evc8k.htm -- Converted by SEC Publisher, created by BCL Technologies Inc., for SEC Filing

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 28, 2007

          EATON VANCE CORP.         
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
 
          Maryland                      1-8100                      04-2718215         
(State or other jurisdiction    (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)
 of incorporation)         
 
 
          255 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts                      02109         
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (617) 482-8260

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing
obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

¨  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a -12)

¨  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act
     (17 CFR 240.14d -2(b))

¨  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act
     (17 CFR 240.13e -4(c))

Page 1 of 10


INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THE REPORT

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

Registrant has reported its results of operations for the three months ended January 31, 2007, as described in Registrant’s news release dated February 28, 2007, a copy of which is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

     Exhibit No.    Document 
     99.1    Press release issued by the Registrant dated February 28, 2007. 

Page 2 of 10


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

        EATON VANCE CORP. 
        (Registrant) 
 
 
Date:    February 28, 2007    /s/ William M. Steul                                          
      William M. Steul, Chief Financial Officer 

Page 3 of 10


EXHIBIT INDEX

Each exhibit is listed in this index according to the number assigned to it in the exhibit table set forth in Item 601 of Regulation S-K. The following exhibit is filed as part of this Report:

     Exhibit No.    Description 
     99.1    Copy of Registrant's news release dated February 28, 2007. 

Page 4 of 10


Exhibit 99.1


February 28, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EATON VANCE CORP.
REPORT FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
JANUARY 31, 2007

Boston, MA -- Two unusual events, which Eaton Vance Corp. believes will have a strong positive impact on its longer-term financial performance, reduced diluted earnings per share by $0.34 to $0.02 in the first three months of fiscal 2007. For comparison, diluted earnings per share were $0.28 in the first three months of fiscal 2006. First, earnings in the first quarter were reduced by $52.2 million or $0.24 per diluted share by one-time payments made to terminate certain closed-end fund compensation agreements of the Company with Merrill Lynch and AG Edwards. The termination of those agreements by a onetime payment will have the result of increasing the Company’s operating income each year in the future by approximately $9.0 million, the amount of the compensation that it would otherwise have paid to the two parties under those agreements. Second, Eaton Vance Corp. paid one-time structuring fees of $17.1 million and marketing incentives of $4.7 million in the first quarter in conjunction with the $2.8 billion public offering of a new closed-end fund, Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund. These fees and incentives reduced earnings in the quarter by $21.8 million or $0.10 per diluted share. The Company expects to earn significant management fees from this fund.

Assets under management of $135.5 billion at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2007 were $22.2 billion or 20 percent greater than the $113.3 billion at the end of the first fiscal quarter last year. In the 12-month period ended January 31, 2007, the Company’s assets under management were positively affected by long-term fund and separate account net inflows of $13.7 billion, market price appreciation of $8.1 billion and a net increase in money market assets of $0.5 billion. Gross inflows into long-term funds and separate accounts during the 12 months ended January 31, 2007, were a record $32.2 billion.

Assets under management increased $6.6 billion or 5 percent to $135.5 billion in the first quarter from $128.9 billion on October 31, 2006. Open-end fund net inflows increased 230 percent to $2.2 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2007 from $0.7 billion in the same period last year. Closed-end fund inflows were $2.8 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2007 and $0.1 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2006. Net inflows of private funds, including structured products for institutional investors and funds for high-net-worth investors, were $0.9 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2007 compared to net outflows of $0.5

Page 5 of 10


billion in the first quarter last year. Gross fund flows increased 162 percent to $9.7 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2007 from $3.7 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2006.

Retail managed account net inflows increased 92 percent to $632 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2007 from $330 million in the same period last year. The Company had institutional and high-net-worth separate account net outflows of $595 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2007, compared to net outflows totaling $951 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2006. Net outflows in the recently concluded quarter were primarily due to withdrawals from a bank loan institutional account and a relatively low-fee equity institutional account managed by one of the Company’s subsidiaries. Attached tables 1- 4 summarize assets under management and asset flows by investment objective.

As a result of higher average assets under management, revenue in the first quarter of fiscal 2007 increased $36.7 million or 18 percent to $243.2 million from $206.5 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2006. Investment adviser and administration fees increased 19 percent to $169.4 million, in line with a 19 percent increase in average assets under management. Distribution and underwriter fees increased 3 percent, reflecting the continuing shift in sales and assets from class B mutual fund shares to other fund share classes and managed assets with low or no distribution fees. Service fee revenue increased 23 percent due to the increase in average fund assets that pay these fees. Other revenue increased 315 percent primarily due to an increase in shareholder servicing fees and gains on trading securities.

