Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form N-CSR

 

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act File Number: 811-21519

 

 

Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

 

Maureen A. Gemma

Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110

(Name and Address of Agent for Services)

 

 

(617) 482-8260

(Registrant’s Telephone Number)

October 31

Date of Fiscal Year End

October 31, 2018

Date of Reporting Period

 

 

 


Item 1. Reports to Stockholders


LOGO

 

 

Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund (ETO)

Annual Report

October 31, 2018

 

 

 

 

LOGO


 

Commodity Futures Trading Commission Registration. Effective December 31, 2012, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) adopted certain regulatory changes that subject registered investment companies and advisers to regulation by the CFTC if a fund invests more than a prescribed level of its assets in certain CFTC-regulated instruments (including futures, certain options and swap agreements) or markets itself as providing investment exposure to such instruments. The Fund has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act. Accordingly, neither the Fund nor the adviser with respect to the operation of the Fund is subject to CFTC regulation. Because of its management of other strategies, the Fund’s adviser is registered with the CFTC as a commodity pool operator and a commodity trading advisor.

Managed Distribution Plan. Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (Order), the Fund is authorized to distribute long-term capital gains to shareholders more frequently than once per year. Pursuant to the Order, the Fund’s Board of Trustees approved a Managed Distribution Plan (MDP) pursuant to which the Fund makes monthly cash distributions to common shareholders, stated in terms of a fixed amount per common share.

The Fund currently distributes monthly cash distributions equal to $0.1800 per share in accordance with the MDP. You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount of these distributions or from the terms of the MDP. The MDP will be subject to regular periodic review by the Fund’s Board of Trustees and the Board may amend or terminate the MDP at any time without prior notice to Fund shareholders. However, at this time there are no reasonably foreseeable circumstances that might cause the termination of the MDP.

The Fund may distribute more than its net investment income and net realized capital gains and, therefore, a distribution may include a return of capital. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund’s investment performance and should not be confused with “yield” or “income.” With each distribution, the Fund will issue a notice to shareholders and a press release containing information about the amount and sources of the distribution and other related information. The amounts and sources of distributions contained in the notice and press release are only estimates and are not provided for tax purposes. The amounts and sources of the Fund’s distributions for tax purposes will be reported to shareholders on Form 1099-DIV for each calendar year.

Fund shares are not insured by the FDIC and are not deposits or other obligations of, or guaranteed by, any depository institution. Shares are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of principal invested.


Annual Report October 31, 2018

Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

Table of Contents

 

Management’s Discussion of Fund Performance

     2  

Performance

     3  

Fund Profile

     4  

Endnotes and Additional Disclosures

     5  

Financial Statements

     6  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     22  

Federal Tax Information

     23  

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

     24  

Management and Organization

     26  

Important Notices

     29  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

October 31, 2018

 

Management’s Discussion of Fund Performance1

 

 

Economic and Market Conditions

Global stock indexes delivered mixed performances for the 12-month period ended October 31, 2018. While U.S. stocks advanced, many international markets lost ground during the period.

U.S. stocks opened the period on an upswing as investors cheered the passage of the Republican tax reform package in December 2017. Sharp cuts in corporate taxes — a key element of the bill — raised corporate-profit expectations. U.S. stocks also got a boost from positive U.S. economic data, including a national unemployment rate that fell to a 17-year low.

Early in the period, global stocks followed U.S. stocks sharply higher. European stocks got a boost from growing economies and rising corporate profits across the region. Key equity indexes in the Asia-Pacific region also rose despite tensions with North Korea. China’s stock market advanced behind an accelerating housing market, rising retail sales, and strong foreign trade.

U.S. stocks pulled back in February 2018 amid fears that rising rates would spur inflation and boost the appeal of fixed-income investments. After a brief rebound, stocks weakened in the spring of 2018, as investors confronted the prospect of a global trade war after President Trump imposed broad new tariffs. The tariffs drew retaliatory actions from impacted countries including China, Canada, and certain countries in the European Union.

European stocks pulled back even more sharply beginning January 2018 amid mounting global trade war concerns. In China, signs of a slowing economy compounded trade concerns, sending Chinese stocks into a prolonged slump that reached bear market territory in late June 2018.

U.S. stocks bounced back during the summer months, but international stocks continued to lag during this period. In the final month of the period, stock indexes worldwide plunged amid concerns of rising commodity prices from tariffs. In addition, slowing economies in Europe and China, along with uncertainty about the U.S. midterm elections and the potential impact of higher interest rates, helped drive international stocks into a sharp retreat.

For the 12-month period ended October 31, 2018, the MSCI World Index (the Index),2 a proxy for global equities, advanced 1.16%. In the U.S., the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average® rose 9.87%, while the broader U.S. equity market, as represented by the S&P 500® Index, gained 7.35%. Meanwhile, the MSCI EAFE Index, an Index of developed-market international equities, fell –6.85%, and the MSCI Emerging Markets Index fell –12.52% during the period.

Fund Performance

For the 12-month period ended October 31, 2018, Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund (the Fund) had a total return of –1.50% at net asset value

(NAV), underperforming the 1.16% return of the Fund’s primary benchmark, the Index. Although the Fund’s common stock allocation outperformed the Index during the period, the use of leverage6 and the Fund’s preferred security allocation detracted from relative performance versus the Index, causing the Fund as a whole to underperform the Index.

During the period, the Fund’s preferred security allocation (i.e., preferred stocks, exchange-traded funds investing primarily in preferred stocks, and corporate bonds and notes with preferred characteristics) underperformed both the Index and the overall preferred market, as measured by the ICE BofAML Fixed Rate Preferred Securities Index.

The Fund’s use of leverage had the effect of achieving additional exposure to the common and preferred markets, thus magnifying the Fund’s exposure to its underlying investments. During the period, leverage magnified the negative performance of the Fund’s preferred security and common stock allocations; this detracted from Fund performance versus the Index, which does not employ leverage.

Within the Fund’s common stock allocation, Fund performance versus the Index was hurt by stock selection and underweight positions, relative to the Index, in the consumer staples, information technology, and consumer discretionary sectors. Despite the Fund’s overall underweight position in consumer staples, an overweight position in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (Anheuser-Busch), the world’s largest beer company, detracted from relative performance. Anheuser-Busch declined on a slowdown in revenue in its emerging markets operations, which represented a significant portion of the company’s income. Debt from the 2016 acquisition of brewer SABMiller plc also weighed on Anheuser-Busch shares, as did a stock dividend cut in the final month of the period.

In contrast, stock selection in the real estate, utilities and materials sectors aided Fund performance versus the Index. An overweight position in American Tower Corp. (American Tower), a large global operator of mobile communications towers, contributed to Fund performance versus the Index in the real estate sector, as the company continued to deliver steady revenue growth. Inflation adjustments built into American Tower’s long-term contracts with mobile carriers contributed to the market’s confidence in the company’s ability to sustain inflation-adjusted growth.

In the utilities sector, the Fund initiated an overweight position in Michigan-based electric and gas utility CMS Energy Corp. (CMS) when the stock’s price declined during the period. CMS stock subsequently delivered strong performance as the company reported steady revenue and profit growth that met or exceeded analyst projections.

 

 

See Endnotes and Additional Disclosures in this report.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Returns are historical and are calculated by determining the percentage change in net asset value (NAV) or market price (as applicable) with all distributions reinvested and include management fees and other expenses. Fund performance at market price will differ from its results at NAV due to factors such as changing perceptions about the Fund, market conditions, fluctuations in supply and demand for Fund shares, or changes in Fund distributions. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance less than or equal to one year is cumulative. Performance is for the stated time period only; due to market volatility, current Fund performance may be lower or higher than the quoted return. For performance as of the most recent month-end, please refer to eatonvance.com.

 

  2  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

October 31, 2018

 

Performance2,3

 

Portfolio Managers Michael A. Allison, CFA and John H. Croft, CFA of Eaton Vance Management; Christopher M. Dyer, CFA of Eaton Vance Advisers International Ltd.

 

% Average Annual Total Returns    Inception Date      One Year      Five Years      Ten Years  

Fund at NAV

     04/30/2004        –1.50      7.33      11.71

Fund at Market Price

            –4.65        8.81        13.51  

MSCI World Index

            1.16      6.80      10.02

ICE BofAML Fixed Rate Preferred Securities Index

            –1.23        6.41        8.16  

Blended Index

            0.78        6.81        9.78  
           
% Premium/Discount to NAV4                                
              –2.21
           
Distributions5                                

Total Distributions per share for the period

            $ 2.160  

Distribution Rate at NAV

              9.74

Distribution Rate at Market Price

              9.96
           
% Total Leverage6                                

Borrowings

              26.12

 

 

See Endnotes and Additional Disclosures in this report.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Returns are historical and are calculated by determining the percentage change in net asset value (NAV) or market price (as applicable) with all distributions reinvested and include management fees and other expenses. Fund performance at market price will differ from its results at NAV due to factors such as changing perceptions about the Fund, market conditions, fluctuations in supply and demand for Fund shares, or changes in Fund distributions. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance less than or equal to one year is cumulative. Performance is for the stated time period only; due to market volatility, current Fund performance may be lower or higher than the quoted return. For performance as of the most recent month-end, please refer to eatonvance.com.

 

  3  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

October 31, 2018

 

Fund Profile

 

 

Common Stock Sector Allocation (% of total investments)

 

 

LOGO

Top 10 Holdings (% of total investments)7

 

 

Alphabet, Inc., Class C

     2.8

Amazon.com, Inc.

     2.1  

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

     2.0  

First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF

     1.8  

Microsoft Corp.

     1.6  

American Tower Corp.

     1.6  

NextEra Energy, Inc.

     1.5  

Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Class B

     1.5  

Johnson & Johnson

     1.5  

ASML Holding NV

     1.3  

Total

     17.7
 

 

Country Allocation (% of total investments)8

 

 

LOGO

    

 

 

See Endnotes and Additional Disclosures in this report.

 

  4  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

October 31, 2018

 

Endnotes and Additional Disclosures

 

 

1 

The views expressed in this report are those of the portfolio manager(s) and are current only through the date stated at the top of this page. These views are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions, and Eaton Vance and the Fund(s) disclaim any responsibility to update such views. These views may not be relied upon as investment advice and, because investment decisions are based on many factors, may not be relied upon as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any Eaton Vance fund. This commentary may contain statements that are not historical facts, referred to as “forward looking statements.” The Fund’s actual future results may differ significantly from those stated in any forward looking statement, depending on factors such as changes in securities or financial markets or general economic conditions, the volume of sales and purchases of Fund shares, the continuation of investment advisory, administrative and service contracts, and other risks discussed from time to time in the Fund’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

2 

MSCI World Index is an unmanaged index of equity securities in the developed markets. MSCI EAFE Index is an unmanaged index of equities in the developed markets, excluding the U.S. and Canada. MSCI Emerging Markets Index is an unmanaged index of emerging markets common stocks. MSCI indexes are net of foreign withholding taxes. Source: MSCI. MSCI data may not be reproduced or used for any other purpose. MSCI provides no warranties, has not prepared or approved this report, and has no liability hereunder. Dow Jones Industrial Average® is a price-weighted average of 30 blue-chip stocks that are generally the leaders in their industry. S&P 500® Index is an unmanaged index of large-cap stocks commonly used as a measure of U.S. stock market performance. ICE BofAML Fixed Rate Preferred Securities Index is an unmanaged index of fixed-rate, preferred securities issued in the U.S. ICE® BofAML® indices are not for redistribution or other uses; provided “as is”, without warranties, and with no liability. Eaton Vance has prepared this report and ICE Data Indices, LLC does not endorse it, or guarantee, review, or endorse Eaton Vance’s products. BofAML® is a licensed registered trademark of Bank of America Corporation in the United States and other countries. The Blended Index consists of 80% MSCI World Index and 20% ICE BofAML Fixed Rate Preferred Securities Index. Unless otherwise stated, index returns do not reflect the effect of any applicable sales charges, commissions, expenses, taxes or leverage, as applicable. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

 

3 

Performance results reflect the effects of leverage. Performance since inception for an index, if presented, is the performance since the Fund’s or oldest share class’ inception, as applicable.

