Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form N-CSR

 

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act File Number: 811-21470

 

 

Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

 

Maureen A. Gemma

Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110

(Name and Address of Agent for Services)

 

 

(617) 482-8260

(Registrant’s Telephone Number)

October 31

Date of Fiscal Year End

October 31, 2016

Date of Reporting Period

 

 

 


Item 1. Reports to Stockholders


LOGO

 

 

Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund (ETG)

Annual Report

October 31, 2016

 

 

 

 

LOGO


 

 

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

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


Annual Report October 31, 2016

Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

Table of Contents

 

Management’s Discussion of Fund Performance

     2   

Performance

     3   

Fund Profile

     4   

Endnotes and Additional Disclosures

     5   

Financial Statements

     6   

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     24   

Federal Tax Information

     25   

Annual Meeting of Shareholders

     26   

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

     27   

Management and Organization

     29   

Important Notices

     32   


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

October 31, 2016

 

Management’s Discussion of Fund Performance1

 

 

Economic and Market Conditions

Most global equity markets delivered moderate gains for the 12-month period ended October 31, 2016. Continued low interest rates and a rebound in oil prices were countered by geopolitical tensions and concerns about sluggish economic growth.

Global stocks moved in a choppy pattern during the first two months of the period. Worries about a possible interest rate hike by the U.S. Federal Reserve (the Fed) offset positive economic news, including further gains in the U.S. job market and higher European retail sales.

Expressing confidence in the economy, the Fed finally made its long-anticipated move in mid-December 2015, raising interest rates for the first time in nine years. Following the quarter-point increase, global stocks rose briefly before turbulence struck equity markets in early 2016. Stocks worldwide slid amid worries about falling oil prices, declining interest rates and slowing global growth, particularly in China. However, equity markets turned around in mid-February and soon overcame their earlier losses. Coinciding with the move was a reversal in crude oil prices, which rose following a prolonged decline.

In June 2016, Britain’s “Brexit” vote to leave the European Union sent stocks into a two-day tailspin, but equity markets quickly rallied, recovering the lost ground. In the U.S., major stock indexes reached multiple record highs during July and August 2016.

Global stocks pulled back in late August 2016 amid retreating oil prices and fears about a possible interest rate increase. The Fed’s decision at its September 2016 meeting to leave rates unchanged, along with an agreement by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to curb oil production, sent stocks briefly higher. In the final month of the period, global equities drifted lower on worries about the U.S. presidential election as well as concerns about China’s lagging economy and the possibility of rising interest rates.

For the 12-month period, the MSCI World Index,2 a proxy for global equities, returned 1.18%. The MSCI EAFE Index, an index of developed-market international equities, declined 3.23%, while the MSCI Emerging Markets Index returned 9.27%. In the U.S., the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 5.49%, while the broader U.S. equity market, as represented by the S&P 500 Index, gained 4.51%.

Fund Performance

For the 12-month period ended October 31, 2016, Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund (the Fund) had a total return of –2.09% at net asset value (NAV), underperforming the 1.18% return of the Fund’s primary benchmark, the MSCI World Index (the Index).

The Fund’s common stock allocation underperformed the Index during the period. Stock selection in the financials, health care and consumer discretionary sectors detracted from results versus the Index.

Within financials, the Fund’s overweight position in financial services giant Credit Suisse Group AG declined in value, as a difficult global environment for Credit Suisse’s securities trading business hindered the firm’s efforts to restructure itself and led to concerns it might need to raise additional capital. In health care, the Fund’s out-of-Index holding in Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd. ADR and overweight positions, relative to the Index, in drug maker Novo Nordisk A/S and biotech firm Gilead Sciences, Inc. detracted from performance versus the Index. All three stocks were hurt by headline news about high drug prices, which raised concerns during an election year that a new administration might press for increased scrutiny of drug prices.

In contrast, stock selection in the industrials, information technology and materials sectors aided Fund performance versus the Index. Within industrials, the Fund’s overweight position in Brambles Ltd., a global supplier and manager of shipping pallets and containers, helped performance versus the Index as the firm reported strong growth early in the period and raised projections for future income and profits.

As of period-end, Gilead and Brambles were no longer held in the portfolio.

For the 12-month period, the Fund’s preferred security allocation (i.e., preferred stocks, exchange-traded funds investing primarily in preferred stocks, and corporate bonds and notes with preferred characteristics) helped Fund performance versus the Index. The preferred allocation outperformed both the Index and the overall preferred market, as measured by the BofA Merrill Lynch Fixed Rate Preferred Securities Index (“BofA Index”). That outperformance was driven by several emerging market holdings that performed well; by an overweight in institutional issues that trade in the over-the-counter market, which in general performed better than retail (exchange-traded) issues; and by the preferred allocation’s longer duration8 relative to the BofA Index. A longer duration positioned the Fund to benefit more when rates fell during the period and prices rose. As of period end, the Fund had 19.2% of its total investments in preferred securities.

The Fund’s use of leverage6 had the effect of achieving additional exposure to the common and preferred markets, thus magnifying the Fund’s exposure to its underlying investments. During the period, leverage magnified both the positive performance of the Fund’s preferred security allocation and the negative performance of the Fund’s common stock allocation. As common stocks comprised a significantly larger portion of the Fund than preferred securities, the net effect of leverage was a detractor from performance versus the Index.

 

 

See Endnotes and Additional Disclosures in this report.

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

 

  2  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

October 31, 2016

 

Performance2,3

 

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

 

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

Fund at NAV

     01/30/2004         –2.09      10.37      3.60

Fund at Market Price

             –5.77         9.89         3.22   

MSCI World Index

             1.18      9.01      3.89

BofA Merrill Lynch Fixed Rate Preferred Securities Index

             7.23         7.31         3.26   

Blended Index

             2.44         8.77         4.02   
           
% Premium/Discount to NAV4                                
              –9.24
           
Distributions5                                

Total Distributions per share for the period

            $ 1.230   

Distribution Rate at NAV

              7.78

Distribution Rate at Market Price

              8.58
           
% Total Leverage6                                

Borrowings

              26.06

 

See Endnotes and Additional Disclosures in this report.

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

 

  3  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

October 31, 2016

 

Fund Profile

 

 

Common Stock Sector Allocation (% of total investments)

 

 

 

LOGO

Country Allocation (% of total investments)7

 

 

 

LOGO

Top 10 Common Stock Holdings (% of total investments)

 

 

Alphabet, Inc., Class C

    3.1

Wells Fargo & Co.

    2.0   

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

    1.8   

Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.

    1.8   

Kubota Corp.

    1.8   

Facebook, Inc., Class A

    1.7   

Johnson & Johnson

    1.6   

Apple, Inc.

    1.6   

Chubb, Ltd.

    1.5   

Visa, Inc., Class A

    1.5   

Total

    18.4
 

 

See Endnotes and Additional Disclosures in this report.

 

  4  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

October 31, 2016

 

Endnotes and Additional Disclosures

 

 

1 

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

 

2 

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

 

3 

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

 

4

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

5 

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

 

6 

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

 

7 

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

 

8 

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.

 

 

  5  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

October 31, 2016

 

Portfolio of Investments

 

 

Common Stocks — 104.0%   
   
Security   Shares     Value  

Aerospace & Defense — 1.3%

  

CAE, Inc.

    1,069,798      $ 15,026,463   
                 
    $ 15,026,463   
                 

Auto Components — 1.0%

  

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (The)(1)

    426,070      $ 12,368,812   
                 
    $ 12,368,812   
                 

Banks — 11.3%

  

BNP Paribas SA

    159,743      $ 9,262,419   

DBS Group Holdings, Ltd.

    649,621        7,002,074   

ING Groep NV

    706,078        9,268,693   

JPMorgan Chase & Co.(1)

    422,324        29,250,160   

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.

    3,730,307        19,247,670   

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)

    176,151        16,840,036   

U.S. Bancorp(1)

    285,768        12,790,976   

Wells Fargo & Co.(1)

    718,750        33,069,687   
                 
    $ 136,731,715   
                 

Beverages — 4.6%

  

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV(1)

    165,668      $ 19,013,682   

Constellation Brands, Inc., Class A(1)

    76,776        12,830,805   

Diageo PLC(1)

    894,607        23,811,341   
                 
    $ 55,655,828   
                 

Biotechnology — 3.5%

  

Celgene Corp.(1)(2)

    187,274      $ 19,135,657   

Shire PLC(1)

    407,210        22,992,174   
                 
    $ 42,127,831   
                 

Capital Markets — 1.1%

  

Credit Suisse Group AG

    855,355      $ 11,934,574   

Credit Suisse Group AG(3)

    132,511        1,848,896   
                 
    $ 13,783,470   
                 

Chemicals — 1.6%

  

BASF SE

    105,257      $ 9,291,873   

PPG Industries, Inc.