Operating expenses in the first quarter of fiscal 2007 increased 69 percent to $241.2 million compared to operating expense of $142.5 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2006, primarily because of the two unusual events in the first quarter of fiscal 2007 referred to in the first paragraph – the $52.2 million of one-time payments to terminate annual compensation agreements of the Company and the $21.8 million of fees and incentives paid in connection with the offering of the new $2.8 billion closed-end fund –together totaling $74.0 million.

Compensation expense (including closed-end fund related compensation expenses) increased 27 percent primarily because of significantly higher sales-based marketing incentives and increases in employee headcount, base salaries, stock option expense and higher management bonus accruals. Amortization of deferred sales commissions declined 2 percent in the first quarter of fiscal 2007 compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2006 primarily because of the continuing decline in class B fund share sales and class B fund assets under management. Service fee expense increased 19 percent, in line with the increase in fund assets paying service fees. Distribution expense increased 278 percent as a result of the terminated compensation agreements, the fees and incentives paid in connection with the successful closed-end fund offering in the first quarter of fiscal 2007, an increase in sales support expenses, and an increase in class A and C share fund distribution fees. Other expenses increased 32 percent primarily because of higher information technology, facilities and travel expenses.

The combination of one-time closed-end fund expenses and significantly higher sales-based marketing incentives and other operating expenses reduced operating income to $2.0 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2007 compared to $64.1 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2006.

In evaluating operating performance, the Company considers operating income and net income, which are calculated on a basis consistent with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), as well as adjusted operating income, a non-GAAP performance measure. Adjusted operating income is defined as operating income plus closed-end fund structuring fees and one-time payments, stock-based compensation and the write-off of any intangible assets associated with the Company’s acquisitions. The Company believes that adjusted operating income is a key indicator of the Company’s ongoing profitability and therefore uses this measure as the basis for calculating performance-based management incentives. Adjusted operating income is not, and should not be construed to be, a substitute

Page 6 of 10


for operating income computed in accordance with GAAP. However, in assessing the performance of the business, management and the board of directors look at adjusted operating income as a measure of underlying performance, since amounts resulting from one-time events (e.g., the offering of a closed-end fund) do not necessarily represent normal results of operations. In addition, when assessing performance, management and the board look at performance both with and without stock-based compensation.

The following table provides a reconciliation of operating income to adjusted operating income:

Reconciliation of Operating Income to Adjusted Operating Income

    For the Three Months Ended    
        January 31,    
(in thousands)    2007   2006   % Change

 
Operating income       1,997      64,079                 -97% 
   Closed-end fund structuring fees        17,115                 -                 NM 
   Payments to terminate closed-end                     
     fund compensation agreements        52,178                 -                 NM 
   Stock-based compensation        14,223        12,522                   14% 

Adjusted operating income      85,513      76,601                   12% 

 

Net income decreased 93 percent to $2.6 million. Interest income increased 32 percent, reflecting higher interest rates on the Company’s cash and short-term investments. Interest expense declined by 93 percent as the Company retired all of its long-term debt in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006. The Company’s provision for income taxes was 38 percent in both the first quarter of fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2006.

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments were $151.0 million on January 31, 2007, compared to $252.4 million on January 31, 2006. The Company’s strong operating cash flow in the last 12 months enabled it to pay $156.0 million to repurchase 5.5 million shares or 4 percent of its non-voting common stock, $86.2 million to retire its long-term debt, and $53.6 million in dividends to shareholders. There were no outstanding borrowings against the Company’s $180.0 million credit facility as of January 31, 2007.

During the first three months of fiscal 2007, the Company repurchased and retired 0.9 million shares of its non-voting common stock at an average price of $32.35 per share under its repurchase authorization. Approximately 5.4 million shares remain of the current 8.0 million share authorization.

Eaton Vance Corp., a Boston-based investment management firm, is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol EV.

