TOTAL RETURN PORTFOLIO
POS AMI, 1997-04-24
Previous: GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS PORTFOLIO, POS AMI, 1997-04-24
Next: METEOR INDUSTRIES INC, 10-K, 1997-04-24



   
          As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 24, 1997
    

                                                               File No. 811-8014





                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM N-1A

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                     THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 [X]

   
                               AMENDMENT NO. 4          [X]
    


                             TOTAL RETURN PORTFOLIO
                             ----------------------
               (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, including Area Code)


   
                                 Alan R. Dynner
                 24 Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110
                 ----------------------------------------------
                     (Name and Address of Agent for Service)
    



<PAGE>
   
     Throughout this Registration Statement, information concerning Total Return
Portfolio (the  "Portfolio")  is incorporated by reference from Amendment No. 46
to the Registration  Statement of Eaton Vance Special Investment Trust (File No.
2-27962 under the  Securities  Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act")) (the  "Amendment"),
which was filed  electronically  with the Securities and Exchange  Commission on
April 23, 1997 (Accession No. 0000950156-97-000402).  The Amendment contains the
prospectus  and statement of additional  information  ("SAI") of EV  Traditional
Total Return Fund (the "Feeder Fund"),  which invests  substantially  all of its
assets in the Portfolio.
    

                                     PART A

     Responses  to  Items 1  through  3 and 5A have  been  omitted  pursuant  to
Paragraph 4 of Instruction F of the General Instructions to Form N-1A.

ITEM 4.  GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT

   
         The Portfolio is a diversified,  open-end management investment company
which was organized as a trust under the laws of the State of New York on May 1,
1992.  Interests  in the  Portfolio  are  issued  solely  in  private  placement
transactions  that do not involve any  "public  offering"  within the meaning of
Section 4(2) of the 1933 Act.  Investments  in the Portfolio may be made only by
U.S.  and  foreign  investment  companies,  common or  commingled  trust  funds,
organizations  or trusts  described in Sections 401(a) or 501(a) of the Internal
Revenue  Code of 1986,  as amended (the  "Code"),  or similar  organizations  or
entities  that are  "accredited  investors"  within the meaning of  Regulation D
under the 1933 Act. This Registration Statement, as amended, does not constitute
an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any "security"  within
the meaning of the 1933 Act.

         The Portfolio is not intended to be a complete investment program,  and
a  prospective  investor  should  take into  account  its  objectives  and other
investments when  considering the purchase of an interest in the Portfolio.  The
Portfolio cannot assure achievement of its investment objective.

         Registrant   incorporates  by  reference  information   concerning  the
Portfolio's  investment  objective  and  investment  practices  from "The Fund's
Investment  Objective"  and  "Investment  Policies and Risks" in the Feeder Fund
prospectus.

ITEM 5.  MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIO

         Registrant   incorporates  by  reference  information   concerning  the
Portfolio's  management  from  "Management of the Fund and the Portfolio" in the
Feeder Fund prospectus.

ITEM 6.  CAPITAL STOCK AND OTHER SECURITIES

         Registrant  incorporates by reference information  concerning interests
in the Portfolio from "Organization of the Fund and the Portfolio" in the Feeder
Fund  prospectus  and "Other  Information"  in Part I of the Feeder Fund SAI. An
interest in the Portfolio  has no  preemptive or conversion  rights and is fully
paid and nonassessable by the Portfolio, except as described under "Organization
of the Fund and the Portfolio" in the Feeder Fund prospectus.

         As of April 1, 1997, the Feeder Fund controlled the Portfolio by virtue
of  owning  approximately  88.3%  of the  outstanding  voting  interests  in the
Portfolio.
    


                                      a-1
<PAGE>
         The net asset value of the  Portfolio is  determined  each day on which
the New York Stock  Exchange (the  "Exchange")  is open for trading  ("Portfolio
Business Day"). This determination is made each Portfolio Business Day as of the
close of regular  trading on the Exchange  (currently  4:00 p.m., New York time)
(the "Portfolio Valuation Time").

   
         Each investor in the  Portfolio may add to or reduce its  investment in
the Portfolio on each Portfolio Business Day as of 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.
    

         The Portfolio  will allocate at least  annually among its investors its
net  investment  income,  net  realized  capital  gains,  and any other items of
income,  gain, loss,  deduction or credit. The Portfolio's net investment income
consists of all income accrued on the  Portfolio's  assets,  less all actual and
accrued  expenses of the  Portfolio  determined  in  accordance  with  generally
accepted accounting principles.

         Under  the  anticipated  method  of  operation  of the  Portfolio,  the
Portfolio  will not be subject to any federal income tax. (See Part B, Item 20.)
However,  each  investor in the  Portfolio  will take into account its allocable
share of the  Portfolio's  ordinary  income and capital gain in determining  its
federal income tax liability.  The determination of each such share will be made
in  accordance  with the  governing  instruments  of the  Portfolio,  which  are
intended  to  comply  with the  requirements  of the  Code  and the  regulations
promulgated thereunder.

   
         It is intended that the  Portfolio's  assets and income will be managed
in such a way that an  investor  in the  Portfolio  that  seeks to  qualify as a
regulated  investment company ("RIC") under the Code will be able to satisfy the
requirements for such qualification.
    

ITEM 7.  PURCHASE OF INTERESTS IN THE PORTFOLIO

         Interests  in the  Portfolio  are issued  solely in  private  placement
transactions  that do not involve any  "public  offering"  within the meaning of
Section 4(2) of the 1933 Act. See "General Description of Registrant" above.

   
         Registrant   incorporates  by  reference  information   concerning  the
computation  of net asset value and valuation of Portfolio  assets from "Valuing
Fund Shares" in the Feeder Fund prospectus. For further information, see Item 19
of Part B.

         There is no minimum initial or subsequent  investment in the Portfolio.
The Portfolio  reserves the right to cease accepting  investments at any time or
to reject any investment order.


                                      A-2
<PAGE>
         The placement agent for the Portfolio is Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc.
("EVD"),  a  wholly-owned  subsidiary of Eaton Vance  Management.  The principal
business address of EVD is 24 Federal Street,  Boston,  Massachusetts 02110. EVD
receives no compensation for serving as the placement agent for the Portfolio.