    107,915        10,050,124   
                 
    $ 19,341,997   
                 

Containers & Packaging — 1.2%

  

Sealed Air Corp.(1)

    322,150      $ 14,699,704   
                 
    $ 14,699,704   
                 
Security   Shares     Value  

Diversified Telecommunication Services — 2.4%

  

Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.(1)

    650,803      $ 28,854,543   
                 
    $ 28,854,543   
                 

Electric Utilities — 3.1%

  

American Electric Power Co., Inc.(1)

    211,163      $ 13,691,809   

NextEra Energy, Inc.(1)

    181,853        23,277,184   
                 
    $ 36,968,993   
                 

Electrical Equipment — 1.3%

  

Melrose Industries PLC

    7,441,717      $ 15,357,422   
                 
    $ 15,357,422   
                 

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components — 1.8%

  

Keyence Corp.(1)

    29,934      $ 21,944,358   
                 
    $ 21,944,358   
                 

Energy Equipment & Services — 1.6%

  

Halliburton Co.(1)

    190,165      $ 8,747,590   

Schlumberger, Ltd.(1)

    141,886        11,099,742   
                 
    $ 19,847,332   
                 

Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) — 2.5%

  

American Tower Corp.(1)

    104,533      $ 12,250,222   

Equity Residential(1)

    292,031        18,032,914   
                 
    $ 30,283,136   
                 

Food Products — 0.8%

  

Kerry Group PLC, Class A

    133,226      $ 9,668,993   
                 
    $ 9,668,993   
                 

Health Care Equipment & Supplies — 1.3%

  

Medtronic PLC(1)

    197,197      $ 16,174,098   
                 
    $ 16,174,098   
                 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure — 0.7%

  

Accor SA(1)

    206,173      $ 7,823,517   
                 
    $ 7,823,517   
                 

Household Durables — 2.0%

  

Newell Brands, Inc.(1)

    490,936      $ 23,574,747   
                 
    $ 23,574,747   
                 
 

 

  6   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

October 31, 2016

 

Portfolio of Investments — continued

 

 

Security   Shares     Value  

Household Products — 1.3%

  

Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC

    179,854      $ 16,089,830   
                 
    $ 16,089,830   
                 

Insurance — 5.8%

  

AIA Group, Ltd.

    2,852,351      $ 17,944,145   

Chubb, Ltd.(1)

    197,173        25,040,971   

Prudential PLC(1)

    619,498        10,109,507   

St. James’s Place PLC

    1,484,931        17,149,182   
                 
    $ 70,243,805   
                 

Internet & Direct Marketing Retail — 1.9%

  

Amazon.com, Inc.(1)(2)

    29,683      $ 23,444,227   
                 
    $ 23,444,227   
                 

Internet Software & Services — 6.5%

  

Alphabet, Inc., Class C(1)(2)

    64,353      $ 50,487,502   

Facebook, Inc., Class A(1)(2)

    213,315        27,942,132   
                 
    $ 78,429,634   
                 

IT Services — 2.0%

  

Visa, Inc., Class A(1)

    297,612      $ 24,555,966   
                 
    $ 24,555,966   
                 

Machinery — 5.1%

  

Fortive Corp.(1)

    437,651      $ 22,342,084   

Komatsu, Ltd.

    462,322        10,290,873   

Kubota Corp.(1)

    1,769,280        28,517,877   
                 
    $ 61,150,834   
                 

Media — 3.0%

  

Interpublic Group of Cos., Inc.(1)

    600,988      $ 13,456,121   

Time Warner, Inc.(1)

    248,729        22,134,394   
                 
    $ 35,590,515   
                 

Metals & Mining — 0.8%

  

Rio Tinto, Ltd.

    225,153      $ 9,315,585   
                 
    $ 9,315,585   
                 

Multi-Utilities — 0.7%

  

National Grid PLC

    633,715      $ 8,243,223   
                 
    $ 8,243,223   
                 
Security   Shares     Value  

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 5.9%

  

Anadarko Petroleum Corp.(1)

    375,029      $ 22,291,724   

Chevron Corp.(1)

    145,882        15,281,140   

Occidental Petroleum Corp.(1)

    262,286        19,123,272   

Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Class B(1)

    569,659        14,692,931   
                 
    $ 71,389,067   
                 

Personal Products — 1.4%

  

Estee Lauder Cos., Inc. (The), Class A(1)

    191,639      $ 16,697,506   
                 
    $ 16,697,506   
                 

Pharmaceuticals — 9.7%

  

Allergan PLC(1)(2)

    102,537      $ 21,424,081   

Eli Lilly & Co.(1)

    311,747        23,019,399   

Johnson & Johnson(1)

    226,483        26,269,763   

Novo Nordisk A/S, Class B

    383,868        13,675,482   

Roche Holding AG PC(1)

    69,943        16,064,616   

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd. ADR(1)

    384,354        16,427,290   
                 
    $ 116,880,631   
                 

Professional Services — 1.7%

  

Verisk Analytics, Inc.(1)(2)

    254,743      $ 20,774,292   
                 
    $ 20,774,292   
                 

Road & Rail — 2.0%

  

Union Pacific Corp.(1)

    276,323      $ 24,366,162   
                 
    $ 24,366,162   
                 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment — 2.0%

  

ASML Holding NV(1)

    227,149      $ 24,030,982   
                 
    $ 24,030,982   
                 

Specialty Retail — 3.0%

  

Industria de Diseno Textil SA

    506,254      $ 17,664,425   

Lowe’s Cos., Inc.(1)

    274,123        18,270,298   
                 
    $ 35,934,723   
                 

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals — 2.1%

  

Apple, Inc.(1)

    224,120      $ 25,446,585   
                 
    $ 25,446,585   
                 

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods — 3.2%

  

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE

    81,610      $ 14,858,009   

NIKE, Inc., Class B(1)

    218,489        10,963,778   
 

 

  7   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

October 31, 2016

 

Portfolio of Investments — continued

 

 

Security   Shares     Value  

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (continued)

  

Pandora A/S

    97,262      $ 12,649,457   
                 
    $ 38,471,244   
                 

Tobacco — 0.7%

  

Reynolds American, Inc.(1)

    149,091      $ 8,211,932   
                 
    $ 8,211,932   
                 

Trading Companies & Distributors — 1.3%

  

Brenntag AG

    282,483      $ 15,101,594   
                 
    $ 15,101,594   
                 

Wireless Telecommunication Services — 0.8%

  

Vodafone Group PLC

    3,349,716      $ 9,199,408   
                 
    $ 9,199,408   
                 

Total Common Stocks
(identified cost $1,241,572,092)

   

  $ 1,253,800,704   
                 
Preferred Stocks — 10.9%   
   
Security   Shares     Value  

Banks — 6.1%

  

AgriBank FCB, 6.875% to 1/1/24(4)

    50,890      $ 5,477,036   

CoBank ACB, Series F, 6.25% to 10/1/22(4)

    51,100        5,472,493   

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

    7,600        822,938   

Farm Credit Bank of Texas, Series 1, 10.00%

    2,490        3,044,025   

First Tennessee Bank, 3.75%(5)(6)

    2,570        1,799,080   

Huntington Bancshares, Inc., Series A, 8.50% (Convertible)

    5,350        7,596,947   

IBERIABANK Corp., Series C, 6.60% to 5/1/26(4)

    114,120        3,003,638   

JPMorgan Chase & Co., Series O, 5.50%

    125,773        3,197,150   

KeyCorp, Series A, 7.75% (Convertible)

    46,185        6,304,253   

People’s United Financial, Inc., Series A, 5.625% to 12/15/26(4)

    55,625        1,451,813   

Regions Financial Corp., Series A, 6.375%

    125,376        3,257,268   

SunTrust Banks, Inc., Series E, 5.875%

    287,627        7,458,168   

Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc., 6.50%

    286,789        7,379,081   

Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc., Series A, 6.50%

    21,450        553,196   

Webster Financial Corp., Series E, 6.40%

    173,970        4,509,302   

Wells Fargo & Co., Series L, 7.50% (Convertible)

    9,177        11,975,985   
                 
    $ 73,302,373   
                 

Capital Markets — 0.3%

  

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), Series N, 6.30%

    41,300      $ 1,101,058   

KKR & Co., LP, Series A, 6.75%

    54,669        1,479,343   
Security   Shares     Value  

Capital Markets (continued)

  

State Street Corp., Series D, 5.90% to 3/15/24(4)

    42,021      $ 1,178,689   
                 
    $ 3,759,090   
                 

Consumer Finance — 0.3%

  

Discover Financial Services, Series B, 6.50%

    134,450      $ 3,521,246   
                 
    $ 3,521,246   
                 

Diversified Financial Services — 0.5%

  

KKR Financial Holdings, LLC, Series A, 7.375%

    239,185      $ 6,216,418   
                 
    $ 6,216,418   
                 

Electric Utilities — 0.6%

  

NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc., Series G, 5.70%

    47,541      $ 1,216,099   

NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc., Series I, 5.125%

    60,924        1,526,755   

Southern Co. (The), 6.25%

    169,479        4,526,784   
                 
    $ 7,269,638   
                 

Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) — 0.7%

  

DDR Corp., Series J, 6.50%

    259,000      $ 6,666,660   

Vornado Realty Trust, Series K, 5.70%

    53,253        1,348,899   
                 
    $ 8,015,559   
                 

Food Products — 0.9%

  

Dairy Farmers of America, 7.875%(5)

    86,230      $ 9,180,805   

Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., 6.25%(5)

    18,430        1,659,277   
                 
    $ 10,840,082   
                 

Machinery — 0.4%

  

Stanley Black & Decker, Inc., 5.75%

    190,582      $ 4,932,262   
                 
    $ 4,932,262   
                 

Multi-Utilities — 0.1%

  