This news release contains statements that are not historical facts, referred to as “forward- looking statements.” The Company’s actual future results may differ significantly from those stated in any forward-looking statements, depending on factors such as changes in securities or financial markets or general economic conditions, the volume of sales and repurchases of fund shares, the continuation of investment advisory, administration, distribution and service contracts, and other risks discussed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Page 7 of 10


Eaton Vance Corp.
Summary of Results of Operations
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
 
    Three Months Ended

 
    January 31,   January 31,   %
    2007   2006   Change

 
Revenue:                     
     Investment adviser and administration fees                                     $             169,397         $             142,069           19 % 
     Distribution and underwriter fees                   36,578                   35,367             3 
     Service fees                   35,346                   28,657           23 
     Other revenue                     1,855                       447         315 

 
     Total revenue                 243,176                 206,540           18 

 
Expenses:                     
     Compensation of officers and employees                   77,982                   61,448           27 
     Amortization of deferred sales commissions                   13,419                   13,741             (2) 
     Service fee expense                   27,218                   22,862           19 
     Distribution expense                   99,510                   26,315         278 
     Fund expenses                     4,219                     3,860             9 
     Other expenses                   18,831                   14,235           32 

 
     Total expenses                 241,179                 142,461           69 

 
Operating Income                     1,997                   64,079           (97) 
 
Other Income/(Expense):                     
     Interest income                     2,277                     1,721           32 
     Interest expense                         (27)                       (365)           (93) 
     Gain on investments                         708                       662             7 
     Foreign currency loss                         (72)                         (56)           29 
     Impairment loss on investments                             -                       (592)           nm 

 
Income Before Income Taxes, Minority Interest,                     
     Equity in Net Income of Affiliates and Cumulative                     
     Effect of Change in Accounting Principle                     4,883                   65,449           (93) 
 
Income Taxes                   (1,873)                 (25,144)           (93) 
 
Minority Interest                   (1,456)                   (1,548)             (6) 
 
Equity in Net Income of Affiliates, Net of Tax                     1,005                     1,000             1 

 
Net Income Before Cumulative Effect of Change in                     
     Accounting Principle                     2,559                   39,757           (94) 
 
Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle,                     
     Net of Tax                             -                       (626)           nm 

 
Net Income                                     $                 2,559         $               39,131           (93) 

 
Earnings Per Share Before Cumulative Effect of                     
     Change in Accounting Principle:                     
         Basic                                     $                   0.02         $                   0.31           (94) 

         Diluted                                     $                   0.02         $                   0.29           (93) 

 
Earnings Per Share:                     
         Basic                                     $                   0.02         $                   0.30           (93) 

         Diluted                                     $                   0.02         $                   0.28           (93) 

 
Dividends Declared, Per Share                                     $                   0.12         $                   0.10           20 

 
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding:                     
     Basic                 126,255                 129,270             (2) 

     Diluted                 134,339                 139,346             (4) 


Page 8 of 10


Eaton Vance Corp.
Balance Sheet
(in thousands, except per share figures)
 
    January 31,   October 31,   January 31,
    2007   2006   2006

 
ASSETS                         
Current Assets:                         
 Cash and cash equivalents      132,535      206,705      125,349 
 Short-term investments         18,477         20,669        127,091 
 Investment adviser fees and other receivables        103,851         94,669         87,984 
 Other current assets           8,610           7,324           7,665 

     Total current assets        263,473        329,367        348,089 

 
Other Assets:                         
 Deferred sales commissions        110,415        112,314        118,709 
 Goodwill         96,837         96,837         89,634 
 Other intangible assets, net         33,908         34,549         41,170 
 Long-term investments         77,411         73,075         66,899 
 Equipment and leasehold improvements, net         21,640         21,495         13,730 
 Other assets               549               558           2,092 

     Total other assets        340,760        338,828        332,234 

 
Total assets      604,233      668,195      680,323 

 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY                         
 
Current Liabilities:                         
 Accrued compensation       29,454       80,975       24,436 
 Accounts payable and accrued expenses         30,876         33,660         26,571 
 Dividend payable         15,169         15,187         12,933 
 Other current liabilities         11,703           9,823           5,383 

     Total current liabilities         87,202        139,645         69,323 

Long-Term Liabilities:                         
 Long-term debt                   -                   -         75,749 
 Deferred income taxes         21,290         22,520         30,175 

     Total long-term liabilities         21,290         22,520        105,924 

     Total liabilities        108,492        162,165        175,247 

Minority interest           9,958           9,545         11,120 

Commitments and contingencies                   -                   -                   - 
 
Shareholders' Equity:                         
 Common stock, par value $0.00390625 per share:                         
     Authorized, 1,280,000 shares                         
     Issued, 309,760 shares                   1                   1                   1 
 Non-voting common stock, par value $0.00390625 per share:                         
     Authorized, 190,720,000 shares                         
     Issued, 126,069,085, 126,125,717 and 128,940,999 shares, respectively               492               493               504 
 Notes receivable from stock option exercises         (2,667)         (1,891)         (2,609) 
 Accumulated other comprehensive income           5,762           4,383           3,840 
 Retained earnings        482,195        493,499        492,220 

