UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

     
(Mark One)
[X]   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended July 31, 2006
or
[   ]   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ________ to ________

Commission file number 1-8100

EATON VANCE CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

     
Maryland
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  04-2718215
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     

255 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109

(Address of principal executive offices) (zip code)

(617) 482-8260

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check-mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X]   No [  ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. Large accelerated filer   [X]   Accelerated filer [  ]   Non-accelerated filer [  ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [  ]   No [X]

     Shares outstanding as of July 31, 2006:
               Voting Common Stock – 309,760 shares
               Non-Voting Common Stock – 126,735,035 shares




Eaton Vance Corp.
Form 10-Q
For the Nine months Ended July 31, 2006
Index

Required
Information


   

   
Page
Number
Reference
Part I
              
Financial Information
                   
Item 1.
              
Consolidated Financial Statements
          3    
Item 2.
              
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
          19    
Item 3.
              
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
          37    
Item 4.
              
Controls and Procedures
          38    
 
                                                 
Part II
              
Other Information
                   
Item 1.
              
Legal Proceedings
          39    
Item 1A.
              
Risk Factors
          39    
Item 2.
              
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
          40    
Item 4.
              
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
          40    
Item 6.
              
Exhibits
          41    
 
                                                 
Signatures
              
 
          42    
 

2



Part I — Financial Information

Item 1. Consolidated Financial Statements

Eaton Vance Corp.
Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)

(in thousands)
   
July 31,
2006
   
October 31,
2005
Assets
                                  
 
                                  
Current Assets:
                              
Cash and cash equivalents
       $ 165,771            $146,389
Short-term investments
          129,926              127,858
Investment adviser fees and other receivables
          89,391              83,868
Other current assets
          6,371              10,473
Total current assets
          391,459              368,588
 
                                  
Other Assets:
                              
Deferred sales commissions
          114,825              126,113
Goodwill
          96,834              89,634
Other intangible assets, net
          34,704              40,644
Long-term investments
          61,552              61,766
Equipment and leasehold improvements, net
          20,228              12,764
Other assets
          2,026              3,035
Total other assets
          330,169              333,956
Total assets
       $ 721,628            $702,544
 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

3



Eaton Vance Corp.
Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) (continued)

(in thousands, except share figures)

   
July 31,
2006
   
October 31,
2005
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
                                       
 
                                       
Current Liabilities:
                                   
Accrued compensation
       $ 59,664           $ 62,880   
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
          32,303              27,987   
Dividend payable
          12,704              12,952   
Current portion of long-term debt
          76,316                 
Other current liabilities
          7,920              12,538   
Total current liabilities
          188,907              116,357   
 
                                       
Long-term Liabilities:
                                   
Long-term debt
                        75,467   
Deferred income taxes
          26,168              29,804   
Total long-term liabilities
          26,168              105,271   
Total liabilities
          215,075              221,628   
Minority interest
          9,246              4,620   
Commitments and contingencies
                           
 
                                       
Shareholders’ Equity:
                                   
Common stock, par value $0.00390625 per share:
Authorized, 1,280,000 shares
Issued and outstanding, 309,760 shares
          1               1    
Non-voting common stock, par value $0.00390625 per share:
Authorized, 190,720,000 shares
Issued and outstanding, 126,735,035 and 129,243,023 shares, respectively
          495               505    
Notes receivable from stock option exercises
          (2,043 )             (2,741 )  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
          2,700              2,566   
Retained earnings
          496,154              475,965   
Total shareholders’ equity
          497,307              476,296   
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
       $ 721,628           $ 702,544   
 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

4



Eaton Vance Corp.
Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)


 
         Three Months Ended
July 31,
   
Nine Months Ended
July 31,
(in thousands, except per share figures)



   
2006
   
2005
   
2006
   
2005
Revenue:
                                                                                     
Investment adviser and administration fees
                 $ 149,823           $ 127,768           $ 437,176           $ 368,047   
Distribution and underwriter fees
                    34,338              35,238              104,605              104,107   
Service fees
                    31,235              26,637              89,238              77,253   
Other revenue
                    919               1,108              3,118              5,629   
Total revenue
                    216,315              190,751              634,137              555,036   
 
                                                                                         
Expenses:
                                                                                     
Compensation of officers and employees
                    61,989              51,782              181,926              151,911   
Amortization of deferred sales commissions
                    12,119              15,694              39,168              50,641   
Service fee expense
                    24,063              22,087              69,896              63,853   
Distribution expense
                    30,601              25,775              84,705              71,888   
Other expenses
                    19,658              14,610              65,861              45,642   
Total expenses
                    148,430              129,948              441,556              383,935   
Operating income
                    67,885              60,803              192,581              171,101   
 
                                                                                         
Other Income (Expense):
                                                                                     
Interest income
                    2,197              1,030              5,938              2,796   
Interest expense
                    (655 )             (367 )             (1,380 )             (1,099 )  
Gain on investments
                    41               187               3,589              274    
Foreign currency loss
                    (55 )             (51 )             (182 )             (26 )  
Impairment loss on investments
                                                (592 )             (1,840 )  
Income before income taxes, minority interest,
equity in net income of affiliates and cumulative
effect of change in accounting principle
                    69,413              61,602              199,954              171,206   
Income taxes
                    (27,233 )             (25,452 )             (77,451 )             (66,986 )  
Minority interest
                    (1,011 )             (1,128 )             (3,830 )             (3,736 )  
Equity in net income of affiliates, net of tax
                    650               734               2,803              527    
Net income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
                    41,819              35,756              121,476              101,011   
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of tax
                                                (626 )                
Net income
                 $ 41,819           $ 35,756           $ 120,850           $ 101,011   
 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

5



Eaton Vance Corp.
Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited) (continued)


 
         Three Months Ended
July 31,
   
Nine Months Ended
July 31,
(in thousands, except per share figures)



   
2006
   
2005
   
2006
   
2005
Earnings Per Share Before Cumulative Effect
of Change In Accounting Principle:
                                                                                
Basic
                 $ 0.33           $ 0.27           $ 0.95           $ 0.76
Diluted
                 $ 0.31           $ 0.26           $ 0.88           $ 0.72
 
                                                                                    
Earnings Per Share:
                                                                                
Basic
                 $ 0.33           $ 0.27           $ 0.94           $ 0.76
Diluted
                 $ 0.31           $ 0.26           $ 0.88           $ 0.72
 
                                                                                    
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding:
                                                                                
Basic
                    127,211              130,887              128,292              132,177
Diluted
                    136,601              139,691              138,141              140,983
 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

(The remainder of this page is left intentionally blank.)

6



Eaton Vance Corp.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)


 
         Nine Months Ended
July 31,
(in thousands)



   
2006
   
2005
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
                 $ 146,389           $ 147,137   
 
                                                 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
                                             
Net income
                    120,850              101,011   
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided
by operating activities:
                                                 
Impairment loss on investments
                    592               1,840   
Stock-based compensation expense
                    28,770              21,717   
Depreciation and other amortization
                    13,479              5,383   
Amortization of deferred sales commissions
                    39,168              50,636   
Payment of capitalized sales commissions
                    (39,836 )             (36,265 )  
Contingent deferred sales charges received
                    11,978              15,350   
Deferred income taxes
                    (6,596 )             (14,988 )  
Interest on long-term debt and amortization of debt issuance costs
                    959               963    
Gain on investments
                    (3,958 )             (43 )  
Minority interest
                    3,830              3,736   
Equity in net income of affiliates
                    (4,908 )             (845 )  
Dividends received from affiliates
                    2,734              875    
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of tax
                    626                  
Proceeds from the sale of trading securities
                    79,974              88,760   
Purchase of trading securities
                    (160,172 )             (157,478 )  
Changes in other assets and liabilities:
                                                 
Investment adviser fees and other receivables
                    (5,524 )             (50,903 )  
Other current assets
                    4,746              (963 )  
Other assets
                    1,494              1,138   
Accrued compensation
                    (3,217 )             (5,713 )  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
                    4,303              8,855   
Other current liabilities
                    (4,627 )             223    
Net cash provided by operating activities
                    84,665              33,289   
 
                                                 
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
                                             
Additions to equipment and leasehold improvements
                    (10,039 )             (2,547 )  
Net decrease in notes receivable from affiliates
                    1,086              490    
Purchase of management contracts
                    (1,230 )                
Purchase of minority members’ interest
                    (11,253 )             (360 )  
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investments
                    25,512              1,607   
Purchase of available-for-sale investments
                    (15,380 )             (16,866 )  
Net cash used for investing activities
                    (11,304 )             (17,676 )  
 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

7



Eaton Vance Corp.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) (continued)


 
         Nine Months Ended
July 31,
(in thousands)



   
2006
   
2005
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
                                             
Excess tax benefit of stock option exercises
                    3,036              3,241   
Long-term debt issuance costs
                                  (428 )  
Distributions to minority shareholders
                    (4,844 )             (3,640 )  
Proceeds from issuance of non-voting common stock
                    20,194              15,494   
Repurchase of non-voting common stock
                    (113,012 )             (104,648 )  
Dividend paid
                    (38,691 )             (31,817 )  
Proceeds from the issuance of mutual fund subsidiary’s capital stock
                    80,000              151,500   
Redemption of mutual fund subsidiary’s capital stock
                    (745 )             (66,891 )  
Net cash used for financing activities
                    (54,062 )             (37,189 )  
Effect of currency rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
                    83               (82 )  
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
                    19,382              (21,658 )  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
                 $ 165,771           $ 125,479   
 
                                                 
Supplemental Cash Flow Information:
                                             
Interest paid
                 $ 137            $ 136    
Income taxes paid
                 $ 83,964           $ 77,981   
 
                                                 
Supplemental Non-Cash Flow Information:
                                             
Exercise of stock options through issuance of notes receivable
                 $ 388            $ 615    
 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

8



Eaton Vance Corp.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(1)  
  Basis of Presentation

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of Eaton Vance Corp. (the “Company”) include all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the results for the interim periods in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures have been omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. As a result, these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s latest annual report on Form 10-K.

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) revised Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123, “Accounting For Stock-Based Compensation,” requiring public companies to recognize the cost resulting from all share-based payment transactions in their financial statements based on the grant-date fair value of those awards. The Company has applied the modified version of retrospective application of SFAS No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment,” for all periods prior to the required effective date and adjusted its financials statements for all periods presented on a basis consistent with the pro forma disclosures previously made under SFAS No. 123.

