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus Dated September 25, 2007)

 

EATON VANCE CORP.

$500,000,000 6.500% Notes due 2017


The 6.500% Notes due 2017 (referred to in this prospectus supplement as the notes) will bear interest at the rate of 6.500% per year. Interest on the notes is payable on April 2 and October 2 of each year, beginning on April 2, 2008. The notes will mature on October 2, 2017.

The notes will be unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of our company and will rank equal in right of payment with all our other unsubordinated indebtedness.


Investing in the notes involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-6 of this prospectus supplement.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the related prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.







  
Per Note
  
Total
Public Offering Price
                 99.862 %         $ 499,310,000   
Underwriting Discount
                 0.650 %         $ 3,250,000   
Proceeds to Eaton Vance (before expenses)
                 99.212 %         $ 496,060,000   
 

Interest on the notes will accrue from October 2, 2007 to date of delivery.


The underwriters expect to deliver the notes to purchasers on or about October 2, 2007, only in book-entry form through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company, Clearstream and Euroclear.


Joint Book-Running Managers

Citi

Merrill Lynch & Co.


UBS Investment Bank

Banc of America Securities LLC

JPMorgan

Wachovia Securities


September 27, 2007



You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this prospectus supplement.


This communication is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”) or (iii) high net worth companies, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). The notes are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such notes will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.


TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

        Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
                 S-1    
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
                 S-1    
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY
                 S-3    
THE OFFERING
                 S-4    
RISK FACTORS
                 S-6    
FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION
                 S-8    
USE OF PROCEEDS
                 S-8    
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
                 S-9    
CAPITALIZATION
                 S-10    
DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES
                 S-11    
CERTAIN ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
                 S-19    
CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO NON-U.S. HOLDERS
                 S-19    
UNDERWRITING
                 S-21    
LEGAL MATTERS
                 S-26    
EXPERTS
                 S-26    
 

PROSPECTUS

        Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
                 1    
RISK FACTORS
                 1    
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
                 1    
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
                 3    
USE OF PROCEEDS
                 4    
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
                 5    
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
                 6    
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
                 15    
DESCRIPTION OF OTHER SECURITIES
                 15    
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
                 16    
LEGAL MATTERS
                 19    
EXPERTS
                 20    
 

i



ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

This document is in two parts. The first part, the prospectus supplement, describes the specific terms of the notes we are offering and certain other matters relating to Eaton Vance Corp. The second part, the base prospectus, gives more general information about securities we may offer from time to time, some of which does not apply to the notes we are offering. Generally, when we refer to the prospectus, we are referring to both parts of this document combined. If the description of the notes in the prospectus supplement differs from the description in the base prospectus, the description in the prospectus supplement supersedes the description in the base prospectus.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. These reports and other information can be read and copied at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. The SEC maintains a website (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy statements and other information regarding companies that file electronically with the SEC, including us. These reports and other information can also be read at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005 or through our website (http://www.eatonvance.com). Information on our website is not incorporated into this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or our other SEC filings and is not a part of this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or those filings.

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are part of a registration statement filed by us with the SEC. The full registration statement can be obtained from the SEC as indicated above, or from us.

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with the SEC. This permits us to disclose important information to you by referencing these filed documents. Any information referenced this way is considered part of this prospectus supplement, and any information filed (but not information that is furnished) with the SEC subsequent to this prospectus supplement and prior to the termination of this offering will automatically be deemed to update and supersede this information. Any information so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except to the extent so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus supplement. The following documents have been filed by us with the SEC (File No. 001-08100) and are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement:

  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2006, filed with the SEC on January 12, 2007, as amended by the Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on September 25, 2007;

  Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended January 31, 2007, April 30, 2007 and July 31, 2007, filed with the SEC on March 9, 2007, June 7, 2007 and September 7, 2007, respectively;

  Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 21, 2006, February 28, 2007, May 23, 2007, July 26, 2007, August 15, 2007 and August 22, 2007; and

  The description of our non-voting common stock set forth in our Registration Statement on Form 8-B, filed on February 4, 1981 (File No. 001-08100), including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such information.

All documents we file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus and before all of the securities offered by this prospectus are sold are incorporated by reference in this prospectus from the date of filing of the documents, except for information “furnished” under Item 2.02 and Item 7.01 of Form 8-K or other information “furnished” to the SEC, which is not deemed filed and not incorporated by reference herein. Information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and may replace information in this prospectus and information previously filed with the SEC.

S-1



We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the foregoing documents, and any other documents that are, incorporated herein by reference (other than exhibits unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in such documents). Requests for such documents should be directed to our principal executive office, located at: The Eaton Vance Building, 255 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, (617) 482-8260, Attention: Investor Relations.

S-2




PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY

The following summary is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed information included elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. Because this is a summary, it may not contain all the information that is important to you. You should read the entire prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including the information incorporated by reference, before making an investment decision. When used in this prospectus supplement, the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” and “Eaton Vance” refer to Eaton Vance Corp. and its subsidiaries, unless otherwise specified.

EATON VANCE CORP.

Our principal business is managing investment funds and separate accounts for retail investors and providing investment management and counseling services to high-net-worth individuals and institutions. Our long-term strategy is to develop value-added core competencies in a range of investment disciplines and to offer industry-leading investment products and services across multiple distribution channels. In executing this strategy, we have developed a broadly diversified product line and a powerful marketing, distribution and customer service capability.

Eaton Vance is a market leader in a number of investment areas, including tax-managed equity, value equity, equity income, floating-rate bank loan, municipal bond, investment grade and high-yield bond investing. The diversified offerings of Eaton Vance and its affiliates offer fund shareholders, retail managed account investors, institutional investors and high-net-worth clients a wide range of products and services designed and managed to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns over the long term.

Our principal marketing strategy is to distribute our retail products (including funds and retail managed accounts) primarily through financial intermediaries in the advice channel. We have a broad reach in this marketplace, with distribution partners including national and regional broker/dealers, independent broker/dealers, independent financial advisory firms, banks and insurance companies. We support these distribution partners with a team of more than 150 regional and Boston-based sales professionals serving the needs of our partners and clients across the United States, Latin America and Europe. Specialized sales and marketing teams provide the increasingly sophisticated information required for distributing our privately placed funds, retail managed accounts, retirement products and charitable giving vehicles.

We are also committed to serving institutional and high-net-worth clients who access investment advice outside of traditional retail broker/dealer channels. Eaton Vance and its majority-owned subsidiaries, including Atlanta Capital Management Company, LLC, Fox Asset Management LLC and Parametric Portfolio Associates LLC, have a broad range of clients in the institutional and high-net-worth marketplace, including corporations, endowments, foundations, family offices and public and private employee retirement plans. Specialized sales teams at each of our affiliates focus on developing relationships in this market and deal directly with these clients, often on the basis of independent referrals.

Our revenue is derived primarily from investment adviser, administration, distribution and service fees received from Eaton Vance funds and investment adviser fees received from separate accounts. Fees paid to us are based primarily on the value of the investment portfolios managed by Eaton Vance and fluctuate with changes in the total value of the assets under management.

S-3




THE OFFERING

Issuer
           
Eaton Vance Corp.
Securities Offered
           
$500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 6.500% Notes due 2017 (the “notes”).
Interest Rate
           
6.500% per year.
Interest Payment Dates
           
April 2 and October 2 of each year, beginning April 2, 2008.
Maturity
           
October 2, 2017.
Offer to Repurchase
           
If we experience a change of control, as defined herein, and in connection therewith the notes become rated below investment grade by Standard & Poor’s Rating Service (“S&P”) and Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), we must offer to repurchase all the notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to the repurchase date. See “Description of the Notes — Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event.”
Redemption of Notes
           
The notes may be redeemed prior to maturity in whole or in part at any time, at our option, at a “make-whole” redemption price. In the case of any such redemption, we will also pay accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date. For more detailed information on the calculation of the redemption price, see “Description of Notes — Optional Redemption of Notes.”
Ranking
           
The notes will be unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the company and will rank equal in right of payment with all our existing and future unsubordinated indebtedness.
 
           
We are a holding company and, accordingly, substantially all of our operations are conducted through our subsidiaries. As a result, our debt is “structurally subordinated” to all existing and future debt, trade creditors and other liabilities of our subsidiaries. Our rights, and hence the rights of our creditors, to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon its liquidation or reorganization or otherwise would be subject to the prior claims of that subsidiary’s creditors, except to the extent that our claims as a creditor of such subsidiary may be recognized. As of July 31, 2007, we had no indebtedness outstanding, and after giving effect to the issuance of the notes offered hereby and our application of the proceeds as described under “Use of Proceeds,” we will have $500.0 million of indebtedness outstanding. See “Capitalization.”
Covenants
           
The indenture pursuant to which the notes are issued contains limitations on our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to pledge voting stock or profit participating equity interests in our subsidiaries to secure other debt without also similarly securing the notes equally and ratably. The indenture also includes requirements that must be met if we consolidate or merge with, or sell all or substantially all of our assets to, another entity.

S-4




Trustee
           
Wilmington Trust Company
Additional Notes
           
From time to time, without the consent of the holders of the notes, we may issue additional debt securities having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms as the notes. Any additional debt securities having those similar terms, together with the previously issued notes, will constitute a single series of debt securities under the indenture.
Use of Proceeds
           
The net proceeds of this offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $496.1 million. The company will use proceeds from the offering for one or more of the following:
 
           
•  current and planned business investment, including the seeding of new funds, continued expansion of distribution channels, and investments in developing products;
 
           
•  the repurchase of shares of Eaton Vance’s non-voting common stock; and
 
           
•  other general corporate purposes, including potential acquisitions and the payment of fees and expenses related to this offering.
 
           
Any repurchase of our shares of non-voting common stock will be subject to, among other things, our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, our share price and other market conditions, other investment opportunities, other business conditions and, to the extent the amount of non-voting common stock we wish to repurchase exceeds the amount previously authorized by our board, board approval.
Events of Default
           
The notes contain customary events of default. See “Description of the Notes — Events of Default” in the accompanying base prospectus. See “Description of the Notes — Events of Default” for additional events of default pertaining to the notes.
Form
           
The notes will be book entry only and registered in the name of a nominee of The Depository Trust Company (DTC). Investors may elect to hold interests in the notes through Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, or Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, if they are participants in these systems, or indirectly through organizations that are participants in these systems.
Risk Factors
           
Investing in the notes involves substantial risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-6 for a description of certain risks that you should consider before investing in the notes.
 