4 

The shares of the Fund often trade at a discount or premium from their net asset value. The discount or premium of the Fund may vary over time and may be higher or lower than what is quoted in this report. For up-to-date premium/discount information, please refer to http://eatonvance.com/closedend.

 

5 

The Distribution Rate is based on the Fund’s last regular distribution per share in the period (annualized) divided by the Fund’s NAV or market price at the end of the period. The Fund’s distributions may be comprised of amounts characterized for federal income tax purposes as qualified and non-qualified ordinary dividends, capital gains and nondividend distributions, also known as return of capital. For additional information about nondividend distributions, please refer to Eaton Vance Closed-End Fund Distribution Notices (19a) posted on our website, eatonvance.com. The Fund will determine the federal income tax character of distributions paid to a shareholder after the end of the calendar year. This is reported on the IRS form 1099-DIV and provided to the shareholder shortly after each year-end. For information about the tax character of distributions made in prior calendar years, please refer to Performance-Tax Character of Distributions on the Fund’s webpage available at eatonvance.com. The Fund’s distributions are determined by the investment adviser based on its current assessment of the Fund’s long-term return potential. Fund distributions may be affected by numerous factors including changes in Fund performance, the cost of financing for leverage, portfolio holdings, realized and projected returns, and other factors. As portfolio and market conditions change, the rate of distributions paid by the Fund could change.

 

6 

Total leverage is shown as a percentage of the Fund’s aggregate net assets plus borrowings outstanding. The Fund employs leverage through borrowings. Use of leverage creates an opportunity for income, but creates risks including greater price volatility. The cost of borrowings rises and falls with changes in short-term interest rates. The Fund may be required to maintain prescribed asset coverage for its leverage and may be required to reduce its leverage at an inopportune time.

 

7 

Excludes cash and cash equivalents.

 

8 

The Fund may obtain exposure to certain market segments through investments in exchange-traded funds (ETFs). For purposes of the chart, the Fund’s investments in ETFs are included based on the portfolio composition of each ETF.

 

  

Fund profile subject to change due to active management.

 

 

  5  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

October 31, 2018

 

Portfolio of Investments

 

 

Common Stocks — 104.2%(1)

 

Security   Shares     Value  
Aerospace & Defense — 0.8%  

CAE, Inc.

    145,564     $ 2,567,508  
            $ 2,567,508  
Auto Components — 0.9%  

Continental AG

    19,069     $ 3,142,303  
            $ 3,142,303  
Banks — 9.6%  

Banco Santander SA

    499,299     $ 2,375,642  

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

    46,615       4,025,366  

Citigroup, Inc.

    24,237       1,586,554  

ING Groep NV

    204,291       2,416,965  

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

    83,694       9,124,320  

KeyCorp

    176,621       3,207,437  

Nordea Bank AB

    177,517       1,542,778  

Societe Generale SA

    62,647       2,296,497  

UniCredit SpA

    145,387       1,858,796  

Wells Fargo & Co.

    70,124       3,732,700  
            $ 32,167,055  
Beverages — 3.7%  

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV

    32,320     $ 2,390,430  

Coca-Cola Co. (The)

    36,985       1,770,842  

Constellation Brands, Inc., Class A

    22,085       4,399,994  

Diageo PLC

    109,613       3,789,488  
            $ 12,350,754  
Building Products — 1.2%  

Assa Abloy AB, Class B

    205,315     $ 4,083,871  
            $ 4,083,871  
Chemicals — 3.7%  

BASF SE

    45,723     $ 3,508,715  

Ecolab, Inc.

    31,714       4,856,999  

PPG Industries, Inc.

    10,677       1,122,046  

Sika AG

    21,089       2,704,084  
            $ 12,191,844  
Construction & Engineering — 0.0%(2)  

Abengoa SA, Class A(3)

    103,700     $ 1,960  

Abengoa SA, Class B(3)

    1,072,295       4,358  
            $ 6,318  
Security   Shares     Value  
Consumer Finance — 1.9%  

Discover Financial Services

    40,265     $ 2,805,263  

Navient Corp.

    129,803       1,503,119  

OneMain Holdings, Inc.(3)

    70,151       2,000,706  
            $ 6,309,088  
Diversified Financial Services — 1.7%  

ORIX Corp.

    339,333     $ 5,528,072  
            $ 5,528,072  
Electric Utilities — 3.2%  

Iberdrola SA

    530,378     $ 3,752,861  

NextEra Energy, Inc.

    40,173       6,929,842  
            $ 10,682,703  
Electrical Equipment — 2.8%  

Legrand SA

    56,692     $ 3,702,041  

Melrose Industries PLC

    2,604,248       5,605,895  
            $ 9,307,936  
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components — 2.6%  

CDW Corp.

    48,892     $ 4,400,769  

Keyence Corp.

    8,522       4,163,163  
            $ 8,563,932  
Energy Equipment & Services — 0.6%  

Halliburton Co.

    59,695     $ 2,070,223  
            $ 2,070,223  
Entertainment — 3.2%  

Activision Blizzard, Inc.

    74,680     $ 5,156,654  

Walt Disney Co. (The)

    48,572       5,577,523  
            $ 10,734,177  
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) — 2.9%  

American Tower Corp.

    45,078     $ 7,023,603  

Equity Residential

    40,498       2,630,750  
            $ 9,654,353  
Food Products — 0.5%  

Mondelez International, Inc., Class A

    41,828     $ 1,755,939  
            $ 1,755,939  
 

 

  6   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

October 31, 2018

 

Portfolio of Investments — continued

 

 

Security   Shares     Value  
Health Care Equipment & Supplies — 3.5%  

Baxter International, Inc.

    43,024     $ 2,689,430  

Boston Scientific Corp.(3)

    156,873       5,669,390  

Danaher Corp.

    34,070       3,386,558  
            $ 11,745,378  
Health Care Providers & Services — 1.6%  

Anthem, Inc.

    12,162     $ 3,351,483  

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

    7,009       1,831,802  
            $ 5,183,285  
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure — 1.0%  

Compass Group PLC

    174,130     $ 3,424,927  
            $ 3,424,927  
Household Products — 0.8%  

Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC

    34,881     $ 2,820,620  
            $ 2,820,620  
Insurance — 4.1%  

AIA Group, Ltd.

    417,732     $ 3,177,705  

Aviva PLC

    698,681       3,818,212  

Chubb, Ltd.

    26,449       3,303,745  

Prudential PLC

    160,121       3,206,203  
            $ 13,505,865  
Interactive Media & Services — 5.1%  

Alphabet, Inc., Class C(3)

    11,734     $ 12,634,819  

Facebook, Inc., Class A(3)

    29,353       4,455,492  
            $ 17,090,311  
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail — 3.2%  

Amazon.com, Inc.(3)

    5,819     $ 9,298,820  

ZOZO, Inc.

    55,083       1,321,663  
            $ 10,620,483  
IT Services — 1.1%  

Visa, Inc., Class A

    26,749     $ 3,687,350  
            $ 3,687,350  
Leisure Products — 1.0%  

Yamaha Corp.

    78,322     $ 3,441,811  
            $ 3,441,811  
Security   Shares     Value  
Life Sciences Tools & Services — 1.3%  

Lonza Group AG

    14,157     $ 4,451,519  
            $ 4,451,519  
Machinery — 5.9%  

Atlas Copco AB, Class A

    75,703     $ 1,871,511  

Fortive Corp.

    37,980       2,820,015  

ITT, Inc.

    70,658       3,568,229  

Komatsu, Ltd.

    127,127       3,310,698  

MISUMI Group, Inc.

    107,010       2,144,565  

Parker-Hannifin Corp.

    10,975       1,664,139  

Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.

    22,926       2,671,337  

Xylem, Inc.

    26,303       1,724,951  
            $ 19,775,445  
Metals & Mining — 1.4%  

Rio Tinto, Ltd.

    85,220     $ 4,637,016  
            $ 4,637,016  
Multi-Utilities — 1.4%  

CMS Energy Corp.

    93,410     $ 4,625,663  
            $ 4,625,663  
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 6.2%  

BP PLC

    810,750     $ 5,856,629  

ConocoPhillips

    59,945       4,190,155  

Phillips 66

    37,713       3,877,651  

Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Class B

    212,029       6,914,886  
            $ 20,839,321  
Personal Products — 1.2%  

Unilever PLC

    77,552     $ 4,107,900  
            $ 4,107,900  
Pharmaceuticals — 6.7%  

Eli Lilly & Co.

    37,511     $ 4,067,693  

GlaxoSmithKline PLC

    232,305       4,499,227  

Johnson & Johnson

    47,550       6,656,524  

Novo Nordisk A/S, Class B

    61,200       2,643,017  

Zoetis, Inc.

    48,035       4,330,355  
            $ 22,196,816  
Professional Services — 1.4%  

Verisk Analytics, Inc.(3)

    37,598     $ 4,505,744  
            $ 4,505,744  
 

 

  7   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

October 31, 2018

 

Portfolio of Investments — continued

 

 

Security   Shares     Value  
Road & Rail — 0.7%  

CSX Corp.

    33,739     $ 2,323,268  
            $ 2,323,268  
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment — 2.8%  

ASML Holding NV

    35,276     $ 6,076,081  

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. ADR

    88,102       3,356,686  
            $ 9,432,767  
Software — 2.2%  

Microsoft Corp.

    67,847     $ 7,246,738  
            $ 7,246,738  
Specialty Retail — 3.8%  

Home Depot, Inc. (The)

    6,551     $ 1,152,190  

Industria de Diseno Textil SA

    172,117       4,851,067  

TJX Cos., Inc. (The)

    41,233       4,530,682  

Ulta Beauty, Inc.(3)

    7,498       2,058,351  
            $ 12,592,290  
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals — 3.5%  

Apple, Inc.

    27,705     $ 6,063,516  

HP, Inc.

    236,386       5,706,358  
            $ 11,769,874  
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods — 2.5%              

adidas AG

    14,976     $ 3,521,815  

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE

    10,644       3,229,447  

Samsonite International SA(4)

    508,246       1,465,772  
            $ 8,217,034  
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance — 0.6%  

MGIC Investment Corp.(3)

    160,702     $ 1,962,171  
            $ 1,962,171  
Tobacco — 0.8%  

British American Tobacco PLC

    64,507     $ 2,796,396  
            $ 2,796,396  
Wireless Telecommunication Services — 1.1%  

Tele2 AB, Class B

    308,517     $ 3,503,283  
            $ 3,503,283  

Total Common Stocks
(identified cost $297,622,657)

 

  $ 347,619,351  
Preferred Stocks — 7.6%

 

Security   Shares     Value  
Banks — 2.2%  

AgriBank FCB, 6.875% to 1/1/24(1)(5)

    16,581     $ 1,786,603  

CoBank ACB, Series F, 6.25% to 10/1/22(1)(5)

    16,600       1,718,100  

Farm Credit Bank of Texas, 6.75% to 9/15/23(1)(4)(5)

    2,500       266,250  

Farm Credit Bank of Texas, Series 1, 10.00%(1)

    906       1,037,370  

First Tennessee Bank NA, 3.75%, (3 mo. USD LIBOR + 0.85%, Floor 3.75%)(1)(4)(6)

    840       651,000  

IBERIABANK Corp., Series C, 6.60% to 5/1/26(1)(5)

    19,418       510,888  

Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc., 6.50%(1)

    31,915       803,939  

Wells Fargo & Co., Series Y, 5.625%(1)

    18,150       451,027  
            $ 7,225,177  
Consumer Finance — 0.5%  

Capital One Financial Corp., Series C, 6.25%(1)

    71,350     $ 1,815,144  
            $ 1,815,144  
Electric Utilities — 1.5%  

NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc., Series I, 5.125%(1)

    19,531     $ 445,697  

NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc., Series K, 5.25%(1)

    39,226       918,673  

SCE Trust VI, 5.00%(1)

    104,525       2,207,568  

Southern Co. (The), 6.25%(1)

    48,764       1,247,871  
            $ 4,819,809  
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) — 1.0%  

CBL & Associates Properties, Inc., Series D, 7.375%(1)

    67,925     $ 1,042,649  

SITE Centers Corp., Series A, 6.375%(1)