ITEM 8.  REDEMPTION OR DECREASE OF INTEREST

         An  investor  in the  Portfolio  may  withdraw  all of  (redeem) or any
portion of (decrease)  its interest in the Portfolio if a withdrawal  request in
proper form is furnished by the investor to the Portfolio.  All withdrawals will
be  effected  as of  the  next  Portfolio  Valuation  Time.  The  proceeds  of a
withdrawal will be paid by the Portfolio  normally on the Portfolio Business Day
the  withdrawal is effected,  but in any event within seven days.  The Portfolio
reserves the right to pay the proceeds of a withdrawal  (whether a redemption or
decrease) by a distribution in kind of portfolio  securities  (instead of cash).
The  securities  so  distributed  would be  valued  at the same  amount  as that
assigned to them in  calculating  the net asset value for the interest  (whether
complete or partial) being withdrawn.  If an investor received a distribution in
kind upon such withdrawal,  the investor could incur brokerage and other charges
in  converting  the  securities  to  cash.  The  Portfolio  has  filed  with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a notification of election
on Form N-18F-1  committing to pay in cash all requests for  withdrawals  by any
investor,  limited in amount  with  respect to such  investor  during any 90 day
period to the  lesser of (a)  $250,000  or (b) 1% of the net asset  value of the
Portfolio at the beginning of such period.

         Investments in the Portfolio may not be transferred.

         The right of any  investor  to  receive  payment  with  respect  to any
withdrawal may be suspended or the payment of the withdrawal  proceeds postponed
during  any period in which the  Exchange  is closed  (other  than  weekends  or
holidays) or trading on the Exchange is restricted  or, to the extent  otherwise
permitted  by the  Investment  Company  Act of  1940  (the  "1940  Act"),  if an
emergency  exists,  or  during  any  other  period  permitted  by  order  of the
Commission for the protection of investors.
    

ITEM 9.  PENDING LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

         Not applicable.


                                      A-3
<PAGE>
                                     PART B

ITEM 10.  COVER PAGE

         Not applicable.

   
ITEM 11.  TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                            PAGE

         General Information and History ....................................B-1
         Investment Objectives and Policies .................................B-1
         Management of the Portfolio ........................................B-1
         Control Persons and Principal Holder of Securities .................B-2
         Investment Advisory and Other Services .............................B-2
         Brokerage Allocation and Other Practices ...........................B-2
         Capital Stock and Other Securities .................................B-2
         Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Securities .....................B-4
         Tax Status .........................................................B-4
         Underwriters .......................................................B-7
         Calculation of Performance Data ....................................B-7
         Financial Statements ...............................................B-7
    

ITEM 12.  GENERAL INFORMATION AND HISTORY

         Not applicable.

ITEM 13.  INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

   
         Part A contains additional  information about the investment  objective
and policies of the Portfolio.  This Part B should be read in  conjunction  with
Part A. Capitalized terms used in this Part B and not otherwise defined have the
meanings given them in Part A.

         Registrant  incorporates by reference additional information concerning
the investment  policies of the Portfolio as well as information  concerning the
investment  restrictions  of the Portfolio from  "Additional  Information  about
Investment Policies" and "Investment  Restrictions" in Part I of the Feeder Fund
SAI.  The  Portfolio's  portfolio  turnover  rates for the  fiscal  years  ended
December 31, 1996 and 1995 were 166% and 103%, respectively.

ITEM 14.  MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIO

         Registrant  incorporates by reference additional information concerning
the  management of the Portfolio  from  "Trustees and Officers" in Part I of the
Feeder Fund SAI and "Fees and Expenses" in Part II of the Feeder Fund SAI.


                                      B-1
<PAGE>
ITEM 15.  CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDER OF SECURITIES

     As of April 1, 1997,  the Feeder Fund,  EV Marathon  Total Return Fund (the
"Marathon  Fund") and EV Classic  Total  Return Fund (the  "Classic  Fund") each
owned  approximately  88.3%, 10.7% and 1.0%,  respectively,  of the value of the
outstanding  interests in the  Portfolio.  Because the Feeder Fund  controls the
Portfolio,  the Feeder Fund may take  actions  without the approval of any other
investor.  Each of the Feeder Fund,  the Marathon  Fund and the Classic Fund has
informed  the  Portfolio  that  whenever  it is  requested  to vote  on  matters
pertaining to the fundamental policies of the Portfolio,  it will hold a meeting
of shareholders and will cast its vote as instructed by its shareholders.  It is
anticipated  that any other  investor in the  Portfolio  which is an  investment
company  registered  under  the  1940 Act  would  follow  the same or a  similar
practice.  The Feeder Fund, the Marathon Fund and the Classic Fund are series of
Eaton Vance Special Investment Trust, an open-end management  investment company
organized  as  a  business  trust  under  the  laws  of  the   Commonwealth   of
Massachusetts. The address of the Feeder Fund, the Marathon Fund and the Classic
Fund is 24 Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110.

ITEM 16.  INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

         Registrant  incorporates by reference information concerning investment
advisory and other services  provided to the Portfolio from "Investment  Adviser
and Administrator,"  "Custodian" and "Independent  Accountants" in Part I of the
Feeder Fund SAI.

ITEM 17.  BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES


         Registrant   incorporates  by  reference  information   concerning  the
brokerage practices of the Portfolio from "Portfolio  Security  Transactions" in
Part I of the Feeder Fund SAI.

ITEM 18.  CAPITAL STOCK AND OTHER SECURITIES

         Under the Portfolio's Declaration of Trust, the Trustees are authorized
to issue  interests in the Portfolio.  Investors are entitled to participate pro
rata in distributions of taxable income, loss, gain and credit of the Portfolio.
Upon  dissolution of the Portfolio,  the Trustees shall  liquidate the assets of
the  Portfolio and apply and  distribute  the proceeds  thereof as follows:  (a)
first,  to the payment of all debts and  obligations  of the  Portfolio to third
parties  including,  without  limitation,  the retirement of  outstanding  debt,
including  any debt owed to  holders  of record of  interests  in the  Portfolio
("Holders") or their  affiliates,  and the expenses of  liquidation,  and to the
setting up of any reserves for  contingencies  which may be  necessary;  and (b)
second,  then in  accordance  with the Holders'  positive  Book Capital  Account
balances after adjusting Book Capital Accounts for certain allocations  provided
in the Declaration of Trust and in accordance with the requirements described in
Treasury  Regulations  Section  1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(b)  (2).  Notwithstanding  the
foregoing, if the Trustees shall determine that an immediate sale of part or all
of the  assets of the  Portfolio  would  cause  undue loss to the  Holders,  the
Trustees,  in order to avoid such loss, may, after having given  notification to
all  the  Holders,  to  the  extent  not  then  prohibited  by  the  law  of any
jurisdiction  in which the Portfolio is then formed or qualified and  applicable
in the circumstances, either defer liquidation of and withhold from distribution
for a reasonable  time any assets of the  Portfolio  except  those  necessary to
satisfy the  Portfolio's  debts and  obligations or distribute  the  Portfolio's
assets to the Holders in  liquidation.  Certificates  representing an investor's
interest in the Portfolio are issued only upon the written request of a Holder.
    