S-5



RISK FACTORS

You should carefully consider the specific risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2006 and any risk factors set forth in our other filings with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act before making an investment decision. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Risks Relating to the Notes

Our debt is structurally subordinated to the debt and other liabilities of our subsidiaries.

The notes are obligations exclusively of Eaton Vance Corp. We are a holding company and, accordingly, substantially all of our operations are conducted through our subsidiaries. As a result, our debt is “structurally subordinated” to all existing and future debt, trade creditors, and other liabilities of our subsidiaries. Our rights, and hence the rights of our creditors, to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon its liquidation or reorganization or otherwise would be subject to the prior claims of that subsidiary’s creditors, except to the extent that our claims as a creditor of such subsidiary may be recognized. The indenture governing the notes does not restrict our or our subsidiaries’ ability to incur indebtedness, including secured indebtedness, to pay dividends or make distributions on, or redeem or repurchase our equity securities, or to engage in highly leveraged transactions that would increase the level of our indebtedness.

We depend upon our subsidiaries to service our debt.

Our cash flow and our ability to service our debt, including the notes, is dependent upon the earnings of our subsidiaries. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities. They have no obligation to pay any amounts due under the notes or to provide us with funds for our payment obligations. Payment to us by our subsidiaries will also be contingent upon our subsidiaries’ earnings and other business considerations.

Our indebtedness could adversely affect our financial condition.

With a successful completion of this offering, we will have a significant amount of indebtedness. This amount of indebtedness could limit our ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures, stock repurchases, acquisitions, debt service requirements or other purposes. It may also increase our vulnerability to adverse economic, market and industry conditions, limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business operations or to our industry overall, and place us at a disadvantage in relation to our competitors that have lower debt levels. Any or all of the above events and factors could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

We may issue additional notes.

Under the terms of the indenture that governs the notes, we may from time to time without notice to, or the consent of, the holders of the notes, create and issue additional notes of a new or existing series, which notes, if of an existing series, will be equal in rank to the notes of that series in all material respects, and the new notes may be consolidated and form a single series with such notes and have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise as such notes.

There is no public market for the notes.

We can give no assurances concerning the liquidity of any market that may develop for the notes offered hereby, the ability of any investor to sell the notes, or the price at which investors would be able to sell them. If a market for the notes does not develop, investors may be unable to resell the notes for an extended period of time, if at all. If a market for the notes does develop, it may not continue or it may not be sufficiently liquid to allow holders to resell any of the notes. Consequently, investors may not be able to liquidate their investment readily, and lenders may not readily accept the notes as collateral for loans.

S-6



We may not be able to repurchase the notes upon a change of control repurchase event.

Upon the occurrence of a change of control repurchase event, as defined in the indenture that governs the notes, as supplemented, subject to certain conditions, we will be required to offer to repurchase all outstanding notes at 101 percent of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest. The source of funds for that purchase of notes will be our available cash or cash generated from our subsidiaries’ operations or other potential sources, including borrowings, sales of assets or sales of equity. We cannot assure you that sufficient funds from such sources will be available at the time of any change of control repurchase event to make required repurchases of notes tendered. The terms of our corporate credit facility provide that certain change of control events will constitute an event of default thereunder entitling the lenders to accelerate any indebtedness outstanding under the facility at that time and to terminate the facility. Our future debt instruments also may contain restrictions and provisions providing that certain change of control events defined therein will constitute an event of default thereunder entitling lenders to accelerate any indebtedness outstanding under the facility at that time and to terminate the facility. If the holders of the notes exercise their right to require us to repurchase all the notes upon a change of control repurchase event, the financial effect of this repurchase could cause a default under our corporate credit facility and future debt instruments, even if the change of control repurchase event itself would not cause a default. It is possible that we will not have sufficient funds at the time of the change of control repurchase event to make the required repurchase of our other debt and the notes. See “Description of the Notes — Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event.”

S-7



FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION

This prospectus supplement contains and incorporates by reference “forward looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward looking statements include statements as to our industry trends and future expectations and other matters that do not relate strictly to historical facts and are based on certain assumptions by management. These statements are often identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “could,” “should,” “estimate” or “continue,” and similar expressions or variations. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of our management based on information currently available to management. Such forward looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward looking statements include, among others, the risks described under “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-6 of this prospectus supplement and elsewhere in the documents incorporated by reference herein. See “Where You Can Find More Information.” We caution readers to carefully consider such factors. Furthermore, such forward looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

USE OF PROCEEDS

The net proceeds of this offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $496.1 million. The company will use proceeds from the offering for one or more of the following:

  current and planned business investment, including the seeding of new funds, continued expansion of distribution channels, and investments in developing products;

  the repurchase of shares of Eaton Vance’s non-voting common stock; and

  other general corporate purposes, including potential acquisitions and the payment of fees and expenses related to this offering.

Any repurchase of our shares of non-voting common stock will be subject to, among other things, our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, our share price and other market conditions, other investment opportunities, other business conditions and, to the extent the amount of non-voting common stock we wish to repurchase exceeds the amount previously authorized by our board, board approval.

S-8



RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

Our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods indicated is as follows:

        Nine Months Ended
July 31,
    Year Ended October 31,
   
        2007
    2006
    2005
    2004
    2003
    2002
   
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
                 561%*             492 %            447 %            321 %            262 %            289 %                  
 


*  Annualized

These ratios include Eaton Vance and its subsidiaries. For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of pretax income less equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates plus fixed charges and distributed earnings of unconsolidated affiliates. Fixed charges include gross interest expense, amortization of deferred financing expenses and an amount equivalent to interest included in rental charges. We have assumed that one-third of rental expense is representative of the interest factor.

S-9



CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our consolidated capitalization at July 31, 2007 on a historical basis and as adjusted to give pro forma effect to this offering. The information set forth below should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our unaudited consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto contained in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended on July 31, 2007 filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.

        As of July 31, 2007
   
        Actual
    As Adjusted(a)
   
        (in thousands,
except per share figures)
   
        (unaudited)    
Liabilities:
                                                      
Total current liabilities
              $  175,597          $  175,597                   
Total long-term liabilities
                 17,490             517,490 (a)                  
Minority interest
                 9,561             9,561                   
 
Shareholders’ equity:
                                                      
Common stock, par value $0.00390625 per share:
                                                      
Authorized, 1,280,000 shares
                                                       
Issued and outstanding, 371,386 shares
                 1              1                    
Non-voting common stock, par value $0.00390625 per share:
                                                      
Authorized, 190,720,000 shares
                                                       
Issued and outstanding, 123,223,109 shares
                 481              481                    
Notes receivable from stock option exercises
                 (2,574 )            (2,574 )                  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
                 6,091             6,091                   
Retained earnings
                 406,043             406,043                   
Total shareholders’ equity
                 410,042             410,042                   
Total capitalization
              $ 612,690          $ 1,112,690 (a)                  
 


(a)  
  Gives effect to the issuance of the notes offered hereby.

S-10



DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES

Set forth below is a description of the specific terms of the notes. This description supplements, and should be read together with, the description of the general terms and provisions of the debt securities set forth in the accompanying base prospectus under the caption “Description of Debt Securities.” In addition to reading the description of debt securities in this prospectus supplement and in the base prospectus, you should also read the indenture, as supplemented, under which the notes are to be issued. If the description of the notes in this prospectus supplement differs from the description of debt securities in the base prospectus, the description of the notes in this prospectus supplement supersedes the description of debt securities in the base prospectus. When used in this section, the terms “Eaton Vance,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer solely to Eaton Vance Corp. and not to its subsidiaries.

General

The notes will initially be limited to $500,000,000 in aggregate principal amount. The notes will be issued in fully registered form only, in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. The notes will mature on October 2, 2017.

The notes will be issued as a series of debt securities under the indenture referred to in the accompanying base prospectus. The indenture does not limit the amount of other debt that we may incur. We may, from time to time, without the consent of the holders of the notes, issue other debt securities under the indenture in addition to the $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the notes. We may also, from time to time, without the consent of the holders of the notes, issue additional debt securities having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms as the notes. Any additional debt securities having those similar terms, together with the previously issued notes, will constitute a single series of such debt securities under the indenture.

The notes will bear interest from October 2, 2007, at the annual rate of 6.500%. Interest on the notes will be payable semi-annually on April 2 and October 2 of each year, commencing April 2, 2008, to the persons in whose names the notes are registered at the close of business on the immediately preceding March 15 and September 15, respectively, subject to certain exceptions.

The notes will be unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of Eaton Vance and will rank equal in right of payment to all our other unsubordinated indebtedness.

The notes do not provide for any sinking fund.

The provisions of the indenture described under “Description of Debt Securities — Defeasance” in the accompanying base prospectus apply to the notes.

Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event

If a Change of Control Repurchase Event (defined below) occurs, we will make an offer to each holder of notes to repurchase all or any part (in multiples of $1,000 principal amount) of that holder’s notes at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of notes repurchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the notes repurchased to the date of purchase. Within 30 days following any Change of Control Repurchase Event or, at our option, prior to any Change of Control, but after the public announcement of the Change of Control, we will mail a notice to each holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Repurchase Event and offering to repurchase notes on the payment date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed. The notice shall, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, state that the offer to purchase is conditioned on the Change of Control Repurchase Event occurring on or prior to the payment date specified in the notice. We will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the notes as a result of a Change of Control Repurchase Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Repurchase

S-11




Event provisions of the notes, we will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached our obligations under the Change of Control Repurchase Event provisions of the notes by virtue of such conflict.

On the Change of Control Repurchase Event payment date, we will, to the extent lawful:

(1)
  accept for payment all notes or portions of notes properly tendered pursuant to our offer;

(2)
  deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the aggregate purchase price in respect of all notes or portions of notes properly tendered; and

(3)
  deliver or cause to be delivered to the trustee the notes properly accepted, together with an officers’ certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of notes being purchased by us.

The paying agent will promptly mail to each holder of notes properly tendered the purchase price for the notes, and the trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each holder a new note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of any notes surrendered; provided that each new note will be in a principal amount of $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000.

We will not be required to make an offer to repurchase the notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event if a third party makes an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by us and such third party purchases all notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer.