    49,475       1,164,147  

SITE Centers Corp., Series K, 6.25%(1)

    1,375       29,934  

Spirit Realty Capital, Inc., Series A, 6.00%(1)

    26,391       588,255  

Vornado Realty Trust, Series K, 5.70%(1)

    25,220       595,948  
            $ 3,420,933  
Food Products — 0.8%  

Dairy Farmers of America, Inc., 7.875%(1)(4)

    22,100     $ 2,226,575  

Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., 6.25%(1)(4)

    6,085       550,692  
            $ 2,777,267  
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers — 0.6%  

Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp., 6.875% to 10/17/23(5)

    74,140     $ 1,892,053  
            $ 1,892,053  
Insurance — 0.1%  

PartnerRe, Ltd., Series I, 5.875%(1)

    17,096     $ 422,442  
            $ 422,442  
 

 

  8   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

October 31, 2018

 

Portfolio of Investments — continued

 

 

Security   Shares     Value  
Multi-Utilities — 0.1%  

DTE Energy Co., Series C, 5.25%(1)

    17,395     $ 408,783  
            $ 408,783  
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 0.8%  

NuStar Energy, L.P., Series B, 7.625% to 6/15/22(1)(5)

    128,725     $ 2,698,076  
            $ 2,698,076  

Total Preferred Stocks
(identified cost $27,016,240)

 

  $ 25,479,684  
Corporate Bonds & Notes — 18.3%    
Security   Principal
Amount
(000’s omitted)
    Value  
Airlines — 0.1%  

Azul Investments LLP, 5.875%, 10/26/24(1)(4)

  $ 505     $ 457,025  
            $ 457,025  
Automobiles — 0.4%  

General Motors Financial Co., Inc., Series A, 5.75% to 9/30/27(1)(5)(7)

  $ 1,270     $ 1,146,785  
            $ 1,146,785  
Banks — 9.5%  

Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, Ltd., 6.75% to 6/15/26(1)(4)(5)(7)

  $ 1,865     $ 1,918,619  

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA, 6.125% to 11/16/27(1)(5)(7)

    2,200       1,900,250  

Banco do Brasil SA, 6.25% to 4/15/24(1)(4)(5)(7)

    2,645       2,291,033  

Banco Mercantil del Norte SA/Grand Cayman, 7.625% to 1/10/28(1)(4)(5)(7)

    975       957,947  

Bank of America Corp., Series AA, 6.10% to 3/17/25(1)(5)(7)

    1,445       1,484,737  

Bank of America Corp., Series FF, 5.875% to 3/15/28(1)(5)(7)

    910       883,837  

Barclays PLC, 7.75% to 9/15/23(5)(7)

    1,480       1,480,296  

Citigroup, Inc., Series M, 6.30% to 5/15/24(1)(5)(7)

    650       646,913  

Citigroup, Inc., Series T, 6.25% to 8/15/26(1)(5)(7)

    1,475       1,508,187  

Credit Agricole SA, 7.875% to 1/23/24(1)(4)(5)(7)

    1,881       1,949,382  

Credit Suisse Group AG, 7.50% to 7/17/23(4)(5)(7)

    1,368       1,395,360  

Danske Bank A/S, 7.00% to 6/26/25(5)(7)(8)

    940       871,498  

JPMorgan Chase & Co., Series X, 6.10% to 10/1/24(1)(5)(7)

    1,839       1,871,734  

JPMorgan Chase & Co., Series Z, 5.30% to 5/1/20(1)(5)(7)

    2,736       2,783,880  

Lloyds Banking Group PLC, 7.50% to 6/27/24(1)(5)(7)

    2,447       2,474,529  

Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC, 8.00% to 8/10/25(1)(5)(7)

    805       832,672  

Societe Generale SA, 6.75% to 4/6/28(1)(4)(5)(7)

    2,295       2,028,206  
Security   Principal
Amount
(000’s omitted)
    Value  
Banks (continued)  

Standard Chartered PLC, 7.75% to 4/2/23(1)(4)(5)(7)

  $ 1,765     $ 1,787,062  

SunTrust Banks, Inc., Series H, 5.125% to 12/15/27(1)(5)(7)

    540       495,788  

UniCredit SpA, 8.00% to 6/3/24(1)(5)(7)(8)

    2,222       2,002,933  

Zions Bancorporation, Series I, 5.80% to 6/15/23(1)(5)(7)

    220       216,150  
            $ 31,781,013  
Capital Markets — 1.4%  

Banco BTG Pactual SA/Cayman Islands,
5.50%, 1/31/23(1)(4)

  $ 595     $ 576,784  

Charles Schwab Corp. (The), Series F, 5.00% to 12/1/27(1)(5)(7)

    1,820       1,731,275  

UBS Group AG, 6.875% to 8/7/25(1)(5)(7)(8)

    2,421       2,396,790  
            $ 4,704,849  
Construction & Engineering — 0.0%(2)  

Abengoa Abenewco 2 SAU, 1.50%, (1.50% Cash or 0.25% Cash and 1.25% PIK), 3/31/23(1)(4)

  $ 455     $ 8,524  
            $ 8,524  
Diversified Financial Services — 0.8%  

Cadence Financial Corp., 4.875%, 6/28/19(1)(4)

  $ 1,220     $ 1,221,010  

Textron Financial Corp., 4.049%, (3 mo. USD LIBOR + 1.735%), 2/15/67(1)(4)(6)

    553       474,198  

Unifin Financiera SAB de CV, 8.875% to 1/29/25(1)(4)(5)(7)

    920       846,869  
            $ 2,542,077  
Electric Utilities — 1.3%  

AES Gener SA, 8.375% to 6/18/19, 12/18/73(1)(4)(5)

  $ 1,936     $ 1,966,666  

Enel SpA, 8.75% to 9/24/23, 9/24/73(1)(4)(5)

    1,060       1,147,450  

Southern Co. (The), Series B, 5.50% to 3/15/22, 3/15/57(1)(5)

    1,105       1,104,898  
            $ 4,219,014  
Energy Equipment & Services — 0.3%  

Oceaneering International, Inc., 6.00%, 2/1/28(1)

  $ 955     $ 932,740  
            $ 932,740  
Food Products — 0.7%  

Land O’ Lakes, Inc., 8.00%(1)(4)(7)

  $ 2,103     $ 2,292,270  
            $ 2,292,270  
Gas Utilities — 0.0%(2)  

NiSource, Inc., 5.65% to 6/15/23(4)(5)(7)

  $ 100     $ 98,145  
            $ 98,145  
 

 

  9   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

October 31, 2018

 

Portfolio of Investments — continued

 

 

Security   Principal
Amount
(000’s omitted)
    Value  
Metals & Mining — 0.5%  

BHP Billiton Finance USA, Ltd., 6.75% to 10/20/25, 10/19/75(1)(4)(5)

  $ 1,634     $ 1,772,890  
            $ 1,772,890  
Multi-Utilities — 0.1%  

Dominion Resources, Inc., 5.75% to 10/1/24, 10/1/54(1)(5)

  $ 275     $ 282,582  
            $ 282,582  
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 0.7%  

EnLink Midstream Partners, L.P., Series C, 6.00% to 12/15/22(1)(5)(7)

  $ 1,528     $ 1,335,371  

Odebrecht Oil & Gas Finance, Ltd., 0.00%(1)(4)(7)

    2,260       49,398  

Plains All American Pipeline, L.P., Series B, 6.125% to 11/15/22(1)(5)(7)

    1,135       1,069,738  
            $ 2,454,507  
Pharmaceuticals — 0.6%  

Teva Pharmaceutical Finance Netherlands III B.V.,
6.00%, 4/15/24(1)

  $ 1,910     $ 1,902,966  
            $ 1,902,966  
Pipelines — 1.4%  

Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P., 6.194%, (3 mo. USD LIBOR + 3.798%), 10/1/77(1)(6)

  $ 1,830     $ 1,821,042  

Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., Series A, 6.25% to 2/15/23(1)(5)(7)

    1,308       1,225,433  

Enterprise Products Operating, LLC, 5.375% to 2/15/28, 2/15/78(1)(5)

    1,905       1,705,194  
            $ 4,751,669  
Toys, Games & Hobbies — 0.4%  

Mattel, Inc., 6.75%, 12/31/25(4)

  $ 1,295     $ 1,239,561  
            $ 1,239,561  
Transportation — 0.1%  

JSL Europe SA, 7.75%, 7/26/24(1)(4)

  $ 480     $ 445,440  
            $ 445,440  

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes
(identified cost $65,159,159)

 

  $ 61,032,057  
Exchange-Traded Funds — 2.5%

 

Security   Shares     Value  
Equity Funds — 2.5%  

First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF(1)

    439,166     $ 8,229,971  

Total Exchange-Traded Funds
(identified cost $8,830,630)

 

  $ 8,229,971  
Rights — 0.0%(2)    
Security   Shares     Value  
Equities — 0.0%(2)  

Banco Santander SA, Exp. 11/1/18(1)(3)

    499,299     $ 19,398  

Total Rights
(identified cost $20,107)

 

  $ 19,398  
Short-Term Investments — 2.6%    
Description   Units     Value  

Eaton Vance Cash Reserves Fund, LLC, 2.28%(9)

    8,823,097     $ 8,822,215  

Total Short-Term Investments
(identified cost $8,822,837)

 

  $ 8,822,215  

Total Investments — 135.2%
(identified cost $407,471,630)

 

  $ 451,202,676  

Other Assets, Less Liabilities — (35.2)%

 

  $ (117,431,864

Net Assets — 100.0%

 

  $ 333,770,812  

The percentage shown for each investment category in the Portfolio of Investments is based on net assets.

 

(1) 

Security (or a portion thereof) has been segregated as collateral with the custodian for borrowings under the Credit Agreement.

 

(2) 

Amount is less than 0.05%.

 

(3) 

Non-income producing security.

 

(4) 

Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be sold in certain transactions in reliance on an exemption from registration (normally to qualified institutional buyers). At October 31, 2018, the aggregate value of these securities is $30,084,128 or 9.0% of the Fund’s net assets.

 

(5) 

Security converts to floating rate after the indicated fixed-rate coupon period.

 

(6) 

Variable rate security. The stated dividend/interest rate represents the rate in effect at October 31, 2018.

 

(7) 

Perpetual security with no stated maturity date but may be subject to calls by the issuer.

 

 

  10   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

October 31, 2018

 

Portfolio of Investments — continued

 

 

 

(8) 

Security exempt from registration under Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933, which exempts from registration securities offered and sold outside the United States. Security may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933. At October 31, 2018, the aggregate value of these securities is $5,271,221 or 1.6% of the Fund’s net assets.

 

(9) 

Affiliated investment company, available to Eaton Vance portfolios and funds, which invests in high quality, U.S. dollar denominated money market instruments. The rate shown is the annualized seven-day yield as of October 31, 2018.

