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: 811-22983

 

 

Eaton Vance NextShares Trust II

(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)

January 31

Date of Fiscal Year End

January 31, 2020

Date of Reporting Period

 

 

 


Item 1. Reports to Stockholders

 


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Eaton Vance

TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares (EVLMC)

Listing Exchange:  The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

Annual Report

January 31, 2020

 

 

 

 

Important Note. Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Fund’s annual and semi-annual shareholder reports will no longer be sent by mail unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will be made available on the Fund’s website (eatonvance.com/nextsharesdocuments), and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website address to access the report.

If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the Fund electronically by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a financial advisor, broker-dealer or bank).

You may elect to receive all future Fund shareholder reports in paper free of charge. You can contact your financial intermediary or follow instructions included with this disclosure, if applicable, to elect to continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all funds held through your financial intermediary.

 

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NextShares® is a registered trademark of NextShares Solutions LLC. All rights reserved.


 

 

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 adviser has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act with respect to its management of the Fund. Accordingly, neither the Fund nor the adviser with respect to the operation of the Fund is subject to CFTC regulation. Because of its management of other strategies, the Fund’s adviser is registered with the CFTC as a commodity pool operator and a commodity trading advisor.

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.

This report must be preceded or accompanied by a current summary prospectus or prospectus. Before investing in NextShares, investors should consider carefully the investment objective, risks, charges and expenses. This and other important information is contained in the summary prospectus and prospectus, which can be obtained from a financial intermediary. Prospective investors should read the prospectus carefully before investing. For further information, please call 1-800-262-1122.


Annual Report January 31, 2020

Eaton Vance

TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares

Table of Contents

 

Management’s Discussion of Fund Performance

     2  

Performance

     3  

Fund Profile

     4  

Endnotes and Additional Disclosures

     5  

Fund Expenses

     6  

Financial Statements

     7  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     14 and 34  

Federal Tax Information

     15  

Board of Trustees’ Contract Approval

     35  

Management and Organization

     38  

Important Notices

     41  


Eaton Vance

TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares

January 31, 2020

 

Management’s Discussion of Fund Performance1

 

 

Economic and Market Conditions

The 12-month period ended January 31, 2020, was marked by strong performance across the municipal bond market, with the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index,2 a broad measure of the asset class, returning 8.65%. The municipal bond yield curve9 experienced a so-called “bull market flattening”, where rates declined across the curve, but more so toward the long end of the curve. With investors searching for yield in a low-rate environment, lower rated8 bonds generally outperformed higher rated bonds, while longer duration10 issues outperformed shorter duration issues.

As the period opened on February 1, 2019, investors were concerned about a growing U.S.-China trade war. Following its December 19, 2018 federal funds rate hike — the last one on record — the U.S. Federal Reserve (the Fed) lowered its projected number of rate increases for 2019 from three to two, which some investors viewed as indicating weakness in the U.S. economy. The result was a “flight to quality” by investors seeking the relative safety of fixed-income securities over stocks, initiating a bond rally that pushed longer term bond prices up and yields down.

The fixed-income rally continued through the spring and summer of 2019, propelled by lower-than-desired inflation, low European interest rates, on-again/off-again trade-conflict rhetoric, and Fed comments in March that were more dovish than the market had expected — leading many investors to conclude that further rate hikes were off the table for 2019. After holding interest rates steady through the first half of the period, the Fed cut the federal funds rate for the first time in over a decade on July 31, 2019, followed by two more rate cuts in September and October to end the period at 1.50%-1.75%.

In the middle and long portions of the yield curve — where rates are influenced more by the market than the Fed — rates bottomed at the beginning of September. From September 3 through the end of December, U.S. and European interest rates trended modestly upward, amid better-than-expected U.S. employment reports and cautious optimism about a U.S.-China trade détente.

Two events in the final month of the period, January 2020, raised investor concerns and led to a renewed “flight to quality” that revived the bond market rally. On January 2, the assassination of Iran’s top military commander by a U.S. drone strike briefly raised the specter of a U.S.-Iran military conflict. More lasting was the effect of the coronavirus outbreak in China, which threatened to slow global economic growth for possibly months.

Within the municipal bond market, technical factors amplified the price rally during the period. The 2017 tax law changes resulted in a combination of lower supply of new municipal issues and increased demand from high-income investors in high-tax states who had seen their tax bills rise under the revised code.

Fund Performance

For the 12-month period ended January 31, 2020, Eaton Vance TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares (the Fund) returned 7.92% at net asset value (NAV), underperforming its primary benchmark, the Bloomberg Barclays 10 Year Municipal Bond Index (the Index), which returned 8.61%.

The Index is unmanaged and returns do not reflect any applicable sales charges, commissions, or expenses.

The Fund provides rules-based, approximately equal-weighted exposure in each year across the 5-15 year maturity portion of the yield curve, with the objective of seeking current income exempt from regular federal income tax. Management seeks to add incremental return through active security selection and in-depth credit analysis.

During the period, yield-curve positioning and duration detracted from Fund performance versus the Index. While the Index was entirely positioned in the 8-12 year area of the yield curve, the Fund was approximately equally weighted across the yield curve from 5 through 15 years. The Fund’s out-of Index holdings in the 5-7 year area of the curve underperformed the Index holdings in the longer maturity area of the curve and, thus, detracted from results relative to the Index.

In addition, the Fund had a shorter duration, or sensitivity to interest rate changes, than the Index during the period. This detracted from relative performance because the Fund benefited less than the Index from declining interest rates and rising bond prices during the period. The Fund’s duration positioning was a by-product of the Fund’s rules-based, equal-weighted yield-curve positioning.

In contrast, security selection and credit quality contributed to Fund performance versus the Index during the period. Active security selection — management’s work with credit analysts to pick sectors, issuers, and individual bonds to invest in — was the largest contributor to results relative to the Index.

With regard to credit quality, the Fund’s overweight exposure to A- and BBB-rated bonds aided relative performance, as lower rated bonds outperformed higher rated bonds during the period.

 

 

See Endnotes and Additional Disclosures in this report.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance is for the stated time period only; due to market volatility, the Fund’s current performance may be lower or higher than indicated. The Fund’s performance at market price will differ from its results at net asset value (NAV). The market price used to calculate the Market Price return is the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest offer on the exchange on which the shares of the Fund are listed for trading, as of the time that the Fund’s NAV is calculated. If you trade your shares at another time during the day, your return may differ. Returns are historical and are calculated by determining the percentage change in NAV or market price (as applicable) with all distributions reinvested at NAV or closing market price (as applicable) on the payment date of the distribution, and are net of management fees and other expenses. Returns are before taxes unless otherwise noted. Performance less than or equal to one year is cumulative. For performance as of the most recent month-end, including historical trading premiums/discounts relative to NAV, please refer to eatonvance.com.

 

  2  


Eaton Vance

TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares

January 31, 2020

 

Performance2,3,4

 

Portfolio Managers James H. Evans, CFA, Brian C. Barney, CFA and Christopher J. Harshman, CFA, each of Parametric Portfolio Associates LLC

 

% Average Annual Total Returns    Fund
Inception Date
     Performance
Inception Date
     One Year      Five Years      Since
Portfolio
Investor
Inception
    Since
Fund
Inception
 

Fund at NAV

     03/30/2016        02/01/2010        7.92      3.54      6.27     3.66

Fund at Market Price

     03/30/2016        03/30/2016        7.92                     3.66  

Bloomberg Barclays 10 Year Municipal Bond Index

                   8.61      3.66      4.76     3.88

Bloomberg Barclays 15 Year Municipal Bond Index

                   10.48        4.34        5.41       4.62  
                
% Total Annual Operating Expense Ratios5                                               

Gross

                   1.88

Net

                   0.35  
                
% Distribution Rates/Yields6                                               

Distribution Rate at NAV

                   2.14

SEC 30-day Yield – Subsidized

                   1.17  

SEC 30-day Yield – Unsubsidized

                   –0.15  

Growth of $10,0004

                

Growth of $10,0004

 

This graph shows the change in value of a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares for the period indicated. For comparison, the same investment is shown in the indicated index

 

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See Endnotes and Additional Disclosures in this report.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance is for the stated time period only; due to market volatility, the Fund’s current performance may be lower or higher than indicated. The Fund’s performance at market price will differ from its results at net asset value (NAV). The market price used to calculate the Market Price return is the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest offer on the exchange on which the shares of the Fund are listed for trading, as of the time that the Fund’s NAV is calculated. If you trade your shares at another time during the day, your return may differ. Returns are historical and are calculated by determining the percentage change in NAV or market price (as applicable) with all distributions reinvested at NAV or closing market price (as applicable) on the payment date of the distribution, and are net of management fees and other expenses. Returns are before taxes unless otherwise noted. Performance less than or equal to one year is cumulative. For performance as of the most recent month-end, including historical trading premiums/discounts relative to NAV, please refer to eatonvance.com.

 

  3  


Eaton Vance

TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares

January 31, 2020

 

Fund Profile7

 

 

Credit Quality (% of total investments)8

 

 

LOGO

 

 

See Endnotes and Additional Disclosures in this report.

 

  4  


Eaton Vance

TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares

January 31, 2020

 

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 

Shares of NextShares funds are normally bought and sold in the secondary market through a broker, and may not be individually purchased or redeemed from the fund. In the secondary market, buyers and sellers transact with each other, rather than with the fund. NextShares funds issue and redeem shares only in specified creation unit quantities in transactions by or through Authorized Participants. In such transactions, a fund issues and redeems shares in exchange for the basket of securities, other instruments and/or cash that the fund specifies each business day. By transacting in kind, a NextShares fund can lower its trading costs and enhance fund tax efficiency by avoiding forced sales of securities to meet redemptions. Redemptions may be effected partially or entirely in cash when in-kind delivery is not practicable or deemed not in the best interests of shareholders. A fund’s basket is not intended to be representative of the fund’s current portfolio positions and may vary significantly from current positions. As exchange-traded securities, NextShares can operate with low transfer agency expenses by utilizing the same highly efficient share processing system as used for exchange-listed stocks and ETFs.

 

  

Market trading prices of NextShares are linked to the fund’s next-computed net asset value (NAV) and will vary from NAV by a market-determined premium or discount, which may be zero. Buyers and sellers of NextShares will not know the value of their purchases and sales until after the fund’s NAV is determined at the end of the trading day. Market trading prices may vary significantly from anticipated levels. NextShares do not offer investors the opportunity to buy and sell intraday based on current (versus end-of-day) determinations of fund value. NextShares trade execution prices will fluctuate based on changes in NAV. Although limit orders may be used to control trading costs, they cannot be used to control or limit trade execution prices. As a new type of fund, NextShares have a limited operating history and may initially be available through a limited number of brokers. There can be no guarantee that an active trading market for NextShares will develop or be maintained, or that their listing will continue unchanged. Buying and selling NextShares may require payment of brokerage commissions and expose transacting shareholders to other trading costs. Frequent trading may detract from realized investment returns. The return on a shareholder’s NextShares investment will be reduced if the shareholder sells shares at a greater discount or narrower premium to NAV than he or she acquired the shares.

 

3 

Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index is an unmanaged index of municipal bonds traded in the U.S. Bloomberg Barclays 10 Year Municipal Bond Index is an unmanaged index of municipal bonds traded in the U.S. with maturities ranging from 8-12 years. Bloomberg Barclays 15 Year Municipal Bond Index is an unmanaged index of municipal bonds traded in the U.S. with maturities ranging from 12-17 years. 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.

 

4

The Fund pursues its investment objective by investing in a separate investment fund (the Portfolio). The returns at NAV for periods before the date the Fund commenced operations are for a mutual fund that invests in the Portfolio (the Portfolio Investor). The performance during such period does not represent the performance of the Fund. The prior investment performance of the Portfolio Investor (rather than the Portfolio itself) is shown because it reflects the expenses typically borne by a retail fund investing in the Portfolio. The Portfolio Investor returns are not adjusted to reflect differences between the total net operating expenses of the Fund and the Portfolio Investor during the periods shown. If such an adjustment were made, the performance presented would be higher, because the Fund’s total net operating expenses are lower than those of the Portfolio Investor. Performance is for a share class of the Portfolio Investor offered at net asset value. Performance presented in the Financial Highlights included in the financial statements is not linked.

  

Prior to April 15, 2015, the Portfolio Investor had a different name and investment objective and employed a different investment strategy from the Portfolio Investor’s current investment strategy. Performance prior to April 15, 2015 reflects the Portfolio Investor’s performance under its former investment objective and policies.

 

5 

Source: Fund prospectus. Net expense ratio reflects a contractual expense reimbursement that continues through 5/31/20. Without the reimbursement, performance would have been lower. The expense ratios for the current reporting period can be found in the Financial Highlights section of this report.

 

6 

The Distribution Rate is based on the Fund’s last regular distribution per share in the period (annualized) divided by the Fund’s NAV at the end of the period. The Fund’s distributions may be comprised of amounts characterized for federal income tax purposes as tax-exempt income, qualified and non-qualified ordinary dividends, capital gains and nondividend distributions, also known as return of capital. 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. The Fund’s distributions are determined by the investment adviser based on its current assessment of the Fund’s long-term return potential. As portfolio and market conditions change, the rate of distributions paid by the Fund could change. The SEC Yield is a standardized measure based on the estimated yield to maturity of a fund’s investments over a 30-day period and is based on the maximum offer price at the date specified. The SEC Yield is not based on the distributions made by the Fund, which may differ. Subsidized yield reflects the effect of fee waivers and expense reimbursements.

 

7 

The Fund primarily invests in an affiliated investment company (Portfolio) with substantially the same objective(s) and policies as the Fund and may also invest directly. Unless otherwise noted, references to investments are to the aggregate holdings of the Fund and the Portfolio.

 

8 

Ratings are based on Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) or Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”), as applicable. If securities are rated differently by the ratings agencies, the highest rating is applied. Ratings, which are subject to change, apply to the creditworthiness of the issuers of the underlying securities and not to the Fund or its shares. Credit ratings measure the quality of a bond based on the issuer’s creditworthiness, with ratings ranging from AAA, being the highest, to D, being the lowest based on S&P’s measures. Ratings of BBB or higher by S&P or Fitch (Baa or higher by Moody’s) are considered to be investment-grade quality. Credit ratings are based largely on the ratings agency’s analysis at the time of rating. The rating assigned to any particular security is not necessarily a reflection of the issuer’s current financial condition and does not necessarily reflect its assessment of the volatility of a security’s market value or of the liquidity of an investment in the security. Holdings designated as “Not Rated” (if any) are not rated by the national ratings agencies stated above.

 

9 

Yield curve is a graphical representation of the yields offered by bonds of various maturities. The yield curve flattens when long-term interest rates fall and/or short-term interest rates increase, and the yield curve steepens when long-term interest rates increase and/or short-term interest rates fall.

 

10 

Duration is a measure of the expected change in price of a bond — in percentage terms — given a one percent change in interest rates, all else being constant. Securities with lower durations tend to be less sensitive to interest rate changes.

 

  

Fund profile subject to change due to active management.

Important Notice to Shareholders

The Fund’s investment adviser, Eaton Vance Management (EVM), is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eaton Vance Corp. (EVC). Effective January 15, 2020, the Board of Trustees of the Fund approved the delegation of the day-to-day investment management of the Fund to Parametric Portfolio Associates LLC (Parametric), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of EVC. On such date, Parametric became the sub-adviser of the Fund. There has been no change in portfolio management for the Fund. The Fund’s portfolio managers from EVM became employees of Parametric in connection with these changes.

 

 

  5  


Eaton Vance

TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares

January 31, 2020

 

Fund Expenses

 

 

Example:  As a Fund shareholder, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of Fund shares; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. This Example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of Fund investing and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other funds. The Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period (August 1, 2019 – January 31, 2020).

Actual Expenses:  The first section of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this section, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first section under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes:  The second section of the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the actual Fund expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year (before expenses), which is not the actual Fund return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in your Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of Fund shares. Therefore, the second section of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would be higher.