(2)  
  Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly and majority owned subsidiaries. The equity method of accounting is used for investments in affiliates in which the Company’s ownership ranges from 20 to 50 percent. The Company consolidates all investments in affiliates in which the Company’s ownership exceeds 50 percent. The Company provides for minority interests in consolidated companies for which the Company’s ownership is less than 100 percent. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

(3) Earnings Per Share

The following table provides a reconciliation of net income and common shares used in the basic and diluted earnings per share computations for the three and nine month periods ended July 31, 2006 and 2005:

9




 
         For the Three
Months Ended
July 31,
   
For the Nine
Months Ended
July 31,
(in thousands, except per share data)



   
2006
   
2005
   
2006
   
2005
Net income — basic
                 $ 41,819           $ 35,756        
$120,850
    
$101,011
Interest adjustment related to contingently convertible debt, net of tax
                    185               189         
548
    
560
Net income — diluted
                 $ 42,004           $ 35,945        
$121,398
    
$101,571
 
                                                 
Weighted-average shares outstanding — basic
                    127,211              130,887        
128,292
    
132,177
Incremental common shares from stock options and restricted stock awards
                    6,202              5,616        
6,661
    
5,618
Incremental common shares related to contingently convertible debt
                    3,188              3,188        
3,188
    
3,188
Weighted-average shares outstanding — diluted
                    136,601              139,691        
138,141
    
140,983
Earnings per share:
                                                                                    
Basic
                  $0.33            $0.27        
$0.94
    
$0.76
Diluted
                  $0.31            $0.26        
$0.88
    
$0.72
 

The Company uses the treasury stock method to account for the dilutive effect of unexercised stock options and unvested restricted stock on diluted earnings per share. Antidilutive incremental common shares related to stock options excluded from the computation of earnings per share were 140,400 and 62,700 for the nine months ended July 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

(4)  
  Other Intangible Assets

The following is a summary of other intangible assets at July 31, 2006:

July 31, 2006
    
    
    
(dollars in thousands)

   
Weighted-
average
amortization
period
(in years)

   
Gross
carrying
amount
   
Accumulated
amortization
Amortizing intangible assets:
                                                  
Client relationships acquired
          14.2           $ 54,769            $22,020
 
                                                      
Non-amortizing intangible assets:
                                                  
Mutual fund management
contracts
                          1,955             
Total
                       $ 56,724            $22,020
 

In the second quarter of fiscal 2006, the Company accelerated non-cash amortization by $8.9 million to write-off intangible assets relating to the termination of certain institutional and high-net-worth asset management contracts at Fox Asset Management. The write-off was computed by comparing the net present value of projected client cash flows to the carrying value of the intangible asset at April 30, 2006. The write-off is included in other expenses in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income for the nine month period ended July 31, 2006.

10



In the third quarter of fiscal 2006, the minority shareholders of Atlanta Capital Management, LLC (“Atlanta Capital”) exercised a put option whereby units representing a 7 percent ownership interest in Atlanta Capital were sold to the Company for $7.2 million. Pursuant to the acquisition agreement, the purchase price was based on a multiple of earnings before taxes for the calendar year ended December 31, 2005. As a result of the transaction, the Company’s ownership interest in Atlanta Capital increased to 77.4 percent on June 30, 2006 and the Company recorded intangible assets of $2.4 million and goodwill of $4.7 million. The remainder of the purchase price was allocated to minority interest.

Also in the third quarter of fiscal 2006, the Company exercised a call option with the minority shareholders of Parametric Portfolio Associates LLC (“Parametric Portfolio Associates”) whereby units representing a 2 percent capital ownership interest in Parametric were sold to the Company for $4.0 million. Pursuant to the acquisition agreement, the purchase price was based on a multiple of earnings before taxes for the calendar year ended December 31, 2005. As a result of the transaction, the Company’s capital ownership interest in Parametric Portfolio Associates increased to 82 percent on May 31, 2006 and the Company recorded intangible assets of $1.4 million and goodwill of $2.5 million. The remainder of the purchase price was allocated to minority interest.

(5)   Investments

The following is a summary of investments at July 31, 2006:

(in thousands)



   
July 31,
2006
Short-term investments:
                     
Sponsored funds
                 $ 30,990
Investment in affiliate
                    98,936
Total
                 $ 129,926
 
                        
Long-term investments:
                     
Sponsored funds
                 $ 36,518
Collateralized debt obligation entities
                    9,186
Investments in affiliates
                    14,903
Other investments
                    945
Total
                 $ 61,552
 

The Company recognized impairment losses of $0.6 million and $1.8 million in the nine month periods ended July 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, related to its investments in collateralized debt obligation entities. The impairment losses resulted from the effect of tightening credit spreads and higher than forecasted prepayment rates on the underlying collateral pools and, therefore, the Company’s investment. The Company continues to earn a management fee on the underlying collateral pools.

The Company realized gains of $2.2 million upon the disposition of its investment in certain sponsored funds and $1.4 million on liquidation of its investment in a collateralized debt obligation entity in the nine months ended July 31, 2006.

11



(6)  
  Stock-Based Compensation Plans

The Company has four stock-based compensation plans, which are described below. The Company recognized total compensation expense related to those plans of $28.8 million and $21.7 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The total income tax benefit recognized for stock-based compensation arrangements was $7.8 million and $5.1 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

In its computation of stock-based compensation expense for the purposes of pro forma disclosure under SFAS No. 123, the Company had previously made the election to recognize actual forfeitures when they occurred rather than estimate them at the grant date. Under SFAS No. 123R, this election no longer exists. The Company recognized a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle of $0.6 million on November 1, 2005, the adoption date, in order to adjust for expected forfeitures in excess of actual forfeitures on all grants made prior to October 31, 2005.

Stock Option Plan

The Company has a Stock Option Plan (the “1998 Plan”) administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors under which options to purchase shares of the Company’s non-voting common stock may be granted to all eligible employees and are automatically granted to independent directors of the Company. No stock options may be granted under the plan with an exercise price of less than the fair market value of the stock at the time the stock option is granted. The options granted under the 1998 Plan expire five to ten years from the date of grant; options to employees vest over a five-year period as stipulated in each grant. The 1998 Plan contains provisions that, in the event of a change of control of the Company, may accelerate the vesting of awards. A total of 35.0 million shares have been reserved for issuance under the 1998 Plan. Through July 31, 2006, options to purchase 33.2 million shares have been issued pursuant to the 1998 Plan.

Prior to November 1, 2005, the Company used the intrinsic value method as described in Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” to measure employee stock-based compensation. Under this method, compensation expense was measured as the difference between the current value of the underlying shares and the price the employee was required to pay on the grant date, if any. Effective November 1, 2005, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123R, using the modified version of the retrospective transition method. Using this transition method, the Company restated all prior period results on a basis consistent with the pro forma disclosures previously made under SFAS No. 123. Upon the adoption of SFAS 123R under the modified retrospective method, the Company established a deferred tax asset of $21.3 million and adjusted retained earnings by $18.7 million.

The Company’s current retirement policy provides that an employee is eligible for retirement at age 65 and for early retirement with the Company’s consent when the employee reaches age 55 with a combined age and years of service equal to at least 75. Because many of the Company’s outstanding stock options allow for accelerated vesting of options upon retirement, the adoption of SFAS 123R resulted in the immediate recognition of compensation expense at grant date for all awards granted to retirement-eligible employees subsequent to the implementation of SFAS 123R on November 1, 2005. For awards granted to employees approaching retirement eligibility, the adoption of SFAS 123R resulted in compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the period from the grant date through the retirement eligibility date. Stock-based compensation expense for employees who are not retirement eligible is recognized on a straight-line basis over the service or vesting period of the option (generally five years). Prior to the implementation of SFAS No. 123R, and consistent with SFAS 123, it had been the Company’s policy to recognize all stock-based compensation expense, regardless of employee retirement eligibility, over the vesting period without regard to retirement eligibility.

12



The fair value of each stock option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model. The Black-Scholes option valuation model incorporates assumptions as to dividend yield, volatility, an appropriate risk-free interest rate and the expected life of the option. Many of these assumptions require management’s judgment. The Company’s stock volatility assumption is based upon its historical stock price fluctuations. The Company has no reason to believe that its future stock price volatility will differ from the past. The Company uses historical data to estimate option forfeiture rates. The expected term of options granted is derived using the simplified method in accordance with SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107. The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.

The weighted average fair values of stock options granted during the nine months ended July 31, 2006 and 2005 using the Black-Scholes option pricing model were as follows:




   
July 31,
2006
   
July 31,
2005
Weighted average grant date fair value of options granted               
$8.35
    
$8.01
                                                   
Assumptions:
                                                 
Dividend yield
              
1.6%
    
1.3%
Volatility
              
27%
    
29%
Risk-free interest rate
              
4.9%
    
4.3%
Expected life of options
              
6.8 years
    
8.0 years
 

Stock option transactions under the 1998 Plan and predecessor plans are summarized as follows:

For the Nine Month Period Ended July 31, 2006

(share and intrinsic value figures in thousands)



   
Shares
   
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
   
Weighed
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
   
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
Options outstanding, beginning of period
                    23,791            $15.66                                      
Granted
                    4,501              24.96                                      
Exercised
                    (1,344 )             10.48                                      
Forfeited/Expired
                    (250 )             19.89                                      
Options outstanding, end of period
                    26,698            $17.45              6.6            $196,184
Options exercisable, end of period
                    12,956            $14.01              5.3            $139,299
 

The Company received $13.7 million related to the exercise of options under the 1998 Plan. Options exercised represent newly issued shares. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the nine months ended July 31, 2006 and 2005 was $22.1 million and $11.7 million, respectively.

A summary of the status of the Company’s nonvested shares as of July 31, 2006, and changes during the nine months ended July 31, 2006, is presented below:

13



For the Nine Month Period Ended July 31, 2006
(share figures in thousands)


   
Shares
   
Weighted
Average
Grant
Date Fair
Value
Nonvested, beginning of period
                    13,869           $ 6.60   
Granted
                    4,501              8.35   
Vested
                    (4,381 )             5.48   
Forfeited/Expired
                    (247 )             7.07   
Nonvested, end of period
                    13,742           $ 7.26   
 

The total fair value of shares vested during the nine months ended July 31, 2006 was $24.0 million.

The Company recorded compensation expense of $27.0 million and $20.5 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, relating to the 1998 Plan. As of July 31, 2006, there was $70.0 million of compensation expense related to nonvested share-based compensation arrangements granted under the 1998 Plan attributed to nonvested awards not yet recognized. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 4.25 years.

Restricted Stock Plan

The Company has a Restricted Stock Plan administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors under which restricted stock may be granted to key employees. Shares of the Company’s non-voting common stock granted under the plan are subject to restrictions on transferability and carry the risk of forfeiture, based in each case on such considerations as the Compensation Committee shall determine. Unless the Compensation Committee determines otherwise, restricted stock that is still subject to restrictions upon termination of employment shall be forfeited. Restrictions on shares granted lapse in three to seven years from date of grant. A total of 2,000,000 shares have been reserved under the plan.

