EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST
485BPOS, 1995-03-31
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    AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MARCH 30, 1995
    

                                                       1933 ACT FILE NO. 2-22019
                                                      1940 ACT FILE NO. 811-1241
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                  FORM N-1A

                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                    UNDER
                          THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933             [X]

   
                       POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 56           [X]
                                    AND
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                    UNDER
                      THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940         [X]
                               AMENDMENT NO. 29                  [X]
    

                           EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST
                   ---------------------------------------
                      (FORMERLY EATON VANCE GROWTH FUND)
              (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN CHARTER)

                24 FEDERAL STREET, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02110
                   ---------------------------------------
                   (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)

                                 617-482-8260
                       -------------------------------
                       (REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER)

                                 THOMAS OTIS
                24 FEDERAL STREET, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02110
                       --------------------------------
                   (NAME AND ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR  SERVICE)


   
     It is proposed  that this filing  will become  effective  on April 29, 1995
pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485.
    

     The exhibit index  required by Rule 483(a) under the Securities Act of 1933
is located on page in the  sequential  numbering  system of the manually  signed
copy of this Registration Statement.

     The  Registrant  has filed a  Declaration  pursuant to Rule  24f-2,  and on
October 20, 1994 filed its "Notice" as required by that Rule for the fiscal year
ended August 31, 1994.

   
     Growth Portfolio has also executed this Registration Statement.
    

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>


     This Amendment to the  registration  statement on Form N-1A consists of the
following documents and papers:

   
     Cross Reference  Sheets required by Rule 481(a) under the Securities Act of
1933

    Part A -- The Prospectuses of:
              EV Classic Growth Fund
              EV Marathon Growth Fund

    Part B -- The Statements of Additional Information of:
              EV Classic Growth Fund
              EV Marathon Growth Fund

    Part C -- Other Information

    Signatures

    Exhibit  Index  Required by Rule  483(a)  under the  Securities  Act of 1933

    Exhibits 

    
     This Amendment is not intended to amend the  Prospectuses and Statements of
Additional Information of any other Fund of the Trust not identified above.


<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   
                                            EATON VANCE MUNICIPALS TRUST
                                               EV CLASSIC GROWTH FUND
                                               CROSS REFERENCE SHEET
                                            ITEMS REQUIRED BY FORM N-1A
    
                                            ---------------------------
PART A
ITEM NO.                    ITEM CAPTION                                           PROSPECTUS CAPTION
-----                       -------                                   ---------------------------------------------
<S>                         <C>                                       <C>             
 1. ......................  Cover Page                                Cover Page
 2. ......................  Synopsis                                  Shareholder and Fund Expenses
 3. ......................  Condensed Financial Information           The Fund's Financial Highlights; Performance
                                                                        Information
   
 4. ......................  General Description of Registrant         The Fund's Investment Objective; How the Fund
                                                                        and the Portfolio Invest their Assets;
                                                                        Risks; Organization of the Fund and the
                                                                        Portfolio
    

 5. ......................  Management of the Fund                    Management of the Fund and the Portfolio
 5A.......................  Management's Discussion of Fund           Not Applicable
                              Performance
   
 6. ......................  Capital Stock and Other Securities        Organization of the Fund and the Portfolio;
                                                                        Reports to Shareholders; The Lifetime
                                                                        Investing Account/Distribution Options;
                                                                        Distributions and Taxes
 7. ......................  Purchase of Securities Being Offered      Valuing Fund Shares; How to Buy Fund Shares;
                                                                        Distribution Plan; The Lifetime Investing
                                                                        Account/Distribution Options; The Eaton
                                                                        Vance Exchange Privilege; Eaton Vance
                                                                        Shareholder Services
    

 8. ......................  Redemption or Repurchase                  How to Redeem Fund Shares
 9. ......................  Pending Legal Proceedings                 Not Applicable


PART B
ITEM NO.                    ITEM CAPTION                               STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CAPTION
-----                       -------                                   ---------------------------------------------
10. ......................  Cover Page                                Cover Page
11. ......................  Table of Contents                         Table of Contents

   
12. ......................  General Information and History           Other Information
13. ......................  Investment Objective and Policies         Investment Objective; Additional Information
                                                                        About Investment Policies; Investment
                                                                        Restrictions; Other Investment Features
14. ......................  Management of the Fund                    Trustees and Officers; Fees and Expenses
15. ......................  Control Persons and Principal Holders of  Control Persons and Principal Holders of
                              Securities                                Securities
16. ......................  Investment Advisory and Other             Investment Adviser and Administrator;
                              Services                                  Distribution Plan; Custodian; Independent
                                                                        Accountants; Fees and Expenses
17. ......................  Brokerage Allocation and Other            Portfolio Security Transactions; Fees and
                              Practices                                 Expenses
18. ......................  Capital Stock and Other Securities        Other Information
19. ......................  Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of       Determination of Net Asset Value; Service for
                              Securities Being Offered                  Withdrawal; Principal Underwriter;
                                                                        Distribution Plan; Fees and Expenses
20. ......................  Tax Status                                Taxes; Additional Tax Matters
21. ......................  Underwriters                              Principal Underwriter; Fees and Expenses
22. ......................  Calculation of Performance Data           Investment Performance; Other Investment
                                                                        Features
23. ......................  Financial Statements                      Financial Statements
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
    

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                            EATON VANCE MUNICIPALS TRUST

   
                                              EV MARATHON GROWTH FUND
                                               CROSS REFERENCE SHEET
    

                                            ITEMS REQUIRED BY FORM N-1A
                                            ---------------------------
PART A
ITEM NO.                    ITEM CAPTION                                           PROSPECTUS CAPTION
-------                     -------------                             ---------------------------------------------
<S>                         <C>                                       <C>             
 1. ......................  Cover Page                                Cover Page
 2. ......................  Synopsis                                  Shareholder and Fund Expenses
 3. ......................  Condensed Financial Information           The Fund's Financial Highlights; Performance
                                                                        Information

   
 4. ......................  General Description of Registrant         The Fund's Investment Objective; How the Fund
                                                                        and the Portfolio Invest their Assets;
                                                                        Risks; Organization of the Fund and the
                                                                        Portfolio
    

 5. ......................  Management of the Fund                    Management of the Fund and the Portfolio
 5A.......................  Management's Discussion of Fund           Not Applicable
                              Performance

   
 6. ......................  Capital Stock and Other Securities        Organization of the Fund and the Portfolio;
                                                                        Reports to Shareholders; The Lifetime
                                                                        Investing Account/Distribution Options;
                                                                        Distributions and Taxes
 7. ......................  Purchase of Securities Being Offered      Valuing Fund Shares; How to Buy Fund Shares;
                                                                        Distribution Plan; The Lifetime Investing
                                                                        Account/Distribution Options; The Eaton
                                                                        Vance Exchange Privilege; Eaton Vance
                                                                        Shareholder Services
    

 8. ......................  Redemption or Repurchase                  How to Redeem Fund Shares
 9. ......................  Pending Legal Proceedings                 Not Applicable

PART B
ITEM NO.                    ITEM CAPTION                              STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CAPTION
-------                     ------------                              ---------------------------------------------
10. ......................  Cover Page                                Cover Page
11. ......................  Table of Contents                         Table of Contents

   
12. ......................  General Information and History           Other Information
13. ......................  Investment Objective and Policies         Investment Objective; Additional Information
                                                                        About Investment Policies; Investment
                                                                        Restrictions; Other Investment Features
14. ......................  Management of the Fund                    Trustees and Officers; Fees and Expenses
15. ......................  Control Persons and Principal Holders of  Control Persons and Principal Holders of
                              Securities                                Securities
16. ......................  Investment Advisory and Other             Investment Adviser and Administrator;
                              Services                                  Distribution Plan; Custodian; Independent
                                                                        Accountants; Fees and Expenses
17. ......................  Brokerage Allocation and Other            Portfolio Security Transactions; Fees and
                              Practices                                 Expenses
18. ......................  Capital Stock and Other Securities        Other Information
19. ......................  Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of       Determination of Net Asset Value; Service for
                              Securities Being Offered                  Withdrawal; Principal Underwriter;
                                                                        Distribution Plan; Fees and Expenses
20. ......................  Tax Status                                Taxes; Additional Tax Matters
21. ......................  Underwriters                              Principal Underwriter; Fees and Expenses
22. ......................  Calculation of Performance Data           Investment Performance; Other Investment
                                                                        Features
23. ......................  Financial Statements                      Financial Statements
    

</TABLE>



<PAGE>
   
                                    PART A
    

                     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN A PROSPECTUS 

   
                            EV CLASSIC GROWTH FUND

    EV CLASSIC  GROWTH  FUND (THE  "FUND") IS A MUTUAL  FUND  SEEKING  GROWTH OF
CAPITAL.  THE FUND INVESTS ITS ASSETS IN GROWTH PORTFOLIO (THE  "PORTFOLIO"),  A
DIVERSIFIED  OPEN-END INVESTMENT COMPANY HAVING THE SAME INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AS
THE FUND, RATHER THAN BY DIRECTLY INVESTING IN AND MANAGING ITS OWN PORTFOLIO OF
SECURITIES AS WITH HISTORICALLY STRUCTURED MUTUAL FUNDS. THE FUND IS A SERIES OF
EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST (THE "TRUST").

    Shares of the Fund are not  deposits or  obligations  of, or  guaranteed  or
endorsed  by,  any bank or other  insured  depository  institution,  and are not
federally  insured by the Federal  Deposit  Insurance  Corporation,  the Federal
Reserve  Board or any  other  government  agency.  Shares  of the  Fund  involve
investment risks,  including fluctuations in value and the possible loss of some
or all of the principal investment.

    This Prospectus is designed to provide you with  information you should know
before investing.  Please retain this document for future reference. A Statement
of Additional  Information  dated May 1, 1995 for the Fund, as supplemented from
time to time, has been filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission and is
incorporated  herein by reference.  This Statement of Additional  Information is
available  without  charge from the Fund's  principal  underwriter,  Eaton Vance
Distributors,  Inc. (the "Principal Underwriter"), 24 Federal Street, Boston, MA
02110 (telephone (800) 225-6265).  The Portfolio's  investment adviser is Boston
Management and Research (the "Investment Adviser"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Eaton Vance  Management,  and Eaton Vance Management is the  administrator  (the
"Administrator")  of the Fund.  The offices of the  Investment  Adviser  and the
Administrator are located at 24 Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110.
    

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
 EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
   AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
 ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS
                              A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   

                                                   PAGE                                                 PAGE
<S>                                                <C>   <S>                                            <C>
Shareholder and Fund Expenses .....................   2  How to Buy Fund Shares ........................  13
The Fund's Financial Highlights ...................   3  How to Redeem Fund Shares .....................  14
The Fund's Investment Objective ...................   4  Reports to Shareholders .......................  16
How the Fund and the Portfolio                           The Lifetime Investing Account/Distribution
  Invest their Assets; Risks ......................   4    Options .....................................  16
Organization of the Fund and the Portfolio ........   6  The Eaton Vance Exchange Privilege ............  17
Management of the Fund and the Portfolio ..........   8  Eaton Vance Shareholder Services ..............  18
Distribution Plan ................................    9  Distributions and Taxes .......................  19
Valuing Fund Shares ...............................  12  Performance Information .......................  20
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         PROSPECTUS DATED MAY 1, 1995
</TABLE>
    

<PAGE>

   
SHAREHOLDER AND FUND EXPENSES\1/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION EXPENSES
  Sales Charges Imposed on Purchases of Shares                           None
  Sales Charges Imposed on Reinvested Distributions                      None
  Redemption Fees                                                        None
  Fees to Exchange Shares                                                None
  Contingent Deferred Sales Charge Imposed on Redemption
    During the First Year (as a percentage of redemption
    proceeds exclusive of all reinvestments and capital
    appreciation in the account)\2/                                     1.00%

ANNUAL FUND AND ALLOCATED PORTFOLIO OPERATING EXPENSES
  (as a percentage of average daily net assets)
  Investment Adviser Fee                                               0.625%
  Rule 12b-1 Distribution (and Service) Fees                           1.000%
  Other Expenses                                                       0.875%
                                                                       ------
      Total Operating Expenses                                          2.50%
                                                                       ------

EXAMPLE                                                    1 YEAR       3 YEARS
                                                           ------       -------
An investor would pay the following expenses (including a 
contingent deferred sales charge in the case of redemption
during the first year after  purchase) on a $1,000
 investment,  assuming (a) 5% annual return and (b)
 redemption at the end of each time period:                 $35          $78
An investor would pay the following expenses on the
 same investment, assuming (a) 5% return and
 (b) no redemptions:                                        $25          $78

Notes:
\1/ The  purpose of the above table and Example is to  summarize  the  aggregate
    expenses  of  the  Fund  and  the  Portfolio  and  to  assist  investors  in
    understanding the various costs and expenses that investors in the Fund will
    bear  directly or  indirectly.  The Trustees of the Trust  believe that over
    time the aggregate per share  expenses of the Fund and the Portfolio  should
    be approximately  equal to the per share expenses which the Fund would incur
    if the Trust  retained the services of an investment  adviser and the assets
    of the Fund were invested  directly in the type of securities  being held by
    the  Portfolio.  Because the Fund does not yet have a  sufficient  operating
    history,  the percentages  indicated as Annual Fund and Allocated  Portfolio
    Operating  Expenses in the table and the amounts included in the Example are
    based on the Fund's and the Portfolio's  projected fees and expenses for the
    current  fiscal  year ending  August 31,  1995.  The  Example  should not be
    considered a  representation  of past or future expenses and actual expenses
    may be greater or less than those  shown.  The  Example  assumes a 5% annual
    return  and the Fund's  actual  performance  may result in an annual  return
    greater or less than 5%. For further  information  regarding the expenses of
    both the Fund and the  Portfolio  see  "The  Fund's  Financial  Highlights",
    "Organization  of the Fund and the  Portfolio",  "Management of the Fund and
    the  Portfolio"  and "How to Redeem  Fund  Shares".  Because  the Fund makes
    payments under its  Distribution  Plan adopted under Rule 12b-1, a long-term
    shareholder  may pay  more  than  the  economic  equivalent  of the  maximum
    front-end  sales charge  permitted by a rule of the National  Association of
    Securities Dealers, Inc. See "Distribution Plan".
\2/ The contingent  deferred sales charge is imposed on the redemption of shares
    purchased on or after January 30, 1995. No contingent  deferred sales charge
    is imposed on (a) shares  purchased  more than one year prior to redemption,
    (b) shares acquired  through the  reinvestment of  distributions  or (c) any
    appreciation  in value of other  shares in the  account  (see "How to Redeem
    Fund Shares"), and no such charge is imposed on exchanges of Fund shares for
    shares of one or more other funds  listed  under "The Eaton  Vance  Exchange
    Privilege."
\3/ Other investment companies with different distribution arrangements and fees
    are investing in the Portfolio and  additional  such  companies may do so in
    the future. See "Organization of the Fund and the Portfolio".

<PAGE>

THE FUND'S FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The  following  information  should be read in  conjunction  with the  financial
statements  included  in  the  Statement  of  Additional  Information.   Further
information  regarding  the  performance  of the Fund is contained in the Fund's
annual report to shareholders which may be obtained without charge by contacting
the Principal Underwriter.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FOR THE PERIOD FROM THE START OF  BUSINESS,  NOVEMBER 7, 1994,  TO FEBRUARY  28,
1995 (UNAUDITED)

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (for a share outstanding throughout the period):

NET ASSET VALUE -- Beginning of period ..........................       $10.000
                                                                         -----

INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:
  Net investment income .........................................       $ 0.001
  Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments ........         0.039
                                                                         ======
    Total income (loss) from investment operations ..............       $ 0.370
                                                                         ------
NET ASSET VALUE, end of period ..................................       $ 10.37
                                                                         ======
                                                                               
TOTAL RETURN\1/ .................................................             %
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA (to average daily net assets):*
  Expenses ......................................................         1.41%
  Net investment income .........................................        (0.05)%
NET ASSETS, END OF PERIOD (000's omitted) .......................       $  796

*The expenses  related to the  operation of the Fund  reflect an  allocation  of
 expenses to the Administrator. Had such action not been taken, the ratios would
 have been as follows:

RATIOS (to average daily net assets)
  Expenses ......................................................         7.05 %
  Net investment income (loss) ..................................        (5.59)%

+Computed on an annualized basis.

\1/Total return is calculated  assuming a purchase at the net asset value on the
   first  day and a sale at the net asset  value on the last day of each  period
   reported.  Dividends and distributions,  if any, are assumed to be reinvested
   at the net asset value on the record date.

\2/Includes the Fund's share of Growth  Portfolio's  allocated  expenses for the
   period from the Fund's start of business,  November 7, 1994,  to February 28,
   1995 (unaudited).

<PAGE>

THE FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE  INVESTMENT  OBJECTIVE OF THE FUND IS TO ACHIEVE  CAPITAL  GROWTH.  The Fund
seeks to meet its investment objective by investing its assets in the Portfolio,
a separate registered  investment company. The Portfolio has the same investment
objective  as the Fund and  invests in a  carefully  selected  and  continuously
managed portfolio consisting primarily of equity securities.  The Fund's and the
Portfolio's  investment  objective  is  nonfundamental  and may be changed  when
authorized  by  a  vote  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Trust  or  the   Portfolio,
respectively,  without obtaining the approval of the Fund's  shareholders or the
investors in the  Portfolio,  as the case may be. The Trustees of the Trust have
no present  intention  to change the Fund's  objective  and intend to submit any
proposed material change in the investment  objective to shareholders in advance
for their approval.

HOW THE FUND AND THE PORTFOLIO INVEST THEIR ASSETS; RISKS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE  FUND  SEEKS  TO  ACHIEVE  ITS  INVESTMENT  OBJECTIVE  BY  INVESTING  IN THE
PORTFOLIO.  The policy of the Portfolio is to invest in a carefully selected and
continuously  managed  portfolio  consisting  primarily  of domestic and foreign
securities.  It may invest in all kinds of companies.  The Portfolio will invest
primarily  in  common  stocks  or  securities  convertible  into  common  stocks
(including  convertible  debt),  which the Investment  Adviser believes meet the
criteria for capital  appreciation.  The criteria for investments in convertible
debt are the same as used for the common stock of the issuer. The Portfolio does
not  currently  intend to invest  more than 5% of its net assets in  convertible
debt. It may also invest in other securities and obligations of all kinds. These
include preferred stocks,  rights,  warrants,  bonds,  repurchase agreements and
other evidences of indebtedness, however the Portfolio does not currently intend
to  invest  more  than 5% of its net  assets  in  each of such  investments  and
currently  intends  to  limit  its  investments  in   non-convertible   debt  to
non-convertible  debt rated investment grade (Baa or higher by Moody's Investors
Service,  Inc.  or BBB or higher by  Standard  & Poor's  Ratings  Group)  or, if
unrated,  determined to be of comparable  quality by the Portfolio's  Investment
Adviser.  The  Portfolio may also engage in futures  transactions  (as described
under "Futures Contracts" below) and may invest in money market instruments.
    

    While income is a subordinate consideration to capital growth, the Portfolio
will earn dividend or interest  income to the extent that it receives  dividends
or interest from its investments.

   
FOREIGN  SECURITIES.  The Portfolio  may invest in securities  issued by foreign
companies. Such investments may be subject to various risks such as fluctuations
in currency and exchange rates,  foreign taxes,  social,  political and economic
conditions  in the  countries in which such  companies  operate,  and changes in
governmental,  economic or monetary policies both here and abroad.  There may be
less  publicly  available  information  about a  foreign  company  than  about a
comparable  domestic  company.  Since the  securities  markets  in many  foreign
countries are not as developed as those in the United States,  the securities of
many foreign  companies  are less liquid and their prices are more volatile than
securities of comparable domestic companies.  In order to hedge against possible
variations  in  foreign   exchange  rates  pending  the  settlement  of  foreign
securities transactions, the Portfolio may buy or sell foreign currencies or may
enter into forward  foreign  currency  exchange  contracts to purchase or sell a
specified currency at a specified price and future date.

FUTURES  CONTRACTS.  The  Portfolio  may purchase and sell futures  contracts on
stock indices and options  hereon.  All of such  transactions  involve a risk of
loss or depreciation due to unanticipated  adverse changes in securities prices,
which may exceed the  Portfolio's  initial  investment in these  contracts.  The
Portfolio may not purchase or sell futures contracts or purchase or sell related
options,  except for  closing  purchase  or sale  transactions,  if  immediately
thereafter the sum of the amount of initial margin  deposits on the  Portfolio's
outstanding  positions in futures and related options and the amount of premiums
paid for  outstanding  positions  in options on futures  would  exceed 5% of the
market value of the Portfolio's net assets. These transactions involve brokerage
costs,  require  margin  deposits  and, in the case of purchased  contracts  and
options, require the Portfolio to segregate liquid high grade debt securities in
an amount equal to the  underlying  value of such  contracts  and  options.  The
Portfolio's success in using futures contracts to hedge portfolio assets depends
on the degree of price  correlation  between the  derivative  instrument and the
hedged asset.

INVESTMENT  RESTRICTIONS.  The  Fund  and the  Portfolio  have  adopted  certain
fundamental  investment  restrictions  which  are  enumerated  in  detail in the
Statement  of  Additional  Information  and  which  may  not be  changed  unless
authorized by a shareholder vote and an investor vote, respectively.  Except for
such enumerated restrictions and as otherwise indicated in this Prospectus,  the
investment  objective  and  policies  of the  Fund  and  the  Portfolio  are not
fundamental policies and accordingly may be changed by the Trustees of the Trust
and the Portfolio without  obtaining the approval of the Fund's  shareholders or
the investors in the  Portfolio,  as the case may be. If any change were made in
the Fund's  investment  objective,  the Fund might have an investment  objective
different  from the objective  which an investor  considered  appropriate at the
time the investor became a shareholder of the Fund.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE FUND IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A COMPLETE  INVESTMENT  PROGRAM,  AND PROSPECTIVE
INVESTORS SHOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THEIR  OBJECTIVES AND OTHER  INVESTMENTS WHEN
CONSIDERING THE PURCHASE OF FUND SHARES.  THE FUND CANNOT ASSURE  ACHIEVEMENT OF
ITS CAPITAL GROWTH OBJECTIVE.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ORGANIZATION OF THE FUND AND THE PORTFOLIO
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE FUND IS A DIVERSIFIED  SERIES OF EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST,  A BUSINESS TRUST
ESTABLISHED UNDER MASSACHUSETTS LAW PURSUANT TO A DECLARATION OF TRUST DATED MAY
25,  1989,  AS  AMENDED,  AND  ORGANIZED  AS THE  SUCCESSOR  TO A  MASSACHUSETTS
CORPORATION WHICH COMMENCED ITS INVESTMENT COMPANY OPERATIONS IN 1954. THE TRUST
IS A MUTUAL FUND -- AN OPEN-END,  MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY. The Trustees of
the Trust are  responsible  for the overall  management  and  supervision of its
affairs.  The  Trust  may issue an  unlimited  number  of  shares of  beneficial
interest  (no par value per share) in one or more  series and  because the Trust
can offer separate series (such as the Fund) it is known as a "series  company."
Each share represents an equal  proportionate  beneficial  interest in the Fund.
When issued and outstanding,  the shares are fully paid and nonassessable by the
Trust  and   redeemable  as  described   under  "How  to  Redeem  Fund  Shares."
Shareholders  are  entitled  to one vote for each full  share  held.  Fractional
shares may be voted  proportionately.  Shares have no  preemptive  or conversion
rights and are freely transferable. In the event of the liquidation of the Fund,
shareholders  are  entitled  to  share  pro rata in the net  assets  of the Fund
available for distribution to shareholders.

    THE  PORTFOLIO  IS  ORGANIZED  AS A TRUST UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK AND INTENDS TO BE TREATED AS A PARTNERSHIP  FOR FEDERAL TAX  PURPOSES.  The
Portfolio,  as well as the Trust,  intends to comply with all applicable Federal
and state  securities  laws. The Portfolio's  Declaration of Trust provides that
the Fund and other entities  permitted to invest in the Portfolio  (e.g.,  other
U.S. and foreign  investment  companies,  and common and commingled trust funds)
will each be liable for all obligations of the Portfolio.  However,  the risk of
the Fund  incurring  financial  loss on account of such  liability is limited to
circumstances in which both inadequate insurance exists and the Portfolio itself
is  unable  to meet its  obligations.  Accordingly,  the  Trustees  of the Trust
believe that neither the Fund nor its shareholders will be adversely affected by
reason of the Fund investing in the Portfolio.

    SPECIAL INFORMATION ON THE FUND/PORTFOLIO  INVESTMENT STRUCTURE. An investor
in the Fund should be aware that the Fund,  unlike  mutual funds which  directly
acquire and manage  their own  portfolios  of  securities,  seeks to achieve its
investment  objective  by investing  its assets in an interest in the  Portfolio
(although the Fund may temporarily hold a de minimus amount of cash), which is a
separate investment company with an identical investment  objective.  Therefore,
the Fund's  interest in the  securities  owned by the Portfolio is indirect.  In
addition to selling an interest to the Fund, the Portfolio may sell interests to
other affiliated and  non-affiliated  mutual funds or  institutional  investors.
Such investors will invest in the Portfolio on the same terms and conditions and
will pay a proportionate share of the Portfolio's  expenses.  However, the other
investors  investing in the  Portfolio  are not required to sell their shares at
the  same  public  offering  price  as the  Fund  due  to  variations  in  sales
commissions  and other  operating  expenses.  Therefore,  investors  in the Fund
should be aware that these  differences  may  result in  differences  in returns
experienced by investors in the various funds that invest in the Portfolio. Such
differences  in  returns  are also  present  in other  mutual  fund  structures,
including funds that have multiple classes of shares. For information  regarding
the investment objective, policies and restrictions,  see "The Fund's Investment
Objective"  and "How the Fund and the  Portfolio  Invest their  Assets;  Risks".
Further information regarding investment practices may be found in the Statement
of Additional Information.
    
    The Trustees of the Trust have  considered the advantages and  disadvantages
of investing the assets of the Fund in the Portfolio,  as well as the advantages
and  disadvantages  of the  two-tier  format.  The  Trustees  believe  that  the
structure  offers  opportunities  for  substantial  growth in the  assets of the
Portfolio,  and affords the  potential  for  economies of scale for the Fund, at
least when the assets of the Portfolio exceed $300 million.

   
    The Fund may withdraw  (completely redeem) all its assets from the Portfolio
at any time if the Board of Trustees of the Trust  determines  that it is in the
best  interest  of  the  Fund  to  do  so.  The  investment  objective  and  the
nonfundamental  investment policies of the Fund and the Portfolio may be changed
by the Trustees of the Trust and the Portfolio without obtaining the approval of
the shareholders of the Fund or the investors in the Portfolio.  Any such change
of the  investment  objective  will be preceded by thirty days' advance  written
notice to the shareholders of the Fund or the investors in the Portfolio, as the
case  may be.  If a  shareholder  redeems  shares  because  of a  change  in the
nonfundamental objective or policies of the Fund, those shares may be subject to
a contingent deferred sales charge, as described in "How to Redeem Fund Shares".
In the event the Fund  withdraws  all of its assets from the  Portfolio,  or the
Board of Trustees of the Trust  determines that the investment  objective of the
Portfolio is no longer  consistent  with the  investment  objective of the Fund,
such Trustees would consider what action might be taken, including investing the
assets  of the  Fund  in  another  pooled  investment  entity  or  retaining  an
investment adviser to manage the Fund's assets in accordance with its investment
objective.  The Fund's investment performance may be affected by a withdrawal of
all its assets from the Portfolio.

    Information regarding other pooled investment entities or funds which invest
in the Portfolio may be obtained by contacting  Eaton Vance  Distributors,  Inc.
(the "Principal  Underwriter" or "EVD"),  24 Federal Street,  Boston,  MA 02110,
(617) 482-8260.  Smaller investors in the Portfolio may be adversely affected by
the  actions of larger  investors  in the  Portfolio.  For  example,  if a large
investor  withdraws from the Portfolio,  the remaining  investors may experience
higher  pro  rata  operating   expenses,   thereby   producing   lower  returns.
Additionally,  the  Portfolio  may become less  diverse,  resulting in increased
portfolio  risk, and experience  decreasing  economies of scale.  However,  this
possibility exists as well for historically structured funds which have large or
institutional investors.
    

    Until  recently,  the  Administrator   sponsored  and  advised  historically
structured funds. Funds which invest all their assets in interests in a separate
investment  company are a relatively new development in the mutual fund industry
and,  therefore,  the  Fund  may  be  subject  to  additional  regulations  than
historically structured funds.

    The  Declaration of Trust of the Portfolio  provides that the Portfolio will
terminate  120 days  after  the  complete  withdrawal  of the Fund or any  other
investor in the Portfolio,  unless either the remaining investors,  by unanimous
vote at a meeting  of such  investors,  or a  majority  of the  Trustees  of the
Portfolio,  by  written  instrument  consented  to by all  investors,  agree  to
continue the  business of the  Portfolio.  This  provision  is  consistent  with
treatment of the Portfolio as a partnership for Federal income tax purposes. See
"Distributions  and  Taxes" for  further  information.  Whenever  the Fund as an
investor in the  Portfolio  is requested  to vote on matters  pertaining  to the
Portfolio (other than the termination of the Portfolio's business,  which may be
determined by the Trustees of the Portfolio without investor approval), the Fund
will hold a meeting  of Fund  shareholders  and will  vote its  interest  in the
Portfolio for or against such matters  proportionately  to the  instructions  to
vote for or against such matters received from Fund shareholders. The Fund shall
vote shares for which it receives no voting  instructions in the same proportion
as the shares for which it receives voting instructions.  Other investors in the
Portfolio may alone or collectively  acquire  sufficient voting interests in the
Portfolio to control matters  relating to the operation of the Portfolio,  which
may require the Fund to withdraw its  investment  in the Portfolio or take other
appropriate action. Any such withdrawal could result in a distribution "in kind"
of portfolio  securities (as opposed to a cash distribution from the Portfolio).
If securities  are  distributed,  the Fund could incur  brokerage,  tax or other
charges in converting the securities to cash. In addition,  the  distribution in
kind may result in a less  diversified  portfolio  of  investments  or adversely
affect the  liquidity of the Fund.  Notwithstanding  the above,  there are other
means for meeting shareholder redemption requests, such as borrowing.

   
    The  Trustees  of the  Trust,  including  a  majority  of the  noninterested
Trustees,  have approved written procedures designed to identify and address any
potential  conflicts of interest  arising from the fact that the Trustees of the
Trust and the Trustees of the Portfolio are the same.  Such  procedures  require
each Board to take action to resolve any  conflict of interest  between the Fund
and the Portfolio,  and it is possible that the creation of separate  Boards may
be considered.  For further information  concerning the Trustees and officers of
the Trust and the Portfolio, see the Statement of Additional Information.

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND AND THE PORTFOLIO
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
THE PORTFOLIO  ENGAGES BOSTON  MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH  ("BMR"),  A WHOLLY-OWNED
SUBSIDIARY OF EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT ("EATON VANCE"), AS ITS INVESTMENT ADVISER.
EATON VANCE,  ITS  AFFILIATES AND ITS  PREDECESSOR  COMPANIES HAVE BEEN MANAGING
ASSETS OF  INDIVIDUALS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  SINCE  1924 AND  MANAGING  INVESTMENT
COMPANIES SINCE 1931.

   
    Acting  under  the  general  supervision  of the  Board of  Trustees  of the
Portfolio,  BMR manages  the  Portfolio's  investments  and  affairs.  Under its
investment  advisory  agreement  with the  Portfolio,  BMR  receives  a  monthly
advisory fee of 5/96 of 1% (equivalent to 0.625%  annually) of the average daily
net assets of the  Portfolio  up to and  including  $300  million and 1/24 of 1%
(equivalent  to 0.50%  annually)  of the  average  daily  net  assets  over $300
million. For the period from the start of business,  August 2, 1994, to February
28, 1995, the Portfolio paid BMR advisory fees equivalent to 0.625% (annualized)
of the Portfolio's average daily net assets.
    

    BMR  also  furnishes  for  the use of the  Portfolio  office  space  and all
necessary  office   facilities,   equipment  and  personnel  for  servicing  the
investments  of the Portfolio.  The Portfolio is responsible  for the payment of
all expenses  other than those  expressly  stated to be payable by BMR under the
investment advisory agreement.

    BMR  places  the  portfolio   transactions   of  the  Portfolio   with  many
broker-dealer  firms  and uses its best  efforts  to  obtain  execution  of such
transactions at prices which are advantageous to the Portfolio and at reasonably
competitive  commission rates. Subject to the foregoing,  BMR may consider sales
of shares of the Fund or of other investment companies sponsored by BMR or Eaton
Vance as a factor in the selection of broker-dealer  firms to execute  portfolio
transactions.

   
    Peter F. Kiely has acted as the portfolio  manager of the Portfolio since it
commenced operations. He has been a Vice President of Eaton Vance since 1980 and
of BMR since 1993.

    BMR OR EATON VANCE ACTS AS INVESTMENT  ADVISER TO  INVESTMENT  COMPANIES AND
VARIOUS  INDIVIDUAL AND  INSTITUTIONAL  CLIENTS WITH ASSETS UNDER  MANAGEMENT OF
APPROXIMATELY  $15 BILLION.  Eaton Vance is a  wholly-owned  subsidiary of Eaton
Vance Corp., a publicly-held  holding  company.  Eaton Vance Corp.,  through its
subsidiaries  and  affiliates,  engages in investment  management  and marketing
activities,  fiduciary and banking services, oil and gas operations, real estate
investment,  consulting  and  management,  and  development  of precious  metals
properties.

    The Trust has retained  the services of Eaton Vance to act as  Administrator
of the Fund.  The Trust has not retained the services of an  investment  adviser
since  the  Trust  seeks to  achieve  the  investment  objective  of the Fund by
investing  the Fund's assets in the  Portfolio.  As  Administrator,  Eaton Vance
provides the Fund with general  office  facilities  and  supervises  the overall
administration of the Fund. For these services Eaton Vance currently receives no
compensation.  The  Trustees  of the  Trust may  determine,  in the  future,  to
compensate Eaton Vance for such services.

    The Portfolio and the Fund, as the case may be, will each be responsible for
all of its respective  costs and expenses not expressly  stated to be payable by
BMR  under  the  investment  advisory  agreement,   by  Eaton  Vance  under  the
administrative  services agreement,  or by EVD under the distribution agreement.
Such costs and expenses to be borne by the  Portfolio  and the Fund, as the case
may be,  include,  without  limitation:  custody  and  transfer  agency fees and
expenses,  including  those incurred for determining net asset value and keeping
accounting books and records;  expenses of pricing and valuation  services;  the
cost of share certificates; membership dues in investment company organizations;
expenses  of  acquiring,   holding  and   disposing  of  securities   and  other
investments;  fees and expenses of registering under the securities laws and the
governmental  fees;  expenses of reporting to shareholders and investors;  proxy
statements and other expenses of shareholders' or investors' meetings; insurance
premiums;  printing and mailing  expenses;  interest,  taxes and corporate fees;
legal and  accounting  expenses;  compensation  and  expenses  of  Trustees  not
affiliated with BMR or Eaton Vance;  and investment  advisory fees, and, if any,
administrative  services  fees.  The  Portfolio or the Fund, as the case may be,
will also each bear expenses incurred in connection with litigation in which the
Portfolio or the Fund,  as the case may be, is a party and any legal  obligation
to indemnify its respective officers and Trustees with respect thereto.

DISTRIBUTION PLAN
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE FUND FINANCES  DISTRIBUTION  ACTIVITIES AND HAS ADOPTED A DISTRIBUTION  PLAN
(THE "PLAN")  PURSUANT TO RULE 12B-1 UNDER THE  INVESTMENT  COMPANY ACT OF 1940.
Rule 12b-1  permits a mutual  fund,  such as the Fund,  to finance  distribution
activities  and bear expenses  associated  with the  distribution  of its shares
provided  that any payments made by the Fund are made pursuant to a written plan
adopted in accordance  with the Rule. The Plan is subject to, and complies with,
the sales charge rule of the National  Association of Securities  Dealers,  Inc.
(the "NASD Rule").  The Plan is described further in the Statement of Additional
Information,  and the following is a description of the salient  features of the
Plan. The Plan provides that the Fund,  subject to the NASD Rule, will pay sales
commissions and distribution fees to the Principal Underwriter only after and as
a  result  of the  sale of  shares  of the  Fund.  On each  sale of Fund  shares
(excluding  reinvestment  of  distributions)  the Fund  will  pay the  Principal
Underwriter  amounts  representing (i) sales  commissions  equal to 6.25% of the
amount  received  by the Fund for each  share  sold and (ii)  distribution  fees
calculated  by applying the rate of 1% over the prime rate then  reported in The
Wall Street Journal to the outstanding balance of Uncovered Distribution Charges
(as described below) of the Principal Underwriter. On sales of shares made prior
to January 30, 1995,  the  Principal  Underwriter  currently  pays monthly sales
commissions  to a  financial  service  firm (an  "Authorized  Firm") in  amounts
anticipated to be equivalent to .75%,  annualized,  of the assets  maintained in
the Fund by the  customers of such Firm.  On sales of shares made on January 30,
1995 and thereafter,  the Principal  Underwriter  currently expects to pay to an
Authorized  Firm (a) sales  commissions  (except on  exchange  transactions  and
reinvestments)  at the time of sale equal to .80% of the  purchase  price of the
shares  sold by  such  Firm  and (b)  monthly  sales  commissions  approximately
equivalent  to 1/12 of  .75%  of the  value  of  shares  sold by such  Firm  and
remaining  outstanding  for at least one year. The Plan is designed to permit an
investor to purchase Fund shares through an Authorized Firm without incurring an
initial  sales charge and at the same time permit the Principal  Underwriter  to
compensate Authorized Firms in connection with the sale of Fund shares.

    THE NASD  RULE  REQUIRES  THE FUND TO LIMIT  ITS  ANNUAL  PAYMENTS  OF SALES
COMMISSIONS AND DISTRIBUTION FEES TO THE PRINCIPAL  UNDERWRITER TO AN AMOUNT NOT
EXCEEDING  .75% OF THE FUND'S  AVERAGE  DAILY NET ASSETS FOR EACH  FISCAL  YEAR.
Under its Plan, the Fund accrues daily an amount at the rate of 1/365 of .75% of
the Fund's net assets,  and pays such accrued  amounts  monthly to the Principal
Underwriter.  The Plan requires such accruals to be  automatically  discontinued
during  any  period in which  there are no  outstanding  Uncovered  Distribution
Charges under the Plan. Uncovered Distribution Charges are calculated daily and,
briefly, are equivalent to all unpaid sales commissions and distribution fees to
which the Principal  Underwriter  is entitled under the Plan less all contingent
deferred sales charges theretofore paid to the Principal Underwriter.  The Eaton
Vance organization may be considered to have realized a profit under the Plan if
at any point in time the aggregate amounts of all payments made to the Principal
Underwriter  pursuant  to the Plan,  including  any  contingent  deferred  sales
charges,   have  exceeded  the  total  expenses  theretofore  incurred  by  such
organization in distributing shares of the Fund. Total expenses for this purpose
will include an allocable portion of the overhead costs of such organization and
its branch offices.

    The amount payable by the Fund to the Principal  Underwriter pursuant to the
Plan with  respect to each day will be accrued on such day as a liability of the
Fund and will accordingly reduce the Fund's net assets upon such accrual, all in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  The amount payable on
each day is limited  to 1/365 of .75% of the Fund's net assets on such day.  The
level of the Fund's net assets  changes  each day and depends upon the amount of
sales  and  redemptions  of  Fund  shares,  the  changes  in  the  value  of the
investments  held by the  Portfolio,  the expenses of the Fund and the Portfolio
accrued and allocated to the Fund on such day,  income on portfolio  investments
of the  Portfolio  accrued  and  allocated  to the  Fund  on such  day,  and any
dividends and  distributions  declared on Fund shares.  The Fund does not accrue
possible future payments as a liability of the Fund or reduce the Fund's current
net assets in respect of unknown amounts which may become payable under the Plan
in the future  because  the  standards  for  accrual of a  liability  under such
accounting principles have not been satisfied.

    The Fund's Plan provides that the Fund will receive all contingent  deferred
sales charges and will make no payments to the Principal  Underwriter in respect
of any day on which there are no outstanding  Uncovered  Distribution Charges of
the Principal Underwriter. Contingent deferred sales charges and accrued amounts
will be paid by the  Fund to the  Principal  Underwriter  whenever  there  exist
Uncovered Distribution Charges under the Fund's Plan.

    The  provisions  of the Plan relating to payments of sales  commissions  and
distribution  fees  to  the  Principal  Underwriter  are  also  included  in the
Distribution Agreement between the Trust on behalf of the Fund and the Principal
Underwriter.  The Plan continues in effect through and including April 28, 1995,
and  shall  continue  in  effect  indefinitely  thereafter  for so  long as such
continuance  is approved at least annually by the vote of both a majority of (i)
the  Trustees of the Trust who are not  interested  persons of the Trust and who
have no direct or indirect  financial  interest in the  operation of the Plan or
any agreements  related to the Plan (the "Rule 12b-1  Trustees") and (ii) all of
the Trustees then in office,  and the Distribution  Agreement contains a similar
provision.  The Plan and Distribution Agreement may be terminated at any time by
vote of a majority of the Rule 12b-1  Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund.

    Periods with a high level of sales of Fund shares accompanied by a low level
of early  redemptions  of Fund shares  resulting in the imposition of contingent
deferred  sales  charges  will tend to increase the time during which there will
exist Uncovered Distribution Charges of the Principal  Underwriter.  Conversely,
periods with a low level of sales of Fund shares  accompanied by a high level of
early  redemptions  of Fund shares  resulting in the  imposition  of  contingent
deferred  sales  charges  will tend to reduce the time  during  which there will
exist Uncovered Distribution Charges of the Principal Underwriter.

    Because of the NASD Rule  limitation on the amount of sales  commissions and
distribution  fees paid to the Principal  Underwriter  during any fiscal year, a
high  level of sales of Fund  shares  during  the  initial  years of the  Fund's
operations would cause a large portion of the sales commission attributable to a
sale of  Fund  shares  to be  accrued  and  paid  by the  Fund to the  Principal
Underwriter  in fiscal  years  subsequent  to the year in which such shares were
sold.  This  spreading  of sales  commissions  payments  under  the Plan over an
extended  period  would  result  in the  incurrence  and  payment  of  increased
distribution fees under the Plan.

    For the period from the start of business, November 7, 1994, to February 28,
1995, the Fund paid or accrued sales  commissions  under the Plan  equivalent to
.75%  (annualized) of its average daily net assets. As at February 28, 1995, the
Uncovered Distribution Charges of the Principal Underwriter calculated under the
Plan amounted to  approximately  $48,504  (equivalent  to 6.1% of the Fund's net
assets on such day).

    THE PLAN ALSO  AUTHORIZES  THE FUND TO MAKE  PAYMENTS OF SERVICE FEES TO THE
PRINCIPAL  UNDERWRITER,  AUTHORIZED  FIRMS  AND OTHER  PERSONS  IN  AMOUNTS  NOT
EXCEEDING  .25% OF THE FUND'S AVERAGE DAILY NET ASSETS FOR EACH FISCAL YEAR. The
Trustees of the Trust have initially  implemented  the Plan by  authorizing  the
Fund to make  monthly  service fee  payments  to the  Principal  Underwriter  in
amounts not expected to exceed .25% of the Fund's  average  daily net assets for
any fiscal year.  The Fund accrues the service fee daily at the rate of 1/365 of
.25% of the  Fund's net  assets.  On sales of shares  made prior to January  30,
1995, the Principal  Underwriter currently makes monthly service fee payments to
an Authorized Firm in amounts anticipated to be equivalent to .25%,  annualized,
of the assets  maintained in the Fund by the customers of such Firm. On sales of
shares  made on January  30,  1995 and  thereafter,  the  Principal  Underwriter
currently  expects to pay to an  Authorized  Firm (a) a service  fee  (except on
exchange  transactions and  reinvestments)  at the time of sale equal to .25% of
the purchase price of the shares sold by such Firm, and (b) monthly service fees
approximately  equivalent  to 1/12 of .25% of the value of  shares  sold by such
Firm and remaining  outstanding  for at least one year. As permitted by the NASD
Rule,  all  service  fee  payments  are made for  personal  services  and/or the
maintenance of shareholder accounts. Service fees are separate and distinct from
the sales commissions and distribution fees payable by the Fund to the Principal
Underwriter,  and as such are not subject to automatic discontinuance when there
are no outstanding Uncovered  Distribution Charges of the Principal Underwriter.
During the first year after a purchase of Fund shares, the Principal Underwriter
will retain the service fee as reimbursement for the service fee payment made to
the  Authorized  Firm at the  time of sale.  For the  period  from the  start of
business,  November 7, 1994,  to  February  28,  1995,  the Fund paid or accrued
service  fees  under the Plan  equivalent  to .25%  (annualized)  of the  Fund's
average daily net assets for such period.

    The Plan as currently  implemented  by the Trustees  authorizes  payments of
sales  commissions,   distribution  fees  and  service  fees  to  the  Principal
Underwriter  which may be  equivalent,  on an aggregate  basis during any fiscal
year of the Fund,  to 1% of the Fund's  average  daily net assets for such year.
The Fund  believes  that the combined  rate of all these  payments may be higher
than the  rate of  payments  made  under  distribution  plans  adopted  by other
investment companies pursuant to Rule 12b-1.  Although the Principal Underwriter
will  use  its own  funds  (which  may be  borrowed  from  banks)  to pay  sales
commissions  and service fees at the time of sale,  it is  anticipated  that the
Eaton  Vance  organization  will profit by reason of the  operation  of the Plan
through  increases in the Fund's assets  (thereby  increasing  the advisory fees
payable to BMR by the Portfolio) resulting from sales of Fund shares and through
amounts paid under the Plan to the Principal Underwriter and contingent deferred
sales charges paid to the Principal Underwriter.

    The  Principal  Underwriter  may,  from  time to time,  at its own  expense,
provide  additional  incentives  to  Authorized  Firms which  employ  registered
representatives  who sell a minimum  dollar  amount of the Fund's  shares and/or
shares  of  other  funds  distributed  by the  Principal  Underwriter.  In  some
instances,  such additional incentives may be offered only to certain Authorized
Firms whose  representatives are expected to sell significant amounts of shares.
In  addition,  the  Principal  Underwriter  may from  time to time  increase  or
decrease the sales commissions payable to Authorized Firms.

    The Fund may, in its absolute discretion,  suspend, discontinue or limit the
offering  of its shares at any time.  In  determining  whether  any such  action
should be taken, the Fund's management intends to consider all relevant factors,
including  without  limitation the size of the Fund, the investment  climate and
market  conditions,  the volume of sales and redemptions of Fund shares, and the
amount of Uncovered Distribution Charges of the Principal Underwriter.  The Plan
may  continue in effect and payments  may be made under the Plan  following  any
such  suspension,  discontinuance  or limitation of the offering of Fund shares;
however,  the Fund is not  contractually  obligated to continue the Plan for any
particular period of time.  Suspension of the offering of Fund shares would not,
of course, affect a shareholder's ability to redeem shares.