                                      B-2
<PAGE>
         Each  Holder is  entitled  to vote in  proportion  to the amount of its
interest in the Portfolio.  Holders do not have  cumulative  voting rights.  The
Portfolio is not required and has no current  intention to hold annual  meetings
of Holders but the Portfolio  will hold meetings of Holders when in the judgment
of the Portfolio's  Trustees it is necessary or desirable to submit matters to a
vote of Holders at a meeting.  Any action  which may be taken by Holders  may be
taken  without a  meeting  if  Holders  holding  more than 50% of all  interests
entitled to vote (or such larger proportion  thereof as shall be required by any
express  provision of the Declaration of Trust of the Portfolio)  consent to the
action in writing  and the  consents  are filed with the  records of meetings of
Holders.

         The Portfolio's  Declaration of Trust may be amended by vote of Holders
of more than 50% of all  interests in the Portfolio at any meeting of Holders or
by an  instrument  in writing  without a meeting,  executed by a majority of the
Trustees and consented to by the Holders of more than 50% of all interests.  The
Trustees may also amend the Declaration of Trust (without the vote or consent of
Holders) to change the Portfolio's name or the state or other jurisdiction whose
law shall be the  governing  law,  to supply any  omission  or cure,  correct or
supplement any ambiguous,  defective or inconsistent  provision,  to conform the
Declaration  of  Trust  to  applicable  federal  law  or  regulations  or to the
requirements of the Code, or to change, modify or rescind any provision provided
such change,  modification  or  rescission  is  determined by the Trustees to be
necessary  or  appropriate  and to not have a materially  adverse  effect on the
financial  interests of the Holders.  No amendment of the  Declaration  of Trust
which  would  change any rights  with  respect to any  Holder's  interest in the
Portfolio  by  reducing  the amount  payable  thereon  upon  liquidation  of the
Portfolio  may be made,  except  with  the vote or  consent  of the  Holders  of
two-thirds of all interests.  References in the Declaration of Trust and in Part
A or this Part B to a specified  percentage of, or fraction of, interests in the
Portfolio,  means Holders whose combined Book Capital Account balances represent
such  specified  percentage  or fraction of the combined  Book  Capital  Account
balance of all, or a specified group of, Holders.

         The  Portfolio  may merge or  consolidate  with any other  corporation,
association,  trust  or  other  organization  or may  sell  or  exchange  all or
substantially  all of its  assets  upon such terms and  conditions  and for such
consideration  when and as  authorized  by the Holders of (a) 67% or more of the
interests in the Portfolio present or represented at the meeting of Holders,  if
Holders of more than 50% of all interests are present or  represented  by proxy,
or (b) more than 50% of all  interests,  whichever is less. The Portfolio may be
terminated (i) by the  affirmative  vote of Holders of not less than two- thirds
of all  interests  at any  meeting  of Holders  or by an  instrument  in writing
without a meeting,  executed by a majority of the Trustees  and  consented to by
Holders of not less than two-thirds of all interests, or (ii) by the Trustees by
written notice to the Holders.

         In accordance with the Declaration of Trust,  there normally will 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  provides  that no person  shall  serve as a
Trustee if  investors  holding  two-thirds  of the  outstanding  interests  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.


                                      B-3
<PAGE>
   
         The Declaration of Trust provides that obligations of the Portfolio are
not binding  upon the  Trustees  individually  but only upon the property of the
Portfolio  and that the Trustees will not be liable for any action or failure to
act,  but nothing in the  Declaration  of Trust  protects a Trustee  against any
liability  to  which  he  would  otherwise  be  subject  by  reason  of  willful
misfeasance,  bad faith,  gross negligence,  or reckless disregard of the duties
involved in the conduct of his office.

ITEM 19.  PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SECURITIES

         See  "Purchase  of  Interests  in the  Portfolio"  and  "Redemption  or
Decrease of Interest" in Part A.

         Registrant  incorporates by reference information  concerning valuation
of the Portfolio's  assets from  "Determination of Net Asset Value" in Part I of
the Feeder Fund SAI.

ITEM 20.  TAX STATUS

         The  Portfolio  has been  advised by tax  counsel  that,  provided  the
Portfolio  is operated at all times  during its  existence  in  accordance  with
certain  organizational  and  operational  documents,  the  Portfolio  should be
classified  as a  partnership  under the Code,  and it should not be a "publicly
traded   partnership"   within  the  meaning  of  Section   7704  of  the  Code.
Consequently,  the Portfolio does not expect that it will be required to pay any
federal  income  tax and a Holder  will be  required  to take  into  account  in
determining  its  federal  income  tax  liability  its share of the  Portfolio's
income, gains, losses, deductions and credits.

         Under  Subchapter  K of the Code, a  partnership  is  considered  to be
either an  aggregate  of its  members or a separate  entity  depending  upon the
factual and legal  context in which the  question  arises.  Under the  aggregate
approach,  each  partner  is  treated as an owner of an  undivided  interest  in
partnership assets and operations. Under the entity approach, the partnership is
treated  as a  separate  entity in which  partners  have no direct  interest  in
partnership assets and operations. The Portfolio has been advised by tax counsel
that, in the case of a Holder that seeks to qualify as a RIC under the Code, the
aggregate  approach  should apply,  and each such Holder should  accordingly  be
deemed to own a  proportionate  share of each of the assets of the Portfolio and
to be entitled to the gross income of the Portfolio  attributable  to that share
for purposes of all requirements of Sections 851(b),  852(b)(5),  853(a) and 854
of the Code.  Further,  the  Portfolio has been advised by tax counsel that each
Holder that seeks to qualify as a RIC should be deemed to hold its proportionate
share of the Portfolio's assets for the period the Portfolio has held the assets
or for the period the Holder has been an investor in the Portfolio, whichever is
shorter.  Investors  should  consult  their tax advisors  regarding  whether the
entity or the aggregate approach applies to their investment in the Portfolio in
light of their  particular  tax status and any special tax rules  applicable  to
them.

         In order to enable a Holder (that is otherwise  eligible) to qualify as
a RIC, the Portfolio  intends to satisfy the requirements of Subchapter M of the
Code relating to sources of income and diversification of assets as if they were
applicable  to the  Portfolio  and to permit  withdrawals  in a manner that will
enable a Holder  which is a RIC to  comply  with the  distribution  requirements
applicable to RICs  (including  those under  Sections 852 and 4982 of the Code).
The  Portfolio  will  allocate at least  annually  to each Holder such  Holder's
distributive  share of the  Portfolio's  net  investment  income,  net  realized
capital gains, and any other items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit in
a manner intended to comply with the Code and applicable  Treasury  regulations.
Tax counsel  has  advised the  Portfolio  that the  Portfolio's  allocations  of
taxable income and loss should have "economic effect" under applicable  Treasury
regulations.