DTE Energy Co., Series C, 5.25%

    53,348      $ 1,365,709   
                 
    $ 1,365,709   
                 

Pipelines — 0.3%

  

NuStar Logistics LP, 7.625% to 1/15/18(4)

    151,768      $ 3,886,778   
                 
    $ 3,886,778   
                 

Thrifts & Mortgage Finance — 0.7%

  

Elmira Savings Bank, 8.998% to 12/31/17(4)

    2,545      $ 2,417,750   
 

 

  8   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

October 31, 2016

 

Portfolio of Investments — continued

 

 

Security   Shares     Value  

Thrifts & Mortgage Finances (continued)

  

EverBank Financial Corp., Series A, 6.75%

    233,731      $ 5,967,152   
                 
    $ 8,384,902   
                 

Total Preferred Stocks
(identified cost $122,958,613)

   

  $ 131,494,057   
                 
Corporate Bonds & Notes — 12.3%   
   
Security  

Principal

Amount

(000’s omitted)

    Value  

Banks — 5.7%

  

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

  $ 820      $ 902,034   

Banco do Brasil SA, 9.00% to
6/18/24(4)(5)(7)

    1,965        1,827,450   

Bank of America Corp., Series AA, 6.10% to 3/17/25(4)(7)

    7,201        7,532,318   

Barclays PLC, 8.25% to 12/15/18(4)(7)

    2,926        2,970,987   

Caixa Economica Federal, 7.25% to 7/23/19, 7/23/24(4)(5)

    3,348        3,210,263   

Citigroup, Inc., Series T, 6.25% to
8/15/26(4)(7)

    6,375        6,871,613   

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

    2,464        2,505,592   

Deutsche Bank AG, 7.50% to
4/30/25(4)(7)

    3,240        2,656,800   

JPMorgan Chase & Co., Series X, 6.10% to 10/1/24(4)(7)

    2,794        2,939,707   

JPMorgan Chase & Co., Series Z, 5.30% to 5/1/20(4)(7)

    9,922        10,095,635   

Lloyds Banking Group PLC, 6.657% to 5/21/37(4)(5)(7)

    916        1,023,630   

Lloyds Banking Group PLC, 7.50% to 6/27/24(4)(7)

    7,865        8,120,612   

M&T Bank Corp., Series F, 5.125% to 11/1/26(4)(7)

    4,680        4,726,800   

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The), Series S, 5.00% to
11/1/26(4)(7)

    1,390        1,386,525   

Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC, 8.00% to 8/10/25(4)(7)

    4,620        4,400,550   

Standard Chartered PLC, 7.014% to 7/30/37(4)(5)(7)

    3,932        4,348,792   

Zions Bancorporation, Series I, 5.80% to 9/15/23(4)(7)

    681        661,421   

Zions Bancorporation, Series J, 7.20% to 9/15/23(4)(7)

    2,626        2,813,103   
                 
    $ 68,993,832   
                 

Capital Markets — 1.5%

  

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), Series M, 5.375% to 5/10/20(4)(7)

  $ 5,050      $ 5,081,562   

Morgan Stanley, Series J, 5.55% to 7/15/20(4)(7)

    6,050        6,201,250   

UBS Group AG, 6.875% to 8/7/25(4)(7)(8)

    7,463        7,405,550   
                 
    $ 18,688,362   
                 

Diversified Financial Services — 0.7%

  

Cadence Financial Corp., 4.875%, 6/28/19(5)

  $ 3,870      $ 3,686,175   
Security  

Principal

Amount

(000’s omitted)

    Value  

Diversified Financial Services (continued)

  

Leucadia National Corp., 6.625%, 10/23/43

  $ 3,952      $ 3,928,865   

Textron Financial Corp., 6.00% to 2/15/17, 2/15/67(4)(5)

    1,719        1,246,275   
                 
    $ 8,861,315   
                 

Electric Utilities — 1.4%

  

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

  $ 6,131      $ 6,529,515   

AES Panama SA, 6.00%, 6/25/22(5)

    1,129        1,181,348   

Emera, Inc., Series 16-A, 6.75% to 6/15/26, 6/15/76(4)

    7,150        7,915,179   

NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc., Series D,
7.30% to 9/1/17, 9/1/67(4)

    710        715,325   
                 
    $ 16,341,367   
                 

Energy Equipment & Services — 0.0%(9)

  

Abengoa Finance S.A.U., 7.75%,
2/1/20(5)(10)

  $ 4,019      $ 160,760   
                 
    $ 160,760   
                 

Food Products — 0.6%

  

Land O’ Lakes, Inc., 8.00%(5)(7)

  $ 6,721      $ 7,124,260   
                 
    $ 7,124,260   
                 

Insurance — 1.0%

  

Genworth Financial, Inc., 7.625%, 9/24/21

  $ 622      $ 583,125   

Voya Financial, Inc., 5.65% to 5/15/23, 5/15/53(4)

    3,430        3,417,137   

XLIT, Ltd., Series E, 6.50% to 4/15/17(4)(7)

    10,205        7,851,472   
                 
    $ 11,851,734   
                 

Metals & Mining — 0.2%

  

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

  $ 2,388      $ 2,710,380   
                 
    $ 2,710,380   
                 

Multi-Utilities — 0.1%

  

Dominion Resources, Inc., 5.75% to 10/1/24, 10/1/54(4)

  $ 873      $ 910,103   
                 
    $ 910,103   
                 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 0.0%(9)

  

Odebrecht Oil & Gas Finance, Ltd.,
7.00% to 6/17/24(4)(5)(7)(10)

  $ 6,342      $ 421,743   
                 
    $ 421,743   
                 
 

 

  9   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

October 31, 2016

 

Portfolio of Investments — continued

 

 

Security  

Principal

Amount

(000’s omitted)

    Value  

Pipelines — 0.2%

  

Transcanada Trust, Series 16-A, 5.875% to 8/15/26, 8/15/76(4)

  $ 2,735      $ 2,933,288   
                 
    $ 2,933,288   
                 

Telecommunications — 0.7%

  

Colombia Telecomunicaciones SA ESP,
8.50% to 3/30/20(4)(5)(7)

  $ 8,892      $ 7,922,772   
                 
    $ 7,922,772   
                 

Thrifts & Mortgage Finance — 0.2%

  

Flagstar Bancorp, Inc.,
6.125%, 7/15/21(5)

  $ 1,805      $ 1,881,882   
                 
    $ 1,881,882   
                 

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes
(identified cost $155,183,001)

   

  $ 148,801,798   
                 
Exchange-Traded Funds — 4.3%   
   
Security   Shares     Value  

Equity Funds — 4.3%

  

iShares U.S. Preferred Stock ETF

    830,196      $ 32,336,134   

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

    92,019        19,558,639   
                 

Total Exchange-Traded Funds
(identified cost $52,259,737)

   

  $ 51,894,773   
                 
Short-Term Investments — 3.5%   
   
Description   Units     Value  

Eaton Vance Cash Reserves Fund, LLC, 0.68%(11)

    41,605,402      $ 41,613,723   
                 

Total Short-Term Investments
(identified cost $41,611,288)

   

  $ 41,613,723   
                 

Total Investments — 135.0%
(identified cost $1,613,584,731)

   

  $ 1,627,605,055   
                 

Other Assets, Less Liabilities — (35.0)%

  

  $ (421,936,897
                 

Net Assets — 100.0%

  

  $ 1,205,668,158   
                 

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

 

  (1) 

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

  (2) 

Non-income producing security.

 

  (3) 

Security was acquired in a private offering and may be resold on a designated offshore securities market pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

  (4) 

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

 

  (5) 

Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be sold in certain transactions in reliance on an exemption from registration (normally to qualified institutional buyers). At October 31, 2016, the aggregate value of these securities is $59,322,033 or 4.9% of the Fund’s net assets.

 

  (6) 

Variable rate security. The stated interest rate represents the rate in effect at October 31, 2016.

 

  (7) 

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

 

  (8) 

Security exempt from registration under Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933, which exempts from registration securities offered and sold outside the United States. Security may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933. At October 31, 2016, the aggregate value of these securities is $7,405,550 or 0.6% of the Fund’s net assets.

 

  (9) 

Amount is less than 0.05%.

 

(10) 

Defaulted security. Issuer has defaulted on the payment of interest and/or principal.

 

(11) 

Affiliated investment company, available to Eaton Vance portfolios and funds, which invests in high quality, U.S. dollar denominated money market instruments. The rate shown is the annualized seven-day yield as of October 31, 2016.

