HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO
POS AMI, 1999-07-29
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           As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 29, 1999
                                                               File No. 811-8464







                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM N-1A

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

                               AMENDMENT NO. 5          [X]

                              HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO
                              ---------------------
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


                            The Eaton Vance Building
                       255 State Street, Boston, MA 02109
                       ----------------------------------
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)


                                 (617) 482-8260
                                 --------------
               Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code


                                 Alan R. Dynner
     The Eaton Vance Building, 255 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109
     -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                     (Name and Address of Agent for Service)



<PAGE>
     Throughout this Registration Statement,  information concerning High Income
Portfolio (the  "Portfolio")  is incorporated by reference from Amendment No. 53
to the  Registration  Statement  of Eaton  Vance  Mutual  Funds  Trust (File No.
02-90946) under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act")) (the  "Amendment"),
which was filed  electronically with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission")  on  July  28,  1999  (Accession  No.  0000950156-99-000488).  The
Amendment  contains  the  prospectus  and  statement of  additional  information
("SAI") of Eaton Vance High  Income  Fund (the  "Feeder  Fund"),  which  invests
substantially all of its assets in the Portfolio.  The investment  practices and
policies  of the  Feeder  Fund  are  substantially  the  same  as  those  of the
Portfolio.

                                     PART A

     Responses to Items 1, 2, 3, 5 and 9 have been omitted pursuant to Paragraph
B2.(b) of the General Instructions to Form N-1A.

ITEM 4. INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS

     The Portfolio is a diversified,  open-end  management  investment  company.
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, 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.  The Portfolio
may not be  appropriate  for  investors  who cannot  assume the greater  risk of
capital depreciation or loss inherent in seeking higher yields.

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

ITEM 6.  MANAGEMENT, ORGANIZATION AND CAPITAL STRUCTURE

     (a) Management

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

     (b) Capital Stock

     Registrant  incorporates by reference  information  concerning interests in
the Portfolio from "Management and Organization" in the Feeder Fund SAI.


                                      A-1
<PAGE>
ITEM 7.  SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

     (a) Pricing

     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 (normally 4:00 p.m., eastern time) (the
"Portfolio Valuation Time").  Registrant  incorporates by reference  information
concerning the computation of net asset value and valuation of Portfolio  assets
from "Valuing Shares" in the Feeder Fund prospectus.

     (b) and (c) Purchases and Redemptions

     As described above, 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.  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. 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  The  Eaton  Vance  Building,  255  State  Street,  Boston,
Massachusetts  02109.  EVD receives no compensation for serving as the placement
agent for the Portfolio.

     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  interest 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.

     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  Commission  a


                                      A-2
<PAGE>
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.

     (d) Dividends and Distributions

     The Portfolio  will  allocate at least  annually  among its investors  each
investor'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.

     (e) Tax Consequences

     Under the anticipated  method of operation of the Portfolio,  the Portfolio
will not be subject to any federal  income tax.  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  Internal  Revenue  Code  of  1986,  as  amended  (the  "Code")  and  the
regulations promulgated thereunder.

ITEM 8.  DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS

     Not applicable.


                                      A-3
<PAGE>
                                     PART B

ITEM 10.  COVER AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.

                                                                            PAGE
Portfolio History............................................................B-1
Description of the Portfolio and Its Investments and Risks...................B-1
Management of the Portfolio..................................................B-1
Control Persons and Principal Holder of Securities...........................B-1
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.............................................B-3
Taxation of the Portfolio....................................................B-3
Underwriters.................................................................B-6
Calculation of Performance Data..............................................B-6
Financial Statements.........................................................B-6

ITEM 11.  PORTFOLIO HISTORY

     Not applicable.

ITEM 12.  DESCRIPTION OF THE PORTFOLIO AND ITS INVESTMENTS AND RISKS

     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   "Strategies  and  Risks",
"Investment  Restrictions" and Appendix C and Appendix D in the Feeder Fund SAI.
The  Portfolio's  portfolio  turnover rates for the fiscal years ended March 31,
1999 and 1998, were 150% and 137%, respectively.