VALUING FUND SHARES
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE FUND  VALUES ITS SHARES  ONCE ON EACH DAY THE NEW YORK STOCK  EXCHANGE  (THE
"EXCHANGE")  IS OPEN FOR  TRADING,  as of the close of  regular  trading  on the
Exchange  (normally  4:00 p.m.  New York  time).  The Fund's net asset value per
share is determined by its custodian,  Investors  Bank & Trust Company  ("IBT"),
(as agent for the Fund) in the manner  authorized  by the Trustees of the Trust.
Net asset value is computed by dividing  the value of the Fund's  total  assets,
less its  liabilities,  by the number of shares  outstanding.  Because  the Fund
invests its assets in an interest in the  Portfolio,  the Fund's net asset value
will  reflect  the  value of its  interest  in the  Portfolio  (which,  in turn,
reflects the underlying value of the Portfolio's assets and liabilities).

    Authorized  Firms must  communicate  an  investor's  order to the  Principal
Underwriter  prior to the close of the Principal  Underwriter's  business day to
receive that day's net asset value per Fund share.  It is the Authorized  Firms'
responsibility to transmit orders promptly to the Principal  Underwriter,  which
is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eaton Vance.

    The  Portfolio's  net  asset  value is also  determined  as of the  close of
regular  trading  on the  Exchange  by IBT  (as  custodian  and  agent  for  the
Portfolio) in the manner  authorized by the Trustees of the  Portfolio.  The net
asset value is computed by subtracting the liabilities of the Portfolio from the
value of its total assets.  Investments listed on securities exchanges or in the
NASDAQ  National  Market are valued at closing sale  prices.  Listed or unlisted
investments  for which  closing sale prices are not  available are valued at the
mean between the latest bid and asked prices.  Short-term obligations are valued
at amortized cost, which approximates value. Foreign securities held by the Fund
are valued in U.S. dollars at the current exchange rate. For further information
regarding the valuation of the Portfolio's  assets,  see  "Determination  of Net
Asset Value" in the Statement of Additional Information.  Eaton Vance Corp. owns
77.3% of the outstanding stock of IBT, the Fund's and the Portfolio's custodian.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHAREHOLDERS  MAY DETERMINE THE VALUE OF THEIR  INVESTMENT  BY  MULTIPLYING  THE
NUMBER OF FUND SHARES OWNED BY THE CURRENT NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


HOW TO BUY FUND SHARES
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHARES OF THE FUND MAY BE PURCHASED  FOR CASH OR MAY BE ACQUIRED IN EXCHANGE FOR
SECURITIES.  Investors may purchase shares of the Fund through  Authorized Firms
at the net asset value per share of the Fund next  determined  after an order is
effective.  The Fund may  suspend  the  offering  of  shares at any time and may
refuse an order for the purchase of shares.

    An initial  investment in the Fund must be at least $1,000.  Once an account
has been  established  the investor may send  investments  of $50 or more at any
time directly to the Fund's  Transfer Agent (the  "Transfer  Agent") as follows:
The Shareholder  Services Group, Inc., BOS725,  P.O. Box 1559, Boston, MA 02104.
The $1,000 minimum  initial  investment is waived for Bank  Automated  Investing
accounts, which may be established with an investment of $50 or more. See "Eaton
Vance Shareholder Services."

    In connection with employee benefit or other continuous group purchase plans
under which the average initial  purchase by a participant of the plan is $1,000
or more, the Fund may accept initial investments of less than $1,000 on the part
of an individual participant. In the event a shareholder who is a participant of
such a plan  terminates  participation  in the plan,  his or her shares  will be
transferred  to a regular  individual  account.  However,  such  account will be
subject to the right of redemption by the Fund as described under "How to Redeem
Fund Shares."

ACQUIRING  FUND SHARES IN EXCHANGE FOR  SECURITIES.  IBT, as escrow agent,  will
receive securities acceptable to Eaton Vance, as Administrator,  in exchange for
Fund shares at their net asset value as determined  above.  The minimum value of
securities (or  securities and cash) accepted for deposit is $5,000.  Securities
accepted  will be sold by IBT as agent for the account of their owner on the day
of their receipt by IBT or as soon  thereafter  as possible.  The number of Fund
shares to be issued in exchange for  securities  will be the aggregate  proceeds
from the sale of such securities,  divided by the applicable net asset value per
Fund  share  on the day  such  proceeds  are  received.  Eaton  Vance  will  use
reasonable  efforts to obtain the then current market price for such  securities
but does not guarantee  the best  available  price.  Eaton Vance will absorb any
transaction costs, such as commissions, on the sale of the securities.
    

    Securities  determined to be acceptable should be transferred via book entry
or  physically  delivered,  in proper form for  transfer,  through an Authorized
Firm,  together with a completed and signed  Letter of  Transmittal  in approved
form (available from Authorized Firms), as follows:

    IN THE CASE OF BOOK ENTRY:

        Deliver through Depository Trust Co.
        Broker #2212
        Investors Bank & Trust Company
        For A/C EV Classic Growth Fund

    IN THE CASE OF PHYSICAL DELIVERY:

        Investors Bank & Trust Company
        Attention: EV Classic Growth Fund
        Physical Securities Processing Settlement Area
        89 South Street
        Boston, MA 02111

   
    Investors who are  contemplating an exchange of securities for shares of the
Fund, or their representatives,  are advised to contact Eaton Vance to determine
whether the securities are acceptable  before forwarding such securities to IBT.
Eaton Vance reserves the right to reject any securities.  Exchanging  securities
for Fund shares may create a taxable gain or loss.  Each investor should consult
his or her tax adviser with respect to the particular  Federal,  state and local
tax consequences of exchanging securities for Fund shares.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN AUTHORIZED FIRM, EATON VANCE CAN RECOMMEND ONE.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


HOW TO REDEEM FUND SHARES
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A SHAREHOLDER MAY REDEEM FUND SHARES BY DELIVERING TO THE  SHAREHOLDER  SERVICES
GROUP, INC., BOS725,  P.O. BOX 1559, BOSTON, MA 02104, during its business hours
a written request for redemption in good order, plus any share certificates with
executed stock powers. The redemption price will be based on the net asset value
per Fund share next  computed  after such  delivery.  Good order  means that all
relevant  documents  must be  endorsed  by the record  owner (s)  exactly as the
shares are  registered  and the  signature(s)  must be guaranteed by a member of
either the Securities Transfer Association's STAMP program or the New York Stock
Exchange's  Medallion  Signature  Program,  or certain  banks,  savings and loan
institutions,  credit unions, securities dealers, securities exchanges, clearing
agencies and registered  securities  associations as required by a regulation of
the Securities and Exchange  Commission (the "Commission") and acceptable to The
Shareholder  Services  Group,  Inc. In addition,  in some cases,  good order may
require  the  furnishing  of  additional  documents  such as  where  shares  are
registered in the name of a corporation, partnership or fiduciary.

    Within seven days after receipt of a redemption request in good order by The
Shareholder Services Group, Inc., the Fund will make payment in cash for the net
asset value of the shares as of the date determined above, reduced by the amount
of any applicable  contingent  deferred sales charges  (described below) and any
Federal income tax required to be withheld.  Although the Fund normally  expects
to make payment in cash for redeemed  shares,  the Trust,  subject to compliance
with applicable regulations,  has reserved the right to pay the redemption price
of shares of the Fund, either totally or partially, by a distribution in kind of
readily  marketable  securities  withdrawn by the Fund from the  Portfolio.  The
securities so distributed would be valued pursuant to the Portfolio's  valuation
procedures.  If a shareholder  received a distribution  in kind, the shareholder
could incur brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash.

    To sell  shares at their net  asset  value  through  an  Authorized  Firm (a
repurchase),  a  shareholder  can place a repurchase  order with the  Authorized
Firm,  which may  charge a fee.  The value of such  shares is based upon the net
asset value calculated after EVD, as the Fund's agent, receives the order. It is
the Authorized Firm's  responsibility to transmit promptly  repurchase orders to
EVD.  Throughout this  Prospectus,  the word  "redemption" is generally meant to
include a repurchase.

    If  shares  were  recently   purchased,   the  proceeds  of  redemption  (or
repurchase) will not be sent until the check (including a certified or cashier's
check)  received  for the  shares  purchased  has  cleared.  Payment  for shares
tendered for redemption may be delayed up to 15 days from the purchase date when
the purchase check has not yet cleared. Redemptions or repurchases may result in
a taxable gain or loss.

    Due to the high cost of maintaining  small  accounts,  the Fund reserves the
right to redeem  accounts  with  balances of less than  $1,000.  Prior to such a
redemption,  shareholders  will be  given  60 days'  written  notice  to make an
additional  purchases.  Thus, an investor making an initial investment of $1,000
would  not be able to  redeem  shares  without  being  subject  to this  policy.
However,  no such  redemption  would be required by the Fund if the cause of the
low account  balance was a reduction in the net asset value of Fund  shares.  No
contingent   deferred  sales  charge  will  be  imposed  with  respect  to  such
involuntary redemptions.

CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE.  Shares purchased on or after January 30, 1995
and redeemed  within the first year of their purchase  (except  shares  acquired
through  the  reinvestment  of  distributions)  generally  will be  subject to a
contingent  deferred  sales charge.  This  contingent  deferred  sales charge is
imposed on any redemption the amount of which exceeds the aggregate value at the
time of redempton of (a) all shares in the account  purchased more than one year
prior  to the  redemption,  (b)  all  shares  in the  account  acquired  through
reinvestment  of  distributions,  and (c) the increase,  if any, of value of all
other shares in the account  (namely those  purchased  within the year preceding
the  redemption)  over  the  purchase  price  of such  shares.  Redemptions  are
processed in a manner to maximize the amount of redemption  proceeds  which will
not be subject to a contingent  deferred sales charge.  That is, each redemption
will be assumed to have been made first from the exempt  amounts  referred to in
clauses (a), (b) and (c) above,  and second through  liquidation of those shares
in the account  referred  to in clause (c)  on a  first-in-first-out basis.  Any
contingent  deferred  sales  charge  which is  required  to be  imposed on share
redemptions will be equal to 1% of the net asset value of redeemed shares.

    In calculating  the contingent  deferred sales charge upon the redemption of
Fund shares acquired in an exchange for shares of a fund currently  listed under
"The Eaton Vance Exchange  Privilege,"  the purchase of Fund shares  acquired in
the exchange is deemed to have occurred at the time of the original  purchase of
exchanged shares.

    No  contingent  deferred  sales  charge will be imposed on Fund shares which
have  been  sold to  Eaton  Vance  or its  affiliates,  or to  their  respective
employees or clients.  The contingent  deferred sales charge will also be waived
for  shares  redeemed  (1)  pursuant  to a  Withdrawal  Plan (see  "Eaton  Vance
Shareholder  Services"),  (2) as part of a distribution  from a retirement  plan
qualified under Section 401, 403(b) or 457 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the "Code"), or (3) as part of a minimum required  distribution from
other tax-sheltered  retirement plans. The contingent deferred sales charge will
be paid to the  Principal  Underwriter  or the Fund.  When paid to the Principal
Underwriter  it  will  reduce  the  amount  of  Uncovered  Distribution  Charges
calculated under the Fund's Distribution Plan. See "Distribution Plan."

REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE  FUND  WILL  ISSUE  TO  ITS  SHAREHOLDERS  SEMI-ANNUAL  AND  ANNUAL  REPORTS
CONTAINING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. Financial statements included in annual reports
are audited by the Fund's independent accountants. Shortly after the end of each
calendar year, the Fund will furnish all shareholders with information necessary
for preparing Federal and state tax returns.
    

THE LIFETIME INVESTING ACCOUNT/DISTRIBUTION OPTIONS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER AN INVESTOR MAKES AN INITIAL PURCHASE OF FUND SHARES,  THE FUND'S TRANSFER
AGENT, THE SHAREHOLDER  SERVICES GROUP,  INC., WILL SET UP A LIFETIME  INVESTING
ACCOUNT  FOR THE  INVESTOR  ON THE FUND'S  RECORDS.  This  account is a complete
record of all transactions  between the investor and the Fund which at all times
shows the balance of shares  owned.  The Fund will not issue share  certificates
except upon request.

   
    Each  time  a  transaction  takes  place  in a  shareholder's  account,  the
shareholder will receive a statement showing complete details of the transaction
and the current balance in the account.  (Under certain plans, statements may be
sent only quarterly).  THE LIFETIME INVESTING ACCOUNT ALSO PERMITS A SHAREHOLDER
TO MAKE  ADDITIONAL  INVESTMENTS IN SHARES BY SENDING A CHECK FOR $50 OR MORE to
The Shareholder Services Group, Inc.


    Any questions  concerning a shareholder's  account or services available may
be directed by telephone to EATON VANCE  SHAREHOLDER  SERVICES at  800-225-6265,
extension 2, or in writing to The Shareholder Services Group, Inc., BOS725, P.O.
Box 1559, Boston, MA 02104 (please provide the name of the shareholder, the Fund
and the account number).

    THE  FOLLOWING  DISTRIBUTION  OPTIONS  WILL  BE  AVAILABLE  TO ALL  LIFETIME
INVESTING  ACCOUNTS and may be changed as often as desired by written  notice to
the Fund's dividend  disbursing  agent,  The Shareholder  Services Group,  Inc.,
BOS725,  P.O. Box 1559,  Boston,  MA 02104. The currently  effective option will
appear on each confirmation statement.

    Share Option -- Dividends and capital gains will be reinvested in additional
shares.

    Income Option -- Dividends  will be paid in cash,  and capital gains will be
reinvested in additional shares.

    Cash Option -- Dividends and capital gains will be paid in cash.

    The  Share  Option  will  be  assigned  if no  other  option  is  specified.
Distributions,  including those  reinvested,  will be reduced by any withholding
required under Federal income tax laws.

    If the Income  Option or Cash  Option  has been  selected,  dividend  and/or
capital gains distribution checks which are returned by the United States Postal
Service as not  deliverable or which remain uncashed for six months or more will
be  reinvested  in the account in shares at the then  current  net asset  value.
Furthermore,  the  distribution  option  on the  account  will be  automatically
changed  to the  Share  Option  until  such  time as the  shareholder  selects a
different option.

    DISTRIBUTION  INVESTMENT OPTION. In addition to the distribution options set
forth above, dividends and/or capital gains may be invested in additional shares
of another Eaton Vance fund. Before selecting this option, a shareholder  should
obtain a prospectus  of the other Eaton Vance fund and  consider its  objectives
and policies carefully.

    "STREET  NAME"  ACCOUNTS.  If shares of the Fund are held in a "street name"
account with an Authorized Firm, all recordkeeping,  transaction  processing and
payments of  distributions  relating to the beneficial  owner's  account will be
performed by the Authorized  Firm,  and not by the Fund and its Transfer  Agent.
Since the Fund will have no record of the  beneficial  owner's  transactions,  a
beneficial  owner should  contact the  Authorized  Firm to  purchase,  redeem or
exchange shares, to make changes in or give instructions concerning the account,
or to obtain information about the account.  The transfer of shares in a "street
name" account to an account with another  dealer or to an account  directly with
the Fund involves  special  procedures and will require the beneficial  owner to
obtain historical purchase  information about the shares in the account from the
Authorized Firm. Before  establishing a "street name" account with an investment
firm,  or  transferring  the  account to another  investment  firm,  an investor
wishing to reinvest  distributions  should determine whether the firm which will
hold the shares allows reinvestment of distributions in "street name" accounts.
    

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UNDER A LIFETIME INVESTING ACCOUNT A SHAREHOLDER CAN MAKE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS
BY SENDING A CHECK FOR $50 OR MORE.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


   
THE EATON VANCE EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares of the Fund  currently  may be exchanged  for shares of one or more other
funds in the Eaton Vance  Classic  Group of Funds and Eaton  Vance Money  Market
Fund, which are distributed  subject to a contingent  deferred sales charge,  on
the  basis of the net  asset  value  per  share of each  fund at the time of the
exchange,  provided that such offer is available  only in states where shares of
such fund being acquired may be legally sold.

    Each exchange  must involve  shares which have a net asset value of at least
$1,000. The exchange  privilege may be changed or discontinued  without penalty.
Shareholders  will be given sixty (60) days' notice prior to any  termination or
material  amendment  of the  exchange  privilege.  The Fund does not  permit the
exchange privilege to be used for "Market Timing" and may terminate the exchange
privilege for any  shareholder  account engaged in Market Timing  activity.  Any
shareholder account for which more than two round-trip exchanges are made within
any  twelve  month  period  will be  deemed  to be  engaged  in  Market  Timing.
Furthermore,  a group of  unrelated  accounts  for which  exchanges  are entered
contemporaneously  by a financial  intermediary will be considered to be engaged
in Market Timing.

    The Shareholder  Services Group, Inc. makes exchanges at the next determined
net asset value after  receiving an exchange  request in good order (see "How to
Redeem  Fund  Shares").   Consult  The  Shareholder  Services  Group,  Inc.  for
additional  information  concerning  the exchange  privilege.  Applications  and
prospectuses of other funds are available from Authorized Firms or the Principal
Underwriter.  The prospectus  for each fund describes its investment  objectives
and policies,  and  shareholders  should obtain a prospectus  and consider these
objectives and policies carefully before requesting an exchange.

    No contingent deferred sales charge is imposed on exchanges. For purposes of
calculating  the contingent  deferred sales charge upon the redemption of shares
acquired  in an  exchange,  the  purchase  of  shares  acquired  in one or  more
exchanges is deemed to have occurred at the time of the original purchase of the
exchanged shares.

    Shares of the other  funds in the Eaton  Vance  Classic  Group of Funds (and
shares of Eaton  Vance Money  Market Fund  acquired as the result of an exchange
from an EV Classic  fund) may be  exchanged  for Fund shares on the basis of the
net asset value per share of each Fund at the time of the exchange,  but subject
to any restrictions or qualifications  set forth in a current  prospectus of any
such fund.

    Telephone  exchanges are accepted by The Shareholder  Services Group,  Inc.,
provided the investor has not disclaimed in writing the use of the privilege. To
effect  such  exchanges,  call The  Shareholder  Services  Group,  Inc.  at 800-
262-1122 or, within  Massachusetts,  617-573-9403,  Monday through Friday,  9:00
a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time). Shares acquired by telephone exchange
must be  registered  in the same name(s) and with the same address as the shares
being exchanged. Neither the Fund, the Principal Underwriter nor The Shareholder
Services  Group,  Inc.  will be  responsible  for the  authenticity  of exchange
instructions  received by  telephone,  provided  that  reasonable  procedures to
confirm that instructions communicated are genuine have been followed. Telephone
instructions  will be tape  recorded.  In times of  drastic  economic  or market
changes,  a telephone  exchange may be difficult to  implement.  An exchange may
result in a taxable gain or loss.

EATON VANCE SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE FUND OFFERS THE FOLLOWING  SERVICES,  WHICH ARE VOLUNTARY,  INVOLVE NO EXTRA
CHARGE,  AND MAY BE CHANGED OR  DISCONTINUED  WITHOUT  PENALTY AT ANY TIME. Full
information on each of the services  described below and an  application,  where
required, are available from Authorized Firms or the Principal Underwriter.  The
cost  of  administering  such  services  for the  benefit  of  shareholders  who
participate in them is borne by the Fund as an expense to all shareholders.

INVEST-BY-MAIL  -- FOR  PERIODIC  SHARE  ACCUMULATION:  Once the $1,000  minimum
investment has been made, checks of $50 or more payable to the order of the Fund
may be mailed directly to The Shareholder Services Group, Inc., BOS725, P.O. Box
1559,  Boston,  MA  02104  at any  time  --  whether  or not  distributions  are
reinvested. The name of the shareholder,  the Fund and the account number should
accompany each investment.

BANK AUTOMATED INVESTING -- FOR REGULAR SHARE ACCUMULATION:  Cash investments of
$50 or more may be made automatically each month or quarter from a shareholder's
bank account. The $1,000 minimum initial investment and small account redemption
policy are waived for these accounts.

WITHDRAWAL  PLAN: A shareholder may draw on  shareholdings  systematically  with
monthly or quarterly checks in an aggregate amount that does not exceed annually
12% of the account balance at the time the plan is established. Such amount will
not be subject to a contingent  deferred  sales charge.  See "How to Redeem Fund
Shares". A minimum deposit of $5,000 in shares is required.

REINVESTMENT PRIVILEGE: A SHAREHOLDER WHO HAS REPURCHASED OR REDEEMED SHARES MAY
REINVEST,  WITH CREDIT FOR ANY  CONTINGENT  DEFERRED  SALES  CHARGES PAID ON THE
REDEEMED  OR  REPURCHASED  SHARES,  ANY  PORTION  OR ALL OF  THE  REPURCHASE  OR
REDEMPTION PROCEEDS (PLUS THAT AMOUNT NECESSARY TO ACQUIRE A FRACTIONAL SHARE TO
ROUND  OFF THE  PURCHASE  TO THE  NEAREST  FULL  SHARE)  IN  SHARES OF THE FUND,
provided that the  reinvestment is effected within 30 days after such repurchase
or  redemption.  Shares  are  sold  to a  reinvesting  shareholder  at the  next
determined net asset value following  timely receipt of a written purchase order
by the Principal  Underwriter or by the Fund (or by the Fund's Transfer  Agent).
To the extent  that any  shares of the Fund are sold at a loss and the  proceeds
are  reinvested  in shares of the Fund (or other shares of the Fund are acquired
within the period  beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date of
the  redemption)  some or all of the loss generally will not be allowed as a tax
deduction.  Shareholders  should  consult their tax advisers  concerning the tax
consequences of reinvestments.

TAX-SHELTERED RETIREMENT PLANS: Shares of the Fund are available for purchase
in connection with the following tax-sheltered retirement plans:

    --Pension and Profit Sharing Plans for self-employed individuals,
      corporations and non-profit organizations;

    --Individual Retirement Account Plans for individuals and their non-
      employed spouses; and

    --403(b) Retirement Plans for employees of public school systems, hospitals,
      colleges and other non-profit  organizations  meeting certain requirements
      of the Code.

    Detailed information concerning these plans, including certain exceptions to
minimum investment requirements,  and copies of the plans are available from the
Principal   Underwriter.   This   information   should  be  read  carefully  and
consultation  with an attorney or tax adviser may be advisable.  The information
sets forth the  service  fee  charged for  retirement  plans and  describes  the
Federal  income  tax  consequences  of  establishing  a plan.  Under all  plans,
dividends  and  distributions  will be  automatically  reinvested  in additional
shares.

DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It is the  present  policy  of the  Fund to make  semi-annual  distributions  of
substantially  all of the net  investment  income  allocated  to the Fund by the
Portfolio,  less the Fund's direct and allocated expenses,  and to distribute at
least annually any net capital gains  realized (the Fund's  realized net capital
gains  consist of the net  realized  capital  gains  from the sale of  portfolio
securities allocated to the Fund by the Portfolio).
    

    Shareholders  may  reinvest all  distributions  in shares of the Fund at net
asset value as of the close of business on the record date.

   
    Distributions  by the Fund of  ordinary  income and net  short-term  capital
gains and certain foreign  exchange gains allocated to the Fund by the Portfolio
will be taxable as ordinary  income,  whether  received in cash or reinvested in
additional  shares. A portion of distributions from net investment income may be
eligible  for  the  dividends-received  deduction  for  corporations.  The  Fund
anticipates that for tax purposes the entire distribution,  whether paid in cash
or  additional  shares  of the  Fund,  will  constitute  ordinary  income to its
shareholders.  Shareholders  reinvesting  such  distributions  should  treat the
amount of the entire distribution as the tax cost basis of the additional shares
acquired by reason of such reinvestment.  Distributions of net long-term capital
gains  are  taxable  to  shareholders  as  such,  whether  received  in  cash or
reinvested in additional shares of the Fund and regardless of the length of time
shares have been owned by shareholders.  If shares are purchased  shortly before
the record date of a distribution,  the shareholder  will pay the full price for
the  shares  and then  receive  some  portion  of the  price  back as a  taxable
distribution.  Certain distributions  declared in October,  November or December
and paid the following  January will be taxed to  shareholders as if received on
December 31 of the year in which they are declared.

    Shareholders will receive annually tax information notices and Forms 1099 to
assist in the  preparation  of their Federal and state tax returns for the prior
calendar year's distributions,  proceeds from the redemption or exchange of Fund
shares, and Federal income tax (if any) withheld by the Fund's Transfer Agent.

    In order to qualify as a regulated  investment  company under the Code,  the
Fund must satisfy  certain  requirements  relating to the sources of its income,
the  distribution  of its income,  and the  diversification  of its  assets.  In
satisfying  these  requirements,  the Fund  will  treat  itself  as  owning  its
proportionate  share of each of the  Portfolio's  assets and as  entitled to the
income of the Portfolio properly attributable to such share.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AS A REGULATED  INVESTMENT COMPANY UNDER THE CODE, THE FUND DOES NOT PAY FEDERAL
INCOME OR EXCISE TAXES TO THE EXTENT THAT IT DISTRIBUTES TO SHAREHOLDERS ITS NET
INVESTMENT  INCOME AND NET REALIZED  CAPITAL GAINS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TIMING
REQUIREMENTS IMPOSED BY THE CODE. AS A PARTNERSHIP UNDER THE CODE, THE PORTFOLIO
DOES NOT PAY FEDERAL INCOME OR EXCISE TAXES.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FROM TIME TO TIME,  THE FUND MAY ADVERTISE ITS YIELD AND/OR AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL
RETURN.  The current  yield for the Fund will be  calculated by dividing the net
investment  income  per  share  during a recent  30 day  period  by the  maximum
offering  price per share (net  asset  value) of the Fund on the last day of the
period.  The Fund's  average  annual total return is determined by computing the
average  annual  percentage  change in value of $1,000  invested  at the maximum
public  offering  price (net asset value) for specified  periods ending with the
most recent calendar quarter,  assuming  reinvestment of all distributions.  The
average  annual total return  calculation  assumes a complete  redemption of the
investment and the deduction of any applicable  contingent deferred sales charge
at the end of the period.  The Fund may also publish annual and cumulative total
return figures from time to time.

    Performance figures published by the Fund which do not include the effect of
any  applicable  contingent  deferred  sales  charge would be reduced if it were
included.

    Investors should note that the investment results of the Fund will fluctuate
over time, and any  presentation of the Fund's current yield or total return for
any  prior  period  should  not be  considered  as a  representation  of what an
investment  may earn or what an  investor's  yield or total return may be in any
future  period.  If the expenses of the Fund or the  Portfolio are paid by Eaton
Vance, the Fund's performance will be higher.
    

<PAGE>

INVESTMENT ADVISER OF
GROWTH PORTFOLIO
Boston Management and Research
24 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110

ADMINISTRATOR OF
EV CLASSIC
GROWTH FUND
Eaton Vance Management
24 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110

PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER
Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc.
24 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110
(800) 225-6265

CUSTODIAN
Investors Bank & Trust Company
24 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110

TRANSFER AGENT
The Shareholder Services Group, Inc.
BOS725
P.O. Box 1559
Boston, MA 02104
(800) 262-1122

INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
One Post Office Square
Boston, MA  02109

EV Classic
Growth
Fund

   
Prospectus
May 1, 1995
    

EV Classic Growth Fund
24 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110

C-GFP

<PAGE>

   
                                    PART A
                     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN A PROSPECTUS
                           EV MARATHON GROWTH FUND


    EV MARATHON  GROWTH FUND (THE  "FUND") IS A MUTUAL  FUND  SEEKING  GROWTH OF
CAPITAL.  THE FUND INVESTS ITS ASSETS IN GROWTH PORTFOLIO (THE  "PORTFOLIO"),  A
DIVERSIFIED  OPEN-END INVESTMENT COMPANY HAVING THE SAME INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AS
THE FUND, RATHER THAN BY DIRECTLY INVESTING IN AND MANAGING ITS OWN PORTFOLIO OF
SECURITIES AS WITH HISTORICALLY STRUCTURED MUTUAL FUNDS. THE FUND IS A SERIES OF
EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST (THE "TRUST").

    Shares of the Fund are not  deposits or  obligations  of, or  guaranteed  or
endorsed  by,  any bank or other  insured  depository  institution,  and are not
federally  insured by the Federal  Deposit  Insurance  Corporation,  the Federal
Reserve  Board or any  other  government  agency.  Shares  of the  Fund  involve
investment risks,  including fluctuations in value and the possible loss of some
or all of the principal investment.

    This Prospectus is designed to provide you with  information you should know
before investing.  Please retain this document for future reference. A Statement
of Additional  Information  dated May 1, 1995 for the Fund, as supplemented from
time to time, has been filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission and is
incorporated  herein by reference.  This Statement of Additional  Information is
available  without  charge from the Fund's  principal  underwriter,  Eaton Vance
Distributors,  Inc. (the "Principal Underwriter"), 24 Federal Street, Boston, MA
02110 (telephone (800) 225-6265).  The Portfolio's  investment adviser is Boston
Management and Research (the "Investment Adviser"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Eaton Vance  Management,  and Eaton Vance Management is the  administrator  (the
"Administrator")  of the Fund.  The  offices of the  Investment  Adviser and the
Administrator are located at 24 Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110.
    

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
     AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
           SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
            COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS
               PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS
                              A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   

                                                   PAGE                                                 PAGE
<S>                                                <C>   <S>                                            <C>
Shareholder and Fund Expenses .....................   2  How to Buy Fund Shares ........................  13
The Fund's Financial Highlights ...................   3  How to Redeem Fund Shares .....................  14
The Fund's Investment Objective ...................   4  Reports to Shareholders .......................  16
How the Fund and the Portfolio Invest                    The Lifetime Investing Account/Distribution
  their Assets; Risks .............................   4    Options .....................................  16
Organization of the Fund and the Portfolio ........   6  The Eaton Vance Exchange Privilege ............  17
Management of the Fund and the Portfolio ..........   8  Eaton Vance Shareholder Services ..............  18
Distribution Plan ................................    9  Distributions and Taxes .......................  19
Valuing Fund Shares................................  12  Performance Information .......................  20
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         PROSPECTUS DATED MAY 1, 1995
</TABLE>
    
<PAGE>
SHAREHOLDER AND FUND EXPENSES \1/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION EXPENSES
  Sales Charges Imposed on Purchases of Shares                             None
  Sales Charges Imposed on Reinvested Distributions                        None
  Redemption Fees                                                          None
  Fees to Exchange Shares                                                  None
  Range of Declining Contingent Deferred Sales Charges Imposed
    on Redemptions During the First Seven Years (as a percentage
    of redemption proceeds exclusive of all reinvestments
    and capital appreciation in the account)\2/                       5.00% - 0%

ANNUAL FUND AND ALLOCATED PORTFOLIO OPERATING EXPENSES
  (as a percentage of average daily net assets)
  Investment Adviser Fee                                                 0.625%
  Rule 12b-1 Distribution (and Service) Fees                             0.750%
  Other Expenses                                                         0.875%
                                                                         ------
      Total Operating Expenses                                           2.250%
                                                                         ======

EXAMPLE                                                    1 YEAR       3 YEARS
                                                           ------       -------
An investor would pay the following contingent deferred
 sales charge and expenses on a $1,000 investment,
 assuming (a) 5% annual return and (b) redemption at
 the end of each time period:                                $73         $110

An investor would pay the following expenses on the 
 same investment, assuming (a) 5% annual return and
 (b) no redemptions:                                         $23         $ 70

Notes:
\1/ The  purpose of the above table and Example is to  summarize  the  aggregate
    expenses  of  the  Fund  and  the  Portfolio  and  to  assist  investors  in
    understanding the various costs and expenses that investors in the Fund will
    bear  directly or  indirectly.  The Trustees of the Trust  believe that over
    time the aggregate per share  expenses of the Fund and the Portfolio  should
    be approximately  equal to the per share expenses which the Fund would incur
    if the Trust  retained the services of an investment  adviser and the assets
    of the Fund were invested  directly in the type of securities  being held by
    the  Portfolio.  Because the Fund does not yet have a  sufficient  operating
    history,  the percentages  indicated as Annual Fund and Allocated  Portfolio
    Operating  Expenses in the table and the amounts included in the Example are
    based on the Fund's and the Portfolio's  projected fees and expenses for the
    current  fiscal  year ending  August 31,  1995.  The  Example  should not be
    considered a  representation  of past or future expenses and actual expenses
    may be greater or less than those  shown.  The  Example  assumes a 5% annual
    return  and the Fund's  actual  performance  may result in an annual  return
    greater or less than 5%. For further  information  regarding the expenses of
    both the Fund and the  Portfolio  see  "The  Fund's  Financial  Highlights",
    "Organization  of the Fund and the  Portfolio",  "Management of the Fund and
    the  Portfolio"  and "How to Redeem  Fund  Shares".  Because  the Fund makes
    payments under its  Distribution  Plan adopted under Rule 12b-1, a long-term
    shareholder  may pay  more  than  the  economic  equivalent  of the  maximum
    front-end  sales charge  permitted by a rule of the National  Association of
    Securities Dealers, Inc. See "Distribution Plan".
\2/ No contingent  deferred sales charge is imposed on (a) shares purchased more
    than six years  prior to the  redemption,  (b) shares  acquired  through the
    reinvestment  of  distributions  or (c) any  appreciation  in value of other
    shares in the account (see "How to Redeem Fund Shares"),  and no such charge
    is imposed on exchanges of Fund shares for shares of one or more other funds
    listed under "The Eaton Vance Exchange Privilege".
\4/ Other investment companies with different distribution arrangements and fees
    are investing in the Portfolio and  additional  such  companies may do so in
    the future. See "Organization of the Fund and the Portfolio".
<PAGE>
THE FUND'S FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The  following  information  should be read in  conjunction  with the  financial
statements  included  in  the  Statement  of  Additional  Information.   Further
information  regarding  the  performance  of the Fund is contained in the Fund's
annual report to shareholders which may be obtained without charge by contacting
the Principal Underwriter.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FOR THE PERIOD FROM THE START OF BUSINESS, SEPTEMBER 13, 1994 TO FEBRUARY 28,
1995 (UNAUDITED)

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (for a share outstanding throughout the period):

NET ASSET VALUE -- Beginning of period ..........................     $10.000
                                                                      -------

INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:
  Net investment income (loss) ..................................     $(0.037)
  Net realized and unrealized gain on investments ...............       0.327
                                                                      -------
    Total income from investment operations .....................     $ 0.290
                                                                      -------
NET ASSET VALUE, end of period ..................................     $10.290
                                                                      =======

TOTAL RETURN\1/ .................................................        2.90%

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA (to average daily net assets):*
  Expenses\2/ ...................................................        3.13%+
  Net investment income .........................................       (1.61)%+

NET ASSETS AT END OF PERIOD (000'S OMITTED) .....................      $  729

*The expenses  related to the  operation of the Fund  reflect an  allocation  of
 expenses to the Administrator. Had such action not been taken, the ratios would
 have been as follows:

RATIOS (to average daily net assets)
  Expenses\2/ ...................................................        6.76%+
  Net investment income (loss) ..................................       (5.24)%+

+Computed on an annualized basis.
\1/Total return is calculated  assuming a purchase at the net asset value on the
   first  day and a sale at the net asset  value on the last day of each  period
   reported.  Dividends and distributions,  if any, are assumed to be reinvested
   at the net asset value on the record date.
\2/Includes the Fund's share of Growth  Portfolio's  allocated  expenses for the
   period from the Fund's start of business, September 13, 1994, to February 28,
   1995 (unaudited).
    
<PAGE>
   
THE FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE  INVESTMENT  OBJECTIVE OF THE FUND IS TO ACHIEVE  CAPITAL  GROWTH.  The Fund
seeks to meet its investment objective by investing its assets in the Portfolio,
a separate registered  investment company. The Portfolio has the same investment
objective  as the Fund and  invests in a  carefully  selected  and  continuously
managed portfolio consisting primarily of equity securities.  The Fund's and the
Portfolio's  investment  objective  is  nonfundamental  and may be changed  when
authorized  by  a  vote  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Trust  or  the   Portfolio,
respectively,  without obtaining the approval of the Fund's  shareholders or the
investors in the  Portfolio,  as the case may be. The Trustees of the Trust have
no present  intention  to change the Fund's  objective  and intend to submit any
proposed material change in the investment  objective to shareholders in advance
for their approval.

HOW THE FUND AND THE PORTFOLIO INVEST THEIR
ASSETS; RISKS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE  FUND  SEEKS  TO  ACHIEVE  ITS  INVESTMENT  OBJECTIVE  BY  INVESTING  IN THE
PORTFOLIO.  The policy of the Portfolio is to invest in a carefully selected and
continuously  managed  portfolio  consisting  primarily  of domestic and foreign
securities.  It may invest in all kinds of companies.  The Portfolio will invest
primarily  in  common  stocks  or  securities  convertible  into  common  stocks
(including  convertible  debt),  which the Investment  Adviser believes meet the
criteria for capital  appreciation.  The criteria for investments in convertible
debt are the same as used for the common stock of the issuer. The Portfolio does
not  currently  intend to invest  more than 5% of its net assets in  convertible
debt. It may also invest in other securities and obligations of all kinds. These
include preferred stocks,  rights,  warrants,  bonds,  repurchase agreements and
other evidences of indebtedness, however the Portfolio does not currently intend
to  invest  more  than 5% of its net  assets  in  each of such  investments  and
currently  intends  to  limit  its  investments  in   non-convertible   debt  to
non-convertible  debt rated investment grade (Baa or higher by Moody's Investors
Service,  Inc.  or BBB or higher by  Standard  & Poor's  Ratings  Group)  or, if
unrated,  determined to be of comparable  quality by the Portfolio's  Investment
Adviser.  The  Portfolio may also engage in futures  transactions  (as described
under  "Futures  Contracts"  below) and may invest in money market  instruments.
    

    While income is a subordinate consideration to capital growth, the Portfolio
will earn dividend or interest  income to the extent that it receives  dividends
or interest from its investments.

   
FOREIGN  SECURITIES.  The Portfolio  may invest in securities  issued by foreign
companies. Such investments may be subject to various risks such as fluctuations
in currency and exchange rates,  foreign taxes,  social,  political and economic
conditions  in the  countries in which such  companies  operate,  and changes in
governmental,  economic or monetary policies both here and abroad.  There may be
less  publicly  available  information  about a  foreign  company  than  about a
comparable  domestic  company.  Since the  securities  markets  in many  foreign
countries are not as developed as those in the United States,  the securities of
many foreign  companies  are less liquid and their prices are more volatile than
securities of comparable domestic companies.  In order to hedge against possible
variations  in  foreign   exchange  rates  pending  the  settlement  of  foreign
securities transactions, the Portfolio may buy or sell foreign currencies or may
enter into forward  foreign  currency  exchange  contracts to purchase or sell a
specified currency at a specified price and future date.

FUTURES  CONTRACTS.  The  Portfolio  may purchase and sell futures  contracts on
stock indices and options  hereon.  All of such  transactions  involve a risk of
loss or depreciation due to unanticipated  adverse changes in securities prices,
which may exceed the  Portfolio's  initial  investment in these  contracts.  The
Portfolio may not purchase or sell futures contracts or purchase or sell related
options,  except for  closing  purchase  or sale  transactions,  if  immediately
thereafter the sum of the amount of initial margin  deposits on the  Portfolio's
outstanding  positions in futures and related options and the amount of premiums
paid for  outstanding  positions  in options on futures  would  exceed 5% of the
market value of the Portfolio's net assets. These transactions involve brokerage
costs,  require  margin  deposits  and, in the case of purchased  contracts  and
options, require the Portfolio to segregate liquid high grade debt securities in
an amount equal to the  underlying  value of such  contracts  and  options.  The
Portfolio's success in using futures contracts to hedge portfolio assets depends
on the degree of price  correlation  between the  derivative  instrument and the
hedged asset.

INVESTMENT  RESTRICTIONS.  The  Fund  and the  Portfolio  have  adopted  certain
fundamental  investment  restrictions  which  are  enumerated  in  detail in the
Statement  of  Additional  Information  and  which  may  not be  changed  unless
authorized by a shareholder vote and an investor vote, respectively.  Except for
such enumerated restrictions and as otherwise indicated in this Prospectus,  the
investment  objective  and  policies  of the  Fund  and  the  Portfolio  are not
fundamental policies and accordingly may be changed by the Trustees of the Trust
and the Portfolio without  obtaining the approval of the Fund's  shareholders or
the investors in the  Portfolio,  as the case may be. If any change were made in
the Fund's  investment  objective,  the Fund might have an investment  objective
different  from the objective  which an investor  considered  appropriate at the
time the investor became a shareholder of the Fund.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE FUND IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A COMPLETE  INVESTMENT  PROGRAM,  AND PROSPECTIVE
INVESTORS SHOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THEIR  OBJECTIVES AND OTHER  INVESTMENTS WHEN
CONSIDERING THE PURCHASE OF FUND SHARES.  THE FUND CANNOT ASSURE  ACHIEVEMENT OF
ITS CAPITAL GROWTH OBJECTIVE.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    

ORGANIZATION OF THE FUND AND THE PORTFOLIO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
THE FUND IS A DIVERSIFIED  SERIES OF EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST,  A BUSINESS TRUST
ESTABLISHED UNDER MASSACHUSETTS LAW PURSUANT TO A DECLARATION OF TRUST DATED MAY
25,  1989,  AS  AMENDED,  AND  ORGANIZED  AS THE  SUCCESSOR  TO A  MASSACHUSETTS
CORPORATION WHICH COMMENCED ITS INVESTMENT COMPANY OPERATIONS IN 1954. THE TRUST
IS A MUTUAL FUND -- AN OPEN-END,  MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY. The Trustees of
the Trust are  responsible  for the overall  management  and  supervision of its
affairs.  The  Trust  may issue an  unlimited  number  of  shares of  beneficial
interest  (no par value per share) in one or more  series and  because the Trust
can offer separate series (such as the Fund) it is known as a "series  company."
Each share represents an equal  proportionate  beneficial  interest in the Fund.
When issued and outstanding,  the shares are fully paid and nonassessable by the
Trust  and   redeemable  as  described   under  "How  to  Redeem  Fund  Shares."
Shareholders  are  entitled  to one vote for each full  share  held.  Fractional
shares may be voted  proportionately.  Shares have no  preemptive  or conversion
rights and are freely transferable. In the event of the liquidation of the Fund,
shareholders  are  entitled  to  share  pro rata in the net  assets  of the Fund
available for distribution to shareholders.

THE  PORTFOLIO  IS  ORGANIZED AS A TRUST UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
AND  INTENDS  TO BE TREATED AS A  PARTNERSHIP  FOR  FEDERAL  TAX  PURPOSES.  The
Portfolio,  as well as the Trust,  intends to comply with all applicable Federal
and state  securities  laws. The Portfolio's  Declaration of Trust provides that
the Fund and other entities  permitted to invest in the Portfolio  (e.g.,  other
U.S. and foreign  investment  companies,  and common and commingled trust funds)
will each be liable for all obligations of the Portfolio.  However,  the risk of
the Fund  incurring  financial  loss on account of such  liability is limited to
circumstances in which both inadequate insurance exists and the Portfolio itself
is  unable  to meet its  obligations.  Accordingly,  the  Trustees  of the Trust
believe that neither the Fund nor its shareholders will be adversely affected by
reason of the Fund investing in the Portfolio.

SPECIAL INFORMATION ON THE FUND/PORTFOLIO  INVESTMENT STRUCTURE.  An investor in
the Fund  should be aware that the Fund,  unlike  mutual  funds  which  directly
acquire and manage  their own  portfolios  of  securities,  seeks to achieve its
investment  objective  by investing  its assets in an interest in the  Portfolio
(although the Fund may temporarily hold a de minimus amount of cash), which is a
separate investment company with an identical investment  objective.  Therefore,
the Fund's  interest in the  securities  owned by the Portfolio is indirect.  In
addition to selling an interest to the Fund, the Portfolio may sell interests to
other affiliated and  non-affiliated  mutual funds or  institutional  investors.
Such investors will invest in the Portfolio on the same terms and conditions and
will pay a proportionate share of the Portfolio's  expenses.  However, the other
investors  investing in the  Portfolio  are not required to sell their shares at
the  same  public  offering  price  as the  Fund  due  to  variations  in  sales
commissions  and other  operating  expenses.  Therefore,  investors  in the Fund
should be aware that these  differences  may  result in  differences  in returns
experienced by investors in the various funds that invest in the Portfolio. Such
differences  in  returns  are also  present  in other  mutual  fund  structures,
including funds that have multiple classes of shares. For information  regarding
the investment objective, policies and restrictions,  see "The Fund's Investment
Objective"  and "How the Fund and the  Portfolio  Invest their  Assets;  Risks".
Further information regarding investment practices may be found in the Statement
of Additional Information.
    

    The Trustees of the Trust have  considered the advantages and  disadvantages
of investing the assets of the Fund in the Portfolio,  as well as the advantages
and  disadvantages  of the  two-tier  format.  The  Trustees  believe  that  the
structure  offers  opportunities  for  substantial  growth in the  assets of the
Portfolio,  and affords the  potential  for  economies of scale for the Fund, at
least when the assets of the Portfolio exceed $300 million.

   
    The Fund may withdraw  (completely redeem) all its assets from the Portfolio
at any time if the Board of Trustees of the Trust  determines  that it is in the
best  interest  of  the  Fund  to  do  so.  The  investment  objective  and  the
nonfundamental  investment policies of the Fund and the Portfolio may be changed
by the Trustees of the Trust and the Portfolio without obtaining the approval of
the shareholders of the Fund or the investors in the Portfolio.  Any such change
of the  investment  objective  will be preceded by thirty days' advance  written
notice to the shareholders of the Fund or the investors in the Portfolio, as the
case  may be.  If a  shareholder  redeems  shares  because  of a  change  in the
nonfundamental objective or policies of the Fund, those shares may be subject to
a contingent deferred sales charge, as described in "How to Redeem Fund Shares".
In the event the Fund  withdraws  all of its assets from the  Portfolio,  or the
Board of Trustees of the Trust  determines that the investment  objective of the
Portfolio is no longer  consistent  with the  investment  objective of the Fund,
such Trustees would consider what action might be taken, including investing the
assets  of the  Fund  in  another  pooled  investment  entity  or  retaining  an
investment adviser to manage the Fund's assets in accordance with its investment
objective.  The Fund's investment performance may be affected by a withdrawal of
all its assets from the Portfolio.

    Information regarding other pooled investment entities or funds which invest
in the Portfolio may be obtained by contacting  Eaton Vance  Distributors,  Inc.
(the "Principal  Underwriter" or "EVD"),  24 Federal Street,  Boston,  MA 02110,
(617) 482-8260.  Smaller investors in the Portfolio may be adversely affected by
the  actions of larger  investors  in the  Portfolio.  For  example,  if a large
investor  withdraws from the Portfolio,  the remaining  investors may experience
higher  pro  rata  operating   expenses,   thereby   producing   lower  returns.
Additionally,  the  Portfolio  may become less  diverse,  resulting in increased
portfolio  risk, and experience  decreasing  economies of scale.  However,  this
possibility exists as well for historically structured funds which have large or
institutional investors.
    