 

 

  10   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

October 31, 2016

 

Portfolio of Investments — continued

 

 

 

Country Concentration of Portfolio   
   
Country  

Percentage of

Total Investments

    Value  

United States

    61.1   $ 994,338,457   

United Kingdom

    8.0        130,140,069   

Japan

    6.7        108,855,321   

Netherlands

    2.9        47,992,606   

Ireland

    2.5        40,512,639   

Switzerland

    2.3        37,253,636   

France

    2.1        34,449,537   

Germany

    1.7        27,050,267   

Denmark

    1.6        26,324,939   

Canada

    1.6        25,874,930   

Belgium

    1.2        19,013,682   

Hong Kong

    1.1        17,944,145   

Spain

    1.1        17,825,185   

Israel

    1.0        16,427,290   

Colombia

    0.5        7,922,772   

Singapore

    0.4        7,002,074   

Chile

    0.4        6,529,515   

Brazil

    0.3        5,459,456   

Australia

    0.2        3,612,414   

Panama

    0.1        1,181,348   

Exchange-Traded Funds

    3.2        51,894,773   
                 

Total Investments

    100.0   $ 1,627,605,055   
                 

Abbreviations:

 

ADR     American Depositary Receipt
PC     Participation Certificate
 

 

  11   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

October 31, 2016

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

 

Assets   October 31, 2016  

Unaffiliated investments, at value (identified cost, $1,571,973,443)

  $ 1,585,991,332   

Affiliated investment, at value (identified cost, $41,611,288)

    41,613,723   

Foreign currency, at value (identified cost, $2,367)

    2,333   

Dividends and interest receivable

    3,414,352   

Receivable for investments sold

    29,413,977   

Tax reclaims receivable

    7,139,584   

Total assets

  $ 1,667,575,301   
Liabilities        

Notes payable

  $ 425,000,000   

Payable for investments purchased

    34,650,919   

Due to custodian

    438,520   

Payable to affiliates:

 

Investment adviser fee

    1,189,143   

Trustees’ fees

    5,667   

Accrued expenses

    622,894   

Total liabilities

  $ 461,907,143   

Net Assets

  $ 1,205,668,158   
Sources of Net Assets        

Common shares, $0.01 par value, unlimited number of shares authorized, 76,300,214 shares issued and outstanding

  $ 763,002   

Additional paid-in capital

    1,447,517,855   

Accumulated net realized loss

    (266,795,020

Accumulated undistributed net investment income

    10,311,341   

Net unrealized appreciation

    13,870,980   

Net Assets

  $ 1,205,668,158   
Net Asset Value        

($1,205,668,158 ÷ 76,300,214 common shares issued and outstanding)

  $ 15.80   

 

  12   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

October 31, 2016

 

Statement of Operations

 

 

Investment Income  

Year Ended

October 31, 2016

 

Dividends (net of foreign taxes, $8,020,845)

  $ 105,337,026   

Interest

    12,003,868   

Interest allocated from/dividends from affiliated investment

    172,760   

Expenses allocated from affiliated investment

    (4,455

Total investment income

  $ 117,509,199   
Expenses        

Investment adviser fee

  $ 14,201,429   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    68,000   

Custodian fee

    659,512   

Transfer and dividend disbursing agent fees

    18,699   

Legal and accounting services

    128,369   

Printing and postage

    172,050   

Interest expense and fees

    4,598,912   

Miscellaneous

    167,605   

Total expenses

  $ 20,014,576   

Net investment income

  $ 97,494,623   
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)        

Net realized gain (loss) —

 

Investment transactions

  $ (83,943,413

Investment transactions in/allocated from affiliated investment

    6,855   

Financial futures contracts

    18,396,308   

Foreign currency and forward foreign currency exchange contract transactions

    (9,484,410

Net realized loss

  $ (75,024,660

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) —

 

Investments

  $ (61,215,651

Investments — affiliated investment

    2,435   

Foreign currency

    (257,940

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

  $ (61,471,156

Net realized and unrealized loss

  $ (136,495,816

Net decrease in net assets from operations

  $ (39,001,193

 

  13   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

October 31, 2016

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

    Year Ended October 31,  
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets   2016     2015  

From operations —

   

Net investment income

  $ 97,494,623      $ 88,657,436   

Net realized gain (loss) from investment transactions, financial futures contracts, foreign currency and forward foreign currency exchange contract transactions and proceeds from securities litigation settlements

    (75,024,660     7,855,029   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) from investments, foreign currency and forward foreign currency exchange contracts

    (61,471,156     (46,983,196

Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations

  $ (39,001,193   $ 49,529,269   

Distributions to shareholders —

   

From net investment income

  $ (93,849,264   $ (93,849,264

Total distributions

  $ (93,849,264   $ (93,849,264

Net decrease in net assets

  $ (132,850,457   $ (44,319,995
Net Assets                

At beginning of year

  $ 1,338,518,615      $ 1,382,838,610   

At end of year

  $ 1,205,668,158      $ 1,338,518,615   
Accumulated undistributed net investment income
included in net assets
               

At end of year

  $ 10,311,341      $ 3,641,145   

 

  14   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

October 31, 2016

 

Statement of Cash Flows

 

 

Cash Flows From Operating Activities  

Year Ended

October 31, 2016

 

Net decrease in net assets from operations

  $ (39,001,193

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

 

Investments purchased

    (3,239,338,679

Investments sold

    3,215,177,321   

Increase in short-term investments, net

    (2,540,963

Net amortization/accretion of premium (discount)

    (105,703

Decrease in dividends and interest receivable

    719,733   

Decrease in interest receivable from affiliated investment

    7,714   

Increase in tax reclaims receivable

    (1,291,201

Decrease in payable to affiliate for investment adviser fee

    (59,908

Increase in accrued expenses

    347,923   

Net change in unrealized (appreciation) depreciation from investments

    61,213,216   

Net realized loss from investments

    83,936,558   

Net cash provided by operating activities

  $ 79,064,818   
Cash Flows From Financing Activities        

Distributions paid, net of reinvestments

  $ (93,849,264

Increase in due to custodian

    438,520   

Net cash used in financing activities

  $ (93,410,744

Net decrease in cash*

  $ (14,345,926

Cash at beginning of year(1)

  $ 14,348,259   

Cash at end of year(1)

  $ 2,333   
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:        

Cash paid for interest and fees on borrowings

  $ 4,566,363   

 

* Includes net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on foreign currency of $168,225.

 

(1) 

Balance includes foreign currency, at value.

 

  15   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

October 31, 2016

 

Financial Highlights

 

 

    Year Ended October 31,  
     2016     2015      2014     2013     2012  

Net asset value — Beginning of year

  $ 17.540      $ 18.120       $ 17.390      $ 14.800      $ 14.380   
Income (Loss) From Operations                                         

Net investment income(1)

  $ 1.278 (2)    $ 1.162       $ 1.304 (2)    $ 1.241 (2)    $ 1.169   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

    (1.788     (0.512      0.656        2.579        0.481   

Total income (loss) from operations

  $ (0.510   $ 0.650       $ 1.960      $ 3.820      $ 1.650   
Less Distributions                                         

From net investment income

  $ (1.230   $ (1.230    $ (1.230   $ (1.230   $ (1.230

Total distributions

  $ (1.230   $ (1.230    $ (1.230   $ (1.230   $ (1.230

Net asset value — End of year

  $ 15.800      $ 17.540       $ 18.120      $ 17.390      $ 14.800   

Market value — End of year

  $ 14.340      $ 16.540       $ 16.980      $ 16.040      $ 14.010   

Total Investment Return on Net Asset Value(3)

    (2.09 )%      4.21      12.01     27.29     12.64

Total Investment Return on Market Value(3)

    (5.77 )%      4.86      13.80     24.03     14.94
Ratios/Supplemental Data                                         

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

  $ 1,205,668      $ 1,338,519       $ 1,382,839      $ 1,326,899      $ 1,129,418   

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

          

Expenses excluding interest and fees(4)

    1.24     1.20      1.18     1.24     1.26

Interest and fee expense

    0.37     0.25      0.24     0.30     0.48

Total expenses(4)

    1.61     1.45      1.42     1.54     1.74

Net investment income

    7.84 %(2)      6.47      7.21 %(2)      7.73 %(2)      8.08

Portfolio Turnover

    200     163      122     105     120

Senior Securities:

          

Total notes payable outstanding (in 000’s)

  $ 425,000      $ 425,000       $ 425,000      $ 425,000      $ 425,000   

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

  $ 3,837      $ 4,149       $ 4,254      $ 4,122      $ 3,657   

 

(1) 

Computed using average shares outstanding.

 

(2) 

Net investment income per share includes special dividends which amounted to $0.195, $0.534 and $0.260 per share for the years ended October 31, 2016, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Excluding special dividends, the ratio of net investment income to average daily net assets would have been 6.64%, 4.26% and 6.11% for the years ended October 31, 2016, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

(3) 

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

 

(4) 

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

 

(5) 

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

 

  16   See Notes to Financial Statements.


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

October 31, 2016

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

 

1  Significant Accounting Policies

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

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

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

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

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

Derivatives. Financial futures contracts are valued at the closing settlement price established by the board of trade or exchange on which they are traded, with adjustments for fair valuation for certain foreign financial futures contracts as described below. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are generally valued at the mean of the average bid and average asked prices that are reported by currency dealers to a third party pricing service at the valuation time. Such third party pricing service valuations are supplied for specific settlement periods and the Fund’s forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued at an interpolated rate between the closest preceding and subsequent settlement period reported by the third party pricing service.

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

Affiliated Fund. The Fund may invest in Eaton Vance Cash Reserves Fund, LLC (Cash Reserves Fund), an affiliated investment company managed by Eaton Vance Management (EVM). While Cash Reserves Fund is not a registered money market mutual fund, it conducts all of its investment activities in accordance with the requirements of Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. Investments in Cash Reserves Fund are valued at the closing net asset value per unit on the valuation day. Cash Reserves Fund generally values its investment securities based on available market quotations provided by a third party pricing service. Prior to Cash Reserves Fund’s issuance of units in October 2016, the value of the Fund’s investment in Cash Reserves Fund reflected the Fund’s proportionate interest in its net assets and the Fund recorded its pro rata share of Cash Reserves Fund’s income, expenses and realized gain or loss.