                                      B-4
<PAGE>
         To the extent the cash proceeds of any  withdrawal  (or,  under certain
circumstances,  such  proceeds  plus  the  value  of any  marketable  securities
distributed to an investor) ("liquid proceeds") exceed a Holder's adjusted basis
of his interest in the Portfolio,  the Holder will generally  realize a gain for
federal income tax purposes.  If, upon a complete withdrawal  (redemption of the
entire  interest),  a Holder  receives only liquid proceeds  (and/or  unrealized
receivables) and the Holder's  adjusted basis of his interest exceeds the liquid
proceeds  of such  withdrawal,  the  Holder  will  generally  realize a loss for
federal income tax purposes. In addition, on a distribution to a Holder from the
Portfolio  (whether pursuant to a partial or complete  withdrawal or otherwise),
(1) income or gain will be recognized if the  distribution  is in liquidation of
the Holder's  entire  interest in the Portfolio and includes a  disproportionate
share of any unrealized  receivables  held by the Portfolio and (2) gain or loss
may be recognized on a distribution to a Holder that contributed property to the
Portfolio.  The tax  consequences of a withdrawal of property  (instead of or in
addition to liquid  proceeds)  will be different and will depend on the specific
factual circumstances. A Holder's adjusted basis of an interest in the Portfolio
will  generally be the aggregate  prices paid therefor  (including  the adjusted
basis of  contributed  property  and any  gain  recognized  on the  contribution
thereof),  increased by the amounts of the Holder's  distributive share of items
of income  (including  interest  income  exempt  from  federal  income  tax) and
realized net gain of the Portfolio,  and reduced, but not below zero, by (i) the
amounts of the Holder's  distributive share of items of Portfolio loss, and (ii)
the amount of any cash distributions (including distributions of interest income
exempt from federal income tax and cash  distributions  on withdrawals  from the
Portfolio)  and the basis to the Holder of any property  received by such Holder
other than in  liquidation,  and (iii) the  Holder's  distributive  share of the
Portfolio's  nondeductible  expenditures  not  properly  chargeable  to  capital
account.  Increases  or  decreases  in  a  Holder's  share  of  the  Portfolio's
liabilities  may also result in  corresponding  increases  or  decreases in such
adjusted basis.

         Investments in lower rated or unrated  securities  may present  special
tax issues for the  Portfolio  and hence for an investor to the extent actual or
anticipated  defaults  may be more likely with respect to such  securities.  Tax
rules are not entirely  clear about issues such as when the  Portfolio may cease
to accrue interest,  original issue discount,  or market  discount;  when and to
what extent deductions may be taken for bad debts or worthless  securities;  how
payments  received  on  obligations  in  default  should  be  allocated  between
principal and income;  and whether  exchanges of debt  obligations  in a workout
context are taxable.

         The Portfolio's  transactions in options,  futures  contracts,  forward
contracts an certain other transactions  involving foreign exchange gain or loss
will be subject to special tax rules,  the effect of which may be to  accelerate
income to the  Portfolio,  defer  Portfolio  losses,  cause  adjustments  in the
holding  periods of Portfolio  securities,  convert  capital gain into  ordinary
income and convert  short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses. For
example,  the tax  treatment  of many types of options,  futures  contracts  and
forward contracts entered into by the Portfolio will be governed by Section 1256
of the Code. Absent a tax election for "mixed straddles" (see below),  each such
position  held by the  Portfolio  on the last  business day of each taxable year
will be marked to market  (i.e.,  treated as if it were closed out on such day),
and any resulting gain or loss, except for certain  currency-related  positions,
will  generally be treated as 60% long-term and 40%  short-term  capital gain or
loss,  with  subsequent  adjustments  made to any gain or loss  realized upon an
actual  disposition  of such  positions.  When the Portfolio  holds an option or
contract  governed by Section 1256 which  substantially  diminishes the Holder's
risk of loss with respect to another  position of the  Portfolio not governed by
Section 1256 (as might occur in some hedging transactions),  this combination of
positions could be a "mixed straddle" which is generally  subject to special tax
rules  requiring  deferral of losses and other  adjustments in addition to being
subject in part to Section  1256.  The  Portfolio may make certain tax elections


                                      B-5
<PAGE>
for  its  "mixed  straddles" which  could  alter certain effects of these rules.
In order to qualify as a RIC for  federal  income tax  purposes,  a Holder  must
derive  less  than  30% of its  annual  gross  income  from  the  sale or  other
disposition of securities and certain other investments held for less than three
months,  and the  Portfolio  will  limit  its  activities  in  options,  futures
contracts and forward  contracts to the extent necessary to enable the Holder to
comply with this requirement.
    

         Income from  transactions in options and futures  contracts  derived by
the  Portfolio  with respect to its business of  investing  in  securities  will
qualify  as  permissible  income  for  its  Holders  that  are  RICs  under  the
requirement  that at least 90% of a RIC's gross income each taxable year consist
of  specified  types of income.  However,  income  from the  disposition  by the
Portfolio of options and futures  contracts held for less than three months will
be subject to the requirement  applicable to those Holders that less than 30% of
a RIC's gross  income each  taxable  year  consist of certain  short-term  gains
("Short-Short Limitation").

   
         If the Portfolio satisfies certain requirements,  any increase in value
of a  position  that is part  of a  "designated  hedge"  will be  offset  by any
decrease in value (whether  realized or not) of the offsetting  hedging position
during the period of the hedge for purposes of  determining  whether the Holders
that are RICs satisfy the  Short-Short  Limitation.  Thus, only the net gain (if
any) from the designated  hedge will be included in gross income for purposes of
that  limitation.  The Portfolio will consider whether it should seek to qualify
for this  treatment  for its hedging  transactions.  To the extent the Portfolio
does not so  qualify,  it may be  forced  to defer the  closing  out of  certain
options, futures, forward contracts and/or foreign currency positions beyond the
time when it otherwise would be advantageous to do so, in order for Holders that
are RICs to continue to qualify as such.

         The  Portfolio may be subject to foreign  withholding  or other foreign
taxes with respect to income (possibly including,  in some cases, capital gains)
on certain foreign  securities.  These taxes may be reduced or eliminated  under
the terms of an applicable U.S. income tax treaty. The anticipated extent of the
Portfolio's  investment  in foreign  securities  is such that it is not expected
that an investor that is a RIC will be eligible to pass through to  shareholders
foreign taxes paid by the Portfolio and allocated to a RIC, so that shareholders
of such a RIC will not be entitled to take any foreign tax credits or deductions
for  foreign  taxes paid by the  Portfolio  and  allocated  to the RIC.  Certain
foreign  exchange gains and losses  realized by the Portfolio will be treated as
ordinary  income and  losses.  Certain  uses of  foreign  currency  and  related
options,  futures or forward  contracts,  and investment by the Portfolio in the
stock of certain "passive foreign investment  companies" may be limited or a tax
election may be made,  if  available,  in order to enable any investor that is a
RIC to maintain its  qualification as a RIC or avoid imposition of a tax on such
an investor.