ITEM 13.  MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIO

     (a) - (d) Board of Trustees, Management Information and Compensation

     Registrant  incorporates by reference additional information concerning the
management of the Portfolio from  "Management  and  Organization"  in the Feeder
Fund SAI.

     (e) Sales Loads

     Not applicable.

ITEM 14. CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDER OF SECURITIES

     (a) - (b) Control Persons and Principal Holders

     As of July 1, 1999,  the Feeder Fund  controlled the Portfolio by virtue of
owning  approximately  72.5% of the value of the  outstanding  interests  in the
Portfolio.  In addition, the EV Medallion High Yield Fund (the "Medallion Fund")
owned 23.5% of the value of the outstanding interests in the Portfolio.  Because
the Feeder Fund controls the Portfolio, the Feeder Fund may take actions without


                                      B-1
<PAGE>
the approval of any other  investor.  The Feeder Fund has informed the Portfolio
that  whenever it is  requested  to vote on matters  pertaining  to  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  that is an investment  company  registered  under the
1940 Act would  follow  the same or a similar  practice.  The  Feeder  Fund is a
series of Eaton Vance  Mutual  Funds 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 is The Eaton Vance Building,  255
State Street,  Boston,  MA 02109.  The address of the Medallion  Fund is c/o IBT
Trust Company  (Cayman),  Ltd., The Bank of Nova Scotia Building,  P.O. Box 501,
George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, British West Indies.

     (c) Management Ownership

     The Trustees  and officers of the  Portfolio as a group own less than 1% of
the Portfolio.

ITEM 15.  INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

     Registrant  incorporates  by reference  information  concerning  investment
advisory and other services provided to the Portfolio from "Investment  Advisory
and  Administrative  Services" and "Other Service  Providers" in the Feeder Fund
SAI.

ITEM 16.  BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES

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

ITEM 17.  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, 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  the
requirements  of the Code,  or to  change,  modify  or  rescind  any  provision,
provided  that such change,  modification  or  rescission  is  determined by the
Trustees to be necessary  or  appropriate  and not to 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.

ITEM 18.  PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SECURITIES

     See  Item  7  herein.  Registrant  incorporates  by  reference  information
concerning  valuation of the Portfolio's  assets from  "Purchasing and Redeeming
Shares - Calculation of Net Asset Value" in the Feeder Fund SAI.

ITEM 19.  TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIO

     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


                                      B-3
<PAGE>
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, 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  advisers  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.

     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


                                      B-4
<PAGE>
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.

     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 in some  cases.  As it is not
expected that more than 50% of the value of the total assets of the Portfolio at
the close of any  taxable  year will  consist  of  securities  issued by foreign
corporations,  the  Portfolio  will not be eligible to pass through to investors
any foreign tax credits or deductions  for foreign taxes paid by the  Portfolio.
Certain  foreign  exchange  gains and losses  realized by the Portfolio  will be
treated as ordinary  income and losses.  Certain  uses of foreign  currency  and
foreign currency  options,  futures and 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 an
investor  that  is a  RIC  to  preserve  its  qualification  as a RIC  or  avoid
imposition of a tax on such an investor.

     The Portfolio's investment in zero coupon and certain other securities will
cause it to realize income prior to the receipt of cash payments with respect to
these  securities.  Such  income will be  allocated  daily to  interests  in the
Portfolio.  To enable an investor that is a RIC to distribute its  proportionate
share of this  income and avoid a tax on such  investor,  the  Portfolio  may be
required  to  liquidate  portfolio  securities  that  it  might  otherwise  have
continued to hold, in order to generate cash for distribution to the RIC.

     Investments in lower rated or unrated  securities  may present  special tax
issues for the Portfolio and hence to an investor in the Portfolio 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,  options on futures  contracts,
futures contracts,  forward contracts, 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,  options on futures  contracts,  futures  contracts,  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,  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


                                      B-5
<PAGE>
certain tax  elections  for its "mixed  straddles"  which  could  alter  certain
effects of these rules. Income from transactions in options,  options on futures
contracts,  futures  contracts,  forward 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.

     The  Portfolio's  investments,  if any, in securities  issued 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 is 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
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 taxation of such interest  income,  as well
as 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 20.  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 21.  CALCULATION OF PERFORMANCE DATA

     Not applicable.


