NEW YORK, Sept. 8, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- The law firm of Murray, Frank & Sailer LLP announces that it has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of all persons who purchased Eaton Vance Funds from UBS-AG ("UBS"), from May 1, 2000 through April 30, 2005, inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to pursue remedies under the Securities Act of 1993 (the "Securities Act") and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act").
The Funds, and the Symbols for the respective Eaton Vance Funds named below, are as follows:
ETALX Eaton Vance AL Municipals A EVALX Eaton Vance AL Municipals B ETARX Eaton Vance AR Municipals A EVARX Eaton Vance AR Municipals B EVASX Eaton Vance Asian Small Companies A EBASX Eaton Vance Asian Small Companies B ETAZX Eaton Vance AZ Municipals A EVAZX Eaton Vance AZ Municipals B EVIFX Eaton Vance Balanced A EMIFX Eaton Vance Balanced B ECIFX Eaton Vance Balanced C EXCAX Eaton Vance CA Ltd Maturity Munis A ELCAX Eaton Vance CA Ltd Maturity Munis B EACAX Eaton Vance CA Municipals A EVCAX Eaton Vance CA Municipals B ECCAX Eaton Vance CA Municipals C XCEVX Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust ETCOX Eaton Vance CO Municipals A EVCLX Eaton Vance CO Municipals B ETCTX Eaton Vance CT Municipals A EVCTX Eaton Vance CT Municipals B EADDX Eaton Vance Diversified Income A EBDDX Eaton Vance Diversified Income B ECDDX Eaton Vance Diversified Income Fund Class C ETEMX Eaton Vance Emerging Markets A EMEMX Eaton Vance Emerging Markets B XEOIX Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund XEOSX Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund II EAERX Eaton Vance Equity Research A EAFIX Eaton Vance FL Insured Municipals A EBFIX Eaton Vance FL Insured Municipals B EXFLX Eaton Vance FL Ltd Maturity Munis A ELFLX Eaton Vance FL Ltd Maturity Munis B EZFLX Eaton Vance FL Ltd Maturity Munis C ETFLX Eaton Vance FL Municipals A EVFLX Eaton Vance FL Municipals B EVBLX Eaton Vance Floating Rate A EABLX Eaton Vance Floating Rate Adv EBBLX Eaton Vance Floating Rate B ECBLX Eaton Vance Floating Rate C EIBLX Eaton Vance Floating Rate I EVFHX Eaton Vance Floating-Rate & Hi Inc A EAFHX Eaton Vance Floating-Rate & Hi Inc Adv EBFHX Eaton Vance Floating-Rate & Hi Inc B ECFHX Eaton Vance Floating-Rate & Hi Inc C EIFHX Eaton Vance Floating-Rate & Hi Inc Inst XEFTX Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust XFEVX Eaton Vance Florida Municipal Income Trust ETGAX Eaton Vance GA Municipals A EVGAX Eaton Vance GA Municipals B ETIAX Eaton Vance Global Growth A EMIAX Eaton Vance Global Growth B ECIAX Eaton Vance Global Growth C EDIAX EATON VANCE GLOBAL GROWTH FUND EVGOX Eaton Vance Government Obligations A EMGOX Eaton Vance Government Obligations B ECGOX Eaton Vance Government Obligations C EVCGX Eaton Vance Greater China Growth A EMCGX Eaton Vance Greater China Growth B ECCGX Eaton Vance Greater China Growth C ETGIX Eaton Vance Greater India A EMGIX Eaton Vance Greater India B EVGFX Eaton Vance Growth A EMGFX Eaton Vance Growth B ECGFX Eaton Vance Growth C ETHWX Eaton Vance HI Municipals A EVHWX Eaton Vance HI Municipals B ETHIX Eaton Vance High-Income A EVHIX Eaton Vance High-Income B ECHIX Eaton Vance High-Income C ETHYX Eaton Vance High-Yield Municipals A EVHYX Eaton Vance High-Yield Municipals B ECHYX Eaton Vance High-Yield Municipals C EVIBX Eaton Vance Income Fund of Boston A EBIBX Eaton Vance Income Fund of Boston B ECIBX Eaton Vance Income Fund of Boston C EIBIX Eaton Vance Income Fund of Boston I ERIBX Eaton Vance Income Fund of Boston R EISIX Eaton Vance Institutional Short Term Income Fund EVTIX Eaton Vance Institutional Short Term Treasury Fund XEVMX Eaton Vance Insured California Municipal Bond Fund XEIAX Eaton Vance Insured California Municipal Bond Fund II XEIFX Eaton Vance Insured Florida Municipal Bond Fund XMABX Eaton Vance Insured Massachusetts Municipal Bond Fund XMIWX Eaton Vance Insured Michigan Municipal Bond Fund XEIMX Eaton Vance Insured Municipal Bond Fund XEIVX Eaton Vance Insured Municipal Bond Fund II XEMJX Eaton Vance Insured New Jersey Municipal Bond Fund XENWX Eaton Vance Insured New York Municipal Bond Fund XNYHX Eaton Vance Insured New York Municipal Bond Fund II XEIOX Eaton Vance Insured Ohio Municipal Bond Fund XEIPX Eaton Vance Insured Pennsylvania Municipal Bond Fund ETKSX Eaton Vance KS Municipals A EVKSX Eaton Vance KS Municipals B ETKYX Eaton Vance KY Municipals A EVKYX Eaton Vance KY Municipals B ETLAX Eaton Vance LA Municipals A EVLAX Eaton Vance LA Municipals B EALCX Eaton Vance Large-Cap Core A EBLCX Eaton Vance Large-Cap Core B ECLCX Eaton Vance Large-Cap Core C EHSTX Eaton Vance Large-Cap Value A EMSTX Eaton Vance Large-Cap Value B ECSTX Eaton Vance Large-Cap Value C EILVX Eaton Vance Large-Cap Value I ERSTX Eaton