         The Portfolio's investments, if any, in securities issues with original
issue  discount  (possibly  including  certain   asset-related   securities)  or
securities  acquired  at a market  discount  (if an  election is made to include
accrued market discount in current income) will cause it to realize income prior
to the receipt of cash  payments with respect to these  securities.  In order to
enable a Holder  to  distribute  its  proportionate  share of this  income,  the
Portfolio  may be  required  to  liquidate  portfolio  securities  that it might
otherwise  have  continued to hold in order to generate cash that the Holder may
withdraw  from  the  Portfolio  for  subsequent  distribution  to such  Holder's
shareholders.

         An entity that is treated as a partnership  under the Code, such as the
Portfolio, is generally treated as a partnership under state and local tax laws,
but certain states may have  different  entity  classification  criteria and may
therefore  reach  a  different  conclusion.  Entities  that  are  classified  as
partnerships  are not treated as taxable entities under most state and local tax


                                      B-6
<PAGE>
laws,  and  the  income  of  a  partnership  is  considered   to  be  income  of
partners  both in timing and in  character.  The laws of the various  states and
local  taxing  authorities  vary with  respect  to the  status of a  partnership
interest  under state and local tax laws,  and each holder of an interest in the
Portfolio is advised to consult his own tax adviser.
    

         The  foregoing  discussion  does not  address  the  special  tax  rules
applicable  to  certain  classes  of  investors,  such as  tax-exempt  entities,
insurance companies and financial  institutions.  Investors 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 Portfolio.

ITEM 21.  UNDERWRITERS

   
         The  placement  agent for the Portfolio is EVD.  Investment  companies,
common and commingled  trust funds, and similar  organizations  and entities may
continuously invest in the Portfolio.
    

ITEM 22.  CALCULATION OF PERFORMANCE DATA

         Not applicable.

ITEM 23.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

   
         The  following  audited  financial  statements  of  the  Portfolio  are
incorporated  by  reference  in this  Part B and have  been so  incorporated  in
reliance upon the report of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.,  independent  accountants,
as experts in accounting and auditing.

         Portfolio of  Investments  as of December 31, 1996  
         Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 1996 
         Statement of Operations for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996
         Statement of Changes in Net Assets for the fiscal years ended  December
          31, 1996 and December 31, 1995
         Supplementary  Data for the  fiscal  years  ended  December  31,  1996,
          December 31, 1995 and  December 31, 1994,  and for the period from the
          start of business, October 28, 1993, to December 31, 1993
         Notes to Financial Statements
         Report of Independent Accountants

         For purposes of the EDGAR filing of this  amendment to the  Portfolio's
registration  statement,  the  Portfolio  incorporates  by  reference  the above
audited  financial  statements  as  previously  filed  electronically  with  the
Commission (Accession Number 0000950156-97-000177).
    


                                      B-7
<PAGE>
                                     PART C

ITEM 24.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

     (a)  Financial Statements

          The  financial  statements  called  for  by this Item are incorporated
          by reference in Part B and listed in Item 23 hereof.

     (b)  Exhibits

   
          1(a).Declaration  of Trust dated May 1, 1992 filed as Exhibit No. 1 to
               Amendment No. 3 and incorporated herein by reference.

          (b). Amendment  to  Declaration  of Trust  dated  June 14,  1993 filed
               herewith.

          2.   By-Laws of the  Registrant  adopted  May 1, 1992 filed as Exhibit
               No. 2 to Amendment No. 3 and incorporated herein by reference.

          5.   Investment  Advisory  Agreement between the Registrant and Boston
               Management  and Research  dated October 28, 1993 filed as Exhibit
               No. 5 to Amendment No. 3 and incorporated herein by reference.

          6.   Placement  Agent  Agreement with Eaton Vance  Distributors,  Inc.
               dated November 1, 1996 filed herewith.

          7.   The Securities and Exchange Commission has granted the Registrant
               an  exemptive  order that  permits the  Registrant  to enter into
               deferred compensation arrangements with its independent Trustees.
               See In the Matter of Capital  Exchange  Fund,  Inc.,  Release No.
               IC-20671 (November 1, 1994).

          8(a).Custodian  Agreement  with  Investors  Bank & Trust Company dated
               October 28, 1993 filed as Exhibit No. 8(a) to Amendment No. 3 and
               incorporated herein by reference.

          (b). Amendment to Custodian  Agreement dated October 23, 1995 filed as
               Exhibit No. 8(b) to Amendment  No. 3 and  incorporated  herein by
               reference.

          13.  Investment  representation  letter of Eaton  Vance  Total  Return
               Trust (on  behalf of EV  Traditional  Total  Return  Fund)  dated
               September 27, 1993 filed as Exhibit No. 13 to Amendment No. 3 and
               incorporated herein by reference.
    

ITEM 25.  PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH REGISTRANT

          Not applicable.


                                      C-1
<PAGE>
ITEM 26.  NUMBER OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

   
          (1)                             (2)
                                        Number of
    Title of Class                    Record Holders
    --------------                    --------------
                                   As of April 1, 1997
       Interests                             3

ITEM 27.  INDEMNIFICATION

         Article  V  of  the   Registrant's   Declaration   of  Trust   contains
indemnification  provisions for Trustees and officers. The Trustees and officers
of the Registrant and the personnel of the Registrant's  investment  adviser are
insured under an errors and omissions liability insurance policy.

         The Placement Agent Agreement also provides for reciprocal indemnity of
the placement  agent,  on the one hand,  and the Trustees and  officers,  on the
other.

ITEM 28.  BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS

         To the knowledge of the Portfolio,  none of the trustees or officers of
the Portfolio's investment adviser, except as set forth on its Form ADV as filed
with the Commission, is engaged in any other business,  profession,  vocation or
employment of a substantial  nature,  except that certain  trustees and officers
also hold various  positions  with and engage in business for  affiliates of the
investment adviser.

ITEM 29.  PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITERS

         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 1940 Act and the Rules  promulgated
thereunder  are in the  possession  and custody of the  Registrant's  custodian,
Investors  Bank & Trust Company,  89 South Street,  Boston,  MA 02111,  with the
exception of certain corporate documents and portfolio trading documents,  which
are in the possession and custody of the Registrant's  investment  adviser at 24
Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110. The 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 the  Registrant's  investment
adviser.
    