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

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

 

  17  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

October 31, 2016

 

Notes to Financial Statements — continued

 

 

C  Income — Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date for dividends received in cash and/or securities. However, if the ex-dividend date has passed, certain dividends from foreign securities are recorded as the Fund is informed of the ex-dividend date. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends and capital gains have been provided for in accordance with the Fund’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates. In consideration of recent decisions rendered by European courts, the Fund has filed additional tax reclaims for previously withheld taxes on dividends earned in certain European Union countries. These filings are subject to various administrative and judicial proceedings within these countries. During the year ended October 31, 2016, the Fund recorded no income for reclaims of previously withheld dividend taxes and approximately $797,000 of previously recorded income for dividend tax reclaims is unpaid and included in Tax reclaims receivable in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. No other amounts for additional tax reclaims are reflected in the financial statements due to the uncertainty as to the ultimate resolution of proceedings, the likelihood of receipt of these reclaims, and the potential timing of payment. Interest income is recorded on the basis of interest accrued, adjusted for amortization of premium or accretion of discount. Distributions from investment companies are recorded as dividend income, capital gains or return of capital based on the nature of the distribution.

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

As of October 31, 2016, the Fund had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, de-recognition, or disclosure. The Fund files a U.S. federal income tax return annually after its fiscal year-end, which is subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for a period of three years from the date of filing.

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

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

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

H  Financial Futures Contracts — Upon entering into a financial futures contract, the Fund is required to deposit with the broker, either in cash or securities, an amount equal to a certain percentage of the contract amount (initial margin). Subsequent payments, known as variation margin, are made or received by the Fund each business day, depending on the daily fluctuations in the value of the underlying security or index, and are recorded as unrealized gains or losses by the Fund. Gains (losses) are realized upon the expiration or closing of the financial futures contracts. Should market conditions change unexpectedly, the Fund may not achieve the anticipated benefits of the financial futures contracts and may realize a loss. Futures contracts have minimal counterparty risk as they are exchange traded and the clearinghouse for the exchange is substituted as the counterparty, guaranteeing counterparty performance.

I  Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts — The Fund may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts for the purchase or sale of a specific foreign currency at a fixed price on a future date. The forward foreign currency exchange contracts are adjusted by the daily exchange rate of the underlying currency and any gains or losses are recorded as unrealized until such time as the contracts have been closed. Risks may arise upon entering these contracts from the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts and from movements in the value of a foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar.

J  When-Issued Securities and Delayed Delivery Transactions — The Fund may purchase or sell securities on a delayed delivery or when-issued basis. Payment and delivery may take place after the customary settlement period for that security. At the time the transaction is negotiated, the price of the security that will be delivered is fixed. The Fund maintains cash and/or security positions for these commitments such that sufficient liquid assets will be available to make payments upon settlement. Securities purchased on a delayed delivery or when-issued basis are marked-to-market daily and begin earning 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.

 

  18  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

October 31, 2016

 

Notes to Financial Statements — continued

 

 

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

2  Distributions to Shareholders and Income Tax Information

The Fund intends to make monthly distributions of net investment income to common shareholders. In addition, at least annually, the Fund intends to distribute all or substantially all of its net realized capital gains (reduced by available capital loss carryforwards from prior years). Distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. As required by U.S. GAAP, only distributions in excess of tax basis earnings and profits are reported in the financial statements as a return of capital. Permanent differences between book and tax accounting relating to distributions are reclassified to paid-in capital. For tax purposes, distributions from short-term capital gains are considered to be from ordinary income.

The tax character of distributions declared for the years ended October 31, 2016 and October 31, 2015 was as follows:

 

     Year Ended October 31,  
      2016      2015  

Distributions declared from:

     

Ordinary income

   $ 93,849,264       $ 93,849,264   

During the year ended October 31, 2016, accumulated net realized loss was increased by $3,024,837 and accumulated undistributed net investment income was increased by $3,024,837 due to differences between book and tax accounting, primarily for foreign currency gain (loss), premium amortization, accretion of market discount, distributions from real estate investment trusts, defaulted bond interest and investments in partnerships. These reclassifications had no effect on the net assets or net asset value per share of the Fund.

As of October 31, 2016, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed ordinary income

  $ 8,288,130   

Capital loss carryforwards and deferred capital losses

  $ (257,631,511

Net unrealized appreciation

  $ 4,707,470   

Other temporary differences

  $ 2,023,212   

The differences between components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a tax basis and the amounts reflected in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities are primarily due to wash sales, foreign currency transactions, investments in partnerships, premium amortization, accretion of market discount, preferred securities and defaulted bond interest.

At October 31, 2016, the Fund, for federal income tax purposes, had capital loss carryforwards of $176,970,330 and deferred capital losses of $80,661,181 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. Such capital loss carryforwards will expire on October 31, 2017 ($145,215,149) and October 31, 2018 ($31,755,181) and their character is short-term. Under tax regulations, capital losses incurred in taxable years beginning after December 2010 are considered deferred capital losses and are treated as arising on the first day of the Fund’s next taxable year, retaining the same short-term or long-term character as when originally deferred. Deferred capital losses are required to be used prior to capital loss carryforwards, which carry an expiration date. As a result of this ordering rule, capital loss carryforwards may be more likely to expire unused. Of the deferred capital losses at October 31, 2016, $80,661,181 are short-term.

The cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments of the Fund at October 31, 2016, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:

 

Aggregate cost

  $ 1,622,758,329   

Gross unrealized appreciation

  $ 65,320,237   

Gross unrealized depreciation

    (60,473,511

Net unrealized appreciation

  $ 4,846,726   

 

  19  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

October 31, 2016

 

Notes to Financial Statements — continued

 

 

3  Investment Adviser Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates

The investment adviser fee is earned by EVM as compensation for management and investment advisory services rendered to the Fund. Pursuant to the investment advisory agreement and subsequent fee reduction agreement, the fee is computed at an annual rate of 0.85% of the Fund’s average daily gross assets up to and including $1.5 billion, 0.83% over $1.5 billion up to and including $3 billion, and at reduced rates on daily gross assets over $3 billion, and is payable monthly. Gross assets as referred to herein represent net assets plus obligations attributable to investment leverage. The fee reduction cannot be terminated without the consent of a majority of Trustees and a majority of shareholders. For the year ended October 31, 2016, the Fund’s investment adviser fee amounted to $14,201,429, or 0.85% of the Fund’s average daily gross assets. Pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement effective November 16, 2015, EVM pays Eaton Vance Management (International) Limited (EVMI), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Eaton Vance Corp., a portion of its investment adviser fee for sub-advisory services provided to the Fund. The Fund invests its cash in Cash Reserves Fund. EVM does not currently receive a fee for advisory services provided to Cash Reserves Fund. EVM also serves as administrator of the Fund, but receives no compensation.

Trustees and officers of the Fund who are members of EVM’s organization receive remuneration for their services to the Fund out of the investment adviser fee. Trustees of the Fund who are not affiliated with EVM may elect to defer receipt of all or a percentage of their annual fees in accordance with the terms of the Trustees Deferred Compensation Plan. For the year ended October 31, 2016, no significant amounts have been deferred. Certain officers and Trustees of the Fund are officers of EVM.

4  Purchases and Sales of Investments

Purchases and sales of investments, other than short-term obligations, aggregated $3,250,589,933 and $3,240,862,073, respectively, for the year ended October 31, 2016.

5  Common Shares of Beneficial Interest

The Fund may issue common shares pursuant to its dividend reinvestment plan. There were no common shares issued by the Fund for the years ended October 31, 2016 and October 31, 2015.

On November 11, 2013, the Board of Trustees of the Fund authorized the repurchase by the Fund of up to 10% of its then currently outstanding common shares in open-market transactions at a discount to net asset value. The repurchase program does not obligate the Fund to purchase a specific amount of shares. There were no repurchases of common shares by the Fund for the years ended October 31, 2016 and October 31, 2015.

6  Financial Instruments

The Fund may trade in financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of its investing activities. These financial instruments may include futures contracts and forward foreign currency exchange contracts and may involve, to a varying degree, elements of risk in excess of the amounts recognized for financial statement purposes. The notional or contractual amounts of these instruments represent the investment the Fund has in particular classes of financial instruments and do not necessarily represent the amounts potentially subject to risk. The measurement of the risks associated with these instruments is meaningful only when all related and offsetting transactions are considered. At October 31, 2016, there were no obligations outstanding under these financial instruments.

In the normal course of pursuing its investment objective, the Fund is subject to the following risks:

Equity Price Risk: The Fund enters into equity futures contracts on securities indices to gain or limit exposure to certain markets particularly in connection with engaging in the dividend capture trading strategy.

Foreign Exchange Risk: The Fund engages in forward foreign currency exchange contracts to enhance total return and/or to seek to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates.

The Fund enters into forward foreign currency exchange contracts that may contain provisions whereby the counterparty may terminate the contract under certain conditions, including but not limited to a decline in the Fund’s net assets below a certain level over a certain period of time, which would trigger a payment by the Fund for those derivatives in a liability position. At October 31, 2016, the Fund had no open derivatives with credit-related contingent features in a net liability position.