The source of funds that will be required to repurchase notes in the event of a Change of Control Repurchase Event will be our available cash or cash generated from our subsidiaries’ operations or other potential sources, including borrowings, sales of assets or sales of equity. We cannot assure you that sufficient funds from such sources will be available at the time of any Change of Control Repurchase Event to make required repurchases of notes tendered. The terms of our corporate credit facility provide that certain change of control events will constitute an event of default thereunder entitling the lenders to accelerate any indebtedness outstanding under the facility at that time and to terminate the facility. See “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Note 6 — Long Term Debt” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated by reference herein, for a general discussion of our credit facility. Our future debt instruments may contain similar restrictions and provisions. If the holders of the notes exercise their right to require us to repurchase notes upon a change of control repurchase event, the financial effect of this repurchase could cause a default under our future debt instruments, even if the change of control repurchase event itself would not cause a default. It is possible that we will not have sufficient funds at the time of the change of control repurchase event to make the required repurchase of our other debt and the notes. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to the Notes — We may not be able to repurchase the notes upon a change of control repurchase event.”

The definition of “Change of Control” includes a phrase relating to the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of “all or substantially all” of our properties or assets and those of our subsidiaries taken as a whole. Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, the ability of a holder of notes to require us to repurchase the notes as a result of a sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of less than all of our assets and the assets of our subsidiaries taken as a whole to another person or group may be uncertain.

For purposes of the notes:

“Below Investment Grade Rating Event” means the notes are rated below Investment Grade by both Rating Agencies on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that could result in a Change of Control until the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control (which period shall be extended so long as the rating of the notes is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by either of the Rating Agencies); provided that a Below Investment Grade Rating Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating shall not be deemed to have

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occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus shall not be deemed a Below Investment Grade Rating Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Repurchase Event hereunder) if the Rating Agencies making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply do not announce or publicly confirm or inform the trustee in writing at its request that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control shall have occurred at the time of the Below Investment Grade Rating Event).

“Capital Stock” means any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all equivalent ownership interests in a person (other than a corporation) and any and all warrants or options to purchase any of the foregoing.

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:

(1)
  the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of our properties or assets and those of our subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any “person” or “group” (as those terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)of the Exchange Act), other than us or one or more of our Controlled Subsidiaries;

(2)
  the adoption of a plan relating to our liquidation or dissolution; or

(3)
  the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that (i) the Permitted Holders own less than 50 percent of our Voting Stock, measured by voting power rather than number of shares, and (ii) any “person” or “group” (as those terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more of our Voting Stock than the Permitted Holders, measured by voting power rather than number of shares.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction effected to create a holding company for us will not be deemed to involve a Change of Control if (1) pursuant to such transaction we become a Controlled Subsidiary of such holding company and (2) the holders of the Voting Stock of such holding company immediately following such transaction are the same as the holders of our Voting Stock immediately prior to such transaction.

“Change of Control Repurchase Event” means the occurrence of a Change of Control and a Below Investment Grade Rating Event.

“Controlled Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of Eaton Vance (or a holding company of Eaton Vance, as described in the second paragraph immediately preceding this paragraph), 50% or more of the outstanding equity interests of which are owned by Eaton Vance (or any such holding company) and its direct or indirect subsidiaries and of which Eaton Vance (or any such holding company) possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies, whether through the ownership of voting equity interests, by agreement or otherwise.

“Investment Grade” means a rating of Baa3 or better by Moody’s (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Moody’s) and BBB– or better by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of S&P) (or, in each case, if such Rating Agency ceases to rate the notes for reasons outside of our control, the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any Rating Agency selected by us as a replacement Rating Agency).

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investor Services Inc., or any successor thereto.

“Our Employees” means, at any time, individuals then devoting substantially all of their business and professional time to our activities or any of our subsidiaries or any such individuals who, within the 270 days prior thereto, have so devoted their professional time and the estates and legal representatives of such individuals.

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“Permitted Holders” means (i) us, (ii) one or more of our Controlled Subsidiaries, (iii) Our Employees, and (iv) a voting trust having a majority of its trustees who are Our Employees and a majority of holders of its trust certificates or holders of uncertificated interests in such voting trust who are Our Employees.

“Rating Agency” means:

(1)
  each of Moody’s and S&P; and

(2)
  if either of Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the notes or fails to make a rating of the notes publicly available for reasons outside of our control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act selected by us as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P, or both, as the case may be.

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of McGraw-Hill, Inc., or any successor thereto.

“Voting Stock” as applied to stock of any person, means shares, interests, participations or other equivalents in the equity interest (however designated) in such person having ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of such person, other than shares, interests, participations or other equivalents having such power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency.

Optional Redemption of Notes

The notes will be redeemable as a whole or in part, at our option at any time, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the notes and (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (exclusive of interest accrued to the date of redemption) discounted to the redemption date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 30 basis points, plus accrued interest thereon to the date of redemption.

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity or interpolated (on a day count basis) of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security or securities selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having an actual or interpolated maturity comparable to the remaining term the notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of a comparable maturity to the remaining term of such notes.

“Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the trustee after consultation with us.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, (A) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (B) if the trustee obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 3:30 p.m. New York time on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means each of Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, UBS Securities LLC, Banc of America Securities LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, or their affiliates which are primary U.S. Government securities dealers, and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing or their affiliates shall

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cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in The City of New York (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), the Company shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer.

Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of notes.

Unless we default in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

Ranking

The notes are our obligations exclusively, and are not obligations of our subsidiaries. We are a holding company and, accordingly, substantially all of our operations are conducted through our subsidiaries. As a result, our cash flow and our ability to service our debt, including the notes, depend upon the earnings of our subsidiaries. In addition, we depend on the distribution of earnings, loans or other payments by our subsidiaries to us.

Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities. Our subsidiaries have no obligation to pay any amounts due on the notes or to provide us with funds for our payment obligations. In addition, any payment of dividends, distributions, loans or advances by our subsidiaries to us could be subject to statutory or contractual restrictions. Payments due to us by our subsidiaries will also be contingent upon our subsidiaries’ earnings and business considerations.

Our right to receive any assets of any of our subsidiaries, as an equity holder of such subsidiaries, upon their liquidation or reorganization, and therefore the right of the holders of the notes to participate in those assets, would be structurally subordinated to the claims of that subsidiary’s creditors, including trade creditors. The notes do not restrict the ability of our subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness. In addition, the notes are unsecured. Thus, even if we were a creditor of any of our subsidiaries, our rights as a creditor would be subordinate to any security interest in the assets of our subsidiaries and any indebtedness of our subsidiaries senior to that held by us.

Limitations on Liens

The indenture will provide that we will not, and will not cause or permit any subsidiary to, create, assume, incur or guarantee any indebtedness for money borrowed that is secured by a pledge, mortgage or other lien on any voting stock or profit participating equity interests of our subsidiaries or any entity that succeeds (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) to all or any substantial part of the business of our subsidiaries, without providing that the notes (together with, if we shall so determine, any other indebtedness of, or guarantee by, us ranking equally with the notes and existing as of the closing of the offering of the notes or thereafter created) will be secured equally and ratably with or prior to all other indebtedness secured by such pledge, mortgage or other lien on the voting stock or profit participating equity interests of our subsidiaries. This restriction will not apply to permitted liens, including liens on voting stock or profit participating equity interests of any subsidiary existing at the time such entity becomes a subsidiary of Eaton Vance or is merged into a subsidiary of Eaton Vance, and statutory liens, liens for taxes or assessments or governmental charges or levies not yet due or delinquent or which can be paid without penalty or are being contested in good faith, and other liens of a similar nature as those described above.

This covenant will not limit our ability or the ability of our subsidiaries to incur indebtedness or other obligations secured by liens on assets other than the voting stock or profit participating equity interests of our subsidiaries.

Events of Default

The notes contain customary events of default, including in the non-payment of interest or principal and certain events of bankruptcy. See “Description of the Notes — Events of Default” in the accompanying base prospectus. In addition, an event of default with respect to the notes shall occur upon a default under any debt for money borrowed by Eaton Vance or any subsidiary that results in the acceleration of the maturity of such

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debt, or failure to pay any such debt at maturity, in an aggregate amount greater than $50.0 million or its foreign currency equivalent at the time and such acceleration has not been rescinded or annulled, or debt paid, within 30 days after notice to us by the trustee or holders of 25% or more of the then outstanding notes.

Book-Entry System; Delivery and Form

The notes will be issued in the form of one or more fully registered global securities which will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, which we refer to as DTC, and registered in the name of Cede & Co., DTC’s nominee. We will not issue notes in certificated form. Beneficial interests in the global securities will be represented through book-entry accounts of financial institutions acting on behalf of beneficial owners as direct and indirect participants in DTC. Investors may elect to hold interests in the global securities through either DTC in the United States, or Clearstream Banking, S.A. or Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System in Europe, referred to as Clearstream and Euroclear, if they are participants of those systems, or, indirectly, through organizations that are participants in those systems. Clearstream and Euroclear will hold interests on behalf of their participants through customers’ securities accounts in Clearstream’s and Euroclear’s names on the books of their respective depositories, which in turn will hold such interests in customers’ securities accounts in the depositories’ names on the books of DTC. Beneficial interests in the global securities will be held in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof. Except as set forth below, the global securities may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to another nominee of DTC or to a successor to DTC or its nominee.

DTC, the world’s largest depository, is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a banking organization within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a clearing corporation within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a clearing agency registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds and provides asset servicing for issues of U.S. and non-U.S. equity issues, corporate and municipal debt issues, and money market instruments that DTC’s participants, which we refer to as direct participants, deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the post-trade settlement among direct participants of sales and other securities transactions in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between direct participants’ accounts. This eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct participants include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations. Access to the DTC system also is available to others, such as U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, and clearing corporations, that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, either directly or indirectly. We refer to those entities as indirect participants.

Purchases of notes under the DTC system must be made by or through direct participants, who receive a credit for the notes on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each note, who we refer to as a beneficial owner, is in turn recorded on the direct and indirect participants’ records. Beneficial owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase. Beneficial owners are, however, expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect participants through which the beneficial owner entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the notes will be accomplished by entries made on the books of direct and indirect participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the notes, except in the event that use of the book entry system for the notes is discontinued.