 

     Beginning
Account Value
(8/1/19)
     Ending
Account Value
(1/31/20)
     Expenses Paid
During Period*
(8/1/19 – 1/31/20)
     Annualized
Expense
Ratio
 

Actual

          
  $ 1,000.00      $ 1,029.20      $ 1.79 **       0.35
         

Hypothetical

          

(5% return per year before expenses)

          
  $ 1,000.00      $ 1,023.40      $ 1.79 **       0.35

 

*

Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). The Example assumes that the $1,000 was invested at the net asset value per share determined at the close of business on July 31, 2019. The Example reflects the expenses of both the Fund and the Portfolio.

 

**

Absent an allocation of certain expenses to affiliates, expenses would be higher.

 

  6  


Eaton Vance

TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares

January 31, 2020

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

 

Assets    January 31, 2020  

Investment in 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Portfolio, at value (identified cost, $6,970,624)

   $ 7,564,289  

Receivable from affiliates

     18,698  

Total assets

   $ 7,582,987  
Liabilities

 

Payable to affiliates:

  

Operations agreement fee

   $ 314  

Accrued expenses

     131,381  

Total liabilities

   $ 131,695  

Net Assets

   $ 7,451,292  
Sources of Net Assets

 

Paid-in capital

   $ 7,104,821  

Distributable earnings

     346,471  

Total

   $ 7,451,292  
Net Asset Value Per Share         

($7,451,292 ÷ 700,000 shares issued and outstanding)

   $ 10.64  

 

  7   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Eaton Vance

TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares

January 31, 2020

 

Statement of Operations

 

 

Investment Income   

Year Ended

January 31, 2020

 

Interest allocated from Portfolio

   $ 186,027  

Expenses allocated from Portfolio

     (25,559

Total investment income from Portfolio

   $ 160,468  
Expenses         

Operations agreement fee

   $ 3,630  

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     500  

Custodian fee

     33,614  

Transfer and dividend disbursing agent fees

     13,800  

Legal and accounting services

     23,417  

Printing and postage

     6,499  

Listing fee

     6,368  

Intraday pricing fee

     10,614  

Miscellaneous

     2,335  

Total expenses

   $ 100,777  

Deduct —

  

Allocation of expenses to affiliates

   $ 100,777  

Total expense reductions

   $ 100,777  

Net expenses

   $ 0  

Net investment income

   $ 160,468  
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) from Portfolio

 

Net realized gain (loss) —

  

Investment transactions

   $ 40,808  

Net realized gain

   $ 40,808  

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) —

  

Investments

   $ 354,042  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

   $ 354,042  

Net realized and unrealized gain

   $ 394,850  

Net increase in net assets from operations

   $ 555,318  

 

  8   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Eaton Vance

TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares

January 31, 2020

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

     Year Ended January 31,  
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets    2020      2019  

From operations —

     

Net investment income

   $ 160,468      $ 151,724  

Net realized gain (loss)

     40,808        (89,059

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     354,042        155,438  

Net increase in net assets from operations

   $ 555,318      $ 218,103  

Distributions to shareholders

   $ (160,790    $ (151,340

Other capital —

     

Portfolio transaction fee contributed to Portfolio

   $ (214    $ (333

Portfolio transaction fee allocated from Portfolio

     2,249        3,348  

Net increase in net assets from other capital

   $ 2,035      $ 3,015  

Net increase in net assets

   $ 396,563      $ 69,778  
Net Assets

 

At beginning of year

   $ 7,054,729      $ 6,984,951  

At end of year

   $ 7,451,292      $ 7,054,729  
Changes in shares outstanding                  

Shares outstanding, beginning of year

     700,000        700,000  

Shares outstanding, end of year

     700,000        700,000  

 

  9   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Eaton Vance

TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares

January 31, 2020

 

Financial Highlights

 

 

     Year Ended January 31,     

Period Ended

January 31,  2017(1)(2)

 
     2020      2019      2018(1)  
         

Net asset value — Beginning of period

   $ 10.080      $ 9.980      $ 9.790      $ 10.000  
Income (Loss) From Operations                                    

Net investment income(3)

   $ 0.229      $ 0.217      $ 0.229      $ 0.149  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     0.558        0.095        0.175        (0.238

Total income (loss) from operations

   $ 0.787      $ 0.312      $ 0.404      $ (0.089
Less Distributions                                    

From net investment income

   $ (0.230    $ (0.216    $ (0.214    $ (0.110

Total distributions

   $ (0.230    $ (0.216    $ (0.214    $ (0.110

Portfolio transaction fee, net(3)

   $ 0.003      $ 0.004      $ 0.000 (4)       $ (0.011

Net asset value — End of period

   $ 10.640      $ 10.080      $ 9.980      $ 9.790  

Total Return on Net Asset Value(5)(6)

     7.92      3.23      4.13      (1.03 )%(7)  
Ratios/Supplemental Data                                    

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

   $ 7,451      $ 7,055      $ 6,985      $ 22,028  

Ratios (as a percentage of average daily net assets):(8)

           

Expenses(6)

     0.35      0.35      0.35      0.35 %(9) 

Net investment income

     2.21      2.18      2.28      1.77 %(9) 

Portfolio Turnover of the Portfolio

     28      78      35      30 %(7)(10) 

 

  (1)

Per share data reflect a 2-for-1 share split effective March 9, 2018.

 

  (2)

For the period from the start of business, March 30, 2016, to January 31, 2017.

 

  (3)

Computed using average shares outstanding.

 

  (4)

Amount is less than $0.0005.

 

  (5)

Returns are historical and are calculated by determining the percentage change in net asset value with all distributions reinvested and do not reflect the effect of a market-determined premium or discount. Investment returns assume that all distributions have been reinvested at net asset value.

 

  (6)

The investment adviser and administrator and the sub-adviser of the Fund and the investment adviser and the sub-adviser of the Portfolio reimbursed certain operating expenses (equal to 1.40%, 1.53%, 0.74% and 1.10% of average daily net assets for the years ended January 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 and the period ended January 31, 2017, respectively). Absent this reimbursement, total return would be lower.

 

  (7)

Not annualized.

 

  (8)

Includes the Fund’s share of the Portfolio’s allocated expenses.

 

  (9)

Annualized.

 

(10) 

For the period from the Portfolio’s start of business, March 28, 2016, to January 31, 2017.

 

  10   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Eaton Vance

TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares

January 31, 2020

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

 

1  Significant Accounting Policies

Eaton Vance TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares (the Fund) is a diversified series of Eaton Vance NextShares Trust II (the Trust), a Massachusetts business trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act). The Fund is an exchange-traded managed fund operating pursuant to an order issued by the SEC granting an exemption from certain provisions of the 1940 Act. Individual shares of the Fund may be purchased and sold only on a national securities exchange or alternative trading system through a broker-dealer that offers NextShares, and may not be directly purchased or redeemed from the Fund. Market trading prices for the Fund are directly linked to the Fund’s next-computed net asset value per share (NAV) and will vary from NAV by a market-determined premium or discount, which may be zero. The Fund invests all of its investable assets in interests in 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Portfolio (the Portfolio), a Massachusetts business trust, having substantially the same investment objective and policies as the Fund. The value of the Fund’s investment in the Portfolio reflects the Fund’s proportionate interest in the net assets of the Portfolio (1.0% at January 31, 2020). The performance of the Fund is directly affected by the performance of the Portfolio. The financial statements of the Portfolio, including the portfolio of investments, are included elsewhere in this report and should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s financial statements.

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 — Valuation of securities by the Portfolio is discussed in Note 1A of the Portfolio’s Notes to Financial Statements, which are included elsewhere in this report.

B  Income — The Fund’s net investment income or loss consists of the Fund’s pro-rata share of the net investment income or loss of the Portfolio, less all actual and accrued expenses of the Fund.

C  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 taxable, if any, and tax-exempt 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. The Fund intends to satisfy conditions which will enable it to designate distributions from the interest income generated by the Portfolio’s investments in municipal obligations, which are exempt from regular federal income tax when received by the Portfolio, as exempt-interest dividends. The portion of such interest, if any, earned on private activity bonds issued after August 7, 1986, may be considered a tax preference item to shareholders.

As of January 31, 2020, 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.

D  Expenses — The majority of expenses of the Trust are directly identifiable to an individual fund. Expenses which are not readily identifiable to a specific fund are allocated taking into consideration, among other things, the nature and type of expense and the relative size of the funds.

E  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.

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

G  Other — Investment transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis.

2  Distributions to Shareholders and Income Tax Information

It is the present policy of the Fund to make monthly distributions of all or substantially all of its net investment income and to distribute annually all or substantially all of its net realized capital gains. Distributions are paid in cash and cannot be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Fund. Distributions to shareholders 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.

 

  11  


Eaton Vance

TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares

January 31, 2020

 

Notes to Financial Statements — continued

 

 

The tax character of distributions declared for the years ended January 31, 2020 and January 31, 2019 was as follows:

 

     Year Ended January 31,  
      2020      2019  

Tax-exempt income

   $ 160,790      $ 151,340  

As of January 31, 2020, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated loss) on a tax basis were as follows:

 

   

Undistributed tax-exempt income

   $ 13,199  

Deferred capital losses

   $ (118,987

Net unrealized appreciation

   $ 452,259  

At January 31, 2020, the Fund, for federal income tax purposes, had deferred capital losses of $118,987 which would reduce its taxable income arising from future net realized gains on investment transactions, if any, to the extent permitted by the Internal Revenue Code, and thus would reduce the amount of distributions to shareholders, which would otherwise be necessary to relieve the Fund of any liability for federal income or excise tax. The deferred capital losses are treated as arising on the first day of the Fund’s next taxable year and retain the same short-term or long-term character as when originally deferred. Of the deferred capital losses at January 31, 2020, $63,001 are short-term and $55,986 are long-term.

3  Investment Adviser Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates

The investment adviser fee is earned by Eaton Vance Management (EVM) as compensation for investment advisory services rendered to the Fund. The fee is computed at an annual rate of 0.32% of the Fund’s average daily net assets that are not invested in other investment companies for which EVM or its affiliates serve as investment adviser and receive an advisory fee (“Direct Assets”) up to $1 billion and is payable monthly. On Direct Assets of $1 billion and over, the annual fee is reduced. For the year ended January 31, 2020, the Fund incurred no investment adviser fee on Direct Assets. To the extent the Fund’s assets are invested in the Portfolio, the Fund is allocated its share of the Portfolio’s investment adviser fee. The Portfolio has engaged Boston Management and Research (BMR), a subsidiary of EVM, to render investment advisory services. See Note 2 of the Portfolio’s Notes to Financial Statements which are included elsewhere in this report. EVM also serves as the administrator of the Fund, but receives no compensation.

Pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement effective January 15, 2020, EVM has delegated the investment management of the Fund to Parametric Portfolio Associates LLC (Parametric), a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Eaton Vance Corp. EVM pays Parametric a portion of its investment adviser fee for sub-advisory services provided to the Fund.

The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has entered into an operations agreement with EVM pursuant to which EVM provides the Fund with services required for it to operate as a NextShares exchange-traded managed fund in accordance with the exemptive order obtained by EVM and the Trust. Pursuant to the agreement, the Fund pays EVM a monthly fee at an annual rate of 0.05% of the Fund’s average daily net assets provided the average net assets of NextShares funds sponsored by EVM (“Covered Assets”) are less than $10 billion. The annual rate is reduced if Covered Assets are $10 billion and above. For the year ended January 31, 2020, the operations agreement fee amounted to $3,630 or 0.05% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

EVM and Parametric have agreed to reimburse the Fund’s expenses to the extent that total annual operating expenses (relating to ordinary operating expenses only) exceed 0.35% of the Fund’s average daily net assets through May 31, 2020. Thereafter, the reimbursement may be changed or terminated at any time. Pursuant to this agreement, EVM and Parametric were allocated $100,777 in total of the Fund’s operating expenses for the year ended January 31, 2020.

Trustees and officers of the Fund who are members of EVM’s or BMR’s organizations receive remuneration for their services to the Fund out of the investment adviser fee. Certain officers and Trustees of the Fund and the Portfolio are officers of the above organizations.

4  Investment Transactions

For the year ended January 31, 2020, increases and decreases in the Fund’s investment in the Portfolio aggregated $88,717 and $224,537, respectively. In addition, a Portfolio transaction fee is imposed by the Portfolio on the combined daily inflows or outflows of the Fund and the Portfolio’s other investors as more fully described at Note 1H of the Portfolio’s financial statements included herein. Such fee is allocated to the Fund based on its pro-rata interest in the Portfolio. The amount of the Portfolio transaction fee imposed on the Fund, if any, and the allocation of such fee are presented as Other capital on the Statements of Changes in Net Assets.

 

  12  


Eaton Vance

TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares

January 31, 2020

 

Notes to Financial Statements — continued

 

 

5  Capital Share Transactions

The Trust may issue an unlimited number of shares of capital stock (no par value per share) in one or more series (such as the Fund). The Fund issues and redeems shares only in blocks of 25,000 shares or multiples thereof (“Creation Units”). The Fund issues and redeems Creation Units in return for the securities, other instruments and/or cash (the “Basket”) that the Fund specifies each business day. Creation Units may be purchased or redeemed only by or through Authorized Participants, which are broker-dealers or institutional investors that have entered into agreements with the Fund’s distributor for this purpose. The Fund imposes a transaction fee on Creation Units issued and redeemed to offset the estimated cost to the Fund of processing the transaction, which is paid by the Authorized Participants directly to a third-party administrator. In addition, Authorized Participants pay the Fund a variable charge for converting the Basket to or from the desired portfolio composition. Such variable charges are reflected as Transaction fees on the Statements of Changes in Net Assets.

At January 31, 2020, EVM owned approximately 95.6% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.

6  Subsequent Event

An outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus was first detected in China in December 2019 and subsequently spread internationally. This coronavirus has resulted in closing borders, enhanced health screenings, healthcare service preparation and delivery, quarantines, cancellations, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The impact of this coronavirus may last for an extended period of time and through March 20, 2020, the date these financial statements were issued, has resulted in substantial market volatility and may result in a significant economic downturn.

 

  13  


Eaton Vance

TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares

January 31, 2020

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

 

To the Trustees of Eaton Vance NextShares Trust II and Shareholders of Eaton Vance TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares:

Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Eaton Vance TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares (the “Fund”) (one of the funds constituting Eaton Vance NextShares Trust II), as of January 31, 2020, the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the financial highlights for each of the three years in the period then ended and the period from the start of business, March 30, 2016, to January 31, 2017, 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 January 31, 2020, and the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the three years in the period then ended and the period from the start of business, March 30, 2016, to January 31, 2017, 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. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

March 20, 2020

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

 

  14  


Eaton Vance

TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares

January 31, 2020

 

Federal Tax Information (Unaudited)

 

 

The Form 1099-DIV you receive in February 2021 will show the tax status of all distributions paid to your account in calendar year 2020. 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 exempt-interest dividends.

Exempt-Interest Dividends.  For the fiscal year ended January 31, 2020, the Fund designates 100.00% of distributions from net investment income as an exempt-interest dividend.