The over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives in which the Fund invests are subject to the risk that the counterparty to the contract fails to perform its obligations under the contract. To mitigate this risk, the Fund has entered into an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar agreement with substantially all its derivative counterparties. An ISDA Master Agreement is a bilateral agreement between the Fund and a counterparty that governs certain OTC derivatives and typically contains, among other things, set-off provisions in the event of a default and/or termination event as defined under the relevant ISDA Master Agreement. Under an ISDA Master Agreement, the Fund may, under certain circumstances, offset with the counterparty certain derivative financial instruments’ payables and/or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single net payment. The provisions of the ISDA Master Agreement typically permit a single net payment in the event of default including the bankruptcy or insolvency of the counterparty. However, bankruptcy or insolvency laws of a particular jurisdiction may impose restrictions on or prohibitions

 

  20  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

October 31, 2016

 

Notes to Financial Statements — continued

 

 

against the right of offset in bankruptcy or insolvency. Certain ISDA Master Agreements allow counterparties to OTC derivatives to terminate derivative contracts prior to maturity in the event the Fund’s net assets decline by a stated percentage or the Fund fails to meet the terms of its ISDA Master Agreements, which would cause the counterparty to accelerate payment by the Fund of any net liability owed to it.

The collateral requirements for derivatives traded under an ISDA Master Agreement are governed by a Credit Support Annex to the ISDA Master Agreement. Collateral requirements are determined at the close of business each day and are typically based on changes in market values for each transaction under an ISDA Master Agreement and netted into one amount for such agreement. Generally, the amount of collateral due from or to a counterparty is subject to a minimum transfer threshold amount before a transfer is required, which may vary by counterparty. Collateral pledged for the benefit of the Fund and/or counterparty is held in segregated accounts by the Fund’s custodian and cannot be sold, re-pledged, assigned or otherwise used while pledged. The portion of such collateral representing cash, if any, is reflected as restricted cash and, in the case of cash pledged by a counterparty for the benefit of the Fund, a corresponding liability on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged by the Fund as collateral, if any, are identified as such in the Portfolio of Investments.

The effect of derivative instruments (not considered to be hedging instruments for accounting disclosure purposes) on the Statement of Operations by risk exposure for the year ended October 31, 2016 was as follows:

 

Risk   Derivative   

Realized Gain (Loss)

on Derivatives Recognized

in Income(1)

    

Change in Unrealized

Appreciation (Depreciation) on

Derivatives Recognized in Income

 

Equity Price

 

Futures contracts

   $ 18,396,308       $         —   

Foreign Exchange

 

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     (9,712,903        

Total

       $ 8,683,405       $   

 

(1) 

Statement of Operations location: Net realized gain (loss) – Financial futures contracts and Foreign currency and forward foreign currency exchange contract transactions, respectively.

The average notional cost of futures contracts and average notional amounts of other derivative contracts outstanding during the year ended October 31, 2016, which are indicative of the volume of these derivative types, were as follows:

 

Futures

Contracts — Long

   

Futures

Contracts — Short

   

Forward

Foreign Currency

Exchange Contracts

 
  $105,428,000      $ 106,871,000      $ 51,839,000   

7  Overdraft Advances

Pursuant to the custodian agreement, State Street Bank and Trust Company (SSBT) may, in its discretion, advance funds to the Fund to make properly authorized payments. When such payments result in an overdraft, the Fund is obligated to repay SSBT at the current rate of interest charged by SSBT for secured loans (currently, the Federal Funds rate plus 2%). This obligation is payable on demand to SSBT. SSBT has a lien on the Fund’s assets to the extent of any overdraft. At October 31, 2016, the Fund had a payment due to SSBT pursuant to the foregoing arrangement of $438,520. Based on the short-term nature of these payments and the variable interest rate, the carrying value of the overdraft advances approximated its fair value at October 31, 2016. If measured at fair value, overdraft advances would have been considered as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy (see Note 10) at October 31, 2016. The Fund’s average overdraft advances during the year ended October 31, 2016 were not significant.

8  Committed Facility Agreement

The Fund has entered into a Committed Facility Agreement, as amended (the Agreement) with major financial institutions that allows it to borrow up to $425 million ($530 million prior to December 22, 2015) over a rolling 360 calendar day period (rolling 179 calendar day period effective December 30, 2016). Interest is charged at a rate above 1-month LIBOR and is payable monthly. The Fund is charged a commitment fee of 0.35% per annum on the unused portion of the commitment if outstanding borrowings are less than 80% of the borrowing limit. Under the terms of the Agreement, the Fund is required to satisfy certain collateral requirements and maintain a certain level of net assets. At October 31, 2016, the Fund had borrowings outstanding under the Agreement of $425 million at an interest rate of 1.28%. The carrying amount of the borrowings at October 31, 2016 approximated its fair value. If measured at fair value, borrowings under the Agreement would have been considered as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy (see Note 10) at October 31, 2016. For the year ended October 31, 2016, the average borrowings under the Agreement and the average interest rate (excluding fees) were $425 million and 1.08%, respectively.

 

  21  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

October 31, 2016

 

Notes to Financial Statements — continued

 

 

9  Risks Associated with Foreign Investments

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

10  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 October 31, 2016, the hierarchy of inputs used in valuing the Fund’s investments, which are carried at value, were as follows:

 

Asset Description   Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Common Stocks

          

Consumer Discretionary

  $ 124,212,377       $ 52,995,408       $       $ 177,207,785   

Consumer Staples

    56,753,925         49,570,164                 106,324,089   

Energy

    76,543,468         14,692,931                 91,236,399   

Financials

    116,991,830         103,767,160                 220,758,990   

Health Care

    122,450,288         52,732,272                 175,182,560   

Industrials

    82,509,001         69,267,766                 151,776,767   

Information Technology

    128,432,185         45,975,340                 174,407,525   

Materials

    24,749,828         18,607,458                 43,357,286   

Real Estate

    30,283,136                         30,283,136   

Telecommunication Services

            38,053,951                 38,053,951   

Utilities

    36,968,993         8,243,223                 45,212,216   

Total Common Stocks

  $ 799,895,031       $ 453,905,673    $       $ 1,253,800,704   

Preferred Stocks

          

Consumer Staples

  $       $ 10,840,082       $       $ 10,840,082   

Energy

    3,886,778                         3,886,778   

Financials

    76,150,707         19,033,322                 95,184,029   

Industrials

    4,932,262                         4,932,262   

Real Estate

    8,015,559                         8,015,559   

Utilities

    8,635,347                         8,635,347   

Total Preferred Stocks

  $ 101,620,653       $ 29,873,404       $       $ 131,494,057   

 

  22  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

October 31, 2016

 

Notes to Financial Statements — continued

 

 

Asset Description   Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Corporate Bonds & Notes

  $       $ 148,801,798       $       $ 148,801,798   

Exchange-Traded Funds

    51,894,773                         51,894,773   

Short-Term Investments

            41,613,723                 41,613,723   

Total Investments

  $ 953,410,457       $ 674,194,598       $         —       $ 1,627,605,055   

 

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

The Fund held no investments or other financial instruments as of October 31, 2015 whose fair value was determined using Level 3 inputs. At October 31, 2016, investments having a value of $44,709,584 at October 31, 2015 were transferred from Level 2 to Level 1 during the year then ended. The change in level designation is due to the availability of closing prices on an exchange for certain preferred equity securities.

 

  23  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

October 31, 2016

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

 

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

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund (the “Fund”), including the portfolio of investments, as of October 31, 2016, and the related statements of operations and cash flows for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). 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. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, 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. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of October 31, 2016, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; where replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund as of October 31, 2016, the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

December 16, 2016

 

  24  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

October 31, 2016

 

Federal Tax Information (Unaudited)

 

 

The Form 1099-DIV you receive in February 2017 will show the tax status of all distributions paid to your account in calendar year 2016. Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax adviser with respect to the tax consequences of their investment in the Fund. As required by the Internal Revenue Code and/or regulations, shareholders must be notified regarding the status of qualified dividend income for individuals and the dividends received deduction for corporations.

Qualified Dividend Income.  For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2016, the Fund designates approximately $108,443,796, or up to the maximum amount of such dividends allowable pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code, as qualified dividend income eligible for the reduced tax rate of 15%.

Dividends Received Deduction.  Corporate shareholders are generally entitled to take the dividends received deduction on the portion of the Fund’s dividend distribution that qualifies under tax law. For the Fund’s fiscal 2016 ordinary income dividends, 22.85% qualifies for the corporate dividends received deduction.

 

  25  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

October 31, 2016

 

Annual Meeting of Shareholders (Unaudited)

 

 

The Fund held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders on August 18, 2016. The following action was taken by the shareholders:

Item 1:  The election of Scott E. Eston, Cynthia E. Frost and Valerie A. Mosley as Class I Trustees of the Fund for a three-year term expiring in 2019.