To facilitate subsequent transfers, all notes deposited by direct participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of notes with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or another DTC nominee do not effect any change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the notes. DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts the notes are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The direct and indirect participants remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

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Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants, and by direct participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.

Redemption notices will be sent to DTC. If less than all of the notes are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each direct participant in the notes to be redeemed.

Neither DTC, Cede & Co. nor any other DTC nominee will consent or vote with respect to the notes unless authorized by a direct participant in accordance with DTC’s procedures. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an omnibus proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns Cede & Co.’s consenting or voting rights to those direct participants to whose accounts notes are credited on the record date.

Redemption proceeds, distributions and interest payments on the notes will be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us or the exchange agent on the payable date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC’s records. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in street name, and will be the responsibility of such participant and not of DTC or its nominee, us, the trustee or the exchange agent, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements in effect from time to time. Payment of redemption proceeds, distributions, and dividend payments to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC, is the responsibility of us or the exchange agent. Disbursement of such payments to direct participants will be the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the beneficial owners will be the responsibility of direct and indirect participants.

DTC may discontinue providing its services as depository with respect to the notes at any time by giving reasonable notice to us or the exchange agent. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor depository is not obtained, certificates representing the affected notes are required to be printed and delivered. In addition, we may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers through DTC or a successor securities depository with respect to the notes. In that event, certificates representing the notes will be printed and delivered.

Similar to DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream hold securities for participating organizations. They also facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between their respective participants through electronic book-entry changes in the accounts of such participants. Euroclear and Clearstream provide various services to their participants, including the safekeeping, administration, clearance, settlement, lending and borrowing of internationally traded securities. Euroclear and Clearstream interface with domestic securities markets. Euroclear and Clearstream participants are financial institutions such as underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and certain other organizations. Indirect access to Euroclear and Clearstream is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear and Clearstream participant, either directly or indirectly.

Distributions with respect to notes held beneficially through Euroclear or Clearstream will be credited to the cash accounts of participants in Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, in accordance with their respective procedures, to the extent received by the U.S. depositary for Euroclear or Clearstream.

The information in this section concerning DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream have been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but neither we nor the trustee take any responsibility for the accuracy of the information.

Global Clearance and Settlement Procedures

Initial settlement for the notes will be made in immediately available funds. Secondary market trading between participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC’s rules and will be settled in immediately available funds using DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System. Secondary market trading

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between Clearstream participants and Euroclear participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with the applicable rules and operating procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear and will be settled using the procedures applicable to conventional eurobonds in immediately available funds.

Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly through DTC on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Clearstream or Euroclear participants, on the other, will be effected within DTC in accordance with DTC’s rules on behalf of the relevant European international clearing system by its U.S. depository; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to the relevant European international clearing system by the participant in such system in accordance with its rules and procedures and within its established deadlines. The relevant European international clearing system will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its U.S. depository to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving notes in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Clearstream participants and Euroclear participants may not deliver instructions directly to their respective U.S. depositories. Because of time-zone differences, credits of notes received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of a transaction with a DTC participant will be made during subsequent securities settlement processing and dated the business day following the DTC settlement date. Such credits, or any transactions in the notes settled during such processing, will be reported to the relevant Euroclear participants or Clearstream participants on that business day. Cash received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of sales of notes by or through a Clearstream participant or a Euroclear participant to a DTC participant will be received with value on the business day of settlement in DTC but will be available in the relevant Clearstream or Euroclear cash account only as of the business day following DTC settlement in DTC.

Although DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of securities among participants of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and they may discontinue the procedures at any time.

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CERTAIN ERISA CONSIDERATIONS

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), impose certain restrictions on (a) employee benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) subject to ERISA, (b) plans described in Section 4975(e)(1) of the Code, including individual retirement accounts or Keogh plans, (c) any entities whose underlying assets include “plan assets” under the Plan Asset Regulation (29 C.F.R. Section 2510.3-101), as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA, (each, a “Plan”) and (d) persons and entities who have certain specified relationships to such Plans (each, a “Party-in-Interest” under ERISA and “Disqualified Person” under the Code). A Plan fiduciary considering a purchase of the notes should consider whether such purchase might constitute or result in a prohibited transaction under ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, for which no exemption is available.

By purchasing and holding the notes, the purchaser and any fiduciary of the purchaser advising its purchase and holding of the notes will be deemed to represent and warrant on each day the purchaser holds the notes that its acquisition, holding and disposition of the notes will not constitute or result in a prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (or in a violation of any similar laws), unless an exemption is available and all its conditions have been satisfied.

CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME
TAX CONSEQUENCES TO NON-U.S. HOLDERS

The following is a general discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the notes by an initial holder of the notes who is a non-U.S. holder (as defined below) that acquires the notes pursuant to this sale at the initial sale price and holds the notes as capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes. This discussion is based upon the Code, U.S. Treasury Regulations and judicial decisions and administrative interpretations thereof, all as of the date hereof and all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. This discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be applicable to investors in light of their particular circumstances, or to investors subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax law, such as financial institutions, insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, entities that are treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes, dealers in securities or currencies, expatriates, persons deemed to sell the notes under the constructive sale provisions of the Code and persons that hold the notes as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion transaction or other integrated investment. Furthermore, this discussion does not address any U.S. federal estate or gift tax laws or any state, local or foreign tax laws.

Prospective investors are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and foreign income and other tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the notes.

For purposes of this summary, the term “non-U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of a note that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is (i) an individual that is not a citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is not created or organized under the laws of the United States, any states thereof or the District of Columbia, (iii) an estate the income of which is not subject to U.S. federal income taxation, or (iv) a trust if (A) no court within the United States is able to exercise primary control over its administration or no United States persons (as defined in the Code) have the authority to control all substantial decisions of such trust, and (B) the trust has not made an election under the applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person.

If a partnership (including any entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) owns the notes, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partners in a partnership that owns the notes should consult their tax advisors as to the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to them.

Interest

A non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on payments of interest on the notes provided that (i) such interest is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade

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or business within the United States by the non-U.S. holder and (ii) the non-U.S. holder (A) does not actually or constructively own 10 percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our voting stock, (B) is not a controlled foreign corporation related to us directly or constructively through stock ownership, and (C) satisfies certain certification requirements. Such certification requirements will be met if (x) the non-U.S. holder provides its name and address, and certifies on an Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Form W-8BEN (or a substantially similar form), under penalties of perjury, that it is not a United States person or (y) a securities clearing organization or certain other financial institutions holding the note on behalf of the non-U.S. holder certifies on IRS Form W-8IMY (or a substantially similar form), under penalties of perjury, that such certification has been received by it and furnishes us or our paying agent with a copy thereof. In addition, we or our paying agent must not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the beneficial owner of the notes is a United States person.

If interest on the notes is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States by a non-U.S. holder but such non-U.S. holder cannot satisfy the other requirements outlined in the preceding paragraph, interest on the notes generally will be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a 30 percent rate (or a lower applicable treaty rate).

If interest on the notes is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States by a non-U.S. holder, and, if certain tax treaties apply, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base within the United States, then the non-U.S. holder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such interest in the same manner as if such holder were a United States person and, in the case of a non-U.S. holder that is a foreign corporation, may also be subject to the branch profits tax at a rate of 30 percent (or a lower applicable treaty rate). Any such interest will not also, however, be subject to withholding tax if the non-U.S. holder delivers to us a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI (or a substantially similar form) in order to claim an exemption from withholding tax.

Disposition of the Notes

A non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax with respect to gain, if any, recognized on the disposition of the notes. A non-U.S. holder will also generally not be subject to U.S. federal income tax with respect to such gain unless (i) the gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States by the non-U.S. holder and, if certain tax treaties apply, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base within the United States, or (ii) in the case of a non-U.S. holder that is a nonresident alien individual, such holder is present in the United States for 183 or more days in the taxable year and certain other conditions are satisfied. In the case described in (i) above, gain or loss recognized on the disposition of such notes generally will be subject to U.S. federal income taxation in the same manner as if such gain or loss were recognized by a United States person, and, in the case of a non-U.S. holder that is a foreign corporation, may also be subject to the branch profits tax at a rate of 30 percent (or a lower applicable treaty rate). In the case described in (ii) above, the non-U.S. holder generally will be subject to a 30 percent tax on any capital gain recognized on the disposition of the notes (after being offset by certain U.S. source capital losses).

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

A non-U.S. holder generally will be required to comply with certain certification procedures to establish that such holder is not a United States person in order to avoid backup withholding with respect to payments of principal and interest on or the proceeds of a disposition of the notes. In addition, we must report annually to the IRS and to each non-U.S. holder the amount of any interest paid to such non-U.S. holder regardless of whether any tax was actually withheld. Copies of the information returns reporting such interest payments and the amount of any tax withheld also may be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which a non-U.S. holder resides under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or credit against a non-U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is provided to the IRS.

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UNDERWRITING

Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated are acting as joint book-running managers of the offering and as representatives of the underwriters named below.

Subject to the terms and conditions stated in the underwriting agreement dated the date of this prospectus supplement, each underwriter named below has agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to that underwriter, the principal amount of notes set forth opposite the underwriter’s name.

Underwriter

        Principal Amount of Notes
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
              $ 200,000,000   
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
                   Incorporated
                 200,000,000   
UBS Securities LLC
                 40,000,000   
Banc of America Securities LLC
                 20,000,000   
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
                 20,000,000   
Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC
                 20,000,000   
Total
              $ 500,000,000   
 

The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the notes included in this offering are subject to approval of legal matters by counsel and to other conditions. The underwriters are obligated to purchase all the notes if they purchase any of the notes.

The underwriters propose to offer some of the notes directly to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and some of the notes to dealers at the public offering price less a concession not to exceed 0.40% of the principal amount of the notes. The underwriters may allow, and dealers may reallow a concession not to exceed 0.25% of the principal amount of the notes on sales to other dealers. After the initial offering of the notes to the public, the representatives may change the public offering price and concessions.

The following table shows the underwriting discounts and commissions that we are to pay to the underwriters in connection with this offering (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount of notes).