 

  15  


5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Portfolio

January 31, 2020

 

Portfolio of Investments

 

 

Tax-Exempt Investments — 97.2%

 

Security   Principal
Amount
(000’s omitted)
    Value  
Bond Bank — 0.7%  

Vermont Bond Bank, (Vermont State Colleges System), 3.00%, 10/1/35(1)

  $ 500     $ 536,505  

Virginia Resources Authority, (Pooled Financing Program), 4.00%, 11/1/35

    1,325       1,579,731  

Virginia Resources Authority, (Pooled Financing Program), 5.00%, 11/1/28

    2,460       2,827,696  
      $ 4,943,932  
Education — 3.9%  

Brownsburg 1999 School Building Corp., IN, 5.00%, 2/5/25

  $ 200     $ 238,324  

Brownsburg 1999 School Building Corp., IN, 5.00%, 2/5/26

    565       692,504  

California Municipal Finance Authority, (California Lutheran University), 5.00%, 10/1/24

    275       321,835  

California Municipal Finance Authority, (California Lutheran University), 5.00%, 10/1/25

    275       330,701  

California Municipal Finance Authority, (California Lutheran University), 5.00%, 10/1/26

    300       368,850  

California Municipal Finance Authority, (California Lutheran University), 5.00%, 10/1/27

    300       376,023  

Colorado School of Mines, 4.00%, 12/1/34

    890       1,022,708  

Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority, (Fairfield University), 5.00%, 7/1/25

    875       1,047,401  

Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority, (Fairfield University), 5.00%, 7/1/26

    1,000       1,226,180  

Florida Higher Educational Facilities Financing Authority, (Nova Southeastern University), 5.00%, 4/1/30

    750       886,973  

Louisiana Public Facilities Authority, (Tulane University), 5.00%, 12/15/27

    505       623,402  

Massachusetts Health and Educational Facilities Authority, (Tufts University), (SPA: Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.), 1.13%, 8/15/34(2)

    5,000       5,000,000  

Nevada System of Higher Education, 5.00%, 7/1/24

    1,000       1,134,250  

North Carolina Capital Facilities Finance Agency, (Davidson College), 5.00%, 3/1/29

    200       215,750  

Rhode Island Health and Educational Building Corp., (Rhode Island School of Design), (LOC: TD Bank, N.A.), 0.90%, 8/15/36(3)

    5,000       5,000,000  

Saginaw Valley State University, MI, 5.00%, 7/1/26

    750       921,188  

Saginaw Valley State University, MI, 5.00%, 7/1/27

    500       608,755  

Saginaw Valley State University, MI, 5.00%, 7/1/28

    1,000       1,212,530  

University of New Mexico, (SPA: U.S. Bank, N.A.), 0.88%, 6/1/26(3)

    4,500       4,500,000  

University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 5.00%, 4/1/33

    1,085       1,248,032  

Virginia Commonwealth University, 4.00%, 11/1/34

    1,145       1,353,550  

Western Michigan University, 5.00%, 11/15/24

    300       355,767  
      $ 28,684,723  
Security   Principal
Amount
(000’s omitted)
    Value  
Electric Utilities — 2.7%  

Brownsville, TX, Utilities System Revenue, 5.00%, 9/1/29

  $ 1,000     $ 1,193,320  

Energy Northwest, WA, Wind Project Revenue, 5.00%, 7/1/25

    365       439,675  

Energy Northwest, WA, Wind Project Revenue, 5.00%, 7/1/26

    1,000       1,201,960  

Fayetteville Public Works Commission, NC, 5.00%, 3/1/25

    1,000       1,200,820  

Garland, TX, Electric Utility System Revenue, 5.00%, 3/1/32

    250       299,907  

Lower Colorado River Authority, TX, 5.00%, 5/15/34(1)

    395       519,666  

Lower Colorado River Authority, TX, (LCRA Transmission Services Corp.), 5.00%, 5/15/24

    100       116,824  

Marquette Board of Light and Power, MI, 5.00%, 7/1/27

    735       897,391  

North Carolina Municipal Power Agency No. 1, (Catawba), 5.00%, 1/1/29

    500       614,940  

Orlando Utilities Commission, FL, Utility System Revenue, (SPA: TD Bank, N.A.), 0.95%, 10/1/33(3)

    5,000       5,000,000  

Public Power Generation Agency, NE, (Whelan Energy Center Unit 2), 5.00%, 1/1/25

    500       592,210  

Redding Joint Powers Financing Authority, CA, Electric System Revenue, 5.00%, 6/1/24

    300       353,637  

Redding Joint Powers Financing Authority, CA, Electric System Revenue, 5.00%, 6/1/26

    250       308,012  

Springfield Electric System Revenue, IL, 5.00%, 3/1/27

    250       295,743  

Springfield Electric System Revenue, IL, 5.00%, 3/1/28

    250       294,613  

Springfield Electric System Revenue, IL, 5.00%, 3/1/29

    250       293,855  

Tallahassee, FL, Energy System Revenue, 5.00%, 10/1/27

    300       354,375  

Tallahassee, FL, Energy System Revenue, 5.00%, 10/1/28

    400       471,500  

Tallahassee, FL, Energy System Revenue, 5.00%, 10/1/29

    1,120       1,315,518  

Tallahassee, FL, Energy System Revenue, 5.00%, 10/1/30

    1,500       1,756,500  

Tallahassee, FL, Energy System Revenue, 5.00%, 10/1/31

    1,000       1,168,710  

Tallahassee, FL, Energy System Revenue, 5.00%, 10/1/33

    300       349,551  

Walnut Energy Center Authority, CA, 5.00%, 1/1/33

    250       291,878  
      $ 19,330,605  
General Obligations — 29.4%  

Abilene Independent School District, TX, (PSF Guaranteed), 4.00%, 2/15/32

  $ 700     $ 824,236  

Addison, TX, 5.00%, 2/15/26

    270       303,507  

Alvin Independent School District, TX, (PSF Guaranteed), 4.00%, 2/15/34

    2,265       2,641,262  

Anchorage, AK, 5.00%, 9/1/24

    250       296,000  

Anchorage, AK, 5.00%, 9/1/25

    100       121,962  

Anchorage, AK, 5.00%, 9/1/27

    780       946,904  

Austin, TX, 5.00%, 9/1/30

    3,085       4,084,324  

Belding Area Schools, MI, 5.00%, 5/1/28

    250       304,458  

Belding Area Schools, MI, 5.00%, 5/1/30

    250       302,705  

Birmingham, AL, 5.00%, 12/1/25

    1,050       1,285,725  

Birmingham, AL, 5.00%, 12/1/27

    2,460       3,143,265  
 

 

  16   See Notes to Financial Statements.


5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Portfolio

January 31, 2020

 

Portfolio of Investments — continued

 

 

Security   Principal
Amount
(000’s omitted)
    Value  
General Obligations (continued)  

Burlington, VT, 5.00%, 11/1/27

  $ 305     $ 389,040  

Burlington, VT, 5.00%, 11/1/29

    235       311,095  

Burlington, VT, 5.00%, 11/1/30

    300       394,230  

Burlington, VT, Series 2016A, 5.00%, 11/1/25

    300       366,438  

Burlington, VT, Series 2016A, 5.00%, 11/1/26

    150       187,716  

Burlington, VT, Series 2019A, 5.00%, 11/1/25

    150       183,219  

Burlington, VT, Series 2019A, 5.00%, 11/1/26

    210       262,802  

California, 4.00%, 9/1/26

    320       383,347  

California, 5.00%, 8/1/24

    1,390       1,645,246  

California, 5.00%, 8/1/26

    2,010       2,453,607  

California, 5.00%, 8/1/28

    2,000       2,641,620  

California, 5.00%, 8/1/32

    1,590       1,973,874  

Cape May County, NJ, 3.00%, 10/1/31

    1,000       1,078,920  

Chaffey Joint Union High School District, CA, (Election of 2012), 0.00%, 8/1/33

    1,000       726,820  

Clark County, NV, 4.00%, 11/1/34

    2,375       2,653,564  

Collin County, TX, 5.00%, 2/15/25

    1,605       1,923,753  

Colonial School District, PA, 5.00%, 2/15/32

    100       120,496  

Colonial School District, PA, 5.00%, 2/15/33

    200       240,498  

Contra Costa Community College District, CA, (Election of 2014), 4.00%, 8/1/32

    650       807,410  

Contra Costa Community College District, CA, (Election of 2014), 4.00%, 8/1/33

    350       433,542  

Cook County School District No. 25, (Arlington Heights), IL, 5.00%, 12/15/32

    630       767,428  

Dallas, TX, 5.00%, 2/15/29

    2,775       3,197,771  

Dallas, TX, 5.00%, 2/15/31

    3,615       4,024,037  

Delaware, 5.00%, 2/1/29

    1,000       1,302,940  

Denton County, TX, 4.00%, 7/15/31

    1,500       1,802,790  

District of Columbia, 5.00%, 6/1/33

    6,690       7,777,593  

Douglas County School District No. Re-1, CO, 4.00%, 12/15/34

    3,000       3,536,250  

Dowagiac Union School District, MI, 4.00%, 5/1/26

    350       411,649  

Dublin City School District, OH, 5.00%, 12/1/29

    500       658,940  

Easton Area School District, PA, 5.00%, 2/1/31

    1,650       2,083,950  

Edinburg, TX, 5.00%, 3/1/25

    310       369,709  

Fayette County School District, GA, 5.25%, 9/1/24

    1,175       1,404,336  

Flower Mound, TX, 5.00%, 3/1/27

    510       629,065  

Franklin County, OH, 4.25%, 12/1/35

    1,250       1,363,437  

Frisco Independent School District, TX, (PSF Guaranteed), 4.00%, 8/15/30

    400       452,128  

Georgia, 5.00%, 2/1/32

    1,000       1,252,520  

Granville Exempted Village School District, OH, 5.00%, 12/1/26

    500       615,290  

Harlandale Independent School District, TX, 5.00%, 8/1/29

    845       1,047,868  

Hennepin County, MN, 5.00%, 12/1/33

    1,000       1,242,680  
Security   Principal
Amount
(000’s omitted)
    Value  
General Obligations (continued)  

Homewood, AL, 5.00%, 9/1/28

  $ 2,000     $ 2,478,080  

Homewood, AL, 5.00%, 9/1/29

    2,000       2,468,460  

Honolulu City and County, HI, 3.00%, 9/1/31

    1,510       1,660,638  

Illinois, 5.00%, 10/1/26

    3,650       4,344,339  

Illinois, 5.00%, 2/1/27

    2,730       3,268,028  

Illinois, 5.00%, 1/1/28

    5,655       6,579,310  

Illinois, 5.00%, 3/1/28

    2,000       2,122,180  

Illinois, 5.00%, 4/1/29

    1,190       1,326,065  

Illinois, 5.00%, 3/1/34

    6,000       6,334,740  

Illinois, 5.00%, 3/1/35

    1,000       1,055,110  

Kane, Cook and DuPage Counties School District No. 46, IL, 5.00%, 1/1/29

    1,000       1,139,920  

Kane, McHenry, Cook and DeKalb Counties Community Unit School District No. 300, IL, 5.00%, 1/1/28

    2,370       2,925,528  

La Joya Independent School District, TX, (PSF Guaranteed), 5.00%, 2/15/26

    485       533,476  

Lakeland, FL, 5.00%, 10/1/25

    635       759,917  

Lakeland, FL, 5.00%, 10/1/28

    1,500       1,789,245  

Lakeland, FL, 5.00%, 10/1/30

    1,000       1,186,030  

Leander Independent School District, TX, (PSF Guaranteed), 0.00%, 8/15/31

    600       411,354  

Lewisville Independent School District, TX, (PSF Guaranteed), 4.00%, 8/15/27

    1,600       1,855,232  

Maine, 5.00%, 6/1/25

    2,500       3,034,300  

McLean County Public Building Commission, IL, 5.00%, 12/1/28

    200       237,204  

Miami-Dade County School District, FL, 5.00%, 3/15/28

    300       357,873  

Miami-Dade County, FL, 5.00%, 7/1/29

    1,000       1,205,860  

Milpitas Unified School District, CA, (Election of 2012), 4.00%, 8/1/32

    560       626,226  

Minneapolis, MN, Green Bonds, 3.00%, 12/1/31

    2,180       2,362,575  

Morris Township, NJ, 3.00%, 11/1/27

    440       492,536  

Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District, CA, 0.00%, 8/1/27

    175       158,431  

Navasota Independent School District, TX, (PSF Guaranteed), 5.00%, 2/15/28

    195       231,407  

Navasota Independent School District, TX, (PSF Guaranteed), 5.00%, 2/15/29

    340       403,012  

Navasota Independent School District, TX, (PSF Guaranteed), 5.00%, 2/15/30

    725       857,936  

Navasota Independent School District, TX, (PSF Guaranteed), 5.00%, 2/15/31

    885       1,046,433  

Navasota Independent School District, TX, (PSF Guaranteed), 5.00%, 2/15/32

    720       850,363  

New Hampshire, 4.00%, 12/1/33

    2,285       2,714,854  

New York, NY, 5.00%, 8/1/25

    2,000       2,440,200  

Oregon, 2.20%, 6/1/24

    815       856,402  
 

 

  17   See Notes to Financial Statements.


5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Portfolio

January 31, 2020

 

Portfolio of Investments — continued

 

 

Security   Principal
Amount
(000’s omitted)
    Value  
General Obligations (continued)  

Oregon, 2.25%, 12/1/24

  $ 1,000     $ 1,056,930  

Oregon, 2.35%, 6/1/25

    165       176,147  

Oregon, 2.40%, 12/1/25

    1,050       1,129,873  

Oregon, 2.50%, 6/1/26

    1,070       1,152,326  

Oregon, 2.55%, 12/1/26

    430       465,737  

Oregon, (SPA: U.S. Bank, N.A.),
0.88%, 12/1/36(3)

    5,000       5,000,000  

Pasadena, TX, 4.00%, 2/15/28

    500       566,110  

Pasadena, TX, 4.00%, 2/15/29

    150       169,322  

Pasadena, TX, 4.00%, 2/15/30

    500       561,645  

Pasadena, TX, 4.00%, 2/15/31

    650       727,525  

Pendleton School District No. 16R, Umatilla County, OR, 0.00%, 6/15/27

    1,060       952,230  

Pennsylvania, 4.00%, 6/1/30

    5,000       5,328,350  

Pennsylvania, 4.00%, 6/15/31

    235       258,166  

Pennsylvania, 5.00%, 7/1/24

    490       576,941  

Philadelphia, PA, 5.00%, 2/1/24

    1,050       1,212,750  

Philadelphia, PA, 5.00%, 2/1/26

    1,150       1,408,405  

Philadelphia, PA, 5.00%, 2/1/31

    2,250       2,908,305  

Pittsburg Unified School District, CA, 5.00%, 8/1/28

    920       1,182,485  

Plano Independent School District, TX, (PSF Guaranteed), 3.00%, 2/15/30

    2,500       2,720,000  

Port of Seattle, WA, Limited Tax General Obligation Bonds, 5.00%, 6/1/28

    2,000       2,343,000  

Ravenswood City School District, CA, (Election of 2016), 5.00%, 8/1/24

    465       549,258  

Ravenswood City School District, CA, (Election of 2016), 5.00%, 8/1/25

    485       590,880  

Ravenswood City School District, CA, (Election of 2016), 5.00%, 8/1/26

    505       632,886  

Ravenswood City School District, CA, (Election of 2016), 5.00%, 8/1/27

    530       666,258  

Ravenswood City School District, CA, (Election of 2016), 5.00%, 8/1/28

    555       696,081  

Ravenswood City School District, CA, (Election of 2016), 5.00%, 8/1/29

    575       720,107  

Romeo Community Schools, MI, 5.00%, 5/1/30

    700       847,574  

Romulus, MI, 4.00%, 11/1/31

    250       282,900  

Romulus, MI, 4.00%, 11/1/32

    200       225,494  

Romulus, MI, 4.00%, 11/1/33

    250       280,983  

Round Rock Independent School District, TX, (PSF Guaranteed), 3.00%, 8/1/33

    1,500       1,647,255  

SCAGO Educational Facilities Corp. for Pickens School District, SC, 5.00%, 12/1/26

    1,650       1,974,868  

School District 27J, Adams and Weld Counties and City and County of Broomfield, CO, 4.00%, 12/1/30

    450       516,182  

Seguin Independent School District, TX, (PSF Guaranteed), 4.00%, 8/15/29

    300       342,894  
Security   Principal
Amount
(000’s omitted)
    Value  
General Obligations (continued)  