ITEM 31.  MANAGEMENT SERVICES

         Not applicable.

ITEM 32.  UNDERTAKINGS

         Not applicable.


                                      C-2
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES


   
         Pursuant to the requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940, the
Registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 4 to the Registration Statement on
Form  N-1A  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized,  in the City of Boston and  Commonwealth of  Massachusetts,  on this
23rd day of April, 1997.

                              TOTAL RETURN PORTFOLIO


                              By /s/ M. Dozier Gardner
                                 ---------------------
                                     M. Dozier Gardner
                                     President
    



<PAGE>
                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


  Exhibit No.  Description of Exhibit
  -----------  ----------------------


   
         1.    (b)   Amendment to Declaration of Trust dated June 14, 1993.

         6.    Placement Agent Agreement with Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc.
               dated November 1, 1996.
    


                                                                  Exhibit 1(b)

                             TOTAL RETURN PORTFOLIO

                        AMENDMENT TO DECLARATION OF TRUST

                                  June 14, 1993

The undersigned, being at least a majority of the Trustees of the Portfolio,
acting pursuant to Section 10.4 of ARTICLE X of the Declaration of Trust, do 
hereby:

         Change and amend Section 3.11 of ARTICLE III of the Declaration of 
         Trust to read as follows:

           3.11. Further Powers. The Trustees shall have power to conduct the 
          business of the  Trust  and  carry  on its  operations  in any and all
          of its branches  and maintain  offices,  whether  within or without 
          the State of New York, in any and all states of the United States of 
          America, in the District of Columbia,  and in any and all 
          commonwealths,  territories,  dependencies,  colonies,  possessions,
          agencies or  instrumentalities  of the United States and of foreign 
          governments, and to do all such other  things and execute all such  
          instruments  as they deem necessary, proper, appropriate or desirable
          in order to promote the interests of the Trust  although  such  things
          are not  herein  specifically  mentioned.  The Trustees shall have 
          full power and  authority,  in the name and on behalf of the Trust to
          engage in and to prosecute,  defend,  compromise,  settle,  abandon, 
          or adjust by arbitration or otherwise, any actions, suits,  
          proceedings,  disputes, claims and demands relating to this Trust, 
          and out of the assets of the Trust to pay or to satisfy any 
          liabilities,  losses, debts, claims or expenses (including without 
          limitation attorneys fees) incurred in connection therewith,  
          including those of litigation,  and such power shall include without 
          limitation the power of the Trustees or any committee  thereof,  in 
          the exercise of their or its good faith business judgment,  to dismiss
          or terminate any action, suit,  proceeding, dispute,  claim or demand,
          derivative  or  otherwise,  brought  by any  person, including  a 
          Holder in its own name or in the name of the Trust,  whether or not  
          the  Trust or any of the  Trustees  may be  named  individually 
          therein  or the subject  matter arises by reason of business for or 
          on behalf of the Trust.  Any determination  as to what is in the  
          interests of the Trust which is made by the Trustees in good faith 
          shall be conclusive. In construing the provisions of this Declaration,
          the  presumption  shall  be in  favor  of a grant  of power to the   
          Trustees.  The Trustees shall not be required to obtain any court 
          order in order to deal with Trust Property.

     Further, the undersigned do hereby declare and find that the foregoing 
change and amendment is necessary and appropriate and does not have a materially
adverse effect on the financial interest of the Holders of the Portfolio.  Said
 Amendment shall take effect on the date set forth above.


/s/ Landon T. Clay                            /s/ Samuel L. Hayes, III
Landon T. Clay                                Samuel L. Hayes, III

/s/ Donald R. Dwight                          /s/ Norton H. Reamer
Donald R. Dwight                              Norton H. Reamer

/s/ M. Dozier Gardner                         /s/ John L. Thorndike
M. Dozier Gardner                             John L. Thorndike

/s/ James B. Hawkes                           /s/ Jack L. Treynor
James B. Hawkes                               Jack L. Treynor

                                                                       Exhibit 6
                            PLACEMENT AGENT AGREEMENT


                                                                November 1, 1996


Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc.
24 Federal Street
Boston, Massachusetts  02110

Gentlemen:

         This is to confirm that, in consideration of the agreements hereinafter
contained,  the undersigned,  Total Return Portfolio (the "Trust"),  an open-end
diversified  management  investment  company  registered  under  the  Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), organized as a New York trust,
has agreed  that Eaton  Vance  Distributors,  Inc.  ("EVD"),  formerly  named EV
Distributors,  Inc.,  shall be the placement  agent (the  "Placement  Agent") of
Interests in the Trust ("Trust Interests").

         1.  Services as Placement Agent.

         1.1 EVD will act as Placement Agent of the Trust  Interests  covered by
the Trust's registration  statement then in effect under the 1940 Act. In acting
as Placement  Agent under this Placement  Agent  Agreement,  neither EVD nor its
employees or any agents thereof shall make any offer or sale of Trust  Interests
in a manner which would require the Trust  Interests to be registered  under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act").

         1.2 All  activities  by EVD and its agents and  employees  as Placement
Agent of Trust  Interests  shall  comply  with all  applicable  laws,  rules and
regulations,  including,  without limitation,  all rules and regulations adopted
pursuant  to the  1940  Act by  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  (the
"Commission").

         1.3 Nothing  herein  shall be  construed to require the Trust to accept
any offer to  purchase  any Trust  Interests,  all of which  shall be subject to
approval by the Board of Trustees.

         1.4 The Trust  shall  furnish  from time to time for use in  connection
with the sale of Trust Interests such  information with respect to the Trust and
Trust Interests as EVD may reasonably request.  The Trust shall also furnish EVD
upon request with: (a) unaudited semiannual  statements of the Trust's books and
accounts  prepared  by the  Trust,  and (b) from  time to time  such  additional
information  regarding the Trust's financial or regulatory  condition as EVD may
reasonably request.