        Paid by Eaton Vance
Per note
                 0.65 %  
 

In connection with the offering of notes, the joint book-running managers on behalf of the underwriters may purchase and sell notes in the open market. These transactions may include over-allotment, syndicate covering transactions and stabilizing transactions. Over-allotment involves syndicate sales of notes in excess of the principal amount of notes to be purchased by the underwriters in the offering, which creates a syndicate short position. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the notes in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases of notes made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the notes while the offering is in progress.

The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the joint book-running managers, in covering syndicate short positions or making stabilizing purchases, repurchase notes originally sold by that syndicate member.

Any of these activities may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the notes. They may also cause the price of the notes to be higher than the price that otherwise would exist in the open market in the absence of these transactions. The underwriters may conduct these transactions in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. If the underwriters commence any of these transactions, they may discontinue them at any time.

We estimate that our total expenses for this offering will be $835,000.

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The underwriters have performed investment banking and advisory services for us and for certain of the Eaton Vance funds from time to time in the ordinary course, for which they have received customary fees and expenses. These services have included acting as underwriters and distributors for certain of the Eaton Vance funds and providing financing to us and to those funds. The underwriters may, from time to time, engage in other transactions with and perform services for us in the ordinary course of their business.

A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the websites maintained by one or more of the underwriters. The representatives may agree to allocate a number of notes to underwriters for sale to their online brokerage account holders. The representatives will allocate notes to underwriters that may make Internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations. In addition, notes may be sold by the underwriters to securities dealers who resell notes to online brokerage account holders.

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make because of any of those liabilities.

European Economic Area

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “Relevant Member State”), an offer to the public of any notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus (the “Securities”) may not be made in that Relevant Member State except that an offer to the public in that Relevant Member State of any Securities may be made at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Directive, if they have been implemented in that Relevant Member State:

(a)
  to legal entities which are authorized or regulated to operate in the financial markets or, if not so authorized or regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities;

(b)
  to any legal entity which has two or more of (1) an average of at least 250 employees during the last financial year; (2) a total balance sheet of more than e43,000,000 and (3) an annual net turnover of more than e50,000,000, as shown in its last annual or consolidated accounts;

(c)
  by the underwriters to fewer than 100 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive) subject to obtaining the prior consent of the joint book-running underwriters for any such offer; or

(d)
  in any other circumstances which do not require the publication by the issuer of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive;

provided that no such offer of Securities shall result in a requirement for the publication by the issuer or any underwriter of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to any Securities in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any Securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe any Securities, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State, and the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State.

The EEA selling restriction is in addition to any other selling restrictions set out below.

United Kingdom

Each underwriter:

(a)
  has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the “FSMA”)) received by it in

S-22




  connection with the issue or sale of the Securities in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to the Issuer; and

(b)
  has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the Securities in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

France

No prospectus (including any amendment, supplement or replacement thereto) has been prepared in connection with the offering of the Securities that has been approved by the Autorité des marchés financiers or by the competent authority of another State that is a contracting party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area and notified to the Autorité des marchés financiers; no Securities have been offered or sold nor will be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, to the public in France; the prospectus or any other offering material relating to the Securities have not been distributed or caused to be distributed and will not be distributed or caused to be distributed to the public in France; such offers, sales and distributions have been and shall only be made in France to persons licensed to provide the investment service of portfolio management for the account of third parties, qualified investors (investisseurs qualifiés) and/or a restricted circle of investors (cercle restreint d’investisseurs), in each case investing for their own account, all as defined in Articles L. 411-2, D. 411-1, D. 411-2, D. 411-4, D. 734-1, D. 744-1, D. 754-1 and D. 764-1 of the Code monétaire et financier. The direct or indirect distribution to the public in France of any so acquired Securities may be made only as provided by Articles L. 411-1, L. 411-2, L. 412-1 and L. 621-8 to L. 621-8-3 of the Code monétaire et financier and applicable regulations thereunder.

Italy

Each underwriter has not and will not publish a prospectus in Italy in connection with the offering of the Securities. Such offering has not been cleared by the Italian Securities Exchange Commission (Commissione Nazionale per le Societ|$$|Aga e la Borsa, the “CONSOB”) pursuant to Italian securities legislation and, accordingly, the Securities may not and will not be offered, sold or delivered, nor may or will copies of the Prospectus or any other documents relating to the Securities be distributed in Italy, except (i) to professional investors (operatori qualificati), as defined in Article 31, second paragraph, of CONSOB Regulation No. 11522 of July 1, 1998, as amended, (the “Regulation No. 11522”), or (ii) in other circumstances which are exempted from the rules governing offers of securities to the public pursuant to Article 100 of Legislative Decree No. 58 of February 24, 1998 (the “Italian Finance Law”) and Article 33, first paragraph, of CONSOB Regulation No. 11971 of May 14, 1999, as amended.

Any offer, sale or delivery of the Securities or distribution of copies of the prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, or any other document relating to the Securities in Italy may and will be effected in accordance with all Italian securities, tax, exchange control and other applicable laws and regulations, and, in particular, will be: (i) made by an investment firm, bank or financial intermediary permitted to conduct such activities in Italy in accordance with the Italian Finance Law, Legislative Decree No. 385 of September 1, 1993, as amended (the “Italian Banking Law”), Regulation No. 11522, and any other applicable laws and regulations; (ii) in compliance with Article 129 of the Italian Banking Law and the implementing guidelines of the Bank of Italy; and (iii) in compliance with any other applicable notification requirement or limitation which may be imposed by CONSOB or the Bank of Italy.

Any investor purchasing the Securities in the offering is solely responsible for ensuring that any offer or resale of the Securities it purchased in the offering occurs in compliance with applicable Italian laws and regulations.

The prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the information contained therein are intended only for the use of its recipient and, unless in circumstances which are exempted from the rules governing offers of securities to the public pursuant to Article 100 of the Italian Finance Law and Article 33, first paragraph, of CONSOB Regulation No. 11971 of May 14, 1999, as amended, is not to be distributed, for any reason, to any third party resident or located in Italy. No person resident or located in Italy other than the original recipients of this document may rely on it or its content.

S-23



Italy has only partially implemented the Prospectus Directive, the provisions under the heading “European Economic Area” above shall apply with respect to Italy only to the extent that the relevant provisions of the Prospectus Directive have already been implemented in Italy.

Insofar as the requirements above are based on laws which are superseded at any time pursuant to the implementation of the Prospectus Directive in Italy, such requirements shall be replaced by the applicable requirements under the relevant implementing measures of the Prospectus Directive in Italy.

Hong Kong

Each underwriter:

  has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell in Hong Kong, by means of any document, any Securities other than to (i) “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong and any rules made under that Ordinance; or (ii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of that Ordinance; and

  has not issued or had in its possession for the purposes of issue, and will not issue or have in its possession for the purposes of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any other offering material or any advertisement, invitation or document relating to the Securities, which is directed at, or the contents of which are or are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to Securities which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong and any rules made under that Ordinance.

Japan

The Securities have not been and will not be registered under the Securities and Exchange Law of Japan. The underwriters will not offer or sell, directly or indirectly, any of the Securities in Japan or to, or for the account or benefit of, any resident of Japan or to, or for the account or benefit of, any resident for reoffering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the account or benefit of, any resident of Japan, which includes any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan, or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or for the account of any resident of Japan, except (i) pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, or otherwise in compliance with, the Securities and Exchange Law of Japan and (ii) in compliance with the other relevant laws and regulations of Japan.

Singapore

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have not been and will not be registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore under the Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289 of Singapore) (the “SFA”). Accordingly, each Underwriter has not offered or sold any Securities or caused the Securities to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase and will not offer or sell any Securities or cause the Securities to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, and has not circulated or distributed, nor will it circulate or distribute, this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the Securities, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

S-24



Each underwriter will notify (whether through the distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus or otherwise) each of the following relevant persons specified in Section 275 of the SFA which has subscribed or purchased Securities from or through that underwriter, namely a person which is:

(a)
  a corporation (which is not an accredited investor) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or

(b)
  a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary is an accredited investor,

that shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest in that trust shall not be transferable for 6 months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the Securities under Section 275 of the SFA except:

(1)
  to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA;

(2)
  where no consideration is given for the transfer; or

(3)
  by operation of law.

S-25



LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters regarding the notes will be passed upon for Eaton Vance by Alan R. Dynner, Vice President, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer of Eaton Vance and by Nixon Peabody LLP, special counsel to Eaton Vance. In addition to serving as Vice President, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer of Eaton Vance, Mr. Dynner is a voting trustee of the voting trust that owns all outstanding shares of Eaton Vance’s voting common stock and may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of all of the Company’s outstanding voting common stock by virtue of Rule 13d-3(a)(1) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, although the voting trust agreement provides that the voting trustees shall act by a majority if there are six or more voting trustees. See “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters — Common Stock” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated by reference herein, for a general discussion of our voting trust arrangement. Certain legal matters regarding the notes will be passed upon for the underwriters by Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP.

EXPERTS

The financial statements and management’s report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2006 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference, and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

S-26



PROSPECTUS

 

EATON VANCE CORP.

NON-VOTING COMMON STOCK
DEBT SECURITIES
DEPOSITARY SHARES
WARRANTS
STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS
STOCK PURCHASE UNITS


We may offer, issue and sell from time to time, together or separately, the types of securities listed above.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer securities for sale, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering and the terms of the securities being offered. A prospectus supplement may also add to or update information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement carefully before you make your investment decision.

We may offer and sell the securities directly to you, through agents we select or through underwriters or dealers we select. If we use agents, underwriters or dealers to sell the securities, we will name them and describe their compensation in a prospectus supplement. The net proceeds we expect to receive from such sales will be set forth in the prospectus supplement.

Our non-voting common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, under the trading symbol “EV.” Each prospectus supplement will indicate if the securities offered thereby will be listed on any securities exchange.

Investing in our securities involves risks, including the risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2006, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, on January 12, 2007, the risk factors described under the caption “Risk Factors” in any applicable prospectus supplement and/or risk factors, if any, set forth in our other filings with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, as referenced on page 1 of this prospectus.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of the prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.


The date of this prospectus is September 25, 2007.



TABLE OF CONTENTS

        Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
                 1    
RISK FACTORS
                 1    
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
                 1    
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
                 3    
USE OF PROCEEDS
                 4    
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
                 5    
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
                 6    
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
                 15    
DESCRIPTION OF OTHER SECURITIES
                 15    
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
                 16    
LEGAL MATTERS
                 19    
EXPERTS
                 20    
 


In this prospectus, “we,” “us,” “our,” and “Eaton Vance” refer to Eaton Vance Corp. and its subsidiaries, unless otherwise specified.