Seward County Unified School District No. 480, KS, 5.00%, 9/1/29

  $ 2,000     $ 2,405,680  

South Texas College District, 5.00%, 8/15/30

    1,295       1,469,644  

Southfield Public Schools, MI, 5.00%, 5/1/25

    1,100       1,316,601  

Southfield Public Schools, MI, 5.00%, 5/1/27

    1,000       1,255,650  

St. Vrain Valley School District RE-1J, CO, 5.00%, 12/15/28

    1,700       2,138,056  

St. Vrain Valley School District RE-1J, CO, 5.00%, 12/15/29

    1,000       1,252,860  

Stamford, CT, 4.00%, 8/1/27

    650       755,378  

Sun Valley, ID, 5.00%, 9/15/25

    755       925,615  

Sun Valley, ID, 5.00%, 9/15/26

    695       875,693  

Texas, (SPA: State Street Bank and Trust Co.), 1.01%, 12/1/42(3)

    7,040       7,040,000  

Torrance Unified School District, CA, (Election of 2014), 5.00%, 8/1/30

    515       640,820  

Torrance Unified School District, CA, (Election of 2014), 5.00%, 8/1/31

    450       555,741  

Tuloso-Midway Independent School District, TX, (PSF Guaranteed), 4.00%, 8/15/27

    510       587,500  

Tuloso-Midway Independent School District, TX, (PSF Guaranteed), 4.00%, 8/15/28

    530       607,809  

Tuloso-Midway Independent School District, TX, (PSF Guaranteed), 4.00%, 8/15/29

    545       622,924  

Tuloso-Midway Independent School District, TX, (PSF Guaranteed), 4.00%, 8/15/30

    570       649,441  

Virginia Resources Authority, (Pooled Financing Program), 5.00%, 11/1/25

    600       737,766  

Washington, 5.00%, 8/1/28

    1,485       1,851,899  

Washington, 5.00%, 8/1/29

    1,400       1,739,374  

Weatherford Independent School District, TX, (PSF Guaranteed), 0.00%, 2/15/25

    265       250,049  

West Virginia, 5.00%, 12/1/30

    10,000       13,121,700  

Will and Kendall Counties Community Consolidated School District No. 202, IL, 4.00%, 1/1/27

    2,825       3,282,424  

Will County Community Unit School District No. 365-U, IL, 4.00%, 1/1/30

    750       838,050  

Williamson County, TX, 5.00%, 2/15/28

    300       348,222  

York County, PA, 5.00%, 6/1/27

    1,225       1,461,155  
      $ 214,085,148  
Hospital — 11.2%  

Berks County Industrial Development Authority, PA, (Tower Health), 4.00%, 11/1/33

  $ 200     $ 220,792  

Buffalo and Erie County Industrial Land Development Corp., NY, (Catholic Health System, Inc.), 5.00%, 7/1/25

    250       300,128  

California Health Facilities Financing Authority, (Adventist Health System/West), 4.00%, 3/1/27

    100       108,345  
 

 

  18   See Notes to Financial Statements.


5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Portfolio

January 31, 2020

 

Portfolio of Investments — continued

 

 

Security   Principal
Amount
(000’s omitted)
    Value  
Hospital (continued)  

California Health Facilities Financing Authority, (El Camino Hospital), 5.00%, 2/1/29

  $ 750     $ 953,273  

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority, NC, 5.125%, 1/15/37

    40       41,466  

Clarke County Hospital Authority, GA, (Piedmont Healthcare, Inc.), 5.00%, 7/1/30

    335       411,303  

Colorado Health Facilities Authority, (CommonSpirit Health), 5.00%, 8/1/34

    2,000       2,507,280  

Colorado Health Facilities Authority, (CommonSpirit Health), 5.00%, 8/1/35

    3,000       3,750,570  

Colorado Health Facilities Authority, (CommonSpirit Health), 5.00% to 8/1/26 (Put Date), 8/1/49

    5,000       5,987,900  

Colorado Health Facilities Authority, (NCMC, Inc.), Escrowed to Maturity, 5.00%, 5/15/25

    150       181,041  

Colorado Health Facilities Authority, (Sanford Health), 5.00%, 11/1/32

    3,000       3,844,140  

Duluth Economic Development Authority, MN, (Essentia Health Obligated Group), 5.00%, 2/15/33

    1,000       1,241,280  

Glynn-Brunswick Memorial Hospital Authority, GA, (Southeast Georgia Health System), 4.00%, 8/1/35(1)

    1,000       1,166,610  

Greeneville Health and Educational Facilities Board, TN, (Ballad Health), 5.00%, 7/1/32

    1,815       2,045,614  

Greeneville Health and Educational Facilities Board, TN, (Ballad Health), 5.00%, 7/1/33

    4,000       4,484,000  

Illinois Finance Authority, (Riverside Health System), 5.00%, 11/15/27

    500       612,145  

Illinois Finance Authority, (Rush University Medical Center), 5.00%, 11/15/31

    1,000       1,175,160  

Illinois Finance Authority, (Rush University Medical Center), 5.00%, 11/15/32

    1,000       1,171,240  

Knox County Health, Educational and Housing Facility Board, TN, (University Health System, Inc.), 5.00%, 9/1/30

    1,000       1,182,110  

Louisiana Public Facilities Authority, (Ochsner Clinic Foundation), 5.00%, 5/15/25

    250       298,580  

Louisiana Public Facilities Authority, (Ochsner Clinic Foundation), 5.00%, 5/15/26

    250       298,353  

Louisiana Public Facilities Authority, (Ochsner Clinic Foundation), 5.00%, 5/15/27

    250       297,700  

Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government, KY, (Norton Healthcare, Inc.), 5.00%, 10/1/30

    2,000       2,425,980  

Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government, KY, (Norton Healthcare, Inc.), 5.00%, 10/1/31

    1,500       1,811,460  

Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government, KY, (Norton Healthcare, Inc.), 5.00%, 10/1/32

    2,000       2,405,540  

Maricopa County Industrial Development Authority, AZ, (Banner Health), 1.51%, (SIFMA + 0.57%), 10/18/24 (Put Date), 1/1/35(4)

    4,865       4,876,481  

Maryland Health and Higher Educational Facilities Authority, (MedStar Health, Inc.), 5.00%, 8/15/31

    1,000       1,167,130  
Security   Principal
Amount
(000’s omitted)
    Value  
Hospital (continued)  

Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, (Berkshire Retirement Community, Inc.), 5.00%, 7/1/25

  $ 595     $ 676,104  

Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, (South Shore Hospital), 5.00%, 7/1/24

    550       636,988  

Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, (South Shore Hospital), 5.00%, 7/1/26

    500       610,335  

Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, (South Shore Hospital), 5.00%, 7/1/28

    245       295,406  

Michigan Finance Authority, (Beaumont Health Credit Group), 5.00%, 8/1/28

    1,315       1,531,462  

Michigan Finance Authority, (Sparrow Obligated Group), 5.00%, 11/15/24

    500       589,105  

Missouri Health and Educational Facilities Authority, (CoxHealth), 5.00%, 11/15/31

    490       579,136  

Missouri Health and Educational Facilities Authority, (Saint Luke’s Health System), 5.00%, 11/15/31

    1,000       1,213,440  

Monongalia County Building Commission, WV, (Monongalia Health System Obligated Group), 5.00%, 7/1/23

    500       552,920  

Monongalia County Building Commission, WV, (Monongalia Health System Obligated Group), 5.00%, 7/1/24

    500       565,990  

Monongalia County Building Commission, WV, (Monongalia Health System Obligated Group), 5.00%, 7/1/28

    1,340       1,518,743  

Monongalia County Building Commission, WV, (Monongalia Health System Obligated Group), 5.00%, 7/1/29

    775       877,378  

New Hampshire Health and Education Facilities Authority, (Dartmouth-Hitchcock Obligated Group), 5.00%, 8/1/25

    400       480,196  

New Hampshire Health and Education Facilities Authority, (Dartmouth-Hitchcock Obligated Group), 5.00%, 8/1/28

    500       630,795  

New Hampshire Health and Education Facilities Authority, (Dartmouth-Hitchcock Obligated Group), 5.00%, 8/1/29

    500       627,130  

New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority, (Princeton HealthCare System), 5.00%, 7/1/25

    1,000       1,208,680  

New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority, (Princeton HealthCare System), 5.00%, 7/1/27

    700       868,224  

New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority, (Princeton HealthCare System), 5.00%, 7/1/28

    700       864,661  

New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority, (Princeton HealthCare System), 5.00%, 7/1/30

    520       640,962  

New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority, (Princeton HealthCare System), 5.00%, 7/1/31

    700       862,106  

New Mexico Hospital Equipment Loan Council, (Presbyterian Healthcare Services), 5.00%, 8/1/24

    100       117,205  

Norman Regional Hospital Authority, OK, 5.00%, 9/1/25

    1,000       1,196,190  

Norman Regional Hospital Authority, OK, 5.00%, 9/1/29

    1,000       1,205,510  

North Carolina Medical Care Commission, (North Carolina Baptist Hospital), 5.00%, 6/1/34

    1,140       1,154,250  

North Carolina Medical Care Commission, (Wake Forest Baptist Obligated Group), 5.00%, 12/1/33

    2,930       3,214,913  
 

 

  19   See Notes to Financial Statements.


5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Portfolio

January 31, 2020

 

Portfolio of Investments — continued

 

 

Security   Principal
Amount
(000’s omitted)
    Value  
Hospital (continued)  

Pennsylvania Higher Educational Facilities Authority, (University of Pennsylvania Health System), 5.00%, 8/15/33

  $ 2,600     $ 3,368,482  

Richmond County Hospital Authority, GA, (University Health Services, Inc.), 5.00%, 1/1/28

    1,000       1,229,670  

Royal Oak Hospital Finance Authority, MI, (William Beaumont Hospital), 5.00%, 9/1/29

    250       286,653  

Southcentral Pennsylvania General Authority, (Hanover Hospital, Inc.), 4.00%, 12/1/30

    150       166,026  

Southcentral Pennsylvania General Authority, (Hanover Hospital, Inc.), 5.00%, 12/1/24

    300       355,029  

St. Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority, MN, (Fairview Health Services), 5.00%, 11/15/25

    500       608,930  

St. Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority, MN, (HealthPartners Obligated Group), 5.00%, 7/1/30

    625       733,050  

University of Kansas Hospital Authority, (KU Health System), 5.00%, 9/1/27

    1,655       1,989,244  

Vermont Educational and Health Buildings Financing Agency, (University of Vermont Medical Center), 5.00%, 12/1/24

    350       413,658  

Vermont Educational and Health Buildings Financing Agency, (University of Vermont Medical Center), 5.00%, 12/1/25

    335       407,879  

Vermont Educational and Health Buildings Financing Agency, (University of Vermont Medical Center), 5.00%, 12/1/26

    300       368,523  

Vermont Educational and Health Buildings Financing Agency, (University of Vermont Medical Center), 5.00%, 12/1/27

    205       250,338  

Vermont Educational and Health Buildings Financing Agency, (University of Vermont Medical Center), 5.00%, 12/1/28

    500       608,560  

Vermont Educational and Health Buildings Financing Agency, (University of Vermont Medical Center), 5.00%, 12/1/30

    400       482,972  

Vermont Educational and Health Buildings Financing Agency, (University of Vermont Medical Center), 5.00%, 12/1/31

    300       361,416  

Washington Health Care Facilities Authority, (Overlake Hospital Medical Center), 5.00%, 7/1/27

    1,575       1,984,657  

Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority, (Agnesian HealthCare, Inc.), 5.00%, 7/1/26

    400       491,024  
      $ 81,789,561  
Housing — 3.1%  

California Housing Finance Agency, 4.00%, 3/20/33

  $ 4,744     $ 5,610,596  

Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, 3.60%, 11/15/30

    145       155,102  

Georgia Housing & Finance Authority, 3.65%, 12/1/32

    1,000       1,095,930  

Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, (FHLMC), (FNMA), (GNMA), 2.30%, 7/1/21

    950       964,022  

Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, 2019 Series A, 4.00%, 8/1/33

    655       776,031  

Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, 2019 Series A, 4.00%, 8/1/34

    295       347,277  
Security   Principal
Amount
(000’s omitted)
    Value  
Housing (continued)  

Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, 2019 Series A, 4.00%, 8/1/35

  $ 440     $ 515,671  

Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, 2019 Series C, 4.00%, 8/1/33

    525       622,010  

Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, 2019 Series C, 4.00%, 8/1/34

    240       282,530  

Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, 2019 Series C, 4.00%, 8/1/35

    285       334,014  

New York City Housing Development Corp., NY, 2.65%, 11/1/27

    870       929,595  

New York City Housing Development Corp., NY, 2.80%, 5/1/29

    795       849,426  

New York City Housing Development Corp., NY, 2.85%, 11/1/29

    300       320,703  

New York Housing Finance Agency, (FHLMC), (FNMA), (GNMA), 2.20%, 5/1/25

    190       198,723  

New York Housing Finance Agency, (FHLMC), (FNMA), (GNMA), 2.25%, 11/1/25

    225       236,801  

New York Housing Finance Agency, (FHLMC), (FNMA), (GNMA), 2.40%, 11/1/26

    225       241,414  

New York Housing Finance Agency, (FHLMC), (FNMA), (GNMA), 2.50%, 11/1/27

    140       150,210  

New York Housing Finance Agency, (FHLMC), (FNMA), (GNMA), 2.60%, 5/1/28

    110       118,103  

New York Mortgage Agency, 2.30%, 10/1/30

    1,000       1,031,540  

New York Mortgage Agency, 3.65%, 4/1/32

    1,000       1,103,810  

Seattle Housing Authority, WA, 2.625%, 12/1/23

    110       115,900  

Seattle Housing Authority, WA, 2.75%, 12/1/24

    480       513,907  

Seattle Housing Authority, WA, 2.875%, 12/1/25

    900       981,369  

Seattle Housing Authority, WA, 3.00%, 12/1/26

    920       1,018,992  

Tennessee Housing Development Agency, 2.80%, 7/1/26

    250       270,440  

Vermont Housing Finance Agency, (FHLMC), (FNMA), (GNMA), 3.85%, 11/1/33

    1,758       1,953,683  

Virginia Housing Development Authority, 2.55%, 5/1/27

    630       664,505  

Virginia Housing Development Authority, 3.80%, 12/1/35

    785       873,964  

Washington Housing Finance Commission, 2.25%, 6/1/25

    105       111,103  

Washington Housing Finance Commission, 2.30%, 12/1/25

    130       138,171  

Washington Housing Finance Commission, 2.40%, 6/1/26

    105       111,692  
      $ 22,637,234  
Insured – Education — 0.6%  

Northern Arizona University, (BAM), 5.00%, 6/1/31

  $ 1,100     $ 1,464,771  

Northern Arizona University, (BAM), 5.00%, 6/1/32

    500       663,710  

Patterson Joint Unified School District, CA, (Election 2018), (BAM), 5.00%, 8/1/28

    1,065       1,318,332  

Patterson Joint Unified School District, CA, (Election 2018), (BAM), 5.00%, 8/1/29

    1,000       1,232,540  
      $ 4,679,353  
 

 

  20   See Notes to Financial Statements.


5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Portfolio

January 31, 2020

 

Portfolio of Investments — continued

 

 

Security   Principal
Amount
(000’s omitted)
    Value  
Insured – Escrowed / Prerefunded — 0.0%(5)  

New Britain, CT, (BAM), Escrowed to Maturity, 5.00%, 3/1/25

  $ 100     $ 120,294  
      $ 120,294  
Insured – General Obligations — 1.1%  

Albertville, AL, (BAM), 4.00%, 6/1/28

  $ 1,130     $ 1,206,535  

Albertville, AL, (BAM), Series A, 4.00%, 6/1/30

    1,505       1,601,681  

Albertville, AL, (BAM), Series C, 4.00%, 6/1/30

    610       649,186  

New Britain, CT, (BAM), 5.00%, 3/1/25

    135       160,048  

New Britain, CT, (BAM), Escrowed to Maturity, 5.00%, 3/1/25

    5       6,001  

Ogle and Winnebago Counties Community Unit School District No. 223, IL, (BAM), 4.00%, 12/1/25