 

Nominee for Trustee
Elected by All Shareholders
  Number of Shares  
  For      Withheld  

Scott E. Eston (Class I)

    69,511,090         1,530,364   

Cynthia E. Frost (Class I)

    68,805,251         2,236,203   

Valerie A. Mosley (Class I)

    68,826,289         2,215,165   

 

  26  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

October 31, 2016

 

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

  27  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

October 31, 2016

 

Application for Participation in Dividend Reinvestment Plan

 

 

 

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

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

 

 

Please print exact name on account

 

Shareholder signature                                                           Date

 

Shareholder signature                                                           Date

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

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

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

Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

c/o American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

P.O. Box 922

Wall Street Station

New York, NY 10269-0560

 

 

Number of Employees

The Fund is organized as a Massachusetts business trust and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as a closed-end management investment company and has no employees.

Number of Shareholders

As of October 31, 2016, Fund records indicate that there are 35 registered shareholders and approximately 50,830 shareholders owning the Fund shares in street name, such as through brokers, banks, and financial intermediaries.

If you are a street name shareholder and wish to receive Fund reports directly, which contain important information about the Fund, please write or call:

Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc.

Two International Place

Boston, MA 02110

1-800-262-1122

New York Stock Exchange symbol

The New York Stock Exchange symbol is ETG.

 

  28  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

October 31, 2016

 

Management and Organization

 

 

Fund Management.  The Trustees of Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund (the Fund) are responsible for the overall management and supervision of the Fund’s affairs. The Trustees and officers of the Fund are listed below. Except as indicated, each individual has held the office shown or other offices in the same company for the last five years. The “Noninterested Trustees” consist of those Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as that term is defined under the 1940 Act. The business address of each Trustee and officer is Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110. As used below, “EVC” refers to Eaton Vance Corp., “EV” refers to Eaton Vance, Inc., “EVM” refers to Eaton Vance Management, “BMR” refers to Boston Management and Research, “EVMI” refers to Eaton Vance Management (International) Limited and “EVD” refers to Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. EVC and EV are the corporate parent and trustee, respectively, of EVM and BMR. EVMI is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of EVC. EVD is a wholly-owned subsidiary of EVC. Each officer affiliated with Eaton Vance may hold a position with other Eaton Vance affiliates that is comparable to his or her position with EVM listed below. Each Trustee oversees 176 portfolios in the Eaton Vance Complex (including all master and feeder funds in a master feeder structure). Each officer serves as an officer of certain other Eaton Vance funds. Each Trustee serves for a three year term. Each officer serves until his or her successor is elected.

 

Name and Year of Birth   

Position(s)

with the

Fund

    

Term Expiring;

Trustee

Since(1)

  

Principal Occupation(s) and Directorships

During Past Five Years and Other Relevant Experience

Interested Trustee

  

Thomas E. Faust Jr.

1958

  

Class II

Trustee

    

Until 2017.

Trustee since 2007.

  

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of EVC, Director and President of EV, Chief Executive Officer and President of EVM and BMR, and Director of EVD and EVMI. Trustee and/or officer of 176 registered investment companies. Mr. Faust is an interested person because of his positions with EVM, BMR, EVD, EVMI, EVC and EV, which are affiliates of the Fund.

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

          

Noninterested Trustees

  

Scott E. Eston

1956

  

Class I

Trustee

    

Until 2019.

Trustee since 2011.

  

Private investor. Formerly held various positions at Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo and Co., LLC (investment management firm) (1997-2009), including Chief Operating Officer (2002-2009), Chief Financial Officer (1997-2009) and Chairman of the Executive Committee (2002-2008); President and Principal Executive Officer, GMO Trust (open-end registered investment company) (2006-2009). Former Partner, Coopers and Lybrand LLP (now PricewaterhouseCoopers) (a registered public accounting firm) (1987-1997). Mr. Eston has apprised the Board of Trustees that he intends to retire as a Trustee of all Eaton Vance funds effective September 30, 2017.

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

Mark R. Fetting(3)

1954

  

Class II

Trustee

    

Until 2017.

Trustee since 2016.

  

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

Directorships in the Last Five Years. Formerly, Director and Chairman of Legg Mason, Inc. (2008-2012); Director/Trustee and Chairman of Legg Mason family of funds (14 funds) (2008-2012); and Director/Trustee of the Royce family of funds (35 funds) (2001-2012).

Cynthia E. Frost

1961

  

Class I

Trustee

    

Until 2019.

Trustee since 2014.

  

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

Directorships in the Last Five Years. None.

George J. Gorman

1952

  

Class III

Trustee

    

Until 2018.

Trustee since 2014.

  

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

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

 

  29  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

October 31, 2016

 

Management and Organization — continued

 

 

Name and Year of Birth   

Position(s)

with the

Fund

    

Term Expiring;

Trustee

Since(1)

  

Principal Occupation(s) and Directorships

During Past Five Years and Other Relevant Experience

Noninterested Trustees (continued)

  

Valerie A. Mosley

1960

  

Class I

Trustee

    

Until 2019.

Trustee since 2014.

  

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

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

William H. Park

1947

  

Chairperson of the Board and

Class II

Trustee

    

Until 2017.

Chairperson of the Board since 2016 and Trustee since 2003.

  

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

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

Helen Frame Peters

1948

  

Class III

Trustee

    

Until 2018.

Trustee since 2008.

  

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

Directorships in the Last Five Years.(2) Formerly, Director of BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc. (wholesale club retailer) (2004-2011). Formerly, Trustee of SPDR Index Shares Funds and SPDR Series Trust (exchange traded funds) (2000-2009). Formerly, Director of Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (a bank for banks) (2007-2009).

Susan J. Sutherland

1957

  

Class III

Trustee

    

Until 2018.

Trustee since 2015.

  

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

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

Harriett Tee Taggart

1948

  

Class II

Trustee

    

Until 2017.

Trustee since 2011.

  

Managing Director, Taggart Associates (a professional practice firm). Formerly, Partner and Senior Vice President, Wellington Management Company, LLP (investment management firm) (1983-2006).

Directorships in the Last Five Years.(2) Director of Albemarle Corporation (chemicals manufacturer) (since 2007) and The Hanover Group (specialty property and casualty insurance company) (since 2009). Formerly, Director of Lubrizol Corporation (specialty chemicals) (2007-2011).

Ralph F. Verni

1943

  

Class III

Trustee

    

Until 2018.

Trustee since 2005.

  

Consultant and private investor. Formerly, Chief Investment Officer (1982-1992), Chief Financial Officer (1988-1990) and Director (1982-1992), New England Life. Formerly, Chairperson, New England Mutual Funds (1982-1992). Formerly, President and Chief Executive Officer, State Street Management & Research (1992-2000). Formerly, Chairperson, State Street Research Mutual Funds (1992-2000). Formerly, Director, W.P. Carey, LLC (1998-2004) and First Pioneer Farm Credit Corp. (financial services cooperative) (2002-2006). Consistent with the Trustee retirement policy, Mr. Verni is currently expected to retire as a Trustee of all Eaton Vance funds effective July 1, 2017.

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

Scott E. Wennerholm(3)

1959

  

Class I

Trustee

    

Until 2019.

Trustee since 2016.

  

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

Directorships in the Last Five Years. None.

 

  30  


Eaton Vance

Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

October 31, 2016

 

Management and Organization — continued

 

 

Principal Officers who are not Trustees

    
Name and Year of Birth   

Position(s)

with the

Fund

    

Officer

Since(4)

    

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

Michael A. Allison

1964

   President      2015      Vice President of EVM and BMR.

Maureen A. Gemma

1960

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

James F. Kirchner

1967

   Treasurer      2007      Vice President of EVM and BMR.

Paul M. O’Neil

1953

   Chief Compliance Officer      2004      Vice President of EVM and BMR.

 

(1) 

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

(2) 

During their respective tenures, the Trustees (except for Mmes. Frost and Sutherland and Messrs. Fetting, Gorman and Wennerholm) also served as Board members of one or more of the following funds (which operated in the years noted): eUnitsTM 2 Year U.S. Market Participation Trust: Upside to Cap / Buffered Downside (launched in 2012 and terminated in 2014); eUnitsTM 2 Year U.S. Market Participation Trust II: Upside to Cap / Buffered Downside (launched in 2012 and terminated in 2014); and Eaton Vance National Municipal Income Trust (launched in 1998 and terminated in 2009). However, Ms. Mosley did not serve as a Board member of eUnitsTM 2 Year U.S. Market Participation Trust: Upside to Cap / Buffered Downside (launched in 2012 and terminated in 2014).

(3) 

Messrs. Fetting and Wennerholm began serving as Trustees effective September 1, 2016.

(4) 

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

 

  31  


Eaton Vance Funds

 

IMPORTANT NOTICES

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

  32  


Investment Adviser and Administrator

Eaton Vance Management

Two International Place

Boston, MA 02110

Investment Sub-Adviser

Eaton Vance Management (International) Limited

125 Old Broad St.

London, EC2N 1AR

United Kingdom

Custodian

State Street Bank and Trust Company

State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

Transfer Agent

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

6201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11219

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Deloitte & Touche LLP

200 Berkeley Street

Boston, MA 02116-5022

Fund Offices

Two International Place

Boston, MA 02110

 


LOGO

2051    10.31.16


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 William H. Park, an independent trustee, as its audit committee financial expert. 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) (an independent registered public accounting firm).