    Until  recently,  the  Administrator   sponsored  and  advised  historically
structured funds. Funds which invest all their assets in interests in a separate
investment  company are a relatively new development in the mutual fund industry
and,  therefore,  the  Fund  may  be  subject  to  additional  regulations  than
historically structured funds.

    The  Declaration of Trust of the Portfolio  provides that the Portfolio will
terminate  120 days  after  the  complete  withdrawal  of the Fund or any  other
investor in the Portfolio,  unless either the remaining investors,  by unanimous
vote at a meeting  of such  investors,  or a  majority  of the  Trustees  of the
Portfolio,  by  written  instrument  consented  to by all  investors,  agree  to
continue the  business of the  Portfolio.  This  provision  is  consistent  with
treatment of the Portfolio as a partnership for Federal income tax purposes. See
"Distributions  and  Taxes" for  further  information.  Whenever  the Fund as an
investor in the  Portfolio  is requested  to vote on matters  pertaining  to the
Portfolio (other than the termination of the Portfolio's business,  which may be
determined by the Trustees of the Portfolio without investor approval), the Fund
will hold a meeting  of Fund  shareholders  and will  vote its  interest  in the
Portfolio for or against such matters  proportionately  to the  instructions  to
vote for or against such matters received from Fund shareholders. The Fund shall
vote shares for which it receives no voting  instructions in the same proportion
as the shares for which it receives voting instructions.  Other investors in the
Portfolio may alone or collectively  acquire  sufficient voting interests in the
Portfolio to control matters  relating to the operation of the Portfolio,  which
may require the Fund to withdraw its  investment  in the Portfolio or take other
appropriate action. Any such withdrawal could result in a distribution "in kind"
of portfolio  securities (as opposed to a cash distribution from the Portfolio).
If securities  are  distributed,  the Fund could incur  brokerage,  tax or other
charges in converting the securities to cash. In addition,  the  distribution in
kind may result in a less  diversified  portfolio  of  investments  or adversely
affect the  liquidity of the Fund.  Notwithstanding  the above,  there are other
means for meeting shareholder redemption requests, such as borrowing.

   
    The  Trustees  of the  Trust,  including  a  majority  of the  noninterested
Trustees,  have approved written procedures designed to identify and address any
potential  conflicts of interest  arising from the fact that the Trustees of the
Trust and the Trustees of the Portfolio are the same.  Such  procedures  require
each Board to take action to resolve any  conflict of interest  between the Fund
and the Portfolio,  and it is possible that the creation of separate  Boards may
be considered.  For further information  concerning the Trustees and officers of
the Trust and the Portfolio, see the Statement of Additional Information.


MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND AND THE PORTFOLIO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    

THE PORTFOLIO  ENGAGES BOSTON  MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH  ("BMR"),  A WHOLLY-OWNED
SUBSIDIARY OF EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT ("EATON VANCE"), AS ITS INVESTMENT ADVISER.
EATON VANCE,  ITS  AFFILIATES AND ITS  PREDECESSOR  COMPANIES HAVE BEEN MANAGING
ASSETS OF  INDIVIDUALS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  SINCE  1924 AND  MANAGING  INVESTMENT
COMPANIES SINCE 1931.

   
    Acting  under  the  general  supervision  of the  Board of  Trustees  of the
Portfolio,  BMR manages  the  Portfolio's  investments  and  affairs.  Under its
investment  advisory  agreement  with the  Portfolio,  BMR  receives  a  monthly
advisory fee of 5/96 of 1% (equivalent to 0.625%  annually) of the average daily
net assets of the  Portfolio up to and including  $300  million,  and 1/24 of 1%
(equivalent  to 0.50%  annually)  of the  average  daily  net  assets  over $300
million. For the period from the start of business,  August 2, 1994, to February
28, 1995, the Portfolio paid BMR advisory fees equivalent to 0.625% (annualized)
of the Portfolio's average daily net assets.
    

    BMR  also  furnishes  for  the use of the  Portfolio  office  space  and all
necessary  office   facilities,   equipment  and  personnel  for  servicing  the
investments  of the Portfolio.  The Portfolio is responsible  for the payment of
all expenses  other than those  expressly  stated to be payable by BMR under the
investment advisory agreement.

    BMR  places  the  portfolio   transactions   of  the  Portfolio   with  many
broker-dealer  firms  and uses its best  efforts  to  obtain  execution  of such
transactions at prices which are advantageous to the Portfolio and at reasonably
competitive  commission rates. Subject to the foregoing,  BMR may consider sales
of shares of the Fund or of other investment companies sponsored by BMR or Eaton
Vance as a factor in the selection of broker-dealer  firms to execute  portfolio
transactions.

   
    Peter F. Kiely has acted as the portfolio  manager of the Portfolio since it
commenced operations. He has been a Vice President of Eaton Vance since 1980 and
of BMR since 1993.

    BMR OR EATON VANCE ACTS AS INVESTMENT  ADVISER TO  INVESTMENT  COMPANIES AND
VARIOUS  INDIVIDUAL AND  INSTITUTIONAL  CLIENTS WITH ASSETS UNDER  MANAGEMENT OF
APPROXIMATELY  $15 BILLION.  Eaton Vance is a  wholly-owned  subsidiary of Eaton
Vance Corp., a publicly-held  holding  company.  Eaton Vance Corp.,  through its
subsidiaries  and  affiliates,  engages in investment  management  and marketing
activities,  fiduciary and banking services, oil and gas operations, real estate
investment,  consulting  and  management,  and  development  of precious  metals
properties.

    The Trust has retained  the services of Eaton Vance to act as  Administrator
of the Fund.  The Trust has not retained the services of an  investment  adviser
since  the  Trust  seeks to  achieve  the  investment  objective  of the Fund by
investing  the Fund's assets in the  Portfolio.  As  Administrator,  Eaton Vance
provides the Fund with general  office  facilities  and  supervises  the overall
administration of the Fund. For these services Eaton Vance currently receives no
compensation.  The  Trustees  of the  Trust may  determine,  in the  future,  to
compensate Eaton Vance for such services.

    The Portfolio and the Fund, as the case may be, will each be responsible for
all of its respective  costs and expenses not expressly  stated to be payable by
BMR  under  the  investment  advisory  agreement,   by  Eaton  Vance  under  the
administrative  services agreement,  or by EVD under the distribution agreement.
Such costs and expenses to be borne by the  Portfolio  and the Fund, as the case
may be,  include,  without  limitation:  custody  and  transfer  agency fees and
expenses,  including  those incurred for determining net asset value and keeping
accounting books and records;  expenses of pricing and valuation  services;  the
cost of share certificates; membership dues in investment company organizations;
expenses  of  acquiring,   holding  and   disposing  of  securities   and  other
investments;  fees and expenses of registering under the securities laws and the
governmental  fees;  expenses of reporting to shareholders and investors;  proxy
statements and other expenses of shareholders' or investors' meetings; insurance
premiums;  printing and mailing  expenses;  interest,  taxes and corporate fees;
legal and  accounting  expenses;  compensation  and  expenses  of  Trustees  not
affiliated with BMR or Eaton Vance;  and investment  advisory fees, and, if any,
administrative  services  fees.  The  Portfolio or the Fund, as the case may be,
will also each bear expenses incurred in connection with litigation in which the
Portfolio or the Fund,  as the case may be, is a party and any legal  obligation
to indemnify its respective officers and Trustees with respect thereto.

DISTRIBUTION PLAN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE FUND FINANCES  DISTRIBUTION  ACTIVITIES AND HAS ADOPTED A DISTRIBUTION  PLAN
(THE "PLAN")  PURSUANT TO RULE 12B-1 UNDER THE  INVESTMENT  COMPANY ACT OF 1940.
Rule 12b-1  permits a mutual  fund,  such as the Fund,  to finance  distribution
activities  and bear expenses  associated  with the  distribution  of its shares
provided  that any payments made by the Fund are made pursuant to a written plan
adopted in accordance  with the Rule. The Plan is subject to, and complies with,
the sales charge rule of the National  Association of Securities  Dealers,  Inc.
(the "NASD Rule").  The Plan is described further in the Statement of Additional
Information,  and the following is a description of the salient  features of the
Plan. The Plan provides that the Fund,  subject to the NASD Rule, will pay sales
commissions and distribution fees to the Principal Underwriter only after and as
a  result  of the  sale of  shares  of the  Fund.  On each  sale of Fund  shares
(excluding  reinvestment  of  distributions)  the Fund  will  pay the  Principal
Underwriter amounts representing (i) sales commissions equal to 5% of the amount
received by the Fund for each share sold and (ii)  distribution  fees calculated
by applying the rate of 1% over the prime rate then  reported in The Wall Street
Journal  to the  outstanding  balance  of  Uncovered  Distribution  Charges  (as
described  below)  of  the  Principal  Underwriter.  The  Principal  Underwriter
currently expects to pay sales commissions (except on exchange  transactions and
reinvestments) to a financial  services firm (an "Authorized  Firm") at the time
of sale equal to 4% of the purchase  price of the shares sold by such Firm.  The
Principal  Underwriter will use its own funds (which may be borrowed from banks)
to pay such  commissions.  Because  the  payment  of the sales  commissions  and
distribution  fees to the  Principal  Underwriter  is  subject  to the NASD Rule
described  below,  it will take the  Principal  Underwriter a number of years to
recoup the sales  commissions  paid by it to Authorized  Firms from the payments
received by it from the Fund pursuant to the Plan.

THE  NASD  RULE  REQUIRES  THE  FUND TO  LIMIT  ITS  ANNUAL  PAYMENTS  OF  SALES
COMMISSIONS AND DISTRIBUTION FEES TO THE PRINCIPAL  UNDERWRITER TO AN AMOUNT NOT
EXCEEDING  .75% OF THE FUND'S  AVERAGE  DAILY NET ASSETS FOR EACH  FISCAL  YEAR.
Under its Plan the Fund accrues  daily an amount at the rate of 1/365 of .75% of
the Fund's net assets,  and pays such accrued  amounts  monthly to the Principal
Underwriter.  The Plan requires such accruals to be  automatically  discontinued
during  any  period in which  there are no  outstanding  Uncovered  Distribution
Charges under the Plan. Uncovered Distribution Charges are calculated daily and,
briefly, are equivalent to all unpaid sales commissions and distribution fees to
which the Principal  Underwriter  is entitled under the Plan less all contingent
deferred sales charges theretofore paid to the Principal Underwriter.  The Eaton
Vance organization may be considered to have realized a profit under the Plan if
at any point in time the  aggregate  amounts  of all  payments  received  by the
Principal  Underwriter  from  the  Fund  pursuant  to the  Plan,  including  any
contingent deferred sales charges,  have exceeded the total expenses theretofore
incurred by such organization in distributing shares of the Fund. Total expenses
for this purpose will include an allocable portion of the overhead costs of such
organization and its branch offices.

    The amount  payable to the Principal  Underwriter  pursuant to the Plan with
respect to each day will be accrued on such day as a  liability  of the Fund and
will  accordingly  reduce  the  Fund's  net  assets  upon such  accrual,  all in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  The amount payable on
each day is limited  to 1/365 of .75% of the Fund's net assets on such day.  The
level of the Fund's net assets  changes  each day and depends upon the amount of
sales  and  redemptions  of  Fund  shares,  the  changes  in  the  value  of the
investments  held by the  Portfolio,  the expenses of the Fund and the Portfolio
accrued and allocated to the Fund on such day,  income on portfolio  investments
of the  Portfolio  accrued  and  allocated  to the  Fund  on such  day,  and any
dividends  and  distributions  declared  by the Fund.  The Fund does not  accrue
possible future payments as a liability of the Fund or reduce the Fund's current
net assets in respect of unknown amounts which may become payable under the Plan
in the future  because  the  standards  for  accrual of a  liability  under such
accounting principles have not been satisfied.

    The Plan provides that the Fund will receive all  contingent  deferred sales
charges and will make no payments to the Principal Underwriter in respect of any
day on which  there are no  outstanding  Uncovered  Distribution  Charges of the
Principal  Underwriter.  Contingent  deferred sales charges and accrued  amounts
will  be  paid to the  Principal  Underwriter  whenever  there  exist  Uncovered
Distribution Charges under the Plan.

    The  provisions  of the Plan relating to payments of sales  commissions  and
distribution  fees  to  the  Principal  Underwriter  are  also  included  in the
Distribution Agreement between the Trust on behalf of the Fund and the Principal
Underwriter.  The Plan continues in effect through and including April 28, 1995,
and  shall  continue  in  effect  indefinitely  thereafter  for so  long as such
continuance  is approved at least annually by the vote of both a majority of (i)
the  Trustees of the Trust who are not  interested  persons of the Trust and who
have no direct or indirect  financial  interest in the  operation of the Plan or
any agreements  related to the Plan (the "Rule 12b-1  Trustees") and (ii) all of
the Trustees then in office,  and the Distribution  Agreement contains a similar
provision.  The Plan and Distribution Agreement may be terminated at any time by
vote of a majority of the Rule 12b-1  Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund.

    Periods with a high level of sales of Fund shares accompanied by a low level
of early  redemptions  of Fund shares  resulting in the imposition of contingent
deferred  sales  charges  will tend to increase the time during which there will
exist Uncovered Distribution Charges of the Principal  Underwriter.  Conversely,
periods with a low level of sales of Fund shares  accompanied by a high level of
early  redemptions  of Fund shares  resulting in the  imposition  of  contingent
deferred  sales  charges  will tend to reduce the time  during  which there will
exist Uncovered Distribution Charges of the Principal Underwriter.

    Because of the NASD Rule  limitation on the amount of sales  commissions and
distribution  fees paid to the Principal  Underwriter  during any fiscal year, a
high  level of sales of Fund  shares  during  the  initial  years of the  Fund's
operations would cause a large portion of the sales commission attributable to a
sale of  Fund  shares  to be  accrued  and  paid  by the  Fund to the  Principal
Underwriter  in fiscal  years  subsequent  to the year in which such shares were
sold.  This  spreading  of sales  commissions  payments  under  the Plan over an
extended  period  would  result  in the  incurrence  and  payment  of  increased
distribution  fees under the Plan.  For the period  from the start of  business,
September 13, 1994, to February 28, 1995, the Fund paid sales  commissions under
the Plan equivalent to .75% (annualized) of the Fund's average daily net assets.
As at February 28, 1995,  the  Uncovered  Distribution  Charges of the Principal
Underwriter   calculated  under  the  Plan  amounted  to  approximately  $27,052
(equivalent to 3.7% of the Fund's net assets on such day).

THE PLAN  ALSO  AUTHORIZES  THE FUND TO MAKE  PAYMENTS  OF  SERVICE  FEES TO THE
PRINCIPAL  UNDERWRITER,  AUTHORIZED  FIRMS  AND OTHER  PERSONS  IN  AMOUNTS  NOT
EXCEEDING  .25% OF THE FUND'S AVERAGE DAILY NET ASSETS FOR EACH FISCAL YEAR. The
Trustees of the Trust have initially  implemented  the Plan by  authorizing  the
Fund to make quarterly payments of service fees to the Principal Underwriter and
Authorized  Firms in amounts not  expected to exceed .25% of the Fund's  average
daily net assets for any fiscal  year based on the value of Fund  shares sold by
such persons and remaining  outstanding for at least twelve months. As permitted
by the NASD  Rule,  such  payments  are made for  personal  services  and/or the
maintenance of shareholder accounts. Service fees are separate and distinct from
the sales commissions and distribution fees payable by the Fund to the Principal
Underwriter,  and as such are not subject to automatic discontinuance when there
are no outstanding Uncovered  Distribution Charges of the Principal Underwriter.
The Fund  expects to begin  accruing  for its  service fee  payments  during the
quarter ending September 30, 1995.

    The Plan as currently  implemented  by the Trustees  authorizes  payments of
sales commissions and distribution fees to the Principal Underwriter and service
fees to the Principal  Underwriter and Authorized Firms which may be equivalent,
on an aggregate  basis  during any fiscal year of the Fund,  to 1% of the Fund's
average daily net assets for such year. The Fund believes that the combined rate
of all  these  payments  may be  higher  than the rate of  payments  made  under
distribution plans adopted by other investment companies pursuant to Rule 12b-1.
It is anticipated that the Eaton Vance organization will profit by reason of the
operation of the Plan through increases in the Fund's assets (thereby increasing
the advisory fees payable to BMR by the Portfolio)  resulting from sales of Fund
shares and through amounts paid under the Plan to the Principal  Underwriter and
congingent deferred sales charges paid to the Principal Underwriter.

    The  Principal  Underwriter  may,  from  time to time,  at its own  expense,
provide  additional  incentives  to  Authorized  Firms which  employ  registered
representatives  who sell a minimum  dollar  amount of the Fund's  shares and/or
shares  of  other  funds  distributed  by the  Principal  Underwriter.  In  some
instances,  such additional incentives may be offered only to certain Authorized
Firms whose  representatives are expected to sell significant amounts of shares.
In  addition,  the  Principal  Underwriter  may from  time to time  increase  or
decrease the sales commissions payable to Authorized Firms.

    The Fund may, in its absolute discretion,  suspend, discontinue or limit the
offering  of its shares at any time.  In  determining  whether  any such  action
should be taken, the Fund's management intends to consider all relevant factors,
including  without  limitation the size of the Fund, the investment  climate and
market  conditions,  the volume of sales and redemptions of Fund shares, and the
amount of Uncovered Distribution Charges of the Principal Underwriter.  The Plan
may  continue in effect and payments  may be made under the Plan  following  any
such  suspension,  discontinuance  or limitation of the offering of Fund shares;
however,  the Fund is not  contractually  obligated to continue the Plan for any
particular period of time.  Suspension of the offering of Fund shares would not,
of course, affect a shareholder's ability to redeem shares.

VALUING FUND SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE FUND  VALUES ITS SHARES  ONCE ON EACH DAY THE NEW YORK STOCK  EXCHANGE  (THE
"EXCHANGE")  IS OPEN FOR  TRADING,  as of the close of  regular  trading  on the
Exchange  (normally  4:00 p.m.  New York  time).  The Fund's net asset value per
share is determined by its custodian,  Investors  Bank & Trust Company  ("IBT"),
(as agent for the Fund) in the manner  authorized  by the Trustees of the Trust.
Net asset value is computed by dividing  the value of the Fund's  total  assets,
less its  liabilities,  by the number of shares  outstanding.  Because  the Fund
invests its assets in an interest in the  Portfolio,  the Fund's net asset value
will  reflect  the  value of its  interest  in the  Portfolio  (which,  in turn,
reflects the underlying value of the Portfolio's assets and liabilities).

    Authorized  Firms must  communicate  an  investor's  order to the  Principal
Underwriter  prior to the close of the Principal  Underwriter's  business day to
receive that day's net asset value per Fund share.  It is the Authorized  Firms'
responsibility to transmit orders promptly to the Principal  Underwriter,  which
is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eaton Vance.

    The  Portfolio's  net  asset  value is also  determined  as of the  close of
regular  trading  on the  Exchange  by IBT  (as  custodian  and  agent  for  the
Portfolio) in the manner  authorized by the Trustees of the  Portfolio.  The net
asset value is computed by subtracting the liabilities of the Portfolio from the
value of its total assets.  Investments listed on securities exchanges or in the
NASDAQ  National  Market are valued at closing sale  prices.  Listed or unlisted
investments  for which  closing sale prices are not  available are valued at the
mean between the latest bid and asked prices.  Short-term obligations are valued
at amortized cost, which approximates value. Foreign securities held by the Fund
are valued in U.S. dollars at the current exchange rate. For further information
regarding the valuation of the Portfolio's  assets,  see  "Determination  of Net
Asset Value" in the Statement of Additional Information.  Eaton Vance Corp. owns
77.3% of the outstanding stock of IBT, the Fund's and the Portfolio's custodian.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SHAREHOLDERS  MAY DETERMINE THE VALUE OF THEIR  INVESTMENT  BY  MULTIPLYING  THE
NUMBER OF FUND SHARES OWNED BY THE CURRENT NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


HOW TO BUY FUND SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SHARES OF THE FUND MAY BE PURCHASED  FOR CASH OR MAY BE ACQUIRED IN EXCHANGE FOR
SECURITIES.  Investors may purchase shares of the Fund through  Authorized Firms
at the net asset value per share of the Fund next  determined  after an order is
effective.  The Fund may  suspend  the  offering  of  shares at any time and may
refuse an order for the purchase of shares.

    An initial  investment in the Fund must be at least $1,000.  Once an account
has been  established  the investor may send  investments  of $50 or more at any
time directly to the Fund's transfer agent as follows:  The Shareholder Services
Group, Inc., BOS725, P.O. Box 1559, Boston, MA 02104. The $1,000 minimum initial
investment  is  waived  for Bank  Automated  Investing  accounts,  which  may be
established  with an  investment  of $50 or more.  See "Eaton Vance  Shareholder
Services".

    In connection with employee benefit or other continuous group purchase plans
under which the average initial  purchase by a participant of the plan is $1,000
or more, the Fund may accept initial investments of less than $1,000 on the part
of an individual participant. In the event a shareholder who is a participant of
such a plan  terminates  participation  in the plan,  his or her shares  will be
transferred  to a regular  individual  account.  However,  such  account will be
subject to the right of redemption by the Fund as described under "How to Redeem
Fund Shares."

ACQUIRING  FUND SHARES IN EXCHANGE FOR  SECURITIES.  IBT, as escrow agent,  will
receive securities acceptable to Eaton Vance, as Administrator,  in exchange for
Fund shares at their net asset value as determined  above.  The minimum value of
securities (or  securities and cash) accepted for deposit is $5,000.  Securities
accepted  will be sold by IBT as agent for the account of their owner on the day
of their receipt by IBT or as soon  thereafter  as possible.  The number of Fund
shares to be issued in exchange for  securities  will be the aggregate  proceeds
from the sale of such securities,  divided by the applicable net asset value per
Fund  share  on the day  such  proceeds  are  received.  Eaton  Vance  will  use
reasonable  efforts to obtain the then current market price for such  securities
but does not guarantee  the best  available  price.  Eaton Vance will absorb any
transaction costs, such as commissions, on the sale of the securities.
    

    Securities  determined to be acceptable should be transferred via book entry
or  physically  delivered,  in proper form for  transfer,  through an Authorized
Firm,  together with a completed and signed  Letter of  Transmittal  in approved
form (available from Authorized Firms), as follows:

    IN THE CASE OF BOOK ENTRY:

        Deliver through Depository Trust Co.
        Broker #2212
        Investors Bank & Trust Company
        For A/C EV Marathon Growth Fund

    IN THE CASE OF PHYSICAL DELIVERY:

        Investors Bank & Trust Company
        Attention: EV Marathon Growth Fund
        Physical Securities Processing Settlement Area
        89 South Street
        Boston, MA 02111

   
    Investors who are  contemplating an exchange of securities for shares of the
Fund, or their representatives,  are advised to contact Eaton Vance to determine
whether the securities are acceptable  before forwarding such securities to IBT.
Eaton Vance reserves the right to reject any securities.  Exchanging  securities
for Fund shares may create a taxable gain or loss.  Each investor should consult
his or her tax adviser with respect to the particular  Federal,  state and local
tax consequences of exchanging securities for Fund shares.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN AUTHORIZED FIRM, EATON VANCE CAN RECOMMEND ONE.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


HOW TO REDEEM FUND SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A SHAREHOLDER MAY REDEEM FUND SHARES BY DELIVERING TO THE  SHAREHOLDER  SERVICES
GROUP, INC., BOS725,  P.O. BOX 1559, BOSTON, MA 02104, during its business hours
a written request for redemption in good order, plus any share certificates with
executed stock powers. The redemption price will be based on the net asset value
per Fund share next  computed  after such  delivery.  Good order  means that all
relevant  documents  must be  endorsed  by the record  owner (s)  exactly as the
shares are  registered  and the  signature(s)  must be guaranteed by a member of
either the Securities Transfer Association's STAMP program or the New York Stock
Exchange's  Medallion  Signature  Program,  or certain  banks,  savings and loan
institutions,  credit unions, securities dealers, securities exchanges, clearing
agencies and registered  securities  associations as required by a regulation of
the Securities and Exchange  Commission (the "Commission") and acceptable to The
Shareholder  Services  Group,  Inc. In addition,  in some cases,  good order may
require  the  furnishing  of  additional  documents  such as  where  shares  are
registered in the name of a corporation, partnership or fiduciary.

    Within seven days after receipt of a redemption request in good order by The
Shareholder Services Group, Inc., the Fund will make payment in cash for the net
asset value of the shares as of the date determined above, reduced by the amount
of any applicable  contingent  deferred sales charges  (described below) and any
Federal income tax required to be withheld.  Although the Fund normally  expects
to make payment in cash for redeemed  shares,  the Trust,  subject to compliance
with applicable regulations,  has reserved the right to pay the redemption price
of shares of the Fund, either totally or partially, by a distribution in kind of
readily  marketable  securities  withdrawn by the Fund from the  Portfolio.  The
securities so distributed would be valued pursuant to the Portfolio's  valuation
procedures.  If a shareholder  received a distribution  in kind, the shareholder
could incur brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash.

    To sell  shares at their net  asset  value  through  an  Authorized  Firm (a
repurchase),  a  shareholder  can place a repurchase  order with the  Authorized
Firm,  which may  charge a fee.  The value of such  shares is based upon the net
asset value calculated after EVD, as the Fund's agent, receives the order. It is
the Authorized Firm's  responsibility to transmit promptly  repurchase orders to
EVD.  Throughout this  Prospectus,  the word  "redemption" is generally meant to
include a repurchase.

    If  shares  were  recently   purchased,   the  proceeds  of  redemption  (or
repurchase) will not be sent until the check (including a certified or cashier's
check)  received  for the  shares  purchased  has  cleared.  Payment  for shares
tendered for redemption may be delayed up to 15 days from the purchase date when
the purchase check has not yet cleared. Redemptions or repurchases may result in
a taxable gain or loss.

    Due to the high cost of maintaining  small  accounts,  the Fund reserves the
right to redeem  accounts  with  balances of less than  $1,000.  Prior to such a
redemption,  shareholders  will be  given  60 days'  written  notice  to make an
additional  purchase.  Thus, an investor making an initial  investment of $1,000
would  not be able to  redeem  shares  without  being  subject  to this  policy.
However,  no such  redemption  would be required by the Fund if the cause of the
low account  balance was a reduction in the net asset value of Fund  shares.  No
contingent   deferred  sales  charge  will  be  imposed  with  respect  to  such
involuntary redemptions.

CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE.  Shares redeemed within the first six years of
their   purchase   (except  shares   acquired   through  the   reinvestment   of
distributions)  generally will be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge.
This contingent deferred sales charge is imposed on any redemption the amount of
which exceeds the aggregate value at the time of redemption of (a) all shares in
the  account  purchased  more than six years  prior to the  redemption,  (b) all
shares in the account acquired through  reinvestment of  distributions,  and (c)
the increase,  if any, of value of all other shares in the account (namely those
purchased within the six years preceding the redemption) over the purchase price
of such shares.  Redemptions are processed in a manner to maximize the amount of
redemption  proceeds  which will not be subject to a contingent  deferred  sales
charge.  That is, each  redemption  will be assumed to have been made first from
the exempt  amounts  referred to in clauses (a),  (b) and (c) above,  and second
through  liquidation of those shares in the account referred to in clause (c) on
a  first-in-first-out  basis.  Any  contingent  deferred  sales  charge which is
required to be imposed on share  redemptions will be made in accordance with the
following schedule:
    

            YEAR OF                                    CONTINGENT
          REDEMPTION                                 DEFERRED SALES
        AFTER PURCHASE                                   CHARGE
        --------------                               ---------------
      First .......................................        5%
      Second ......................................        5%
      Third .......................................        4%
      Fourth ......................................        3%
      Fifth .......................................        2%
      Sixth .......................................        1%
      Seventh and following .......................        0%

   
    In calculating  the contingent  deferred sales charge upon the redemption of
Fund shares acquired in an exchange for shares of a fund currently  listed under
"The Eaton Vance  Exchange  Privilege",  the  contingent  deferred  sales charge
schedule  applicable  to the shares at the time of  purchase  will apply and the
purchase of Fund shares  acquired in the exchange is deemed to have  occurred at
the time of the  original  purchase  of the  exchanged  shares.  The  contingent
deferred  sales  charge  will be waived for shares  redeemed  (1)  pursuant to a
Withdrawal  Plan (see  "Eaton  Vance  Shareholder  Services"),  (2) as part of a
required distribution from a tax-sheltered retirement plan, or (3) following the
death of all  beneficial  owners of such  shares,  provided  the  redemption  is
requested  within one year of death (a death  certificate  and other  applicable
documents may be required).

    No  contingent  deferred  sales  charge will be imposed on Fund shares which
have been sold to Eaton Vance or its affiliates or to their respective employees
or clients.  The contingent  deferred sales charge will be paid to the Principal
Underwriter or the Fund.  When paid to the Principal  Underwriter it will reduce
the  amount of  Uncovered  Distribution  Charges  calculated  under  the  Fund's
Distribution Plan. See "Distribution Plan".

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE FOLLOWING  EXAMPLE WILL ILLUSTRATE THE OPERATION OF THE CONTINGENT  DEFERRED
SALES CHARGE. ASSUME THAT AN INVESTOR PURCHASES $10,000 OF THE FUND'S SHARES AND
THAT 16 MONTHS  LATER  THE VALUE OF THE  ACCOUNT  HAS GROWN  THROUGH  INVESTMENT
PERFORMANCE AND REINVESTMENT OF DISTRIBUTIONS TO $12,000.  THE INVESTOR THEN MAY
REDEEM UP TO $2,000 OF SHARES  WITHOUT  INCURRING A  CONTINGENT  DEFERRED  SALES
CHARGE.  IF THE  INVESTOR  SHOULD  REDEEM  $3,000 OF SHARES,  A CHARGE  WOULD BE
IMPOSED ON $1,000 OF THE REDEMPTION. THE RATE WOULD BE 5% BECAUSE THE REDEMPTION
WAS MADE IN THE SECOND YEAR AFTER THE  PURCHASE WAS MADE AND THE CHARGE WOULD BE
$50.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE  FUND  WILL  ISSUE  TO  ITS  SHAREHOLDERS  SEMI-ANNUAL  AND  ANNUAL  REPORTS
CONTAINING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. Financial statements included in annual reports
are audited by the Fund's independent accountants. Shortly after the end of each
calendar year, the Fund will furnish all shareholders with information necessary
for preparing Federal and state tax returns.
    

THE LIFETIME INVESTING ACCOUNT/DISTRIBUTION OPTIONS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AFTER AN INVESTOR MAKES AN INITIAL PURCHASE OF FUND SHARES,  THE FUND'S TRANSFER
AGENT, THE SHAREHOLDER  SERVICES GROUP,  INC., WILL SET UP A LIFETIME  INVESTING
ACCOUNT  FOR THE  INVESTOR  ON THE FUND'S  RECORDS.  This  account is a complete
record of all transactions  between the investor and the Fund which at all times
shows the balance of shares  owned.  The Fund will not issue share  certificates
except upon request.

   
    Each  time  a  transaction  takes  place  in a  shareholder's  account,  the
shareholder will receive a statement showing complete details of the transaction
and the current balance in the account.  (Under certain plans, statements may be
sent only quarterly).  THE LIFETIME INVESTING ACCOUNT ALSO PERMITS A SHAREHOLDER
TO MAKE  ADDITIONAL  INVESTMENTS IN SHARES BY SENDING A CHECK FOR $50 OR MORE to
The Shareholder Services Group, Inc.


    Any questions  concerning a shareholder's  account or services available may
be directed by telephone to EATON VANCE  SHAREHOLDER  SERVICES at  800-225-6265,
extension 2, or in writing to The  Shareholder  Services  Group,  Inc., BOS 725,
P.O. Box 1559, Boston, MA 02104 (please provide the name of the shareholder, the
Fund and the account number).
    

THE FOLLOWING  DISTRIBUTION  OPTIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ALL LIFETIME INVESTING
ACCOUNTS and may be changed as often as desired by written  notice to the Fund's
dividend  disbursing agent, The Shareholder  Services Group, Inc., BOS725,  P.O.
Box 1559,  Boston, MA 02104. The currently  effective option will appear on each
confirmation statement.

   
    Share Option -- Dividends and capital gains will be reinvested in additional
shares.

    Income Option -- Dividends  will be paid in cash,  and capital gains will be
reinvested in additional shares.

    Cash Option -- Dividends and capital gains will be paid in cash.

    The  Share  Option  will  be  assigned  if no  other  option  is  specified.
Distributions,  including those  reinvested,  will be reduced by any withholding
required under Federal income tax laws.

    If the Income  Option or Cash  Option  has been  selected,  dividend  and/or
capital gains distribution checks which are returned by the United States Postal
Service as not  deliverable or which remain uncashed for six months or more will
be  reinvested  in the account in shares at the then  current  net asset  value.
Furthermore,  the  distribution  option  on the  account  will be  automatically
changed  to the  Share  Option  until  such  time as the  shareholder  selects a
different option.

    DISTRIBUTION  INVESTMENT OPTION. In addition to the distribution options set
forth above, dividends and/or capital gains may be invested in additional shares
of another Eaton Vance fund. Before selecting this option, a shareholder  should
obtain a prospectus  of the other Eaton Vance fund and  consider its  objectives
and policies carefully.

    "STREET  NAME"  ACCOUNTS.  If shares of the Fund are held in a "street name"
account with an Authorized Firm, all recordkeeping,  transaction  processing and
payments of  distributions  relating to the beneficial  owner's  account will be
performed by the Authorized  Firm,  and not by the Fund and its Transfer  Agent.
Since the Fund will have no record of the  beneficial  owner's  transactions,  a
beneficial  owner should  contact the  Authorized  Firm to  purchase,  redeem or
exchange shares, to make changes in or give instructions concerning the account,
or to obtain information about the account.  The transfer of shares in a "street
name" account to an account with another  dealer or to an account  directly with
the Fund involves  special  procedures and will require the beneficial  owner to
obtain historical purchase  information about the shares in the account from the
Authorized Firm. Before  establishing a "street name" account with an investment
firm,  or  transferring  the  account to another  investment  firm,  an investor
wishing to reinvest  distributions  should determine whether the firm which will
hold the shares allows reinvestment of distributions in "street name" accounts.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UNDER A LIFETIME INVESTING ACCOUNT A SHAREHOLDER CAN MAKE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS
BY SENDING A CHECK FOR $50 OR MORE.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    



THE EATON VANCE EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
Shares of the Fund  currently  may be exchanged  for shares of one or more other
funds in the Eaton Vance  Marathon  Group of Funds (which  includes  Eaton Vance
Equity-Income  Trust and any EV  Marathon  fund,  except  Eaton Vance Prime Rate
Reserves) or Eaton Vance Money Market Fund,  which are distributed  subject to a
contingent  deferred sales charge, on the basis of the net asset value per share
of each fund at the time of the exchange,  provided that such offer is available
only in states where shares of the fund being acquired may be legally sold.

    Each exchange  must involve  shares which have a net asset value of at least
$1,000. The exchange  privilege may be changed or discontinued  without penalty.
Shareholders  will be given sixty (60) days' notice prior to any  termination or
material  amendment  of the  exchange  privilege.  The Fund does not  permit the
exchange privilege to be used for "Market Timing" and may terminate the exchange
privilege for any  shareholder  account engaged in Market Timing  activity.  Any
shareholder account for which more than two round-trip exchanges are made within
any  twelve  month  period  will be  deemed  to be  engaged  in  Market  Timing.
Furthermore,  a group of  unrelated  accounts  for which  exchanges  are entered
contemporaneously  by a financial  intermediary will be considered to be engaged
in Market Timing.

    The Shareholder  Services Group, Inc. makes exchanges at the next determined
net asset value after  receiving an exchange  request in good order (see "How to
Redeem  Fund  Shares").   Consult  The  Shareholder  Services  Group,  Inc.  for
additional  information  concerning  the exchange  privilege.  Applications  and
prospectuses of other funds are available from Authorized Firms or the Principal
Underwriter.  The prospectus  for each fund describes its investment  objectives
and policies,  and  shareholders  should obtain a prospectus  and consider these
objectives and policies carefully before requesting an exchange.

    No contingent deferred sales charge is imposed on exchanges. For purposes of
calculating  the  contingent  deferred  sales charge upon  redemption  of shares
acquired  in  an  exchange,   the  contingent  deferred  sales  charge  schedule
applicable  to the shares at the time of purchase will apply and the purchase of
shares  acquired in one or more exchanges is deemed to have occurred at the time
of the original  purchase of the exchanged shares.  For the contingent  deferred
sales charge  schedule  applicable  to the Eaton Vance  Marathon  Group of Funds
(except EV Marathon  Strategic Income Fund and Class I shares of any EV Marathon
Limited Maturity Fund), see "How to Redeem Fund Shares." The contingent deferred
sales charge schedule  applicable to EV Marathon Strategic Income Fund and Class
I shares of any EV Marathon  Limited  Maturity Fund is 3%, 2.5%, 2% or 1% in the
event of a  redemption  occurring  in the first,  second,  third or fourth year,
respectively, after the original share purchase.

    Shares of the other  funds in the Eaton  Vance  Marathon  Group of Funds and
shares of Eaton Vance Money Market Fund may be exchanged  for Fund shares on the
basis of the net asset value per share of each fund at the time of the exchange,
but  subject  to any  restrictions  or  qualifications  set  forth in a  current
prospectus of any such fund.

    Telephone  exchanges are accepted by The Shareholder  Services  Group,  Inc.
provided the investor has not disclaimed in writing the use of the privilege. To
effect  such  exchanges,  call The  Shareholder  Services  Group,  Inc.  at 800-
262-1122 or, within  Massachusetts,  617-573-9403,  Monday through Friday,  9:00
a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time). Shares acquired by telephone exchange
must be  registered  in the same name(s) and with the same address as the shares
being exchanged. Neither the Fund, the Principal Underwriter nor The Shareholder
Services  Group,  Inc.  will be  responsible  for the  authenticity  of exchange
instructions  received by  telephone,  provided  that  reasonable  procedures to
confirm that instructions communicated are genuine have been followed. Telephone
instructions  will be tape  recorded.  In times of  drastic  economic  or market
changes,  a telephone  exchange may be difficult to  implement.  An exchange may
result in a taxable gain or loss.
    

EATON VANCE SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
THE FUND OFFERS THE FOLLOWING  SERVICES,  WHICH ARE VOLUNTARY,  INVOLVE NO EXTRA
CHARGE,  AND MAY BE CHANGED OR  DISCONTINUED  WITHOUT  PENALTY AT ANY TIME. Full
information on each of the services  described below and an  application,  where
required, are available from Authorized Firms or the Principal Underwriter.  The
cost  of  administering  such  services  for the  benefit  of  shareholders  who
participate in them is borne by the Fund as an expense to all shareholders.

INVEST-BY-MAIL  -- FOR  PERIODIC  SHARE  ACCUMULATION:  Once the $1,000  minimum
investment has been made, checks of $50 or more payable to the order of the Fund
may be mailed directly to The Shareholder Services Group, Inc., BOS725, P.O. Box
1559,  Boston,  MA  02104  at any  time  --  whether  or not  distributions  are
reinvested. The name of the shareholder,  the Fund and the account number should
accompany each investment.

WITHDRAWAL  PLAN: A shareholder may draw on  shareholdings  systematically  with
monthly or quarterly checks in an aggregate amount that does not exceed annually
12% of the account balance at the time the Plan is established. Such amount will
not be subject to a contingent  deferred  sales charge.  See "How to Redeem Fund
Shares". A minimum deposit of $5,000 in shares is required.

BANK AUTOMATED INVESTING -- FOR REGULAR SHARE ACCUMULATION:  Cash investments of
$50 or more may be made automatically each month or quarter from a shareholder's
bank account. The $1,000 minimum initial investment and small account redemption
policy are waived for these accounts.

REINVESTMENT PRIVILEGE: A SHAREHOLDER WHO HAS REPURCHASED OR REDEEMED SHARES MAY
REINVEST,  WITH CREDIT FOR ANY  CONTINGENT  DEFERRED  SALES  CHARGES PAID ON THE
REDEEMED  OR  REPURCHASED  SHARES,  ANY  PORTION  OR ALL OF  THE  REPURCHASE  OR
REDEMPTION PROCEEDS (PLUS THAT AMOUNT NECESSARY TO ACQUIRE A FRACTIONAL SHARE TO
ROUND  OFF THE  PURCHASE  TO THE  NEAREST  FULL  SHARE)  IN  SHARES OF THE FUND,
provided that the  reinvestment is effected within 30 days after such repurchase
or  redemption.  Shares are sold to a reinvesting  shareholder  at the net asset
value next determined  following  timely receipt of a written  purchase order by
the Principal  Underwriter or by the Fund (or by the Fund's Transfer Agent).  To
the extent that any shares of the Fund are sold at a loss and the  proceeds  are
reinvested  in  shares of the Fund (or  other  shares  of the Fund are  acquired
within the period  beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date of
the  redemption)  some or all of the loss generally will not be allowed as a tax
deduction.  Shareholders  should  consult their tax advisers  concerning the tax
consequences of reinvestments.

TAX-SHELTERED RETIREMENT PLANS: Shares of the Fund are available for purchase in
connection with the following tax-sheltered retirement plans:

    -- Pension  and  Profit   Sharing  Plans  for   self-employed   individuals,
       corporations and non-profit organizations;

    -- Individual  Retirement  Account  Plans for  individuals  and  their  non-
       employed spouses; and

    -- 403(b)   Retirement   Plans  for  employees  of  public  school  systems,
       hospitals,  colleges and other non-profit  organizations  meeting certain
       requirements  of the  Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as  amended  (the
       "Code").

    Detailed information concerning these plans, including certain exceptions to
minimum investment requirements,  and copies of the plans are available from the
Principal   Underwriter.   This   information   should  be  read  carefully  and
consultation  with an attorney or tax adviser may be advisable.  The information
sets forth the  service  fee  charged for  retirement  plans and  describes  the
Federal  income  tax  consequences  of  establishing  a plan.  Under all  plans,
dividends  and  distributions  will be  automatically  reinvested  in additional
shares.


DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


It is the  present  policy  of the  Fund to make  semi-annual  distributions  of
substantially  all of the net  investment  income  allocated  to the Fund by the
Portfolio,  less the Fund's direct and allocated expenses,  and to distribute at
least  annually any realized net capital gains (the Fund's  realized net capital
gains  generally  consist  of the net  realized  capital  gains from the sale of
portfolio securities allocated to the Fund by the Portfolio).
    

    Shareholders  may  reinvest all  distributions  in shares of the Fund at net
asset value as of the close of business on the record date.

   
    Distributions  by the Fund of  ordinary  income and net  short-term  capital
gains and  certain  net  foreign  exchange  gains  allocated  to the Fund by the
Portfolio  will be taxable  as  ordinary  income,  whether  received  in cash or
reinvested in additional  shares. A portion of distributions from net investment
income may be eligible for the  dividends-received  deduction for  corporations.
The Fund anticipates that for tax purposes the entire distribution, whether paid
in cash or additional shares of the Fund, will constitute ordinary income to its
shareholders.  Shareholders  reinvesting  such  distributions  should  treat the
amount of the entire distribution as the tax cost basis of the additional shares
acquired by reason of such  reinvestment.  Distributions  of  long-term  capital
gains  are  taxable  to  shareholders  as  such,  whether  received  in  cash or
reinvested in additional shares of the Fund and regardless of the length of time
shares have been owned by shareholders.  If shares are purchased  shortly before
the record date of a distribution,  the shareholder  will pay the full price for
the  shares  and then  receive  some  portion  of the  price  back as a  taxable
distribution.  Certain distributions  declared in October,  November or December
and paid the following  January will be taxed to  shareholders as if received on
December 31 of the year in which they are declared.

    Shareholders will receive annually tax information notices and Forms 1099 to
assist in the  preparation  of their Federal and state tax returns for the prior
calendar year's distributions,  proceeds from the redemption or exchange of Fund
shares, and Federal income tax (if any) withheld by the Fund's Transfer Agent.

    In order to qualify as a regulated  investment  company under the Code,  the
Fund must satisfy  certain  requirements  relating to the sources of its income,
the  distribution  of its income,  and the  diversification  of its  assets.  In
satisfying  these  requirements,  the Fund  will  treat  itself  as  owning  its
proportionate  share of each of the  Portfolio's  assets and as  entitled to the
income of the Portfolio properly attributable to such share.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AS A REGULATED  INVESTMENT  COMPANY UNDER THE CODE THE FUND DOES NOT PAY FEDERAL
INCOME OR EXCISE TAXES TO THE EXTENT THAT IT DISTRIBUTES TO SHAREHOLDERS ITS NET
INVESTMENT  INCOME AND NET REALIZED  CAPITAL GAINS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TIMING
REQUIREMENTS IMPOSED BY THE CODE. AS A PARTNERSHIP UNDER THE CODE, THE PORTFOLIO
DOES NOT PAY FEDERAL INCOME OR EXCISE TAXES.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FROM TIME TO TIME,  THE FUND MAY ADVERTISE ITS YIELD AND/OR AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL
RETURN.  The current  yield for the Fund will be  calculated by dividing the net
investment  income  per  share  during a recent  30 day  period  by the  maximum
offering  price per share (net  asset  value) of the Fund on the last day of the
period.  The Fund's  average  annual total return is determined by computing the
average  annual  percentage  change in value of $1,000  invested  at the maximum
public  offering  price (net asset value) for specified  periods ending with the
most recent calendar quarter,  assuming  reinvestment of all distributions.  The
average  annual total return  calculation  assumes a complete  redemption of the
investment and the deduction of any applicable  contingent deferred sales charge
at the end of the period.  The Fund may also publish annual and cumulative total
return figures from time to time.
    

    The  Fund may also  publish  total  return  figures  which do not take  into
account  any  contingent  deferred  sales  charge  which  may  be  imposed  upon
redemptions at the end of the specified  period.  Any  performance  figure which
does not take into account the contingent deferred sales charge would be reduced
to the extent such charge is imposed upon a redemption.

   
    Investors should note that the investment results of the Fund will fluctuate
over time, and any  presentation of the Fund's current yield or total return for
any  prior  period  should  not be  considered  as a  representation  of what an
investment  may earn or what an  investor's  yield or total return may be in any
future  period.  If the expenses of the Fund or the  Portfolio are paid by Eaton
Vance, the Fund's performance will be higher.
    