 

Country Concentration of Portfolio

 

Country   Percentage
of Total Investments
    Value  

United States

    57.4   $ 258,734,546  

United Kingdom

    11.3       51,137,072  

Japan

    4.4       19,909,972  

Netherlands

    3.4       15,407,932  

France

    2.9       13,205,573  

Spain

    2.9       12,914,060  

Switzerland

    2.5       11,370,195  

Sweden

    2.4       11,001,443  

Germany

    2.3       10,172,833  

Canada

    1.9       8,484,927  

Italy

    1.1       5,009,179  

Brazil

    0.9       3,819,680  

Australia

    0.8       3,691,509  

Denmark

    0.8       3,514,515  

Taiwan

    0.8       3,356,686  

Hong Kong

    0.7       3,177,705  

Belgium

    0.5       2,390,430  

Chile

    0.4       1,966,666  

Israel

    0.4       1,902,966  

Mexico

    0.4       1,804,816  

Exchange-Traded Funds

    1.8       8,229,971  

Total Investments

    100.0   $ 451,202,676  

Abbreviations:

 

ADR     American Depositary Receipt
LIBOR     London Interbank Offered Rate
PIK     Payment In Kind
USD     United States Dollar
 

 

  11   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

October 31, 2018

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

 

Assets    October 31, 2018  

Unaffiliated investments, at value (identified cost, $398,648,793)

   $ 442,380,461  

Affiliated investment, at value (identified cost, $8,822,837)

     8,822,215  

Cash

     102,528  

Foreign currency, at value (identified cost, $80,167)

     80,037  

Dividends and interest receivable

     1,229,302  

Dividends receivable from affiliated investment

     14,299  

Tax reclaims receivable

     325,680  

Total assets

   $ 452,954,522  
Liabilities

 

Notes payable

   $ 118,000,000  

Payable for investments purchased

     651,796  

Payable to affiliates:

  

Investment adviser fee

     335,292  

Trustees’ fees

     1,729  

Accrued expenses

     194,893  

Total liabilities

   $ 119,183,710  

Net Assets

   $ 333,770,812  
Sources of Net Assets

 

Common shares, $0.01 par value, unlimited number of shares authorized, 15,051,293 shares issued and outstanding

   $ 150,513  

Additional paid-in capital

     288,160,464  

Distributable earnings

     45,459,835  

Net Assets

   $ 333,770,812  
Net Asset Value         

($333,770,812 ÷ 15,051,293 common shares issued and outstanding)

   $ 22.18  

 

  12   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

October 31, 2018

 

Statement of Operations

 

 

Investment Income   

Year Ended

October 31, 2018

 

Dividends (net of foreign taxes, $363,346)

   $ 10,186,678  

Interest (net of foreign taxes, $1,227)

     3,680,748  

Dividends from affiliated investment

     96,597  

Other income

     94,436  

Total investment income

   $ 14,058,459  
Expenses         

Investment adviser fee

   $ 4,054,060  

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     20,274  

Custodian fee

     209,822  

Transfer and dividend disbursing agent fees

     18,005  

Legal and accounting services

     88,333  

Printing and postage

     117,228  

Interest expense and fees

     2,948,109  

Miscellaneous

     40,111  

Total expenses

   $ 7,495,942  

Net investment income

   $ 6,562,517  
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)         

Net realized gain (loss) —

  

Investment transactions

   $ 23,956,366  

Investment transactions — affiliated investment

     (711

Proceeds from securities litigation settlements

     16,262  

Foreign currency transactions

     (18,692

Net realized gain

   $ 23,953,225  

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) —

  

Investments

   $ (35,421,983

Investments — affiliated investment

     (622

Foreign currency

     765  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

   $ (35,421,840

Net realized and unrealized loss

   $ (11,468,615

Net decrease in net assets from operations

   $ (4,906,098

 

  13   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

October 31, 2018

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

     Year Ended October 31,  
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets    2018      2017  

From operations —

     

Net investment income

   $ 6,562,517      $ 7,114,763  

Net realized gain

     23,953,225        25,479,487  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (35,421,840      39,605,784  

Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations

   $ (4,906,098    $ 72,200,034  

Distributions to shareholders(1)

   $ (31,724,849    $ (31,386,165

Capital share transactions —

     

Reinvestment of distributions

   $ 751,973      $ 464,519  

Proceeds from shelf offering, net of offering costs (see Note 5)

     11,893,768         

Net increase in net assets from capital share transactions

   $ 12,645,741      $ 464,519  

Net increase (decrease) in net assets

   $ (23,985,206    $ 41,278,388  
Net Assets

 

At beginning of year

   $ 357,756,018      $ 316,477,630  

At end of year

   $ 333,770,812      $ 357,756,018 (2)   

 

(1)  

For the year ended October 31, 2017, the source of distributions was as follows:

 

    

Net investment income — $(6,899,835)

 

    

Net realized gain — $(24,486,330)

 

(2) 

Includes accumulated undistributed net investment income of $192,869 at October 31, 2017. The requirement to disclose the corresponding amount as of October 31, 2018 was eliminated.

 

  14   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

October 31, 2018

 

Statement of Cash Flows

 

 

Cash Flows From Operating Activities   

Year Ended

October 31, 2018

 

Net decrease in net assets from operations

   $ (4,906,098

Adjustments to reconcile net decrease in net assets from operations to net cash provided by operating activities:

  

Investments purchased

     (267,089,017

Investments sold

     289,271,548  

Increase in short-term investments, net

     (8,823,548

Net amortization/accretion of premium (discount)

     (19,713

Decrease in dividends and interest receivable

     121,811  

Increase in dividends receivable from affiliated investment

     (8,275

Decrease in receivable from the transfer agent

     66,789  

Decrease in tax reclaims receivable

     103,045  

Decrease in payable to affiliate for investment adviser fee

     (6,880

Decrease in payable to affiliate for Trustees’ fees

     (419

Decrease in accrued expenses

     (2,464

Net change in unrealized (appreciation) depreciation from investments

     35,422,605  

Net realized gain from investments

     (23,955,655

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 20,173,729  
Cash Flows From Financing Activities

 

Cash distributions paid

   $ (30,972,876

Proceeds from shelf offering, net of offering costs

     11,893,768  

Decrease in due to custodian

     (927,807

Net cash used in financing activities

   $ (20,006,915

Net increase in cash*

   $ 166,814  

Cash at beginning of year(1)

   $ 15,751  

Cash at end of year(1)

   $ 182,565  
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

 

Noncash financing activities not included herein consist of:

  

Reinvestment of dividends and distributions

   $ 751,973  

Cash paid for interest and fees on borrowings

   $ 2,944,623  

 

*

Includes net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on foreign currency of $(24).

 

(1) 

Balance includes foreign currency, at value.

 

  15   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

October 31, 2018

 

Financial Highlights

 

 

    Year Ended October 31,  
     2018     2017     2016     2015     2014  

Net asset value — Beginning of year

  $ 24.600     $ 21.790     $ 24.050     $ 26.150     $ 25.880  
Income (Loss) From Operations                                        

Net investment income(1)

  $ 0.447     $ 0.490     $ 0.822 (2)     $ 0.998     $ 1.549 (2)  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

    (0.724     4.480       (0.922     0.033       1.070  

Total income (loss) from operations

  $ (0.277   $ 4.970     $ (0.100   $ 1.031     $ 2.619  
Less Distributions                                        

From net investment income

  $ (0.319   $ (0.475   $ (0.778   $ (0.997   $ (1.527

From net realized gain

    (1.841     (1.685     (1.382     (2.134     (0.822

Total distributions

  $ (2.160   $ (2.160   $ (2.160   $ (3.131   $ (2.349

Premium from common shares sold through shelf offering (see Note 5)(1)

  $ 0.017     $     $     $     $  

Net asset value — End of year

  $ 22.180     $ 24.600     $ 21.790     $ 24.050     $ 26.150  

Market value — End of year

  $ 21.690     $ 24.850     $ 20.670     $ 22.490     $ 25.260  

Total Investment Return on Net Asset Value(3)

    (1.50 )%      23.92     0.25     4.80     11.07

Total Investment Return on Market Value(3)

    (4.65 )%      31.96     1.69     1.46     17.50
Ratios/Supplemental Data                                        

Net assets, end of year (000’s omitted)

  $ 333,771     $ 357,756     $ 316,478     $ 349,321     $ 379,681  

Ratios (as a percentage of average daily net assets):

         

Expenses excluding interest and fees(4)

    1.27     1.30     1.32     1.28     1.26

Interest and fee expense

    0.82     0.61     0.39     0.26     0.24

Total expenses(4)

    2.09     1.91     1.71     1.54     1.50

Net investment income

    1.83     2.10     3.67 %(2)      4.03     5.87 %(2) 

Portfolio Turnover

    56     60     63     72     89

Senior Securities:

         

Total notes payable outstanding (in 000’s)

  $ 118,000     $ 118,000     $ 118,000     $ 118,000     $ 118,000  

Asset coverage per $1,000 of notes payable(5)

  $ 3,829     $ 4,032     $ 3,682     $ 3,960     $ 4,218  

 

(1)  

Computed using average shares outstanding.

 

(2) 

Net investment income per share includes special dividends which amounted to $0.230 and $0.692 per share for the years ended October 31, 2016 and 2014, respectively. Excluding special dividends, the ratio of net investment income to average daily net assets would have been 2.65% and 3.25% for the years ended October 31, 2016 and 2014, respectively.

 

(3) 

Returns are historical and are calculated by determining the percentage change in net asset value or market value with all distributions reinvested. Distributions are assumed to be reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan.

 

(4) 

Excludes the effect of custody fee credits, if any, of less than 0.005%. Effective September 1, 2015, custody fee credits, which were earned on cash deposit balances, were discontinued by the custodian.

 

(5) 

Calculated by subtracting the Fund’s total liabilities (not including the notes payable) from the Fund’s total assets, and dividing the result by the notes payable balance in thousands.

 

  16   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

October 31, 2018

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

 

1  Significant Accounting Policies

Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund (the Fund) is a Massachusetts business trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as a diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund’s investment objective is to provide a high level of after-tax total return consisting primarily of tax-advantaged dividend income and capital appreciation. The Fund pursues its objective by investing primarily in dividend-paying common and preferred stocks.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies of the Fund. The policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP). The Fund is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946.

A  Investment Valuation — The following methodologies are used to determine the market value or fair value of investments.

Equity Securities. Equity securities listed on a U.S. securities exchange generally are valued at the last sale or closing price on the day of valuation or, if no sales took place on such date, at the mean between the closing bid and asked prices on the exchange where such securities are principally traded. Equity securities listed on the NASDAQ Global or Global Select Market generally are valued at the NASDAQ official closing price. Unlisted or listed securities for which closing sales prices or closing quotations are not available are valued at the mean between the latest available bid and asked prices or, in the case of preferred equity securities that are not listed or traded in the over-the-counter market, by a third party pricing service that uses various techniques that consider factors including, but not limited to, prices or yields of securities with similar characteristics, benchmark yields, broker/dealer quotes, quotes of underlying common stock, issuer spreads, as well as industry and economic events.

Debt Obligations. Debt obligations are generally valued on the basis of valuations provided by third party pricing services, as derived from such services’ pricing models. Inputs to the models may include, but are not limited to, reported trades, executable bid and asked prices, broker/dealer quotations, prices or yields of securities with similar characteristics, interest rates, anticipated prepayments, benchmark curves or information pertaining to the issuer, as well as industry and economic events. The pricing services may use a matrix approach, which considers information regarding securities with similar characteristics to determine the valuation for a security. Short-term debt obligations purchased with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less for which a valuation from a third party pricing service is not readily available may be valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair value.

Foreign Securities and Currencies. Foreign securities and currencies are valued in U.S. dollars, based on foreign currency exchange rate quotations supplied by a third party pricing service. The pricing service uses a proprietary model to determine the exchange rate. Inputs to the model include reported trades and implied bid/ask spreads. The daily valuation of exchange-traded foreign securities generally is determined as of the close of trading on the principal exchange on which such securities trade. Events occurring after the close of trading on foreign exchanges may result in adjustments to the valuation of foreign securities to more accurately reflect their fair value as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange. When valuing foreign equity securities that meet certain criteria, the Fund’s Trustees have approved the use of a fair value service that values such securities to reflect market trading that occurs after the close of the applicable foreign markets of comparable securities or other instruments that have a strong correlation to the fair-valued securities.

Affiliated Fund. The Fund may invest in Eaton Vance Cash Reserves Fund, LLC (Cash Reserves Fund), an affiliated investment company managed by Eaton Vance Management (EVM). While Cash Reserves Fund is not a registered money market mutual fund, it conducts all of its investment activities in accordance with the requirements of Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. Investments in Cash Reserves Fund are valued at the closing net asset value per unit on the valuation day. Cash Reserves Fund generally values its investment securities based on available market quotations provided by a third party pricing service.

Fair Valuation. Investments for which valuations or market quotations are not readily available or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value using methods determined in good faith by or at the direction of the Trustees of the Fund in a manner that fairly reflects the security’s value, or the amount that the Fund might reasonably expect to receive for the security upon its current sale in the ordinary course. Each such determination is based on a consideration of relevant factors, which are likely to vary from one pricing context to another. These factors may include, but are not limited to, the type of security, the existence of any contractual restrictions on the security’s disposition, the price and extent of public trading in similar securities of the issuer or of comparable companies or entities, quotations or relevant information obtained from broker/dealers or other market participants, information obtained from the issuer, analysts, and/or the appropriate stock exchange (for exchange-traded securities), an analysis of the company’s or entity’s financial condition, and an evaluation of the forces that influence the issuer and the market(s) in which the security is purchased and sold.