In this prospectus, we sometimes refer to the common stock, debt securities, depositary shares, warrants, stock purchase contracts and stock purchase units collectively as “offered securities.”


i



ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we may, from time to time, sell any combination of the securities in one or more offerings described in this prospectus. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add to, update or change information contained in this prospectus and, accordingly, to the extent inconsistent, the information in this prospectus is superseded by the information in the prospectus supplement. You should read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and the additional information incorporated by reference in this prospectus described below under “Where You Can Find More Information” before making an investment in our securities.

The prospectus supplement will describe: the terms of the securities offered, any initial public offering price, the price paid to us for the securities, the net proceeds to us, the manner of distribution and any underwriting compensation and the other specific material terms related to the offering of these securities. The prospectus supplement may also contain information, where applicable, about material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the securities. For more detail on the terms of the securities, you should read the exhibits filed with or incorporated by reference in our registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of the documents referred to herein have been filed, or will be filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under “Where You Can Find More Information.”

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different information, you should not rely on it. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, or any documents incorporated by reference therein, is accurate only as of the date on the front cover of the applicable document. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

RISK FACTORS

You should carefully consider the specific risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2006, the risk factors described under the caption “Risk Factors” in any applicable prospectus supplement, and any risk factors set forth in our other filings with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act before making an investment decision. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports and other information, with the SEC. These reports and other information can be read and copied upon payment of a duplication fee at the SEC’s Public Reference Room located at Station Place, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the Public Reference Room in Washington D.C. and other locations. The SEC maintains a website (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports and other information regarding companies that file electronically with the SEC, including us. These reports and other information can also be read at the offices of the NYSE, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005 or through our website (http://www.eatonvance.com). Information on our website is not incorporated into this prospectus or our other SEC filings and is not a part of this prospectus or those filings.

1



The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with the SEC. This permits us to disclose important information to you by referencing these filed documents. Any statement contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein, or in any subsequently filed document which also is incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes such earlier statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

The following documents have been filed by us (File No. 001-08100) with the SEC and are incorporated by reference into this prospectus (excluding any portions of such documents that have been “furnished” but not “filed” for purposes of the Exchange Act):

•  
  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2006, filed with the SEC on January 12, 2007, as amended by the Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on September 25, 2007;

•  
  Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended January 31, 2007, April 30, 2007 and July 31, 2007, filed with the SEC on March 9, 2007, June 7, 2007 and September 7, 2007, respectively;

•  
  Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 21, 2006, February 28, 2007, May 23, 2007, July 26, 2007, August 15, 2007 and August 22, 2007; and

•  
  The description of our non-voting common stock set forth in our Registration Statement on Form 8-B, filed on February 4, 1981 (File No. 001-08100), including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such information.

All documents we file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus and before all of the securities offered by this prospectus are sold are incorporated by reference in this prospectus from the date of filing of the documents, except for information “furnished” under Item 2.02 and Item 7.01 of Form 8-K or other information “furnished” to the SEC, which is not deemed filed and not incorporated by reference herein. Information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and may replace information in this prospectus and information previously filed with the SEC.

We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the foregoing documents, and any other documents that are, incorporated herein by reference (other than exhibits unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in such documents). Requests for such documents should be directed to our principal executive office, located at: The Eaton Vance Building, 255 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, (617) 482-8260, Attention: Investor Relations.

2



FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain information included or incorporated by reference in this document may be deemed to be “forward looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In addition, we may make other written and oral communications from time to time that contain such statements. Forward-looking statements include statements as to industry trends and our future expectations and other matters that do not relate strictly to historical facts and are based on certain assumptions by our management. These statements are often identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “could,” “should,” “estimate” or “continue,” and similar expressions or variations. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of our management based on information currently available to our management. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, among others, the risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2006, the risks described under the caption “Risk Factors” in any applicable prospectus supplement and any risk set forth in our other filings with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement. You should carefully consider these factors before investing in our securities. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and except for our ongoing obligations under the U.S. federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

3



USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds of any securities sold for general corporate purposes.

4



RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

Our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods indicated is as follows:

        Nine Months Ended
July 31,
    Year Ended October 31,
   
        2007
    2006
    2005
    2004
    2003
    2002
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
                 561%*             492 %            447 %            321 %            262 %            289 %  
 


*  
  Annualized

These ratios include Eaton Vance and its subsidiaries. For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of pretax income less equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates plus fixed charges and distributed earnings of unconsolidated affiliates. Fixed charges include gross interest expense, amortization of deferred financing expenses and an amount equivalent to interest included in rental charges. We have assumed that one-third of rental expense is representative of the interest factor.

5



DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

We may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more series. The following description summarizes the general terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may offer pursuant to this prospectus that are common to all series. The description is not complete. The specific terms relating to any series of our debt securities that we offer will be described in a prospectus supplement, which you should read. Because the terms of specific series of debt securities offered may differ from the general information that we have provided below, you should rely on information in the applicable prospectus supplement that may modify or replace any information below. If there are differences between the applicable prospectus supplement and this prospectus, the prospectus supplement will control.

As required by federal law for all bonds and notes of companies that are publicly offered, the debt securities will be governed by a document called an “indenture.” An indenture is a contract between a financial institution, acting on your behalf as trustee of the debt securities offered, and us. The trustee has two main roles. First, subject to certain limitations on the extent to which the trustee can act on your behalf, the trustee can enforce your rights against us if we default on our obligations under the indenture. Second, the trustee performs certain administrative duties for us with respect to the debt securities. When we refer to the “indenture” in this prospectus, we are referring to the indenture under which your debt securities will be issued, a form of which is attached as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Such indenture may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

Unless otherwise provided in any applicable prospectus supplement, the following section is a summary of the principal terms and provisions that will be included in the indenture. This summary is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the terms and provisions of the indenture, and the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “TIA”). If we refer to particular provisions in the indenture, such provisions, including the definition of terms, are incorporated by reference in this prospectus as part of this summary. We urge you to read the applicable indenture and any supplement thereto because these documents, and not this section, define your rights as a holder of debt securities. In this description, the words “we”, “us”, “our” and “Eaton Vance” refer only to Eaton Vance Corp. and not to any of Eaton Vance Corp.’s subsidiaries.

General

You should read the applicable prospectus supplement for the terms of the series of debt securities offered. The terms of the debt securities described in such prospectus supplement will be set forth in the applicable indenture, in a supplemental indenture, a board resolution or in an officer’s certificate (as permitted by the indenture) and may include the following, as applicable to the series of debt securities offered thereby:

•  
  the title of the debt securities;

•  
  whether the debt securities will be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities of Eaton Vance;

•  
  the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities and whether there is any limit on such aggregate principal amount;

•  
  whether we may reopen the series of debt securities for issuances of additional debt securities of such series;

•  
  the date or dates, or how the date or dates will be determined, when the principal amount of the debt securities will be payable;

•  
  the amount payable upon acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities or how this amount will be determined;

•  
  the interest rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, that the debt securities will bear, if any, or how such interest rate or rates will be determined;

6



•  
  the basis upon which interest will be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

•  
  the date or dates from which any interest will accrue or how such date or dates will be determined;

•  
  the interest payment dates and the record dates for these interest payments;

•  
  whether the debt securities are redeemable at our option;

•  
  whether there are any sinking fund or other provisions that would obligate us to purchase or otherwise redeem the debt securities;

•  
  the currency or currencies of the debt securities;

•  
  whether the amount of payments of principal, premium or interest, if any, on the debt securities will be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method (which could be based on one or more currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices) and how these amounts will be determined;

•  
  the place or places, if any, other than or in addition to the City of New York, for payment, transfer, conversion and/or exchange of the debt securities;

•  
  the denominations in which the offered debt securities will be issued;

•  
  the applicability of the provisions of the applicable indenture described under “defeasance” and any provisions in modification of, in addition to or in lieu of any of these provisions;

•  
  material federal income tax considerations that are specific to the series of debt securities offered;

•  
  any provisions granting special rights to the holders of the debt securities upon the occurrence of specified events;

•  
  whether the applicable indenture contains any changes or additions to the events of default or covenants described in this prospectus;

•  
  whether the debt securities will be convertible into or exchangeable for any other securities and the applicable terms and conditions for such conversion or exchange; and

•  
  any other terms specific to the series of debt securities offered.

Redemption

If the debt securities are redeemable, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the terms and conditions for such redemption, including:

•  
  the redemption prices (or method of calculating the same);

•  
  the redemption period (or method of determining the same);

•  
  whether such debt securities are redeemable in whole or in part at our option; and

•  
  any other provisions affecting the redemption of such debt securities.

Conversion and Exchange

If any series of the debt securities offered are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our common stock or other securities, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the terms and conditions for such conversion or exchange, including:

•  
  the conversion price or exchange ratio (or the method of calculating the same);

•  
  the conversion or exchange period (or the method of determining the same);

•  
  whether conversion or exchange will be mandatory, or at our option or at the option of the holder;

7



•  
  the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion price or the exchange ratio; and

•  
  any other provisions affecting conversion or exchange of such debt securities.

Form and Denomination

The debt securities may be issued in fully registered form without coupons and, unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, denominated in U.S. dollars in denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiple thereof. If debt securities are issued in bearer form, we may modify the form of debt security, payment procedures and other related matters, as appropriate. The prospectus supplement will indicate whether the debt securities will be in registered or bearer form, the denominations to be issued, the procedures for payment of interest and principal thereon and other matters.

Subject to the limitations provided in the indenture and in the prospectus supplement, debt securities which are issued in registered form may be transferred or exchanged at the principal corporate trust office of the trustee. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of the debt securities, but either we or the trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Global Securities

The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary (the “depositary”) identified in the prospectus supplement. Global securities will be issued in registered form and in either temporary or definitive form, and will initially be deposited with the trustee as custodian for the depositary. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual debt securities, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary for such global security to a nominee of such depositary or by a nominee of such depositary to such depositary or another nominee of such depositary or by such depositary or any such nominee to a successor of such depositary or a nominee of such successor.