    470       523,091  

Ogle and Winnebago Counties Community Unit School District No. 223, IL, (BAM), 5.00%, 12/1/24

    325       377,962  

Pocono Mountain School District, PA, (AGM), 4.00%, 9/1/27

    690       808,963  

Yonkers, NY, (BAM), Series 2019A, 5.00%, 5/1/31

    1,000       1,312,410  

Yonkers, NY, (BAM), Series 2019B, 5.00%, 5/1/31

    1,200       1,573,620  
      $ 8,219,497  
Insured – Lease Revenue / Certificates of Participation — 0.9%  

Biloxi Public School District, MS, (BAM), 5.00%, 4/1/25

  $ 1,350     $ 1,598,427  

Biloxi Public School District, MS, (BAM), 5.00%, 4/1/29

    1,235       1,482,494  

Clermont County Port Authority, OH, (West Clermont Local School District), (BAM), 5.00%, 12/1/26

    250       301,187  

Clermont County Port Authority, OH, (West Clermont Local School District), (BAM), 5.00%, 12/1/29

    100       119,611  

Highlands County School Board, FL, (BAM), 5.00%, 3/1/26

    400       474,432  

Highlands County School Board, FL, (BAM), 5.00%, 3/1/27

    200       236,568  

Pasco County School Board, FL, (BAM), 5.00%, 8/1/24

    410       481,131  

Pasco County School Board, FL, (BAM), 5.00%, 8/1/25

    305       368,672  

Pasco County School Board, FL, (BAM), 5.00%, 8/1/26

    355       439,607  

Pasco County School Board, FL, (BAM), 5.00%, 8/1/27

    605       745,100  

Pasco County School Board, FL, (BAM), 5.00%, 8/1/29

    310       378,414  
      $ 6,625,643  
Insured – Special Tax Revenue — 0.1%  

Successor Agency to Yuba City Redevelopment Agency, CA, (AGM), 5.00%, 9/1/24

  $ 115     $ 136,330  

Successor Agency to Yuba City Redevelopment Agency, CA, (AGM), 5.00%, 9/1/25

    420       514,034  
      $ 650,364  
Insured – Transportation — 1.8%  

New Brunswick Parking Authority, NJ, (BAM), 5.00%, 9/1/24

  $ 350     $ 412,846  

New Brunswick Parking Authority, NJ, (BAM), 5.00%, 9/1/25

    500       608,600  
Security   Principal
Amount
(000’s omitted)
    Value  
Insured – Transportation (continued)  

New Brunswick Parking Authority, NJ, (BAM), 5.00%, 9/1/26

  $ 320     $ 389,114  

New Brunswick Parking Authority, NJ, (BAM), 5.00%, 9/1/27

    375       455,085  

New Orleans Aviation Board, LA, (AGM), 5.00%, 1/1/30

    1,000       1,249,900  

New Orleans Aviation Board, LA, (AGM), 5.00%, 1/1/31

    1,250       1,553,975  

New Orleans Aviation Board, LA, (AGM), 5.00%, 1/1/32

    1,650       2,044,680  

New Orleans Aviation Board, LA, (AGM), 5.00%, 1/1/33

    2,450       3,025,530  

New Orleans Aviation Board, LA, (AGM), 5.00%, 1/1/34

    2,485       3,062,936  
      $ 12,802,666  
Insured – Water and Sewer — 0.1%  

Gulf Coast Waste Disposal Authority, TX, (AGM), 5.00%, 10/1/24

  $ 150     $ 175,472  

Gulf Coast Waste Disposal Authority, TX, (AGM), 5.00%, 10/1/30

    250       300,707  
      $ 476,179  
Lease Revenue / Certificates of Participation — 6.3%  

Adams County, CO, Certificates of Participation, 4.00%, 12/1/28

  $ 1,000     $ 1,146,710  

Aspen Fire Protection District, CO, 4.00%, 12/1/29

    150       182,093  

Aspen Fire Protection District, CO, 4.00%, 12/1/30

    235       281,723  

Aspen Fire Protection District, CO, 4.00%, 12/1/31

    250       297,212  

Aspen Fire Protection District, CO, 4.00%, 12/1/32

    205       242,283  

Broward County School Board, FL, 5.00%, 7/1/25

    500       605,220  

Broward County School Board, FL, 5.00%, 7/1/27

    500       617,720  

Broward County School Board, FL, 5.00%, 7/1/29

    500       612,985  

Broward County School Board, FL, Series A, 5.00%, 7/1/24

    1,250       1,467,637  

California Public Works Board, 5.00%, 11/1/29

    1,000       1,249,960  

Canadian County Educational Facilities Authority, OK, (Mustang Public Schools), 5.00%, 9/1/26

    500       618,240  

Colorado Department of Transportation, 5.00%, 6/15/30

    350       426,867  

Colorado Department of Transportation, 5.00%, 6/15/31

    310       376,892  

Commonwealth Financing Authority, PA, Tobacco Master Settlement Payment Revenue, 5.00%, 6/1/25

    500       596,225  

Commonwealth Financing Authority, PA, Tobacco Master Settlement Payment Revenue, 5.00%, 6/1/29

    3,000       3,793,230  

Commonwealth Financing Authority, PA, Tobacco Master Settlement Payment Revenue, 5.00%, 6/1/30

    3,000       3,768,090  

Eagle County, CO, Certificates of Participation, 5.00%, 12/1/26

    200       244,212  

Fountain Valley Public Financing Authority, CA, 4.00%, 11/1/23

    135       151,712  

Fountain Valley Public Financing Authority, CA, 4.00%, 11/1/24

    550       636,251  

Fountain Valley Public Financing Authority, CA, 4.00%, 11/1/25

    570       675,712  
 

 

  21   See Notes to Financial Statements.


5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Portfolio

January 31, 2020

 

Portfolio of Investments — continued

 

 

Security   Principal
Amount
(000’s omitted)
    Value  
Lease Revenue / Certificates of Participation (continued)  

Fountain Valley Public Financing Authority, CA, 4.00%, 11/1/26

  $ 595     $ 707,604  

Fountain Valley Public Financing Authority, CA, 4.00%, 11/1/27

    620       730,056  

Fountain Valley Public Financing Authority, CA, 4.00%, 11/1/28

    645       756,837  

Georgia Municipal Association, Inc., Certificates of Participation, (Atlanta Public Safety), 5.00%, 12/1/28

    410       522,488  

Kentucky Property and Buildings Commission, 5.00%, 4/1/27

    1,710       2,123,495  

Kentucky Property and Buildings Commission, 5.00%, 11/1/27

    2,350       2,895,153  

Lee County School Board, FL, Certificates of Participation, 5.00%, 8/1/32

    1,495       1,816,261  

Medina City School District, OH, 5.00%, 12/1/24

    300       353,328  

Oklahoma County Finance Authority, OK, (Deer Creek Public Schools), 5.00%, 12/1/25

    1,405       1,712,456  

Oklahoma County Finance Authority, OK, (Deer Creek Public Schools), 5.00%, 12/1/26

    2,000       2,421,940  

Oklahoma County Finance Authority, OK, (Midwest City-Del City Public Schools), 5.00%, 10/1/24

    850       1,001,937  

Oklahoma County Finance Authority, OK, (Midwest City-Del City Public Schools), 5.00%, 10/1/25

    1,000       1,213,510  

Oklahoma County Finance Authority, OK, (Midwest City-Del City Public Schools), 5.00%, 10/1/26

    1,000       1,241,720  

Orange County School Board, FL, 5.00%, 8/1/32

    1,935       2,309,655  

Pennington County, SD, Certificates of Participation, 5.00%, 6/1/27

    1,300       1,556,464  

Plymouth Intermediate District No. 287, MN, Certificates of Participation, 5.00%, 2/1/30

    385       475,656  

Public Finance Authority, WI, (KU Campus Development Corp.), 5.00%, 3/1/29

    500       615,070  

Riverside County Public Financing Authority, CA, 5.00%, 11/1/27

    850       1,037,178  

Riverside County Public Financing Authority, CA, 5.00%, 11/1/28

    950       1,155,656  

South Dakota Building Authority, 5.00%, 6/1/26

    500       620,835  

South Dakota Building Authority, 5.00%, 6/1/27

    635       743,191  

South Dakota Building Authority, 5.00%, 6/1/28

    210       251,719  

South Dakota Building Authority, Series 2015B, 5.00%, 6/1/30

    200       238,178  

St. Charles County Public Water Supply District No. 2, MO, 3.00%, 12/1/24

    360       379,001  

Virginia Public Building Authority, 4.00%, 8/1/35

    1,140       1,364,352  
      $ 46,234,714  
Other Revenue — 12.2%  

Bexar County, TX, Combination Tax and Revenue Certificates of Obligation, 4.00%, 6/15/34

  $ 905     $ 1,053,103  
Security   Principal
Amount
(000’s omitted)
    Value  
Other Revenue (continued)  

Bexar County, TX, Motor Vehicle Rental Tax Revenue, 4.00%, 8/15/33

  $ 690     $ 814,462  

Bexar County, TX, Motor Vehicle Rental Tax Revenue, 4.00%, 8/15/34

    810       954,010  

Bexar County, TX, Motor Vehicle Rental Tax Revenue, 4.00%, 8/15/35

    760       892,780  

California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank, (The J. Paul Getty Trust), 1.447%, (70% of 1 mo. USD LIBOR + 0.20%), 4/1/21 (Put Date), 10/1/47(4)

    2,500       2,502,875  

Central Plains Energy Project, NE, Gas Supply Revenue, 4.00% to 8/1/25 (Put Date), 12/1/49

    5,000       5,677,350  

District of Columbia, (National Public Radio, Inc.), 5.00%, 4/1/28

    1,000       1,211,390  

District of Columbia, (National Public Radio, Inc.), 5.00%, 4/1/29

    1,000       1,208,230  

Fort Myers, FL, Capital Improvement Revenue, 5.00%, 12/1/32

    825       992,813  

Fort Myers, FL, Capital Improvement Revenue, 5.00%, 12/1/33

    640       767,821  

Fort Myers, FL, Capital Improvement Revenue, 5.00%, 12/1/34

    510       610,552  

Hyland Hills Park & Recreation District, CO, 5.00%, 12/15/26

    150       186,797  

Kentucky Public Energy Authority, Gas Supply Revenue, 4.00%, 7/1/24

    5,000       5,584,050  

Kentucky Public Energy Authority, Gas Supply Revenue, 4.00% to 6/1/25 (Put Date), 12/1/49

    5,000       5,616,700  

Kentucky Public Energy Authority, Gas Supply Revenue, 4.00% to 2/1/28 (Put Date), 2/1/50

    7,500       8,756,550  

Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, NV, 5.00%, 7/1/30

    400       462,540  

Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, NV, 5.00%, 7/1/31

    250       288,450  

Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, NV, 5.00%, 7/1/32

    365       420,498  

Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, NV, 5.00%, 7/1/33

    300       345,117  

Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, NV, 5.00%, 7/1/34

    475       545,799  

Louisiana Local Government Environmental Facilities and Community Development Authority, 5.00%, 12/1/32

    2,355       3,014,588  

Louisiana Local Government Environmental Facilities and Community Development Authority, 5.00%, 12/1/34

    2,425       3,083,436  

Louisiana Local Government Environmental Facilities and Community Development Authority, (Jefferson Parish), 5.00%, 4/1/27

    500       619,380  

Louisiana Local Government Environmental Facilities and Community Development Authority, (Jefferson Parish), 5.00%, 4/1/29

    275       338,825  
 

 

  22   See Notes to Financial Statements.


5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Portfolio

January 31, 2020

 

Portfolio of Investments — continued

 

 

Security   Principal
Amount
(000’s omitted)
    Value  
Other Revenue (continued)  

Main Street Natural Gas, Inc., GA, Gas Supply Revenue, 4.00% to 12/2/24 (Put Date), 8/1/49

  $ 2,500     $ 2,818,975  

Main Street Natural Gas, Inc., GA, Gas Supply Revenue, 4.00% to 9/1/26 (Put Date), 3/1/50

    5,000       5,775,250  

Main Street Natural Gas, Inc., GA, Gas Supply Revenue, (Liq: Royal Bank of Canada), 4.00% to 9/1/23 (Put Date), 4/1/48

    1,000       1,095,810  

Mississippi Development Bank, Special Obligation Bond, (East Mississippi Correctional Facility), 5.00%, 8/1/25

    1,000       1,195,790  

Mississippi Development Bank, Special Obligation Bond, (Jackson Public School District), 5.00%, 4/1/25

    1,270       1,512,087  

New York City Cultural Resources Trust, NY, (Carnegie Hall), 5.00%, 12/1/27

    200       260,048  

New York City Cultural Resources Trust, NY, (Carnegie Hall), 5.00%, 12/1/28

    250       332,755  

New York City Cultural Resources Trust, NY, (Carnegie Hall), 5.00%, 12/1/29

    325       441,506  

New York City Cultural Resources Trust, NY, (Carnegie Hall), 5.00%, 12/1/31

    250       337,653  

New York City Cultural Resources Trust, NY, (Carnegie Hall), 5.00%, 12/1/32

    550       739,755  

New York City Cultural Resources Trust, NY, (Carnegie Hall), 5.00%, 12/1/33

    300       402,207  

New York City Cultural Resources Trust, NY, (Carnegie Hall), 5.00%, 12/1/34

    300       400,860  

New York City Cultural Resources Trust, NY, (Carnegie Hall), 5.00%, 12/1/35

    700       931,735  

Rhode Island Health and Educational Building Corp., (Barrington), 5.00%, 5/15/28

    1,060       1,347,514  

San Diego Association of Governments, CA, (Mid-Coast Corridor Transit), Green Bonds, 1.80%, 11/15/27

    1,000       1,015,000  

Spartanburg County School District No. 7, SC, Special Obligation Bonds, 5.00%, 12/1/24

    350       416,017  

Tennergy Corp., TN, Gas Supply Revenue, 5.00% to 10/1/24 (Put Date), 2/1/50

    12,000       13,958,880  

Tennessee Energy Acquisition Corp., Gas Project Revenue, 4.00% to 11/1/25 (Put Date), 11/1/49

    5,000       5,666,800  

Wisconsin, Environmental Improvement Fund Revenue, 5.00%, 6/1/31

    2,500       3,010,400  

Wisconsin, Environmental Improvement Fund Revenue, 5.00%, 6/1/32

    1,000       1,201,440  
      $ 88,808,598  
Senior Living / Life Care — 2.9%  

Atlantic Beach, FL, (Fleet Landing), 3.00%, 11/15/23

  $ 2,500     $ 2,510,000  

Atlantic Beach, FL, (Fleet Landing), 5.00%, 11/15/24

    160       184,722  

Atlantic Beach, FL, (Fleet Landing), 5.00%, 11/15/28

    1,480       1,765,418  
Security   Principal
Amount
(000’s omitted)
    Value  
Senior Living / Life Care (continued)  

Baltimore County, MD, (Riderwood Village, Inc.), 4.00%, 1/1/30

  $ 1,655     $ 1,933,156  

Baltimore County, MD, (Riderwood Village, Inc.), 4.00%, 1/1/32

    350       405,391  

Baltimore County, MD, (Riderwood Village, Inc.), 4.00%, 1/1/33

    600       691,914  

Baltimore County, MD, (Riderwood Village, Inc.), 4.00%, 1/1/34

    685       787,127  

Baltimore County, MD, (Riderwood Village, Inc.), 4.00%, 1/1/35

    615       704,464  

Bexar County Health Facilities Development Corp., TX, (Army Retirement Residence Foundation), 5.00%, 7/15/33

    875       1,001,402  

Buffalo and Erie County Industrial Land Development Corp., NY, (Orchard Park CCRC, Inc.), 5.00%, 11/15/28

    50       57,558  

Buffalo and Erie County Industrial Land Development Corp., NY, (Orchard Park CCRC, Inc.), 5.00%, 11/15/30