Vance Large-Cap Value R XEVVX Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund EALDX Eaton Vance Low Duration A EBLDX Eaton Vance Low Duration B ECLDX Eaton Vance Low Duration C EXMAX Eaton Vance MA Ltd Maturity Munis A ELMAX Eaton Vance MA Ltd Maturity Munis B EZMAX Eaton Vance MA Ltd Maturity Munis C ETMAX Eaton Vance MA Municipals A EVMAX Eaton Vance MA Municipals B XMMVX Eaton Vance Massachusetts Municipal Income Trust ETMDX Eaton Vance MD Municipals A EVMYX Eaton Vance MD Municipals B ETMIX Eaton Vance MI Municipals A EVMIX Eaton Vance MI Municipals B XEMIX Eaton Vance Michigan Municipal Income Trust ETMNX Eaton Vance MN Municipals A EVMNX Eaton Vance MN Municipals B ETMOX Eaton Vance MO Municipals A EVMOX Eaton Vance MO Municipals B ETMSX Eaton Vance MS Municipals A EVMSX Eaton Vance MS Municipals B ETMBX Eaton Vance Municipal Bond A EBMBX Eaton Vance Municipal Bond B EVMBX Eaton Vance Municipal Bond I XEVNX Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust EXNAX Eaton Vance National Ltd Mat Munis A ELNAX Eaton Vance National Ltd Mat Munis B EZNAX Eaton Vance National Ltd Mat Munis C EANAX Eaton Vance National Municipals A EVHMX Eaton Vance National Municipals B ECHMX Eaton Vance National Municipals C EIHMX Eaton Vance National Municipals I ETNCX Eaton Vance NC Municipals A EVNCX Eaton Vance NC Municipals B XEVJX Eaton Vance New Jersey Municipal Income Trust XEVYX Eaton Vance New York Municipal Income Trust EXNJX Eaton Vance NJ Ltd Maturity Munis A ELNJX Eaton Vance NJ Ltd Maturity Munis B ETNJX Eaton Vance NJ Municipals A EVNJX Eaton Vance NJ Municipals B EXNYX Eaton Vance NY Ltd Maturity Munis A ELNYX Eaton Vance NY Ltd Maturity Munis B EZNYX Eaton Vance NY Ltd Maturity Munis C ETNYX Eaton Vance NY Municipals A EVNYX Eaton Vance NY Municipals B ECNYX Eaton Vance NY Municipals C EXOHX Eaton Vance OH Ltd Maturity Munis A ELOHX Eaton Vance OH Ltd Maturity Munis B ETOHX Eaton Vance OH Municipals A EVOHX Eaton Vance OH Municipals B XEVOX Eaton Vance Ohio Municipal Income Trust ETORX Eaton Vance OR Municipals A EVORX Eaton Vance OR Municipals B EXPNX Eaton Vance PA Ltd Maturity Munis A ELPNX Eaton Vance PA Ltd Maturity Munis B EZPNX Eaton Vance PA Ltd Maturity Munis C ETPAX Eaton Vance PA Municipals A EVPAX Eaton Vance PA Municipals B XEVPX Eaton Vance Pennsylvania Municipal Income Trust ETRIX Eaton Vance RI Municipals A EVRIX Eaton Vance RI Municipals B EASCX Eaton Vance SC Municipals A EVSCX Eaton Vance SC Municipals B XEFRX Eaton Vance Senior Floating Rate Trust XEVFX Eaton Vance Senior Income Trust XEVGX Eaton Vance Short Duration Diversified Income ETEGX Eaton Vance Small-Cap Growth A EBSMX Eaton Vance Small-Cap Growth B ECSMX Eaton Vance Small-Cap Growth C EAVSX Eaton Vance Small-Cap Value A EBVSX Eaton Vance Small-Cap Value B ECVSX Eaton Vance Small-Cap Value C EVSEX Eaton Vance Special Equities A EMSEX Eaton Vance Special Equities B ECSEX Eaton Vance Special Equities C ETSIX Eaton Vance Strategic Income A EVSGX Eaton Vance Strategic Income B ECSIX Eaton Vance Strategic Income C EDTGX EATON VANCE TAX MANAGED GROWTH EDIGX EATON VANCE TAX MANAGED INTERNA EDTVX EATON VANCE TAX MANAGED VALUE F XEVTX Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund XETGX Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund XETOX Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund XETBX Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Income Fund XETVX Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportnities Fund EADIX Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Dividend Inc A EBDIX Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Dividend Inc B ECDIX Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Dividend Inc C EITEX Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Emg Mkts I EAEAX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Eq Asset Alloc A EBEAX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Eq Asset Alloc B ECEAX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Eq Asset Alloc C CAPEX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Growth 1.0 ETTGX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Growth 1.1 A EMTGX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Growth 1.1 B ECTGX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Growth 1.1 C EITMX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Growth 1.1 I EXTGX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Growth 1.2 A EYTGX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Growth 1.2 B EZTGX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Growth 1.2 C EITGX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Growth 1.2 I ETIGX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Intl Equity A EMIGX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Intl Equity B ECIGX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Intl