In the nine months ended July 31, 2006 and 2005, 40,209 and 45,546 shares, respectively, were issued pursuant to the plan at a weighted average grant date fair value of $24.87 and $21.96 per share. Because these shares are contingently forfeitable, compensation expense is recorded over the forfeiture period. The Company recorded compensation expense of $0.8 million and $0.6 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, relating to shares issued in fiscal 2006 and prior years. As of July 31, 2006, there was $2.9 million of compensation cost related to nonvested share-based compensation arrangements granted under the plan related to nonvested awards not yet recognized. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 4.25 years.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

A total of 9.0 million shares of the Company’s non-voting common stock have been reserved for issuance under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The plan qualifies under Section 423 of the United States Internal Revenue Code and permits eligible employees to direct up to 15 percent of their salaries up to a maximum of $12,500 per six-month offering period toward the purchase of Eaton Vance Corp. non-voting common stock at the lower of 90 percent of the market price of the non-voting common stock at the beginning or at the end of each six-month offering period. Through July 31, 2006, 7.1 million shares have been issued pursuant to this plan. The Company recorded compensation expense of $0.6 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The Company received $2.9 million related to shares issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

14



Incentive Plan-Stock Alternative

A total of 4.8 million shares of the Company’s non-voting common stock have been reserved for issuance under the Incentive Plan-Stock Alternative. The plan permits employees and officers to direct up to half of their monthly and annual incentive bonuses toward the purchase of non-voting common stock at 90 percent of the average market price of the stock for the five days subsequent to the end of the offering period. Through July 31, 2006, 3.0 million shares have been issued pursuant to this plan. The Company received $3.6 million related to shares issued under the Incentive Plan-Stock Alternative. In accordance with SFAS 123R, the Company recorded compensation expense of $0.5 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2006. The Company did not record any compensation cost related to this plan in prior periods as it was not subject to the provisions of SFAS No. 123.

(7)  
  Common Stock Repurchases

The Company’s current share repurchase program was announced on July 12, 2006. The Board authorized management to repurchase 8.0 million shares of its non-voting common stock on the open market and in private transactions in accordance with applicable securities laws. The Company’s stock repurchase plan is not subject to an expiration date.

In the first nine months of fiscal 2006, the Company purchased approximately 4.1 million shares of its non-voting common stock under a previous share repurchase authorization and 0.1 million shares under the current share repurchase authorization. Approximately 7.9 million additional shares may be repurchased under the current authorization.

(8)  
  Regulatory Requirements

Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. (“EVD”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and principal underwriter of the Eaton Vance Funds, is subject to the SEC Uniform Net Capital Rule (Rule 15c3-1) which requires the maintenance of minimum net capital. For purposes of this rule, EVD had net capital of $30.5 million, which exceeded its minimum net capital requirement of $1.4 million at July 31, 2006. The ratio of aggregate indebtedness to net capital at July 31, 2006 was .70 to 1.

(9)  
  Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes for the nine months ended July 31, 2006 and 2005 consists of the following:


 
     For the Nine Months Ended
July 31,
(in thousands)

   
2006
   
2005
Current:
                                       
Federal
       $ 75,735           $ 73,537   
State
          8,311              8,437   
Deferred:
                                       
Federal
          (6,023 )             (13,417 )  
State
          (572 )             (1,571 )  
Total
       $ 77,451           $ 66,986   
 

Deferred income taxes reflect the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and tax bases of the Company’s assets and liabilities. The significant components of deferred income taxes are as follows:

15



(in thousands)



   
July 31,
2006
   
October 31,
2005
Deferred tax assets:
                                             
Stock-based compensation
                 $ 25,282           $ 21,367   
Capital loss carryforward
                    1,530              2,701   
Deferred rent
                    597               666    
Differences between book and tax bases of investments
                    366               2,098   
Other
                    503               1,088   
Gross deferred tax asset
                    28,278              27,920   
Valuation allowance
                                  (216 )  
Total deferred tax asset
                 $ 28,278           $ 27,704   
 
                                                 
Deferred tax liabilities:
                                             
Deferred sales commissions
                 $ (42,065 )          $ (44,022 )  
Accretion on zero-coupon exchangeable notes
                    (2,981 )             (2,207 )  
Differences between book and tax bases of goodwill and intangibles
                    (5,887 )             (7,865 )  
Differences between book and tax bases of property
                    (217 )             (845 )  
Unrealized net holding gains on investments
                    (1,597 )             (1,509 )  
Total deferred tax liability
                 $ (52,747 )          $ (56,448 )  
Net deferred tax liability
                 $ (24,469 )          $ (28,744 )  
 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities reflected on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) at July 31, 2006 and October 31, 2005 are as follows:

(in thousands)

   
July 31,
2006
   
October 31,
2005
Net current deferred tax asset, included in other current assets
       $ 1,699           $ 1,060   
Net non-current deferred tax liability
          (26,168 )             (29,804 )  
Net deferred tax liability
       $ (24,469 )          $ (28,744 )  
 

The exercise of stock options resulted in a reduction of taxes payable of approximately $3.0 million and $3.2 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Such benefit has been reflected in shareholders’ equity.

A reconciliation from the U.S. Federal statutory income tax rate to the Company’s effective income tax rate for the quarters ended July 31, 2006 and 2005 is as follows:

16






   
2006
   
2005
Federal statutory rate
                    35.0 %             35.0 %  
State and local income tax, net of federal income tax benefit
                    2.5              2.8   
Minority interest
                    (0.7 )             (0.8 )  
Stock-based compensation (incentive stock options)
                    1.3              1.6   
Other
                    0.6              0.5   
Effective income tax rate
                    38.7 %             39.1 %  
 

The Company has recorded a deferred income tax asset of $1.5 million as of July 31, 2006, relating to a $4.1 million capital loss carry forward. The capital loss expires on October 31, 2008. No reserve has been established against the deferred tax asset associated with the capital loss carry forward as management believes that this asset is fully recoverable.

Due to the expiration of state net operating loss carry forwards during the current fiscal year, the Company reduced its deferred tax assets by $0.3 million and reversed a related valuation allowance of $0.2 million.

(10)  
  Comprehensive Income

Total comprehensive income includes net income and other comprehensive income, net of tax. The components of comprehensive income for the nine months ended July 31, 2006 and 2005 are as follows:


 
     For the Nine Months Ended
July 31,
   
(in thousands)
   
2006
   
2005
Net income
       $ 120,850           $ 101,011     
Net unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities, net of income taxes of $62 and $619, respectively
          87               1,074
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax (benefit) of $30 and ($30), respectively
          52               (52 )  
Comprehensive income
       $ 120,989           $ 102,033   
 
(11)  
  Commitments and Contingencies

In the normal course of business, the Company enters into agreements that include indemnities in favor of third parties, such as engagement letters with advisors and consultants, information technology agreements, distribution agreements and service agreements. The Company has also agreed to indemnify its directors and certain of its officers and employees in accordance with the Company’s bylaws. Certain agreements do not contain any limits on the Company’s liability and, therefore, it is not possible to estimate the Company’s potential liability under these indemnities. In certain cases, the Company has recourse against third parties with respect to these indemnities. Further, the Company maintains insurance policies that may provide coverage against certain claims under these indemnities.

On July 31, 2006, the Company committed to invest $15.0 million in a private equity partnership that invests in companies in the financial services industry. In August 2006, the Company invested $4.7 million of the total $15.0 million of committed capital.

17



The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to various legal proceedings. In the opinion of management, after discussions with legal counsel, the ultimate resolution of these matters would not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial condition or results of operations of the Company.

(12)  
  Recent Accounting Developments

In June 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes — an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (FIN 48). FIN 48 clarifies certain aspects of accounting for uncertain tax positions, including issues related to the recognition and measurement of those tax positions. The provisions of FIN 48 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. Management is currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of this interpretation.

In June 2005, the FASB ratified the Emerging Issues Task Force’s (“EITF’s”) consensus on EITF Issue No. 04-05, “Determining Whether a General Partner, or the General Partners as a Group, Controls a Limited Partnership or Similar Entity When the Limited Partners Have Certain Rights.” The Task Force reached a consensus that for general partners of all new limited partnerships formed and for existing limited partnerships for which the partnership agreements are modified, the guidance is effective after June 29, 2005. The Task Force also reached a consensus that for general partners in all other limited partnerships, the guidance is effective no later than the beginning of the first reporting period in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005. The adoption of the consensus did not have a material effect on the consolidated results of operations or the consolidated financial position of the Company.

(13)  
  Subsequent Event

On July 28, 2006, Eaton Vance Management (“EVM”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, announced its intention to redeem for cash all of its outstanding zero-coupon exchangeable senior notes (“Notes”) ($110,945,000 principal amount at maturity with an accreted value on redemption date of $76.4 million). Upon receipt of EVM’s notice of its intent to redeem, holders of the Notes had the option to exchange the Notes into Eaton Vance Corp. non-voting common stock at a rate of 28.7314 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount at maturity until the close of business on August 10, 2006. As of the close of business on August 10, 2006, $110,939,000 principal amount at maturity of the Notes were tendered for exchange into the Company’s non-voting common stock. EVM elected to pay the holders cash in lieu of delivering stock as provided for in the indenture governing the Notes. As a result, EVM paid $86.2 million to holders who presented their Notes for exchange. In addition to those Notes exchanged, $6,000 principal amount at maturity of the Notes were redeemed for cash in the aggregate amount of $4,130.

The redemption of the Notes resulted in the elimination of all of the Company’s long-term debt and will reduce its diluted shares outstanding by 3.2 million shares in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006. The $9.8 million premium value of the shares in excess of the accreted value of the Notes paid in cash to Note holders will be recorded as interest expense in the Company’s fiscal fourth quarter income statement, in addition to the write-off of $1.5 million of related debt issuance costs.

18



Item 2.  
  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

This Item includes statements that are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding our expectations, intentions or strategies regarding the future. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this Form 10-Q regarding our financial position, business strategy and other plans and objectives for future operations are forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the assumptions and expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements will prove to have been correct or that we will take any actions that may presently be planned. Certain important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations are disclosed in the “Competitive Conditions and Risk Factors” section of this Form 10-Q. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by such factors.

General

The Company’s principal business is creating, marketing and managing investment companies (open-end and closed-end funds) and providing investment management and counseling services to high-net-worth individuals and institutions. The Company’s 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, the Company has developed a broadly diversified product line and a powerful marketing, distribution and customer service capability.

The Company 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.

The Company’s principal marketing strategy is to distribute its retail products (including funds and retail managed accounts) primarily through financial intermediaries in the advice channel. The Company has 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. Eaton Vance supports these distribution partners with a team of approximately 150 regional and Boston-based representatives serving the needs of the Company’s partners and clients across the country. Specialized sales and marketing teams supporting the regional and Boston-based representatives noted above provide the increasingly sophisticated information required for distributing the Company’s privately placed funds, retail managed accounts, retirement products and charitable giving vehicles.

The Company is also committed to serving institutional and high-net-worth clients who access investment advice outside of traditional retail broker/dealer channels. The Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries, including Atlanta Capital Management Company, LLC (“Atlanta Capital”), Fox Asset Management LLC (“Fox Asset Management”) and Parametric Portfolio Associates LLC (“Parametric Portfolio Associates”), 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 the Company’s affiliates focus exclusively on developing relationships in this market and deal directly with these clients, often on the basis of independent referrals.

19



The Company’s 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 the Company are based primarily on the value of the investment portfolios managed by the Company and fluctuate with changes in the total value of the assets under management. Such fees are recognized over the period that the Company manages these assets. The Company’s major expenses are employee compensation, amortization of deferred sales commissions and distribution-related expenses.

The discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations are based upon the Company’s consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including those related to investments, deferred sales commissions, intangible assets, stock-based compensation, income taxes and litigation. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that it believes to be reasonable under current circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily available from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Assets Under Management

Assets under management of $120.4 billion on July 31, 2006 were 14 percent higher than the $106.0 billion reported a year earlier. Long-term fund net inflows contributed $8.9 billion to growth in assets under management over the last twelve month period, including $6.7 billion of open-end and private fund net inflows and $2.2 billion of closed-end fund offerings. Separate account net inflows totaled $0.1 billion, reflecting $1.2 billion of retail managed account net inflows offset by $1.1 billion of institutional and high-net-worth net outflows. Market price appreciation, reflecting favorable equity markets, contributed $3.0 billion to the increase in assets under management.

Ending Assets Under Management by Investment Objective


 
         July 31,
    
(in billions)



   
2006
   
2005
   
% Change
Equity assets
                 $ 71.5           $ 64.6              11 %  
Fixed income assets
                    27.3              22.7              20 %  
Floating-rate bank loan assets
                    21.6              18.7              16 %  
Total
                 $ 120.4           $ 106.0              14 %  
 

Equity assets represented 59 percent of total assets under management on July 31, 2006, down from 61 percent on July 31, 2005. Assets in equity funds managed for after-tax returns totaled $37.1 billion and $33.3 billion on July 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Fixed income assets, including money market funds, represented 23 percent of total assets under management on July 31, 2006, up from 21 percent on July 31, 2005. Fixed income assets included $13.4 billion and $11.5 billion of tax-exempt municipal bond funds on July 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Floating-rate bank loan assets represented 18 percent of total assets under management on both July 31, 2006 and 2005.

20



Long-Term Fund and Separate Account Net Flows


 
         For the Three
Months Ended
July 31,
    
 
     For the Nine
Months Ended
July 31,
    
(in billions)



   
2006
   
2005
   
%
Change
   
2006
   
2005
   
%
Change
Long-term funds:
                                                                                                                            
Closed-end funds
                 $ 0.2           $ 1.1              –82%           $ 0.3           $ 3.1              -90%
Open-end funds
                    1.4              0.4              250%              3.7              1.7              118%
Private funds
                    1.5              0.3              400%              1.8              0.7              157%
Total long-term fund net inflows
                    3.1              1.8              72%              5.8              5.5              5%
Institutional/HNW(1) accounts
                    (0.5 )             0.2              NM (2)            (1.3 )             (0.9 )             44%
Retail managed accounts
                                  0.4              NM               0.8              1.2              -33%
Total separate account net inflows (outflows)
                    (0.5 )             0.6              NM               (0.5 )             0.3              NM
Total net inflows (outflows)
                 $ 2.6           $ 2.4              8%           $ 5.3           $ 5.8              -9%

(1) High-net-worth (“HNW”)
(2)
Not meaningful (“NM”)

Long-term fund net inflows totaled $3.1 billion in the third quarter of fiscal 2006 compared to $1.8 billion in the third quarter of fiscal 2005. The increase in fund net inflows in the third quarter of fiscal 2006 can be attributed primarily to a 250 percent increase in open-end fund net inflows and a 400 percent increase in private fund net inflows. Open-end fund net inflows of $1.4 billion and $0.4 billion for the third quarters of fiscal 2006 and 2005, respectively, reflect gross inflows of $4.1 billion and $2.6 billion, respectively, net of redemptions of $2.7 billion and $2.2 billion, respectively. Private fund net inflows in the third quarter of fiscal 2006 include $0.7 billion in assets raised in conjunction with the private offering of debt securities by a collateralized debt obligation entity for which the Company acts as collateral manager.

The Company experienced net outflows of separate account assets of $0.5 billion in the third quarter of fiscal 2006, compared to net inflows of $0.6 billion in the third quarter of fiscal 2005. Retail managed account net inflows decreased to $36 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2006 from $0.4 billion in the third quarter of fiscal 2005. Retail managed account net inflows in both periods reflect strong sales of Parametric Portfolio Associates’ tax efficient overlay and core equity products and Eaton Vance Management’s large cap value and municipal bond products. Strong retail managed account sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2006 were offset by the loss of a relatively low-fee tax-efficient overlay arrangement at Parametric Portfolio Associates. Institutional and high-net-worth net outflows of $0.5 billion in the third quarter of fiscal 2006 reflect the withdrawal of funds by a bank loan institutional account.

Money market fund assets increased to $2.1 billion on July 31, 2006 from $0.3 billion on July 31, 2005, primarily due to a significant investment by an institutional client in one of the Company’s sponsored short-term treasury funds in the third quarter of fiscal 2006 and the introduction of a cash collateral fund managed by the Company in the second quarter of fiscal 2006. The cash collateral fund was introduced in conjunction with a securities lending program in which certain of the Company’s sponsored funds participate.

The following table summarizes the asset flows by investment objective for the three and nine-month periods ended July 31, 2006 and 2005:

21



Asset Flows


 
     For the Three
Months Ended
July 31,
    
 
     For the Nine
Months Ended
July 31,
    
(in billions)

   
2006
   
2005
   
%
Change
   
2006
   
2005
   
%
Change
Equity fund assets — beginning
       $ 50.1           $ 39.1              28%           $ 45.2           $ 36.9              22%
Sales/inflows
          2.1              2.6              -19%              5.8              6.4              -9%
Redemptions/outflows
          (1.4 )             (1.0 )             40%              (4.1 )             (3.2 )             28%
Exchanges
                                      NM                                           NM
Market value change
          (1.2 )             2.8              NM               2.7              3.4              -21%
Equity fund assets — ending
          49.6              43.5              14%              49.6              43.5              14%
 
                                                                                                                  
Fixed income fund assets — beginning
          19.6              18.0              9%              18.6              17.6              6%
Sales/inflows
          1.5              0.8              88%              4.3              2.7              59%
Redemptions/outflows
          (0.9 )             (0.5 )             80%              (2.7 )             (1.8 )             50%
Exchanges
                                      NM                                           NM
Market value change
                        0.2              NM                                           NM
Fixed income fund assets — ending
          20.2              18.5              9%              20.2              18.5              9%
 
                                                                                                                  
Floating-rate bank loan fund assets — beginning
          17.8              16.4              9%              16.8              15.0              12%
Sales/inflows
          2.6              0.9              189%              5.6              3.8              47%
Redemptions/outflows
          (0.8 )             (0.9 )             -11%              (3.1 )             (2.4 )             29%
Exchanges
                                      NM                                           NM
Market value change
                                      NM               0.3                            NM
Floating-rate bank loan fund assets — ending
          19.6              16.4              20%              19.6              16.4              20%
 
                                                                                                                  
Total long-term fund assets — beginning
          87.5              73.5              19%              80.6              69.5              16%
Sales/inflows
          6.2              4.3              44%              15.7              12.9              22%
Redemptions/outflows
          (3.1 )             (2.4 )             29%              (9.9 )             (7.4 )             34%
Exchanges
                                      NM                                           NM
Market value change
          (1.2 )             3.0              NM               3.0              3.4              -12%
Total long-term fund assets — ending
          89.4              78.4              14%              89.4              78.4              14%
 
                                                                                                                  
Separate accounts — beginning
          30.2              25.0              21%              27.6              24.5              13%
Inflows — HNW and institutional
          0.4              0.6              -33%              1.7              2.1              –19%
Outflows — HNW and institutional
          (0.9 )             (0.4 )             125%              (3.0 )             (3.0 )             NM
Inflows — retail managed accounts
          0.8              0.7              14%              2.5              2.4              4%
Outflows — retail managed accounts
          (0.8 )             (0.3 )             167%              (1.7 )             (1.2 )             42%
Market value change
          (0.8 )             1.7              NM               1.4              2.5              -44%
Assets acquired
                                      NM               0.4                            NM
Separate accounts — ending
          28.9              27.3              6%              28.9              27.3              6%
 
                                                                                                                  
Money market fund assets — ending
          2.1              0.3              600%              2.1              0.3              600%
Assets under management — ending
       $ 120.4           $ 106.0              14%           $ 120.4           $ 106.0              14%
 

22



Ending Assets Under Management by Asset Class


 
         July 31,
   
(in billions)



   
2006
   
2005
   
% Change
Class A (1)
                 $ 24.4           $ 18.2              34 %  
Class B (2)
                    6.9              8.1              –15 %  
Class C (3)
                    7.9              7.5              5 %  
Class I (4)
                    3.0              1.2              150 %  
Private funds (5)
                    24.9              21.7              15 %  
Closed-end funds
                    21.8              19.5              12 %  
Other (6)
                    2.6              2.5              4 %  
Total fund assets
                    91.5              78.7              16 %  
HNW and institutional account assets
                    20.6              20.6              0 %  
Retail managed account assets
                    8.3              6.7              24 %  
Total separate account assets
                    28.9              27.3              6 %  
Total
                 $ 120.4           $ 106.0              14 %  

(1) Includes Eaton Vance Advisers Senior Floating-Rate Fund, an interval fund.
(2)
Includes Eaton Vance Prime Rate Reserves, an interval fund.
(3)
Includes Eaton Vance Senior Floating-Rate Fund, an interval fund.
(4)
Includes Eaton Vance Institutional Senior Floating-Rate Fund, an interval fund.
(5)
Includes privately offered equity and bank loan funds and collateralized debt obligation entities.
(6)
Includes other open-end funds and funds subadvised by Atlanta Capital, Fox Asset Management and Parametric Portfolio Associates.


The Company currently sells its sponsored mutual funds under four primary pricing structures: front-end load commission (“Class A”); spread-load commission (“Class B”); level-load commission (“Class C”); and institutional no-load (“Class I”). The Company waives the sales load on Class A shares when sold under a fee-based broker/dealer program. In such cases, the shares are sold at net asset value. The private fund asset category includes equity and bank loan private funds offered to high-net-worth and institutional investors and collateralized debt obligation entities.

Fund assets represented 76 and 74 percent of total assets under management on July 31, 2006 and July 31, 2005, respectively. Class A share assets increased to 20 percent of total assets under management at July 31, 2006 from 17 percent at July 31, 2005, while Class B shares dropped to 6 percent at July 31, 2006 from 8 percent on July 31, 2005. The shift from Class B share assets to Class A share assets reflects the increasing popularity of Class A shares in the industry and the declining popularity of Class B shares as a share class. Private funds and closed-end funds collectively represented 39 percent of the Company’s total assets under management at both July 31, 2006 and 2005.

The shift in fund asset mix from Class B share assets to Class A share assets experienced by the Company has impacted the Company’s revenue and expense structure. The decline in Class B share sales and assets has resulted in a reduction in both distribution income (distribution plan payments received) and amortization of deferred sales commissions. As a result of the decline in distribution plan payments received, the Company’s overall effective fee rate, defined as total revenue as a percentage of average assets under management, declined to 73 basis points in the third quarter of fiscal 2006 from 75 basis points in the third quarter of fiscal 2005.

