Eaton Vance's Competitiveness

The investment management business is a highly competitive global industry and we are subject to substantial competition in each of our principal product categories and distribution channels. There are few barriers to entry for new firms and consolidation within the industry continues to alter the competitive landscape. According to the Investment Company Institute, there were more than 800 investment managers at the end of calendar 2014 that competed in the U.S. mutual fund market. We compete with these firms, many of which have substantially greater resources, on the basis of investment performance, diversity of products, distribution capability, scope and quality of service, fees charged, reputation and the ability to develop new investment strategies and products to meet the changing needs of investors.

In the retail fund channel, we compete with other mutual fund management, distribution and service companies that distribute through affiliated and unaffiliated sales forces, broker-dealers and direct sales to the public. According to the Investment Company Institute, at the end of calendar 2014 there were almost 9,300 open-end registered funds of varying sizes and investment objectives whose shares were being offered to the public in the United States. We rely primarily on intermediaries to distribute our products and pursue sales relationships with all types of intermediaries to broaden our distribution network. A failure to maintain strong relationships with intermediaries that distribute our products in the retail fund channel could adversely affect our gross and net sales, assets under management, revenue and financial condition.

We are also subject to substantial competition in the retail managed account channel from other investment management firms. Sponsors of retail managed account programs limit the number of approved managers within their programs and firms compete based on investment performance and other considerations to win and maintain positions in these programs.

In the high-net-worth and institutional separate account channels, we compete with other investment management firms based on the breadth of product offerings, investment performance, strength of reputation and the scope and quality of client service.