<PAGE>

INVESTMENT ADVISER OF
GROWTH PORTFOLIO
Boston Management and Research
24 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110

ADMINISTRATOR OF
EV MARATHON
GROWTH FUND
Eaton Vance Management
24 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110

PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER
Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc.
24 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110
(800) 225-6265

CUSTODIAN
Investors Bank & Trust Company
24 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110

TRANSFER AGENT
The Shareholder Services Group, Inc.
BOS725
P.O. Box 1559
Boston, MA 02104
(800) 262-1122

   
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
One Post Office Square
Boston, MA  02109
    

[LOGO]

EV Marathon
Growth
Fund

   
Prospectus
May 1, 1995
    

EV Marathon Growth Fund
24 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110

M-GFP
<PAGE>
   

                                    PART B
        INFORMATION REQUIRED IN A STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

                                             STATEMENT OF
                                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
                                             May 1, 1995


                            EV CLASSIC GROWTH FUND
                              24 Federal Street
                         Boston, Massachusetts 02110
                                (800) 225-6265

    This  Statement  of  Additional  Information  consists of two parts.  Part I
provides information about EV Classic Growth Fund (the "Fund") and certain other
series of Eaton Vance Growth Trust (the "Trust").  Part II provides  information
solely about the Fund. Where appropriate,  Part I includes  cross-references  to
the  relevant  sections  of  Part  II  that  provide  additional,  Fund-specific
information.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                    PART I

Investment Objective, Policies and Restrictions ....................         2
Trustees and Officers ..............................................         5
Investment Adviser and Administrator ...............................         6
Custodian ..........................................................         9
Service for Withdrawal .............................................         9
Determination of Net Asset Value ...................................         9
Investment Performance .............................................        10
Taxes ..............................................................        11
Portfolio Security Transactions ....................................        13
Other Information ..................................................        14
Independent Accountants ............................................        15

                                   PART II
Fees and Expenses ..................................................       a-1
Principal Underwriter ..............................................       a-2
Distribution Plan ..................................................       a-2
Performance Information ............................................       a-3
Additional Tax Matters .............................................       a-4
Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities ................       a-4
Financial Statements ...............................................       a-5
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    THIS  STATEMENT  OF  ADDITIONAL  INFORMATION  IS  NOT A  PROSPECTUS  AND  IS
AUTHORIZED  FOR  DISTRIBUTION  TO  PROSPECTIVE  INVESTORS  ONLY IF  PRECEDED  OR
ACCOMPANIED  BY THE CURRENT  PROSPECTUS  OF EV CLASSIC  GROWTH FUND DATED MAY 1,
1995,  AS  SUPPLEMENTED   FROM  TIME  TO  TIME.  THIS  STATEMENT  OF  ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH SUCH PROSPECTUS,  A COPY OF WHICH
MAY BE OBTAINED WITHOUT CHARGE BY CONTACTING EATON VANCE DISTRIBUTORS, INC. (THE
"PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER") (SEE BACK COVER FOR ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER).

<PAGE>

                                    PART B
        INFORMATION REQUIRED IN A STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

                                             STATEMENT OF
                                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
                                             May 1, 1995


                           EV MARATHON GROWTH FUND
                              24 Federal Street
                         Boston, Massachusetts 02110
                                (800) 225-6265

    This  Statement  of  Additional  Information  consists of two parts.  Part I
provides  information  about EV Marathon  Growth  Fund (the  "Fund") and certain
other  series of Eaton  Vance  Growth  Trust  (the  "Trust").  Part II  provides
information  solely  about  the  Fund.  Where   appropriate,   Part  I  includes
cross-references  to the relevant  sections of Part II that provide  additional,
Fund- specific information.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                    PART I

Investment Objective, Policies and Restrictions ....................         2
Trustees and Officers ..............................................         5
Investment Adviser and Administrator ...............................         6
Custodian ..........................................................         9
Service for Withdrawal .............................................         9
Determination of Net Asset Value ...................................         9
Investment Performance .............................................        10
Taxes ..............................................................        11
Portfolio Security Transactions ....................................        13
Other Information ..................................................        14
Independent Accountants ............................................        15

                                   PART II

Fees and Expenses ..................................................       a-1
Principal Underwriter ..............................................       a-1
Distribution Plan ..................................................       a-2
Performance Information ............................................       a-3
Additional Tax Matters .............................................       a-3
Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities ................       a-4
Financial Statements ...............................................       a-5
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    THIS  STATEMENT  OF  ADDITIONAL  INFORMATION  IS  NOT A  PROSPECTUS  AND  IS
AUTHORIZED  FOR  DISTRIBUTION  TO  PROSPECTIVE  INVESTORS  ONLY IF  PRECEDED  OR
ACCOMPANIED  BY THE CURRENT  PROSPECTUS OF EV MARATHON  GROWTH FUND DATED MAY 1,
1995,  AS  SUPPLEMENTED   FROM  TIME  TO  TIME.  THIS  STATEMENT  OF  ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH SUCH PROSPECTUS,  A COPY OF WHICH
MAY BE OBTAINED WITHOUT CHARGE BY CONTACTING EATON VANCE DISTRIBUTORS, INC. (THE
"PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER") (SEE BACK COVER FOR ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER).
    
<PAGE>

                     STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
                                    PART I

    The following  provides  information about the Fund and certain other series
of the Trust.


               INVESTMENT  OBJECTIVE,  POLICIES AND  RESTRICTIONS

    The investment  objective of the Fund, a diversified series of the Trust, is
to achieve  capital  growth.  The Fund currently seeks to achieve its investment
objective by investing its assets in the Growth Portfolio (the  "Portfolio"),  a
separate registered investment company with the same investment objective as the
Fund and  substantially  the same  investment  policies and  restrictions as the
Fund. The Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment  objective by investing in a
carefully selected and continuously  managed portfolio  consisting  primarily of
equity securities.

    The  Trustees  of the Trust may  withdraw  the  Fund's  investment  from the
Portfolio at any time, if they determine that it is in the best interests of the
Fund to do so. Upon any such withdrawal,  the Fund's assets would be invested in
another  investment  company with  substantially the same investment  objective,
policies  and  restrictions  as  those  of the Fund or  directly  in  investment
securities in accordance with the Portfolio's  investment policies, as described
below.  Except as indicated below, the approval of the Fund's shareholders would
not be required to change the Portfolio's  investment  policies discussed below,
including those concerning security transactions.

    The Portfolio's  investment policy is flexible, and the Portfolio may invest
in all kinds of  domestic  and  foreign  companies  in seeking  to  achieve  its
objective of capital  growth.  Income is  subordinate  to growth;  however,  the
Portfolio  will earn dividend or interest  income to the extent that it receives
dividends  or  interest  from  its  investments.  As  in  any  investment  which
fluctuates in value, the management of the Portfolio cannot,  of course,  assure
the  achievement of this objective or eliminate  risk. It is believed,  however,
that  through  broad and  selective  diversification  and through  informed  and
discriminating  investment  supervision,  the risks of investing will be reduced
and the shareholder's opportunities for a rewarding participation in the capital
growth sought by the Portfolio will be enhanced.

    It is the policy of the Portfolio to invest  primarily in equity  securities
(common stocks or securities  convertible into common stocks). The Portfolio may
also  invest  in  other  securities  and  obligations  of all  kinds,  including
preferred stocks, warrants,  rights, bonds, repurchase agreements,  money market
instruments and other  evidences of  indebtedness.  The Portfolio's  holdings of
debt securities, preferred stocks, short-term obligations or cash would normally
be employed to provide a reserve for future equity purchases or when the adviser
believes a more defensive investment posture is warranted.

    It is the  policy  of the  Portfolio  to  diversify  its  investments  among
industries  and  accordingly  no  investment  shall  be made  which  will  cause
investments  in any one  industry  to exceed 25% of the  Portfolio's  assets (at
market).

    While it is not the policy of the Portfolio to trade  actively in securities
for quick profits,  the management will dispose of securities  without regard to
the time  they  have  been  held if such  action  seems  advisable,  subject  to
satisfaction of certain tax requirements.

    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 United States securities laws.
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 Portfolio, political or financial instability or
diplomatic  and  other   developments   which  could  affect  such  investments.
Furthermore,  economies of particular countries or areas of the world may differ
favorably  or  unfavorably  from  the  economy  of  the  United  States.  It  is
anticipated that in most cases the best available market for foreign  securities
will be on  exchanges  or in  over-the-counter  markets  located  outside of the
United   States.   Foreign   stock   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 addition,  foreign brokerage commissions are generally higher
than  commissions  on  securities  traded  in  the  United  States  and  may  be
non-negotiable.  In general, there is less overall governmental  supervision and
regulation of foreign securities  markets,  broker-dealers,  and issuers than in
the United States.

    Since  investments  in companies  whose  principal  business  activities are
located  outside of the United  States will  frequently  involve  currencies  of
foreign countries,  and since assets of the Portfolio may temporarily be held in
bank  deposits  in  foreign  currencies  during  the  completion  of  investment
programs,  the value of the assets of the Portfolio as measured in U.S.  dollars
may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in foreign currency exchange
rates and exchange  control  regulations.  The Portfolio may conduct its foreign
currency  exchange  transactions  on a spot (i.e.,  cash) basis at the spot rate
prevailing  in the foreign  currency  exchange  market or through  entering into
contracts  to  purchase or sell  foreign  currencies  at a future date (i.e.,  a
"forward  foreign currency  exchange"  contract or "forward"  contract).  It may
convert  currency  on a spot basis from time to time,  and  investors  should be
aware of the costs of currency conversion.  Although foreign exchange dealers do
not  charge  a fee for  conversion,  they  do  realize  a  profit  based  on the
difference  (the  "spread")  between  the  prices at which  they are  buying and
selling various currencies.  Thus, a dealer may offer to sell a foreign currency
to the Portfolio at one rate,  while  offering a lesser rate of exchange  should
the Portfolio  desire to resell that currency to the dealer.  Forward  contracts
are traded in the interbank market  conducted  directly between currency traders
(usually  large  commercial  banks)  and their  customers.  A  forward  contract
generally  has no deposit  requirement,  and no  commissions  are charged at any
stage for trades.  When the Portfolio enters into a contract for the purchase or
sale of a security denominated in a foreign currency, it may desire to "lock in"
the U.S. dollar price of the security.  By entering into a forward  contract for
the  purchase  or sale,  for a fixed  amount of U.S.  dollars,  of the amount of
foreign currency involved in the underlying security transaction,  the Portfolio
will be able to protect itself against a possible loss resulting from an adverse
change in the  relationship  between  the U.S.  dollar and the  subject  foreign
currency  during the period  between the date the  security is purchased or sold
and the date on which payment is made or received.  Although a forward  contract
will  minimize  the risk of loss due to a  decline  in the  value of the  hedged
currency,  it also limits any potential gain which might result should the value
of such currency increase.

    As a matter of fundamental investment policy, the Fund may not:

(1) With respect to 75% of the total assets of the Fund, purchase the securities
of any issuer if such  purchase at the time thereof  would cause more than 5% of
its total assets  (taken at market  value) to be invested in the  securities  of
such issuer,  or purchase  securities of any issuer if such purchase at the time
thereof would cause more than 10% of the total voting  securities of such issuer
to be held by the Fund,  except  obligations  issued or  guaranteed  by the U.S.
Government,  its agencies or  instrumentalities  and except  securities of other
investment companies;

(2)  Borrow  money  or  issue  senior  securities  except  as  permitted  by the
Investment Company Act of 1940;

(3)  Purchase  securities  on margin  (but the Fund may obtain  such  short-term
credits  as may be  necessary  for  the  clearance  of  purchase  and  sales  of
securities);

(4) Underwrite or participate in the marketing of securities of others;

(5) Make an  investment  in any one  industry  if such  investment  would  cause
investments in such industry to exceed 25% of the Fund's total assets, at market
value at the time of such investment (other than securities issued or guaranteed
by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities);

(6) Purchase or sell real estate,  although it may purchase and sell  securities
which are secured by real estate and  securities  of  companies  which invest or
deal in real estate;

(7) Purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts for the purchase or sale
of physical commodities; or

(8) Make loans to any person except by (a) the  acquisition  of debt  securities
and making portfolio  investments (b) entering into repurchase agreements or (c)
lending portfolio securities.

    Notwithstanding  the investment  policies and  restrictions of the Fund, the
Fund  may  invest  all  of  its  investable  assets  in an  open-end  management
investment  company with substantially the same investment  objective,  policies
and restrictions as the Fund.

    The Fund will not issue bonds,  debentures or senior equity securities,  and
this policy will not be changed unless  authorized by a vote of the shareholders
of the Fund.

    The  Portfolio has adopted  substantially  the same  fundamental  investment
restrictions as the foregoing numbered  investment  restrictions  adopted by the
Fund; such restrictions cannot be changed without the approval of a "majority of
the  outstanding  voting  securities"  of the  Portfolio,  which as used in this
Statement  of  Additional  Information  means  the  lesser  of  (a)  67%  of the
outstanding  voting  securities of the Portfolio present or represented by proxy
at a  meeting  if the  holders  of  more  than  50% of  the  outstanding  voting
securities  of the Portfolio  are present or  represented  at the meeting or (b)
more than 50% of the outstanding  voting  securities of the Portfolio.  The term
"voting  securities"  as used in this  paragraph  has the same meaning as in the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"). Whenever the Trust is requested
to vote on a change in the investment  restrictions of the Portfolio,  the Trust
will hold a meeting of Fund shareholders and will cast its vote as instructed by
the shareholders.

    The Fund and the Portfolio  have each adopted the  following  nonfundamental
investment  policies  which  may be  changed  with  respect  to the  Fund by the
Trustees  of the Trust  without  approval by the Fund's  shareholders  or may be
changed with respect to the Portfolio by the Trustees of the  Portfolio  with or
without the approval of the Fund or the Portfolio's other investors. As a matter
of  nonfundamental  policy,  the Fund and the  Portfolio  may not:  (a) purchase
securities  of  companies  which,  including  predecessors,  have  not  been  in
continuous  operation  for at least  three  years,  except  that 5% of its total
assets  (taken at market  value) may be invested in such  companies and exempted
from this  restriction  are U.S.  Government  securities,  securities of issuers
which are  rated by at least  one  nationally  recognized  rating  organization,
municipal  obligations  and  obligations  issued or  guaranteed  by any  foreign
government or its agencies or  instrumentalities;  (b) purchase or retain in its
portfolio any securities  issued by an issuer any of whose officers,  directors,
trustees  or  security  holders  is an  officer  or  trustee of the Trust or the
Portfolio or is a member, officer, director or trustee of any investment adviser
of the Trust or the  Portfolio,  if after the purchase of the securities of such
issuer  by  the  Fund  or the  Portfolio  one  or  more  of  such  persons  owns
beneficially  more than 1/2 of 1% of the shares or securities or both (all taken
at market  value) of such issuer and such persons  owning more than 1/2 of 1% of
such shares or securities  together own beneficially more than 5% of such shares
or securities or both (all taken at market value);  (c) sell or contract to sell
any  security  which it does not own unless by virtue of its  ownership of other
securities it has at the time of sale a right to obtain securities equivalent in
kind and  amount  to the  securities  sold and  provided  that if such  right is
conditional the sale is made upon the same  conditions;  or (d) invest more than
15% of net assets in  investments  which are not readily  marketable,  including
restricted  securities  and  repurchase  agreements  maturing in more than seven
days.  Restricted  securities for the purposes of this limitation do not include
securities  eligible for resale  pursuant to Rule 144A of the  Securities Act of
1933 that the Board of Trustees of the Trust or the Portfolio,  or its delegate,
determine  to be  liquid,  based  upon  the  trading  markets  for the  specific
security.

    The Portfolio may purchase U.S. Government securities and concurrently enter
into  repurchase  agreements  with the seller  under which the seller  agrees to
repurchase  such  securities  at the  Portfolio's  cost plus  interest  within a
specified time (normally one day). While repurchase  agreements  involve certain
risks not associated with direct investments in U.S. Government securities,  the
Portfolio follows  procedures  designed to minimize such risks. These procedures
include effecting  repurchase  transactions  only with large,  well- capitalized
banks. In addition,  the Portfolio's repurchase agreements will provide that the
value of the collateral  underlying  the repurchase  agreement will always be at
least equal to the repurchase  price,  including any accrued  interest earned on
the repurchase  agreement.  In the event of a default or bankruptcy by a selling
bank,  the  Portfolio  will seek to  liquidate  such  collateral.  However,  the
exercise of the  Portfolio's  right to liquidate such  collateral  could involve
certain  costs or delays and, to the extent that  proceeds  from any sale upon a
default of the obligation to repurchase are less than the repurchase  price, the
Portfolio could suffer a loss.

    In order to permit  the sale of shares of the Fund in  certain  states,  the
Fund  may make  commitments  more  restrictive  than  the  fundamental  policies
described above. Should the Fund determine that any such commitment is no longer
in the best  interests  of the Fund and its  shareholders,  it will  revoke  the
commitment by terminating sales of its shares in the state(s) involved.


                            TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

   
    The Trustees and officers of the Trust and the  Portfolio  are listed below.
Except as indicated,  each individual has held the office shown or other offices
in the same  company  for the last  five  years.  Unless  otherwise  noted,  the
business  address of each  Trustee  and  officer is 24 Federal  Street,  Boston,
Massachusetts 02110, which is also the address of the Fund's investment adviser,
Boston  Management and Research ("BMR"),  which is a wholly-owned  subsidiary of
Eaton Vance  Management  ("Eaton Vance");  of Eaton Vance's parent,  Eaton Vance
Corp. ("EVC"); and of BMR's and Eaton Vance's trustee, Eaton Vance, Inc. ("EV").
Eaton Vance and EV are both wholly-owned subsidiaries of EVC. Those Trustees and
officers who are "interested  persons" of the Trust,  the Portfolio,  BMR, Eaton
Vance, EVC or EV as defined in the 1940 Act by virtue of their  affiliation with
any one or more of the Trust,  the Portfolio,  BMR, Eaton Vance,  EVC or EV, are
indicated by an asterisk (*).


                   TRUSTEES OF THE TRUST AND THE PORTFOLIO

JAMES B. HAWKES (53), President and Trustee*
Executive Vice President of BMR, Eaton Vance,  EVC and EV, and a Director of EVC
  and EV.  Director  or Trustee  and  officer of  various  investment  companies
  managed by Eaton Vance or BMR.

LANDON T. CLAY (69), Vice President and Trustee*
Chairman of BMR, Eaton Vance,  EVC and EV and a Director of EVC and EV. Director
  or Trustee and officer of various investment  companies managed by Eaton Vance
  or BMR.

PETER F. KIELY (58), Vice President and Trustee*
Vice  President of BMR,  Eaton Vance and EV.  Director or Trustee and officer of
  various  investment  companies  managed by Eaton Vance or BMR.  Mr.  Kiely was
  elected Trustee of the Trust on December 16, 1991.

DONALD R. DWIGHT (64), Trustee
President of Dwight  Partners,  Inc. (a corporate  relations and  communications
  company) founded in 1988;  Chairman of the Board of Newspapers of New England,
  Inc. since 1983.  Director or Trustee of various investment  companies managed
  by Eaton Vance or BMR.
Address: Clover Mill Lane, Lyme, New Hampshire 03768

SAMUEL L. HAYES, III (60), Trustee
Jacob J. Schiff Professor of Investment  Banking,  Harvard  University  Graduate
  School of Business  Administration.  Director or Trustee of various investment
  companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR.
Address: Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration, Soldiers
  Field Road, Boston, Massachusetts 02163

NORTON H. REAMER (59), Trustee
President and Director,  United Asset Management  Corporation (a holding company
  owning institutional  investment  management firms);  Chairman,  President and
  Director,  The Regis Fund, Inc. (mutual fund).  Director or Trustee of various
  investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR.
Address: One International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110

JOHN L. THORNDIKE (68), Trustee
Director of  Fiduciary  Company  Incorporated.  Director  or  Trustee of various
  investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR.
Address: 175 Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110

JACK L. TREYNOR (65), Trustee
Investment  Adviser and  Consultant.  Director or Trustee of various  investment
  companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR.
Address: 504 Via Almar, Palos Verdes Estates, California 90274

                   OFFICERS OF THE TRUST AND THE PORTFOLIO

M. DOZIER GARDNER (  ), Vice President*
President  and Chief  Executive  Officer of BMR,  Eaton  Vance,  EVC and EV, and
  Director of EVC and EV. Director or Trustee and officer of various  investment
  companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR.

JAMES L. O'CONNOR (50), Treasurer*
Vice  President  of BMR,  Eaton  Vance,  and EV.  Officer of various  investment
  companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR.

WILLIAM J. AUSTIN, JR. (43), Assistant Treasurer*
Assistant  Vice  President  of BMR,  Eaton  Vance  and EV.  Officer  of  various
  investment  companies  managed by Eaton Vance or BMR.  Mr.  Austin was elected
  Assistant Treasurer of the Trust on December 16, 1991.

THOMAS OTIS (63), Secretary*
Vice President and Secretary of BMR, Eaton Vance, EVC and EV. Officer of various
  investment companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR.

JANET E. SANDERS (59), Assistant Treasurer and Assistant Secretary*
Vice  President  of BMR,  Eaton  Vance and EV.  Officer  of  various  investment
  companies managed by Eaton Vance or BMR.

    Messrs.  Thorndike  (Chairman),  Hayes and Reamer are members of the Special
Committee  of the  Board of  Trustees  of the Trust  and of the  Portfolio.  The
Special  Committee's  functions  include  a  continuous  review  of the  Trust's
contractual  relationship with the  administrator,  the Portfolio's  contractual
relationship with the Investment Adviser, making recommendations to the Trustees
regarding the  compensation  of those  Trustees who are not members of the Eaton
Vance  organization,  and  making  recommendations  to  the  Trustees  regarding
candidates  to fill  vacancies,  as and when they  occur,  in the ranks of those
Trustees who are not "interested  persons" of the Trust,  the Portfolio,  or the
Eaton Vance organization.
    

    Messrs.  Treynor (Chairman) and Dwight are members of the Audit Committee of
the Board of Trustees of the Trust and of the Portfolio.  The Audit  Committee's
functions include making recommendations to the Trustees regarding the selection
of the  independent  accountants,  and reviewing with such  accountants  and the
Treasurer of the Trust and of the Portfolio  matters  relative to accounting and
auditing  practices and  procedures,  accounting  records,  internal  accounting
controls, and the functions performed by the custodian and transfer agent of the
Trust and of the Portfolio.

   
    Trustees of the Portfolio who are not affiliated with the Investment Adviser
may  elect to defer  receipt  of all or a  percentage  of their  annual  fees in
accordance with the terms of a Trustees Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Plan").
Under the Plan, an eligible Trustee may elect to have his deferred fees invested
by the Portfolio in the shares of one or more funds in the Eaton Vance Family of
Funds,  and the amount paid to the  Trustees  under the Plan will be  determined
based upon the  performance of such  investments.  Deferral of Trustees' fees in
accordance  with the Plan  will  have a  negligible  effect  on the  Portfolio's
assets,  liabilities,  and net  income  per  share,  and will not  obligate  the
Portfolio to retain the services of any Trustee or obligate the Portfolio to pay
any particular level of compensation to the Trustee.

    The fees and  expenses of those  Trustees of the Trust and of the  Portfolio
who are not  members of the Eaton Vance  organization  are paid by the Fund (and
other series of the Trust) and the Portfolio, respectively. For the compensation
earned by the Trustees of the Trust and the  Portfolio,  see "Fees and Expenses"
in Part II of this Statement of Additional Information.
    

                     INVESTMENT ADVISER AND ADMINISTRATOR

    The  Portfolio  engages  BMR  as  its  investment  adviser  pursuant  to  an
Investment  Advisory  Agreement dated August 1, 1994. BMR or Eaton Vance acts as
investment   adviser  to  investment   companies  and  various   individual  and
institutional clients with combined assets under management of approximately $15
billion.

    Eaton Vance, its affiliates and its predecessor companies have been managing
assets of  individuals  and  institutions  since  1924 and  managing  investment
companies  since 1931.  They maintain a large staff of experienced  fixed-income
and equity  investment  professionals  to service the needs of its clients.  The
fixed-income  division  focuses  on all kinds of  taxable  investment-grade  and
high-yield  securities,  tax-exempt  investment-grade and high-yield securities,
and U.S. Government  securities.  The equity division covers stocks ranging from
blue chip to emerging growth companies.

    BMR manages the  investments  and  affairs of the  Portfolio  subject to the
supervision of the Portfolio's Board of Trustees. BMR furnishes to the Portfolio
investment research, advice and supervision, furnishes an investment program and
determines what securities will be purchased,  held or sold by the Portfolio and
what portion,  if any, of the Portfolio's  assets will be held  uninvested.  The
Investment  Advisory  Agreement requires BMR to pay the salaries and fees of all
officers and Trustees of the Portfolio  who are members of the BMR  organization
and all personnel of BMR performing services relating to research and investment
activities.  The Portfolio is responsible for all expenses not expressly  stated
to be payable by BMR under the Investment Advisory Agreement, including, without
implied limitation, (i) expenses of maintaining the Portfolio and continuing its
existence,  (ii)  registration  of the  Portfolio  under  the  1940  Act,  (iii)
commissions, fees and other expenses connected with the acquisition, holding and
disposition of securities and other investments,  (iv) auditing,  accounting and
legal expenses,  (v) taxes and interest,  (vi) governmental fees, (vii) expenses
of issue, sale and redemption of interests in the Portfolio,  (viii) expenses of
registering  and qualifying  the Portfolio and interests in the Portfolio  under
Federal and state  securities  laws and of preparing  and printing  registration
statements or other  offering  statements or memoranda for such purposes and for
distributing  the same to investors,  and fees and expenses of  registering  and
maintaining  registrations  of the  Portfolio and of the  Portfolio's  placement
agent as  broker-dealer  or agent under state  securities laws, (ix) expenses of
reports  and  notices  to  investors  and of  meetings  of  investors  and proxy
solicitations  therefor,  (x) expenses of reports to  governmental  officers and
commissions,  (xi) insurance expenses, (xii) association membership dues, (xiii)
fees,  expenses  and  disbursements  of  custodians  and  subcustodians  for all
services to the Portfolio  (including without  limitation  safekeeping of funds,
securities and other investments,  keeping of books,  accounts and records,  and
determination of net asset values, book capital account balances and tax capital
account  balances),  (xiv) fees,  expenses and disbursements of transfer agents,
dividend  disbursing  agents,  investor  servicing agents and registrars for all
services  to  the  Portfolio,  (xv)  expenses  for  servicing  the  accounts  of
investors, (xvi) any direct charges to investors approved by the Trustees of the
Portfolio, (xvii) compensation and expenses of Trustees of the Portfolio who are
not members of BMR's  organization,  and (xviii) such non-recurring items as may
arise,  including  expenses incurred in connection with litigation,  proceedings
and claims and the  obligation  of the  Portfolio  to  indemnify  its  Trustees,
officers and investors with respect thereto.

   
    Under the Investment  Advisory Agreement with the Portfolio,  BMR receives a
monthly  advisory fee of 5/96 of 1% (equivalent  to 0.625%  annually) of average
daily net assets of the Portfolio up to and including $300 million,  and 1/24 of
1%  (equivalent  to 1/2 of 1% annually) of average  monthly net assets over $300
million.  As at February 28, 1995, the Portfolio had net assets of $122,817,547.
For the six months  ended  February  28, 1995,  BMR  received  advisory  fees of
$384,275  (equivalent  to 0.63% of the  Portfolio's  average net assets for such
period).  For  additional  information  about  the fees  paid to the  Investment
Adviser,  see "Fees and  Expenses" in Part II of this  Statement  of  Additional
Information.


    The Investment  Advisory Agreement with BMR remains in effect until February
28,  1996.  It  may  be  continued  indefinitely  thereafter  so  long  as  such
continuance  after  February  28, 1996 is approved at least  annually (i) by the
vote of a majority  of the  Trustees  of the  Portfolio  who are not  interested
persons  of the  Portfolio  or of BMR cast in person  at a meeting  specifically
called  for the  purpose  of  voting on such  approval  and (ii) by the Board of
Trustees of the  Portfolio  or by vote of a majority of the  outstanding  voting
securities of the Portfolio. The Agreement may be terminated at any time without
penalty on sixty days'  written  notice by the Board of Trustees of either party
or by  vote  of  the  majority  of  the  outstanding  voting  securities  of the
Portfolio,  and the Agreement will terminate  automatically  in the event of its
assignment.  The Agreement  provides that BMR may render  services to others and
may permit other fund clients and other  corporations  and  organizations to use
the words "Eaton Vance" or "Boston  Management and Research" in their names. The
Agreement  also  provides  that BMR shall not be liable for any loss incurred in
connection with the performance of its duties,  or action taken or omitted under
that  Agreement,  in the  absence  of  willful  misfeasance,  bad  faith,  gross
negligence  in the  performance  of its  duties  or by  reason  of its  reckless
disregard of its obligations and duties thereunder,  or for any losses sustained
in the acquisition, holding or disposition of any security or other investment.

    As indicated in the Prospectus,  Eaton Vance serves as  administrator of the
Fund, but receives no compensation for providing  administrative services to the
Fund.  Under its  agreement  with the Fund,  Eaton  Vance  has been  engaged  to
administer the Fund's affairs, subject to the supervision of the Trustees of the
Trust,  and shall furnish for the use of the Fund office space and all necessary
office facilities,  equipment and personnel for administering the affairs of the
Fund.

    The Fund pays all of its own expenses  including,  without  limitation,  (i)
expenses of maintaining the Fund and continuing its existence, (ii) registration
of the Trust  under the 1940 Act,  (iii)  commissions,  fees and other  expenses
connected  with the purchase or sale of securities and other  investments,  (iv)
auditing,   accounting  and  legal  expenses,  (v)  taxes  and  interest,   (vi)
governmental fees, (vii) expenses of issue,  sale,  repurchase and redemption of
shares,  (viii)  expenses of registering  and qualifying the Fund and its shares
under  federal  and  state   securities  laws  and  of  preparing  and  printing
prospectuses for such purposes and for distributing the same to shareholders and
investors, and fees and expenses of registering and maintaining registrations of
the Fund and of the Fund's  principal  underwriter,  if any, as broker-dealer or
agent  under  state  securities  laws,  (ix)  expenses of reports and notices to
shareholders and of meetings of shareholders and proxy  solicitations  therefor,
(x) expenses of reports to governmental officers and commissions, (xi) insurance
expenses,   (xii)  association   membership  dues,  (xiii)  fees,  expenses  and
disbursements  of  custodians  and  subcustodians  for all  services to the Fund
(including  without  limitation  safekeeping  of  funds,  securities  and  other
investments,  keeping  of books  and  accounts  and  determination  of net asset
values),  (xiv) fees,  expenses and  disbursements of transfer agents,  dividend
disbursing agents,  shareholder servicing agents and registrars for all services
to the Fund, (xv) expenses for servicing shareholder accounts,  (xvi) any direct
charges  to  shareholders   approved  by  the  Trustees  of  the  Trust,  (xvii)
compensation  and  expenses  of Trustees of the Trust who are not members of the
Eaton Vance  organization,  and (xviii) such  non-recurring  items as may arise,
including  expenses  incurred in connection  with  litigation,  proceedings  and
claims and the  obligation  of the Trust to indemnify  its Trustees and officers
with respect thereto.
    

    A commitment has been made to a state securities  authority that Eaton Vance
will take certain  actions,  if necessary,  so that the Fund's expenses will not
exceed  expense  limitation  requirements  of such state.  The commitment may be
amended or rescinded  by Eaton Vance in response to changes in the  requirements
of the state or for other reasons.

   
    BMR is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eaton Vance. Eaton Vance and EV are both
wholly-owned  subsidiaries  of EVC.  BMR and Eaton Vance are both  Massachusetts
business trusts,  and EV is the trustee of BMR and Eaton Vance. The Directors of
EV are Landon T. Clay, H. Day Brigham,  Jr., M. Dozier Gardner,  James B. Hawkes
and Benjamin A.  Rowland,  Jr. The  Directors of EVC consist of the same persons
and John G. L.  Cabot and  Ralph Z.  Sorenson.  Mr.  Clay is  chairman,  and Mr.
Gardner is president and chief executive  officer,  of EVC, BMR, Eaton Vance and
EV. All of the issued and outstanding  shares of Eaton Vance and of EV are owned
by EVC.  All of the  issued  and  outstanding  shares  of BMR are owned by Eaton
Vance. All shares of the outstanding Voting Common Stock of EVC are deposited in
a Voting Trust,  which expires  December 31, 1996, the Voting  Trustees of which
are Messrs. Brigham, Clay, Gardner, Hawkes and Rowland. The Voting Trustees have
unrestricted  voting  rights for the  election of  Directors  of EVC. All of the
outstanding  voting trust  receipts  issued under said Voting Trust are owned by
certain  of the  officers  of BMR and  Eaton  Vance  who are  also  officers  or
Directors of EVC and EV. As of February 28, 1995, 1994,  Messrs.  Clay,  Gardner
and Hawkes each owned 24% of such voting trust receipts, and Messrs. Rowland and
Brigham owned 15% and 13%, respectively,  of such voting trust receipts. Messrs.
Clay,  Gardner,  Hawkes and Otis,  who are officers or Trustees of the Trust and
the Portfolio,  are members of the EVC, Eaton Vance,  BMR and EV  organizations.
Messrs. Austin, Kiely and O'Connor and Ms. Sanders are officers of the Trust and
the  Portfolio  and  all  are  also  members  of the  BMR,  Eaton  Vance  and EV
organizations.  BMR will  receive  the fees paid under the  Investment  Advisory
Agreement.

    Eaton Vance owns all of the stock of Energex  Corporation,  which is engaged
in oil and gas operations.  EVC owns all of the stock of Marblehead Energy Corp.
(which  engages in oil and gas  operations)  and 77.3% of the stock of Investors
Bank & Trust  Company,  the  Custodian  of the  Fund  and the  Portfolio,  which
provides custodial, trustee and other fiduciary services to investors, including
individuals, employee benefit plans, corporations, investment companies, savings
banks and other institutions.  In addition, Eaton Vance owns all of the stock of
Northeast  Properties,  Inc.,  which  is  engaged  in  real  estate  investment,
consulting and management. EVC owns all of the stock of Fulcrum Management, Inc.
and  MinVen,  Inc.,  which are  engaged in the  development  of  precious  metal
properties. EVC, BMR, Eaton Vance and EV may also enter into other businesses.

    EVC and its affiliates and its officers and employees from time to time have
transactions  with various  banks,  including  the custodian of the Fund and the
Portfolio,  Investors Bank & Trust Company. It is Eaton Vance's opinion that the
terms and conditions of such transactions were not and will not be influenced by
existing or potential custodial or other  relationships  between the Fund or the
Portfolio and such banks.

                                  CUSTODIAN

    Investors  Bank  &  Trust  Company  ("IBT"),  24  Federal  Street,   Boston,
Massachusetts,  (a 77.3% owned subsidiary of EVC) acts as custodian for the Fund
and the Portfolio.  IBT has the custody of all cash and securities  representing
the Fund's interest in the Portfolio, has custody of all the Portfolio's assets,
maintains the general  ledger of the  Portfolio  and the Fund,  and computes the
daily net asset value of interests in the  Portfolio  and the net asset value of
shares of the Fund. In such  capacity it attends to details in  connection  with
the  sale,  exchange,   substitution,   transfer  or  other  dealings  with  the
Portfolio's investments,  receives and disburses all funds, and performs various
other ministerial  duties upon receipt of proper  instructions from the Fund and
the Portfolio.  IBT charges fees which are believed to be competitive within the
industry.  A portion of the fee relates to  custody,  bookeeping  and  valuation
services and is based upon a percentage  of Fund and  Portfolio net assets and a
portion  of the fee  relates  to  activity  charges,  primarily  the  number  of
portfolio  transactions.  These  fees are  then  reduced  by a  credit  for cash
balances of the particular  investment  company at the custodian equal to 75% of
the 91-day, U.S. Treasury Bill auction rate applied to the particular investment
company's  average  daily  collected  balances  for  the  week.  In  view of the
ownership of EVC in IBT, the Portfolio is treated as a  self-custodian  pursuant
to Rule 17f-2 under the 1940 Act, and the Portfolio's investments held by IBT as
custodian  are  thus  subject  to  additional  examinations  by the  Portfolio's
independent  auditors  as called  for by such  Rule.  For the six  months  ended
February 28, 1995, the Portfolio paid IBT $37,310. For the custody fees that the
Fund paid to IBT,  see  "Fees  and  Expenses"  in Part II of this  Statement  of
Additional Information.


                            SERVICE FOR WITHDRAWAL

    By a  standard  agreement,  the  Trust's  Transfer  Agent  will  send to the
shareholder regular monthly or quarterly payments of any designated amount based
upon the  value  of the  shares  held.  The  checks  will be  drawn  from  share
redemptions  and hence are a return of principal.  Income  dividends and capital
gain  distributions  in connection with withdrawal  accounts will be credited at
net  asset  value  as of  the  record  date  for  each  distribution.  Continued
withdrawals  in excess of  current  income  will  eventually  use up  principal,
particularly in a period of declining market prices.

    To use this  service,  at  least  $5,000  in cash or  shares  at the  public
offering  price  will  have  to  be  deposited  with  the  Transfer  Agent.  The
maintenance of a withdrawal plan  concurrently with purchases of additional Fund
shares would be  disadvantageous  because of the sales  charge  included in such
purchases.  A shareholder  may not have a withdrawal  plan in effect at the same
time he or she has authorized  Bank Automated  Investing or is otherwise  making
regular purchases of Fund shares. Either the shareholder,  the Transfer Agent or
the Principal  Underwriter  will be able to terminate the withdrawal plan at any
time without penalty.

                       DETERMINATION  OF NET ASSET  VALUE

    The net asset value of the shares of the Fund is determined by IBT (as agent
and custodian for the Fund) in the manner  described under "Valuing Fund Shares"
in the Fund's current Prospectus.  The Fund and the Portfolio will be closed for
business  and will  not  price  their  respective  shares  or  interests  on the
following business holidays: New Year's Day, President's Day, Good Friday (a New
York  Stock  Exchange  holiday),  Memorial  Day,  Independence  Day,  Labor Day,
Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

    Each investor in the Portfolio, including the Fund, may add to or reduce its
investment  in the  Portfolio  on each  day the New  York  Stock  Exchange  (the
"Exchange")  is open for trading  ("Portfolio  Business Day") as of the close of
regular trading on the Exchange (the "Portfolio  Valuation Time").  The value of
each investor's  interest in the Portfolio will be determined by multiplying the
net asset value of the  Portfolio  by the  percentage,  determined  on the prior
Portfolio Business Day, which represented that investor's share of the aggregate
interests in the Portfolio on such prior day. Any additions or  withdrawals  for
the  current  Portfolio  Business  Day will then be  recorded.  Each  investor's
percentage of the aggregate interest in the Portfolio will then be recomputed as
a percentage equal to a fraction (i) the numerator of which is the value of such
investor's investment in the Portfolio as of the Portfolio Valuation Time on the
prior  Portfolio  Business Day plus or minus,  as the case may be, the amount of
any additions to or withdrawals from the investor's  investment in the Portfolio
on the current  Portfolio  Business Day and (ii) the denominator of which is the
aggregate net asset value of the Portfolio as of the Portfolio Valuation Time on
the prior  Portfolio  Business Day plus or minus, as the case may be, the amount
of the net  additions to or  withdrawals  from the  aggregate  investment in the
Portfolio  on  the  current  Portfolio  Business  Day by  all  investors  in the
Portfolio.  The  percentage so determined  will then be applied to determine the
value of the  investor's  interest in the  Portfolio  for the current  Portfolio
Business Day.

                            INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE

    Total return is computed by calculating the rates of return over 1, 5 and 10
year  periods  on  a  $1,000  investment  and  determining  the  average  annual
compounded total return.  The calculation  assumes that all dividend and capital
gain  distributions are reinvested at net asset value on the reinvestment  dates
during the period. For information  concerning the total return of the Fund, see
"Performance   Information"   in  Part  II  of  this   Statement  of  Additional
Information.
    

    The Fund's yield is computed pursuant to a standardized  formula by dividing
its net investment  income per share earned during a recent thirty-day period by
the maximum offering price (including the maximum sales charge) per share on the
last day of the period and  annualizing  the resulting  figure.  Net  investment
income  per  share  is  calculated  from  the  yields  to  maturity  of all debt
obligations  held by the Portfolio based on the market value of such obligations
and from  dividends  from  equity  securities  based  on  stated  annual  rates,
exclusive of special or extra  distributions,  reduced by accrued Fund  expenses
for the period,  with the  resulting  number being  divided by the average daily
number of shares  outstanding and entitled to receive  distributions  during the
period.  Yield calculations  assume a maximum sales charge equal to 4.75% of the
public  offering  price.  Actual  yield may be affected by  variations  in sales
charges on investments.

    The Fund's  total  return may be  compared to the  Consumer  Price Index and
various domestic  securities indices,  for example:  Standard & Poor's 400 Stock
Index,  Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index,  Merrill Lynch U.S. Treasury (15-year
plus) Index, Lehman Brothers  Government/Corporate Bond Index, and the Dow Jones
Industrial  Average.  The Fund's total return and comparisons with these indices
may be used  in  advertisements  and in  information  furnished  to  present  or
prospective shareholders.

   
    Information used in advertisements and in materials  furnished to present or
prospective  shareholders may include  statistics,  data and performance studies
prepared by independent  organizations,  (e.g. Ibbotson  Associates,  Standard &
Poor's Ratings Group,  Merrill Lynch, Pierce,  Fenner & Smith, Inc.,  Bloomberg,
L.P., Dow Jones & Company,  Inc., and The Federal  Reserve Board) or included in
various  publications  (e.g. The Wall Street  Journal,  Barron's and The Decade:
Wealth of Investments in U.S. Stocks,  Bonds, Bills & Inflation)  reflecting the
investment  performance  or return  achieved  by  various  classes  and types of
investments  (e.g.,  common stocks,  small company stocks,  long-term  corporate
bonds,  long-term  government  bonds,  intermediate-term  government bonds, U.S.
Treasury bills) over various  periods of time.  This  information may be used to
illustrate the benefits of long-term investments in common stocks.


    From time to time,  information about the portfolio  allocation and holdings
of the Portfolio may be included in advertisements  and other material furnished
to present and prospective shareholders.


    The Portfolio's asset allocation on February 28, 1995,  was as follows:

                                                    PERCENT OF NET ASSETS
                                                    ---------------------
  U.S. common stocks                                        87.0%
  Cash & equivalents                                         3.8%
                                                            -----
      Total                                                  100%

    The  Portfolio's  ten largest  common  stock  holdings on February 28, 1995,
were:

  COMPANY                                           PERCENT OF NET ASSETS
  -------                                           ---------------------
  American International Group                               3.8%
  Reuters Holdings PLC                                       3.8%
  MGIC Investment                                            3.3%
  Tele-Communications Class A                                3.2%
  Andarko Petroleum Corp.                                    3.2%
  Home Depot                                                 3.1%
  Sofamor/Denek Group, Inc.                                  3.1%
  Astra AB Free Shares                                       3.1%
  Loctite Corp.                                              3.0%
  Illinois Tool Works, Inc.                                  2.9%
                                                            ----
      Total                                                 32.5%

    From time to time, evaluations of the Fund's performance made by independent
sources  (e.g.,  Lipper  Analytical   Services,   Inc.,   CDA/Wiesenberger   and
Morningstar, Inc.) may be used in advertisements and in information furnished to
present or prospective shareholders. See "Performance Information" in Part II of
this Statement of Additional Information.

    Information used in advertisements and in materials furnished to present and
prospective shareholders may include statements or illustrations relating to the
appropriateness of types of securities and/or mutual funds which may be employed
to meet specific financial goals, such as (1) funding retirement, (2) paying for
children's education,  and (3) financially supporting aging parents. These three
financial  goals may be referred to in such  advertisements  or materials as the
"Triple Squeeze."

                                    TAXES

    See   "Distributions  and  Taxes"  in  the  Fund's  current  Prospectus  and
"Additional Tax Matters" in Part II of this Statement of Additional Information.

    Each series of the Trust is treated as a separate  entity for Federal income
tax purposes. The Fund will elect to be treated and intends to qualify each year
as a regulated  investment  company ("RIC") under the Internal Revenue Code (the
"Code").  Accordingly, the Fund intends to satisfy certain requirements relating
to sources of its income and diversification of its assets and to distribute its
net  investment  income and net realized  capital gains in  accordance  with the
timing  requirements  imposed by the Code, so as to avoid any Federal  income or
excise tax to the Fund.  Because the Fund  invests its assets in the  Portfolio,
the  Portfolio  normally  must  satisfy  the  applicable  source of  income  and
diversification  requirements  in  order  for the  Fund  to  satisfy  them.  The
Portfolio will allocate at least  annually  among its  investors,  including the
Fund, the Portfolio's net investment income, net realized capital gains, and any
other items of income,  gain, loss, deduction or credit. The Portfolio will make
allocations to the Fund in accordance  with the Code and applicable  regulations
and will make  moneys  available  for  withdrawal  at  appropriate  times and in
sufficient   amounts  to  enable  the  Fund  to  satisfy  the  tax  distribution
requirements that apply to the Fund and that must be satisfied in order to avoid
Federal  income  and/or  excise tax on the Fund.  For  purposes of applying  the
requirements  of the Code  regarding  qualification  as a RIC,  the Fund will be
deemed (i) to own its proportionate share of each of the assets of the Portfolio
and (ii) to be entitled to the gross  income of the  Portfolio  attributable  to
such share.

    In  order to avoid  Federal  excise  tax,  the Code  requires  that the Fund
distribute  by December 31 of each  calendar  year at least 98% of its  ordinary
income (not including  tax-exempt income) for such year, and at least 98% of the
excess of its realized  capital gains over its realized  capital  losses,  after
reduction by any available  capital loss  carryforwards,  and 100% of any income
from the prior year (as  previously  computed) that was not paid out during such
year and on which the Fund was not taxed.  Further,  current law,  provided that
the Fund qualifies as a RIC for Federal income tax purposes and the Portfolio is
treated as a partnership for Massachusetts and Federal tax purposes, neither the
Fund nor the Portfolio is liable for any income,  excise or franchise tax in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
    

    Foreign  exchange  gains and losses  realized by the Portfolio in connection
with investments in foreign  securities and forward  contracts may be treated as
ordinary income and losses under special tax rules. Certain forward contracts of
the Portfolio may be required to be marked to market (i.e., treated as if closed
out) on the last day of each taxable  year,  and any gain or loss  realized with
respect to these  contracts  may be required to be treated as 60%  long-term and
40% short-term  gain or loss.  Positions of the Portfolio in foreign  securities
and offsetting forward contracts may be treated as "straddles" and be subject to
other  special  rules that may  affect  the  amount,  timing  and  character  of
Portfolio  distributions to  shareholders.  The Portfolio will limit its foreign
currency   hedging   activities   to  the  extent   necessary  to  preserve  its
qualification as a regulated investment company.

    The  Portfolio may be subject to foreign  withholding  taxes with respect to
income on certain foreign  securities.  These taxes may be reduced or eliminated
under the terms of an applicable U.S.  income tax treaty.  As it is not expected
that more than 50% of the value of the  total  assets of the Fund,  taking  into
account its allocable share of the Portfolio's total assets, at the close of any
taxable  year  of  the  Fund  will  consist  of  securities  issued  by  foreign
corporations,  the Fund will not be  eligible  to pass  through to  shareholders
their  proportionate  share  of any  foreign  taxes  paid by the  Portfolio  and
allocated to the Fund, with the result that shareholders of the Fund will not be
entitled to take any foreign tax credits or deductions for foreign taxes paid by
the Portfolio and  allocated to the Fund.  Certain uses of foreign  currency and
investment by the Portfolio in certain  "passive foreign  investment  companies"
may be limited or a tax election may be made,  if  available,  in order to avoid
imposition of a tax on the Fund.