Separate account assets, including high-net-worth, institutional and retail managed account assets, totaled $28.9 billion on July 31, 2006, up from $27.3 billion on July 31, 2005. High-net-worth and institutional account assets were flat in comparison with the same period a year ago, while retail managed account assets

23




increased by 24 percent in the same period. As noted above, high-net-worth and institutional net flows were negatively impacted in the third quarter of fiscal 2006 by the withdrawal of funds by a bank loan institutional account. Retail managed account assets were positively impacted over the last twelve months by strong net sales of Parametric Portfolio Associates’ tax-efficient overlay and core equity products and the Company’s large cap value and municipal bond products.

Average Assets Under Management by Asset Class(1)

The average assets under management presented in the following table represent a monthly average by asset class. This table is intended to provide useful information in the analysis of the Company’s revenue and asset-based distribution expenses. With the exception of the Company’s separate account investment adviser fees, which are generally calculated as a percentage of either beginning or ending quarterly assets, the Company’s investment adviser, administration, distribution and service fees are calculated as a percentage of average daily assets.


 
         For the Three
Months Ended
July 31,
    
 
     For the Nine
Months Ended
July 31,
    
(in billions)



   
2006
   
2005
   
%
Change
   
2006
   
2005
   
%
Change
Class A (2)
                 $ 23.6           $ 17.5              35 %          $ 21.6           $ 16.7              29 %  
Class B (3)
                    7.1              8.1              -12 %             7.4              8.4              -12 %  
Class C (4)
                    7.8              7.4              5 %             7.7              7.3              5 %  
Class I (5)
                    2.6              1.2              117 %             2.3              1.2              92 %  
Private funds (6)
                    24.0              21.0              14 %             23.0              20.7              11 %  
Closed-end funds
                    21.8              18.6              17 %             21.6              17.4              24 %  
Other (7)
                    2.6              2.3              13 %             2.6              2.3              13 %  
Total fund assets
                    89.5              76.1              18 %             86.2              74.0              16 %  
HNW and institutional account assets
                    21.1              19.8              7 %             21.1              19.7              7 %  
Retail managed account assets
                    8.3              6.3              32 %             7.9              5.8              36 %  
Total separate account assets
                    29.4              26.1              13 %             29.0              25.5              14 %  
Total
                 $ 118.9           $ 102.2              16 %          $ 115.2           $ 99.5              16 %  

(1) Assets under management attributable to acquisitions that closed during the relevant periods are included on a weighted average basis for
     the period from their respective closing dates.

(2)
Includes Eaton Vance Advisers Senior Floating-Rate Fund, an interval fund.
(3)
Includes Eaton Vance Prime Rate Reserves, an interval fund.
(4)
Includes Eaton Vance Senior Floating-Rate Fund, an interval fund.
(5)
Includes Eaton Vance Institutional Senior Floating-Rate Fund, an interval fund.
(6)
Includes privately offered equity and bank loan funds and collateralized debt obligation entities.
(7)
Includes other open-end funds and funds subadvised by Atlanta Capital, Fox Asset Management and Parametric Portfolio Associates.


24



Results of Operations

Net income increased by 17 percent and 20 percent in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2006, respectively, over the same periods a year ago. The increase in net income noted in both the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2006 can be primarily attributed to a 16 percent increase in average assets under management in both the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2006 over the same periods a year ago. Operating results for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2006 include the acceleration of non-cash amortization of $8.9 million or $0.04 per diluted share to write off intangible assets relating to the termination of certain institutional and high-net-worth asset management contracts at the Company’s Fox Asset Management subsidiary. The amortization expense is included in other expenses in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income for the nine-month period ended July 31, 2006.

Effective November 1, 2005, the Company adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment.” The Company elected to apply the modified version of retrospective application for all periods prior to the required effective date and adjusted its financial statements for all periods presented on a basis consistent with the pro forma disclosures previously made under SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” The Company’s adoption of SFAS No. 123R using the modified retrospective method resulted in the recognition of $8.3 million and $28.8 million of stock-based compensation expense in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2006, respectively, compared to $7.3 million and $21.7 million in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2005, respectively. In the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2006, stock-based compensation reduced after-tax earnings by $6.2 million and $21.0 million, respectively, or $0.05 and $0.15 per diluted share. In the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2005, stock-based compensation reduced after-tax earnings by $5.6 million and $16.6 million, respectively, or $0.04 and $0.12 per diluted share, respectively.

In conjunction with the adoption of SFAS No. 123R in the first quarter of fiscal 2006, the Company also recognized a cumulative effect of change in accounting principle. In its calculations of stock option expense for the purposes of pro forma disclosure in previous filings, the Company chose to recognize forfeitures when they occurred rather than estimate them at grant date. Upon implementation, the Company was required to recognize the difference between actual forfeitures of awards granted prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 123R and the calculation of expected forfeitures for these awards as an adjustment to compensation cost. The cumulative effect of this adjustment, net of tax, was $0.6 million.


 
         For the Three
Months Ended
July 31,
    
 
     For the Nine
Months Ended
July 31,
    
(in thousands)



   
2006
   
2005
   
%
Change
   
2006
   
2005
   
%
Change
Net income
                 $ 41,819           $ 35,756              17 %          $ 120,850           $ 101,011              20 %  
Earnings per share before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle:
                                                                                                                                 
Basic
                 $ 0.33           $ 0.27              22 %          $ 0.95           $ 0.76              25 %  
Diluted
                 $ 0.31           $ 0.26              19 %          $ 0.88           $ 0.72              22 %  
Earnings per share:
                                                                                                                                 
Basic
                 $ 0.33           $ 0.27              22 %          $ 0.94           $ 0.76              24 %  
Diluted
                 $ 0.31           $ 0.26              19 %          $ 0.88           $ 0.72              22 %  
Operating margin
                    31%              32%                              30%              31%                       
 

25



Revenue

The Company’s effective fee rate (total revenue as a percentage of average assets under management) decreased to 73 basis points in the third quarter of fiscal 2006 from 75 basis points in the third quarter of fiscal 2005, largely as a result of the change in the Company’s long-term fund asset mix. As Class B shares have decreased as a percentage of total long-term fund assets under management, distribution and underwriter fees have decreased as a percentage of total revenue. Distribution and underwriter fees as a percentage of total revenue decreased to 16 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2006 from 18 percent a year ago. The impact of the decline in the Company’s effective fee rate was offset in part by a reduction in deferred sales commissions amortization expense, as deferred sales commissions paid on Class B share sales also declined with the change in asset mix.


 
         For the Three
Months Ended
July 31,
    
 
     For the Nine
Months Ended
July 31,
    
(in thousands)



   
2006
   
2005
   
%
Change
   
2006
   
2005
   
%
Change
Investment adviser and administration fees
                 $ 149,823           $ 127,768              17 %          $ 437,176           $ 368,047              19 %  
Distribution and underwriter fees
                    34,338              35,238              –3 %             104,605              104,107              0 %  
Service fees
                    31,235              26,637              17 %             89,238              77,253              16 %  
Other revenue
                    919               1,108              –17 %             3,118              5,629              –45 %  
Total revenue
                 $ 216,315           $ 190,751              13 %          $ 634,137           $ 555,036              14 %  
 

Investment adviser and administration fees
Investment adviser and administration fees are generally determined by contractual agreements with the Company’s sponsored funds and separate accounts and are based upon a percentage of the market value of assets under management. Net asset flows and changes in the market value of managed assets affect the amount of investment adviser and administration fees earned, while shifts in asset mix affect the Company’s effective fee rate.

The increase in investment adviser and administration fees of 17 percent and 19 percent in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2006, respectively, over the same periods a year ago can be attributed to an increase in average assets under management. Average assets under management increased by 16 percent in both the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2006 over the same periods a year ago.

Distribution and underwriter fees
Distribution plan payments, which are made under contractual agreements with the Company’s sponsored funds, are calculated as a percentage of average assets under management in specific share classes of the Company’s mutual funds (principally Class B and Class C), as well as certain private funds. These fees fluctuate with both the level of average assets under management and the relative mix of assets between share classes. Underwriter commissions are earned on the sale of shares of the Company’s sponsored mutual funds on which investors pay a sales charge at the time of purchase (Class A share sales). Sales charges and underwriter commissions are waived or reduced on sales that exceed specified minimum amounts and on fee-based accounts. Underwriter commissions fluctuate with both the level of Class A share sales and the mix of Class A shares offered with and without sales charges.

Distribution and underwriter fees decreased by 3 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2006 compared to the same period a year ago, primarily reflecting a decrease in Class B share assets under management offset by increases in average Class C share and private equity fund assets under management. Distribution and underwriter fees in the first nine months of fiscal 2006 were flat in comparison with the same period a year ago. As noted in the table “Average Assets Under Management by Asset Class,” average Class B share assets under

26




management declined by 12 percent year-over-year in the first nine months of fiscal 2006, as a result of lower net sales in the asset class. The decrease in average Class B share assets under management was in contrast to a 5 percent increase in average Class C share assets under management and an 11 percent increase in private fund assets under management.

Service fees
Service plan payments, which are made under contractual agreements with the Company’s sponsored funds, are calculated as a percent of average assets under management in specific share classes of the Company’s mutual funds (principally Classes A, B and C) as well as certain private funds. Service fees represent payments made by sponsored funds to the principal underwriter (Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Eaton Vance Management) for shareholder services.

Service fees increased by 17 percent and 16 percent in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2006, respectively, over the same periods a year ago, reflecting an increase in average Class A, B, C and private fund assets under management that are subject to service fees.

Other revenue
Other revenue, which consists primarily of shareholder service fees, realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments classified as trading and investment income earned by consolidated funds, declined by 17 percent and 45 percent in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2006, respectively, over the same periods a year ago. The decrease in other revenue in both the three and nine-month periods can be attributed primarily to a decrease in investment income related to Eaton Vance Short-Term Income Fund and Eaton Vance Short-Term Treasury Fund, which the Company stopped consolidating in April 2005 and April 2006, respectively. Other revenue for the nine-month period ended July 31, 2006 and 2005 includes $0.3 million and $2.0 million of investment income related to these funds for the period during which they were consolidated.

Expenses

Operating expenses increased by 14 percent and 15 percent in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2006, respectively, over the same period a year ago because of increases in compensation, service fees, distribution and other expenses.


 
         For the Three
Months Ended
July 31,
    
 
     For the Nine
Months Ended
July 31,
    
(in thousands)



   
2006
   
2005
   
%
Change
   
2006
   
2005
   
%
Change
Compensation of officers and employees
                 $ 61,989           $ 51,782              20 %          $ 181,926           $ 151,911              20 %  
Amortization of deferred sales commissions
                    12,119              15,694              –23 %             39,168              50,641              –23 %  
Service fee expense
                    24,063              22,087              9 %             69,896              63,853              9 %  
Distribution expense
                    30,601              25,775              19 %             84,705              71,888              18 %  
Other expenses
                    19,658              14,610              35 %             65,861              45,642              44 %  
Total expenses
                 $ 148,430           $ 129,948              14 %          $ 441,556           $ 383,935              15 %  
 

27



Compensation of officers and employees
Compensation expense increased by 20 percent in both the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2006 over the same periods a year ago. The increase in compensation expense in both periods can be attributed to a 15 percent increase in headcount, higher operating income-based employee bonus accruals and higher stock-based compensation costs. The 15 percent increase in headcount from July 31, 2005 to July 31, 2006 reflects additions to the Company’s investment management, marketing and operational teams to support its significant growth in assets under management as well as the build-out of its institutional sales team.