The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any debt securities of a series and the rights of and limitations upon owners of beneficial interests in a global security will be described in the prospectus supplement. We expect that the following provisions will generally apply to depositary arrangements.

Upon the issuance of a global security, the depositary for such global security or its nominee will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of the individual debt securities represented by such global security to the accounts of persons that have accounts with such depositary. Such accounts shall be designated by the dealers, underwriters or agents with respect to the debt securities or by us if such debt securities are offered and sold directly by us. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to persons that have accounts with the applicable depositary (“participants”) or persons that may hold interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in such global security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the applicable depositary or its nominee with respect to interests of participants and the records of participants with respect to interests of persons other than participants. The laws of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such limits and such laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global security.

So long as the depositary for a global security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a global security, such depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by that global security for all purposes under the indenture governing those debt securities. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in a global security will not be entitled to have any of the individual debt securities of the series represented by that global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of any debt securities of such series in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the indenture governing such debt securities.

8



Payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on individual debt securities represented by a global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the global security representing the debt securities. None of Eaton Vance, the trustee for the debt securities, any paying agent, or the registrar for the debt securities will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made by the depositary or any participants on account of beneficial ownership interests of the global security for the debt securities or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

We expect that the depositary for a series of debt securities or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium or interest in respect of a permanent global security representing the debt securities, immediately will credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of such global security for the debt securities as shown on the records of the depositary or its nominee. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a global security held through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name”. Such payments will be the responsibility of such participants.

If the depositary for a series of debt securities is at any time unwilling, unable or ineligible to continue as depositary and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue definitive debt securities of that series in exchange for the global security or securities representing that series of debt securities. In addition, we may at any time and in our sole discretion, subject to any limitations described in the prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities, determine not to have any debt securities of a series represented by one or more global securities, and, in such event, will issue definitive debt securities of that series in exchange for the global security or securities representing that series of debt securities. If definitive debt securities are issued, an owner of a beneficial interest in a global security will be entitled to physical delivery of definitive debt securities of the series represented by that global security equal in principal amount to that beneficial interest and to have the debt securities registered in its name.

Certain Covenants

The covenants, if any, that will apply to a particular series of debt securities will be set forth in the indenture relating to such series of debt securities and described in a prospectus supplement.

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

Unless otherwise provided for a particular series of debt securities by a board resolution, supplemental indenture or an officer’s certificate, Eaton Vance shall not merge or consolidate with or into any other person (other than a merger of a wholly owned subsidiary into Eaton Vance) or sell, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all its property in any one transaction or series of related transactions unless:

•  
  Eaton Vance shall be the surviving person (the “Surviving Person”) or the Surviving Person (if other than Eaton Vance) formed by such merger or consolidation or to which such sale, transfer, lease, conveyance or disposition is made shall be a corporation or limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory thereof, Bermuda or the United Kingdom;

•  
  the Surviving Person (if other than Eaton Vance) expressly assumes, by supplemental indenture in form satisfactory to the trustee, executed and delivered to the trustee by such Surviving Person, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, all the debt securities, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of the indenture to be performed by Eaton Vance;

9



•  
  in the case of a sale, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all the property of Eaton Vance, such property shall have been transferred as an entirety or virtually as an entirety to one person and/or such person’s subsidiaries;

•  
  immediately before and immediately after giving effect to such transaction or series of related transactions, no default or event of default shall have occurred and be continuing;

•  
  Eaton Vance shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the trustee, an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such transaction and the supplemental indenture, if any, in respect thereto comply with this covenant and that all conditions precedent in the indenture relating to such transaction have been complied with; and

•  
  Eaton Vance shall have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. Federal income tax purposes as a result of such transaction or series of transactions and will be subject to U.S. Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such transaction or series of transactions had not occurred.

For the purposes of this covenant, the sale, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all the property of one or more subsidiaries of Eaton Vance, which property, if held by Eaton Vance instead of such subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all the property of Eaton Vance on a consolidated basis, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all the property of Eaton Vance.

Additional Amounts

If, following a transaction to which the provisions of the indenture described above under “—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets” applies, the Surviving Person is organized other than under the laws of the U.S., any state thereof or the District of Columbia, all payments made by the Surviving Person under, or with respect to, the debt securities will be made free and clear of, and without withholding or deduction for or on account of, any present or future tax, duty, levy, impost, assessment or other governmental charge (including penalties, interest and other liabilities related thereto), which we collectively refer to in this prospectus as the “Taxes”, imposed or levied by or on behalf of the jurisdiction of organization of the Surviving Person or any political subdivision thereof or taxing authority therein, which we refer to in this prospectus as a “Taxing Jurisdiction”, unless the Surviving Person is required to withhold or deduct Taxes by law or by the official interpretation or administration thereof.

If the Surviving Person is so required to withhold or deduct any amount for, or on account of, such Taxes from any payment made under or with respect to the debt securities, the Surviving Person will pay such additional amounts, which we refer to in this prospectus as “Additional Amounts”, as may be necessary so that the net amount received by each holder (including Additional Amounts) after such withholding or deduction will not be less than the amount such holder would have received if such Taxes had not been required to be withheld or deducted.

The foregoing provisions will survive any termination or discharge of the indenture and any defeasance of the debt securities.

Events Of Default

Unless otherwise provided for a particular series of securities by a board resolution, supplemental indenture or an officer’s certificate, each of the following constitutes an event of default with respect to a series of debt securities:

•  
  a default in payment of the principal amount, premium, if any, or redemption price with respect to any debt security when such amount becomes due and payable;

•  
  our failure to pay interest (including additional interest, if applicable) on any debt security within 30 days of when such amount becomes due and payable;

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•  
  our failure to deposit any sinking fund payment, if applicable, with respect to the debt securities on its due date;

•  
  our failure to comply with any of our covenants or agreements in the indenture or the debt securities (other than a failure that is subject to the foregoing three bullet points) and our failure to cure (or obtain a waiver of) such default and such failure continues for 60 days after written notice is given to us as provided below;

•  
  certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization affecting us; and

•  
  any other event of default specified with respect to debt securities of such series then outstanding.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indenture will provide that the sole remedy for an event of default relating to the failure to comply with the reporting provisions of the indenture and for any failure to comply with the requirements of Section 314(a)(1) of the TIA (which relates to the provision of reports), will for the first 270 days after the occurrence of such an event of default consist exclusively of the right to receive additional interest on the debt securities of a series at an annual rate of 0.05% of the principal amount of the debt securities of that series. This additional interest will be payable in the same manner and on the same dates as the stated interest payable on the debt securities. The additional interest will accrue on all outstanding debt securities from and including the date on which an event of default relating to a failure to comply with the requirements of Section 314(a)(1) of the TIA first occurs to but not including the 270th day thereafter (or such earlier date on which the event of default relating to the reporting obligations shall have been cured or waived). Thereafter, such additional interest will cease to accrue and the debt securities will be subject to acceleration as provided above if the event of default is continuing. The provisions of the indenture described in this paragraph will not affect the rights of the holders of debt securities in the event of the occurrence of any other event of default.

A default under the fourth bullet point above is not an event of default until the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding notify us of the default and we do not cure such default within the time specified after receipt of such notice. Such notice must specify the default, demand that it be remedied and state that such notice is a “Notice of Default”.

We will deliver to the trustee, within 30 days after the occurrence thereof, written notice in the form of an officers’ certificate of any event that with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both would become an event of default, its status and what action we are taking or propose to take with respect thereto.

If an event of default (other than an event of default resulting from certain events involving bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to us) shall have occurred and be continuing, the trustee or the registered holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding may declare, by notice to us in writing (and to the trustee, if given by holders of such debt securities) specifying the event of default, to be immediately due and payable the principal amount of all the debt securities in such series then outstanding, plus accrued but unpaid interest to the date of acceleration. In case an event of default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to us shall occur, such amount with respect to all the debt securities shall be due and payable immediately without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or the holders of the debt securities. After any such acceleration, but before a judgment or decree based on acceleration is obtained by the trustee, the registered holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration and waive such event of default if all events of default, other than the nonpayment of accelerated principal, premium or interest, have been cured or waived as provided in the indenture.

Subject to the provisions of the indenture relating to the duties of the trustee, in case an event of default shall occur and be continuing, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the debt securities, unless such holders shall have offered to the trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense. Subject to such provisions for the indemnification of the trustee, the holders of a majority in aggregate

11




principal amount of the debt securities then outstanding will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities.

No holder of debt securities will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any remedy thereunder, unless:

•  
  such holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default;

•  
  the registered holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding have made a written request and offered indemnity to the trustee satisfactory to it to institute such proceeding as trustee; and

•  
  within 60 days after receipt of the request and offer of indemnity the trustee shall not have received from the registered holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request and the trustee shall have failed to institute such proceeding with such 60 day period.

However, such limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder of any debt security for enforcement of payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, such debt security on or after the respective due dates expressed in such debt security.

If a default with respect to the debt securities occurs and is continuing and is known to the trustee, the trustee must mail to each holder notice of the default within 90 days after it occurs. The trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its trust officers in good faith determines that withholding notice is in the interest of the holders of the debt securities.

We are required to furnish to the trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a statement of an officer regarding compliance with the indenture. Within 30 days after the occurrence of any default or event of default, we are required to deliver to the trustee written notice in the form of an officer’s certificate specifying our status and what actions we are taking or propose to take with respect thereto.

Defeasance

We may terminate at any time all our obligations with respect to any series of debt securities and the applicable indenture, which we refer to in this prospectus as “legal defeasance”, except for certain obligations, including those respecting the defeasance trust, to replace mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities and to maintain a registrar and paying agent in respect of the debt securities. In addition, we may also terminate at any time our obligations with respect to any series of debt securities with respect to certain covenants that are described in the applicable indenture, which we refer to in this prospectus as “covenant defeasance”, except for certain covenants, including the covenant to make payments in respect of the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities. In the event covenant defeasance occurs, certain events (not including nonpayment, bankruptcy, receivership, reorganization and insolvency events) described under “—Events of Default” will no longer constitute events of default with respect to the debt securities. We may exercise the legal defeasance option notwithstanding our prior exercise of the covenant defeasance option.