    910       1,041,186  

California Statewide Communities Development Authority, (American Baptist Homes of the West), 5.00%, 10/1/25

    100       119,893  

Cumberland County Municipal Authority, PA, (Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries), 2.50%, 1/1/26

    640       659,130  

Cumberland County Municipal Authority, PA, (Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries), 5.00%, 1/1/27

    1,035       1,204,585  

East Hempfield Township Industrial Development Authority, PA, (Willow Valley Communities), 5.00%, 12/1/21

    250       267,905  

East Hempfield Township Industrial Development Authority, PA, (Willow Valley Communities), 5.00%, 12/1/31

    250       295,485  

Illinois Finance Authority, (Presbyterian Homes Obligated Group), 5.00%, 5/1/22

    225       242,919  

Missouri Health and Educational Facilities Authority, (Lutheran Senior Services), 3.00%, 2/1/27

    1,000       1,063,830  

Missouri Health and Educational Facilities Authority, (Lutheran Senior Services), 5.00%, 2/1/23

    600       660,594  

Missouri Health and Educational Facilities Authority, (Lutheran Senior Services), 5.00%, 2/1/29

    600       705,618  

Missouri Health and Educational Facilities Authority, (Lutheran Senior Services), 5.00%, 2/1/30

    200       233,884  

Missouri Health and Educational Facilities Authority, (Lutheran Senior Services), 5.00%, 2/1/31

    250       291,595  

North Carolina Medical Care Commission, (United Methodist Retirement Homes), 5.00%, 10/1/24

    150       173,718  

North Carolina Medical Care Commission, (United Methodist Retirement Homes), 5.00%, 10/1/25

    100       115,732  

North Carolina Medical Care Commission, (United Methodist Retirement Homes), 5.00%, 10/1/26

    1,100       1,269,488  

North Carolina Medical Care Commission, (United Methodist Retirement Homes), 5.00%, 10/1/27

    50       57,477  

North Carolina Medical Care Commission, (United Methodist Retirement Homes), 5.00%, 10/1/29

    125       143,330  
 

 

  23   See Notes to Financial Statements.


5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Portfolio

January 31, 2020

 

Portfolio of Investments — continued

 

 

Security   Principal
Amount
(000’s omitted)
    Value  
Senior Living / Life Care (continued)  

North Carolina Medical Care Commission, (United Methodist Retirement Homes), 5.00%, 10/1/32

  $ 225     $ 256,099  

North Carolina Medical Care Commission, (United Methodist Retirement Homes), Series 2016A, 5.00%, 10/1/30

    200       238,696  

North Carolina Medical Care Commission, (United Methodist Retirement Homes), Series 2016A, 5.00%, 10/1/31

    675       802,521  

North Carolina Medical Care Commission, (United Methodist Retirement Homes), Series 2017A, 5.00%, 10/1/30

    250       285,770  

Palm Beach County Health Facilities Authority, FL, (Lifespace Communities, Inc.), 5.00%, 5/15/32

    400       465,792  

Palm Beach County Health Facilities Authority, FL, (Lifespace Communities, Inc.), 5.00%, 5/15/33

    500       580,875  
      $ 21,217,274  
Special Tax Revenue — 3.2%  

Atlanta Development Authority, GA, (New Downtown Atlanta Stadium), 5.00%, 7/1/26

  $ 100     $ 120,838  

Irving, TX, Hotel Occupancy Tax Revenue, 5.00%, 8/15/25

    130       154,856  

Irving, TX, Hotel Occupancy Tax Revenue, 5.00%, 8/15/26

    135       164,294  

Irving, TX, Hotel Occupancy Tax Revenue, 5.00%, 8/15/27

    100       123,745  

Irving, TX, Hotel Occupancy Tax Revenue, 5.00%, 8/15/28

    125       156,896  

Irving, TX, Hotel Occupancy Tax Revenue, 5.00%, 8/15/30

    150       188,660  

Irving, TX, Hotel Occupancy Tax Revenue, 5.00%, 8/15/31

    100       124,979  

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, CA, Sales Tax Revenue, 5.00%, 6/1/31

    1,000       1,244,720  

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, CA, Sales Tax Revenue, 5.00%, 6/1/32

    500       621,065  

Miami-Dade County, FL, Special Obligation Bonds, 5.00%, 4/1/25

    250       300,713  

Miami-Dade County, FL, Special Obligation Bonds, 5.00%, 4/1/26

    1,025       1,268,765  

Miami-Dade County, FL, Special Obligation Bonds, 5.00%, 4/1/29

    900       1,099,872  

Miami-Dade County, FL, Special Obligation Bonds, 5.00%, 4/1/30

    950       1,158,097  

Miami-Dade County, FL, Special Obligation Bonds, 5.00%, 4/1/31

    895       1,089,063  

Miami-Dade County, FL, Special Obligation Bonds, 5.00%, 4/1/32

    735       891,165  

Miami-Dade County, FL, Special Obligation Bonds, 5.00%, 10/1/32

    1,200       1,320,300  

Mississippi Development Bank, Special Obligation Bonds, (Hinds County School District), 4.00%, 3/1/25

    470       535,137  

New York Dormitory Authority, Sales Tax Revenue, 5.00%, 3/15/32

    1,800       2,177,190  

New York Dormitory Authority, Sales Tax Revenue, 5.00%, 3/15/34

    5,000       6,188,700  
Security   Principal
Amount
(000’s omitted)
    Value  
Special Tax Revenue (continued)  

New York, NY, Transitional Finance Authority, Future Tax Revenue, 5.00%, 8/1/33

  $ 1,190     $ 1,390,194  

Oregon Department of Transportation, Highway User Tax Revenue, 5.00%, 11/15/31

    1,300       1,538,550  

Successor Agency to San Mateo Redevelopment Agency, CA, 5.00%, 8/1/26

    100       120,279  

Successor Agency to San Mateo Redevelopment Agency, CA, 5.00%, 8/1/29

    140       167,220  

Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District, OR, Payroll Tax Revenue, 5.00%, 9/1/32

    1,000       1,241,290  
      $ 23,386,588  
Transportation — 13.1%  

Allegheny County Airport Authority, PA, (Pittsburgh International Airport), Prerefunded to 1/1/22, 4.00%, 1/1/31

  $ 1,000     $ 1,057,930  

Arizona Transportation Board, Highway Revenue, 5.00%, 7/1/27

    2,755       3,432,537  

Bay Area Toll Authority, CA, (San Francisco Bay Area), 2.95% to 4/1/26 (Put Date), 4/1/47

    1,800       1,984,518  

Central Florida Expressway Authority, 4.00%, 7/1/35

    3,350       3,844,795  

Chicago, IL, (O’Hare International Airport), 5.00%, 1/1/26

    1,000       1,221,760  

Chicago, IL, (O’Hare International Airport), 5.00%, 1/1/28

    150       177,584  

Chicago, IL, (O’Hare International Airport), 5.00%, 1/1/29

    150       177,348  

Chicago, IL, (O’Hare International Airport), 5.00%, 1/1/30

    500       590,635  

Chicago, IL, (O’Hare International Airport), 5.00%, 1/1/31

    1,000       1,180,220  

Chicago, IL, (O’Hare International Airport), 5.00%, 1/1/33

    125       147,528  

Chicago, IL, (O’Hare International Airport), 5.25%, 1/1/28

    2,905       3,656,785  

Chicago, IL, (O’Hare International Airport), 5.25%, 1/1/29

    3,060       3,841,126  

Chicago, IL, (O’Hare International Airport), 5.25%, 1/1/30

    1,000       1,250,390  

Chicago, IL, (O’Hare International Airport), 5.25%, 1/1/31

    1,000       1,245,920  

Chicago, IL, (O’Hare International Airport), 5.25%, 1/1/32

    2,565       3,190,527  

Clark County, NV, Highway Revenue, 5.00%, 7/1/33

    3,000       3,465,060  

Commonwealth Transportation Board, VA, 5.00%, 9/15/30

    1,240       1,544,966  

Dallas and Fort Worth, TX, (Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport), 5.00%, 11/1/30

    2,545       2,620,586  

Denver City and County, CO, Airport System Revenue, 5.00%, 11/15/24

    650       773,844  

Denver City and County, CO, Airport System Revenue, 5.00%, 11/15/31

    1,450       1,786,124  

Denver City and County, CO, Airport System Revenue, 5.00%, 11/15/32

    2,100       2,580,585  

Fort Bend County, TX, Toll Road Revenue, 5.00%, 3/1/28

    500       595,990  

Fort Bend County, TX, Toll Road Revenue, 5.00%, 3/1/29

    1,000       1,190,550  

Fort Bend County, TX, Toll Road Revenue, 5.00%, 3/1/30

    750       890,212  

Hawaii, Highway Revenue, 5.00%, 1/1/31

    805       1,053,157  
 

 

  24   See Notes to Financial Statements.


5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Portfolio

January 31, 2020

 

Portfolio of Investments — continued

 

 

Security   Principal
Amount
(000’s omitted)
    Value  
Transportation (continued)  

Idaho Housing and Finance Association, Federal Highway Trust Fund, 5.00%, 7/15/25

  $ 650     $ 783,887  

Illinois Toll Highway Authority, 5.00%, 1/1/29

    175       211,761  

Illinois Toll Highway Authority, 5.00%, 12/1/32

    350       419,314  

Kentucky Asset/Liability Commission, 2015 Federal Highway Trust Fund, 5.00%, 9/1/24

    250       293,787  

Kentucky Turnpike Authority, 5.00%, 7/1/33

    500       561,040  

Massachusetts Department of Transportation, 5.00%, 1/1/30

    4,860       6,344,001  

Metropolitan Transportation Authority, NY, 5.00%, 11/15/27

    1,500       1,863,750  

Metropolitan Transportation Authority, NY, 5.00%, 11/15/41

    415       457,571  

Metropolitan Transportation Authority, NY, 2.013%, (67% of 1 mo. USD LIBOR + 0.82%), 2/1/22 (Put Date), 11/1/26(4)

    6,625       6,653,289  

Metropolitan Transportation Authority, NY, Green Bonds, 5.00%, 11/15/29

    2,435       3,091,768  

New Orleans Aviation Board, LA, 5.00%, 1/1/28

    150       185,792  

North Carolina, Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle Bonds, 5.00%, 3/1/26

    3,000       3,713,520  

North Carolina, Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle Bonds, 5.00%, 3/1/29

    550       650,034  

North Carolina, Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle Bonds, 5.00%, 3/1/30

    400       471,108  

Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, 1.64%, (SIFMA + 0.70%), 12/1/23(4)

    5,000       5,033,600  

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, 5.00%, 9/1/34

    3,595       4,736,269  

Port of Seattle, WA, 5.00%, 3/1/25

    150       176,409  

Port of Seattle, WA, 5.00%, 3/1/27

    250       292,822  

Port of Seattle, WA, 5.00%, 3/1/29

    250       291,605  

Portland, ME, Airport Revenue, Green Bonds, 5.00%, 1/1/29

    225       289,458  

Portland, ME, Airport Revenue, Green Bonds, 5.00%, 1/1/31

    370       480,885  

Salt Lake City, UT, (Salt Lake City International Airport), 5.00%, 7/1/28

    1,370       1,728,214  

Salt Lake City, UT, (Salt Lake City International Airport), 5.00%, 7/1/31

    300       381,819  

Salt Lake City, UT, (Salt Lake City International Airport), 5.00%, 7/1/32

    660       837,745  

Salt Lake City, UT, (Salt Lake City International Airport), 5.00%, 7/1/33

    600       759,648  

Salt Lake City, UT, (Salt Lake City International Airport), 5.00%, 7/1/34

    450       568,561  

Texas Transportation Commission, 5.00%, 4/1/33

    50       57,733  

Texas Transportation Commission, (Central Texas Turnpike System), 0.00%, 8/1/34

    1,000       630,760  

Texas Transportation Commission, (Central Texas Turnpike System), 0.00%, 8/1/35

    500       295,655  

Wayne County Airport Authority, MI, (Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport), 5.00%, 12/1/31

    2,920       3,754,770  

Wayne County Airport Authority, MI, (Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport), 5.00%, 12/1/34

    1,005       1,280,712  
Security   Principal
Amount
(000’s omitted)
    Value  
Transportation (continued)  

Wisconsin, Transportation Revenue, 5.00%, 7/1/31

  $ 3,450     $ 4,022,458  

Wisconsin, Transportation Revenue, 5.00%, 7/1/32

    700       815,234  
      $ 95,635,656  
Water and Sewer — 3.9%  

Buffalo Municipal Water Finance Authority, NY, 5.00%, 7/1/25

  $ 300     $ 365,784  

Buffalo Municipal Water Finance Authority, NY, 5.00%, 7/1/29

    115       137,805  

Buffalo Municipal Water Finance Authority, NY, 5.00%, 7/1/30

    100       119,518  

Glendale, AZ, Water and Sewer Revenue, 5.00%, 7/1/28

    1,500       1,806,495  

King County, WA, Sewer Revenue, 4.00%, 7/1/33

    4,880       5,395,328  

Marin Public Financing Authority, CA, (Sausalito-Marin City Sanitary District), 4.00%, 4/1/32

    575       677,856  

McAllen, TX, Waterworks and Sewer System Revenue, 4.00%, 2/1/27

    1,000       1,151,890  

Memphis, TN, Sanitary Sewerage System Revenue, 4.00%, 10/1/32

    1,895       2,194,220  

Mesa, AZ, Utility Systems Revenue, 5.00%, 7/1/27

    600       746,292  

Mesa, AZ, Utility Systems Revenue, 5.00%, 7/1/29

    500       617,135  

New York City Municipal Water Finance Authority, NY, (Water and Sewer System), (SPA: Barclays Bank PLC),
1.18%, 6/15/50(2)

    5,000       5,000,000  

New York City Municipal Water Finance Authority, NY, (Water and Sewer System), (SPA: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.), 1.18%, 6/15/50(2)

    5,000       5,000,000  

Rapid City, SD, Water Revenue, 4.00%, 11/1/29

    600       686,214  

Rapid City, SD, Water Revenue, 4.00%, 11/1/30

    670       763,438  

Rapid City, SD, Water Revenue, 5.00%, 11/1/26

    1,000       1,219,680  

Rapid City, SD, Water Revenue, 5.00%, 11/1/27

    515       623,773  

St. Joseph Industrial Development Authority, MO, (Sewerage System Improvements), 5.00%, 4/1/26

    500       598,150  

Wyoming, MI, Water Supply System Revenue, 5.00%, 6/1/27

    505       614,747  

Wyoming, MI, Water Supply System Revenue, 5.00%, 6/1/28

    550       664,867  
      $ 28,383,192  

Total Tax-Exempt Investments — 97.2%
(identified cost $665,473,178)

 

  $ 708,711,221  

Other Assets, Less Liabilities — 2.8%

 

  $ 20,661,318  

Net Assets — 100.0%

 

  $ 729,372,539  

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

At January 31, 2020, the concentration of the Portfolio’s investments in the various states, determined as a percentage of net assets, is less than 10% individually.

 

 

  25   See Notes to Financial Statements.


5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Portfolio

January 31, 2020

 

Portfolio of Investments — continued

 

 

The Portfolio invests primarily in debt securities issued by municipalities. The ability of the issuers of the debt securities to meet their obligations may be affected by economic developments in a specific industry or municipality. At January 31, 2020, 4.7% of total investments are backed by bond insurance of various financial institutions and financial guaranty assurance agencies. The aggregate percentage insured by an individual financial institution or financial guaranty assurance agency ranged from 1.8% to 2.9% of total investments.

 

(1)

When-issued security.

 

(2)

Variable rate demand obligation that may be tendered at par on any day for payment the same or next business day. The stated interest rate, which generally resets daily, is determined by the remarketing agent and represents the rate in effect at January 31, 2020.

 

(3)

Variable rate demand obligation that may be tendered at par on any day for payment the lesser of 5 business days or 7 calendar days. The stated interest rate, which generally resets weekly, is determined by the remarketing agent and represents the rate in effect at January 31, 2020.