    A portion of distributions made by the Fund which are derived from dividends
received by the Portfolio from domestic  corporations  and allocated to the Fund
may  qualify  for  the  dividends-received   deduction  for  corporations.   The
dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders is reduced to the extent
the shares of the Fund with  respect to which the  dividends  are  received  are
treated as  debt-financed  under the Federal income tax law and is eliminated if
the  shares  are  deemed to have been  held for less  than 46 days.  Receipt  of
certain  distributions  qualifying  for the deduction may result in reduction of
the tax basis of the corporate shareholder's shares.

    Distributions  of the  excess  of  net  long-term  capital  gains  over  net
short-term  capital losses  (including  any capital losses carried  forward from
prior years)  earned by the  Portfolio  and allocated to the Fund are taxable to
shareholders of the Fund as long-term capital gains, whether received in cash or
in additional shares and regardless of the length of time their shares have been
held. Certain distributions  declared in October,  November or December and paid
the following  January will be taxed to  shareholders as if received on December
31 of the year in which they are declared.

    Distributions of the Fund (including a portion of any distributions eligible
for  the  dividends-received   deduction)  may  give  rise  to  or  increase  an
alternative  minimum tax for  individuals  and  corporations  depending upon the
shareholder's particular tax situation.

    Any loss realized upon the redemption or exchange of shares of the Fund with
a tax holding period of 6 months or less will be treated as a long-term  capital
loss to the  extent of any  distribution  of net  long-term  capital  gains with
respect to such shares.

    Special tax rules apply to Individual Retirement Accounts ("IRAs") and other
retirement plans and persons  investing  through such plans should consult their
tax advisers for more information.  The deductibility of such  contributions may
be restricted or eliminated for particular shareholders.

   
    Amounts paid by the Fund to individuals and certain other  shareholders  who
have not provided the Fund with their correct taxpayer identification number and
certain required  certifications,  as well as shareholders  with respect to whom
the Fund has  received  notification  from the  Internal  Revenue  Service  or a
broker,  may be subject to "backup"  withholding  of Federal income tax from the
Fund's dividends and  distributions  and the proceeds of redemptions  (including
repurchases  and  exchanges)  at  a  rate  of  31%.  An  individual's   taxpayer
identification number is generally his or her social security number.


    Non-resident  alien  individuals and certain foreign  corporations and other
foreign entities  generally will be subject to a U.S.  withholding tax at a rate
of 30% on the Fund's  distributions  from its ordinary  income and the excess of
its net short-term  capital gain over its net long-term capital loss, unless the
tax is reduced or eliminated by an applicable tax treaty. Distributions from the
excess of the Fund's net long-term capital gain over its net short-term  capital
loss  received  by such  shareholders  and  any  gain  from  the  sale or  other
disposition of shares of the Fund generally will not be subject to U.S.  Federal
income taxation,  provided that non-resident  alien status has been certified by
the  shareholder.  Different U.S. tax consequences may result if the shareholder
is engaged in a trade or business in the United States, is present in the United
States for a sufficient  period of time during a taxable year to be treated as a
U.S. resident, or fails to provide any required certifications  regarding status
as a non-resident alien investor.  Foreign shareholders should consult their tax
advisers regarding the U.S. and foreign tax consequences of an investment in the
Fund.
    

    The foregoing  discussion does not address the special tax rules  applicable
to certain classes of investors,  such as retirement plans, tax-exempt entities,
insurance  companies and financial  institutions.  Shareholders  should  consult
their own tax advisers with respect to special tax rules that may apply in their
particular  situations,  as well as the state, local or foreign tax consequences
of investing in the Fund.

                       PORTFOLIO SECURITY TRANSACTIONS

    Decisions concerning the execution of portfolio security transactions of the
Portfolio, including the selection of the market and the broker-dealer firm, are
made by BMR. BMR is also  responsible for the execution of transactions  for all
other accounts managed by it.

    BMR places  the  security  transactions  of the  Portfolio  and of all other
accounts managed by it for execution with many broker-dealer firms. BMR uses its
best efforts to obtain  execution of portfolio  transactions at prices which are
advantageous to the Portfolio and (when a disclosed commission is being charged)
at reasonably competitive commission rates. In seeking such execution,  BMR will
use its best judgment in evaluating  the terms of a  transaction,  and will give
consideration to various relevant factors, including without limitation the size
and type of the transaction,  the general execution and operational capabilities
of the  broker-dealer,  the nature and character of the market for the security,
the confidentiality, speed and certainty of effective execution required for the
transaction, the reputation,  reliability, experience and financial condition of
the   broker-dealer,   the  value  and  quality  of  services  rendered  by  the
broker-dealer in other  transactions,  and the reasonableness of the commission,
if  any.  Transactions  on  United  States  stock  exchanges  and  other  agency
transactions  involve  the  payment by the  Portfolio  of  negotiated  brokerage
commissions.  Such commissions vary among different  broker-dealer  firms, and a
particular  broker-dealer  may charge  different  commissions  according to such
factors as the difficulty and size of the transaction and the volume of business
done with such broker-dealer. Transactions in foreign securities usually involve
the payment of fixed  brokerage  commissions,  which are  generally  higher than
those in the United States.  There is generally no stated commission in the case
of  securities  traded in the  over-the-counter  markets,  but the price paid or
received by the  Portfolio  usually  includes an  undisclosed  dealer  markup or
markdown.  In an  underwritten  offering the price paid by the  Portfolio  often
includes a disclosed fixed commission or discount retained by the underwriter or
dealer.  Although  commissions paid on portfolio security  transactions will, in
the  judgment of BMR,  be  reasonable  in relation to the value of the  services
provided,  commissions  exceeding  those which  another firm might charge may be
paid to  broker-dealers  who were selected to execute  transactions on behalf of
the  Portfolio  and BMR's  other  clients in part for  providing  brokerage  and
research services to BMR.

    As  authorized in Section  28(e) of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, a
broker or dealer who executes a portfolio transaction on behalf of the Portfolio
may receive a commission which is in excess of the amount of commission  another
broker or dealer  would have  charged  for  effecting  that  transaction  if BMR
determines in good faith that such  commission was reasonable in relation to the
value of the brokerage and research services provided. This determination may be
made on the basis of either that  particular  transaction or on the basis of the
overall  responsibilities  which BMR and its  affiliates  have for accounts over
which they exercise investment discretion. In making any such determination, BMR
will not attempt to place a specific  dollar value on the brokerage and research
services  provided or to  determine  what  portion of the  commission  should be
related to such services.  Brokerage and research services may include advice as
to the value of securities,  the  advisability of investing in,  purchasing,  or
selling securities,  and the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers
of securities;  furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers,  industries,
securities,  economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy and the performance
of accounts;  and effecting  securities  transactions  and performing  functions
incidental  thereto  (such  as  clearance  and  settlement);  and the  "Research
Services" referred to in the next paragraph.

    It is a common practice in the investment advisory industry for the advisers
of investment  companies,  institutions and other investors to receive research,
statistical  and  quotation  services,  data,  information  and other  services,
products and materials  which assist such advisers in the  performance  of their
investment responsibilities ("Research Services") from broker-dealer firms which
execute  portfolio  transactions for the clients of such advisers and from third
parties with which these broker-dealers have arrangements.  Consistent with this
practice,  BMR receives  Research  Services from many  broker-dealer  firms with
which BMR places the  Portfolio  transactions  and from third parties with which
these  broker-dealers  have  arrangements.  These Research Services include such
matters as general  economic and market reviews,  industry and company  reviews,
evaluations   of  securities   and  portfolio   strategies   and   transactions,
recommendations  as to the purchase and sale of securities  and other  portfolio
transactions,  financial, industry and trade publications,  news and information
services,  pricing and quotation  equipment and services,  and research oriented
computer hardware,  software,  data bases and services.  Any particular Research
Service obtained  through a broker-dealer  may be used by BMR in connection with
client  accounts  other  than  those  accounts  which  pay  commissions  to such
broker-dealer.  Any such Research  Service may be broadly useful and of value to
BMR in rendering investment advisory services to all or a significant portion of
its  clients,  or may be  relevant  and  useful for the  management  of only one
client's  account  or of a few  clients'  accounts,  or may be  useful  for  the
management  of merely a segment  of certain  clients'  accounts,  regardless  of
whether  any such  account or accounts  paid  commissions  to the  broker-dealer
through which such Research  Service was obtained.  The advisory fee paid by the
Portfolio  is not reduced  because BMR  receives  such  Research  Services.  BMR
evaluates  the nature and  quality of the  various  Research  Services  obtained
through  broker-dealer firms and attempts to allocate sufficient  commissions to
such  firms to ensure  the  continued  receipt of  Research  Services  which BMR
believes are useful or of value to it in rendering  investment advisory services
to its clients.

    Subject to the  requirement  that BMR shall use its best  efforts to seek to
execute Portfolio security transactions at advantageous prices and at reasonably
competitive  commission  rates or spreads,  BMR is  authorized  to consider as a
factor in the selection of any broker-dealer firm with whom Portfolio orders may
be placed the fact that such firm has sold or is  selling  shares of the Fund or
of other investment  companies  sponsored by BMR or Eaton Vance.  This policy is
not inconsistent with a rule of the National  Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc.,  which rule  provides  that no firm  which is a member of the  Association
shall favor or disfavor the distribution of shares of any particular  investment
company or group of investment  companies on the basis of brokerage  commissions
received or expected by such firm from any source.

   
    Securities   considered  as  investments  for  the  Portfolio  may  also  be
appropriate for other investment accounts managed by BMR or its affiliates.  BMR
will attempt to allocate  equitably  portfolio  security  transactions among the
Portfolio and the portfolios of its other investment accounts whenever decisions
are made to purchase or sell securities by the Portfolio and one or more of such
other accounts simultaneously.  In making such allocations,  the main factors to
be considered are the respective investment objectives of the Portfolio and such
other  accounts,  the  relative  size  of  portfolio  holdings  of the  same  or
comparable securities,  the availability of cash for investment by the Portfolio
and such  accounts,  the size of investment  commitments  generally  held by the
Portfolio  and such  accounts  and the opinions of the persons  responsible  for
recommending  investments  to  the  Portfolio  and  such  accounts.  While  this
procedure  could  have a  detrimental  effect  on the  price  or  amount  of the
securities  available to the  Portfolio  from time to time, it is the opinion of
the Trustees of the Trust and the Portfolio that the benefits available from the
BMR  organization  outweigh  any  disadvantage  that may arise from  exposure to
simultaneous transactions.  For the period from the start of business, August 2,
1994,  to the period ended  February  28, 1995,  the  Portfolio  paid  brokerage
commissions of $ on portfolio  securities  transactions.  Of the total brokerage
commissions paid,  approximately $ was paid in respect of portfolio transactions
aggregating  approximately  $ to firms which provided some research  services to
Eaton  Vance  (although  many  of such  firms  may  have  been  selected  in any
particular transaction primarily because of their execution capabilities).


                              OTHER INFORMATION

    On August 18, 1992 the Trust  changed its name from Eaton Vance  Growth Fund
to Eaton  Vance  Growth  Trust.  The  Trust is a  Massachusetts  business  trust
established  in 1989 as the  successor  to Eaton  Vance  Growth  Fund,  Inc.,  a
Massachusetts  corporation,  which changed its name from Vance,  Sanders  Common
Stock Fund,  Inc. on November 16, 1981. Such name was changed from Boston Common
Stock Fund, Inc. on December 29, 1972. It was originally organized as a Canadian
corporation  in 1954, at which time it was known as Canada General Fund Limited.
Eaton Vance,  pursuant to its agreement with the Trust,  controls the use of the
words "Eaton  Vance" in the Fund's name and may use the words  "Eaton  Vance" in
other connections and for other purposes.
    

    As permitted by  Massachusetts  law,  there will  normally be no meetings of
shareholders for the purpose of electing  Trustees unless and until such time as
less than a majority  of the  Trustees  of the Trust  holding  office  have been
elected by shareholders.  In such an event the Trustees then in office will call
a shareholders'  meeting for the election of Trustees.  Except for the foregoing
circumstances  and unless  removed by action of the  shareholders  in accordance
with the Trust's  by-laws,  the Trustees  shall  continue to hold office and may
appoint successor Trustees.

    The  Trust's  by-laws  provide  that no person  shall  serve as a Trustee if
shareholders  holding two-thirds of the outstanding shares have removed him from
that office either by a written  declaration filed with the Trust's custodian or
by votes cast at a meeting called for that purpose.  The by-laws further provide
that under certain circumstances the shareholders may call a meeting to remove a
Trustee and that the Trust is required to provide  assistance  in  communicating
with shareholders about such a meeting.

    The  Trust's  Declaration  of Trust  may be  amended  by the  Trustees  when
authorized  by vote of a majority of the  outstanding  voting  securities of the
Trust affected by the amendment.  The Trustees may also amend the Declaration of
Trust  without  the vote or  consent of  shareholders  to change the name of the
Trust or to make such other changes as do not have a materially  adverse  effect
on the rights or  interests  of  shareholders  or if they deem it  necessary  to
conform the  Declaration  to the  requirements  of  applicable  Federal  laws or
regulations.  The  Trust's  by-laws  provide  that the Fund will  indemnify  its
Trustees and officers  against  liabilities and expenses  incurred in connection
with any litigation or proceeding in which they may be involved because of their
offices  with the Trust.  However,  no  indemnification  will be provided to any
Trustee or officer for any liability to the Trust or its  shareholders by reason
of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the
duties involved in the conduct of his office.

   
    Under  Massachusetts law, if certain conditions  prevail,  shareholders of a
Massachusetts  business  trust  (such  as the  Trust)  could be  deemed  to have
personal  liability  for  the  obligations  of the  Trust.  Numerous  investment
companies  registered  under  the 1940 Act have  been  formed  as  Massachusetts
business trusts, and management is not aware of an instance where such liability
has  been  imposed.  The  Trust's  Declaration  of  Trust  contains  an  express
disclaimer  of  liability on the part of the Fund  shareholders  and the Trust's
By-laws  provide  that the Trust shall  assume the defense on behalf of any Fund
shareholders. Moreover, the Trust's By-laws also provide for indemnification out
of the property of the Fund 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.  The assets of the Fund are  readily  marketable  and will
ordinarily  substantially exceed its liabilities.  In light of the nature of the
Fund's  business  and the nature of its  assets,  management  believes  that the
possibility  of the Fund's  liability  exceeding  its assets,  and therefore the
shareholder's risk of personal liability, is extremely remote.
    

    In accordance  with the  Declaration of Trust of the  Portfolio,  there will
normally be no meetings of the  investors  for the purpose of electing  Trustees
unless  and until  such time as less than a  majority  of the  Trustees  holding
office  have been  elected by  investors.  In such an event the  Trustees of the
Portfolio  then in office will call an  investors'  meeting for the  election of
Trustees. Except for the foregoing circumstances and unless removed by action of
the investors in  accordance  with the  Portfolio's  Declaration  of Trust,  the
Trustees shall continue to hold office and may appoint successor Trustees.

    The  Declaration  of Trust of the  Portfolio  provides  that no person shall
serve as a Trustee if investors holding  two-thirds of the outstanding  interest
have removed him from that office either by a written declaration filed with the
Portfolio's custodian or by votes cast at a meeting called for that purpose. The
Declaration  of Trust  further  provides that under  certain  circumstances  the
investors  may call a  meeting  to remove a Trustee  and that the  Portfolio  is
required to provide  assistance in  communicating  with  investors  about such a
meeting.

   
    The right to redeem  shares of the Fund can be suspended  and the payment of
the  redemption  price  deferred  when the  Exchange  is closed  (other than for
customary  weekend and holiday  closings),  during  periods  when trading on the
Exchange is restricted as determined by the Securities and Exchange  Commission,
or  during  any  emergency  as  determined  by the  Commission  which  makes  it
impracticable  for the  Portfolio  to  dispose  of its  securities  or value its
assets,  or during any other period permitted by order of the Commission for the
protection of investors.


                   INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

    Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., One Post Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts,
are the independent accountants for the Fund and the Portfolio,  providing audit
services,  tax return preparation,  and assistance and consultation with respect
to the preparation of filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
    

    For the financial  statements  of the Fund and the Portfolio see  "Financial
Statements" in Part II of this Statement of Additional Information.





<PAGE>

                     STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

                                   PART II
   
    This Part II provides  information  about EV Classic  Growth Fund.  The Fund
became a series of the Trust on July 27, 1994.

                              FEES AND EXPENSES
ADMINISTRATOR

    As stated under  "Investment  Adviser and  Administrator"  in Part I of this
Statement of Additional Information,  the Administrator receives no compensation
for providing administrative services to the Fund. For the period from the start
of  business,  November 7, 1994,  to  February  28,  1995,  $3,984 of the Fund's
operating  expenses were allocated on a preliminary basis to the  Administrator.


DISTRIBUTION PLAN

    The  Distribution  Plan and  Distribution  Agreement  remain in effect until
April 28, 1996 and may be continued as described  under  "Distribution  Plan" in
the Prospectus. Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, the Plan has been approved by the Fund's
initial sole shareholder (Eaton Vance) and by the Board of Trustees of the Trust
as required by Rule 12b-1.  For the period from the start of business,  November
7, 1994, to February 28, 1995, the Fund accrued sales commission  payments under
the Plan aggregating $518, of which $453 was paid to the Principal  Underwriter.

The Principal Underwriter paid $239 as sales commissions to Authorized Firms and
the balance was retained by the Principal Underwriter.  As at February 28, 1995,
the  outstanding  uncovered  distribution  charges of the Principal  Underwriter
calculated  under the Plan amounted to  approximately  $48,504 (which amount was
equivalent  to 6.1% of the Fund's net assets on such day).  For the period  from
the start of business,  November 7, 1994, to February 28, 1995, the Fund accrued
service fee payments under the Plan aggregating  $173, of which $151 was paid to
the Principal  Underwriter.  The Principal  Underwriter  paid $80 as service fee
payments  to  Authorized  Firms and the balance  was  retained by the  Principal
Underwriter.

PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER

    For the period from the start of business, November 7, 1994, to February 28,
1995, the Fund paid no repurchase transaction fees to the Principal Underwriter.

CUSTODIAN

    For the period from the start of business, November 7, 1994, to February 28,
1995, the Fund paid IBT $583.

<TABLE>
TRUSTEES

     The fees and expenses of those Trustees of the Trust and of the Portfolio who are not members of
the  Eaton  Vance  organization  are paid by the Fund (and the other  series  of the  Trust)  and the
Portfolio, respectively. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 1994, the Trustees from the Fund and
the Portfolio  earned the following  compensation in their  capacities as Trustees from the Fund and,
during the year ended December 31, 1994,  earned the following  compensation  in their  capacities as
Trustees of the other funds in the Eaton Vance fund complex<F1>:

<CAPTION>
                                         AGGREGATE           RETIREMENT         TOTAL COMPENSATION
                                       COMPENSATION       BENEFIT ACCRUED         FROM TRUST AND
NAME                                    FROM FUND        FROM FUND COMPLEX         FUND COMPLEX
                                     ----------------  ---------------------  ----------------------
<S>                                     <C>                   <C>                    <C>     
Donald R. Dwight  .................     $ -- 0 --             $8,750                 $135,000
Samuel L. Hayes, III ..............       -- 0 --              8,865                  142,500
Norton H. Reamer ..................       -- 0 --             -- 0 --                 135,000
John L. Thorndike .................       -- 0 --             -- 0 --                 140,000
Jack L. Treynor ...................       -- 0 --             -- 0 --                 140,000
---------
<FN>
<F1>The Eaton Vance fund complex consists of 201 registered investment companies or series thereof.
</TABLE>

                            PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER

    Under the Distribution Agreement the Principal Underwriter acts as principal
in selling shares of the Fund. The expenses of printing  copies of  prospectuses
used to  offer  shares  to  Authorized  Firms or  investors  and  other  selling
literature and of advertising  is borne by the Principal  Underwriter.  The fees
and expenses of qualifying and registering and  maintaining  qualifications  and
registrations of the Fund and its shares under Federal and state securities laws
is borne by the Fund.  In  addition,  the Fund makes  payments to the  Principal
Underwriter pursuant to its Distribution Plan as described in the Fund's current
Prospectus; the provisions of the plan relating to such payments are included in
the Distribution Agreement.  The Distribution Agreement is renewable annually by
the Trust's Board of Trustees  (including a majority of its Trustees who are not
interested  persons  of the Trust and who have no direct or  indirect  financial
interest in the operation of the Fund's  Distribution  Plan or the  Distribution
Agreement),  may be  terminated on sixty days' notice either by such Trustees or
by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or on six
months' notice by the Principal Underwriter and is automatically terminated upon
assignment.  The  Principal  Underwriter  distributes  Fund  shares  on a  "best
efforts"  basis  under which it is required to take and pay for only such shares
as may be sold.
    

    The Fund has  authorized  Eaton Vance  Distributors,  Inc.  (the  "Principal
Underwriter")  to act as its agent in  repurchasing  shares at the rate of $2.50
for each  repurchase  transaction  handled  by the  Principal  Underwriter.  The
Principal  Underwriter  estimates that the expenses  incurred by it in acting as
repurchase agent for the Fund will exceed the amounts paid therefor by the Fund.

   
                              DISTRIBUTION PLAN

    The  Distribution  Plan ("the Plan") is described in the  Prospectus  and is
designed to meet the requirements of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act and the sales
charge rule of the National  Association of Securities Dealers,  Inc. (the "NASD
Rule").  The purpose of the Plan is to compensate the Principal  Underwriter for
its  distribution  services  and  facilities  provided to the Fund by paying the
Principal  Underwriter  sales  commissions  and a separate  distribution  fee in
connection with sales of Fund shares.  The following  supplements the discussion
of the Plan contained in the Fund's Prospectus.

    In  calculating  daily  the  amount  of  uncovered   distribution   charges,
distribution  charges will include the aggregate amount of sales commissions and
distribution   fees   theretofore  paid  plus  the  aggregate  amount  of  sales
commissions and distribution fees which the Principal Underwriter is entitled to
be paid under the Plan since its inception. Payments theretofore paid or payable
under the Plan by the Fund to the Principal  Underwriter and contingent deferred
sales charges  theretofore paid or payable to the Principal  Underwriter will be
subtracted from such distribution  charges; if the result of such subtraction is
positive,  a distribution  fee (computed at 1% over the prime rate then reported
in The Wall Street  Journal) will be computed on such amount and added  thereto,
with  the  resulting  sum  constituting  the  amount  of  outstanding  uncovered
distribution  charges  with  respect  to such day.  The  amount  of  outstanding
uncovered  distribution charges of the Principal  Underwriter  calculated on any
day does not constitute a liability recorded on the financial  statements of the
Fund.

    It is anticipated that the Eaton Vance organization will profit by reason of
the  operation  of the Plan  through an increase in the Fund's  assets  (thereby
increasing the advisory fee payable to BMR by the Portfolio) resulting from sale
of Fund  shares and  through  the  amounts  paid to the  Principal  Underwriter,
including  contingent  deferred sales  charges,  pursuant to the Plan. The Eaton
Vance organization may be considered to have realized a profit under the Plan if
at any point in time the aggregate amounts theretofore received by the Principal
Underwriter  under the Plan and from  contingent  deferred  sales  charges  have
exceeded  the  total  expenses  theretofore  incurred  by such  organization  in
distributing shares of the Fund. Total expenses for this purpose will include an
allocable  portion of the  overhead  costs of such  organization  and its branch
offices,   which  costs  will  include  without   limitation   leasing  expense,
depreciation  of building and equipment,  utilities,  communication  and postage
expense, compensation and benefits of personnel, travel and promotional expense,
stationery  and supplies,  literature  and sales aids,  interest  expense,  data
processing  fees,  consulting and temporary help costs,  insurance,  taxes other
than income taxes, legal and auditing expense and other  miscellaneous  overhead
items.  Overhead is calculated and allocated for such purpose by the Eaton Vance
organization in a manner deemed equitable to the Fund.

    The amount of uncovered distribution charges of the Principal Underwriter at
any particular time depends upon various changing  factors,  including the level
and timing of sales of Fund shares, the nature of such sales (i.e., whether they
result from  exchange  transactions,  reinvestments  or from cash sales  through
Authorized Firms), the level and timing of redemptions of Fund shares upon which
a  contingent  deferred  sales  charge will be imposed,  the level and timing of
redemptions  of Fund shares upon which no contingent  deferred sales charge will
be imposed (including  redemptions involving exchanges of Fund shares for shares
of another  fund in the Eaton Vance  Classic  Group of Funds  which  result in a
reduction of uncovered  distribution  charges),  changes in the level of the net
assets of the Fund, and changes in the interest rate used in the  calculation of
the distribution fee under the Plan. (For shares sold prior to January 30, 1995,
Plan  payments are as follows:  the  Principal  Underwriter  pays monthly  sales
commissions  and  service  fee  payments  to  Authorized   Firms  equivalent  to
approximately .75% and .25%,  respectively,  annualized of the assets maintained
in the Fund by their  customers  beginning at the time of sale. No payments were
made at the time of sale and there is no contingent  deferred sales charge.) For
the sales  commission  payments made by the Fund and the  outstanding  uncovered
distribution  charges of the  Principal  Underwriter,  see "Fees and Expenses --
Distribution  Plan"  in Part  II.  The  Plan  also  authorizes  the Fund to make
payments of service fees. For additional information concerning the service fee,
see "Fees and Expenses -- Distribution Plan" in Part II.

    Under the Plan the President or a Vice  President of the Trust shall provide
to the  Trustees  for  their  review,  and the  Trustees  shall  review at least
quarterly,  a  written  report  of the  amount  expended  under the Plan and the
purposes for which such  expenditures  were made. The Plan may not be amended to
increase  materially  the payments  described  therein  without  approval of the
shareholders  of the Fund, and all material  amendments of the Plan must also be
approved by the  Trustees  as required by Rule 12b-1.  So long as the Plan is in
effect,  the selection and nomination of Trustees who are not interested persons
of the Trust shall be  committed to the  discretion  of the Trustees who are not
such interested persons.

    The Trustees of the Trust believe that the Plan will be a significant factor
in the  expected  growth of the  Fund's  assets,  and will  result in  increased
investment  flexibility  and  advantages  which  will  benefit  the Fund and its
shareholders.  Payments for sales  commissions and distribution fees made to the
Principal  Underwriter under the Plan will compensate the Principal  Underwriter
for its services and expenses in  distributing  shares of the Fund.  Service fee
payments made to the Principal  Underwriter and Authorized  Firms under the Plan
provide incentives to provide continuing  personal services to investors and the
maintenance of shareholder  accounts.  By providing  incentives to the Principal
Underwriter  and  Authorized  Firms,  the  Plan is  expected  to  result  in the
maintenance of, and possible future growth in, the assets of the Fund.  Based on
the  foregoing  and other  relevant  factors,  the  Trustees  of the Trust  have
determined that in their judgment there is a reasonable likelihood that the Plan
will benefit the Fund and its shareholders.

                            PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

     The  tables  below  indicate  the  total  return   (capital   changes  plus
reinvestment of all distributions) on a hypothetical investment of $1,000 in the
Fund covering the life of the Fund from  November 27, 1994 through  February 28,
1995.
<TABLE>

                                                   VALUE OF A $1,000 INVESTMENT
<CAPTION>

                                          VALUE OF
                                          INVESTMENT       VALUE OF
                                          BEFORE           INVESTMENT
                                          DEDUCTING THE    AFTER                 TOTAL RETURN BEFORE        TOTAL RETURN AFTER
                                          CONTINGENT       DEDUCTING THE              DEDUCTING                 DEDUCTING
                                          DEFERRED         CONTINGENT          THE CONTINGENT DEFERRED   THE CONTINGENT DEFERRED
                                          SALES            DEFERRED SALES            SALES CHARGE             SALES CHARGE<F2>
 INVESTMENT     INVESTMENT    AMOUNT OF   CHARGE           CHARGE<F2>           -----------------------   -----------------------
   PERIOD          DATE      INVESTMENT   ON 02/28/95      ON 02/28/95          CUMULATIVE   ANNUALIZED    CUMULATIVE   ANNUALIZED
-------------  ------------  -----------  ---------------  --------------       ----------   ----------    ----------  -----------
<S>            <C>           <C>          <C>              <C>                  <C>          <C>           <C>         <C>
Life of the
Fund<F1>          11/07/94      $1,000       $1,037.00       $1,027.00<F3>         3.70%        --          2.70%<F3>      --


                                             PERCENTAGE CHANGES 11/07/94 -- 02/28/95


<CAPTION>
                                NET ASSET VALUE TO NET ASSET VALUE                    NET ASSET VALUE TO NET ASSET VALUE
                             BEFORE DEDUCTING THE CONTINGENT DEFERRED              AFTER DEDUCTING THE CONTINGENT DEFERRED
                          SALES CHARGE WITH ALL DISTRIBUTIONS REINVESTED       SALES CHARGE<F2> WITH ALL DISTRIBUTIONS REINVESTED
PERIOD                    ----------------------------------------------       --------------------------------------------------
ENDED                     ANNUAL      CUMULATIVE      AVERAGE ANNUAL              ANNUAL        CUMULATIVE      AVERAGE ANNUAL
------                    ------      ----------      --------------              ------        ----------      --------------
<S>                       <C>         <C>             <C>                      <C>              <C>             <C>
02/28/95                   --          3.70%<F3>           --                       --           2.70%<F3>            --


     Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investment return and
principal value will fluctuate; shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less
than their original cost.

---------
<FN>
<F1>Investment operations began on November 7, 1994.

<F2>No contingent deferred sales charge is imposed on shares purchased more than
    one year prior to the redemption,  shares acquired  through the reinvestment
    of  dividends  and  distributions,  and any  appreciation  in value of other
    shares in the  account,  and no such charge is imposed on  exchanges of Fund
    shares for shares of one or more other funds  listed  under "The Eaton Vance
    Exchange Privilege" in the Prospectus.

<F3>If a portion of the Fund's expenses had not been subsidized,  the Fund would
    have had lower returns.

</TABLE>


                            ADDITIONAL TAX MATTERS

    The Fund  intends  to elect to be  treated  and to  qualify  as a  regulated
investment company under the Code for its fiscal year ending August 31, 1995.

              CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

    As of February 28, 1995, the Trustees and officers of the Trust, as a group,
owned in the aggregate less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. As of
February  28,  1995,  Eaton Vance owned 15.7% of the  outstanding  shares of the
Fund;  Eaton  Vance  is  a  Massachusetts  business  trust  and  a  wholly-owned
subsidiary of EVC. In addition,  the following  shareholders  owned beneficially
and of record the percentages of outstanding  shares of the Fund indicated after
their  names:  Frontier  Trust  Co.,  FBO  D&F  Corporation,  401(k)  Savings  &
Retirement Plan, c/o The Barclay Group, Ambler, PA (51.1%);  Frontier Trust Co.,
FBO  Frontier  Trust Co.,  FBO Caddell Dry Dock & Repair Co.,  401(k)  Savings &
Retirement Plan, c/o The Barclay Group,  Ambler,  PA (9.1%);  and Frontier Trust
Co., FBO Alliance  Systems,  Inc.,  401(k) Savings and Retirement  Plan, c/o The
Barclay Group,  Ambler,  PA (8.7%).  To the Trust's  knowledge,  no other person
owned of record or beneficially 5% or more of the Fund's  outstanding  shares on
such date.
    


<PAGE>
                            EV CLASSIC GROWTH FUND
                             FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                     STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        February 28, 1995 (Unaudited)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASSETS:
  Investment in Growth Portfolio (Portfolio), at value (Note 1A)    $794,749
  Receivable from administrator (Note 6)                               3,984
  Deferred organization expenses (Note 1D)                            35,622
                                                                    --------
      Total assets                                                  $834,355
LIABILITIES:
  Payable to affiliate --custodian fee                     $    83
  Accrued organization expense                              37,995
  Accrued expenses                                             352
                                                           -------
      Total liabilities                                               38,430
                                                                    --------
NET ASSETS for 76,743 shares of beneficial interest outstanding     $795,925
                                                                    ========
SOURCES OF NET ASSETS:
  Proceeds from sales of shares, less cost of shares
    redeemed                                                        $776,360
  Accumulated net realized loss on investments                        (2,657)
  Undistributed net investment income                                     35
  Unrealized appreciation of investments                              22,187
                                                                    --------
      Total net assets                                              $795,925
                                                                    ========
NET ASSET VALUE, OFFERING AND REDEMPTION PRICE PER SHARE
  ($795,925 / 76,743 shares of beneficial interest outstanding)      $10.37


    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements

<PAGE>
                           STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the period from the start of business, November 7, 1994, to February 28,
                               1995 (Unaudited)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT INCOME (NOTE 1B):
  Interest income allocated from Portfolio                            $   207
  Dividend income allocated from Portfolio                                824
  Expenses allocated from Portfolio                                      (387)
                                                                      -------
      Total investment income                                         $   644
  Expenses --
    Distribution and service fees (Note 4)                 $    691
    Custodian fees (Note 5)                                     583
    Registration fees                                            50
    Amortization or organization expenses (Note 1D)           2,373
    Transfer agent fees                                          30
    Miscellaneous                                               866
                                                           --------
      Total expenses                                          4,593
    Deduct -- Preliminary allocation of expenses by
      administrator (Note 6)                                  3,984
                                                           --------
      Net expenses                                                        609
                                                                      -------
        Net investment income                                         $    35
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) FROM PORTFOLIO:
  Net realized loss on investments (identified cost
    basis)                                                 $ (2,657)
  Change in unrealized appreciation of investments           22,187
                                                           --------
        Net realized and unrealized gain on investments                19,530
                                                                      -------
          Net increase in net assets resulting from operations        $19,565
                                                                      =======


    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements

<PAGE>

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

                      STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the period from the start of business, November 7, 1994, to February 28,
                               1995 (Unaudited)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS:
  From operations --
    Net investment income                                            $     35
    Net realized loss from Portfolio                                   (2,657)
    Unrealized appreciation from Portfolio                             22,187
                                                                     --------
      Net increase in net assets from operations                     $ 19,565
                                                                     --------
  Net increase in net assets from Fund share transactions (Note 2)    776,350
                                                                     --------
      Net increase in net assets                                      795,915
NET ASSETS:
  At beginning of period                                                   10
                                                                     --------
  At end of period                                                   $795,925
                                                                     ========


    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements

<PAGE>
                             FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the period from the start of business, November 7, 1994, to February 28,
                               1995 (Unaudited)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (for a share outstanding throughout the period)

NET ASSET VALUE -- Beginning of period                               $  10.000
                                                                     ---------
  Income from investment operations:
    Net investment income                                            $   0.001
    Net realized and unrealized gain
      on investments                                                     0.369
                                                                     ---------
      Total income from investment
        operations                                                       0.370
                                                                     ---------
NET ASSET VALUE -- End of period                                     $  10.37
                                                                     =========
TOTAL RETURN**                                                           3.70%

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA (to average
daily net assets):*
  Expenses\1/                                                            1.41%+
  Net investment income                                                  0.05%+
  NET ASSETS AT END OF PERIOD (000'S
    OMITTED)                                                          $   796

*The expenses  related to the  operation of the Fund  reflect an  allocation  of
 expenses to the  administrator.  Had such action not been taken, net investment
 income per share and the ratios would have been as follows:

RATIOS (to average daily net assets)
  Expenses\1/                                                           7.05 %+
  Net investment loss                                                  (5.59)%+

\1/ Includes the Fund's share of Growth Portfolio's allocated expenses.
 
 ** Total return is calculated assuming a purchase at the net asset value on the
    first day and a sale at the net asset  value on the last day of each  period
    reported. Dividends and distributions,  if any, are assumed to be reinvested
    at the net asset  value on the  record  date.
  + Computed  on an  annualized basis.


    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements

<PAGE>

                         NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                  (UNAUDITED)

(1) SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
EV Classic Growth Fund (the Fund) is a diversified  series of Eaton Vance Growth
Trust  (the  Trust).  The  Trust is an entity  of the type  commonly  known as a
Massachusetts  business trust and is registered under the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended,  as an open-end  management  investment  company.  The Fund
invests all of its investable  assets in interests in the Growth  Portfolio (the
Portfolio),  a New York Trust, having the same investment objective as the Fund.
The  value  of the  Fund's  investment  in the  Portfolio  reflects  the  Fund's
proportionate interest in the net assets of the Portfolio (0.65% at February 28,
1995).  The  performance of the Fund is directly  affected by the performance of
the  Portfolio.  The  financial  statements  of  the  Portfolio,  including  the
portfolio of  investments,  are included  elsewhere in this report and should be
read in conjunction  with the Fund's  financial  statements.  The following is a
summary of significant  accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund in
the preparation of its financial statements. The policies are in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles.

A.  INVESTMENT  VALUATIONS  --  Valuations  of  securities  by the  Portfolio is
discussed in Note 1 of the Portfolio's  Notes to Financial  Statements which are
included elsewhere in this report.

B. INCOME -- The Fund's net  investment  income  consists of the Fund's pro rata
share of the net investment income of the Portfolio, less all actual and accrued
expenses of the Fund determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles.

C. FEDERAL  TAXES -- The Fund's  policy is to comply with the  provisions of the
Internal  Revenue Code  applicable  to  regulated  investment  companies  and to
distribute to shareholders  each year all of its taxable  income,  including any
net realized gain on  investments,  option and financial  futures  transactions.
Accordingly, no provision for federal income or excise tax is necessary.

D. DEFERRED  ORGANIZATION  EXPENSES -- Costs  incurred by the Fund in connection
with its organization are being amortized on the  straight-line  basis over five
years beginning on the date the Fund commenced operations.

E.  OTHER  --  Investment  transactions  are  accounted  for  on  the  date  the
investments are purchased or sold. Distributions to shareholders are recorded on
the  ex-dividend  date.  Dividend  income may include  dividends  that represent
returns of capital for federal tax purposes.

F. DISTRIBUTION COSTS -- For book purposes, commissions paid on the sale of Fund
shares and other distribution costs are charged to operations. For tax purposes,
commissions  paid were charged to paid-in capital prior to November 23, 1994 and
subsequently  charged to operations.  The change in the tax accounting  practice
was prompted by a recent  Internal  Revenue  Service ruling and has no effect on
either the Fund's current yield or total return (Note 5).

G.  DISTRIBUTIONS  --  Generally  accepted  accounting  principles  require that
differences in the recognition or classification of income between the financial
statements   and  tax   earnings   and  profits   which   result  in   temporary
over-distributions   for  financial  statement   purposes,   are  classified  as
distributions  in excess of net investment  income or  accumulated  net realized
gains.

H. INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION -- The interim financial statements relating to
February  28,  1995 and for the  period  then  ended  have not been  audited  by
independent  certified  public  accountants,  but in the  opinion  of the Fund's
management,  reflect  all  adjustments,  consisting  only  of  normal  recurring
adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of the financial statements.
<PAGE>

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
The  Declaration  of Trust permits the Trustees to issue an unlimited  number of
full  and  fractional  shares  of  beneficial   interest  (without  par  value).
Transactions  in Fund shares from the start of  business,  November 7, 1994,  to
February 28, 1995 were as follows:

                                                  SHARES        AMOUNT
                                                  -------      --------- 
Sales                                              76,851       $777,427
Issued to shareholders electing to receive
  payment of distribution in Fund shares             --             --
Redemptions                                         (108)        (1,077)
                                                 -------       --------  
    Net increase                                  76,743       $776,350
                                                 =======       ========  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS
Increases  and decreases in the Fund's  investment  in the Portfolio  aggregated
$777,427 and $2,862, respectively.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(4) DISTRIBUTION PLAN
The Fund has adopted a  Distribution  Plan (the  "Plan")  pursuant to Rule 12b-1
under the Investment  Company Act of 1940. The Plan requires the Fund to pay the
principal  underwriter,  Eaton Vance Distributors,  Inc. (EVD), amounts equal to
1/365th  of  0.75%  of the  Fund's  daily  net  assets,  for  providing  ongoing
distribution  services and facilities to the Fund.  The Fund will  automatically
discontinue  payments to EVD during any period in which there are no outstanding
Uncovered  Distribution Charges, which are equivalent to the sum of (i) 6.25% of
the  aggregate   amount  received  by  the  Fund  for  shares  sold  plus,  (ii)
distribution  fees  calculated  by applying  the rate of 1% over the  prevailing
prime rate to the outstanding balance of Uncovered  Distribution Charges of EVD,
reduced  by amounts  theretofore  paid to EVD.  The  amount  payable to EVD with
respect  to each day is  accrued  on such day as a  liability  of the Fund  and,
accordingly, reduces the Fund's net assets. EVD earned $518 for the period ended
February 28, 1995,  representing 0.75% (annualized) of daily average net assets.
At  February  28,  1995,  the amount of  Uncovered  Distribution  Charges of EVD
calculated under the Plan was approximately $48,504.

  In addition, the Plan provides that the Fund may make payments of service fees
to the Principal Underwriter,  Authorized Firms and other persons in amounts not
exceeding 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets for each fiscal year. The
Trustees of the Fund have  initially  implemented  this provision of the Plan by
authorizing  the  Fund  to  make  payments  of  service  fees  to the  Principal
Underwriter,  Authorized Firms and other persons in each fiscal year of the Fund
in amounts  not  exceeding  0.25% (per  annum) of the Fund's  average  daily net
assets.  Provision  for service fee payments  for the period ended  February 28,
1995  amounted to $173.  Such payments  were made for personal  services  and/or
maintenance of shareholder accounts. Service fees are separate and distinct from
the sales  commissions and distribution fees payable by the Fund to EVD, and, as
such, are not subject to automatic  discontinuance when there are no outstanding
uncovered distribution charges of EVD.

  Certain officers and Trustees of the Fund are officers or directors of EVD.

<PAGE>
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(5) CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE
Shares purchased on or after January 30, 1995 and redeemed during the first year
after   purchase   (except  shares   acquired   through  the   reinvestment   of
distributions)  generally will be subject to a contingent  deferred sales charge
at a rate of one percent of redemption proceeds,  exclusive of all reinvestments
and capital  appreciation in the account. No contingent deferred sales charge is
imposed on exchanges  for shares of other funds in the Eaton Vance Classic Group
of  Funds or  Eaton  Vance  Money  Market  Fund  which  are  distributed  with a
contingent  deferred  sales charge.  EVD did not receive any CDSC for the period
ended February 28, 1995.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(6) TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
Eaton Vance Management  (EVM) serves only as the  administrator of the Fund, but
receives no  compensation.  The  Portfolio  has engaged  Boston  Management  and
Research (BMR), a subsidiary of EVM, to render investment advisory services. See
Note 2 of the  Portfolio's  Notes to  Financial  Statements  which are  included
elsewhere  in this  report.  To enhance  the net  income of the Fund,  $3,984 of
expenses  related to the operation of the Fund were allocated,  on a preliminary
basis,  to EVM.  Except as to Trustees of the Fund and the Portfolio who are not
members  of  EVM's  or  BMR's  organizations,   officers  and  Trustees  receive
remuneration for their services to the Fund out of such investment  adviser fee.
Investors Bank & Trust Company (IBT),  an affiliate of EVM,  serves as custodian
of the Fund and the Portfolio.  Pursuant to the respective custodian agreements,
IBT receives a fee reduced by credits which are determined  based on the average
cash  balances  the Fund or the  Portfolio  maintains  with IBT.  Certain of the
officers   and   Trustees  of  the  Fund  and   Portfolio   are   officers   and
directors/trustees of the above organizations.

<PAGE>
  
                                GROWTH PORTFOLIO
                            PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
                               FEBRUARY 28, 1995
                                  (UNAUDITED)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             COMMON STOCKS - 96.2%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  SHARES         VALUE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADVERTISING  - 1.3%
Omnicom Group, Inc.                               30,000      $  1,593,750
  The parent company of DDB Needham                           ------------
  Worldwide and BBDO  Worldwide, two full
  service advertising agency networks.

AUTOMOTIVE  - 2.0%
Bandag Inc.                                       42,000      $  2,520,000
  Dominates the domestic tire retread                         ------------
  market, selling through 600 franchised
  dealers, and has a growing presence in
  foreign markets.

BANKS  - 2.2%
Citicorp                                          60,000      $  2,700,000
  Operates the largest money center bank in                   ------------
  the  U.S. with a substantial worldwide
  presence.


BEVERAGES  - 4.3%
Coca-Cola Co.                                     60,000      $  3,300,000
  Manufactures soft drink concentrates and
  syrups that make Coca Cola and other
  brands including Minute Maid orange
  juice.

PepsiCo, Inc.                                     50,000         1,956,250
  Global soft drink producer with
  businesses in snack foods and fast food
  restaurants.
                                                              ------------
                                                              $  5,256,250
                                                              ------------
BROADCASTING  - 3.2%
Tele-Communications, Inc. Class A*               175,000      $  3,992,187
  The largest operator of cable television                    ------------
  systems in the U.S.

BUSINESS PRODUCTS AND SERVICES  - 5.3%
Reuters Holdings PLC ADR                         110,000      $  4,661,250
  Worldwide provider of proprietary
  financial data and information.
WMX Technologies, Inc.                            70,000         1,846,250
  World's largest provider of collection,
  disposal and remediation services for
  solid and hazardous waste.
                                                              ------------
                                                              $  6,507,500
                                                              ------------
CHEMICALS  - 6.3%
Corning Inc.                                      50,000      $  1,606,250
  A diversified manufacturer of
  sophisticated communications (fiber
  optics), ceramics (pollution control
  devices) and glass (TV screens,  automobile
  headlights,  cookwear and dishes)
  products and provider of medical 
  laboratory services.
Great Lakes Chemical Corp.                        40,000         2,405,000
  Specialty chemical manufacturer of a wide
  range of products including flame
  retardants, water treatments, fuel
  additives.
Loctite Corp.                                     80,000         3,680,000
  Manufacturer of adhesives for consumer
  and industrial markets.
                                                              ------------
                                                              $  7,691,250
                                                              ------------
COMPUTER EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES  - 7.9%
Automatic Data Processing, Inc.                   50,000      $  3,075,000
  The leading independent computing and
  payroll processing services firm in the
  U.S.
General Motors Corp. Class E                      60,000         2,302,500
  Stock represents participation in the
  Electronic Data Systems Division of
  General Motors. EDS designs, installs and
  operates  data processing and
  communications systems for GM and other
  customers.
Microsoft Corp.                                   25,000         1,575,000
  Dominant developer of microcomputer
  software for business and personal use.
Novell Inc.*                                     130,000         2,721,875
  Vendor of local area network operating
  systems that allow computers of any size
  and make to work  together.
                                                              ------------
                                                              $  9,674,375
                                                              ------------
DRUGS & HEALTH CARE SERVICES  - 8.3%
Astra AB A Free Shares                           150,000      $  3,775,965
  Swedish based international
  pharmaceutical firm with drugs for the
  control of ulcers and asthma.
Sofamor Danek Group, Inc.*                       182,000         3,799,250
  The dominant supplier of spinal implant
  devices used in surgical treatment of
  spinal diseases and deformities.
U.S. Healthcare, Inc.                             60,000         2,580,000
  Operator of health maintenance
  organizations serving the Mid-Atlantic,
  Greater New York and New England regions.
                                                              ------------
                                                              $ 10,155,215
                                                              ------------
ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENTATION  - 2.2%
Millipore Corp.                                   50,000      $  2,656,250
  Products use membrane separations                           ------------
  technology to analyze and purify fluids
  for a variety of high tech industries.