The Company’s adoption of SFAS No. 123R resulted in the recognition of $28.8 million of stock-based compensation expense in the first nine months of fiscal 2006 ($21.0 million after tax or $0.15 per diluted share) compared to $21.7 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2005 ($16.6 million after tax or $0.12 per diluted share). Approximately $4.0 million of the total $7.0 million year-over-year increase in stock-based compensation expense can be attributed to the acceleration in the recognition of stock-based compensation for retirement-eligible employees under SFAS No. 123R.

The Company’s current retirement policy provides that an employee is eligible for retirement at age 65 and for early retirement with the Company’s consent when the employee reaches age 55 with a combined age and years of service equal to at least 75. Because many of the Company’s outstanding stock options allow for accelerated vesting of options upon retirement, the adoption of SFAS 123R resulted in the immediate recognition of compensation expense at grant date for all awards granted to retirement-eligible employees subsequent to the implementation of SFAS 123R on November 1, 2005. For awards granted to employees approaching retirement eligibility, the adoption of SFAS 123R resulted in compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the period from the grant date through the retirement eligibility date. Stock-based compensation expense for employees who are not retirement eligible is recognized on a straight-line basis over the service or vesting period of the option (generally five years). Prior to the implementation of SFAS No. 123R, and consistent with SFAS 123, it had been the Company’s policy to recognize all stock-based compensation expense, regardless of employee retirement eligibility, over the vesting period without regard to retirement eligibility.

The accelerated recognition of compensation cost for employees who are retirement-eligible or are nearing retirement eligibility under the Company’s existing retirement policy is applicable for all grants made on or after the Company’s adoption of SFAS No. 123R (November 1, 2005). The Company anticipates that stock-based compensation expense recognized in the remaining quarter of fiscal 2006 will be consistent with that recognized in the third quarter of fiscal 2006 due to the accelerated recognition in the first fiscal quarter of 2006 of compensation cost associated with stock option grants made to retirement-eligible employees in November 2005. The accelerated recognition of compensation expense associated with stock option grants to retirement eligible employees in the first quarter of a fiscal year will reduce stock-based compensation expense recognized in subsequent quarters.

Amortization of deferred sales commissions
Amortization of deferred sales commissions decreased by 23 percent in both the three and nine month periods ending July 31, 2006 over the same periods a year ago. Amortization expense is affected by ongoing sales and redemptions of mutual fund Class B shares, Class C shares and certain private funds. In the first nine months of fiscal 2006, increases in Class C share and private fund net sales were more than offset by a decrease in Class B net share sales. As amortization expense is a function of the Company’s product mix, a continuing shift away from fund Class B share sales and assets to other share classes over time will most likely result in further reductions in amortization expense.

Service fees expense
Service fees the Company receives from sponsored funds are generally retained by the Company in the first year and paid to broker/dealers after the first year pursuant to third-party service arrangements. These fees are calculated as a percent of average assets under management in specific share classes of the Company’s mutual

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funds (principally Classes A, B and C) as well as certain private funds. Service fee expense increased by 9 percent in both the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2006 over the same periods a year ago, reflecting increases in average long-term fund assets retained more than one year in funds and share classes that are subject to service fees.

Distribution expense
Distribution expense consists primarily of payments made to distribution partners pursuant to third-party distribution arrangements (calculated as a percentage of average Class C share and closed-end fund assets under management), commissions paid to broker/dealers on the sale of mutual fund Class A shares at net asset value and other marketing expenses, including marketing expenses associated with revenue sharing arrangements with the Company’s distribution partners. Distribution expense increased by 19 percent and 18 percent in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2006, respectively, over the same periods a year ago, largely as a result of increases in closed-end fund assets and other assets subject to third-party distribution fees and revenue-sharing payments.

Other expenses
Other expenses consist primarily of travel, facilities, information technology, consulting, fund expenses, communications and other corporate expenses, including the amortization of intangible assets.

Other expenses increased by 35 percent and 44 percent in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2006, respectively, over the same periods a year ago, primarily reflecting increases in the amortization of intangible assets, fund-related expenses, facilities expenses, information technology expenses and compliance costs.

In the second quarter of fiscal 2006, the Company accelerated non-cash amortization by $8.9 million or $0.04 per diluted share to write off intangible assets relating to the termination of certain institutional and high-net-worth asset management contracts at the Company’s Fox Asset Management subsidiary. These contracts were identified and accounted for as intangible assets at the time of the Fox Asset Management acquisition in September 2001. The Company periodically reviews identifiable intangibles for impairment as events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. The write-off was computed by comparing the net present value of projected future client cash flows to the carrying value of the intangible asset at April 30, 2006. Assets under management at Fox Asset Management have remained relatively stable despite the attrition of the original contracts acquired as these contracts have been replaced over time by similar asset management contracts.

Other Income and Expense


 
         For the Three
Months Ended
July 31,
    
 
     For the Nine
Months Ended
July 31,
    
(in thousands)



   
2006
   
2005
   
%
Change
   
2006
   
2005
   
%
Change
Interest income
                 $ 2,197           $ 1,030              113%           $ 5,938           $ 2,796              112%   
Interest expense
                    (655 )             (367 )             78%              (1,380 )             (1,099 )             26%   
Gain on investments
                    41               187               -78%              3,589              274               NM    
Foreign currency gain (loss)
                    (55 )             (51 )             8%              (182 )             (26 )             NM    
Impairment loss on investments
                                                NM               (592 )             (1,840 )             NM    
Total other income (expense)
                 $ 1,528           $ 799               91%           $ 7,373           $ 105               NM    
 

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Interest income increased by 113 percent and 112 percent in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2006, respectively, over the same period a year ago, primarily due to an increase in short-term interest rates.

Interest income earned on investments classified as available-for-sale is included in interest income. Interest and dividend income earned by funds consolidated in prior periods is recorded in other revenue.

Interest expense increased by 78 percent and 26 percent in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2006, respectively, over the same periods a year ago, reflecting interest expense recognized in the third quarter of fiscal 2006 associated with the Company’s investment in a private equity partnership.

The Company recognized impairment losses of $0.6 million and $1.8 million in the nine months ended July 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, related to its investments in collateralized debt obligation entities. The impairment losses resulted from the effect of tightening credit spreads and higher than forecasted prepayment rates on the underlying collateral pools and, therefore, the Company’s investment. The Company continues to earn a management fee on the underlying collateral pools.

The Company realized gains of $2.2 million upon the disposition of certain investments in sponsored funds and $1.4 million on liquidation of an investment in a collateralized debt obligation entity for the nine months ended July 31, 2006.

Income Taxes

The Company’s effective tax rate (income taxes as a percentage of income before income taxes, minority interest, equity in net income of affiliates, and the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle) was 39 percent in both the first nine months of fiscal 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Minority Interest

Minority interest decreased by 10 percent and increased by 3 percent in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2006, respectively, over the same periods last year.

Minority interest is not adjusted for taxes due to the underlying tax status of the Company’s majority-owned subsidiaries. Atlanta Capital, Fox Asset Management and Parametric Portfolio Associates are limited liability companies that are treated as partnerships for tax purposes. The short-term income funds previously consolidated by the Company are registered investment companies that are treated as pass-through entities for tax purposes.

Equity in Net Income of Affiliates, Net of Tax

Equity in net income of affiliates at July 31, 2006 reflects the Company’s 20 percent minority equity interest in Lloyd George Management. In addition, the Company’s has a 30 percent minority equity interest in the Eaton Vance Short-Term Income Fund and a 22 percent minority equity interest in the Eaton Vance Equity Research Fund.

Equity in net income of affiliates, net of tax, decreased to $0.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2006 from $0.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2005.

Equity in net income of affiliates, net of tax, increased to $2.8 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2006 from $0.5 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2005 primarily due to the significant increase in the Company’s investments in sponsored funds accounted for under the equity method and the increase in the profitability of Lloyd George Management. In addition, calendar year-end bonuses paid by Lloyd George Management

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in December 2005 were accrued throughout the calendar year, whereas calendar year-end bonuses were paid and expensed in their entirety in December 2004.

Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle, Net of Tax

In December 2004, the FASB revised SFAS No. 123 requiring public companies to recognize the cost resulting from all share-based payment transactions in their financial statements based on the grant-date fair value of those awards. The Company elected to apply the modified version of retrospective application for periods prior to the required effective date and adjusted results on a basis consistent with the pro forma disclosures previously made under SFAS No. 123. The Company implemented the revised statement effective November 1, 2005.

In its calculations of stock option expense for the purposes of pro forma disclosure in previous filings, the Company chose to recognize forfeitures when they occurred rather than estimate them at grant date. Upon implementation, the Company was required to recognize the difference between actual forfeitures of awards granted prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 123R and the calculation of expected forfeitures for these awards as an adjustment to compensation cost. The cumulative effect of this adjustment, net of tax, was $0.6 million.

Changes in Financial Condition and Liquidity and Capital Resources

The following table summarizes certain key financial data relating to the Company’s liquidity and capital resources on July 31, 2006 and October 31, 2005 and for the nine-month periods ended July 31, 2006 and 2005:

(in thousands)



   
July 31,
2006
   
October 31,
2005
   
% Change
Balance sheet data:
                                                                 
Cash and cash equivalents
                 $ 165,771           $ 146,389              13%   
Short-term investments
                    129,926              127,858              2%   
Long-term investments
                    61,552              61,766              0%   
Deferred sales commissions
                    114,825              126,113              –9%   
 
                                                                     
Current portion of long-term debt
                    76,316                            NM    
Long-term debt
                                  75,467              NM    
Deferred income taxes
                    26,168              29,804              –12%   
 

 
         For the Nine month Ended
July 31,
    
(in thousands)



   
2006
   
2005
   
% Change
Cash flow data:
                                                                 
Operating cash flows
                 $ 84,665           $ 33,289              154 %  
Investing cash flows
                    (11,304 )             (17,676 )             36 %  
Financing cash flows
                    (54,062 )             (37,189 )             –45 %  
 

The Company’s financial condition is highly liquid, with a significant percentage of the Company’s assets represented by cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. Short-term investments consist principally of investments in the Company’s sponsored money market and short-term income funds. Long-term investments consist principally of investments in certain of the Company’s sponsored mutual funds, affiliates and minority equity investments in collateralized debt obligation entities.