                                      B-6
<PAGE>
ITEM 22.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     The   following   audited   financial   statements  of  the  Portfolio  are
incorporated  by  reference  into this Part B and have been so  incorporated  in
reliance upon the report of Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent  certified public
accountants, as experts in accounting and auditing.

     Portfolio of  Investments  as of March 31, 1999
     Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of March 31, 1999
     Statement of Operations for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1999
     Statement of Changes in Net Assets for the fiscal years ended March 31,
     1999 and 1998
     Supplementary  Data for the fiscal  years ended March 31,  1999,  1998,
     1997,  1996 and for the period from the start of business  June 1, 1994 to
     March 31, 1995
     Notes to Financial Statements
     Independent  Auditors' Report

     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 0001047469-99-023216).


                                      B-7
<PAGE>
                                     PART C

ITEM 23.  EXHIBITS

     (a)(1) Declaration  of Trust dated May 1, 1992 filed as Exhibit No. 1(a) to
            Registrant's   Registration   Statement  and  incorporated  herein
            by reference.

        (2) Amendment  to  Declaration  of Trust dated June 14, 1993 filed as
            Exhibit No. 1(b) to Amendment  No. 1 and  incorporated  herein by
            reference.

        (3) Amendment  to  Declaration  of Trust dated June 22, 1998 filed as
            Exhibit No. 1(c) to Amendment  No. 4 and  incorporated  herein by
            reference.

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

     (c)    Reference is made to Item 23(a) and 23(b) above.

     (d)    Investment  Advisory  Agreement  between  the  Registrant  and
            Boston  Management  and  Research  dated May 31, 1994 filed as
            Exhibit No. 5 to Amendment  No. 1 and  incorporated  herein by
            reference.

     (e)    Placement  Agent  Agreement with Eaton Vance  Distributors,  Inc.
            dated  November 1, 1996 filed as Exhibit No. 6 to  Post-Effective
            Amendment No. 3 and incorporated herein by reference.

     (f)    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).

     (g)(1) Custodian  Agreement  with  Investors Bank & Trust Company dated May
            31, 1994 filed as Exhibit No. 8 to  Amendment  No. 1 and
            incorporated herein by reference.

        (2) Amendment  to Custodian  Agreement  with  Investors  Bank & Trust
            Company  dated  October 23,  1995 filed as Exhibit No.  (8)(b) to
            Amendment No. 2 and incorporated herein by reference.

        (3)  Amendment to Master Custodian  Agreement with Investors Bank &
             Trust Company dated  December 21, 1998 filed as Exhibit (g)(3)
             to the  Registration  Statement  of Eaton Vance  Mutual  Funds
             Trust (File Nos. 33-572, 811-4409) (Accession No.
             000950156-99-000050) and incorporated herein by reference.

     (l)     Investment representation letter of Eaton Vance High Income Trust
             dated March 14, 1994 filed as Exhibit No. 13 to  Amendment  No. 1
             and incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 24.  PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH REGISTRANT.

     Not applicable.


                                      C-1
<PAGE>
ITEM 25.  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 26.  BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS

     Reference  is made to:  (i) the  information  set forth  under the  caption
"Management and Organization" in the Statement of Additional  Information;  (ii)
the Eaton Vance Corp. 10-K filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (File
No.  1-8100);  and  (iii)  the Forms  ADV of Eaton  Vance  Management  (File No.
801-15930) and Boston  Management and Research (File No.  801-43127)  filed with
the Commission, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 27.  PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITERS

     Not applicable.

ITEM 28.  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,  200 Clarendon Street,  16th Floor Mail Code ADM
27,  Boston,  MA 02116,  with the exception of certain  corporate  documents and
portfolio  trading  documents  that are in the  possession  and  custody  of the
Registrant's  investment adviser located at The Eaton Vance Building,  255 State
Street,  Boston,  MA, 02109.  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 29.  MANAGEMENT SERVICES

     Not applicable.

ITEM 30.  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 to its Registration  Statement on Form
N-1A to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in
the City of Boston, Massachusetts on the 19th day of July, 1999.

                              HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO


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


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