If we exercise our legal defeasance option with respect to a series of debt securities, payment of such debt securities may not be accelerated because of an event of default with respect thereto. If we exercise the covenant defeasance option with respect to a series of debt securities, payment of such debt securities may not be accelerated because of an event of default specified in the fourth bullet point under “—Events of Default”.

The legal defeasance option or the covenant defeasance option with respect to a series of debt securities may be exercised only if:

•  
  we irrevocably deposit in trust with the trustee money or U.S. Government obligations or a combination thereof for the payment of principal of, premium, if any, on and interest on such debt securities of such series to stated maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

12



•  
  we deliver to the trustee a certificate from a nationally recognized firm of independent registered public accountants expressing their opinion that the payments of principal and interest when due on the deposited U.S. Government obligations plus any deposited money without investment will provide cash at such times and in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay principal and interest when due on all the debt securities of such series to stated maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

•  
  123 days pass after the deposit is made and during the 123-day period no default described in the fifth bullet point under “—Events of Default” occurs with respect to Eaton Vance or any other person making such deposit which is continuing at the end of the period;

•  
  no default or event of default with respect to that series of debt securities has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit;

•  
  such deposit does not constitute a default under any other agreement or instrument binding us;

•  
  we deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the trust resulting from the deposit does not require registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940;

•  
  in the case of the legal defeasance option, we deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel stating that:

•  
  we have received from the IRS a ruling, or

•  
  since the date of the indenture there has been a change in the applicable U.S. Federal income tax law, to the effect, in either case, that, and based thereon such opinion of counsel shall confirm that, the holders of such debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. Federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to U.S. Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same time as would have been the case if such defeasance has not occurred;

•  
  in the case of the covenant defeasance option, we deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of such debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. Federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to U.S. Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred; and

•  
  we deliver to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance and discharge of such debt securities have been complied with as required by the indenture.

When (i) we deliver to the trustee all outstanding debt securities of a series (other than debt securities replaced because of mutilation, loss, destruction or wrongful taking) for cancellation or (ii) all outstanding debt securities of a series have become due and payable, whether at maturity or as a result of the mailing of a notice of redemption, and we irrevocably deposit with the trustee funds sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all outstanding debt securities of a series, including interest thereon, and if in either case we pay all other sums related to such debt securities payable under the indenture by us, then the indenture shall, subject to certain surviving provisions, cease to be of further effect as to all outstanding debt securities of such series. The trustee shall acknowledge satisfaction and discharge of the indenture with respect to such series of debt securities on our demand accompanied by an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel of Eaton Vance.

Regarding the Trustee

Except during the continuance of an event of default, the trustee will perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in the indenture. During the existence of an event of default, the trustee will exercise such rights and powers vested in it under the indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent person would exercise under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

13



The indenture and provisions of the TIA that are incorporated by reference therein contain limitations on the rights of the trustee, should it become one of our creditors, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases or to realize on certain property received by it in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee is permitted to engage in other transactions with us or any of our affiliates; provided, however, that if it acquires any conflicting interest (as defined in the indenture or in the TIA), it must eliminate such conflict or resign.

Governing Law

The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof.

14



DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following description of our non-voting common stock, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the non-voting common stock that we may offer from time to time pursuant to this prospectus. We will not offer pursuant to this prospectus any of our voting common stock. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any future non-voting common stock that we may offer, we will describe the particular terms of any class or series of such common stock in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. If there are differences between the applicable prospectus supplement and this prospectus, the prospectus supplement will control. The summary below and that contained in any prospectus supplement is qualified in its entirety by reference to our articles of incorporation and bylaws, which have been publicly filed with the SEC. The terms of these securities may also be affected by the General Corporation Law of the State of Maryland.

Our capital stock consists of:

•  
  1,280,000 authorized shares of voting common stock, $0.00390625 par value per share, of which 371,386 shares were outstanding as of July 31, 2007;

•  
  190,720,000 authorized shares of non-voting common stock, $0.00390625 par value per share, of which 123,223,109 shares were outstanding as of July 31, 2007.

Non-Voting Common Stock

Our non-voting common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. and has a par value of $0.00390625 per share.

Voting

The holders of non-voting common stock have no voting rights under any circumstances.

Conversion

The non-voting common stock is neither redeemable nor convertible, and the holders of non-voting common stock have no preemptive rights to purchase any of our securities.

Dividends and Other Distributions

Shares of non-voting common stock and voting common stock are equal in respect of dividends and other distributions in cash, stock or property, including distributions in the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Eaton Vance Corp. Dividends that may be declared on the non-voting common stock will be paid in an equal amount to the holder of each share.

Transfer Agent

The transfer agent and registrar of our common stock is Computershare Limited.

DESCRIPTION OF OTHER SECURITIES

We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement a description of any warrants, depositary shares, purchase contracts or stock purchase units.

15



PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities covered by this prospectus in one or more of the following ways from time to time:

•  
  to or through underwriters or dealers for resale to purchasers;

•  
  directly to purchasers;

•  
  through agents or dealers to purchasers; or

•  
  through a combination of any of these methods of sale.

In addition, we may enter into derivative or other hedging transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if applicable, will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment).

A prospectus supplement with respect to each series of securities will include, to the extent applicable:

•  
  the terms of the offering;

•  
  the name or names of any underwriters, dealers, remarketing firms or agents and terms of any agreement with such parties including the compensation, fees or commissions received by and the amount of securities underwritten, purchased or remarketed by each of them, if any;

•  
  the public offering price or purchase price of the securities and an estimate of the net proceeds to be received by us, as applicable, from any such sale;

•  
  any underwriting discounts or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation;

•  
  the anticipated delivery date of the securities, including any delayed delivery arrangements, and any commissions we may pay for solicitation of any such delayed delivery contracts;

•  
  that the securities are being solicited and offered directly to institutional investors or others;

•  
  any discounts or concessions to be allowed or reallowed or to be paid to agents or dealers; and

•  
  any securities exchange on which the securities may be listed.

Any offer and sale of the securities described in this prospectus by us, any underwriters or other third parties described above may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions, including, without limitation, privately negotiated transactions, either:

•  
  at a fixed public offering price or prices, which may be changed;

•  
  at market prices prevailing at the time of sales;

•  
  at prices related to prevailing market prices at the time of sale; or

•  
  at negotiated prices.

Offerings of securities covered by this prospectus may also be made into an existing trading market for such securities in transactions at other than a fixed price, either:

•  
  on or through the facilities of the NYSE or any other securities exchange or quotation or trading service on which such securities may be listed, quoted or traded at the time of sale; and/or

16



•  
  to or through a market maker otherwise than on the NYSE or such other securities exchanges or quotation or trading services.

Such at-the-market offerings, if any, will be conducted by underwriters acting as our principal or agent, who may also be third-party sellers of securities as described above.

In addition, we may sell some or all of the securities covered by this prospectus through:

•  
  purchases by a dealer, as principal, who may then resell those securities to the public for its account at varying prices determined by the dealer at the time of resale or at a fixed price agreed to with us at the time of sale;

•  
  block trades in which a dealer will attempt to sell as agent, but may position or resell a portion of the block, as principal, in order to facilitate the transaction; and/or

•  
  ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which a broker-dealer solicits purchasers.

Any dealer may be deemed to be an underwriter, as that term is defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, of the securities so offered and sold.

In connection with offerings made through underwriters or agents, we may enter into agreements with such underwriters or agents pursuant to which we receive our outstanding securities in consideration for the securities being offered to the public for cash. In connection with these arrangements, the underwriters or agents may also sell securities covered by this prospectus to hedge their positions in any such outstanding securities, including in short sale transactions. If so, the underwriters or agents may use the securities received from us under these arrangements to close out any related open borrowings of securities.

We may loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the loaned securities or, in any event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged securities using this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement. Such financial institution or third party may transfer its short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a simultaneous offering of other securities covered by this prospectus.

Any offers to purchase the securities covered by this prospectus may be solicited, and any sales of the securities may be made, by us of those securities directly to institutional investors or others, who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resales of the securities.

The securities may also be offered and sold, if so indicated in a prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise, by one or more remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us.

If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may sell the securities through agents from time to time. We generally expect that any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

As one of the means of direct issuance of securities, we may utilize the service of an entity through which we may conduct an electronic “dutch auction” or similar offering of the offered securities among potential purchasers who are eligible to participate in the action or offering of such offered securities, if so described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

We may authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers by certain purchasers to purchase the securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The delayed delivery contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

If underwriters are used in any sale of any securities, the securities may be either offered to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters, or directly by underwriters. Unless

17




otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase any securities will be conditioned on customary closing conditions and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of such series of securities, if any are purchased.

Underwriters, dealers, agents and remarketing firms may at the time of any offering of securities be entitled under agreements entered into with us to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments which the underwriters, dealers, agents and remarketing firms may be required to make. Underwriters, dealers, agents and remarketing agents may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services in the ordinary course of business for us and/or our affiliates.

Each series of securities will be a new issue of securities and will have no established trading market other than our non-voting common stock, which is listed on the NYSE. We intend that any non-voting common stock sold pursuant to this prospectus will be listed on the NYSE, upon official notice of issuance. The securities, other than our non-voting common stock, may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange or foreign securities exchange. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity or activity of any trading in the offered securities.

Any underwriters to whom securities covered by this prospectus are sold by us for public offering and sale, if any, may make a market in the securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice.

In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or the FINRA, the aggregate maximum discount, commission or agency fees or other items constituting underwriting compensation to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer will not exceed 8% of any offering pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement; however, we anticipate that the maximum commission or discount to be received in any particular offering of securities will be significantly less than this amount.

If more than 10% of the net proceeds of any offering of securities made under this prospectus will be received by FINRA members participating in the offering or affiliates or associated persons of such FINRA members, the offering will be conducted in accordance with NASD Conduct Rule 2710(h).

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LEGAL MATTERS

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities covered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Nixon Peabody LLP. If legal matters in connection with offerings made by this prospectus are passed on by counsel for the underwriters, dealers or agents, if any, that counsel will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement.

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EXPERTS

The financial statements and management’s report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2006 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference, and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

20



$500,000,000 6.500% Notes due 2017


 

EATON VANCE CORP.






PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

September 27, 2007


Citi

Merrill Lynch & Co.

UBS Investment Bank

Banc of America Securities LLC

JPMorgan

Wachovia Securities