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Deferred sales commissions paid to broker/dealers in connection with the distribution of the Company’s Class B and Class C fund shares, as well as certain private funds, decreased by 9 percent in the first nine months of fiscal 2006, primarily reflecting the ongoing decline in Class B share sales and assets. Deferred income taxes, which relate principally to the deferred tax liability for deferred sales commissions offset by the deferred tax benefit for the stock-based compensation, decreased by 12 percent in the first nine months of fiscal 2006. The decrease in deferred income taxes relates to the continuing decrease in deferred sales commissions and an increase in the tax benefit derived from stock-based compensation. Upon adoption of SFAS 123R in the first quarter of fiscal 2006, the Company established a deferred tax asset of $21.3 million.

The following table details the Company’s future contractual obligations under its operating lease arrangements:

Contractual Obligations

Payments due
(in millions)

   
Total
   
Less than 1
Year
   
1–3
Years
   
4–5
Years
   
After 5
Years
Operating leases — facilities and equipment
       $ 205.1           $ 9.3           $ 19.7           $ 12.9           $ 163.2   
Investment in private equity
partnership
       $ 15.0           $ 4.7           $ 10.3           $            $    
 

On July 31, 2006, the Company committed to invest $15.0 million in a private equity partnership that invests in companies in the financial services industry. In August 2006, the Company invested $4.7 million of the total $15.0 million.

Excluded from the table above are future payments to be made by the Company to purchase the minority interests retained by minority investors in Atlanta Capital, Fox Asset Management and Parametric Portfolio Associates. The Company’s acquisition agreements provide the minority shareholders the right to require the Company to purchase these retained interests at specific intervals over time. These agreements also provide the Company with the right to require the minority shareholders to sell their retained equity interests to the Company at specific intervals over time, as well as upon certain events such as death and permanent disability. These purchases and/or sales will occur at varying times at varying amounts over the next 10 years and will generally be based upon a multiple of earnings before interest and taxes, a measure which is intended to represent fair market value. The timing and amounts of these purchases cannot be predicted with certainty. However, the Company anticipates that the purchase of the remaining minority interests in its majority-owned subsidiaries may be a significant use of cash in future years.

In the third quarter of fiscal 2006, the Company exercised a call option and purchased an additional 2 percent interest in Parametric Portfolio Associates from minority interest holders for $4.0 million, increasing the Company’s capital ownership interest from 80 percent to 82 percent. In addition, the Company purchased an additional 7 percent interest in Atlanta Capital from minority interest holders for $7.2 million upon exercise of a minority investor put option in the third quarter of fiscal 2006, increasing the Company’s ownership interest from 70 percent to 77 percent. The additional purchase price in each case was allocated between intangible assets and goodwill based on independent valuations obtained in the third quarter. The remainder of the purchase price was allocated to minority interest.

Also excluded from the table above are EVM’s zero-coupon exchangeable senior notes (“Notes”). On August 13, 2001, EVM issued 314,000 Notes due August 13, 2031 in a private placement to qualified institutional buyers at an initial offering price of $638.70 per $1,000 principal amount at maturity. The discounted price reflects a yield to maturity of 1.5 percent per year.

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On July 28, 2006, EVM announced its intention to redeem for cash all of its outstanding Notes ($110,945,000 principal amount at maturity with an accreted value on redemption date of $76.4 million). Upon receipt of EVM’s notice of its intent to redeem, holders of the Notes had the option to exchange the Notes into Eaton Vance Corp. non-voting common stock at a rate of 28.7314 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount at maturity until the close of business on August 10, 2006. As of the close of business on August 10, 2006, $110,939,000 principal amount at maturity of the Notes were tendered for exchange into the Company’s non-voting common stock. EVM elected to pay the holders cash in lieu of delivering stock as provided for in the indenture governing the Notes. As a result, EVM paid $86.2 million to holders who presented their Notes for exchange. In addition to those Notes exchanged, $6,000 principal amount at maturity of the Notes were redeemed for cash in the aggregate amount of $4,130.

The redemption of the Notes resulted in the elimination of all of the Company’s long-term debt and will reduce its diluted shares outstanding by 3.2 million shares in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006. The $9.8 million premium value of the shares in excess of the accreted value of the Notes paid in cash to Note holders will be recorded as interest expense in the Company’s fiscal fourth quarter income statement, in addition to the write-off of $1.5 million of related debt issuance costs.

The Company maintains a revolving credit facility with several banks, which expires on December 21, 2009. It provides that the Company may borrow up to $180 million at LIBOR-based rates of interest that vary depending on the level of usage of the facility and credit ratings of the Notes. The agreement contains financial covenants with respect to leverage and interest coverage and requires the Company to pay an annual commitment fee on any unused portion. On July 31, 2006, the Company had no outstanding borrowings under its revolving credit facility.

Operating Cash Flows

Operating cash flows consist primarily of the operating results of the Company adjusted to reflect changes in current assets and liabilities, deferred sales commissions, stock-based compensation, deferred income taxes and investments classified as trading. Cash provided by operating activities totaled $84.7 million and $33.3 million in the nine months ended July 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The increase in cash provided by operating activities in the first nine months of fiscal 2006 compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2005 can be attributed primarily to an increase in net income and a change in the timing of advisory, administration, distribution and service fee payments made by the custodian of the Company’s funds in the quarter ended July 31, 2005. Prior to July 31, 2005, the custodian made all fee payments on the last business day of the month. Effective July 31, 2005, the custodian pays all fees on the third business day of the following month. As a result, investment adviser fees and other receivables increased at July 31, 2005 and cash and cash equivalents decreased in comparison with the Company’s balance sheet at October 31, 2004.

Capitalized sales commissions paid to financial intermediaries for the distribution of the Company’s Class B and Class C fund shares and certain private funds increased by $3.6 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2006 compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2005. Although the Company anticipates that the payment of capitalized sales commissions to be a significant overall use of cash in the future, the payment of sales commissions will likely continue to decline if sales of Class B shares continue to decline. The amortization of deferred sales commissions and contingent deferred sales charges received will likely be similarly affected if sales of Class B shares decline.

Investing Cash Flows

Investing activities consist primarily of the purchase of equipment and leasehold improvements and the purchase and sale of investments by Company-sponsored mutual funds that the Company does not consolidate. Cash used for investing activities totaled $11.3 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2006 compared to

33



$17.7 million used for investing activities in the first nine months of fiscal 2005. The decrease in cash used for investing activities in the first nine months of fiscal 2006 reflects proceeds of $25.5 million received from the sale of certain available-for-sale investments, offset by the purchase of an additional 2 percent interest in Parametric Portfolio Associates and an additional 7 percent interest in Atlanta Capital for a total of $11.3 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2006.

Financing Cash Flows

Financing cash flows primarily reflect the issuance and repayment of long-term debt, the issuance and repurchase of the Company’s non-voting common stock and the payment of dividends to the Company’s shareholders. Financing cash flows also include proceeds from the issuance of capital stock by the Company’s consolidated mutual fund subsidiaries (which were deconsolidated in April, 2005 and April, 2006) and cash paid to meet redemptions by minority shareholders of these mutual fund subsidiaries. Cash used for financing activities totaled $54.1 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2006 compared to $37.2 million used for financing activities in the first nine months of fiscal 2005. Cash used for financing activities in the nine months ended July 31, 2006 reflects net proceeds of $79.3 million from the issuance of the Company’s mutual fund subsidiaries’ capital stock compared to net proceeds of $84.6 for the nine months ended July 31, 2005. As of July 31, 2006, the Company no longer consolidates any of its sponsored mutual funds.

In the first nine months of fiscal 2006, the Company repurchased and retired a total of 4.2 million shares of its non-voting common stock for $113.0 million under its authorized repurchase program and issued 1.6 million shares of non-voting common stock in connection with the exercise of stock options and employee stock purchases for total proceeds of $20.2 million. The Company has authorization to purchase an additional 7.9 million shares under its present share repurchase authorization and anticipates that share repurchases will continue to be a significant use of cash. The Company’s dividends per share were $0.30 in the first nine months of fiscal 2006 compared to $0.24 in the first nine months of fiscal 2005.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company does not invest in any off-balance sheet vehicles that provide financing, liquidity, market or credit risk support or engage in any leasing activities that expose the Company to liabilities that are not reflected in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Critical Accounting Policies

Management believes the following critical accounting policies, among others, affect its more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements.

Deferred Sales Commissions

Sales commissions paid by the Company to broker/dealers in connection with the sale of certain classes of shares of open-end funds, bank loan interval funds and private funds are generally capitalized and amortized over the period during which the shareholder is subject to a contingent deferred sales charge, which does not exceed six years. Distribution plan payments received by the Company from these funds are recorded in revenue as earned. Contingent deferred sales charges and early withdrawal charges received by the Company from redeeming shareholders of open-end and bank loan interval funds reduce unamortized deferred sales commissions. Should the Company lose its ability to recover such sales commissions through distribution plan payments and contingent deferred sales charges, the value of these assets would immediately decline, as would future cash flows. The Company periodically reviews the recoverability of deferred sales commission assets as events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of deferred sales commission assets may not be recoverable and adjusts the deferred sales commission assets accordingly.

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Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of the Company’s investment in the net assets of acquired companies over the fair value of the underlying identifiable net assets at the dates of acquisition. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested at least annually for impairment by comparing the fair values of the companies acquired to their carrying amounts, including goodwill. Identifiable intangible assets generally represent the cost of client relationships and management contracts acquired. The Company periodically reviews identifiable intangibles for impairment as events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. If the carrying amounts of the companies exceed their respective fair values, additional impairment tests will be performed to measure the amount of the impairment loss, if any.

Deferred Income Taxes

Deferred income taxes reflect the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and tax bases of the Company’s assets and liabilities. The Company’s deferred taxes relate principally to stock-based compensation expense and capitalized sales commissions paid to broker/dealers. As noted in previous filings, IRS regulations issued in 2004 provide that commission payments made after November 1, 2003, are deductible for tax purposes at the time of payment. While the Company has considered future taxable income and ongoing tax planning in assessing its taxes, changes in tax laws may result in a change to the Company’s tax position and effective tax rate.

Investments in Collateralized Debt Obligation Entities

The Company acts as collateral manager for five collateralized debt obligation entities and Eaton Vance Variable Leveraged Fund (collectively the “CDO entities”) pursuant to collateral management agreements between the Company and each CDO entity. At July 31, 2006, combined assets under management in the collateral pools of these CDO entities were approximately $2.6 billion. The Company had combined minority equity investments of $9.2 million in three of these entities on July 31, 2006.

The Company accounts for its investments in CDO entities under Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) 99-20, “Recognition of Interest Income and Impairment on Purchased and Retained Beneficial Interests in Securitized Financial Assets.” The excess of future cash flows over the initial investment at the date of purchase is recognized as interest income over the life of the investment using the effective yield method. The Company reviews cash flow estimates throughout the life of each CDO investment pool to determine whether an impairment of its equity investments should be recognized. Cash flow estimates are based on the underlying pool of collateral securities and take into account the overall credit quality of the issuers of the collateral securities, the forecasted default rate of the collateral securities and the Company’s past experience in managing similar securities. If the updated estimate of future cash flows (taking into account both timing and amounts) is less than the last revised estimate, an impairment loss is recognized based on the excess of the carrying amount of the investment over its fair value. Fair value is determined using current information, notably market yields and projected cash flows based on forecasted default and recovery rates that a market participant would use in determining the current fair value of the equity interest. Market yields, default rates and recovery rates used in the Company’s estimate of fair value vary based on the nature of the investments in the underlying collateral pools. In periods of rising credit default rates and lower debt recovery rates, the fair value, and therefore carrying value, of the Company’s investments in these CDO entities may be adversely affected. The Company’s risk of loss in the CDO entities is limited to the $9.2 million carrying value of the minority equity investments on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet at July 31, 2006.