 
     Total shareholders' equity        485,783        496,485        493,956 

 
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity      604,233      668,195      680,323 


Page 9 of 10


Table 1
Asset Flows (in millions)
Twelve Months Ended January 31, 2007
 
 
Assets 1/31/2006 - Beginning of Period      113,253 
Long-term fund sales and inflows        25,937 
Long-term fund redemptions and outflows        (12,195) 
Long-term fund net exchanges           (52) 
Long-term fund mkt. value change         5,333 
Institutional and HNW account inflows         2,275 
Institutional and HNW account outflows         (4,041) 
Retail managed account inflows         3,953 
Retail managed account outflows         (2,247) 
Separate account mkt. value change         2,811 
Change in money market funds           464 

Net change        22,238 

Assets 1/31/2007 - End of Period      135,491 


Table 2
Assets Under Management
By Investment Objective (in millions)

 
    January 31, October 31,   %   January 31,   %
    2007   2006   Change   2006   Change

Equity Funds         $ 59,344       53,220     11.5%    $ 48,129     23.3% 
Fixed Income Funds             22,873         21,482       6.5%       18,619     22.8% 
Bank Loan Funds             20,298         19,982       1.6%       16,744     21.2% 
Money Market Funds               1,283         3,728    -65.6%           819     56.6% 
Separate Accounts             31,693         30,494       3.9%       28,942       9.5% 

Total         $ 135,491      128,906       5.1%    $ 113,253     19.6% 


Table 3
Asset Flows by Investment Objective (in millions)
 
 
    Three Months Ended

    January 31,   January 31,
    2007   2006

Equity Fund Assets - Beginning of Period                   $           53,220             45,146 
Sales/Inflows                 6,005               1,681 
Redemptions/Outflows               (1,686)               (1,432) 
Exchanges                     6                   25 
Market Value Change                 1,799               2,709 

Net Change                 6,124               2,983 

Equity Fund Assets - End of Period                   $           59,344             48,129 

 
Fixed Income Fund Assets - Beginning of Period               21,482               18,213 
Sales/Inflows                 1,940                   840 
Redemptions/Outflows                 (571)                 (540) 
Exchanges                   10                   (18) 
Market Value Change                   12                   124 

Net Change                 1,391                   406 

Fixed Income Fund Assets - End of Period                   $           22,873             18,619 

 
Bank Loan Fund Assets - Beginning of Period               19,982               16,816 
Sales/Inflows                 1,742               1,175 
Redemptions/Outflows               (1,508)               (1,398) 
Exchanges                   (17)                     (9) 
Market Value Change                   99                   160 

Net Change                   316                   (72) 

Bank Loan Fund Assets - End of Period                   $           20,298             16,744 

 
Long-Term Fund Assets - Beginning of Period               94,684               80,175 
Sales/Inflows                 9,687               3,696 
Redemptions/Outflows               (3,765)               (3,370) 
Exchanges                     (1)                     (2) 
Market Value Change                 1,910               2,993 

Net Change                 7,831               3,317 

Total Long-Term Fund Assets - End of Period                   $         102,515             83,492 

 
Separate Accounts - Beginning of Period               30,494               27,650 
Institutional/HNW Account Inflows                   608                   652 
Institutional/HNW Account Outflows               (1,203)               (1,603) 
Institutional/HNW Asset Acquired1                   -                   449 
Retail Managed Account Inflows                 1,134                   739 
Retail Managed Account Outflows                 (502)                 (409) 
Separate accounts market value change                 1,162               1,464 

Net Change                 1,199               1,292 

Separate accounts - End of Period                   $           31,693             28,942 

Money market fund assets - End of Period                 1,283                   819 

Total Assets Under Management - End of Period                   $         135,491           113,253 


Table 4
Long-Term Fund and Separate Account Net Flows (in millions)
 
    Three Months Ended

    January 31,   January 31,
    2007   2006

Long-term funds:                 
 Open-end and other funds             2,228     $         675 
 Closed-end funds               2,841             108 
 Private funds                 853             (457) 
Inst/HNW accounts                 (595)             (951) 
Retail managed accounts                 632             330 

Total net flows             5,959     $         (295) 


1 Voyageur Asset Management (MA) acquired by Eaton Vance in December 2005.

Page 10 of 10