FINANCIAL SERVICES  - 6.7%
Federal National Mortgage Association             30,000      $  2,313,750
  U.S. Government sponsored mortgage lender
  and provider of secondary mortgage
  market.
Franklin Resources Inc.                           50,000         1,937,500
  Provides investment management and
  related services to a family of equity
  and fixed income mutual funds.
MGIC Investment Corp. Wisc.                      105,000         4,003,125
  The leading provider of private mortgage
  insurance coverage to U.S. banks and
  other mortgage suppliers.
                                                              ------------
                                                              $  8,254,375
                                                              ------------
FOOD  - 0.8%
Archer Daniels Midland Co.                        50,000      $    950,000
  Major factor in soybean processing, corn                    ------------
  refining and flour milling.

HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS  - 2.3%
Carnival Corp.                                   120,000      $  2,850,000
  Operator of large cruise ships plying the                   ------------
  Caribbean, Mediterranean, South Pacific
  and Alaska.

HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS  - 2.6%
Gillette Co.                                      40,000      $  3,165,000
  A global company with internationally                       ------------
  recognized brands in razors and blades,
  small appliances, cosmetics, dental and
  other consumer products.

INSURANCE  - 7.5%
American International Group, Inc.                45,000      $  4,668,750
  One of the world's leading insurance
  companies, operating in 130 countries.
Progressive Corp., Inc.                           50,000         1,943,750
  Underwriter of non-standard automobile
  and other specialty personal lines of
  insurance.
UNUM Corp.                                        60,000         2,550,000
  A writer of group long term disability
  insurance.
                                                              ------------
                                                              $  9,162,500
                                                              ------------
MACHINERY  - 2.9%
Illinois Tool Works Inc.                          80,000      $  3,590,000
  Manufacturer of industrial components and                   ------------
  other specialty products and equipment.

METALS & MINING  - 3.9%
Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc.             135,000      $  2,835,000
  Operator of third largest copper mine in
  the world with world's largest gold
  reserves.
J & L Specialty Steel, Inc.                      100,000         1,925,000
  A low cost producer in the domestic
  stainless steel  industry.
                                                              ------------
                                                              $  4,760,000
                                                              ------------
OIL - 5.2%
Anadarko Petroleum Corp.                          90,000      $  3,948,750
  Leading independent natural gas and crude
  oil production company.
Phillips Petroleum Co.                            75,000         2,503,125
  Engaged in crude oil and natural gas
  exploration and production worldwide and
  petroleum refining and marketing
  primarily in the U.S.
                                                              ------------
                                                              $  6,451,875
                                                              ------------
PAPER & FOREST PRODUCTS  - 2.6%
Willamette Industries, Inc.                       60,000      $  3,225,000
  Integrated forest products company                          ------------
  selling solid wood products,
  containerboard and corrugated boxes and
  white business papers and computer forms.

PUBLISHING  - 4.3%
Harcourt General, Inc.                            75,000      $  2,784,375
  Diversified company with major interests
  in publishing and the Neiman Marcus Group
  of retail companies.
McGraw Hill Inc.                                  35,000         2,467,500
  Supplies informational products and
  services for businesses, education and
  industry through a broad  range of media.
                                                              ------------
                                                              $  5,251,875
                                                              ------------
RETAILING  - 4.7%
Gap (The) Inc.                                    60,000      $  1,950,000
  A nationwide retailer of moderately
  priced casual and activewear clothing
  plus separate chains for Gap Kids, Banana
  Republic and more recently, Old Navy
  Clothing Company.
Home Depot, Inc.                                  85,000         3,814,375
  A chain of do-it-yourself warehouse style
  stores.
                                                              ------------
                                                              $  5,764,375
                                                              ------------
SEMICONDUCTORS  - 5.8%
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.                      75,000      $  2,278,125
  A producer of a broad line of
  semiconductors including  microprocessors
  for telecommunications, office
  automation, and networking applications.
Intel Corp.                                       36,000         2,871,000
  A manufacturer of semiconductors and
  other microcomputer components and
  systems which comprise the heart of the
  personal computer.
Motorola Inc.                                     35,000         2,012,500
  A leading supplier of semiconductors and
  two-way radios, paging equipment, and
  cellular mobile telephone systems.
                                                              ------------
                                                              $  7,161,625
                                                              ------------
TELEPHONE UTILITIES  - 3.9%
Alltel Corp.                                      90,000      $  2,576,250
  Operates local telephone systems serving
  1.6 million customers, an information
  procession business for financial,
  telecommunications and healthcare
  companies and cellular operations in 19
  states.
Telephone & Data Systems, Inc.                    50,000         2,281,250
  A provider of local telephone service, as
  well as cellular and paging services.
                                                              ------------
                                                              $  4,857,500
                                                              ------------
    TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
     (IDENTIFIED COST, $106,766,615)                          $118,190,902
                                                              ------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         SHORT-TERM OBLIGATIONS - 3.7%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              FACE AMOUNT
                                              (000 OMITTED)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CXC Inc., 6.10s, 3/1/95                           $3,216      $  3,216,000
Chevron Oil Finance Co., 5.82s, 3/1/95             1,267         1,267,000
                                                              ------------
    TOTAL SHORT-TERM OBLIGATIONS, AT
      AMORTIZED COST                                          $  4,483,000
                                                              ------------
    TOTAL INVESTMENTS
      (IDENTIFIED COST, $111,249,615)                         $122,673,902

    OTHER ASSETS, LESS LIABILITIES  - 0.1%                         140,645
                                                              ------------
    NET ASSETS  - 100%                                        $122,814,547
                                                              ============
                                                              
*Non-income producing security.

                       See notes to financial statements

<PAGE>
                              FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                      STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         February 28, 1995 (Unaudited)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASSETS:
  Investments, at value (Note 1A) (identified cost,
    $111,249,615)                                               $ 122,673,902
  Cash                                                                    753
  Dividends receivable                                                130,775
  Deferred organization expenses (Note 1C)                             14,490
                                                                -------------
      Total assets                                              $ 122,819,920
LIABILITIES:
  Custodian fee payable                                 $4,045
  Accrued expenses                                       1,328
                                                        ------
      Total liabilities                                                 5,373
                                                                -------------
NET ASSETS applicable to investor's interest in Portfolio       $(122,814,547)
                                                                =============
                                                                
SOURCES OF NET ASSETS:
  Net proceeds capital contributions and withdrawals            $ 111,390,260
  Unrealized appreciation of investments (computed on
    the basis of identified cost)                                  11,424,287
                                                                -------------
      Total                                                     $ 122,814,547
                                                                =============
                                                                
   The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements


<PAGE>

                            STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            For the six months ended February 28, 1995 (Unaudited)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT INCOME:
  Income --
    Dividend (net of withholding tax of $91)                       $  765,387
    Interest                                                          192,921
                                                                   ----------
        Total income                                               $  958,308
  Expenses --
    Investment adviser fee (Note 2)                  $   384,275
    Custodian fee (Note 2)                                37,310
    Trustee fees                                           2,083
    Legal and audit fees                                   9,229
    Amortization of organization expense (Note 1C)         1,512
    Miscellaneous                                          3,127
                                                     -----------
        Total expenses                                                437,536
                                                                   ----------
          Net investment income                                    $  520,772
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN ON INVESTMENTS:
  Net realized loss on investment transactions
    (identified cost basis)                          $(1,504,169)
  Increase in unrealized appreciation of
    investments                                        2,384,573
                                                     -----------
    Net realized (loss) and unrealized gain on
      investments                                                     880,404
                                                                   ----------
        Net increase in net assets from operations                 $1,401,176
                                                                   ==========
                                                                   
   The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements


<PAGE>
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

                       STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                     FEBRUARY 28, 1995      YEAR ENDED
                                        (UNAUDITED)      AUGUST 31, 1994*
                                      ----------------   ----------------
INCREASE IN NET ASSETS:
  From operations --
    Net investment income             $        520,772   $         69,589
    Net realized gain (loss) on
      investment transactions               (1,504,169)         1,063,482
    Increase in unrealized
      appreciation of investments            2,384,573          2,595,384
                                      ----------------   ----------------
      Increase in net assets from
        operations                    $      1,401,176   $      3,728,455
                                      ----------------   ----------------
  Capital transactions --
    Contributions                           33,292,216        140,348,725
    Withdrawals                            (43,414,714)       (12,641,351)
                                      ----------------   ----------------
    Increase (decrease) in net
     assets resulting from capital
     transactions                     $    (10,122,498)      $127,707,374
                                      ----------------   ----------------
      Total increase (decrease) in
       net assets                     $     (8,721,322)      $131,435,829
                                      ----------------   ----------------
NET ASSETS:
  At beginning of period                   131,535,869            100,040
                                      ----------------   ----------------
  At end of period                    $    122,814,547   $    131,535,869
                                      ================   ================
                                      
*For the period from the start of business, August 2, 1994, to August 31, 1994.

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements

<PAGE>
                               SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                     FEBRUARY 28, 1995      YEAR ENDED
                                        (UNAUDITED)      AUGUST 31, 1994*
                                      ----------------   ----------------
RATIOS (As a percentage of average net assets):
  Expenses                                 0.72%+              0.73%+
  Net investment income                    0.85%+              0.66%+
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER                           32%                  4%


+Annualized.

<PAGE>

                         NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                               FEBRUARY 28, 1995
                                  (UNAUDITED)

(1) SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Growth Portfolio (the Portfolio) is registered under the Investment  Company Act
of 1940 as a diversified  open-end  investment  company which was organized as a
trust under the laws of the State of New York on August 2, 1994. The Declaration
of Trust permits the Trustees to issue  interests in the  Portfolio.  Investment
operations  began on August 2, 1994, with the acquisition of investments  with a
value of  $127,122,709,  including  unrealized  appreciation  of  $6,444,330  in
exchange for an interest in the Portfolio by one of the  Portfolio's  investors.
The following is a summary of significant  accounting policies of the Portfolio.
The policies are in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

A. INVESTMENT VALUATIONS -- Investments listed on securities exchanges or in the
NASDAQ  National  Market are valued at closing sale  prices.  Listed or unlisted
investments  for which  closing sale prices are not  available are valued at the
mean between the latest bid and asked prices.  Short-term obligations are valued
at amortized cost, which approximates value. Foreign securities held by the Fund
are valued in U.S. dollars at the current exchange rate.

B. INCOME  TAXES -- The  Portfolio is treated as a  partnership  for federal tax
purposes.  No provision is made by the  Portfolio  for federal or state taxes on
any taxable  income of the  Portfolio  because each investor in the Portfolio is
ultimately  responsible  for  the  payment  of  any  taxes.  Since  some  of the
Portfolio's  investors are  regulated  investment  companies  that invest all or
substantially all of their assets in the Portfolio,  the Portfolio normally must
satisfy the applicable source of income and diversification  requirements (under
the  Internal  Revenue  Code) in order for its  investors to satisfy  them.  The
Portfolio will allocate at least  annually  among its investors each  investors'
distributive  share of the  Portfolio's  net  taxable  (if  any) and  tax-exempt
investment  income,  net realized  capital gains, and any other items of income,
gain,  loss,  deduction or credit.  Interest income received by the Portfolio on
investments in municipal bonds,  which is excludable from gross income under the
Internal  Revenue  Code,  will retain its status as income  exempt from  Federal
income tax when  allocated  to the  Portfolio's  investors.  The portion of such
interest,  if any, earned on private  activity bonds issued after August 7, 1986
may be considered a tax preference item for investors.

C.  DEFERRED  ORGANIZATION  EXPENSES  --  Costs  incurred  by the  Portfolio  in
connection with its organization are being amortized on the straight-line  basis
over five years.

D. LEGAL  FEES -- Legal  fees and other  related  expenses  incurred  as part of
negotiations  of the terms and  requirements of capital  infusions,  or that are
expected to result in the  restructuring of or a plan of  reorganization  for an
investment are added to the cost of the investment.

E.  OTHER  --  Investment  transactions  are  accounted  for  on  the  date  the
investments  are  purchased  or  sold.  Dividend  income  and  distributions  to
shareholders  are  recorded  on the  ex-dividend  date and  interest  income  is
recorded on the accrual basis. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) INVESTMENT ADVISER FEE AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
The investment  adviser fee is earned by Boston Management and Research (BMR), a
wholly-owned  subsidiary of Eaton Vance  Management  (EVM), as compensation  for
management and investment  advisory services rendered to the Portfolio.  The fee
is based upon a percentage of average daily net assets. For the six months ended
February  28,  1995,  the fee  was  equivalent  to  0.625%  (annualized)  of the
Portfolio's average net assets for such period and amounted to $384,275.  Except
as to  Trustees  of the  Portfolio  who  are  not  members  of  EVM's  or  BMR's
organization,  officers and Trustees receive  remuneration for their services to
the Fund out of such  investment  adviser fee.  Investors  Bank & Trust  Company
(IBT), an affiliate of EVM and BMR, serves as custodian of the Fund. Pursuant to
the  custodian  agreement,  IBT  receives a fee  reduced  by  credits  which are
determined based on the average daily cash balances the Portfolio maintains with
IBT.  Certain of the  officers and  Trustees of the  Portfolio  are officers and
directors/trustees of the above organizations.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) PURCHASES AND SALES OF INVESTMENTS
Purchases  and  sales  of  investments,   other  than  short  term  obligations,
aggregated $36,944,589 and $39,114,037, respectively.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4)  FEDERAL   INCOME  TAX  BASIS  OF   INVESTMENTS   The  cost  and  unrealized
appreciation/depreciation  in value of the  investments  owned at  February  28,
1995, as computed on a federal income tax basis, are as follows:

Aggregate cost                                          $111,249,615 
                                                        ============
Gross unrealized appreciation                           $ 15,198,431
Gross unrealized depreciation                             (3,774,144)
                                                        ------------
   Net unrealized appreciation                          $ 11,424,287
                                                        ============

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(5) LINE OF CREDIT
The Portfolio  participates  with other  portfolios and funds managed by BMR and
EVM and its affiliates in a $120 million unsecured line of credit agreement with
a bank. The line of credit consists of $20 million committed facility and a $100
million discretionary facility.  Borrowings will be made by the Portfolio solely
to  facilitate  the handling of unusual  and/or  unanticipated  short-term  cash
requirements.  Interest is charged to each portfolio  based on its borrowings at
an amount  above  either the bank's  adjusted  certificate  of deposit  rate,  a
variable  adjusted  certificate  of deposit rate,  or a federal funds  effective
rate.  In  addition,  a fee  computed  at an annual rate of 1/4 of 1% on the $20
million  committed  facility and on the daily unused portion of the $100 million
discretionary facility is allocated among the participating funds and portfolios
at the  end of  each  quarter.  The  Portfolio  did  not  have  any  significant
borrowings or allocated  fees during the period.  At February 28, 1995, the Fund
did not have an outstanding balance pursuant to the line of credit.

<PAGE>
                               GROWTH PORTFOLIO
                           PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
                               AUGUST 31, 1994
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             COMMON STOCKS - 90.8%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         SHARES      VALUE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUTOMOTIVE - 6.2%
Bandag Inc.                                               50,000     $ 2,725,000
  Dominates the domestic tire retread
  market,  selling through 600 franchised
  dealers, and has a growing presence in
  foreign markets.
Ford Motor Co.                                           100,000       2,925,000
  The world's second largest producer of
  automobiles and trucks.
General Motors Corp.                                      50,000       2,512,500
  The world's largest auto and truck
  producer.
                                                                     -----------
                                                                     $ 8,162,500
                                                                     -----------
BEVERAGES - 4.9%
Coca-Cola Co.                                             90,000     $ 4,140,000
  Manufactures soft drink concentrates and
  syrups  that make Coca-Cola and other
  brands including Minute Maid orange
  juice.
PepsiCo, Inc.                                             70,000       2,318,750
  Global soft drink producer with
  businesses in snack foods and fast food
  restaurants.
                                                                     -----------
                                                                     $ 6,458,750
                                                                     -----------
BROADCASTING - 3.0%
Tele-Communications, Inc. Class A<F1>                    175,000     $ 3,948,437
                                                                     -----------
  The largest operator of cable television
    systems in the U.S.

BUSINESS PRODUCTS AND
  SERVICES - 8.3%
Danka Business Systems PLC ADR                           120,000     $ 2,460,000
  An independent provider of maintenance
  and service for office copying machines.
Reuters Holdings PLC ADR                                 105,000       4,921,875
  Worldwide provider of proprietary
  financial data and information.
WMX Technologies, Inc.                                   120,000       3,600,000
  World's largest provider of collection,
  disposal and remediation services for
  solid and hazardous waste.
                                                                     -----------
                                                                     $10,981,875
                                                                     -----------
CHEMICALS - 4.6%
Great Lakes Chemical Corp.                                40,000     $ 2,410,000
  Specialty chemical manufacturer of a
  wide range of products including flame
  retardants, water treatments, fuel
  additives.
Loctite Corp.                                             80,000       3,630,000
  Manufacturer of adhesives for consumer
  and  industrial markets.
                                                                     -----------
                                                                     $ 6,040,000
                                                                     -----------
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           COMMON STOCKS (Continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         SHARES      VALUE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMPUTER EQUIPMENT AND
    SERVICES - 4.0%
Automatic Data Processing, Inc.                            60,000     $3,247,500
  The leading independent computing and
  payroll processing services firm in the
  U.S.
Novell Inc.<F1>                                           130,000      2,031,250
  Vendor of local area network operating
  systems that allow computers of any size
  and make to work together.
                                                                      ----------
                                                                      $5,278,750
                                                                      ----------
DRUGS & HEALTH CARE SERVICES - 4.6%
Astra AB A Free Shares                                    135,000     $3,075,017
  Swedish based interntional phamaceutical
  firm with drugs for the control of
  ulcers and asthma.
Sofamor Danek Group, Inc.<F1>                             150,000      3,018,750
  The dominant supplier of spinal implant
  devices used in surgical treatment of
  spinal diseases and deformities.
                                                                      ----------
                                                                      $6,093,767
                                                                      ----------
ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENTATION - 1.7%
Millipore Corp.                                            40,000     $2,235,000
                                                                      ----------
  Products use membrane separations
  technology to analyze and purify fluids
  for a variety of high tech industries.

FINANCIAL SERVICES - 7.0%
Federal National Mortgage Association                      36,000     $3,199,500
  U.S. Government sponsored mortgage
  lender and provider of secondary
  mortgage market.
Franklin Resources Inc.                                    70,000      2,756,250
  Provides investment management and
  related services to a family of equity
  and fixed income mutual funds.
MGIC Investment Corp. Wisc.                               105,000      3,228,750
  The leading provider of private mortgage
  insurance coverage to U.S. banks and
  other mortgage suppliers.
                                                                      ----------
                                                                      $9,184,500
                                                                      ----------
HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS - 4.0%
Carnival Corp.                                             60,000     $2,662,500
  Operator of large cruise ships plying
  the Caribbean, Mediterranean, South
  Pacific and Alaska.
Promus Companies, Inc.<F1>                                 70,000      2,572,500
  Operates  hotel  casinos  in Nevada  and
  Atlantic City and is the leading
  developer of regional casinos in states
  that have legalized gaming.                                         ----------
                                                                      $5,235,000
                                                                      ----------
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           COMMON STOCKS (Continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         SHARES      VALUE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS - 2.5%
  Gillette Co.                                             45,000     $3,256,875
                                                                      ----------
  A global company with internationally
  recognized brands in razors and blades,
  small appliances, cosmetics, dental and
  other consumer products.

INSURANCE - 6.9%
American International Group, Inc.                         45,000     $4,230,000
  One of the world's leading insurance
  companies, operating in 130 countries.
UNUM Corp.                                                100,000      4,912,500
  A writer of group long term disability
  insurance.
                                                                      ----------
                                                                      $9,142,500
                                                                      ----------
MACHINERY - 4.5%
Illinois Tool Works Inc.                                   80,000     $3,460,000
  Manufacturer of industrial components
  and other specialty products and
  equipment.
Tenneco Inc.                                               50,000      2,462,500
  Manufactures farm and construction
  equipment,  automotive, shipbuilding and
  packaging machinery and operates a large
  interstate natural gas pipeline system.
                                                                      ----------
                                                                      $5,922,500
                                                                      ----------
METALS & MINING - 3.5%
Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc.                      110,000     $2,543,750
  Operates a copper mine with unusually
  high concentrations of gold with
  exceptional potential for adding to
  reserves.
J & L Specialty Steel, Inc.                               120,000      2,145,000
  A low cost producer in the domestic
  stainless steel industry.
                                                                      ----------
                                                                      $4,688,750
                                                                      ----------
OIL - 2.8%
Phillips Petroleum Co.                                    110,000     $3,643,750
                                                                      ----------
  Engaged in crude oil and natural gas
  exploration and production  worldwide and
  petroleum refining and marketing primarily
  in the U.S.

PAPER & FOREST PRODUCTS - 1.6%
Willamette Industries, Inc.                                40,000     $2,060,000
                                                                      ----------
  Integrated forest products company selling
  solid wood products, containerboard
  and corrugated boxes and white business
  papers and computer forms.

<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           COMMON STOCKS (Continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         SHARES      VALUE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PUBLISHING - 4.6%
Harcourt General, Inc.                                    75,000    $  2,531,250
  Diversified company with major interests
  in publishing and the Neiman Marcus
  Group of retail companies.
McGraw Hill Inc.                                          50,000       3,481,250
  Supplies informational products and
  services for businesses, education and
  industry through a broad  range of
  media.
                                                                    ------------
                                                                    $  6,012,500
                                                                    ------------
RETAILING - 4.5%
Ann Taylor Stores Corp.<F1>                               50,000    $  2,068,750
  Specialty retailer of better quality
  women's apparel, operating 231 stores in
  38 states.
Home Depot, Inc.                                          85,000       3,846,250
  A chain of do-it-yourself warehouse
  style stores.
                                                                    ------------
                                                                    $  5,915,000
                                                                    ------------
SEMICONDUCTORS - 3.2%
Intel Corp.                                               65,000    $  4,273,750
                                                                    ------------
  A  manufacturer  of  semiconductors  and
  other  microcomputer  components  and
  systems which comprise the heart of the
  personal computer.

TELEPHONE UTILITIES - 6.2%
MCI Communications Corp.                                 115,000    $  2,795,937
  A provider of long-distance telephone
  services.
Telefonos de Mexico Sponsored ADR                         50,000       3,137,500
  Provides local and long distance
  telephone service and cellular mobile
  telephone services in Mexico.
Telephone & Data Systems, Inc.                            50,000       2,175,000
  A provider of local telephone service as
  well as cellular and paging services.
                                                                    ------------
                                                                    $  8,108,437
                                                                    ------------
TRANSPORTATION - 2.2%
Federal Express Corp.<F1>                                 40,000    $  2,835,000
                                                                    ------------
  Operates a global time sensitive package
  delivery system.

MISCELLANEOUS SECURITIES - 0.0%                                     $      3,905
                                                                    ------------
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
  (IDENTIFIED COST, $110,441,832)                                   $119,481,546
                                                                    ------------
                                                                    ------------
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       SHORT-TERM OBLIGATIONS - 10.4%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     FACE AMOUNT
                                                    (000 OMITTED)     VALUE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Associates Corp. of North America, 4.6s, 9/2/94       4,111      $  4,110,475
  CXC Inc., 4.875s, 9/1/94                              3,392         3,392,000
  Ford Motor Credit Corp., 4.7s, 9/7/94                 2,832         2,829,781
  Heller Financial, Inc., 4.68s, 9/8/94                 3,285         3,282,011
                                                                   ------------
  TOTAL SHORT-TERM OBLIGATIONS, AT
    AMORTIZED COST                                                 $ 13,614,267
                                                                   ------------
  TOTAL INVESTMENTS (IDENTIFIED COST, $124,056,099)                $133,095,813
  OTHER ASSETS, LESS LIABILITIES - (1.2%)                          $ (1,559,944)
                                                                   ------------
  NET ASSETS - 100%                                                $131,535,869
                                                                   ------------
                                                                   ------------
[FN]
<F1>Non-income producing security.


                 The accompanying Notes are an integral part
                         of the Financial Statements

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                      STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<CAPTION>
                                August 31, 1994
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                                          <C>                        <C>
ASSETS:
  Investments, at value (Note 1A) (identified cost, $124,056,099)                                                       $133,095,813
  Cash                                                                                                                           560
  Receivable for investments sold                                                                                            812,572
  Dividends receivable                                                                                                       187,557
  Deferred organization expenses (Note 1C)                                                                                    14,808
                                                                                                                        ------------
      Total assets                                                                                                      $134,111,310
LIABILITIES:
    Payable for investments purchased                                                        $2,559,062
    Custodian fee payable                                                                         1,324
    Accrued expenses                                                                             15,055
                                                                                             ----------
      Total liabilities                                                                                                    2,575,441
                                                                                                                        ------------
NET ASSETS applicable to investor's interest in Portfolio                                                               $131,535,869
                                                                                                                        ------------
                                                                                                                        ------------
SOURCES OF NET ASSETS:
  Net proceeds capital contributions and withdrawals                                                                    $122,496,155
  Unrealized appreciation of investments (computed on the basis of identified cost)                                        9,039,714
                                                                                                                        ------------
      Total                                                                                                             $131,535,869
                                                                                                                        ------------
                                                                                                                        ------------
                             The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Financial Statements
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
<TABLE>
                            STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<CAPTION>
                            For the period from the start of business, August 2, 1994, to August 31, 1994
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                                          <C>                          <C>
INVESTMENT INCOME:
  Income --
    Dividends                                                                                                             $  108,743
    Interest                                                                                                                  37,818
                                                                                                                          ----------
        Total income                                                                                                      $  146,561
  Expenses --
    Investment adviser fee (Note 2)                                                        $   64,233
    Custodian fee (Note 2)                                                                      3,948
    Accounting fees                                                                             8,543
    Amortization of organization expense (Note 1C)                                                248
                                                                                           ----------
        Total expenses                                                                                                        76,972
                                                                                                                          ----------
            Net investment income                                                                                         $   69,589
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN ON INVESTMENTS:
  Net realized gain on investment transactions (identified cost basis)                     $1,063,482
  Increase in unrealized appreciation of investments                                        2,595,384
                                                                                           ----------
    Net realized gain and unrealized gain on investments                                                                   3,658,866
                                                                                                                          ----------
      Net increase in net assets from operations                                                                          $3,728,455
                                                                                                                          ----------
                                                                                                                          ----------
                             The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Financial Statements
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                     STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  For the period from the start of business, August 2, 1994,
                      to August 31, 1994
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  INCREASE IN NET ASSETS:
    From Operations --
      Net investment income                                        $     69,589
      Net realized gain on investment transactions                    1,063,482
      Increase in unrealized appreciation of investments              2,595,384
                                                                   -------------
        Increase in net assets from operations                     $  3,728,455
    Capital transactions --
      Contributions                                                 140,348,725
      Withdrawals                                                   (12,641,351)
                                                                   -------------
        Increase in net assets resulting from
          capital transactions                                     $127,707,374
                                                                   -------------
          Total increase in net assets                             $131,435,829
                                                                   -------------
  NET ASSETS:
    At beginning of period                                              100,040
                                                                   -------------
    At end of period                                               $131,535,869
                                                                   -------------
                                                                   -------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  RATIOS (AS A PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE DAILY NET ASSETS):
    Expenses                                                           0.73%<F1>
    Net investment income                                              0.66%<F1>
  PORTFOLIO TURNOVER                                                      4%

[FN]
<F1>Annualized.

    The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Financial Statements
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                               AUGUST 31, 1994
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Growth Portfolio (the Portfolio) is registered under the Investment  Company Act
of 1940 as a diversified  open-end,  investment company which was organized as a
trust under the laws of the State of New York on August 2, 1994. The Declaration
of Trust permits the Trustees to issue  interests in the  Portfolio.  Investment
operations  began on August 2, 1994, with the acquisition of investments  with a
value of  $127,122,709,  including  unrealized  appreciation  of  $6,444,330  in
exchange for an interest in the Portfolio by one of the  Portfolio's  investors.
The following is a summary of significant  accounting policies of the Portfolio.
The policies are in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

A. INVESTMENT  VALUATIONS - Investments listed on securities exchanges or in the
NASDAQ  National  Market are valued at closing sale  prices.  Listed or unlisted
investments  for which  closing sale prices are not  available are valued at the
mean between the latest bid and asked prices.  Short-term obligations are valued
at amortized cost, which approximates value. Foreign securities held by the Fund
are valued in U.S. dollars at the current exchange rate.

B. INCOME  TAXES - The  Portfolio  is treated as a  partnership  for Federal tax
purposes.  No provision is made by the  Portfolio  for federal or state taxes on
any taxable  income of the  Portfolio  because each investor in the Portfolio is
ultimately  responsible  for  the  payment  of  any  taxes.  Since  some  of the
Portfolio's  investors are  regulated  investment  companies  that invest all or
substantially all of their assets in the Portfolio,  the Portfolio normally must
satisfy the applicable source of income and diversification requirements, (under
the Internal  Revenue  Code),  in order for its investors to satisfy  them.  The
Portfolio will allocate at least  annually  among its investors each  investor's
distributive  share of the  Portfolio's  net  taxable  (if  any) and  tax-exempt
investment  income,  net realized  capital gains, and any other items of income,
gain,  loss,  deduction or credit.  Interest income received by the Portfolio on
investments in municipal bonds,  which is excludable from gross income under the
Internal  Revenue  Code,  will retain its status as income  exempt from  Federal
income tax when  allocated  to the  Portfolio's  investors.  The portion of such
interest,  if any, earned on private  activity bonds issued after August 7, 1986
may be considered a tax preference item for investors.

C.  DEFERRED  ORGANIZATION  EXPENSES  -  Costs  incurred  by  the  Portfolio  in
connection with its organization are being amortized on the straight-line  basis
over five years.

D.  LEGAL  FEES - Legal  fees and other  related  expenses  incurred  as part of
negotiations  of the terms and  requirements of capital  infusions,  or that are
expected to result in the  restructuring of or a plan of  reorganziation  for an
investment are added to the cost of the investment.

E. OTHER - Investment transactions are accounted for on the date the investments
are purchased or sold.  Dividend income and  distributions  to shareholders  are
recorded on the ex-dividend  date and interest income is recorded on the accrual
basis.

<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) INVESTMENT ADVISER FEE AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
The investment  adviser fee is earned by Boston Management and Research (BMR), a
wholly-owned  subsidiary of Eaton Vance  Management  (EVM), as compensation  for
management and investment  advisory services rendered to the Portfolio.  The fee
is based upon a  percentage  of average  daily net assets plus a  percentage  of
gross income,  (i.e., income other than gains from the sale of securities).  For
the period from the start of business,  August 2, 1994 to August 31,  1994,  the
fee was equivalent to 0.61%  (annualized) of the Portfolio's  average net assets
for such period and amounted to $64,233.  Except as to Trustees of the Portfolio
who are not  members  of EVM's  or BMR's  organization,  officers  and  Trustees
receive  remuneration  for  their  services  to the Fund out of such  investment
adviser fee.  Investors Bank & Trust Company (IBT), an affiliate of EVM and BMR,
serves as  custodian  of the Fund.  Pursuant  to the  custodian  agreement,  IBT
receives a fee  reduced by credits  which are  determined  based on the  average
daily cash balances the Portfolio  maintains  with IBT.  Certain of the officers
and Trustees of the Portfolio are officers and  directors/trustees  of the above
organizations.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) PURCHASES AND SALES OF INVESTMENTS
Purchases  and  sales  of  investments,   other  than  short-term   obligations,
aggregated $5,541,237 and, $12,413,266, respectively.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) FEDERAL INCOME TAX BASES OF INVESTMENTS
The cost and unrealized  appreciation/depreciation  in value of the  investments
owned at August 31,  1994,  as  computed on a federal  income tax basis,  are as
follows:

Aggregate cost                                                      $124,056,099
                                                                    ------------
                                                                    ------------
Gross unrealized appreciation                                       $ 15,699,173
Gross unrealized depreciation                                          6,659,459
                                                                    ------------
    Net unrealized appreciation                                     $  9,039,714
                                                                    ------------
                                                                    ------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(5) LINE OF CREDIT
The Portfolio  participates  with other  portfolios and funds managed by BMR and
EVM in a $120 million  unsecured line of credit  agreement with a bank. The line
of credit  consists  of a $20  million  committed  facility  and a $100  million
discretionary  facility.  Borrowings  will be made by the  Portfolio  solely  to
facilitate  the  handling  of  unusual  and/or  unanticipated   short-term  cash
requirements. Interest is charged to each Portfolio, based on its borrowings, at
an amount  above  either the bank's  adjusted  certificate  of deposit  rate,  a
variable  adjusted  certificate  of deposit rate,  or a federal funds  effective
rate.  In  addition,  a fee  computed  at an annual rate of 1/4 of 1% on the $20
million  committed  facility and on the daily unused portion of the $100 million
discretionary facility is allocated among the participating funds and Portfolios
at the  end of  each  quarter.  The  Portfolio  did  not  have  any  significant
borrowings or allocated fees during the period.

<PAGE>
                      REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To the Trustees and Investors of
Growth Portfolio:

We have audited the  accompanying  statement of assets and liabilities of Growth
Portfolio,  including the portfolio of  investments,  as of August 31, 1994, the
related  statements of operations,  changes in net assets and supplementary data
for the period  from August 2, 1994 (start of  operations)  to August 31,  1994.
These financial  statements and supplementary data are the responsibility of the
Portfolio's  management.  Our  responsibility  is to express an opinion on these
financial statements and the supplementary data based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.
Those standards  require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether the financial statements and supplementary data are free
of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting  the  amounts  and  disclosures  in  the  financial  statements.  Our
procedures  included  confirmation of securities  owned as of August 31, 1994 by
correspondence  with the custodian and brokers. An audit also includes assessing
the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management,  as
well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that
our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion,  the financial  statements  and  supplementary  data referred to
above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Growth
Portfolio as of August 31, 1994, the results of its  operations,  changes in its
net assets and  supplementary  data for the period from August 2, 1994 (start of
operations) to August 31, 1994, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.


                                     COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.
Boston, Massachusetts
September 23, 1994


<PAGE>

                             INVESTMENT ADVISER OF
                                GROWTH PORTFOLIO
                         Boston Management and Research
                               24 Federal Street
                                Boston, MA 02110

                                ADMINISTRATOR OF
                                   EV CLASSIC
                                  GROWTH FUND
                             Eaton Vance Management
                               24 Federal Street
                                Boston, MA 02110

                             PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER
                         Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc.
                               24 Federal Street
                                Boston, MA 02110
                                 (800) 225-6265

                                   CUSTODIAN
                         Investors Bank & Trust Company
                               24 Federal Street
                                Boston, MA 02110

                                 TRANSFER AGENT
                      The Shareholder Services Group, Inc.
                                     BOS725
                                 P.O. Box 1559
                                Boston, MA 02104
                                 (800) 262-1122

                            INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
                            Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
                             One Post Office Square
                                Boston, MA 02109

                             EV CLASSIC GROWTH FUND
                               24 FEDERAL STREET
                                BOSTON, MA 02110

                                                           C-GFSAI


                                     [Logo]

                                   EV Classic

                                     Growth

                                      Fund



                                  Statement of
                                   Additional
                                  Information

   
                                  May 1, 1995
    

<PAGE>

                     STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

                                   PART II

   
    This Part II provides  information  about EV MARATHON  GROWTH FUND. The Fund
became a series of the Trust on July 27, 1994.

                              FEES AND EXPENSES
ADMINISTRATOR

    As stated under  "Investment  Adviser and  Administrator"  in Part I of this
Statement of Additional Information,  the Administrator receives no compensation
for providing administrative services to the Fund. For the period from the start
of  business,  September  13, 1994,  to February 28, 1995,  $6,234 of the Fund's
operating  expenses were allocated on a preliminary basis to the  Administrator.

DISTRIBUTION PLAN

    The  Distribution  Plan and  Distribution  Agreement  remain in effect until
April 28, 1996 and may be continued as described  under  "Distribution  Plan" in
the Prospectus. Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, the Plan has been approved by the Fund's
shareholders  and by the  Board of  Trustees  of the Trust as  required  by Rule
12b-1.  For the  period  from the start of  business,  September  13,  1994,  to
February 28, 1995, the Fund made sales commission payments under the Plan to the
Principal Underwriter aggregating $1,278, which amount was used by the Principal
Underwriter to partially defray sales commissions aggregating $5,401 paid during
such period by the Principal  Underwriter  to Authorized  Firms on sales of Fund
shares  and to  reduce  uncovered  distribution  charges.  During  such  period,
contingent deferred sales charges aggregating approximately $837 were imposed on
early  redeeming  shareholders  and paid to the Principal  Underwriter to defray
sales commissions and to reduce uncovered  distribution  charges. As at February
28,  1995,  the  outstanding  uncovered  distribution  charges of the  Principal
Underwriter  calculated under the Plan amounted to approximately  $27,052 (which
amount was  equivalent  to 3.7% of the  Fund's net assets on such day).  For the
period ended  February 28, 1995, the Fund made no service fee payments under the
Plan. The Fund expects to begin accruing for its service fee payments during the
quarter ending December 31, 1995.

PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER

    For the period from the start of business,  September  13, 1994, to February
28,  1995,  the  Fund  paid no  repurchase  transaction  fees  to the  Principal
Underwriter.

CUSTODIAN

    For the period from the start of business,  September  13, 1994, to February
28, 1995, the Fund paid IBT $583.

<TABLE>
TRUSTEES

    The fees and  expenses of those  Trustees of the Trust and of the  Portfolio
who are not  members of the Eaton Vance  organization  are paid by the Fund (and
the other  series of the  Trust)  and the  Portfolio,  respectively.  During the
fiscal year ended August 31, 1994,  the Trustees from the Fund and the Portfolio
earned the  following  compensation  in their  capacities  as Trustees  from the
Trust, the Portfolio,  and, during the year ended December 31, 1994,  earned the
following compensation in their capacities as Trustees of the other funds in the
Eaton Vance fund complex<F1>:

<CAPTION>
                                        AGGREGATE           RETIREMENT          TOTAL COMPENSATION
                                       COMPENSATION       BENEFIT ACCRUED         FROM TRUST AND
NAME                                    FROM FUND        FROM FUND COMPLEX         FUND COMPLEX
--------                             ----------------  ---------------------  ----------------------
<S>                                      <C>                  <C>                    <C>     
Donald R. Dwight ..................      $-- 0 --             $8,750                 $135,000
Samuel L. Hayes, III ..............       -- 0 --              8,865                  142,500
Norton H. Reamer ..................       -- 0 --             -- 0 --                 135,000
John L. Thorndike .................       -- 0 --             -- 0 --                 140,000
Jack L. Treynor ...................       -- 0 --             -- 0 --                 140,000
---------

<FN>

<F1>The Eaton Vance fund complex consists of 201 registered investment companies
    or series thereof.

<F2>Includes $98 of deferred compensation.

<F3>Includes $101 of deferred compensation.
</TABLE>

                            PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER

    Under the Distribution Agreement the Principal Underwriter acts as principal
in selling shares of the Fund. The expenses of printing  copies of  prospectuses
used to  offer  shares  to  Authorized  Firms or  investors  and  other  selling
literature and of advertising  is borne by the Principal  Underwriter.  The fees
and expenses of qualifying and registering and  maintaining  qualifications  and
registrations of the Fund and its shares under Federal and state securities laws
is borne by the Fund.  In  addition,  the Fund makes  payments to the  Principal
Underwriter pursuant to its Distribution Plan as described in the Fund's current
Prospectus; the provisions of the plan relating to such payments are included in
the Distribution Agreement.  The Distribution Agreement is renewable annually by
the Trust's Board of Trustees  (including a majority of its Trustees who are not
interested  persons  of the Trust and who have no direct or  indirect  financial
interest in the operation of the Fund's  Distribution  Plan or the  Distribution
Agreement),  may be  terminated on sixty days' notice either by such Trustees or
by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or on six
months' notice by the Principal Underwriter and is automatically terminated upon
assignment.  The  Principal  Underwriter  distributes  Fund  shares  on a  "best
efforts"  basis  under which it is required to take and pay for only such shares
as may be sold.

    The Fund has  authorized  Eaton Vance  Distributors,  Inc.  (the  "Principal
Underwriter")  to act as its agent in  repurchasing  shares at the rate of $2.50
for each  repurchase  transaction  handled  by the  Principal  Underwriter.  The
Principal  Underwriter  estimates that the expenses  incurred by it in acting as
repurchase agent for the Fund will exceed the amounts paid therefor by the Fund.

                              DISTRIBUTION PLAN

    The  Distribution  Plan ("the Plan") is described in the  Prospectus  and is
designed to meet the requirements of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act and the sales
charge rule of the National  Association of Securities Dealers,  Inc. (the "NASD
Rule").  The purpose of the Plan is to compensate the Principal  Underwriter for
its  distribution  services  and  facilities  provided to the Fund by paying the
Principal  Underwriter  sales  commissions  and a separate  distribution  fee in
connection with sales of Fund shares.  The following  supplements the discussion
of the Plan contained in the Fund's Prospectus.

    In  calculating  daily  the  amount  of  uncovered   distribution   charges,
distribution  charges will include the aggregate amount of sales commissions and
distribution   fees   theretofore  paid  plus  the  aggregate  amount  of  sales
commissions and distribution fees which the Principal Underwriter is entitled to
be paid under the Plan since its inception. Payments theretofore paid or payable
under the Plan by the Fund to the Principal  Underwriter and contingent deferred
sales charges  theretofore paid or payable to the Principal  Underwriter will be
subtracted from such distribution  charges; if the result of such subtraction is
positive,  a distribution  fee (computed at 1% over the prime rate then reported
in The Wall Street  Journal) will be computed on such amount and added  thereto,
with  the  resulting  sum  constituting  the  amount  of  outstanding  uncovered
distribution  charges  with  respect  to such day.  The  amount  of  outstanding
uncovered  distribution charges of the Principal  Underwriter  calculated on any
day does not constitute a liability recorded on the financial  statements of the
Fund.

    It is anticipated that the Eaton Vance organization will profit by reason of
the  operation  of the Plan  through an increase in the Fund's  assets  (thereby
increasing the advisory fee payable to BMR by the Portfolio) resulting from sale
of Fund  shares and  through  the  amounts  paid to the  Principal  Underwriter,
including  contingent  deferred sales  charges,  pursuant to the Plan. The Eaton
Vance organization may be considered to have realized a profit under the Plan if
at any point in time the aggregate amounts theretofore received by the Principal
Underwriter pursuant to the Plan and from contingent deferred sales charges have
exceeded  the  total  expenses  theretofore  incurred  by such  organization  in
distributing shares of the Fund. Total expenses for this purpose will include an
allocable  portion of the  overhead  costs of such  organization  and its branch
offices,   which  costs  will  include  without   limitation   leasing  expense,
depreciation  of building and equipment,  utilities,  communication  and postage
expense, compensation and benefits of personnel, travel and promotional expense,
stationery  and supplies,  literature  and sales aids,  interest  expense,  data
processing  fees,  consulting and temporary help costs,  insurance,  taxes other
than income taxes, legal and auditing expense and other  miscellaneous  overhead
items.  Overhead is calculated and allocated for such purpose by the Eaton Vance
organization in a manner deemed equitable to the Fund.

    The amount of uncovered distribution charges of the Principal Underwriter at
any particular time depends upon various changing  factors,  including the level
and timing of sales of Fund shares, the nature of such sales (i.e., whether they
result from  exchange  transactions,  reinvestments  or from cash sales  through
Authorized Firms), the level and timing of redemptions of Fund shares upon which
a  contingent  deferred  sales  charge will be imposed,  the level and timing of
redemptions  of Fund shares upon which no contingent  deferred sales charge will
be imposed (including  redemptions involving exchanges of Fund shares for shares
of another  fund in the Eaton Vance  Marathon  Group of Funds which  result in a
reduction of uncovered  distribution  charges),  changes in the level of the net
assets of the Fund, and changes in the interest rate used in the  calculation of
the distribution  fee under the Plan. For the sales commission  payments made by
the Fund and the  outstanding  uncovered  distribution  charges of the Principal
Underwriter,  see "Fees and Expenses --  Distribution  Plan" in this Fund's Part
II. The Plan also  authorizes  the Fund to make  payments of service  fees.  For
additional  information  concerning  the service fees, see "Fees and Expenses --
Distribution Plan" in this Part II.

    Under the Plan the President or a Vice  President of the Trust shall provide
to the  Trustees  for  their  review,  and the  Trustees  shall  review at least
quarterly,  a  written  report  of the  amount  expended  under the Plan and the
purposes for which such  expenditures  were made. The Plan may not be amended to
increase  materially  the payments  described  therein  without  approval of the
shareholders  of the Fund, and all material  amendments of the Plan must also be
approved by the  Trustees  as required by Rule 12b-1.  So long as the Plan is in
effect,  the selection and nomination of Trustees who are not interested persons
of the Trust shall be  committed to the  discretion  of the Trustees who are not
such interested persons.

    The Trustees of the Trust believe that the Plan will be a significant factor
in the  expected  growth of the  Fund's  assets,  and will  result in  increased
investment  flexibility  and  advantages  which  will  benefit  the Fund and its
shareholders.  Payments for sales  commissions and distribution fees made to the
Principal  Underwriter under the Plan will compensate the Principal  Underwriter
for its services and expenses in  distributing  shares of the Fund.  Service fee
payments made to the Principal  Underwriter and Authorized  Firms under the Plan
provide incentives to provide continuing  personal services to investors and the
maintenance of shareholder  accounts.  By providing  incentives to the Principal
Underwriter  and  Authorized  Firms,  the  Plan is  expected  to  result  in the
maintenance of, and possible future growth in, the assets of the Fund.  Based on
the  foregoing  and other  relevant  factors,  the  Trustees  of the Trust  have
determined that in their judgment there is a reasonable likelihood that the Plan
will benefit the Fund and its shareholders.

                           PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

    The  tables  below   indicate  the  total  return   (capital   changes  plus
reinvestment of all distributions) on a hypothetical investment of $1,000 in the
Fund covering the life of the Fund from September 13, 1994 through  February 28,
1995.