Equity C EXMCX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Mid-Cap Core A EBMCX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Mid-Cap Core B ECMCX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Mid-Cap Core C EACPX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Multi-Cap Opp A EBCPX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Multi-Cap Opp B ECCPX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Multi-Cap Opp C ETMGX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Sm-Cap Gr 1.1 A EMMGX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Sm-Cap Gr 1.1 B ECMGX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Sm-Cap Gr 1.1 C EXMGX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Sm-Cap Gr 1.2 A EYMGX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Sm-Cap Gr 1.2 B EZMGX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Sm-Cap Gr 1.2 C ESVAX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Small-Cap Value A ESVBX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Small-Cap Value B ESVCX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Small-Cap Value C EATVX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Value A EBTVX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Value B ECTVX Eaton Vance Tax-Mgd Value C ETTNX Eaton Vance TN Municipals A EVTNX Eaton Vance TN Municipals B EVTMX Eaton Vance Utilities A EMTMX Eaton Vance Utilities B ECTMX Eaton Vance Utilities C EIUTX Eaton Vance Utilities Fund Class I ETVAX Eaton Vance VA Municipals A EVVAX Eaton Vance VA Municipals B EDHSX EATON VANCE WORLDWIDE HEALTH SC ETHSX Eaton Vance Worldwide Health Sci A EMHSX Eaton Vance Worldwide Health Sci B ECHSX Eaton Vance Worldwide Health Sci C ERHSX Eaton Vance Worldwide Health Sci R ETWVX Eaton Vance WV Municipals A EVWVX Eaton Vance WV Municipals B
The complaint alleges that during the Class Period, defendants served as financial advisors who purportedly provided unbiased and honest investment advice to their clients. Unbeknownst to investors, defendants, in clear contravention of their disclosure obligations and fiduciary responsibilities, failed to properly disclose that they had engaged in a scheme to aggressively push UBS sales personnel to steer clients into purchasing certain UBS Funds and UBS Tier I Funds, which included Eaton Vance Funds, that provided financial incentives and rewards to UBS and its personnel based on sales. The complaint alleges that defendants' undisclosed sales practices created an insurmountable conflict of interest by providing substantial monetary incentives to sell Shelf-Space Funds to their clients, even though such investments were not in the clients' best interest. UBS' failure to disclose the incentives constituted violations of federal securities laws.
The action also includes a subclass of persons who held any shares of UBS Mutual Funds. The complaint additionally alleges that the investment advisor subsidiary of UBS, UBS Global Asset Management created further undisclosed material conflicts of interest by entering into revenue sharing agreements with UBS financial Advisors to push investors into UBS proprietary funds, regardless of whether such investments were in the investors' best interests. The investment advisors financed these arrangements by illegally charging excessive and improper fees to the fund that should have been invested in the underlying portfolio. In doing so they breached their fiduciary duties to investors under the Investment Company Act and state law and decreased shareholders' investment returns.
The action includes a second subclass of persons who purchased a UBS Financial Plan that held Tier I mutual funds. The UBS Financial Plans include, but are not limited to UBS Personalized Asset Consulting and Evaluation Plan, InsightOne accounts, and/or a resource management accounts.
Murray, Frank & Sailer LLP and its predecessor firms have devoted its practice to shareholder class actions and complex commercial litigation for more than fifteen years and have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for shareholders in class actions throughout the United States.
If you purchased any of the Eaton Vance Funds through a UBS broker between May 1, 2000 through April 30, 2005, inclusive, and sustained damages, you may, no later than September 30, 2005, request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. To serve as lead plaintiff, however, you must meet certain legal requirements. You can join this class action as lead plaintiff online at www.murrayfrank.com. Contact plaintiff's counsel Eric J. Belfi, Christopher Hinton or Bradley Dyer to discuss this action, this announcement, or your rights or interests.
More information on this and other class actions can be found on the Class Action Newsline at www.primezone.com/ca