B  Investment Transactions — Investment transactions for financial statement purposes are accounted for on a trade date basis. Realized gains and losses on investments sold are determined on the basis of identified cost.

C  Income — Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date for dividends received in cash and/or securities. However, if the ex-dividend date has passed, certain dividends from foreign securities are recorded as the Fund is informed of the ex-dividend date. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends, interest and capital gains have been provided for in accordance with the Fund’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates. In consideration of recent decisions rendered by European courts, the Fund has filed additional tax reclaims for previously withheld taxes on dividends earned in certain European Union countries. These filings are subject to various administrative and judicial proceedings within these countries. During the year ended October 31, 2018, the Fund received $94,436 from Poland for previously withheld foreign taxes and interest thereon. Such amount is included as other income in the Statement of Operations. No other income for additional tax reclaims was recorded in the financial statements during the year ended October 31, 2018 due to the uncertainty as to the ultimate resolution of proceedings, the likelihood of receipt of these reclaims, and the potential timing of

 

  17  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

October 31, 2018

 

Notes to Financial Statements — continued

 

 

payment. Interest income is recorded on the basis of interest accrued, adjusted for amortization of premium or accretion of discount. Distributions from investment companies are recorded as dividend income, capital gains or return of capital based on the nature of the distribution.

D  Federal Taxes — The Fund’s policy is to comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute to shareholders each year substantially all of its net investment income, and all or substantially all of its net realized capital gains. Accordingly, no provision for federal income or excise tax is necessary.

As of October 31, 2018, the Fund had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, de-recognition, or disclosure. The Fund files a U.S. federal income tax return annually after its fiscal year-end, which is subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for a period of three years from the date of filing.

E  Foreign Currency Translation — Investment valuations, other assets, and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currencies are translated each business day into U.S. dollars based upon current exchange rates. Purchases and sales of foreign investment securities and income and expenses denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars based upon currency exchange rates in effect on the respective dates of such transactions. Recognized gains or losses on investment transactions attributable to changes in foreign currency exchange rates are recorded for financial statement purposes as net realized gains and losses on investments. That portion of unrealized gains and losses on investments that results from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates is not separately disclosed.

F  Use of Estimates — The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expense during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

G  Indemnifications — Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. Under Massachusetts law, if certain conditions prevail, shareholders of a Massachusetts business trust (such as the Fund) could be deemed to have personal liability for the obligations of the Fund. However, the Fund’s Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of liability on the part of Fund shareholders and the By-laws provide that the Fund shall assume the defense on behalf of any Fund shareholders. Moreover, the By-laws also provide for indemnification out of Fund property of any shareholder held personally liable solely by reason of being or having been a shareholder for all loss or expense arising from such liability. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Fund enters into agreements with service providers that may contain indemnification clauses. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred.

H  When-Issued Securities and Delayed Delivery Transactions — The Fund may purchase or sell securities on a delayed delivery or when-issued basis. Payment and delivery may take place after the customary settlement period for that security. At the time the transaction is negotiated, the price of the security that will be delivered is fixed. The Fund maintains cash and/or security positions for these commitments such that sufficient liquid assets will be available to make payments upon settlement. Securities purchased on a delayed delivery or when-issued basis are marked-to-market daily and begin earning income on settlement date. Losses may arise due to changes in the market value of the underlying securities or if the counterparty does not perform under the contract.

I  Statement of Cash Flows — The cash amount shown in the Statement of Cash Flows of the Fund is the amount included in the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities and represents the unrestricted cash on hand at its custodian and does not include any short-term investments.

2  Distributions to Shareholders and Income Tax Information

Subject to its Managed Distribution Plan, the Fund intends to make monthly distributions from its net investment income, net capital gain (which is the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) and other sources. The Fund intends to distribute all or substantially all of its net realized capital gains. Distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. As required by U.S. GAAP, only distributions in excess of tax basis earnings and profits are reported in the financial statements as a return of capital. Permanent differences between book and tax accounting relating to distributions are reclassified to paid-in capital. For tax purposes, distributions from short-term capital gains are considered to be from ordinary income. Distributions in any year may include a return of capital component.

The tax character of distributions declared for the years ended October 31, 2018 and October 31, 2017 was as follows:

 

     Year Ended October 31,  
      2018      2017  

Ordinary income

   $ 4,696,145      $ 6,899,835  

Long-term capital gains

   $ 27,028,704      $ 24,486,330  

 

  18  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

October 31, 2018

 

Notes to Financial Statements — continued

 

 

During the year ended October 31, 2018, distributable earnings was decreased by $361 and paid-in capital was increased by $361 due to differences between book and tax accounting for investments in partnerships. These reclassifications had no effect on the net assets or net asset value per share of the Fund.

As of October 31, 2018, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated loss) on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed ordinary income

   $ 1,387,223  

Net unrealized appreciation

   $ 44,072,612  

The cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments of the Fund at October 31, 2018, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:

 

Aggregate cost

   $ 407,123,922  

Gross unrealized appreciation

   $ 66,571,252  

Gross unrealized depreciation

     (22,492,498

Net unrealized appreciation

   $ 44,078,754  

3  Investment Adviser Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates

The investment adviser fee is earned by EVM as compensation for management and investment advisory services rendered to the Fund. The fee is computed at an annual rate of 0.85% of the Fund’s average daily gross assets and is payable monthly. Gross assets as referred to herein represent net assets plus obligations attributable to investment leverage. For the year ended October 31, 2018, the Fund’s investment adviser fee amounted to $4,054,060. Pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement, EVM pays Eaton Vance Advisers International Ltd. (EVAIL), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Eaton Vance Corp., a portion of its investment adviser fee for sub-advisory services provided to the Fund. The Fund invests its cash in Cash Reserves Fund. EVM does not currently receive a fee for advisory services provided to Cash Reserves Fund. EVM also serves as administrator of the Fund, but receives no compensation.

Trustees and officers of the Fund who are members of EVM’s organization receive remuneration for their services to the Fund out of the investment adviser fee. Trustees of the Fund who are not affiliated with EVM may elect to defer receipt of all or a percentage of their annual fees in accordance with the terms of the Trustees Deferred Compensation Plan. For the year ended October 31, 2018, no significant amounts have been deferred. Certain officers and Trustees of the Fund are officers of EVM.

4  Purchases and Sales of Investments

Purchases and sales of investments, other than short-term obligations, aggregated $264,860,558 and $284,769,907, respectively, for the year ended October 31, 2018.

5  Common Shares of Beneficial Interest and Shelf Offering

The Fund may issue common shares pursuant to its dividend reinvestment plan. Common shares issued by the Fund pursuant to its dividend reinvestment plan for the years ended October 31, 2018 and October 31, 2017 were 30,657 and 19,406, respectively.

Pursuant to a registration statement filed with and declared effective on May 31, 2018 by the SEC, the Fund is authorized to issue up to an additional 1,746,559 common shares through an equity shelf offering program (the “shelf offering”). Under the shelf offering, the Fund, subject to market conditions, may raise additional capital from time to time and in varying amounts and offering methods at a net price at or above the Fund’s net asset value per common share. During the year ended October 31, 2018, the Fund sold 476,678 common shares and received proceeds (net of offering costs) of $11,893,768 through its shelf offering. The net proceeds in excess of the net asset value of the shares sold were $246,443.

Offering costs (other than the applicable sales commissions) incurred in connection with the shelf offering were borne directly by EVM. Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. (EVD), an affiliate of EVM, is the distributor of the Fund’s shares and is entitled to receive a sales commission from the Fund of 1.00% of the gross sales price per share, a portion of which is re-allowed to sales agents. The Fund was informed that the sales commissions retained by EVD during the year ended October 31, 2018 were $24,028.

 

  19  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

October 31, 2018

 

Notes to Financial Statements — continued

 

 

On November 11, 2013, the Board of Trustees of the Fund authorized the repurchase by the Fund of up to 10% of its then currently outstanding common shares in open-market transactions at a discount to net asset value. The repurchase program does not obligate the Fund to purchase a specific amount of shares. There were no repurchases of common shares by the Fund for the years ended October 31, 2018 and October 31, 2017.

6  Credit Agreement

The Fund has entered into a Credit Agreement (the Agreement) with a major financial institution that allows it to borrow up to $138 million over a rolling 179 calendar day period through August 30, 2019. Interest is charged at a rate above 1-month LIBOR and is payable monthly. The Fund is charged a commitment fee of 0.30% per annum on the unused portion of the commitment if outstanding borrowings are less than 80% of the borrowing limit. Under the terms of the Agreement, the Fund is required to satisfy certain collateral requirements and maintain a certain level of net assets. At October 31, 2018, the Fund had borrowings outstanding under the Agreement of $118 million at an interest rate of 2.96%. The carrying amount of the borrowings at October 31, 2018 approximated its fair value. If measured at fair value, borrowings under the Agreement would have been considered as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy (see Note 8) at October 31, 2018. For the year ended October 31, 2018, the average borrowings under the Agreement and the average interest rate (excluding fees) were $118 million and 2.50%, respectively.

7  Risks Associated with Foreign Investments

Investing in securities issued by companies whose principal business activities are outside the United States may involve significant risks not present in domestic investments. For example, there is generally less publicly available information about foreign companies, particularly those not subject to the disclosure and reporting requirements of the U.S. securities laws. Certain foreign issuers are generally not bound by uniform accounting, auditing, and financial reporting requirements and standards of practice comparable to those applicable to domestic issuers. Investments in foreign securities also involve the risk of possible adverse changes in investment or exchange control regulations, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, limitation on the removal of funds or other assets of the Fund, political or financial instability or diplomatic and other developments which could affect such investments. Foreign securities markets, while growing in volume and sophistication, are generally not as developed as those in the United States, and securities of some foreign issuers (particularly those located in developing countries) may be less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. companies. In general, there is less overall governmental supervision and regulation of foreign securities markets, broker/dealers and issuers than in the United States.

8  Fair Value Measurements

Under generally accepted accounting principles for fair value measurements, a three-tier hierarchy to prioritize the assumptions, referred to as inputs, is used in valuation techniques to measure fair value. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized in the three broad levels listed below.

 

 

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

 

 

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

 

 

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including a fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

In cases where the inputs used to measure fair value fall in different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level disclosed is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

 

  20  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

October 31, 2018

 

Notes to Financial Statements — continued

 

 

At October 31, 2018, the hierarchy of inputs used in valuing the Fund’s investments, which are carried at value, were as follows:

 

Asset Description    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Common Stocks

           

Communication Services

   $ 27,824,488      $ 3,503,283      $         —      $ 31,327,771  

Consumer Discretionary

     17,040,043        24,398,805               41,438,848  

Consumer Staples

     7,926,775        15,904,834               23,831,609  

Energy

     10,138,029        12,771,515               22,909,544  

Financials

     33,251,381        26,220,870               59,472,251  

Health Care

     31,983,235        11,593,763               43,576,998  

Industrials

     21,845,191        20,724,899               42,570,090  

Information Technology

     30,461,417        10,239,244               40,700,661  

Materials

     5,979,045        10,849,815               16,828,860  

Real Estate

     9,654,353                      9,654,353  

Utilities

     11,555,505        3,752,861               15,308,366  

Total Common Stocks

   $ 207,659,462      $ 139,959,889    $      $ 347,619,351  

Preferred Stocks

           

Consumer Staples

   $      $ 2,777,267      $      $ 2,777,267  

Energy

     2,698,076                      2,698,076  

Financials

     4,003,440        5,459,323               9,462,763  

Real Estate

     3,420,933                      3,420,933  

Utilities

     7,120,645                      7,120,645  

Total Preferred Stocks

   $ 17,243,094      $ 8,236,590      $      $ 25,479,684  

Corporate Bonds & Notes

   $      $ 61,032,057      $      $ 61,032,057  

Exchange-Traded Funds

     8,229,971                      8,229,971  

Rights

     19,398                      19,398  

Short-Term Investments

            8,822,215               8,822,215  

Total Investments

   $ 233,151,925      $ 218,050,751      $      $ 451,202,676  

 

*

Includes foreign equity securities whose values were adjusted to reflect market trading of comparable securities or other correlated instruments that occurred after the close of trading in their applicable foreign markets.