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Rule 2-01(c)(1)(ii)(A) of Regulation S-X (the “Loan Rule”) prohibits an accounting firm, such as the Fund’s principal accountant, Deloitte & Touche LLP (“D&T”), from having certain financial relationships with their audit clients and affiliated entities. Specifically, the Loan Rule provides, in relevant part, that an accounting firm generally would not be independent if it receives a loan from a lender that is a “record or beneficial owner of more than ten percent of the audit client’s equity securities.” Based on information provided to the Audit Committee of the Board of Trustees (the “Audit Committee”) of the Eaton Vance family of funds by D&T, certain relationships between D&T and its affiliates (“Deloitte Entities”) and its lenders who are record owners of shares of one or more funds within the Eaton Vance family of funds (the “Funds”) implicate the Loan Rule, calling into question D&T’s independence with respect to the Funds. The Funds are providing this disclosure to explain the facts and circumstances as well as D&T’s conclusions concerning D&T’s objectivity and impartiality with respect to the audits of the Funds.

D&T advised the Audit Committee of its conclusion that, in light of the facts surrounding its lending relationships, D&T’s objectivity and impartiality in the planning and conduct of the audits of the Funds financial statements will not be compromised, D&T is in a position to continue as the auditor for the Funds and no actions need to be taken with respect to previously issued reports by D&T. D&T has advised the Audit Committee that these conclusions were based in part on the following considerations: (1) Deloitte Entity personnel responsible for managing the lending relationships have had no interactions with the audit engagement team; (2) the lending relationships are in good standing and the principal and interest payments are up-to-date; (3) the lending relationships are not significant to the Deloitte Entities or to D&T.

On June 20, 2016, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) issued no-action relief to another mutual fund complex (see Fidelity Management & Research Company et al., No-Action Letter (June 20, 2016) (the “No-Action Letter”)) related to the auditor independence issue described above. In the No-Action Letter, the SEC indicated that it would not recommend enforcement action against the fund group if the auditor is not in compliance with the Loan Rule provided that: (1) the auditor has complied with PCAOB Rule 3526(b)(1) and 3526(b)(2); (2) the auditor’s non-compliance under the Loan Rule is with respect to certain lending relationships; and (3) notwithstanding such non-compliance, the auditor has concluded that it is objective and impartial with respect to the issues encompassed within its engagement as auditor of the funds. Based on information provided by D&T, the requirements of the No-Action Letter appear to be met with respect to D&T’s lending relationships described above. After giving consideration to the guidance provided in the No-Action Letter, D&T affirmed to the Audit Committee that D&T is an independent accountant with respect to the Funds within the meaning of the rules and standards of the PCAOB and the securities laws and regulations administered by the SEC. The SEC has indicated that the no-action relief will expire 18 months from its issuance.

(a) –(d)

The following table presents the aggregate fees billed to the registrant for the registrant’s fiscal years ended October 31, 2015 and October 31, 2016 by D&T for professional services rendered for the audit of the registrant’s annual financial statements and fees billed for other services rendered by D&T during such periods.


Fiscal Years Ended

   10/31/15      10/31/16  

Audit Fees

   $ 69,570       $ 70,337   

Audit-Related Fees(1)

   $ 0       $ 0   

Tax Fees(2)

   $ 13,288       $ 13,557   

All Other Fees(3)

   $ 0       $ 0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 82,858       $ 83,894   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(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 registrant’s principal accountant other than audit, audit-related, and tax services.

(e)(1) The registrant’s audit committee has adopted policies and procedures relating to the pre-approval of services provided by the registrant’s principal accountant (the “Pre-Approval Policies”). The Pre-Approval Policies establish a framework intended to assist the audit committee in the proper discharge of its pre-approval responsibilities. As a general matter, the Pre-Approval Policies (i) specify certain types of audit, audit-related, tax, and other services determined to be pre-approved by the audit committee; and (ii) delineate specific procedures governing the mechanics of the pre-approval process, including the approval and monitoring of audit and non-audit service fees. Unless a service is specifically pre-approved under the Pre-Approval Policies, it must be separately pre-approved by the audit committee.

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

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

(f) Not applicable.

(g) The following table presents (i) the aggregate non-audit fees (i.e., fees for audit-related, tax, and other services) billed to the registrant by D&T for the registrant’s fiscal years ended October 31, 2015 and October 31, 2016; and (ii) the aggregate non-audit fees (i.e., fees for audit-related, tax, and other services) billed to the Eaton Vance organization by D&T for the same time periods.

 

Fiscal Years Ended

   10/31/15      10/31/16  

Registrant

   $ 13,288       $ 13,557   

Eaton Vance(1)

   $ 46,000       $ 56,434   

 

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

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


Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants

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

Item 6. Schedule of Investments

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

Mr. Allison is a Vice President of EVM, is a member of EVM’s Equity Strategy Committee and has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since November 2013. Mr. Croft is a Vice President of EVM and has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since March 2010. Messrs. Allison and Croft have managed other Eaton Vance portfolios for more than five years. Mr. Dyer is a Vice President of EVMI, is the Director of Global Equity for the Eaton Vance organization and has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since September 2015. Prior to joining EVMI in 2015, Mr. Dyer was Head of European Equity for Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM), where he was affiliated since 2001. This information is provided as of the date of filing this report.

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

 

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

Michael A. Allison

          

Registered Investment Companies

     15       $ 24,462.1        0       $ 0   

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

     14       $ 11,425.5 (1)      0       $ 0   

Other Accounts

     12       $ 36.3        0       $ 0   

John H. Croft

          

Registered Investment Companies

     8       $ 4,815.8        0       $ 0   

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

     0       $ 0        0       $ 0   

Other Accounts

     58       $ 1,535.5 (2)      0       $ 0   

Christopher M. Dyer

          

Registered Investment Companies

     8       $ 5,578.6        0       $ 0   

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

     0       $ 0        0       $ 0   

Other Accounts

     3       $ 5.0        0       $ 0   

 

(1)  Certain of these “Other Pooled Investment Vehicles” invest a substantial portion of their assets either in a registered investment company or in a separate pooled investment vehicle managed by this portfolio manager or another Eaton Vance portfolio manager.
(2)  For “Other Accounts” that are part of a wrap account program, the number of accounts is the number of sponsors for which the portfolio manager provides advisory services rather than the number of individual customer accounts within each wrap account program.


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

 

Portfolio Manager

   Dollar Range of Equity Securities
Beneficially Owned in the Fund

Michael A. Allison

   $1 – $10,000  

John H. Croft

   None

Christopher M. Dyer

   None

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

Compensation Structure for EVM and EVMI

Compensation of EVM’s and EVMI’s portfolio managers and other investment professionals has three primary components: (1) a base salary, (2) an annual cash bonus, and (3) annual stock-based compensation consisting of options to purchase shares of Eaton Vance Corp.’s (“EVC’s”) nonvoting common stock and restricted shares of EVC’s nonvoting common stock. EVM’s and EVMI’s investment professionals also receive certain retirement, insurance and other benefits that are broadly available to EVM’s and EVMI’s employees. Compensation of EVM’s and EVMI’s investment professionals is reviewed primarily on an annual basis. Cash bonuses, stock-based compensation awards, and adjustments in base salary are typically paid or put into effect at or shortly after the October 31st fiscal year end of EVC.

Method to Determine Compensation. EVM and EVMI compensate its portfolio managers based primarily on the scale and complexity of their portfolio responsibilities and the total return performance of managed funds and accounts versus the benchmark(s) stated in the prospectus, as well as an appropriate peer group (as described below). In addition to rankings within peer groups of funds on the basis of absolute performance, consideration may also be given to relative risk-adjusted performance. Risk-adjusted performance measures include, but are not limited to, the Sharpe Ratio (Sharpe ratio uses standard deviation and excess return to determine reward per unit of risk). Performance is normally based on periods ending on the September 30th preceding fiscal year end. Fund performance is normally evaluated primarily versus peer groups of funds as determined by Lipper Inc. and/or Morningstar, Inc. When a fund’s peer group as determined by Lipper or


Morningstar is deemed by EVM’s and EVMI’s management not to provide a fair comparison, performance may instead be evaluated primarily against a custom peer group or market index. In evaluating the performance of a fund and its manager, primary emphasis is normally placed on three-year performance, with secondary consideration of performance over longer and shorter periods. A portion of the compensation payable to equity portfolio managers and investment professionals will be determined based on the ability of one or more accounts managed by such manager to achieve a specified target average annual gross return over a three year period in excess of the account benchmark. The cash bonus to be payable at the end of the three year term will be established at the inception of the term and will be adjusted positively or negatively to the extent that the average annual gross return varies from the specified target return. For funds that are tax-managed or otherwise have an objective of after-tax returns, performance is measured net of taxes. For other funds, performance is evaluated on a pre-tax basis. For funds with an investment objective other than total return (such as current income), consideration will also be given to the fund’s success in achieving its objective. For managers responsible for multiple funds and accounts, investment performance is evaluated on an aggregate basis, based on averages or weighted averages among managed funds and accounts. Funds and accounts that have performance-based advisory fees are not accorded disproportionate weightings in measuring aggregate portfolio manager performance.

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

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

No such purchases this period.

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

No material changes.

Item 11. Controls and Procedures

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

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

Item 12. 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 Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

 

By:  

/s/ Michael A. Allison

  Michael A. Allison
  President

Date: December 16, 2016

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

 

By:  

/s/ James F. Kirchner

  James F. Kirchner
  Treasurer

Date: December 16, 2016

 

By:  

/s/ Michael A. Allison

  Michael A. Allison
  President

Date: December 16, 2016