<TABLE>
                                                   VALUE OF A $1,000 INVESTMENT

<CAPTION>
                                       VALUE OF INVEST-   VALUE OF INVEST-
                                       MENT BEFORE DE-    MENT AFTER DEDUCT-        TOTAL RETURN         
                                       DUCTING THE CON-   ING THE CONTINGENT      BEFORE DEDUCTING      TOTAL RETURN AFTER DEDUCTING
                                       TINGENT DEFERRED   DEFERRED SALES      THE CONTINGENT DEFERRED     THE CONTINGENT DEFERRED 
INVESTMENT  INVESTMENT    AMOUNT OF    SALES CHARGE       CHARGE<F2>                SALES CHARGE              SALES CHARGE<F2>
PERIOD       DATE         INVESTMENT    ON 02/28/95       ON 02/28/95         CUMULATIVE     ANNUALIZED    CUMULATIVE   ANNUALIZED
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>          <C>          <C>          <C>                <C>                 <C>            <C>        <C>             <C>
Life of
the Fund     9/13/94<F1>  $1,000       $1,029.00          $979.00             2.90%<F3>           -          -2.10%<F3>      -

</TABLE>

<TABLE>
                                              PERCENTAGE CHANGES 9/13/94 -- 2/28/95

<CAPTION>
                                NET ASSET VALUE TO NET ASSET VALUE                NET ASSET VALUE  TO NET  ASSET  VALUE
                             BEFORE DEDUCTING THE CONTINGENT DEFERRED            AFTER DEDUCTING THE CONTINGENT DEFERRED
                          SALES CHARGE WITH ALL DISTRIBUTIONS REINVESTED        SALES CHARGE<F2> WITH ALL DISTRIBUTIONS REINVESTED
                         -----------------------------------------------------  --------------------------------------------------
PERIOD ENDED                  ANNUAL        CUMULATIVE      AVERAGE ANNUAL           ANNUAL     CUMULATIVE      AVERAGE ANNUAL
------------                  ------        ----------      --------------           ------     ----------      --------------
<S>                           <C>           <C>             <C>                 <C>             <C>             <C>       
2/28/95<F1>                     --           2.90%<F3>            --                   --       -2.70%<F3>           --

     Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investment return and
principal value will fluctuate; shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less
than their original cost.

---------
<FN>
<F1>Investment operations began on September 13, 1994.

<F2>No contingent deferred sales charge is imposed on shares purchased more than
    six years prior to the redemption,  shares acquired through the reinvestment
    of  dividends  and  distributions,  and any  appreciation  in value of other
    shares in the  account,  and no such charge is imposed on  exchanges of Fund
    shares for shares of one or more other funds  listed  under "The Eaton Vance
    Exchange Privilege" in the Prospectus.

<F3>If a portion of the Fund's expenses had not been subsidized,  the Fund would
    have had lower returns.
 </TABLE>


                            ADDITIONAL TAX MATTERS

    The Fund  intends  to elect to be  treated  and to  qualify  as a  regulated
investment company under the Code for its fiscal year ending August 31, 1995.

             CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL  HOLDERS OF SECURITIES 

    As of February 28, 1995, the Trustees and officers of the Trust, as a group,
owned in the aggregate less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. As of
February 28, 1995, Merrill Lynch,  Pierce,  Fenner & Smith, Inc., New Brunswick,
NJ was the record owner of approximately 17.6% of the outstanding shares,  which
were held on  behalf  of its  customers  who are the  beneficial  owners of such
shares, and as to which it had voting power under certain limited circumstances.
In  addition,  as  of  February  28,  1995,  the  following  shareholders  owned
beneficially  and of record the  percentages of  outstanding  shares of the Fund
indicated after their names: NFSC FEBO Lucy A. Ganlock,  Gloucester, VA (13.1%);
Jane S. Pettit, Palm Harbor, FL (7.6%); Prudential Securities FBO Joy A. Hartke,
Pompono  Beach,  FL (7.3%);  and Prudential  Securities  FBO Robert  E.McKinney,
Naples, FL (5.4%). To the Trust's knowledge,  no other person owned of record or
beneficially 5% or more of the Fund's outstanding shares on such date.
    

<PAGE>

                           EV MARATHON GROWTH FUND
                             FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                     STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        February 28, 1995 (Unaudited)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASSETS:
  Investment in Growth Portfolio (Portfolio), at value (Note 1A)    $681,011
  Receivable for Fund shares sold                                     42,429
  Receivable from administrator (Note 6)                               6,234
  Deferred organization expenses (Note 1D)                            34,602
                                                                    --------
      Total assets                                                  $764,276
LIABILITIES:
  Payable for Fund shares redeemed                         $ 5,131
  Payable to affiliates -- Custodian fee                        83
  Accrued organizational expense                            30,123
  Accrued expenses                                             308
                                                           -------
      Total liabilities                                               35,645
                                                                    --------
NET ASSETS for 70,782 shares of beneficial interest outstanding     $728,631
                                                                    --------
                                                                    --------
SOURCES OF NET ASSETS:
  Proceeds from sales of shares, less cost of shares
    redeemed                                                        $701,762
  Accumulated net realized loss on investments                          (645)
  Unrealized appreciation of investments                              30,166
  Undistributed net investment income                                 (2,652)
                                                                    --------
      Total net assets                                              $728,631
                                                                    --------
                                                                    --------
NET ASSET VALUE, OFFERING AND REDEMPTION PRICE PER SHARE
  ($728,631 / 70,782 shares of beneficial interest outstanding)      $10.29
                                                                      -----
                                                                      -----

    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements

<PAGE>


                           STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         For the period from the start of business, September 13, 1994,
                        to February 28, 1995 (Unaudited)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT INCOME (NOTE 1B):
  Interest income allocated from Portfolio                            $   556
  Dividend income allocated from Portfolio (net of
    withholding tax expense of $1)                                      2,047
  Expenses allocated from Portfolio                                    (1,212)
                                                                      -------
      Total investment income                                         $ 1,391
  Expenses --
    Custodian fee (Note 6)                                  $   583
    Distribution fees (Note 4)                                1,278
    Printing and postage                                      3,550
    Amortization of organization expenes (Note 1D)            3,393
    Registration fees                                            75
    Transfer agent fees                                         145
    Miscellaneous                                             1,372
                                                            -------
      Total expenses                                         10,396
    Deduct -- Preliminary allocation of expenses by
     administrator (Note 6)                                   6,234
                                                            -------
      Net expenses                                                      4,162
                                                                      -------
        Net investment loss                                           $(2,771)

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) FROM PORTFOLIO:
  Net realized loss on investments (identified cost basis)  $  (645)
  Change in unrealized appreciation of investments           30,166
                                                            -------
        Net realized and unrealized gain on investments                29,521
                                                                      -------
          Net increase in net assets resulting from operations        $26,750
                                                                      -------
                                                                      -------

    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements

<PAGE>

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

                      STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         For the period from the start of business, September 13, 1994,
                        to February 28, 1995 (Unaudited)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS:
  From operations --
    Net investment loss                                              $ (2,771)
    Net realized loss from Portfolio                                     (645)
    Unrealized appreciation from Portfolio                             30,166
                                                                     --------
      Net increase in net assets from operations                     $ 26,750
  Net increase in net assets from Fund share transactions (Note 2)    701,871
                                                                     --------
        Net increase in net assets                                   $728,621
NET ASSETS:
  At beginning of period                                                   10
                                                                     --------
  At end of period                                                   $728,631
                                                                     --------
                                                                     --------

    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements

<PAGE>

                             FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
         For the period from the start of business, September 13, 1994,
                        to February 28, 1995 (Unaudited)
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (for a share outstanding throughout the period)
NET ASSET VALUE -- Beginning of period                                 $10.000
                                                                       -------
  Income from investment operations:
    Net investment loss                                                $(0.037)
    Net realized and unrealized gain
      on investments                                                     0.327
                                                                       -------
      Total income from investment
        operations                                                       0.290
                                                                       -------
NET ASSET VALUE -- End of period                                       $10.290
                                                                       -------
                                                                       -------
TOTAL RETURN**                                                          2.90 %
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA (to average daily net assets)*:
  Expenses\1/                                                           3.13 %+
  Net investment income                                                (1.61)%+
  NET ASSETS, AT END OF PERIOD (000'S  OMITTED)                        $ 729

  *The  expenses  related  to the operation  of the Fund  reflec  a  preliminary
   allocation of expenses to the Administrator.  Had such action not been taken,
   net investment income per share and the ratios would have been as follows:

RATIOS (to average daily net assets)
  Expenses\1/                                                           6.76 %+
  Net investment loss                                                  (5.24)%+

 **Total return is  calculated assuming a purchase at the net asset value on the
   first  day and a sale at the net asset  value on the last day of each  period
   reported.  Dividends and distributions,  if any, are assumed to be reinvested
   at the net asset value on the record date.

 + Computed on an annualized basis.


<F1>Includes the Fund's share of Growth Portfolio's allocated expenses.

Note: Certain of the per share amounts have been computed  using average  shares
   outstanding.

    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements

 <PAGE>

                         NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                   (UNAUDITED

(1) SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
EV Marathon Growth Fund (the Fund) is a diversified series of Eaton Vance Growth
Trust  (the  Trust).  The  Trust is an entity  of the type  commonly  known as a
Massachusetts  business trust and is registered under the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended,  as an open-end  management  investment  company.  The Fund
invests all of its investable  assets in interests in the Growth  Portfolio (the
Portfolio),  a New York Trust, having the same investment objective as the Fund.
The  value  of the  Fund's  investment  in the  Portfolio  reflects  the  Fund's
proportionate interest in the net assets of the Portfolio (0.55% at February 28,
1995).  The  performance of the Fund is directly  affected by the performance of
the  Portfolio.  The  financial  statements  of  the  Portfolio,  including  the
portfolio of  investments,  are included  elsewhere in this report and should be
read in conjunction  with the Fund's  financial  statements.  The following is a
summary of significant  accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund in
the preparation of its financial statements. The policies are in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles.

A.  INVESTMENT  VALUATIONS  --  Valuations  of  securities  by the  Portfolio is
discussed in Note 1 of the Portfolio's  Notes to Financial  Statements which are
included elsewhere in this report.

B. INCOME -- The Fund's net  investment  income  consists of the Fund's pro rata
share of the net investment income of the Portfolio, less all actual and accrued
expenses of the Fund determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles.

C. FEDERAL  TAXES -- The Fund's  policy is to comply with the  provisions of the
Internal  Revenue Code  applicable  to  regulated  investment  companies  and to
distribute to shareholders  each year all of its taxable  income,  including any
net realized gain on investments,  options and financial  futures  transactions.
Accordingly, no provision for federal income or excise tax is necessary.

D. DEFERRED  ORGANIZATION  EXPENSES -- Costs  incurred by the Fund in connection
with its organization,  are being amortized on the straight-line basis over five
years beginning on the date the Fund commenced operations.

E.  OTHER  --  Investment  transactions  are  accounted  for  on  the  date  the
investments are purchased or sold. Distributions to shareholders are recorded on
the  ex-dividend  date and interest  income is recorded on the accrual basis.

F. DISTRIBUTION COSTS -- For book purposes, commissions paid on the sale of Fund
shares and other distribution costs are charged to operations. For tax purposes,
commissions  paid were charged to paid-in capital prior to November 16, 1994 and
subsequently  charged to operations.  The change in the tax accounting  practice
was prompted by a recent  Internal  Revenue  Service ruling and has no effect on
either the Fund's current yield or total return (Note 5).

G.  DISTRIBUTIONS  --  Generally  accepted  accounting  principles  require that
differences in the recognition or classification of income between the financial
statements   and  tax   earnings   and  profits   which   result  in   temporary
over-distributions   for  financial  statement   purposes,   are  classified  as
distributions  in excess of net investment  income or  accumulated  net realized
gains.

H. INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION -- The interim financial statements relating to
February  28,  1995 and for the  period  then  ended  have not been  audited  by
independent  certified  public  accountants,  but in the  opinion  of the Fund's
management,  reflect  all  adjustments,  consisting  only  of  normal  recurring
adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of the financial statements.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
The  Declaration  of Trust permits the Trustees to issue an unlimited  number of
full  and  fractional  shares  of  beneficial   interest  (without  par  value).
Transactions  in Fund shares from the start of  business  September  13, 1994 to
February 28, 1995 were as follows:


                                                     SHARES         AMOUNT
                                                    --------       --------    
Sales                                                89,712        $889,812
Issued to shareholders electing to receive
  payment of distribution in Fund shares               --             --
Redemptions                                         (18,930)       (187,941)
                                                    --------       --------
    Net increase                                     70,782        $701,871
                                                    ========       ========
                         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS
Increases and decreases in the Fund's investment in the Portfolio aggregated
$847,384 and $197,296 respectively.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) DISTRIBUTION PLAN
The Fund has adopted a  Distribution  Plan (the  "Plan")  pursuant to Rule 12b-1
under the Investment  Company Act of 1940. The Plan requires the Fund to pay the
principal  underwriter,  Eaton Vance Distributors,  Inc. (EVD), amounts equal to
1/365th  of  0.75%  of the  Fund's  daily  net  assets,  for  providing  ongoing
distribution  services and facilities to the Fund.  The Fund will  automatically
discontinue  payments to EVD during any period in which there are no outstanding
Uncovered Distribution Charges, which are equivalent to the sum of (i) 5% of the
aggregate  amount received by the Fund for shares sold plus,  (ii)  distribution
fees calculated by applying the rate of 1% over the prevailing prime rate to the
outstanding balance of Uncovered Distribution Charges of EVD, reduced by amounts
theretofore  paid to EVD. The amount  payable to EVD with respect to each day is
accrued on such day as a  liability  of the Fund and,  accordingly,  reduces the
Fund's net assets. The Fund paid $1,278 to EVD for the period ended February 28,
1995,  representing  0.74% (annualized) of average daily net assets. At February
28, 1995, the amount of Uncovered  Distribution  Charges of EVD calculated under
the Plan was approximately $27,052. In addition, the Plan authorizes the Fund to
make payments of service fees to the Principal Underwriter, Authorized Firms and
other  persons in amounts not  exceeding  0.25% of the Fund's  average daily net
assets  for  each  fiscal  year.  The  Trustees  have  implemented  the  Plan by
authorizing the Fund to make quarterly payments of service fees to the Principal
Underwriter and Authorized  Firms in amounts not expected to exceed 0.25% of the
Fund's  average daily net assets for each fiscal year based on the value of Fund
shares  sold by such  persons  and  remaining  outstanding  for at least  twelve
months,  and that payments of these service fees shall commence with the quarter
ending December 31, 1995.  Service fees are separate and distinct from the sales
commissions and distribution  fees payable by the Fund to EVD, and, as such, are
not subject to automatic  discontinuance when there are no outstanding Uncovered
Distribution  Charges of EVD.  Certain  officers  and  Trustees  of the Fund are
officers or directors of EVD.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(5) CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE
A contingent  deferred  sales charge (CDSC) is imposed on any redemption of Fund
shares made within six years of purchase.  Generally, the CDSC is based upon the
lower of the net  asset  value at date of  redemption  or date of  purchase.  No
charge is levied on shares acquired by reinvestment of dividends or capital gain
distributions.  The CDSC is imposed at  declining  rates that begin at 5% in the
first and second year of redemption  after  purchase,  declining one  percentage
point each subsequent  year. No CDSC is levied on shares which have been sold to
EVM or its affiliates or to their respective employees or clients.  CDSC charges
are  paid  to EVD  to  reduce  the  amount  of  Uncovered  Distribution  Charges
calculated  under the Fund's  Distribution  Plan. CDSC charges  received when no
Uncovered  Distribution Charges exist will be retained by the Fund. EVD received
approximately  $837 of CDSC paid by  shareholders  for the period ended February
28, 1995.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(6) TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
Eaton Vance Management  (EVM) serves only as the  administrator of the Fund, but
receives no  compensation.  The  Portfolio  has engaged  Boston  Management  and
Research (BMR), a subsidiary of EVM, to render investment advisory services. See
Note 2 of the  Portfolio's  Notes to  Financial  Statements  which are  included
elsewhere  in this  report.  To enhance  the net  income of the Fund,  $6,234 of
expenses  related to the operation of the Fund were allocated,  on a preliminary
basis,  to EVM.  Except as to Trustees of the Fund and the Portfolio who are not
members  of  EVM's  or  BMR's  organizations,   officers  and  Trustees  receive
remuneration for their services to the Fund out of such investment  adviser fee.
Investors Bank & Trust Company (IBT),  an affiliate of EVM,  serves as custodian
of  the  Fund  and  the  Portfolio.   Pursuant  to  their  respective  custodian
agreements,  IBT receives a fee reduced by credits which are determined based on
the average  cash  balances  of the Fund or the  Portfolio  maintains  with IBT.
Certain of the officers and Trustees of the Fund and  Portfolio are officers and
directors/trustees of the above organizations.

<PAGE>
  
                                GROWTH PORTFOLIO
                            PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
                               FEBRUARY 28, 1995
                                  (UNAUDITED)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             COMMON STOCKS - 96.2%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  SHARES         VALUE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADVERTISING  - 1.3%
Omnicom Group, Inc.                               30,000      $  1,593,750
  The parent company of DDB Needham                           ------------
  Worldwide and BBDO  Worldwide, two full
  service advertising agency networks.

AUTOMOTIVE  - 2.0%
Bandag Inc.                                       42,000      $  2,520,000
  Dominates the domestic tire retread                         ------------
  market, selling through 600 franchised
  dealers, and has a growing presence in
  foreign markets.

BANKS  - 2.2%
Citicorp                                          60,000      $  2,700,000
  Operates the largest money center bank in                   ------------
  the  U.S. with a substantial worldwide
  presence.


BEVERAGES  - 4.3%
Coca-Cola Co.                                     60,000      $  3,300,000
  Manufactures soft drink concentrates and
  syrups that make Coca Cola and other
  brands including Minute Maid orange
  juice.

PepsiCo, Inc.                                     50,000         1,956,250
  Global soft drink producer with
  businesses in snack foods and fast food
  restaurants.
                                                              ------------
                                                              $  5,256,250
                                                              ------------
BROADCASTING  - 3.2%
Tele-Communications, Inc. Class A*               175,000      $  3,992,187
  The largest operator of cable television                    ------------
  systems in the U.S.

BUSINESS PRODUCTS AND SERVICES  - 5.3%
Reuters Holdings PLC ADR                         110,000      $  4,661,250
  Worldwide provider of proprietary
  financial data and information.
WMX Technologies, Inc.                            70,000         1,846,250
  World's largest provider of collection,
  disposal and remediation services for
  solid and hazardous waste.
                                                              ------------
                                                              $  6,507,500
                                                              ------------
CHEMICALS  - 6.3%
Corning Inc.                                      50,000      $  1,606,250
  A diversified manufacturer of
  sophisticated communications (fiber
  optics), ceramics (pollution control
  devices) and glass (TV screens,  automobile
  headlights,  cookwear and dishes)
  products and provider of medical 
  laboratory services.
Great Lakes Chemical Corp.                        40,000         2,405,000
  Specialty chemical manufacturer of a wide
  range of products including flame
  retardants, water treatments, fuel
  additives.
Loctite Corp.                                     80,000         3,680,000
  Manufacturer of adhesives for consumer
  and industrial markets.
                                                              ------------
                                                              $  7,691,250
                                                              ------------
COMPUTER EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES  - 7.9%
Automatic Data Processing, Inc.                   50,000      $  3,075,000
  The leading independent computing and
  payroll processing services firm in the
  U.S.
General Motors Corp. Class E                      60,000         2,302,500
  Stock represents participation in the
  Electronic Data Systems Division of
  General Motors. EDS designs, installs and
  operates  data processing and
  communications systems for GM and other
  customers.
Microsoft Corp.                                   25,000         1,575,000
  Dominant developer of microcomputer
  software for business and personal use.
Novell Inc.*                                     130,000         2,721,875
  Vendor of local area network operating
  systems that allow computers of any size
  and make to work  together.
                                                              ------------
                                                              $  9,674,375
                                                              ------------
DRUGS & HEALTH CARE SERVICES  - 8.3%
Astra AB A Free Shares                           150,000      $  3,775,965
  Swedish based international
  pharmaceutical firm with drugs for the
  control of ulcers and asthma.
Sofamor Danek Group, Inc.*                       182,000         3,799,250
  The dominant supplier of spinal implant
  devices used in surgical treatment of
  spinal diseases and deformities.
U.S. Healthcare, Inc.                             60,000         2,580,000
  Operator of health maintenance
  organizations serving the Mid-Atlantic,
  Greater New York and New England regions.
                                                              ------------
                                                              $ 10,155,215
                                                              ------------
ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENTATION  - 2.2%
Millipore Corp.                                   50,000      $  2,656,250
  Products use membrane separations                           ------------
  technology to analyze and purify fluids
  for a variety of high tech industries.

FINANCIAL SERVICES  - 6.7%
Federal National Mortgage Association             30,000      $  2,313,750
  U.S. Government sponsored mortgage lender
  and provider of secondary mortgage
  market.
Franklin Resources Inc.                           50,000         1,937,500
  Provides investment management and
  related services to a family of equity
  and fixed income mutual funds.
MGIC Investment Corp. Wisc.                      105,000         4,003,125
  The leading provider of private mortgage
  insurance coverage to U.S. banks and
  other mortgage suppliers.
                                                              ------------
                                                              $  8,254,375
                                                              ------------
FOOD  - 0.8%
Archer Daniels Midland Co.                        50,000      $    950,000
  Major factor in soybean processing, corn                    ------------
  refining and flour milling.

HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS  - 2.3%
Carnival Corp.                                   120,000      $  2,850,000
  Operator of large cruise ships plying the                   ------------
  Caribbean, Mediterranean, South Pacific
  and Alaska.

HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS  - 2.6%
Gillette Co.                                      40,000      $  3,165,000
  A global company with internationally                       ------------
  recognized brands in razors and blades,
  small appliances, cosmetics, dental and
  other consumer products.

INSURANCE  - 7.5%
American International Group, Inc.                45,000      $  4,668,750
  One of the world's leading insurance
  companies, operating in 130 countries.
Progressive Corp., Inc.                           50,000         1,943,750
  Underwriter of non-standard automobile
  and other specialty personal lines of
  insurance.
UNUM Corp.                                        60,000         2,550,000
  A writer of group long term disability
  insurance.
                                                              ------------
                                                              $  9,162,500
                                                              ------------
MACHINERY  - 2.9%
Illinois Tool Works Inc.                          80,000      $  3,590,000
  Manufacturer of industrial components and                   ------------
  other specialty products and equipment.

METALS & MINING  - 3.9%
Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc.             135,000      $  2,835,000
  Operator of third largest copper mine in
  the world with world's largest gold
  reserves.
J & L Specialty Steel, Inc.                      100,000         1,925,000
  A low cost producer in the domestic
  stainless steel  industry.
                                                              ------------
                                                              $  4,760,000
                                                              ------------
OIL - 5.2%
Anadarko Petroleum Corp.                          90,000      $  3,948,750
  Leading independent natural gas and crude
  oil production company.
Phillips Petroleum Co.                            75,000         2,503,125
  Engaged in crude oil and natural gas
  exploration and production worldwide and
  petroleum refining and marketing
  primarily in the U.S.
                                                              ------------
                                                              $  6,451,875
                                                              ------------
PAPER & FOREST PRODUCTS  - 2.6%
Willamette Industries, Inc.                       60,000      $  3,225,000
  Integrated forest products company                          ------------
  selling solid wood products,
  containerboard and corrugated boxes and
  white business papers and computer forms.

PUBLISHING  - 4.3%
Harcourt General, Inc.                            75,000      $  2,784,375
  Diversified company with major interests
  in publishing and the Neiman Marcus Group
  of retail companies.
McGraw Hill Inc.                                  35,000         2,467,500
  Supplies informational products and
  services for businesses, education and
  industry through a broad  range of media.
                                                              ------------
                                                              $  5,251,875
                                                              ------------
RETAILING  - 4.7%
Gap (The) Inc.                                    60,000      $  1,950,000
  A nationwide retailer of moderately
  priced casual and activewear clothing
  plus separate chains for Gap Kids, Banana
  Republic and more recently, Old Navy
  Clothing Company.
Home Depot, Inc.                                  85,000         3,814,375
  A chain of do-it-yourself warehouse style
  stores.
                                                              ------------
                                                              $  5,764,375
                                                              ------------
SEMICONDUCTORS  - 5.8%
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.                      75,000      $  2,278,125
  A producer of a broad line of
  semiconductors including  microprocessors
  for telecommunications, office
  automation, and networking applications.
Intel Corp.                                       36,000         2,871,000
  A manufacturer of semiconductors and
  other microcomputer components and
  systems which comprise the heart of the
  personal computer.
Motorola Inc.                                     35,000         2,012,500
  A leading supplier of semiconductors and
  two-way radios, paging equipment, and
  cellular mobile telephone systems.
                                                              ------------
                                                              $  7,161,625
                                                              ------------
TELEPHONE UTILITIES  - 3.9%
Alltel Corp.                                      90,000      $  2,576,250
  Operates local telephone systems serving
  1.6 million customers, an information
  procession business for financial,
  telecommunications and healthcare
  companies and cellular operations in 19
  states.
Telephone & Data Systems, Inc.                    50,000         2,281,250
  A provider of local telephone service, as
  well as cellular and paging services.
                                                              ------------
                                                              $  4,857,500
                                                              ------------
    TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
     (IDENTIFIED COST, $106,766,615)                          $118,190,902
                                                              ------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         SHORT-TERM OBLIGATIONS - 3.7%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              FACE AMOUNT
                                              (000 OMITTED)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CXC Inc., 6.10s, 3/1/95                           $3,216      $  3,216,000
Chevron Oil Finance Co., 5.82s, 3/1/95             1,267         1,267,000
                                                              ------------
    TOTAL SHORT-TERM OBLIGATIONS, AT
      AMORTIZED COST                                          $  4,483,000
                                                              ------------
    TOTAL INVESTMENTS
      (IDENTIFIED COST, $111,249,615)                         $122,673,902

    OTHER ASSETS, LESS LIABILITIES  - 0.1%                         140,645
                                                              ------------
    NET ASSETS  - 100%                                        $122,814,547
                                                              ============

*Non-income producing security.

                       See notes to financial statements

<PAGE>
                              FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                      STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         February 28, 1995 (Unaudited)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASSETS:
  Investments, at value (Note 1A) (identified cost,
    $111,249,615)                                               $ 122,673,902
  Cash                                                                    753
  Dividends receivable                                                130,775
  Deferred organization expenses (Note 1C)                             14,490
                                                                -------------
      Total assets                                              $ 122,819,920
LIABILITIES:
  Custodian fee payable                                 $4,045
  Accrued expenses                                       1,328
                                                        ------
      Total liabilities                                                 5,373
                                                                -------------
NET ASSETS applicable to investor's interest in Portfolio       $(122,814,547)
                                                                =============
                                                                
SOURCES OF NET ASSETS:
  Net proceeds capital contributions and withdrawals            $ 111,390,260
  Unrealized appreciation of investments (computed on
    the basis of identified cost)                                  11,424,287
                                                                -------------
      Total                                                     $ 122,814,547
                                                                =============
                                                                
   The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements


<PAGE>

                            STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            For the six months ended February 28, 1995 (Unaudited)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT INCOME:
  Income --
    Dividend (net of withholding tax of $91)                       $  765,387
    Interest                                                          192,921
                                                                   ----------
        Total income                                               $  958,308
  Expenses --
    Investment adviser fee (Note 2)                  $   384,275
    Custodian fee (Note 2)                                37,310
    Trustee fees                                           2,083
    Legal and audit fees                                   9,229
    Amortization of organization expense (Note 1C)         1,512
    Miscellaneous                                          3,127
                                                     -----------
        Total expenses                                                437,536
                                                                   ----------
          Net investment income                                    $  520,772
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN ON INVESTMENTS:
  Net realized loss on investment transactions
    (identified cost basis)                          $(1,504,169)
  Increase in unrealized appreciation of
    investments                                        2,384,573
                                                     -----------
    Net realized (loss) and unrealized gain on
      investments                                                     880,404
                                                                   ----------
        Net increase in net assets from operations                 $1,401,176
                                                                   ==========
                                                                   
   The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements


<PAGE>
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

                       STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                     FEBRUARY 28, 1995      YEAR ENDED
                                        (UNAUDITED)      AUGUST 31, 1994*
                                      ----------------   ----------------
INCREASE IN NET ASSETS:
  From operations --
    Net investment income             $        520,772   $         69,589
    Net realized gain (loss) on
      investment transactions               (1,504,169)         1,063,482
    Increase in unrealized
      appreciation of investments            2,384,573          2,595,384
                                      ----------------   ----------------
      Increase in net assets from
        operations                    $      1,401,176   $      3,728,455
                                      ----------------   ----------------
  Capital transactions --
    Contributions                           33,292,216        140,348,725
    Withdrawals                            (43,414,714)       (12,641,351)
                                      ----------------   ----------------
    Increase (decrease) in net
     assets resulting from capital
     transactions                     $    (10,122,498)      $127,707,374
                                      ----------------   ----------------
      Total increase (decrease) in
       net assets                     $     (8,721,322)      $131,435,829
                                      ----------------   ----------------
NET ASSETS:
  At beginning of period                   131,535,869            100,040
                                      ----------------   ----------------
  At end of period                    $    122,814,547   $    131,535,869
                                      ================   ================
                                      
*For the period from the start of business, August 2, 1994, to August 31, 1994.

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements

<PAGE>
                               SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                     FEBRUARY 28, 1995      YEAR ENDED
                                        (UNAUDITED)      AUGUST 31, 1994*
                                      ----------------   ----------------
RATIOS (As a percentage of average net assets):
  Expenses                                 0.72%+              0.73%+
  Net investment income                    0.85%+              0.66%+
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER                           32%                  4%


+Annualized.

<PAGE>

                         NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                               FEBRUARY 28, 1995
                                  (UNAUDITED)

(1) SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Growth Portfolio (the Portfolio) is registered under the Investment  Company Act
of 1940 as a diversified  open-end  investment  company which was organized as a
trust under the laws of the State of New York on August 2, 1994. The Declaration
of Trust permits the Trustees to issue  interests in the  Portfolio.  Investment
operations  began on August 2, 1994, with the acquisition of investments  with a
value of  $127,122,709,  including  unrealized  appreciation  of  $6,444,330  in
exchange for an interest in the Portfolio by one of the  Portfolio's  investors.
The following is a summary of significant  accounting policies of the Portfolio.
The policies are in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

A. INVESTMENT VALUATIONS -- Investments listed on securities exchanges or in the
NASDAQ  National  Market are valued at closing sale  prices.  Listed or unlisted
investments  for which  closing sale prices are not  available are valued at the
mean between the latest bid and asked prices.  Short-term obligations are valued
at amortized cost, which approximates value. Foreign securities held by the Fund
are valued in U.S. dollars at the current exchange rate.

B. INCOME  TAXES -- The  Portfolio is treated as a  partnership  for federal tax
purposes.  No provision is made by the  Portfolio  for federal or state taxes on
any taxable  income of the  Portfolio  because each investor in the Portfolio is
ultimately  responsible  for  the  payment  of  any  taxes.  Since  some  of the
Portfolio's  investors are  regulated  investment  companies  that invest all or
substantially all of their assets in the Portfolio,  the Portfolio normally must
satisfy the applicable source of income and diversification  requirements (under
the  Internal  Revenue  Code) in order for its  investors to satisfy  them.  The
Portfolio will allocate at least  annually  among its investors each  investors'
distributive  share of the  Portfolio's  net  taxable  (if  any) and  tax-exempt
investment  income,  net realized  capital gains, and any other items of income,
gain,  loss,  deduction or credit.  Interest income received by the Portfolio on
investments in municipal bonds,  which is excludable from gross income under the
Internal  Revenue  Code,  will retain its status as income  exempt from  Federal
income tax when  allocated  to the  Portfolio's  investors.  The portion of such
interest,  if any, earned on private  activity bonds issued after August 7, 1986
may be considered a tax preference item for investors.

C.  DEFERRED  ORGANIZATION  EXPENSES  --  Costs  incurred  by the  Portfolio  in
connection with its organization are being amortized on the straight-line  basis
over five years.

D. LEGAL  FEES -- Legal  fees and other  related  expenses  incurred  as part of
negotiations  of the terms and  requirements of capital  infusions,  or that are
expected to result in the  restructuring of or a plan of  reorganization  for an
investment are added to the cost of the investment.

E.  OTHER  --  Investment  transactions  are  accounted  for  on  the  date  the
investments  are  purchased  or  sold.  Dividend  income  and  distributions  to
shareholders  are  recorded  on the  ex-dividend  date and  interest  income  is
recorded on the accrual basis. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) INVESTMENT ADVISER FEE AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
The investment  adviser fee is earned by Boston Management and Research (BMR), a
wholly-owned  subsidiary of Eaton Vance  Management  (EVM), as compensation  for
management and investment  advisory services rendered to the Portfolio.  The fee
is based upon a percentage of average daily net assets. For the six months ended
February  28,  1995,  the fee  was  equivalent  to  0.625%  (annualized)  of the
Portfolio's average net assets for such period and amounted to $384,275.  Except
as to  Trustees  of the  Portfolio  who  are  not  members  of  EVM's  or  BMR's
organization,  officers and Trustees receive  remuneration for their services to
the Fund out of such  investment  adviser fee.  Investors  Bank & Trust  Company
(IBT), an affiliate of EVM and BMR, serves as custodian of the Fund. Pursuant to
the  custodian  agreement,  IBT  receives a fee  reduced  by  credits  which are
determined based on the average daily cash balances the Portfolio maintains with
IBT.  Certain of the  officers and  Trustees of the  Portfolio  are officers and
directors/trustees of the above organizations.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) PURCHASES AND SALES OF INVESTMENTS
Purchases  and  sales  of  investments,   other  than  short  term  obligations,
aggregated $36,944,589 and $39,114,037, respectively.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4)  FEDERAL   INCOME  TAX  BASIS  OF   INVESTMENTS   The  cost  and  unrealized
appreciation/depreciation  in value of the  investments  owned at  February  28,
1995, as computed on a federal income tax basis, are as follows:

Aggregate cost                                          $111,249,615 
                                                        ============
Gross unrealized appreciation                           $ 15,198,431
Gross unrealized depreciation                             (3,774,144)
                                                        ------------
   Net unrealized appreciation                          $ 11,424,287
                                                        ============

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(5) LINE OF CREDIT
The Portfolio  participates  with other  portfolios and funds managed by BMR and
EVM and its affiliates in a $120 million unsecured line of credit agreement with
a bank. The line of credit consists of $20 million committed facility and a $100
million discretionary facility.  Borrowings will be made by the Portfolio solely
to  facilitate  the handling of unusual  and/or  unanticipated  short-term  cash
requirements.  Interest is charged to each portfolio  based on its borrowings at
an amount  above  either the bank's  adjusted  certificate  of deposit  rate,  a
variable  adjusted  certificate  of deposit rate,  or a federal funds  effective
rate.  In  addition,  a fee  computed  at an annual rate of 1/4 of 1% on the $20
million  committed  facility and on the daily unused portion of the $100 million
discretionary facility is allocated among the participating funds and portfolios
at the  end of  each  quarter.  The  Portfolio  did  not  have  any  significant
borrowings or allocated  fees during the period.  At February 28, 1995, the Fund
did not have an outstanding balance pursuant to the line of credit.

<PAGE>
                               GROWTH PORTFOLIO
                           PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
                               AUGUST 31, 1994
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             COMMON STOCKS - 90.8%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         SHARES      VALUE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUTOMOTIVE - 6.2%
Bandag Inc.                                               50,000     $ 2,725,000
  Dominates the domestic tire retread
  market,  selling through 600 franchised
  dealers, and has a growing presence in
  foreign markets.
Ford Motor Co.                                           100,000       2,925,000
  The world's second largest producer of
  automobiles and trucks.
General Motors Corp.                                      50,000       2,512,500
  The world's largest auto and truck
  producer.
                                                                     -----------
                                                                     $ 8,162,500
                                                                     -----------
BEVERAGES - 4.9%
Coca-Cola Co.                                             90,000     $ 4,140,000
  Manufactures soft drink concentrates and
  syrups  that make Coca-Cola and other
  brands including Minute Maid orange
  juice.
PepsiCo, Inc.                                             70,000       2,318,750
  Global soft drink producer with
  businesses in snack foods and fast food
  restaurants.
                                                                     -----------
                                                                     $ 6,458,750
                                                                     -----------
BROADCASTING - 3.0%
Tele-Communications, Inc. Class A<F1>                    175,000     $ 3,948,437
                                                                     -----------
  The largest operator of cable television
    systems in the U.S.

BUSINESS PRODUCTS AND SERVICES - 8.3%
Danka Business Systems PLC ADR                           120,000     $ 2,460,000
  An independent provider of maintenance
  and service for office copying machines.
Reuters Holdings PLC ADR                                 105,000       4,921,875
  Worldwide provider of proprietary
  financial data and information.
WMX Technologies, Inc.                                   120,000       3,600,000
  World's largest provider of collection,
  disposal and remediation services for
  solid and hazardous waste.
                                                                     -----------
                                                                     $10,981,875
                                                                     -----------
CHEMICALS - 4.6%
Great Lakes Chemical Corp.                                40,000     $ 2,410,000
  Specialty chemical manufacturer of a
  wide range of products including flame
  retardants, water treatments, fuel
  additives.
Loctite Corp.                                             80,000       3,630,000
  Manufacturer of adhesives for consumer
  and  industrial markets.
                                                                     -----------
                                                                     $ 6,040,000
                                                                     -----------
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           COMMON STOCKS (Continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         SHARES      VALUE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMPUTER EQUIPMENT AND
    SERVICES - 4.0%
Automatic Data Processing, Inc.                            60,000     $3,247,500
  The leading independent computing and
  payroll processing services firm in the
  U.S.
Novell Inc.<F1>                                           130,000      2,031,250
  Vendor of local area network operating
  systems that allow computers of any size
  and make to work together.
                                                                      ----------
                                                                      $5,278,750
                                                                      ----------
DRUGS & HEALTH CARE SERVICES - 4.6%
Astra AB A Free Shares                                    135,000     $3,075,017
  Swedish based interntional phamaceutical
  firm with drugs for the control of
  ulcers and asthma.
Sofamor Danek Group, Inc.<F1>                             150,000      3,018,750
  The dominant supplier of spinal implant
  devices used in surgical treatment of
  spinal diseases and deformities.
                                                                      ----------
                                                                      $6,093,767
                                                                      ----------
ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENTATION - 1.7%
Millipore Corp.                                            40,000     $2,235,000
                                                                      ----------
  Products use membrane separations
  technology to analyze and purify fluids
  for a variety of high tech industries.

FINANCIAL SERVICES - 7.0%
Federal National Mortgage Association                      36,000     $3,199,500
  U.S. Government sponsored mortgage
  lender and provider of secondary
  mortgage market.
Franklin Resources Inc.                                    70,000      2,756,250
  Provides investment management and
  related services to a family of equity
  and fixed income mutual funds.
MGIC Investment Corp. Wisc.                               105,000      3,228,750
  The leading provider of private mortgage
  insurance coverage to U.S. banks and
  other mortgage suppliers.
                                                                      ----------
                                                                      $9,184,500
                                                                      ----------
HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS - 4.0%
Carnival Corp.                                             60,000     $2,662,500
  Operator of large cruise ships plying
  the Caribbean, Mediterranean, South
  Pacific and Alaska.
Promus Companies, Inc.<F1>                                 70,000      2,572,500
  Operates  hotel  casinos  in Nevada  and
  Atlantic City and is the leading
  developer of regional casinos in states
  that have legalized gaming.                                         ----------
                                                                      $5,235,000
                                                                      ----------
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           COMMON STOCKS (Continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         SHARES      VALUE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS - 2.5%
  Gillette Co.                                             45,000     $3,256,875
                                                                      ----------
  A global company with internationally
  recognized brands in razors and blades,
  small appliances, cosmetics, dental and
  other consumer products.

INSURANCE - 6.9%
American International Group, Inc.                         45,000     $4,230,000
  One of the world's leading insurance
  companies, operating in 130 countries.
UNUM Corp.                                                100,000      4,912,500
  A writer of group long term disability
  insurance.
                                                                      ----------
                                                                      $9,142,500
                                                                      ----------
MACHINERY - 4.5%
Illinois Tool Works Inc.                                   80,000     $3,460,000
  Manufacturer of industrial components
  and other specialty products and
  equipment.
Tenneco Inc.                                               50,000      2,462,500
  Manufactures farm and construction
  equipment,  automotive, shipbuilding and
  packaging machinery and operates a large
  interstate natural gas pipeline system.
                                                                      ----------
                                                                      $5,922,500
                                                                      ----------
METALS & MINING - 3.5%
Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc.                      110,000     $2,543,750
  Operates a copper mine with unusually
  high concentrations of gold with
  exceptional potential for adding to
  reserves.
J & L Specialty Steel, Inc.                               120,000      2,145,000
  A low cost producer in the domestic
  stainless steel industry.
                                                                      ----------
                                                                      $4,688,750
                                                                      ----------
OIL - 2.8%
Phillips Petroleum Co.                                    110,000     $3,643,750
                                                                      ----------
  Engaged in crude oil and natural gas
  exploration and production  worldwide and
  petroleum refining and marketing primarily
  in the U.S.

PAPER & FOREST PRODUCTS - 1.6%
Willamette Industries, Inc.                                40,000     $2,060,000
                                                                      ----------
  Integrated forest products company selling
  solid wood products, containerboard
  and corrugated boxes and white business
  papers and computer forms.

<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           COMMON STOCKS (Continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         SHARES      VALUE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PUBLISHING - 4.6%
Harcourt General, Inc.                                    75,000    $  2,531,250
  Diversified company with major interests
  in publishing and the Neiman Marcus
  Group of retail companies.
McGraw Hill Inc.                                          50,000       3,481,250
  Supplies informational products and
  services for businesses, education and
  industry through a broad  range of
  media.
                                                                    ------------
                                                                    $  6,012,500
                                                                    ------------
RETAILING - 4.5%
Ann Taylor Stores Corp.<F1>                               50,000    $  2,068,750
  Specialty retailer of better quality
  women's apparel, operating 231 stores in
  38 states.
Home Depot, Inc.                                          85,000       3,846,250
  A chain of do-it-yourself warehouse
  style stores.
                                                                    ------------
                                                                    $  5,915,000
                                                                    ------------
SEMICONDUCTORS - 3.2%
Intel Corp.                                               65,000    $  4,273,750
                                                                    ------------
  A  manufacturer  of  semiconductors  and
  other  microcomputer  components  and
  systems which comprise the heart of the
  personal computer.

TELEPHONE UTILITIES - 6.2%
MCI Communications Corp.                                 115,000    $  2,795,937
  A provider of long-distance telephone
  services.
Telefonos de Mexico Sponsored ADR                         50,000       3,137,500
  Provides local and long distance
  telephone service and cellular mobile
  telephone services in Mexico.
Telephone & Data Systems, Inc.                            50,000       2,175,000
  A provider of local telephone service as
  well as cellular and paging services.
                                                                    ------------
                                                                    $  8,108,437
                                                                    ------------
TRANSPORTATION - 2.2%
Federal Express Corp.<F1>                                 40,000    $  2,835,000
                                                                    ------------
  Operates a global time sensitive package
  delivery system.

MISCELLANEOUS SECURITIES - 0.0%                                     $      3,905
                                                                    ------------
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
  (IDENTIFIED COST, $110,441,832)                                   $119,481,546
                                                                    ------------
                                                                    ------------
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       SHORT-TERM OBLIGATIONS - 10.4%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     FACE AMOUNT
                                                    (000 OMITTED)     VALUE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Associates Corp. of North America, 4.6s, 9/2/94       4,111      $  4,110,475
  CXC Inc., 4.875s, 9/1/94                              3,392         3,392,000
  Ford Motor Credit Corp., 4.7s, 9/7/94                 2,832         2,829,781
  Heller Financial, Inc., 4.68s, 9/8/94                 3,285         3,282,011
                                                                   ------------
  TOTAL SHORT-TERM OBLIGATIONS, AT
    AMORTIZED COST                                                 $ 13,614,267
                                                                   ------------
  TOTAL INVESTMENTS (IDENTIFIED COST, $124,056,099)                $133,095,813
  OTHER ASSETS, LESS LIABILITIES - (1.2%)                          $ (1,559,944)
                                                                   ------------
  NET ASSETS - 100%                                                $131,535,869
                                                                   ------------
                                                                   ------------
[FN]
<F1>Non-income producing security.


                 The accompanying Notes are an integral part
                         of the Financial Statements

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                      STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<CAPTION>
                                August 31, 1994
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                                          <C>                        <C>
ASSETS:
  Investments, at value (Note 1A) (identified cost, $124,056,099)                                                       $133,095,813
  Cash                                                                                                                           560
  Receivable for investments sold                                                                                            812,572
  Dividends receivable                                                                                                       187,557
  Deferred organization expenses (Note 1C)                                                                                    14,808
                                                                                                                        ------------
      Total assets                                                                                                      $134,111,310
LIABILITIES:
    Payable for investments purchased                                                        $2,559,062
    Custodian fee payable                                                                         1,324
    Accrued expenses                                                                             15,055
                                                                                             ----------
      Total liabilities                                                                                                    2,575,441
                                                                                                                        ------------
NET ASSETS applicable to investor's interest in Portfolio                                                               $131,535,869
                                                                                                                        ------------
                                                                                                                        ------------
SOURCES OF NET ASSETS:
  Net proceeds capital contributions and withdrawals                                                                    $122,496,155
  Unrealized appreciation of investments (computed on the basis of identified cost)                                        9,039,714
                                                                                                                        ------------
      Total                                                                                                             $131,535,869
                                                                                                                        ------------
                                                                                                                        ------------
                             The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Financial Statements
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
<TABLE>
                            STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<CAPTION>
                            For the period from the start of business, August 2, 1994, to August 31, 1994
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                                          <C>                          <C>
INVESTMENT INCOME:
  Income --
    Dividends                                                                                                             $  108,743
    Interest                                                                                                                  37,818
                                                                                                                          ----------
        Total income                                                                                                      $  146,561
  Expenses --
    Investment adviser fee (Note 2)                                                        $   64,233
    Custodian fee (Note 2)                                                                      3,948
    Accounting fees                                                                             8,543
    Amortization of organization expense (Note 1C)                                                248
                                                                                           ----------
        Total expenses                                                                                                        76,972
                                                                                                                          ----------
            Net investment income                                                                                         $   69,589
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN ON INVESTMENTS:
  Net realized gain on investment transactions (identified cost basis)                     $1,063,482
  Increase in unrealized appreciation of investments                                        2,595,384
                                                                                           ----------
    Net realized gain and unrealized gain on investments                                                                   3,658,866
                                                                                                                          ----------
      Net increase in net assets from operations                                                                          $3,728,455
                                                                                                                          ----------
                                                                                                                          ----------
                             The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Financial Statements
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                     STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  For the period from the start of business, August 2, 1994,
                      to August 31, 1994
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  INCREASE IN NET ASSETS:
    From Operations --
      Net investment income                                        $     69,589
      Net realized gain on investment transactions                    1,063,482
      Increase in unrealized appreciation of investments              2,595,384
                                                                   -------------
        Increase in net assets from operations                     $  3,728,455
    Capital transactions --
      Contributions                                                 140,348,725
      Withdrawals                                                   (12,641,351)
                                                                   -------------
        Increase in net assets resulting from
          capital transactions                                     $127,707,374
                                                                   -------------
          Total increase in net assets                             $131,435,829
                                                                   -------------
  NET ASSETS:
    At beginning of period                                              100,040
                                                                   -------------
    At end of period                                               $131,535,869
                                                                   -------------
                                                                   -------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  RATIOS (AS A PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE DAILY NET ASSETS):
    Expenses                                                           0.73%<F1>
    Net investment income                                              0.66%<F1>
  PORTFOLIO TURNOVER                                                      4%

[FN]
<F1>Annualized.