 

  21  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

October 31, 2018

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

 

To the Trustees and Shareholders of Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund:

Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund (the “Fund”), including the portfolio of investments, as of October 31, 2018, the related statements of operations and cash flows for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, and the related notes. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of October 31, 2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and financial highlights. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of October 31, 2018, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

December 14, 2018

We have served as the auditor of one or more Eaton Vance investment companies since 1959.

 

  22  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

October 31, 2018

 

Federal Tax Information (Unaudited)

 

 

The Form 1099-DIV you receive in February 2019 will show the tax status of all distributions paid to your account in calendar year 2018. Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax adviser with respect to the tax consequences of their investment in the Fund.

As required by the Internal Revenue Code and/or regulations, shareholders must be notified regarding the status of qualified dividend income for individuals, the dividends received deduction for corporations and capital gains dividends.

Qualified Dividend Income.  For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2018, the Fund designates approximately $11,012,213, or up to the maximum amount of such dividends allowable pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code, as qualified dividend income eligible for the reduced tax rate of 15%.

Dividends Received Deduction.  Corporate shareholders are generally entitled to take the dividends received deduction on the portion of the Fund’s dividend distribution that qualifies under tax law. For the Fund’s fiscal 2018 ordinary income dividends, 74.51% qualifies for the corporate dividends received deduction.

Capital Gains Dividends.  The Fund hereby designates as a capital gain dividend with respect to the taxable year ended October 31, 2018, $23,731,458 or, if subsequently determined to be different, the net capital gain of such year.

 

  23  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

October 31, 2018

 

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

 

 

The Fund offers a dividend reinvestment plan (Plan) pursuant to which shareholders may elect to have distributions automatically reinvested in common shares (Shares) of the Fund. You may elect to participate in the Plan by completing the Dividend Reinvestment Plan Application Form. If you do not participate, you will receive all distributions in cash paid by check mailed directly to you by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (AST) as dividend paying agent. On the distribution payment date, if the NAV per Share is equal to or less than the market price per Share plus estimated brokerage commissions, then new Shares will be issued. The number of Shares shall be determined by the greater of the NAV per Share or 95% of the market price. Otherwise, Shares generally will be purchased on the open market by AST, the Plan agent (Agent). Distributions subject to income tax (if any) are taxable whether or not Shares are reinvested.

If your Shares are in the name of a brokerage firm, bank, or other nominee, you can ask the firm or nominee to participate in the Plan on your behalf. If the nominee does not offer the Plan, you will need to request that the Fund’s transfer agent re-register your Shares in your name or you will not be able to participate.

The Agent’s service fee for handling distributions will be paid by the Fund. Plan participants will be charged their pro rata share of brokerage commissions on all open-market purchases.

Plan participants may withdraw from the Plan at any time by writing to the Agent at the address noted on the following page. If you withdraw, you will receive Shares in your name for all Shares credited to your account under the Plan. If a participant elects by written notice to the Agent to sell part or all of his or her Shares and remit the proceeds, the Agent is authorized to deduct a $5.00 fee plus brokerage commissions from the proceeds.

If you wish to participate in the Plan and your Shares are held in your own name, you may complete the form on the following page and deliver it to the Agent. Any inquiries regarding the Plan can be directed to the Agent at 1-866-439-6787.

 

  24  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

October 31, 2018

 

Application for Participation in Dividend Reinvestment Plan

 

 

 

This form is for shareholders who hold their common shares in their own names. If your common shares are held in the name of a brokerage firm, bank, or other nominee, you should contact your nominee to see if it will participate in the Plan on your behalf. If you wish to participate in the Plan, but your brokerage firm, bank, or nominee is unable to participate on your behalf, you should request that your common shares be re-registered in your own name which will enable your participation in the Plan.

The following authorization and appointment is given with the understanding that I may terminate it at any time by terminating my participation in the Plan as provided in the terms and conditions of the Plan.

 

 

Please print exact name on account

 

Shareholder signature                                                           Date

 

Shareholder signature                                                           Date

Please sign exactly as your common shares are registered. All persons whose names appear on the share certificate must sign.

YOU SHOULD NOT RETURN THIS FORM IF YOU WISH TO RECEIVE YOUR DISTRIBUTIONS IN CASH. THIS IS NOT A PROXY.

This authorization form, when signed, should be mailed to the following address:

Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

c/o American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

P.O. Box 922

Wall Street Station

New York, NY 10269-0560

 

  25  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

October 31, 2018

 

Management and Organization

 

 

Fund Management.  The Trustees of Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund (the Fund) are responsible for the overall management and supervision of the Fund’s affairs. The Trustees and officers of the Fund are listed below. Except as indicated, each individual has held the office shown or other offices in the same company for the last five years. The “Noninterested Trustees” consist of those Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as that term is defined under the 1940 Act. The business address of each Trustee and officer is Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110. As used below, “EVC” refers to Eaton Vance Corp., “EV” refers to Eaton Vance, Inc., “EVM” refers to Eaton Vance Management, “BMR” refers to Boston Management and Research and “EVD” refers to Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. EVC and EV are the corporate parent and trustee, respectively, of EVM and BMR. EVD is a wholly-owned subsidiary of EVC. Each officer affiliated with Eaton Vance may hold a position with other Eaton Vance affiliates that is comparable to his or her position with EVM listed below. Each Trustee oversees 174 portfolios in the Eaton Vance Complex (including all master and feeder funds in a master feeder structure). Each officer serves as an officer of certain other Eaton Vance funds. Each Trustee serves for a three year term. Each officer serves until his or her successor is elected.

 

Name and Year of Birth   

Position(s)

with the

Fund

    

Term Expiring;

Trustee  Since(1)

    

Principal Occupation(s) and Directorships

During Past Five Years and Other Relevant Experience

Interested Trustee

Thomas E. Faust Jr.

1958

  

Class II

Trustee

    

Until 2021.

Trustee since 2007.

    

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of EVC, Director and President of EV, Chief Executive Officer and President of EVM and BMR, and Director of EVD. Trustee and/or officer of 174 registered investment companies. Mr. Faust is an interested person because of his positions with EVM, BMR, EVD, EVC and EV, which are affiliates of the Fund.

Directorships in the Last Five Years.(2) Director of EVC and Hexavest Inc. (investment management firm).

Noninterested Trustees

Mark R. Fetting

1954

  

Class II

Trustee

    

Until 2021.

Trustee since 2016.

    

Private investor. Formerly held various positions at Legg Mason, Inc. (investment management firm) (2000-2012), including President, Chief Executive Officer, Director and Chairman (2008-2012), Senior Executive Vice President (2004-2008) and Executive Vice President (2001-2004). Formerly, President of Legg Mason family of funds (2001-2008). Formerly, Division President and Senior Officer of Prudential Financial Group, Inc. and related companies (investment management firm) (1991-2000).

Directorships in the Last Five Years. None.

Cynthia E. Frost

1961

  

Class I

Trustee

    

Until 2020.

Trustee since 2014.

    

Private investor. Formerly, Chief Investment Officer of Brown University (university endowment) (2000-2012). Formerly, Portfolio Strategist for Duke Management Company (university endowment manager) (1995-2000). Formerly, Managing Director, Cambridge Associates (investment consulting company) (1989-1995). Formerly, Consultant, Bain and Company (management consulting firm) (1987-1989). Formerly, Senior Equity Analyst, BA Investment Management Company (1983-1985).

Directorships in the Last Five Years. None.

George J. Gorman

1952

  

Class III

Trustee

    

Until 2019.

Trustee since 2014.

    

Principal at George J. Gorman LLC (consulting firm). Formerly, Senior Partner at Ernst & Young LLP (a registered public accounting firm) (1974-2009).

Directorships in the Last Five Years. Formerly, Trustee of the BofA Funds Series Trust (11 funds) (2011-2014) and of the Ashmore Funds (9 funds) (2010-2014).

Valerie A. Mosley

1960

  

Class I

Trustee

    

Until 2020.

Trustee since

2014.

    

Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer of Valmo Ventures (a consulting and investment firm). Former Partner and Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager and Investment Strategist at Wellington Management Company, LLP (investment management firm) (1992-2012). Former Chief Investment Officer, PG Corbin Asset Management (1990-1992). Formerly worked in institutional corporate bond sales at Kidder Peabody (1986-1990).

Directorships in the Last Five Years.(2) Director of Dynex Capital, Inc. (mortgage REIT) (since 2013).

William H. Park

1947

  

Chairperson of the Board and

Class II

Trustee

    

Until 2021.

Chairperson of the Board since 2016 and Trustee since 2003.

    

Private investor. Formerly, Consultant (management and transactional) (2012-2014). Formerly, Chief Financial Officer, Aveon Group L.P. (investment management firm) (2010-2011). Formerly, Vice Chairman, Commercial Industrial Finance Corp. (specialty finance company) (2006-2010). Formerly, President and Chief Executive Officer, Prizm Capital Management, LLC (investment management firm) (2002-2005). Formerly, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, United Asset Management Corporation (investment management firm) (1982-2001). Formerly, Senior Manager, Price Waterhouse (now PricewaterhouseCoopers) (a registered public accounting firm) (1972-1981).

Directorships in the Last Five Years.(2) None.

 

  26  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

October 31, 2018

 

Management and Organization — continued

 

 

Name and Year of Birth   

Position(s)

with the

Fund

    

Term Expiring;

Trustee  Since(1)

    

Principal Occupation(s) and Directorships

During Past Five Years and Other Relevant Experience

Noninterested Trustees (continued)

Helen Frame Peters

1948

  

Class III

Trustee

    

Until 2019.

Trustee since 2008.

    

Professor of Finance, Carroll School of Management, Boston College. Formerly, Dean, Carroll School of Management, Boston College (2000-2002). Formerly, Chief Investment Officer, Fixed Income, Scudder Kemper Investments (investment management firm) (1998-1999). Formerly, Chief Investment Officer, Equity and Fixed Income, Colonial Management Associates (investment management firm) (1991-1998).

Directorships in the Last Five Years.(2) None.

Keith Quinton(3)

1958

  

Class II

Trustee

    

Until 2021.

Trustee since 2018.

    

Independent Investment Committee Member at New Hampshire Retirement System (since 2017). Advisory Committee member at Northfield Information Services, Inc. (risk management analytics provider) (since 2016). Formerly, Portfolio Manager and Senior Quantitative Analyst at Fidelity Investments (investment management firm) (2001-2014).

Directorships in the Last Five Years. Director of New Hampshire Municipal Bond Bank (since 2016).

Marcus L. Smith(3)

1966

  

Class III

Trustee

    

Until 2019.

Trustee since 2018.

    

Member of Posse Boston Advisory Board (foundation) (since 2015); Trustee at University of Mount Union (since 2008). Formerly, Portfolio Manager at MFS Investment Management (investment management firm) (1994-2017).

Directorships in the Last Five Years. Director of MSCI Inc. (global provider of investment decision support tools) (since 2017). Director of DCT Industrial Trust Inc. (logistics real estate company) (since 2017).

Susan J. Sutherland

1957

  

Class III

Trustee

    

Until 2019.

Trustee since 2015.

    

Private investor. Formerly, Associate, Counsel and Partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (law firm) (1982-2013).

Directorships in the Last Five Years. Formerly, Director of Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd. (global provider of customized insurance and reinsurance products) (2013-2015).

Harriett Tee Taggart

1948

  

Class II

Trustee

    

Until 2021.

Trustee since 2011.

    

Managing Director, Taggart Associates (a professional practice firm). Formerly, Partner and Senior Vice President, Wellington Management Company, LLP (investment management firm) (1983-2006). Ms. Taggart has apprised the Board of Trustees that she intends to retire as a Trustee of all Eaton Vance Funds effective December 31, 2018.

Directorships in the Last Five Years.(2) Director of Albemarle Corporation (chemicals manufacturer) (since 2007) and The Hanover Group (specialty property and casualty insurance company) (since 2009).

Scott E. Wennerholm

1959

  

Class I

Trustee

    

Until 2020.

Trustee since 2016.

    

Formerly, Trustee at Wheelock College (postsecondary institution) (2012-2018). Formerly, Consultant at GF Parish Group (executive recruiting firm) (2016-2017). Formerly, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President at BNY Mellon Asset Management (investment management firm) (2005-2011). Formerly, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at Natixis Global Asset Management (investment management firm) (1997-2004). Formerly, Vice President at Fidelity Investments Institutional Services (investment management firm) (1994-1997).

Directorships in the Last Five Years. None.

Name and Year of Birth   

Position(s)

with the

Fund

     Officer Since(4)     

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

Principal Officers who are not Trustees

Edward J. Perkin

1972

   President      2014      Chief Equity Investment Officer and Vice President of EVM and BMR since 2014. Formerly, Chief Investment Officer, International and Emerging Markets Equity, and Managing Director, Portfolio Manager, Europe, EAFE and Global at Goldman Sachs Asset Management (2002-2014). Also Vice President of Calvert Research and Management (“CRM”).

Maureen A. Gemma

1960

   Vice President, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer      2005      Vice President of EVM and BMR. Also Vice President of CRM.

James F. Kirchner

1967

   Treasurer      2007      Vice President of EVM and BMR. Also Vice President of CRM.

 

  27  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

October 31, 2018

 

Management and Organization — continued

 

 

Name and Year of Birth   

Position(s)

with the

Fund

     Officer Since(4)     

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

Principal Officers who are not Trustees (continued)

Richard F. Froio

1968

   Chief Compliance Officer      2017      Vice President of EVM and BMR since 2017. Formerly Deputy Chief Compliance Officer (Adviser/Funds) and Chief Compliance Officer (Distribution) at PIMCO (2012-2017) and Managing Director at BlackRock/Barclays Global Investors (2009-2012).

 

(1) 

Year first appointed to serve as Trustee for a fund in the Eaton Vance family of funds. Each Trustee has served continuously since appointment unless indicated otherwise. Each Trustee holds office until the annual meeting for the year in which his or her term expires and until his or her successor is elected and qualified, subject to a prior death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.

(2) 

During their respective tenures, the Trustees (except for Mmes. Frost and Sutherland and Messrs. Fetting, Gorman, Quinton, Smith and Wennerholm) also served as Board members of one or more of the following funds (which operated in the years noted): eUnitsTM 2 Year U.S. Market Participation Trust: Upside to Cap / Buffered Downside (launched in 2012 and terminated in 2014); and eUnitsTM 2 Year U.S. Market Participation Trust II: Upside to Cap / Buffered Downside (launched in 2012 and terminated in 2014). However, Ms. Mosley did not serve as a Board member of eUnitsTM 2 Year U.S. Market Participation Trust: Upside to Cap / Buffered Downside (launched in 2012 and terminated in 2014).

(3) 

Messrs. Quinton and Smith began serving as Trustees effective October 1, 2018.

(4) 

Year first elected to serve as officer of a fund in the Eaton Vance family of funds when the officer has served continuously. Otherwise, year of most recent election as an officer of a fund in the Eaton Vance family of funds. Titles may have changed since initial election.

 

  28  


Eaton Vance Funds

 

IMPORTANT NOTICES

 

 

Privacy.  The Eaton Vance organization is committed to ensuring your financial privacy. Each of the financial institutions identified below has in effect the following policy (“Privacy Policy”) with respect to nonpublic personal information about its customers:

 

 

Only such information received from you, through application forms or otherwise, and information about your Eaton Vance fund transactions will be collected. This may include information such as name, address, social security number, tax status, account balances and transactions.

 

 

None of such information about you (or former customers) will be disclosed to anyone, except as permitted by law (which includes disclosure to employees necessary to service your account). In the normal course of servicing a customer’s account, Eaton Vance may share information with unaffiliated third parties that perform various required services such as transfer agents, custodians and broker-dealers.

 

 

Policies and procedures (including physical, electronic and procedural safeguards) are in place that are designed to protect the confidentiality of such information.

 

 

We reserve the right to change our Privacy Policy at any time upon proper notification to you. Customers may want to review our Privacy Policy periodically for changes by accessing the link on our homepage: www.eatonvance.com.

Our pledge of privacy applies to the following entities within the Eaton Vance organization: the Eaton Vance Family of Funds, Eaton Vance Management, Eaton Vance Investment Counsel, Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc., Eaton Vance Trust Company, Eaton Vance Management (International) Limited, Eaton Vance Advisers International Ltd., Eaton Vance Management’s Real Estate Investment Group and Boston Management and Research. In addition, our Privacy Policy applies only to those Eaton Vance customers who are individuals and who have a direct relationship with us. If a customer’s account (i.e., fund shares) is held in the name of a third-party financial advisor/broker-dealer, it is likely that only such advisor’s privacy policies apply to the customer. This notice supersedes all previously issued privacy disclosures. For more information about Eaton Vance’s Privacy Policy, please call 1-800-262-1122.

Delivery of Shareholder Documents.  The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) permits funds to deliver only one copy of shareholder documents, including prospectuses, proxy statements and shareholder reports, to fund investors with multiple accounts at the same residential or post office box address. This practice is often called “householding” and it helps eliminate duplicate mailings to shareholders. American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (“AST”), the closed-end funds transfer agent, or your financial advisor, may household the mailing of your documents indefinitely unless you instruct AST, or your financial advisor, otherwise. If you would prefer that your Eaton Vance documents not be householded, please contact AST or your financial advisor. Your instructions that householding not apply to delivery of your Eaton Vance documents will typically be effective within 30 days of receipt by AST or your financial advisor.

Portfolio Holdings.  Each Eaton Vance Fund and its underlying Portfolio(s) (if applicable) will file a schedule of portfolio holdings on Form N-Q with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year. The Form N-Q will be available on the Eaton Vance website at www.eatonvance.com, by calling Eaton Vance at 1-800-262-1122 or in the EDGAR database on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Form N-Q may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C. (call 1-800-732-0330 for information on the operation of the public reference room).

Proxy Voting.  From time to time, funds are required to vote proxies related to the securities held by the funds. The Eaton Vance Funds or their underlying Portfolios (if applicable) vote proxies according to a set of policies and procedures approved by the Funds’ and Portfolios’ Boards. You may obtain a description of these policies and procedures and information on how the Funds or Portfolios voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-262-1122 and by accessing the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Share Repurchase Program.  The Fund’s Board of Trustees has approved a share repurchase program authorizing the Fund to repurchase up to 10% of its outstanding common shares as of the approved date in open-market transactions at a discount to net asset value. The repurchase program does not obligate the Fund to purchase a specific amount of shares. The Fund’s repurchase activity, including the number of shares purchased, average price and average discount to net asset value, is disclosed in the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders.

Additional Notice to Shareholders.  If applicable, a Fund may also redeem or purchase its outstanding preferred shares in order to maintain compliance with regulatory requirements, borrowing or rating agency requirements or for other purposes as it deems appropriate or necessary.

Closed-End Fund Information.  Eaton Vance closed-end funds make fund performance data and certain information about portfolio characteristics available on the Eaton Vance website shortly after the end of each month. Other information about the funds is available on the website. The funds’ net asset value per share is readily accessible on the Eaton Vance website. Portfolio holdings for the most recent month-end are also posted to the website approximately 30 days following the end of the month. This information is available at www.eatonvance.com on the fund information pages under “Individual Investors — Closed-End Funds”.

 

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Investment Adviser and Administrator

Eaton Vance Management

Two International Place

Boston, MA 02110

Investment Sub-Adviser

Eaton Vance Advisers International Ltd.

125 Old Broad St.

London, EC2N 1AR

United Kingdom

Custodian

State Street Bank and Trust Company

State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

Transfer Agent

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

6201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11219

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Deloitte & Touche LLP

200 Berkeley Street

Boston, MA 02116-5022

Fund Offices

Two International Place

Boston, MA 02110

 


LOGO

 

LOGO

2159    10.31.18


Item 2. Code of Ethics

The registrant has adopted a code of ethics applicable to its Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer. The registrant undertakes to provide a copy of such code of ethics to any person upon request, without charge, by calling 1-800-262-1122. The registrant has not amended the code of ethics as described in Form N-CSR during the period covered by this report. The registrant has not granted any waiver, including an implicit waiver, from a provision of the code of ethics as described in Form N-CSR during the period covered by this report.

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert

The registrant’s Board has designated George J. Gorman and William H. Park, each an independent trustee, as audit committee financial experts. Mr. Gorman is a certified public accountant who is the Principal at George J. Gorman LLC (a consulting firm). Previously, Mr. Gorman served in various capacities at Ernst & Young LLP (a registered public accounting firm), including as Senior Partner. Mr. Gorman also has experience serving as an independent trustee and audit committee financial expert of other mutual fund complexes. Mr. Park is a certified public accountant who is a private investor. Previously, he served as a consultant, as the Chief Financial Officer of Aveon Group, L.P. (an investment management firm), as the Vice Chairman of Commercial Industrial Finance Corp. (specialty finance company), as President and Chief Executive Officer of Prizm Capital Management, LLC (investment management firm), as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of United Asset Management Corporation (an institutional investment management firm) and as a Senior Manager at Price Waterhouse (now PricewaterhouseCoopers) (a registered public accounting firm).

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

(a) –(d)

The following table presents the aggregate fees billed to the registrant for the registrant’s fiscal years ended October 31, 2017 and October 31, 2018 by D&T for professional services rendered for the audit of the registrant’s annual financial statements and fees billed for other services rendered by D&T during such periods.

 

Fiscal Years Ended

   10/31/17      10/31/18  

Audit Fees

   $ 51,427      $ 51,485  

Audit-Related Fees(1)

   $ 0      $ 0  

Tax Fees(2)

   $ 13,189      $ 15,189  

All Other Fees(3)

   $ 0      $ 0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 64,616      $ 66,674  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) 

Audit-related fees consist of the aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the registrant’s financial statements and are not reported under the category of audit fees.

(2) 

Tax fees consist of the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant relating to tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning and specifically include fees for tax return preparation and other related tax compliance/planning matters.

(3)

All other fees consist of the aggregate fees billed for products and services provided by the principal accountant other than audit, audit-related, and tax services.

(e)(1) The registrant’s audit committee has adopted policies and procedures relating to the pre-approval of services provided by the registrant’s principal accountant (the “Pre-Approval Policies”). The Pre-Approval


Policies establish a framework intended to assist the audit committee in the proper discharge of its pre-approval responsibilities. As a general matter, the Pre-Approval Policies (i) specify certain types of audit, audit-related, tax, and other services determined to be pre-approved by the audit committee; and (ii) delineate specific procedures governing the mechanics of the pre-approval process, including the approval and monitoring of audit and non-audit service fees. Unless a service is specifically pre-approved under the Pre-Approval Policies, it must be separately pre-approved by the audit committee.

The Pre-Approval Policies and the types of audit and non-audit services pre-approved therein must be reviewed and ratified by the registrant’s audit committee at least annually. The registrant’s audit committee maintains full responsibility for the appointment, compensation, and oversight of the work of the registrant’s principal accountant.

(e)(2) No services described in paragraphs (b)-(d) above were approved by the registrant’s audit committee pursuant to the “de minimis exception” set forth in Rule 2-01 (c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X.

(f) Not applicable.

(g) The following table presents (i) the aggregate non-audit fees (i.e., fees for audit-related, tax, and other services) billed to the registrant by D&T for the registrant’s fiscal years ended October 31, 2017 and October 31, 2018; and (ii) the aggregate non-audit fees (i.e., fees for audit-related, tax, and other services) billed to the Eaton Vance organization by D&T for the same time periods.

 

Fiscal Years Ended

   10/31/17      10/31/18  

Registrant

   $ 13,189      $ 15,189  

Eaton Vance(1)

   $ 148,018      $ 126,485  

 

(1)

The investment adviser to the registrant, as well as any of its affiliates that provide ongoing services to the registrant, are subsidiaries of Eaton Vance Corp.