 

(4)

Floating rate security. The stated interest rate represents the rate in effect at January 31, 2020.

 

(5)

Amount is less than 0.05%.

Abbreviations:

 

AGM     Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp.
BAM     Build America Mutual Assurance Co.
FHLMC     Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.
FNMA     Federal National Mortgage Association
GNMA     Government National Mortgage Association
LIBOR     London Interbank Offered Rate
Liq     Liquidity Provider
LOC     Letter of Credit
PSF     Permanent School Fund
SIFMA     Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association Municipal Swap Index
SPA     Standby Bond Purchase Agreement

Currency Abbreviations:

 

USD     United States Dollar
 

 

  26   See Notes to Financial Statements.


5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Portfolio

January 31, 2020

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

 

Assets    January 31, 2020  

Unaffiliated investments, at value (identified cost, $665,473,178)

   $ 708,711,221  

Cash

     16,764,506  

Interest receivable

     6,445,606  

Receivable from affiliates

     5,379  

Total assets

   $ 731,926,712  
Liabilities

 

Payable for when-issued securities

   $ 2,185,788  

Payable to affiliate:

  

Investment adviser fee

     195,725  

Accrued expenses

     172,660  

Total liabilities

   $ 2,554,173  

Net Assets applicable to investors’ interest in Portfolio

   $ 729,372,539  

 

  27   See Notes to Financial Statements.


5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Portfolio

January 31, 2020

 

Statement of Operations

 

 

Investment Income   

Year Ended

January 31, 2020

 

Interest

   $ 16,816,363  

Total investment income

   $ 16,816,363  
Expenses

 

Investment adviser fee

   $ 2,132,713  

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     33,904  

Custodian fee

     147,812  

Legal and accounting services

     54,034  

Miscellaneous

     18,126  

Total expenses

   $ 2,386,589  

Deduct —

 

Allocation of expenses to affiliates

   $ 54,130  

Total expense reductions

   $ 54,130  

Net expenses

   $ 2,332,459  

Net investment income

   $ 14,483,904  
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

 

Net realized gain (loss) —

 

Investment transactions

   $ 3,670,755  

Net realized gain

   $ 3,670,755  

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) —

 

Investments

   $ 31,795,434  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

   $ 31,795,434  

Net realized and unrealized gain

   $ 35,466,189  

Net increase in net assets from operations

   $ 49,950,093  

 

  28   See Notes to Financial Statements.


5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Portfolio

January 31, 2020

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

     Year Ended January 31,  
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets    2020      2019  

From operations —

 

Net investment income

   $ 14,483,904      $ 13,949,745  

Net realized gain (loss)

     3,670,755        (8,296,867

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     31,795,434        13,159,193  

Net increase in net assets from operations

   $ 49,950,093      $ 18,812,071  

Capital transactions —

 

Contributions

   $ 100,910,579      $ 60,489,911  

Withdrawals

     (34,118,862      (143,479,290

Portfolio transaction fee

     202,332        305,881  

Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital transactions

   $ 66,994,049      $ (82,683,498

Net increase (decrease) in net assets

   $ 116,944,142      $ (63,871,427
Net Assets                  

At beginning of year

   $ 612,428,397      $ 676,299,824  

At end of year

   $ 729,372,539      $ 612,428,397  

 

  29   See Notes to Financial Statements.


 

 

5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Portfolio

January 31, 2020

 

Financial Highlights

 

 

     Year Ended January 31,     

Period Ended

January 31,  2017(1)

 
Ratios/Supplemental Data    2020      2019      2018  
         

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

           

Expenses(2)

     0.35      0.35      0.35      0.35 %(3) 

Net investment income

     2.17      2.16      2.01      1.71 %(3) 

Portfolio Turnover

     28      78      35      30 %(4) 

Total Return(2)

     7.88      3.11      3.83      (0.80 )%(4)  

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

   $ 729,373      $ 612,428      $ 676,300      $ 502,104  

 

(1) 

For the period from the start of business, March 28, 2016, to January 31, 2017.

 

(2)

The investment adviser and sub-adviser reimbursed certain operating expenses (equal to 0.01%, 0.01%, 0.01% and 0.02% of average daily net assets for the years ended January 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 and the period ended January 31, 2017, respectively). Absent this reimbursement, total return would be lower.

 

(3)

Annualized.

 

(4)

Not annualized.

 

  30   See Notes to Financial Statements.


5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Portfolio

January 31, 2020

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

 

1  Significant Accounting Policies

5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Portfolio (the Portfolio) is a Massachusetts business trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as a diversified, open-end management investment company. The Portfolio’s investment objective is to seek current income exempt from regular federal income tax. The Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to issue interests in the Portfolio. At January 31, 2020, Parametric TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Fund (formerly, Eaton Vance TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Fund) and Eaton Vance TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares held an interest of 99.0% and 1.0%, respectively, in the Portfolio.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies of the Portfolio. The policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP). The Portfolio 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.

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 ask 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.

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 Portfolio in a manner that most fairly reflects the security’s “fair value”, which is the amount that the Portfolio 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 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 entity’s financial statements, and an evaluation of the forces that influence the issuer and the market(s) in which the security is purchased and sold.

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

C  Income — Interest income is recorded on the basis of interest accrued, adjusted for amortization of premium or accretion of discount.

D  Federal Taxes — The Portfolio has elected to be treated as a partnership for federal tax purposes. No provision is made by the Portfolio for federal or state taxes on any taxable income of the Portfolio because each investor in the Portfolio is ultimately responsible for the payment of any taxes on its share of taxable income. Since at least one of the Portfolio’s investors is a regulated investment company that invests all or substantially all of its assets in the Portfolio, the Portfolio normally must satisfy the applicable source of income and diversification requirements (under the Internal Revenue Code) in order for its investors to satisfy them. The Portfolio will allocate, at least annually among its investors, each investor’s distributive share of the Portfolio’s net investment income, net realized capital gains and losses and any other items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit.

As of January 31, 2020, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, de-recognition, or disclosure. The Portfolio 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  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.

F  Indemnifications — Under the Portfolio’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 Portfolio. Under Massachusetts law, if certain conditions prevail, interestholders in the Portfolio could be deemed to have personal liability for the obligations of the Portfolio. However, the Portfolio’s Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of liability on the part of Portfolio interestholders. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Portfolio enters into agreements with service providers that may contain indemnification clauses. The Portfolio’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Portfolio that have not yet occurred.

G  When-Issued Securities and Delayed Delivery Transactions — The Portfolio 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 Portfolio maintains cash and/or security positions for these commitments such that sufficient liquid assets will

 

  31  


5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Portfolio

January 31, 2020

 

Notes to Financial Statements — continued

 

 

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 interest 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.

H  Capital Transactions — To seek to protect the Portfolio (and, indirectly, other investors in the Portfolio) against the costs of accommodating investor inflows and outflows, the Portfolio imposes a fee (“Portfolio transaction fee”) on inflows and outflows by Portfolio investors. The Portfolio transaction fee is sized to cover the estimated cost to the Portfolio of, in connection with issuing interests, converting the cash and/or other instruments it receives to the desired composition and, in connection with redeeming its interests, converting Portfolio holdings to cash and/or other instruments to be distributed. Such fee, which may vary over time, is limited to amounts that have been authorized by the Board of Trustees and determined by Eaton Vance Management (EVM) to be appropriate. The maximum Portfolio transaction fee is 2% of the amount of net contributions or withdrawals. The Portfolio transaction fee is recorded as a component of capital transactions on the Statements of Changes in Net Assets.

2  Investment Adviser Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates

The investment adviser fee is earned by Boston Management and Research (BMR), a subsidiary of EVM, as compensation for investment advisory services rendered to the Portfolio. The fee is computed at an annual rate of 0.32% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets up to $1 billion and at reduced rates on average daily net assets of $1 billion or more, and is payable monthly. For the year ended January 31, 2020, the Portfolio’s investment adviser fee amounted to $2,132,713 or 0.32% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets. Pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement, BMR pays Parametric Portfolio Associates LLC (Parametric), a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Eaton Vance Corp., a portion of its investment adviser fee for sub-advisory services provided to the Portfolio. Pursuant to a voluntary expense reimbursement, BMR and Parametric were allocated $54,130 in total of the Portfolio’s operating expenses for the year ended January 31, 2020.

Trustees and officers of the Portfolio who are members of EVM’s or BMR’s organizations receive remuneration for their services to the Portfolio out of the investment adviser fee. Trustees of the Portfolio who are not affiliated with the investment adviser 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 January 31, 2020, no significant amounts have been deferred. Certain officers and Trustees of the Portfolio are officers of the above organizations.

3  Purchases and Sales of Investments

Purchases and sales of investments, other than short-term obligations, aggregated $266,132,417 and $183,615,370, respectively, for the year ended January 31, 2020.

4  Federal Income Tax Basis of Investments

The cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments of the Portfolio at January 31, 2020, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:

 

Aggregate cost

   $ 665,472,000  

Gross unrealized appreciation

   $ 43,239,221  

Gross unrealized depreciation

      

Net unrealized appreciation

   $ 43,239,221  

5  Line of Credit

The Portfolio participates with other portfolios and funds managed by EVM and its affiliates in an $800 million unsecured line of credit agreement with a group of banks, which is in effect through October 27, 2020. In connection with the renewal of the agreement on October 29, 2019, funds managed by Calvert Research and Management, an affiliate of EVM, were added as participating funds to the agreement and the borrowing limit was increased from $625 million. Borrowings are made by the Portfolio solely to facilitate the handling of unusual and/or unanticipated short-term cash requirements. Interest is charged to the Portfolio based on its borrowings at an amount above either the Eurodollar rate or Federal Funds rate. In addition, a fee computed at an annual rate of 0.15% on the daily unused portion of the line of credit is allocated among the participating portfolios and funds at the end of each quarter. Because the line of credit is not available exclusively to the Portfolio, it may be unable to borrow some or all of its requested amounts at any particular time. The Portfolio did not have any significant borrowings or allocated fees during the year ended January 31, 2020.

 

  32  


5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Portfolio

January 31, 2020

 

Notes to Financial Statements — continued

 

 

6  Fair Value Measurements

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

 

 

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

 

 

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

 

 

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

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

At January 31, 2020, the hierarchy of inputs used in valuing the Portfolio’s investments, which are carried at value, were as follows:

 

Asset Description    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Tax-Exempt Investments

   $      $ 708,711,221      $      $ 708,711,221  

Total Investments

   $         —      $ 708,711,221      $         —      $ 708,711,221  

7  Subsequent Event

An outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus was first detected in China in December 2019 and subsequently spread internationally. This coronavirus has resulted in closing borders, enhanced health screenings, healthcare service preparation and delivery, quarantines, cancellations, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The impact of this coronavirus may last for an extended period of time and through March 20, 2020, the date these financial statements were issued, has resulted in substantial market volatility and may result in a significant economic downturn.

 

  33  


5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Portfolio

January 31, 2020

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

 

To the Trustees and Investors of 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Portfolio:

Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), including the portfolio of investments, as of January 31, 2020, the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the financial highlights for each of the three years in the period then ended and the period from the start of business, March 28, 2016, to January 31, 2017, and the related notes. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Portfolio as of January 31, 2020, and the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the three years in the period then ended and the period from the start of business, March 28, 2016, to January 31, 2017, 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 Portfolio’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Portfolio’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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio’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 January 31, 2020, 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

March 20, 2020

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

 

  34  


Eaton Vance

TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares

January 31, 2020

 

Board of Trustees’ Contract Approval

 

 

Overview of the Contract Review Process

The Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), provides, in substance, that for a fund to enter into an investment advisory agreement with an investment adviser, the fund’s board of trustees, including a majority of the trustees who are not “interested persons” of the fund (“independent trustees”), must approve the agreement and its terms at an in-person meeting called for the purpose of considering such approval.

At a meeting held on December 10 and 11, 2019 (the “Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees/Directors (collectively, the “Board”) of the registered investment companies (the “Eaton Vance Funds”) advised by Eaton Vance Management or its affiliate, Boston Management and Research (together, “Eaton Vance”), including a majority of the independent trustees (the “Independent Trustees”), voted to approve new investment sub-advisory agreements between Eaton Vance Management (“EVM”) and Parametric Portfolio Associates, LLC (“PPA”), an affiliate of Eaton Vance, with respect to Eaton Vance 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares (the “Fund”), and between Boston Management and Research (“BMR”) and PPA with respect to 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), the portfolio in which the Fund invests, including their respective fee structures (together, the “New Sub-advisory Agreements”). EVM, with respect to the Fund, and BMR, with respect to the Portfolio, are each referred to herein as the “Adviser” as the context requires.

As of the date of the Meeting, the Board noted that EVM served as the investment adviser to the Fund pursuant to an investment advisory and administrative agreement, and that BMR served as the investment adviser to the Portfolio pursuant to an investment advisory agreement (each, an “Advisory Agreement”). The Board also noted that each Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser may employ one or more investment sub-advisers to perform advisory services for the Fund and the Portfolio, as applicable, subject to required approvals, including by the Board. Based on information provided to the Board by Eaton Vance at the Meeting, the Board’s approval of the New Sub-advisory Agreements permits PPA to be appointed as a sub-adviser to both the Fund and the Portfolio, and enables the Fund and the Portfolio to continue their respective investment programs. The Board noted that EVM, BMR and PPA are each indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of the same parent company, Eaton Vance Corp. (“EVC”).

At the Meeting, and prior to voting its approval of the New Sub-advisory Agreements, the Board received information from Eaton Vance regarding a strategic initiative previously announced by EVC whereby, among other initiates, members of Eaton Vance’s Tax-Advantaged Bond Strategies (“TABS”) division and Quantitative Strategies (“QS”) group would be joining PPA (the “Transition”). The Board considered information from Eaton Vance regarding the Transition, noting that the Transition was intended to strengthen EVC’s leadership positions in rules-based, systematic investment strategies. The Board received information that, in connection with the Transition, the Advisers would continue providing investment services to the Fund and the Portfolio, as applicable, pursuant to the Advisory Agreements, and PPA would provide portfolio management services to the Fund and the Portfolio pursuant to the New Sub-advisory Agreements.

In considering the proposal to approve the New Sub-advisory Agreements, the Board reviewed information furnished for the Meeting, as well as information previously furnished throughout the year at the meetings of the Board and its committees. In this connection, the Board also considered information evaluated by the Board and its Contract Review Committee in determining to approve investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements for the Eaton Vance Funds at the meeting of the Board held on April 24, 2019 (the “2019 Annual Contract Renewal”). As part of this review, the Board considered information provided by Eaton Vance and its affiliates during the 2019 Annual Contract Renewal relating to the Board’s approval of the Advisory Agreements.

The Board was assured that the Transition would not result in, among other things, any changes to the nature or level of services currently being provided by the Adviser under each Advisory Agreement, which, following the Transition, would be provided collectively by the Adviser and PPA under each Advisory Agreement and the New Sub-advisory Agreements, respectively. In this regard, the Board considered the investment management related services that PPA will provide, as well as the ongoing services to be provided by each Adviser, including the background and experience of the portfolio management personnel who would continue to manage both the Fund and the Portfolio following the Transition. The Board considered that the individuals primarily responsible for providing portfolio management services to the Fund and the Portfolio, as applicable, under the Advisory Agreements will continue to serve in substantially the same roles, respectively, under each New Sub-advisory Agreement. The Board specifically noted that the terms of each New Sub-advisory Agreement are substantially similar to the terms of the standard form used by Eaton Vance with affiliated sub-advisers for other Eaton Vance Funds in the Eaton Vance complex. Accordingly, in addition to the information considered at the Meeting and at prior meetings of the Board, including in connection with the 2019 Annual Contract Renewal, the Board considered relevant information provided by Eaton Vance in connection with the approval of the Advisory Agreements, as well as approvals of sub-advisory agreements between each Adviser and PPA with respect to other Eaton Vance Funds.