         1.5 The Trust represents to EVD that all registration  statements filed
by the  Trust  with the  Commission  under  the 1940 Act with  respect  to Trust
Interests have been prepared in conformity with the requirements of such statute
and the rules and  regulations  of the  Commission  thereunder.  As used in this
Agreement  the  term  "registration   statement"  shall  mean  any  registration
statement  filed with the Commission as modified by any amendments  thereto that
at any time shall have been  filed  with the  Commission  by or on behalf of the
Trust. The Trust represents and warrants to EVD that any registration  statement
will contain all  statements  required to be stated  therein in conformity  with
both such  statute and the rules and  regulations  of the  Commission;  that all
statements  of fact  contained in any  registration  statement  will be true and
correct  in all  material  respects  at the time of filing of such  registration
statement or amendment thereto; and that no registration  statement will include



<PAGE>
an  untrue  statement   of  a  material   fact or omit to state a material  fact
required to be stated  therein or necessary to make the  statements  therein not
misleading  to a purchaser  of Trust  Interests.  The Trust may but shall not be
obligated  to  propose  from time to time  such  amendment  to any  registration
statement  as in the light of future  developments  may,  in the  opinion of the
Trust's counsel, be necessary or advisable.  If the Trust shall not propose such
amendment and/or  supplement within fifteen days after receipt by the Trust of a
written  request  from EVD to do so,  EVD may,  at its  option,  terminate  this
Agreement.  The Trust shall not file any amendment to any registration statement
without giving EVD reasonable notice thereof in advance; provided, however, that
nothing  contained in this Agreement shall in any way limit the Trust's right to
file at any time such amendment to any  registration  statement as the Trust may
deem advisable, such right being in all respects absolute and unconditional.

         1.6 The Trust  agrees to  indemnify,  defend and hold EVD,  its several
officers  and  directors,  and any person who controls EVD within the meaning of
Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the  Securities  and Exchange Act of
1934 (the  "1934  Act")  (for  purposes  of this  paragraph  1.6,  collectively,
"Covered  Persons")  free and  harmless  from and  against  any and all  claims,
demands,  liabilities  and  expenses  (including  the cost of  investigating  or
defending such claims,  demands or liabilities  and any counsel fees incurred in
connection therewith) which any Covered Person may incur under the 1933 Act, the
1934  Act,  common  law or  otherwise,  arising  out of or based  on any  untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any  registration  statement,  private
placement memorandum or other offering material ("Offering Material") or arising
out of or based on any omission to state a material  fact  required to be stated
in any Offering  Material or necessary  to make the  statements  in any Offering
Material  not  misleading;  provided,  however,  that the Trust's  agreement  to
indemnify  Covered  Persons  shall not be deemed to cover any  claims,  demands,
liabilities or expenses arising out of any financial and other statements as are
furnished in writing to the Trust by EVD in its capacity as Placement  Agent for
use in the  answers  to  any  items  of  any  registration  statement  or in any
statements  made in any  Offering  Material,  or arising  out of or based on any
omission or alleged  omission to state a material  fact in  connection  with the
giving of such information required to be stated in such answers or necessary to
make the answers not misleading; and further provided that the Trust's agreement
to indemnify EVD and the Trust's representations and warranties hereinbefore set
forth in this  paragraph  1.6 shall not be deemed to cover any  liability to the
Trust or its investors to which a Covered  Person would  otherwise be subject by
reason of willful misfeasance,  bad faith or gross negligence in the performance
of its duties,  or by reason of a Covered  Person's  reckless  disregard  of its
obligations and duties under this Agreement. The Trust should be notified of any
action brought  against a Covered  Person,  such  notification  to be given by a
writing addressed to the Trust, 24 Federal Street Boston,  Massachusetts  02110,
with a copy to the Administrator of the Trust,  Eaton Vance  Management,  at the
same address, promptly after the summons or other first legal process shall have
been duly and  completely  served upon such  Covered  Person.  The failure to so
notify  the Trust of any such  action  shall  not  relieve  the  Trust  from any
liability  except to the extent the Trust  shall  have been  prejudiced  by such
failure,  or from any  liability  that the Trust may have to the Covered  Person
against  whom such action is brought by reason of any such untrue  statement  or
omission, otherwise than on account of the Trust's indemnity agreement contained
in this paragraph.  The Trust will be entitled to assume the defense of any suit
brought to enforce any such claim,  demand or  liability,  but in such case such
defense shall be conducted by counsel of good  standing  chosen by the Trust and
approved by EVD, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. In the event
the Trust  elects to assume the  defense of any such suit and retain  counsel of
good  standing  approved by EVD, the  defendant or defendants in such suit shall
bear the fees and expenses of any  additional  counsel  retained by any of them;
but in case the Trust does not elect to assume  the  defense of any such suit or
in case EVD  reasonably  does not  approve of counsel  chosen by the Trust,  the
Trust will reimburse the Covered Person named as defendant in such suit, for the
fees  and  expenses  of  any  counsel   retained  by  EVD  or  it.  The  Trust's
indemnification   agreement   contained  in  this   paragraph  and  the  Trust's


                                       2
<PAGE>
representations  and  warranties  in  this  Agreement shall remain operative and
in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of
Covered  Persons,  and shall survive the delivery of any Trust  Interests.  This
agreement  of  indemnity  will inure  exclusively  to Covered  Persons and their
successors.  The Trust agrees to notify EVD promptly of the  commencement of any
litigation or  proceedings  against the Trust or any of its officers or Trustees
in connection with the issue and sale of any Trust Interests.

         1.7 EVD agrees to  indemnify,  defend and hold the Trust,  its  several
officers and trustees,  and any person who controls the Trust within the meaning
of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or  Section  20 of the 1934 Act (for  purposes  of
this paragraph 1.7, collectively,  "Covered Persons") free and harmless from and
against any and all claims,  demands,  liabilities  and expenses  (including the
costs of  investigating or defending such claims,  demands,  liabilities and any
counsel fees incurred in connection  therewith)  that Covered  Persons may incur
under the 1933 Act,  the 1934 Act or common  law or  otherwise,  but only to the
extent that such  liability or expense  incurred by a Covered  Person  resulting
from  such  claims  or  demands  shall  arise  out of or be based on any  untrue
statement of a material fact  contained in  information  furnished in writing by
EVD in its  capacity as  Placement  Agent to the Trust for use in the answers to
any of the items of any registration statement or in any statements in any other
Offering  Material or shall arise out of or be based on any  omission to state a
material fact in connection with such information furnished in writing by EVD to
the Trust  required  to be  stated in such  answers  or  necessary  to make such
information not misleading.  EVD shall be notified of any action brought against
a Covered Person, such notification to be given by a writing addressed to EVD at
24 Federal Street,  Boston,  Massachusetts 02110,  promptly after the summons or
other first legal process shall have been duly and  completely  served upon such
Covered Person.  EVD shall have the right of first control of the defense of the
action with counsel of its own choosing satisfactory to the Trust if such action
is based solely on such alleged  misstatement  or omission on EVD's part, and in
any other event each Covered  Person shall have the right to  participate in the
defense or  preparation  of the  defense of any such  action.  The failure to so
notify EVD of any such action shall not relieve EVD from any liability except to
the extent the Trust shall have been  prejudiced  by such  failure,  or from any
liability  that EVD may have to Covered  Persons by reason of any such untrue or
alleged untrue  statement,  or omission or alleged  omission,  otherwise than on
account of EVD's indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph.