    The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Financial Statements
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                               AUGUST 31, 1994
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Growth Portfolio (the Portfolio) is registered under the Investment  Company Act
of 1940 as a diversified  open-end,  investment company which was organized as a
trust under the laws of the State of New York on August 2, 1994. The Declaration
of Trust permits the Trustees to issue  interests in the  Portfolio.  Investment
operations  began on August 2, 1994, with the acquisition of investments  with a
value of  $127,122,709,  including  unrealized  appreciation  of  $6,444,330  in
exchange for an interest in the Portfolio by one of the  Portfolio's  investors.
The following is a summary of significant  accounting policies of the Portfolio.
The policies are in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

A. INVESTMENT  VALUATIONS - Investments listed on securities exchanges or in the
NASDAQ  National  Market are valued at closing sale  prices.  Listed or unlisted
investments  for which  closing sale prices are not  available are valued at the
mean between the latest bid and asked prices.  Short-term obligations are valued
at amortized cost, which approximates value. Foreign securities held by the Fund
are valued in U.S. dollars at the current exchange rate.

B. INCOME  TAXES - The  Portfolio  is treated as a  partnership  for Federal tax
purposes.  No provision is made by the  Portfolio  for federal or state taxes on
any taxable  income of the  Portfolio  because each investor in the Portfolio is
ultimately  responsible  for  the  payment  of  any  taxes.  Since  some  of the
Portfolio's  investors are  regulated  investment  companies  that invest all or
substantially all of their assets in the Portfolio,  the Portfolio normally must
satisfy the applicable source of income and diversification requirements, (under
the Internal  Revenue  Code),  in order for its investors to satisfy  them.  The
Portfolio will allocate at least  annually  among its investors each  investor's
distributive  share of the  Portfolio's  net  taxable  (if  any) and  tax-exempt
investment  income,  net realized  capital gains, and any other items of income,
gain,  loss,  deduction or credit.  Interest income received by the Portfolio on
investments in municipal bonds,  which is excludable from gross income under the
Internal  Revenue  Code,  will retain its status as income  exempt from  Federal
income tax when  allocated  to the  Portfolio's  investors.  The portion of such
interest,  if any, earned on private  activity bonds issued after August 7, 1986
may be considered a tax preference item for investors.

C.  DEFERRED  ORGANIZATION  EXPENSES  -  Costs  incurred  by  the  Portfolio  in
connection with its organization are being amortized on the straight-line  basis
over five years.

D.  LEGAL  FEES - Legal  fees and other  related  expenses  incurred  as part of
negotiations  of the terms and  requirements of capital  infusions,  or that are
expected to result in the  restructuring of or a plan of  reorganziation  for an
investment are added to the cost of the investment.

E. OTHER - Investment transactions are accounted for on the date the investments
are purchased or sold.  Dividend income and  distributions  to shareholders  are
recorded on the ex-dividend  date and interest income is recorded on the accrual
basis.

<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) INVESTMENT ADVISER FEE AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
The investment  adviser fee is earned by Boston Management and Research (BMR), a
wholly-owned  subsidiary of Eaton Vance  Management  (EVM), as compensation  for
management and investment  advisory services rendered to the Portfolio.  The fee
is based upon a  percentage  of average  daily net assets plus a  percentage  of
gross income,  (i.e., income other than gains from the sale of securities).  For
the period from the start of business,  August 2, 1994 to August 31,  1994,  the
fee was equivalent to 0.61%  (annualized) of the Portfolio's  average net assets
for such period and amounted to $64,233.  Except as to Trustees of the Portfolio
who are not  members  of EVM's  or BMR's  organization,  officers  and  Trustees
receive  remuneration  for  their  services  to the Fund out of such  investment
adviser fee.  Investors Bank & Trust Company (IBT), an affiliate of EVM and BMR,
serves as  custodian  of the Fund.  Pursuant  to the  custodian  agreement,  IBT
receives a fee  reduced by credits  which are  determined  based on the  average
daily cash balances the Portfolio  maintains  with IBT.  Certain of the officers
and Trustees of the Portfolio are officers and  directors/trustees  of the above
organizations.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) PURCHASES AND SALES OF INVESTMENTS
Purchases  and  sales  of  investments,   other  than  short-term   obligations,
aggregated $5,541,237 and, $12,413,266, respectively.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) FEDERAL INCOME TAX BASES OF INVESTMENTS
The cost and unrealized  appreciation/depreciation  in value of the  investments
owned at August 31,  1994,  as  computed on a federal  income tax basis,  are as
follows:

Aggregate cost                                                      $124,056,099
                                                                    ------------
                                                                    ------------
Gross unrealized appreciation                                       $ 15,699,173
Gross unrealized depreciation                                          6,659,459
                                                                    ------------
    Net unrealized appreciation                                     $  9,039,714
                                                                    ------------
                                                                    ------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(5) LINE OF CREDIT
The Portfolio  participates  with other  portfolios and funds managed by BMR and
EVM in a $120 million  unsecured line of credit  agreement with a bank. The line
of credit  consists  of a $20  million  committed  facility  and a $100  million
discretionary  facility.  Borrowings  will be made by the  Portfolio  solely  to
facilitate  the  handling  of  unusual  and/or  unanticipated   short-term  cash
requirements. Interest is charged to each Portfolio, based on its borrowings, at
an amount  above  either the bank's  adjusted  certificate  of deposit  rate,  a
variable  adjusted  certificate  of deposit rate,  or a federal funds  effective
rate.  In  addition,  a fee  computed  at an annual rate of 1/4 of 1% on the $20
million  committed  facility and on the daily unused portion of the $100 million
discretionary facility is allocated among the participating funds and Portfolios
at the  end of  each  quarter.  The  Portfolio  did  not  have  any  significant
borrowings or allocated fees during the period.

<PAGE>
                      REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To the Trustees and Investors of
Growth Portfolio:

We have audited the  accompanying  statement of assets and liabilities of Growth
Portfolio,  including the portfolio of  investments,  as of August 31, 1994, the
related  statements of operations,  changes in net assets and supplementary data
for the period  from August 2, 1994 (start of  operations)  to August 31,  1994.
These financial  statements and supplementary data are the responsibility of the
Portfolio's  management.  Our  responsibility  is to express an opinion on these
financial statements and the supplementary data based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.
Those standards  require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether the financial statements and supplementary data are free
of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting  the  amounts  and  disclosures  in  the  financial  statements.  Our
procedures  included  confirmation of securities  owned as of August 31, 1994 by
correspondence  with the custodian and brokers. An audit also includes assessing
the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management,  as
well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that
our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion,  the financial  statements  and  supplementary  data referred to
above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Growth
Portfolio as of August 31, 1994, the results of its  operations,  changes in its
net assets and  supplementary  data for the period from August 2, 1994 (start of
operations) to August 31, 1994, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.


                                     COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.
Boston, Massachusetts
September 23, 1994
<PAGE>

INVESTMENT ADVISER OF
GROWTH PORTFOLIO
Boston Management and Research
24 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110

ADMINISTRATOR OF
EV MARATHON GROWTH FUND
Eaton Vance Management
24 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110

PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER
Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc.
24 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110
(800) 225-6265

CUSTODIAN
Investors Bank & Trust Company
24 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110

TRANSFER AGENT
The Shareholder Services Group, Inc.
BOS725
P.O. Box 1559
Boston, MA 02104
(800) 262-1122

INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
One Post Office Square
Boston, MA  02109


EV MARATHON GROWTH FUND
24 FEDERAL STREET
BOSTON, MA 02110

                        M-GFSAI

[LOGO]

EV MARATHON
GROWTH
FUND

STATEMENT OF
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
May 1, 1995




<PAGE>
                                    PART C

                              OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 24:  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
           (A) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                 INCLUDED IN PART A:
   
                   For EV Classic Growth Fund:
                     Financial  Highlights  for the  period  from  the  start of
                       business,   November  7,  1994,   to  February  28,  1995
                       (Unaudited)

                   For EV Marathon Growth Fund:
                     Financial  Highlights  for the  period  from  the  start of
                       business,  September  13,  1994,  to  February  28,  1995
                       (Unaudited)

                 INCLUDED IN PART B:
                   FOR EV CLASSIC GROWTH FUND:
                   Financial Statements for EV Classic Growth Fund:
                     Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of February 28, 1995
                       (Unaudited)
                     Statement of  Operations  for the period  from the start of
                       business,   November  7,  1994,   to  February  28,  1995
                       (Unaudited)
                     Statement of Changes in Net Assets for the period  from the
                       start of business, November 7, 1994, to February 28, 1995
                       (Unaudited)
                     Financial  Highlights  for the  period  from  the  start of
                       business,   November  7,  1994,   to  February  28,  1995
                       (Unaudited)
                     Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)

                   Financial Statements for Growth Portfolio:
                     Portfolio  of   Investments   as  of   February   28,  1995
                       (Unaudited)
                     Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of February 28, 1995
                       (Unaudited)
                     Statement of Operations  for the six months ended  February
                       28, 1995 (Unaudited)
                     Statement of Changes in Net Assets for the six months ended
                       February 28, 1995 (Unaudited) and for the period from the
                       start of business, August 2, 1994, to August 31, 1994
                     Supplementary  Data for the six months  ended  February 28,
                       1995  (Unaudited)  and for the  period  from the start of
                       business, August 2, 1994, to August 31, 1994
                     Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)

                   FOR EV MARATHON GROWTH FUND:
                   Financial Statements for EV Marathon Growth Fund:
                     Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of February 28, 1995
                     (Unaudited)
                     Statement of  Operations  for the period  from the start of
                       business,  September  13,  1994,  to  February  28,  1995
                       (Unaudited)
                     Statement of Changes in Net Assets for the period  from the
                       start of business,  September  13, 1994,  to February 28,
                       1995 (Unaudited)
                     Financial  Highlights  for the  period  from  the  start of
                       business,  September  13,  1994,  to  February  28,  1995
                       (Unaudited)
                     Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)

                   Financial  Statements  for  Growth  Portfolio:
                     Portfolio  of   Investments   as  of   February   28,  1995
                       (Unaudited)
                     Statements of Asset and Liabilities as of February 28, 1995
                       (Unaudited)
                     Statement of Operations  for the six months ended  February
                       28, 1995 (Unaudited)
                     Statement of Changes in Net Assets for the six months ended
                       February 28, 1995 (Unaudited) and for the period from the
                       start of business, August 2, 1994, to August 31, 1994
                     Supplementary  Data for the six months  ended  February 28,
                       1995  (Unaudited)  and for the  period  from the start of
                       business, August 2, 1994, to August 31, 1994
                     Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)

                   FOR EV CLASSIC GROWTH FUND
                       EV MARATHON GROWTH FUND:
                   Financial Statements for Growth Portfolio:
                     Portfolio of Investments  as of August 31, 1994  Statements
                       of Assets and Liabilities as of August 31, 1994
                     Statement of  Operations  for the period  from the start of
                       business, August 2, 1994, to August 31, 1994
                     Statements of Changes in Net Assets for the period from the
                       start of business, August 2, 1994, to August 31, 1994
                     Supplementary  Data  for  the  period  from  the  start  of
                       business, August 2, 1994, to August 31, 1994
                     Notes to Financial Statements
                     Independent Auditors' Report
    
<TABLE>
    (B) EXHIBITS:
<CAPTION>
            <S>                                              <C>
         (1)(a)     Declaration of Trust dated May 25,       Filed as Exhibit (1) to Post-Effective
                    1989.                                    Amendment No. 39 and incorporated herein by
                                                             reference.

            (a)     Amended to the Declaration of Trust      Filed as Exhibit (1)(b) to Post-Effective
                    dated August 18, 1992.                   Amendment No. 43 and incorporated herein by
                                                             reference.

            (c)     Establishment and Designation of Series  Filed as Exhibit (1)(c) to Post-Effective
                    of Shares dated August 18, 1992.         Amendment No. 43 and incorporated herein by
                                                             reference.

            (d)     Amendment and Restatement of             Filed as Exhibit (1)(d) to Post-Effective
                    Establishment and Designation of Series  Amendment No. 44 and incorporated herein by
                    of Shares dated October 6, 1992.         reference.

            (e)     Amendment and Restatement of             Filed as Exhibit (1)(e) to Post-Effective
                    Establishment and Designation of Series  Amendment No. 49 and incorporated herein by
                    of Shares dated March 31, 1993.          reference.

            (f)     Amendment and Restatement of             Filed as Exhibit (1)(f) to Post-Effective
                    Establishment and Designation of Series  Amendment No. 51 and incorporated herein by
                    of Shares dated December 17, 1993.       reference.

   
            (g)     Amendment and Restatement of             Filed as Exhibit (1)(g) to Post-Effective
                    Establishment and Designation of Series  Amendment No. 55 and incorporated herein by
                    of Shares dated July 27, 1994.           reference.
    

         (2)(a)     By-Laws                                  Filed as Exhibit (2) to Post-Effective
                                                             Amendment No. 39 and incorporated herein by
                                                             reference.

            (b)     Amendment to By-Laws dated December 13,  Filed as Exhibit (2)(b) to Post-Effective
                    1993.                                    Amendment No. 51 and incorporated herein by
                                                             reference.

            (3)     Not applicable

            (4)     Not applicable

         (5)(a)     Investment Advisory Agreement with       Filed as Exhibit (5) to Post-Effective
                    Eaton Vance Management dated November    Amendment No. 41 and incorporated herein by
                    1, 1990.                                 reference.

            (b)     Management Contract with Eaton Vance     Filed as Exhibit (5)(b) to Post-Effective
                    Management for Eaton Vance Greater       Amendment No. 47 and incorporated herein by
                    China Growth Fund.                       reference.

            (c)     Management Contract with Eaton Vance     Filed as Exhibit (5)(c) to Post-Effective
                    Management for EV Marathon Greater       Amendment No. 49 and incorporated herein by
                    China Growth Fund dated June 7, 1993.    reference.

            (d)     Management Contract with Eaton Vance     Filed as Exhibit (5)(d) to Post-Effective
                    Management for EV Classic Greater China  Amendment No. 53 and incorporated herein by
                    Growth Fund dated December 17, 1993.     reference.

         (6)(a)(1)  Distribution Agreement with Eaton Vance  Filed as Exhibit (6)(a) to Post-Effective
                    Distributors, Inc. dated August 30,      Amendment No. 41 and incorporated herein by
                    1989.                                    reference.

            (a)(2)  Distribution Agreement with Eaton Vance  Filed as Exhibit (6)(a)(2) to Post-Effective
                    Distributors, Inc. for Eaton Vance       Amendment No. 47 and incorporated herein by
                    Greater China Growth Fund.               reference.

            (a)(3)  Distribution Agreement with Eaton Vance  Filed as Exhibit (6)(a)(3) to Post-Effective
                    Distributors, Inc. for EV Marathon       Amendment No. 49 and incorporated herein by
                    Greater China Growth Fund dated June     reference.
                    7,1993.

            (a)(4)  Distribution Agreement with Eaton Vance  Filed as Exhibit (6)(a)(4) to Post-Effective
                    Distributors, Inc. for EV Classic        Amendment No. 53 and incorporated herein by
                    Greater China Growth Fund.               reference.

   
            (a)(5)  Distribution Agreement with Eaton Vance  Filed as Exhibit (6)(a)(5) to Post-Effective
                    Distributors, Inc. for EV Classic        Amendment No. 55 and incorporated herein by
                    Greater China Growth Fund.               reference.

            (a)(6)  Distribution Agreement with Eaton Vance  Filed as Exhibit (6)(a)(6) to Post-Effective
                    Distributors, Inc. for EV Marathon       Amendment No. 55 and incorporated herein by
                    Growth Fund.                             reference.

            (b)     Selling  Group Agreement between Eaton   Filed as Exhibit (6)(b) to Post-Effective
                    Vance Distributors, Inc. and Authorized  Amendment No. 55 and incorporated herein by
                    Firms.                                   reference.

            (c)     Schedule of Dealer Discounts and Sales   Filed as Exhibit (6)(c) to Post-Effective
                    Charges.                                 Amendment No. 55 and incorporated herein by
                                                             reference.
    

         (7)        Not applicable

         (8)        Custodian Agreement with Investors Bank  Filed as Exhibit (8) to Post-Effective
                    & Trust Company dated December 17,       Amendment No. 42 and incorporated herein by
                    1990.                                    reference.

   
         (9)(a)     Administrative Services Agreement with   Filed as Exhibit (9)(a) to Post-Effective
                    Eaton Vance Management for EV            Amendment No. 55 and incorporated herein by
                    Traditional Growth Fund.                 reference.

            (b)     Administrative Services Agreement with   Filed as Exhibit (9)(b) to Post-Effective
                    Eaton Vance Management for EV Classic    Amendment No. 55 and incorporated herein by
                    Growth Fund.                             reference.

            (c)     Administrative Services Agreement with   Filed as Exhibit (9)(c) to Post-Effective
                    Eaton Vance Management for EV Marathon   Amendment No. 55 and incorporated herein by
                    Growth Fund.                             reference.
    

        (10)        Not applicable

   
        (11)(a)     Consent of Independent Accountants for   Filed herewith.
                    EV Classic Growth Fund.

            (b)     Consent of Independent Accountants for   Filed herewith.
                    EV Marathon Growth Fund.
    

        (12)        Not applicable

        (13)        Not applicable

        (14)   (1)  Vance, Sanders Profit Sharing            Filed as Exhibit (8)(b)(1) to Post-Effective
                    Retirement Plan for Self-Employed        Amendment No. 28 and incorporated herein by
                    Persons with Adoption Agreement and      reference.
                    instructions.

               (2)  Eaton & Howard, Vance Sanders Defined    Filed as Exhibit (14)(2) to Post-Effective
                    Contribution Prototype Plan and Trust    Amendment No. 29 and incorporated herein by
                    with Adoption Agreements:                reference.

                    (1) Basic Profit-Sharing Retirement
                        Plan.
                    (2) Basic Money Purchase Pension Plan.
                    (3) Thrift Plan Qualifying as Profit-
                        Sharing Plan.
                    (4) Thrift Plan Qualifying as Money
                        Purchase Plan.
                    (5) Integrated Profit-Sharing
                        Retirement Plan.
                    (6) Integrated Money Purchase Pension
                        Plan.

               (3)  Individual Retirement Custodian Account  Filed as Exhibit 18 to Post-Effective
                    (Form 5305A) and Instructions.           Amendment No. 24 on Form S-5, File #2-22019
                                                             and incorporated herein by reference.

        (15)(a)     Service Plan dated July 7, 1993          Filed as Exhibit (15)(a) to Post-Effective
                    pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the         Amendment No. 49 and incorporated herein by
                    Investment Company Act of 1940 for EV    reference.
                    Traditional Growth Fund.

            (b)     Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-  Filed as Exhibit (15)(b) to Post-Effective
                    1 under the Investment Company Act of    Amendment No. 47 and incorporated herein by
                    1940 for Eaton Vance Greater China       reference.
                    Growth Fund.

            (c)     Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule       Filed as Exhibit (15)(b) to Post-Effective
                    12b-1 under the Investment Company Act   Amendment No. 49 and incorporated herein by
                    of 1940 for EV Marathon Greater China    reference.
                    Growth Fund dated June 7, 1993.

            (d)     Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-  Filed as Exhibit (15)(b) to Post-Effective
                    1 under the Investment Company Act of    Amendment No. 49 and incorporated herein by
                    1940 for EV Classic Greater China        reference.
                    Growth Fund.

   
            (e)     Distribution Plan for EV Classic Growth  Filed as Exhibit (15)(e) to Post-Effective
                    Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the    Amendment No. 55 and incorporated herein by
                    Investment Company Act of 1940.          reference.

            (f)     Distribution Plan for EV Marathon        Filed as Exhibit (15)(f) to Post-Effective
                    Growth Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1       Amendment No. 55 and incorporated herein by
                    under the Investment Company Act of      reference.
                    1940.
    
        (16)        Schedule for Computation of Performance  Filed herewith.
                    Quotations.

        (17)(a)     Power of Attorney dated December 20,     Filed as Exhibit (17)(a) to Post-Effective
                    1993 for Eaton Vance Growth Trust.       Amendment No. 51 and incorporated herein by
                                                             reference.

            (b)     Power of Attorney dated March 30, 1993   Filed as Exhibit (17)(b) to Post-Effective
                    for Greater China Growth Portfolio.      Amendment No. 49 and incorporated herein by
                                                             reference.

            (c)     Power of Attorney dated May 18, 1994     Filed as Exhibit (17)(c) to Post-Effective
                    for Growth Portfolio.                    Amendment No. 53 and incorporated herein by
                                                             reference.
</TABLE>
ITEM 25.  PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH REGISTRANT
    Not applicable

ITEM 26.  NUMBER OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
                                                                     (2)
                                                               NUMBER OF RECORD
                         (1)                                     HOLDERS AS OF
                   TITLE OF CLASS                              FEBRUARY 28, 1995
                   --------------                              -----------------
   
   Shares of beneficial interest without par value
      EV Traditional Growth Fund                                    11,602
      EV Marathon Growth Fund                                           38
      EV Classic Growth Fund                                            11
      EV Traditional Greater China Growth Fund                      22,165
      EV Marathon Greater China Growth Fund                         30,260
      EV Classic Greater China Growth Fund                           1,268
    

ITEM 27.  INDEMNIFICATION

   
    No change from the information  set forth in Item 27 of Form N-1A,  filed as
Post-Effective  Amendment  No.  41  to  the  Registration  Statement  under  the
Securities Act of 1933 and Amendment No. 14 under the Investment  Company Act of
1940, which information is incorporated herein by reference.
    

    Registrant's  Trustees and officers are insured under a standard mutual fund
errors and  omissions  insurance  policy  covering  loss  incurred  by reason of
negligent errors and omissions committed in their capacities as such.

ITEM 28.  BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISER

   
    Reference is made to the information set forth under the caption "Investment
Adviser and  Administrator"  in the Statement of Additional  Information,  which
information is incorporated herein by reference.
<PAGE>
ITEM 29.  PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER
    (A) Registrant's  principal underwriter,  Eaton Vance Distributors,  Inc., a
        wholly-owned  subsidiary  of Eaton Vance  Management,  is the  principal
        underwriter for each of the investment companies named below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                     <C>
EV Classic Alabama Tax Free Fund                        EV Classic Strategic Income Fund
EV Classic Arizona Tax Free Fund                        EV Classic South Carolina Tax Free Fund
EV Classic Arkansas Tax Free Fund                       EV Classic Special Equities Fund
EV Classic California Limited Maturity                  EV Classic Senior Floating-Rate Fund
  Tax Free Fund                                         EV Classic Stock Fund
EV Classic California Municipals Fund                   EV Classic Tennessee Tax Free Fund
EV Classic Colorado Tax Free Fund                       EV Classic Texas Tax Free Fund
EV Classic Connecticut Limited Maturity                 EV Classic Total Return Fund
  Tax Free Fund                                         EV Classic  Virginia  Tax Free Fund
EV Classic Connecticut Tax Free Fund                    EV Classic West Virginia Tax Free Fund
EV Classic Florida Insured Tax Free Fund                EV Marathon Alabama Tax Free Fund
EV Classic Florida Limited Maturity                     EV Marathon Arizona Limited Maturity
  Tax Free Fund                                           Tax Free Fund
EV Classic Florida Tax Free Fund                        EV Marathon Arizona Tax Free Fund
EV Classic Georgia Tax Free Fund                        EV Marathon Arkansas Tax Free Fund
EV Classic Government Obligations Fund                  EV Marathon California Limited Maturity
EV Classic Greater China Growth Fund                      Tax Free Fund
EV Classic Growth Fund                                  EV Marathon California Municipals Fund
EV Classic Hawaii Tax Free Fund                         EV Marathon Colorado Tax Free Fund
EV Classic High Income Fund                             EV Marathon Connecticut Limited Maturity
EV Classic Investors Fund                                 Tax Free Fund
EV Classic Kansas Tax Free Fund                         EV Marathon Connecticut Tax Free Fund
EV Classic Kentucky Tax Free Fund                       EV Marathon Emerging Markets Fund
EV Classic Louisiana Tax Free Fund                      Eaton Vance Equity - Income Trust
EV Classic Maryland Tax Free Fund                       EV Marathon Florida Insured Tax Free Fund
EV Classic Massachusetts Limited Maturity               EV Marathon Florida Limited Maturity
  Tax Free Fund                                           Tax Free Fund
EV Classic Massachusetts Tax Free Fund                  EV Marathon Florida Tax Free Fund
EV Classic Michigan Limited Maturity                    EV Marathon Georgia Tax Free Fund
  Tax Free Fund                                         EV Marathon Gold & Natural Resources Fund
EV Classic Michigan Tax Free Fund                       EV Marathon Government Obligations Fund
EV Classic Minnesota Tax Free Fund                      EV Marathon Greater China Growth Fund
EV Classic Mississippi Tax Free Fund                    EV Marathon Greater India Fund
EV Classic Missouri Tax Free Fund                       EV Marathon Growth Fund
EV Classic National Limited Maturity Tax Free Fund      EV Marathon Hawaii Tax Free Fund
EV Classic National Municipals Fund                     EV Marathon High Income Fund
EV Classic New Jersey Limited Maturity                  EV Marathon Investors Fund
  Tax Free Fund                                         EV Marathon Kansas Tax Free Fund
EV Classic New Jersey Tax Free Fund                     EV Marathon Kentucky Tax Free Fund
EV Classic New York Limited Maturity                    EV Marathon Louisiana Tax Free Fund
  Tax Free Fund                                         EV Marathon Maryland Tax Free Fund
EV Classic New York Tax Free Fund                       EV Marathon Massachusetts Limited Maturity
EV Classic North Carolina Tax Free Fund                   Tax Free Fund
EV Classic Ohio Limited Maturity Tax Free Fund          EV Marathon Massachusetts Tax Free Fund
EV Classic Ohio Tax Free Fund                           EV Marathon Michigan Limited Maturity
EV Classic Oregon Tax Free Fund                           Tax Free Fund
EV Classic Pennsylvania Limited Maturity                EV Marathon Michigan Tax Free Fund
  Tax Free Fund                                         EV Marathon Minnesota Tax Free Fund
EV Classic Pennsylvania Tax Free Fund                   EV Marathon Mississippi Tax Free Fund
EV Classic Rhode Island Tax Free Fund
<PAGE>
EV Marathon Missouri Tax Free Fund                      EV Traditional California Municipals Fund
EV Marathon National Limited Maturity                   EV Traditional Connecticut Tax Free Fund
  Tax Free Fund                                         EV Traditional Emerging Markets Fund
EV Marathon National Municipals Fund                    EV Traditional Florida Insured Tax Free Fund
EV Marathon New Jersey Limited Maturity                 EV Traditional Florida Limited Maturity
  Tax Free Fund                                           Tax Free Fund
EV Marathon New Jersey Tax Free Fund                    EV Traditional Florida Tax Free Fund
EV Marathon New York Limited Maturity                   EV Traditional Government Obligations Fund
  Tax Free Fund                                         EV Traditional Greater China Growth Fund
EV Marathon New York Tax Free Fund                      EV Traditional Greater India Fund
EV Marathon North Carolina Limited Maturity             EV Traditional Growth Fund
  Tax Free Fund                                         Eaton Vance Income Fund of Boston
EV Marathon North Carolina Tax Free Fund                EV Traditional Investors Fund
EV Marathon Ohio Limited Maturity Tax Free Fund         Eaton Vance Municipal Bond Fund L.P.
EV Marathon Ohio Tax Free Fund                          EV Traditional National Limited Maturity
EV Marathon Oregon Tax Free Fund                           Tax Free Fund
EV Marathon Pennsylvania Limited Maturity               EV Traditional National Municipals Fund
  Tax Free Fund                                         EV Traditional New Jersey Tax Free Fund
EV Marathon Pennsylvania Tax Free Fund                  EV Traditional New York Limited Maturity
EV Marathon Rhode Island Tax Free Fund                    Tax Free Fund
EV Marathon Strategic Income Fund                       EV Traditional New York Tax Free Fund
EV Marathon South Carolina Tax Free Fund                EV Traditional Pennsylvania Tax Free Fund
EV Marathon Special Equities Fund                       EV Traditional Special Equities Fund
EV Marathon Stock Fund                                  EV Traditional Stock Fund
EV Marathon Tennessee Tax Free Fund                     EV Traditional Total Return Fund
EV Marathon Texas Tax Free Fund                         Eaton Vance Cash Management Fund
EV Marathon Total Return Fund                           Eaton Vance Liquid Assets Trust
EV Marathon Virginia Limited Maturity                   Eaton Vance Prime Rate Reserves
  Tax Free  Fund                                        Eaton Vance Short-Term Treasury Fund
EV Marathon Virginia Tax Free Fund                      Eaton Vance Tax Free Reserves
EV Marathon West Virginia Tax Free Fund                 Massachusetts Municipal Bond Portfolio
</TABLE>

    (b)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
               (1)                                      (2)                                     (3)
       NAME AND PRINCIPAL                      POSITIONS AND OFFICES                    POSITIONS AND OFFICE
        BUSINESS ADDRESS                    WITH PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER                    WITH REGISTRANT
       ------------------                   --------------------------                 --------------------
<S>                                      <C>                                          <C> 
James B. Hawkes<F1>                      Vice President and Director                   President and Trustee
William M. Steul<F1>                     Vice President and Director                   None
Wharton P. Whitaker<F1>                  President and Director                        None
Howard D. Barr                           Vice President                                None
  2750 Royal View Court
  Oakland, Michigan
Nancy E. Belza                           Vice President                                None
  463-1 Buena Vista East
  San Francisco, California
Chris Berg                               Vice President                                None
  45 Windsor Lane
  Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
H. Day Brigham, Jr.<F1>                  Vice President                                None
Susan W. Bukima                          Vice President                                None
  106 Princess Street
  Alexandria, Virginia
Jeffrey W. Butterfield                   Vice President                                None
  9378 Mirror Road
  Columbus, Indiana
Mark A. Carlson<F1>                      Vice President                                None
<PAGE>
               (1)                                      (2)                                     (3)
       NAME AND PRINCIPAL                      POSITIONS AND OFFICES                    POSITIONS AND OFFICE
        BUSINESS ADDRESS                    WITH PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER                    WITH REGISTRANT
       ------------------                   --------------------------                 --------------------
Jeffrey Chernoff                         Vice President                                None
  115 Concourse West
  Bright Waters, New York
William A. Clemmer<F1>                   Vice President                                None
James S. Comforti                        Vice President                                None
  1859 Crest Drive
  Encinitas, California
Mark P. Doman                            Vice President                                None
  107 Pine Street
  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Michael A. Foster                        Vice President                                None
  850 Kelsey Court
  Centerville, Ohio
William M. Gillen                        Vice President                                None
  280 Rea Street
  North Andover, Massachusetts
Hugh S. Gilmartin                        Vice President                                None
  1531-184th Avenue, NE
  Bellevue, Washington
Richard E. Houghton<F1>                  Vice President                                None
Brian Jacobs<F1>                         Senior Vice President                         None
Stephen D. Johnson                       Vice President                                None
  13340 Providence Lake Drive
  Alpharetta, Georgia
Thomas J. Marcello                       Vice President                                None
  553 Belleville Avenue
  Glen Ridge, New Jersey
Timothy D. McCarthy                      Vice President                                None
  9801 Germantown Pike
  Lincoln Woods Apt. 416
  Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania
Morgan C. Mohrman<F1>                    Senior Vice President                         None
Gregory B. Norris                        Vice President                                None
  6 Halidon Court
  Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Thomas Otis<F1>                          Secretary and Clerk                           Secretary
George D. Owen                           Vice President                                None
  1911 Wildwood Court
  Blue Springs, Missouri
F. Anthony Robinson                      Vice President                                None
  510 Gravely Hill Road
  Wakefield, Rhode Island
Benjamin A. Rowland, Jr.<F1>             Vice President,                               None
                                           Treasurer and Director
John P. Rynne<F1>                        Vice President                                None
George V.F. Schwab, Jr.                  Vice President                                None
  9501 Hampton Oaks Lane
  Charlotte, North Carolina
Cornelius J. Sullivan<F1>                Vice President                                None
Maureen C. Tallon                        Vice President                                None
  518 Armistead Drive
  Nashville, Tennessee
<PAGE>
               (1)                                      (2)                                     (3)
       NAME AND PRINCIPAL                      POSITIONS AND OFFICES                    POSITIONS AND OFFICE
        BUSINESS ADDRESS                    WITH PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER                    WITH REGISTRANT
       ------------------                   --------------------------                 --------------------
David M. Thill                           Vice President                                None
  126 Albert Drive
  Lancaster, New York
William T. Toner                         Vice President                                None
  747 Lilac Drive
  Santa Barbara, California
Chris Volf                               Vice President                                None
  6517 Thoroughbred Loop
  Odessa, Florida
Donald E. Webber<F1>                     Senior Vice President                         None
Sue Wilder                               Vice President                                None
  141 East 89th Street
  New York, New York
---------
<F1> Address is 24 Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110
</TABLE>
    (c) Not applicable
    

ITEM 30.  LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS
   
    All applicable  accounts,  books and documents  required to be maintained by
the  Registrant by Section 31(a) of the  Investment  Company Act of 1940 and the
Rules  promulgated   thereunder  are  in  the  possession  and  custody  of  the
Registrant's  custodian,  Investors  Bank & Trust  Company,  24 Federal  Street,
Boston, MA 02110 and 89 South Street,  Boston, MA 02111, and its transfer agent,
The Shareholder  Services Group,  Inc., 53 State Street,  Boston, MA 02104, with
the exception of certain  corporate  documents and portfolio  trading  documents
which are in the  possession and custody of Eaton Vance  Management,  24 Federal
Street,  Boston, MA 02110.  Registrant is informed that all applicable accounts,
books and documents required to be maintained by registered  investment advisers
are in the custody and possession of Eaton Vance Management.
    

ITEM 31. MANAGEMENT SERVICES
    Not applicable

ITEM 32.  UNDERTAKINGS
   
    The Registrant  undertakes to furnish to each person to whom a prospectus is
delivered a copy of the latest annual report to  shareholders,  upon request and
without charge.
    
<PAGE>
                                  SIGNATURES
   
    Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  and  the
Investment  Company Act of 1940, the Registrant  certifies that it meets all the
requirements  for  effectiveness  of  this  Post-Effective   Amendment  to  this
Registration  Statement pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933
and has duly caused this Amendment to its Registration Statement to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Boston,
and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on the 27th day of March, 1995.
    

                                  EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST
   
                                  By  /s/ JAMES B. HAWKES
                                          --------------------------
                                          JAMES B. HAWKES, President
    

    Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of 1933,  this Post-
Effective  Amendment to the Registration  Statement has been signed below by the
following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       SIGNATURE                                                     TITLE                                  DATE
       ---------                                                     -----                                  ----
   
<S>                                                          <C>                                       <C> 
                                                             President, Principal Executive
/s/ JAMES B. HAWKES                                            Officer and Trustee                      March 27, 1995
------------------------------
    JAMES B. HAWKES
                                                             Treasurer and Principal
                                                               Financial and Accounting
/s/ JAMES L. O'CONNOR                                          Officer                                  March 27, 1995
------------------------------
    JAMES L. O'CONNOR

    LANDON T. CLAY<F1>                                       Trustee                                    March 27, 1995
------------------------------
    LANDON T. CLAY

    DONALD R. DWIGHT<F1>                                     Trustee                                    March 27, 1995
------------------------------
    DONALD R. DWIGHT

    SAMUEL L. HAYES, III<F1>                                 Trustee                                    March 27, 1995
------------------------------
    SAMUEL L. HAYES, III

    PETER F. KIELY<F1>                                       Trustee                                    March 27, 1995
------------------------------
    PETER F. KIELY

    NORTON H. REAMER<F1>                                     Trustee                                    March 27, 1995
------------------------------
    NORTON H. REAMER

    JOHN L. THORNDIKE<F1>                                    Trustee                                    March 27, 1995
------------------------------
    JOHN L. THORNDIKE

    JACK L. TREYNOR<F1>                                      Trustee                                    March 27, 1995
------------------------------
    JACK L. TREYNOR


<F1> Signed by: /s/ H. DAY BRIGHAM, JR.
                    --------------------
                    As Attorney-in-fact
</TABLE>
    
<PAGE>
                                  SIGNATURES
   
    Growth  Portfolio  has  duly  caused  this  Amendment  to  the  Registration
Statement  on Form N-1A of Eaton Vance  Growth  Trust  (File No.  2-22019) to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned,  thereunto duly authorized, in the City
of Boston, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the 27th day of March, 1995.

                                  GROWTH PORTFOLIO

                                  By  /s/ JAMES B. HAWKES
                                          --------------------------
                                          JAMES B. HAWKES, President
    

    Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of 1933,  this Post-
Effective  Amendment to the Registration  Statement has been signed below by the
following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       SIGNATURE                                                     TITLE                                  DATE
       ---------                                                     -----                                  ----
   
<S>                                                          <C>                                       <C> 
                                                             President, Principal Executive
/s/ JAMES B. HAWKES                                            Officer and Trustee                      March 27, 1995
------------------------------
    JAMES B. HAWKES
                                                             Treasurer and Principal
                                                               Financial and Accounting
/s/ JAMES L. O'CONNOR                                          Officer                                  March 27, 1995
------------------------------
    JAMES L. O'CONNOR

    LANDON T. CLAY<F1>                                       Trustee                                    March 27, 1995
------------------------------
    LANDON T. CLAY

    DONALD R. DWIGHT<F1>                                     Trustee                                    March 27, 1995
------------------------------
    DONALD R. DWIGHT

    SAMUEL L. HAYES, III<F1>                                 Trustee                                    March 27, 1995
------------------------------
    SAMUEL L. HAYES, III

    PETER F. KIELY<F1>                                       Trustee                                    March 27, 1995
------------------------------
    PETER F. KIELY

    NORTON H. REAMER<F1>                                     Trustee                                    March 27, 1995
------------------------------
    NORTON H. REAMER

    JOHN L. THORNDIKE<F1>                                    Trustee                                    March 27, 1995
------------------------------
    JOHN L. THORNDIKE

    JACK L. TREYNOR<F1>                                      Trustee                                    March 27, 1995
------------------------------
    JACK L. TREYNOR

<F1> Signed by: /s/ H. DAY BRIGHAM, JR.
                    --------------------
                    As Attorney-in-fact
</TABLE>
    


<PAGE>
   
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                    PAGE IN
                                                                                                  SEQUENTIAL
                                                                                                   NUMBERING
EXHIBIT NO.                                       DESCRIPTION                                       SYSTEM
-----------                                       -----------                                      ---------
<S>                  <C>                                                                          <C>
(11)(a)              Consent of Independent Accountants for EV Classic Growth Fund
    (b)              Consent of Independent Accountants for EV Marathon Growth Fund
(16)                 Schedule for Computation of Performance Quotation
</TABLE>
    




   
                                                                EXHIBIT 99.11(A)

                      CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

    We  consent  to the  inclusion  in  Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 56 to the
Registration  Statement  on Form N-1A (1933 Act File  Number  2-22019)  of Eaton
Vance  Growth  Trust:  EV Classic  Growth Fund (the "Fund") of our report on our
audit of the financial  statements and  supplementary  data of Growth  Portfolio
dated  September  23,  1994,  which  report is included in the Annual  Report to
Shareholders  for the period ended August 31,  1994,  which is also  included in
this Registration Statement.

    We also consent to the reference to our Firm under the caption  "Independent
Accountants"  in the Statement of  Additional  Information  of the  Registration
Statement.


                                                      COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.

Boston, Massachusetts
March 27, 1995
    



   
                                                                EXHIBIT 99.11(B)

                      CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

    We  consent  to the  inclusion  in  Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 56 to the
Registration  Statement  on Form N-1A (1933 Act File  Number  2-22019)  of Eaton
Vance Growth  Trust:  EV Marathon  Growth Fund (the "Fund") of our report on our
audit of the financial  statements and  supplementary  data of Growth  Portfolio
dated  September  23,  1994,  which  report is included in the Annual  Report to
Shareholders  for the period ended August 31,  1994,  which is also  included in
this Registration Statement.

    We also consent to the reference to our Firm under the caption  "Independent
Accountants"  in the Statement of  Additional  Information  of the  Registration
Statement.


                                                      COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.

Boston, Massachusetts
March 27, 1995

    

<TABLE>
                                                                                                                   EXHIBIT 99.16
EV CLASSIC GROWTH FUND                                                                                                            
INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                  
The table below indicates the total return (capital changes plus reinvestment of all distributions) on a hypothetical investment of 
$1,000 in the Fund covering the life of the Fund ending February 28, 1995.  Past performance is not indicative of future results.  
Investment return and principal value will fluctuate and shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                        TOTAL         TOTAL
                                                                                                        RETURN        RETURN
                                                                                   2/28/95   2/28/95    THROUGH       THOUGH
                                                                                   VALUE OF  VALUE OF   2/28/95       2/28/95
                                               NO. OF SHARES      TOTAL            INVEST-   INVEST-    BEFORE        AFTER
                             NO. OF   NAV ON   GAINED THROUGH     NO. OF           MENT      MENT       DEDUCTING     DEDUCTING
INVEST-   INVEST-   AMT OF   SHARES   DATE OF  REINVESTMENT OF    SHARES           BEFORE    AFTER      THE CDSC      THE CDSC *
MENT      MENT      INVEST-  PUR-     INVEST-  ALL DISTRIBUTIONS  AS OF   2/28/95  DEDUCTING DEDUCTING
PERIOD    DATE      MENT     CHASED   MENT     THROUGH 02/28/95   2/28/95   NAV +  THE CDSC  THE CDSC*  CUMUL^ ANN++  CUMUL^^ ANN++
<S>       <C>       <C>      <C>      <C>            <C>          <C>      <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>     <C>   <C>      <C>

LIFE OF   11/07/94  $1,000   100.000  $10.00         0.000        100.000  $10.37   $1,027.00 $1,027.00 3.70%   NA    2.70%    NA
THE FUND                                                                                                                          
(0.31 YEARS)                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                  
     *  No contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) is imposed on shares purchased more than one year prior to the redemption,
        shares acquired through the reinvestment of dividends and distributions and any appreciation in value of other shares in
        the account, and no such charge is imposed on exchanges of fund shares for shares of one or more other funds in the Eaton
        Vance Classic Group of Funds.
                                                                                                                                  
     ^  Cumulative total return (net asset value to net asset value) is calculated by dividing the cumulative net asset value on 
        02/28/95 by the initial net asset value.
                                                                                                                                  
    ^^  Cumulative total return (net asset value to net asset value) is calculated by dividing the cumulative net asset value on 
        02/28/95 by the initial net asset value and subtracting the CDSC.
                                                                                                                                  
     +  02/28/95 Net Asset Value is an unaudited figure                                                                           
                                                                                                                                  
    ++  Average annual total return is the average annual compounded rate of return based on the cumulative value for each period.  
        It is calculated by taking the nth root of 1 + the cumulative total return, where n = the number of years invested.     
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
EV MARATHON GROWTH FUND                                                                                                            
INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                  
The table below indicates the total return (capital changes plus reinvestment of all distributions) on a hypothetical investment of 
$1,000 in the Fund covering the life of the Fund ending February 28, 1995.  Past performance is not indicative of future results.  
Investment return and principal value will fluctuate and shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.
<CAPTION>


                                                                                                        TOTAL         TOTAL
                                                                                                        RETURN        RETURN
                                                                                   2/28/95   2/28/95    THROUGH       THOUGH
                                                                                   VALUE OF  VALUE OF   2/28/95       2/28/95
                                               NO. OF SHARES      TOTAL            INVEST-   INVEST-    BEFORE        AFTER
                             NO. OF   NAV ON   GAINED THROUGH     NO. OF           MENT      MENT       DEDUCTING     DEDUCTING 
INVEST-   INVEST-   AMT OF   SHARES   DATE OF  REINVESTMENT OF    SHARES           BEFORE    AFTER      THE CDSC      THE CDSC *
MENT      MENT      INVEST-  PUR-     INVEST-  ALL DISTRIBUTIONS  AS OF   2/28/95  DEDUCTING DEDUCTING
PERIOD    DATE      MENT     CHASED   MENT     THROUGH 02/28/95   2/28/95   NAV+   THE CDSC  THE CDSC*  CUMUL^ ANN++  CUMUL^^ ANN++
<S>       <C>       <C>      <C>      <C>            <C>          <C>      <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>     <C>   <C>      <C>

LIFE OF   09/13/94  $1,000   100.000  $10.00         0.000        100.000  $10.29   $1,029.00 $979.00   2.90%   NA    -2.10%   NA
THE FUND                                                                                                                          
(0.46 YEARS)                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                  
     *  No contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) is imposed on shares purchased more than six years prior to the redemption,
        shares acquired through the reinvestment of dividends and distributions and any appreciation in value of other shares in
        the account, and no such charge is imposed on exchanges of fund shares for shares of one or more other funds in the Eaton
        Vance Marathon Group of Funds.
                                                                                                                                  
     ^  Cumulative total return (net asset value to net asset value) is calculated by dividing the cumulative net asset value on 
        02/28/95 by the initial net asset value.
                                                                                                                                  
    ^^  Cumulative total return (net asset value to net asset value) is calculated by dividing the cumulative net asset value on 
        02/28/95 by the initial net asset value and subtracting the CDSC.
                                                                                                                                  
     +  02/28/95 Net Asset Value is an unaudited figure                                                                           
                                                                                                                                  
    ++  Average annual total return is the average annual compounded rate of return based on the cumulative value for each period.  
        It is calculated by taking the nth root of 1 + the cumulative total return, where n = the number of years invested.     
</TABLE>


<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000102816
<NAME> EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 5
   <NAME> EV CLASSIC GROWTH FUND
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               FEB-28-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                0
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                         794,749
<RECEIVABLES>                                    3,984
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                  35,622
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 834,355
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                       38,430
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                             38,430
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                       776,360
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                           76,743
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                      (2,657)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                             35
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                        22,187
<NET-ASSETS>                                   795,925
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                  824
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                  207
<OTHER-INCOME>                                   (387)
<EXPENSES-NET>                                     609
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             35
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       (2,657)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                       22,187
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                           19,530
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                         76,851
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                        108
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                         795,915
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                  4,593
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                           228,276
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            10.00
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                  0.001
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                          0.036
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              10.37
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.41
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000102816
<NAME> EATON VANCE GROWTH TRUST
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 6
   <NAME> EV MARATHON GROWTH FUND
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               FEB-28-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                0
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                         681,011
<RECEIVABLES>                                   48,663
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                  34,602
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 764,276
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                       35,645
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                             35,645
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<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                           70,782
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<NET-ASSETS>                                   728,631
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                2,047
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                  556
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<EXPENSES-NET>                                   4,162
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                        (2,771)
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<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
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</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<RESTATED> 
<CIK> 0000925461
<NAME> GROWTH PORTFOLIO
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               FEB-28-1995
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<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                     122,673,902
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<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                              765,387
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<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 437,536
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                        520,772
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                   (1,504,169)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    2,384,573
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                        1,401,176
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
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</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000925461
<NAME> GROWTH PORTFOLIO
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1994
<PERIOD-END>                               AUG-31-1994
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<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                     133,095,813
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<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                    .73
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</TABLE>


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