(h) The registrant’s audit committee has considered whether the provision by the registrant’s principal accountant of non-audit services to the registrant’s investment adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were not pre-approved pursuant to Rule 2-01(c)(7)(ii) of Regulation S-X is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence.

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants

The registrant has a separately-designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. George J. Gorman (Chair), Valerie A. Mosley, William H. Park and Scott E. Wennerholm are the members of the registrant’s audit committee.

Item 6. Schedule of Investments

Please see schedule of investments contained in the Report to Stockholders included under Item 1 of this Form N-CSR.


Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies

The Board of Trustees of the Trust has adopted a proxy voting policy and procedure (the “Fund Policy”), pursuant to which the Trustees have delegated proxy voting responsibility to the Fund’s investment adviser and adopted the investment adviser’s proxy voting policies and procedures (the “Policies”) which are described below. The Trustees will review the Fund’s proxy voting records from time to time and will annually consider approving the Policies for the upcoming year. In the event that a conflict of interest arises between the Fund’s shareholders and the investment adviser, the administrator, or any of their affiliates or any affiliate of the Fund, the investment adviser will generally refrain from voting the proxies related to the companies giving rise to such conflict until it consults with the Board’s Special Committee except as contemplated under the Fund Policy. The Board’s Special Committee will instruct the investment adviser on the appropriate course of action.

The Policies are designed to promote accountability of a company’s management to its shareholders and to align the interests of management with those shareholders. An independent proxy voting service (“Agent”), currently Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc., has been retained to assist in the voting of proxies through the provision of vote analysis, implementation and recordkeeping and disclosure services. The investment adviser will generally vote proxies through the Agent. The Agent is required to vote all proxies and/or refer them back to the investment adviser pursuant to the Policies. It is generally the policy of the investment adviser to vote in accordance with the recommendation of the Agent. The Agent shall refer to the investment adviser proxies relating to mergers and restructurings, and the disposition of assets, termination, liquidation and mergers contained in mutual fund proxies. The investment adviser will normally vote against anti-takeover measures and other proposals designed to limit the ability of shareholders to act on possible transactions, except in the case of closed-end management investment companies. The investment adviser generally supports management on social and environmental proposals. The investment adviser may abstain from voting from time to time where it determines that the costs associated with voting a proxy outweighs the benefits derived from exercising the right to vote or the economic effect on shareholders interests or the value of the portfolio holding is indeterminable or insignificant.

In addition, the investment adviser will monitor situations that may result in a conflict of interest between the Fund’s shareholders and the investment adviser, the administrator, or any of their affiliates or any affiliate of the Fund by maintaining a list of significant existing and prospective corporate clients. The investment adviser’s personnel responsible for reviewing and voting proxies on behalf of the Fund will report any proxy received or expected to be received from a company included on that list to the personnel of the investment adviser identified in the Policies. If such personnel expects to instruct the Agent to vote such proxies in a manner inconsistent with the guidelines of the Policies or the recommendation of the Agent, the personnel will consult with members of senior management of the investment adviser to determine if a material conflict of interests exists. If it is determined that a material conflict does exist, the investment adviser will seek instruction on how to vote from the Special Committee.

Information on how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12 month period ended June 30 is available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-262-1122, and (2) on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

Item 8.    Portfolio

Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies

Eaton Vance Management (“EVM” or “Eaton Vance”) is the investment adviser of the Fund and Eaton Vance Advisers International Ltd. (“EVAIL”) is the sub-adviser of the Fund. Michael A. Allison, John H. Croft and Christopher M. Dyer comprise the investment team responsible for the overall and day-to-day management of the Fund’s investments.

Mr. Allison is a Vice President of EVM, is a member of EVM’s Equity Strategy Committee and has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since November 2013. Mr. Croft is a Vice President of EVM and has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since March 2010. Messrs. Allison and Croft have managed other Eaton Vance portfolios for more than five years. Mr. Dyer is a Vice President and Director of EVAIL, is the Director of Global Equity for the Eaton Vance organization and has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since September 2015.


Prior to joining EVAIL in November 2017, Mr. Dyer was a Vice President of Eaton Vance Management (International) Limited (“EVMI”). Prior to joining EVMI in June 2015, Mr. Dyer was Head of European Equity for Goldman Sachs Asset Management in London, where he also served in various portfolio management roles during his fourteen-year tenure (2001-2015). This information is provided as of the date of filing this report.

The following table shows, as of the Fund’s most recent fiscal year end, the number of accounts each portfolio manager managed in each of the listed categories and the total assets (in millions of dollars) in the accounts managed within each category. The table also shows the number of accounts with respect to which the advisory fee is based on the performance of the account, if any, and the total assets (in millions of dollars) in those accounts.

 

     Number of
All
Accounts
     Total Assets of
All Accounts
    Number of
Accounts
Paying a
Performance Fee
     Total Assets of
Accounts Paying a
Performance Fee
 

Michael A. Allison

          

Registered Investment Companies

     16      $ 31,702.5       0      $ 0  

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

     14      $ 20,908.2 (1)       0      $ 0  

Other Accounts

     15      $ 19.1       0      $ 0  

John H. Croft

          

Registered Investment Companies

     8      $ 6,038.1       0      $ 0  

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

     0      $ 0       0      $ 0  

Other Accounts

     1      $ 10.4       0      $ 0  

Christopher M. Dyer

          

Registered Investment Companies

     10      $ 6,224.0       0      $ 0  

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

     0      $ 0       0      $ 0  

Other Accounts

     3      $ 6.0       0      $ 0  

(1) Certain of these “Other Pooled Investment Vehicles” invest a substantial portion of their assets either in a registered investment company or in a separate pooled investment vehicle managed by this portfolio manager or another Eaton Vance portfolio manager.

The following table shows the dollar range of Fund shares beneficially owned by each portfolio manager as of the Fund’s most recent fiscal year end.

 

Portfolio Manager

   Dollar Range of Equity Securities
Beneficially Owned in the Fund

Michael A. Allison

   $1 - $10,000

John H. Croft

   $10,001 - $50,000

Christopher M. Dyer

   None


Potential for Conflicts of Interest. It is possible that conflicts of interest may arise in connection with a portfolio manager’s management of the Fund’s investments on the one hand and the investments of other accounts for which a portfolio manager is responsible on the other. For example, a portfolio manager may have conflicts of interest in allocating management time, resources and investment opportunities among the Fund and other accounts he advises. In addition, due to differences in the investment strategies or restrictions between the Fund and the other accounts, the portfolio manager may take action with respect to another account that differs from the action taken with respect to the Fund. In some cases, another account managed by a portfolio manager may compensate EVM or EVAIL based on the performance of the securities held by that account. The existence of such a performance based fee may create additional conflicts of interest for the portfolio manager in the allocation of management time, resources and investment opportunities. Whenever conflicts of interest arise, the portfolio manager will endeavor to exercise his discretion in a manner that he believes is equitable to all interested persons. EVM and EVAIL have adopted several policies and procedures designed to address these potential conflicts including a code of ethics and policies that govern EVM’s and EVAIL’s trading practices, including among other things the aggregation and allocation of trades among clients, brokerage allocations, cross trades and best execution.

Compensation Structure for EVM and EVAIL

Compensation of EVM’s and EVAIL’s portfolio managers and other investment professionals has three primary components: (1) a base salary, (2) an annual cash bonus, (3) annual non-cash compensation consisting of options to purchase shares of EVC nonvoting common stock and/or restricted shares of EVC nonvoting common stock that generally are subject to a vesting schedule and (4) (for equity portfolio managers) a Deferred Alpha Incentive Plan, which pays a deferred cash award tied to future excess returns in certain equity strategy portfolios. EVM’s and EVAIL’s investment professionals also receive certain retirement, insurance and other benefits that are broadly available to EVM’s and EVAIL’s employees. Compensation of EVM’s and EVAIL’s investment professionals is reviewed primarily on an annual basis. Cash bonuses, stock-based compensation awards, and adjustments in base salary are typically paid or put into effect at or shortly after the October 31st fiscal year end of EVC.

Method to Determine Compensation. EVM and EVAIL compensate its portfolio managers based primarily on the scale and complexity of their portfolio responsibilities and the total return performance of managed funds and accounts versus the benchmark(s) stated in the prospectus, as well as an appropriate peer group (as described below). In addition to rankings within peer groups of funds on the basis of absolute performance, consideration may also be given to relative risk-adjusted performance. Risk-adjusted performance measures include, but are not limited to, the Sharpe Ratio (Sharpe ratio uses standard deviation and excess return to determine reward per unit of risk). Performance is normally based on periods ending on the September 30th preceding fiscal year end. Fund performance is normally evaluated primarily versus peer groups of funds as determined by Lipper Inc. and/or Morningstar, Inc. When a fund’s peer group as determined by Lipper or Morningstar is deemed by EVM’s and EVAIL’s management not to provide a fair comparison, performance may instead be evaluated primarily against a custom peer group or market index. In evaluating the performance of a fund and its manager, primary emphasis is normally placed on three-year performance, with secondary consideration of performance over longer and shorter periods. For funds that are tax-managed or otherwise have an objective of after-tax returns, performance is measured net of taxes. For other funds, performance is evaluated on a pre-tax basis. For funds with an investment objective other than total return (such as current income), consideration will also be given to the fund’s success in achieving its objective. For managers responsible for multiple funds and accounts, investment performance is evaluated on an aggregate basis, based on averages or weighted averages among managed funds and accounts. Funds and accounts that have performance-based advisory fees are not accorded disproportionate weightings in measuring aggregate portfolio manager performance. A portion of the compensation payable to equity portfolio managers and investment professionals will be determined based on the ability of one or more accounts managed by such manager to achieve a specified target average annual gross return over a three year period in excess of the account benchmark. The cash bonus to be payable at the end of the three year term will be established at the inception of the term and will be adjusted positively or negatively to the extent that the average annual gross return varies from the specified target return.


The compensation of portfolio managers with other job responsibilities (such as heading an investment group or providing analytical support to other portfolios) will include consideration of the scope of such responsibilities and the managers’ performance in meeting them.

EVM and EVAIL seek to compensate portfolio managers commensurate with their responsibilities and performance, and competitive with other firms within the investment management industry. EVM and EVAIL participate in investment-industry compensation surveys and utilizes survey data as a factor in determining salary, bonus and stock-based compensation levels for portfolio managers and other investment professionals. Salaries, bonuses and stock-based compensation are also influenced by the operating performance of EVM and EVAIL and its parent company. The overall annual cash bonus pool is generally based on a substantially fixed percentage of pre-bonus adjusted operating income. While the salaries of EVM’s and EVAIL’s portfolio managers are comparatively fixed, cash bonuses and stock-based compensation may fluctuate significantly from year to year, based on changes in manager performance and other factors as described herein. For a high performing portfolio manager, cash bonuses and stock-based compensation may represent a substantial portion of total compensation.

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers

No such purchases this period.

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

No material changes.

Item 11. Controls and Procedures

(a) It is the conclusion of the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer that the effectiveness of the registrant’s current disclosure controls and procedures (such disclosure controls and procedures having been evaluated within 90 days of the date of this filing) provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by the registrant has been recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time period specified in the Commission’s rules and forms and that the information required to be disclosed by the registrant has been accumulated and communicated to the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer in order to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(b) There have been no changes in the registrant’s internal controls over financial reporting during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 12. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies

The Fund does not engage in securities lending.

Item 13. Exhibits

 

(a)(1)   Registrant’s Code of Ethics – Not applicable (please see Item 2).
(a)(2)(i)   Treasurer’s Section 302 certification.
(a)(2)(ii)   President’s Section 302 certification.
(b)   Combined Section 906 certification.
(c)   Registrant’s notices to shareholders pursuant to Registrant’s exemptive order granting an exemption from Section 19(b) of the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1 thereunder regarding distributions paid pursuant to the Registrant’s Managed Distribution Plan.


Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund

 

By:  

/s/ Edward J. Perkin

  Edward J. Perkin
  President
      
Date:   December 21, 2018

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By:  

/s/ James F. Kirchner

  James F. Kirchner
  Treasurer
      
Date:   December 21, 2018

 

By:  

/s/ Edward J. Perkin

  Edward J. Perkin
  President
      
Date:   December 21, 2018