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A CDO entity issues non-recourse debt securities, which are sold in a private offering by an underwriter to institutional and high-net-worth investors. The CDO debt securities issued by the CDO entity are secured by collateral in the form of high-yield bonds and/or floating-rate income instruments that the CDO entity purchases. The Company manages the collateral securities for a fee and, in most cases, is a minority investor in the equity interests of the CDO entity. An equity interest in a CDO entity is subordinated to all other interests in the CDO entity and entitles the investor to receive the residual cash flows, if any, from the CDO entity. As a result, the Company’s equity investment in a CDO entity is sensitive to changes in the credit quality of the issuers of the collateral securities, including changes in the forecasted default rates and any declines in anticipated recovery rates. The Company’s financial exposure to the CDOs it manages is limited to its equity interests in the CDO entities as reflected in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation expense in accordance with SFAS No. 123R. Under SFAS No. 123R, stock-based compensation expense reflects the fair value of stock-based awards measured at grant date, is recognized over the relevant service period, and is adjusted each period for anticipated forfeitures. The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model. The Black-Scholes option valuation model incorporates assumptions as to dividend yield, volatility, an appropriate risk-free interest rate and the expected life of the option. Many of these assumptions require management’s judgment. Management must also apply judgment in developing an expectation of awards that may be forfeited. If actual experience differs significantly from these estimates, stock-based compensation expense and the Company’s results of operations could be materially affected.

Loss Contingencies

The Company continuously reviews any investor, employee or vendor complaints and pending or threatened litigation. The likelihood that a loss contingency exists is evaluated under the criteria of SFAS No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies,” through consultation with legal counsel and a loss contingency is recorded if the contingency is probable and reasonably estimable at the date of the financial statements. There are no losses of this nature that are probable and reasonably estimable, and thus none have been recorded in the financial statements included in this report.

Accounting Developments

In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes — an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (FIN 48). FIN 48 clarifies certain aspects of accounting for uncertain tax positions, including issues related to the recognition and measurement of those tax positions. The provisions of FIN 48 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. Management is currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of this interpretation.

In June 2005, the FASB ratified the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) consensus on EITF Issue No. 04-05, “Determining Whether a General Partner, or the General Partners as a Group, Controls a Limited Partnership or Similar Entity When the Limited Partners Have Certain Rights.” The Task Force reached a consensus that for general partners of all new limited partnerships formed and for existing limited partnerships for which the partnership agreements are modified, the guidance is effective after June 29, 2005. The Task Force also reached a consensus that for general partners in all other limited partnerships, the guidance is effective no later than the beginning of the first reporting period in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005. The adoption of the consensus did not have a material effect on the consolidated results of operations or the consolidated financial position of the Company.

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Item 3.  
  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The Company is routinely subjected to different types of risk, including market risk. Market risk is the risk that the Company will incur losses due to adverse changes in equity prices, interest rates, credit risk, or currency exchange rates.

The Company’s primary exposure to equity price risk arises from its investments in sponsored equity funds. Equity price risk as it relates to these investments represents the potential future loss of value that would result from a decline in the fair values of the fund shares. The Company’s investments in sponsored equity funds totaled $28.2 million at July 31, 2006, and are carried at fair value on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The Company’s primary exposure to interest rate risk arises from its investment in fixed-and floating-rate income funds sponsored by the Company and short-term debt securities. The negative effect on the Company’s pre-tax interest income of a 50 basis point decline in interest rates would be approximately $0.8 million based on fixed-income and floating-rate income investments of $165.2 million as of July 31, 2006. A 50 basis point decline in interest rates is a hypothetical scenario used to demonstrate potential risk and does not represent management’s view of future market changes. The Company is not exposed to interest rate risk in its debt instruments as all of the Company’s funded debt instruments carry fixed interest rates.

The Company’s primary exposure to credit risk arises from its minority equity interests in three CDO entities that are included in long-term investments in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. As a minority equity investor in a CDO entity, the Company is only entitled to a residual interest in the CDO entity, making these investments sensitive to the default rates of the underlying issuers of the high-yield bonds or floating-rate income instruments held by the CDO entity. The Company’s minority equity investments are subject to an impairment loss in the event that the cash flows generated by the collateral securities are not sufficient to allow equity holders to recover their investments. If there is deterioration in the credit quality of the issuers underlying the collateral securities and a corresponding increase in the number of defaults, cash flows generated by the collateral securities may be adversely impacted and the Company may be unable to recover its investment. The Company’s total investment in minority equity interests in CDO entities is approximately $9.2 million at July 31, 2006, which represents the total value at risk with respect to such entities as of July 31, 2006.

The Company does not enter into foreign currency transactions for speculative purposes and currently has no material investments that would expose it to foreign currency exchange risk.

In evaluating market risk, it is also important to note that most of the Company’s revenue is based on the market value of assets under management. As noted in “Risk Factors” in Part 2, Item 1A, declines of financial market values will negatively impact revenue and net income.

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Item 4.  
  Controls and Procedures

As of July 31, 2006, the Company evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures. Disclosure controls and procedures are the controls and other procedures that the Company designed to ensure that it records, processes, summarizes and reports in a timely manner the information it must disclose in reports that it files with or submits to the SEC. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer participated in this evaluation. Based on this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of the date of their evaluation, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s third fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Report of Management on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

The management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over the Company’s financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is the process designed and affected by the Company’s board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the Company’s financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

There are inherent limitations in the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility that misstatements may not be prevented or detected. Accordingly, even effective internal controls over financial reporting can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation. Furthermore, the effectiveness of internal controls can change with circumstances.

Management has evaluated the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of July 31, 2006 in relation to criteria described in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on management’s assessment, management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of July 31, 2006.

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Part II — Other Information

Item 1.  
  Legal Proceedings

There have been no material developments in litigation previously reported in the Company’s SEC filings.

Item 1A.  
  Risk Factors

The Company is subject to substantial competition in all aspects of its business. The Company’s ability to market investment products is highly dependent on access to the various distribution systems of national and regional securities dealer firms, which generally offer competing internally and externally managed investment products. Although the Company has historically been successful in maintaining access to these channels, there can be no assurance that it will continue to do so. The inability to have such access could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business.

There are few barriers to entry in the investment management business. The Company’s funds and separate accounts compete against an ever-increasing number of investment products and services sold to the public by investment dealers, banks, insurance companies and others. Many institutions competing with the Company have greater resources than the Company. The Company competes with other providers of investment products on the basis of the products offered, the investment performance of such products, quality of service, fees charged, the level and type of financial intermediary compensation, the manner in which such products are marketed and distributed, and the services provided to investors.

The Company derives almost all of its revenue from investment adviser and administration fees and distribution income received from the Eaton Vance funds, other pooled investment vehicles and separate accounts. As a result, the Company is dependent upon management contracts, administration contracts, underwriting contracts or service contracts under which these fees and income are paid. If any of these contracts are terminated, not renewed, or amended to reduce fees, the Company’s financial results may be adversely affected.

The Company’s assets under management, which impact revenue, are subject to significant fluctuations. The major sources of revenue for the Company (i.e., investment adviser, administration, distribution, and service fees) are calculated as percentages of assets under management. A decline in securities prices or in the sale of investment products or an increase in fund redemptions generally would reduce fee income. Financial market declines or adverse changes in interest rates would generally negatively impact the level of the Company’s assets under management and consequently its revenue and net income. A recession or other economic or political events could also adversely impact the Company’s revenue if it led to a decreased demand for products, a higher redemption rate, or a decline in securities prices. Like other businesses, the Company’s actual results could be affected by the loss of key employees through competition or retirement. The Company’s operations and actual results could also be affected by increased expenses due to such factors as greater competition for personnel, higher costs for distribution of mutual funds and other investment products, costs for insurance and other services by outside providers, or by the disruption of services such as power, communications, information technology, fund transfer agency or fund administration.

The Company’s business is subject to substantial governmental regulation. Changes in legal, regulatory, accounting, tax and compliance requirements could have a significant effect on the Company’s operations and results, including but not limited to increased expenses and reduced investor interest in certain funds and other investment products offered by the Company. The Company continually monitors legislative, tax, regulatory, accounting, and compliance developments that could impact its business.

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Item 2.  
  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

The following table sets forth information regarding the Company’s purchases of its non-voting common stock on a monthly basis during the third quarter of fiscal 2006:

Issuer Repurchases of Equity Securities

Period


   
(a) Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased
   
(b) Average
price paid
per share
   
(c) Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased of
Publicly
Announced
Plans or
Programs1
   
(d) Maximum
Number of
Shares that
May Yet Be
Purchased
under the
Plans or
Programs
May 1, 2006 through
May 31, 2006
                    420,000           $ 27.23              420,000              2,089,546
June 1, 2006 through
June 30, 2006
                    747,166           $ 25.44              747,166              1,342,380
July 1, 2006 through
July 31, 2006
                    246,455           $ 24.86              246,455              7,933,545
Total
                    1,413,621           $ 25.87              1,413,621              7,933,545
 

1 The Company’s current share repurchase authorization was announced on July 12, 2006 replacing the April 14, 2005 program. The Board authorized management to repurchase 8.0 million shares of its non-voting common stock in the open market and in private transactions in accordance with applicable securities laws. The Company’s stock repurchase plan is not subject to an expiration date.

Item 4.  
  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

No items were submitted to a vote in the third quarter of fiscal 2006.

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Item 6.  
  Exhibits

(a)  
  Exhibits

Exhibit No.
         Description
31.1               
Certification of Chief Executive Officer
31.2               
Certification of Chief Financial Officer
32.1               
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2               
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
(b)  
  Reports on Form 8-K

The Company filed a Form 8-K with the SEC on May 24, 2006, regarding the Company’s press release of its results of operations for the quarter ended April 30, 2006.

The Company filed a Form 8-K with the SEC on July 14, 2006 regarding the Company’s press release of preliminary assets under management at June 30, 2006.

The Company filed a Form 8-K with the SEC on July 28, 2006, regarding the Company’s press release announcing details of redemption of Liquid Yield Option Notes due 2031.

The Company filed a Form 8-K with the SEC on August 18, 2006, regarding the Company’s press release announcing completion of redemption of Liquid Yield Option Notes due 2031.

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Signatures

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

  EATON VANCE CORP
(Registrant)
 
 
DATE: September 7, 2006 /s/ Laurie G. Hylton
 
  (Signature)
Laurie G. Hylton
Chief Accounting Officer
 
 
DATE: September 7, 2006 /s/ William M. Steul
 
  (Signature)
William M. Steul
Chief Financial Officer
 

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