Information considered by the Board relating to the New Sub-advisory Agreements included, among other things, the following (certain information was considered by the Board in connection with the 2019 Annual Contract Renewal):

Information about Fees and Expenses

 

   

The advisory and related fees to be paid by the Fund and the Portfolio and the sub-advisory fees to be paid by each Adviser to PPA;

 

   

Comparative information concerning fees charged by other advisers for managing funds similar to the Fund and the Portfolio;

Information about Portfolio Management and Trading

 

   

Descriptions of the portfolio management services to be provided by PPA under the New Sub-advisory Agreements, as well as the investment strategies and policies to be employed;

 

   

Information about PPA’s policies and practices with respect to trading, including their processes for seeking best execution of portfolio transactions;

 

  35  


Eaton Vance

TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares

January 31, 2020

 

Board of Trustees’ Contract Approval — continued

 

 

Information about each Adviser and PPA

 

   

Information regarding the individual investment professionals whose responsibilities include portfolio management and investment research for the Fund and the Portfolio, and information relating to their compensation and responsibilities with respect to managing, as applicable, other mutual funds and/or investment accounts;

 

   

The Code of Ethics of PPA, together with information relating to compliance with, and the administration of, such code;

 

   

Policies and procedures relating to proxy voting and the handling of corporate actions and class actions;

 

   

Information concerning the resources devoted to compliance by PPA, including descriptions of its various compliance programs and its record of compliance;

 

   

Information concerning the business continuity and disaster recovery plans of the Adviser and its affiliates, including PPA;

 

   

A description of Eaton Vance’s oversight of sub-advisers, including with respect to regulatory and compliance issues, investment management and other matters; and

Other Relevant Information

 

   

The terms of the New Sub-advisory Agreements.

Results of the Process

Based on its consideration of the foregoing, and such other information as it deemed relevant, including the factors and conclusions described below, the Board concluded that the terms of the New Sub-advisory Agreements, including their respective fee structures, are in the interests of shareholders and, therefore, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, voted to approve the New Sub-advisory Agreements.

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services

In considering whether to approve the New Sub-advisory Agreements, the Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of services to be provided by PPA under the New Sub-advisory Agreements.

The Board considered PPA’s management capabilities and investment processes in light of the types of investments held by the Fund and the Portfolio, including the education, experience and number of investment professionals and other personnel who will provide portfolio management, investment research, and similar services under the New Sub-advisory Agreements. The Board considered the resources available to PPA in fulfilling its duties under the New Sub-advisory Agreements and the abilities and experience of PPA’s investment professionals in implementing the investment strategies of the Fund and the Porfolio. In this regard, the Board noted that the individuals primarily responsible for providing portfolio management services to the Fund and the Portfolio, as applicable, under the Advisory Agreements will continue to serve in substantially the same roles under each New Sub-advisory Agreement. In particular, the Board considered the abilities and experience of such investment professionals in the TABS and municipal research groups involved in managing the Fund and the Portfolio and other funds and accounts that invest primarily in municipal bonds and employ tax-advantaged bond and laddered strategies. The Board also took into account the resources dedicated to portfolio management and other services, the compensation methods of PPA as well as other factors, including the reputation and resources of PPA to recruit and retain highly qualified research, advisory and supervisory investment professionals. In addition, the Board considered the infrastructure, operational capabilities and support staff in place to assist in the portfolio management and operations of the Fund and the Portfolio.

The Board considered the special attributes of the Fund relative to a traditional mutual fund and the benefits that are expected to be realized from an investment in the Fund, rather than a traditional mutual fund. The Board also considered the resources devoted by the applicable Adviser and its affiliates in developing and maintaining an infrastructure necessary to support the on-going operations of the Fund.

The Board considered the compliance programs of the Advisers and relevant affiliates thereof, including PPA. The Board considered compliance and reporting matters regarding, among other things, personal trading by investment professionals, disclosure of portfolio holdings, late trading, frequent trading, portfolio valuation, business continuity and the allocation of investment opportunities.

After consideration of the foregoing factors, among others, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services to be provided by PPA, taken as a whole, will be appropriate and consistent with the terms of the New Sub-advisory Agreements.

Performance, Management Fees, Profitability and Economies of Scale

The Board considered the fact that, as part of the 2019 Annual Contract Renewal with respect to the Fund and the Portfolio, the Board had concluded that (i) the management fees payable to the Adviser were reasonable, (ii) the profits being realized by the Adviser and its affiliates were deemed not to be excessive, and (iii) the Fund and the Portfolio currently share in the benefits from economies of scale, if any, when they are realized by the Adviser, and that the structure of the advisory fee, which includes breakpoints at several asset levels, will allow the Fund and the Portfolio to continue to benefit from any economies of scale in the future. With respect to the performance of the Fund as part of the 2019 Annual Contract Renewal, the Board concluded that, in light of the Fund’s brief operating history, additional time is required to evaluate Fund performance. In considering whether to approve the New

 

  36  


Eaton Vance

TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares

January 31, 2020

 

Board of Trustees’ Contract Approval — continued

 

 

Sub-advisory Agreements, the Board considered the fact that EVM, BMR and PPA are indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of the same parent company, EVC. The Board also considered that the Transition is not expected to result in any change in the terms of the Advisory Agreements (including the fees payable thereunder), and that the Adviser will be responsible for the payment of all fees to PPA. Accordingly, the Board concluded that the appointment of PPA as a sub-adviser under each New Sub-advisory Agreement is not expected to adversely affect the performance of the Fund or the Portfolio, the reasonableness of the management fees payable by the Fund and the Portfolio, a portion of which will be paid by each Adviser to PPA, the profits to be realized by each Adviser and its affiliates, including PPA, in managing the Fund and the Portfolio, or the extent to which the Fund and the Portfolio can be expected to benefit from economies of scale in the future.

 

  37  


Eaton Vance

TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares

January 31, 2020

 

Management and Organization

 

 

Fund Management.  The Trustees of Eaton Vance NextShares Trust II (the Trust) and 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Portfolio (the Portfolio) are responsible for the overall management and supervision of the Trust’s and Portfolio’s affairs. The Trustees and officers of the Trust and the Portfolio 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. Trustees and officers of the Trust and the Portfolio hold indefinite terms of office. The “noninterested Trustees” consist of those Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust and the Portfolio, 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 the Fund’s principal underwriter, the Portfolio’s placement agent and 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 159 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 and officer serves until his or her successor is elected.

 

Name and Year of Birth   

Position(s)

with the
Trust and the

Portfolio

    

Trustee

Since(1)

    

Principal Occupation(s) and Directorships

During Past Five Years and Other Relevant Experience

Interested Trustee

Thomas E. Faust Jr.

1958

   Trustee      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 159 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 Trust and the Portfolio.

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

Noninterested Trustees

Mark R. Fetting

1954

   Trustee      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).

Other Directorships in the Last Five Years. None.

Cynthia E. Frost

1961

   Trustee      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).

Other Directorships in the Last Five Years. None.

George J. Gorman

1952

   Trustee      2014     

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

Other 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

   Trustee      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).

Other Directorships in the Last Five Years. Director of Envestnet, Inc. (provider of intelligent systems for wealth management and financial wellness) (since 2018). Director of Dynex Capital, Inc. (mortgage REIT) (since 2013).

 

  38  


Eaton Vance

TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares

January 31, 2020

 

Management and Organization — continued

 

 

Name and Year of Birth   

Position(s)

with the
Trust and the

Portfolio

    

Trustee

Since(1)

    

Principal Occupation(s) and Directorships

During Past Five Years and Other Relevant Experience

Noninterested Trustees (continued)

William H. Park

1947

   Chairperson of the Board and Trustee     

2016 (Chairperson)

2003 (Trustee)

    

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).

Other Directorships in the Last Five Years. None.

Helen Frame Peters

1948

   Trustee      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).

Other Directorships in the Last Five Years. None.

Keith Quinton

1958

   Trustee      2018     

Independent Investment Committee Member at New Hampshire Retirement System (since 2017). Formerly, Portfolio Manager and Senior Quantitative Analyst at Fidelity Investments (investment management firm) (2001-2014).

Other Directorships in the Last Five Years. Director (since 2016) and Chairman (since 2019) of New Hampshire Municipal Bond Bank.

Marcus L. Smith

1966

   Trustee      2018     

Private investor. Member of Posse Boston Advisory Board (foundation) (since 2015). Formerly, Portfolio Manager at MFS Investment Management (investment management firm) (1994-2017).

Other Directorships in the Last Five Years. Director of MSCI Inc. (global provider of investment decision support tools) (since 2017). Formerly, Director of DCT Industrial Trust Inc. (logistics real estate company) (2017-2018).

Susan J. Sutherland

1957

   Trustee      2015     

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

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

Scott E. Wennerholm

1959

   Trustee      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).

Other Directorships in the Last Five Years. None.

 

Name and Year of Birth   

Position(s)
with the
Trust and the

Portfolio

     Officer
Since
(2)
    

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

Principal Officers who are not Trustees

Payson F. Swaffield

1956

   President      2003      Vice President and Chief Income Investment Officer of EVM and BMR. 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.

 

  39  


Eaton Vance

TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares

January 31, 2020

 

Management and Organization — continued

 

 

Name and Year of Birth   

Position(s)
with the
Trust and the

Portfolio

     Officer
Since
(2)
    

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

Principal Officers who are not Trustees (continued)

James F. Kirchner

1967

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

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.

(2) 

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.

The SAI for the Fund includes additional information about the Trustees and officers of the Fund and the Portfolio and can be obtained without charge on Eaton Vance’s website at www.eatonvance.com or by calling 1-800-262-1122.

 

  40  


Eaton Vance Funds

 

IMPORTANT NOTICES

 

 

Privacy.  The Eaton Vance organization is committed to ensuring your financial privacy. Each entity listed below has adopted a privacy policy and procedures (“Privacy Program”) Eaton Vance believes is reasonably designed to protect your personal information and to govern when and with whom Eaton Vance may share your personal information.

 

 

At the time of opening an account, Eaton Vance generally requires you to provide us with certain information such as name, address, social security number, tax status, account numbers, and account balances. This information is necessary for us to both open an account for you and to allow us to satisfy legal requirements such as applicable anti-money laundering reviews and know-your-customer requirements.

 

 

On an ongoing basis, in the normal course of servicing your account, Eaton Vance may share your information with unaffiliated third parties that perform various services for Eaton Vance and/or your account. These third parties include transfer agents, custodians, broker/dealers and our professional advisers, including auditors, accountants, and legal counsel. Eaton Vance may additionally share your personal information with our affiliates.

 

 

We believe our Privacy Program is reasonably designed to protect the confidentiality of your personal information and to prevent unauthorized access to that information.

 

 

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

Our pledge of protecting your personal information 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 Limited, Eaton Vance Global Advisors Limited, Eaton Vance Management’s Real Estate Investment Group, Boston Management and Research, Calvert Research and Management, and Calvert Funds. This Privacy Notice supersedes all previously issued privacy disclosures. For more information about our Privacy Program or about how your personal information may be used, please call 1-800-262-1122.

Delivery of Shareholder Documents.  The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) permits delivery of only one copy of fund 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. Your broker may household the mailing of your documents indefinitely unless you instruct your broker otherwise. If you would prefer that your Eaton Vance documents not be householded, please contact your broker. Your instructions that householding not apply to delivery of your Eaton Vance documents will typically be effective within 30 days of receipt by your broker.

Portfolio Holdings.  Each Eaton Vance Fund and its underlying Portfolio(s) (if applicable) files a schedule of portfolio holdings on Part F to Form N-PORT with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year. The Form N-PORT 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.

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.

 

  41  


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Investment Adviser of 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond Portfolio

Boston Management and Research

Two International Place

Boston, MA 02110

Investment Adviser and Administrator of Eaton Vance TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares

Eaton Vance Management

Two International Place

Boston, MA 02110

Investment Sub-Adviser

Parametric Portfolio Associates LLC

800 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2800

Seattle, WA 98104

Distributor*

Foreside Fund Services, LLC

Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100

Portland, ME 04101

Custodian

State Street Bank and Trust Company

State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent

State Street Bank and Trust Company

State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Deloitte & Touche LLP

200 Berkeley Street

Boston, MA 02116-5022

Fund Offices

Two International Place

Boston, MA 02110

 
*

FINRA BrokerCheck.  Investors may check the background of their Investment Professional by contacting the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). FINRA BrokerCheck is a free tool to help investors check the professional background of current and former FINRA-registered securities firms and brokers. FINRA BrokerCheck is available by calling 1-800-289-9999 and at www.FINRA.org. The FINRA BrokerCheck brochure describing this program is available to investors at www.FINRA.org.


LOGO

 

LOGO

22628    1.31.20


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

Eaton Vance TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares (the “Fund”) is a series of Eaton Vance NextShares Trust II (the “Trust”), a Massachusetts business trust, which, including the Fund, contains a total of 7 series (the “Series”). The Trust is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end management investment company. This Form N-CSR relates to the Fund’s annual report.

(a)-(d)

The following table presents the aggregate fees billed to the registrant for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2019 and January 31, 2020 by the registrant’s principal accountant, Deloitte & Touche LLP (“D&T”), for professional services rendered for the audit of the Fund’s annual financial statements and fees billed for other services rendered by D&T during such periods.

Eaton Vance TABS 5-to-15 Year Laddered Municipal Bond NextShares

 

Fiscal Year Ended

   1/31/19      1/31/20  

Audit Fees

   $ 14,000      $ 14,150  

Audit-Related Fees(1)

   $ 0      $ 0  

Tax Fees(2)

   $ 9,591      $ 9,135  

All Other Fees(3)

   $ 0      $ 0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 23,591      $ 23,285  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(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.

The various Series comprising the Trust have differing fiscal year ends (January 31, September 30 and October 31). The following table presents the aggregate audit, audit-related, tax, and other fees billed to all of the Series in the Trust by D&T for the last two fiscal periods of each Series.


Fiscal Periods Ended*

   9/30/18      10/31/18      1/31/19      1/31/20  

Audit Fees

   $ 37,050      $ 14,000      $ 14,000      $ 14,150  

Audit-Related Fees(1)

   $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0  

Tax Fees(2)

   $ 16,100      $ 13,100      $ 9,591      $ 9,135  

All Other Fees(3)

   $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 53,150      $ 27,100      $ 23,591      $ 23,285  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

*

Information is not presented for fiscal periods ended 9/30/19 and 10/31/19, as no Series in the Trust with such fiscal periods end were in operation during such period.

(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 Fund (the only series of the Trust) by D&T for the last two fiscal years of the Fund; 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 last two fiscal years of each Series.


Fiscal Year Ended

   9/30/18*      10/31/18**      1/31/19      1/31/20  

Registrant(1)

   $ 16,100      $ 13,100      $ 9,591      $ 9,135  

Eaton Vance(2)

   $ 126,485      $ 126,485      $ 126,485      $ 59,903  

 

*

A Series of the registrant that commenced operations on November 11, 2017 and liquidated on August 29, 2019.

**

A Series of the registrant that commenced operations on November 29, 2017 and liquidated on August 5, 2019.

(1)

Includes all of the Series of the Trust. During the fiscal year reported above, certain of the Funds were “feeder” funds in a “master-feeder” fund structure or funds of funds.

(2)

Various subsidiaries of Eaton Vance Corp. act in either an investment advisory and/or service provider capacity with respect to the Series and/or their respective “master” funds (if applicable).

(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

Not applicable.

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

Not applicable.

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies

Not applicable.

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

Not applicable.

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

No material changes.

Item 11. Controls and Procedures

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


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

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

Not applicable.

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.


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 NextShares Trust II

 

By:

 

/s/ Payson F. Swaffield

  Payson F. Swaffield
  President

Date:

  March 24, 2020

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:

  March 24, 2020

By:

 

/s/ Payson F. Swaffield

  Payson F. Swaffield
  President

Date:

  March 24, 2020

 

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