         1.8 No Trust  Interests  shall be  offered  by either  EVD or the Trust
under any of the  provisions of this Agreement and no orders for the purchase or
sale of Trust Interests  hereunder shall be accepted by the Trust if and so long
as the effectiveness of the registration  statement or any necessary  amendments
thereto  shall be suspended  under any of the  provisions of the 1933 Act or the
1940 Act; provided,  however,  that nothing contained in this paragraph shall in
any way restrict or have an application to or bearing on the Trust's  obligation
to redeem Trust Interests from any investor in accordance with the provisions of
the Trust's registration statement or Declaration of Trust, as amended from time
to time.

         1.9 The Trust agrees to advise EVD as soon as reasonably practical by a
notice in writing delivered to EVD or its counsel:

     (a) of any request by the  Commission  for  amendments to the  registration
statement then in effect or for additional information;

     (b) in the  event of the  issuance  by the  Commission  of any  stop  order
suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement then in effect or the
initiation  by  service  of  process  on the  Trust of any  proceeding  for that
purpose;


                                       3
<PAGE>
     (c) of the  happening  of any event that makes  untrue any  statement  of a
material fact made in the registration statement then in effect or that requires
the  making  of a change  in such  registration  statement  in order to make the
statements therein not misleading; and

     (d) of all action of the  Commission  with respect to any  amendment to any
registration statement that may from time to time be filed with the Commission.

         For purposes of this paragraph 1.9, informal requests by or acts of the
Staff of the  Commission  shall  not be deemed  actions  of or  requests  by the
Commission.

         1.10  EVD  agrees  on  behalf  of  itself  and its  employees  to treat
confidentially and as proprietary information of the Trust all records and other
information  not  otherwise  publicly  available  relative  to the Trust and its
prior,  present  or  potential  investors  and  not  to  use  such  records  and
information for any purpose other than performance of its  responsibilities  and
duties hereunder,  except after prior notification to and approval in writing by
the Trust,  which  approval  shall not be  unreasonably  withheld and may not be
withheld where EVD may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt  proceedings for
failure  to  comply,   when  requested  to  divulge  such  information  by  duly
constituted authorities, or when so requested by the Trust.

         2.  Duration and Termination of this Agreement.

         This Agreement  shall become  effective upon the date of its execution,
and, unless terminated as herein provided, shall remain in full force and effect
through and  including  February  28, 1997 and shall  continue in full force and
effect  indefinitely  thereafter,  but  only so long as such  continuance  after
February 28, 1997 is specifically approved at least annually (i) by the Board of
Trustees  of the  Trust  or by  vote of a  majority  of the  outstanding  voting
securities of the Trust and (ii) by the vote of a majority of those  Trustees of
the Trust who are not interested persons of EVD or the Trust cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

         Either party hereto may, at any time on sixty (60) days' prior  written
notice to the  other,  terminate  this  agreement  without  the  payment  of any
penalty, by action of Trustees of the Trust or the Directors of EVD, as the case
may be,  and the  Trust  may,  at any time  upon  such  written  notice  to EVD,
terminate  this  Agreement  by  vote of a  majority  of the  outstanding  voting
securities of the Trust.  This Agreement  shall terminate  automatically  in the
event of its assignment.

         3.  Representations and Warranties.

         EVD and the Trust each hereby represents and warrants to the other that
it has all requisite authority to enter into,  execute,  deliver and perform its
obligations under this Agreement and that, with respect to it, this Agreement is
legal, valid and binding, and enforceable in accordance with its terms.

         4.  Limitation of Liability.

         EVD expressly acknowledges the provision in the Declaration of Trust of
the Trust (Sections 5.2 and 5.6) limiting the personal liability of the Trustees
and officers of the Trust,  and EVD hereby agrees that it shall have recourse to
the Trust for  payment of claims or  obligations  as  between  the Trust and EVD
arising out of this Agreement and shall not seek  satisfaction  from any Trustee
or officer of the Trust.


                                       4
<PAGE>
         5.  Certain Definitions.

         The terms "assignment" and "interested  persons" when used herein shall
have the respective  meanings specified in the Investment Company Act of 1940 as
now in effect or as hereafter  amended subject,  however,  to such exemptions as
may be granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission by any rule, regulation
or order.  The term "vote of a majority of the  outstanding  voting  securities"
shall mean the vote, at a meeting of Holders, of the lesser of (a) 67 per centum
or more of the  Interests in the Trust  present or  represented  by proxy at the
meeting if the Holders of more than 50 per centum of the  outstanding  Interests
in the Trust are present or  represented  by proxy at the  meeting,  or (b) more
than  50 per  centum  of the  outstanding  Interests  in the  Trust.  The  terms
"Holders" and  "Interests"  when used herein shall have the respective  meanings
specified in the Declaration of Trust of the Trust.

         6.  Concerning Applicable Provisions of Law, etc.

         This Agreement  shall be subject to all  applicable  provisions of law,
including the  applicable  provisions of the 1940 Act and to the extent that any
provisions herein contained conflict with any such applicable provisions of law,
the latter shall control.

         The laws of the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  shall,  except to the
extent  that any  applicable  provisions  of federal  law shall be  controlling,
govern  the  construction,  validity  and  effect  of  this  Agreement,  without
reference to principles of conflicts of law.

         If the  contract  set forth  herein  is  acceptable  to you,  please so
indicate by executing the enclosed copy of this Agreement and returning the same
to the undersigned, whereupon this Agreement shall constitute a binding contract
between  the  parties  hereto  effective  at the closing of business on the date
hereof.

                              Yours very truly,

                              TOTAL RETURN PORTFOLIO




                              By: /s/ James B. Hawkes
                                  -------------------
                                      President

Accepted:

EATON VANCE DISTRIBUTORS, INC.


By:  /s/ Wharton P. Whitaker
     -----------------------
         President


                                       5

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000912751
<NAME> TOTAL RETURN PORTFOLIO
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                      401,910,390
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                     456,787,688
<RECEIVABLES>                                2,312,245
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                   7,621
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                             1,841
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             459,109,395
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                     3,939,797
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      102,603
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                          4,042,400
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                   400,174,992
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                0
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                              0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                    54,892,003
<NET-ASSETS>                               455,066,995
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                           29,112,169
<INTEREST-INCOME>                            4,332,092
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                               4,196,343
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                     29,247,918
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                    46,868,346
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                 (41,698,849)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                       34,417,415
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                              0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                          0
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                    (66,603,330)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                        3,690,566
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                              4,196,343
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                       492,258,217
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                0
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                      0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                              0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                  0
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.85
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission